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It was well after dark at Ruthard Palace, and nearly everyone was in the upper levels of the house, talking and drinking. Henry excused himself, walking down the stairs and into the courtyard. He looked out over the walls at the smoke wafting out of the buildings across the river. Maleshov weighed heavily on his mind. He saved the town, but Zizka and The Devil wouldn't stop shooting him glares and chewing him out. At least Hans, Katherine, and Godwin had told him he did the right thing, and by now their opinions were really the ones he cared about in the end.
He was also ruminating on Hans, and their night together. It felt like a distant dream some days, even though it was only about 10 days ago. They haven't even been able to talk about it, everything had suddenly happened very quickly and lazy days in the Den screeched to a halt; survival was, of course, much more important. I could have died without really knowing.. Henry mused bitterly. I still could. God grant me the strength to speak..
He had stood there for a good ten or fifteen minutes before he heard the door on the catwalk open and someone plod down the stairs. He only turned when they got close. It turned out to be Godwin.
"Hello, Father. It's nice out tonight." He said, pointedly looking back out at the smoke. Godwin patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not going to eat you, Henry. I came to talk."
"I can guess why."
"Maybe, but probably not in the way you think."
Henry turned back to him. "What is it, then?"
"I just wanted to say that you're a fine young man." Henry raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And Capon is, too. But you know what he is like about.. debauchery."
"You would know, Father."
"Oh, shut up and don’t fucking moralize to me. I'm trying to say if you have feelings for him, I don't know what will happen to you. You know how he thinks about his.."
"Conquests. I know, Father."
The door at the top of the stairs creaked open again, and Hans came striding down the stairs with a wineskin and some beautiful ripe apples in his hands. Godwin nodded a greeting. "I had better get back up there while there's some kind of roast creature left." He said, taking the stairs faster than a man 20 years his junior.
Hans watched him go. "What the hell was that about? I brought us," he lifted an apple and bit into it, "Shom apfels." He chewed and swallowed with a pleased look on his face. "They're quite nice, Henry." He handed the other one over. Henry took it and bit into it too, juices running down his chin.
They stood quietly in the dark courtyard for a moment, eating their apples together. The grey smoke billowed gently over the buildings and fields. Should I just ask..? Henry thought, Can I hear the answer..? he licked apple juices off his fingers rather daintily, feeling kind of awkward. Hans was staring at him.
"Let's, um. Let's go to my room. It's just through here." Henry dragged open the door to the cellar and Hans gave a low whistle. "Rosa must love you, Henry. All the rest of us have to sleep together up in that tower. The fellas are all louder than churchbells." Henry waved dismissively. "Rosa is great, but she's not like that. Even remotely. A fantastic friend, though.." Hans stared blankly before it hit him. "She likes women?"
"Not that strange, is it? She told me. I think she knows I, well.." we..? He trailed off.
He led Hans down and to the left, past a bathing room into a modest chamber that had a pleasant enough table and chairs.
"My god, Henry, you're living like a king! Now I'm really glad I brought the nicest wine I could, ah, borrow. Meanwhile I’ve gone from one cramped little cell to another..." He pulled a chair out and plopped down, grabbing two of the mugs on the table and pouring the wine for both of them. “At least I can watch the bustle across the river.” Henry sat down across from him.
"Hans, um, I wanted to talk.. about what happened before."
Hans sat up and became serious again. "What about it?"
Henry squirmed a little under his stare. "We haven't been able to talk, since Maleshov was right after, and, I can't stop thinking about it. Do you.." Fuck, my stomach is going to drop right through the floor.. he thought, unable to finish his sentence. Hans watched him, his expression growing more upset.
"Oh fuck. Godwin told you about Jitka."
Those words and the dread they were spoken with felt worse than any arrows Henry had gotten lodged in himself. He wanted to run, to puke.
"Wait. Who the fuck is Jitka?"
"The woman I'm betrothed to." Hans said, looking just as ill.
"You're getting married? What the fuck, Hans? How long have you hid that from me?"
"Henry, please. Please listen." He held his hands up beseechingly.
"Why didn't you tell me it was going to happen?"
"Because I'm a coward, Henry. I thought..." he trailed off. His expression was a mix of shame and frustration.
"You might not have gotten something from me. I was going to ask you if you regretted it." Henry said simply. He felt like he was in ice water. "What happened in the field at the Den. Our conquest, or just yours?" The last three words a whisper. God, I thought we were of one mind then..
"Henry. I have absolutely royally fucked up. I'm so sorry I kept it from you." Henry just listened passively without meeting his eyes, and it hurt Hans even more, he could tell.
"But it is not because I wanted to.. take advantage of you."
"You've done it to women." Henry said dismissively.
"Damn it, they weren't you, Henry. Jesus! I- fuck. Fuck it."
Hans grabbed both of his hands tenderly. "I didn't tell you because I want what happened that night, with you, to keep happening. Forever. And more. Not just fucking. I want to go on adventures with you! I want to spend days in the woods with you! And I am absolutely not a willing participant in this marriage deal."
Henry stared at him. His gentle hands would be extremely distracting under other circumstances.
"What are you saying, Hans?" He had heard it all just fine, but hadn't processed it, mind still catching up from the whiplash.
"I damn well laid it all out, Henry. I want you. Actually."
Henry stared at him, slowly processing what the things left unsaid in Hans' words also meant.
"You want me?”
Hans nodded, looking terrified. "You can still tell me to fuck off. I'm just a stupid, scared little fop. I've ruined it all. I understand not trusting me, I do." He let go of Henry's hands to grab his mug, draining it of wine in seconds. Henry shook his head and grabbed his own, also draining it.
"I'm the only one who can call you names, Hans. I'd say I've earned it." Hans looked very intensely at his shoes. "And right now, I'm calling you an idiot..." He shoved Hans' shoulder gently, a sort of peace offering. Hans had that expression that always got to Henry, the strangely innocent, solemnly sad look. "Because you should have known by now that we get through the bullshit together. And yes, I'm fucking hurt that you didn't tell me, and I'm going to be sore about it a while, but good God, I would die for you. I know you would for me. We'll figure something out. I just didn't know... I thought maybe you could have felt like we went too far, before. That it was a mistake."
This time Hans shook his head emphatically. "No!" he nearly hollered, then more quietly, "I can't stop thinking about it. I don't think. Um. Well, I don't think we went far enough. Before."
Henry smiled at that, bashful but thrilled, and Hans in turn smiled like he just saw sunshine. "Y'see, milord, how much it helps to just talk to ol' Hal?" Henry said, patting Hans' thigh to complete the little charade of the helpful bumpkin.
"Oh, come on. Fucking hell.” Hans rolled his eyes. “Let's drink more. Please. I'm still really fucking sorry, Henry." He said, pouring them each another dose of wine.
They had sat in silence for maybe ten or fifteen minutes, just drinking and looking out one of the Palace windows. They were both antsy and had no clue how to continue talking, even though they were probably thinking roughly the same thing. They hadn't drank enough to get more than a buzz.
“So… um, you’ve thought about it? What about when you’re with girls?” Henry asked, feeling painfully awkward.
“With…? Oh. About that.” Hans laced his fingers together, his face turning beet red. “I haven’t.”
“Haven’t what?”
“I haven’t been with anyone since you, Henry.” He sputtered out, staring a hole through a random spot on the wall.
Henry was absolutely gobsmacked. He stared at Hans, who just grew redder, his face a mixture of embarrassment and some kind of defiance.
“You can’t go close to two weeks, Hans. I don’t believe you.”
Hans shifted his weight. “That’s quite insulting, Henry, especially when it’s you who caused this! It wasn’t a question of refraining. I quite literally cannot think of-”He glanced briefly up and down, “of, well, anything but you. I tried! But no, nary a tit in sight!”
Henry grinned, seized with a heady mix of playfulness and desire. Hans now looked slightly intimidated on top of the embarrassment. Neither of them were thinking of the earlier upset at this point. Thank you, wine, thank you for helping a madman like me, Henry thought, and leaned in closer to Hans.
“I’ll bet you anything you’ll come within seconds if I touch you, Sir Hans.”
Hans scoffed, actually slightly offended. “Not before you do, you peasant!” he retorted. He stood up out of his seat and poked Henry square in the chest with his index finger to drive it home.
Henry, still grinning, pushed the table aside and away from them. He grabbed Hans by his shirt, eliciting an adorably shocked little squeak. He pulled Hans closer to himself. “Sit.” It came out lower and more emphatically than he meant to, but it worked wonders.
Hans immediately obeyed, straddling Henry’s lap with trepidation; his bluster of a few seconds ago just gone. “Um.” He squeaked out, feeling brainless. “Wh-”
Henry cut him off with a deep kiss, grabbing his ass (in both a supporting and greedy manner) with one hand and gently cupping the back of his head with the other. Hans whined into his mouth. He felt like he was going to fall, even though Henry’s arms cradled him perfectly. He realized he really, really wanted to see Henry’s strong arms, bare, wrapping around his comparatively lithe body. Henry hummed quietly into the kiss and reluctantly broke away. He adjusted his arms to be holding Hans at the waist rather casually. Hans wrapped his thighs a bit tighter around Henry. They both smiled as though drugged. Henry ducked his head a bit, blushing. He worked up some willpower to speak.
“You drive me mad.” Is all he could mumble. Hans snorted. “It’s mutual, Hal. I thought- that is, you said, you were going to touch me.” Henry cocked an eyebrow at him, but he continued. “Are you really just going to knead my asscheek like dough?” Henry gave him a devious little smile and slapped his ass, hard. Hans yelped.
“No, but it sure is fun. Will you help me with my shirt?” Henry asked, leaning back and letting go of Hans. Hans immediately and wordlessly started pulling Henry’s shirt off, which amused Henry. It’s quite easy to order him around, for him being a lord, he thought.
Hans leaned back too, engaging his thigh muscles more to keep balancing. He was taking in the view, his eyes roving over Henry’s chest and belly. He ran his hands down over Henry’s abdomen, muscle only lightly obscured by a healthy layer of fat. He was well and truly built like a blacksmith.
Henry watched him silently. The way Hans looked at him was intoxicating, his touch even more. He reached out a hand to Han’s chest. “You’ve got an advantage.” He said simply, tugging at Hans’ shirt.
“Oh! Shit, sorry. You’re just really.. um, nice to look at.” Hans started unbuttoning his overshirt, and Henry joined in, excited. Hans quickly cast it off and lifted his arms for Henry to take off his undershirt.
Henry remembered the way Hans had squirmed and whined the last time. He slowly, agonizingly, ran his hands under Hans’ shirt to lift it, very lightly running his nails along his chest. When his hands reached his nipples, he lightly pinched them both.
Hans jerked and gripped Henry tighter with his thighs, making a strangled little noise. “You fucker!” He exclaimed, panting. Henry laughed and pulled his shirt off the rest of the way. They leaned in for another kiss in tandem.
Henry pulled away again after a few seconds. “My legs’re gonna go numb. Hold on.” Hans began to loosen his legs’ vicegrip when Henry pulled him closer and started to stand. Slightly befuddled, but even more turned on, Hans clung to him as he carried him to the bed in the next room and set him down.
“Jesus, Henry!” He exclaimed, sitting up. “I can walk!” Henry chuckled.
“Not well, I think.” He said, carefully getting on his knees. Hans watched him, stock still. Belatedly, he realized what Henry was doing.
Henry reached up to start untying Hans’ hose, his hands brushing lightly over his crotch as he worked. Hans jerked up against his will with each contact. Henry freed him from his hose and underwear deftly, even though he felt like his hands could barely work. He tugged them off gently.
“Hans, you’re so fucking gorgeous.” He said, looking up directly into Hans’ eyes. Hans whimpered. He felt utterly entranced, Henry’s blue eyes boring into his soul.
“I’m nothing compared to you. You’re like.. like Atlas. God, Henry.. Please..” His dick was harder than he thought was possible without even being touched.
Henry leaned his head against Hans’ leg, and very slowly and reverently ran his hand along one calf. “D’you know..” he said, running it up to Hans’ thigh and eliciting a powerful shiver from Hans, “I think so much about your handsome legs with your pretty golden garters that I almost..” he turned his head, kissing along Hans’ inner thigh slowly, rapturously. Hans was quivering under his lips, his hands gripping the edge of the bed like he was on a cliff. “Henry, Henry, Henry, please..” he whispered. I could do just this forever and be happy.. Henry mused to himself, kissing along pale and soft skin and feeling the ripple of muscle underneath.
“I almost forget about-” he shot another look up at Hans, full of lust and adoration, and entwined his fingers with Hans’ before raising himself up a bit and taking Hans’ cock into his mouth in one motion. Hans became completely overwhelmed, crying out and bucking into Henry’s mouth, making him choke a little. He lifted his head back up. They both gripped each other’s hand like their lives depended on it. “I-” Hans panted. “I’m s-sorry. I couldn’t control-” Henry cut him off.
“Do it again.” He said simply, driving his mouth back down onto Hans’ dick, shocking him into bucking again. Henry gagged and moaned, maneuvering Hans’ hand to his head and staring up expectantly without stopping.
“H-holyyyy. Mother of Christ!” Hans exclaimed, unable to control his thrusts any longer as his fingers ran through Henry’s hair. Henry was making wet, obscene, sweet noises as Hans fucked his face. He took just a second to get air, running his tongue along Hans’ dick. Even his hot breath was bliss as he panted. “Hans..” was all he could force out raggedly before again taking him into his mouth as much as possible. “Ah- Hal!” was all Hans could manage to say in reply before his whole body shuddered violently, bucking into Henry’s mouth, coming for what felt like forever. Henry tried his best to swallow, caught off guard by the volume. He pulled his mouth away, catching his breath. Hans was still riding a wave of bliss, making small whines as his dick continued twitching. He pulled Henry up weakly towards himself and leaned down to meet him with a kiss, both breathless and happy. Henry’s lips were covered in spit and cum. The kiss was heavenly.
"Did- you win our wager?" Hans asked. Henry laughed as much as he could manage.
"No.." he said, holding his other hand up, covered in his own fluids. "I undid my hose, and, um.. I came all over myself when you did." He got up and sat next to Hans. "But we could always have a round two in a bit.." Hans sighed and flopped down on the bed, and Henry shed his hose and wet braies and followed, wrapping himself around Hans gently.
They lay there quietly, catching their breath and relaxing. Hans ran his hand through Henry's hair, while Henry stroked Hans' cheek. Time passed languidly. After a long warm silence, Hans piped up. "Henry?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you've never sucked a man off before?"
Henry sighed, trying not to laugh. "Well... In Skalitz....." he started, and Hans looked at him sympathetically, a little surprised. He wasn't really expecting Henry to have a confession.
"I knew a fella who could suck his own cock!" He said, laughing like an idiot. "He'd show it off to anyone who bought him a beer! He moved to some far-off city and his cousin got word that he was jailed for running through the street naked and drunk. I've never tried it myself, so no, I haven't."
"Oh Christ, Henry, I thought you were going to give me some sob story! You ass!" Hans said, laughing too. When they stopped he shook his head. "But honestly, my God. You really are perfect. A champion! You could make that alone your career! Well, could have. You're mine now." He said the last part in a mix of possessiveness and smugness. Henry sat up on his elbow and looked into his eyes. He had a cautious expression on his face again, and Hans stilled, suddenly serious.
"Say that again."
"You- You're mine now. Henry." Hans said, returning the gaze. He was frozen like a deer. Henry just kept looking at his face, almost searching. He cupped Hans' cheek and smiled before leaning closer. He got a bit greedier, shifting his weight and setting his knee between Hans' legs.
"Once more, please." He said, almost a whisper.
"You're mine. I'm yours." Hans said, finally getting the picture. He wondered how many emotions showed on his face.
They kissed, gentle and loving and deep. When they parted, Hans piped up again.
"Henry, can we.. um, that is.. Will you be a bit more selfish? I feel like all the attention is on me. Which, normally it ought to be! But in this case I.." Hans trailed off, not even sure what to say.
"Bullshit. I sucked your cock for purely selfish reasons. It's too pretty not to." Henry retorted with a crooked little smile. Hans' breath hitched and his dick jumped to life at the compliment. Henry felt it against his knee and smiled wider, changing his angle so Hans could feel his dick pressed against him, too. Hans made an excited little noise and reached down.
"I've barely touched you, Henry. Fuck, you're big." He ran his hand up and down Henry's length and got rewarded with precum dripping onto him and Henry making a low rumbling noise. Hans caught his gaze and pressed a bit harder. He thought about sucking Henry off, too, if he wanted.
"I'll do whatever you'd like, Hans." He said, absentmindedly grinding into him. Hans clicked his tongue and reluctantly pulled his hand away to sit up. Henry followed suit, dismayed. "Why're you stopping?" He asked, worried.
"Henry. As your lord, I demand you tell me what you want." Hans said, donning a supercilious air effortlessly. Henry would have snickered in other circumstances, but he was too busy being flustered. He shook his head. Hans crossed his arms like they were having a normal argument. "I'm serious! Where did your initiative go?"
"It's one thing to extol your virtues, Hans…"
"I already know you dream of me every night, Henry, and watch me sleep like a common peeper." Henry rolled his eyes at that. "Please?" The obvious want in his voice made Henry take him more seriously.
"Fine. I, um, want to feel.. your mouth.. on my body.." he trailed off, kind of frustrated that he still felt extremely embarrassed at this point. Hans' eyes shined and Henry rallied. "Your hands.. has anyone told you they're lovely- elegant?... I want to fall to pieces in your hands." He surprised himself with that statement.
Hans' breath hitched in his throat and he swallowed. "Christ, Henry.." he said, a reverent whisper. "I'll happily oblige."
He leaned forward, capturing Henry in another kiss. They slowly maneuvered until Hans was over Henry this time. He pulled away to appreciate everything in front of him.
Henry was breathing heavily, staring up at him with his huge blue eyes, utterly vulnerable. His chest and abs were covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Hans thrilled at the sight and decided his plan of attack.
He kissed Henry's lips very lightly and immediately moved down, kissing his jawline and then his neck. He could feel Henry's pulse fluttering under his mouth. He smiled against him and gave him the lightest little nibble, teeth pressed delicately to skin. Henry gasped, letting out a pleasantly surprised "ah!"
Hans felt resplendent. He kissed down to Henry's collarbone and began touching him, too, moving his hands gently up his thighs and reveling at their heft and the texture of their downy blond hair (growing thicker and darker as it roved down his legs.) An idea occurred to him and he gently tugged Henry's legs up and slid his underneath, making Henry's legs spread. He thought about how different their bodies were, and how well they fit together. His cock laid atop the base of Henry's. Henry covered his face with his hand, getting both worked up and self conscious at being on such display. Hans gently wormed his hand underneath Henry's and pushed it aside, looking first at Henry's hot open mouth and then catching his gaze. Henry muttered something quietly.
"What?"
"I have, um, oil.." he said, stretching his arm down and under the bed slightly before retrieving a small phial. He handed it over and Hans took it carefully, realizing what he meant. He uncorked it and dripped some onto both of their dicks, mixing it with precum that had come from both of them. They both made small noises of surprise as the cool liquid touched their skin. Hans moved slowly and deliberately, teasing Henry by loosely rubbing their shafts together. Henry squirmed and tried to rut against him in vain, whining. Hans leaned down and Henry craned his neck up to kiss him. They both moaned into each other.
"Hans," Henry said, almost gravelly. "Will you- do you want to fuck me? I want you inside me. Even just your fingers." Hans almost came from that alone, something he thought he'd never hear in a million years out of his best friend's lips. It had also turned Henry on more from speaking it, and his dick was even harder than before. Hans again nodded dumbly, and poured more of the oil on his dick and his fingers. He shifted and simultaneously started rubbing his oiled fingers against Henry's entrance and kissing his neck, which was an obvious weak point. He then started slowly jerking Henry off. Henry got quickly overstimulated, panting and moaning and squirming. He hooked his legs around Hans' back.
"Please, Hans.." He choked out, "I need you- please.." Hans obliged, slowly working a finger into him. Both of them stopped breathing for a second as Hans focused on his task. Hans went at it gently, watching Henry for signs of discomfort.
"You're really tight.." he mused, and caught Henry in another kiss. He curled his finger up in an exploratory motion and Henry jumped, humming excitedly into Hans.
"Do that again."
He did, making Henry stifle a cry. He tried once more and realized the spot felt a little different. He added another finger and rhythmically curled and thrust them, feeling Henry's whole body respond. Henry was almost instantly biting the back of his own hand, near delirious with desire, thrusting down against Hans' fingers. Even more precum leaked out of his dick with each thrust. It felt huge and impossibly heavy in Hans' grip.
"Henry, Jesus, you're magical. Fuck. Can I fuck you properly?"
Henry nodded, speechless, and grabbed him for another kiss before running his hands along Hans' sides, over his hips, and grabbing his ass. Hans smeared more precum and oil around his tip before guiding himself in carefully. Henry shuddered. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." He said, smiling. "Keep- ah-"
Hans started to move, getting further with each slow stroke in and out. Henry was hot and tight. It was absolutely heavenly, but very hard to restrain himself. "God, you take me so prettily.." he mused, staring at Henry as he quivered and moaned. Henry started moving too, pressing against Hans. Their eyes each roved over the other's body, both seemingly taking mental notes to keep this memory forever. They kept pace together well, gradually increasing it. Every time Hans arched up just right, Henry moaned louder, and his legs curled more tightly around Hans. Hans thought he was the most gorgeous thing alive, and the tiny part of his mind that could think decided he wanted to get fucked by Henry next.
"Faster.." Henry growled suddenly, his hands squeezing Hans' ass almost painfully and pulling him closer. Hans obliged, thrusting faster and harder. They both panted and groaned and whimpered, alternately kissing and gasping for air. Hans went faster and faster, fucking Henry at a nearly brutal pace. Neither of them could restrain their noise or movements, Henry bouncing wildly on Hans' cock and both of them moaning and keening.
"Please, please, please, ah, fuck! Harder, Hans, in- inside. Come in me, please!" Henry exclaimed, quickening his thrusting and tightening his legs' grip even more, unable to control how hard he was quivering. Hans was jerking him off at the same pace.
Hans came the second the words were out of Henry's mouth, and his hips kept moving on their own as he came for what felt like hours, shaking. Henry came right after him, a shocking amount, smeared across both their bellies. They both huffed and puffed, exhausted, and they both kept dripping fluids as Hans slid out of Henry and pulled himself up to rest his head on Henry's chest. They both reveled in the feeling that they had fucked the life out of each other.
"I.. phew. I like being all yours." Henry said, breathless and grinning like an exhausted lunatic. Hans lifted his head a bit and smiled warmly back. "I love it."