"Maybe. Maybe I just dug around the flat rock he'd sat down on and kept digging until I was in my own grave." he sighed.
He allowed the drying, gaze miles away.
"I often thought about going to look for him yea know. See what he has to say to a ghost. Almost did, the day after I buried Hamish. Thought about taking Buell and going out into the world to find Dutch, see what sort of hand life had dealt him after he left me behind."
Slowly Arthur sat up and got out of the tub, taking the towel and working to dry himself off so he wasn't dripping over everything and then held one open to the medicine seller.
Once wrapped up, he pulled him close.
"But I'd rather spend whatever time I got with you, for as long as you'll have me."
"A much more apt metaphor," he agreed, wringing out his hair before stepping out the tub and into the towel. The Medicine Seller leaned into the embrace, arms wrapping around Arthur's shoulders.
"And yet, by some miracle, you have managed to crawl out your grave."
He lay his head in the curve under the other man's chin, eyes drifting shut for a moment. Arthur's pulse was there and real.
"...And that could be for a very long time, Arthur. I do not say I will stay lightly."
He spent some time quietly listening to the life coursing through his veins. Maybe Arthur's days were still numbered, but the count had surely shifted a bit higher than when they met for what the Medicine Seller had thought may be the last time.
"How very Zen," he mused, one hand trailing along Arthur's arm. A wind outside stirred, sending a small susurrus of snowflakes against the window. A heavy snowfall had set in and he wasn't sure if the shiver that went through his body was from the chill or the kiss to his forehead.
Pressing a kiss to the dip in Arthur's collarbone, he peered up at him.
After drying off a bit more thoroughly, Arthur got them a couple blankets and they sat down by the fire as the cold, wind, and snow began to blow outside.
Arthur pulled the medicine seller into his lap, wrapping his arms around him, enjoying the small comfort.
"A branch of Bukkyo," he explained, quite content to stay dressed in only a nice, warm blanket as he settled into Arthur's lap in front of the crackling fire.
"...Buddhism, I mean. Something about spontaneity and being in the moment? I cannot say for certain. The words of monks tend to go in one ear and fall right out the other, especially when they are drunk."
"I guess that makes sense. Usually played a lot by ear considerin' how often our plans went sideways." he chuckled, caressing the other's stomach.
There never seemed to a plan that went right in those last few months. Someone always slipped up or the situation changed. Made it frustrating but, sometimes it worked in their favor. The Valentine bank rob was one of the few that went smooth as could be.
"You uhh...feel like being spontaneous tonight?" he asked, pressing a kiss against the other's neck.
"Mmm," he hummed, head tipping back reflexively. Arthur knew exactly where he was weak, and he was more than happy to let him exploit it.
"I do recall mentioning keeping you warm in the colder months..."
He reaches out of the blanket, letting it fall from his pale shoulder as he ran his fingers over Arthur's cheek and through his hair, stroking the damp locks lazily.
"Sounds wonderful darlin'" he purred, shifting close as he could, his chest pressed against his back, suckling a kiss against his pale shoulder.
When they first met and slept beside one another, the man smelled decent. As a bear though, he could pick up his smell far more clearly. Not just the soap but every person had their own unique scent. The Murfrees were largely gross, the occasional passersby were interesting.
The medicine seller was comfort. Warm and familiar, something he wanted all over him.
Oh, that was very nice - very nice indeed. The Medicine Seller could get very used to that sort of thing. But one good turn deserves another, and when Arthur was done with his shoulder, he turned in his lap to face him, the blanket sliding all the way off to pool at his hips. He shivered in the draft the flames couldn't quite keep at bay, but he didn't mind. That was soon going to be the furthest thing from their minds.
Arthur was about to get exactly what he wanted as the Medicine Seller slid his hands into the blanket to gently stroke his chest, mouth kissing along his brow and temple.
"It is strange, no? After we first parted, I thought often of seeking you out again."
Arthur withdrew so he could turn around, hands caressing his bare thighs, eyes closed as his face was kissed, and he smiled a little at the tiny affections.
"Things got real messy and busy after we left that river. Lost Sean in Rhodes, Kieran to the O'Driscolls, then Hosea and Lenny during the bank robbery. Even if you found me, I doubt I would have allowed us to spend any more time together than we did that final mornin'" he said honestly.
"So much loss in such a short amount of time," he whispered.
"I can see how you would have wanted what little time you had to yourself to grieve."
If Arthur even had the chance to do that. After all, they had been part of the closest thing the other man had to a family and yet he'd had no respite.
Thumbing over his bottom lip, he pressed his bare chest to be flush with Arthur's as he settled comfortably back down, straddling his lap.
"Barely got time to." he admitted "Next thing we was on a boat, and then Guarma. Don't recommend going."
He kissed the finger and then buried his face against his neck, kissing the soft skin.
"Me too."
And he'd be with him for some time, barring either getting fed up with one another or the like.
But that wasn't a problem for tonight. Tonight was for them. No more talk of the past, it was in the past and couldn't be changed. The medicine seller was his present, and his future, which were brighter than he'd seen in a long time.
Rough fingers caressed along the other's thigh and then up to his belly before sliding down to his cock, taking the soft length in hand. "I'm all yours darlin'" he breathed in his ear.
One would think a tropical get-away would do Arthur some good. It seemed quite the opposite. Later though - whatever was going on between his legs was much more interesting at the moment, his cock beginning to stir from the attention.
"And, likewise, I am all yours," he hummed, nuzzling encouragingly into Arthur's hair as he gave him his throat happily.
A thought popped into his head, and he chuckled, deciding to test a little nickname for him.
"Utsukushii kitsune," he said a little breathlessly as his cock twitched to alertness. His hips gave an involuntary roll into Arthur's palm while his own hands traveled down the other man's chest to lightly tease his nipples.
"But I prefer when you when you call me 'darling'," he added.
"Good because I ain't sure I can even try to say them words" he said, flinching at the far more complicated name.
"Darlin' it is then." he moved to kiss his lips, groaning softly at the tease to his nipples and he squeezed his hand around him a bit tighter, thumb brushing over the head of his length.
That got a soft scoffing sound from the Medicine Seller.
"I suspect you are more than capable."
He knew Arthur was far from stupid, but the language lesson would have to wait.
Rather than let himself be distracted, he welcomed the kiss, mouth parting invitingly to let his tongue slip out to tease Arthur's lips while he thumbed his nipples into hardness.
Not particularly difficult, given the chill in the air.
Arthur closed his eyes, returning the tongue teasing happily, burying a hand in his long damp hair, groaning at the tease to his nipples, which perked right up.
He gave more thorough strokes as the other man's cock swelled, before breaking to ask, "Want me to do that tongue thing you did to me?" to further his point, he slid his hand from his dick to behind the medicine seller and teased his backdoor.
The Medicine Seller gave a surprised gasp wen he felt the finger at his entrance, hips giving a jerk as his erection bobbed. That did sound like a very pleasing proposition, and he laughed softly against Arthur's cheek.
"Mm. That would be lovely, if such a thing would be pleasing to you. Moreover, I was going to ask if I could put my mouth - "
And his hand wandered between Arthur's legs to give his own cock a light stroke.
" - right here. We could do them at the same time even, if you like?"
"I'd like to give it a try" he nodded. "No guarantees at being any good at it, but worth a shot." he chuckled.
He groaned then as he was taken in hand, his own cock giving an excited jump at the attention and he brushed his lips against the medicine seller's own before cocking his head, brow furrowing, "At the same time? How?"
The Medicine Seller tilted his head with a small, mischievous smile on his lips as they kissed. When Arthur pulled back, he began to stroke him in earnest, thumbing at the crown.
"Oh? You have never tried such a position?"
His other hand came up to stroke Arthur's cheek.
"You are probably strong enough that we could with you in a sitting position, but it would probably be more comfortable if you lay down."
"Ain't explored many positions to be honest." he said, groaning with a sigh as his cock swelled to life in his hand, his own had stilled between the man's ass cheeks, distracted by the attention.
Arthur nodded and withdrew from the medicine seller, shifting to lay the blanket out by the fire and then laid down on his back as he had when they first were intimate together.
His cock stood at half mas, resting against his stomach as the other got into position too.
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He allowed the drying, gaze miles away.
"I often thought about going to look for him yea know. See what he has to say to a ghost. Almost did, the day after I buried Hamish. Thought about taking Buell and going out into the world to find Dutch, see what sort of hand life had dealt him after he left me behind."
Slowly Arthur sat up and got out of the tub, taking the towel and working to dry himself off so he wasn't dripping over everything and then held one open to the medicine seller.
Once wrapped up, he pulled him close.
"But I'd rather spend whatever time I got with you, for as long as you'll have me."
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"And yet, by some miracle, you have managed to crawl out your grave."
He lay his head in the curve under the other man's chin, eyes drifting shut for a moment. Arthur's pulse was there and real.
"...And that could be for a very long time, Arthur. I do not say I will stay lightly."
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"Then we'll play it by ear, and if one day we find we're sick of one another, well, then we'll see."
He pressed a kiss against his forehead.
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"How very Zen," he mused, one hand trailing along Arthur's arm. A wind outside stirred, sending a small susurrus of snowflakes against the window. A heavy snowfall had set in and he wasn't sure if the shiver that went through his body was from the chill or the kiss to his forehead.
Pressing a kiss to the dip in Arthur's collarbone, he peered up at him.
"Shall I put another log on the fire...?"
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After drying off a bit more thoroughly, Arthur got them a couple blankets and they sat down by the fire as the cold, wind, and snow began to blow outside.
Arthur pulled the medicine seller into his lap, wrapping his arms around him, enjoying the small comfort.
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"...Buddhism, I mean. Something about spontaneity and being in the moment? I cannot say for certain. The words of monks tend to go in one ear and fall right out the other, especially when they are drunk."
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There never seemed to a plan that went right in those last few months. Someone always slipped up or the situation changed. Made it frustrating but, sometimes it worked in their favor. The Valentine bank rob was one of the few that went smooth as could be.
"You uhh...feel like being spontaneous tonight?" he asked, pressing a kiss against the other's neck.
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"I do recall mentioning keeping you warm in the colder months..."
He reaches out of the blanket, letting it fall from his pale shoulder as he ran his fingers over Arthur's cheek and through his hair, stroking the damp locks lazily.
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When they first met and slept beside one another, the man smelled decent. As a bear though, he could pick up his smell far more clearly. Not just the soap but every person had their own unique scent. The Murfrees were largely gross, the occasional passersby were interesting.
The medicine seller was comfort. Warm and familiar, something he wanted all over him.
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Arthur was about to get exactly what he wanted as the Medicine Seller slid his hands into the blanket to gently stroke his chest, mouth kissing along his brow and temple.
"It is strange, no? After we first parted, I thought often of seeking you out again."
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"Things got real messy and busy after we left that river. Lost Sean in Rhodes, Kieran to the O'Driscolls, then Hosea and Lenny during the bank robbery. Even if you found me, I doubt I would have allowed us to spend any more time together than we did that final mornin'" he said honestly.
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"I can see how you would have wanted what little time you had to yourself to grieve."
If Arthur even had the chance to do that. After all, they had been part of the closest thing the other man had to a family and yet he'd had no respite.
Thumbing over his bottom lip, he pressed his bare chest to be flush with Arthur's as he settled comfortably back down, straddling his lap.
"Though I am glad I found you again."
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He kissed the finger and then buried his face against his neck, kissing the soft skin.
"Me too."
And he'd be with him for some time, barring either getting fed up with one another or the like.
But that wasn't a problem for tonight. Tonight was for them. No more talk of the past, it was in the past and couldn't be changed. The medicine seller was his present, and his future, which were brighter than he'd seen in a long time.
Rough fingers caressed along the other's thigh and then up to his belly before sliding down to his cock, taking the soft length in hand. "I'm all yours darlin'" he breathed in his ear.
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"And, likewise, I am all yours," he hummed, nuzzling encouragingly into Arthur's hair as he gave him his throat happily.
A thought popped into his head, and he chuckled, deciding to test a little nickname for him.
"...Aru-kuma."
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His other hand came around to rest on the small of his back, caressing the skin as he kissed his neck, teeth scraping against the soft sensitive area.
The name had him chuckle and pull away to look at him. "Aru what?"
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He smiled into his hair, and let his lips wander to nibble along the rim.
"Were-bear. Where bear? There bear. Arthur-bear."
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He pressed kisses along the other man's neck and shoulder, the hand around his cock taking up stroking him to life.
"Aru-kuma huh? What about you? How do I say 'beautiful fox'?"
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"But I prefer when you when you call me 'darling'," he added.
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"Darlin' it is then." he moved to kiss his lips, groaning softly at the tease to his nipples and he squeezed his hand around him a bit tighter, thumb brushing over the head of his length.
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"I suspect you are more than capable."
He knew Arthur was far from stupid, but the language lesson would have to wait.
Rather than let himself be distracted, he welcomed the kiss, mouth parting invitingly to let his tongue slip out to tease Arthur's lips while he thumbed his nipples into hardness.
Not particularly difficult, given the chill in the air.
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He gave more thorough strokes as the other man's cock swelled, before breaking to ask, "Want me to do that tongue thing you did to me?" to further his point, he slid his hand from his dick to behind the medicine seller and teased his backdoor.
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"Mm. That would be lovely, if such a thing would be pleasing to you. Moreover, I was going to ask if I could put my mouth - "
And his hand wandered between Arthur's legs to give his own cock a light stroke.
" - right here. We could do them at the same time even, if you like?"
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He groaned then as he was taken in hand, his own cock giving an excited jump at the attention and he brushed his lips against the medicine seller's own before cocking his head, brow furrowing, "At the same time? How?"
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"Oh? You have never tried such a position?"
His other hand came up to stroke Arthur's cheek.
"You are probably strong enough that we could with you in a sitting position, but it would probably be more comfortable if you lay down."
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Arthur nodded and withdrew from the medicine seller, shifting to lay the blanket out by the fire and then laid down on his back as he had when they first were intimate together.
His cock stood at half mas, resting against his stomach as the other got into position too.
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