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Finally, I wrote something! Reverse POV of this, updated to be canon-compliant with Tongues of Serpents.
Still quite undone by the ministrations of Tharkay's tongue only a few moments past, Will was not able to think on anything but the quickness of his pulse and breath. He did not even notice when Tharkay lay his head upon his shoulder, until he felt the brush of a kiss at his neck, and the weight of Tharkay's arm draped over his chest. It was terribly gratifying, more even than usual, to feel the familiar press of Tharkay's body, curled up against his own: the knowledge that he might look forward to the sensation for the remainder of his days warmed his breast, especially after the afternoon's pain, without which their quiet vows might not have come to pass.
He was left feeling quite fond, and openly so: it was difficult not to sit there and tell Tharkay he loved him, in every language he was able, and so spend the next several hours of their lives together repeating the same three or four phrases in different orders. Instead, Will drew a hand through Tharkay's dark hair, soft and warm under his calloused fingers, and murmured, "Tenzing."
Tharkay's response was a questioning hum, buzzing on Will's skin as he nuzzled against him.
"Tenzing," Will repeated, shifting until they lay on their sides, foreheads touching and bodies curving into each other, close and closer yet as he drew Tharkay into a tender embrace. "Tenzing."
Tharkay leaned in to cover Will's mouth with his own briefly before murmuring, his breath warm on Will's skin, "Yes?"
Will sighed his name once more and let himself fall back onto the mattress, keeping Tharkay in his embrace, until he was lying sprawled atop Will's chest, their legs twining and hips meeting in such a way that made him reconsider the notion that twice was enough for such a momentous celebration. "What shall we call it?"
Tharkay's satisfied expression, all half-lidded eyes and upturned lips, drew into a not unpleasant frown. "Call what?"
"Us." Will reached up a hand to brush back Tharkay's bangs, wondering that he might ever grow tired of holding this man close. "'Boyfriend' is no longer altogether apt; I thought we might pick another word, if you liked..."
Taking a moment to think (and to take William's hand, kissing each finger in turn), Tharkay finally suggested, "Partner?"
"That always sounded to me as if we ran a business together." With his uncaptured hand, Will began to run fingers up and down Tharkay's back, over the lean muscle of his shoulders and down his spine. "But if you like it--"
Tharkay shrugged, awkward though the gesture was in such a position, and bent his head to kiss the corner of Will's mouth. "I do not particularly care what you call me, or I, you, but if you do?"
Will ducked his head slightly, forced to admit the bit of fantasy he had allowed himself only in the past few days, while he waited for a clear sky. "I find I quite like 'life partner.' If you do not mind, I would quite--" and feeling almost silly admitting the depth of affection that term solicited from him, he trailed off.
Tharkay's lips were at the curve of Will's ear, distracting in spite of Will's desire to know Tharkay's opinion on the matter. "And this is Will Laurence, my life partner. I have the cuff-links to prove it," he tried, drawing a laugh from Will. "Yes, that sounds perfect for me."
"Tenzing Tharkay, my life partner," Will offered in return, and felt Tharkay's chest expand against his with a sudden intake of breath. "Does that suit?"
"Quite," Tharkay answered, and nipped at Will's earlobe.
Still quite undone by the ministrations of Tharkay's tongue only a few moments past, Will was not able to think on anything but the quickness of his pulse and breath. He did not even notice when Tharkay lay his head upon his shoulder, until he felt the brush of a kiss at his neck, and the weight of Tharkay's arm draped over his chest. It was terribly gratifying, more even than usual, to feel the familiar press of Tharkay's body, curled up against his own: the knowledge that he might look forward to the sensation for the remainder of his days warmed his breast, especially after the afternoon's pain, without which their quiet vows might not have come to pass.
He was left feeling quite fond, and openly so: it was difficult not to sit there and tell Tharkay he loved him, in every language he was able, and so spend the next several hours of their lives together repeating the same three or four phrases in different orders. Instead, Will drew a hand through Tharkay's dark hair, soft and warm under his calloused fingers, and murmured, "Tenzing."
Tharkay's response was a questioning hum, buzzing on Will's skin as he nuzzled against him.
"Tenzing," Will repeated, shifting until they lay on their sides, foreheads touching and bodies curving into each other, close and closer yet as he drew Tharkay into a tender embrace. "Tenzing."
Tharkay leaned in to cover Will's mouth with his own briefly before murmuring, his breath warm on Will's skin, "Yes?"
Will sighed his name once more and let himself fall back onto the mattress, keeping Tharkay in his embrace, until he was lying sprawled atop Will's chest, their legs twining and hips meeting in such a way that made him reconsider the notion that twice was enough for such a momentous celebration. "What shall we call it?"
Tharkay's satisfied expression, all half-lidded eyes and upturned lips, drew into a not unpleasant frown. "Call what?"
"Us." Will reached up a hand to brush back Tharkay's bangs, wondering that he might ever grow tired of holding this man close. "'Boyfriend' is no longer altogether apt; I thought we might pick another word, if you liked..."
Taking a moment to think (and to take William's hand, kissing each finger in turn), Tharkay finally suggested, "Partner?"
"That always sounded to me as if we ran a business together." With his uncaptured hand, Will began to run fingers up and down Tharkay's back, over the lean muscle of his shoulders and down his spine. "But if you like it--"
Tharkay shrugged, awkward though the gesture was in such a position, and bent his head to kiss the corner of Will's mouth. "I do not particularly care what you call me, or I, you, but if you do?"
Will ducked his head slightly, forced to admit the bit of fantasy he had allowed himself only in the past few days, while he waited for a clear sky. "I find I quite like 'life partner.' If you do not mind, I would quite--" and feeling almost silly admitting the depth of affection that term solicited from him, he trailed off.
Tharkay's lips were at the curve of Will's ear, distracting in spite of Will's desire to know Tharkay's opinion on the matter. "And this is Will Laurence, my life partner. I have the cuff-links to prove it," he tried, drawing a laugh from Will. "Yes, that sounds perfect for me."
"Tenzing Tharkay, my life partner," Will offered in return, and felt Tharkay's chest expand against his with a sudden intake of breath. "Does that suit?"
"Quite," Tharkay answered, and nipped at Will's earlobe.