Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dragons and Yaoi ❯ Part 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ characters. I'm not getting any profit while using them.

Warnings: Yaoi (male x male). Mirai Trunks x Gohan. Bishounen (“pretty boy”). Absolute OOC.

 

Dragons and Yaoi

 

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by Redmarshin

 

Part 6

 

Athara and Gohan were walking down the street. As the weather wasn't very warm they were wearing their cloaks, and Athara's hood was down; Athara's lip still was a bit swollen, but it was hardly noticeable. Athara usually wore his hood down because his face and the unusual hair color always drew much attention. But this time Athara also didn't want to be recognized by the same robbers they had an unpleasant encounter with. Though, Gohan was quite sure that if in the street he would have no problems with dealing with them; he thought the bar an accident.

 

Darius and Delaros again were out hiring men. As far as Gohan knew, they didn't find any sorcerers here. He had heard Darius talking about several mages he met, but Darius didn't consider them worth taking with them.

 

Despite Delaros telling Athara stay inside the inn, as soon as Delaros left his room, he went to Gohan to tell him that he wanted to go for a walk. Athara felt fine, and Gohan had nothing against that, quite the opposite, so now they were walking down the dirty streets and sightseeing. Not that there were many things to see. Only small houses, several shops that they both mostly ignored. Though, Gohan wondered how they were going to get food supplies for the sea traveling. But he stopped making such things his concern - Darius and Delaros simply seemed to pull everything what was needed out of their sleeves. He was just following orders. Well, most of them.

 

“Look,” Athara pointed his hand somewhere forward. “Some kind of gathering…”

 

Gohan's eyes followed Athara's hand. True, in the crossing, in the street before them, there stood several people. Interested, the both men turned there.

 

Suddenly, Gohan felt chills running up and down his spine. He looked at Athara then followed Athara's gaze that was fixed on some hooded man who was slowly walking directly before them. The man's eyes were also fixed on Athara. They stared at each other like transfixed, then simply passed each other, Athara's head turning to see the man's back then again turning back to look at the crowded people. Gohan thought that he saw the man mutter something to Athara, something that sounded like “mirai”.

 

“Who the hell was that?” Gohan asked, intrigued.

 

Athara shrugged nonchalantly. “Don't know him.”

 

“I think you know,” Gohan was discontent to hear Athara lie to him.

 

Athara glared at him. “I'm seeing him first time in my life!”

 

“Fine,” Gohan muttered. Athara was edgy today. Gohan just let it slip. Sadly, that Athara accepted his “attention” didn't mean that Athara had to report to him. Gohan got a nasty feeling that the deal had been unfair: somehow all the exertion was going to come from his side…

 

They finally reached the corner and entered the square that was filled with uproaring people.

 

“Gods, look!” Athara gasped, showing at a wooden platform where a man was standing with a loose noose around his neck. Another man was standing next to the condemned one, but neither Gohan nor Athara could hear what was said; they stood at the very end of the crowd.

 

“Probably a thief or killed someone,” Gohan murmured. He quickly got into the crowd to get more details. After several minutes he was back at Athara's side.

 

“He pinched a local rich man's two horses. The man's handymen caught him trying to sell them in the other city,” he told.

 

Athara lifted his hood a bit to observe the man on the platform once again. He didn't seem to be a tough criminal: was quite short and skinny, had fair hair and a short beard of the same color. Bruises were covering his face and other body parts, which were left uncovered by the dirty thin shirt and brown tattered breeches. The man was barefooted and was hardly standing at all, each bigger gust of wind making him sway.

 

“Did he kill anyone in the process?” Athara asked, lowering his hood back.

 

“No,” Gohan shook his head. “As far as I know, it's the first time he got caught; he must be very good or new at it.” He looked at Athara then. “C'mon, let's leave,” he tugged the lavender-haired man by his arm after noticing the expression in Athara's sapphire eyes. He had seen the same expression when Athara had looked at that man that was holding his sabre against his [Gohan's] throat.

 

“Two horses aren't worth his life,” Athara spat, refusing to go.

 

“Nobody knows what he did more,” Gohan tugged Athara again. To his surprise he found that he couldn't move Athara out of place. “And what the hell are you going to do?” he then snorted, letting go of the lavender-haired man's arm. “To fight the crowd and get yourself killed? Don't be silly. Let's just go before it gets started.”

 

Athara's sapphire eyes looked at Gohan from beneath the hood. He looked away, but not before Gohan saw Athara's full lips mutter Darius' name. Then Gohan followed Athara who now moved away from the crowd and away from the street.

 

Gohan turned to walk away and leave the scene as his eyes blinked of their own accord: Darius' bulky figure walked over to Athara. It seemed like Darius just had been waiting behind the corner…

 

“Hey,” the sorcerer approached Athara. “What happened?” he asked, his voice showing concern.

 

Athara motioned with his head angrily to the crowd they left behind. “They are going to hang a man because of stealing two damned horses.”

 

Darius sighed. Again. Athara did that again. “So?” Darius cocked his head to the side. “I have seen people die for lesser deeds.”

 

Athara's sapphire gaze fell on Darius, almost making the older man to step back at its intensity. “Quit that and help him,” Athara folded his arms over his chest stubbornly.

 

Darius watched Athara for some time. Most of the time Athara was dangerously innocent, but there were times when Athara could be simply dangerous. Darius sighed. “I don't actually burn to intervene… It's a small town, you know. And the ship will be ready only in the afternoon.”

 

“Do it!” Athara hissed at the tall sorcerer. “I doubt Delaros will be happy to know that you…”

 

Darius' dark, annihilating gaze swept over Athara's lesser figure. “Threatening already?” an acid smile settled on Darius' lips. “Fine,” he then snorted. “Go back to the inn and wait for us. But if the fool gives me trouble I'll kill him myself!” He then covered his face with the hood, gave Athara a withering glare, turned away and went into the square.

 

Gohan looked at Athara's back. Athara had already started to quickly walk back to the inn. Gohan caught up with him.

 

“What the hell is he going to do?!”

 

“Don't worry about him,” Athara shook his head. “After three minutes he'll be back in the inn. As here are no other sorcerers and the most powerful mage here is only a skilled mage, he won't have any troubles. Though, Delaros will be pissed again,” Athara rolled his eyes, starting to walk even faster.

 

“How the fuck did you get Darius here so fast?” Gohan decided to leave that topic; Darius usually knew what he was doing, and he didn't know about magicking much, anyway.

 

Athara shrugged. “A coincidence.”

 

Gohan's face turned red in anger. Athara sighed then. “Well, I picked up some tricks from Delaros.”

 

Gohan nodded, his face returning to its usual color. “Why it's that you never call him “Master”? I thought apprentices called their teachers “Masters”?

 

Athara faltered. “Well…” he thought frantically. “It's because we don't want anyone to recognize us as sorcerers.”

 

“Two sorcerers and a mage you mean,” Gohan nodded. Yes, he quite agreed with Athara's explanation - there was no need to attract the unwelcome attention.

 

Athara blinked at Gohan's words, surprised. But he decided to leave it be.

 

Suddenly, the town went silent. Absolutely still, it was like life ceased existing. Several seconds nothing was heard except Athara's rushed breathing, and Gohan's and Athara's boots quickly hitting the cobbles. And then suddenly screams and shouts were carried over the town. The screams rode over the air, tearing it like explosions.

 

Gohan turned around. He stumbled as Athara caught him by his arm and pulled after him, forward. “Don't turn back, just go,” Athara rasped out. He was almost running, pushing Gohan forward.

 

Gohan followed Athara. He didn't see anything behind them anyway. After reaching the inn they quickly tossed their weapons for the innkeeper and just heavily clip-clopped upstairs and ran into Gohan and Darius' room. As soon as they took their cloaks off, the door flew open and Darius entered the room. On his shoulder there was the same unfortunate man that was going to be hanged.

 

“Here,” Darius tossed him unceremoniously onto Athara's bed that squeaked in protest. “Do what you want with him. I'll just tell Delaros that it was your idea.”

 

Gohan came over to the bed. At the closer range the man seemed to be quite young. And seemingly was quite attractive. Only needed to shave his beard off and wash all that dirt and stench off. And heal all the bruises. But that wasn't bothering Gohan. He was being bothered by other things right now, for example how Darius saved this man and appeared in this inn so fast, and alive.

 

“Whatever,” Athara muttered. He didn't actually worry what Delaros had to say about this. Though, yes, he preferred Delaros happy, which meant Delaros big mouth closed. He approached the man and squatted next to Gohan. “Why is he unconscious?”

 

“And what should have I done?” Darius snorted. “The fool was screaming his head off and drawing attention.” He cast the last glance at the man then turned to go. “Just watch out for him - he might be a bit wild when wakes up,” he warned. “Now, if his highness Athara will allow, I'll go back to Delaros.” He bowed down before Athara theatrically.

 

Athara's eyes left the unconscious man and rose to Darius. He simply ignored Darius. “I suppose we'll have to take him with us into the ship? They will just kill him here.” But then he looked back, faltering. “But what skills has he got?”

 

Darius leaned at the door. “Gosh, Athara, sometimes I wonder how you manage to tell your left from your right… He's a damn thief; what skills do you think has he got?” Darius shook his head. “If anything we can always use him to pinch horses…”

 

Darius yelped as a bar of soap smelling of lilies struck him squarely between his eyes. Surprised, Gohan turned around to look at Athara. With his hands folded on his lap, lavender-haired man was calmly sitting at the man's side. Where the hell did he get that soap bar from?

 

“I see you really mastered that,” Darius rubbed his forehead.

 

Athara shrugged.

 

“Next time you're going to rescue thieves by yourself,” Darius grinned at the smaller man and left the room. Soap bar smelling of chamomiles struck the wooden door behind him.

 

Gohan swiftly turned around but Athara was concentrated on the thief.

 

“At least he could have left some clothes,” Athara muttered, turning back to look at the door where Darius had gone. He then turned back to the thief. “He stinks.” He thought that he was quite lucky that today were leaving this inn and he wouldn't sleep in this bed anymore. Athara was not against saving stinky men, but he was against sleeping in stinking beds.

 

“I think it will be his least problem when he wakes up…” Gohan drawled while rolling his eyes.

 

“Can you get some food for him?” Athara asked. “He looks starved…”

 

Gohan swallowed his comments not voicing them; sure the man was starved. Probably Athara had never seen the way the criminals were usually handled. The man was lucky enough that he had his fingers, toes, hands, legs and eyes intact; the bruises would heal.

 

Gohan shook his head then. “I could, but don't want to leave you alone; if he wakes up, he might attack you. I don't know how Darius got him here, but I know that if it were me, I would be quite aggressive…”

 

Athara stood up. “Nothing will happen to me,” he walked over to the table and sat down on the chair.

 

Gohan looked at his handiwork on Athara's lip and chin. “I'd rather pass…” He stood up too and walked over to Darius' bed and sat up on the corner of it. Athara was almost the same body-built as the thief but was a bit shorter than him, though, that didn't matter - Gohan could bet that even if weakened, the thief would still have the advantage in fighting over Athara.

 

They sat silently like that for five minutes.

 

“I think he's just taking his time and sleeping,” finally Gohan said. He then fell back and, after bouncing up and down several times, stretched out on Darius' bed. “I doubt he got any decent sleep recently…”

 

Athara's sapphire eyes swayed to Gohan's side then returned back to the man on his bed. “Yeah, I think you're right,” he agreed.

 

Three hours later, after Gohan kicked his booted foot, Athara stirred. Athara's sleepy gaze concentrated on Gohan then, after Gohan motioned with his head to the bed, the blue gaze settled on the thief that was waking up.

 

The man's green eyes slowly opened then concentrated on Athara's face. “Aiii!” he suddenly shrieked and jumped up in bed, his back hitting the wall.

 

“Hey, hey,” Gohan sat up. “Calm down.”

 

The man's eyes shot to Gohan whom he noticed only now. He pressed himself to the wall even tighter.

 

Gohan raised his hands to show that he was no threat. “We are friends. Nobody's gonna hurt you.” He then turned to Athara. “It seems not everyone finds you as attractive as I do,” he chuckled. He concentrated his attention back to the man who was looking similar to a lamb that believed it was going to be slaughtered.

 

The thief carefully observed the men before him. His green eyes lingered a bit longer on Athara to take in the unusual beauty and hair color. Then he frantically looked around.

 

“W-w…” The thief coughed to clear his ragged voice. “Where is that dragon?”

 

“What dragon?” Gohan blinked.

 

The man swung his hands vehemently around. “That one, green!” he stuttered hysterically. “The one who flew and said that he was going to eat me for my…” he quickly blinked catching himself, “err…”

 

“…Deeds,” Athara nodded, catching up. “And he will do that. If you ever steal again.”

 

Gohan turned to stare at Athara.

 

The thief quickly shook his head. “No, no, I won't!” His big scared eyes settled on Athara. They took Athara in again. His mind then finally failed to connect Athara with his seen dragon. “And who the fuck are you?!” he jumped out of the bed.

 

“Hey, hey, hey!” Gohan jumped in between Athara and the thief before that could have reached Athara. He roughly pushed the thief away. “Now, be a good boy, or I'll feed you to that your dragon!”

 

The thief stumbled but managed to keep himself on his bare feet. He looked at the man. He couldn't compare with the black-haired man in strength or body-build. If he jumped, the man would just slap him down like a fly. He decided to calm down and sit back onto the bed. He then quickly glanced through the dirty window and realized that he still was in the same town. At least that. Might have been worse.

 

“Who are you?” he asked when he turned back.

 

Athara stood beside Gohan. “We are the companions of the sorcerer that saved you. I think he used an illusion of a dragon to get you from the noose,” Athara explained.

 

The thief stared at Athara for some time. “So the dragon was only an illusion?” he brushed over his blond matted hair.

 

“Yes,” Athara nodded.

 

The thief looked at the lavender-haired man. He had never seen the man before, he was sure of that - he would have remembered this exotically looking man. Nobody would forget such a pretty face framed with that lavender-haired wonder. The man was slender, the posture almost regal. “Why did he save me?” he finally peeled his eyes off of the lovely figure.

 

“Because Athara asked me,” Darius shut the door loudly behind him. “You still didn't pack your things?!” he shook his head at Athara. “Get ready all of you!” he then ordered, walking over to his bed and starting to ransack through his things. “The ship is leaving in an hour. And I'm damn hungry; want to eat something before getting into the ship.”

 

Gohan had to agree that it was a good idea - the food in ships rarely was edible.

 

“Who's Athara?” the thief asked. “And who are you?” he looked at the sorcerer's bulky figure.

 

“Oh, sorry,” Athara's cheeks painted reddish. “I'm Athara.” He then turned to the bulky sorcerer. “This is Darius, the sorcerer who saved you. And this is Gohan, a mercenary.” He then turned to the thief. “And you?”

 

The thief looked at the young man. So, this one was Athara who asked to save him. Well, not that he minded. It was quite nice to feel alive, and especially after being saved by such a beautiful man. “I'm Tyari,” he nodded.

 

“Hey, ladies, quit chatting and move your asses!” Darius barked. “You!” he suddenly turned to the thief that jumped several feet up in unexpectedness. “Go wash yourself! Dress then,” he snapped his fingers, creating a pile of clothes and boots that fell on the thief's head. “Eat then and you will go with us then!” He glared at the thief that was shakily trying to gather the clothes into his arms. “Any questions? No? Good, now get the hell out of my sight!”

 

“Ehh…” the thief stuttered. He shrunk back when Darius' gaze pinned him to a wall. The thief thought that Darius didn't need any illusion of a dragon - he himself was one, breathing and spitting fire.

 

“What fucking more?!” Darius growled.

 

“W-where can I find some water to wash?” the thief managed to stutter out.

 

“Darius, they will recognize him…” Athara brushed his long hair behind his back. He was quite used to Darius' moods; they rarely worried him. Unless he was the cause of them.

 

“And that's not my fucking problem! You wanted to save him, you are responsible for him!” Darius declared, finishing packing his things. He then swung the sack onto his shoulder went to the door, slammed it shut behind him and went downstairs to eat.

 

“Must have had a pretty shitty day…” Gohan concluded. He looked at Athara. “You go pack your and my things; meanwhile I'll take care of him. And find those three men in the inn. Tell them to get ready.”

 

Athara nodded.

 

“Any soap?” the thief asked.

 

“Just look around on the floor,” Gohan shrugged. “It's full of it.”

 

XXXXX

 

“So, who the hell are you?” Tyari asked Gohan while he was being led downstairs to wash. He was tightly wrapped in Gohan's cloak, the hood covering his entire face.

 

“We are companions traveling to Jahuda free port. The head of the party is Delaros. He won't be happy about you. I hope you're at least somewhat skilled in fighting with a dagger or knife,” Gohan said, opening the door to the stables.

 

“Not exactly…” Tyari muttered, following Gohan into the stables. “I rarely use weapons…”

 

Gohan motioned to the tub where horses usually were watered. There were several horses in the stables right now, the sharp smell of horses clinging to the air.

 

“So, Darius brought me here because Athara told him to? Why?” the thief asked. He put the clothes he had been carrying onto a heap of straw and started unfastening Gohan's cloak from his shoulder.

 

“Athara thought that your life is worth more than two horses. And if you are asking why Darius did what Athara told him to do, I can tell that I'm still working on figuring that out,” Gohan shrugged. He turned sideways to the man as that took his breeches off. He wasn't going to turn the back to the man he didn't know at all, but he wasn't going to shamelessly stare at him either.

 

“So what are you going to do with me now?” Tyari asked. He submersed his palms into the water then squelched it onto his chest. He gritted his teeth at the chill that passed his body.

 

“Well, as Darius said, you'll go with us to the ship. Sure you can stay here if you want,” Gohan shrugged.

 

“Despite what you think of me, I'm not that stupid,” Tyari chattered his teeth at the cold water. “I'd be hunted down the same instant someone recognizes my face. And having in mind that “play” Darius showed to the whole city, I wouldn't last a second here. The only way out is to leave this damned island.” Thanks to Darius', every man in this town that watched that spectacle will remember him perfectly. Though, he had no right to complain - at least he was alive.

 

“I'm glad you are so cooperative,” Gohan softly chuckled, his eye meanwhile catching Tyari's bare backside. “Have you ever been away from the island?”

 

Tyari laughed. “I came here two years ago, with my stepfather. He was running away from the gallows…”

 

Gohan was silent for some time. “Is he dead now?” he asked then.

 

Tyari nodded. “Yeah. Got killed while trying to pinch a sacred scroll from the local monastery. The monks appeared to be closer not to the servants to God, but closer to berserks.”

 

“Oh yeah,” Gohan sourly nodded. “They proclaim peace and truth but are ready to kill for a piece of paper.”

 

“He's interesting, that Athara…” Tyari shook his head after washing his hair out; water droplets sprayed around.

 

Gohan gave a smile to Tyari's bare back. “Yes, he is.”

 

Tyari turned around to catch Gohan's dark eyes on his naked backside. Their eyes met.

 

“Hn,” despite Gohan was the one violating etiquette, Tyari turned his eyes away first. Tyari chuckled softly. “Is Athara your lover? You seem to be quite protective over him…”

 

“You seem to get the hang very fast…” Gohan gave him a lopsided smirk.

 

“The lifestyle obliges…” Tyari grinned back at him. He pulled his breeches on. “May I use a knife?” he reached his hand to Gohan. The mercenary produced a small knife from his right boot and tossed it to the thief who nimbly caught it. He then leaned down to take look at his reflection in the tub and started shaving his beard off.

 

Gohan watched the man's quickly working hand. Thief quickly got rid of any evidence that he had ever had a beard. After he finished he looked like a new man. Gohan had to agree that he was very attractive.

 

Tyari then tossed the knife back to Gohan who quickly concealed it back into his boot.

 

“Thank you,” Tyari nodded. He then finished dressing. The clothes were warm and clean and those of the best quality. And the boots… He wouldn't have gotten enough money for those horses to buy anything like that… Luxury. He had never worn anything similar. He thought that he might get used to this.

 

Finally dressed, he walked over to the dark-haired man, reaching Gohan's cloak for the man, but Gohan shook his head indicating to keep it for now “Thank you,” Tyari nodded gratefully. He wrapped himself into the cloak once again. In his other hand Tyari was holding his old rags that Gohan simply tossed over one of the barriers.

 

“So, who is this Athara?” Tyari asked while following Gohan to the door.

 

“A mage,” Gohan answered. “He's Delaros' apprentice.”

 

“He's very pretty,” Tyari smiled into Gohan's dark eyes. “Is he powerful?”

 

Gohan's face got somewhat unpleasant expression. “Don't put any moves on him, or you'll regret that.”

 

“Oh,” Tyari widened his eyes in mock surprise. He grinned back at Gohan's face. “Who says I'm putting moves on him? I was just wondering if he would be able to set my tail on fire if I tried to get to know you better…”

 

This time it was Gohan whose eyes widened. “You are very self-assertive…” Gohan mumbled then. He rarely had men approach him. He just didn't look the kind to be approached. He looked the opposite. “You can forget that,” Gohan firmly said.

 

“Is it because of Athara?” Tyari asked. “If so, don't worry: two is fun, but threesome is even better,” he gave an innocent look to Gohan who at first gaped at him then just slapped his forehead.

 

“I can't get Athara kiss me, what threesome…” Gohan muttered under his breath while opening the door into the inn.

 

“What was that?” Tyari interested.

 

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Gohan shook his head. “Just don't try anything stupid, or I'll disembowel you.”

 

XXXXX

 

The ship was slicing through the waving sea and bringing its inhabitants farther and farther away from the land. The weather was quite good: there was no sun, but there was no rain either.

 

Gohan was leaning at the broadside, his eyes cast far into the distance. He spent several hours together with other men and just felt the need to be alone. His head was bursting.

 

Gohan softly cursed under his breath. That Tyari was a joke. He couldn't believe that someone like that could exist. At least he wasn't molesting Athara. Well, not too bad, anyway. Tyari wasn't crossing the line, but wasn't behaving…err…normal? either. Probably until this time Tyari had slept with the whole ship. Gosh, the man knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. He shouldn't have become a thief; there was one profession, which would have been much more generous to him…

 

XXXXX

 

“So, Athara,” Tyari slid over the bench closer to the lavender-haired man, “has anybody told you that you are overwhelmingly beautiful?” His leg “accidentally” touched Athara's.

 

Athara's eyes crossed. “Yes,” he sighed then while moving away from Tyari, “about thousand and one time.”

 

Tyari's fingers slid over the silky strands while Athara was shifting away from him. “Sad. I wanted to say that they all were lying,” Tyari's fingers brushed through Athara's hair for the last time then regretfully let go of the lavender silk. “You are sinfully beautiful,” Tyari purred at Athara's intrigued face. “My mom told me not to fall in love while in the first date, but I find it hard…oh, so damn haaard…” he moaned, “to keep up with the advice…” he leaned into Athara who quickly blinked and backed away to avoid Tyari's mouth on his.

 

Darius watched the scene before him, amused. He wondered how much time it was going to take for Tyari to piss Athara off. But he had to give the man his credits.

 

“Who said this was a date?” Athara snorted. He left his place and sat down next to Darius. Not that it helped: the bench was long, and Tyari was quickly at his side.

 

Tyari smiled at Athara's recoil. “Mmm…I think he likes me,” he then turned to wink at Darius. He turned back to Athara. “You must have liked me to decide saving me…” he purred at Athara while his body leaned into Athara's.

 

“I think he's starting to regret having saved you…” Darius chuckled, greatly amusing himself.

 

“Aww…” Tyari pouted. He turned to look at Athara whose sapphire gaze was scorching the table's surface against him. “You really don't regret that, sweetheart, do you?” he brushed over Athara's smooth cheek with his fingertips.

 

“Get lost, damn you!” Athara hissed venomously, smacking Tyari's hand away from his face.

 

“Uhhh…” Tyari's brows rose. He rubbed his reddish hand theatrically. “Someone didn't get any today…” He then stopped pouting and looked at Darius; Athara needed to cool down. “You are quite a mysterious man, Darius. That dragon seemed to be so real… And that fire…” Tyari sensually sighed, his eyelashes fluttering against his skin. “It felt so real.”

 

Darius roared in laughter. He then flashed his white teeth at Tyari. “Fuck off or you'll spend the rest of the journey as a frog.” Darius raised his brow at him for the greater effect. “And I doubt you'd like that…” he demonstratively looked around in the room, over the rest of men at the tables, then his eyes settled back on Tyari. “There are still so many nice bodies left to fuck,” Darius licked his lips meaningfully. “Would be such a pity…”

 

Tyari stared at Darius, his nostrils flaring, his breeches tightening. Damn, that sorcerer…such a potential was going to waste… “Are you sure you are straight?” Tyari asked then. “Because if not, you're first on my “must-have” list.”

 

“I'm sorry to shatter your hopes…” Darius clucked his tongue while smiling. He calmly pointed his finger at Tyari. “Now, still pestering me?”

 

“Nope,” Tyari shook his head. His attention concentrated back on Athara who bristled up.

 

“I'll turn you into a hedgehog,” Athara threatened, his blue eyes flashing.

 

“You can't,” Tyari seductively grinned at him. “You are a mage.”

 

“That's the point!” Athara gave him an unpleasant grin back.

 

“Yep, I know that experimental magic makes hedgehogs explode pretty fast…” Darius grinned at Tyari, too.

 

“Damn maidens…” Tyari chuckled. He left the table and went to the next one.

 

Athara sighed in relief. “Finally.”

 

“At least now we know why they don't take women into ships…” Darius muttered while watching one of Gohan's hired men trying to find something with his tongue in Tyari's mouth. “If their wives or girlfriends knew…”

 

Athara didn't comment.

 

Darius turned back to Athara. “You should tell Gohan about him,” Darius said. “Tyari would be cut down in size in seconds.”

 

Athara glared at him. “I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself on my own.”

 

“I see. That's why you spent two hours hiding in a corner,” Darius chuckled. He stretched his feet comfortably under the table. “You are not used to this sort of “communication”. Tyari doesn't stick to you like that while Gohan is around…” Darius smiled. “Gohan must have explained to him where his territory ends.”

 

Athara glared at him again. “I'm nobody's territory.”

 

“And that's the worst,” Darius seriously nodded while his dark eyes swept over Athara.

 

Athara was silent. He knew that Darius was right.

 

XXXXX

 

When Athara left the warm lodgments and stepped into the chilly night, he realized that he was wearing only his light tunic. He wrapped his arms around him and stepped closer to Gohan, who was standing with his back to Athara and leaning at the broadside, his eyes fixed onto something in the night.

 

“Hey,” Athara stood next to him.

 

Gohan jerked from his thoughts. “Oh, hey,” he smiled at Athara. “Decided to have a walk before sleep?”

 

“Wondered where you have gone to…” Athara leaned at the broadside too. He looked down into dark rippling water. Wind caught Athara's lavender hair, raising it like an aura over the smaller man's head then flung it back behind his back.

 

“Tyari can be too much to handle sometimes…” Gohan shook his head in annoyance that was quickly dispersed by the sight before him.

 

“Tell me about it…” Athara chuckled. He wrapped his arms around him tighter.

 

“You are cold.” Gohan reached for the younger man, “Come here.”

 

Athara obediently stepped closer to Gohan who unfolded his cloak. Gohan tugged him closer and wrapped the cloak around both of them.

 

Athara relaxed against Gohan, feeling how the other man's warmth filtered through his thin tunic and then into his body. His heart beat faster when Gohan's arms wrapped around his arms and waist, but as they stayed there, he relaxed once again. He leaned his head against Gohan's shoulder.

 

Gohan leaned down to inhale Athara's scent. Athara's hair always smelled of some kind of shampoo, the scent mixing with Athara's natural body scent. He loved to feel it. He loved the feeling of Athara's body against his, he loved sharing the same warmth, and he loved feeling how Athara trustfully let himself being held.

 

“Could stay like that forever,” Athara admitted in a soft whisper.

 

Gohan put his head on Athara's shoulder. “Me too.” He pressed his lips to Athara's neck. Athara could feel the older man smiling against his skin. “Does it mean that I get one point to my account?” he chuckled then.

 

Athara grinned. “Ten of them.”

 

Gohan inhaled Athara's scent then raised his head, sighing. “The only problem that there's no final score set…”

 

They stayed like that for several minutes more.

 

Gohan shifted then. “Let's go. Don't want you to get cold.” Gohan's arms wrapped around Athara tighter too keep him in place as that already wanted to dislodge away from him. “But not before a goodnight-kiss.”

 

Athara shook his head and chuckled, “That's so banal…” Nonetheless he felt an excited shiver pass his whole body.

 

Gohan let out a pretended gasp, “Gosh, I thought it was called “romantic”.”

 

“You got confused,” Athara laughed.

 

“Whatever,” Gohan nuzzled Athara's neck. “So, do I get my kiss?”

 

Athara enjoyed Gohan's ministrations on his neck, his thick eyelashes dropping halfway. He turned around in the older man's arms. Gohan's dark eyes settled on his, and Athara shivered again. “Oh yes,” Athara murmured, before leaning his head to Gohan's and standing on his tiptoes, “and more than one…”

 

If seconds before Gohan was beaming with victory, as soon as Athara's lips were on his, he forgot that. He wasn't sure what he expected but Athara's kiss was much shier than his promises, which turned him on even more. What concerned their sexual behavior, there already were some kind of frames set: Athara seemed to like submit his control and body while Gohan loved to feel an aggressor. And Gohan absolutely loved that. He was just beside himself with delight at the prospect while his tongue explored Athara's mouth, leaving nothing untouched.

 

He pressed the slighter body tighter to him. His one hand slid down to cup Athara's buttock. It felt nice and firm. He swallowed Athara's soft moan while his other hand massages Athara's nape. The silky hair felt wonderful against his fingers. It held contrasting cool to Athara's hot mouth.

 

Athara finally broke the kiss. He laid his head dizzily on Gohan's shoulder and just stayed pressed to Gohan's body. Athara was quite embarrassed: his knees were weak and his legs were shaking. Despite his true age he felt like a green boy. But he almost purred again as Gohan's large palm slid over his hair then over his back until it seized him by his waist. Athara felt himself being lifted a bit.

 

“So, where are the rest of the promised kisses?” Gohan chuckled, lifting Athara's head by his chin. His pants tightened at the sight: even in the poor light of torches they had he could see faint blush blossoming on Athara's cheeks, the flustered and a bit dazed sapphire eyes made him want to simply push Athara against the broadside and kiss him all over senseless. At first to kiss then to get rid of Athara's clothing, to mold his palms against Athara's satin skin and give the man the best night in his life.

 

Athara's eyes widened slightly as he felt Gohan's proof of excitement poke him into his thigh. Gohan chuckled, seeing Athara's facial expression.

 

“I think that one kiss already was worth of several,” Athara grinned then at him. He quickly wiggled out from Gohan's embrace and turned back to the stairs that led down to the cabins. Wind caught his long hair, bristling it into all sides. “Coming?” he looked over his shoulder at Gohan.

 

“Almost…” Gohan softly muttered. He followed Athara downstairs.

 

TBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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