Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After Henry had helped him with, well, everything, Voyta was not sure he would see Henry again. After all, time passes quickly when you're young, and Henry was a busy man. Why would he keep visiting an old, mad artist like Voyta? So he let go of his wish to touch Henry, feel Henry's breath on his skin, his lips on his own. Thoughts like these would drive him, if possible, even crazier.

Time passed. The winds grew azurite blue, and the first lead-white flakes dappled the umber ground. Voyta was painting intensively and didn't notice how the candle next to his workstation had gotten very short before it went out.

"Oh," he said as  the carbon black darkness surrounded him. How had he not noticed that the fire in his fireplace had turned to a few glowing embers? He stumbled around and grabbed his lantern, only to find it had run out of oil. And there were no candles anywhere. Oh no. He should quickly go and buy more before the stores closed. 

He rushed to find his coat when he heard the door creak open.

"Voyta?" someone called. In Voyta's heart, it was like someone had lit a candle, no, it was like the sun rose in his mind. He knew that voice very well. It belonged to the most helpful, kind, funny, and handsome young man.

"Henry?" Voyta called. "I'm afraid I can't see you, but I am still glad to hear you."

"Why are you in the darkness?" Henry asked, chuckling.

"Oh my dear friend,I am afraid I was so focused on my new painting that I didn't notice I had run out of candles. And lamp oil. And wood.I was just about to head to the shops to get some. You're lucky you arrived when you did. I wouldn't want you to wait for me outside in the cold. Come in!"

"And do what? Sit in the dark with you? I'll fetch you some candles and lamp oil."

"No, no, we can go together!"

"No need for us both to get cold. I will be back before you notice."

And before Voyta could complain, Henry disappeared. Voyta's home felt suddenly even darker than before. He stood there for a moment before he managed to get himself moving. He found a chip of pine near his fireplace, which he managed to light from a leftover ember. With that, he moved to the corridor. He had never bothered to clean it, so he hoped he had forgotten some firewood in some corner. He got lucky: There was indeed a lapful of firewood under an old rag he wasn't sure why he hadn't got rid of. Excellent. Maybe he could get the fire roaring before Henry would be back.

Henry returned soon. Young men like him were so quick on their feet. Voyta had barely gotten the first flame to rise.

"Oh, did you have wood?"

"Found it in the other room. I think it's enough for this evening."

"I will cut you some more."

"Henry, no, I didn't mean to imply…"

"It's no bother. Maybe, meanwhile, you can put out some food. I will be feeling quite hungry after I'm done."

"Henry…"

But Henry had already marched to Voyta's backyard. Soon, he heard the sound of an axe hitting wood. Voyta sighed. He would have loved to spend time with Henry, even if it would have meant spending a large part of tomorrow morning in ice-cold rooms. Well, he heard the man. It was time to put together some food. He lit an oil lamp to take a look around his larder. His food situation was just a little bit better than his fire source situation had been. There was some cheese, bread, butter, three pieces of bacon, an egg, two apples, oats, and cabbage. He took out everything but the cabbage and oats — he was not going to cook cabbage gruel right now — and took everything to the main room. He put a pan close to the fire to warm up, so he could cook bacon and eggs after Henry came back. The fireplace was not the best place to cook, but he didn't feel  like lighting the stove. He cut some bread, buttered it, sliced generous pieces of cheese for them both, and fetched a bottle of red wine he just remembered was stored on top of a shelf in his bedroom. Then he waited. And waited. When he heard the chopping stop and the door creaking, he quickly put egg and bacon slices in the pan.

"Excellent, you listened to my warning. I am indeed feeling very hungry," Henry said when he appeared. He smiled, and Voyta had a hard time not smiling back like Henry had hung up the moon.

"I am afraid I am almost out of food too, but I managed to gather something from the cupboard. Eggs and bacon will be ready soon."

"Almost out of food, too? How do you manage without me?" Henry said and sat down on a chair in front of the fireplace.

"Sometimes I ponder that myself," Voyta answered, chuckling. "So what brings you to Kuttenberg?"

"You actually," Henry said.

"Me?" Voyta said, and felt his cheeks warming.

"Yes. I wanted to visit you. I wish I could have come sooner, but Sir Hans was getting married, and he put me up to all kinds of tasks."

"Which you said yes to every single one."

"Well, he is my lord."

"And you are always ready to help, my dear Henry," Voyta said, feeling warmth not only in his cheeks but also in his heart. His attention had been on Henry for the moment, but then he noticed the bacon and eggs had cooked: "Oh, I think bacon is starting to look nice and crispy."

He got up and pushed an egg and two pieces of bacon onto Henry's plate. On his own plate, he put just one of each.

"Hey, you gave me a lot more food!"

"That was my intention. You're my quest, and a hungry young man needs a lot more food than I, who has just been painting for the whole day. Enjoy your meal!"

"You should take the egg. Or another piece of bacon."

"I am fine like this, thank you, my dear friend."

After getting permission, Henry gobbled down food till only the apples remained. Voyta, sitting on a chair next to Henry, took an apple and smiled.

"Remember summer, when you fell asleep while I was painting?"

"Of course I remember."

"You looked so peaceful. And beautiful. I needed to break the illusion," Voyta said and threw the apple towards Henry, who this time caught it.

"Why?" Henry asked.

"Sometimes watching something perfect feels like flying too close to the sun. I didn't want my wings to melt. And yours even less so."

"So, do you think I'm perfect? Or only while I'm sleeping with my back against a tree?"

"Oh, Henry," Voyta answered. "You're always perfection. An angel."

Some strange emotion flashed on Henry's face. He got up, stepped closer, leaned down, and before Voyta could realize what was happening, kissed him. It was a quick, soft peck, followed by a long inhale. But Voyta wasn't sure if he was breathing anymore. If he wasn't, well, at least he would die at the peak of happiness.

"Voyta? Did I do something wrong?" Henry asked, worried. Voyta forced himself to breathe so he could answer.

"No! No, absolutely not!" He said, and Henry looked devastated. Voyta Voyta noticed his expression and rushed to continue and rushed to continue: "I mean… You didn't do anything wrong, my dear. Nothing brings me more joy than to be close to you."

"You mean…?" Henry asked. Voyta grabbed the collar of Henry's shirt and dragged him closer till the perfection lit a fire inside him.

Chapter Text

Voyta woke up with strong arms around him, and he suddenly remembered all that had happened last night. Every touch on his skin, every softly spoken word into his ears, every moan from Henry's lips. It had been so long since he had felt virginal, completely naked under another man's eyes. In years, there had not been anyone he could trust enough to be seen like this. But now he had someone, and he couldn't believe how full he felt. No wonder all kinds of awful thoughts could have taken root in his body when he had been so empty.

Voyta moved Henry's arm carefully, to not wake him up. He should figure out how to make some food for them before Henry wakes up. After all the hard… work, he would be hungry when he woke up.

When he got up, he stopped for a moment to look at Henry's face. Was there a more beautiful boy in the whole of Bohemia? How lucky he was that Henry had chosen to spend a night in his bed. Voyta wished that he could spend more nights with Henry, but even if this was just a one-time thing, he wouldn't be sad. He had touched perfection, and it was more than he deserved. Voyta smiled and got up to warm the stove.

After he had put a small pot of water on top of the stove, he walked to his main room to start the fire. It was very cold, and Voyta noticed it was snowing heavily. He walked to the door to take a quick look, just to realize how serious the situation was. Snow swarmed in like a small avalanche. Goodness. He was glad his door opened inwards his door opened inside, or he and Henry would have been stuck there. Voyta closed the door. Hm, stuck with Henry. It wouldn't be too bad. But he was quite sure his paints weren't edible, so being cozily stuck with a man he… appreciated, would have turned quickly to starving. He returned to the bedroom and saw that Henry had woken up.

"Good morning, dear Henry," he said and smiled. He had been pondering how Henry would act the morning after. Was Voyta a shameful mistake? No, he didn't believe Henry would be so cruel. But would he want Voyta again? They had quite an age gap, so maybe Henry would be off on new adventures, and find someone who wouldn't become a skull and bones in a few decades.

"Good morning, Voyta." Henry's voice was honeyed, which made Voyta sure he was not going to run away right now.

"I fear we are snowed in. Kuttenberg is covered in a thick layer of white."

"That doesn't sound too bad," Henry said and reached out his hand. Voyta took it, not sure if Henry wanted him to help him up. But no, Henry pulled him closer.

"Come back to bed," Henry said.

"But we are almost out of food."

"It can wait. I will shovel my way to the shop later. But now I want to taste you."

Who was Voyta to say no? He climbed into the bed carefully and gently, as Henry had climbed into his heart.

Chapter Text

"I think I should go shopping this time. You've done so much for me," Voyta said when Henry pulled him into his lap and kissed his neck.

"I will do it. But later. I have something different in mind right now."

"Mm… I thought you would be hungry after you woke up, but I see you have a completely different kind of hunger in you, dear Henry."

"Can't help it when I have something so delicious near me," Henry said, his breath caressing Voyta's skin like a light brushstroke. He helped undress Voyta's shirt.

"Heh, you're being too kind. It's so chilly. An angel like you shouldn't walk out in the cold."

"Still thinking about shopping? I am clearly not doing a good enough job," Henry said and moved his left hand to Voyta's chest. He brushed Voyta's nipple, making the painter gasp.

"I am sorry. My mind sometimes gets stuck on a thought. I will focus on you now. It's what you deserve. Just promise me one thing."

"Anything," Henry answered, without any hesitation, and suddenly Voyta felt the power Henry had given him. He could ask him anything… even to stay with him. He pushed those thoughts away. He didn't want to cage Henry. Henry should always fly free. 

"Just wear my scarf when you're out. I couldn't bear to think about you getting sick on my behalf," Voyta continued. He quickly reached out towards the small table next to his bed and brought out a long alizarin red scarf. He threw it around them, so they were sharing a scarf.

"Haha, why is your scarf next to your bed?" Henry asked, amazed. 

"You never know when your neck needs warming during the night."

"Of course! Why didn't I think about it? But I think a scarf like this could have other uses too." Henry touched the scarf with his right hand, his left still playing with Voyta's nipple.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"Give me your hands," Henry said, and Voyta raised both arms towards Henry. He had no idea what Henry was up to, but if his muse asked him to do something, he would do it, no questions asked.

Henry smirked and wrapped the scarf around Voyta's wrists.

"There. Hands tied like on the day I first saw you. It's a bit disappointing we don't have a tree, but maybe it's something we can arrange when spring arrives."

That made Voyta's heart swell and warm up. Did Henry want to spend time with him during the spring? Maybe even till the spring?

"It's a shame. But at least this time we don't need to worry about getting eaten by wolves," Voyta answered.

"Yes. This time the only thing that is going to eat you is me," Henry said and pushed Voyta off his lap and onto the bed. Before Voyta even realized something was happening, he was back against the mattress, helpless with his hands tied. Henry swooped down towards Voyta's crotch. Voyta was definitely not hard, but when Henry's nose brushed his clothed cock it got interested. Blood was rushing south when Henry kissed his length before starting to undress Voyta's braies.

"Oh, Henry," Voyta said when Henry's lips wrapped around the tip of his hardening cock like a brush dipped into a paint. Henry hummed and sucked a little, quickly making Voyta's cock swell to the full length. Because how could he not want this? His Henry… all his. 

Voyta moaned when Henry took him fully into his mouth. If Henry kept going like this, Voyta would spill into Henry's mouth, and if he swallowed, like a hungry boy he was, his seed would flow to Henry's stomach, and maybe it would then stay in him, start to grow in him… what would it become, the perfect masterpiece no one could see? Yes, that must be it, Voyta's inspiration grounded in perfection like Henry. The strange thought made Voyta shiver.

But then Henry stopped, and Voyta couldn't even be disappointed that delicious suction had left his instrument of pleasure because everything that Henry did always felt fantastic, and he knew something else was in store. He just needed to be patient, and he had gotten used to being patient, so he wouldn't smear wet paint. 

"Excellent, now you're ready," Henry said, reaching out towards the oil on the nightstand. Voyta burned to touch him, all his strong muscles, his soft little belly, his hard cock- but, but his hands were tied, and so he was at Henry's mercy. He thought Henry would flip him over and take him like he had taken him their first time, but to his surprise, his oiled hand wrapped around Voyta's cock.

"I prepared myself when you were away," Henry said when he noticed Voyta's questioning look.

"My dear…" Voyta started, but Henry continued: 

"...Voyta, you deserve to be treated well."

"Oh," was the only thing Voyta could utter out, because he didn't feel like he deserved this, to feel fulfilled and, if he dared to think so, loved. Henry kissed him before taking position over him, guiding Voyta's dick to his own entrance. When he sank into him, Voyta could only see light. Then Heaven opened over them. All the angels were watching when one of their own made love to a mere painter, but they weren't judging, and it made Voyta sure that what they were doing was not a sin, but was the art of the human body. The great sculpture made by God. And Voyta would show his best, even if he was too old to be a prime example of humankind. 

But maybe their attention was steered to Henry, slid up and down, seeking his own pleasure as much as Voyta's. He felt incredible around Voyta's cock, hot and tight and way too good. He moaned when Voyta hit a spot in his walls and started to ride Voyta quicker.

It was frustrating to touch Henry and, at the same time, not to be able to touch him properly. Voyta moved his tied hands so he could at least rest his hands on Henry's right thigh, just to be even a little bit closer to him.

"You feel so good, Voyta. I will come soon," Henry said, out of breath.

"Yes, paint me with your pearly white," Voyta answered, knowing he would come Soon after Henry. He had managed to keep his seed in so he did not disappoint his muse.

Just a few movements more, and Henry spilled all over Voyta's stomach and chest, and Voyta saw only a flash of Heaven's light as he came too, his cock pumping his own load deep into Henry.

After this, they lay in each other's arms. Voyta kissed Henry's cheek and breathed in his scent, and Henry untied his hands so Voyta could finally touch every bit of Henry.

"In your arms, I feel like heaven has fallen to Earth," Voyta said.

"I feel the same about you," Henry answered, not knowing that they were the most precious words Voyta had ever heard.