Piece of Cake

Date/Timing: 10 June 2007
Setting: various locations; Berlin, Germany
.
Hermann pays the driver, fumbles out of the taxi and onto the kerb. He rolls his shoulders to settle his shirts, brushes a hand over his chest, and, reassured his binding is still fastened down tight, opens the door to the building whose address Edan had indicated.
A wave of curry scent meets him and memories bubble up.
A chair scrapes across the floor.
Hermann opens his eyes—
/Edan.
—Edan smiles at him, sketches an awkward wave, rasps, "Long time, no see."
Hermann lunges for him, cane clattering to the floor, buries his face in the curve of his neck.
Strawberry and cheap laundry soap.
Edan rocks back a half-step, cradles Hermann gently, steadies them. ""Missed you, too.""
A wing—
Hermann startles, pulls away.
"Is everyth—"
"J-just want a better look at you."
Edan's freckles hide—he's blushing dear God he's beautiful—and he steps back. "Then let's sit down so you can get an eyeful and some food." He bends, picks up Hermann's cane, passes it back.
"Thank you." Hermann wipes his palms on his trousers and accepts, then follows Edan to a table for two against the far wall. He eases himself into the chair Edan pulls out for him.
Edan watches, grinning like a lunatic.
Hermann smiles back just as widely, his heart bruising itself against his ribs..
Edan—of course—breaks the silence, announces, "You're taller."
Hermann laughs. "My family grows late." Cocks an eyebrow. "You've grown, too."
"Wha? I'm the same—"
Hermann anchors his eyes on Edan's cheek.
"Oh! The beard!" Strokes his chin. "I got sick of being mistaken for a primary schooler on a tour instead of a student, so: fur!"
"Has it worked?"
"Still get told I'm tall for my age."
Hermann nearly doubles over—
Edan snickers.
—straightens up, wipes his eyes. "This is really happening, right? I'm not dreaming?"
"You're not dreaming. Cross my heart." Gestures. "I can show you my plane ticket if you want more proof."
Hermann waves it off, sighs back into his chair.
Edan ruffles his hair, looks at Hermann through his eyelashes.
Hermann counts the freckles across his nose.
„May I help you?“ asks the teenager who bustles over to them.
Hermann startles.
"Could you? My German's non-existent."
„Two—“ Clears his throat, continues in a less strangled voice, „Two of your basic curry plates, please, and two masala teas.“
„I'll have that for you in a moment.“
„Thank you.“ 
"Thanks, mate." 
"You're welcome." 
With that, hey fall into conversation as easily as if they had seen each other previous day, not five-hundred-forty-one days before, pausing only to chew and swallow mouthfuls of curry and bread.
Their meals are long gone and the restaurant owner has been giving them the evil eye for a while when they finally stand and head for the door, Hermann dragging his feet.
Edan stops beside the door, stretches his arms over his head. "The food there's good, but not as good as Kamal's."
"Agreed." Hermann shuffles his feet, takes a deep breath. "I don't want to go back to my house just yet."
"We could, umm, go to a coffee shop?"
"I'd rather go someplace I could stretch out my knee ...."
Edan rubs his neck, mumbles, "My room? It's right around the corner? If that's not too—"
"That's just fine," Hermann assures.
Edan smiles, offers his arm.
Hermann accepts and they set off, arriving at a small guest house after a pleasant stroll.
Edan lets them in, leads the way down a side hallway, unlocks a wooden door at the very end, and bows Hermann inside.
Hermann wobbles across the space, perches on the edge of the mattress.
Edan finishes with the chain and bolt, floats around, sits beside Hermann so that their arms barely brush.
Hermann's face heats, but he steels himself and says, "I'd like to put my back against the headboard and really rest my leg."
"Oh. Okay. No worries." Edan scoots toward the foot of the bed.
"I'd really like it if you sat beside me." Swallows. "Close. Like we did before I left."
Edan positively glows as Hermann grins and pulls himself into place, then settles beside him and melts.
Hermann sighs into his side, rests his head on Edan's shoulder.
"That's better."
"Much."
They breathe together for a few minutes.
"May I put an arm around you and, uh, play with your hair?"
"Go ahead."
"Brilliant," hums Edan. 
A warm weight settles on the tops of Hermann's shoulders—clear of his wings thank all that's holy—and gentle fingers card his hair.
Hermann purrs.
"You should grow this out a little longer."
"Why's that?"
"It's really soft and nice between my fingers and it'll be easier to handle if there's more of it."
"Ah." Hermann nestles closer, a smile growing. "Is that why you wear yours a little shaggy? Better handling?"
"Hadn't thought of it like that. Maybe?" His hand stills on Hermann's scalp and he nuzzles Hermann's temple. "But I like scratching better than stroking or pulling, anyway."
Hermann swallows, shifts.
Edan resumes carding.
"Why ... why do you keep waiting for me?"
"Because ...." Edan takes a deep breath. "Because you're the most wonderful person I know—except for Fenella and I /don't want to kiss her—"
Hermann snorts a laugh.
"—but I do want to kiss /you."
Hermann clears his throat, still croaks, "Then please do."
Edan pulls away and shifts for a better view of Hermann's face. "I'd love to, but ground rules first."
Hermann blinks. "Wha? Why? I thought we'd just—" Vague gesture. "—go."
Edan rubs the back of his neck. "Because I had a couple of bad experiences getting carried away and did some things I wasn't ready for and /really regret."
"Oh."
"So, we stop at making out. Hands stay above the belt. 'No' or 'stop' means we separate and freeze."
Hermann drops his eyes. "A-and no touching my back."
"No touching your back. Got it."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure," says Edan, leaning in and capturing Hermann's lips with his.
It's a back and forth, a game, a dance, and—the handful of times he clacks their teeth together aside—the greatest feeling Hermann's had in his godforsaken life.
His lips are swollen and sore when Edan pulls away and he /still chases.
"I need a bit of a breather," Edan pants.
"O-okay," sighs Hermann.
"Don't you worry your little head now—" Pokes Hermann's nose.
Hermann swats, laughing.
"—I'll get my second wind in a bit."
"You'd better."
"Don't worry. I want to make as much of this time as I can."
Hermann's heart stutters. "Wh-when do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning." Fluffs his hair. "I didn't want to press my luck first time out, so I kept it short."
"Probably wise," Hermann concedes.
"I wish I could stay, but I can't."
"I know—" A deep breath. "—and it hurts."
"It's not for much longer." Strokes his hair. "I'll visit whenever I can and you'll be back in Britain before you know it. Then we can see each other every weekend, at least."
Hermann nods.
"It's only next August. We can make it 'til next August."
"Piece of cake," rasps Hermann.
"Piece of cake," agrees Edan, continuing to card his fingers through Hermann's hair.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Edan
Category:Edan (ficlet)
Category:Fenella (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images