Brothers In Arms

Chapter 2 - Morning

They woke up together the next morning, being bathed in a soft amber glow pouring through the frosted window. Will was still curled up against Jake and as a gentle draft pawed across the room, he stirred in his sleep, reluctantly waking up. A sharp ray of sunlight immediately penetrated his eyes and he groaned lightly, a slight headache throbbing in his temples from the night before. For a few blissful moments, he couldn't remember what had happened but then everything started coming back to him and he sighed, grateful that Jake was still sleeping peacefully next to him. He didn't particularly want to get into an argument, especially not at this time of morning (whatever that time was). But, still, as he looked curiously at him, Jake gradually stirred and a bleary eye opened. Will resisted the temptation to kiss his forehead and greet him with a bright good morning, instead laying his head back down on the pillow and gently removing his arms from his brother's waist.

''....Will?'' Jake asked tiredly, obviously having already noticed though he still sounded incredibly sleepy. '' Will, that you...?''

'' Mmm...'' he replied, not sure what to do. He hoped Jake couldn't remember the night before. But he didn't say anymore, turning around and pulling Will's arms back around him. A hand drifted over his cheek. Will relaxed a little, seeing his brother's dreamy smile.

'' I'm sorry...'' Jake muttered after a while, cuddling in to him. ''...sorry about last night. I overreacted...I'm so stupid.''

'' Aww, no you're not. It's alright...'' Will murmured, unable to stop himself nuzzling Jake's neck. '' I was the stupid one. I'm sorry for going too far...''

Jake smiled softly and leant into Will, feeling his heart beating gently. His fingers brushed over the thin material of his shirt. '' It's okay,'' he whispered and Will closed his eyes again, hating and adoring the feeling of Jake's hands on him at the same time. ''...it's okay...''

For a while, they remained like this, wrapped in each other's arms and listening to the sound of quiet breathing, echoed with relaxed heartbeat. Will stroked Jake's hair and as he did, he wondered if all the other brothers in the world were as close as they were. Eventually, he concluded that they probably weren't but he tried not to let that scare him too much because him and Jake had been by the other's side since they were very, very young and it had almost become habit to wake up in the same bed and cuddle warmly as the morning dawned around them. In their little world, there was nothing wrong with it and before the previous night, Jake had never seemed to have a problem with it either, allowing it to happen with open arms, so to speak. Will hadn't been sure what had gone on in the bar yet now he dwelled on it, he realised that he had indeed gone too far, certainly much further than what they had ever done before which never strayed beyond cuddles and hugs.

Though, even through the sleepiness of the sunny morning, Will became a little unnerved by the notion of 'what they had ever done before'. It sounded as if they were in a sexual relationship when in fact, they were just brothers, and no matter how much Will became intoxicated by Jake's soft fingers and warm body, he'd probably never accept that he did indeed have strange feelings for him. Will was usually the cynical one yet he imagined if he ever did sum up the courage to open his heart to him, he'd be frightened and his sensitivity would get the better of him. Everything would change after that, Will knew that almost for certain. They could never be the same brothers they were today.

Still, he couldn't tear himself away from Jake that morning, his embrace too warm and cosy. He was sure that, even though the sun was shining, it would be cold outside the bed and he didn't want to force himself into that world quite yet. The covers were thick for once and Jake's arms were calming, lulling him almost back to sleep and away from his worries. He wished they could stay there all day but there was another village nearby that needed their help and although they had thought that being involved in the situation with the Mirror Queen and the tower, they would have become better known over the world, it had not been that way. It was back to the old routine with the team (Angelika now also) and despite the instruments and tools being a little more realistic now, it still felt the same. Jake had tried to suggest they found a new way to live their lives yet after half a year trying and failing miserably, they had been forced to give up. They didn't have the money for travelling to search for more folk tales and although Jake had book after book full of them, nobody had seemed interested. He had attempted to put on a brave face but a few times, Will had heard him crying into his pillow at night, body shuddering with sobs. Will had vowed to him that their lives would get better, just like he had done so many times before.

Jake seemed a little happier now though, much to his relief. He was back to writing tales of magic and enchantment and Will was glad that his confidence hadn't been completely dashed, as he had previously worried. It was back to Inns and Alehouses, just like before, but recently, Angelika had offered that they come and stay at her house – which was the largest in Marbaden (by the standards of the quaint little village anyway). They had gladly accepted, as the Inns were – despite being hospitable – getting grottier and grottier and were spending their first night there that day after returning from the nearby village. Will had still insisted on Ale though. Angelika had laughed and agreed. Jake sometimes thought she was just like the other girls, fallen under Will's spell though he knew she spent time with him too.

A while passed by in the Inn that morning yet finally, Jake shuffled in Will's arms and began to back out, slowly pulling back the covers. He didn't particularly want to get up, especially as the cold breezes began to hit him, but the villagers would be waiting for them and so would the stagecoach, probably already by the Inn's front doors. Cavaldi would come for them soon if they weren't much quicker and the Italian man at this time of morning wasn't nice.

Will groaned as he moved out of bed and tried to bring the sheets back over his body, sleepily asking why Jake was getting up, though he knew the answer. Jake smiled and patted his cheek, drawing them back again. '' C'mon, Will...'' he murmured, lazily picking up some new clothes. '' You know why. It's those villagers in that village nearby...I can't remember the name. They want our help.''

'' Mmm...But it's cold.''

'' I know but...we'll be in the stagecoach soon. It'll be warmer in there and anyway, we're at Angelika's tonight, remember? It'll be nice there.''

'' Mmm, I guess...Wait a minute...'' And reluctantly, Will dragged himself from the warmth of the bed and into the colder world, grabbing the cases lying strewn over the floor. With no care whatsoever, he chucked some belongings inside and then stumbled over to the window, pulling open the curtains. Both brothers winced at the sudden sharp invasion of light. '' So...what do these villagers want this time?'' he asked, picking up some more clothes and noticing Jake was still fiddling nervously with his, as if he didn't want to change in front of him.

'' Oh, I – I don't know...'' he replied and Will saw his eyes dart away when he pulled off his shirt. '' The normal, I guess...''

'' Mmm...'' he said and then slowed down undressing a little, seeing that Jake still hadn't even undone any buttons yet. A blush had crept up his cheeks and although they had been naked in front of each other many a time before, he realised that they weren't going to get very far with two of them in the room. Sighing at Jake's shyness, he made up some excuse about going to the bathroom and then walked out but just before he exited completely, he noticed Jake glance back up at him and there was something in his eyes he had never seen before.

TBC