Barca hadn’t said a word before he disappeared. And when Duro had questioned the others, no one seemed keen on answering him. It was curious at best, suspicious at worst.
Duro had watched as Barca left, his eyes tracking his husband’s back until he was too far away to see. For a small moment, his mind whispered of affairs and secret lovers, but Duro pushed the thoughts aside. It made no sense for Barca to leave in plain sight. And even if he had disappeared in the night, he had never attempted to go behind his back before. Not even in the first month of their marriage, when sex, and companionship had been denied, or at the very least, been withheld to the bare minimum.
No, Barca had more honor than that. Duro did not believe him to be seeking out another. Not after so many months now, not when they were truly beginning to give each other a chance.
Only one made attempt to stop him when Duro moved to follow Barca, his sword at his hip and a rolled fur lashed to his back. Though he was growing familiar with the lands around the village, Duro was still learning. Barca could have gone anywhere, and Duro wanted to be prepared should he become turned around. Duro had silenced the man, he recognized him as a close friend of Barca, telling him that he would see for himself what Barca was doing. The man had not pressed him. There was a growing respect between Duro and the rest of the warriors. Whatever lesson there was to be learned, they would let him learn it.
It did not take Duro terribly long to find his husband. Barca had ventured far enough for privacy, but not so far as to be unreachable. He sat on the ground, among a small gathering of trees, surrounded by birds that seemed familiar to him.
For a moment, Duro could only watch. Barca was holding the creatures so carefully, his hands tender, his touch soft. The smile on his lips was gentle and light. He looked younger, freer, as if a burden had been lifted from him, and Duro was suddenly loath to interrupt him. He had never seen his husband like this. Oh, he had seen him happy, had seen him smile, had been held momentarily in his arms in the night after they had fucked. This was different. This was more. And Duro did not wish to take this from his husband.
Duro moved to leave, deciding it would be best if he returned to the village. But the movement, the motion of the fur upon his back, startled some of the birds, causing them to flee to the trees in a sudden flurry of sound. Duro froze.
“Apologies,” he said, the softness of his voice surprising even him. There was an air around the area, something calming and gentle, that Duro did not want to break. His apology was genuine, “I did not mean to startle.” He looked at Barca, remaining where he stood. It felt wrong to come closer, but now that his presence was known, he felt it cowardly to leave. So he would wait, until Barca made his own desire known.
“I was curious, when you left,” Duro explained, voice still low. He glanced around the space, catching sight of the birds, staring at him now from the trees. A small smile tugged at his lips, “I will leave, if you wish it.” And he would. He would respect Barca’s wishes in this.
Barca’s eyes opened the moment he heard the sound that startled the birds around them. It did not take long for them to settle once more, and once Barca’s eyes were open, he saw the source of them. His tranquil state prevented him from being too on edge, and so his own response was calm. Composed. Despite the fact that he did not like to be disturbed upon such a day, and such a moment . . . he also knew that with the, closeness developing between him and his husband, Barca would not be able to keep such a secret for long. Eventually, Duro would ask. And Barca would have to give answer.Â
“Unless you are fearful of them,” he began to say, teasingly suggesting that Duro would be afraid of the birds . . . “Then I find no disagreement with presence.” Should Duro be the one who wished to stay. He turned his attention back to the bird rested in his palm. “There are seeds here, should you wish to offer them.” Further suggestion, for Duro to seat himself comfortably, for the seeds were right next to Barca.Â
