Fills Post

[theoldguardkinkmeme]

This Fills Post is now closed to new fills. New fills should go in Fills Post #2. For those of you who are in the process of posting multi-chapter WIPs, please post subsequent chapters in the new Fills Post but include a link to the previous chapters so that those who haven't been following the story from the beginning can easily find the first part(s). 

Remember:

Fills can but don't need to be anonymous. 

Start a new comment for each fill. Don't use threaded comments for new fills. Threaded comments are for fills that take up more than one comment field, or for feedback/squee/praise.

In your fill, please mention the prompt you are responding to, and provide a link to the prompt in the body of the text. 

Please use a header with your character(s)/pairing and a title and/or keyword or short phrase. (For example: "Just you and me: Andy/Quynh, Make-up sex" or "Between a Rock and A Hard Place: Nicky/Joe/Booker, first time DP"). 

Please also comment with a link to your fill in the prompt post, under the prompt you are responding to. Your comment header should include the word "Fill" or "Filled", so that those checking out the thread can find your fic/art more easily (For example: "FILL: Re: Any/Quynh, Make-up sex").

If you end up cleaning up your fill and posting it elsewhere (AO3, your personal journal), feel free to link the posted fic/art here as well.

Fills on Pinboard: For a list of filled prompts on Pinboard, go here.

Comments

NEW HERE: Needs of the Other 20D/21

[dr_libra_phd]

Today is both Yusuf's because I went over my text limit again. (facepalm)

———————————————-
Part 20D
———————————————-

(Yusuf)

Somewhere outside of Alexandria, 12th century




Nicolo started shivering as soon as their home came to sight. He leaned into Yusuf, a short huff from his gray lips as he stumbled towards the door.

Yusuf had originally wanted to chide Nicolo. He had returned to a flock of chickens gathered by the foot of the door. They squawked when Yusuf opened the door, blinking at the feathers floating about the house. There was feed scattered across the floor. And an egg on the middle of their mattress.

The traps were not back. Nor were the nets from the stream hung over the hearth to dry. And Nicolo’s sword was missing. Yet his heavy cloak was crumpled on their bed next to the blanket.

This morning, Yusuf’s chest ached when Nicolo quietly said he should stay behind and check the nets and traps. It did not escape Yusuf’s notice the distant look in Nicolo’s eyes. Nicolo did not appear to remember they only set the nets and traps just before they break fast.

Nicolo’s sword rattled as Nicolo tried to put it into the jar. He made a face, shoulders slumping in defeat when Yusuf took the sword and did it for him.

The fire in the hearth was gone by the time Yusuf had returned from the village, but the room was still comfortably warm. Now, there was a chill that sat painfully on Yusuf's skin.

A bowl of grain on the table had congealed into a solid lump. One hen was poking fruitlessly at the contents, but gave up before Yusuf shooed it away. He had left it within the hens' pen after he had herded them out. The feathers and fluff still floating about the house would be dealt with later.

“Sit,” Yusuf coaxed, pushing Nicolo down the edge of the bed. He gestured to Nicolo to undress while he filled another pot with water they collect from the stream. He tossed in the shards of wood the village could not use. They would need to strip the fig trees for more.

Yusuf shuddered as he pulled off his tunic, folded it over a chair. He will have to repair it later.

When the fire grew tall, heat pouring out of the hearth, Yusuf turned back to Nicolo. He blinked.

“What are you doing?” Yusuf rasped.

Nicolo sat completely nude on the edge of the bed. He lifted his eyes at Yusuf’s voice. He blinked as well.

“Oh,” Nicolo said dazed. “I thought you...” His broad shoulders lifted and dropped too quickly. “I do not mind.”

“I do,” Yusuf said gently, “if all you feel is that you would not object.”

Yusuf crossed to Nicolo. He reached behind Nicolo for the rolled up fur pelts Nicolo set between their bed and wall for protection from the chill. They never used it as Yusuf had originally hoped to.

The pelts unfurled in a gleaming plane of satin like fur and warm silk. The undersides that Yusuf combed and stretched carefully, was soft like worn leather.

Nicolo twitched, breathing out a surprised, “Oh” when Yusuf wrapped the pelts around Nicolo’s shoulders. Nicolo shrugged his shoulders into the pelts, his fingers digging into the fur. He looked dazed as he felt the soft pelts.

Yusuf pulled the woven blanket around Nicolo as well.

“Better?” Yusuf asked. He was heartened Nicolo’s skin did not feel as chilled as before. He was not sure how long Nicolo was out there. But their sword fight was not enough to keep the chill from settling gray under Nicolo’s skin. He rubbed the furs and blanket up and down Nicolo’s arms.

Nicolo shivered again. He touched the furs. He blinked up at Yusuf as if seeing him for the first time.

“Wait here.” Yusuf brushed a knuckle under Nicolo’s shadowed eye.

“Wait,” Nicolo protested as Yusuf turned away. Stiff fingers struggled to curl around Yusuf’s wrist. He seemed surprised he could not.

Yusuf closed the layers of fur and blanket tighter around Nicolo.

“In a moment,” Yusuf promised. “Tea.”

Despite the heat filling the space, Yusuf felt his skin prickling across the back of his bare shoulders. Perhaps Nicolo was right to be concerned over the animals who reside on the other side of the hearth. Then again, they fared the sudden chill without complaint and Nicolo spoiled them by letting them run amuck in their home. They are fine. The accursed beast even viewed the woven grass mat Yusuf threw over it with distaste rather than gratitude. Ingrate.

The mint tea’s warm steam wafted up to Yusuf’s face as he carried the two cups over. He pressed one cup into Nicolo’s unsteady hands, waiting until Nicolo gave him a jerky nod. He only then pull away to drink from his own cup.

The exercise was a welcomed distraction, but the moment they stopped, Yusuf was aware of how brittle the cold made his limbs feel. He shifted closer to Nicolo as he drank. By the time he finished his tea, he found himself under the layers, his bare shoulder bumping against Nicolo’s.

Tea finished, cups set aside, Yusuf found the words have left him as they have Nicolo. Yet feeling Nicolo pressed against him, sharing the warmth of the layers, thawed his insides if not his words.

Yusuf slipped an arm around Nicolo’s shoulders. Nicolo sagged against him. His long hair, past the cut of his jaw, felt stiff with frost even though the hair felt dry.

They sat there, both staring at nothing. The hearth's fire crackled, filling in the silence.

“Are we doing enough?” Nicolo suddenly said. His voice was raspy as if from disuse.

“The village?” Yusuf asked. “Or everything?” Nicolo stilled against him. “You are thinking we can do more.”

“You think we can not?” Nicolo breathed deep. “People died, Yusuf.”

“People die all the time. Even us,” Yusuf murmured. He tugged the layers tighter over their shoulders. Nicolo pulled his legs up, he turned half curled into Yusuf.

“But we come back. They can not.” Nicolo brushed a hand down Yusuf’s trousers. Yusuf shivered. Nicolo’s hand was cold.

Yusuf captured both of Nicolo’s hands. He pulled them to his mouth and breathed warm air over the stiff fingers.

“You have not felt this way in a long time,” Yusuf murmured. He exhaled over Nicolo’s hands again. He watched Nicolo’s hands curl and uncurl in his grasp. “I admit. I too felt guilty at my ability to return even after so much. I can not help wishing if only I could share what I have with them.”

But a small, secret part of Yusuf knew he grateful to have eternity with Nicolo. He caught the gaze Nicolo threw at him and knew Nicolo felt the same.

“Perhaps it is why we feel guilty once again,” Nicolo thought out loud. “We helped, but we never stayed. We took up swords to defend, but not to fight for what we believed. We helped some, but not all.”

“You wish to fight in wars, hobi?” Yusuf sighed.

“Did we not leave such life in such places to avoid wars?” They had both agreed they have seen enough bloodshed and contributed too much of it.

“We fought,” Nicolo pointed out. His hands twitched in Yusuf’s hold. “We first fought against each other. Then side by side.”

Nicolo sagged further against Yusuf.

“I just do not think it is enough,” Nicolo admitted. “We can not die. We agreed it was a sign we should not raise our swords to each other again. But what if it meant we lift our swords together?”

“We already do,” Yusuf reminded Nicolo.

Nicolo exhaled sharply. “When the need arises and crosses our path. But how many more out there need such help?”

Yusuf peered down, but all he could see was the tip of Nicolo’s nose, the stray curl of mahogany hair.

“You think we should leave? Even before anyone suspects us?”

Nicolo nodded, stopped and sighed.

“Should I not have said anything?” Nicolo leaned into Yusuf. He stared at their table, but Yusuf doubted Nicolo truly saw it.

Yusuf kneaded Nicolo’s hands in his grasp as he mulled over Nicolo’s words.

“The village needs help,” Yusuf said at last. “This winter will be hard for everyone.”

“Of course.” Nicolo nodded against Yusuf’s shoulder. He stared out to their door. He nodded again, his jaw flexing. “We should stay.”

“Only until the lands thawed.”

Nicolo tipped his head up, his eyes questioning.

“I would like to stay past the winter,” Yusuf said. He tapped his chin against Nicolo, his beard gently brushing across the furrowed brow.

Nicolo exhaled. He turned his head and stared at the pendant that hung around Yusuf's neck.

"Yusuf," Nicolo murmured. "Do not decide based on what you think I want."

Yusuf dropped a kiss on top of Nicolo's head.

“No. You misunderstand. You echoed what troubles my heart. We have this gift that we can use out there. Staying and waiting for the women does not work. Not any more.” Yusuf nodded to himself. “We should seek those who need our help, not wait for them to find us.”

Nicolo tugged his hands free from Yusuf’s grasp. He sighed.

“You do not mind?” Nicolo asked. He was quiet, deliberately even to not reveal how he felt.

Yusuf felt a well of affection for Nicolo. He hummed as he curled his arm tighter around Nicolo.

“This place has been good to us,” Nicolo ventured. “You even see it as a...home, yes?”

“I would miss many from here,” Yusuf sighed. He left unsaid the sorrow he felt that parting was inevitable though.

“There are many good people,” Nicolo agreed. “I am glad we helped.”

“But it is not home.”

----------------

Next part in a bit, still Yusuf. Yes, writing to void looking at my grades being posted up. LOL.