Best Friends

Life, Identity

Fenneck gives Erikur a lavender tunic and a flute for his birthday and Erikur tells Fenneck that he thinks about him sometimes. That night Erikur's dad throws the tunic in the fireplace.

"Do you think he'll like it?!" Fenneck asked his mom excitedly as he wrapped Erikur's birthday gifts in a bundle of the leftover purple fabric Fenneck had left from the tunic he had made Erikur. Naertho had to help him a lot but Fenneck was proud of the pretty lavender tunic he'd made. He had lined it with white rabbit fur and embroidered it with a simple feather design Naertho had taught him. Bundled underneath the tunic was the new flute that his dad had managed to get for Erikur.   "He'll love them," Faina assured him with a kiss on his forehead before going back to working on dinner.   "I'll go get him and see if he's ready to come over," Fenneck said excitedly once the gift was wrapped to his liking.   "Okay," Faina told him. "Be careful!" she called to Fenneck as the door slammed behind him.   Fenneck ran down to the next level where Erikur's farm was and saw Erikur milking a goat, covered in dirt and manure.   "Hey!" Fenneck called to him, running up to the fence.   "Hey," Erikur said grumpily.   "Aren't you coming over for dinner?!" Fenneck asked him.   Erikur shrugged. "I have to finish my chores!" he complained.   "Want help?" Fenneck offered.   Erikur shrugged with a sad look on his dirt covered face. Fenneck took off his nice outer tunic and draped it on the fence so it wouldn't get messy and he walked over to Erikur in his thin cotton undershirt, trying not to shiver too much from the cold. He helped Erikur milk the remaining goats and by the time they were finished they were both covered in mud.   "Sorry about your clothes," Erikur said guiltily.   "I don't mind," Fenneck said, giggling as he tried to wipe the worst of it off of his face. "We can bathe when we get to my house!" he suggested.   "Okay," Erikur said, chuckling as they carried the buckets of milk over to the dairy stand.   "Six buckets, Oblonsky farm," Erikur told the attendant who took the buckets from them and marked down the number in his ledger.   "Good enough," the high-elf said with disdain as they plopped down three copper pieces onto the stand for Erikur.   "Come on," Fenneck pulled Erikur back to the fence and grabbed his tunic before leading the birthday boy up to his home.   When Fenneck opened the door his mom gave them both a look of horror.   "Sorry," Fenneck apologized. "Erikur had to finish his chores so I helped him out. We need a bath," he told her.   "Clearly," she said. "Come on." She led them to the bathroom, drew a hot soapy bath and had them drop their dirty clothes in a pile by the tub. "I'll grab you some of Fenneck's clothes to wear when you get out," she told Erikur as she left the boys alone to bathe.   Fenneck stripped out of the messy clothes and washed his hands off in one of the basins on the counter before undoing his braid that was covered in dirt and mud.   "How do you stand this every day?" he asked Erikur in disgust as he carefully tried to shake out his filthy hair.   Erikur nodded in agreement. "I hate it. I wish I could be a tailor like you," he said as he pulled his shirt off.   Fenneck found himself glancing at Erikur's slender chest and suddenly felt a very weird sensation between his legs. Erikur looked down at Fenneck's groin and looked away, blushing. Fenneck felt himself growing hard and he quickly covered himself with a towel, feeling embarrassed.   "Sorry," he apologized. "It does that sometimes," he said, shrugging.   Erikur giggled a little. "Do you want me to let you bathe alone?" he asked with a nervous look in his eyes.   Fenneck gave him a confused look. "Why?" he asked Erikur who started giggling some more.   "So you can... you know," he said, nodding his head as if Fenneck knew what he was talking about.   Fenneck squinted at him, clearly still confused.   Erikur leaned his face over to Fenneck. "You've... well, you know?" he said, again hoping Fenneck would catch on.   "I don't know what you're talking about," Fenneck told him bluntly, prompting Erikur to start blushing.   "You rub it," Erikur whispered as his ears started to turn red.   "Why?" Fenneck asked him.   Erikur looked flustered and a little annoyed at Fenneck's ignorance. "So it... goes away," he said, shrugging awkwardly.   Fenneck turned his head quizzically and reached a hand down to start rubbing.   "Woah! Not in front of me!" Erikur said, looking a little freaked out.   "Well, why not?" Fenneck asked him.   Erikur shrugged. "I don't know! It's weird!" he scolded Fenneck.   Fenneck shrugged in embarresment and confusion. "You want to take a bath first, second or together, then?" he asked Erikur, trying to change the subject.   "You go first," Erikur told him. "You're already naked," he said, awkwardly looking Fenneck over and turning away as he focused on washing his face in the basin.   "Okay..." Fenneck shrugged and dropped the little rag he was using to cover himself as he got into the warm bath. He tried to ignore the weird exciting feeling in his groin as he scrubbed his body and hair clean.   "Here are some clothes," Faina said from outside the door.   Erikur leaned out and took them from her. "Thank you," he told her as he closed the door. He set the clean clothes on the counter as Fenneck climbed out of the bath and wrapped a towel around himself.   "You can go now," he told Erikur who nodded and hesitantly took his pants and braes off.   Fenneck tried not to look as he felt the confusing feeling rise up in him again as he caught a glimpse of Erikur as he slipped into the bath, feeling a bit annoyed that Erikur seemed to be bigger than him. Fenneck felt himself start to blush and he quickly dried himself off and put his underpants on to hide himself. He quickly got dressed and started braiding his wet hair out of his face.   "I like your hair," Erikur said, breaking the awkward silence between them. "Mine looks like dirt," he said as he washed out his sandy locks.   Fenneck smiled. "I like my hair a lot but I think your hair is nice too," he told Erikur. "It's a good color with your skin and eyes," he commented. "I'm so pale I look pink sometimes," he said annoyingly.   Erikur giggled. "Thanks," he said sweetly. "Your skin is pretty, though."   Fenneck smiled and glanced over at Erikur who was scrubbing one of his smooth, dainty legs in the bathtub. He felt more confusing emotions well up inside him and he felt himself growing harder and harder as he watched Erikur bathe.   "When... when you rub it," he asked Erikur nervously. "Does it feel good?" he asked him.   Erikur's face was beet-red and he nodded nervously. "It's messy, though," he warned Fenneck.   "Does it have to do with... sex?" Fenneck asked him quietly.   Erikur nodded. "I think so. I don't really know how, though," he admitted.   Fenneck felt himself growing nervous. "I'm gonna go to my room and get a different shirt," he told Erikur awkwardly before going out into his living room to see his parents arguing at their door. Fenneck beelined for his room, hoping they wouldn't notice his erection. "I'm getting a different shirt!" he told them as he shut his door quickly.   Once he was safely inside he dropped his pants and studied his erection in the looking glass, confused for a moment before he started rubbing it like Erikur had said. It felt really good and Fenneck found himself growing very excited as images of Erikur's naked body entered his mind. Suddenly, he felt one of the best feelings he'd ever felt and panicked as he saw a liquid shoot out of him and land on the looking glass.   He gasped in panic and quickly grabbed a towel and wiped himself and the mirror off as Erikur walked into his room. He saw Fenneck, squatting down with his pants wrapped around his feet frantically wiping up the mirror and giggled.   "Close the door!" Fenneck begged him as tears formed in his eyes.   He felt embarrassed and confused and didn't want Erikur to see him like this, especially after having thought such inappropriate things about him. He quickly pulled his pants up and started crying as he was overcome with fear and confusion, all while still enjoying the overwhelming feeling that had just ran through his body.   Erikur quickly closed the door. "I'm sorry!" he told Fenneck who had collapsed onto the floor, clutching his legs up to his chest as he shook and cried.   Erikur leaned down next to him in one of Fenneck's white undershirts and a pair of his baby-blue pants. His wet hair was framing his face and he looked so pretty in the nice, clean clothes that actually fit his body. He smelled nice and clean for once, too.   "I'm sorry!" Fenneck told him as tears ran down his face.   "Why are you sorry?" Erikur asked him. Fenneck gave him a nervous look and Erikur gave him a soft smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you," he told Fenneck as he reached an arm out and gently rubbed his back. "Did... did you like it?" Erikur asked him.   Fenneck cautiously nodded.   Erikur nodded and sighed. "I like it," he said. "It's confusing, though. The first time it happened I freaked out, too," he told Fenneck, offering him a gentle smile.   Fenneck shivered and Erikur gently wrapped one of the blankets around his bare shoulders.   "I had weird thoughts when it happened," Fenneck whispered to his friend.   Erikur nodded. "Yeah, that normally happens," he said. "Were they about... me?" he asked Fenneck.   Fenneck nodded as more tears filled his eyes from embarrassment.   Erikur sighed with relief, though. "Well I'm glad to know I'm not the only one," he said, giving Fenneck a nervous smile.   Fenneck took a deep breath. "Why would I have thoughts like that?" Fenneck asked. "You're a... guy. I thought that it would only happen if I saw girls naked," he said.   Erikur shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I normally think about you, but I don't really know anyone else our age," he said, frowning.   "Me either," Fenneck agreed. "Can we not... tell anyone about this?" Fenneck asked him.   Erikur nodded frantically. "Of course!" he said assuredly.   Fenneck sighed with relief and Erikur gave him a hug.   "I'm glad you're my best friend, Fenneck," he said sweetly.   Fenneck squeezed him back, grateful that Erikur wasn't judging him. "Me too, Erik," he said gratefully.   Erikur pulled away and gave him a bashful smile and Fenneck slowly stood up and found a clean shirt to wear.   "Wanna go to dinner and open your present?!" Fenneck asked him, remembering the reason Erikur was coming over.   Erikur cocked his head at him. "What do you mean, 'present'?" he asked Fenneck.   "It's your birthday!" Fenneck explained. "My parents always get me a present for my birthday," he explained. "So we got you one!"   Erikur smiled sweetly at him. "Oh okay, my parents don't really celebrate birthdays," he explained. Fenneck jumped up and reached out his hand to Erikur who took it, letting Fenneck pull him off the ground and lead him into the kitchen.   Fenneck's parents were in their room arguing and the stew was boiling over so Fenneck ran over and pulled it from the heat.   "Fuck!" he cursed as some sloshed out onto the floor.   The door to his parents room opened and Faina ran over to help Fenneck. "Don't curse!" she scolded him as she took the giant pot from his hands, burning herself in the process. "Shit! Fuck!" she exclaimed, prompting Erikur to start giggling.   Leonid walked out and shooed Erikur and Fenneck away from the stove. "Go wait in the living room for a moment," he said.   Fenneck led Erikur over to the couch and they sat down, casting nervous looks into the kitchen as Leonid and Faina quietly finished their argument.   "Is everything okay?" Erikur asked Fenneck.   Fenneck shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "They don't really fight a lot," he explained.   "My parents fight all the time!" Erikur said.   Fenneck laid back on the couch as they waited until Faina finally called them over to the table.   "Sorry about that," she said. "I got distracted."   She placed the bowls of beef stew in front of them and a platter of cornbread and a block of cheese and butter before revealing a honey cake, sending an excited smile over the boys' faces. Faina sat down and said their usual blessing to Corellon and they started eating.   "So, you're fifteen now, Erik," Leonid said, patting Erikur on the back. "How's it feel?"   Erikur giggled as he swallowed his bite of soup. "Not any different," he chuckled.   Leonid smiled. "How's your family?" he asked.   Erikur shrugged. "My dad has been keeping me busy with chores. It's not really fair that Catherine doesn't have to help," he complained.   Leonid nodded. "Does he want you to start working soon?" he asked him.   Erikur shrugged. "I'm not sure," he said. "They aren't really taking applications right now. My dad has been having me take over some of his work," he explained.   Leonid pursed his lips in disapproval. "It's such a stupid system," he muttered under his breath.   "What do you do again?" Erikur asked him.   "I'm a scribe," Leonid explained. "So most of my day is spent copying down documents and books."   Erikur sighed. "I wish I could do something more interesting than being a farmer," he said. "I hate it down there."   Faina frowned. "I wish there was a way to let you kids decide what you wanted to be instead of forcing you into whatever field you have relatives in or connections to," she said. "Luckily Fenneck wants to be a tailor," she said.   Fenneck nodded. "Why is it that way?" he asked her.   Faina shrugged. "It's how it's always been," she said sadly.   "It's not a very fair system," Erikur pointed out.   "No, it isn't," Leonid said. "This whole classist, racist hierarchy is a load of dragonshit," he said, aggressively crumbling a piece of cornbread into his stew.   "I wish I could live up here with you guys," Erikur said wistfully. "It smells better up here."   Faina chuckled. "Maybe you can one day," she said. "When Fenneck finishes his apprenticeship he'll move up to the first level where Naertho's shop is. It is possible to move up," she told him hopefully.   "And down," Leonid pointed out. "You lived on the first level until we got married," he said guiltily.   She reached out and squeezed his hand. "And I'm forever grateful we did," she told him lovingly.   Leonid gave her a comforting look and they leaned in and kissed each other. Fenneck stuck his nose up at their affection but Erikur smiled sweetly at them. They finished their meal and Faina brought slices of cake over for them all.   "This is the best cake ever!" Erikur said excitedly.   Faina smiled. "I'm glad you think so! Bumblebear honey is the secret," she told him.   "What's a bumblebear?" he asked her.   "They're like polar bears but they have wings like bumblebees," she explained. "They live in the mountains."   "Are they dangerous?" Fenneck asked her.   Faina shrugged. "Probably. Most things in the mountains are," she said.   When they had finished their cake, Fenneck ran over and grabbed his gift for Erikur and excitedly put it down in front of him. Erikur smiled sweetly at him and gently opened the pretty purple fabric and he stared down at the lavender tunic for a long time, not saying anything.   "I made it myself!" Fenneck told him proudly. Erikur wiped his eyes, and Fenneck felt his stomach drop, hoping he hadn't upset him. "Do you not like it? I thought you liked the lavender fabric," Fenneck said worriedly.   Erikur nodded quickly. "Yeah," he said. "It's so beautiful," he said as he lifted the tunic up, revealing the pretty wooden carved case the flute was in. Erikur didn't notice it as he studied the tunic and ran his fingers over the silver embroidery as a few tears slipped down his cheek. "Thank you so much," he told Fenneck, unable to pull his eyes away from the shirt.   Fenneck's heart fluttered with joy seeing his reaction. "Wanna put it on?!" he asked Erikur who nodded and stood up and skipped into Fenneck's room to change.   Faina smiled at Fenneck and squeezed his hand lovingly.   Erikur finally came out and smiled excitedly as he showed off the pretty tunic that fit him perfectly. "It's the prettiest thing I've ever owned," he told Fenneck sweetly, still wiping tears from his face.   "You look wonderful," Faina told him. "It's a beautiful color on you."   Erikur smiled at her. "It's my favorite color," he declared.   Leonid was quiet but he had tears in his own eyes.   Fenneck was beaming with joy as he looked at the garment he'd made and he felt confident he'd chosen the right career. "It makes your hair and eyes look pretty," Fenneck told him causing Erikur to blush a bit and give him a shy smile.   Leonid cleared his throat and wiped his eyes, clearly trying not to cry.   Faina rubbed his shoulders comfortingly. "You got something else, too!" Faina reminded Erikur, motioning to the wooden flute case.   Erikur looked at the odd box in surprise and walked over to it and carefully opened it to see the flute inside. He looked up at them and shook his head.   "I don't know how to play it though," he said sadly.   "You can learn!" Fenneck told him excitedly.   Erikur smiled and delicately picked up the wooden instrument and softly blew on it, creating a very displeasing sound prompting Erikur to stop and swallow nervously before trying again. After a few moments of loud, piercing sounds that Fenneck had to work hard not to flinch at, Erikur seemed to get a better feel for it. He played a simple tune and smiled proudly at himself before tears started to slip down his face again.   Fenneck reached out and rubbed his back affectionately. "You'll be perfect at it one day," he assured him confidently.   Erikur giggled and hugged Fenneck tightly, careful not to smoosh the instrument in their embrace. "Thank you, Fenneck," he told him sweetly.   Fenneck squeezed him back tightly. "You're welcome, Erikur," he told him.   He felt Erikur kiss his cheek as he pulled away and Fenneck felt himself start to blush from happiness.     Erikur carefully set the flute back in its case and ran over to hug Faina and Leonid. "Thank you so much," he told them.   "Of course, love," Faina told him as she kissed his forehead.   Leonid squeezed him and abruptly stood up. "Excuse me for a moment," he said before walking over to his room and closing the door.   "I'm gonna go check on him," Faina said with a worried look on her face. "Why don't you both get settled for the evening. You can stay here tonight if you'd like," she told Erikur who nodded.   "Thank you," he told her again as Faina left the room.   "Wanna go play in my room?" Fenneck asked him. "You can practice the flute some more!"   Erikur nodded and gently picked up his case and the purple fabric it had been wrapped in. They went into Fenneck's room and Fenneck listened as Erikur played around with the flute for a few hours as Fenneck drew in his notepad that Naertho had given him to practice designing in. He felt so happy and content as he and Erikur hung out together both in their own little worlds as they created art while enjoying the company of one another.   "I love this," Erikur said happily.   Fenneck smiled up at him. "Me too!"