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One of Essek's favorite places was Kingsley's lap.
He could never quite pinpoint why, but whenever Kingsley returned home after being away at sea for so long, Essek found comfort in laying before the fireplace with his head in Kingley’s lap amongst a pile of blankets and pillows, meticulously collected and arranged to Kingsley’s wishes. At the same time, the tiefling wove tales of his adventures with his words and braids into his hair with nimble fingers. Of course, he shared moments of intimacy with Caleb when they were together, but the intimacy between them was different than the one he shared with Kingsley, just as Caleb and Kingsley were different. Essek and Caleb’s moments were primarily quiet, discussing notes and theories to the musical accompaniment of crackling fireplaces and purring cats.
When Kingsley was home, they spent far less time invested in their shared work and much more time enjoying the limited time they had with their loved one before he answered the siren call of adventure once more. Kingsley was far more animated than the two of them, bringing energy into their home that they lacked in his absence, but the two wizards would never dream of complaining.
This was one of those treasured moments, laid on the floor with his head in Kingsley’s lap in a comfortable silence broken by the occasional pop from the fireplace. In Essek’s hand was, of course, a book, held up before his face, eyes silently skimming each line, and lips moving soundlessly over the words while Kingsley’s fingers moved slowly through his hair, half-lidded eyes gazing at the fire. His head lolled drowsily against the couch behind him, a rare occurrence for an individual who usually spent his time bouncing off of the walls.
It was quiet but comfortable, and though Kingsley had never admitted it aloud, Essek knew that he appreciated the quiet moments just as much as he did the louder ones.
This time around, Kingsley had arrived home a few weeks earlier than initially planned, having finished his latest adventure at sea in record time. It was a detail mentioned in the letter Essek received that same week, which sparked the idea of surprising their beloved Caleb with an early return home.
It was rather easy to keep Kingsley’s return home a secret, but Essek found himself close to cracking whenever Caleb mentioned Kingsley in passing conversation. After tonight, he wouldn’t have to keep the secret any longer.
The sound of a song pulled Essek from his book, a soft melody that just barely registered in the back of his mind. Music wasn’t unusual in their household, but the sudden presence was since they hadn't played any. Essek pulled his gaze from the words on the page to look up at Kingsley, whose eyes were still closed, but the humming sound was coming from him. Although his humming continued for quite some time, Essek eventually picked up the soft murmuring of words that went along with the song's tone.
Kingsley was singing; Essek had never heard him do that before.
“I didn’t know you sang,” Essek said, startling Kingsley from his reverie. “Have you always?”
“Pirates sing all of the time when they’re out at sea,” Kingsley told him as if it were apparent, lifting his head. “Helps pass the time.”
“Is that true?”
"Oh, absolutely," he said. "In fact, it's one of the requirements for the position."
Essek peeked up at him over the rim of his book curiously. Kingsley looked completely serious, but Essek was sure that had to be a lie. "Are you making a joke?" he asked. "I can't tell if you're making a joke."
“Me? Lie to you? I am wounded,” Kingsley retorted, hand over his heart, and Essek laughed despite himself. “Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of sea shanties, love,”
“I don’t know how to tell you this, ussta xukuth ,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “But I am not a pirate despite your clever attempts to convert me."
Kingsley chuckled. "And what a travesty that is."
"Oh yes, the greatest travesty of all."
“The offer to run off with me and sail the seas is still on the table, you know,” the tiefling replied, moving his eyebrows up and down suggestively, and Essek laughed again, hiding his face behind his book. A quiet moment quickly turned into a flirtatious one; Essek always fell to pieces under the teasing, flirtatious gestures of Kingsley Tealeaf. “Could teach you the ways, maybe a song or two.”
“You know that I would much rather keep my feet on land,” Essek told him in amusement, imagining himself dressed in the impossibly decorative wear that Kingsley returned home in. “But perhaps you could teach me what you know while here.”
"You drive a hard bargain," the tiefling sighed, almost mournfully. "I'll get you and Caleb on that ship with me one day."
"Caleb and I would be terrible pirates.”
“You wouldn’t need to be pirates," Kingsley pointed out. "Just good company, which you both already are. I’m enough pirate for the three of us.”
"You have an entire crew to keep you company, Kingsley."
"But none of them are the two wizards I miss so dearly when I'm at sea," Kingsley crooned. "My two brilliant, devilishly handsome wizards "
"You are being...oh, what does Caleb call you," Essek murmured thoughtfully, closing his book. "Ah, yes, a wicked flirt."
"Is it working?"
“It may be.”
Kingsley’s grin widened a fraction, delighted by Essek’s teasing, and curled in on himself to press a loud kiss against his forehead. “At least wait for Caleb to get home,” he teased. “You can’t keep me all to yourself.”
“Quite right,” Essek agreed. “Tell me of your sea shanties then.”
Time passed a bit more quickly after that, so soon that before he knew it, Essek heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. There was a shuffle of sound, a heaving of a tired sigh, and then he heard him.
“Essek?” Caleb’s voice called out from the foyer. “Wo bist du?”
“In the den,” Essek called back. He looked toward the doorway where Caleb’s shadow moved on the wall. However, he did not move from his place in their makeshift nest of blankets. He was far too comfortable and knew Caleb would be joining them soon enough. “Come tell me about your afternoon.”
Caleb walked into the room moments later, bag slung over one shoulder and a collection of papers in his hands. Despite being so dressed up for his position, his hair was still in disarray, a common characteristic for the wizard who continuously ran his hand through red strands while thinking. “ Schatz, I made the most incredible discovery today and--” He looked up, and his words stopped short, caught in his throat when his eyes found Kingsley. “Oh.”
“Caleb, love,” Kingsley greeted warmly. “Welcome home.”
Caleb stared at them for a long time, seemingly frozen in the doorway and surprised, before Essek saw the makings of a smile on his face. A softening of his expression that Essek had only seen when it came to the tiefling on their couch. “ Hallo, liebling,” he greeted, dropping his bag onto a nearby chair carelessly, the papers soon following. “I think I should be the one welcoming you home, yes?”
“If you’d like,” Kingsley teased.
Essek’s smile grew slowly. “You’re not upset we surprised you?”
“How could I be upset about such a wonderful surprise?”
“And even if you were, how could you be upset with these faces?” Kingsley cooed, lifting his hand and beckoning Caleb forward with a curl of his finger. “You simply can’t resist our sweet siren call of romance.”
"I am helpless even to attempt such an act," Caleb replied truthfully, crossing the room until he stood over them. "Is there room for me in this cuddle pile?"
"There is always room for you," Essek told him.
“However, you must pay the toll,” Kingsley announced, craning his neck back. His face turned upward to Caleb’s as if he were a flower to the sun, and his smile was equally brilliant. “Kisses first.”
“How foolish of me, of course,” Caleb said in amusement, bending to press his lips to Kingsley’s tenderly before turning to do the same with Essek. Kissing Caleb was always so gentle, even now. Every press of lips conveyed the love he felt without words, though he was also known to wax poetry when the mood called for it. “ Hallo.”
“ Hallo,” Essek replied softly. “I believe your toll has been paid.”
Kingsley patted the space beside him invitingly. "Come here, handsome. I'll do your hair."
“And tell me of your discovery,” Essek told him eagerly, now draped across Kingsley’s lap and reaching for Caleb’s hand as he quickly settled into their blanket pile. Caleb grunted as he adjusted, bones audibly creaking and popping as he moved about, tucking pillows and blankets under his aching joints. Once he settled, Kingsley ran his fingers through his hair, and Essek gently kissed Caleb’s shoulder. “I am, as you say, all ears.”
Together, the three fell into their usual routine of spending hours before the fireplace, telling stories, discussing theories, and catching up. They remained there long into the night, even taking their evening meal amongst the comforts of their handmade sanctuary, until they were finally ready to retire to bed. Kingsley was exhausted from his day of travel, Caleb equally worn down from work, and it took very little suggestion from Essek to coax them upstairs to the shared bedroom.
Despite the time spent apart, they fell into bed quickly, Kingsley sandwiched between Caleb and Essek, arms and legs intertwined comfortably. It was something to be cherished, Essek thought, watching the men he loved sleep so peacefully, safely, and soundly beside him. Life was fleeting, years passed quickly, and dangers lurked behind every corner. Only a few people were as fortunate to have what the three of them had.
Essek reached over Kingsley, brushing at the steadily greying hair at Caleb’s temple before pressing his lips to a new scar across Kingsley’s shoulder. His boys were so fragile, whether to age or the world's dangers, and he would do anything he could to protect them.
Essek settled in, watching them sleep in silence as he would continue to do for the rest of the night. He would watch their chests rise and fall, listen to every sound they made as they dreamed, and wish it would never end as quickly as it seemed.
His boys, his loves.
He would do anything for them, knowing they would do the same for him.
He didn’t want to miss a moment.