The Man I Love

A/N: Thank you for reading this far! I will try not to disappoint any of my readers and try to make the story as engaging as possible! :)  I love both characters and just can't help to write a lot about them! I just can't find the time tho; I am better now but still with a lot of work to do ! So now, on with the story! (chap is unfinished but will probably be entirely up by tomorrow!!)



So, as always reminding, rates and reviews mean a lot, cause they are the only way in which I can know if you like what I write or not! :) So any kind of feedback is highly appreciated and taken into account!!  ^^





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     Fish came closer again, eating the small bread crumbles that floated and drifted away by the small, almost unnoticeable current. Zeyhan prepared himself, holding on from Crikton’s shoulder, and leaned over the water again; smiling mischievously as he set his focus on one of the fish which was near his hand and sharp knife. He would shut Crikton up when he proved he was able to actually catch something in that particularly questionable way of his. With a swift slash he stabbed the fish by the side and threw it some meters out of the water, the knife blew into the bushes along with the unfortunate slimy creature.

‘’There you go! Now you look for it.’’ He cocked, satisfied with his actions.

‘’No bragging around; anyone can catch a fish like that’’ Answered Crikton as he raised himself up, frowning at the smiling elf, and went to search for his knife and the stabbed creature.

‘’Told you I could catch one like that! Ha! And you questioned my abilities…’’ Zeyhan began again. He had not many things to brag about, but he certainly liked the feeling of being superior at something; he had always loved the emotions and the thrill that feeling better than someone else brought to him. He would never admit it; but he was a vain, stucked-up little elf.

  Crikton bent over the small plants that he had seen his knife fly into, and began searching for it. A slight movement caught his attention and he soon caught the struggling fish on his hands, snapping its thin neck and ending his suffocating, slow death. He found his knife not too far away.

‘’Here you have, now you can prepare it as you please.’’ He said handing the blood soaked fish to Zeyhan and walking away. The grass broke under his footsteps, making a slight creaking sound as he walked. His armor chiming and bumping bulkily; his pace soft yet somewhat heavy.

     They built a small campfire which lasted only enough to cook the small fish and share what was edible from its flesh. It tasted strong but pleasant; and soon after finishing their meal they began packing up again to retake their journey.

‘’We should take this road until the next crossroad, and then head up north.’’ The man said whilst adjusting his steed’s reins and setting everything to go.

‘’As you say so; I barely know the way; I’ve been only once in Felwood.’’ Zeyhan demanded, following Crikton and looking at him…

     There was something in his eyes… Yes, Crikton could easily see past Zeyhan’s defenses, he could see something was really bothering the man beside him, yet he couldn’t really make out what it was exactly that was stirring within the elf’s guts. He had always managed to dismantle and uncover each and every thought that came through Zeyhan’s mind; he had also managed to see right through him some years ago. He had been able to see Zeyhan had wanted him for years now; but it was only in this moment in which he realized the little elf he had known so many years ago was now a grown man. A man who maybe, just maybe, knew how to keep emotions to himself a bit longer. He kept on staring right into his green absorbing eyes as he tried to understand the elf’s gaze, his senses suddenly numbed by the actual attraction he felt in that very moment. A small, awkward silence built in the air and Zeyhan soon looked away, slowly walking backwards and in the opposite direction.

 Crikton strode up to him and caught the elf by his shoulder, turning him round abruptly.

‘’Is something bothering you, Elf?’’ He asked, his stare unflinching; his gaze scrutinizing the other man’s vibrant green eyes.

 The Paladin swallowed as he looked into the pale blue eyes of the older man just in front of him.

‘’No.’’ He said, but the tone in his voice was different. It was soft, the word was dragged and lazy; almost flirtatious. His face tilted downwards, but their looks kept connected; his lips slightly opened in an expression which could be confused as much by respect and fear for the man before him, or for actual flirting…

‘’You don’t lie to me again, Zeyhan.’’ The Warrior said, placing a heavy hand over Zeyhan’s right shoulder pad.

 The elf moved his right, trembling hand up to Crikton’s chest armor and rested it there, upon the cold, shiny plate. He sensed as the man got closer to him, and he felt a strange thought in the back of his mind; pinching him with an icy cold grasp, which was telling him to go ahead and finally do what he had wanted to do for so many years. His heart pounded so strong that he felt in his neck the pulse of blood flowing; each heart beat slow and heavy… His train of thought suddenly crashed against a hard, crystal clear wall. Time stopped; everything seemed to freeze in place; the trees around them, the grass and the leaves being blown softly by the wind seemed to stop as well. The water on the lake also appeared to be as still and stiff as a mirror. No more sounds were heard; bird chimes and small insect’s buzzes where suddenly quieted by the crash inside his mind. And everything just happened in a split of a second.

 Crikton had promised something to himself, a promise of not hurting his friend, but if the Elf seemed to want it… No. He should shoo those thoughts away, clear his mind. Think straight. No more playing.  He backed away and walked up to his steed again; Zeyhan remained staring into nothingness, his face withdrawn from all expressions.

‘’Come on, I don’t want the night to fall on us before we get the chance to find a place to sleep.’’ He snapped at his friend, and the Elf suddenly shook his head and reacted, nodding and heading up to his raptor. Both men mounted at the same time, heading up to the road again and following it west until they reached the crossroad.

  There were still a few more hours to go before reaching the next direction that they should follow, and just a few conversations were shared; nothing of significance to the one another.

  Zeyhan’s raptor began slowing down, his tiredness now evident. It seemed that he was getting old, and running for long periods apparently weared him out, a lot.

‘’Stop!’’ The Paladin shouted, dismounting his raptor and moving to a side of the road with him. There was a small slope, which they slided easily down and fell with grace on the grass below. Crikton followed and dismounted his black steed, imitating Zeyhan’s movements down the small slope.

‘’What is it?’’

‘’My raptor seems tired… We should let him rest for a while’’ He said whilst offering the worn out beast his palms filled with water from his water pouch. Kalijh licked eagerly at the fresh liquid, trying consciously not to bite off his owner’s hands. They moved away from the main road if there was going to be some resting involved; they wanted no casual encounters with anyone as not to worsen things up. The crimson animal then lied on the grass near a tree, closing his eyes, and rested.

    Zeyhan walked up to Crikton, but not before stopping midst way and staring around him… The place seemed somewhat familiar… Perhaps too familiar. It was not the exact same spot, but it reminded him a lot from that day…

‘’Oh no.’’ He gasped and stared back at his raptor, then again at Crikton. ‘’We shouldn’t be here! Lets get moving or it’ll get late.’’

 His sudden concern about the fact of getting late seemed strange to Crikton, as he had been the one that wanted to stop for his mount to rest. He drew closer to the Elf, looking at him with an expression of puzzled and mixed up thoughts.

‘’What are you trying to say, Paladin?’’ He searched in his eyes for an answer.

‘’I’m just trying to…’’ He said quickly ‘’To get us on track before the night gets us! ‘’ He claimed, his look shifting from the trees to the ground to Crikton to his raptor and then again to the trees, constantly changing. He seemed rushed up, hyperactive as so to speak.

 ‘’So this is it. This was the place’’ Crikton snapped coldly, staring around and moving closer to his friend.

 Zeyhan froze; how could he know? Was he being too evident?  He didn’t answer; there was no use in lying to this human.

Crikton almost bumped into Zeyhan as he reached to grab and hug him softly.

   Zeyhan’s thoughts again drifted to the many chances that he had at finally setting himself free from guilt and sorrow, from finally being able to confront his fears with courage and bravery.

‘’Yes.’’ He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. His slight shaking didn’t go unnoticed by the Warrior, who caught him glancing to the side, ashamed to look into Crikton’s eyes.

   Crikton drew closer, breaking the promise he had made to himself. His lips parted away as he bent to meet the soft pale lips of the Blood Elf. To his utmost surprise, Zeyhan didn’t recoil, and accepted every bit of this reassuring, pleasant encounter. His eyes slowly closed, his mouth slightly opening to let his warm, wet tongue slide into Crikton’s mouth.

   Both men found themselves caught up in emotions that were finally setting free from their chains; all that longing, all that love and desire that had been aching to be fully shown at their most naked truths, the idea that Zeyhan could now overthrow his fears and haunting memories with better, happier and fresh memories from Ashenvale was all that Crikton needed to proceed.

 He hugged the Elf tightly, then placing a gentle hand on his neck as he pulled him softly closer, the kiss was soft, slow and deep; their bodies not being able to get closer because of the big, bulky armors between them. The Warrior’s tongue battled and caressed Zeyhan’s warm, sweet tongue; he inhaled deeply, absorbing once again the Paladin’s sense-numbing fragrances; his sweat, his sweet breath, the musky scent of his hair… Everything was just as he wanted. It was all that he needed.

  The Blood Elf couldn’t help to let a slight moan out, the sensation that he had longed for so many years ago was finally happening; he was actually kissing the man he had liked since he was fifteen years of age. Ten years of waiting; ten long, painful years of keeping emotions to himself, trying with all his efforts to prevent any feelings from showing up; avoiding to tell anyone about his love for someone of the same sex.

  They broke the kiss only to gasp for air, smiling at each other as they finally stared into each other’s eyes; there was nothing to hide now, nothing that the Elf could say or do that would change Crikton’s mind.

 The warrior pushed Zeyhan slowly downwards, setting himself on top of him and carefully unbuckled his heavy chest armor; setting it to a side. He did the same with the Paladin’s armor, and placed it along with his’.

‘’No…’’ Zeyhan said, looking around. ‘’Someone may come this way.’’

‘’No one will…’’ Whispered Crikton, brushing his lips against the Elf’s. ‘’Relax’’

 The thrill of getting caught only raced Crikton’s heart faster, enhancing his arousal. Their leather shirts that they kept under their armors to prevent cold temperatures from getting at them were quickly off, their hot, sweaty chests sticking up against each other. The paladin gently caressed the human's bare chest, being able to feel every scar, bump and cut that there was; everything of the man on top amazed him; each and every scar had a story behind, as amazing and overwhelming as the Warrior itself.

‘’I…’’ Zeyhan began, but Crikton slowly slid his hand from under the Paladin’s neck to cover his lips with his index and middle fingers in a silencing motion.