Yusuf thanked Aziz, accepting the coins and the modest fold of fabric he will barter with Yazim to make a blanket. He stood outside Aziz's stall, savoring the weight of the coins in the purse fastened to his belt.
How strange, Yusuf thought, how little things could bring such joy in a complicated life. He considered the other stalls, tempted to buy a bit of sweets to celebrate. He hoped Nicolo felt better this morning and was able to eat the bread.
At the thought of his friend, Yusuf's gaze drifted to the distance where the docks lay. The coins were heavy in his pocket, but the weight was fleeting. Too quickly, they will be spent.
Yusuf nodded to himself. Fate granted him unexpected good fortune. Perhaps his luck will stay with him in the docks.
With one last look at Aziz's stall, Yusuf strode through the market for the docks once again.
He spotted him by the road.
The market faded into a worn path and a square patch of sand for horses and camels to wait for the baskets and sacks from the ships. The beasts have already left with their burdens for the inner streets of Cairo and afar. But there was a sole figure remaining on the rail used to tether the animals.
"Nicolo?" Yusuf hurried when he spotted the brown hair that covered half of Nicolo's face. Nicolo was hunched against the railing. He did not look up until Yusuf called him again.
"I was looking for you." Nicolo glanced behind his shoulder. "At the docks."
"I was not as successful as you finding work in the docks." Yusuf studied Nicolo slouched against the railing. The rough wood could not be comfortable against Nicolo's back. He stepped in closer, his hip brushing against Nicolo to offer better support. "But I returned to try again."
Yusuf smiled.
"I thought if I could not charm the merchants to give me work, perhaps my persistence would wear them down."
Yusuf tried to catch Nicolo's eye, but they kept wandering away. His smile faded.
"I hoped you would remain in the house and rest." Yusuf frowned at the belt that hung off Nicolo's hip and sagged halfway down his other hip.
"Did you bring your sword?" Yusuf peered past Nicolo's head at the ships that bobbed in the shallow waters.
"Ah." Nicolo glanced down at himself. His hands brushed down himself over and over his stomach. "My sword."
"Yes," Yusuf prodded gently. "Did you bring it? Where is it? It is not like you to bring it out here."
"Ah," Nicolo mumbled. He shook his head. "No sword. I...I was in a hurry to go to the docks. The belt...no...no sword." He exhaled. "I was looking for you."
Yusuf fidgeted closer. He wished he wore his cloak this morning. Nicolo's shoulders stooped forward. He looked cold.
Suddenly, Nicolo straightened away from the rail and him. His shoulders curved back, stiff and tensed. It looked painful.
"What is it?" Yusuf's eyes darted to Nicolo's left hand that plucked his tunic by his middle. "Does your stomach still bother you?"
Nicolo's hand fell away.
"No." Nicolo stared out towards the market in the distance. Despite the harsh glare of the sun and the heat that made Yusuf's shirt stick to his back, Nicolo was pale.
"No," Nicolo said, "My stomach is fine."
"It is fine," Nicolo repeated louder.
Yusuf exhaled, relieved. "Then you were able to swallow the food with no ill?"
Nicolo nodded jerkily. Finally he looked up.
Yusuf's brow knitted. His hands flew up to Nicolo's shoulders.
"You do not look truly awake, my friend." Yusuf tightened his grip when it felt like Nicolo was about to sway out of his grasp. "Perhaps we should leave. I will seek work in the docks tomorrow."
Nicolo's hand drifted up and plucked at Yusuf's tunic.
"Do not go to the docks again," Nicolo said quietly.
Yusuf blinked. "What do you me--"
"There you are."
Yusuf felt Nicolo twitch as the voice rang out before running steps carried a thin man with a narrow face to them. He canted his head, bowing his head towards Yusuf, smiling broadly as he turned to Nicolo.
"You have left your wages, my friend," the man chided cheerfully, "You are lucky I, Badhl is honest!"
Yusuf's brow arched at the little palm sized sack that rested in Badhl's work scarred hand.
"You worked at the docks?" Yusuf fought to keep the frown from his voice. "You should have rested." To Badhl, Yusuf frowned. "My friend was not feeling well."
Badhl's smile stretched from ear to ear. "Do not worry. It was easy work for him. Most kept him off his feet." The bag of coins jingled. "But it was work that deserved good coin. My employer was pleased."
Nicolo reached over and snatched the bag before Yusuf could.
"Very pleased," Badhl repeated. "He hopes you will return to the docks very soon." His eyes twinkled as they swept over Nicolo's face.
"Many hope you do." Badhl said, dropping to a murmur.
"Apologies," Yusuf interrupted. He moved his hands to drape an arm around Nicolo's shoulder. "I need his assistance in the libraries for the future. I fear he would not be able to come to the docks anymore."
Yusuf's arm tightened around Nicolo's shoulders.
"We are going to the library now as well."
"Pity," Badhl commented. He glanced over to Yusuf speculatively.
"He will be busy," Nicolo said stiffly. "If you need someone in the docks, ask for me."
"Nicolo--"
"Ask for me," Nicolo bit out. He set his jaw. He did not look at Yusuf.
"They will all be pleased to hear," Badhl murmured.
For some reason, Nicolo slouched further under Yusuf's arm.
"Ah," Badhl patted a little pouch lashed to his hip. "How I forget. You were to be paid more." At Yusuf's look, Badhl grinned, yellow teeth showing. "Extra work."
Badhl pulled out a large copper piece. He held it up and extended it to Nicolo.
Nicolo glowered at the coin.
Badhl chuckled. "It is a fair wage, no? Our employers are always generous."
"And too demanding," Yusuf muttered. He was only gone for the morning. His poor friend looked as if he has not rested at all.
Yusuf reached for the coin, stopping when Nicolo made a rough sound. Nicolo set his mouth into a grim line and plucked the coin out of Badhl's fingers. The copper piece slipped into the bag of coins with a loud clink.
Nicolo turned, Yusuf following when Badhl chuckled.
"Wait, wait, wait, Nicolo. I forget. It was not one. It was two, no, it was three, was it not?"
Yusuf narrowed his eyes at the dock worker.
"Which ship is your employer?" Yusuf asked thinly.
Badhl's grin wavered at Yusuf's scowl. He stuck out his thin chest.
"I work for many ships," Badhl declared. He smirked at Nicolo. Nicolo glared sideways at him. He did not turn around.
"Like Nicolo." Badhl chuckled under his breath. "Maybe not like Nicolo, yea?"
Nicolo jerked out from under Yusuf's arm. He stalked over to Badhl. Badhl's smile wavered some more and he paled visibly despite the olive tan on his leathery skin.
Without a word, Nicolo's palm lashed out like a sword strike.
Just as silent, Badhl dropped the two extra coins into Nicolo's hand.
Nicolo stared hard at Badhl. His jaw flexed. But he did not offer any words. He turned sharply, his back straight as if a spear was lodged in his spine. He walked evenly, not quickly, away from Badhl, not slowing even after Badhl slyly bid him farewell.
Yusuf studied Badhl, his lips pursed. Badhl smirked back.
"Good luck with your art," Badhl muttered and he stalked away, hurrying once he reached the safety of the docks. Yusuf could not track which ship Badhl entered. The dock worker disappeared quickly among the rushing men and barrels.
Nicolo was almost out of his sight. Yusuf tore his eyes away from the docks and hurried after Nicolo.
--------------- I'll finish last part tomorrow as it's getting long. Eep.
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timeasmymeasure
Yusuf/Nicolo Forced Prostitution Fill : Needs of the Other 7B/12
Date: 2020-10-03 10:54 pm (UTC)———————————————-
Part 7B
———————————————-
(Yusuf)
Cairo, 12th century
Yusuf thanked Aziz, accepting the coins and the modest fold of fabric he will barter with Yazim to make a blanket. He stood outside Aziz's stall, savoring the weight of the coins in the purse fastened to his belt.
How strange, Yusuf thought, how little things could bring such joy in a complicated life. He considered the other stalls, tempted to buy a bit of sweets to celebrate. He hoped Nicolo felt better this morning and was able to eat the bread.
At the thought of his friend, Yusuf's gaze drifted to the distance where the docks lay. The coins were heavy in his pocket, but the weight was fleeting. Too quickly, they will be spent.
Yusuf nodded to himself. Fate granted him unexpected good fortune. Perhaps his luck will stay with him in the docks.
With one last look at Aziz's stall, Yusuf strode through the market for the docks once again.
He spotted him by the road.
The market faded into a worn path and a square patch of sand for horses and camels to wait for the baskets and sacks from the ships. The beasts have already left with their burdens for the inner streets of Cairo and afar. But there was a sole figure remaining on the rail used to tether the animals.
"Nicolo?" Yusuf hurried when he spotted the brown hair that covered half of Nicolo's face. Nicolo was hunched against the railing. He did not look up until Yusuf called him again.
"I was looking for you." Nicolo glanced behind his shoulder. "At the docks."
"I was not as successful as you finding work in the docks." Yusuf studied Nicolo slouched against the railing. The rough wood could not be comfortable against Nicolo's back. He stepped in closer, his hip brushing against Nicolo to offer better support. "But I returned to try again."
Yusuf smiled.
"I thought if I could not charm the merchants to give me work, perhaps my persistence would wear them down."
Yusuf tried to catch Nicolo's eye, but they kept wandering away. His smile faded.
"I hoped you would remain in the house and rest." Yusuf frowned at the belt that hung off Nicolo's hip and sagged halfway down his other hip.
"Did you bring your sword?" Yusuf peered past Nicolo's head at the ships that bobbed in the shallow waters.
"Ah." Nicolo glanced down at himself. His hands brushed down himself over and over his stomach. "My sword."
"Yes," Yusuf prodded gently. "Did you bring it? Where is it? It is not like you to bring it out here."
"Ah," Nicolo mumbled. He shook his head. "No sword. I...I was in a hurry to go to the docks. The belt...no...no sword." He exhaled. "I was looking for you."
Yusuf fidgeted closer. He wished he wore his cloak this morning. Nicolo's shoulders stooped forward. He looked cold.
Suddenly, Nicolo straightened away from the rail and him. His shoulders curved back, stiff and tensed. It looked painful.
"What is it?" Yusuf's eyes darted to Nicolo's left hand that plucked his tunic by his middle. "Does your stomach still bother you?"
Nicolo's hand fell away.
"No." Nicolo stared out towards the market in the distance. Despite the harsh glare of the sun and the heat that made Yusuf's shirt stick to his back, Nicolo was pale.
"No," Nicolo said, "My stomach is fine."
"It is fine," Nicolo repeated louder.
Yusuf exhaled, relieved. "Then you were able to swallow the food with no ill?"
Nicolo nodded jerkily. Finally he looked up.
Yusuf's brow knitted. His hands flew up to Nicolo's shoulders.
"You do not look truly awake, my friend." Yusuf tightened his grip when it felt like Nicolo was about to sway out of his grasp. "Perhaps we should leave. I will seek work in the docks tomorrow."
Nicolo's hand drifted up and plucked at Yusuf's tunic.
"Do not go to the docks again," Nicolo said quietly.
Yusuf blinked. "What do you me--"
"There you are."
Yusuf felt Nicolo twitch as the voice rang out before running steps carried a thin man with a narrow face to them. He canted his head, bowing his head towards Yusuf, smiling broadly as he turned to Nicolo.
"You have left your wages, my friend," the man chided cheerfully, "You are lucky I, Badhl is honest!"
Yusuf's brow arched at the little palm sized sack that rested in Badhl's work scarred hand.
"You worked at the docks?" Yusuf fought to keep the frown from his voice. "You should have rested." To Badhl, Yusuf frowned. "My friend was not feeling well."
Badhl's smile stretched from ear to ear. "Do not worry. It was easy work for him. Most kept him off his feet." The bag of coins jingled. "But it was work that deserved good coin. My employer was pleased."
Nicolo reached over and snatched the bag before Yusuf could.
"Very pleased," Badhl repeated. "He hopes you will return to the docks very soon." His eyes twinkled as they swept over Nicolo's face.
"Many hope you do." Badhl said, dropping to a murmur.
"Apologies," Yusuf interrupted. He moved his hands to drape an arm around Nicolo's shoulder. "I need his assistance in the libraries for the future. I fear he would not be able to come to the docks anymore."
Yusuf's arm tightened around Nicolo's shoulders.
"We are going to the library now as well."
"Pity," Badhl commented. He glanced over to Yusuf speculatively.
"He will be busy," Nicolo said stiffly. "If you need someone in the docks, ask for me."
"Nicolo--"
"Ask for me," Nicolo bit out. He set his jaw. He did not look at Yusuf.
"They will all be pleased to hear," Badhl murmured.
For some reason, Nicolo slouched further under Yusuf's arm.
"Ah," Badhl patted a little pouch lashed to his hip. "How I forget. You were to be paid more." At Yusuf's look, Badhl grinned, yellow teeth showing. "Extra work."
Badhl pulled out a large copper piece. He held it up and extended it to Nicolo.
Nicolo glowered at the coin.
Badhl chuckled. "It is a fair wage, no? Our employers are always generous."
"And too demanding," Yusuf muttered. He was only gone for the morning. His poor friend looked as if he has not rested at all.
Yusuf reached for the coin, stopping when Nicolo made a rough sound. Nicolo set his mouth into a grim line and plucked the coin out of Badhl's fingers. The copper piece slipped into the bag of coins with a loud clink.
Nicolo turned, Yusuf following when Badhl chuckled.
"Wait, wait, wait, Nicolo. I forget. It was not one. It was two, no, it was three, was it not?"
Yusuf narrowed his eyes at the dock worker.
"Which ship is your employer?" Yusuf asked thinly.
Badhl's grin wavered at Yusuf's scowl. He stuck out his thin chest.
"I work for many ships," Badhl declared. He smirked at Nicolo. Nicolo glared sideways at him. He did not turn around.
"Like Nicolo." Badhl chuckled under his breath. "Maybe not like Nicolo, yea?"
Nicolo jerked out from under Yusuf's arm. He stalked over to Badhl. Badhl's smile wavered some more and he paled visibly despite the olive tan on his leathery skin.
Without a word, Nicolo's palm lashed out like a sword strike.
Just as silent, Badhl dropped the two extra coins into Nicolo's hand.
Nicolo stared hard at Badhl. His jaw flexed. But he did not offer any words. He turned sharply, his back straight as if a spear was lodged in his spine. He walked evenly, not quickly, away from Badhl, not slowing even after Badhl slyly bid him farewell.
Yusuf studied Badhl, his lips pursed. Badhl smirked back.
"Good luck with your art," Badhl muttered and he stalked away, hurrying once he reached the safety of the docks. Yusuf could not track which ship Badhl entered. The dock worker disappeared quickly among the rushing men and barrels.
Nicolo was almost out of his sight. Yusuf tore his eyes away from the docks and hurried after Nicolo.
---------------
I'll finish last part tomorrow as it's getting long. Eep.