บท 15: Wet tears , finger-tips

" Hold the ladder will you , Christan ? " Henric said and Christan nodded his head . They both shivered as a cold gust of wind blew through the trees and the damp frosty air pricked their faces like needles.

" I hope Sister Irene can handle flus and frost bite . " Christan said pulling his clothes together .

They stood outside under an apple tree , one of a few in the orchard . The Pearl orphanage apple orchard was small , less than a grotto's size . The ground was hard , the grass long since dead from the cold and the trees less than fifteen . It was a sorry sight and even worse in that dark weather .

Henric looked at the sky and felt a moist drop of water on his face , it trailed down his forehead and entered his eye . A hand reached out and wiped it away from his cheek and Henric snapped back .

" What are you doing ? " He asked Christan and the other boy bit his lip a moment .

" Saw this in your eye , " he said ," thought it was bothering you . How about we get started ."

" We only have to pick a few . " Henric said putting a hand on the ladder , " We best hurry though . Mrs Elma wanted to bake a pie for tonight . Now , Christan the ladder if you please ."

" Yes , my prince ." Christan said and Henric gave him a strange look . What was he saying ? Had he gone daft from the cold ?

" I better start . " Henric said climbing the ladder and Christan held it firmly in place .

" My prince ? What madness possessed me to say that ? " Chris cursed himself .

This was the first time , in a long time , that they had been together , alone . Christan couldn't miss this opportunity . He had to show Henric how he felt .

No , he thought again , I can't . He'll never want me , he'll bloody hate me . Someone so perfect , so nice and amazing would never want to be with him .

" Christan , snap out of it ! "

Christan snapped his head up and looked at Henric . The other boy was looking down at him with a small smile and Christan felt his heart quicken . Henric took the basket of apples he had filled and went down .

" What's bothering you ? You've been acting strange since we left . Did I do something or something happen ? " He asked and Christan swallowed heavily .

" No , you didn't do anything . You're bloody perfect ." Christan said and Henric frowned .

" Don't tell me you're also angry at me . I don't try to be perfect and I'm not even that . " Henric said ," Everyone always thinks I'm this great person , like I'm an angel . But I'm just a normal person , I'd like to be treated like one . "

" I didn't mean that , I don't think you're perfect like that ." Christan said and took a step forward .

" I know , you're one of my few friends . So it's alright . " He answered ," Do you want to go now ? I think we've enough , it's heavy enough to prove it . "

" Now ? " Christan asked apprehensively .

" You are the one who spoke of influenza and our limbs falling off . " Henric said chidingly ," Thought you'd be pleased . "

" I just wanted to ... do something else ." He said .

" Do something else ? " Henric became confused ," We have to get back . I do not want to miss benediction . "

" We won't . " Christan said and took the basket from Henric's hand . He placed it next to the trunk and grabbed Henric's hand .

" Where are we going ? " Henric asked him as the moved between the trees and went to the edge of the fence .

" You've never left the orphanage have you ? " Christan asked with a smile and Henric sighed softly .

" I went out a few days ago . I saw Yellow Cove and many other things . It was a grand treat ." Henric said and Chris laughed .

" Well , I know that . I was there . " He said , " You've never seen the forest have you ? "

" Oh , no ." Henric pulled his hand back ," I have no desire of going with you into the woods . We have to go back , now ."

" Just five minutes . Please , my ... Henric ." Chris said and Henric sighed heavily .

" You have five minutes , but stop with this ' my ' and ' my ' nonsense . " Henric said and smiled softly .

Chris took his hand and together they went a few feet into the forest . The grass was living here , with wet drops on it . Their trousers were soaked and grass stained by the time Christan stopped under a large tree .

It was a chestnut tree with dead leaves and a wide gap in the trunk . Christan walked up to it and signaled Henric to follow him . They both went inside the trunk and Henric was astonished to find it warm and dry inside . He loosened the scarf around his neck and breathed out , seeing vapours of his breath .

" What is this place ? " He asked .

" It's a place away from the orphanage , I found it a while ago . " Christan said thoughtfully ," It's a nice place ain't it ? "

" It's warm , dry and yes , nice . " Henric said looking around ," But now that I've seen it , we should go back . "

" Oh , come on Henric . We just got out from the cold and now you want to rush back into it ? " Christan said unbelievably .

" We were assigned a task , we have to complete it . " Henric said simply ," Maybe someday we could come back but not today . Let's be off then ."

" Henric ." Christan grabbed the other boys hand and pulled him , " Please don't leave yet . We have time to talk now . "

" Christan , we can talk anytime . Nothing's stopping you ." Henric said and Christan almost laughed at the sad irony of it all .

" No , I can't . I can't say what I want to say with others around . " he replied .

Henric frowned confused , " Why ? Whatever would you say that other people should not hear ? "

Saints bless me , Christan prayed and put his hands on Henric's shoulders . He licked his capped lips before speaking .

" Henric ... I ... I ... I umm , " Chris breaths fluxed as Henric looked at him and the words crumpled on his tongue .

" You... ? I'll give you ten seconds Christan and then we are leaving ." Henric said shrugging Christan's hands off .

I can do this , Christan thought , just say it . Just tell him .

" I love you ." Chris blurted the words out before his mind could fill with fear .

Henric smiled at this and placed his hand on Christan's shoulder . Was this all ? He thought . Why did he struggle to say that ?

" That's what others can't hear ? " Henric asked ," There is nothing wrong with that . "

" There isn't ? You ... feel the same ? " Chris asked in joy and disbelief . Henric loved him too ?

" Yes , I feel the same . You are my brother in faith , and my friend . I love you aswell , brother Christan . " Henric said with a kind smile .

It was like a dagger to the heart and Christan felt his chest clench . That's what he believes I mean ? He felt disappointment trickle down on his soul and took a large effort to put on the smile he showed Henric .

" Yes , I guessed a moment in nature would be fitting ." Christan said and turned to the exit ," Let's go . We have apples to get remember ? "

The two boys exited the tree trunk and turned to the trail they had come from . They had not made it ten steps before a light drizzle began to fall . Taking action , they began to run , and were quick enough to get the apples from the tree . Later that day Henric would remember Christan's face in the rain , his sloppy wet hair and wet smiling face .

He'd think it funny but what Henric wouldn't know , is that the wetness on Christan's eyes was not water .

They were tears .

....

The grapes were a bright red , and soft on the fingers . Stuart felt a thrill when Link showed them to him . He had good reason to , since children at Pearl orphanage only had fruits at important religious services or funerals . Most nice meals were reserved for the Reverend father and nuns , the children ate what they were given .

But Stuart knew Link wasn't given the grapes by anyone , not Mrs Elma or a brother . Which means he stole it , Stuart thought whilst biting his lip , thievery won't look good on the day of judgment . Stuart told Link , who rolled his eyes .

" Love , I didn't steal these grapes ." He said and Stuart sat on the bed and folded his arms .

" Are you being honest ? " He asked and his lover nodded his head .

" I got them from Sister Irene . She gave them to me when I burnt me arm whilst working the prayer room hearth ." He said and Stuart was at his side instantly worried .

" You were burnt ? And you're only telling me now ? " He said looking at Link , and noticing that for once he was wearing a shirt since a very long time .

" If I show you where , you'll become scared and if I don't , you'll just be anxious . I ain't seeing either as good ." Link said taking Stuart's hands ," Act as if I never uttered a word , okay ? "

" You did utter a word , you uttered alot of words . Don't think you can be sweet to me and I'll just gaze the other way ." Stuart said with a frown ," I like worrying about you . I like caring for you most and if you're hurt ... just let me see it ."

" I already went to the nurse , " Link said feebly but he offered no resistance when Stuart started taking his shirt off .

When the shirt was off , Stuart gave a soft gasp . There was a bandage around Link's lower abdomen and Stuart wondered how he got the burns on his stomach to begin with . But he put that aside , raised his hand and touched the bandages as light as a feather .

" Do they hurt ? Does it sting ? " Stuart asked moving his hand with the same gentle touch as before .

" They are alright . I'm burnt not dead . You don't have to treat me like I'm senile ." Link said and Stuart gave a huff .

" This isn't how I'd treat a veteran . " He said leading Link to his bed , " This is how I treat you . "

" I'd like to be treated to some fruit ," Link said laying on Stuart's lap before the other boy could react ," That's why I brought them ."

" Feed you ? " Stuart asked with smile ," I've never done that ."

" Good , I'd be bloody jealous of anyone being fed by my love . So , " Link presented the grapes and opened his mouth . Stuart took the grapes with a grateful smile and plucked a few into Link's mouth , nearly choking the boy .

" Love ... you gotta ... feed them to me ... one ... one grape at a time . " Link said pounding his chest and Stuart looked sheepishly downwards .

" Sorry , like I've said ; I ain't done this before ." Stuart mumbled and then gave a warm smile ," But I'm happy to be doing it for you . Hope I don't choke you though ."

" Less chatter , more feeding ." Link said with a frown but a warmth was in his eyes to take away what would have been harsh words .

Stuart closed his mouth and began to feed Link the grapes , making sure to only give him one at a time . It was slow , since Link chewed each grape as fast as a snail but Stuart didn't mind . He just stroked his lover's hair with a warm smile on his face .

But his face soon became flushed . Even at the slow pace Link ate , the grapes soon finished and none were left . Link frowned hard when Stuart told him this . Then like thunder an idea entered his mind .

" What are you doing ? " Stuart asked as Link placed one of his fingers into his mouth .

" I'm tasting the juice leftover . Some out to be on your fingers , don't you think ? " Link asked mischievously and Stuart felt color rise to his cheeks .

Oh blessed saints , he thought , what a crazy man I love .

Link noticed the absentminded look on his lover's face and began to sick on the finger , triggering a sensation like live wires to go through Stuart . When he saw this he began to work , each of Stuart's fingers entered his mouth , being tasted and lubricated to moist wetness .

" Link ," Stuart said breathlessly from the onslaught of sensations inside him ," I can't take anymore ."

Link felt a certain appendage next to his head and realized he may have gone too far . But , he thought , this will be mighty fun . He got up and before Stuart knew what was happening , he had his lover on the bed and was licking his neck m

" What in good grace are you doing ? " Stuart asked trying with every fiber of his being not to laugh .

" I realized I like tasting you more than some was of grapes . " Link said and began to taste his lover from neck to all the things below .