Ficbit – A Few Days

Pancraz/Vester (from Bound) ficbit for Alice Montrose ^___^ This technically takes places well after the full-on short story I am planning to write for these two, so spoilers and unanswered questions abound, be warned :3

“The Winter Princess is a particularly frigid bitch this year,” Pancraz groused, making a futile effort at brushing snow from his hair as they paused beneath a thick cluster of trees to rest a moment. The wind was sharp enough he had given up keeping the deep hood of his black cloak in place, but it left his face to freeze. He wanted nothing more than a warm fire and a warm bed.

He stifled a sigh, and did not think about how much he would prefer a particular warm body in that bed with him; the only thing more difficult than being in love with a Lord General was the fact that he was one himself. He had not seen Vester since he’d left a month ago to deal with problems to the north. Shortly thereafter, Pancraz had been forced to go south.

The wind kicked up, penetrating even the cluster where they hid, and he shivered despite the many layers that kept him relatively warm. He raked a hand through his hair again, the overlong strands soaked through and half-frozen. “Winter’s Tits,” he said with a sigh, his men grumbling in agreement around him. “How far are we from somewhere we can thaw?”

“Half an hour’s ride or so,” said his scout, looking even more exhausted than Pancraz felt. “Please tell me that after we’re there, you won’t make us move again until spring, Lord General.”

Two years he’d been the Onyx General, and still it was disconcerting whenever someone called him that. Pancraz laughed. “If only that were possible. Come on, then. Lingering here will not get us warm and fed any faster. We can manage half an hour more.” He did not wait for them to reply, simply braced himself for the brutal winter storm and left the relatively safety of the trees.

The journey wound up being nearly two hours, the going became so difficult. By the time they reached the village—Pancraz was not even certain where they were exactly, anymore—it took nearly all the strength he had left to dismount and stumble his way to the warm lights of the tavern.

Everyone froze in surprise as he entered, followed by the half dozen men who had accompanied him. Pancraz was long used to being stared at in every way except positive. Even before he became the Onyx General, people had often stared at him—for being Salharan, for being Krian, for being nameless, for being alive, simply for being. Still, they seemed to be a staring a bit more than was warranted.

A fat man in dirty homespun clothes came up to him, wiping his hands on a rag that did not give Pancraz any confidence he was cleaning them. His eyes were wide, as if he could not believe what he was seeing. “L-Lord General! It’s an honor!” He tumbled over in a bow, and rose again at Pancraz’s bidding. “I do not know what I have done to merit the honor of hosting two Lord Generals, but I will serve as best I may.”

Pancraz looked at him, startled. “Two?”

“Aye, Lord General. You are the second to arrive; the Slate General arrived not two hours ago. He requested a private dining room—”

“Where is he?” Pancraz asked, and strode off as the man pointed, ignoring the chuckles of his men, leaving them to do as they pleased. He did not bother to knock as he reached the room at the back of the tavern that the barkeeper had indicated, but pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Vester looked up, clearly annoyed at the intrusion—but the words died on his lips, and his scowl melted into a tired but warm smile. He set down the cup of dark red wine he’d been drinking and stood up. They met in the middle of the room, and Vester cupped his face in that way that always made Pancraz shiver. He whimpered as Vester kissed him, his lips almost hot against Pancraz’s frozen mouth. He tasted of wine and herbs. Pancraz clung to his tunic, pushing up to kiss him deeper, harder, moaning; it had been far too long since they’d last been together.

He still could not believe Vester was his. Every time he thought it, the beating of his heart increased. Letting go of Vester’s tunic, he slid his arms up to twine around Vester’s neck as Vester’s hands slid down his body, beneath his cloak, pulling him as close as possible.

“What are you doing here?” Pancraz asked when they finally parted.

Vester drew him closer to the table and the fire, stripping Pancraz of his soaked travel clothes. His fingers ran lightly over the gold band wrapped around Pancraz’s throat, then over skin, hands so warm. “I have been dragged all over dealing with a large band of robbers.” He cast Pancraz’s gloves to the floor, then drew him in for another kiss, fingers tangling in the hair at his nape, thumb brushing once more over the gold choker Pancraz wore. “Missed you.”

“Missed you, too,” Pancraz murmured, pulling away far enough to pick up the silver owl pendant Vester wore, it’s diamond eyes glittering in the firelight. “I do not suppose you are headed home from here?”

Sighing, Vester shook his head. “Soon, I think; they cannot run forever and they do not have my resources. But I cannot go anywhere until this weather clears a bit.”

Pancraz smiled, shoving back his disappointment that he would be going home alone. “Well, we have a few days, and people will be too busy planting in the spring to cause so much trouble.” He stepped away to steal Vester’s wine, draining the cup and licking traces from his lips. The mulled wine warmed him from the inside, Vester and the fire already having warmed him from without. “Did you want to finish your meal, Lord General?”

Vester’s gray eyes flashed silver as he slowly dragged them up and down Pancraz’s body. Pancraz had never imagined he would ever be a general, but even that did not compare to the shock of knowing Vester wanted him—forever. “Food can wait,” Vester said. “My room is ready, and there should be a hot bath waiting. I’m sure by now they’ve made it comfortable for two.”

Laughing, Pancraz accepted the hand Vester held out to him, going easily when he was pulled into another hot, hungry kiss before Vester finally led him away upstairs.