“Did you know?” Tand asked.
Asger looked at him as he retied his hair. “Did I know what?”
“That I have a baby in me?” Tand asked.
“Er… When?” Asger asked. “I did after the doctor said so.”
“Not in the woods?” Tand asked.
Asger nodded. “How would I have known?”
“I do not know…” Tand let out a loud sigh. “Then I do not understand.”
“What do you not understand?” Asger asked, hoping to be helpful.
Tand looked at him with a sudden solemnity. “If you did not know that I was with a baby, why did you not want to mate with me?”
Asger was taken aback by the question, but took a moment to consider where Tand's question was coming from. Every stranger he had encountered before Asger must have been nothing less than eager to mate with him. Then Asger comes sauntering into his life, upturns it, but refuses to bed him.
He looked around. The kids were fast asleep, all huddled up together on one of the two double beds provided. He continued softly. “Well… That's not something we need to do here in this realm,” he decided to say. “There are so many people around that it’s actually quite inappropriate to try to have sex with the first person you see. There’s already enough people. Too many people, some might say.”
“Then you do not mate at all?” Tand asked.
Asger blushed. “No, no, we do! I mean, if you mean me personally, um… I have. Not a lot, but you know, who's counting?”
“If you do not want more people, why do you mate?” Tand asked.
“Well some people do want to have kids,” Asger said. “It’s a matter of finding the right person they want to have them with. And also we have ways of having sex that won't make children.”
“What is that for?” Tand asked.
“Pleasure. Intimacy. Satisfaction. Bonding,” Asger said. “Whatever you want it to be for. A lot of people like to have sex just to have it.”
Tand pursed his lips, shaking his head a little. “I do not understand that. It is quite unpleasant.”
Asger frowned, a pang striking his heart. “…I’m sorry that has been your experience with sex. It should not be that way. It can be better.”
“I do not believe that,” Tand stated outright.
“So… Every time you’ve had sex, you didn't enjoy it?” Asger asked.
Tand took a moment to think. “One time was not as bad as other times… It did not hurt so much. But I was stronger that time. They did not do so much.”
Asger grit his teeth. “You don't have to suffer that anymore. I wouldn't do that to you.”
“I know. Here, you have choice,” Tand said.
Asger smiled proudly. “That's right.”
“And you do not want me.”
His smile broke. He looked at Tand. “Well, I… Um...”
“I understand,” Tand continued. “There are many people for you to chose. It only makes sense that you would not choose me. Why would anyone? I am not even of this world.”
Asger didn't know what to say. “That's not true at all! You are desirable! Someone would want you!”
“But not you,” Tand said.
Asger was terribly flustered, and his whispers grew sharp. “I am not saying that at all!”
“Then, do you want me?”
“Yes!”
Tand scowled. “Then why did you not say so already?”
“Because! Because…” Asger was still surprised with himself that he'd admitted it. He lowered his voice. “Because I didn't think you would want me back.”
Tand paused. He looked at Asger and then rubbed his chin. “I see. But how would you know if I did or didn't unless you asked?”
“I mean, I…I wouldn't know for sure, but I figured after what I've done, breaking your trust, taking you from your home… I would believe you hated me,” Asger said.
Tand nodded slowly and started closely studying the hems of his clothes. “I understand…”
Asger stared at him while the other sat silently, seemingly now completely absorbed in his own clothes. His nerves couldn't handle it.
“Tand!” he said, a little louder than he planned.
Tand shot him a glare and motioned to the children. “Hush.”
“Sorry… Tand,” Asger said more quietly, his face flush.
Tand acknowledged him. “Mn.”
“Do you like me too?” Asger asked.
Tand glanced at him. Then he nodded once. “Mn.”
Asger’s heart raced. “Not just like. Do...Do you want to be with me too?”
Tand hid his face. “Yes.”
Asger’s face broke into a smile. “Really?”
Tand scowled towards him. “I have already said it. Do you need me to say it many more times?”
The relief Asger felt was incredible. “I thought you hated me.”
“I did a little bit,” Tand said. “I do not now.”
Asger's smile only grew. “So, then… Can I kiss you?”
Tand was taken aback and glanced at the children. “…I do not wish to mate here.”
Asger shook his head. “A kiss does not need to prelude sex.”
“You just want to kiss only?” Tand asked.
“Yes. Only if you want to,” Asger said.
It was Tand's turn to blush. “Sure…”
They both sat staring at each other for a moment. Then Asger leaned forward, his nervousness making him hesitate. Tand's eyes were on him, waiting expectantly, and it only made Asger that much more nervous. After another moment, Tand got impatient.
“You are too slow.”
He suddenly took Asger's arm and closed the gap between them, his lips pressing against Asger's with some force. Asger pulled away a little bit, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and Tand eased up a little, but keeping them together. His lips were just as Asger remembered; thin but soft, his actions forceful but not unkind. He had some experience, but seemed to just be copying whatever Asger was doing.
Without thinking, Asger bit softly against Tand’s lip. This, he realised all too late, prompted Tand to do the same, and the pain he felt from those sharp teeth was unavoidable.
“Ah!” Asger recoiled abruptly. Tand was startled back and he stared wide eyed at Asger’s face.
“You are bleeding!” Tand reacted, his expression concerned. “I hurt you.”
“No, no, it’s fine…” Asger touched his lip and it stung, but he pursed them tightly to put pressure on the wound. He held up a finger to Tand to signal him to wait a moment while he went to the bathroom and check it.
Thankfully it was just a little cut, and after washing out his mouth, the bleeding wasn’t so bad. Asger returned to the bedroom only to find Tand sitting on the bed cross legged, his eyes moist like he was desperately holding back tears.
“Don’t worry! It’s fine, it’s fine,” Asger reassured, walking back. “See? I’m fine.”
“I know,” Tand said, although a sob left his lips.
“You don’t need to cry,” Asger said.
Tand shook his head quickly. “I know. I’m not.”
Asger smiled and knelt on the edge of the bed, pulling Tand into his arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
Tand submitted to his hug, pressing his head into Asger’s shoulder. “I do not know why I cry…”
Asger rubbed the back of his neck gently. “It could just be hormones, I think?”
“Hormones?”
“Yeah… I think your pregnancy just makes emotions stronger sometimes,” Asger explained. “I honestly don’t know. I’ve never really been around anyone pregnant before. Except my dad’s wife, but I stay away from her…”
Tand sniffled and pulled away, wiping his eyes. “It is done… No crying.”
“It’s alright to cry,” Asger said. “Honestly, I’m feeling a lot of things right now too… But it’s late, so I should probably go to bed.”
Tand nodded. “Mn…”
Asger walked over carefully to check that the kids were still asleep. Bita and Sten looked to be out cold, but Soppa was squeezing his eyes shut tight, so Asger chuckled and pat his head. “Good night.”
“Asger...” Tand suddenly piped up, his tone very serious.
Thinking he'd done something wrong, Asger straightened up quickly. “Yes?”
“In that one movie, Pippi?” he inquired.
“Yeah?”
“Her father... He is not often there.”
“Yeah, he's not the most present father.”
“But the Moomins... There is Moomin Papa and Mama. And they are always there with their child.”
“That's right,” Asger said.
“Which is normal for people of this realm?” Tand asked.
Asger relaxed. “Ah... Well, both happens unfortunately, although Pippi's father isn't the greatest role model. All types of family arrangements exist, but for me, I like how the Moomins do it.”
Tand nodded. “I do to.”
Asger scratched the back of his head. “Is that everything? I really should get to bed. We both should.”
Tand stared at him. “Moomin Mama and Moomin Papa share a bed.”
Asger’s face burned. “...Are you asking me to stay?”
“Just to sleep,” Tand stated. “Just to try. I do not know if I will like it...”
“Um, okay...” Asger nodded slowly. “Can I get my pyjamas and come back? I can't really get comfortable otherwise...”
Tand cocked an eyebrow. “You were able to sleep before.”
“Yes, but um, if I stayed like that all night, I'd be sore in the morning,” Asger explained. “I'll just be one minute. I'll grab them and come right back. I’ll change here.”
Tand feigned lack of concern. “It is fine. Do whatever.”
Asger smiled. “I'll be right back. If you’d rather… You could even come with me?”
“No, it is not needed!” Tand said a bit sharply.
Asger nodded. “I will come back.”
“I can trust that you will. You do not need to say so.”
“Okay, okay.”
Asger slipped out and quickly retrieved his pyjamas, pausing only briefly in the hallway to smile to himself giddily. He was back within a few minutes, pyjamas bundled under his arms along with a small bag of toiletries, and he went to the bathroom to change into them. Tand continued to wait on the bed, trying to act like none of this was a big deal. Asger spent an extra few minutes to brush his teeth and wash his face, but when he came out, Tand was still just waiting patiently.
“Just sleeping,” Asger said, a bit more to himself than anyone else. “Of course, wouldn’t be anything more. There’re kids in the room after all…”
Tand looked him over. “You wear so much just for sleeping?”
“Yes?” Asger looked down at his pyjamas which consisted of a flannel striped button up shirt and tapered pants set. “It’s just comfortable.”
Tand just laid down and turned away. “Hurry. I am tired.”
Asger slipped under the covers carefully, trying to give Tand his space. “I really don’t usually sleep over on the first date,” he tried to joke.
“Date?”
“Never mind. Never mind. Good night.” He switched off the bedside lamp.
“Good night.” Tand replied.
