Clearing in the Preserves, Tuesday Afternoon

[not_every_mage]

Anders was relieved to see the day he and Nathan had set for their picnic had dawned clear and warm. He made his way to the clearing and got the space organized, spreading out a blanket and putting the cookies, fruit and drinks he'd brought to one side.

The shop had refused to sell him the ale he'd wanted -- something about drinking laws -- but he'd gotten lemonade and sweet cider, and those seemed almost as good. Not that he thought the choice of beverage could ruin his time with Nathan, but fussing over that kept him from fussing over anything else.

He was, perhaps, a tad excited. (And a tad nervous.)

[OOC: For that one boy.]

Comments

[not_every_mage]

"Thankfully, but go back to the part where you got shot?" Anders requested. He'd stopped hunting for an orange and was giving Nathan a concerned look. "I barely got grazed while we were in Rapture and that hurt like a bastard."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"That was...a few months ago. Hunters. They were chasing me because I had something fairly important and one of them managed to shoot me in the back."

He used his hand and pointed to the area around his kidneys were he remembered the bullet lodging.

"It was laced with some kind of poison so I couldn't heal it. I got very sick for awhile. Almost died."

[not_every_mage]

Anders' eyes flashed with anger. "That sounds like absolutely the best way to persuade you to hand it over," he said acidly. "I swear, Nathan, I'll shoot lightning at your Hunters if I ever meet them. Just on principle."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"You won't find me stopping you," Nathan told him, blowing out a breath. "It might give them pause, make them think twice about blindly chasing me just because of who I was born as. It's...tiring to run."

[not_every_mage]

"I know," Anders told him, remembering the exhaustion that came of always looking over his shoulder. "And at least when I run, it's a fair fight. You get a bullet in the back for your trouble and you didn't even do anything."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Being born was enough for some people," he said, shrugging. "The bullet's gone though. Don't even think I've got a scar from that one. Not that anyone would see that scar because of the other one."

[not_every_mage]

"Not like any of us get a choice in how we're born," Anders shrugged. "And I don't think I noticed a scar but I don't remember. You're right, the giant letters make for an excellent distraction."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Maybe one day I'll figure out a way to make those go away." There wasn't anything fun about having a giant BW scar on your back. "My grandmother said it'll probably fade with time. Guess that's the best I can hope for there. Least it doesn't hurt anymore."

[not_every_mage]

"Did it hurt for a long time?" Anders asked, which seemed like a stupid question as soon as it was out of his mouth. Obviously it had. "That is -- I wish there were some way I could make it better."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"I don't remember a lot the first day or so after it happened," Nathan told him quietly. "There was a lot of pain. I think I was passed out half the time but the pain eventually went away. It hurt for maybe two or three days."

Thank goodness he'd been unconscious for a bulk of that. At Anders' words, he smiled. "You can't make the scar go away but that's okay. What made me feel better is that you saw it and it didn't turn you away. That's what helps me."

[not_every_mage]

Anders smiled back at him, gently. "I can't imagine anything you'd show me that would make me turn away."

Trying to prove that with a kiss seemed like the best idea ever. He leaned toward Nathan again, closing the space between them. It wouldn't make the marks disappear, but it was the best Anders could offer in the moment.

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't make the marks disappear but it helped. Nathan would be glad to tell Anders that it helped and helped a lot. Not just because it felt physically good but he would always marvel that someone liked him enough to want to do that with him.

It was a thought he'd constantly have. But, not right now. Right now, his focus was on returning that kiss and leaning closer to Anders as he did. He wasn't going to be turning away either.

[not_every_mage]

Anders pressed forward, barely nipping at Nathan's bottom lip as he did. He liked Nathan enough to do that to him, and a lot more besides -- not just physical ones, but almost more intimate emotional ones as well.

But for right then, continuing to kiss him was enough.

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

There would be plenty of days, weeks, months ahead to do whatever they wanted. As long as this island stayed safe, he figured he'd stay until he figured things out.

So, Anders coming closer, nipping at his lip and staying close? Yeah, that was definitely very good for now. Right then, he felt content and comfortable and that felt good.