Ragnar's return.

[thewidewideworld]

Their rooms are as Ragnar found them - clean but recently slept in, to the point that Athelstan's robe still hangs on the back of a chair.

Sinric is quick to tidy it, straightening the bed and hanging thing back where they belong with a servant's practiced hand.

"Let me run a bath for us." He smiles, brushing his hair back into a loose braid.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes," Ragnar says, slipping free with a wet sound as Sinric turns. "Some kisses first, then bath."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric winces a little as Ragnar leaves him, feeling open and wet but pleasantly so.

He smiles in Ragnar's arms and kisses him deeply and lovingly. "How I have missed you."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar holds him in his arms and kisses him back. "I'm glad we're together now."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kisses him again, nuzzling Ragnar's cheek. "And we will all be together again. The three of us."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And then we'll both hold on to Athelstan and let him know just how much he is loved," Ragnar says. "He must be so lonely there about the English Christians who are no longer his people."

[thewidewideworld]

"He is." He answers softly. "He's finding it very hard to relate to them as he no longer sees himself as part of that world."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And I can't even be there for him as part of the world he now lives in," Ragnar says.

He gets up from the floor, and extends his hand to Sinric. "Let's get into the bath now and go on talking in there."

Sex on the bath mat is fine; for post-coital cuddling and talking, the actual hot bath may be better.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric accepts his hand and gets up with something less than his usual grace. Shaky knees with do that to you.

He sides into the bath, letting the hot water soak into him. "You are with him." He assures as he take Ragnar into his arms and pressing the flat of his hand over Ragnar's heart. "He carries you here, knowing you are coming for him, that you always love him."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar sinks into the bath with him, leaning into the touch, and sighing deeply.

"I will write him a letter," Ragnar says. "So he's got something he can touch."

[thewidewideworld]

"He will like that, very much. I would be glad to help, if I can. Even if it's just to scribe the words."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I can write," Ragnar says, "if not well. And I want everything to be my own work, even if it's hard, especially if it's hard, for his sake."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods, bowing slightly out of respect for Ragnar's aims. "Even if he can't take your letter safely with him, your words will mean the world to him."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar nods. "I hope so," he says.

They mean the world to each other as it is, Athelstan and he.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric fetches a cloth and starts washing Ragnar gently, his hands soft but sure over his skin. "There is much he will need of you when you come again into each other's arms. Much care and understanding, as I did."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"But he wasn't -- what has that king done??" Ragnar says, grim all of a sudden.

[thewidewideworld]

"Not like that." Sinric answers quickly, a hand in Ragnar's arm. "Not like I was but he has been hurt, violence was used in him."

"And as it was with me, that leaves... wounds on the soul than manifest as panic and nightmares and fear without cause. And sometimes blocks the way to pleasures. As you were gentle with me, you will need to be gentle with him."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I just want to hold him and be gentle and tell him I love him and wake him when he has nightmares," Ragnar says, unhappy.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric lowers the cloth and moves to hold Ragnar in his arms, knowing this separation is breaking both their hearts.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar holds him in his arms and hides his face in the golden hair, saying nothing.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric lets him cry, or simply be silent as he needs, stroking Ragnar's hair and back as he sings the soft Northumbrian lullaby that he sang for Athelstan.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar does cry, even though he's trying not to show it, not even to Sinric.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric doesn't hush him or show scorn for Ragnar's tears. Quite the opposite, he feels grateful Ragnar trusts him enough to show him.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I miss him so very much," Ragnar admits, in a very small voice that still sounds a bit choked.

[thewidewideworld]

"As he misses you." Sinric whispers, kissing Ragnar's hair. "Love and loss burns so brightly in both of you but that love will bring you back to each other."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I'm just no good without him."