"Are you sure it'll taste okay?" asked Tino, rolling a little bottle of black, viscous liquid across his palm.
"I can't make any promises, but it'll really reduce your recovery time after you get those damned pins out of your leg tomorrow." Lukas sat across from Tino, one leg crossed over the other.
"Thank God for that," said Tino, "I read online that it can take FOREVER for fractures like mine to heal!"
"You're right. Too bad I can't just heal you immediately, but hey, magic has limits. You're leg should be as good as new in about a month." Lukas smiled slightly.
"Oh, I can't WAIT to go back to work. I've missed taking pictures. It's pretty much my passion." Tino became so excited that he accidentally banged his injured leg against the side of the couch. He clutched it tightly and winced. "God damn it!"
"Careful Tino, I don't want you to make it worse. Damn, Berwald must have his hands full trying to protect you. You always were a clumsy bastard."
"Lukas, I'm not clumsy. And I don't need protecting." as fond as Tino was of Lukas, there were times when his bluntness was an issue.
"Suit yourself. Where is Berwald, anyway?"
"Napping." laughed Tino, "He's turned into a giant cat."
Lukas chuckled and checked his phone. "Damn, Mathias has sent me, like, a million texts. They're getting progressively more lovey-dovey, too. He knows how much I hate sap."
"Mathias is Mathias." said Tino, "You remember those awful poems he used to write you in high school?"
"Don't. Remind. Me." Lukas said through gritted teeth.
"When he stopped by to visit me the other day, he kept talking about you. Oh, admit it, you guys love each other."
"Well, I believe that's why we're in a romantic and sexual relationship."
"Too much information, Lukas!"
"Speaking of sex, have you and Berwald…."
Tino blushed. "N-no. Besides, is it really practical to screw with a broken leg?"
"Point taken."
"You have no filter, do you?" Tino shook his head and sighed.
"I say what I want," said Lukas, "even when other people don't want to hear it. Well, I have to go. I don't want Mathias to have a heart attack."
"See you around, then."
"One more thing. I don't have the memory elixir ready yet, but I'll get it to you as soon as I can."
XxXx
A loud knock at the bedroom door interrupted Tino's peaceful, dreamless sleep. Groggily, he rolled over. "Go away." he grunted.
"Son, get out of bed. Surgery is today." The voice behind the door undoubtedly belonged to his father. Even though he and Tino were on speaking terms once again, he wasn't sure if he was in the mood to face his father first thing in the morning. Especially since they hadn't resolved their disagreement. "The Swede is all doped up on Versed and it's about time to go."
Tino opened his eyes a crack. "Versed?"
"You know, for his medical exam."
Now Tino remembered. Lukas had contacted Dr. Arthur Kirkland, a physician specializing in medical cases involving magic, to examine Berwald and give him all of the shots he might need. The Versed would keep him from being frightened and going on a rampage.
"Okay, fine. But could you please help me into my chair, dad?"
"It's downstairs. I'll have to pick you up."
Great, his father would have to carry him, like a baby.
XxXx
An encounter with a calm, sleepy Viking and a short car ride later, Tino found himself caught in a whirlwind of hospital activity. First, there were papers and waivers of all varieties to sign and return to the secretary, ensuring that all would go well both legally and medically. Then there was preparation to enter the O.R. Tino was stripped down and clothed in a flimsy paper gown. They attached sensors to his shivering body, added tubes, and inserted a pronged IV into his arm.
Not long after being bombarded with the glaring silver lights of the O.R., Tino felt the anesthesia take effect, and fell into the void of unconsciousness.
XxXx
The stars in the sky shone like silver coins glittering up from the sandy floor of a muddy lake. The moon cast its metal glow on the couple standing in the clearing, giving them long and regal shadows.
Tino and Berwald had waited for this concealing darkness to roll over the village before they stole off into the woods for their secret wedding. A wedding between men.
Due to the gender of the two grooms, it wasn't a wedding that held any legal clout. There was no bride price or feast. There was merely the two of them, with only Freyja herself as witness.
Beneath the moon and star light, Tino and Berwald exchanged swords. Tino's was the most valuable possession that he owned, a single item that his father had left behind after his untimely death. It was to change hands now, to be given to a man that Tino loved and trusted like no other. Berwald's sword bore a similar back story. It had been passed from father to son for generations, and was being handed to another man yet again. A husband. A lover and best friend. Next, of course, came the rings. They were simple and unconventional. Berwald had carved them of birch wood just for the occasion. They slipped them onto one another's fingers. Vows were whispered into the night in hushed tones.
Now, all formalities were out of the way. The two lovers, bonded by choice, simply stared at one another, waiting. It was Berwald who made the first move. He cupped Tino's soft, round cheek in his warm hand and moved in for the kill. Lit only by the metal moonlight, they kissed passionately, holding onto one another as if they would soon be flung apart.
XxXx
Thankfully, the surgery was an outpatient procedure, and after a brief stay in the recovery room, Tino was free to go. Berwald had made it successfully through his medical procedure as well. He approached Tino, and proudly displayed a certificate and a folder of medical information. He couldn't read English well, so he didn't know that the certificate granted him special U.S. citizenship as a Magically Displaced Person, but he seemed to understand that it would make life in a strange place more possible.
During the car ride home, Tino decided to take the medicine that Lukas had given him. It was flavorless, oily and went down like tar. Tino was thankful that he only had to take one dose.
He was back at his parents' house soon afterwards. Tino let his drowsiness and dull, throbbing pain take hold of his body, and took a long nap.
XxXx
They didn't want to consummate their marriage in Tino's bed. That would mean waiting, something that neither of the men was willing to do. Instead the retired to the forest floor, kissing and grinding. Tino could feel just how hard Berwald was; his erection struggled desperately at the course cloth of his trousers. Tino's body wasn't faring any better.
"Yer eager. Look how stiff ya are." Berwald gasped between kisses. The warrior thrust his hips harder, for added effect.
Tino let out a loud, unmanly moan. "Please, let's just start. Now."
Berwald smiled slightly and unbuckled Tino's belt, repeating the action with his own. He tossed the two strips of cow hide aside, out of the way. They fell to the earth with a pleasant plink of buckle against buckle, a teasing reminder that soon, man would rut against man. The eager newlyweds made short work of the rest of their clothes, and soon felt the chill of the North Wind against their bare flesh.
Tino smiled up at Berwald, who had him pinned playfully to the forest floor. He lifted his arm and ran a hand down his Viking husband's back, feeling the rough hills and valleys of battle scars.
"Is this all mine?"he asked.
"Yes, and yer body's m'ne." Berwald practically growled, moving his lips down to worship what was scarred and muscular but simultaneously supple and soft. To Berwald, Tino had the perfect body. It was so unlike his own, yet so full of hidden strength.
In spite of their eagerness, they decided to slow down and put to use their senses of touch and taste. They exchanged kisses and caresses like gifts. Moans, oaths and praises spilled fourth from their mouths like water from a geyser. They marveled at one another's perfections and imperfections until their steamy touches and gropes reached their most logical conclusion.
Tino groaned disapprovingly when Berwald rolled off of him to get a bottle of watery oil from his bag, which was resting in a tree across the clearing. Berwald returned shortly, and pressed his large hand between Tino's shivering thighs.
"Spread 'em a little." he said, and Tino didn't even have to think twice about complying. He soon felt his inner legs being coated with a warm, slippery liquid. Tino glanced up at Berwald, who was oiling himself with one hand and moaning at the friction.
"Ber, are you going to keep playing with yourself, or are you going to take me." as he said these devilishly dirty words, Tino beckoned to Berwald with his index finger and smirked. In less than a second, Berwald was thrusting between his thighs.
It was the most perfect feeling in the world, having the one he loved so close to him, lighting his every nerve on fire. Tino found himself making noised that he had never heard himself make and they only increased in volume as the lovemaking grew more intense.
Berwald, though usually silent, was surprisingly vocal. Tino swore he felt his body groan under the weight of all the praises grunted in his direction. But the moans were best of all. They forced their way from Berwald's lungs and rang out like battle cries. No, neither of them cared how much sound they made. The pure, raw feeling and pleasure was all that mattered.
Then Tino's body became tight as a taught bow string. His loins were on fire, and he felt his release rock his body. Soon after, Berwald too was spent, and they collapsed together, a boneless, satisfied mess.
((A/N: Now you know why this fanfic is rated M. Implied intercrural sex. I know the language may be a bit cheesy, but I hope it doesn't read like something out of a horrible romance novel. MOAR inappropriateness to come, though it won't get overly explicit.
I hadn't realized at the time of writing this that pins were to be removed AFTER the bone healed COMPLETELY and was under the impression that they were removed after a few weeks and the cast would do the rest. I referenced this in several chapters, so I believe it's too late to edit it. Suspend your disbelief for me, dear readers, lol.
And yes, Jewish Hospital is a real place, and Ludwig apparently works there. Interestingly, it's a Jewish and Catholic run hospital.))