TRP: Goro and Hansel (Bath Cuddles)

IZZY

[SETTING: Day 406, after Hemlocks.]

After a while, Hansel finally settled down and managed to stop fretting over Mishka and Raef. Motherfuckers teleporting away and about dying when he couldn't see to help them, and shit. He didn't want to let either of them out of his sight, but he supposed he eventually had to let Raef go back to his actual husband. Hansel had his own, other husband to track down -- he knew Goro had skulked off to the kitchen, and he was fairly sure he'd heard Amari's voice (and music, which was weird, but maybe Roddy was visiting, or something), so he figured Goro was fine. Wasn't in the kitchen, though, and neither was Roddy -- just Amari. She seemed all pleased and told him that Goro's friend Sam'd been there, and the two of them'd gone upstairs for a nap.

Huh, Hansel thought.

He still wasn't fuckin' sold on Sam. Guy seemed sketchy. Mishka liked him a lot, but Mishka's judgment wasn't always the best, and neither was Goro's. Amari was good with people, though she had that thing where she always kinda seemed to see the best in them, but Hansel asked her anyway.

"Hey, what d'you fuckin' think of that Sam guy, anyway?"

She thought for a moment, looking over her tea. "He seems lost and lonely. I think he needs a friend."

Huh, Hansel thought.

.

He went on upstairs and checked his bedroom first, just because Goro seemed to like it in there, sometimes, better than his own room. Kept his weird heavy blanket in there most of the time. It wasn't there now, though, and neither was he, so Hansel went over to tap on his door, calling though it, "Hey, ishi. Just me." Mishka was behind him, somewhere, still talking to Raef, he thought. All three of them piling together would have to wait, he guessed, grumpy about it.

There was a bit of noise, and Goro opened up looking all rumpled -- the bed behind him rumpled, too, and Sam there, sure enough, looking fucking awkward. His arms were full of his boots, and bag, and lyre, and he didn't seem like he wanted to look at Hansel. He did mumble a greeting, though, shoulders up a bit as he made to slip past.

"Hey."

"'Sup." Hansel turned to let him by, into the sitting room.

"Mmhm," he managed, and nothing else.

Hansel looked back to Goro and shrugged, and stepped in to grab him in a nice, tight hug. Gotten distracted by Mishka and Raef for a while, but especially now that he saw Goro again, and saw how tired and disheveled he looked, all he wanted to do was cuddle Goro and make him feel better. Wanted to cuddle all three of them at once, but frankly, Raef seemed pretty unbothered about the whole thing, and Mishka was more upset about having put Raef in danger. They were doing okay. Goro needed him more, now.

LINA

"Hi," Goro said glumly.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head a couple times and shifted them further in, kicking the door closed behind them and only letting Goro go, with on hand, so that he could redo the deadbolt. "You get a nap, motek?"

LINA

Goro shook his head. "Couldn't sleep."

IZZY

Hansel mm'd sympathetically. He kissed Goro's head again, then hoisted him up, chest to chest. "Wanna keep tryin'? Or I can ..." He considered. "I mean, I can distract you some other way."

LINA

"I dunno," Goro said miserably. He hooked his arms tight around Hansel's neck. "Think I'm just gonna be sad and awake. You gonna love me anyway?"

IZZY

"Mmhm." Hansel nuzzled into him. "Sure am. Always. Still gonna try to make you feel better, though. That okay? You ain't gotta feel better," he said. "Just gotta be."

LINA

Goro nodded. He hugged Hansel tighter and closed his eyes.

IZZY

"'Kay. I love you." Hansel gave him another good squeeze, then carried him over to the couch in the little personal sitting room and set him down, kissing the top of his head again. "Just gonna go grab your blanket, a'right?"

LINA

Goro smiled faintly. "Think you're strong enough to carry it without help? 'S'real heavy."

IZZY

"I'll do my best," he said solemnly.

LINA

Goro smiled a little wider. He curled up to wait, hugging his knees.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head again. Fucker needed a bath, but it wasn't gonna stop Hansel from kissing him. He ambled on into the bedroom to gather up the blanket, tucking it under his arm and grabbing the little plate of chocolate cupcakes that were left. Wished he'd brought some hot cocoa up, but he didn't wanna go get some and bring it back, leave Goro up here moping by himself that long. He thought for a moment about poking his head out and seeing if Sam would sit with Goro a minute more, but nah. Guy seemed fuckin' spooked of him, or something. They'd make do.

He brought the blanket and cupcakes back out, handing Goro the plate and then pulling his shirt off over his head before settling in next to Goro, blanket just beside them, for now, and offering to take the plate back so Goro could get his robes and shirt off, too, if he wanted.

LINA

Goro gave him the plate and yanked off his robe and shirt, then dove in to press his face against Hansel's chest. "Mmph."

IZZY

Hansel wrapped an arm around him, sitting the plate aside just for now, and using the other hand to pull the blanket on over them. He kissed Goro's hair. "Need a bath," he told him. "I'm gonna treat you later. Like Mishka does. Wash your hair an' shit."

LINA

Goro whimpered. "'S'the point?"

IZZY

"Make you feel nice," Hansel murmured. "Take care of you. You'll like it. Promise."

LINA

Goro grumbled under his breath about how he wasn't gonna feel nice, was impossible, and so forth. Then he turned his face to the side and said, "Um. Uh."

IZZY

"Mmhm?" Hansel kissed his head again.

LINA

"Um. Will you, um." He grimaced, 'cause it kind of pained him to say it. "I was just thinking, um. Can you tell me something you like about me? Not -- god, hold on. Don't go nuts. Just one thing. Little bite."

IZZY

"Aw. Sweetheart. Hmm." He made a show of thinking about it. "Just one thing? Shit, ahuv."

LINA

"If you say a bunch it's just gonna slide off me," Goro insisted.

IZZY

He psshh'd softly, but fuck if he didn't know what that felt like. "M'kay. I like ... how brave you are. Know you feel fuckin' bad, an' just wanna hide, but you came out with us today anyhow. Always tryin' your hardest. My brave husband."

LINA

"Mmph." Fine. Little bite. Goro tried to swallow it.

IZZY

"Li'l more?" Hansel asked.

LINA

"A little," Goro emphasized.

IZZY

"'Kay." He tried to decide how much was a little. How much Goro could handle, when the amount of things Hansel could say was so fucking large. Big as the ocean. He needed to figure out just a little drop. "'Kay. I like how ... you came up here and cuddled with Sam. Guy's fuckin' odd, and he hurt you, and you're still givin' him chances."

So fucking kind, he wanted to say, so good, but just gave Goro a good squeeze instead. Not too much.

LINA

"Guess so," Goro mumbled. He squeezed Hansel back.

IZZY

"I ain't gotta guess," Hansel said. "I know."

LINA

"Psssh. You're a fuckin' dork."

IZZY

"You love me," Hansel teased.

LINA

"Mm." Goro nodded. "Sorry I'm -- sorry I'm being like this. You don't gotta keep me company."

IZZY

"You tryin' to get rid of me?" he said, still teasing gently. "'Cause you ain't gonna."

LINA

Goro shook his head violently and squeezed Hansel tighter.

IZZY

"Aye, didn't think so." Hansel kissed his head some more. "Ain't anywhere I wanna be more, love. And you ain't got anything to apologize over, either."

LINA

Goro whimpered. "What if I do something bad and you leave me?"

IZZY

"Nothin's gonna make me leave you, love," Hansel murmured.

LINA

"Maybe something real bad."

IZZY

"Even if you do somethin' bad, I ain't gonna leave you. Gonna talk about it, remember? Gonna work it out. It'll all be fine," he promised.

LINA

Goro was quiet for a moment, looking for a hole in that reasoning. "Depends how bad."

IZZY

"Nah, love. Lissen." He kissed Goro's head. "You gonna hurt my kids?"

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes. "I shot Jonn one time."

IZZY

"Aye, well."

LINA

"I wouldn't now," he admitted. "But listen--"

IZZY

"Goro," Hansel interrupted.

LINA

"Eh?"

IZZY

"Y'wouldn't now," he said firmly.

LINA

Maybe if they got possessed, like, y'know, Gruumsh-style, Goro thought, but that'd probably upset Hansel to imagine. He didn't wanna upset Hansel. He just wanted...

He wanted Hansel to swear up and down they'd always be together, but Hansel fucking had. Not two fuckin' weeks ago. In a wedding ceremony. God.

"I'm just feeling real fucking bad," Goro said weakly. "I don't know. Don't know why you'd wanna be with me. You don't gotta tell me again. I remember. Just feel bad."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel kept kissing him. "Aye," he said softly. "I know. It's okay, love. You don't gotta explain it. S'okay. I got you."

LINA

Goro settled against Hansel's chest. Tried to just make himself relax a little. It was impossible not to, honestly, with the weight of the blanket and the warmth of Hansel's skin.

After a moment, Goro stirred, lifting his head up and pointing at the plate of cupcakes.

IZZY

"Aye, your holiness," Hansel said. He kissed Goro's forehead, and pulled the plate over, plucking up a cupcake and holding it by Goro's mouth. "Say 'ah'."

LINA

Goro opened his mouth, but didn't say shit. Hansel weren't the boss of him.

IZZY

"You gotta say it." Hansel wiggled the cupcake at him.

LINA

"Say what? Fuck you?" Goro stuck out his tongue.

IZZY

Hansel laughed and kissed his temple, and pushed the cupcake at his mouth. It was a tiny, bite-sized one. He'd figured that'd make Goro more likely to eat them, if they were all just one bite, and all.

LINA

Goro bit down, gnawing on Hansel's fingers along with the cupcake.

IZZY

"Vicious karish," Hansel crooned.

LINA

Goro swallowed the cupcake and licked Hansel's fingers clean, then kissed them.

IZZY

"Sweet karish," he added, getting another cupcake.

LINA

Goro batted it aside, scooting further up so he could give Hansel a kiss.

IZZY

"Mm." Well, Hansel wasn't gonna fuckin' complain about that. He set the cupcake back on the plate so he could loop his arm around Goro. He wanted to ask, You feel any better? but he didn't want Goro to feel like he had to feel better. Just wanted him to.

LINA

Goro kissed him a few times, then rested his head on Hansel's shoulder. "Maybe oughta get that bath out of the way. If you're gonna make me."

IZZY

"Oh, you got plans later, ahuv?"

LINA

"Pssh. Fuckin' sleeping, hopefully."

IZZY

"Mm. Maybe I can get you nice an' relaxed, and you can sleep down there."

LINA

Goro frowned. "What if someone walks in and sees me?"

IZZY

"We'll lock the doors," Hansel promised.

LINA

Goro kept frowning.

IZZY

"Maybe after everyone else's gone to bed?" Hansel suggested.

LINA

"Maybe," Goro said. He closed his eyes again and just rested for a minute. Then, very carefully so as not to make Hansel too eager about it, he said, "I might be hungry. For, y'know, dinner. Not just cupcakes."

IZZY

Aha. There was something Hansel could fuckin' solve. He tried to keep his cool, though. "Aye?"

LINA

Goro nodded. "Something simple. Bread, and..." No one ever let him eat just bread. "I think Ma made some soup."

IZZY

"Mm, think it mighta got killed off. I can make you somethin', though." He hummed thoughtfully. "Chicken noodle soup? An' grilled cheese, maybe?" Ah, shit, maybe that was too much, though. "Or just the soup, if you want. Whatever you want, love."

LINA

Goro's heart warmed, and he gave Hansel a squeeze. He fuckin' loved that... drive Hansel had to nurture. Chicken soup by itself wasn't enough, oh no. "Just want you. I love you. Whatever you feel like making me, I guess."

IZZY

"Goro." Hansel cupped Goro's face and made him look at him, all serious. "Ishi. I wanna say somethin' nice. Do I gotta get the paperwork signed off on first?"

LINA

Goro snorted and snickered, squeezing his eyes shut. "Fine. Fine. One nice thing."

IZZY

"My love, I feel like makin' you a goddam five-course meal, all the time. Fuckin' breakfast, lunch, an' dinner, every day. All the snacks you want, too, whenever you want'em. So you probably wanna rein me in, there." He pulled Goro in to kiss his forehead, figuring Goro might wanna hide. "Aye?"

LINA

"Pffffshhhpfff."

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel repeated, pleased with himself. He petted Goro's hair.

LINA

Goro closed his eyes, enjoying the petting. He thought for a moment. "Sometimes, when I ain't been eating, 'cause I'm too down... well, I'll have a little bit of something, then it's like, all the hunger catches up to me. And I wanna eat a ton. So maybe start with soup, and then?"

IZZY

"Aye." Hansel kissed his hair. "I can do that. You wanna pop us down, or you want me t'carry you?"

LINA

"Outta magic," Goro said regretfully. "I can walk, though."

IZZY

"Nah," Hansel said. "Fuckin' disagreed. You ain't submitted the paperwork, ahuv."

LINA

"What! Who says I gotta submit paperwork to walk?"

IZZY

"Me." Hansel nuzzled him. "I says."

LINA

"You ain't the boss of me," Goro said, knowing fully and happily that wasn't true.

IZZY

"Oh, aye?"

LINA

"Yeah. Prove it."

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel wrapped around him more -- or he tried to, anyway -- wasn't much more that he could do, really -- and straightened up off the couch, kneeing the weighted blanket aside. He shifted to hold Goro princess style. "Powerless, huh?" he asked solemnly.

LINA

"No." Goro snapped his teeth.

IZZY

"Ah, hmm. Mmhm." Hansel nodded. "Forgot. Karish. Aye, well, sharks ain't got fuck-all they can do outta water, so guess I'm just gonna carry you off," he said, heading for the door.

LINA

"We'll call this strike one," Goro said, generously.

IZZY

"Uh-huh?" He twisted to undo the deadbolt and nudge the door open. "So what happens at strike three, eh?"

LINA

"Lotsa chomping."

IZZY

"Fuckin' terrifyin'."

LINA

"Damn straight it is. Hey, what is it about you that makes you so tasty to sharks, huh?"

IZZY

"Just goddamn delicious, s'pose." He crossed over to the main door to nudge it open, too. "Dunno. You're the chatich karish, ahuv. You tell me."

LINA

Goro put his arms around Hansel's neck and dragged himself up. He took a long, deep whiff of Hansel's face. Then he started nibbling his beard. "Aye. Just goddamn delicious." He kissed Hansel's cheek.

IZZY

Hansel couldn't help grinning. "Oh, you say aye, now, huh? Been hangin' out with too many pirates."

LINA

"I married one. 'S'the law that you gotta start saying aye. And arr, matey and shit."

IZZY

He snorted out a laugh. "You ever heard me or Mishka say arr, or matey?"

LINA

"Nah, but you're above the law. You're pirates."

IZZY

"Y'make a good point," he said seriously.

LINA

Goro kissed his cheek again, then settled against him. He closed his eyes, quietly accepting the ride down to the kitchen.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head and carried him on down. Amari was out of the kitchen, by now, dishes cleared away, and it was getting fairly late into the evening by now, so the kitchen was lit by the low-burning stove and a few candles and glowstones. They spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Sometimes Hansel thought about getting another couch, or just dragging one down from the den, upstairs, to set it up in the kitchen. He supposed there was the sunroom, but they never seemed to go out there.

There was just something warm, and homey, and cozy about a warm kitchen.

He kissed Goro's hair again and let him down at the little kitchen table. "Soup, aye? Chicken noodle, or tomato?"

LINA

Goro rested his elbow on the table and nibbled his bracelet. "Chicken noodle."

IZZY

Hansel made a pleased sound. "Made us some fresh pasta just the other day. Me an' Marion." He started bustling around the kitchen. "An' we got plenty a' chicken an' stock from in town. Seems wrong to go butchering your and Raef's chickens," he commented, admitting, "Never had the stomach for it even when I worked Dad -- Elijah's farm. Always glad we just did dairy. Goddamn goats're too fuckin' cute, even if they did wanna eat me. Chickens, too."

He was just sort of talking. He liked it when Goro did that, when he was upset -- just talked to him. He figured he probably wasn't that good at it, and maybe it didn't help Goro like it did him, anyway, but he did it anyway.

LINA

Goro smiled a little, still nibbling. His eyes roamed over Hansel's back and chest as he watched him at work. "Yeah?"

IZZY

"Mm. Was, uh. Hm." He paused. He didn't really talk about Shepherd Hills that much -- hadn't even with Mishka, back in the day, 'cause he never thought it'd come up again -- so he was pretty sure he'd never mentioned it, but asked anyway. "I ever tell you anything 'bout the Bouchard family, back home? Shepherd Hills, I mean."

LINA

"Naw. Don't think so."

IZZY

"Didn't figure." He thought for a moment. It'd been a long time since he'd thought about it. "Was this one time ... Ah. Huh. Ain't sure where to start. So the Bouchards, they were from outta town. Had been merchants, I think, some time back -- 'fore Mom was even born. Settled down there, sorta outskirts a' town. Y'know, folks still thought of'em as outsiders, even after all that time, 'cause that's what the town was fuckin' like," he said, disgruntled, chopping some chicken that'd already been boiled, earlier, into smaller pieces.

LINA

"Humans?"

IZZY

"Aye." He nodded. "Had accents, though, y'know? From somewhere far off." He gestured vaguely with the knife. "Same kinda accent as Corven, actually," he added thoughtfully, like that told Goro anything. "She never liked t'talk about where she was from, though. Ain't sure where."

LINA

"Wasn't she one of your best friends, or some shit? Seems weird, you didn't know where she was from."

IZZY

"Eh." He shrugged. "She didn't know where I came from, neither. Didn't much matter. We just ... were who we were, right then, an' that was good."

LINA

"Mm." Goro felt more special then, kinda, getting to know where Hansel was from. He kept listening.

IZZY

"Anyhow, yeah, folks didn't much like the Bouchards, an' they didn't much like anybody else. Y'know how it is. Kind shit just gets dug in. Ain't the point, though." He waved it off. "Townsfolk had t'put up with the Bouchards, though, 'cause they had all these cattle, aye? Only beef cattle around. Could go tradin' in Gentleglen, but it's far away, an' it ain't gonna be worth your time an' your travel costs -- bein' away from your own farm, too, an' all. So folks had to deal with'em. They knew they had folks over a barrel too. Were real fuckin' snooty about it. Not that I fuckin' blame'em, t'be honest," he said, and hesitated.

LINA

"Fuckin' good for them," Goro agreed.

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said. "Just, uh, realized this story don't exactly make me sound so good."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Too late to back out now."

IZZY

"S'pose," he said sheepishly.

"Well, any rate, y'know how it was for me, back this. With people, an' all. Uh, this woulda been after Leigh was born, but not by a whole lot -- I was, eh, 'bout eleven, maybe. Just about six foot a'ready, y'know, but a bit scrawny, still. Outgrowin' my clothes faster'n Mom could fix'em. Fuckin' mess.

"An' these older kids, they started talkin' to me, this one day, and bein' nice, an' shit. Thought it was real fuckin', y'know, suspect, but." He shrugged. "I listened anyway."

LINA

Goro frowned, getting worried. Eleven was real young, even if you were six feet tall.

IZZY

"An' they started talkin' about the Bouchards, aye? An' the Bouchards, y'know, you might think that them and Marion would be pals, havin' some common ground as the outcasts, but nah, not really. Bouchards were just as much assholes t'me as anyone else. Mom used to spit in their milk," he said fondly.

LINA

Goro snorted.

IZZY

"So these older kids are talkin' about takin'em down a peg. They told me, y'know, Hansel, you're big an' strong, huh? Bet me I was stronger than any of them were, even though they were all sixteen, seventeen." He frowned a bit, because it'd seemed ... nice, at the time, but looking back, it sure as fuck wasn't. "Had this woodchoppin' contest to prove it. Probably they all tossed it just so I would think I was special, but eh. S'pose I just wanted to feel like somebody was payin' attention to me, at the time.

"Anyhow, they told me since I was all strong, I oughta be the one to help'em pull this trick on the Bouchards. Was cold enough then that overnight, all the cattle would overnight in a barn, aye? Like Mom an' Leigh's goats last winter. Pen'em all in for body heat an' such. And these older kids, they wanted me to creep on into the pasture, and then I oughta be able to break the lock on the barn door."

LINA

Goro leaned forward, eyes wide. "Did you do it?"

IZZY

Hansel tsked. "Don't fuckin' get ahead of yourself." The soup was all put together, now -- chicken and noodles and broth warming on the stove. "Hey, you got any more of an appetite yet? Can grill you a sandwich."

LINA

Goro shrugged. "Might not eat it."

IZZY

"I'll make you one anyway," Hansel said contently. He went for cheese at the same time as the soft, steamed vegetables they had put away in a cooled cabinet, so he could chop up some carrots and break broccoli florets into the soup too -- but in a moment, so they wouldn't get downright mushy. He started on the cheese sandwich instead.

"So, I went along with it, 'cause I figured, y'know, the Bouchards ain't ever done shit for me, and maybe me an' these kids're friends, now. Supposin' that's how it worked." He snorted at himself. Stupid fuckin' kid. "An' that night, I sneak outta the farmhouse and run 'cross town to the Bouchard land, aye. Now, those fuckin' kids were s'posed to meet me there, outside the pasture fence."

LINA

"They didn't show?" Goro guessed.

IZZY

"You fuckin' bet. I circled that fence three, four times, lookin' for'em. No sign. But, ah, y'know, goddamn fool, y'know? I figure I still ought go through with it. Fuck the Bouchards, anyway. I know these people ain't done a goddamn thing wrong, just doin' the same thing as my mom an' being defensive when folks fuckin' come for them," he said guiltily, "but I still wanna be friends with those kids. So I go for it.

"Hop the fence, no problem. Bouchards ain't got a dog or nothin' keepin' watch, so I just mosey on across the pasture, up to the barn -- scared outta my life anyway, mind you, 'cause I figure someone's gonna catch me anyhow. But nah. Not a peep. And when I come up t'the barn, it sure it just a shitty sorta old latch on there. And I'm thinkin', y'know, fuck, any one of those others coulda taken care of this, aye? They didn't need me for it."

LINA

"Yeah huh?" Goro gnawed his bracelet more fiercely.

IZZY

"Still gonna do it, though, 'cause I'm a dumbass," Hansel said, bringing the sandwich over to the stove, plopping it in a pan with some butter. He glanced over at Goro and had to smile a bit and how fuckin' intently Goro was listening. "Plan is ... iuno, some dumbshit idea, freeze out the Bouchard's herd and make'em have to leave town. I'm s'posed to scare'em out of the barn and close it up behind, see?

"But, thing is. Thing is, I get up close t'the door, and I got my hands on the latch -- this cold, rusty latch, aye -- and I'm all fuckin' ready to do it. I ain't thinkin' about how I could get trampled to death by spooked cattle, or about how odd it is, these kids singled me out, how maybe they're tryin' to get rid a' me, too, or at least pin the thing on me if I get caught. Nah." He scrapped the vegetables into the stew with a knife. "Not a bit. But when I get up t'the door, I stop anyway."

LINA

Goro frowned. "Why?"

IZZY

"'Cause, see." He check the sandwich and flipped it, and moved to pan to a cooler part of the stove so he could come over and sit down with Goro. "When I get close enough, I can hear the cows inside. Breathin', these soft, just ... just real gentle huffs. And then some of'em --" he couldn't help grinning again -- "some of'em are just full on goddamn snorin'. You never heard a goddamn cow snore, I'm guessin'. And it was just so ... so goddamn ... nice, I dunno -- thinkin' about all these big animals that could fuckin' stomp me to death, just all closed up an' cozy an' warm, having themselves a nice sleep.

"Couldn't do it," he said. "Chickened out, I s'pose. Wasn't like I wanted to hurt'em anyway -- don't think it was all real to me, 'til I got close enough to hear'em breathin', and know that -- y'know, they were just as alive as me. And they ain't any danger, cows, y'know? Just wanna stand in a field an' eat grass an' be left alone. I like'em.

"So I stood there a bit, kinda half-hearted tryin' to talk myself into it anyway, but there ain't no fuckin' chance anymore." He shrugged. "So, uh." Then he squinted up at the ceiling. "All that to say, I suppose, that I always been a fuckin' softie when it comes to that type a' thing. Ain't got the stomach for butcherin' animals. Not ones that don't mean any harm."

LINA

Ah, god. That was so fucking cute. Goro was grinning ear to ear, so hard he felt the need to cover the bottom half of his face. "Huh."

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said solemnly. There it was. He figured Goro would like that -- liked callin' him a big softie and shit. Fuck, though, Hansel could probably also tell him some bloodsoaked story about killing a whole pirate crew, and he'd still look at Hansel with stars in his eyes.

He stood back up, stealing a kiss from the top of Goro's head, and checked the sandwich again. Took the soup off the heat and got out a couple bowls, pouring one for him and one for Goro, holding back the chicken from his, and set them on the table before going back for the sandwich to cut it into halves -- triangles, of course -- and sitting down to split that with Goro, too.

"Smell good?" he asked.

LINA

Goro nodded. He lifted the bowl and gulped some of the broth straight from it.

IZZY

"There's a spoon," Hansel told him, amused.

LINA

Goro set the bowl down, smiling sheepishly. "I know. Psh. Y'always make sure I have spoon, after... that one time. Psh." He ducked his head and picked up said spoon.

IZZY

"Psh." Hansel ducked his head a bit. "Aye. Well."

LINA

"You're so damn good to me," Goro mumbled between bites of soup.

IZZY

"You deserve people bein' good t'you," Hansel said firmly.

LINA

"So do you," Goro shot back.

IZZY

"Pfft, a'right, a'right."

LINA

Just like he'd predicted, once Goro got a ways into the soup, his stomach fuckin' remembered how much it liked food, and how he'd subsisted on nothing but bites of cupcake for a couple days. He wolfed down the rest of the soup, then the sandwich, too.

IZZY

Hansel had been sipping at his soup -- not all that hungry, really, but eating with Goro made it a community thing, a family thing -- and he slid his half of the sandwich over to Goro, happy he was eating.

LINA

Goro picked it up, but paused. "You don't want any?"

IZZY

"Nah, love."

LINA

Goro ate that half of the sandwich in three bites. "More soup?" he said hopefully.

IZZY

Hansel smiled at him, just feeling this fucking wave of affection for him. He liked it when Goro asked for things. Liked that Goro felt safe enough to ask, knowing he wouldn't get rejected -- that Hansel would give him anything he wanted.

"Aye, 'course." He pushed himself up, kissing Goro's head on the way to the stove to retrieve the pot, and refilled Goro's bowl, tipping the pot with one hand and idly resting his other hand on Goro's shoulder to pull him closer, squeeze him a little. "Want another sandwich?"

LINA

"Nah," he said. "Pretty full. Just need a little more to wash it down with."

IZZY

"'Kay." He kissed Goro's head again and set the soup aside. He'd let Mishka know it was there, likely, in case Mishka wanted a midnight snack. "Feelin' like a nap, yet?"

LINA

"Maybe," Goro said, reluctant to commit.

IZZY

He sipped some more of his own soup. The chicken broth was ... good. Didn't make him feel sick. Little bits at a time, he guessed. "Bath?" he suggested. "Get you nice an' warm, give you a massage. Pet your hair. Or we can just go an' sit by the fire, upstairs."

LINA

Goro was pretty sure he smelled, and Hansel preferred the bath option for that reason. Just that Hansel always had to make sure Goro got to do what he wanted. "Bath sounds good," he said. Wasn't like he had an aversion to the idea, anyway.

IZZY

Hansel gave a pleased mm. "Means I get to cuddle you an' take care of you, and you can't do a damn thing about it. Can't pop away or nothin'."

LINA

"Psssh." Goro picked up his spoon and hastily finished off the second bowl of soup. When he got to thinking about it, cuddling with Hansel in the warm water did sound real nice.

IZZY

"Psshh, nothin'." Hansel smiled a bit, catching on to the way Goro sped up.

LINA

"That'll be strike two," Goro warned him.

IZZY

"I'm shakin' in my boots," Hansel said.

LINA

"You oughta be. Smartass." Goro polished off the soup and pushed the bowl away. He stood up, prepared to walk himself.

IZZY

Hansel grinned and jumped up to get in between Goro and the door, scooping him up -- not all that gracefully, if he was being honest, just getting a tangle of limbs.

LINA

Goro yelped in surprise, scrambling to get a good hold of him.

IZZY

Hansel was already holding him firmly, but let him get a good purchase, back. "Strike three?" he asked.

LINA

"Nah, nah. We're still on strike two. You're on thin ice, but you got a chance."

IZZY

"Hmm. Supposin' I wanted to blow that chance."

LINA

"Eh? You like getting bit by sharks, or what?"

IZZY

"Maybe," he said, playing coy as he started carrying Goro off towards the baths.

LINA

"Well, that's no fuckin' good at all. What kinda punishment is it if you like it?"

IZZY

"Aye, you see my problem, now, huh," Hansel told him.

LINA

"Pfff. Why would you ever need to punish me? I'm good."

IZZY

"Uh-huh."

LINA

Goro pretended to be crestfallen. "So I'm bad?"

IZZY

"Hmm, pretty mouthy," Hansel allowed. "Like it, though."

LINA

"Hm, well. Then you don't got any need to punish me for it."

IZZY

"Hey, now. Mouthy brats still gotta behave sometimes." Hansel kissed his temple roughly. "Can't fuckin' slide by just on bein' cute."

LINA

"Wanna bet?"

IZZY

Hansel snorted.

LINA

"That's a no, 'cause you know you're gonna lose."

IZZY

"Nah, just laughin' at you bein' as mouthy as always."

LINA

Goro stuck his tongue out. Then he grinned, just gazing at Hansel dreamily.

IZZY

"Precious," Hansel said fondly, and kissed his forehead, gently this time.

LINA

Goro decided to accept it. He was allowed to be called precious by his husband. That just made sense. He curled up against Hansel's chest, enjoying being carried.

IZZY

Hansel hummed quietly and happily as he carried Goro down to the baths. He liked it when Goro talked, but sometimes it was nice when he didn't -- when he was quiet and still, content. Hansel wasn't sure if this was one of those times, or if Goro was just tired, but Hansel was going to do the same stuff either way.

He was going to cuddle his husband, and hum lullabies to him, and carry him downstairs to canoodle in the the steam and the hot water. He was going to massage soap into Goro's hair -- the nice stuff that Mishka had, that smelled like rosewater -- and pet him 'til he was all relaxed and dreamy, and see if he could get him to doze, a little bit, at least, leaned against Hansel's warm chest. And it was okay if he didn't. It was okay if Goro was awake, and sad, and if it took days before he felt any better. That didn't change anything for Hansel. He could be real patient, and it wasn't ever any kind of inconvenience for him to scoop Goro up and squeeze him and say how much he loved him, those little safe drops at a time. He'd keep on doing that, too.

Whatever Goro wanted, for as long as he needed it. Hansel would be sturdy. He'd be the anchor for his sunshine.

Someone had just been in the baths when they got there -- he could tell by the puddles around one of the pools. He checked around, though, just to be sure, and locked the door like he'd promised, carrying Goro the entire time. Was just about to say something about never putting him down, but on the other hand --

"Y'know, if you're gonna get naked," he said seriously, "I think I gotta put you down. Which is a shame, 'cause I don't wanna put you down, but I do wanna get you naked."

LINA

"Psh." Goro pecked Hansel's cheek. "You gotta get naked, too. Put me down and walk away a few feet, so I can admire the view, eh?"

IZZY

"Pfft, I can kick my pants off without settin' you down," Hansel told him. "If that's what you want, though ..."

LINA

"Uh, yeah. I can't see your ass from this angle. Come on."

IZZY

"Aye, your holiness," he teased, feeling like Goro was teasing him, but Goro was always complimenting him, he supposed. Fuckin' embarrassing. He set Goro to his feet gently. "You first, though."

LINA

Goro didn't have any need to argue with that. He stripped, dropping his robe and pants on the floor.

IZZY

Hansel winked and wolf whistled, the sound sort of echoing and sort of dampened in the baths. He looked Goro up and down appreciatively for a long moment, undoing his pants.

LINA

Goro gave an appreciative whoop in return when Hansel pulled his pants down. "Now turn around."

IZZY

Hansel turned gamely and flexed his arms and back, grinning despite himself.

LINA

Goro whooped and hollered again, then jumped forward to smack Hansel on the ass.

IZZY

Hansel jumped and laughed, startled, and spun to grab Goro up -- planting a shoulder in his gut and hoisting him up onto it, then giving him a smack right back. "You fucker."

LINA

Goro yelped and squirmed. "Ey, no fair using your size against me!"

IZZY

"Says who?" Hansel pinched him a little.

LINA

Goro yelped again and giggled. "Me. My holiness."

IZZY

"Godless pirate," Hansel informed him, wondered for a sec if Selune would be annoyed by that, then decided it was probably fine and smacked his husband's ass again, carrying him on over to the bath.

LINA

"Psssh. Can't believe I married a goddamn heathen."

IZZY

"Y'knew what you were gettin' into," Hansel said placidly, stepping down into the water and shifting Goro back down again.

He liked how Goro would just carry on a conversation no matter what they were doing, however Hansel was carrying him or they were cuddled up together. Like it just came natural. Goro had gotten used to it so fast. That skin-on-skin. Wanted it and wriggled into Hansel's arms no matter what was going on. Not straight away -- used to get embarrassed, still -- but fast.

It made Hansel feel all ... strong, and calm, and stable. And giddy, too, about how much Goro wanted to just be near him, same way Hansel just wanted to be near Goro.

LINA

Goro closed his eyes and let out a sigh as they sank into the hot water. Relaxing was... always kinda fucking hard for him. Even when his body did it automatically, like in a warm bath, it was like his brain would notice it happening and fucking screech at him to make it stop.

Hadn't been safe to relax, most of his life. So he just automatically resisted it. He was learning, though. He pushed closer to Hansel, resting his face in the crook of Hansel's neck, and focused on not tensing up.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his hair and ran a hand down his back, all the way from nape to tailbone, slouching down in the water so more of them would be nice and warm. He wished he could do that trick where he could make his hands get warm. It'd be good for massages. Ah, maybe he'd figure it out, some day -- the Lady said he was a baby druid, and he supposed he had to grow up at some point. He'd make do 'til then. He was pretty hot-blooded anyway, without any magic.

He left his other arm hooked around Goro's hips, low down, so he could keep petting him -- down, then back up, and down again, feeling the tight, taut muscles and the bone, every ridge of his spine and every rib. Closed his eyes and just focused on the feel.

"I love every fucking inch of you, y'know that?" he murmured into Goro's hair, then wondered if he was going overboard. Just drops at a time. Drops.

LINA

"Mm." Goro smiled, eyes still closed. "You got a favorite part?"

IZZY

"Used to think I did. Ain't dirty, though. Mind outta the gutter," he teased. Then he leaned to kiss the crook of Goro's neck, where the rope of muscle was relaxed, now, but visible with Goro's shoulders down. "This, right here. S'a real good part. Good pillow. Good for kissin' --" he demonstrated again -- "and bitin'." A little nibble, too, and he settled his lips there to murmur. "Good place t'hide."

LINA

Goro shivered a little at the nibble, then wrapped his arms more securely around Hansel's back. "I like that spot on you, too. S'a good one."

IZZY

"Mmhm. Thing is, though, couldn't pick a favorite." He kissed a line down the shoulder and as far down the arm as he could reach, then moved back up to kiss Goro's head. "S'all too good, ahuv. Too good."

LINA

Goro broke into another grin. "Psssh." He hid his face against Hansel's neck again. "Just a sucker for your husband. Just like I thought."

IZZY

"Nahh, nah, 'cause I was a sucker for my fiance, too," Hansel reminded him. "And my boyfriend. Mm, and for my teammate. Think I'm just a fuckin' sucker for you."

LINA

"Psssshhh. Cheesy." He was grinning so hard his face hurt, so he bit Hansel's neck for something to do with his jaw.

IZZY

Hansel grinned, too. "Karish. Chatich krishi. Chompy. Like your teeth, too. S'a good part."

LINA

Goro stopped biting and kissed the skin in that spot. "You like everything about me," he said, his tone hitting some weird notes as he wavered between an accusation and a question.

IZZY

"Aye." Hansel nuzzled into his hair. Hm. Still needed to get him cleaned up. This was too nice, though; the heat and the cuddling and the general fact that Goro was here, Goro was his husband, Goro existed -- made him feel pleasantly buzzed, a little lovedrunk. "Every little bit."

LINA

"I like every little bit of you, too," Goro said. And he liked how no matter how many times he flung himself at Hansel, Hansel always caught him. Never dropped him. Same stupid questions over and over -- Do you like me? Do you really like me? You wanna be with me? -- and Hansel never got tired of telling him yes. Seemed to relish it, even.

Goro kissed his neck again and hugged him tighter, murmuring contentedly.

IZZY

Hansel stopped stroking his back to squeeze him, both arms crossed around him to hold as much of him at once as possible. The only times Hansel liked being as big as he was was when he needed the size to intimidate people -- and that always made him feel sort of bad, later, and guilty, and ... something -- and when it meant he could pick people up, and carry them, and hold and protect them. He liked that Goro was smaller than him, then. He liked that he could wrap around Goro so thoroughly, hold him down, make him feel safe.

He sighed into Goro's hair, pleased and lazy. Calm. This was good. So good. Hansel always had this feeling in the back of his head, chewing away like termites in the walls, that he was going to ruin things. He always tried to just ignore it, make too much noise to be able to hear it, 'cause it wasn't like he could tear down the walls and rebuild with fresh, strong wood. Just had to live with the termites. And if he paid too much attention, they got louder, most of the time -- they got worse.

Hansel'd noticed, though, that sometimes -- ah, well, it was all the time, really, any time he actually got brave enough to ask -- Goro could make the chewing stop.

He kissed Goro's hair. "Aye?" he dared. "Like what?"

LINA

"Pfff. You got a few hours?" Goro didn't wait for an answer. He pulled back a little to look Hansel up and down, appraising him.

"Hmm." He hoisted himself up on Hansel's lap so he could look down on his head. "Maybe I'll start up here. I love this part." He kissed Hansel's hair. "Pretty hair. Black and silver. Good colors. I like what's inside even more, though." He cupped the sides of Hansel's head and kissed him again, then moved down one side to kiss his ear. "Like this part a lot." He nibbled the tip of his ear, then moved to the other side. "Oh, this one too. Hm, think I can pick a favorite side? Naaah, both too good."

He lowered down to kiss his way across Hansel's face, covering his forehead and eyebrows and nose, murmuring in between. "This part's real good. Mm, this one, too. Oh no, I forgot this part. Goddamn."

IZZY

Hansel grinned and scoffed and snickered, closing his eyes. He could feel himself blushing about it, but he stayed quiet. Didn't argue. He figured Goro was allowed.

LINA

Hansel's face was getting warmer, which was fucking delightful. Goro was happy to keep going. He kissed him on the mouth. "Best mouth. Like how it looks. Like what it says. Like kissing it."

Then he rubbed his face against Hansel's beard, letting out a long, satisfied mmmm. Figured that spoke for itself.

He kissed down the side of Hansel's neck. "Did I already say how much I love this part? Ah, what the hey, I'll say it again. Best neck. Holds up your head, that's real important. Good for hiding in. Good shape. Smells like Hansel."

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel faked being ornery about it, but he wasn't any good at lying. He just ended up grumbling happily. "Drops, ahuv, little drops."

He realized Goro wasn't going to know what that meant, but he'd explain later. Right now, he cupped Goro's face to pull it back up to his, and kissed him -- firstly gently, sinking lower into the bath -- then more firm, wrapping around him and pushing him back, giving him time, making sure he knew exactly what was going to happen, drawing back so they could both breathe before Hansel sunk under the still water.

He remembered thinking of his love for Goro as waves, once. How they just kept crashing into him. But it was calm, now, a glassy lake, all certain, all stable. Quiet and warm. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, and maybe he was just imagining that he could feel Goro's through their lips, beating in time with his. He could feel everything else -- their arms and legs tangled together, scars and calluses, Goro's hair floating around his head, brushing into him, their rings hot from the water.

And it was all good. All warm and gentle and soft. All familiar and comforting, here, where they lived, together -- not some island, not wariness and nervous excitement and uncertainty about the future, about the present. The ocean had been clear and blue and he still remembered that way Goro was radiant in the sun that pierced the surface, but this was better. This was home.

LINA

Goro had gotten angry at himself a few weeks ago -- angry at his body, at least, when he tried to tell Hansel how a little bit of choking had spooked him. Your body don't always know we're playin' around, Hansel had said. Wasn't the only time they'd had a conversation like that, either. Goro still found it just as frustrating. His head and his body should fucking work together.

For right now, though, they were. Hansel lowered him slowly into the water, pausing, letting Goro work out what was happening. Letting him choose. Goro looked into Hansel's eyes and took in a deep breath.

He didn't like not being able to see or hear. He didn't like feeling stuck, or confined. All of it fucking terrified him. And it wasn't that he felt no fear when Hansel did it. His heart still beat hard, and his muscles still tensed up as he clutched Hansel tighter. Just... the fear felt good, somehow. He guessed kind of like how the pain of being bitten or restrained could turn into ecstasy when it was Hansel doing it to him. He felt the most sublime kind of safe only when it was flush against being scared.

Hansel had him. This proved it; like he even needed more proof, but it always felt so good to get it. Goro kissed Hansel and shifted against him, trying to touch as much of him as possible. No sights and no sounds under the water, just the feel of his husband.

And when he couldn't do it anymore, when he felt like his head was gonna burst from holding his breath -- he just tapped Hansel on the shoulder.

IZZY

Hansel didn't move slow, but he didn't move fast, either -- gentle and swift, pulling Goro back up to breathe without making the cooler air of the surface an abrupt shock. He rested back and drew his lips away so he could nestle Goro to his chest, keeping most of him underwater still, to stay warm, and tangle a hand in the hair on the back of his head to keep him warm there, too. He pressed his lips to the top of his head and breathed in the sweet floral and earthy scent of the bathwater, thinking about how they'd pile into bed tonight and Goro would smell like roses and smoke, again.

He sighed happily, eyes closed, and was quiet for a moment. Still and cozy. So good. Then he murmured, "Y'know," and immediately got embarrassed by what he'd been thinking of, and stopped. Fuckin' silly, that he got embarrassed about this shit. Goro seemed like he liked it, though, when Hansel blushed.

LINA

"What?" Goro lifted his head from Hansel's chest. "What is it?"

IZZY

"Was just thinkin'." He scoffed at himself a little. "Uh, that spell that lets you tell when there's magic around. What's it like, for you? How d'you know, I mean."

LINA

"Detect magic?" Goro frowned, thinking about it. "Iuno. I just, y'know, cast it, and then I can feel if there's something magic."

IZZY

"Huh. Uh, maybe it's a druid thing, then. Or just me," he considered. He should ask the Lady. Felt like he had a whole list of questions he'd thought of for her. Really needed to write those down, or something, since he never really went back to Shepherd Hills anymore. "Anyway, when I use it, it's kinda like ... when I wildshape into a wolf, or somethin' -- something that's got some better senses that I do normally. There's just this extra thing I can feel. But, y'know, when I use that spell, I still got all the same senses, so I s'pose it gets sorta shunted into one of the ones I know what to do with." He frowned. "Am I makin' any sense?"

LINA

"Uh huh." Goro ran a hand along Hansel's waist and up over his ribs. "Hey, you never let me finish telling you all the parts I like. But whatever. We'll get back to it. Uh, nah, I think -- I think when I detect magic, it's an extra thing I can feel, yeah. But it's kinda like--" He frowned. "Kinda like touch, I guess, but from far away. Like heat, or static. But not quite."

IZZY

"Huh," Hansel said again. "Fuckin' neat."

He kinda wanted to ask what his magic felt like. Whether it was a part Goro liked. The idea was fuckin' embarrassing, though, and he didn't know if he could take much more without wanting to sink down in the water and scoff himself to fucking death. It was his turn to say nice shit about Goro, goddammit.

"Anyway, was just thinkin' about ... how much I like how you smell. Like incense. Smoky an' sweet." He traced a line up and down Goro's back. "And it made me remember how -- if I'm usin' that spell, and you cast somethin' -- it always kinda smells like roses."

LINA

"Wait. You can... smell my magic?" Goro's mouth twitched into a smile.

IZZY

"Kinda," he said. He felt like he'd lost the upper hand, here. He was supposed to be embarrassing Goro, but Goro had that tone in his voice that said, Aw, cute. "Somethin' like that."

LINA

"That's so cool." Goro was beaming now. "What's other kinda magic smell like?"

IZZY

"Uhh, pfft." Yeah, this hadn't gone down the way it was supposed to. Goro sounded so fuckin' delighted, though. "Dunno. Mishka's smells like fire an' metal. Like a smeltery."

LINA

"Yeah?" Goro couldn't just sit there when Hansel was being all cute and bashful and shit, so he gave him a few kisses on his cheek and jaw.

IZZY

"Pffft. You were s'posed to be embarrassed," he protested. "'Cause you smell all pretty an' nice, like roses. You fuckin' turned it around on me."

LINA

Goro snickered and kissed him some more. "Pssh, maybe if you'd said I smelled like lilies and daisies, or some shit. Roses, though. For Mask. 'S'neat."

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel grumbled good-naturedly. "It is fuckin' neat."

LINA

"What's your own magic smell like? Or has it got a smell."

IZZY

He squinted. "Dunno if I ever checked. Usually ain't usin' the detection thing same time as anything else."

LINA

"Hmm. Well, if I had to guess... I mean, if it were me, who could smell magic." Goro put his nose to Hansel's temple and took in a deep breath. "Mm. I'd guess yours would smell like... sea breeze, but... with a hint of something else. Moss. Deep woods."

IZZY

Hansel scoffed some more. "You figure?"

LINA

"You got something else in mind?"

IZZY

"Sounds pretty romantic, is all."

LINA

Goro beamed again. "Well. 'S'perfect, then."

IZZY

Hansel grinned. "Pffft. You fuckin' sap."

LINA

"Takes one to know one."

IZZY

"Hey, now."

LINA

"What, like you ain't the sappiest motherfucker in the castle? Adopting kids and partners all over the place."

IZZY

"Pffft, I'll fuckin' fight you, Voronin." Then he grinned a little wider. "Voronin-Bell."

LINA

"Uh huh. Seems to be the most common last name 'round here, ain't it?" Goro nuzzled Hansel's face.

IZZY

Hansel wrinkled his nose at the nuzzling, pleased. "Ain't my fault. S'a good name."

LINA

"Oh, yeah? Rest of us just heard it all randomly one day and thought, oh hey, me too?"

IZZY

"Aye," he said solemnly.

LINA

"Pfff." Goro nibbled a beard hair.

IZZY

Hansel pffft'd back at him, and ran his hand through Goro's hair, squeezing some water out. "You didn't get enough to eat before? Gotta snack on some beard?"

LINA

"Tasty. A delicacy."

IZZY

"Got weird tastes, ahuv."

LINA

"Yeah, don't think anyone'd fight you on that one. Pretty much anyone would agree with me that you're a tasty piece a'meat, though."

IZZY

"Beard ain't made outta meat," Hansel pointed out.

LINA

"Nah, nah. It's the garnish."

IZZY

Hansel snorted and laughed. "Aye, fine, fine. If you insist."

LINA

"Mm." Goro kept nibbling. "Wanna hear some other things I like about you?"

IZZY

"Pffft." He felt himself blushing a bit. "Maybe just a li'l. One thing."

LINA

"One thing? Ah, jeez." Goro leaned back a ways and put a finger to his chin, looking Hansel up and down, pretending to pick something.

IZZY

Hansel narrowed his eyes. "Half a thing."

LINA

"Only half? Goddamn, you're making this hard."

IZZY

"Quarter," Hansel threatened.

LINA

"Fine, asshole. I like... this leg." He patted Hansel's left leg and grinned at him cheekily. "That's one quarter of your limbs."

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "Uh-huh. You like that leg."

LINA

"Sure do. It's tied for the best leg."

IZZY

He snickered. "Oh, aye? Is it, now. How's it rankin' with the other limbs?"

LINA

"They're all tied." Goro kissed him again. "Arms are real great 'cause they do the hugging, and all, but legs let you move around. Would suck if you were just sitting in one place all the time and I had to come get my hugs instead of you chasing me with 'em."

IZZY

"I do like movin' around," Hansel admitted. "And huggin'. Mostly huggin'." He grinned and squeezed Goro tight, rocking him back and forth. "You could still come get'em sometimes, though."

LINA

"'Course. Good to mix it up. Sometimes I ask for the hugs, sometimes you surprise me."

IZZY

Hansel made a pleased sound. He pushed back to the edge of the pool, where there was a ledge to sit on, and settled in with Goro on his lap. He kept cuddling him for a moment, then put on a stern voice and reminded him, "You're s'posed to be getting clean down here. Got me all distracted."

LINA

"I'm clean," Goro said. "Ish. I been soaking."

IZZY

"You ain't been soakin' in soap. And how 'bout your hair, huh?"

LINA

Goro shrugged. "I was under water."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a look.

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

He clicked his tongue and shook his head, and reached over to the subby where Mishka kept the nice ... soaps, he guessed.

LINA

"I don't know how to wash myself properly," Goro lied. "I never learned. Gotta show me."

IZZY

"You're lyin'," Hansel said amiably. "You just want me to rub you all over with some nice slick soap."

LINA

Goro made a little silent ooh and raised his eyebrows.

IZZY

"Was gonna do that anyhow," Hansel told him, sorting through the assorted ... soaps. He was pretty sure they were all soaps. Surely they were. Why were there so many, though? Why would there be things other than soaps. There was a rock, which was just fucking strange. That had to be an accident.

LINA

"Don't get me one of the real flowery ones," Goro said, realizing he had no fucking power in this situation.

IZZY

"Think they're all flowery, love," Hansel said, still squinting over them, which wasn't doing him much any good, so he started tentatively sniffing. Maybe there was a rose one. Mishka was thoughtful like that. Probably figured it might be a way to coerce Goro into enjoying things.

LINA

"I seen soap that's black before," Goro said. "We oughta get some of that."

IZZY

He snorted. "Where you seen that?"

LINA

"Calimport. Bathhouses and shit."

IZZY

"Maybe Morgan can bring you some, eh?" Aha. This one bar smelled like roses, he was pretty sure. By this point everything just kind of smelled like flowers, and Mishka in general, to him. He pulled a dark red washcloth from the little neatly-folded stack and then went back to squinting, trying to figure out which thing he was supposed to use for hair. He shoulda asked Mishka for help.

LINA

"Feeling confused, ahuv?" Goro tried not to smile.

IZZY

"Aye, well, there's a lot goin' on," Hansel admitted. "I'm kinda a one bar of soap for everything kinda guy, y'know."

LINA

"Eh, fuckin' same here. Just use that one on me."

IZZY

"Hey. You don't tell me what to do."

LINA

"Sure as hell do, big guy."

IZZY

"Well, you can tell me, but I ain't gotta listen," he allowed.

LINA

"Fair 'nough. That goes both ways, come to think of it." Goro stuck his tongue out just a tiny bit.

IZZY

Hansel huffed. One of these things was for after you washed your hair -- conditioning it, whatever that meant. Mishka pampered him and used it on him sometimes, so he just grabbed the one he recognized and came back to Goro.

LINA

Goro held his hand out for the soap, knowing full well Hansel wasn't gonna hand it over.

IZZY

Hansel gave him another look, and kept making it as he dunked the washcloth and started lathering it up.

LINA

Goro consented to leaning back and relaxing against the edge of the bath. Was a nice view, after all, Hansel all wet and naked. Goro smiled.

IZZY

Hansel worked a nice thick lather into the cloth. "You gonna be nice an' still for me?"

LINA

"Sure."

IZZY

"Good." He came closer and leaned in to kiss Goro, softly, pulling back then deeply and slowly. "Good boy," he murmured.

LINA

Goro held up a hand, revealing crossed fingers. "Oh, whoops."

IZZY

Hansel scoffed quietly. "Still good," he said. "So good."

LINA

Goro grinned. He sank down into the water to get his skin freshly wet, then came back up, ready for whatever Hansel was gonna do to him.

IZZY

Hansel felt like you were supposed to start with hair, so you could do the conditioning thing and leave it in while you washed your body, but, well, he hadn't thought ahead that far, and he had the washcloth all lathered up, now, so he just kind of went for it. He hooked a hand around Goro's waist to pull him in flush, then settled the arm down around his hips, and slowly started scrubbing his back -- first in long strokes up and down his spine, then switching to little circular motions that zigzagged across his back and down. He bore down harder on those, letting the bubbles squeeze through his fingers as he gripped the washcloth.

The rosy scent filled the air around them. It didn't really smell like Goro's magic, though. It wasn't as nice.

LINA

"Mmm." Goro closed his eyes and smiled, head resting on Hansel's shoulder. "Damn. Why's it feel so much better than when I do it myself?"

IZZY

"Secret ingredient," Hansel murmured against him. "Like cookin'."

LINA

"Psh. What is it, husband love?" Goro said like he didn't think that was about the greatest secret ingredient in the world.

IZZY

Hansel nodded solemnly. "Aye, sure is."

LINA

"Hm. Well. Gotta admit, that's a hot commodity. I'm real lucky."

IZZY

"Ain't that much of a commodity," Hansel said amiably. "I'm a real slut, y'know."

LINA

"For husbands?" Goro opened his eyes and smiled up at Hansel. "You got a secret harem I don't know about?"

IZZY

"Maybe," Hansel deadpanned.

LINA

"Mm. Wouldn't surprise me. You're a real fuckin' dish, you know that?" Goro kissed his chin.

IZZY

"Must be, way you like to eat on me."

LINA

Goro snickered and started nibbling.

IZZY

Hansel started nibbling back.

LINA

Goro squirmed. "Hey. Hey now. I'm the karish, here."

IZZY

Hansel clicked his sharp teeth and nibbled some more. "Tasty karish."

LINA

"Pfff. Nuh uh. Sharks aren't tasty. People don't eat them." As soon as Goro said it, he got the feeling he was probably wrong. He felt like Hansel had probably mentioned eating sharks before. Maybe even the one that bit him.

The nibbling tickled, and he snickered, still squirming.

IZZY

Hansel grinned and bit just a little harder, pulling Goro against him and shifting so he could sit on the ledge in the water, and settle Goro in his lap.

"You sure?" he asked. "Pretty sure I eat this one all the time."

LINA

"Psssh. S'that supposed to mean?"

IZZY

Hansel nibbled on him a bit more. "Psshh. Like you don't know," he teased. "Might have to just remind you ..."

[END]

TRP: Goro and Hansel (Bath Cuddles). Day 406. Hansel meets up with Goro after Family Picnic. They cuddle, talk, chat, Hansel tells Goro a story about his childhood, and they go down to the baths to get cleaned up.