Work Text:
Luuk absentmindedly thumbs through an old issue of his favorite magazine. His business, The Ironstone Armory, had gotten many customers in the past couple of years since its opening. However, since the time the town of Zahrah’s Rest had been fully rebuilt, an effort that Luuk had been a key part of, orders have been few and far between. While Luuk loves the place he has built for the villagers whose homes were destroyed by a dragon, the town’s remote location in the mountains makes it a terrible place for a smithy.
The front door swings open. Luuk, at the front counter, glances up from his magazine and starts greeting the visitor.
“Welcome to Ironstone Armory. What can I do you… for?” Luuk’s voice slows as heavy footsteps march into the shop.
“Hahaha! You’re going to have to get my name before any talk of doing me! Although for you I might make an exception!” the booming voice of the armory’s latest visitor echoes.
Luuk’s face grows brighter as he greets the enormous orc in his shop. “Hey! What do you need, brother?” he says much more enthusiastically than before.
“I heard there was an orc smith in this town, and I had to check it out for myself. Kind of a trek to get to,” the man replies, feigning wiping sweat off his brow to show off his forearm muscles. “The name’s Xago.”
He drops a sack of gold on the counter. "I want you to make me the most kickass armor this money can buy!”
Xago reaches out a hand. As Luuk shakes it he can’t help but notice that although he is a large man himself, his hand is enveloped by the other orc’s. It is then he recognizes that he knows who this man is.
“Xago the Mountainbreaker? Well look at that, I’ve got a godsdamned celebrity in my shop! I’d be honored to make something for you.”
Sporting a toothy grin, Xago steps back and takes off his shirt, revealing his hairy barrel chest and defined arms. “All right, let’s get started then!”
Luuk recoils in shock, “Start what exactly?”
“You gotta measure me for the armor, right?” he replies.
Luuk sighs in relief. “Oh yeah, but you don’t have to take off your clothes. I’ll take you in the back for that. TO the back I mean!”
Xago smirks. “Of course. Lead the way.” He drops the shirt on the floor as Luuk turns to show him to the workshop.
Luuk takes all of the measurements he needs, but his customer doesn’t make the process easy for him. Xago makes sure to flex every muscle the blacksmith wraps the tape around. He leans in closer and closer into him whenever they are close, and, when Luuk turns to retrieve something, he takes off his pants and shoes, leaving him only in his underwear.
“I want this armor to fit perfectly. That’s why I came to you. You don’t know how many human and dwarf smiths I’ve been to that just don’t get it right.”
Luuk brushes off the poor excuse and returns to the conversation they were having when Xago had first entered the armory. “This place is out of the way. My girlfriend talks about it every time she comes back from a work trip. I’ll make sure it was worth the journey. Let’s get some ideas for what you want it to look like.”
The two orcs look through Luuk’s collection of photos and magazines to get an idea for the new armor’s design. Luuk relaxes as he talks about his favorite hobby. They end up making an afternoon of coming up with design ideas while telling each other stories of their times in the adventurers’ guild. Some time later than either of them intended, Luuk has everything he needs to get to work.
“I’ll call you when it’s ready. Do you want it shipped to you or will you pick it up?”
Xago forms a grin around his large tusks. “I’m not gonna pass up the chance to visit my favorite smith again. I’ll see you then.” Xago gives him a wink before leaving.
Once he is gone Luuk lets out a sigh of exasperation. I can’t wait to tell Summer that Xago the Mountainbreaker was here! But what was that touching and flexing all about?
Xago retires to his room at the inn and pulls out his phone. Smirking, he types out a message to a longtime friend.
I paid a visit to your boyfriend at his shop today. Tell him to give me a call if you decide to ever set him free.
