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"I have a request," Hans said. They'd barely exchanged greetings beforehand so the sudden declaration caught Henry a little off guard. Of course, there was only one answer he could give.
"Well," Henry started, "I think you already know I'd never refuse you."
"I know," Hans replied with a fond smile. It lingered for a moment before fading away. "But..." Hans paused, inadvertently emphasizing the word. "This matter may be a bit... personal. If you're not comfortable with it, I want you to tell me so. It's not so important that we have to do it."
Now Henry was curious. "What's the request?"
"I want to get away from Rattay for a while and I was thinking that we could..." Hans trailed off, twiddling his fingers nervously. Henry's response was automatic. He took Hans' hand and held it. Hans instantly relaxed, a slight blush staining his cheeks.
"A hunting trip?" Henry guessed. He was fairly certain his guess was wrong though. If it were a hunting trip, Hans would have been more straightforward about it.
"No, but I do want a few days of your time for this, so if you have anything you're in the middle of--"
"I'm not in the middle of anything. Where did you want to go?"
"I want... I want to go to Skalitz."
"Skalitz," Henry repeated, trying to buy himself time to work through his surprise. That was the last place he would have guessed Hans would want to go. Why there?
"Yes, Skalitz," Hans confirmed, "I'd like to pay my respects to your parents." As an afterthought, he added an ucharacteristically shy, "if that's alright."
"Of course it is." Henry said the words with confidence, but his stomach twisted. It was sweet of Hans, really. Henry just wasn't sure how he felt about it. His parents' bodies were buried in Skalitz, under the linden tree like his father wanted, but they weren't there. They'd left for good after having one last conversation with Henry in Suchdol. Henry couldn't exactly tell Hans that though. Hans would look at him with pity. Henry didn't want that. He took a deep breath and straightened his stance. If they weren't there, there was nothing to be afraid of. It could simply be a pleasant outing with Hans, something he desperately wanted more of anyway. Returning to Rattay had forced them to be a bit more distant with each other and Henry was as desperate as he was sure Hans was to close that gap again.
"We could go somewhere different, if you'd prefer."
"My only preference is that I go with you." That brought another smile to Hans' face. This one managed to linger a bit longer.
"In that case, shall we head out tomorrow morning?"
"Aye, tomorrow morning."
"I'll go inform my uncle then."
"You don't think he'll protest?"
"I've been very good lately," Hans said in a somewhat smug tone, "paying more attention to my studies, not complaining about a certain upcoming event I definitely want to complain about, and only getting drunk around you. I think he owes me a bit of a reward at this point."
"It sounds like you've been trying to lower his guard for when we finally do make our great escape." Henry knew Hans couldn't really leave Rattay-- at least, not forever-- but it felt good to indulge the fantasy sometimes.
"Uncle won't suspect a thing. We'll be off to go see Sam or have Musa show us someplace new before he knows it." Hans lowered his voice to a suggestive whisper to add, "and we'll stop at all the finest bathhouses and taverns along the way."
Henry laughed. If only. "Oh, aye, Lord Hanush will never find us. Not when we leave a trail like that. And our groschen will never run out."
"It'll be fine. I'll work this time." Hans' tone had suddenly shifted. It almost sounded like he was taking the idea seriously. "Instead of leaving you to figure it all out by yourself."
"Hans..." Henry started hesitantly, "you know we can't really do any of that, right?"
"I know," Hans said, clearly disappointed that Henry hadn't continued playing along. It was dangerous to get too carried away though. Hans cleared his throat and then said, "make whatever preparations you need to and get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
They parted ways shortly after that. Henry visited a few merchants and then took a quick trip to the mill to see Theresa where he confided in her that him and Hans would be going to Skalitz. She knew about their relationship. He hadn't told her, but she was clever. She'd figured it out. Just like she figured out Henry's real feelings on the current matter.
"You don't want to go," Theresa said. It wasn't a question.
"I... No," Henry admitted, "I guess I don't."
"But you're going to go for the sake of your beloved lord anyway," Theresa teased.
"Aye. It might be good for me too. I haven't gone to see them in a while."
"I haven't been back to Skalitz at all," Theresa said sadly, "I hate that the strongest memory I have of it is in ruins. If I had a choice in the matter, I'd want to remember the good times more. I miss my family, Bianca... Johanka too, of course, but--"
"Her and Matthias moved to Pribyslavitz recently."
"I'd heard," Theresa smiled, "maybe I'll go visit them. And Matthew and Fritz. I can go make sure they aren't causing you trouble again."
"That would be helpful. The more eyes on those two, the better."
Theresa chuckled. "They are a handful."
"You know... you'd be welcome in Pribyslavitz if you ever wanted to live there."
"I've thought about it. Maybe I'll even take you up on that offer one day. For now though, I'm comfortable here. Besides, I wouldn't get to see you nearly as much if I lived in Pribyslavitz. Rattay is your home these days."
"Lord Capon is my home these days," Henry corrected.
"Of course," Theresa chuckled. "What a lucky lord you have." There may have been a little bitterness in that sentence. Henry and Theresa had a history together that had at one point been romantic. Henry had even asked her to marry him. Theresa had known better than to accept though. She'd known Henry would be a terrible husband, always away on the next quest, never able to settle down. They'd both rushed into things when they started seeing each other. Thank God she at least had some sense. If Henry had realized who his heart really burned for after he'd married her... "Can you take some flowers to my father and brothers as well?"
"I can. Do you want to pick them yourself? I can spare a moment to go find some nice ones with you."
"Alright. And as a reward, I'll feed you afterward." Theresa smacked him playfully on the arm as she headed towards the door. "I know how hungry you can get."
Henry spent the next half hour combing the hillside for the prettiest flowers with Theresa while they caught up with each other. Being around her was comforting, the way it had been with Bianca. It dug up an old feeling, the one he'd originally mistaken for love: fondness. Theresa was kind. She was brave. She was safe. She wasn't Hans.
"I think that's enough. Shall we head back?" Theresa asked, wiping a hand off on her apron. Henry nodded and walked her home. She fed him, as promised, and then sent him on his way with the flowers. "Bring Mutt with you next time."
"Of course," Henry replied as he waved back at her. He set off for the bathhouse next. If he was going to be around Hans tomorrow, he may as well be clean. It might be worth taking some lion or mintha perfume along as well. Was that too much? Hans would definitely notice the difference. Would he like it or would he tease Henry for going to the effort? Henry debated the question as he sunk further into the tub. Once he was done there, he made his way back to his room in Rattay.
Mutt was waiting for him at the door. Henry praised the dog and then offered him some food as he glanced up at the castle. He thought of Hans, wondering if he was still up at this hour. He was tempted to go check, but Henry would see him soon enough anyway. He headed inside and laid on his bed, trying to push aside his thoughts so he could get some sleep.
It wasn't the most restful bout of sleep he'd ever had, but seeing Hans' face as soon as he woke up banished any ill thoughts that might have otherwise lingered.
"Good morning, Henry," Hans greeted Henry cheerfully. Henry glanced towards the door to make sure it was shut and then grabbed Hans' hood. He pulled, yanking the young lord downward so that he could steal a kiss. Hans didn't seem to mind. He leaned into it, allowing Henry to take his time. They were safe enough, for a moment at least.
"Morning," Henry returned the greeting once he finally released Hans. "Did you break in?"
"I'm the Hans Capon, Lord of Pirkstein and Heir to Rattay. No door is closed to me," Hans replied dramatically. Henry briefly considered pointing out that was definitely not the case in Trosky, but he decided to let Hans have this. Hans laughed and then added, "and you didn't lock it in the first place."
That made sense. Honestly, Henry had a bad habit of just leaving the door open most of the time anyway. The guards patroling the area were enough to deter any would be thieves and, even if they weren't, most of the things stored in his trunk were items he'd forgotten about anyway. He should probably clean it out at some point...
"Come on. Let's get you dressed so we can go." Henry sat up in bed and let Hans do as he pleased, not commenting on the fact that it probably wasn't appropriate to be letting Hans dress him. If anything, it should be the other way around. Henry didn't mind having Hans fuss over him though. Especially since he knew Hans would never do this for anyone else. This was his exclusively.
The two of them set out on horseback shortly after, Mutt running alongside. As soon as Rattay was out of sight, Hans stretched out and relaxed. Whether he noticed it or not, he always seemed more alive outside city walls. It was a sight Henry always looked forward to seeing.
"So," Hans started, "what adventures did I miss while you were out galavanting this time?"
"Nothing as exciting as what we went through together. I mostly just helped take out a few bandits," Henry replied, "what did you get up to while I was away?"
"Nothing. Just... a lot of thinking. It feels like that's all I do these days."
"Maybe I should have stayed closer to Rattay."
"Just because I'm trapped doesn't mean you should be. Besides, what will people do if you're not there to solve their problems?" It wasn't funny. Not when Hans was clearly stressed. There was only so much Henry could actually do about the situation though. Lord Hanush had been particularly strict as of late. He probably would be until Hans was officially married.
"I picked up a couple of books to read while I was out. I'd lend them to you, if you'd like."
"That could be a good way to pass the time," Hans said, seemingly cheering up a bit at the suggestion. "I would be curious to see what kinds of things you read. Do you have anything scandalous?"
"Nothing as... engaging as the poetry you recited for your darling Karolina."
"Ah, Karolina. I'd almost forgotten about that whole ordeal. You know, now that I'm thinking about it, I have to ask, did you sabotage me that night on purpose? I think I asked you something similar back then, but... Well, with how things are now..."
"No, I didn't. I really did try to help you."
"At least you managed to keep her father from finding us. If I remember right, I heard singing?"
"I did sing," Henry confirmed. It was only one of the most embarrassing experiences of his life. Hans broke into a fit of laughter and, upon seeing his lord happy, Henry decided to tell him something else he might enjoy. "I still have it."
"Hm? Have what?"
"Your love letter. The one that you wrote for Karolina, but since she didn't know how to read..."
"That's right! I gave it to you, didn't I? And wait. You said you still have it?"
Henry's cheeks burned in embarrassment as Hans let out a delighted giggle that made the confession worth it.
"You liked me even back then?" Hans asked, "or were you just that moved by my words?"
"I don't know," Henry shrugged, "it just... felt right that I was the one who ended up with it."
"Well, now I know how to spend my time when you're away. If you happen to find any letters from a secret admirer, know they're all from me. At least, they better be. I wouldn't be surprised if you were turning more maiden heads these days though. You've gotten quite..."
"Go on."
"Alluring, I suppose. You were charming enough before, but ever since we've gotten back from our great adventure... You seem like a proper knight. The kind they write legends about." It was high praise, but Henry knew Hans well. He was able to pick out the insecurity and distance behind the statement. He'd already told Hans not to worry about either of those things. Hearing that wasn't enough though. Henry wasn't sure there was a magic set of words that could get rid of those fears entirely. He let the silence linger too long. Hans moved on, encouraging his horse to go a bit faster. Henry followed his example. Once they were riding at the same pace again, Henry forced himself to speak up. Any words were better than no words in this situation.
"I wouldn't know. I keep getting distracted by a certain lord."
Hans offered Henry a small smile, but it was mostly for show. "If you need to use the bathhouse services or... spend the night with other women, I'd understand. It's only fair, after all. Since I'm not going to be available to you all the time." Hans let out a sigh. "Not in the way I want to be." He straightened his back and followed up his declaration in a more lordly tone. "I want to be the favorite though. And I draw the line at other men. I can see why you might need to go to women for certain pleasures--"
"Hans," Henry tried to interrupt.
"I can't deny the appeal of breasts or--"
"Hans," Henry tried again. This time he managed to catch his lord's attention. "I don't want anyone but you."
Hans bit his lip, holding back a storm of emotion. It was transparently clear that's what he'd wanted to hear. "You're the only one I want too."
But. He didn't need to say the word out loud for it to hang over their heads. Hans' marriage was approaching whether they liked it or not. They turned to safer topics of discussion for the rest of their trip.
All the chatter died once they reached the outskirts of Skalitz. Henry sucked in a breath. The contrast between the ruins of his hometown and the beautiful sunlit sky seemed almost cruel-- like the world couldn't care less about the tragedy that'd happened here. Mutt hesitated, his wagging tail slowing to a stop. He probably still had his own memories of the place. Henry urged Pebbles forward. If they were going to do this, they might as well get it over with.
"I'd like to go to the mill first," Henry told Hans, "I promised Theresa I'd leave some flowers for her family."
Hans nodded, letting Henry take the lead. They dismounted once they were close enough. Henry then collected the flowers from his saddlebag and left them on the grave. Theresa hadn't asked him to pray, but he felt that he might as well. Hans listened quietly and joined in after Henry said, "amen."
"Amen."
From there, they took their horses around the wall, to the only easy entrance into Skalitz left. Henry was on guard. The last time he'd been here, there'd been bandits. The guards patroling the area had done a good job of keeping them at bay, but Henry wasn't about to risk Hans' safety by overlooking any signs of danger. Neither the guards nor the bandits were in the area now. Skalitz was barren, emptied of life and any of the loot that had initially attracted the wrong kinds of people. Hans took it all in without comment, but the reflective expression on his face told Henry he could feel at least some of the weight of what had happened here. Mutt let out a whine as they passed the butcher's house and then moved closer to Pebbles, tail lowered.
"I forgot he was a Skaltiz survivor too," Hans said.
"Aye," Henry replied, his throat dry. It was as much of a response as he could bring himself to muster.
They continued on, riding uphill. Soon enough, Henry's old home and his father's forge were in sight. Henry and Hans hitched their horses to posts near to the forge, turning it into a makeshift stable. They took a moment to feed and water them before getting to the business they actually came here for.
They walked over to the linden tree, stopping before the marker indicating that this was where Henry's parents were buried. Hans placed the flowers this time. Then, he rose and took a step back so that he was at Henry's side once more. It was clear he wanted to say something, but he was having difficulty deciding where to begin. Henry didn't rush him. Finally, Hans cleared his throat.
"I guess this isn't really a prayer," Hans started. "I didn't know either of you and you never knew me. But I know your son. And if he's anything to judge you by, well... you did a good job. A really good job. Henry... means a lot to me. More than anything else in this world, actually. He's saved me so many times and... he is the first real friend I've ever had. I... I needed him. And... fuck." Hans clenched his hands into fists and supressed a sob. Henry's brow furrowed in concern. He hadn't expected Hans' speech to take this kind of turn. He almost reached out for Hans, but Hans continued before he completed the action. "I'm sorry. I've looked around and I've seen all the destruction here. I know I can't even begin to imagine the pain and suffering the people who died here went through, let alone the ones who survived. Even so, a part of me can't be sad about it because... because... if it didn't happen, I don't think I would have ever met Henry."
Henry took Hans by the arm and pulled, forcing Hans to meet his gaze so that he could search his eyes. "Is that what you came here to say? Is that what you've been thinking about this whole time?" Henry's tone was too harsh. He could tell by the way Hans recoiled. "What happened here isn't your fault. You have nothing to feel guilty about. You understand that, right?"
Hans looked away from Henry.
"Hans," Henry said sharply. Hans didn't respond so Henry took him by the chin and forced him to look at him once more. It wasn't something that would ever be allowed with another lord or in another situation, but Hans didn't fight it. "No," Henry said firmly, "you don't get to do that to yourself. Not as long as I'm here." Henry softend his tone before adding, "sometimes a bad day is just a bad day, remember? It doesn't have to be fair, it doesn't have to mean anything greater. And you don't have to punish yourself for some sliver of good that happened to come out of it."
Hans took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing. Henry released him and then gently took him by the hands. "Sorry," Hans muttered, "it's just... when I thought it, I couldn't get it out of my head. I thought coming here would... I don't know. I'm ridiculous."
"You are," Henry said, taking a step closer to Hans and knocking their foreheads together. "And I needed you too. Everything I knew was torn from me in an instant. You made things normal again. You made things fun again. I love you."
Hans bit his lip and glanced toward the grave, as if that confession would be enough to raise Henry's parents from the dead so that they could go after him for turning their son into a sinner.
"They're not there," Henry said, deciding to confide in Hans.
It was Hans' turn to look concerned. "What do you mean?"
"Their bodies are buried there, but they aren't. They already left." Henry let go of Hans' hands and went over to the table nearby. Somehow, it and the house had been spared the worst of the attack. He took a seat, keeping his attention on the table in front of him.
"Again. What do you mean?" Hans repeated, joining Henry and sitting across from him.
"I used to talk to them. Especially Pa." He was sure Hans knew which one he meant, but he clarified anyway. "Martin." Henry took another moment to gather his thoughts and then added, "when I dreamed, I'd sometimes see them."
"But they don't talk to you now?" Hans asked, his tone gentle.
Henry shook his head. "They left after Suchdol."
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? It means they don't feel the need to watch over you anymore."
"Pa said I was just like Istvan."
"What? You're nothing like Istvan," Hans growled.
"I am though. Our stories are the same. I've done things I'm not proud of and... I even have an Erik."
"I'm not Erik," Hans said bluntly, "and so what? You have some things in common with him. That doesn't make you bad. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but what if your dreams were just that? Dreams. You torturing yourself for things you shouldn't."
Henry looked up at Hans, a dark resolve settling in his chest. He'd have liked to believe that, but he knew what was in his own heart. Especially when it came to Hans. He'd commit any and every sin to stay by his side, to keep him safe. Pa was right and he'd made his peace with that. Of course, that didn't make it hurt any less.
"They'd be proud of you," Hans insisted. When that failed, Hans sighed and said, "Martin knew what war is like. He'd at least understand." That didn't work either so Hans tried one last thing: "I'm proud of you."
And just like that, the world seemed less bad. It reminded Henry of something he'd been meaning to say to Hans for a while now. "Back in Suchdol, before..." Henry smiled. "Before you offered me some encoragement, you were upset that you never got to save me. My head was so full of thoughts I missed my chance to say it, but... that's not true."
"One time," Hans said, crossing his arms moodily, "compared to the thousands of times you've saved me."
"You always save me," Henry said, "whenever I need to be brave, whenever I'm tired and want to give up, whenever something feels impossible... There are things that I don't have the will to do for myself, but if they're for you, that's different. If they're for you-- even if it's only in some small way-- I can pick myself up and do anything. So, you do save me, even if it's not in as grand a way as you'd like."
"Henry, I..."
Just then, Henry felt a drop of rain hit his cheek. Hans must have been hit by one too since he immediately looked up. Sometime during their visit, the weather had taken a turn and it wasn't long before the rain started picking up even more.
"Let's grab our supplies and head into the house," Henry decided. Hans nodded and the two of them headed over to the horses. Once they had what they needed, they entered Henry's old home, calling Mutt inside as well. The place had clearly been looted at some point, but other than that, it was still in good condition. It'd work just fine as shelter and the horses were safe outside under the roof covering the forge.
"Looks like we'll be stuck inside for a bit," Hans commented.
"We should probably eat something then," Henry said, glancing out the window. The rain was really coming down now. He thought he might have heard the rumble of a bit of thunder too.
"That's a good idea," Hans said. He didn't move to get any food though. Instead, he asked, "what if the rain doesn't let up? Would... it be okay if we stayed here? Or is that too..."
Henry considered the question. It might feel a little strange to stay overnight, but it was practical. In fact, it was probably one of the safer places for them to set up camp even if the rain wasn't a factor. Besides, his parents were gone, right? There were no ghosts here. "We can stay."
If Henry didn't know better, he'd think Hans was a little excited. They spread a few blankets across the floor and then Hans started a fire where Henry's mother used to cook all their food to warm up the place. While his back was turned, Henry dug through his bag. He had been looking for wine and food, but he came across some flowers that had gotten crushed under other items. And that lion perfume he'd decided to bring along-- among other potions. A smile graced his lips as he made his decision.
Hans caught him before he managed to finish spreading the petals across the blankets. He blamed Mutt. Giving his good boy a pat on the head had cut into his preparation time. When Hans turned, he laughed and then asked, "what's this?"
"Nothing. Now, turn around. I'm not done yet."
"You dare order me around?" Hans replied in amusement, "you just want to stare at my arse."
"I do," Henry replied.
"I suppose I'll allow it, for your honesty," Hans said with a playful bow. He turned back around and waited. Henry did steal a glance at his ass before getting back to work. Luckily, Mutt ran distraction this time around, rubbing against Hans' leg and seeking his attention.
"Oh, don't pretend you like me that much," Hans told Mutt, crouching down and cupping the dog's cheeks, "I know you're all about Henry. I am too. We are the same, you and I." Henry couldn't hold back a laugh. Hans didn't look away from Mutt, but he did address Henry next. "Hey, Henry, I was thinking that we could make some stew. We've got what we need here and it'd be more interesting than just eating the dried stuff we brought along."
"Are you going to make it?"
"You don't think I can?"
"You survived without me for a while somehow. So yes. I think you can handle it."
"Hand me my bag and I'll get started then." Henry did as he was told, leaving Hans to deal with their food situation on his own. Not for long though. Henry quickly completed his task. Once he was sure the flower petals were arranged in a pleasing manner, he rose to his feet and went over to Hans. He remembered there was something Pa liked to do with his mother when she was cooking. He'd sneak up behind her, slip his hands around her waist, and hug her. Then, he'd give her a cheeky slap on the ass-- nothing hard, just playful. She'd give him a look that said he was being naughty, but her smile would always give away the fact that she enjoyed it. Henry couldn't help but wonder...
Audentes fortuna iuvat.
While Hans stirred the contents in the pot, Henry approached Hans from behind and wrapped his arms around his waist. Hans seemed a bit surprised, but he didn't reject Henry's advances so Henry continued. He pulled Hans closer to his chest and nuzzled into his neck. Hans' breathing hitched and he closed his eyes. This was definitely working on him. Henry slowly kissed along Hans' neck and then, once he was sure Hans' guard was down completely, lightly smacked his bottom. Henry got the response he was looking for. Hans whipped his head towards Henry's and shot him a look that was supposed to be angry, but wasn't.
"You cheeky--" Hans didn't get to finish because Henry claimed his lips next. He didn't stop until he had Hans moaning into his mouth. "Fuck, Henry," Hans mumbled, "why do you smell so good?"
"Lion perfume."
"That you made yourself, no doubt."
"Aye, I did."
"I like it."
"I can make you some."
"No need. I like it on you better." Hans was about to go in for another kiss when Mutt interrupted them with a whine. It was pretty clear he wanted the two of them to focus on the food situation. "Alright, Mutt," Hans chuckled, "Henry and I will continue this later."
Henry sighed, but ultimately released his lord. Once the food was ready, it was divvied up into three bowls. Henry and Hans set down Mutt's share in the next room over so that they could have a brief moment of privacy. Then, they sat across from each other on the blankets. The flower petals may have been a silly idea, but Hans seemed to be enjoying himself. Henry was too.
"So, I'll be blunt, there's a lot I want to ask you about," Hans said midway through their meal.
"About?"
"About living here. Is that alright?"
Henry took a deep breath. His good mood soured a little, but not enough for him to say no. Honestly, this was probably the best time for Hans to ask. Henry wasn't sure he'd be willing another time. He scooted a little closer to Hans and crossed his legs. "What do you want to know?"
"Hmm... I guess let's start with Theresa."
Henry cocked an eyebrow and smiled. "What about her?"
"I know what you told Oats and the others, but... was there really nothing between you two?"
"We did see each other for a little bit, but that was after Skalitz. Bianca was the girl I liked when I lived here."
"Bianca..."
"She died in the attack."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Hans hesitated a moment before asking, "what'd you like about her?"
"She was sweet and she always knew what to say. She... had a charm to her. I never got bored talking to her at the tavern."
"I'll bet that she was pretty too."
"Aye," Henry smiled. Memories of Bianca had previously brought him more pain than anything else, but here, talking about her with Hans, felt a little different. "She knew how to brew too. She'd make saviour schnapps for me all the time."
"Your favorite."
Henry nodded. "I wish you could have tried hers. I've gotten pretty good at making my own, but there was something special about her version. I haven't been able to replicate it."
"We should leave some flowers for her too."
"I don't know where they buried her," Henry said sadly.
"We can still leave her some. Maybe over by the tavern? I think it's the thought that counts. We can also leave some for Mutt's previous owner."
"We might as well leave flowers for the whole village if you keep adding people to the list."
"Well, why not? I told Hanush we wouldn't be back until the day after tomorrow. We can spend another whole day here."
"What? And play villagers?" Henry asked, almost adding a dismissive laugh. He didn't though. He caught Hans' embarrassed expression in time. It was clear that playing villagers was exactly what he'd wanted to do. Things back at Rattay must be more maddening than Henry thought if Hans was looking for this kind of escapism. Henry gave the idea some more thought before deciding to indulge his lord. "Well, why not? It'll be nice to have tomorrow completely to ourselves. You can pretend to be my beautiful wife."
"Excuse you," Hans replied with a false indignation, "if anyone is going to be the beautiful wife, it's you."
Henry begged to differ, but he didn't ultimately argue the point. "And Mutt will be our son."
"I do see the resemblance between the two of you," Hans said with a wicked grin.
"Right, I get it. I'm your loyal dog."
"You said it, not me," Hans chuckled. He seemed rather pleased with himself. Henry couldn't be angry about it. Even so, Hans did make an attempt to soften the blow. "Pebbles takes after me more, I think."
"She does have beautiful hair."
"Thank you," Hans laughed. He leaned back to get more comfortable and then changed topics. "What was it like, living here? On a day to day basis."
That wasn't a simple question. It took a while for Henry to decide on his answer. "It was quiet, peaceful. Nothing ever seemed to be going on-- with the exception of the occasional festival, of course. I didn't appreciate what I had. I slept in all the time, gave Pa a hard time about making me help him at the forge. Ma had to put up with my constant whining about wanting to go see the world. Skalitz was fine, but I didn't want my life to be confined to it entirely."
"You felt trapped too then," Hans commented. That part had certainly resonated with him.
"I did. I was determined to leave. At least, for a while. If things had gone my way, I'm sure I would have eventually found myself in Rattay. I would have probably spent a lot of time at the taverns too. Might have had a few drinks with a certain lord."
"Might have gotten in a fistfight with that same lord," Hans supplied in an amused tone.
"Or we might have realized we had a lot in common before that. Maybe we could have gotten off to a better start."
"Maybe. It's a nice thought, at least."
"You might think I'm silly for this, but I think I would have found you no matter what, Hans." Hans covered his mouth, but Henry could tell he liked the thought. The blush that appeared on his cheeks gave him away.
"It would have been easier if we grew up together. If Lord Radzig had claimed you as his own, maybe we could have met as children. Or if I was born here, in Skalitz."
"As a commoner? That's hard for me to imagine." While Henry liked the idea of meeting Hans earlier, he was glad Hans hadn't been born in Skaltiz. If he ended up as one of the many corpses... Henry shook that thought, trying to think more positively. Even if Hans had been born in Skalitz, Henry had a feeling he'd spend most of his time in the woods-- until it was time to end the day at the tavern, at least. He might have been alright. Unless he came looking for Henry. Which, he would have.
"I guess you've gotten too used to calling me my lord, huh?"
"I like calling you my lord."
"Really?" Hans seemed to doubt that.
"I do," Henry insisted, "it lets me proclaim my devotion to you to whoever I want. When you hear it, think of it more as my beloved."
Hans' face turned a bright red. "You're embarrassing, Henry."
"You like it though."
"I do," Hans admitted.
The two spent the rest of the evening talking and enjoying some wine. They never got around to that 'later' Hans had promised, but Henry was mostly okay with that. They still had time. And, with Hans in his arms and Mutt curled up against his back, Henry couldn't be anything less than pleased as he drifted off to sleep.
The next day, they rode their horses along the outskirts of Skalitz and collected some more flowers. Hans gave up much sooner than Henry, but Henry understood. It was deceptively difficult to keep crouching down over and over. Honestly, Henry was pretty sure that half the strength in his legs had come from constantly picking flowers and herbs. While Hans was resting in the grass, Henry took advantage and put flowers in Hans' hair. Hans... tolerated it.
Once Henry was content with what they had and Hans was ready to move on, they decided to wash up in the river. Luckily, it did not end the way it had the last time. They even made a game of splashing each other-- a game that Mutt won by jumping into the water between them with reckless abandon. He paddled next to them excitedly afterward. It reminded Hans that he still had to teach Henry to swim at some point. That wasn't on their schedule today though.
After drying off, Henry braced himself for what was next. Laying flowers around Skalitz was sure to be solemn work. Sensing Henry's hesitation, Hans took him by the hand and walked him to the nearest building. He had Henry tell him who'd lived there, what they were like, and what kind of memories Henry had of them. Then, once Henry told him everything he had to tell, they placed a few flowers among the ruins. They repeated this for every building after and, surprisingly, it didn't make Henry sad. By remembering each person and offering them a token of peace, Henry found some himself. In a small sense, it felt like Skalitz was coming alive again.
"This one was Deutsch and his wife's house," Henry commented. He still had a bit of regret regarding what he'd done to them. "Me and my mates, Matthew, Fritz, and Matthias threw dung at his house the day of the attack."
"Jesus, Henry. Really? That's disgusting. Tell me the poor fellow at least deserved it."
"He'd been going on about how Sigismund would be a better king."
"Ah, well then..."
"He still didn't deserve it. Especially since..."
"I suppose he regretted it in the end," Hans finished for Henry. "Your mates... Did they...?"
"All three of them survived, believe it or not. They're living in Pribyslavitz now."
"Ah, yes. Your little sanctuary. Sir Divish was absolutely mad for hoisting all of that responsibility on you. And yet, you succeeded, as you always do. I can't believe I haven't gone to see it yet."
"Maybe we can go visit it the next time you're able to get away from Rattay for a while. And I'll introduce you to everyone. Matthew, Fritz, Matthias, and Johanka. You probably don't want to meet Kunesh. He's there too though."
"I would like that," Hans smiled. "Say, Henry, if I had grown up here, which one do you think I'd have gotten along with the most?"
"Me, of course," Henry said instantly.
"Besides you," Hans laughed.
"You wouldn't have time to be friends with anyone else because I'd demand all of your attention."
"Fair enough. I suppose that's an acceptable answer."
Henry and Hans took their time, but eventually, they did make it back to the house. It was probably time to think about food again. Henry had other things on his mind though. And Mutt officially decided Henry's course of action when he laid down for a nap.
"So," Henry started to get Hans' attention, "is it later yet?"
"I would say so," Hans chuckled, immediately understanding what Henry wanted. He closed the distance between them and kissed Henry. One kiss turned into many before they moved their activities to the blankets on the floor. "You, uh, didn't happen to bring that oil you make, did you?"
"I have some," Henry said, "you sure you want me to go that far? We are going to do a lot of riding tomorrow."
"That is tomorrow's problem and, I assure you, I will complain about it then. Right now though, I want as much of you as I can get."
"Then I won't hold back."
Henry and Hans took a moment to remove each other's clothes, sneaking in frantic kisses and touches where they could. Once everything was tossed into a careless pile to the side, Henry crawled on top of Hans, parting his lord's legs with his torso. He descended upon Hans, gently covering his face in kisses as his hands got up to a more naughty task. They moved down the length of Hans' body, memorizing every curve and plateau. Henry moved lower, kissing along Hans' neck this time as one of his hands searched out his lover's cock. Hans followed his lead, softly pressing his fingertips against Henry's stomach and moving them lower at a tauntingly slow pace.
Henry pressed his forhead against Hans' neck and grunted when Hans finally graced him with his touch. His lord certainly knew how to use his hands. Henry returned the favor as best he could, but this was one thing Hans had ended up being better at. That was fine though. They weren't at Hans' favorite part yet. Henry delayed a little longer.
He pressed his lips to Hans' neck and sucked until it left a mark. It was a bit risky to do such a thing, but Henry couldn't help himself. He certainly wouldn't be able to do something like this once Hans was married to Jitka. Hans didn't protest. In fact, he seemed to encourage it as he let out a cute moan. Henry made another mark, lower this time. Hans still didn't put a stop to it. Henry kept going, marking his claim to his lord by marring more of his flawless skin. His proudest creation was the one Hans let him make on his inner thigh. Once that was complete, he pulled back to look Hans over.
Hans gazed back at him with a dreamy look on his face, breathing heavily. His legs were spread wide and his cock was hard and already dripping with pre-cum. The sight stirred something primal in Henry's belly. He had to have him. Henry left Hans just long enough to dig through his bag for the potion he was looking for-- an oil recipe he'd gotten from a very helpful bathhouse wench. He poured some of it out into his hand and started applying it generously to Hans' backside.
Hans bit his lip as Henry slid a finger inside him. He didn't need to say anything for Henry to know he liked the feeling. Henry hadn't minded it either when they'd tried switching positions, but he didn't like it the way Hans did. That suited him just fine. He liked taking Hans best. That was a pleasure he wouldn't have to share with Hans' future wife. Henry inserted another finger, earning himself another moan from Hans.
"Henry," Hans whined, "please."
"You sure you're ready?" Henry asked. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Hans by being careless.
"I'm sure."
Henry nodded and readjusted himself, lining his cock up with Hans' opening before pressing into it. He slid into place without too much trouble. Hans clung to his back and closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of their union. Henry felt it too. That overwhelming intoxication of connection. He kissed Hans on the cheek. Hans' response was more aggressive. He latched onto Henry's neck with his lips and sucked, leaving Henry with a mark matching his own. One of them, at least.
"You have a lot of nerve, you know?" Hans said smugly, "covering my skin in bruises like that."
"I didn't hear you complaining about it. And I'm sure you'll forgive me in a moment." Henry thrust into Hans to emphasize his point. Hans' fingers curled into Henry's back. Henry thrust again, a little harder this time. This time Henry was rewarded with a moan. He continued experimenting, adjusting the pacing and power of his thrusts, searching out what other prizes his lord had to offer him.
As Henry's momentum built, so did the heat coursing through his body. Pleasure enveloped him. He was close. Hans was closer. He came before Henry did, spilling his seed onto both of their stomachs. Henry managed one more thrust before joining him. He didn't pull out after, not wanting to end their connection just yet.
Time slowly came back to them. As it did, Hans grew quiet, something clearly on his mind.
"What is it?" Henry asked.
"I don't want to go back," Hans said, a surprising amount of desperation in his voice. "Can we please just run away? I know what you think, that I'm unsuited for... life without some fancy title. And maybe I am, but I could learn. As long as I have you, I..."
"What about Rattay?"
"What about it?" Hans asked bitterly, "Hanush is never going to hand it over. Even if I do get married, I don't think it will actually matter."
"You still care about it. If we ran away now, I know you'd regret it."
"Henry..." Hans took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"We don't know what will happen yet. Maybe Jitka will be someone we can trust. Maybe Lord Hanush will keep his word. And maybe, once you're married, he'll be more willing to let me take you away from Rattay for a while. You might still be able to get everything you want, so let's not give up on it just yet."
"And if nothing goes right and I'm completely miserable?"
"Then I'll kidnap you and take you far away. As far away as you'd like."
"You promise?"
"I swear it. An army of demons couldn't stop me."
Hans took another deep breath, but this one wasn't forced. It was one of relief. He believed every word, as he should. Henry meant them all. Nothing would stop him from keeping his word to Hans.
They set out for Rattay the following morning. As they rode away, Henry took a look back at Skalitz. It didn't make him gloomy like it had on previous visits. It felt more like a curse had been lifted, like there was potential for life again. Maybe, some time in the future, it could be rebuilt. It wouldn't change the fact that people had died there, but that bitterness didn't have to linger. It could be let go of. Bad things didn't have to tarnish places forever. Henry suspected that was the case for people too.
Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but for a brief moment, Henry thought he saw his Parents waving at him in the distance.