Work Text:
Several times he had flinched at the slightest touch, no matter how gentle Aymeric had tried to be. Not for any particular reason, just that he startled easily and it didn't help that he couldn't rely on any good hearing to help him know or be prepared for anyone out of sight.
It wasn't anything dire or particularly important to overcome, yet Aymeric seemed determined. 'Just wait, my love, soon you will know when I am coming to you.' Sweet and wonderful he was, so the Warrior smiled.
'I'll do my best to make it difficult for you.' Aymeric laughed. Half-laughed. Huffed. Exasperated, but so so fond. His head would tilt to the side and, every time, he would take his wrists just to turn his hands to kiss his palms.
And then he would pull away, because he needed to respond. 'You wouldn't, my star, you'd forget to make anything challenging for me.'
He would. So he stuck his tongue out and pulled into Aymeric's open arms, pressing his ear against his neck. Talk at me. So he held him, firm and secure and safe. He combed his fingers through his hair and his muted words coloured the world.
He spoke softly, dropping off every so often as he did when he needed to express his ever growing affection.
—
He carefully picked off the grapes and dropped them into the basket beside him, mindlessly going about his menial task.
A break they'd insisted, You've been working too hard. Go home, get some rest. He sighed. He'd been working just enough, thank you. And even if he wasn't, what was an unplanned vacation going to do except drive him mad? And he couldn't do so much as a fetch errand for anyone. Terrible, really.
He closed his eyes, just to stop seeing the fruits for a moment lest he get tempted to eat them all. For a moment, there was the familiar nothingness, but then he felt some taps on the floor, unfamiliar. He froze. Intruder? Danger?? Tense, he turned, ready to take the knife from the counter—
Aymeric waved at him. He breathed. 'What in the world were you doing?'
Sheepish, his lover signed back. 'Alerting you to my presence.' Aymeric moved to take his hands, to kiss his palms with an apologetic smile. Then he pulled away. 'I take it I only succeeded in scaring you.'
Not by your choice, my love. He took Aymeric's wrists himself, kissing his hands. Then he pulled away. 'Do it again. I'll remember next time.'
—
The floorboards tapped behind him, and the counter thunk-tick'd before a pair of arms wrapped around his middle. His lips curled into a smile, and he tilted his head back just in time for Aymeric to lean down and kiss him between his eyes. They stayed like that for a moment before they had to separate so he could finish cutting his popotos while Aymeric took to ridding himself of his armour to join him later.
His vacation would end soon, and he would have to return to his work. Thancred may already have a written report just for him, to tell him what his friends had done in his absence and where he would inevitably pick up with them upon his return. Ah, but that didn't matter now.
The floorboards tapped behind him, and the counter thunk-tick'd before a gentle hand hooked around his hip and pulled him ever so slightly against Aymeric's side. The man didn't need much explanation to know what he was doing. He never did. Pressing one last kiss to his temple, Aymeric pulled away to help him finish up so they could sooner retire for the night.
—
By the break of dawn, he had to leave. He sat at the side of the bed where Aymeric slept, gently tugging at his nightshirt until bleary blue watched him carefully, to see what he would do. He leaned down to kiss his cheek. To press his forehead against Aymeric's before he would return to lonelier nights. One last time, he moved to press his ear against Aymeric's neck. To feel his voice.
The vibration was heavier, warmer, still so comfortable and tired and wonderful.
He pulled away. Aymeric knocked against the nightstand— thunk-tick— and he smiled. Tired and yet sleepy.
Come home soon, love.
He smiled. 'I will.'