Chapter Text
Standing outside where the snow continued to heavily fall, Craig brought his gloves up to his mouth and fanned hot air at them. It didn’t make any difference, but he hoped it had. He fixed his cape to better cover his back and brought his scarf over his nose. He adjusted his chullo blue hat so the flaps could properly cover his ears, and he shivered. The shop behind him promised warmth and protection from the cold but he had a duty to fulfill.
He assigned himself the position of bodyguard despite his husband’s protests. It wasn’t necessary but it was a precaution, nonetheless. In case of robbers or whatnot. The greater threat no longer loomed over them.
A few months ago, a treaty was formed between the Kingdom of Kuppa Keep and The Elven Kingdom, resulting in a long last—and long overdue—peace in Zaron. There was a major loss on both sides and not a day went by that Craig didn’t wake up in the middle of the night, sweaty and heart beating too fast from the nightmares that haunted him and will continue to haunt him until his last dying breath.
He contributed to those numbers, after all. It wasn’t something he bragged about but he refused to dismiss it too. If he were to find a positive among the madness he witnessed, it was meeting his husband.
Tweek Tweak was a formidable soldier but an unwilling one when it came to joining forces with Kuppa Keep. The Grand Wizard had stormed into Tweek’s tribe which was hidden deep in the forest. The Barbarians, as they were called, were known for their inhumane strength and chose to seclude themselves from the surrounding towns and cities. As chief, Tweek led the battle against the wizard’s soldiers.
Alas, weapons made of wood and steel had nothing against magic.
At the end, Tweek was forced to kneel and pledge his allegiance to The Grand Wizard. The Stick of Truth was mere centimeters away from his face after all.
Their relationship was rocky at first. Tweek was wary and hostile to everybody, going so far as to attack random soldiers. Craig didn’t care for the barbarian but sympathized with him. As a well-known thief throughout Zaron, Craig was given an ultimatum by the wizard when he was finally caught: face incarnation and death or join forces against the elves. He didn’t have much of a choice.
It was their common past that brought them closer together until they were able to fight side by side and, eventually, elope. Under the moonlight, they vowed to be each other’s forever. Craig knew their sudden union was born from not knowing whether they would live to see another day.
He twisted the silver ring and smiled. He was glad they still did it.
He heard the flaps open behind him and he turned. His smile grew larger as his husband walked out. His wild blond hair swayed with the wind, catching a few snowflakes in his unruly locks. His fur coat protected his body, and his leather pants and boots completed the look of a man who was ready for winter.
“Craig,” Tweek smiled but Craig heard the scolding.
He rolled his eyes. “Honey, I’m fine.”
Tweek hugged him close, and Craig felt him sigh. His head reached his chest and Craig relished their height difference. He easily enveloped him, having to bend down to completely cover his husband from the snow.
“Are you waiting for the merchants?”
“Sure.”
“You think anybody will be coming by?”
Craig pulled back to squint up and down the road. They were posted on a main trading route, but the heavy snow made it impossible for anyone to travel right now. The other shops around them looked about ready to close and Craig was debating whether it was worth the trouble to convince his husband to do the same.
“No, I don’t think so,” he answered, finally turning back to his husband. He ruffled his hair and smirked at the disgruntled look Tweek shot him. “I think we should close the shop early. Get home, drink some of that liquor we have saved up, maybe even try that new position I was talking about yesterday…”
“Craig!” shrieked Tweek, smacking him on the shoulder but laughing. “Shut up!”
Craig rubbed his shoulder and kept his eyes trained on Tweek’s laughing face. He looked so beautiful when he smiled.
He suddenly remembered another reason why he was freezing his ass off.
“Actually, I’m waiting for a shipment.”
“From one of your merchants?”
“Yeah.”
Suddenly the sound of horse hooves echoed in the street and Craig wasted no time turning to his husband, “My love, go back inside. I’ll handle this.”
“I can carry heavy crates too, you know.” Tweek crossed his arms over his chest.
Every time a new shipment came for their shop, Craig always convinced Tweek that he could deal with it despite Tweek being the one to handle their finances. The truth of the matter was that all the valuables they sold in their shop were stolen goods from all over Zaron. From the castles of the Drew Elves to the very Grand Wizard’s alchemy lab.
The only issue was that Tweek, his dear husband, had no idea.
When the war ended and Tweek and Craig decided to begin their new life together, Craig vowed to never steal again. He was convinced to turn a new leaf and couldn’t bear the thought of the possibility of getting caught and getting sent to jail. His husband deserved someone better than a thief.
Craig, however, broke that vow.
He didn’t do it to purposely hurt Tweek. They were struggling to eat every day and had no place to call their own. He had to take drastic measures to ensure his new family wouldn’t starve to death after barely surviving a war that nearly killed them.
So here they were, managing a rather very successful shop in a small quaint town with stolen goods.
The carriage was now seen and slowly stopped in front of them. Craig turned to Tweek and quirked a brow. They held a stare down until Tweek sighed.
“Fine,” he pouted and pivoted on his heel to go back in.
Craig caught his elbow and pulled him into a deep, loving kiss. When he pulled back, Tweek had a dark blush on his pale cheeks and his eyes were dazed. He gave him one final peek and sent Tweek off with a smile. He loved that man very much.
“Feldspar?” whispered the scrawny man, glancing this way and that.
“Akay,” greeted Craig and quickly cast a muffling spell over the shop. He could never be too safe.
“I got the goods you ordered,” rasped Akay as he hobbled to the back of the carriage and took off the tarp with a flourish. There were three wooden crates in total and Craig clicked his tongue.
“Where’s the fourth?”
“Oh…well…” stammered Akay as he rubbed his neck. “You see, sir, we ran into a bit of trouble along the way.”
“Did you now?” Craig’s voice dropped. Akay was one of his best thieves that had worked under him for years. He knew what the consequences were to a failed mission.
“Let me explain,” hurried Akay as he shuffled closer. The man reeked of sweat and Craig was certain his thin clothes weren’t helping with the cold. “I was attacked by ogres. Big lot of them came out of nowhere!”
“And they only took one?” Craig glanced at the carriage. “No damage whatsoever?”
Akay’s eyes widened and looked at the carriage and healthy-looking horses as well.
Craig hated this part, but he had to do what was best for his family.
As quick as a butterfly’s wing, Craig jabbed Akay with a fine thin needle. With a flick of a wrist, the needle disappeared into his sleeve.
“You were just pierced with the venom of a Hundred-Legged Spider Lizard. Ever heard of it? No, of course not. They’re native to the forest in The Elven Kingdom. Ugly creatures with venom that could put down giants. No cure, from what I have heard.”
Akay was deathly pale and still as Craig began unloading the crates.
“If I were you, you’ll get the fuck out of here. I don’t feel like burying a body today.”
Akay stiffly made his way back into the carriage and disappeared down the road. He only had a few more minutes to live and Craig didn’t care where he ended up. It was somebody else’s problem now.
“Everything alright?”
Tweek reappeared and Craig flashed him a smile.
“Of course, honey. I got the goods right here.”
“What is it this time?” Tweek crouched and knocked on one crate. “Jewels? Weapons?”
“Some clothes in this one. Seeds and farming equipment in that one. This one has some rare ore we could sell to passing blacksmiths.”
Tweek hummed and stood back up. He looked at Craig and, for a second, he thought that Tweek overheard his conversation with the now deceased Akay. They stared for what felt like a long time until Tweek smiled.
“I love you, you know.”
Craig laughed shakily and bent down to carry two crates, letting Tweek get the last one.
“I love you too, my sun.”
Tweek guffawed, “God, you’re so cheesy.”
Craig bumped against his husband. “Only for you.”
They entered the shop together and they rearranged the items; Craig knew he had to stop. They were well off now. There was no need to keep going. Tweek didn’t need protection anymore. They were both safe.
He glanced at Tweek and promised to end his way of thieving. This time, he was going to keep it.