The Listener was a beautiful man. A handsome man, oh, yes.
Cicero didn't realize he could be so enamoured, so entranced and starstruck by any living person. The Night Mother, of course. If she were alive once more, he would follow her everywhere, he would attend to her every whim, and he was sure that in her life she had been a beautiful, beautiful woman.
But of course, the Night Mother wasn't very active company those days, and when the maddening loneliness, that eternal silence drove him into painfully dizzy fits, he needed only to look towards the Listener to know that he had someone to follow.
And follow him he would, over spikes, through fire, into the jaws of a dragon, if only to hear another word from him, another whim, request, remark, anything! His voice was so sweet. His body so strong. His kills so perfect.
On a bitter cold night, after a job well done, he and the Listener were staying within the warm confines of Candlehearth Hall. They shared the same room, and Cicero watched the Listener intently. The Nord was shirtless, dabbing a rag into the wash basin and scrubbing it over his body. As he wiped away the sweat that had gathered under his leather armor, his chest glistened, and Cicero could not (and would not) conceal his fascination.
The Listener raised a brow as Cicero continued to stare.
"Enjoying the show, Cicero?"
Cicero wondered what his beloved Listener meant by this. Never before had he protested or even acknowledged Cicero's adoring gaze, simply allowing him to watch as he changed his armor or washed off, only prompting him to turn around when he was about to expose his most... intimate areas.
"Does the Listener not appreciate Cicero's gaze? Shall Cicero turn around? Go to bed?" His eyes widened, and he fidgeted, wringing his hands and shifting from foot to foot.
"You do like looking at me, don't you?"
"Of course!" Cicero didn't hesitate, voice cracking with enthusiasm. "The Listener is a fine man to watch. I am honored every moment I am in your presence, dear Listener. Why would Cicero not want to watch you?"
"Oh, Cicero," The Nord chuckled in his deep, soft voice. "My loyal friend."
Cicero's heart leapt at the word of praise.
"Loyal until the day -"
"Until the day one of us dies horribly in service of the Mother," The Listener's smile widened, easily recalling their agreement.
"The Listener always remembers!"
"Of course I do." He was silent for a moment, in thought. "Do you know what I think?"
"Cicero could not begin to imagine. Perhaps... of knives? Perhaps of the elegant curve of a sword? Perhaps of his loyal Cicero's finesse as he helps the Listener destroy a helpless victim?"
"Perhaps Cicero is a bit off the mark," The other man responded fondly. "I think I enjoy you watching me."
Cicero's eyes lit up with glee.
"Anything that pleases you. I will continue to watch!"
"Even as I remove the rest of my armor?"
Cicero's hands twitched in a jolt of excitement.
"Truly? Cicero may watch?"
"I want you to," He said quietly, unbuckling the straps and shuffling out of the tough leather. Beneath was only a thin pair of pants to protect his skin - it occurred to the jester that he had not even seen that much of the Listener before.