Grumbling to himself as he sat on the rock, Borus rolled up the legs of his pants, shoes already discarded. Today had not been an optimal day to say the least. For starters he had done mostly paperwork all day instead of hanging out with his kids, and then when he finally finished said paperwork none of his kids were around, and then when he decided to screw all and just go get a beer it took him half an hour to find a decent bar, and then once he’d come back from said bar hopping to finally relax a bit he was loath to find Markus making googly eyes at a stupid blonde man. The wrong stupid blonde man, need I remind you. Which was just another thing that was irksome about today.
So thats how Borus found himself preparing to go on a swimming trip for his Thesus man child, Markus keeping him well informed that he hadn’t seen Denian for about 5 hours. Which was probably not all that good considering those two were joined at the hip.
“Denian Jennifer Thesus!” Borus called out across the shimmering lake as he took a few steps into the water. He had no idea if Denian was even around this part of the lake but hopefully he was, or else all this screaming could be for nothing. “You fucking come in to camp right now you hear me.” Borus put his hands on his hips wading out further into the sunset “Ain’t nobody got time for your ice princess mermaid shit, so get your ass back to shore now.”
mariusthesus said: yah, kid, you keep on calling yourself that, but i’m going to take this excellent suggestion to heart and start calling you borbara. lord and lady, what a brilliant name.
To say that Torque Martain was unimpressed would’ve been the understatement of the century. Torque was more than unimpressed, more than unhappy and miles beyond angry. No, Torque was downright pissed off.
It wasn’t always easy to get Torque riled up. Sure he could have a quick temper and a sharp tongue, but those were merely ‘in the moment’ type feelings and ones that didn’t last very long at that. An unhappiness held one day was usually gone by the next and people were often surprised as to how harsh words simply bounced off his back. They told him that he must simply have tough skin, but the truth was Torque really didn’t have it in him to actually care enough to stay angry.
This however, this he cared.
When the notices had gone up announcing to the Mancers that not only were they not to attack any Knights spotted in the forest, they were also going to help them, Torque almost saw blood swarm across his eyes, and he would’ve spilt some too, had he had any less control. His hands trembled with rage as he sought to keep the feeling contained, refusing to let anyone else see just how unsettled the announcement had made him. All around her could hear other Mancers, some agreeing wholeheartedly with the notice which only made him feel worse, but a large majority also echoing the voices in his head and voicing the concerns he too had in hushed whispers and murmurs.
“This is ridiculous,” he heard one man say. “They’re going to kill us all.”
“They’ll murder all the children,” another one said. “And then they’ll come for us.”
And finally, “the captain’s gone mad.”
The captain’s gone mad. The line rang through his head. Of course. It wasn’t these people who were the problem, it was the Captain. The Captain who was going to be sending all of them to their deaths. Ripping the notice off the board amidst the confused looks all around him, Torque marched his way through the camp and burst into Marius’ tent without word, warning or fanfare, his grip on the sheet of so tight it looked as if he thought that the words would just disappear if he just squeezed hard enough.
“Y’know Captain, I’m all for sending soldiers on dangerous and risky missions, I mean, hell, we all know what we’ve signed up for, specially when the rewards outweigh the losses. I just hadn’t realised that sending your men on suicide marches was in vogue this season.”
If someone had told him, that only just a month after he left that bar, bruised and bleeding from a well placed fist, that he would be willingly seeking out Captain Marius Thesus' presence again...Well lets just say Markus would have probably told them they were delusional.
But after everything that had happened, Support for him, and support for Borus was what he needed, and he would take it whatever form it presented itself. Even if that form was shaped like a man he had grown to despise.
So that was how he found himself walking into one of the more skeezier looking dive bars, preparing to say his peace with the captain. Hoping that somewhere deep down inside the older man be able to find it in his heart to help Markus, or rather to help Denian, out of this mess.
Writing Challenge Voucher! And my prompt is happiness. All your choice what you do and how you go about it, but I would just like a lot of happy Markus doing things happy Markus does.
Title: I’ve Got it Easy
Word Count: 3,571
Absentmindedly Markus swirled the red liquid in the glass before him, the afternoon sun warm on his face, and the sounds of the festival down in the square twinkling in his ears. God he could use a few more days like this. Slowly he tilted the last few drops of his glass into his mouth capturing all of the flavors on his tongue. He wasn’t usually a wine drinker, but today, well today he’d woken to the sun on his back, and the birds singing and he’d just kinda thought why not? And that’s how he found himself sprawled out in the one lounge they were able to fit on their tiny terrace, his mother’s favorite brand in hand, and various assorted snacks within reach.
“God I will never get people who drink fancy wine, this really is shit Marks” Denian said as he gulped down the rest of his glass, perfectly balanced in his own chair, two of it’s legs not even touching the ground anymore.
“You know, I didn’t spend 80 dollars for these two bottles to have you complain at them” the young Arcain replied, throwing an errant hand over his face, the warmth of the sun starting to become a little much upon his pale cheeks
“You spent what on this?” His little gasp was priceless, his nose wrinkled toward their remaining bottle like it was personally offending him.
“Chump change for good Santa Sofia Amarone Della Valpolicella,” Markus replied waving his hand non-chalantly in the blonde’s general direction.
“A what?”
“Santa Sofia Amarone Della Valpolicella”
“You know it sounds like you’re speaking words, but I just can’t tell anymore” Denian snarked, leaning further back in his chair. One of these days he was going to fall over in that thing. And Markus would laugh.
“Oh shut up Denian, its the Vineyard brand, Santa Sofia, and the name of the wine Amarone Della Valpolicella” He said removing his hand from across his eyes, turning fully towards the other so that way Denian could receive the entire force of his eye roll.
“Yea well they need to give this thing a nice acronym or something cuz I can hardly get past the Santa Sofie thingy” Denian replied tapping the bottle.
Watching the younger boy’s disgruntled face as he poured some more of the ruby red liquid in his glass, Markus couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle settling back into the lounge chair. This had been a fantastic day by his standards. With nothing to do but sit and listen to the music down in the square, good food in his belly and good wine in his hand. Taking a deep breath Markus took it all in, the music lulling him into a wonderful stupor. It had been going on for the better half of the day, and the only conclusion Markus could come up for it was there was some sort of Sunday funday farmers market something going on in the square. Something of which they usually never got to enjoy cuz they were always working. But today, no today they weren’t ,and he was going to take full advantage of that.
“You know what, we should dance” Markus blurted after a few more moments of silence sitting up a little straighter in the lounge chair
“Wow you are drunk aren’t you” Denian scoffed swirling his glass a little bit.
“I am not drunk. I am buzzed there’s a difference”
“Yea and with you it’s the difference between three glasses and four” he chuckled out raising his own glass to his lips again.
Swinging his legs over the side of the chair Markus rolled his eyes at the blonde. Standing he placed his free hand upon his slim hip.
“Are you going to dance with me or not hotshot” he questioned twirling his empty glass in Denian’s general direction.
“As much as I think that would be an experience i’ll never forget…” Denian chuckled looking up at Markus “I don’t know how.”
“Well you are in luck, as I do” Markus stated emphasizing all the syllables in his last phrase. There was no way he was letting Denian out of this one that easily.
“You do” Denian raised an eyebrow, facial features communicating he did not believe any of the words coming out of Markus’ mouth.
“Yes, waltz, tango, mambo take your pick” he waved his hand non-chalantly at Denian again, aware that he was totally doing that, but unable to really stop himself from doing that
“Nuh uh, I’m calling bullshit,” he said forcefully as he set down his glass “you do not know all of those”
“Uh yes I do.” Markus huffed a little haughtily secretly annoyed that Denian would have the audacity to question his pedigree like that “Just like I know what fork to pick up first in a full service dinner, what a good cigar really is, and three different languages.” He held up three of his fingers to emphasize his point.
A few seconds passed between them as Denian just gave him his playful, “that’s total bullshit and you know it Markus”, face.
“Ok two. Fluently.” Markus conceeded backtracking a little bit “But I know enough Teccupian to get by”
“Uh huh” Denian replied as he smiled crookedly at him. It was clear he still didn’t believe him.
“Yes huh,” Markus blurted resisting the urge to shove Denian to emphasize his words “and thats how you know when I’m really drunk and not just buzzed, when I start accidentally speaking in elvish”
“You know I’ve been friends with you for god knows how long and never heard you speak elvish ever” Leaning back in his chair Denian put on his concentration face as he tried making the whole balancing on two legs thing work again.
“That’s because I’ve never been really drunk with you.”
“You know you don’t have to be drunk to speak elvish to me” Denian pointed out returning his chair legs to the ground
“And you know you don’t know elvish so you wouldn’t have any idea what I was saying” Markus pointed out in return.
“You should though, speak it from time to time,” Denian paused running a hand through his blonde locks “I mean it was like your first language right?”
“Well technically speaking I learned common and elvish at the same time.” Markus pointed out placing his glass on the table between them.
“Still, it’s a part of you, and you know you don’t even answer the twins in elvish”
Feeling his cheeks start to redden Markus glanced down at the floor, resisting the urge to run his hands over the pointed tips of his ears, resisting the urge to cover the evidence with his long hair. Because while Denian was always saying, “It’s a part of you” Markus had never felt more disconnected to that part of himself. Cuz while it was easier around his own family, he’d never fit in with the elves in school. It was different you know most of them fresh off of some boat from a place he’d only ever heard of, speaking a dialect of elvish he hardly knew, fitting in together like puzzle pieces. But him, well his family had been there for ages, he’d learned common and elvish at the same time, not elvish first and common later. It was well… He just didn’t fit in with them. And he knew it. But everyone just expected him to, and that was the hardest thing to deal with.
And that’s why he chose to hang out with Denian. A halfling, another puzzle piece that just didn’t fit into its pre-assigned spot. But it wasn’t like he cared at all. No Denian relished the fact that he didn’t fit, enjoyed it actually, and that made Markus smile. It was a feeling he’d always wished for himself. Which is why, when the twins would forget and start speaking in their native tongue, Markus intuitively understanding them, and Borus, well Borus just not caring if he understood them or not, he’d look over at Denian. He’d look over and see his eyes down turned, see himself for the briefest of seconds as the piece that didn’t fit, and Markus’ heart would burst, because this was something Denian couldn’t fake, couldn’t reshape himself into being.
So Markus helped Denian, like Denian had always helped him, and even though he knew the words to say, the accents to say them with, he’d answer the twins in common. So that way Denian could piece together parts of the conversation. Keep himself in it all, instead of checking out. But of course Denian was absolutely oblivious to that fact, and it wasn’t more apparent than it was now.
“You do know that’s actually for your benefit right?” Markus replied quietly still looking down at the ground, almost embarrassed that he was actually telling Denian this. And If it wasn’t for the copious amounts of wine he’d ingested in the past few hours he probably wouldn’t be.
“Wait what?”
The words were like a shot to the heart, confirming his suspicions but Markus couldn’t stop here. No the alcohol flowing through his views was making him continue, to say the things Denain didn’t know.
“Well if I answered them in elvish, then you would have absolutely no idea what we were talking about and you’d feel left out. And I-I don’t want you to feel left out” It was almost a whisper, the words threatening to choke Markus. Because he knew what it felt like, to be left out, and that was something he never wanted the happy-go-lucky, always all smiles, his own personal ray of pure sunshine to experience if he could help it.
“Oh,” Denian replied the one syllable soft and gentle coming from his lips. As if he’d just pieced it all together. Which he probably had. And that made Markus even more self conscious. Especially as the seconds of silence passed between them, deafening in everything it lacked.
Tearing his eyes away Markus leaned against the small table, palms flat against the warm glass, as he contemplated pouring himself another generous glass of wine. You know to forget what he’d just fucking done. The hole he’d just fucking blew into their tiny little friendship with his drunken ramblings.
But that was before the large calloused hand was placed on his. A sloppy little grin beaming on his big old puppy dog face.
“I still think it would be nice to hear you speak it, even if I don’t know what you’re saying” Denian started up again. And there he was, back again to save the day, and turn it all around again. What Markus had done to deserve a friend like this he had no idea.
“Ok fine,” He conceded turning back toward Denian returning the grin, “I will speak one sentence to you in elvish, if you dance to one song with me” He held up one finger to emphasis his point.
Rolling his eyes Denian groaned back at him, and Markus couldn’t help but chuckle a little at his forced discomfort.
“Come on its only fair” he playfully whined prodding Denian’s notably muscular chest with his finger. For his own safety (because god fucking damn Denian was hot) and Markus’ own sanity, the young Arcain usually had a no touching Denian without his permission or a clear sign he wanted to be touched rule (punching was a different ballgame though), but hell he was drunk today, and it was just his chest, what harm could he do with that?
“Fine, fine” Denian replied unperturbed by the fact the Markus had voluntarily touched him brushing some of the crumbs off of his amazing and wonderful tan cargo shorts as he stood.
Standing there chest to chest with Denian though, the only person who really mattered, well it was almost little much for Markus’ drunken brain to process right now. Like no seriously Markus had to physically resist putting his hands in all those fabulous pockets, resist telling Denian that he most definitely needed to wear those fucking shorts all the fucking time because his ass looked amazing in them. Resist just reaching out and fucking touching, gods damn it all.
Feeling himself start to redden at just the thought, he shook it off trying to refocus his brain on the task at hand.
“You gotta move the table first though” he pointed out the sudden realization that the two square feet they actually had on the terrace was not going to be enough to do this properly.
“Why do I have to move-”
“There won’t enough room if you-”
“Markus” Denian whined stressing the last syllable for optimal whine emphasis.
“Denian” Markus replied not taking the bait as he crossed his arms in front of him. I mean he paid for the whine and snacks, and he was going to give a free dance lesson. The least Denian could do was move the fucking table for them.
“Fine I’ll move the table” the blonde boy grumbled as he muscled the small table piled high with their snacks and wine through the french doors, successfully blocking the terrace from dining room inside.
“Thank you dear” Markus said curtly smiling sweetly at his own personal table mover.
“Fuck you too dear” Denian spat at him, obviously annoyed Markus had called him dear.
“Always,” Markus quipped without hesitation, a smile on his face, before he clapped his hands together “Okie dokie, so obviously if I am leading, you have to follow if you know what I mean”
“You’re saying I’ve gotta be the girl aren’t you”
“Precisely, though to be completely honest I think you’d make a fine woman,” Markus reassured as he smoothed Denian’s shirt over his shoulders “Big… and a little bit butchy,” he continued absentmindedly “but a fine woman none the less”
“You know, you should get drunk more often, It’s actually quite hilarious”
“Buzzed not drunk, you heathen, and If I got drunk with you, then who would be the responsible one?”
“uhhhhh” Denian paused, realizing Markus had a very valid point.
“Yea. Anyways, alright chop chop, class is in session, hold my hand here, and then put your other hand on my shoulder.” He stated as he helped positioned the younger boy’s hands.
“Wait isn’t this going to be awkward seeing as how your shorter than me?”
“It’s only awkward if you make it awkward Denian” Markus answered putting his free hand gently on Denian’s hip. Looking at him Markus hoped he’d get the hint that he needed to come closer for this to work, but he didn’t. So the young Arcain pulled him in, secretly estatic that he got to firmly grasp a little bit of Denian he didn’t usually get to “firmly grasp”
“Whoa, hello” The blonde mumbled surprised at the sudden change in the distance between them.
“You can’t dance five feet apart D”
“Well I can try” the younger boy scoffed in response almost as if he was being challenged to make it work from five feet away.
“Well it’s not going to work out the way you think” Markus huffed resisting the urge to just bop the other boy on the nose.
“Fine”
“So just follow my lead alright”
“Ok”
He could hear the nervousness in Denian’s tone of voice as Markus stepped forward forcing Denian to step back. Trust. It was something he knew Denian didn’t have a lot of. But nothing bad was going to happen, they were just dancing. And while It was a little wobbly at first, like a baby just learning to take his first steps, both of them figuring out how to move together, he could feel Denian let go. Let Markus take the lead. And after a a few minutes it was like well it was like they just got it. And there they were, swaying gently together to the music. Nothing in the whole world but the both of them, and the gentle beat.
“Hey we’re doing it” Denian whispered after a few songs almost as if he couldn’t believe he was doing something like this.
“Of course we are,” Markus replied “Would I ever steer you wrong”
‘Welll there was that one time-
“If you value both of your testicles you wil refrain from answering that” Markus snapped squeezing his thumb a little into the flesh of Denian’s hip to emphasize his point.
“Yes sir” Denian replied smiling down at him.
And so they swayed some more, losing themselves in it all but like everything good in life Markus knew it all must come to an end. And he figured Denian had been good enough.
“So how would you feel about dipping?” Markus asked twinkle in his eyes, figuring if they were going to stop this thing they were going to stop it right.
“You are not dipping me Markus.” Denian retorted with a certain finality.
“What you dont trust me?”
“It’s not that I dont trust you, it’s just..”
“We’re doing it-”
“No we are not”
In three-”
“Markus I swear to god-
“Two-”
“Markus!”
“One-”
And it was then Markus fully expected to be met with resistance as he leaned forward, but there was nothing, nothing but Denian’s full trust in him. Full trust that Markus, the smaller of the two was not going to drunkenly drop his 180 pound ass upon the tiles of their terrace.
And he didn’t. Because while he was the smaller of the two, he was strong, and he knew Denian. Just like Denian knew him.
Bringing him back up slowly though he couldn’t help but feel Denian’s blue eyes looked upon his, the blood rising to his cheeks. Standing there just looking at him Markus couldn’t help but feel the redness rise to his own cheeks, body now completely and fully aware of how close in proximity they were.
“Daime, que notte malo o ette” Markus stated softly his own heart beating out of his chest.
But of course it was then that the door knob to the apartment decided to turn, signaling the approach of another one of their Groupmembers
Separating as if they were electrocuted Markus quickly brushed off some of the invisible whatevers on some object of clothing that was on his body. You know acting perfectly natural right?
“Ok so why is the terrace table inside?” Limian asked as she looked at them from inside the apartment “You know that defeats the whole point of a terrace table right?”
And god he just he didn’t know why but Markus couldn’t help but giggle. Like a fucking madman. This whole thing way more funnier than it should have been.
Looking from Denian, to Markus to the terrace table which still had their wine on it he could see the wheels in her head turning, and he knew he sould be afrain of what she was thinking but he just couldn’t muster up that feeling right now he was just so free and happy.
“Oh my god he’s drunk isn’t he” She said pointing to the empty bottle of wine
“I am not drunk!” He tried to proclaim but that was so hard when he was smiling like a fool.
“Yea you kinda are buddy,” Denian said shaking his head as he laughed too.
“AMERA, AMERA YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHO’S OUT HERE DRUNK ON THE TERRACE” Limian yelled as she ran inside, obviously to go get Amera, so they could both experience drunk Markus too.
“Oh. My. lord.” Markus groaned with a small smile cheeks reddening by the second as he buried his face in the first thing he could find. Which just so happened to be Denian’s shirt. Stopping himself from going any further than this he could feel the hesitation off of the other boy, and he couldn’t help but feel like he violated him. I mean he was drunk what were you going to do, but he tried tried so hard to not…
And then Denian put his arms around him pulling him closer, enveloping him in his arms.
“Don’t worry I’ll make sure you don’t do anything stupid” he whispered against Markus’ curls.
“Mejorar” He whispered back against the fabric of the other’s shirt relishing this one happy moment the gods decided to grant him with.
Standing there for what seemed like hours (even though it really was only a few seconds) Markus didn’t even register the fact that Denian was running his fingers through his hair until he felt the pad of his thumb brush oh so gently against the tip of his ear. Looking up at him Markus did his best to look annoyed at the other, but it was so hard. Especially when he had that stupid sloppy grin upon his face.
“Ok so honesty hour, I’m actually really curious as to what you freaking said.” Denian said quietly mussing his hair a little bit more as he looked down and smiled at him.
Returning the grin Markus let go of the blonde’s shirt gently. Yea, he wasn’t getting a translation that easily. Walking over to the table and poured himself another glass of wine before he returned to his spot on the lounge chair, intent upon watching what was left of the sun sink slowly down over the horizon.
