Berwald and Tino were in Berwald's office, the taller man sitting at the massive desk, busy with writing a letter, probably with another list of things to take care of for the castle's steward. His serious face showed deep concentration.
Tino, who was sitting casually on the wide windowsill, had to smile, watching the other. Berwald always had to have things like this done the official way, most preferably having them on paper. So instead of just telling their steward what tasks were planned for this week, he was writing a letter.
Caught up in his work, Berwald couldn't see his beloved man staring at him with undeniable tenderness but if he could, he would be delighted. He truly appreciated each sing of affection he could get from Tino, ever since the very first day they had met, even though usually he might encounter some difficulties with expressing it. But then again, Tino knew him long enough to read feelings and intentions hidden behind the rough surface.
It had took Berwald long enough to only reassure Tino that he was no danger to him, not to mention revealing his growing attachment to the cute man and not scaring him to death while doing so. And then they'd had to face all the external troubles. No, it hadn't been easy but greatest things in life don't come without any fight and what they had now was fully worth enduring all the pain in past.
,,Ber, do you think Lukas can do this ?" asked Tino suddenly, a dash of worry in his usually cheerful voice.
Berwald looked up, putting down a quill and not hurrying with a reply.
,,He has the stone and being who he is, the chances are significant."
Tino nodded, not looking fully convinced at all. He looked out the window where another beautiful winter day could be seen.
,,It's pretty far from there yet, and you know the further North the stranger it gets. I also talked with Lukas today. Did you know that Vemund's spies follow them from the coast and won't lose the track of them no matter what ?"
,,I didn't know."
,,Usually I wouldn't give that sly roisto a single chance to beat Lukas but something's different now."
,,Is that so ?"
,,Yeah, you see, Lukas has been waiting for this time for so long, he may not show that but the closer he gets the more impatient he becomes. And you know impatience makes people careless. Then he doesn't have a single warrior with him. I know that's for travelling quicker and being less noticeable but it's also really risky. Vlad might be just as special as Lukas but that won't help them much if they get into real troubles."
Berwald nodded once. He thought just the same but if Tino needed to say that aloud to sort out his own thoughts then Berwald didn't mind listening carefully.
,,I don't know too much about Mathias though. Lukas said he's a skilled fighter, you know, he fought against him in some little battle when they first met. But still, Lukas kind of forced on him this whole trip so I don't really know how would things end up if he was to fight alongside them. And his personality seems quite similar to the one of Vlad, miten luulet? But they also seem to be such perfectly matched friends, he and Vlad."
,,You're right." came Barwald's reply as the man stood up and walked up to the other, standing in front of him. Tino looked up.
,,I hope they'll be all right, do you think they will ? I really wish them best." he said, looking as if he was seeking a confirmation in Berwald's deep eyes, the coulour of which resembled lakes' water in the summer when it changed fluently from blue to green and back.
Berwald wanted to tell him just how wonderful, considerate person Tino was and how it made him love him even more each time something like this happened. But unfortunately words rarely were in his favour.
He reached out and cupped the other's cheek with one hand. Tino's eyes widened at once, a shade of an old-forgotten anxiety still remaing somewhere deep inside him but then it was gone and the blonde tilted his head to the side so it leaned on Berwald's palm. He sent him a sweet, grateful smile, understanding exactly what hadn't been said.
Seeing that, Berwald managed to create a small smile of his own and put in on his lips. Then he leaned forward, pulled Tino on the very edge of the windsill and pressed their lips together.
Tino willingly wrapped his arms around the other's neck and kissed him back, deeper and with feelings overfilling him to the point where he had to get closest possibly to Berwald, feel him physically and make sure he was really there.
Tight grip of Berwald's arms, strong enough to give safety but careful not to hurt him, told him that the taller man felt just the same way.
And then the door abruptly swang open, Mathias coming to a halt and staring at them, his mouth opened before he pulled himself together, shaked his head and looked away, giving them time to take more decent poses.
,,What is it ?" asked Berwald curtly, glaring at him as if he wanted to scold him for not knocking at the door before coming in.
Mathias casted a glance at Tino, who smiled at him friendly. That apparently got Mathias back on his usual tracks because now he was grinning and looking oddly excited.
,,I want to set up a birthday dinner." he announced and looked at them, awaiting their reaction.
,,Whose birthday, yours ?" Berwald's unsmiling face and skeptical look in his eyes made Mathias chuckle.
,,No, today's Vlad's birthday."
Tino jumped off the windsill, his face astonished, eyes wide open.
,,How did I not know that ?" he asked. ,,Ber, we need to tell the cook to prepare something special, and then we have to make it a surprise !"
Berwald sighed but said nothing. He was thinking of a loud mess he would get instead of a calm dinner. But as long as it would make Tino happy...
Large dining room was cozily lit up only with fireplace's light and numerous candles on the long table. Vlad's crimson eyes were gleaming and generally looking like fresh, liquid blood but his broad, splendid smile wouldn't allow anyone fear him at that very moment.
,,I can't thank you enough, all of you." he announced and everone's gazes focused on him, Mathias and Tino also smiled in response. It was already long after the birthday dinner but they didn't move from the table, drinking beer and getting caught up in more or less casual conversations. Even Lukas and Berwald looked as if they came to enjoy themselves, a little.
,,You're totally worth making some fuss around your birthday." Mathias grinned at him and winked playfully. Vlad chuckled.
,,Stop it, you're making me blush." he replied though his cheeks remained as pale as always, no sign of embarrassment in happiness-filled eyes.
From where he was seating, Vlad could see Berwald's occasional glares sent in Mathias' direction, followed by the other's half-suppressed sheepish smile and he couldn't help wondering if anything interesting had happened before between those two.
He didn't have to wait long for his answer. He was sitting in the library, curled up in one of those comfortable armchairs, his attention fully captured by a book he had got from Lukas as a birthday gift. It was a truly unique gift indeed since magical knowledge contained in it was considered long forgotten.
He looked up when the door opened and Mathias stepped in, walking up to him. Vlad closed the book, knowing that Mathias must have come here to talk about something and he was right.
Mathias, instead of sitting in one of rather distant armchairs, chose to sit heavily on the thick carpet, right in front of where Vlad was. This, and the look of pensiveness in his eyes woke up Vladimir's curiosity. He leaned forward, looking down at the visibly troubled man.
,,Oi, what is it ?" he asked.
Mathias hesitated.
,,Do you...know Tino and Berwald well ?"
,,Da, pretty well, I think. I spent whole summer in here once when Lukas had to take care of something by himself."
That seemed to put Mathias in ease, at least a bit.
,,So you know about...them." he risked a guess.
,,About..." Vlad frowned, trying to get on the track Mathias' mind followed. It was unusual for him to play it so indirectly. And that expression of his now, what was it all about ?
,,Oh !" he finally caught it. ,,You mean them as a couple, don't you ?"
Mathias looked up.
,,Yeah ! So it's official ?"
,,Sure. They've been like this for years, well, since Berwald went East and met Tino in his country. I don't really know that many details but it was pretty tough for them to get together and the whole story is rather dramatic but it must be the most amazing romance I've ever heard of too."
Mathias smiled, his uncertainty gone.
,,They seem terribly mismatched at the first sight but the longer I watch them, the more I see how wrong that first impression is." he said.
,,Exactly." Vlad nodded. ,,But how did you find out ?"
,,I...sort of burst into the room when they kissed." admitted Mathias, smirking with a dash of guilt.
Vlad snorted with laughter.
,,So that's why Berwald looks at you like this."
,,That's right." Mathias bent to the side, leaning half on the armchair and half on Vlad's folded legs, his head placed freely on them. He seemed quite relaxed, looking up and grinning at the friend.
,,How's that they can just make a couple and build a normal life together without others butting in and, well, you know how it usually looks like when two men decide to be together, especially when they belong to social elites and all." he asked after a long moment of silence.
Vlad smirked, as much of a good observer as he was, he knew exactly why that subject intrigued Mathias that much.
,,Hey, it's North, remember ? Everything's allowed."
Mathias grinned and added ,,If you're strong enough to claim it as yours."
They both laughed.
,,That's quite right. And also these lands aren't exactly known for people's high morality level. Honestly, all kind of things take place in here."
,,Sounds interesting." Mathias suddenly noticed the closed book on the boy's lap. ,,Talking of which, I interruped you, didn't I ? I'll go now."
,,No, you can stay, I like it more with you here. Just be quiet."
Mathias nodded and soon the only sounds filling the air were a soothing crackling of fire and persistent wind howling and blowing against the windows. Mathias felt himself drifting away as he leaned on Vlad's legs completely and closed his eyes. It didn't take long untill he fell asleep.
More surprising was that Vlad, instead of getting back to reading, just sat unmovingly, staring into the darkness outside and letting his thoughts wander purposelessly. Something darker and a bit pained showed up in his eyes but at the same time a little, awaiting smile curved his lips and he bent over to place his head on the armhold, curled in the armchair in very catlike way.
Lukas, feeling somewhat restless, took a long walk alongside the lake's shore, at least a part of it. When he came back, he paid a short visit to the horses. All of them were rather calm, apart from Negma.
,She and Mathias are kind of alike.' he thought, watching the shiny black mere buck in her stall, throwing back legs high up in the air. She cooled down as he called her name and caressed her head. Mathias had once noticed how ,,caressable" was that long, white marking of hers and he was right though Lukas was sure the word he used didn't even exist.
It was getting late and he assumed both his troublesome companions were already in beds, at least he hoped it was true in Mathias' case. He headed to the library then, wanting to read something inspiring before sleep.
How big was his surprise when after entering said room, very first thing he noticed was a couple of friends, soundly asleep in most astonishing positions. They reminded him of a kitty curled up in an armchair and a puppy falling asleep while still sitting only to keep touching the kitty.
,How sweet.' he thought sarcastically, little smirk on his lips as he approached them with no sound made. He obviously couldn't let them stay like this, most likely one of them would catch a cold and they'd have to postpone setting off.
He tilted his head to the side and watched them for a long moment, judging the situation. With his heritage he should be better at reading people's emotions and sensing them but for some reason he wasn't. Maybe because for most time he didn't pay attention to them or just never really tried to develop that ability.
But now he pushed his own thoughts out of mind and focused on two sleeping cuties. He didn't receive much. Mathias' emotions were for a change calm and quiet, at least he was like this when asleep. But Vlad was kind of an emotional mess. Usually he was a tough one to read his but not in his sleep and not when apparently something got him negatively distracted.
All Lukas could say was that it was somehow linked to Vlad's past and that alone was enough for him to make a final decision.
He bent down, swiftly covered Mathias' mouth with one hand and then smacked the back of his head with another one. Harsh indeed, but efficient and quick.
Mathias woke up at once, his gasp inaudible due to the mouth covered completely. For a moment his eyes were slightly panicked, at least until he saw who woke him up. Then they went narrowed in a smile.
Lukas put one finger on his own lips, giving him a sign to stay quiet, before he let go off him. Mathias straightened up and stretched his hands over head, still sitting on the floor. He casted a glance at soundly sleeping Vlad and smiled as if he saw something utterly cute.
Truth to be told, sleeping Vlad was cute. With no red eyes nor fangs visible, his unearthly good looks were stripped off their ferocity and dash of danger, leaving his face innocent but still captivating.
Suddenly Mathias turned to Lukas.
,,Why did you wake me up like this ?" he asked in whisper with a hint of indignation. Lukas only looked at him.
,,I hate you sometimes." Mathias whispered, holding back a giggle or something equally ridiculous in situation when he should fight back or at least show some real anger, according to Lukas' loose reflections.
,,You need to carry him upstairs." he said in voice so lowered it was barely heard. ,,But don't wake him up."
Mathias stood up and looking down at Lukas, he smiled oddly.
,,And that's why you hit me, right ? Luke, I don't get you."
,,Want to earn another hit ?" Lukas voice was cold but did nothing more than making Mathias grin. Seriously, what was wrong with this man ? wondered Lukas, frowning slightly.
,,If you hit me, I'll probably scream or something and Vlad will wake up."
,,You think I care this much whether he does or not ?"
Mathias smirked in response. ,,I think you do."
Before Lukas could say or do anything, Mathias leaned down and gave him a peck right on the lips, pulling back before he could really got hit for that. He was grinning and looking all proud of himself though.
Lukas rolled his eyes and bit his lower lip to stop it from shaping into a small smile. Was he already catching Mathias' stupidity or what ?
,,Get him, now." he hissed, pointing a finger at the sleeping boy and turned around to walk out of the library. Mathias soon joined him, Vlad half awoken in his arms, head on his shoulder.
With no real effort, Mathias carried him to the chamber and laid on the bed, wrapping the quilt around him. Vlad moved, rolling over to lay on his other side and fell back asleep right away.
When already outside, on a torch lit corridor, Mathias glanced sideways at Lukas as they were walking in a rather contemplative silence, arm in arm.
,,Oi, Luke." he started, purposely ignoring the other's glare. ,,How much longer ?"
,,What are you talking about ?" Lukas frowned slightly.
,,This...thing, the trip, I'm not even sure how am I supposed to call it since I don't know it's nature. How much longer will it take ?"
His voice was serious and he really wanted a proper answer but hearing Lukas sigh in annoyance and seeing him roll his eyes as well, Mathias apparently couldn't help doing what he did.
,,What now ?" Lukas asked in cold, emotionless voice, managing to stay unaffected by being suddenly grasped by shoulders and pushed against the wall with Mathias looking down at him and smiling with...was it only obstinacy ? Great, that was exactly what he needed now. Lukas let out another quiet sigh. He was too tired for that.
,,Tell me just this one thing, otherwise I won't let you go." Mathias smile widened but judging by the way his fingers clenched tighter, Lukas could tell the other one really meant that. So troublesome. As if he couldn't easily break free at any moment.
,,That one thing even I don't know so you kind of messed up this ,one question' action." he replied blankly.
Mathias stared at him, his smile faded a bit.
,,For once you could just give me a simple, honest answer." he bit his lower lip, his eyes full of mixed emotions. Had Lukas been in less worn out condition, he would focus enough to read at least their general direction for he honestly could't tell anything just by looking at Mathias' face now.
,,That was honest." he said calmly. ,,It may be weeks, depends on circumstances."
Mathias didn't look convinced. As soon as he opened his mouth to ask another arduous question, Lukas shook off his hands, moved closer and covered Mathias' lips with his own. As far, it was the most perfect method to both make him shut up and distract him enough to drop whatever he had been up to.
It worked even better than he had expected and soon enough Lukas found himself no longer in control over the kiss, his back once again pressed against the wall, Mathias hands not touching him directly but leaned on the cold, stone surface. Was it to trap him in between or just to keep Mathias from touching him for some reason ? He had it hard to collect his thoughts, being kissed like this, his fingers tangled in those ridiculously messy hair of the other man. It took him noticeably long to be capable of shoving Mathias away.
,,Enough already." he decided cooly, gathering his composure quickly so his face would remain indifferent. He smirked slightly as he saw a broad, goofy grin that had spreaded across Mathias' face, even though his sky blue eyes were still darkened from need. His reactions were always somehow entertaining, one could never be bored around him.
,,You're insane, you know ?" Mathias reached up and lightly pressed one finger to the tip of Lukas' nose, playfully and most likely to get on his nerves. ,,But since you're so cute, I'll let you have it your way, for now."
Lukas smacked off his hand, not showing any other sign of irritation. Oblivious to Mathias' chukle as well, he slipped out from between him an the wall and continued to walk down the corridor as if nothing had happened.
,,I'll get it out of you, everything I need to know !" he heard Mathias' loud declaration but didn't bother to stop or look back.
,,Whatever." he responded indifferently with a dash of sarcasm. ,,Now make sure you won't be a burden in the morning and go to sleep already."
All he got in return was a half-laughing snort but his mind was already set on different matters, such as plans for making it relatively safe to their destination what might have sounded easy but in fact was quite a challenge, especially now when they were about to enter the real, wild North, the one that had a slightly nightmarish air to it. The one Lukas had always called home.
Translations:
roisto - scoundrel
miten luulet? - how do you think ?
I've started working on a accompanying story, sort of. The chapters are much shorter though. It tells about Vlad's past and all and I really felt like writing it because ever since I thought about this character I already had his own story in my mind. I just don't know if I should put it in here as a separate story and if anyone would like to read it.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter :)