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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

dr_libra_phd

I feel like I've been away forever! Thank you all! I needed the break to work on my project and I think I passed. LOL

Long story short, this fill has been amazing, I wish I could write a thousand more parts of them soft, but oh no, LOL, I want to graduate eventually and my advisors will not take a TOG kink meme as my diss proposal. Darn. LOL

On with our boys!

———————————————-
Part 13A
———————————————-

(Nicolo)

Somewhere outside of Alexandria, 12th century

He knows Yusuf wants to kiss him.

It was strange. Nicolo was kissed everywhere. Last night, Yusuf kissed across Nicolo’s ribs, his chest, his throat. It was enjoyable, it felt like life, baptized as Yusuf teased him to unfurl into his release. But when Yusuf drew near Nicolo’s mouth, Nicolo had tensed, his mouth clamped shut, his breath quickening and growing short.

Yusuf did not react, he simply tilted his head and kissed Nicolo’s ear instead as if it was what he meant to do.

Nicolo was aware Yusuf watched him. They spent days touching and kissing places that still tingled in his memory. But he could not stop himself from flinching whenever Yusuf drew too close to his mouth. He tried. He wished he did better.

Yusuf was patient whenever Nicolo balked. It felt like Yusuf needed to constantly gauge when to approach him. It was like they stood before the gates of battle many years ago. Nicolo did not wish for those days again. He needed to do better. Poor Yusuf should not worry so much over him.

Like for the past week, Yusuf’s eyes on him when he rose from the bed this morning. Right now, Yusuf silently tracked Nicolo as he sat in the dirt and pulled rocks and weeds out of a patch of rich soil by the fig trees. Yusuf dragged their table outside and tried to repair the crooked legs close by.

And they spent the afternoon like this: Yusuf's dull thumps as he hammered wood (or tried, he hit his thumb twice, he reacted loudly) and Nicolo's fingers clawing the dirt for rocks. His small scoop broke, but he did not want to think about if they have the coin to get another.

Every time Nicolo turned around, expecting wariness from across, Yusuf’s gaze remained, but gentling each time their eyes meet.

But Yusuf should not kiss him. Because...because...

”I also paid you to swallow.”

The shale Nicolo pulled out dropped and shattered by his knees. He clamped a hand over his mouth. He breathed through his nose.

”You need to open wider to fit me into your sweet mouth...

No, no, no. He can not do this. Stop this. Stop.

Nicolo choked behind his hand, his throat flexing as he fought to swallow. It was endless. It tasted bitter. He felt it flooding into his mouth because he could not swallow fast enough, the object darting in and out, barring the way. It left his teeth feeling oily. It congealed under his tongue.

Yusuf was suddenly next to Nicolo, sitting on his heels and poking the dirt with a stick.

“What you think?” Yusuf said abruptly. He did not look at Nicolo. “If we put the melon seeds in with the figs, do you think we get giant figs?”

Nicolo swallowed again and again. His tongue felt like it was too big for his mouth, blocking anything from the path to his throat, but they tried anyway. They thrust and thrust. His eyes watered. No, it is over. Why must he still think of this?

“Or will we get tiny melons the size of figs?” Yusuf grunted. He held up two fingers to measure what he thought was a small fig.

“I would prefer figs the size of melons. If we feed hens the figs, will we get giant eggs? Ah! Would their shells still look like shells? How would we crack them?”

Nicolo lowered his hand. He quietly panted. He blinked rapidly at the hole Yusuf dug larger with a stick. The stick has snapped in two. Yusuf was holding a stick half in each hand now, disturbing the dirt, mixing the soil like it was a bowl of grain.

“If we grow figs the size of melons,” Yusuf continued, “Think of all the uses! We can eat for days on just one fig. Or...Or...” The dirt tossed about like an earthy rain.

“We...we can toss it in the water,” Nicolo whispered, “Striking the fish. Better than the nets.”

“It would yield much fish,” Yusuf agreed readily. His arm slipped around Nicolo’s shoulders. He still did not look at Nicolo, but he was solid against Nicolo, his voice a steady thrum in his ears. "It would be a brilliant invention, yea? A fig melon, ah, catapult!"

Nicolo's throat seemed to belong to him again.

“And...and...we can eat the fig after,” Nicolo rasped.

“Oh ho, an excellent point!” Yusuf exclaimed. “But figs that size, we will be sick of figs soon enough. When I was a child, I once ate so much—“

“I still taste them in my mouth.”

Yusuf silenced.

Nicolo covered his mouth again but too late. His whimper escaped before his mind stopped it. Pathetic. What has he become? His eyes squeezed shut.

“I do not know why I say that.” Nicolo let himself fall against Yusuf when Yusuf tugged. He sat in the dirt, his legs folded under him. His knees hurt. He did not want to think about his knees hurting.

“I should not have said that,” Nicolo rasped. "I am sorry. Why did I say that?"

Yusuf rested his cheek on top of Nicolo’s head. His beard tickled his temples.

“Is this why you get sick after eating?” Yusuf asked, the cheer in his voice gone. Nicolo’s chest squeezed; he did that. He stole his joy with his thoughtless words.

Nicolo stared at the bark of the fig tree and the tender round leaves that drooped. Its branches sagged with ripe fruit, purple and black offerings that should look delicious to Nicolo.

“They also paid me to swallow.” Nicolo did not know why he was still talking.

“A bronze coin if I could only swallow some. Two copper pieces if I t-took it all.”

Stop talking. Stop talking.

“Half of the coins were taken away when I use too much teeth. One beat me when I tried to bite. I let him because I could not let him see me die.”

Yusuf’s sticks fell limp in the dirt hole.

The sour and bitterness rose up Nicolo’s throat.

“Why am I—I should not have said—Sorry.” Nicolo’s chin lowered. He waited to be pushed away.

“I am glad you told m—no, not glad.”

Nicolo’s lips pressed together, bloodless.

Yusuf kissed the side of Nicolo’s head.

“I am grateful you told me and let me share your pain.”

Nicolo shuddered against Yusuf. They stayed crouched under the fig trees.

“Is this why you are afraid of me kissing you?” Yusuf rasped. “Do I remind you of them?”

Nicolo shook his head against Yusuf’s shoulder. His throat worked. The burning returned. He wanted to vomit even though he knew in his mind it is the small morning meal of flatbread and boiled peas that would come up. He did not eat the egg Yusuf offered. He could not. It was the last one.

“I did not want you to taste them in my mouth,” Nicolo half-whimpered. He wanted to burrow into the dirt hole. “I know you want to kiss me, but you should not.”

Yusuf kissed the top of his head once more.

“What do you think of some chickens?” Yusuf said suddenly. “The stable behind the house is too old. I can make it smaller and use the material left to make a pen.”

Nicolo could not speak. He kept his lips together, pleading for his throat to give him some peace.

“It would give us eggs. There is a widow in the village who wants to sell two of her young hens. I promised her I will let her know our decision when I go back tomorrow.”

Nicolo’s tongue felt thick again. Each time he tried to swallow, it got in the way. Air tasted stale in his mouth.

Yusuf absently rubbed Nicolo’s arm up and down as he continued to think out loud.

“The hens would pester the horse, of course. That would be entertaining. The beast needs to learn humility. Do you think their eggs will look like figs?”

Nicolo scrubbed his mouth with his sleeve.

“What?” Nicolo managed.

“If we feed the hens our giant figs!” Yusuf gestured with a large sweeping motion at the dirt hole. "What should we call our fig tasting eggs?"

Nicolo felt the taste in his mouth fade. He glanced up at Yusuf's beaming expression. When Yusuf waggled his eyebrows, Nicolo shook his head as he scoffed.

“If we feed the hens your magical figs, would not the eggs taste like figs?”

“Ah.” Yusuf sounded disappointed. “That does not sound appetizing. I like my eggs to taste like eggs.”

It felt easier to retort back, “It would be an improvement to your cooking though.”

Yusuf shook Nicolo gently under his arm. He felt so warm. Nicolo wanted to hide in him.

“You do not have an appreciation for my imaginative cooking.”

Nicolo shook his head even as he huddled closer to the heat of Yusuf’s body.

“I think no one would have an appetite for your imaginative cooking.”

Yusuf chuckled. He tipped his head towards Nicolo, bumping Nicolo’s head slightly. He grumbled about Nicolo’s palate but as he helped Nicolo to his feet, Yusuf was smiling.

Nicolo found it hard to keep his head up for the rest of the day. He rest his head on his folded arms as he watched Yusuf attempt his imaginative cooking again, claiming he learned a recipe from someone in the village.

Yusuf did not seem to mind the silence. He occasionally brushed a hand over Nicolo’s shoulders and neck as he passed by to gather lentils, the fish Nicolo had sun dried for themselves and spices. He set them on the table in front of Nicolo. He was regaling Nicolo gossip he overheard when he was last at the village. It was something about a fisherman, a incensed wife (not the fisherman’s) and a lost goat. Nicolo could not follow. His head felt heavy. His mouth still tasted dirty and stale ever since he spoke.

Time passed without Nicolo being aware because soon a steaming bowl of spiced lentils and fish with slivers of bread were set down before Nicolo. Yusuf sat next to him, their hips touching, an arm around Nicolo’s shoulders.

“I know you do not think you can eat,” Yusuf said quietly. He lowered his head to catch Nicolo’s half-opened eyes. “Would you like to try if only just a small bite? I would very much like to hear how terrible you think it is.” He winked and added, “Or how wonderful.”

Nicolo blinked tiredly at Yusuf.

“I do not mean to worry you,” Nicolo murmured. He pressed his eyes over his arms.

Yusuf shook his head. He slipped fingers into Nicolo’s hair and kneaded his scalp.

“You could be smiling like a fool and I would worry,” Yusuf replied. “You stray my sight but for a moment and it would hurt like we were apart for centuries.”

Yusuf settled his head down on folded arms, mimicking Nicolo. He gazed back.

Nicolo swallowed. “I do not wish to be like this. I should not. Why?”

“It will not be for long. They are not here with us. It is only you and I,” Yusuf whispered. “And we will stay here for as long it is before you believe it.”

Yusuf reached over and traced Nicolo’s lower lip with a finger.

“You did not feel corrupted when you touched me. I did not feel corrupted when I touched you. There is nothing about you I do not long for. I would want you for eternity. I feel like this is why I exist.”

Nicolo blinked rapidly.

Yusuf continued touching Nicolo’s mouth, brushing a finger along Nicolo’s skin.

“It is the same for me,” Nicolo rasped. “There is so much I do not know, but I know this.”

Yusuf’s finger stayed on Nicolo’s lower lip. His eyes darkened when Nicolo tentatively nipped it with his teeth. Yusuf’s finger slipped out and he touched his own mouth with it. His eyes stayed locked with Nicolo’s as his finger drifted back to Nicolo’s lower lip.

Nicolo sat up, copying Yusuf. He curled a hand around Yusuf’s finger and nipped it again, this time tasting faint spice and salt.

“Cumin, coriander,” Yusuf answered the curiosity in Nicolo’s eyes. He watched Nicolo as Nicolo turned his hand and nipped the other fingers.

Yusuf pulled his fingers back to his mouth. He pressed his fingers to his lips. He smiled. His fingers trailed around his lips and drifted back to Nicolo.

Yusuf’s fingers were gentle on Nicolo’s mouth, the hint of what he cooked lingered after the fingers pulled away.

Nicolo found himself leaning in, following Yusuf’s fingers. He hesitated. His heart hammered as if it would burst. Was it fright? No, it could not be. Not with Yusuf.

“Yusuf...” Nicolo murmured. He ran the tip of his tongue over his lower lip. “I do not feel afraid. Why?”

Yusuf slipped a hand around Nicolo’s nape. He leaned in as well, gazing deep into Nicolo’s eyes. He seemed pleased by whatever he saw. He captured Nicolo’s chin with his other hand. He tugged, gently as he continued to sway towards Nicolo.

They met halfway.

Warm dry lips pressed against Nicolo’s. Just once. Yusuf pulled back, letting go of Nicolo’s chin.

“It is fine?” Yusuf murmured. His other hand massaged Nicolo’s nape. He brushed his lips across Nicolo’s again.

Nicolo relaxed under Yusuf’s hand. He released the breath he held when Yusuf kissed him.

“You and I, hobi,” Yusuf sighed as he cupped Nicolo’s jaw.

“You and I,” Nicolo echoed. He fell forward, his arms slipping around Yusuf's shoulders as their lips met again.

Yusuf’s mouth parted and Nicolo copied him. He felt a flutter again his lips; Yusuf’s breath. He opened his mouth wider to capture. Yusuf’s hand palmed Nicolo’s jaw, tilting in one way while his head turned the other.

The changed angle slotted their mouths together. It felt like Yusuf was breathing for him. Nicolo breathed out, tried to do the same, shivering when it felt like Yusuf was everywhere. His hands, his breath, his skin brushing against Nicolo’s.

Yusuf murmured something encouraging as Nicolo leaned in more, eager to feel Yusuf wrapped around him. Yusuf was warmer than any cloak, tasted both familiar and new. Yusuf’s touch felt different like this. His skin shivered as his mouth was tasted.

Nicolo groaned into Yusuf’s mouth when he felt Yusuf’s tongue swiping across his teeth. He felt devoured. He felt savored.

With a sigh, Yusuf pulled away but not too far. He held Nicolo’s face with both his hands. He kissed Nicolo’s mouth, his eyelids, his cheeks.

“Nicolo,” Yusuf whispered. “My Nicolo.” He smiled. “You are all I can taste. It is everything I ever craved for and also did not know I even wanted.”

By some miracle, it felt the same for Nicolo. And Yusuf seemed to understand. He grinned at Nicolo, cradling Nicolo's face with both hands. They were warm. They were large. They were undeniably Yusuf's.

“You and I, hobi,” Yusuf murmured. "No matter what you remember or tell me, remember this as well."

“You and I,” Nicolo sighed.

"Ay."

Nicolo’s eyes slipped closed and fell back into Yusuf's embrace. Yusuf caught him gladly into another kiss.

-------------------------
Whew! I feel rusty. I have a data analysis course for the next few hours on Zoom. (can you see me Zzzzz already? LOL) I'm hoping to get Yusuf's POV out to you tonight!

From: (Anonymous)

I have been refreshing this page all day 😁 So happy to read this update, and it was wonderful! The boys are so gentle with each other. I wish you success with your work.

From: (Anonymous)

getting here was so painful but worth it and i really love the pacing of your story. god your writing is just amazing, can’t wait for yusuf’s pov! been reloading the page to make sure i’d catch it right away! good luck with your zoom class🤗🤗🤗🤗

From: (Anonymous)

Good luck! And thank you for the update, it's so good...the slow recovery 😭😭👌👌🙏🙏

From: (Anonymous)

So happy you’re back and this is beautiful.

From: (Anonymous)

Oh man, I feel like I’ve never waited for a kiss so long and it was so worth it! The slow steps Nicky is taking in his recovery and Yusuf being there every step of the way is so lovely