OOM: For Sinric

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal's office is brightly lit today, the windows open to let in grey wintery light which washes palely over the furniture and art.

The pictures are Tang dynasty landscape paintings today, interspersed with court scenes of officials wearing complex hats.

Hannibal politely gestures at the couch, then goes to fetch the wine glasses.

Comments

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal steps up behind him, and touches the scarred skin.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's breath catches but he makes no more to avoid the touch. The wounds have been healed some years now but the sharp lines of the whip still stand high and clean across his buttocks and lower back.

[cook_the_rude]

"I'll find you something to at least soften those," Hannibal says, running his hands all the way down Sinric's back.

[thewidewideworld]

He turns his head, letting his hair fall away to welcome the touch. "I would appreciate that very much. I find them an ugly reminder."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal leans to kiss his shoulder.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sighs, turning his head to expose his neck.

He has becomes less troubled about his back but it's Hannibal who he has trusted with the deepest scars of his soul.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal's finger follows the traces of Sinric's scars, criss-crossing back and forth.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric shivers, reaching back to rest a hand on Hannibal's hip. He makes an effort to ground himself here and now rather than letting himself go back to the time these scars were caused.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal's finger keeps wandering over Sinric's back.

"Let's clean up, and then I will rub some salve into these."

[thewidewideworld]

He squeezes softly and nods. "Thank you." He steps away to head to the sink, reaching for a cloth.

There something small and trusting about the way he moves. Like a tame little deer unware of the danger around him

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal strips off all his remaining clothes, then turns on the small shower in the corner. It's one of those small Scandinavian ones, just two movable round glass walls to enclose a spot of bathroom floor, and a hand-held shower head.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric wipes himself down with a cloth first - the communal bath habit of getting clean before getting in. He watches Hannibal as he dabs himself clean, enjoying both the economy of design in the shower and the self contained grace of Hannibal's movements

[cook_the_rude]

"Join me?" Hannibal suggests.

[thewidewideworld]

"Gladly." He smiles, rinsing the cloth off and coming over to join him. He picks up the soap and runs a slick hand over Hannibal's back as he steps under the water.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal leans back his head and submits to Sinric's ministrations with a smile.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric washes him; slowly, lovingly, his small nimble hands moving to alternate between feather light strokes and massaging pressure.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal turns around, and starts washing Sinric as well, lathering soapy foam all over him.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric giggles, moving his hair out of the way as Hannibal washes him, enjoying the feeling of strong hands moving over him. He steals the odd kiss between soapy touches.

[cook_the_rude]

When they are done soaping each other, Hannibal rinses them off with the hand-held shower head, set at a soft, warm temperature.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric basks in the spray, laughing warmly with the sheer decadence of it. "Oh, how I have missed such luxuries." Not just the shower but the pleasure of sharing a shower in the afterglow of pleasure.

[cook_the_rude]

"But you do get bath-houses in Chiang'an, don't you?" Hannibal says.

[thewidewideworld]

He hums an agreement. "There are, but they are more akin to pools for swimming in than baths to wash. Most large households such as Yan's have a small bathhouse of their own, serviced by the servants for regular washing."

He turns to rinse his back, lifting his hair out of the way. "Which is well. I rather stand out when we visit the public baths."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal runs a hand through Sinric's blond hair and hums agreement.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric purrs softly, tilting his head back as Hannibal toys with his hair. "Fortunately Yan is as vain about his long hair as I am and it is not strange thing to bathe often. His servants have grown accustomed to preparing the bathhouse for us at least every second day."

[cook_the_rude]

"That is good," Hannibal says. "Still, showers are a special luxury I'm sure I'd miss, too."