The Return to Lavender

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 3rd September 2021
Series: Lavender Run

Characters: Brennault, Zavek
Description: Brennault finally returns to Lavender Run
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 19 of Turn 10

Brennault

Brennault had never been more excited to revisit a place he had already been. While he always loved seeing and enjoying the company of friends wherever he went, there was something about this kind of anticipation, of these vtols in his stomach, that Brennault had not felt since he was a young lad.

He remembered the lay of the road as it wound up to Zavek's hold, and he knew that every step brought him closer. It was going to be difficult to wait, knowing what must be in store for him.

Marvel cheeped, and Brennault fished a meat bit out of his pocket for him. Marvel did not mind that it was sweaty.

"Don't worry," said Brennault to the little lizard. "I'm not going to forget about you." There had been no chance of getting him to wait at the station again this time.

The sky was beginning to turn red, but it would be a few hours yet before sundown. Brennault did not slow down until he reached Zavek's residence. Though it occurred to him then that the man might well be elsewhere on the land.

Well, one way or another, Brennault would find him.

"You lookin' fer the master?" a wrinkled old hand asked, coming around the side of the main house carrying a very worn saddle. "He's in the barn pitchin' hay."

Brennault nodded and smiled to the man thankfully.

"Thanks," he said and turned to jog to the barn. And the man working there was quite the sight to behold.

"Need any help with that, sir?" he asked.

Zavek paused at the voice, his glistening bare torso frozen in mid pitch, hay flying into the freshly cleaned runnerbeast stall.

He turned slowly, bracing one arm against thr pitchfork handle as he looked at Brennault. He hadn't known exactly when the runner would be back at Lavender Run, but the surprise was a welcome one.

"I was just finishing up, actually." Zavek propped his pitchfork against the nearest stall, while reaching for the handkerchief that hung from his back pocket. "How long you in for?" he asked, wiping the sweat from around his neck and shoulders.

"I can stick around for a few days until your package is done," Brennault answered with a grin. Sweet sky above, but that man was gorgeous.

Oh, his package would be done, alright. Zavek grabbed his shirt from over the stall door and shrugged it on. "Come on inside. I've got to wash up but I'm sure Cook has something out to eat if you're hungry."

"She might box my ears if I don't wash the road off, myself, sir," said Brennault as he followed Zavek just a step behind. Though he would not deny he could eat a whole herdbeast.

"I know a spot where we can go," Zavek said.

After retrieving bathing supplies, towels, and fresh clothes, Zavek led Brennault into a secluded, wooded area where the river made a gentle pool, perfect for bathing on a warm day.

Marvel flitted into the water from his spot on Brennault's shoulders and began to scrub the sweat and dirt off on his own. And slightly spoiled the mood, perhaps... but Brennault had promised not to forget him.

"This is perfect," he said. He rubbed his neck, too, now that he realized how hot it had been where Marvel was riding.

He pulled off his messenger bag, set it aside where it would not get wet, and began to undress.

Zavek undressed and took with him the cake of soap as he stepped into the river pool. "That's a little cold!" he hissed as he waded in up to his waist and then dunked under the water to wet his hair.

"Refreshing!" Brennault said cheerily, though when he waded in, he shivered. "Whoo. Yeah, we'll call that refreshing." He dunked as well and came back up with a sharp breath. "A bit chillier than the island lagoons." He grinned at Zavek as he waited his turn for the soap.

Marvel cheeped and then swam to the shore and climbed up onto a rock that was still catching a bit of sun.

Zavek lathered up and then tossed the soap to Brennault while he washed, his tanned fingers scrubbing vigorously at his scalp and hair. "How was the weather on your run in?" he asked.

"Well, I got out just in time to avoid having to stop for Threadfall. And the sky was dark with clouds and storms behind me most of the way. It rained on me a couple of times up the road here, but I guess the storms were mostly blowing south. Probably why it's so cold in the pool here, though!" said Brennault.

He almost forgot to start lathering himself as he enjoyed the show from Zavek. But he got started before anyone had to ask whether he was just going to stand there. He scrubbed every bit of himself rather thoroughly.

"Figures, doesn't it? It was sunny and warm while I was at the weyr. But I wasn't about to let weather stop me from being here when I said I would."

"I'm glad you made it." Zavek said, his blue eyes liquid hot pools of sapphire. Dipping down he rinsed the soap from his hair and resurfaced to flick it back out of his way. "Need help with your back?" he offered suggestively, wiggling his fingers.

"Yes, please." Brennault's own amber-brown eyes twinkling at the offer and at the wonderful sight. He had been aching to touch Zavek – for Zavek to touch him, not just since they made it to the water, but since they had parted ways before.

Zavek exhaled a little chuckle as he traced his soapy fingers along the planes of Brennault's well-toned back. "It's going to sound corny but... I've had dreams lately along these lines." Was it weird to dream about someone that you'd never even been with? They'd shared a kiss before parting ways last time, but Zavek's brain had developed elaborate dreams of much more.

"I've seen you just about every time my head's hit the pillow since I left," Brennault grinned, his freckled skin turning to goosebumps. Of course, he did not always have a _pillow_, strictly speaking, he suspected Zavek got the idea.

"So if it's corny, I've got no room to judge. You won't have to wake up before you see how it ends this time, though."

The promise sent a jolt of excitement and desire through Zavek that even the chill of the water could not ward off. Bowing his head, Zavek pressed his lips to Brennault's bare shoulder, kissing away the soap suds there, not even minding the tangy taste of the soap.

Brennault shivered, and not because of the chill of the water. He knew there were some things they probably were not equipped to do in the woods... He reached back to touch Zavek's thigh.

Trailing his hand over Brennault's shoulder, Zavek's work calloused fingers traced a slippery path down the runner's chest, around his naval, and then the hand curled over his hip and pulled Brennault closer, until they were pressed intimately together. Zavek really hadn't planned on anything other than a bath when he'd brought Brennault down to the river, but now that they were here, alone in the woods... He was finding it very easy to throw caution to the wind. It had been so long, so achingly long, since he'd been with a man, and Brennault was more than just "a man," he was someone who really piqued Zavek's interest.

Brennault let Zavek pulled him to himself and then pressed back against him. It was electrifying to finally feel him, to feel his strength. He would give the man anything he asked at this point, after waiting so long to have this moment. While Brennault had been with his friends at the Weyr before he left, playing around with friends was not quite the same as the intense heat of being with someone with whom he had that real spark of passion.

Marvel lifted his head suddenly and cheeped. Then cheeped again, louder. He flew up to the branches overhead and repeated the call.

Marvel showed Brennault images of someone walking down toward the clearing and sent him a feeling of urgency.

"Someone's coming," he groaned with frustration to Zavek. He stepped away nonchalantly and dunked into the water to get rinsed off. And cooled off. He had a little tune he always sang in his head, a soothing, plinking tune from a music box, that usually helped him calm down, as it were, when he did not want to be visibly aroused. He hummed it to himself aloid this time.

Zavek bit out a curse under his breath as he cupped his hands in the water and then scrubbed his face with it. Stepping out of the river pool, he did not even glance behind him at Brennault as he toweled off and began shoving his clothes on.

"Wheewwweeee, it's hot out today, ain't boys?" It was one of the stablehands, and behind him Zavek could see a couple of others trailing in that direction with a towel and soap in hand. It wasn't as if the river pool was some secret. It was a popular cool off area after a hot day of work. Zavek just hadn't thought they would be along so soon.

"I think you'll find the water sufficiently cold." Zavek answered good-naturedly, nodding to his men as he pulled on his shirt.

The stablehands recognized Brennault from when he had been at Lavender Run before, working sometimes with them and other times in the lavender fields. They all nodded a greeting to him as they headed for the water.

Brennault gave a rather convincing smile and wave back to the lot of them. In other circumstances, he would have been happy to see them. And in other circumstances, he would have washed his dirty clothes, too, but he would have to save that for later. He rolled them up and shoved them into his bag once he was mostly dry and dressed in his clean clothes.

Marvel flew up to resume his spot on Brennault's shoulders, and Brennault fed him the last of the meat bits he had with him.

"Good boy," he said. Marvel sat up and puffed up his chest for a moment before lying back down to avoid having to grip Brennault's shoulder with his claws.

He spared a glance over his shoulder before he set out walking back toward the hold. Better if it looked like they were there at the same time rather than that they were there together.

Zavek stayed for a moment and chatted with his workers before bidding them a good evening. His long strides caught up to Brennault easily. "Close one," he chuckled under his breath as they walked back toward the main house.

"Close calls can be pretty exhilarating," said Brennault, also keeping his voice down as he matched Zavek's pace. "But you have a lot more to lose getting caught than I do." He offered a smile, though, to show he was not out to scold Zavek.

"Luckily, Marvel doesn't mind being the lookout. Especially if you've got a bit of dinner for him, too."

Zavek did have a lot to lose. Everything, in fact, if he were caught with Brennault or any man for that matter. "Tonight we'll have privacy, and I'll make sure Marvel has plenty of dinner to keep him on lookout."

Last updated on the October 1st 2021

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The Return to Lavender