A/N: Takes place between Chapters 23 ("Home") and 24 ("A Celebration") of my longer fic "Something Like a Normal Life". Beware spoilers if you're planning on reading that one first!
I swear I have more plot-heavy, serious fics to come for these two! But I also have a handful of sweet-n'-fluffy oneshots mostly written up which I figure I might as well finish first, so.
"What's this?"
Norman blinked as gentle fingers brushed his wrist, Ethan turning his hand to stroke his thumb across the vertical arrow drawn in black biro between his left thumb and forefinger. He smiled tiredly, spreading his fingers against the other man's palm as his lover traced the other marks scattered across his hand and wrist.
"They're, uh, ancient runes, apparently. Supposed to protect you or somethin'. Chrissy told Shaun about 'em when I was in the hospital, and he's been drawin' them all over me ever since I got home." His boyfriend smiled fondly, still examining the symbols.
"They're beautiful. D'you know what they mean?" Norman only smiled wearily again, shaking his head.
"Nah. Chrissy told me, but I wasn't really with it enough at the time to remember. Don't really believe in that stuff anyways, y'know?" He smiled crookedly as the other man opened his arms, melting into his lover with a grateful sigh as Ethan enfolded him in a hug.
"You don't have to believe in it for it to work." The other man was still tracing the runes lightly with the tips of his fingers, frowning thoughtfully to himself. "What is that anyway, biro?" He nodded, shrugging.
"'Least it ain't permanent."
"It'll smudge like crazy — wait here a sec, I'll be right back."
Norman blinked as his boyfriend disappeared off up the stairs, before settling back into the sofa, trying to focus on the series they were watching. Things had improved a lot compared to when he'd first arrived home, but he still found himself wiped out by activities that should've been easy, and more physically and mentally listless than he was at all comfortable with compared to his usual buzzing energy. All perfectly normal, according to the doctors, and it would ease with time, but fuck it was frustrating being hamstrung trying to do the simplest things. Not to mention that his boyfriend's protective streak had gone into warp drive ever since Norman had landed himself in the hospital.
"Here." He glanced up as Ethan sat back down beside him, a sheet of paper and a pair of what looked like black marker pens in his hands.
"Huh? What's this?"
"I asked Chrissy to email me some info on what the runes mean. C'mere, sit back against me." He blinked curiously, smiling despite himself, and shifted over, shoulders against Ethan's chest where his lover slipped his arms around him. The other man smiled fondly and pressed a kiss to his lips, his neck, his shoulder, Norman nuzzling his chin against his boyfriend's hair with a smile as the other man tightened his embrace. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mars." He frowned, squeezing the other's arm looped around his waist. "Y'alright? What gives?" His lover only shrugged, smiling lop-sidedly as he looked away.
"I'm fine. Just…I don't know. I'm just…I'm so glad you feel you can trust me so much. You didn't even hesitate when I asked you to move over here." Norman frowned himself, shaking his head.
"Of course I trust you, Ethan — why the hell wouldn't I?"
"Just…I know it hasn't been easy for you, to trust people in the past. I'm…well, I'm kind of honoured, I guess." He smiled lop-sidedly, pressing a kiss to the other's jaw.
"Hey, anyone should feel honoured about bein' trusted here, it's me. You've never done anythin' to make me doubt you."
"Hey now, we talked about that. You've nothing to apologise for." He smiled lop-sidedly, a wave of gratitude sweeping through him as his lover tightened his embrace.
"I know. Jus'…tryna forgive myself, y'know? Ain't easy."
"I know; it's okay." Ethan pressed a soft kiss to his temple, squeezing his shoulders. "I'll just have to love you twice as hard for both of us for a while, huh?" He huffed a chuckle, warmth blooming in his chest despite himself.
"Jeez. You sure do got a way with words, Mars."
"Mmn, so I've been told. Now, put your arm out, please." He did so, blinking curiously as Ethan gently extended his fingers, laying his arm out flat across Norman's own knees. "Actually, on second thought, you should probably take your shirt off." He grinned, throwing the other man a playful look.
"Woah, hey now! I'm all for sex on the sofa, but you sure y'wanna be givin' the neighbours a show?"
"That's not what I'm getting at; not right now, at least. Shirt off, c'mon."
He pulled his flannel and tee-shirt off with a grin, leaning back into the other man with a sigh as Ethan slipped his arms around him again, nuzzling his face into his neck. "Beautiful."
"Ah, you kiddin'? M'still all bones."
"Still beautiful. And you're a lot healthier than you were three weeks ago."
He watched with interest as Ethan extended his arm gently again, uncapping one of the pens to trace over each of the biro symbols, adding a series of loops and decorative knots and interlacing lines between them as he went. The pen was some kind of specialised marker, generous with the ink, the felt tip sliding across his skin in a soothing caress.
"Don't worry, it's not permanent." Norman blinked, the quiet words jolting him out of his reverie, and looked at the other man, Ethan still intent on what he was doing. "I have some ideas, but if there's anything specific you want, just let me know."
"Okay. Sure." He swallowed thickly, gaze drawn back to the pen tracing intricate patterns along his arm, the precise movements and gentle touches as his lover slowly turned his skin into a piece of artwork. It was so incredibly like the first time they'd confessed their feelings for each other, right here on the sofa; Ethan's hands on him, gentle and assured and wanting nothing more than to touch for the sake of it. He swallowed hard and leaned his head back against his boyfriend's shoulder, shutting his eyes and losing himself in the gentle, rhythmic brush of felt and ink against his skin, of a warm hand gently moving his wrist, his arm as the other man worked.
"You okay?" He opened his eyes, smiled weakly to find Ethan looking concernedly at him.
"Fine; m'great. That…That feels really nice." His lover smiled himself and nodded, laying a hand on his upper arm.
"Good. I'll need you to move a little to the right, so I can get your shoulder — this's why I wanted you to take your shirt off." Norman chuckled softly, raising his eyebrows.
"That the only reason, huh?"
"Mmn, I'm not sure about that…" He grinned, cupping the other's jaw as Ethan caught his lips in a kiss. "But anything strenuous will have to wait until this has dried, so." He smiled, watching his lover continue the pattern up his arm to his shoulder, countless runes scattered across the skin and wrapped in twisting lines and intricate shapes; it was absolutely beautiful.
"Mars, I…" He trailed off, swallowing against a lump in his throat as he marvelled at the artwork. "This's beautiful. Thank you." His boyfriend only shrugged, smiling.
"I just…felt like it, I guess."
"I'm totally gettin' this tattooed." Norman grinned at the other's surprised look, shrugging. "It's beautiful, I ain't gonna just wash it off! Always kinda wanted a tattoo, anyways." Ethan smiled, pulling him close again where he leaned into the other man, being careful of the still-drying ink.
"Don't tell Shaun, or he'll be wanting one next."
"Eh, I'll just tell him y'gotta be 21 before ya get one."
"Mmn, seriously though. I think it'd suit you." He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his boyfriend's lips.
"Now, I seem t'remember you sayin' there was another reason you wanted me outta my shirt…" The other chuckled as he pulled Norman into his lap, Ethan kissing him hard as he slid a hand into his lover's hair.
"Was there? Let me try and remember what that was…"
