Sky and Storm

Chapter II

Chapter II

THE RETURNER

One year later

SKY WAS LYING IN bed, trying to find a reason to get out of it. He had been up till dawn, then had slept for a few hours. A dreamless and dark slumber as always. He tried to talk himself into having a better day, to get out of his chambers, maybe even step outside the fifth floor. He sighed and fell back onto the pillows. Silent tears started rolling down his cheeks and he wiped them roughly with the back of his hand.

“My lord, wake up,” the tiny and frail-looking woman that took care of him shrieked, her hands thrown in the air. She was from Estas, had moved to Vis as a child and had since been working at the castle. Was it a palace now that it was home to an empire’s royal family? Sky supposed it had the grandeur and size of a palace, but Storm still referred to it as a castle.

“Master, he’s coming back,” she added in the same panicked tone. Sky’s eyes snapped to hers, his jaw dropping, his mouth dry with fear.

“He’s only been gone a month. No, Sera, it can’t be!”

The woman smiled sadly, the turn of the corners of her mouth wrinkling her dark skin. “Apologies, my lord. He will be here tonight.”

Sky’s hand flew to his hair, getting stuck in the tangled, oily mess that covered his head. He closed his eyes, imagining what he looked like. It took at least a week to look presentable each time the Dragon returned. Seven to ten days of being bathed and pampered by Sera with her oils and creams and herbal concoctions. It took all that to hide the traces of pain and misery he’d succumb to every time Storm rode away to fight yet another war.

“He’ll see, he’ll know,” Sky whined, fresh tears washing his face.

Sera ran to his side, taking his hands in hers, rubbing them with her callused thumbs. “Don’t you worry, my boy. I’ll make you look good as new.” She winked and brushed away the dirty hair from his face. “Get yourself into the bathing room, the hot water should be all ready for you.”

Sky nodded, wondering if her skills would be enough to hide a month of barely eating and spiraling down a vortex of melancholy and regret. It would have to be. He might wear some baggy clothes and even make up an illness if he had to. The Dragon surely didn’t care enough to notice. As long as Sky helped him entertain the troops and the court, who cared how he truly was?

Sky pushed himself off the bed, standing on wobbly legs. He was dizzy from not eating. He grabbed the pieces of furniture in his path—a table here, a chair there—and held himself up and on course to the bathing room.

As he was soaking in the large marble tub, Sera kept refreshing his water, scrubbing him clean, and feeding him fruit to make him hungry. He’d take a bite and chew for far too long before forcing himself to swallow.

“Cloud asked to see you again.” Sera lathered his hair using some weird goo that smelled of fresh oranges.

Sky groaned, not even trying to hide his discontent. Cloud was back from Estas now that spring had come, and she was pushing for more time with him ever since Storm had left on his new campaign. Sky missed the long, cold winter. It was all so quiet.

“I told her you weren’t feeling well,” the old woman added. “Only half a lie, I suppose.”

“I have no time for her today, not with Storm returning and my being in this pathetic state,” Sky said.

“I know, my lord, told her as much.” Sera pushed him back, urging him to relax as she massaged his scalp.

After bathing him, she brought some of her lemon scented creams and rubbed his body in them, leaving a greasy feeling on his face for what felt like hours. Slices of fruit and random vegetables strategically placed on affected areas followed, along with a thorough rub down with pieces of cloth dipped in nasty smelling infusions and other such secret substances the woman seemed to always produce out of thin air.

By evening, he was already feeling better. With powders and creams, she hid the effects of long term sleep deprivation. Once she was done, he ventured a look in the mirror. He gasped, scared by the thin, bony face looking back at him.

Sera wrapped her arms around Sky’s shoulders, touching her cheek to his. Sat on the chair in front of the mirror, he was almost as tall as her.

“I’ll brush your hair and let it loose, it will help you hide how thin you are.” Her warm voice soothed Sky more than her words.

One of the soldiers knocked on the door, shouting that the Dragon was half an hour’s ride away. Sky sighed, sending a quick prayer to whatever gods were listening that his husband wouldn’t notice his sorry state. It wasn’t Sky’s fault Storm had married someone who always disappointed him. Sky bet the Dragon regretted his choice now.

With another quick look in the mirror, Sky stood and walked to the door of his private chambers. Cloud was waiting on the other side, ready to pounce.

“Well, you look like crap,” she said, hands on her hips, a scowl planted on her face.

“You look beautiful as ever, Cloud,” he said, tilting his head.

Cloud glared at Sera. “I thought your maid was lying when she said you were sick. I can see she wasn’t. You cannot be healthy and look this bad.”

Sky let her drag him along the corridors and down long, winding flights of stairs. They walked through the huge hall where the entire court was assembled to greet the Dragon. Soldiers were flanking them on both sides, but Sky still didn’t feel safe enough from the masses of noblemen and noblewomen gathered there. Words could cut through his guards.

Sky had heard all the rumors, all the insults, everything. And if he managed to miss one or two, Cloud would bring them to his attention. They called him useless, chatted about how his husband wouldn’t touch him. One year of marriage and Sky was still a virgin. Stories of the hordes of women and men Storm had f****d in and outside the castle were his most dreaded enemy. They said the Dragon went to war because there was nothing left to f**k around these parts of the world. Their snickers and comments were already reaching Sky. Hard as he tried, he couldn’t ignore them. They always manage to break his heart a little more. But the little bugger never gave out, never had enough, never stopped hurting.

The rapping of the horses eating up the distance to the castle’s main entrance made Sky snap from his depressing thoughts. He stepped a little forward on his own, stopping in his designated spot and waiting for his husband. His heart started beating harder, blood rushing through his head, his ears pounding, his stomach in painful knots. Here we go…

Storm jumped off his horse, removed his cloak and let it slide on the pavement. He looked so strong and beautiful. A mass of surprisingly graceful muscles stalking closers, his long dark curls flowing in the night breeze. He stopped in front of Sky, mumbling a greeting and bending enough for Sky to reach his cheek.

“Welcome home,” Sky said in a shaky voice and kissed him with trembling lips. His hands tightened on Storm’s upper arms and he felt Storm stiffening at his touch. Sky stepped back quickly and walked next to his husband into the dining room, but did not take the arm Storm offered. He didn’t want the Dragon to freeze again under his touch. More often than not, Storm acted like he hated it when his husband touched him. Sky found it very confusing, the way Storm would sometimes search physical contact, and other times would flinch and move away as if he’d been burnt.

As they climbed the few stairs leading to the large dining room they used instead of the banquet hall when they had no more than twenty guests, Sky’s legs gave and to his horror, he felt himself falling. Storm’s strong arms caught him and crushed him against the wall of steel that was his upper body.

“You’ve lost weight,” Storm stated, frowning deeply.

“He’s been sick,” Cloud hissed from behind them.

“Sick? Have you seen the healers? What did they say?”

Sky sighed and allowed himself a few seconds melting against Storm. “I’m perfectly all right, Dragon. Nothing but a dreaded cold. I’m sure I’ll gain back all the weight in no time.”

Storm helped Sky to his chair on the prince’s right side and watched him like a hawk all through dinner. Sky could hardly eat anything. His stomach refused the food and his husband’s constant scrutiny made him feel terrible. Their relationship was nothing more than a flimsy façade. And now Storm was forced to keep his eyes trained on the man he hated to touch, hated to hold, hated to be wed to.

Storm always left to fight and conquer. The prince saw the glory and beauty of lands near and far. Yet he always returned to the husband he couldn’t stand to have around. Never more than three months away, never less than two, until now. Why do you insist on returning here, Storm?

“Would you like to leave?” Storm asked in a voice softer than Sky had ever heard from him.

Sky nodded with jerky movements, unsure he could speak. Storm hastily called the dinner to an end. He walked Sky to their room, holding Sky’s hand in his and placing his free one on the small of Sky’s back. Storm helped him sit on the edge of the bed and called Sera to help with his clothes.

Sky was already under the covers when Storm entered the room again, wearing nothing but a pair of loose cotton sleeping pants that rode low on his hips. A sharp intake of breath and Sky’s eyes fluttering had him curse in his mind. He hated that, despite Storm’s complete lack of interest in him, Sky still found his husband so irresistible. Sky wanted Storm so badly, it made him dizzy just to think of it.

Sky pushed himself deeper into the pillows, preparing for the torture that would follow. Storm got under the covers next to him and wrapped Sky in his arms. On instinct, Sky snuggled into his husband’s side, sighing softly and relaxing. This was Sky’s sanctuary, the nights he spent sleeping in his prince’s arms, the only pleasure of his miserable life. Sky never understood why they slept like that and he never dared question Storm about it. He was too afraid Storm would stop holding him as they slept.

For the first time in a month, Sky felt at peace and thanked the gods for his husband’s return. He felt a deep, calming sleep taking him over and he smiled against Storm’s warm skin, a little moan escaping him.