AU week - telling the tale.

[thewidewideworld]

Sin takes Athelstan's hand and leads him through a door and then another, and up a narrow flight of stairs that seem to be hidden in the walls. To another door that looks like it should be locked but isn't. (Or isn't locked anymore.)

The journey leads them into the roof and a flatish section of tiles where they can sit and look out over the lake, protected from the breeze.

"Come, sit with me." Sin strolls across the tiles, sure as a mountain goat till he finds a good spot to sit with their backs against a chimney.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"When I go to the festival..." He sighs. "I'm going to have to either lie to them, say it's a business trip or something, or tell them I'm running away with a male biker and probably be excommunicated on the spot."

[thewidewideworld]

"I won't and can't tell you what to do, lovely Athelstan. But know, whatever you do, Ragnar and I will be there for you. Only you can decide what you're ready for."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's tempting to shock them all", he admits. "But I don't want to give anybody an actual heart attack."

[thewidewideworld]

He runs his thumb over Athelstan's inner wrist, letting him take his time to process.

[athelstanthescribe]

"My cousins", he says quietly. "They were more like my brothers. And we used to sneak in and take care of each other, after..."

He's going to miss them.

[thewidewideworld]

"Maybe they're the people you need to talk to first?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Maybe", he agrees, with reluctance from fear.

[thewidewideworld]

"But you don't have to do it alone if you don't want to. I'll go with you, if you want me to." He laughs softly at himself. "I'm no use in a fight but you know I can talk, help them to understand."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't want it to come to a fight", he says softly. "I'm not much use at them either."

[thewidewideworld]

"Then for that, we have Ragnar and his people. But words might be a safer start."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I know Ragnar's angry. But I don't want to hurt them. I just want to..."

[thewidewideworld]

"To be at peace with who you are?" Sin prompts gently.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", he says quietly. "I've tried to fight it for too long."

[thewidewideworld]

Sin strokes his cheek, his face warm and a little flushed with the drink and strong emotions. "You're not fighting that battle any more. And if you must fight, you won't stand alone."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan has barely touched the drink, but he is full of the strong emotions, tamped down though they are.

Impulsively, he leans over to kiss Sin again, with a murmur of "Thank you."

[thewidewideworld]

Sin sighs into the kiss, enjoying the warmth of it. "Thank you. It's been a long time since I felt open enough to tell my tale to anyone."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'm glad you could with me. And", he promises, "it'll stay between us. Not even Ragnar, unless you tell him yourself."

[thewidewideworld]

"I know." He toys with Athelstan's curls. "I knew you would understand why I can't always tell people about myself."

[athelstanthescribe]

"None of what happened, or what you did with the Emperors", he says softly, "was your fault. You were steered wrong by the first person you remember taking care of you, that's all."

[thewidewideworld]

"Perhaps not, but it made me who I am. Not everyone accepts that as readily as you have, beautiful Athelstan. It's one of the things I love about you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Most of who we are is where we've been, I think. Not all, or we'd be able to change parts of ourselves... but most."

He blushes a little at the 'I love you', which he's heard more in the last week than ever in his life before.

[thewidewideworld]

"Time to see the world, beautiful Athelstan. Time to see doorways without canes and love without costs."

There's a slight slur in his smile as the drink finally catches up with Sin.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan hears it and tugs Sin slightly into his arms, so they can rest comfortably together - perhaps a few more kisses, but he doesn't need or want more than that today.

"It wasn't a word that got used much in our house", he murmurs, playing with Sin's hair again. "Being good would make them proud, when we were, but there wasn't much talk of love."

[thewidewideworld]

Sin settles happily, especially with his hair being stroked.

"I love you, and I love Ragnar too. Not the way you love each other but it is a word that covers many degrees of affection and passion. I guess it's just my way, to make the most of whatever time I have with a person to the fullest. To love fast and deep but without expectation."

[athelstanthescribe]

"The way we love each other scares me", Athelstan confesses. "It happened so fast, and it's - everything."