#valenny

“Shut up,” Nen replied cooly as he returned his gaze to the rear sight of an orange tipped riffle. Those fucking clowns were going down this time. He’d missed the first two shots, enduring Felix’s never ending line of insults and comments. Nen knew Felix wasn’t particularly fond of carnivals but when the man had awkwardly asked him for an outing, there was no way Nen was going to turn down the opportunity. The constant stream of barking commands and snubs had kept him from winning any game he attempted and although he countered them with a fierce scowl, he really didn’t care. Win or lose, Felix was here with him. 

Nen pulled the trigger and a plastic clown dropped, sending him into a victorious frenzy of laughter and taunts as he earned what he was after this whole time. A frowny faced bear in a white lab coat. Nen squished it and held it up. “Remind you of anyone?”

25. My muse is being stalked and shows up at your muse’s house uninvited, asking to stay the night.

She was back. Valerius thought he had caught a break when his ‘wife’ was going to be home late -- hopefully not at all -- but then the calls came, and the texts. And the reveal that she was outside his house. Valerius didn’t have the patience for this She didn’t want to deal with an over zealous crazy. He had already shown his abrupt and blunt self . . . but apparently, she had not gotten the message. And tonight, the doctor was not up for talking to her at all. The threat of the police didn’t even do it. So Valerius quickly changed into some casual clothes, grabbed his wallet, and made his way to the door. 

Sure enough, she was standing there. Her entire expression burst with happiness. But the emotion was not shared. Valerius grabbed the keys from her hand and tossed them into the bushes before he continued to walk forward to his car. So nonchalant, barley looking at her. He got inside, started it, and sped off. She would eventually find the keys no doubt, but at least this gave him a head start. The only reason he knew where he was going, was because he had been the doctor to treat the former patient. Nennius had once lived with them, but his wife did not seem to like that. 

A temporary housing situation was arranged, where Nennius would be staying somewhere while he recovered. He knew it might not last long though. He didn’t even know what he was going to say when he got there. It was as if he was on autopilot though. He could have stayed at a hotel, but this was closer. And . . . untraceable. Val pulled into the driveway, got out and immediately ran the doorbell before he had enough sense to turn around. He had never spent the night at someone’s house other than his own. And this, would apparently be the first time he would do so.    

“Every man has his secret sorrows of which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad”

Felix was not the most social of beings. Which was why he was dreading this event that he was obligated to go to. It was a large gathering of various medical professionals at a banquet hall. Meeting and greeting, socializing, small talk . . . all things that Valerius loathed. So, he had brought desired company to help pass the time. And that company, was Nennius. He came as his guest, which at least silenced the question of why his wife had not accompanied him. If he had come alone, he would have been asked that. But Nennius’ presence led to the automatic assumption that Felix’s wife could not come. Little did they know that they were separated and that it was Nennius who now took the place of lover. But alas, the details were irrelevant. 

Time dragged on, and about an hour and a half in, Valerius was getting restless. He turned to Nennius, tilting his head to the side to motion for the other to come with him. Setting the glass of champagne down on the tray held by a passing waiter, Valerius made his way through the hall. Passing a couple of doors, Valerius opened one of them to reveal a smaller room, meant for private meetings and such. When Nennius entered, Felix closed the door, pulling Nennius towards him and pressing his lover’s back against the wall. His question indicating some hesitancy of doing this here, but Valerius would be quick to diminish it and replace thoughts with something more pleasurable. 

“If you think I’m going to get through this evening without a good shag, then you are grossly mistaken.” With that, he turned Nennius’ body so that his partner’s front was now pressed against the wall, Felix’s hands already going to the fastening of his pants to undo them. The older male had his lips near Nennius’ ear, speaking directly in it, his other hand slightly tugging Nennius’ head back with a handful of his hair clutched in his fist. “Don’t let the compliment go to your head.” A slight tease . . . since he had after all referred to Nennius as a good shag. Though truth be told, it was far more than that. Even if Valerius had not yet admitted just how good it was . . . apart from the nonverbal actions that indicated as such. 

Valerius knew that no amount of denial would save him from recognizing the unstoppable emotions now felt for his slave. A purchase from his wife that was meant to agitate him . . . now thoroughly satisfied him. And the agitated one, was his wife. But the initial reasons for fucking his slave were long since passed. Before, it had been a show of power, consequences for insubordination, and of course, to infuriate his wife. Now however, Valerius did it for the pleasure. The blissful feeling that followed. While he never voiced it, he wondered if Nennius knew. It was . . . unsettling to think that he did. Valerius was not an emotional man -- clearly -- but such thoughts were not ones that rested in his mind. However, Nennius’ question allowed necessary distraction from having them surface. 

“Enough to not waste time answering such questions,” he said with a stoic gaze, emptying the content of wine from his cup into his mouth. “I would have your tongue put to better use rather than prattling on inquiries.” Truth was, Valerius wanted him. Badly. And he knew, that it was obvious from his thickening arousal. His eyes looked over Nennius, the Roman’s tongue moving over his lips as if to taste the wine left upon them . . . but there was desirous hunger in the way he leered at Nennius. “So see it done,” he practically commanded, already feeling the flutter of his heart at the thought of it. The anticipation that pumped through his body. And . . . the inevitable emotions that now seemed forever died to the man he once considered only a slave. 

“Well then why don’t you come over here and fix it.” It was more of a statement than a question, but either way, there was a tone of expectancy in it. So Valerius stood there, waiting for Nennius to come and set it straight. This, was what happened when the other came to visit him at work. They had gone to his office for the privacy and . . . the next thing they knew, Valerius had Nennius on his desk, and enjoyed the perks of being alone with his visiting lover. It was a good break in between patients and certainly gave Felix a renewed energy. The irony. Considering how . . . vigorous their activities always were. But alas, Felix had to put himself together again, while still not bothering to aid Nennius in his own redressing. Besides, there was something rather exhilarating to undress the other male while Felix remained fully clothed. 

16. Your muse breaks mine’s heart.

Valerius did not know how to describe the emotions coursing through him. For so long, he didn’t even know he had any. Emotions that is. He thought himself a wall. Built of stone. Unable to be penetrated. An unmovable shield placed in front of him. And yet, this moment caused it all to shatter. Perhaps, it had started to crumble bit by bit. When he had realized he cared more about Nennius than a master did a slave. When he freed him once Rebellion struck the region. When he saw him on the battlefield and killed a brother in arms to save him. When he allowed Nennius to brand him so he could remain with him in the rebels camp. And . . . now. 

When Nennius spoke of Valerius’, still hindered ability to be intimate to the extent that he wanted to. For intimacy, was a word foreign upon the tongue. Foreign to the mind, heart and soul. Yet he knew now, that it was needed. That the mere physical, wasn’t enough for Nennius and well . . . Valerius knew that. He had dreaded this day. No longer was status an obstacle they faced. They were both of equal ground. And yet, Valerius knew nothing of how to act with a lover. How could he know the sensation of a kiss, when the only one who had touched his lips in such a way was the woman who had birthed him. Years of childhood robbed from him . . . erasing the concept of intimacy and love.  

Valerius’ clenched his jaw, inner turmoil and pain over the mere thought of losing the man before him emotionally. Fucking irony, when it was Nennius himself who taught Valerius was emotion even was. That he could still possess ones apart from the indifference Felix felt for those perceived close to him . . . like his wife. What would be enough? No. Felix not dare ask. For he knew the answer. A kiss. A shedding of his own clothing. An . . . insight as to why Valerius was such a way. Yet silence lingered. Felix knew there was no bluff in Nennius voice. The former Roman soldier would lose the man unless he did something. Said something. Fought for him. 

Yet, the thought terrified Valerius, and he could already feel that stone cold heart of his breaking . . . unsure if he could fully offer himself to Nennius. Swallowing, Felix finally found the voice to answer. “You branded me a slave, yet perhaps I was always so.” A slave. A slave of circumstance. Of familial ties; ones that Felix had thought would be so frowned upon . . . yet accepted in this fucking political world he had often strove to remain far away from. “And such shackles are not easily severed.” Not like the shackles that once bound all these rebels. Valerius’ were more . . . emotional chains. Scars that would never heal. 

“Perhaps not ever.” It wasn’t exactly a hopeful statement, but Felix continued to battle desire with fear. Fucking him was all Felix had known. Though done now with more gentle touch and awareness of the other’s needs. Making love . . . giving Nennius that, intimacy that Felix knew he craved -- such as any man or woman would -- now that, was not so easily done. That, was completely unfamiliar, unknown. Completely foreign. Just like the feeling of his heart breaking.