It was a miracle. Or at least that's what they were now dubbing it. Seemingly Mathias had woken up from the dead and was now looking up at them all with a weak, cheeky grin. When Berwald returned with a priest the surprise was evident on his cousin's usually stoic and cold face. The priest was the one to dub it a miracle of God and began to bless Mathias with a few prayers. During his blessing Niels thought they were about to lose Mathias once more. He began to shake and convulse as if something wild was in him, tearing him up from the inside out. But once the prayer ended, Mathias sagged against his bed, exhausted yet still very alert.
The doctor was just as perplexed as everyone else. He surmised that Mathias had survived from the cold weather and merely appeared dead from the combination of blood loss and his body being chilled. Once he warmed up, he woke. Plain as simple as that. Other than bandaging Mathias neck wounds, the doctor only prescribed Mathias be on an iron rich diet and receive lots of rest. He assured Niels that his friend would make a full recovery.
Yet, Niels remained beside Mathias even as everyone left and Mathias himself fell back into a restful sleep. His fingers were tangled with Mathias' cold hand for hours. Eirik came several times to check on him and Tino returned hour after hour bringing Niels food and drink that he never really touched. Eventually the whole house went quiet as everyone headed to bed. Niels only lasted a few more minutes before his eyes grew heavy and he rested his head on Mathias' chest listening to him breath.
He woke with his hair once again being brushed with a heavy hand and slowly Niels opened his eyes to see a much healthier looking Mathias in front of him. "You're awake." Niels said dumbly as he tried to shake the sleep out of his eyes.
"Yeah..." Mathias said as he looked at his friends perfect, yet sleepy face. He felt strange sensations coursing through his body as he laid there in bed. It was hard to explain what he was feeling but there was an underlying tone of change in his body crawling underneath his skin.
"What happened?" Niels asked as he sat on the side of his bed. Mathias couldn't get over the fact that his friend was there looking down at him with his pink lips pulled into a worried frown. Without really thinking, Mathias brought both of his hands to Niels' face as if to caress his face but pulled both cheeks into a forced smile. "What the hell?" Niels tried to frown against the forceful smile.
Chuckling, Mathias answered in a light voice, "Sorry I just couldn't stand ya frownin'. I'm fine, Niels. I actually feel better than I did yesterday."
Swatting both of Mathias' hands away, Niels resumed his usual scowl. He was relieved knowing that Mathias felt better. The doctor may have been correct and all Mathias needed was an iron rich diet. "You didn't answer my question. What happened."
Scrunching up his face, Mathias thought hard. "I remember walking back home and a man stoppin' me." That's right, there had been this incredible pain in his neck. The image of the old man biting him was still fresh in his mind. But Mathias had his pride to maintain and didn't want to admit he had been over powered by a man that looked like a skeleton. That would be a real blow to the manly image Mathias tried to maintain.
However, one thing did alarm him. "The package!" Mathias sat up quickly and started to swing his legs over the bed but Niels interfered pushing him back in bed.
"We found it. It's downstairs, don't worry."
A wave of relief flooded Mathias' face before being replaced with a shameful and shy one. Niels noticed his friend looking away from him and Niels asked, "What's wrong."
"About the package... I made a deal to get it that you may not find... uh favorable." Niels' eyebrows knitted and his whole body tensed as Mathias explained the deal he had made. It left Niels feeling hot and angry. Mathias should have walked away, but Niels kept his thoughts silent.
"We'll get through this." Niels said in a tense voice and Mathias merely nodded. "You should get some rest." He got up to leave, but Mathias' hand grasped out to grip his wrist like a snake strike. The strength behind the grip alarmed Niels and even Mathias was looking at him with wide eyes.
Carefully Mathias retracted his hand shakily. "I'm sorry..." Mathias tried to think of words to say. He hadn't meant to grip Niels so hard and his reflexes had never been so sharp in his life. Maybe he hit his head and his brain wasn't processing things correctly. "Really Niels I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made that deal I just..."
The sincerity of Mathias' voice made Niels resettled on the bed and lean in to brush a few wild strands out of his face. He hated when Mathias looked like this. It was more pitiful than a puppy dog and it had the ability to pull the heart strings in Niels' chest. "I know." he whispered.
Lightly, Mathias' hand grazed up Niels arm before asking, "Will you stay here? Just for tonight."
Niels scoffed and shook his head at the absurd request. He then reminded himself that Mathias had almost died so that made the childish request less pitiful. "Okay." Pushing the covers back Niels crawled in next to Mathias wrapping an arm around him and pulling him close.
"You should tell me a bedtime story." Mathias joked and Niels huffed a wordless response.
Silently they laid there together, their limbs slowly entwining. Whenever they laid together, Mathias had a hard time keeping himself together. His body always heated up and his heart always beat wildly in his chest. His ears were drowning in the sound of his quicken pulse, so even if Niels had decided to read him a story, Mathias wouldn't have been able to hear it. And like always, he always pushed his luck when he snuggled up against Niels. His hand wandered over Niels' arms and stomach. He kept his touches innocent but he just couldn't stop caressing his body.
What they were doing was unacceptable. If they were caught Mathias knew that Niels' business would be done. But Niels never pushed his hand away. Instead he always stayed remarkably still as his breath became deeper and more ragged. It always fueled Mathias to keep going, but he never crossed this invisible line. Somehow though Mathias didn't feel that barrier. No, his mind was stuck on something else. Nestling his head against Niels and he began to breath heavily in Niels' scent. It felt wonderful and this sense kept tingling his mind. What was it? Why was it so damn alluring? And why was it connected to Niels?
His thoughts were broken with Niels sighing softly, "I'm glad you're okay."
"Of course. I'm too stubborn to die." Mathias joked lightly but as he spoke his lips were firmly planted against Niels' collarbone. God his flesh felt so hot against Mathias and Niels was just lulling his head to the side allowing Mathias more access. He desperately wanted to kiss him, to lick and nibble love marks all over his skin. But instead he just ran his soft lips over Niels' revealed flesh, along his neck, up to his ear. Keenly, Mathias could hear Niels' heart, feel his pulse, his veins.
Niels suddenly spoke in a voice that Mathias wasn't sure was a groan or a moan. "You don't understand... If you had died I would have..." The smaller man lost courage and Mathias leaned from Niels' delicious skin and looked up at him with wide eyes. Suddenly his heart felt as if it had stopped and his whole body was tense. Was Niels saying what Mathias had always wanted him to say.
"Would have what?" Mathias swallowed thickly wanting his friend to continue.
"I don't know." Niels answered with a sharp sadness in his tone.
"Niels do you..." Mathias was desperately trying to gather his own courage to ask such a taboo question.
But the bedroom door opened and Tino entered in his night gown, holding a tray of drinks and snacks. "Oh Mister Köhler, you shouldn't be up. Niels you need to let him rest."
Shamefully they untwined their limbs and scooted away from each other. They couldn't look up from the floor and to Mathias' displeasure Niels climbed out of his bed and stood. "I brought you some snacks in case you woke in the middle of the night." Tino explained as he placed the tray in front of Mathias.
"Mister Sandvik are you going to bed? You look tired and a bit unwell yourself." Niels hesitated for a moment but nodded before replying, "Yes, I have a terrible headache. I think I will retire."
Mathias' heart fell as he watched Niels leave the room. He wanted to follow him and finish what they were talking about. But that moment had come and go. Now he was left alone with Tino. "Here you go. Some herb tea and a few crackers and cheese. It should get you through the night and won't be hard on your stomach." Tino chatted away before turning to leave. "Good night Mister Köhler."
"Good night, Tino." Mathias said blandly before turning to his plate of food before muttering a, "Damn it."
The next morning, Mathias had some difficulty waking. The sun was an irritant and far too bright. But the smell of food had drifted into his room and stirred him. He was starving and last night he just couldn't bring himself to eat the food Tino had brought up. The whole night Mathias had stayed up thinking about Niels. They had been so close and then Tino had to come and ruin things with bland food that Mathias didn't have the stomach for. He knew that Tino had meant well, but damn, damn, damn.
Slipping out of bed, Mathias tossed on some fresh clothes but didn't bother with his looks. He never did and his stomach felt like it would rip its way out of Mathias' flesh if he didn't stuff his face soon. Even though he had almost died he felt stronger than an ox. There wasn't an ounce of fatigue in his limbs and Mathias didn't really think about his sudden good health. Descending the stairs though, everyone at the tabled hushed at Mathias' sudden presence, revealing how odd Mathias' quick recovery was.
Niels sat at the table with wide eyes, with a mug placed at his lips, Eirik was stopped midway through taking a bite of his porridge, and Berwald was bent over the table reaching for a slice of bread. Mathias couldn't help but chuckle at the site as he said in a bright voice, "What? You all act as if you've seen a ghost."
"You shouldn't be up." Eirik stated factually.
"I'm fine kiddo." Mathias answered as he pulled a chair at his empty, usual spot. There was no plate but Mathias merely reached for the thickest slice of bread he could.
"I'll get Tino ta set ya a place." Berwald mumbled in his deep voice but Mathias stopped him with, "No need I'm just having bread."
Berwald frowned but remained in his seat. The three men at the table ate as they eyed Mathias spread butter on his bread then cover it with every dish on the table. Porridge, eggs, jam, and berries all went on that slice making Niels huff and Eirik moan. Mathias really didn't care about their disapproval, he just wanted to fill his stomach the quickest he could. Taking a bite he chewed it quickly but his face twisted in disgust.
"Bad combination?" Niels asked blandly.
Mathias forced himself to swallow and nodded. Bad combination didn't describe the putrid food in his mouth. Sometimes Tino's cooking was straight out foul and Mathias guessed this was one of those days. But Mathias ate away at his bread and even licked his fingers clean after he was finished. His stomach twisted in protest but Mathias leaned back waiting for his stomach to settle.
Watching the other three members of their household eat, Mathias spoke loudly, "I think we should start makin' them chains today."
Niels quirked an eyebrow. "I was going to today, but don't you feel tired? You lost a lot of blood."
"Nah, like I said last night, I feel fine. Sturdy as a sailor."
Eirik commented in a sarcastic tone, "On land or at sea?"
"Both!" Mathias laughed before sitting properly. "What ya say Niels? We'll start welding them bits and Berwald can keep working on the bicycle frames." And deep down Mathias wanted to get a chance to talk to Niels some more. He couldn't just ignore what happened last night. But how to catch his attention once more. Mathias' palms felt sweaty already just thinking about talking to Niels about his feelings. And maybe if he was lucky he could taste more of his skin, feel his lips on his.
Shaking his head of the images, Mathias added, "Really I'm fine. We need to put out this new bike before anyone else does in town if we want to turn in a high enough profit."
Niels shrugged and nodded, "If that's what you want. But as soon as you feel sick, I want you back in bed."
Eirik stood suddenly and grabbed his bag, "I'm off to school." They all said their goodbyes and finished breakfast in silence.
Leaving the living quarters of the building, Niels, Mathias, and Berwald entered the shop and flipped the open sign. Most of the bikes were on wooden frames with wooden wheels. But as of recently metal bikes were becoming more popular and they had to start changing their formula. Berwald sat in his corner, sawing premade steel pipes and welding them together like an intricate puzzle. The chain on the other hand was going to take practice. Already they had screwed up four times and they were just trying to make the special, small bits.
It didn't help that Mathias' stomach kept turning from the foul food he had eaten. But he kept his discomfort hidden as he smiled up at Niels sweetly. God his friend looked good that morning. Even though the hot welder was making him sweat. In fact... his sweat... Mathias could smell it and it made his mouth water. Niels smelt fresh, sweet, and rich. Mathias had never smelt anything so pleasant in his life and he just wanted to run his tongue up his friends neck and nibble on his neck where he would feel his pulse and-
Mathias' hand slipped and his hammer came down on the bit he was working on, ruining it.
Niels snapped next to him, "Please concentrate."
"I'm sorry, my hands are getting sweaty. See?" Mathias joked with a cheeky smile as he revealed his palms to Niels. Let out a nervous chuckle he wiped them on his pants and began to work again.
What had he been thinking? For a moment he thought his brain had disgustingly thought about biting Niels in the neck. Not playfully, but hard and deadly. And his stomach was beginning to ache worse and Mathias began belching silently as he tried to keep his meal down. After they forged the next bit successfully, Mathias bolted from his spot. "Sorry but I need to use the bathroom."
Walking speedily out of the shop, Mathias didn't make it out to the back where the outhouse lay. Instead he stopped where a basin was and lost his breakfast there. Clenching the table, Mathias shook as his body felt suddenly weak. Moving away from the basin, a sharp hunger pain returned in his stomach. Running his hands through his hair, Mathias couldn't keep his mind off the way his stomach growled begging for food. Instinctively, Mathias knew that there was nothing that Tino could cook that satisfy his hunger.
Sliding down the wall, Mathias cradled his head in his arms as he tried to fight off his thoughts. He kept thinking of Niels and how he just wanted to bite his neck. It was disgusting but he felt his body begging for him to follow through with the idea. What the hell was wrong with him? He needed an answer but he heard footsteps approaching and Mathias quickly grabbed the basin and headed outside to dump it. Returning inside he ran into Berwald who looked at him sternly.
Mathias never cared much for Berwald. He may have been Niels' second cousin but he knew of the feelings Berwald had for Niels. "You needed something?" Mathias asked cockily.
Berwald's eyes narrowed for a moment before mumbling, "Ya sick? F'rget it. Ya can't go out."
"Don't treat me like a fragile princess. What do ya need." Mathias scoffed.
"Jist need s'more iron powder. Can ya get s'more?"
Mathias shrugged. "Sure, even though its across town." Truth be told he just wanted to be away from Niels. His thoughts were disturbing him and he felt alarmed.
"Good, then see ya at dinner."
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