Fedyor x Ivan One shots (Shadow And Bone)

Ivan Returns

Ivan has been gone for weeks now, dispersed on yet another one of the generals endless missions. Usually Fedyor would find solace in his work, seated in a chair by the fire in Ivan's room, his husband returning every hour to check up on him, or even when he had a free moment joining Fedyor by the fire to work on whatever he was tasked with together.

But when Ivan was gone, the room always felt too big too quiet, as if something was missing. Whenever Ivan was gone, Fedyor would seek out a place in the library to work, Always alone, aside from a few Etheriealki present most days, there voices floating through the shelves between them, and if he wasn't done by nightfall, he would seek out his own room to settle down in.

Never disturbed. He had never expected the darkling's mission to be so tasking. There were sheets and sheets of trade records, shipping logs, statements and documents to sift through, all of which have high potential to give him little or no information.

That's where he finds himself, on the fifth night of Ivan's absence, drawing close to one in the morning, seated at the small polished table in his room. The drapes are still open, the moons rays his only light, casting its dark shadows across the floor.

His kefta lays discarded upon the back of a chair, the icy December night air floating in through the windows, chilling him through. A chime echo's through the room announcing the arrival of one.

Three nights now Fedyor had found himself here past one, working until he could stay awake no longer. If Ivan knew what he was doing, how hard he was pushing himself, saints Fedyor would not be surprised if he came marching straight back to the little palace, just to force his husband to sleep.

But he wasn't here, Ivan was probably half way to Fjerda, fighting his way through the snow with the darkling, or fast asleep in his tent at Kribirsk. A soft knock comes upon the door, causing Fedyor to jump a little, rubbing the back of his aching neck as he looks towards the door, weighing up simply ignoring it and hoping whoever it is will disappear.

He doesn't have time to answer however, as without any warning the door handle turns and the door swings open, Fedyors heart giving a jolt at the sight of the figure standing there.

Light floods through the open door into the darkened room, silhouetted against the wall stands Ivan, his traveling cloak covering his kefta ,fur hat still upon his head, shoulders and boots flaked with snow. "Ivan!"

Fedyor exclaims watching as his husband enters the room, shutting the door behind him "Your back!" Ivan gives a small smile pulling his hat from his head "We returned a mere half hour ago, the general insisted we return early. I was looking for you" he squints towards Fedyor.

"I was wondering where you were? Why you weren't in bed." he frowns surveying the scene "Why are you sitting in the dark?" Hand fumbling for the light switch, causing Fedyor to shield his eyes as the room is filled with a warm light.

Ivan strides to the windows not consulting his husband as he pulls the windows shut with a snap, drawing the drapes to shut out the moonlight. "What's going on? you never come in here, has something happened, Sergei said you weren't even at dinner tonight?" Ivan questions his tone curious, but Fedyor doesn't respond merely shaking his head.

"Have I done something? Are you mad with me for being gone for so long?" Ivan tries again. but once more Fedyor shakes his head, keeping his eyes focused on his work, hardly paying attention to Ivan. This is not how he had wanted them to be reunited, the plan had been for Ivan never to know how stressed Fedyor had been.

"Your pale, are you ill?" Ivan exclaims suddenly concerned, striding to Fedyor gently raising his head a little, pressing his cool palm to feel his forehead "Fedya, you feel hot". Fedyor bats his hand away with a frustrated sigh "I'm fine vanya. Just have been stressed the last few nights is all"