Yutu, The Seventh Night [optional]

Yutu stood stiffly in the corridor. Something about his tense, upright posture, combined with the hopeful yet disbelieving look on his face, told Noah more than anything else how difficult it had been for the man to knock on the steward’s door.

The very least Noah could offer him in return for taking a chance was honesty and ease. “Yutu! Come in, please, I’m extremely happy you came, yes it’s rather cramped in here but if you’d like you can sit on the bed, or the chair?”

Woodenly, Yutu nodded and mumbled a thank you while he sat on the bed. Noah sat on the chair facing him, trying to keep his own nervousness hidden. “Do you want a drink? Earlier tonight Hannah dropped this bottle of wine off, and I have a couple of clean mugs here. The wine is not bad, although honestly we don’t drink a lot of wine where I am from so I’m no expert.”

The man gave a half shrug and said, “Sure, some wine would be good?” As Noah poured him a glass, he studied the other man again. Yutu had the same medium-to-light brown skin of the rest of the Ice Islanders, along with the straight black hair in his customary long twin braids. He was attractive, but had a nervous and shy quality in contrast to his twin sister that made him seem like someone who preferred to not be the focus of attention.

Noah smiled to himself. No chance of that tonight.

“So Yutu, I know you and your sister aren’t from the same place as the other Islanders, does that mean you are not Kuniq? I never did figure out how that worked.”

Taking a sip of his wine, Yutu nodded thoughtfully, “Honestly, most southerners don’t bother asking. Technically we are not Kuniq, as that is the name of the nation of the people who live on a few of the larger western islands. My family is from the Ahnighitak nation, which are from the islands to the north of the Kuniq, but my sister and I heard of this boat as apprentice coopers and applied together and Captain Amaruq hired us.” He paused at the end, as if surprised he had spoken so much.

“Why is it called the Ice Islands? I know there are several nations there, with some only being one small island. Ipellie told me the Kuniq are the biggest and have the most land.” She had also said, with a grin, that the Kuniq were the best lovers and most beautiful.

Yutu gave a chuckle, “The Saviksoah nation, the Great Iron, would argue the point with the Kuniq! But yes, the Kuniq are certainly one of the biggest. The different nations and clans are important to our culture, but it has been a long time since the nations warred over fishing grounds or land. And while we have some different customs, we all speak the same language, so outsiders consider us all basically one folk. We technically call ourselves the Thuule, but most others call us Ice Islanders and that works as well so we don’t bother correcting them.”

Smiling, the would-be scholar said, “Oh I always just say Ice Islanders too! But I could say ‘Thuule’ instead?”

Visibly relaxing, Yutu chuckled. “You could, but honestly, Thuule comes from a time when we all thought anyone not born on the islands was not really ‘thuule’, which means, uh, person. Centuries ago, when my people first met foreign ships they thought they were only partly human. So yeah, our words for foreigners all mean basically ‘almost person’, so we don’t mind being called Ice Islanders. Seems only fair compared to thinking anyone with light skin was a clever talking animal!”

They both laughed, less at the actual joke then the fact they were both enjoying the conversation. Yutu was looking at Noah more directly, enjoying the handsome man’s easy grace. And his green eyes and light brown mop of hair, a bang of which occasionally dangled in front of his eyes and made him toss his head to get it out of the way.

The two spoke about life on the boat in a general way as they finished their wine. Noah kept his questions light and Yutu found himself enjoying telling this man about himself in ways he often tried to avoid.

Finally, in a comfortable lull Yutu had to say, “Thank you for asking me directly Noah. Yura told me to come talk to you but I don’t think I would have.” He idly tugged on one of his long braids and admitted, “Ok I definitely would not have. She told me what you said but I was still scared. I was also scared she would do something horribly embarrassing like talk to you for me in front of the others!”

The steward nodded with a small smile, “If we’re being honest Yutu I’m very glad I did too. I was… I guess I still am, a bit nervous.” He saw Yutu start to sit up nervously and hastened to continue, “Not in a bad way! I meant every word I said to you, but I am not very experienced with men and I wanted to make sure you knew my offer was sincere. I find you quite attractive,” for the first time Noah blushed and looked away, and with a sudden thump of his heart Yutu took a quick breath.

“You do?” he said, his shy nature battling with a sudden tremendous need in his heart to hear this lovely, worldly man tell him something like that. Without giving his mind time to decide to be smart and keep silent, his heart blurted out, “I think you are beautiful Noah.”

Yutu went still, half in disbelief that those words had come out of his mouth. But Noah smiled, happily, and said, “Thank you. Uhm, I hope this isn’t too sudden or anything, but I think you are pretty fucking hot.” His voice lowered and his eyes ran up and down, making Yutu’s whole body flush in delight, “You are quiet and reserved but that only makes me more attracted to you.”

His heart pounding, Yutu had to ask, “It does?” Noah nodded and Yutu swallowed, suddenly aware of himself growing in his trousers. “You are attracted to women, clearly. And to men too?” His voice almost failed him, but he was able to whisper the last.

“I am. In different ways, maybe,” Noah said. He sat up in his chair, then shuffled it forward a few inches so his knees were almost touching Yutu’s knees. He slowly reached out his hands and took up Yutu’s hands. “I am attracted to men and women. I have been with more women than men, and I’m not always totally sure what I find most appealing in men, or what I want to do to them. Or have them do to me.” He lifted Yutu’s hand to his lips, “May I?”

Yutu could only nod, then sigh as Noah kissed the back of his hands one at a time. The steward continued, “I’d very much enjoy doing things with you. Do you want to, Yutu of the Ahnighitak?”

His eyes fluttering, Yutu gave a nervous chuckle, “Damn you even pronounced it right!” They sat like that and Yutu bit his lip and then said, “I do. A lot. But you said you don’t know what you want to do with a man. I’ve been with women, to do my duty, but I’ve never been with a man before. How do you know what you want?” The questions in his eyes were obvious, and Noah felt the tremor of deep pain and confusion - the heartbreak - in his last question.

Noah nodded, still holding his hands, “For myself, I just tried what sounded enjoyable, but knowing that my tastes and ideas might change. I was with men I trusted, one was as confused and uncertain as I was, and another was much more experienced but patient and kind. I would enjoy trying anything.” He gave a nervous laugh and said, “I’m trying to be all subtle here, but fuck it. I let an older man take me and enjoyed it. I also did the same to a boy my age once and enjoyed that. I think maybe the person I’m with is part of it, how I am attracted to them influences what I want to do with them. We don’t need to do anything in particular, one of the best nights of my life was just kissing a boy at a school dance. Where I am from, boys can be together but it’s uncommon and some people disapprove, but he was so cute I didn’t care!”

Yutu closed his eyes and leaned forward, and a second later he felt Noah’s lips touch his, softly. They brushed against each other as if both were scared the other would pull away, or scared the other wouldn’t.

Noah’s left hand moved around and held Yutu’s head, and they both gave in and pressed together harder. Noah kissed him several times, then Yutu reached out and pulled on his shirt and their mouths opened. Yutu felt like he could die happy when Noah’s tongue snaked into his mouth, and then Yutu pressed his palm against the other man’s chest, thrilling at the feeling of him.

A sudden clang snapped them both apart, guilty and surprised. The mug Yutu had totally forgotten about had fallen from its precarious position on the mattress to the deck, luckily empty, and the two men looked as it rolled until it rested on the handle.

With matching grins of relief, the men relaxed. Noah moved from the chair to sit beside Yutu, causing the Ice Islander to shiver and thrill at the feeling of his body pressed up against him. Shyly, Yutu looked away and said, “I think about a man being inside me sometimes. I would like to try that, you know, someday. Doesn’t have to be with you,” he quickly looked back at Noah to make sure the steward knew he was not demanding anything, but Noah was unconcerned.

“You are so cute Yutu, I hope you don’t mind me saying it but you’re delicate and almost pretty,” he ran a hand down Yutu’s face as he said it, “and also have the long, lean body of a swimmer. That’s very very attractive to me.”

Yutu smiled, his blush joining the flush of desire he felt. “I don’t mind you say that at all Noah. I find you, well, you’re very handsome. And when I see you washing on deck, with your shirt off, deep hells I want to just stare at you.”

They kissed again, but now Noah was pressing Yutu back so they were laying next to each other on the bunk, on their sides. Yutu gasped when a tentative hand pressed against the bulge in his trousers. “This is also very attractive to me,” Noah whispered. “Can I touch it more?”