Henrik had learned over their time together that Johan often found it most difficult to speak in the mornings, like he needed to warm up to the idea of conversing. Henrik didn’t mind, though, he loved how Johan communicated through touch like this. It was louder than words.
Henrik leaned into his hand. Johan had once told him and Elias that they were like cats, and he might have had a point.
“I need to relieve myself, but I don’t want to wake him,” Henrik whispered, eyeing his chances of climbing over Elias without disturbing him.
Johan peered down at Elias. “He’s… awake.”
Elias’ eyes flashed open suddenly. “How did you know?” He sounded affronted but Johan merely smirked knowingly before dipping his head to press a kiss to Elias’ shoulder.
“You snort like a… little piglet when you are asleep,” Johan said.
“I so do not!” Elias smacked Johan on the leg in retaliation.
Johan laughed, and it was deep and unreserved. Henrik couldn’t recall when he’d last heard it, but he was grateful for it now.
Henrik filled his lungs with air and breathed out in relief.
“Stop it!” Elias squealed as Johan tickled his ribs. “I’ll get you for that!”
Apparently, Elias’ idea of revenge was to stick his head under Johan’s nightshirt and attempt to blow a raspberry on his stomach, but Elias didn’t seem able to stop giggling for long enough to be successful.
When Johan’s stomach grumbled loud enough to be heard over all the raucous, they finally tumbled out of bed to have breakfast.
Henrik couldn’t help but fret as he gathered some food from the cupboard for them to eat. They were getting low and had no great resources yet for acquiring more food, so they were very much on rations now.
He and Johan had discussed trying some river fishing soon, as all Johan’s hunting attempts so far hadn’t been fruitful.
After they’d washed up and had a few mouthfuls of food to keep them going, they bundled up and headed outside to work on their new house together.
Henrik was excited to have a larger living space and hoped they could then turn the cabin into a workshop for making shoes, giving them a way to make a living again.
“I can help today, my magic feels stronger again,” Elias spoke tentatively and looked at Johan for a reaction that didn’t come, he only nodded his head.
The subject of Elias’ and magic had been a sensitive one. Henrik knew that Johan would never wish for Elias to lose his access to magic, but he understood the shoemaker's apprehension around its return as well.
Johan had already prepared a lot of the logs they were building with, and so when he connected them together, Henrik or Elias would use magic to create a seal which would keep their home weather-resistant.
Henrik was rather proud of himself for coming up with that one.
“Who taught you to build?” he asked as he and Elias helped winch a log up to Johan using a rope contraption Elias had designed to save Johan from breaking his back on this build.
“My father,” he paused. “We built that together.” He pointed to the hunting cabin. “There’s a lot… that I’m no good at but… I’m good with my hands. I think… my father knew I needed that.”
Henrik’s heart swelled a little for a man he would never meet. Johan rarely spoke of his parents, and Henrik hoarded every morsel of information he could to better understand the shoemaker who’d stolen a portion of his heart.
“You are a skilled builder and shoemaker,” Elias said. “But you are more than what you can make. Rik and I have a lot to learn from you and very little of it is what you can do with your hands.”
Henrik swallowed past the lump of emotion at Elias’ sincerity. He was proud of Elias. So often he resorted to making jokes or saying something distractingly outlandish, but there was vulnerability in what he’d just offered up to Johan, and it was progress.
“Thank you,” Johan said, his eyes glassy and grateful.
When the sun was at its highest, they stopped for something more to eat and drink.
It was a beautiful day, cold but the sky was a clear blue and birds twittered noisily in the trees. A poignant reflection of the day as a whole, it was fresh and comforting.
They’d just finished eating and were about to head back to work when Elias cleared his throat. “Johan, would you mind taking a walk with me? It’s fine if you’d rather not,” he hastily added.
“I’ll take a walk with you.” Johan smiled softly.
