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“Mablung,” Oromë started to say.

“No, it fits, doesn’t it? He gets accused of something by the establishment, by the school and authorities who gave him the chance to be educated at all, and so of course the rational thing to do is to seek out their exact opposites. Maybe it’s revenge, maybe it’s just his own weird logic, but it makes total sense that he gets accused of criminal activity and decides to kick it with criminals. And Beleg, Beleg who never even got detention, Beleg who was an actual goddamn hall monitor, is off in some crack den with him. So who are these people, these thugs who broke in? Where are they?” Mablung stared at Mîm, his fist still clenched on the table. “You don’t have to get involved, just tell us what you know and we’ll take it from there. Take all the bad luck away from you, right?”

“I do not believe for a minute I am safe from bad luck,” muttered Mîm. “But I’m afraid you have caught it too, oh heavy-handed one who breaks my cups.” He smiled, an unexpectedly warm and appealing smile. “I have absolutely no idea where they are.”

Mablung swore, and Oromë laid a restraining hand on his shoulder again as he addressed Mîm. “Is there anything you can tell us? Anything at all you know?”

Mîm looked at him for a long moment and then said, “I know one name. Andróg.”

“And what good does that do us?”

“Hush, Mablung.” Oromë was still watching Mîm. “What do you advise we do with that?”

“My advice,” said Mîm, already turning away from them, “if you want to locate those two, is to check the police blotter. Can't help you more that that.”

“I can do one better than that,” said Oromë, even as Mablung pushed back from the table in bitter disappointment and Celegorm sat silent, still staring at the splintered doorframe. “I can check with the Police Chief.”

* * *

The afternoon was like any other that winter, grey and cold with a frozen rain lashing the windows. Finrod had finished the stack of papers he’d brought over for grading and was now curled into the window seat, absorbed in his reading. Curufin sat at his desk, having completed his assignment and turned to the latest troubleshooting issues with CLBRBR. But he hadn’t paid much attention to his terminal for the last fifteen minutes or so, the screen eventually going black as it went to sleep.

“I think we should have sex,” said Curufin, and Finrod looked up from his book in shock, bringing his head up too quickly and banging it against the window frame.

“Ow!”

“Careful,” said Curufin wryly, as Finrod rubbed his head and let his feet drop from the window seat.

“I’m sorry,” said Finrod, closing his book carefully and standing up. “What did you say?”

“I think we should have sex,” Curufin repeated. He raised his eyebrows as Finrod still looked dumbfounded. “You appear far more shocked than I would have expected.”

“You have to admit it came rather from nowhere,” said Finrod, running a hand over his hair again. “Did I say or do something that instigated this?”

“No.”

“Then why – ”

“I am not allowed to have independent thoughts? To come to my own conclusions? Poor choice of verb there, given the topic of conversation, but…” Curufin trailed off, half smiling as Finrod made a startled noise. “Shall I enumerate the steps by which I came to this topic?” He began to count off reasons on his fingers. “We have been ‘involved’ in some capacity for over a year. We have ventured other intimacies. You have been consistently patient with me.” He looked up and met Finrod’s eyes, which were still wide and curious. “And you haven’t had sex in ten months.” His mouth twisted into a crooked smile. “As far as I know.”

“I haven’t,” said Finrod. “I haven’t been with anyone but you since last March, but that – the amount of time doesn’t matter, Curvo, really.”

“Of course it matters.” Curufin shook his head impatiently and curled his fingers back against his palm. “I know sex matters to you. I know it is something you take pleasure in. It is not for me to deprive you of something you enjoy.”

“And it is not for me to make you do something you don’t want to do,” said Finrod softly. “No part of that would give me pleasure.”

Curufin shrugged. “Who said I don’t want to do it? It’s not a horrifically unappealing thing. I can think of any number of things I’d like to do less.”

“What a ringing endorsement. ‘Not the most unpleasant thing in the world’ is absolutely the way I would like my boyf – partner to describe sex with me.”

“You’re over-interpreting. I have tried other things. I have been okay with them. I would be interested to try this one.”

“For your own sake, or for mine?” Finrod looked dubious.

“For yours,” said Curufin, “but is that such a bad reason?” He laughed as Finrod was rendered speechless once again. “Is it so out of character for me to do something slightly selfless? Is this really how I render you lost for words? Goodness, I should try altruism more often, it has such a charmingly stupefying effect on you.”

“Oh, shut up,” said Finrod, but he was smiling too as he reached out to grab his hands, pulling Curufin close. “Stop being such a sarcastic fiend, I was just taken by surprise, that’s all. I didn’t expect this.” He kissed the corner of Curufin’s mouth softly and Curufin turned his head to meet his lips. “I didn’t need this.”

“But do you want it?”

“Do I want to have sex with you?” Finrod hesitated. “Of course I do.”

“Good. Then that’s settled.” Curufin slid his hands up to Finrod’s elbows and turned him briskly around, urging him over to the bed.

“What? Are we doing this now?”

“We can do it whenever, but sit down, I have thought some things over and here’s what I propose.” Curufin pushed Finrod to sit on the bed and then started pacing back and forth before him, hands behind his back. “I’ve looked up some things online – ”

“Oh no,” said Finrod, looking like he didn’t know whether to laugh or wince.

“ – technical details, logistics I mean, not…erotica.” Curufin paused. “Well, a little bit of erotica. I didn’t want to be taken entirely by surprise.” He chewed his lip, looking momentarily uncertain. “Is, ah, is broad spectrum hair removal as common in the general populace as it is in the, uh, adult entertainment industry? Because if so – ”

“Don’t worry about that, Curvo,” said Finrod quickly. “Really, it is not at all necessary.”

“ – if so, we would have to postpone a little longer, is all.” Curufin looked like he was fighting a blush. “But if you say it is a non-issue, I’ll believe you. You know better than I. But as for logistics: I have looked into the best types of condoms and lubricant and procured some, though I admit I remain skeptical as to how – how you will – ” He broke off, looking like he didn’t know the words for what he was trying to explain. “How you will fit,” he said, and then he did blush.

“Oh,” said Finrod, whose color was also high. “I mean, there are ways of preparing – I would never try anything without a lot of – but Curvo, we do not have to assume I will be in that role. I am more than happy to have you take – I mean, be on top.”

“No,” said Curufin, very quickly. “I mean, you know what you are doing. You should take the lead in the more, um, skilled role.”

“Skill has nothing to do with it. I promise you it is no hardship for me to lead from the bottom.”

“No.” Curufin retreated a little now. “No, I don’t think I could do it. I mean. Be in- inside you.” He swallowed hard. “That is not something that particularly appeals to me. Being…within someone else.”

Finrod looked concerned. “But you would be okay with the reverse?”

“More okay, anyway.” Curufin nodded, still looking down. “Will you be?”

“Yes, certainly, I can do either. Whatever. Anything.”

“Also that way, if my…interest flags, it won’t affect you.”

Finrod rose to his feet again and reached out for Curufin. “There is no way I will keep going if your ‘interest flags’, top or bottom or upside down. Are you joking? You know I will stop the moment you don’t want to keep going, right?”

“No, I know that. This isn’t about me wanting to stop, though I suppose I might. No, it's that I might have moments where it is difficult for me to be as…physically enthusiastic, and it would be helpful if I wasn’t the one driving things. Less pressure.”

“You seem to have given it a lot of thought,” said Finrod, who still looked cautious. “What are your other thoughts?”

“I have a list,” said Curufin, and went back to his desk.

-

They both sat back on their heels and surveyed the bed. Curufin was ticking things off on his fingers again. “House to ourselves, check. Tyelko and Makalaurë are both at work, Moryo is in class, and Irissë is at Elenwë’s for the weekend. Proper supplies, check.” He looked thoughtfully at the small, discreetly labeled bottle, and the neat foil packet. “Though apparently some dislike the decreased sensitivity of prophylactics. Will that be an issue for you?”

“No,” said Finrod. “I mean, I don’t know that a condom is strictly necessary – I have been tested since I last was, ah, intimate with someone else, and you have never had the need – But that aside, I am fine with using one, for security’s sake.”

“Well,” said Curufin, who was once again fighting a blush. “There is also the matter of the aftermath. Mess. A condom will contain some of the – I might prefer that to having – Spare the sheets a little.” His voice trailed off and he briefly looked like he was contemplating details he’d rather not elaborate on, as well as flight. Finrod looked like he knew what Curufin was thinking.

“Good thinking,” was all he said, resting his hand on Curufin’s shoulder. “I think we should use the condom, it will simplify things.”

Curufin looked down at his lap, and then took a deep breath. “Very well,” he said, and began to untuck his shirt. “Then I suppose there’s no reason to put it off anymore. Let’s get started.” His businesslike tone was belied by the way his hands were shaking, and Finrod took them gently and kissed the knuckles.

“If you are ready.”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Curufin looked up and saw the flicker of concern in Finrod's eyes again. He leaned forward and kissed Finrod, bolder than usual. “No, don’t look like that, Ingoldo, I want this. Really, I am ready. But now, if you don’t mind – can you lead, please?”

“Of course.”

“Good,” said Curufin, and despite his nerves, his eyes glinted. “Let us see if you are all the rumors say.” And as Finrod opened his mouth, half laughing, Curufin pulled his shirt over his head.

-

“You know,” murmured Finrod, a little while later. “I confess I’m a little nervous too.”

“What do you have to be nervous of?” Curufin thought a moment. “Unless you fear encountering something unexpected from me. Is there anything unexpected about me? Does everything seem…normal?”

“You are perfect.”

“Yes, yes, okay, charming answer, if not the most helpful. But what are you afraid of?”

“This is your first time,” said Finrod, running his thumb over Curufin’s cheekbone “And I am supposed to be the experienced one, the one who’s supposed to make it good. I want to deliver.”

Curufin rolled his eyes. “Because I have so much to compare you to. You know you could introduce Irish step dance into the bed and I’d have no real basis for determining if that was standard sexual procedure or not.”

“Except for all your internet research.”

“The Internet is proof-positive against nothing, let me tell you.”

“Still.” Finrod tucked his head briefly against the dip between Curufin’s chest and shoulder. “I am a little nervous.”

“You should be. If you make any mistakes, I’ll leave you.”

“Curvo.” Finrod held him tighter and bit reproachfully at his skin. “Don’t say such things.”

“What? It is the god’s honest truth,” said Curufin, but he wrapped his arms around Finrod and held him close, pressing his mouth to Finrod’s hair and running his thumb against the nape of Finrod's neck. He felt certain Finrod could hear the thundering of his heart beneath his ear, and his fingers tightened in Finrod’s hair as he tried to steady his breathing. “Now are you going to do this or not? I believe in you, if it helps.”

“It does.” Finrod raised his head and kissed the tip of Curufin’s nose. “Shall we?”

-

Curufin held very still and tried breathing. It seemed to work. He concentrated on letting his fingers loosen from the sheets, and instead brought them up to rest lightly on Finrod’s shoulders. Finrod opened his mouth, and Curufin quickly covered it.

“Please stop asking how I’m doing. It gets redundant. Let us assume unless stated otherwise that I am doing fine, shall we?”

“But,” Finrod started to say.

“I’m doing fine, for the five millionth time. How are you?” Curufin’s voice came out tinged with sharp irony, and he was pleased to hear that it was totally steady. “What usually helps, here? How best can I exhort you? Words of encouragement? Dirty talk?” He pulled his hand from Finrod’s mouth.

“If you are so inspired.” Finrod’s eyes sparkled. “Do you have dirty talk prepared?”

“I do not know if I am equipped with the right vocabulary,” muttered Curufin. “The examples I unearthed online were frankly farcical. The ways people discover to speak about titillating the rectum…”

“Lord, one must never say ‘rectum’ in flagrante delicto. Quite kills the mood.” Finrod looked thoughtful as he shifted low on the bed, his hands on Curufin’s hips as he kissed Curufin’s bare stomach. “Euphemisms work. I’ve always been fond of ‘opening’ or ‘entrance’…”

Curufin made a face. “It sounds like an architectural schematic. Cannot one simply call an asshole an asshole?”

“One could. Would you like to?”

“Just because one could doesn’t mean one should. I’m sure it’s all contextual. For example – ” Curufin broke off with a gasp as Finrod dipped his head. “Ingo.”

“Do you mind if I skip vocabulary altogether and show rather than tell?”

“I think that sounds like…the right narrative choice.”

“Don’t be afraid to interject with commentary at any point,” said Finrod, pressing an affectionate kiss to Curufin’s thigh, and then returning to the task at hand as Curufin clapped a hand over his mouth, quite forgetting there was no one around to hear him.

-

Finrod braced himself over Curufin and reached down to stroke his cheek. Curufin shied away. “Ugh. That’s not the same hand you were using for – ”

“No, I promise.” Finrod smiled, his beautiful, blinding smile that still made Curufin’s heartbeat stutter in his ears. “Are you doing okay? I am allowed to ask that again, I don’t care what you said before.”

“I am…doing fine,” said Curufin carefully.

Finrod leaned down and pressed their lips together, kissing Curufin almost chastely, an odd sensation given their position. “You are very beautiful, you know.”

Curufin rolled his eyes as Finrod slid a hand into his hair. He focused once again on breathing, and decided to keep practicing keeping his voice even. “Oh yes, nothing like exploring the glories of my impeccable asshole – sorry, ‘entrance’ – to discover my true beauty.”