| Title: Little Goatie
| Pairing: Ivar x Heahmund
| Words: ~2000 🙈 [AO3]
|Summary: Heahmund has a present for Ivar that he considers very questionable at first. Only when he takes a closer look at it does it bore deeply into his heart.
| Warnings: None - It's just fluff with a bit of humor.
| Notes: My participation for the Norse Tales for Winter Challenge:) It is dedicated to @vaire-gwir. I hope this little story will serve you as a plushie on your long journey home. One day we'll find you a real one that's squishy enough! Until then, we have to go on many more adventures together ♥.
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The apartment door was pushed open with a swing and fell noisily back into the lock. Shoes were carelessly brushed off the feet and left on the spot in the hallway. The jacket along with the scarf followed next. They landed on one of the dressers on the way to the living room. The coat rack didn't get any attention. Ivar was in a hurry. He had no time for neatness - never, actually.
The steady sound of his crutch hitting the floor echoed through the hallway as he walked toward the first room to his right. In the doorway to the living room, Ivar stopped for a moment, peeked in, and let his gaze wander searchingly across the room. He didn't find what he was looking for, but something else made him pause for a moment, confused. With a shake of his head, he averted his gaze, as he had another matter on his mind at the moment.
"Heahmund, you still there?" he finally shouted through the apartment, hopes high that he hadn't come back too late.
"I'm in the kitchen, love," came the prompt reply, and Ivar exhaled in relief. He immediately turned and made his way into the room where his lover sat at the counter, a steaming cup and his laptop in front of him.
"Let me guess, hot milk with a hint of cinnamon?" Ivar asked without hiding his disgust at the content of the cup as he bridged the distance and came to a stop next to Heahmund.
"Yes, of course. It calms my nerves best before a trip," Heahmund said as he typed three last words in his mail before pressing the send button and finally closing his laptop completely. When Ivar was next to him, he immediately put his arm around his beloved's waist and pulled him closer.
Ivar bent down a little, at first wanting only to press his lips against his boyfriend’s temple, but Heahmund stood up and gave him a tender kiss as a welcome instead. Immediately after the kiss, Ivar wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, which made Heahmund laugh out loud. Knowing how much Ivar hated milk, he didn't take offense, but went straight for another kiss, this time on the cheek.
"I have to leave in a few minutes, unfortunately. But I'm happy you made it home in time for some goodbye kisses." Heahmund already disliked being away from Ivar for a few days, but his job, which he also liked a lot, forced him to take business trips now and then. Now, once again, he had to travel to another country for eight days straight without Ivar being able to accompany him.
"Some torture, you mean?" Ivar said with a grin, before leaning forward again, surrendering to his fate with a spark of love in his eyes. He leaned his crutch against the counter and wrapped both arms around Heahmund's neck. Their lips touched only feather-lightly, caressing each other in delicate nudges. They lingered like that for a while, enjoying their togetherness, before Heahmund broke away with a sigh and briefly stood tall to plant a kiss on Ivar's forehead.
"I should get going." Heahmund drank the last bit out of his cup and went with it to the sink to clean it directly and then dry it and put it back into the kitchen cupboard. Ivar watched the scene with a grin, but refrained from commenting.
With the laptop under his arm, Heahmund made his way to the living room, but stopped in the hallway, his eyes darting alternately to Ivar's jacket and shoes.
"Are you serious, my love? How many times..." Heahmund turned to Ivar, but was stopped mid-sentence as a finger settled on his lips.
"Shh. Save your energy. I was in a hurry. Does that count as an excuse?"
"Actually...not, no. It would have taken you just two seconds…" Heahmund handed Ivar his laptop to hold it for a moment while he took care of what he perceived as chaos in the hallway, neatly setting Ivar's shoes aside and hanging his jacket on one of the designated hooks, scarf included.
"I can't believe it," he muttered, snapping his fingers against Ivar's temple, who had the audacity to just stand by and grin, leaning on his crutch. "You're like a savage..."
"I know," was the simple reply, which earned him an additional slap on the butt as Ivar turned around to continue his way to the living room. Once there, he placed the laptop on top of Heahmund's suitcase, knowing that he shouldn't even try to pack it himself. His boyfriend had a very precise system, which he would only destroy if he would try to help.
With one finger Ivar pointed to the coffee table. "Why is there a goat plushie on the table?" he asked, the confusion about the little thing evident in his voice.
Heahmund turned his head to look at the little fellow and a smile appeared on his face. "I saw it at the mall and it reminded me of you...of us in a way."
The look on Ivar's face only became more confused due to this explanation. "Why is that?"
"Goats are just as stubborn as you are," Heahmund began his explanation as he tapped his index finger against Ivar's temple. "They're strong-headed, always on the go to bash each other's heads in."
"And that reminded you of me?"
"Absolutely!"
Ivar rolled his eyes, but grinned back at Heahmund. He knew there was a pinch of truth in it. He could be damn stubborn and often got into heated arguments faster than he himself would have liked.
"And what about the us part?"
"It's more of a 'me' thing. The noise the goats make always sounds to me like they're complaining a lot..."
"Oh yes, that suits you perfectly," Ivar interrupted Heahmund directly, who in the meantime had stowed his laptop into his bag and now turned back to Ivar and headed towards him.
"See, that's why this little fellow represents us perfectly." Heahmund positioned himself behind Ivar and wrapped his arms around him, letting his chin rest on his shoulder.
"But for what reason did you bring it home? You could have brought me a real present instead. I wouldn’t have mind to get something useful." Neither of them were collectors of stuffed animals, which is why Ivar's confusion hadn't completely faded. He leaned against Heahmund, putting his hands over those of his beloved.
"It's useful!" came Heahmund to the goat's rescue. "If you miss me, you can cuddle with it," he continued and kissed Ivar on the neck shortly after, which made him shiver pleasantly.
"Why should I miss you, huh? With your constant complaining about household stuff and neatness, you're miserable to be around. You just said it yourself." He turned his head to face his beloved, his eyes and voice full of mischief.
"Because I keep you warm at night," Heahmund said with a smile and poked Ivar in the side, making him squeal.
"So I can set this thing on fire then?" This suggestion brought him another poke in the side before he laughed out and Heahmund lured him into another kiss.
With a heavy heart, Heahmund packed up the last of the odds and ends and left the apartment less than ten minutes later. Not without many more brief kisses and Ivar's promise that he wouldn't do any harm to the goat.
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Two hours later, Ivar had made himself comfortable on the couch. Cookies and tea next to him, a series on the TV, which he followed halfway attentively. The other half of his attention was on his cell phone. He was scrolling through apps at random and waiting impatiently for Heahmund to send him a message that he had arrived at his destination in one piece.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the goat plushie staring at him the whole time. Shaking his head, because he still couldn't believe that Heahmund had spent his money on such nonsense, he turned his eyes toward it.
Half an hour later he got up to warm himself some food in the microwave. On his way back he stopped by the plushie to grab it, carrying it with him back to the couch. As he looked at it more closely, thoughtfully touching and tossing it from side to side, he noticed that there seemed to be a pushable button in each of the hooves. Curious, he got to the bottom of the matter and found a switch hidden in the belly, which he switched to on.
Immediately after pressing the front left hoof, Heahmund's voice rang out.
"Don't forget to wash the dishes, love. Things don't get cleaned up on their own."
After a brief moment of puzzlement, Ivar began to laugh and he looked with amusement in his eyes at the little goat, which returned the stare with its lifeless beady eyes. He could clearly hear the grin that Heahmund must have had on his face during the recording, and it was beginning to rub off on him.
"What an idiot," he spoke to himself, inwardly filled with love for the man who always managed to get into his heart and to make him soft.
Curious, he pressed the next hoof.
"Don't get crumbs all over the couch, and if you do, there's an invention called a vacuum cleaner. You don't need a driver's license to operate this one."
Again, Ivar let out a laugh, before he looked down, caught. With a quick flick of his wrist, he swept the already scattered crumbs of the cookies on the blanket to the floor. At best, these would disappear into the long fluff of the carpet, never to be seen again, without him actually having to do any housework.
With a big smile on his face, Ivar pressed the next of the two remaining ones.
"I love you just the way you are my messy little slob..." For a short moment Ivar thought that the message was already over, because he heard nothing more, until Heahmund eventually continued. "But please keep the chaos at bay anyway. I'd rather have my hands on you when I get back than in the cleaning bucket."
This message made his smile grow even bigger and his fantasies briefly went on a journey, coloring his cheeks a delicate red.
Without hesitation, he pushed the last remaining button and already a second later his heart warmed up and his eyes became watery.
"Sleep well, my love. I will be here by your side, protecting you from anything that tries to haunt your dreams."
It was their good night ritual that had become a daily habit over the past few months. Not a day went by that Heahmund didn't whisper those sweet words in his ear as they lay in bed together, often in a tight embrace, all snuggled up. It had helped Ivar to get a grip on his previously frequent nightmares and moreover, to fall asleep with a feeling of security.
Still amused, and deeply touched at the same time, that Heahmund had actually taken the time to record him this kind of messages, Ivar hugged the stuffed animal tightly for a moment and buried his face in its soft fur. He felt ridiculous that he was cuddling with a plush toy, but at the same time so full of love and somehow also so close to Heahmund. He already missed him and despite the somewhat funny messages, Ivar could also feel Heahmund's love for him. It was audible to him in every little syllable and it made him replay all the messages again.
He allowed himself a brief moment to dwell in his happiness before setting the little goat beside him and reaching for his cell phone to send Heahmund his love in return.
Remember that Six Sentence Sunday? I finished it! Here’s what I have! It’s cute, and it’s short, and I hope you like it!
"You know I can do this myself, right?"
"Yep."
"Then why are you insisting on this?"
"Because you need a chance to relax too, sweetheart. Now lean back and close your eyes."
"I'm not closing my eyes with that thing in your hand, especially when it's gonna be near my neck!"
"RJ. Seriously. Do you really think I'd choose now to hurt you?"
Mac sighed. "No."
"Good! Now, come on."
Em sat cross legged on the coffee table as Mac sat on the floor, but he scooted himself forward enough to lay his head comfortably where her ankles crossed. He watched her as much as he could as she arranged a couple of things to the side, then took a couple of squirts of the shaving cream into her hands and gently massaged it over the scruff on his face. The touch was nice and gentle, and his eyes closed as he sighed lightly.
"Have you done this before?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. Many times."
"I can tell. It feels nice. Y’know, so far."
"I try my best for you." He felt a small touch on his nose and he chuckled softly.
Her touch disappeared, and he almost opened his eyes. Quit worrying, he thought. She said she's done this before. And she wouldn't hurt you. Why would she? You love her, and she loves you, and she wouldn’t hurt a damn fly. You’re being a paranoid idiot.
"RJ?"
"Hm?"
"I'm gonna start, okay?"
"Mhmm."
Schff. The blade was sharp, he knew she sharpened it before she sat down, but it didn't feel as.. rough? He relaxed more, fighting a blush creeping onto his cheeks- he always had to hastily sharpen the razor, which left more than a few knicks in his skin, or an uneven blade, but she seemed to take great care into making sure it was evenly sharpened. Schff, schff. The strokes were short, smooth, and precise. He expected the sharp bite of the blade digging in, or a soft “shit” from her, but it never came.
How was she way better at this than him? He did remember she had done this before, but he wasn't expecting this level of ease from her.
"Do you want me to just trim the beard when I'm done getting the scruff?" she softly questioned.
"Sure."
"Okay. You alright?"
"I'm fine. Feels nice, too. Maybe I might let you do it from now on."
"Hm. We'll see."
He kept still for her, but he really wanted to smile. He knew she was, he could hear it in her voice, even when his eyes remained closed. He let her turn his head this way and that, getting all of the unwanted hair off of his face and neck. She dipped a cloth into warm water to gently wipe away the streaks of foam. The soft heat from the cloth caused Mac to let out a soft "mmm", and finally gave a smile when he heard her chuckle.
"I love that you're enjoying this," she murmured.
"I wasn't sure if I would," he replied. "But I'm glad I was wrong."
The soft towel gently took care of the leftover foam and hair, the light touch of the fabric cleaning the rest of his face before she picked up the scissors to trim his beard.
"How's it look?" He asked after a few minutes.
"You look great." She gave a spot a final brush off. "Go take a peek."
His eyes opened straight into hers, and he instantly smirked at her soft expression. She answered with a full smile before patting his shoulder. "Go on."
He didn't think he'd have to check, but he did anyway, mostly doing what he was told. The lines were clean, and he felt… good. Better than he's felt about his image in a while. He smirked at his reflection.
Yeah... She can do this forever. That's fine. Wonder if she can cut the hair on my head….
You and me
Throw caution to the wind
And I will risk everything just to feel the warmth
And the voltage from your skin
If this is my last day on Earth, I just want to be with you
You are all that's trueVerona - Muse
Ok, I honestly don't know why, but, I suddenly really want one of those cat hoodies. You know, like the ones with the ears on the hood? Yeah, one of those.
