THESE ARE NOT MY CHARACTERS AND THIS IS NOT MY UNIVERSE. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO JIM BUTCHER!!!
Max was the first to admit he wasn’t the most introspective
of men. He liked his women and his drink and thought it was his right to
complain about anything that wasn’t those two things. That’s why Schulz snuck
up on him so badly. First, the fish
had accidentally almost killed him. Then, Schulz’d felt so guilty about, the
poor kid had been following Max around for weeks trying to make it up to him.
Somewhere along the line, Max had stopped being annoyed and didn’t even realize
it.
He hadn’t seen much of Schulz in the last few days, apart
from giving orders and the such. Tavi, the crowbegotten captain, was making
some utterly stupid but possibly brilliant plan to defeat the hoard of 50,000
Canim clamoring just on the other side of the Elinarch. He’d promoted Max to
Tribune Auxiliarus and made Schulz centurion in his place.
Max should be worrying about what he needed to do to prepare
for the coming battle, perhaps thinking a little about his impending death, or
at least sharpening his sword. But all that Max’s crowbegotten mind could think
of was tracking down Schulz before the battle began.
The mud squelched under his boots as he double timed it down
the road towards his –Schulz’s- spear’s barracks with the pretense of checking
they were ready. When he arrived all his former spearmates were formed up and
ready to leave for their post.
“Attention!” Max heard Schulz bellow when he came into view.
Almost as a single entity, the men stood straight and saluted.
“At ease, fish. Get to your post.” Max turned to Schulz. “I
need to speak with you for a moment. You can meet your men there in a few
minutes.”
Schulz nodded briefly. “Sir.” Turning back towards his men,
he shouted, “You heard the Tribune. Get your crowbegotten asses to your post.”
Max was grinning ear to ear when Schulz turned back towards
him.
“What did you need, sir?”
Max’s grin turned into a lazy smile. “I think attempted
murder gives you the right to use my name when we’re alone.”
Schulz blushed enough that Max could see it even in the
dimmed fury light of the abandoned barracks. “Max,” he said quietly.
He looked down at his feet. “I’m scared.”
Max’s heart seized in his chest at Schulz’s admission. He
took a step forward, crowding into Schulz’s space. “Furies above, man. We’re
all scared.” He reached out and put his hands on Schulz’s shoulders. “The important
thing is to get out there and defend the man on either side of you. The Captain
may be young but I’ve seen more of his hair brained schemes work than I care to
admit. If anyone can get us through this night, it’s him.”
Schulz lifted his head and looked Max right in the eyes. It was
like a punch to the solar plexus. Somehow, amidst the danger and the pranks and
the terror, this boy – no this man – in front of him had come to mean
everything to Max.
Max was not one for deep thoughts or denying himself so it
was no surprise what he did next. He leaned forward even more, crowding Schulz
against the barracks wall and kissed him.
Schulz started so badly, Max had to jump back to avoid
getting his nose broken.
It was Max’s turn to stare at his shoes. He wasn’t really
sure what to do next and had almost decid
It sounded confused and hopeful and slightly quivery as he
asked, “Sir?”
Max snapped his head up. “It’s Max.”
Something must have come together in Schulz’s mind, because
in the next second, he responded with, “Max, then,” before grabbing the edges
of Max’s legion issue breastplate and spinning him until his back hit the wall
with a resounding thump.
In the next moment, Schulz’s lips had found his in a
punishing kiss that drove all thought from his brain. Heat washed through him,
stronger than any earth-crafting he had ever experienced and somewhere in the
back of his mind he knew Schulz was no earth-crafter.
His fingers scrabbled over armor and cloth in a desperate
attempt to find skin. Schulz growled in the back of his throat and grabbed Max’s
hands in one of his and forced them above their heads and against the wall. Max
was the stronger man and could have easily broken the hold, but Furies did it
boil his blood that Schulz was gone enough to try to control him.
Somewhere in the distance Max heard a signal being sounded.
Slowly, and against his will, the heat faded from between as Schulz also
registered the signal.
He had a smirk on his face. “I’ve wanted to do that since
you walked into camp weeks ago.” He paused. “It was even better than I
imagined.”
Max couldn’t help but smile. “It was pretty good.”
The ready signal sounded a second time.
Max sighed, “It’s time.”
Schulz shook himself and Max could see the guise of
confident, unshakeable centurion come over him in the space of a breath.
He grabbed the back of Schulz’s head and pulled him in for
one final punishing kiss. Before he turned to leave, he locked eyes with
Schulz, “Find me after.”
Schulz nodded simply, knowing what he was trying to say but
couldn’t.
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