A Drink Before Battle [MxM] ✅

27. They're Not You, Are They?

The afternoon was warm and sunny, the cloudless blue sky overhead suffused with the promise of summer. Yeresym put a hand up to his forehead, shielding his eyes that were unused to the bright light now. Sevei would like to do the same, with all the time he'd spent in that darkened tent as well, but he kept both hands firmly on the wheelchair he'd argued Yeresym into.

It had been quite the trial convincing General Urskatha that not one soul in the camp would think him weak for sustaining injuries in battle. In fact, the soldiers of the Third Cavalry were particularly grateful to him for preventing the loss of their General. As Sevei, Meira, and Yanek escorted him through the camp, he was met with salutes, bows, and even a smattering of applause along the way, to Yeresym's utter embarrassment.

As they neared the river, personnel became sparse, as Sevei had ordered the area cleared. Only a few guards could be seen patrolling the borders of camp. When they reached Sevei's favored swimming hole, Meira and Yanek stayed behind outside the treeline, while Sevei took Yeresym as close to the shore as the wheelchair would allow.

The river was calm today, the surface of the pool clear and green, tinged with blue as it reflected the sky. The sounds of the camp could be heard mutely in the distance, but here there were only birds twittering overhead along with a disgruntled squirrel grousing somewhere in the treetops.

Standing beside the stilled wheelchair, Sevei began to strip his clothes off. Yeresym glanced at his sharply.

"What-"

"Well, I'm going in, too," Sevei said as if it should be obvious. "Can't have you floundering around in the water in your condition."

"I wouldn't-" Yeresym answered hotly. He sighed then, calming down. "Do what you want."

Sevei chuckled as Yeresym turned his face away prudishly.

"How old are you?" he teased.

"Twenty-eight," Yeresym huffed. "Far too old for a minder."

"How are you still so shy at this age?" Sevei prodded. "You bathe along with the men, don't you?"

"They're not you, are they?" Yeresym snapped.

"You've got me there," Sevei conceded as the last of his clothing came away. He leaned over the wheelchair, tucking a hand under Yeresym's elbow. "Of course, you could have me anywhere."

Yeresym turned his head to retort, but fell silent as his nose bumped into Sevei's bare chest. Sevei only tugged on his elbow.

"Come on, your turn," Sevei said plainly.

Yeresym turned his head again and nodded silently as he began pulling at the ties of the loose black robe he wore today. It parted in the front, and he leaned forward to shrug out of it. Sevei grasped the top edge of the robe and drew it down, doing his utmost to keep his fingers from dragging across Yeresym's skin as he went. The man was unusually testy today, and Sevei knew his patience would only stretch so far. Still, he couldn't help but admire the view as inch by inch of Yeresym's back was uncovered.

As he pulled Yeresym up to his feet and firmly took his arm, Sevei was meticulously careful not to look. He sincerely was not out to take advantage of the situation, although the feel of bare skin against his side was sorely tempting, as was the way Yeresym clung to him occasionally as they edged into the water.

Yeresym was not completely incapacitated, only shaky. Once in the pool, the water helped hold him on his feet, and Sevei led him slowly over to the rocky embankment, settling him on a seat in the shallows that was sheltered by the graceful branches of a willow tree hanging down into the water. Sevei set a basket full of soap and cloths on a nearby stone and began to take some of the items out, meticulously careful to not look down.