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Fjord watched in amusement as his friends stumbled through the crowded streets. The glow of the lanterns strung with all manner of autumnal foliage casting everything in warm, almost dreamlike light. They had been lucky to find their way into town right as the Harvests Close celebrations were starting, the streets busy from noon one with families and carts full of goods. Plus, the games and competitions that had drawn the more competitive of their group right away. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he had fallen prey to it himself, though he was a little ashamed of just how poorly he had done.
He shook his head to clear the thoughts as he watched Jester buying an armful of flower crowns from a young woman whose eyes were wide as she took them all in. He had caught a few startled looks through the day, these small northern towns generally didn’t play host to groups like theirs, but everyone had been polite so far. A little rush of warmth filled his chest as he watched both Beau and Caleb acquiesce to Jesters crowns, Caleb ducking down with a fond smile on his face so she could lay the flowers the way she wanted to. They had all had their fair share of the local ale by the time the sun had gone down, and he could see how it had brought the ruddy flush to Caleb’s cheeks and softened the sharp creases around his eyes. Jester caught his eye with a cheeky smile and waved him over.
“Fjord! You need one too! Aren’t they so pretty?”
“They’re great Jes” he chuckled, the stein of ale in his hand making him feel much more inclined to go along with her “go for it”
“Yay!” she held out her arm, looking over the flowers there for a moment “hmm... which one though”
“What about that one Jester?” Caleb’s voice was soft as he pointed “it’s quite handsome”
“Ohhh do you hear that Fuh-yooord? Caleb thinks you’re handsome”
“He said the crown is handsome Jes, calm down” Fjord responded with an indulgent roll of his eyes, even as he felt the heat creep into his cheeks
“Both can be true” Caleb said simply, tugging the crown from her arm gently and turning to face Fjord “may I?”
The crown was more leaves than flowers, all in shades of oranges and reds. The flowers that were there were mostly petals, in the same deep colours. Fjord tried not to think too hard about Caleb’s words as he held it out, but the open way he was looking at him was making that difficult.
“I--oh, yeah, o’course”
Caleb stepped forward and lifted the crown, pushing up onto his toes so he could reach the top of Fjords head. He bent forward automatically, breath catching in his throat when Caleb’s too blue eyes locked onto his with a soft smile. They stood for a moment before Caleb’s hands came down from his head to rest on his shoulders. It would be so easy to close the gap, to slide his hand from where it had landed on his ribs down to his hip instead and pull him close. The woodsmoke scent that always seemed to cling to Caleb’s person filled his nose, mixed with the smell of the ale on his breath and something sweeter.
The moment was broken as someone shoved into his back, causing him to step forward and grip Caleb instinctively for balance. He muttered and apology before turning to look at who had banged into him, half expecting it to be one of their friends messing around. Instead, there were three young men, faces red with drink and anger written on their faces. The one closest to him, who he assumed had been the one who hit him, looked from Fjord to where Jester and Caduceus stood behind him and spat on the floor at his feet.
“Fucking half-breed monsters” he slurred, his accent heavy “should leave us normal folks alone”
Fjord stood up, releasing Caleb in order to turn fully towards them. He could feel the indignant rage that shit like this always caused rolling in his gut and had to fight back the urge to growl at the idiots. Instead, he took a deep breath and pasted a smile on his face.
“No need for that gentlemen, we’re just passing through”
“Then get to passing , fucking freaks”
Okay, that was a bit much. Fjord glared now; anger fed by drink boiling up to the surface. They hadn’t done shit to deserve this.
“Listen--”
His sentence was cut off as Caleb flew forward, landing a solid punch to the front man's face as he spat something that sounded like cursing in Zemnian. Fjord froze in shock, watching as Caleb continued to yell in his mother tongue. The men looked as shocked as he felt, the speakers' lip had split and was bleeding slowly as they stared. This went on for a good few minutes until Fjord saw Caleb’s hand inching towards his component pouch.
Oh, that wasn’t good.
“Cay--Caleb they get it” he reached out, laying a gentle hand on Caleb’s shoulder “c’mon darlin’ just ignore them alright?”
“ Nein! ” Caleb’s head whipped around to look at him, and Fjord had to fight a shiver at the intensity in his eyes “they are being close-minded Arschgesichts and they should know it!”
“We are only saying what everyone else is thinking!” the man seemed to have found his voice again, shoving Caleb with a smirk
Rage flashed in Caleb’s eyes as his hand went back towards his waistband and Fjord... well to be honest, Fjord panicked.
“Nope!” he called, grabbing Caleb by the waist and tossing him up over his shoulder “none of that tonight darlin’”
“Fjord!” Caleb protested, squirming on his shoulders “let me—”
“Not a chance Cay” he said simply, turning to walk away through the crowd as Caleb returned to shouting insults at the shrinking men.
He knew that Beau was still over there, and the chances of the three idiots getting an ass-whopping was still very high, but at least now the entire fair wouldn’t burn to the ground. Caleb had quit squirming by the time they reached the still busy inn, and Fjord paused on the front porch, giving his ribs a light squeeze.
“Think you can behave if I let you down?”
“Hmph.”
“Cay?”
“ Ja Fjord” he sighed “fine fine”
“Alright”
He set Caleb down, keeping a hand on his waist while he steadied himself against Fjord's chest. He looked up with a petulant pout that Fjord couldn’t help but smile at.
“What is so funny then?”
“You’re cute when you’re annoyed”
Shit, hadn’t meant for that one to slip out.
“ Ja well you are too nice for your own good, we could have taken them”
“I’m sure we could’ve, but they were just a couple of drunk assholes” he reached up to straighten the wreath in Caleb’s hair, tucking a lock behind his ear in the process “they aren’t worth it sweetheart”
They stared at each other for a moment and Fjord watched the fire in Caleb’s eyes settle into something softer. He leaned into Fjord’s hand where it still rested against his cheek, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.
“You are right, I... I should not have lost my head like that” he sighed “I do not suppose you will let me get us drinks, then we can find the others?”
“Sure Cay, sounds good”
That earned him another soft smile and a hand tangled around the one at Caleb’s waist, tugging him into the busy bar. Caleb ordered from the older woman behind the bar, smiling his most charming smile as he said something in Zemnian that made her laugh. Collecting their drinks, Caleb led the way to one of the only tables left, a small one by the windows, and they settled in. Fjord watched him wrap both hands around the Stien, thumb sliding absentmindedly up and down the side as he watched Fjord right back. He took a long pull from his own drink, wiping the foam from on the back of his hand.
“Fjord...”
“Yeah Cay?”
“I--well I just want... I am sorry if I overstepped back there” Caleb looked down into his drink, brows furrowed in a way that made Fjord want to reach out and smooth the creases “I feel that you—you have worked so long to make yourself palatable to everyone you meet, filing you tusks and smiling and speaking so quietly and I... you deserve to be angry sometimes Fjord”
Fjord's chest constricted as Caleb looked up uncertainly at him.
“I... I don’t know what to say to that” he said honestly, reaching out across the table and catching his breath when Caleb reached back “I’m working on some of it, the tusks and such but honestly Cay, I don’t see a point in wasting energy being mad at people like that”
Calebs clever fingers tangled with his as he hummed thoughtfully in response, eyes searching for a moment before a small smile spread across his face.
“Well, you do look awfully handsome with your tusks”
“If you say so” he chuckled, glad to feel the tension fade away
“I do”
There was a certainty in Caleb’s tone that had Fjords ears heating up, watching the way this throat worked as he took a drink, pink tongue darting out to catch the errant drops.
“Y-you uh—” Fjord leaned in across the tiny table, warmth in his chest when Caleb mirrored the action “you’ve got a little...”
He reached out with his free hand, swiping the little bubble of foam from the corner of Caleb’s mouth. Caleb leaned into the touch, pressing a kiss to the pad of Fjords thumb before smirking up at him. Fjord swallowed, his mouth suddenly very dry as Caleb stared at him through his lashes, pupils wide in the low light of the tavern.
“The fireworks will start soon” his voice was low, his breath warm on Fjords hand “my room has a balcony, it would offer an excellent view”
“Yes.” he responded just a little too quickly, clearing his throat as Caleb’s eyes danced with mischief “Yeah, that sounds perfect—like a perfect idea, yeah”
Caleb stood, tugging him to his feet, and led the way towards the stairs, mugs forgotten.