He had slinked off through the small tunnel leading to the water reservoir and strode to the fire pond, making sure he avoided the group of peasants and labourers who preferred the pond and lake over the steamy bathhouse. In summer, the heat and steam could be unbearable, and after the mule incident, Kuo tried to avoid them altogether.

He loved the cold water and slippery stones under his feet, though, and used the free hours he had to dry scrubbed clothes on the bushes and nap in the afternoon sun. It felt good to be alone and just enjoy the silence.

Sometimes his head was too full of thoughts, his heart too full of emotions and he felt the urge to run, flee, just... get away from everything. But swimming endless rounds and powering through the worst helped. By the time he was done, there was just calm exhaustion left and the chirping and rustling of nature.

And then life wasn’t so bad, and he could stay.

Kuo was still floating, enjoying the occasional tickling of fish nipping curiously here and there, when he heard a slight movement of water next to him and cold water dripping on his warm skin. He turned his head drowsily and, of course, it had to be Embry. It was like he could sniff out his Page everywhere.

“Hey,” he mumbled. And then, “Go away.”

The Mage laughed and skimmed his fingers along his ribs, down to the seam of his pants, making the younger man shudder and goosebumps appear on his arms.

“Your lips are turning blue,” Embry muttered and started to gently drag him closer to the small sandbank hidden by an old weeping willow with branches hovering just so over the water’s surface.

Kuo’s clothes were hanging wildly scattered in the branches, and Embry wondered if he’d just thrown them out of the water to land where they may or if it had been done with a system. He cradled the sleepy and surprisingly pliant Page in his arms and carried him out of the water.

“I have legs to walk,” Kuo grumbled, but, at the same time, maybe it wasn't so terrible to be carried just once. His toes felt like they’d cramp any time now, and he shivered involuntarily, trying to remember how long he had been in the water and if it had been a bit too long. “Or maybe not.”

He flapped one arm sluggishly to the spot he liked most and groaned when Embry knelt down to drop him on soft grass that tickled at his skin.

The Mage flopped down next to him, lying on his back and watched the sunlight dancing through the branches above.

The happy screeches and hollering from the people down the bank could be heard, but the spot Kuo had chosen was perfect for hiding. “We will be on a longer trip in a few days. Just checking the outer villages and farms, and if the basic border spells are still okay.”

Kuo turned around, half-lidded eyes barely staying open, contemplating whether it meant nightmares for him. “Ok. I can do some extra work.” He yawned loudly. “Later.”

Embry wanted to stroke the short hair already drying in tufts, but he knew the Page would be angry if he tried to touch them.

“Can I warm up your lips? They are still terribly blue, to be honest.”

The Page snorted and peered over, still too tired to argue and too warm and comfortable to care. “Ok.”

Embry eyed him with raised eyebrows. He considered asking if Kuo really meant it, but that might cause a long and unwanted discussion. And who was he kidding? He’d be an idiot to ask twice.

He leant down, brushing his lips over the purple-tinted ones, and nibbled softly on the upper lip, working his way from one corner to the other before sweeping his tongue over the seam, asking for more.

Kuo sighed and opened his mouth, slinging one heavy arm over the Mage’s shoulder to drag him closer.

Embry obliged without hesitation and rolled, hovering carefully over his Page. Goosebumps rolled across the older man’s back when nimble fingers found his nipple and rolled it lightly. Embry’s breathing stuttered, and he had to suck in a deep breath before attacking Kuo’s mouth with more vigour.

His hand tentatively skimmed down the taut skin to the wet fabric of Kuo’s undergarments. Kuo grunted, his hand swatting sluggishly at Embry’s fingers that were trying to untangle the annoying knot holding the pants up. “Embry, I think I am too tired for this.”

The Mage laughed. “Too tired to get sucked off?”

His Page huffed, chewed on his now rosy lips and blinked up at Embry with his doe eyes. “Well…” His cheeks stained a deep red.

Embry snickered and trailed lazy kisses down his neck, giving each ring extra attention before moving down to trace the collarbone with his tongue. He worked his way down, tasting droplets of water from the lake and the faint warmth mixed with the sharp smell of thunder that was uniquely Kuo.

His Page sighed and squirmed under the slow administrations, batting Embry’s arm when his breath tickled Kuo too much right over his hip bones. Embry preened and started to undo the stubborn knot while mouthing at the considerable length already straining against the fabric.

Kuo moaned low and long, and Embry loved the sound. What he didn’t love was Aik suddenly standing in front of him, two people in tow, smiling gleefully.

“So… can we join?” The older Mage drawled, taking in the scene at his feet.

Kuo looked up, screamed and accidentally kneed Embry in the face while turning around and scuttling backwards. And, because it wasn’t enough of an embarrassment, he slipped on algae rotting on the embankment and plunged right back into the lake with a loud splash.

The girl behind Aik gasped and moved to help Kuo, but Aik gently shoved her and the grinning man backwards, eyeing Embry’s red, angry face and deciding it would be better to retreat. And maybe not try to make a joke about it in the future.

Ever.

“We’ll… just go… and look for another spot.” He turned around and hollered, “See you later,” before vanishing with his entourage.

Embry waded into the water where Kuo sat, face buried in his hands, ears and neck bright red.

“Hey, are you ok? I’m sorry, I didn’t tell him. Really.” The last thing he wanted was to be yelled at for something he hadn’t done. Picking at threads and unravelling spell embroidery, ok, but not this.

He was surprised when the Page started to laugh loudly, tears already streaming down his face. “Fuck them all. Seriously. How hard can it be to have undisturbed sex in this bloody monastery?” He wheezed. “Like seriously, at this point, shouldn’t you just give up?”

Embry’s still hopeful expression crumbled, and he just dragged Kuo up and out of the water. “No.”

The Page laughed again and, with a flourish, pointed at himself. “Be my guest and try some other day again, but this body seems to be protected by the whole population of Gimma.”

Embry grumbled and quickly picked up the almost-dry clothes from the branches before handing the pile to his Page. “I need to get my clothes. They are down by the gate.”

Kuo looked down at his own clothes, considering whether he wanted to trail after him or just avoid more people, but the latter sounded less exhausting, so he started to drag the dry trousers over his wet underwear with just a little bit of a grimace. The tunic wasn’t so bad, and he made quick work of dragging it carefully over his head.

“I will use the shortcut. I don’t want to see Aik or anybody else right now, to be honest.”

Embry understood. Still, he would have liked to spend more time with Kuo. But that chance seemed to be gone, and he’d give Aik an earful for it later.

“Ok. Be careful.” He waited for a beat before leaning down and giving Kuo a quick peck on the cheek, blushing shyly even after everything he had done, and went to gather his clothes.

And his pride.