Break Me by Elrond's Library  

Break Me

“It’s getting late, Russo,” Fingon whispered. He leaned over his lover, letting his braids fall forward and smack Russo gently on the cheeks. “We should go back, before your brothers come looking for you.”

Russo did not open his eyes, laying in the grass with his head pillowed under his left arm. “The light will not leave us for a while yet.”

Of course, he did not discount the possibility of his brothers searching for him. They clung to him now, having been without him for some thirty years. This was the purpose of their visit to the lakeshore, hiding in the tall grass. Fresh air, and space. Time away from the suffocating closeness of the sickroom that Russo had been in for weeks. Lake Mithrim was simply gorgeous at sunset.

“Even so.” Fingon reached out, fingers hovering over the skin of what remained of Russo’s ear.

“You can touch,” his lover murmured. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Fingon let his hand fall slowly, at any moment ready to retreat should Russo wish. He traced the ragged edge, feather light, to the space where ear met jaw.

Russo sighed, and let his cheek fall into Fingon’s hand. Fingon froze.

“You’re not going to break me,” Russo huffed, finally cracking open his eyes, which were bright with amusement. “They could not, what makes you think you could?”

“Trust, once shattered, may never be recovered,” Fingon said seriously, but he relaxed, rubbing his thumb over Russo’s cheekbone anyway. He missed this, being able to touch, to offer comfort and solidarity, without Russo flinching.

Russo rolled his eyes. “Trust you to think you could ruin me singlehandedly.”

Fingon blinked. Russo looked up at him, mischief in his eyes.

“You ass.”