Falling slowly (boyXboy athelnar)

Chapter 2

Athelstan woke up and looked at his clock. "Lagertha?" He called out, earning no response. He opened his closet and picked out and outfit, slowly getting dressed.

He walked down the street, twiddling a clump of fraying strings on his bag. He entered Harlem Public and walked over to the bar, sitting down and pulling out the book he was working on. After a few minutes a large hand rested on his book. The hand pulled the book out Athelstan's small ones. Athelstan looked up and saw Ragnar reading the cover. "Did you read this book on purpose or was it purely coincidental?" He asked and Athelstan blushed, realizing he was reading the book that Rangar had bought the day before, when they first met.

"I didn't even realize. I've read this book many times," Athelstan said and Ragnar chuckled, handing him his book back.

"Are you ready to go? We have to walk, I have no car at the moment," Ragnar told him and he laughed.

"I've been ready."

***

As they neared Ragnar's house Athelstan felt the knot in his stomach grow. "Are you alright? You seem nervous," Ragnar observed and Athelstan chuckled in distress, nodding listlessly.

"Lagertha has instilled this idea that you're going to rape me into my mind," Athelstan admitted.

Ragnar guffawed, bending over and resting his hands on his knees. After several minutes he let out a loud sigh and stood up. "She told you I was going to rape you?"

"She. . . She said it was likely. And at first I didn't think about it but I remembered that you are easily double my height and weight and that it would be so easy for you to overpower me and-" Ragnar placed a giant digit over Athelstan's mouth.

"It's the head tattoos, is it not?" He asked and Athelstan hesitated. "And that is why I have them. It shows who I can and cannot trust, depending on how they react to my physical appearance."

Athelstan pried Ragnar's hand off of his mouth. "What do you think of me?"

"I am not so sure quite yet. You seemed to trust me but you did hesitate and you do not seem sure of yourself," Ragnar commented and Athelstan nodded.

They continued walking and Ragnar wrapped and arm around Athelstan's shoulders. "I live in an apartment; its quite small but comfortably so. We're going to play a game when we get to my apartment. It is not a sex game, don't you worry your pretty little head." Athelstan nodded and realized that the knot in his stomach had disappeared almost entirely.

Ragnar fumbled with his keys, chuckling in embarrassment. "Sorry, this isn't normal, I swear," he said and finally unlocked the door, holding it open for Athelstan.

"Thank you. What game are we playing?" Athelstan asked and Ragnar shut and locked the door.

"I locked it so you couldn't escape," he said, shaking his head quickly after. "Joking. It's a bad neighborhood. It's a get to know you game; kind of like twenty questions. I ask a question and you answer it and follow the answer with a question of your own."

Athelstan nodded and sat down on the couch, Ragnar sitting infront of him. "First question. What is your religion?" Ragnar asked.

"Strong Christian. And yours?"

"Strong atheist, but very interested in the gods. Are you a virgin?" Athelstan looked down.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask that first. Trying to get in my pants?" Athelstan spat and Ragnar shook his head, snickering.

"It was mere curiosity. . ." Ragnar replied and Athelstan sighed.

"I am not a virgin with women, but men. . . I-I've never even seen a man shirtless before," Athelstan spoke softly.

"You've seen yourself naked, at least shirtless. So you've seen one. Are you gay?" Ragnar asked and Athelstan shrugged.

"I'm. . . Attracted to you, yes, but I've been attracted to women, too."

"A woman. That day at the bookstore, you had a falling out with your woman. In what way are you attracted to me?"

"Not sure. Are you attracted to me?"

"Very," Ragnar whispered.

"Is what way?"

"Every way possible."

"That isn't possible because you don't know me well enough."

"That is why we are playing this game. To get to know each other better. Are you a vegetarian or something?"

"Vegan, why?"

"I want to cook you breakfast tomorrow."

"Who says I'm spending the night?"

"I do. I told you earlier, that's why I locked the door," Ragnar stated and Athelstan chuckled.

"I just- I'm not sure I'm ready to do anything sexual yet; it took me forever to let my ex touch me and we just broke up a day ago, I don't know if I'm ready."

"Then I'll wait. I'll wait forever; I don't believe in love at first sight but I do believe in lust at first sight," Ragnar said and Athelstan looked away, feeling a blush creep to his cheeks. Ragnar chuckled and Athelstan frowned.

"Y-you're very attractive and all, but I don't think I want-"

"You agreed to this even though you knew I was going to hit on you and possibly rape you, so I think you did want something," Ragnar interrupted and Athelstan stayed silent. "Am I wrong?" Ragnar challenged, cocking an eyebrow.

"No," Athelstan whispered, glancing up at Ragnar.

"I can tell when people lie, so don't do it again. Since you were aware that this would happen, why lie?"

"I-I was pretty sure this would be a one night stand and I did not want that," Athelstan admitted and Ragnar chuckled.

"And why would that be?"

"I don't like giving myself to someone for a butt and never talking to them again; and you just seem like a person that doesn't like being in a relationship, at lest not for long," Athelstan told him and he nodded slowly.

"Well that might be true, I've never been able to keep a stable relationship but I could try. Favorite type of flower?"

"What?"

"The game. We are still playing it. What is your favorite type of flower?"

"Uh. . . Coreopsis Arkansa," Athelstan replied and Ragnar giggled, a soft smile on his face.

"Please tell me that was pure fortuity," he whispered and Athelstan pressed his lips in a thin line.

"I would like to say no. I wasn't aware of your knowledge of flowers," Athelstan replied and Ragnar nodded.

"I used to work at a flower shop."

"As did I; maybe that's why you look so familiar," Athelstan uttered.

"Maybe it is," Ragnar answered. "Maybe it is."