Chapter Text
Curufin led Celegorm into his opulent bathing chamber, where a steaming bath waited. The water shimmered in shades of red under the candlelight and adorned with pastel-hued flowers floating on the surface.
The heady scent of honey, almonds, and blossoms overpowered the delicate myosotis fragrance. That perfume was unmistakably Curufin’s, grounding him in its familiar warmth.
With steady hands, Curufin helped Celegorm shed his bloodstained armor, each piece clattering to the floor, revealing the dirt-streaked lines of his strong body.
"You are magnificent," Curufin whispered with reverence. "I will make you feel good."
He gently assisted his brother into the bath. Warm water gurgled against Celegorm’s bruised flesh, and though he flinched at first, the heat soon soothed his aching body.
Kneeling beside him, Curufin dipped a cloth into the water, wringing it out before pressing it against Celegorm’s broad shoulders. His touch was hesitant initially, but gradually grew more confident, tracing slow, deliberate circles that unraveled the tension knotted in Celegorm’s muscles.
With each stroke, Celegorm drifted further from the feral intensity that had consumed him, like a tamed beast rediscovering trust in the tenderness of its keeper.
Curufin was patient and precise, fully aware of the healing Celegorm’s body craved.
"I have missed this… more than I can say," Celegorm finally breathed.
"There you are," Curufin murmured affectionately, "My brother, my light..."
Leaning closer, Curufin whispered an ancient Elvish incantation, his breath warm against Celegorm’s ear. The words rippled through the water, and an ethereal glow enveloped the bath, clearing away the stains of battle and leaving the water pristine once more.
Celegorm closed his eyes, surrendering to his brother's gentle ministrations. The tender strokes washed away his fatigue, filling him with a deep, serene calm.
Curufin’s fingers slid from Celegorm’s neck down to his chest. Celegorm’s lips parted slightly, he felt every touch acutely. Curufin’s caresses became more intimate, and bolder, seeking to stir pleasure within his brother.
Perhaps this was far beyond simple brotherly concern.
Curufin rose gracefully, his eyes locked on Celegorm.
He reached for the clasps of his robe, fingers moving with refined precision. As the first clasp came undone, the fabric slipped from his shoulder, revealing a sliver of his fair skin—a tempting glimpse of what lay hidden beneath. The subtle gesture sent a pulse of anticipation through Celegorm.
The second and third clasps fell. At last, the crimson robe slid from Curufin’s shoulders, cascading to the floor and pooling at his feet. His form was laid bare, flawless, and unmarred—from the gentle slope of his waist to the faint contours of his muscles, a quiet invitation to be touched, to be explored.
Curufin stepped toward the bath, adorned only in the gleam of his jewelry. As he lowered himself into the water, a sigh of pure pleasure escaped his lips, stirring a heat deep within Celegorm. The water embraced Curufin’s body, droplets tracing down his skin like liquid silver, accentuating his majestic beauty.
Silently, he drifted toward Celegorm, gliding against his athletic body and settling into his chest.
Their bodies fit together seamlessly, with an effortless and familiar intimacy. Celegorm closed his eyes, trying to regain his composure, but the act only intensified his awareness of Curufin's presence.
Damp dark curls spread across his collarbone, soft as silk. The scent of Curufin's skin surrounded him, intoxicating and inescapable.
Beneath the water, Curufin caressed Celegorm’s thighs, weaving delicate patterns that evoked shivers Celegorm barely suppressed. He could feel the heat radiating from Curufin, the way each subtle shift, each fleeting brush of skin against skin, stoked the fire smoldering between them. His pulse quickened, yet neither dared to disrupt the fragile balance they clung to so desperately.
Celegorm’s arms tightened around Curufin’s waist, drawing him in with a frantic urgency. Curufin yielded, melting into the ardor of the embrace.
“I…” Celegorm began, his voice hoarse, faltering before he could finish.
Curufin lifted his head slightly, his lips hovering tantalizingly close to Celegorm’s. “I do too.”
Celegorm clenched around the bath's edge, knuckles whitening as he fought the urge to close the unbearable distance between them and claim what they both desired.
They both knew they could. They both wanted to. But even in that aching moment, both refrained—because they wouldn’t.