The Importance of Being Unnoticed

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 21st November 2017

Characters: Benamil, Arion
Description: The new couple has their first spat.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Benani

Benamil

Benamil tipped the hat on his head back a bit as he bent and pitched some fresh hay into the freshly mucked stall. Perhaps people expected more out of a man of the Blood, but this son of Benaroy just enjoyed laboring with the animals. He enjoyed the knowledge that his beastcrafting gave him about the fantastic animals he worked with. He was positive that their runners would easily beat any of the competitors at the upcoming runner races.

He was so lost in thought that the feel of arms slipping around his torso made him jump.

"Hey, lover," a familiar voice murmured in his ear.

Benamil jumped, panicking immediately as he spun around, his eyes darting around the stables to make sure that no one else was around.

"Don't do that! What if someone had seen?" he hissed at Arion.

The blonde's eyes took on a wounded expression, and his playful smile quickly turned into a frown. "Relax, I checked. I've been doing this longer than you, you know."

Benamil plucked his hat off his head and wiped his brow with his sleeve, "I know that, it's just... We _cannot_ be caught."

"Yes, Benamil, you've made it perfectly clear how horrible it would be if people saw you with me." Arion couldn't help the unreasonable hurt in his tone or the accusation. He'd been hiding who he really was for Turns, so logically he knew exactly why Benamil reacted the way he did, and he too knew that they couldn't risk being exposed, but it still hurt, thinking that Benamil could, in some way, be ashamed of him.

"Arion," Benamil lifted his hands, but the vintner turned and strode out of the stables. He took a step to follow but then hesitated, how would it look if people saw him chasing after Arion? The fear of what others would think kept him in his place.

"Shaffit!" He took his hat off and smacked it across his thigh. He was no better with men than women, it seemed. Benamil had never been happier since finding his relationship with Arion, even if they had to hide it, but trying to act "normal" in public was taxing, and whenever he was in front of others with the vintner he felt on edge, as if every minute thing he did could be misconstrued, or rather, interpreted for what it really was.

The rest of the day passed in agony for Benamil. He continued thinking of Arion and their fledgling relationship. What if Arion didn't want to be with him any more after this? What if he wanted someone who was more... confidant? Benamil didn't feel confident at all, he knew he wanted to be with Arion, that it made him happy, but he was still struggling to learn about this new side of himself. Arion was the one helping him discover his true self. Without Arion, what would happen to him?

When it was finally quitting time, Benamil made a beeline for the baths, washing quickly and scrubbing so hard that his skin glowed red in some places.

Arriving at Arion's door, Benamil turned the handle and felt his heart lurch. The door was locked. Ever since their first exploratory evening together Arion had began leaving the door unlocked in the evenings so that Benamil could just slip in. Not today.

Benamil licked his lips and knocked on the door, his eyes darting up and down the hall, "Arion?"

Arion opened the door, stony faced, voice frosty, "Can I help you?"

"Oh come on," Benamil sighed, shoulders sagging a little. "Can we at least talk?"

The blonde stared at him so long that Benamil was sure he was about to shut the door in his face but then he stepped back and opened the door a little wider.

"Thank you," Benamil ducked inside.

"Let's hear it then," Arion's arms were crossed over his chest. Benamil didn't take that as a good sign.

"Look, I didn't mean to be snappy, okay? If this was the Weyr I would be proud for anyone to see us together, but it' s not, you're the one who made it very clear to me the importance of being unnoticed."

Some of Arion's frosty demeanor began to melt, "Really?"

"Yes," Benamil felt a little bit of relief as he reached out for the vintner. "You have no idea how hard it is not to tell my family. I want them to know, I don't want to have to hide, I'd like for them to meet you but...."

Arion softened against him, allowing Benamil to wrap him in his arms, "I know, Ben. Logically I know all of this, it just caught me off guard, I guess. It's silly."

"It's not silly. I want you to know, you are important to me." Benamil pressed his lips to Arion's forehead. "I've been thinking about telling Benani about me, I won't use your name if you don't want me to but I just.... Need someone to know, and I'm closer to her than any of my other siblings."

The blonde's eyebrows shot up alarm, "You want to tell the _Lady Holder_? Are you crazy? What if she doesn't think it's okay? What if she tells Lord Zathris? Do you think we'd still be welcome here after that?"

"I don't know, honestly, but she's the best route, the most likely to be sympathetic. And if she isn't and she does tell Zathris, and he doesn't want us here any more, then we'll leave and go to the Weyr. I know the Headwoman at Dolphin Cove, she could get us in, and we're both crafters, it's not like we wouldn't have work." Benamil just couldn't live with the secret without telling someone close to him.

"You would... you would leave Amber Hills for me?" Arion hadn't been sure, after all, Benamil was a son of Benaroy, a man of the Blood, a possible heir some time down the road.

Benamil was able to answer this question easily, "Of course, if they wanted you gone there would be no way I could stay. I can never go back to the life I was living before, especially now that I know what I really want." His hands slipped below Arion's waist.

"And what is it that you want, my dear beastcrafter?" Arion's tone was light and teasing as he leaned into Benamil's touch.

Benamil leaned in close, his lips brushing Arion's ear, "You, vintner." His voice turned into a growl as he caught the other man's lobe between his teeth.

A shudder ran through Arion's body, a racing tingle down his spine as Benamil's breath ghosted across his skin. The beastcrafter's stubbled cheek grazed the side of his face, and the faint scene of leather and soap made Arion close his eyes. Mmhmm, Benamil. Benamil was exactly what Arion liked in a man, tall and rangy, so very masculine, with calloused hands from work and weather lines from being outside so much. **How did I get so lucky?** Normally a man like this wasn't gay, or never would have even opened his mind to the idea that he might be.

"Take me to bed, Benamil." Arion looped his arms around his beastcrafter's neck.

Benamil smiled against Arion's neck, "Yes, sir," he reached down and easily lifted the slighter man.

Arion twined his legs around Benamil's hips as he was carried and deposited onto the bed.

"Hey, you remember that thing with your tongue I taught you last time?" Arion said, raising up onto his elbows so that he could look down at Benamil, who was making fast work of unbuckling the vintner's belt.

"I remember," Benamil said, grinning a little as he jerked the belt free.

Arion shot Benamil a toothy smile, "Do that again."

"Your wish," Benamil said as he tugged Arion's trousers down his hips, "is my command...."

Last updated on the November 27th 2017

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The Importance of Being Unnoticed