mindcracklove | Fic - Odd Times and Odd Places

Hey, something new.

His life is and has always been the epitome of strange, Vechs thinks, as he hauls his body out of his bed, every muscle aching and complaining. There has never been a point where life has been ‘normal’ or ‘ordinary’. And honestly? Honestly, well, Vechs didn’t think having an ‘ordinary’ life would be any better than having his strange, fucked up, but also extremely loving life.

He supposed it was why he was rolling out of bed at 2 AM in the morning to go have a long overdue shower. The last few hours had been spent tossing and turning in bed, skin sticky with a combination of the humid air and dried sweat. His husband, Zisteau, was a foreign relations expert. That meant he was up and about at very odd times, one day staying up until 3 AM talking with someone from Hong Kong, the other falling asleep at 5 PM and waking at 1 AM to make a sandwich. His other husband, Kurt, was an astronomer and scientist. Kurt stayed up horrendously late, experimenting or studying the stars. That meant Vechs often went to sleep alone and woke up in the middle of a Kurt-Zisteau sandwich.

Oh, and his own job. Professional welder. His hands were covered with burn scars and marks from blisters in his amateur days, and more often than not he was covered with sweat, dust, and grime from long hours in a forge. However, they loved him anyways, even despite the sweat, dust, and grime. Even though his job required him to remove all jewelry, the golden ring he wore on his hand at the end of the day reminded him of what life meant to him.

Honestly? Vechs was okay with a strange life. Even if it meant getting up at 2 AM in the morning, sticky, aching, and exhausted, to go have a shower.

Stepping into the shower, Vechs winced at the initial blast of cold water. It warmed up quickly, and he sighed in relief, feeling the near scalding water soothing overworked muscles. He reached for the soap, intent on scrubbing away the muck of his job.

“Looking for this?” A soft cloth touched the back of his neck, moving slowly down and outwards, a firm pressure on his back. Vechs nearly moaned in relief, managing to stifle the sound lest he sound like he was in a bad porno.

“Zisteau, weren’t you s’ppose to speak with someone from Japan?” Vechs murmured sleepily, rolling his head back to look at Zisteau. “Oh god, keep doing that.”

Zisteau chuckled, bringing up a shampoo filled hand to scrub Vechs’ hair. “What are you working at this time?”

“A few swords, some armor. Same old. A client paid me in diamonds to make him the best chestplate and sword. The challenge is good.”

Zisteau smiled, tipping Vechs’ head back to wash out the shampoo. “You’re not usually up at this time. I assume Kurt’s downstairs in his lab or outside?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Vechs replied languidly. “Too hot. Sticky. I think Kurt’s downstairs.”

“We should get out of the shower. It’ll eventually run cold.” Zisteau wrung out the soapy cloth, setting it to dry on the showerhead. He reached in front of Vechs, turning down the water knob. “C’mon Vechs, let’s go.” He tugged his husband from the shower, throwing a towel over the man. “Dry up, we can go surprise Kurt downstairs.”

Vechs fluffed the towel over his hair, tugging a pair of boxers and a red t-shirt over his drying skin. He looked a bit more alert, even though the warm water had lulled him somewhat. “Kurt, yeah. Let’s go surprise Kurt!” He smiled cheerfully.

Zisteau and Vechs trodded downstairs to where Kurt was face down on the table, back rising with soft, shallow breaths, a still gently steaming cup of coffee next to his lax hand. Zisteau grinned, walking over to Kurt.

“Wakey wakey,” Zisteau said softly, kissing him on the ear and shaking his husband. “Kuuuuurt. Kuuuuuuuuuuuurt. C’mon now.”

Kurt stirred, jolting upwards. “Oh, uhm, ah…” He was cut off by Vechs giving him a gentle peck on the cheek. “Uhm, hi.” He smiled sheepishly, letting out a large yawn, followed by a luxurious looking stretch. “Isn’t it past midnight?”

“Long past,” Zisteau chided, rubbing at the base of Kurt’s neck soothingly. “It’s nearly 3 in the morning.”

Kurt’s eyes widened. “I didn’t think it was that late. Vechs, why are you still up? Don’t you have work?”

Vechs smirked. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt for my apprentice to do some work around the forge,” he said, shrugging. “How about we all go to bed, then?”

Kurt nodded, pushing himself away from the table and his papers. “Sounds like a plan. Zisteau?”
“I’m all up for bed. I’ve got no more calls tonight.”

~*~

Vechs sighed contentedly, snuggling into his pillow. Kurt and Zisteau lay on either side of him, providing warmth and the feeling of safety. He nuzzled the back of Kurt’s head, breathing the smell of Kurt’s herbal shampoo, the scientist’s short hair tickling his nose.

“Hrrrm,” Kurt murmured sleepily, tugging his portion of the blankets closer to his chest. Behind Vechs, Zisteau rumbled quietly, pulling them closer to his chest.

“Sleep now,” Zisteau mumbled, face tucked into the corner of Vechs’ neck and shoulder. “Talk in morning.”

Vechs drifted languidly, breathes evening out slowly but surely. This was the life.

Note: I may have changed tenses halfway. Oops.