Ash scrubbed the floor, dreaming today of himself as a sailor on the ocean. It was a relaxing weekday, his siblings were gone from the house and even his stepmother had found enough funds to go on an extended trip. All alone in the great house Ash continued with his chores, knowing there would be trouble if they were not done when his family arrived back home.
There had been a time when Ash would have enjoyed the freedom, but nowadays he hardly knew what to do with himself without anyone ordering him about. So he hummed happy to himself as he splashed about in the scrub bucket thinking of his adventure on the high seas. Today he thought that he would be a captive of a fearsome pirate lord.
The sun was beating down on poor Ash as he swabbed the deck of the enemy ship. How had it come to this? To be captured by the most dreaded pirate and made into a slave. Ash was a noble sailor for Her Majesty's Navy, given the chance he would rather cut off his own hand than work for a wicked man like Roberts.
Roberts was standing on the deck now, smirking down at the captives. He was devastatingly handsome, his dark hair and eyes were captivating and his tanned skin glistened in the heat. Only a man so wicked could seem so appealing in circumstances like this. When he noticed Ash's look, Roberts winked at him, sending shivered down Ash's spine. Ash quickly turned his attention back to the deck feeling unsettled. He could not believe that man affected him that way!
That night when locking the captives back in the brig, Ash was pulled aside and led toward the Captain's room. His heart was beating fast and his hands trembled, but his brave soul made him carry his chin high. Whatever happened, Ash was certain that he would not show any weakness.
Ash was led into Roberts' room. At first, he couldn't see Roberts but when the door clicked shut Roberts emerged from the shadows. A dangerous smile lit up his face as he approached Ash. Ash stood firm, not showing how he was trembling. Roberts leaned over Ash, their bodies close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from the other man. Roberts slid the lock shut on the door and whispered in Ash's ear, "I thought you weren't afraid, but I can feel you trembling."
"You don't scare me." Ash said with a bravery he did not feel.
Roberts smirked and touched Ash's face with his rough hands. "You're too pretty for a sailor. Must have had a rough time huh?"
Ash shook off the hand, "What do you want?"
Roberts grinned, looking like a wolf, "Good question."
The old family hounds began howling, interrupting Ash's train of thought. Ash knew that he needed to check on the dogs in case there was trouble. Outside the two dogs were howling at the arrival of a cat on the garden gate. The old house cats had moved out into the garden and edge of the forest, preferring to become feral to living with Ash's siblings. Even though the cats moved out, they still came by the house occasionally to check on Ash and annoy the hounds. Penelope, a grey cat cried at Ash when she saw him, clearly trying to get his attention.
"What is the problem Pen?" He asked the cat as he swung open the garden gate. Penelope had never been very friendly with Ash, she often thought he smelled too much like the dogs to enjoy playing with him. However, like most cats, she was insulting up front but she still cuddled him from time to time.
Penelope jumped down and started walking away, turning back to cry at Ash. Clearly, she wanted him to follow. Ash hesitated; it had been a long while since he'd left the house. Nevertheless, Ash was still a very loyal soul who could not turn down a friend in need.
Therefore, he followed her into the woods and all the way to a little creek where she showed him something miraculous.
In a little hollow at the base of a tree were two small kittens, mewing for their mother.
"You became a mom huh?" Ash asked, stoking the babies.
Penelope checked both of the babies. Then she turned away and cried at Ash so he would follow. Ash was very curious about leaving the babies, but he followed. Not far away he heard the cry of another kitten, much weaker and more desperate than the cries of the two others.
Looking at where Penelope had stopped, Ash saw that one of the kittens had become stuck under some tree roots. He wasn't sure how the kitten could have gotten into the small space, but now it was clear the baby didn't know how to get out.
"Poor Pen." Ash said, he gave Penelope a stroke; she must have been very upset.
Ash began digging with his fingers and the roots, trying to pull them apart to free the kitten. It would have been better if he'd brought a knife with him he thought, but a knife might hurt the kitten. Even though it was hard, he still tried, digging and pulling until his nails split.
It was no use though; he couldn't get the roots to budge. His anger and frustration rose, and for the first time in a long while, Ash felt a rush of emotions. In his annoyance, he cursed and punched the tree. Then, feeling sorry for the tree, Ash gave it a pet and apologized.
"Did you just apologize to a tree?" A laughing voice said.
Ash whipped around, surprised to hear someone else's voice. A man stood nearby, he was disheveled, as if he'd just been thrown from a horse. Yet, despite looking tousled, it was clear that he was handsome. He was almost like someone from Ash's imagination. Tall and mature looking, dark brown hair and dazzling blue eyes, his figure was very fine and it was clear he was well muscled. Even though his clothes were in disrepair it was clear that they were made of fine cloth, he was certainly wealthy. He was probably older than Ash, maybe twenty-five?
"I punched the tree." Ash said, embarrassed to realize he had been staring at the man.
"What?" Rather than laughing again, he looked curious.
"I punched the tree so I had to apologize; it isn't the tree's fault after all."
He seemed more confused, "What isn't the tree's fault?"
The kitten and Penelope began crying in unison just then and the situation became clear. The man crouched next to Ash looking down on the crying cat.
He took out a small knife instantly, prepared to cut the roots.
Ash grabbed his hand and stopped him, "You could hurt the kitten."
The man gave Ash a curious look, "I promise I won't." He gave Ash a calming smile, "Trust me."
Ash reluctantly let go of the man's hand and nodded, holding him to his promise.
Very carefully, the man sliced the roots until Ash was able to break them by hand. Together they made quick work of the task and the kitten was free. Ash scooped it up and gave it Penelope. She gave them both an approving look before picking up her kitten and taking him home.
"Are they your cats?" The man asked.
"Not anymore. They are just some friends of mine." Ash said watching Penelope disappear in the woods.
The man laughed at Ash again, "Friends?"
Ash gave him a cold look, "Just because they aren't people doesn't mean they can't be friends."
The man looked taken aback for a moment and stopped his laughter. Then he smiled widely, his white teeth sparkling, "Quite right."
Ash felt stunned, he hadn't spoken to anyone so strongly in a very long time. He was even more stunned that the man didn't seem to mind.
"What is your name?" The man asked.
"Asher." Ash answered with his true name, his tongue stumbling over the word because he wasn't used to it anymore. Nevertheless, he felt more like Asher today than he had in many years so it seemed appropriate.
The man clearly thought Ash was using a false name, but he didn't say anything, "I'm Finn."
The name seemed slightly out of place with his noble bearing. "Thank you for your help with the kitten Mr. Finn."
The man smiled again, "Just Finn is fine. You're welcome Asher."
Ash shivered, hearing his name for the first time in years.
"Have you seen a horse around somewhere?" Finn asked, not noticing Ash's reaction to his name.
"So you were thrown by a horse?"
He laughed, "Is it that obvious? I have been training him, I thought he would be fine today but it seems I was wrong."
"I haven't seen a horse but I could help you look. It's the least I could do to repay you."
The two set off, retracing Finn's steps to find the runaway horse. Ash was glad that they didn't try to force a conversation, the silence between them was comfortable enough. The horse was found upstream from where they had been, happily having a cool drink.
He darted away when he saw Finn, but with a little coaxing, he stood still. Ash reached out to pet the horse, remembering his brown pony from years ago. The horse looked at Ash with gentle eyes and happily submitted to Ash's pets.
"Amazing." Finn said.
"What?" Ash flushed, feeling self-conscious.
"Thunder has never let anyone touch him like that."
Thunder? Ash thought staring into the eyes of the stallion. What a silly name for you. He thought toward the horse.
The horse pushed his nose into Ash's hand and nodded his agreement; it was a very silly name.
Ash hesitated a moment, biting his bottom lip, "Thunder won't get you very far."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," Ash was bad at explaining things, anymore the only person he talked to was himself, "The name Thunder isn't going to inspire a bond with the horse. He doesn't like that name."
Finn raised his eyebrows looking surprised, "You can talk to horses then?" He asked, surprisingly, there wasn't any sarcasm in his voice but open curiosity.
"I talk to lots of animals; sometimes I understand them better than people."
Finn looked skeptical for a moment but nodded, "I understand."
"Really?" Ash was surprised; his father had been the only person to believe in him.
"I understand people well; usually I can read people very easily. So it makes sense that if I can understand people very well, there would be someone who can understand animals the same way."
Ash sighed in relief then he smiled at Finn, happy to have someone accept him, "Thank you." He said feeling very glad to have met Finn.
Something passed over Finn's face, an emotion that Ash didn't recognize but it was gone quickly, "So what should I call the horse instead?"
Ash laughed, "Isn't it obvious? A horse that runs away from you must be called Bolt."
Bolt nodded his head, showing his pleasure at his new name.
Finn also laughed; even he could understand that the horse liked that name much better. "Alright." He reached out and touched Bolt, "From today you are Bolt."
Finn's hand slid down over the top of Ash's and he squeezed it, "Thank you Asher." Finn's eyes were almost hypnotizing.
Ash felt himself falling into those eyes for a moment; suddenly he couldn't move a muscle.
Finn smiled again, as if he knew that Ash was dazzled. His soft hand cupped Ash's chin and held him close for a moment, "Close your eyes." He ordered softly, his breath was warm on Ash's face.
Ash had no choice but to obey, reluctantly he closed his eyes. Finn chuckled and gave Ash his first kiss.
It was sweet and gentle, but it was still enough to make Ash feel like his feel like his feet had been lifted off the ground.
When Finn leaned back, Ash opened his eyes, Finn was still smiling at him and Ash felt himself grin back. Finn took his hand back and Ash actually felt his knees wobble.
Finn put a steadying hand on Ash's shoulder, "So cute." He said to himself while he looked at Ash.
Cute wasn't exactly something that Ash wanted to be, but at this moment it seemed very good.
"One more then?" Finn asked.
Ash could only nod because his ability to speak seemed to be temporarily gone.
This time Finn pulled Ash into his arms, one hand on the small of Ash's back, the other at the back of Ash's neck. He pressed his mouth more firmly on Ash this time, and then his tongue licked the seam of Ash's lips.
Ash's mind reeled, he'd read about kissing with tongues in those few books he'd found, but he hadn't realized people actually did it! He opened his mouth, letting Finn kiss him fully. It was strange, the feeling of Finn's warm tongue sliding into his mouth, gliding over his own tongue. Ash felt warm all over, and gathering his courage, he moved his own tongue, trying to imitate Finn's movements. It was a feeling that he hadn't even dreamed of before.
With great disappointment, Ash felt Finn begin to pull away. He pulled his mouth away first, but kept a hold on Ash until Ash was able to stand on his own again; somewhere during the kiss Ash's knees had begun to give out.
Finn finally broke the embrace the regret clear on his face. He brushed the back of his fingers over Ash's lips. "Thank you again Asher." Finn gave Asher a winning smile before swinging up in the saddle and riding off, only pausing once to wave at Asher before he was out of sight.
Soon as he was gone, Ash sank to the ground, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Blushing, Ash touched his lips, trying to memorize the feeling of Finn's mouth.
Ash whistled as he went back to the house, feeling better than he had in a very long time.
