Chapter Text
Stay focused.
Finan would remind him, religiously, before battle not to look for Uhtred or himself, lest he get taken by surprise in a moment of distraction.
Which was exactly how Sihtric had ended up in his current situation, clashing blades with the Scot atop him. Growling, he lurched upwards to butt heads with the other man before flipping backwards, the gash on his bicep burning.
Shit. Sihtric could already hear the earful he was destined to receive from Uhtred and Finan if they were still alive-
The screech of metal upon metal roused him from that disturbing thought, fiery eyes meeting those of the warrior towering over him through their crossed swords.
Remembering all that he had been taught about taking on much larger opponents, Sihtric took a sharp step back. No longer held back by the young Dane’s force, his opponent tripped forward, giving Sihtric the perfect opportunity to sweep his feet out from under him and plunge his blade into his back with a satisfied smirk.
It was over.
Muscles aching, dripping sweat and smeared with blood, he stumbled backwards until hands firmly caught his hips and spun him around. A warm forehead pressed against his and Sihtric looked up into the blue eyes of his lover, taking his first proper breath in minutes.
“To the ale-house!” Someone roared, accompanied by yells of victory that made the cuddling men break out into heartfelt grins.
Unable to stop himself, Sihtric threw his arms around Uhtred’s neck, standing on his tiptoes to kiss him hard. No doubt feeling him tremble, his boyfriend held him tight and kissed back with equal enthusiasm.
Post-battle adrenaline rushed through Sihtric’s veins, making his heart pound in his chest; only after feeling his partners’ touch could he convince himself they truly were okay.
“Uhtred, Sitty!”
The two Danes barely had time to react before Finan barrelled into them and hugged them with a rib-crushing grip.
Letting out a soft cry of relief, Sihtric removed one arm from Uhtred’s neck so he could cling to both of his lovers. “Both of you are alright…” he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else, then turned his head to tug Finan’s mouth to his.
“When are we not, love?” Uhtred hummed, just happy to have his men back in his arms.
Finan nodded and brought his hands up to cup Sihtric’s cheeks, gently moving their mouths together. Responding sweetly, the younger man pulled the Irishman closer still and coaxed Uhtred’s face into the crook of his neck with his fingers tangled in his locks.
They had to get moving, Sihtric knew that. But he couldn’t bear to be apart from them, not for a long while.
As if reading his mind, Uhtred swept Sihtric up into his arms, making him part from Finan with a yelp. “Mine.” He purred and cradled the smaller man to his chest.
“Um, I t’ink ya mean ours,” Finan snickered at the mortified look on Sihtric’s face.
Uhtred pondered this for a moment. “Oh no, definitely mine.” He shot off across the field, laughing at the obscenities Finan hurled in their wake. Slowing to a jog at the edge of the forest, he turned around to watch the approaching Irishman and shot him a cheeky smile.
“Bastard,” chuckled Finan, slinging an arm around Uhtred’s waist, pecking him on the cheek and running his fingers up Sihtric’s leg.
Sihtric huffed and shied into his boyfriend’s body to hide his pink cheeks from Hild, who rolled her eyes fondly as the trio passed. “Uhtred, put me down.”
“Not a chance,” Uhtred smirked, giving Finan an affectionate nudge and hoisting their pouting lover higher in his hold. “Give me a kiss, min elskede.”
Sihtric complied and tilted his chin to lock lips with Uhtred; although he’d scowled in protest at being treated like a baby, the muffled moan that left his mouth was nothing but genuine.
Smiling to himself, Finan held onto his partners while guiding them back to Coccham, having to pull them out from the path of oncoming trees more than once (much to his amusement).
Once they’d reached the outer wall of the village, Uhtred turned to the Irishman with a rather dazed, breathless Sihtric extended towards him. “Baby?”
“Baby,” Finan agreed, gladly taking Sihtric, nuzzling against his forehead and almost choking at the look on Sihtric’s face.
If looks could kill.
“M’not…” The smaller Dane muttered, furrowing his brows in the most intimidating expression he could muster… which wasn’t very effective, especially with his blown pupils and flush reaching the tips of his ears.
Exchanging glances, Uhtred and Finan smirked and before Sihtric could even begin to escape, a barrage of cooing and sweet-talk rained down on him.
If the Gods favoured him in any way possible, they were certainly keeping quiet now.
So Sihtric suffered (not really) until they finally, thank Freyja, shouldered their way into the already packed ale-house. Instead of putting him down, however, Finan insisted on carrying him through the crowds of whistling men to where Osferth was sitting.
The young monk snickered. “Alright up there, Sihtric?”
“Be quiet,” Sihtric huffed, feeling Uhtred smiling into his hair and giving him a stroppy pat on the cheek.
While Osferth took that as his cue to grab more drinks with a smile, everyone else at the table, even Aelthelflaed, chuckled a little; which Sihtric tried his best to ignore. Despite his (admittedly exaggerated) sour face, when Finan slid into the booth with Uhtred behind him, the smallest of the trio shimmied so he was sitting on both of his boyfriends’ laps.
“Sweet boy…” Uhtred whispered, wrapping his arms around Sihtric’s waist. Nodding in agreement, Finan hugged Sihtric’s thighs and laid his cheek on his knee.
Damn them.
His boyfriends were too sweet for their own good - Sihtric’s walls crumbled and he giggled into his fist. “I love you both…”
“And we love ya,” Finan tilted his head and touched Sihtric’s shoulder, eyes widening when his fingers came away stained. “Darlin’, yer arm’s bleedin’…”
Gasping in realisation, Uhtred didn’t hesitate to rip part of his sleeve and tie it around the wound. “Sihtric, what happened?!”
“Just a scratch. Battle, shit happens.” Shrugged Sihtric, picking at Uhtred’s torn shirt and sighing; his partner always has a flair for the dramatics.
Much to his dismay, although he hadn’t expected otherwise, neither Uhtred nor Finan looked convinced.
“Ya forgot t’e rule.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I-“ Sihtric faltered, busying himself with sipping his drink to avoid Finan’s half stern/half concerned look. Eventually, he leaned his cheek on Uhtred’s chest and mumbled a small “maybe…”
“You have to look out for yourself, love, Finan and I will be fine.” Uhtred softly reprimanded, aware of just how sensitive the younger Dane was to the subject.
Chewing on his lower lip, Sihtric laid his hand over the makeshift sleeve-bandage. “I can’t help it, I worry for the both of you…”
“And we worry more ‘bout ya knowin’ yer worried ‘bout us.” Finan cracked a grin, chugged the rest of his ale and reached out to touch Sihtric’s cheek. “Trust us, we’re not gunna leave ya.”
Sihtric nodded, eyes wide and innocent as he turned to drop a kiss on Finan’s palm.
The Irishman scooted closer to his partners and rubbed noses with Sihtric, pleased to hear him giggle quietly.
“That’s our boy…” Uhtred murmured, squeezing Sihtric’s hips and kissing the top of his head. “We’re here to celebrate, hmm? Let us enjoy the night while it’s young.”
A few hours, seven pints and a hell of a lot of affection later, Sihtric was in his element. The stress and anxiety of the morning had melted away, replaced with a pleasant tingle deep in his stomach and a gentle smile on his face.
When Uhtred slid out of the booth to get yet another round, Sihtric took the opportunity to flop in Finan’s lap with a sigh.
“What ‘append t’ not bein’ a baby, eh?” The Irishman chuckled and wound his arms around his boyfriend to cradle him to his chest.
Sihtric scowled and pressed a kiss to the base of Finan’s throat. “You’re an arse, you know that?” His eyes glittered, lips twitching in poorly veiled amusement.
“Uh huh,” Finan smirked, held his boyfriend’s cheeks between his palms and nuzzled against the younger man with the scruff of his beard, “and yet yer in me bed every night, must be doin’ somethin’ right.”
Grumbling but with a smile on his face, Sihtric rolled his eyes. “Keep telling yourself that, I stay because you’re a good hump.”
“A perfect reason if I ever heard one,” Uhtred grinned, passed each of his boyfriends their drinks and shimmied back in beside Finan.
After putting up one hand and chugging most of his ale, Finan fixed both men with a playful frown. “Quiet, both’a ya.”
Though Sihtric bit his lip, one look at Uhtred had him cracking up and he curled in on himself, stifling his laughter into Finan’s chest.
“Alrigh’, get it out’ya system.” Finan snorted, resisting the urge to dig his fingers into the ribs of the giggling man on his lap.
“I-I’m…” Sihtric hiccuped through a giggle, catching his breath and holding the Irishman’s face, “Playing, I love you Fin.” He beamed, face flushed from alcohol, straining upwards to peck his partner on the lips.
“I love ya Sitty, Uhtred does too,” Finan softened and helped Sihtric sit upright so he could finish his ale.
Sliding an arm around the pair, Uhtred kissed the side of Finan’s head. “I do. But,” he murmured, “he is a good hump, no?”
Finan chuckled as Sihtric’s cheeks flushed pink, ale-induced cheekiness faltering. He watched the younger man struggle for words, before leaning down to nuzzle his ear. “Well? Uhtred asked ya a question, love.”
“Uh…” Suddenly Uhtred and Finan’s gazes felt much more intense, as if they were looking through his eyes and watching his thoughts stumble over each other. “I-I guess, I mean-… yes.”
Laughing softly, Uhtred tucked Sihtric’s mohawk behind one ear and let his fingers linger on his neck. “You’re blushing, min elskede.”
The younger Dane huffed, already well aware of the heat creeping down his neck. “M’not…” he protested, averting his eyes to his hands folded in his lap.
Finan ruffled the smaller man’s hair and leaned in to rest his chin on Sihtric’s shoulder. “Are so.” Cooing, he traced down Sihtric’s leg, splayed a hand on his thigh and smiled at the man’s poorly concealed shiver. “What’s got ya so shy, huh?”
“You know what.” Sihtric knew it was part of the game; winding him up till he couldn’t bear it. But that didn’t mean he had to play into Finan and Uhtred’s hands. “Shouldn’t have to spell it out, you’re both intelligent men.”
“Now where’s the fun in that?” Uhtred purred, resting his elbow on the table, effectively boxing Sihtric in against the wall and both of his partners. “We wouldn’t be able to tease you so.” He pressed his lips to the younger man’s forehead and snuck his hand down to mimic Finan’s pressed against Sihtric’s thigh.
“Unfortunate for some…” mumbled Sihtric, biting the inside of his cheek. Both of his boyfriends smirked down at him and he squirmed further onto Finan’s lap, doing nothing to help the wetness pooling in his underwear.
Hand twitching, Finan stiffened against the smaller man’s back. “Sitty, watch yerself…” he warned gently, blood already rushing south as Sihtric rocked his hips down again; almost certainly on purpose.
Sihtric flashed an innocent smile, even as his partners’ hands slid further up his thighs. “Now where’s the fun in that?”
Three could play at this game.