Chapter 8: Tides

Both men practically jumped when Sihtric suddenly appeared behind them silently and Finan knocked into the boy. Sihtric stumbled backwards and ended up dumping half the bowl of water on Finan's head. Uhtred let out a loud laugh and toppled over on his side. He flailed rather ungracefully for a moment as he continued to laugh, his voice echoing through them all. "That is one way to wash him, Sihtric." He rolled over on his back and struggled to breathe for a moment as he continued to flail about.

Sihtric's eyes were wide and his gaze was pointedly on the ground. "Sorry." He mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. He backed up a step and his hands shook a bit as he held the bowl tightly and tried not to spill any more. He was beyond embarrassed and hoped neither man was upset with him.

Finan wiped a hand over his face and hair, wringing away as much of the warm liquid as he could. "It is fine. It feels nice." He said, his voice genuine. He breathed out and leaned forward. He gripped the hem of his soiled and ratted shirt and started pulling it off. He grunted with the effort and Sihtric moved closer to help. The boy quickly knelt down and set the bowl on the ground as he helped pull the shirt over the man's head. "Thank you." Finan said with a smile when the offending garment was pulled free and dropped to the ground.

Sihtric sucked in a breath as he spied the S carved into the man's back, nearly identical to Uhtred's. He remembered overhearing him talking with Hild and Ragnar, about being on the ship for at least two years before Uhtred and Sihtric just couldn't fathom that. And in that moment, just like that, his heart ached for this man that he'd just met and that he'd been jealous of a few moments before. He didn't want to think too hard on the quick turn of thought and he also didn't want to keep him waiting. He simply nodded his head and moved closer. He moved what was left of the water bowl on the ground in front of Finan before turning towards Uhtred. He didn't look at the still giggling Lord as his eyes searched for the forgotten shears. He found them quickly and returned to Finan. He sat down in front of the stranger and reached for the bowl. He pulled out the damp cloth. "Hild is fetching something clean for you to wear." He said as he wrung the excess water from the rag.

"You don't have to…" Finan started softly, trying to catch the younger man's eyes.

Sihtric barely looked at him as he shook his head, his mind still a swirling jumble of thoughts. "I don't mind." He said as he leaned closer and touched the cloth to Finan's chest. His touch was delicate and almost shy as he followed the lines of muscle.

Uhtred watched them from his spot on the ground a couple feet from them. He lifted his head and smiled shamelessly, enjoying himself a bit too much as he watched them both. "I told you, he likes for me to command him. One day I shall put that obedience to very good use."

Sihtric's eyes widened a bit and his face reddened, the hue spreading across his face and down his neck. His motions faltered for a moment but he recovered quickly and resumed dragging the rag across Finan's skin. He breathed in sharply and bit his lip. Uhtred's words weren't helping calm his mind. Instead, they were clouding his mind further and he breathed out, trying to steady himself. But it was too late, images of Uhtred and Finan both swirled about in his mind.

Finan frowned and sent a glare the laughing man's way. "Uhtred, you are going to give the boy a heart attack!" He chastised. "His face is as red as the sky at sunset."

Uhtred's laughter ebbed away as he turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Finan, a wide smile on his face. "Are you comparing him to a sunset? I did not know you were such a romantic, Fin."

A smile stretched across the Irishman's face. "I can be, when the subject demands it. He is rather pretty, isn't he?"

Sihtric's eyes flitted up to Finan's for a moment before he dropped them back to his work at hand. He dunked the cloth in the water again and reached for Finan's arm, trying not to squirm under the man's stare and words.

Finan only met the boy's gaze for a second but that was all it took. His own eyes widened and his mouth dropped open with a gasp. He hadn't been close enough to the boy to get a good look at his eyes the night before and he couldn't recall if Uhtred had mentioned their mismatched beauty. Finan had never seen such a thing before. "Oh God, his eyes, Uhtred!"

Uhtred chuckled and nodded his head. "He does have pretty eyes." He agreed. "I noticed them the first time I met him."

Sihtric squirmed a bit under the scrutiny, his face still red. He had never been used to attention that wasn't negative. He'd just barely begun accepting the praise his Lord threw at him before his capture. Being called pretty, though, that was harder for him to accept. He'd been called pretty before, when he was growing up. But it was a taunt the other boys had thrown at him before calling him a girl and pressing him to the ground to have their way with him. He pushed those dark memories away as soon as they surfaced. He kept all his focus and attention on following the lines of muscles. He turned Finan's arm over and dragged the cloth over his wrist slowly.

"They are more than just pretty, Uhtred. That word does not adequately do justice." Finan grabbed Sihtric's hand in his own and held it tightly. Then he lifted his other hand to Sihtric's head and tipped the boy's head back. Sihtric didn't resist and his eyes met the Irishman's again and Finan sucked in a breath. "I feel as if I could get lost in your eyes." He said softly. "I could stare into them forever and I would die a happy man for it. It is like the morning after a storm, when the waves lap gently at the shore as if in apology for the harshness of the night before. They shine brighter than all the stars of the night sky, like they could light up everyone and everything around. It is like looking at home and knowing I belong."

Sihtric's breath caught in his throat for a moment, hanging onto Finan's every word. He was mesmerized, as well, by the rapt stare the man was giving him, as if it were just the two of them in the whole world. He had never heard such words directed at him. He leaned forward a bit too much, practically swooning and nearly falling into Finan's lap. He caught himself quickly and leaned back. He breathed deeply for a moment and looked just as breathless as Uhtred had earlier. He glanced over his shoulder at Uhtred and the Lord didn't look happy. Finan, on the other hand, looked completely pleased with himself.

Uhtred rolled over and sat up. He glared at Finan. "I already told him I thought his eyes were pretty." He snapped, not wanting to feel outdone or being overlooked.

Finan smiled and leaned back a bit. "Well now I have said it. And much better."

Uhtred breathed out and continued to glare. "I said it first!"

Sihtric swallowed and he trembled a bit as he turned to look at Uhtred again. "No… Lord, you said my neck was pretty… well… pretty skinny." He said slowly, his voice wavering.

Uhtred continued to frown as he attempted to relay the scene in his head. He swore he had said it aloud. "I… I thought it." He said as if the fact mattered.

Finan rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Uhtred, the boy cannot read your mind."

Uhtred lifted his hand and pointed at Sihtric. "I remember telling you to stop looking at me like you were."

"You do have a pretty neck, too." Finan said easily, turning back to Sihtric and ignoring the other man. "Very pale and soft. I believe I would enjoy biting it." He said with a slow smirk.

Sihtric smiled shyly and dropped his gaze to the ground. His nose wrinkled and he breathed out and the redness on his face darkened again. "I think I would enjoy that as well." He admitted, his voice soft. It was weird to him, foreign, to have someone say such things about him as Finan was, to flirt with him. It wasn't exactly unwelcomed, it was just new and Sihtric didn't know what to do with it. He wasn't entirely sure how to flirt back or if he was even allowed to.

Uhtred watched as Finan smiled widely and he shook his head. "No, you will not." He said possessively. "He is mine."

Finan turned towards him and tilted his head curiously. "So I must share you with him but you will not share him with me?"

Uhtred shook his head. "I will not force him."

Sihtric was trying to follow but his mind was quickly becoming a jumbled mess of thoughts again, of wants and desires. He felt like he needed a moment to calm himself but Uhtred's words stilled him and he flinched at the words. "No one is forcing me." He said softly, his eyes on the ground.

Uhtred looked at him, a gasp on his lips. "You've only just met Finan." He stated dryly. "He is a stranger to you."

Sihtric sucked in a breath and nodded his head. "I…" He faltered and shut his mouth again, drawing his lips taut. Once again, as when he met Uhtred, he was at a loss. He couldn't explain the attraction he felt to Finan, almost as strong as the one that burned for Uhtred the moment he gazed at the man for the first time. He swallowed and looked at the ground and bit his lip.

Finan watched Sihtric, concern lacing his features. He leaned closer to the boy and dropped his voice. "If I am making you uncomfortable, I am deeply sorry and I will stop."

Sihtric looked at him and shook his head quickly. "No… I… I quite like it." He admitted softly. "I don't… want you to stop." He wasn't entirely sure what he wanted. He just knew he didn't want Finan to stop looking at him like that. He liked the way the man was making him feel.

"Stranger!" Uhtred persisted loudly, throwing up his arms.

Sihtric nodded his head slowly. "But it was clear to me how important he is to you the moment we found you, how much you trusted him. That's all I need to know."

Uhtred rolled his eyes and threw his arms up in the air dramatically again. "That's all you need to know to fuck him!" He said mockingly.

"Uhtred…" Finan started, his eyes widening.

Sihtric frowned and straightened up. His eyes narrowed and he glared at Uhtred. "It was all I needed from you!" He snapped. "I would have fucked you that first day." Finan raised an eyebrow and looked at Uhtred, who looked at the boy with complete surprise. And then Sihtric's eyes widened, realizing what he'd just admitted to, and he looked at the ground. His face reddened even more.

Uhtred opened his mouth slowly. "What… what do you mean?"

Sihtric swallowed and bit his lip for a moment. "I… thought… that's what you wanted." He finally said softly, breathing out.

Uhtred's eyes widened more. "You thought I wanted to force myself on you? After the first day?"

Sihtric bit his lip and nodded his head. "I did… you said… I was yours… you claimed me… in front of everyone…"

Finan shook his head slowly and looked at Uhtred. "Damn."

Uhtred shook his head quickly and held up his hands. "I did not mean it like that!" He insisted loudly, shaking his head and his hands. "I meant your service, your sword! I meant only what you offered! Sihtric, I would never have forced myself on you! I would never have even thought of it!"

Sihtric shrugged his shoulders, his eyes still on the ground. He pulled his hands into his lap and fiddled with the laces of one of his bracers. "I wouldn't have objected." He admitted softly.

Uhtred was left nearly breathless by the boy's words. He sucked in a sharp breath and exhaled it slowly. "Still…" He shook his head slowly. "Sihtric, I am sorry I gave you the wrong impression of me. I want you to know that I would never have done anything to you. I swear I never even thought of it until you kissed me."

Sihtric breathed out and bit his lip. "I… I am… used to it." He said softly. "It is… nothing new…"

Uhtred opened his mouth slowly. "Sihtric…"

"I don't want to talk about it." The boy shook his head quickly and glanced at Finan. "I wouldn't object to you either." He said softly, trying to change the subject.

"You are allowed to." Finan whispered, scooting himself closer. He leaned forward and touched his hand to the boy's sharp cheek. "I don't know what's happened to you before and I won't ask." He noted the way the boy flinched but didn't pull away. "But you can always say no. Or slow down or whatever you want. You can set the pace."

Sihtric sucked in a breath and nodded his head. "Thank you." He said softly, his voice barely a whisper.

Finan smiled and brushed his thumb across the boy's cheek. "Can I kiss you?" In answer, the boy leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and brushed his lips against Finan's. Finan smiled against him and lowered his hands to the boy's waist. He touched Sihtric gently before pulling back from him.

Uhtred watched the exchange between the two with a hint of jealousy. He wasn't exactly against the idea of sharing. He wasn't fond of the idea of living without either of these men in his life. But he wanted to be included in the sharing. He wasn't happy with just sitting there, watching. At least not right then, not when this whatever it was between them was so new. He moved faster than he should have been able to in his current state. In an instant, he pushed himself between them and was on Sihtric, pinning the younger man to the ground. He smiled slyly as he held himself up, hovering just above him. "Do you still desire me?"

Sihtric looked up at him, his eyes suddenly blown and his mouth parted open and Uhtred thought he looked sinfully delicious. The boy's mind couldn't focus enough to form words and he simply nodded his head.

Uhtred smiled and glanced sideways at Finan, who appeared to be watching with rapt attention despite being interrupted. "Are you going to sit there staring or are you going to help?" Finan was quick to crawl closer and join him. Uhtred sat up, moving to straddle Sihtric's waist. He didn't miss the way the boy's breath hitched when he moved. Uhtred placed a hand on Sihtric's chest, keeping him still. His other, he used to hook around Finan's neck and pulled him closer. He pressed his lips to Finan's in a crushing kiss.

Finan responded, a growl rising in his chest, and he threaded his fingers in Uhtred's hair. Uhtred pulled away after a moment, his breath labored, and Finan smiled. He dipped forward again and placed a softer, sweeter kiss to the man's lips.

Uhtred released his hold on Finan's neck and looked down to find Sihtric watching with wide eyes. He smiled and let his fingers trail down the leather. He bit his lip and sighed in reluctance. "What Finan said is true." He said softly. "You can always stop me. You don't have to feel obligated. I won't be angry with you if you ask me to slow down or stop altogether." Finan smiled and leaned closer to press a kiss to Uhtred's cheek. Uhtred leaned against Finan for a moment and breathed out. Then he turned and looked at those warm brown eyes that saved his life. "You can always say no, too." Uhtred said softly and Finan smiled. Uhtred turned back to look down at the boy and tilted his head. "Question is… do you want to stop?"

Sihtric swallowed and shook his head. "No." He still wasn't entirely sure what he wanted, he just knew he didn't want them to stop.

A smile spread across Uhtred's face and his hands ran down the length of the boy's leather clad torso. "This would be easier if you had also shed a few layers when you bathed us."

Finan chuckled beside him. "I can certainly help with that."

Uhtred shook his head. "You said you wanted to bite him."

Worry passed across Sihtric's eyes for a moment and he grabbed Uthred's arm, stilling him. Uhtred may have been on top of him, and he may have been stronger than him once, but in the back of his mind, Sihtric knew he could easily overpower both of these men. He could stop them. He probably should stop them. "Earlier you said…" He started, his voice strained as the Lord shifted above him.

Uhtred smiled and leaned down closer. "I may not be able to fuck you like I want to, if you would want that." He added quickly and tilted his head. The boy's eyes widened and he bit his lip and let out a breathy moan. Uhtred smiled and continued. "But I have strength enough to taste you." He said, his voice thick. "Finan?"

In response, Finan bent down, leaning over Sihtric. Uhtred had offered him the boy's neck and he would gladly take it. He touched his lips to the pale skin, at the peak of collarbone under his shirt. Under them, Sihtric shivered and Finan continued. His tongue snaked out and he traced the lines upward, digging into the muscle.

Sihtric was gone after Uhtred's words, let alone at Finan's talented tongue against his skin. He let out a moan, the sound vibrating through his chest. Uhtred let out a pleased chuckle as his fingers worked at the laces of the boy's leather. It took an agonizingly long time and Uhtred let out an impatient growl that made Finan chuckle against Sihtric's skin, causing the boy to shiver again, but Uhtred managed to get one side done. He pushed his hands underneath, dragging his fingers down Sihtric's side. The boy let out a giggle that morphed into a moan as Finan worked his way up to Sihtric's ear and bit at the lobe.

"Fin, help me." Uhtred grabbed his shoulder and Finan pulled away from the boy's neck and reached up to wrap his hand around the back of Uhtred's neck. The Irishman pulled the Lord into a kiss and Uhtred let out a moan and shifted on top of the boy. Sihtric bit his lip, unable to stop moaning himself. Uhtred detached himself and pushed Finan away quickly. He huffed out and silently cursed himself that he was so out of breath already. "That's… not… what I needed help with…"

Finan smiled again and tilted his head. Then he looked down at the boy and nodded. He moved his hands to the left side of the boy's leather and started pulling at the laces.

Sihtric breathed out again and licked at his bottom lip as he looked up at Uhtred. He tilted his head back a bit and opened his mouth. Then he reached out and grabbed the hanging tail end of Uhtred's loose braid and he yanked on it. Uhtred let out a laugh as he leaned forward. Sihtric let go of the braid and quickly wrapped his arm around Uhtred's neck and pulled him closer. He caught Uhtred by surprise, once again, as he pulled the man against him and pressed their lips together. The boy bit at Uhtred's lips and licked his way into the Lord's mouth, not being the least bit gentle about it. He pulled on him, held him tight as he attacked the man's mouth. Uhtred gasped and tried to pull away but the boy chased him, trying to devour his mouth.

Uhtred's head swam for a moment, growing dizzy. He wouldn't have minded and he might have thought it was hot, how needy his boy was but he really needed a moment to breathe. Uhtred tried to pull away again, his chest ached and he cursed his lack of lung capacity. But the boy wasn't letting up on him. Uhtred shifted, grinding himself down as hard as he could against the boy's crotch. Sihtric gasped and his grip on Uhtred faltered enough that the Lord was able to pull away enough to breathe in much needed air. Sihtric still clung to him and pressed his mouth to the Lord's neck. He opened his mouth wide, licking and sucking at Uhtred's neck roughly and the man struggled to breathe again.

Finan smiled sideways at him as he finished unlacing the boy's leather armor. "Ease up, boy." He said sternly, reaching across him to touch the arm still holding Uhtred a bit too tightly.

Sihtric let go immediately, his eyes wide and his face flushed. The color was quickly spreading down his bitten neck. "Sorry."

Uhtred sat up, shifting again and smiling when the boy bit back a moan and threw his head back against the ground. "I believe… someone said… they could be gentle…"

Finan leaned closer to Uhtred for a moment, peering at the man's neck. He smiled widely as he touched his fingers to the very red and angry looking mark. "That is very noticeable."

Uhtred glanced sideways at Finan, smiling just as widely. He shrugged his shoulders and looked back down at the boy. "He just wants everyone to know he has claimed me as I claimed him." Sihtric breathed out and looked away.

Finan pulled his hand away and dropped it back to the boy's armor. "We shall just have to mark him up as well."

Uhtred rocked back against Sihtric again, earning himself another lovely moan from the boy's throat. "One day, boy. I promise you, we will claim you properly." Sihtric nodded his head and whimpered.

Finan smiled as he pulled the boy's armor off over his head. "Up." He grabbed the hem of Sihtric's undershirt and the boy leaned up enough for Finan to pull it off as well. Then Finan turned and dropped both on the ground beside them. He turned back and breathed out slowly.

Uhtred was quick to push the boy back, flat against the ground, as his eyes dropped to the boy's chest. He sucked in a sharp breath and shook his head. "Gods, boy, you're beautiful."

Sihtric whimpered and bit his lip again. He shook his head and closed his eyes against the words and Uhtred's stare. At that moment, he couldn't take either.

Finan leaned closer and pressed a kiss to the boy's jaw. "You are." He said softly and traced a line of sweet kisses along the boy's jaw. Sihtric turned towards him, seeking out his mouth. Finan smiled and touched his lips to the boy's happily. He let out a growl as he felt the boy's fingers gently threading through Finan's shorter hair. Sihtric tried hard to focus enough to keep his hold light as he slid his tongue against Finan's.

Uhtred smiled for a moment, watching them. He didn't mind so much watching them then. He was actually quite enjoying himself. He tore his gaze away from them and looked down at the boy's chest again and he breathed out. "Gods." He muttered again as he touched his hands to Sihtric's chest. He slowly dragged his fingers down, scratching his nails against the muscles and making the boy squirm under him. He marveled at each and every line of definition in the boy's hard body. He may have looked thin under his amor but every inch of the boy seemed taut and hard and sculpted by the Gods themselves. Uhtred wanted to run his tongue over every part of him. He leaned forward and touched his lips to the boy's neck.

"BOYS!"