The years flow by like water, and one day men come home again. Part II

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

From here. Iblis freed Micah!Tez from his bond to Management, and then gave him an unexpected gift.
*
"You had a riding crop once. I remember."

I drop my head forward again, and I look at him through my lashes. I remember looking at him like before.

"I don't remember that. But I would like to, I think." I eat my pie, tart berry and sweet pastry. "Eat your pie," I say, smiling, "and then find somewhere you can remind me of lots of things like that."

[ac: sex, some blood, as you might expect. Schmoop warning! ;)]
[closed]

Comments

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

It hurts so much. I had forgotten how much, used to it day after day after day. I make a low howling noise, and then I am weeping in his arms, a sobbing that shakes this whole body. I cannot bear it, I cannot.

[tezcatl-ipoca.livejournal.com]

"Oh," I say, and I sound like an injured animal. "Oh love, love." I'm holding him so tight and I'm kissing his hair and I can't fix this, I can't take this away, I can't do anything. He's feeling this because of me, because he wanted to give me a gift, and I'd rather have never had it, I would.

I can't offer anything. Anything I offer would be stupid and useless. But I can hold onto him, can't I. I can do that while he cries for - everything. Himself.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

I cry for a long time. A long, long time, and then at last I move, roll onto my back. The grass is soft beneath me. I made it for him. It was so easy, bring like that. I hate how easy it was. I rub my eyes dry. My gifts are not to be trusted; I had forgotten that applied even to me.

"I should go," I say at last. I sound so weary.

[tezcatl-ipoca.livejournal.com]

We're still naked and my skin is wet with his tears. I want to say: there's no should for you. "You don't have to," I say, very quietly. "You could stay." I wish he would. Things could be - different.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

I shake my head. No. It hurts too much to stay. I sit up slowly. There is dried blood crusted on my neck. I touch my fingers to it, think of him showi me stars, the bright burst of my happiness at seeing it, and I have to close my eyes.

"You should stay here," I say. "It is not safe for you back at the carnival. Management will be unhappy." I make myself stand up. In the dark I can still smell the flowers blooming in the grass. It was a stupid kind of magic, not half as practical as giving him furniture, a dry roof. An idiotic boyish whimsy. I shake my head, feeling sick.

[tezcatl-ipoca.livejournal.com]

"I will," I promise. Lilith couldn't come in here, so maybe Management can't either. I wish he'd let me go with him. I don't ask.

I stand up with him. The grass he made is soft under my feet and I wonder how long it will last. "I'll be here. If you," need me, "want me." I'm not going away now. I want to ask if he'll be alright.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

I look at him steadily for a moment.

"I know," I say. I wonder if I burned this body again if it would take some of this feeling away. I do not think so. "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts," I say, and laugh, a strange dry sound. Then I walk out, naked and bloody. It is hardly as if I can be in danger now.