Alcuin

[shannonteverius]

Shannon had heard about Hannibal. He hadn't cared too much for the man, their first encounter had rubbed him the wrong way, but he hadn't wished him harm. Hannibal has also been dating Alcuin, and that was the part that mattered.

Shannon was sure his friend had to be hurting. If it had been him, a simple phone call would not have been enough. Instead, he purchased a very good bottle of wine and made his way to Alcuin's.

When his friend opened the door he held up his purchase and said, "I come bearing gifts."

Comments

[alcuin]

Alcuin set his wine down on the table, and then... hoping he wouldn't mind, Alcuin shifted closer to Shannon and laid his head down on his shoulder. "Sometimes I feel like I'm being punished," he said softly.

[shannonteverius]

Felix wasn't the cuddling type. He didn't do things like this. Shannon was surprised to find that he liked it.

"Punished for what?" he asked.

[alcuin]

"I don't know exactly," Alcuin said quietly. "I mean, I've done bad things. I know I shouldn't think like that. But it seems like I've had more than my fair share of suffering."

[shannonteverius]

"Then don't you think you've been punished enough?" Shannon asked.

[alcuin]

"I hope so," Alcuin said with a small, sad smile. "I'll get through."

[shannonteverius]

"You will," Shannon agreed. "And you're not alone."

[alcuin]

"That's the difference this time," Alcuin said, and moved a little closer even to Shannon.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon leaned his head against Alcuin's. "Will you tell me about him?" he asked.

[alcuin]

"Hannibal?" Alcuin questioned. "Or Anafiel?"

[shannonteverius]

"Anafiel. The 'great love of your life'."

[alcuin]

Alcuin settled against Shannon again. "He was wonderful," he said. "He taught me everything. And he was a poet. A wonderful poet. He really had a way with words. And handsome, of course. There's a portrait of him in the office upstairs. He had red hair, like Felix."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon sighed. "Sounds like we both have a soft spot for red heads. Was him impossible and stubborn as well, or was yours sweet?"

[alcuin]

"I... think that Anafiel and Felix had little in common beyond hair color and intellect," Alcuin said softly.

[shannonteverius]

A part of Shannon was relieved to hear that. "How did you meet?"

[alcuin]

Ah. Yes, this was the part of the story that was never easily explained.

After a pause, Alcuin said, "He was a friend of my father, who I never met. But Anafiel took me in after my mother died. I know that sounds a bit odd, but... he was never a father figure to me."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon did find it a bit strange. He could understand being attracted to an older man, but there was a point where the gap became uncomfortably large. Alcuin had to have been young then. A little wary of the answer he asked, "Did he feel the same?"

[alcuin]

"Eventually," said Alcuin after a pause. "He had the same reservations I see in your reaction. It took him a while to believe that it was real. To trust me, and himself. We were together... a very short time, before his death."

[shannonteverius]

"I'm sorry to hear that," Shannon said. And he was. He couldn't imagine anything worse than losing the one you loved.

[alcuin]

Alcuin found it easier to talk about Anafiel than to think about Hannibal right now, so he was grateful for this. "Thank you, Shannon... you've been very kind."