A Drink Before Battle [M/M] ✅

5: Are You In Love Already?

Sevei plunged his face into the bowl of cold water and held his breath under it for a very long moment. Coming up, he gave his face another splash with his hands before turning to the full length mirror beside the washstand and raking his wet hands through his shoulder-length, dark brown hair.

The glass mirror was backed with silver and very clear. He hadn't seen himself in such a high quality mirror in a very long time, so he gave his undressed body a look-over, turning this way and that. Military training kept him fit. Military rations kept him thin. But his face was certainly showing signs that he'd be exiting his youth soon.

Sevei wasn't a vain man, but after these past few hours with a close-up view of the most attractive man he'd ever seen, a little self-conscious indulgence wasn't out of bounds. As he stared into his own deep-set brown eyes, they seemed overlaid for a moment with a vision of brilliant green.

As long as he lived, he knew he would never forget those eyes.

Shaking off this reverie, he poured a sachet of powdered soap into the bowl and dipped a small towel into it to wash his body. As he did so, he checked himself over for any potentially embarrassing marks. There didn't seem to be any that would be conspicuous once he was dressed. Satisfied, he dried himself and turned to the door.

Entering the room, he found that Kahan had been replaced by Kyrzhan, who reclined on the bench helping to finish the flagon of wine. Kyrzhan gave a low whistle and a mock-leer to the naked Sevei, who turned about to survey the room.

"He left?" Sevei said quietly.

"Mm-hmm," Kyrzhan replied. "He told me to tell you 'Thank you... sincerely.'"

Sevei's face fell, his broad shoulders visibly sagging.

"Aw," Kyrzhan said in a sympathetic tone, rising from the bench. "Are you in love already?"

"Pfft. Of course not..."

Kyrzhan handed him a heavy brocade robe he'd taken from the corner of a nearby folding screen.

"It looks like everything went well," he said suggestively. "How was he? Tell, tell!"

Sevei gave him a shifty glance as he put his arms into the robe.

"It was his first time."

"Ohhh... so that's why you're acting all besotted!"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Come on. You do love having someone to take care of."

"If that were enough, I'd be in love with you."

"Well," Kyrzhan smirked, "you are a little bit..."

Sevei laughed and threw his arms around Kyrzhan, squeezing tight and kissing the side of his head.

"Maybe a little bit," he conceded mirthfully.

"Come sleep in my room," Kyrzhan said. "You look like you could do with company tonight."

"You don't have a patron?"

"I cleared my night for you. Shop is closed, and I've already done my rounds to check in on everyone. I'm all yours."

Sevei gathered up all his belongings and followed Kyrzhan out and up another flight of steps to his private rooms, where he never invited patrons. This space was very tastefully decorated, and everything the eye met was of the finest quality. Kyrzhan made a lot of money at his job and didn't skimp on making himself comfortable.