Martin is a young apprentice to a candle maker. He’s been there four years already, and really hasn’t learned candle making at all. Mostly it’s just a job to him, and he’s unmotivated and bored. The only thing that has caught his attention is Jamie.
The young apprentice to a mage, Jamie is roughly the same age as Martin. He’s always wanted to be a mage, and is very focused and driven. But Martin also catches his attention on his trips into the candle shop for his master.
Then Jamie asks Martin to share a bottle of wine after work, which leads to a series of adventures as they get to know each other. Soon they’re falling hard for one another while trying to figure out how to make their relationship work, as their families would not accept it.
Soon Jamie’s master leaves town for an urgent meeting of the mage’s council, leaving Jamie alone, which leads to a night neither young apprentice will ever forget.
Martin looked up at the sound of the front door opening, pleased to see it was Jamie, alone.
“Surely you’re not back for more candles,” Martin said with a big smile. It was amazing how simply the sight of Jamie made him instantly happy.
“No, not this time,” Jamie shook his head, also smiling. “I had a few other errands to run in the area for my master and thought I’d stop by real quick and say hello.”
“I’m glad you did!”
“Is your master around?” Jamie looked around the shop, which was empty of people.
“He’s in the back somewhere.” Martin shrugged.
“Good,” Jamie said, coming closer and taking Martin’s hands in his, their faces inches apart. “Martin ... I really like you. I ... can’t believe how much I like you. It feels like I’m going crazy.”
“I feel the same way,” Martin grinned. “I think about you all day, really.”
“Good. I thought so, but I had to make sure.”
“Why?” Martin’s face scrunched up in confusion.
“Well, last night was really fun. And I want to do more than that. But at the same time, I don’t want to get my heart broken. I don’t want us just to hump in the alley and then never see each other again.”
Martin snickered.
“What? I’m serious.”
“I know you are,” Martin answered. “It was just funny, the way you put it. Like we were a couple of animals. I like you more than just physically though. Last night was amazing. I still can’t believe it happened. But I want to get to know you also, spend time with you.”
“It would be easier if we weren’t stupid apprentices,” Jamie noted with a sigh. “We can’t just meet in the alley every night. If we had our own places, life would be so much easier. But I know I can’t afford it, and I’m sure you can’t either.”
Martin nodded in agreement. “It’ll all work out. We are both hard workers. Someday we’ll be the masters ourselves. And in the meantime, we can hump in the alley.”
“Be serious,” Jamie chided, although he was still smiling. He pulled his hands away after one last squeeze. “I’d better go. Meet at sundown then?”
“I wouldn’t miss it!”
* * * *
Martin arrived first that night and was seated in the overturned crate when Jamie appeared down the alley, still wearing his robes this time. Martin stood to greet him, plucking at the sleeves of the mage robes.
“What’s with this?” Martin asked.
“I know, it looks ridiculous. My master sent me on a last-minute errand right before I was leaving to meet you, so I didn’t have time to go back to the tower and change.” At that, he pulled the robes off over his head, then began adjusting his blond hair with his fingers. Or trying to -- it was sticking up all over from the static in the robes.
“Keep going,” Martin prodded, tugging at Jamie’s tunic.
You’re ridiculous,” Jamie shook his head. But soon he was pulling off his own tunic, and then helping Martin out of his as well. They both moved closer, bare chests and foreheads coming together.
“I missed you,” Martin said quietly.
“You just saw me.”
“I know.”
They kissed for a minute, then sat down in the crate. Jamie produced a half bottle of wine from behind some old rags in the corner, still there from the previous night. They each took a swig, wiping their mouths with their tunics.
“You have a different tunic,” Martin observed, looking down at the tunic now in Jamie’s lap. Then he realized how bad that made him sound. Martin’s parents were poor, and he currently only had one tunic that fit him. He was sure this was not normal for most people, and clearly was not for Jamie, since his tunic this night was a different shade of brown.
“I have a few. Not many. They really don’t matter much anyway. Nobody sees me outside my robes other than you.”
“Thankfully! I haven’t seen you with normal clothes on at all, really. I was beginning to think I’d never see an inch of you and would just have to use my imagination, with those huge robes.”
“You really were interested in me, way before we met?” Jamie sounded mystified.
“I was. You were cute ... and kind. Sorta mysterious.”
“I was eyeing you as well,” Jamie admitted. “Mostly because you have a cute butt.”
“You were checking out my butt while I was doing work for you and your master?” Martin kidded.
