Chapter Text
Linn crept into Oyvind and Terje's lodge, carefully closing the door behind himself. Terje must have been off hunting; Linn wasn't greeted at the door by the giant snow leopard who was his constant animal companion. There was no sneaking up on her, and when she inevitably pounced him to the ground, the noise would have alerted Oyvind. But the cabin was empty except for a large form breathing slow and steady on the bed, and Linn grinned triumphantly. Perfect.
He put the stave of his bow in the rack by the door and made his way over to the bed, fingers working at the buckles and ties of his clothing, scattering bits and pieces behind himself on the floor. His coat, shirt, belt with heavy, coin-filled pouches and skinning knife, pants, until he stood naked by the bed, his golden leaf-skin given richer colour and shine by the firelight.
Oyvind was naked too, curled up in the furs that comprised their bedding. His face was peaceful, but the faintest furrow remained in his brow. Fortunately, Linn knew exactly how to remove it. He carefully climbed onto the bed, the little set of rough wooden steps they'd put in by the bed for him making the task much easier. Linn carefully laid down at the edge of the bed, then scooted back, bit by bit, until he lay flush against Oyvind's broad chest. A duck and a wriggle, and then Oyvind's arm was over him, and he sighed happily, soaking in the warmth of his dearheart.
It couldn't have been more than twenty minutes or so before he felt Oyvind's arm tighten slightly around him, and heard a sleepy murmur of pleasure from behind him as Oyvind began to surface from his nap. Long, thick fingers started to stroke the velvet leaves of Linn's skin, and Linn wriggled back against Oyvind happily.
"Good afternoon, sleepy," he teased quietly, and got another muffled "mmmph" in response, Oyvind's mind still catching up as it unmired itself from sleep. Finally, Oyvind curled more around him, legs coming up to cradle Linn's much smaller form, and Linn couldn't help the charge of excitement that followed, the eager want he always felt when Oyvind's huge size and strength came into play.
"You're home," Oyvind said, voice thick with sleep and happiness.
Linn closed his eyes, savoring the words. Technically he still had a space in Bear Lodge, but this small place just outside of Hoelbrak proper had, in truth, become far more home to him than the place he earned in exchange for the meat he brought in to feed the devotees of Bear.
"I sold out of goods early," he answered after a moment. "I'm glad, it meant I got to surprise you like this."
A quiet chuckle behind him. "I like this kind of surprise," Oyvind rumbled, and his face nuzzled against the top of Linn's head, beard and fronds rustling as they rubbed together. "But now I don't think I can get up, and I was going to do some cleaning."
"Good." Linn grinned. "I'm not done cuddling you yet. The cleaning can wait." He twisted around in Oyvind's hold until he faced his huge sweetheart and leaned up to plant a kiss on Oyvind's bearded chin. "I love you," he said, quietly, and the happy gleam of Oyvind's good eye was more rewarding than any amount of physical pleasure would have been. Linn sighed again and laid his head on Oyvind's chest as Oyvind's arms tightened around him, holding him close.