at the feet of untamed things

[amistillenough]

Barnaby is restless. At first, he thought it was maybe boredom, just a moment of not being able to focus on anything, but no. He can feel an itch to do something, anything, that has him moving.

He'd tried playing music, which didn't really get him anywhere. It felt good for a few minutes, but then it only seemed to build up the restlessness even more. So he put down his violin and traded it for pacing the length of the livingroom with a book in hand.

It also doesn't really help, but doing two things at once makes things settle a tiny bit more. He needs to do something though, something that makes him move and keeps his attention.

Putting down the book, he digs up some of the rope they keep around, running his fingers over it before he starts to tie and untie it until he finds himself doing a series of ties on himself. It's at least posing enough of a challenge to keep him occupied, which is all he wanted.

The thought of going to get Jeremy had crossed his mind, as had going to go talk to Birch to see if they would be a good distraction, but this would do for now. He can pivot to something else when it stops working.

Comments

[kinginred]

Jeremy had been sleeping, or attempting to sleep. Sometimes keeping the world out of his head was more exhausting than others. Times like these he always made sure that Barnaby knew it was not his fault he was tired. It is, however, his restless thoughts that keep bringing Jeremy back to wakefulness.

Eventually he gives up on sleep and wanders out into the livingroom. "Hey, do you," he trails off as he takes in what his partner is up to. "I was going to ask if you wanted something from the kitchen, but I see you are a little tied up at the moment." This he says with an amused smile.

[amistillenough]

"Oh yeah," he says with as much of a shrug as he can manage. "I needed something to do and I haven't done this in a while. It's something to focus on though."

After a moment, he adds, "Weren't you slee---Oh. Sorry. I can head out for a while if it would help. Just--" He wriggles slightly. "Give me a minute first."

[kinginred]

He shakes his head and moves over to his partner to give him a kiss. "No, it's okay. I'd feel worse for making you leave."

[amistillenough]

He nods, then kisses him again. "I want you to be able to get some sleep," he says, still working on freeing himself from the rope. It only takes a few more moments though, and then he's done, he sets it aside so he can rest his hands on his boyfriend's sides. "I'd try and lay down with you, but I'm not sure I wouldn't keep you up just by moving around."

[kinginred]

He shakes his head again. "I'm fine. Instead I can lay down out here and you can tie and untie me? It can just be that, and I'll be laying down and with my favorite person."

[amistillenough]

He can't help but smile, and then kiss him again. "You're amazing," he says, picking up the rope and draping it over his shoulder. "But I say we go in the bedroom instead. More room in there so we can both get comfortable once I'm able to stop moving for a while."

[kinginred]

"That sounds good." He snakes his arm around Barnaby as they head back to the bedroom.

Where he divests himself of the clothes he was sleeping in before flopping onto the bed. "I'm just assuming it'll be nicer without having clothes in the way."

[amistillenough]

He laughs, then gives him a nod. "That works," he says, then bends down to kiss him again. There's a moment when he nuzzles into his neck and licks his skin before pulling back. It just feels good to share small things like that, even if there's no bigger intent behind it.

Once he straightens, he turns the rope over in his hands, considering his options. Once he's sure of what he's doing, he takes Jeremy's wrists in his hands, running his thumbs gently over them, and leaves another kiss on each one.

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

[kinginred]

He opens his eyes to smile at his boyfriend. "I'm sure. You are something that always makes me feel better."

[amistillenough]

He nods and then starts his work. At first, his movements are faster, but he finds himself being able to slow down and take his time as he gets into the groove of it. The ties he's doing are ones he wouldn't have been able to do on himself and lean much more decorative than anything else. It feels good to do something like this, to do something beautiful with someone he loves. It's soothing, even if it doesn't entirely break the itch to move.

When he's done, Jeremy's hards are bound up past the elbow and resting against his front. He's careful when he leans down again to kiss him, then nuzzle his cheek. "Doing okay?"

[kinginred]

He sighs with contentment when his love gives him more attention. "I'm doing good. This is letting me focus on you so I don't have to try so hard. Which lets me relax."

[amistillenough]

He smiles, looking so pleased to hear that. "Okay," he says, There's another soft kiss, then he moves to lightly bite down on his neck for a moment before nuzzling at him again.

"I feel a little better too. I think I can at least hold still for more than two minutes."

[kinginred]

He makes a soft sound with his love's bite and returns the nuzzle.

"Do you want to do more? Something different?"

[amistillenough]

He nods, sitting up again. "I was hoping to," he says. "But I might have you sit up if that's okay? You don't have to, I could come up with other options if I give myself a second."

As he speaks, his hand rests against his thigh, moving in slow, even strokes as he already starts considering other things he can do that keep his love lying down.

[kinginred]

"I can sit up," he says easily. Getting up to sitting with his arms bound isn't as easy, but he gets there. Especially if his love gives him a hand.

[amistillenough]

He helps him sit up but wears an amused look as he does so. "I was going to untie you first," he says, then kisses his love again. "Thank you."

Then he starts undoing his work, taking his time to work with each knot until Jeremy is completely freed from the ropes. Running his hands over his skin, he kisses his wrists again, his tongue lightly touching the skin before he lets him go so he can start again.

This time, it's an elaborate harness, he's working on. He falls into that same rhythm of working with the rope, and occasionally directing where limbs should go until he's nearly finished again. It really does feel good to do something like this and he feels so much more relaxed than before.

Barnaby looks at his love for a moment, smiling at him and cupping his face so he can kiss him slowly again. "You're wonderful," he says when they part.

[kinginred]

He laughs when Barnaby points out that he was going to untie him first.

"So are you," he replies. He feels settled into himself that is unique for doing things like this with his love.

[amistillenough]

Sitting down next to him, Barnaby wraps his arms around his beloved, nuzzling into his neck again. There's a gratitude there that he can't quite form into words. It had been bothering him and having found a way to release that energy, and having it involve Jeremy and doing something he enjoys as much as rope, has made that release all the better.

[kinginred]

He nuzzles into his boyfriend and makes a pleased sound. "Seems like you are feeling better."

[amistillenough]

He nods, staying where he is. "Yeah. I really was trying to deal with it on my own. It was just nothing was working." He sits up so he can share a soft kiss. "I guess I just needed you to help everything settle down."

Then he nudges Jeremy's nose with his. If you want to try and sleep again, I won't keep you awake. I can even lay down with you now."

[kinginred]

"My body is tired," he admits and snuggles closer to Barnaby, "but I'm enjoying being touched by you."

[amistillenough]

"If you want," he starts, kissing his jaw. "I can untie the ropes, lay down with you, and just keep touching you until you fall asleep?" He smiles. "That way you can have both things."

[kinginred]

"That would be nice." He kisses his love's shoulder. "But if you get restless again you can wake me up and we'll figure out something to do."

[amistillenough]

He smiles. "I can do that," he says, then starts to undo the rope. As he does, he continues to run his hands over Jeremy's skin, touching him with all the love he has. Every so often he leans forward and gives him kisses where the rope had been until he's completely freed him.

Setting aside the rope, he then gets out of his clothes before coming to lie down with his boyfriend, stretching one arm out so he can come press in against him as much as he wants.

[kinginred]

While his love gets undressed, he gets under the covers. Holding them back for his love when he comes to join him.

There's no hesitation to press up against his beloved's side. He gives kisses to lips and skin before he settles in.