Fanfic: Morning Rituals (1/1)

[smokingmirror]

Title: Morning Rituals
Author: Avarice
Rating: PG
Pairing: Collin/Runihura
Spoilers: -
Summary: Collin hooks up with a modern day priest of Set, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Word Count: 1706
Date First Posted: 21-12-2005
Date Revised: 28-05-2011
Beta: -
Awards: -
Notes: AU. The original Runihura character is one from my original Egyptian fiction, which was a particular adaptation of Fox's character. Transplanted into FH, he was the template for what eventually became the character of Arath (with fewer Setian religious overtones). I am amused at this as Fox and Arath are so different, and so blatantly don't like each other. In reality, however, they have this very odd connection. I considered changing Runihura's name to Arath in this, but it really is such an early version of Arath's character, that it doesn't bear more than a passing resemblance to the person that came to appear regularly in FH. So Runihura he stays. Meanwhile, Runihura is an ancient Egyptian name meaning 'Destroyer', and I'm so happy with all the Setian religious ritual I invented.
Feedback: always welcome, as is constructive criticism.
Also Archived At: LJ

Runihura's eyes opened when he heard the bedside alarm go off. They didn't snap open as though he was startled by the noise, nor did he squeeze them shut in an attempt to ignore the beeping. Rather, they opened after the alarm first sounded with a moderate amount of alertness, as a person accustomed to being woken at a particular time would do.

He leant an arm across the body pressed into his chest, from which a tired groan emanated. Long fingers reached the bedside and flicked a red button on top of the clock, silencing its harsh beeps.

The dark-haired man spent a few moments in the silence of the pre-dawn morning. The room was still dark, and already the rhythm of his bedmate was beginning to even out again. Runihura kissed the exposed neck encouragingly, but he did not stir.

With no movement, Runihura went to the pale shoulder in front of him and took some of the soft flesh between his teeth, biting firmly. Collin hissed, though not exactly from discomfort. It did the trick, however, and the blond stirred.

A brief touch on the arm and a conciliatory kiss over the bite mark was all the prompting Collin received. Then the warmth behind him was gone, and it was up to him to continue the rest of the way alone.

Collin sighed and stole a few more seconds in the warmth and comfort before he reluctantly dragged himself out of bed. By the time he had rubbed enough of the sleep out of his eyes to take in the glowing '4.58am' on the clock's digital face, he heard the shower in the next room.

Collin shuffled into the bathroom to find the mirror already steamed up. He pulled the shower curtain aside and stepped into the cubicle. Runihura looked disgustingly alert already, scrubbing his shoulders with that special soap.

It was nothing like the soap Collin used to use -- it had a slightly abrasive surface that tended to border on the feeling of sandpaper when rubbed across his skin. He couldn't deny the results, though. It stripped the skin of dead cells, giving a clean and fresh feeling that nothing else produced.

Runihura smirked a little when Collin entered, drowsy and bleary-eyed. He nudged the blond under the spray while he continued to scrub.

Collin shut his eyes as the pleasantly warm water coursed over him. He wiped the flattened hair from his face, and braced one hand against a tile wall.

The first touch of the soap did not surprise him. Rather, it was expected. Runihura meticulously scrubbed his back -- from the hairline at the base of his neck, across broad shoulders, down his spine and over his buttocks -- in every conceivable nook and cranny.

Collin didn't even baulk when he felt his cheeks being pulled apart before some very private areas were swiped with a cloth. He'd learnt very quickly, there was nothing sexual about the act of being washed by Runihura. It was all ritual, and to Runihura, ritual meant a clinical and purely professional approach. Even if he were in the mood, Runihura would have no part of it. Not until after their morning routine.

The cleansing soap traveled down the backs of his thighs, before his scrubbing stopped at his knees. Runihura only did what Collin could not thoroughly do himself. The rest was up to him.

Collin found the soap in his hand. He turned around to face Runihura's back and began to scrub the other man in the same manner that he'd just been scrubbed. While he did so, he took time to admire the shape of Runihura's body -- tall, wiry, strong.

The soap passed over a darker mark on his dark skin, halfway between his shoulder blades and hips in the centre of his back, bisecting the curve of his spine. There were three tiny symbols tattooed there. He was used to them now, but pure fortitude and luck stopped Collin from telling Runihura what he really thought of them the first time he'd set eyes on them. If memory served, he'd wanted to ask why Runihura had 'a golf flag, a baseball bat, and an anteater' marked on his back.

They were important; they spoke of Runihura's role as proudly as the man himself did. 'hem Netjer Set' -- Servant of God.

Collin got back to the task at hand and finished scrubbing down Runihura from behind. He moved to his own front, cleaning with precision. Runihura was up to his hair, washing it carefully and massaging his scalp with vigor.

In a remarkably short amount of time Collin had become used to not having any body hair from the neck down. It was hard at first, with the prickling and regrowth but the smoothness and general cleanliness of looks and feel had become startlingly addictive. He still wasn't sure about himself, but Runihura made having no pubic hair eminently attractive. Collin shook his head imperceptibly at the thought and went back to washing.

When Collin's hair was clean as well, Runihura turned the taps off and stepped out. He passed a towel to the blond, and set about drying his black hair.

Runihura was dressed before Collin finished in the bathroom. He wore linen, as was the tradition, cut into a short, pleated kilt. It went from above his hips to mid-thigh. Runihura gave a deep breath, feeling comfortable in the simple shift, and handed a similar item of clothing to the blond.

Collin pulled it on, allowing Runihura to fix up the small details. Runihura brushed a few strands of hair away from Collin's forehead, the corners of his lips turning up briefly. He then turned and walked into the next room.

In a corner of the small living space, there was a nondescript looking cabinet with a padlock on it. Runihura took the key and unlocked it, opening the doors with a slight flourish. There was a two-foot tall statue of Set inside, resting on a chest of drawers.

Collin went to the bottom draw, retrieving a multitude of items including candles, matches, a taper, and a small vessel of oil. Runihura took the oil from Collin and put it on the floor, letting the blond light the yellow beeswax candles on either side of the effigy.

With the preparations made, the two men turned right, facing the adjoining wall. There was a framed picture of Set, standing at the prow of a bow, fighting a large serpent. Collin and Runihura gave a bow to the picture, and Runihura spoke.

"We faithful greet the East in the name of our Lord, where the Sun Barque sails, protected in darkness from Apep by His might."

They turned to their right to face the back of the room, cabinet behind them and faced another picture on the wall. It depicted Set fighting a hawk-headed god. With a bow, the words were spoken again.

"We faithful greet the South in the name of our Lord, the country of Old Horus, day to His night."

They turned again to face the third wall and bowed. On it was a picture of Set with Horus the Elder again, anointing a king.

"We faithful greet the West in the name of our Lord, where the dead are given strength and purified, welcomed into the afterlife by Him."

With one last turn, they faced the cabinet with the statue once again. Runihura reached out and touched the cartouche carved at the bottom of the effigy, and then touched the fingers to his lips.

"We faithful greet the North in the name of our Lord, who holds dominion over the sky and the sands, of storms and earthquakes, of darkness and chaos. We invoke your might and ask your blessing for the coming day."

Runihura knelt and Collin did the same. He reached for the bottle of oil and poured it into a shallow dish. Dipping his index and middle fingers into the oil, he touched them lightly to each of Collin's temples. "May your eyes see Set's truth.” The fingers were touched briefly to Collin's bottom lip. "May your lips speak Set's power." The fingers touched Collin's throat, over his Adam's apple. "May your throat sing Set's glory."

The fingers replenished their oil and traced a short line down Collin's chest, over the crease of his pectorals. Collin's lips turned up at the corners, it tickled. "May your heart beat Set's will." Runihura took Collin's left hand, touching the oil to the back, then doing the same for the right. "May your hands work Set's bidding."

He rubbed the oil into Collin's hand with his thumb, before he bid the blond to repeat the process with him. Collin did so slowly, wanting to do it right. Runihura gave encouraging smiles as Collin completed the ritual.

With the dawn rite finished, Runihura got to his feet and turned to the cabinet. He murmured something to the statue in a low voice before shutting and locking the cabinet. Turning, he offered a hand to Collin who used it to get up.

The dorm room was still dark, though by now the sun would have started to rise. Runihura held Collin loosely by the elbows. "Bed or breakfast?" he offered.

Collin snaked his arms up around Runihura's neck and pulled the other man's mouth down to his. They shared a sweet kiss. "Can't we do both?" he whispered, nuzzling Runihura's lips.

Runihura grinned. "We could do that." He smacked Collin's ass through the linen. "But you should know that Set has ruthless punishments for those who leave crumbs in the bed."

Collin's eyebrows went up. "Oh?"

"He's harsh but fair," Runihura sighed, running his thumb over Collin's bottom lip.

"Goodie," Collin smirked and turned around, walking back into the bedroom. On the way, he undid the linen around his waist and tore it off, walking the rest of the way bare-assed.

Runihura watched the retreating form carefully, a slow smile dawning over his features. He looked towards the small kitchenette, and then back at the pale, nude figure disappearing behind his doorframe.

With a shrug, he walked towards the bedroom. Breakfast could wait.

~finis