strength && honor

"yes. king darius. my king darius. rolls off the tongue quite well don't you think?" he'd never hear the end of it from his father if ryker so much as uttered that possessive article in front of him. but well eagan wasn't here in their private moments now was he? yet the youngest varlinnis prince would be a fool if he didn't think that his father knew or at the very least have an inkling of what had developed between the two royals over the years. they were discrete (mostly, barring certain acts of 'public' indecency) but heart on his sleeve, ryker's feelings would have been no secret to any that witnessed him.

youth gave the feinhalnaar grand ideas and big dreams and at the mention of darius' mother, a mischievous grin spread over his face. "i could easily make you one... a mother that is." with the amount he'd fucked and emptied himself into the other... magic was the only thing stopping his seed from taking. something that could be easily rectified.

"as are you, my love." like a masterpiece sculpted by the finest artist. one whose hands began to roam over ryker's exposed body. darius' movement and the kiss subsequently planted on him was slow, sensual. deliberate. a promise for more. he returned it with the same energy, content with letting darius take the lead. ryker had yet to raise the question if the other needed a distraction to help him sleep but as it turned out darius would happily welcome one, even being the one to initiate. seemed like the stress really needed to be fucked out of him. and the prince was all too happy to oblige.

a deep rumble rolled from his chest as he breathed out and darius kissed him on his pectoral before returning home to his lips once more. weight shifted and soon ryker had the man almost twice his years on him. a moan escaped him as he felt himself stirring. letting himself be marked with bites as darius trailed down... and buried himself right into his pit. sharp breath of inhale mirrored his love's own. pupils widening in bubbling arousal.

darius  could  count  himself  lucky  to  have  the  people  (&  dragon)  in  his  life  that  he  did,  knowing  just  how  much  support  he  had  in  times  like  these.  he  truly  was  blessed  by  the  winged  beast  &  knowing  that  calmed  his  wild  heart  a  fraction.  no  doubt  could  ryker  handle  the  rest.  he  always  had  —  that  effortless  ease  in  his  step  around  darius  when  others  bowed  &  stuttered,  that  smile  that  never  felt  forced,  that  shine  in  his  eyes  that  made  darius  feel  chosen  rather  than  burdened.

“there’s  only  one  king  in  the  room  for  me.”  darius  hummed  it  softly,  almost  shy  despite  the  weight  of  his  coming  title,  fingers  trailing  along  the  side  of  ryker’s  face,  down  the  line  of  his  throat,  over  the  steady  beat  beneath  warm  skin.  he  lingered  there,  savoring  the  quiet  between  them.  the  peace.  the  absence  of  crowns  &  councils  and  expectations.

until  ryker  said  that.

the  suggestion  hung  between  them..  playful,  bold  &  yet  it  struck  something  far  deeper  than  teasing.  darius’  eyes  locked  onto  his,  heat  rising  quick  and  traitorous  along  his  cheeks.  “you  could,”  he  murmured,  breath  catching  slightly.  “s-should.”

his  fingers  curled  faintly  against  ryker’s  chest,  grounding  himself.  of  course  he  had  thought  about  heirs.  it  was  the  shadow  behind  every  lesson,  every  council  meeting,  every  approving  nod  from  his  father.  children  would  be  expected  of  him.  demanded,  even.  but  in  all  his  imaginings,  it  had  been  duty.  arrangement.  a  name  signed  beside  another  for  the  sake  of  treaties  and  bloodlines.

never  this.

never  warmth  and  laughter  and  shared  glances  in  the  dark.

“i  always  assumed  it  would  be…  necessary,”  he  admitted  more  quietly,  thumb  brushing  idle  circles  over  ryker’s  skin.  “something  arranged  for  the  good  of  the  kingdom.”  his  gaze  softened,  vulnerable  in  a  way  only  ryker  ever  saw.  “i  never  let  myself  picture  wanting  it.”

wanting  it  with  you.

the  unspoken  words  lingered  heavy  in  the  air.

he  shifted  slightly,  hands  sliding  up  to  cradle  his  jaw,  drawing  him  close  again  —  not  hungry  now,  but  searching.  grounding.  his  forehead  pressed  to  ryker’s  for  a  brief  moment,  breath  mingling.

“you  make  the  future  feel  less  like  a  sentence,”  darius  confessed,  voice  low  &  honest.  “less  like  something  waiting  to  swallow  me  whole.”  a  faint  smile  curved  his  lips.  “i  may  be  king  tomorrow,  but  i  will  always  be  yours  first.”  his  mouth  found  ryker’s  again,  slower  this  time  —  deeper,  but  unhurried.  a  kiss  that  wasn’t  about  distraction,  but  reassurance.  about  anchoring  himself  to  something  real  before  the  world  shifted  beneath  his  feet.

that  sound,  low  &  pleased,  went  straight  through  him.

darius  shivered  faintly  at  the  praise,  at  the  familiar  pet  name  murmured  like  a  command  &  a  devotion  all  at  once.  fingers  tightened  instinctively  against  ryker’s  hips  before  relaxing  again,  slow  breath  fanning  warm  over  heated  skin.  he  lingered  there  a  moment  longer,  eyes  half-lidded,  simply  breathing  him  in  —  grounding  himself  in  scent  and  warmth  &  the  steady  rise  of  his  chest.  another  lazy  kiss,  slower  this  time,  more  deliberate  as  hips  ground  against  ryker's,  his  own  arousal  stirring  against  the  prince's. 

when  he  finally  lifted  his  head,  hair  slightly  mussed  where  fingers  had  curled  into  it,  his  gaze  was  darker  —  but  calmer.  “tomorrow  they’ll  dress  me  in  gold  and  call  me  untouchable,”  he  said  quietly,  leaning  down  to  press  a  lingering  kiss  to  the  corner  of  ryker’s  mouth.  “tonight  i’d  rather  be  exactly  this.”

because  tomorrow  he  would  be  measured  &  dressed  &  crowned.  but  here,  now,  in  the  dim  light  and  tangled  sheets,  he  was  only  a  man  in  love  —  &  for  the  first  time  in  days,  his  heartbeat  no  longer  sounded  like  a  war  drum.

and ryker? well all he could be in this moment was the wind under the future king, like a gust of zephyr under seraphina’s beating wings, both keeping darius afloat. and perhaps after everything, with darius' father pulling through and both of them being here in this point in their lives; the gods were watching them from their heavens after all. but divine protection or not, he would always be there for darius, in whatever endeavours or tribulations he might face.

"i wouldn't. i won't." why would he? not when he wanted darius to be king. and knew how good he would be at it. ryker himself didn't particular care about the throne or marrying into one. but just to darius. that would be a boon for the both of them. he was under no illusion that he'd been born into privilege, though his grandfather did put in the work — it wasn't like it was just old power gifted to them, they had to fight for it — and that he could afford to have that sentiment when others would do anything just to have a morsel of power and influence he had as a prince. "have you not been playing attention to what i've been saying? like i said, you deserve it." he frowned, in disbelief that darius didn't have more confidence in himself. the other deserved to be enthroned; ryker knew he would be a just and kind ruler. but that expression didn't last. "you're meant to be king. or queen." the young prince's features softened and he smirked, teasing again.

&  the  love  of  my  life.

words  darius  had  envisioned  many  times  before,  then  brushed  aside,  because  somewhere…  somehow  a  quiet  whisper  reminded  him  that  ryker,  in  his  youth  as  a  prince,  could  fare  much  better  than  him.  some  days  darius  knew  better  than  that;  some  days  the  shadows  gripped  him  tight  &  let  no  other  thought  through  &  with  the  pressure  of  the  upcoming  coronation,  those  days  had  multiplied,  slowly  chipping  away  at  the  future  king  of  vissai  in  secret.  years  —  they’d  been  seeing  each  other  for  years,  sharing  moments  darius  couldn’t  imagine  with  anybody  else…  ever,  nor  did  he  want  to.  but  hearing  them  now,  spoken  so  naturally,  like  breathing—

it  struck  something  deep.  something  raw.

he’d  known  a  long  time  ago  that  he  would  either  die  with  the  young  varlinnis  prince  by  his  side  or  die  in  vain.  but  to  think,  even  for  a  heartbeat,  that  he  might  see  that  wish  come  true…  unthinkable.  the  fear  of  losing  that  hope  again  wrapped  around  his  heart  &  squeezed  tight,  hard  enough  to  hurt.  perhaps  that  was  why  he’d  been  so  hesitant  to  dream.  even  without  kingdom  politics  between  them,  he’d  always  worried  another  kingdom  would  come  between  them.  someone  younger,  someone  bolder,  someone  offering  ryker  a  future  darius  thought  he  could  never  give.

he  couldn’t  bear  the  thought  of  ryker’s  light  belonging  to  someone  else.  maybe…  maybe  he  would  never  have  to.  becoming  king  was  a  blessing  in  more  ways  than  one. "he  does."  darius  had  prayed  for  this  moment,  watched  years  pass  &  his  hair  ash  at  the  edges,  feared  he’d  die  an  uncrowned  prince  —  a  lifetime  of  preparation  swallowed  by  waiting.  "though  i  much  prefer  you  working  me  over  than  my  advisors."  the  innuendo  curled  off  his  tongue  easily,  softened  with  a  low  chuckle  that  warmed  the  space  between  them.

"are  you  implying  i'd  sit  atop  the  mountain  watching  the  stars  instead  of  sleeping?  surely  not,  because  i'd  never."  he  did  manage  a  few  hours  here  &  there,  tucked  away  between  fittings,  preparations  &  the  endless  duties  thrust  upon  him.  but  in  ryker's  presence,  all  the  tension  bled  from  him  —  he  felt  steadier,  fused  back  into  himself,  as  if  the  pieces  he’d  been  losing  had  always  belonged  in  the  younger  prince’s  hands.  they’d  grown  used  to  being  separated,  yes,  but  never  willingly.  never  without  aching  for  the  next  moment  they  could  steal.

"i  know."  though  the  knowledge  didn’t  change  his  instinctive  self-doubt.  ryker  could’ve  left  him  countless  times  —  chosen  someone  he  didn’t  have  to  hide  for,  someone  who  could  offer  constancy  without  distance,  someone  whose  embrace  wasn’t  weeks  or  months  apart.  yet  darius  knew  he  could  make  ryker  happy.  truly  happy.  he’d  already  given  him  everything  &  king  or  not,  that  would  never  change.  darius’  love  was  carved  bone-deep.

every  moment  apart  was  torture.  he  didn’t  want  that  anymore.  he  was  exhausted  from  yearning,  from  nights  spent  staring  at  the  cold  expanse  beside  him,  from  intimacy  restricted  to  stolen  moments  between  duty  &  inevitable  departure.

"thank  you,  ry.  i  suppose  somewhere  along  the  way  i  forgot  this  is  what  i’ve  always  hoped  for."  &  the  gods  had  been  merciful  —  he  didn’t  need  to  lose  his  father  to  become  king.  maybe  the  heavens  had  looked  upon  them  &  deemed  them  worthy.

light  chuckle  sounded,  "if  you  call  me  queen,  i'll  be  expecting  my  mother  around  the  corner."  darius  much  preferred  being  ryker’s  princess.  &  looking  at  him  now  —  sprawled  beautifully  across  the  bed,  bare  skin  catching  the  dim  light  —  something  softened  at  the  very  core  of  him.  a  quiet  awe  settled  over  his  features,  affection  rich  &  warm.  his  heart  stumbled  in  his  chest,  unsteady  with  want.  if  he  could  wake  to  this  sight  every  morning,  fall  asleep  to  it  every  night,  he  would  die  the  happiest  man  alive.

"you're  beautiful."  the  words  barely  made  it  past  his  lips,  breath  warm  &  reverent.  instead  of  answering  ryker’s  teasing  directly,  darius  moved  —  slow,  deliberate,  hungry.  he  slid  closer,  fingertips  ghosting  along  the  sorcerer’s  sides,  feeling  the  way  ryker’s  muscles  tightened  beneath  his  touch.  his  hands  drifted  up  over  warm  skin,  over  the  curve  of  ribs  &  the  smooth  plane  of  his  torso,  then  down  to  cup  his  hips  with  familiar  affection  &  unmistakable  desire.

he  leaned  in,  kissing  him  —  a  slow,  coaxing  drag  of  lips  that  promised  more.  then  his  hands  rose  across  ryker’s  chest,  nails  teasing  at  his  nipples  before  gliding  to  his  jaw.  a  kiss  to  ryker’s  neck,  another  to  his  chest,  this  time  lingering,  mouth  warm  &  open,  breath  shivering  over  skin.  sleep  could  wait.  everything  could  wait.

their  lips  met  again,  deeper  &  darius  crawled  atop  him  with  practiced  ease,  settling  against  the  younger  man’s  body  like  he  belonged  there  —  because  he  did.  kisses  trailed  along  ryker’s  jaw,  down  the  taut  line  of  his  throat,  soft  love  bites  blooming  faintly  beneath  his  mouth.  downward  still,  to  the  place  where  ryker’s  arms  parted.  eager  —  almost  too  eager  —  darius  inhaled,  pressing  his  face  into  ryker’s  pit,  a  quiet,  needy  sound  humming  through  him.

his  lips  parted  again  for  more  kisses  —  wetter  now  &  a  little  lazy,  the  kind  born  of  a  satisfied  haze  &  a  heat  curling  low  in  his  belly.

PEDRO PASCAL as GENERAL ACACIUS Gladiator II (2024) dir. Ridley Scott

selfishly, darius becoming king was good for him. for them. the hope of being his, completely, and darius, his too in turn, never left him, but never fully entertained either. except in flights of fancy, delusions of grandeur. (though that little voice that held hope against hope would say it wasn't all that impossible.) the voice of reason however... even if darius was to ask for his hand in marriage, there was no guarantee his father, eagan, would agree. but the patriarch of house feinhalnaar would be a fool to do so: it would be an easy way to secure a political alliance between their two kingdoms. though if darius wasn't going to, ryker would — it had been on his mind for quite some time already (in those same flights of fancy). but the burdens of duty always caught him. perhaps after the pressures of darius being king had simmered for a time, unless of course impulse gave young mage the courage, or misplaced confidence depending on how one would look at it.

"you’ve wanted this for as long as i can remember. it’s yours, take it, you deserve it dari." ryker heartened him, taking a hand in his and squeezing it. "i don’t know any other crown prince that works harder… don’t tell my brother that." he loved his eldest brother... but even he could not compare to darius' diligence. worry was also a perfectly natural reaction for the skywarden. and the doubts that darius had just meant that he truly deserved it and would make an excellent king, that he would not take his position for granted. ryker knew he would serve his people well. he had after all witnessed that service first hand. often. though now wasn't really the time to mention it. "steel yourself, you'll get through it. like everything else you've endured. then you'd be king, as you've always desired. you were meant for the crown." he'd compare darius' resolution to the undying king alaric's, but he knew his fellow prince could stand on his own without a reminder of that shadow. speaking of...

"and thank the gods. i told you you had nothing to worry about. your father's as hardy as dragonscale. maybe even as long lasting." he would indulge in darius' assessment of his father — it did after all have an inkling of truth: king alric was, respectfully, elderly in years while darius, the flamed bird and the winged beast bless him, was nearing fifty and only now was he to become king. of course he'd reassured darius when the situation had been concerning. ryker hoped knew it wasn't just empty platitudes he was giving at the time. he had sounded far more confident than he had felt then. and much to the phoenix's graces, he didn't have to retroactively lie to the love of his life — darius' father was as healthy as ever, barring the limp as permanent damage. and ryker was the rock the other prince needed, just as he portrayed himself to be.

of  course  he'd  let  his  mind  wander.  in  fact,  he'd  done  so  many  times  before.  wondering  if  his  status  as  king  would  allow  him  to  choose  his  partner  for  himself.  would  it  be  considered  wrong  if  he  did?  who  was  to  judge  what  was  good  for  the  kingdom  &  what  wasn’t,  right?  if  he  felt  binding  the  varlinnis  kingdom  to  his  own,  then  surely  the  kingdom  would  support  his  claim  that  the  connection  was  profitable  for  both  sides,  would  it  not?  would  he  be  called  out  on  his  lies?

would  it  be  obvious  he  chose  who  he  chose  because  of  his  heart?

only  few  knew  how  darius  felt  about  ryker,  but  the  risk  would  forever  remain.  would  he  have  to  make  himself  unhappy  just  to  avoid  suspicion?  truth  be  told,  he’d  never  even  asked  his  father  what  he  thought  of  bringing  two  of  the  most  powerful  kingdoms  together.  too  afraid  of  the  answer  &  having  to  deal  with  the  truth,  darius  had  chosen  to  live  life  as  it  had  been  —  in  the  shadows.

he’d  never  dared  dream  further.  always  worried  about  finding  himself  unable  to  return  to  reality.  but  now...  it  was  feasible.  not  right  now,  not  so  shortly  after  his  coronation,  but  maybe  their  future  was  written  in  the  stars  after  all.  he  wondered  if  ryker  felt  the  same  —  if  he  even  wanted  to  spend  his  life  with  a  king,  away  from  his  home  &  his  brothers.  would  darius,  if  their  roles  were  reversed?

he  would’ve  dropped  his  title  &  run  with  ryker  if  he  so  much  as  asked  just  once.  so...  he  knew  his  answer.  but  he  didn’t  dare  dream  of  ryker’s.  the  young  varlinnis  prince  would  have  to  decide  for  himself  if  they  were  to  hold  onto  their  love  past  the  life  darius  had  led  up  until  now.

“did  i?  surely,  you're  mistaking  me  for  someone  else.”  darius'  eyes  met  ryker’s  &  ...  well,  he  could  get  lost  in  them  forever  if  offered  the  chance.  they  were  so  bright  &  beautiful,  so  vast  &  endless  he  could  never  get  enough.  he  wanted  to  see  what  they  saw.  he  wanted  to  see  himself  the  way  ryker  saw  him.  better.  because  darius  felt  like  a  lot  of  things  —  a  warrior,  a  son,  a  servant  of  his  people  —  but  a  king?  was  he  ready?

it  was  so  difficult  to  filter  what  about  his  fears  was  justified  &  what  was  just...  panic.  he  was  terrified.  so  much  responsibility  suddenly  resting  on  his  shoulders  &  only  his.  other  kingdoms  had  fallen  under  weak  leaders.  he  didn’t  want  vissai  to  follow  the  same  fate.  "sometimes  i  wonder  who  you  see  when  you  look  at  me,"  he  rumbled  quietly,  truly  curious  —  &  partially...  not  jealous,  but...  yearning.  yearning  to  see  the  same.

“you  did.  and  you  were  right,  as  you  so  often  are.”  darius  hummed  fondly,  fingers  squeezing  the  young  prince's  hand  back  before  lips  pressed  against  it.  not  quite  a  kiss,  but  something  similar.  affection,  presented  on  a  darius-shaped  plate.  he  was  glad  ryker  had  been  right.  because  while  part  of  him  was  grateful  for  the  chance  to  fulfill  his  life’s  duty  before  he  died,  he’d  never  wanted  his  father  to  die.  not  for  his  crown.  age,  yes.  he  knew  they  would  all  die  eventually.  that  was  okay.  fate  would  not  be  tricked  by  titles  or  status.  death  was  ruthless  &  relentless.

the  joke  landed  —  light,  almost  offhand  —  but  darius  didn’t  laugh.  he  only  looked  at  ryker  for  a  moment,  like  he  was  trying  to  decide  whether  to  answer  as  a  man  or  as  a  prince.  the  weight  of  the  crown  hadn’t  touched  his  brow  yet,  but  he  already  felt  the  press  of  it  in  his  bones.  in  the  stretch  of  silence  that  followed,  he  exhaled  slowly,  the  tension  in  his  jaw  easing  just  enough  to  speak.  "i’ll  always  be  your  princess,"  he  murmured,  lips  curving,  though  the  smile  didn’t  quite  reach  his  eyes  —  not  yet.  "even  if  they  crown  me  king,  you’ll  still  get  your  way.  you  always  do." he  turned  his  head  slightly  toward  the  hand  on  his  shoulder,  leaning  in  just  enough  to  show  he  wasn’t  brushing  ryker  off.  "if  you  asked  me  to  renounce  the  throne..."  a  pause.  his  gaze  flicked  up  to  meet  ryker’s.  steady.  quiet. “anything,  for  your  love.”  anything  &  everything  for  the  varlinnis  prince.  no  price  was  too  high  —  but  darius  was  sure  ryker  already  knew  that.

if  he  was  truly  bothered  by  darius’  title  &  legacy,  if  darius  was  ever  asked  to  choose  between  the  crown  &  happiness...  raised  to  wear  the  crown,  but  yearning  to  find  happiness,  he  would  sacrifice  one  for  the  other. but  it  would  hollow  him  out.  becoming  king  was  in  his  blood  &  soul.  "but  don’t  ask."  a  breath,  softer  now.  "please." not  unless...  not  unless  he  really  meant  it.  he  couldn’t  bear  the  thought  of  leaving  his  kingdom  behind.

titles didn't mean much to him, not even noble ones. apparent by the fact that elenorius gave up his own noble home, turned his back on lordship, to spend his life as the high priest of vissai. what's funny is that it meant he would then serve the highest title in the kingdom, the crown. one could say he just went from one house to the other. still, he had full faith in darius' father and now darius. he almost always acted like vissai was in good hands and nothing bad could happen. like he saw it in a vision or something.

even if he was setting up the barrier, nothing changed. "i always knew you'd be a bold king." he said with a small smirk.

"i haven't foreseen anything yet and neither have any of my apprentices. you know i'm merely just the cautious type. sometimes, this is the most opportune moment to strike." sure, the guards, dragons, and warriors were all in one place, but so were all of the men with titles. he took a step closer to darius, curiosity forming in his eyes. "it isn't written that a king must only pray for others. do you wish to commune with the gods?" religion was of great importance to him, so he always recommended that connection to others as well.

the  people  of  vissai  were  unique  in  the  way  that  each  &  every  one  of  them  was  born  with  courage  in  their  hearts  &  passion  in  their  souls.  they  loved  their  home  fiercely  &  would  die  to  protect  it  without  hesitation.  darius,  too,  prided  himself  on  that  passion  running  through  his  veins.  he'd  always  given  his  all  for  his  kingdom,  &  that  wouldn't  change  until  his  dying  breath—hopefully  still  a  long  while  away.  he  had  waited  for  this  day,  &  now  he  wanted  to  savor  it  for  as  long  as  he  could.  preferably  with  elenorius  &  a  certain  varlinnis  prince  by  his  side.

"i  wouldn't  dare  change  my  father's  course."  vissai  was  peace-loving,  surely,  but  never  afraid.

"always  prepared  for  the  worst.  i  much  like  the  way  you  think."  darius  shot  him  a  small  smile,  though  he  still  felt  a  little  lost  in  this  grand  new  world  that  awaited  him.  "if  they  would  hear  me..."  a  weary  sigh.  "i  would.  i'd  like  to  earn  the  great  beast's  blessing  ahead  of  time.  but  what  if  they  don't?"

what  if  all  he  was  met  with  was  silence  &  more  uncertainty?  he  wondered  if  his  father  had  faced  the  same  doubt  before  taking  the  throne.  the  old  man  had  always  seemed  so  confident,  so  sure  of  himself.  darius  wished  he  shared  that  certainty.

　　"no need to apologise, how could you have known." the compliments were well received, although the prince just scoffed in response. without resistance, solomon let himself be led further into the temple, where the grand dragon awaited them. majestic, standing above anyone who came seeking its guidance. "clearly so. it is difficult to imagine anything comparing to it."

　　the temple itself was an architectural feat, but solomon only had eyes for its rightful centrepiece. his hand remained holding darius, eyes tracing every inch of marble. every scale perfectly chiselled into the stone, the piercing eyes that sparkled in the dim sunlight, gazing down upon them. it reminded him of his first encounter with sepherina, the redhead rendered speechless once again.

　　it was a good question, what was he thinking? eyes turned away from the dragon, only to meet those of the king once again. green gaze falling to their hands, only then pulling his own back as he cleared his throat. "it is a beautiful construction, all of this. a true blessing on behalf of your winged beast." his smile was soft, one not many had the honour to see. "we have a beast of our own, back in my kingdom...the dragon and the hydra. different, but each just as enigmatic as the other."

his  father's  political  games  with  the  other  kingdoms  had  placed  darius  in  a  critical  situation,  especially  with  the  young  ritrinc  prince.  there  was  no  doubt  darius  would  have  followed  through,  but  was  it  fair?  had  it  been  right  for  his  father  to  bind  another  to  a  loveless  life?  not  that  darius  thought  he  was  incapable  of  feeling  for  solomon,  but  his  heart  belonged  to  someone  else  &  nothing  the  young  prince  could  have  done  would  have  changed  that.  if  the  former  (almost)  king  of  vissai  had  spent  less  time  speaking  over  the  soon-to-be  king’s  head,  he  might  have  seen  the  error  of  his  ways—but  alas...

darius  was  glad  they  hadn’t  crossed  the  point  of  no  return,  because  the  last  thing  he  ever  wanted  was  to  hurt  him.  he  liked  it  better  this  way—watching  solomon’s  eyes  shine,  silent  awe  on  his  face  at  yet  another  impressive  vissaic  sight.  what  felt  so  normal  to  them  surely  painted  a  whole  other  picture  to  outsiders.  darius  had  lost  count  of  the  times  he’d  knelt  at  the  beast’s  feet  &  prayed.

holding  solomon’s  hand  for  as  long  as  he  wished,  darius  remained  standing  behind  him,  letting  his  own  gaze  wander  over  the  statue,  his  heart  thrumming  a  gentle  rhythm.  "yes,  i've  heard  and  seen  of  it.  impressive."  he  had  spent  much  of  his  youth  studying  the  other  kingdoms,  ensuring  he  knew  at  least  the  basics  of  their  native  tongues  &  traditions.  "are  you  a  believer,  prince  solomon?"  not  all  vissaians  placed  their  faith  in  the  winged  beast.  not  all  of  them  believed  in  the  crown  either.  but  darius—he  believed  in  both.  with  all  his  heart.  he  was  curious  to  know  where  the  young  prince  stood  on  faith.  not  all  royal  households  were  deeply  religious.

"The feather is also from a phoenix, it's a piece of a pinion feather." Bennett had spent many nights working on it on his own, not only was it a good chance to learn new spells and apply enchantments with items. He was always trying to push the boundaries of his skills. "I um. I just wanted to wish you luck and um. You're gonna be a great king I know it. I'm sad I won't get to like- talk to you like this ever again. But yeah. Um I brought some more snacks for her. If you are ok with that. It's rabbits. I hunted them on the way here. It's not as big as deer but I got a lot of them."

darius  had  many  little  brothers,  some  younger  than  others  -  some  bennett's  age,  though  he'd  likely  not  call  the  young  guard  his  blood,  he  still  considered  him  friend  &  maybe  ...  protegée  of  sorts.  yes,  someone  he  felt  protective  of  &  comfortable  with.  because  the  young  sorcerer  came  by  as  often  as  his  duties  would  allow,  never  once  forgetting  to  bring  gifts  for  seraphina,  who  was  most  important  to  darius,  obviously.  darius  knew  he'd  have  to  adjust  to  changes  after  becoming  king,  but  he  refused  to  reject  friends  -  crown  or  not.  especially  those  who  brought  him  gifts  that  clearly  came  from  the  heart.

the  phoenix  feather  made  sense  as  bennett  was  from  varlinnis,  but  so  was  ryker,  who...  well,  surely  &  truly  owned  the  future  king's  heart,  which  made  his  gift  even  more  special.  though  darius  would  not  voice  his  thoughts  on  that.  instead,  he  offered  him  the  warmest  smile,  holding  the  bauble  to  his  chest.  "i'll  keep  it  with  me  until  the  day  the  eternal  flame  swallows  me."  he  knew  how  to  let  the  stars  &  sun  guide  him,  knew  to  ride  the  winds  to  find  his  way,  but  this...  was  wonderful.  calloused  palm  cupped  the  boy's  cheek,  "thank  you,  bennett.  but  you'll  always  be  welcome  at  regia  ignis.  crown  or  not.  who  else  will  bring  my  lady  her  treats?"  he  smiled,  turning  his  head  sideways  to  catch  said  dragon's  eye.  she'd  been  relaxing  while  darius'  thoughts  ran  wild.  "go  on,  you  know  she  won't  bite."

Flavius had never thought about being King, why would he? He had three older brothers, they would all no doubt have children at some point, which would push him even further down the line to the throne. His upbringing had always been more relaxed, more carefree than that of his brothers, he had always assumed he'd be married off. Either to a powerful vassal or to a foreign prince for some great political alliance, but King? That was never in the cards for Flavius and he didn't mind that reality.

He knew however, that this had always weighed heavy on Darius' shoulders. Even if his brother did not want to admit it, Darius meant the world to Flavius, and he could read every spoken or unspoken thing, every expression on his brother. He knew the stress that he was under, and Flavius wanted to find a way to help relieve him of that stress, any way he could. He had been asleep but something stirred him to wake up, to go seek out Darius, and when he checked his rooms to find them empty he knew that his eldest brother would likely be in only one other place.

Clad only in a robe he had grabbed while leaving his room and the messy dark curls that graced his head, it was loosely tied around his waist, the pitter patter of his feet on the stairs as he soon found his brother star-kissed tower, he grinned and shook his head at the question,

"I fear I am not smart enough to successfully pull a coup off against my three older brothers. Else I would have years ago." He moved closer to his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. "No, I could sleep, but it hardly seemed fair for me to be sound asleep when I knew you'd be awake, unable to. I can only imagine how much weighs on you now brother. I want to help unburden you of some of that weight in anyway I can. You will not just be my brother before long, but also my King, and I want to serve you in both those roles."

"years  ago,  huh?  well,  glad  to  know  i’m  safe  for  a  little  while  longer."  darius  huffed  out  a  short  little  laugh,  pulling  his  brother  down  on  the  pillows  &  blankets  to  sit  with  him.  he  didn’t  look  like  he’d  been  up  long,  his  hair  a  mess,  a  simple  robe  slung  over  his  shoulders  &  darius  felt  guilty  being  the  cause  his  youngest  brother  was  unwell.  he  didn’t  want  anybody  to  worry  about  him.  not  because  he  wasn’t  in  balance  with  himself.  not  because  he  was  afraid  of  his  future.

"you  shouldn’t  worry  about  me,  flavi.  i’ll  be  alright."  he  …  would  be,  right?  he  had  to  be.  vissai  deserved  a  good  king,  someone  who  cared  about  its  people  &  traditions.  darius  wanted  to  be  all  that  for  them,  even  if  he  didn’t  know  whether  he  could.

"thanks,  though."  shuffling  a  little  to  lean  against  his  brother,  head  against  his  shoulder,  he  was  still  glancing  up  at  the  sky  &  all  its  stars  glowing  faintly  in  the  night.  "i  still  expect  father  to  change  his  mind.  and  …  i  don’t  know  if  i’d  mind."

deep  down  he  knew  he  would,  because  this  was  what  he  was  made  for.  his  destiny.

if  not  this,  he  wouldn’t  know  what  else  to  do  with  his  life,  because  this  was  all  he  knew.  he  didn’t  know  how  his  brothers  did  it,  being  raised  into  this  life  &  yet  …  not.  flavius  grew  up  with  more  freedom  to  make  his  own  experiences  &  while  darius  had  …  envied  him  over  the  years,  he  couldn’t  imagine  life  like  that.  without  structure,  without  a  bigger  picture  in  mind. 

"you’ll  never  have  to  serve  me,  brother.  all  i  could  ask  for  is  to  know  you’ll  have  my  back."

　　said arrogant prince had his own mix feelings in regards to the announcement. his memories of darius were ones he deeply treasured. the ride on the back of seraphina, the sights of shadowfell, and everything else that happened within the crown prince's chambers after. everything had been perfect, and yet at the end of his stay at regia imperis, he could not bring himself to accept the generous proposal. their hearts were not in the same place, and his hubris could not handle marrying into a life he did not find fulfilling.

　　and now he had to see his once betrothed take his rightful place on the throne, and muse about the life they could have had.

　　there were a few days left before attending the coronation and so the spare decided to visit some of the places he had missed on his first trip to vissai. one of those spots being the temple of the winged beast. muttering a prayer as he made his way past the door. he would have walked closer to the statue, but his balance was lost as soon as the door pushed him forward, falling knees first to the floor. agile hands stopping him before his face hit the cold marble.

solomon  held  a  special  place  in  his  heart,  not  just  for  the  time  they  shared,  but  for  the  sacrifice  the  young  prince  made  for  both  of  them.  his  choice  had  preserved  darius's  reputation,  keeping  it  untarnished  &  allowed  him  to  hold  onto  a  small,  buried  hope—that  maybe  one  day,  he'd  find  a  way  to  marry  the  man  he  loved.  the  soon-to-be  king  of  vissai  was  undeniably  grateful.  especially  because  he  knew  the  trouble  he'd  have  been  in  if  he'd  been  the  one  to  call  off  the  marriage—though,  truthfully,  he  never  would  have.

if  not  for  the  young  prince,  they'd  likely  be  married  by  now  &  solomon  would  have  become  vissai's  queen.  even  now,  darius's  heart  still  clung  to  the  hope  that  somehow,  some  way,  he  could  share  his  throne  with  the  young  varlinnis  prince  who  held  his  heart.  but  his  mind  would  never  allow  him  to  voice  that  hope.  still,  seeing  the  ritrinc  prince  before  him  filled  him  with  a  familiar  warmth,  like  meeting  an  old  friend  again,  which—fittingly—was  exactly  what  it  was.  "i'm  sorry,  i  was  a  little  distracted,"  darius  said  with  a  soft  smile.

when  the  young  prince  stood  again,  darius  gave  him  a  quick  glance,  relieved  to  see  he  was  alright.  a  hearty  clap  on  his  back  &  shoulder,  “looking  dashing  as  ever.”  then  darius  took  solomon's  hand  &  pulled  him  inside.  finding  him  here…  was  so...  like  him  &  the  soon-to-be  king  couldn't  help  but  smile.  “no,  surely  not.  no  painting  or  engraving  could  ever  capture  it.”

solomon's  presence  was  a  welcome  distraction,  a  reunion  he  had  needed.  "go  on,  take  a  look  around.  tell  me  what  you're  thinking."  he  was  curious  to  know  what  this  sacred  place—so  revered  by  the  vissaians—felt  like  to  someone  else.  much  like  the  rest  of  vissai,  the  temple  was  lit  only  by  braziers  &  daylight,  the  soft  glow  giving  everything  a  warm,  intimate  feel.

his sweat trickled down his face, dripping onto the other man's face, neck and armoured chest. the hand on the dragonrider's face moved, scratching at the facial hair as it quested down, fingers caught between the other's jaw and throat. squeezing lightly as he forced darius to give him an answer.

his focus was not lost on the happenings below the waist however. the feinhalnaar was determined to assault darius' senses from both fronts. divide and conquer, as in battle. ryker frowned as his saliva slicked fingers dipped down deep under the other man's tunic and found a hinderance to his earned prize. wicked grin, voiced raised in mock anger, "what's all this then. covering yourself up, hiding from me when i expressly ordered you not to?" fingers pulling linen cloth aside, the last two holding it back while index and middle aimed straight for darius' pretty hole. "hmmm? like you aren't going to give it up to me." a brush of two fingers at his rim. darius, he didn't deserve them just yet. ryker was far more composed than a man should be in his state. he certainly enjoyed the contrast between him and the vissai prince under him. just another thing that differentiated them. their age, their position in the bloodline, and now this.

the prince pushed in, barely, the slightest of his fingertips, but stopped there — the rider's saliva would have been enough to allow him to ease more in but ryker was holding back. "not when you're gagging for it like a whore. aren't you?" a pause as he looked down on the skywarden's body. letting the rhetorical question sink in. "your hips twitching, all wanton like you can't even control yourself. like you can't wait to get your pussy cored out. not even when we have an audience." he cast eyes to their guards, before he angled the crown prince's head towards them too. ryker wanted him to look at them, see how they were watching. darius' outnumbered his, three to one. some were indeed resolutely watching, taking their jobs seriously or mayhaps were intrigued or entertained by the proceedings; some turned slightly away, giving them the false illusion of privacy. ryker locked eyes with one of darius', almost like a dare: what are you going to do about it? your prince being claimed by his younger. all too willingly partaking in it no less. a thrill at being so public about his affections and more. but that wasn't all, it was about asserting his dominance upon the older, more well-respected man while other people, specifically his subordinates, were witnessing it.

whenever  darius  was  with  ryker,  time  ...  was  but  a  mere  construct  to  suck  the  life  from  his  very  soul,  because  no  matter  how  many  days  they  had  together,  when  the  day  of  saying  goodbye  yet  again  came,  darius  felt  like  they'd  just  reunited  a  few  mere  moments  ago.  he  didn't  know  if  ryker  felt  the  same  &  had  never  dared  asking,  too  afraid  of  giving  away  just  how  deeply  he  felt  for  the  other  in  case  he  ...  did  not.  deep  down,  the  crown  prince  of  vissai  knew  that  fear  shouldn't  reign  over  him,  but  being  in  the  position  he  was,  fear  was  seemingly  a  natural  companion.  the  other  crown  princes  -  those  he  even  felt  close  enough  to  speak  to  about  their  potential  takeovers,  seemed  to  feel  the  same  crushing  weight  upon  their  shoulders.

but  he  could  forget  about  all  that  when  they  were  together.  when  the  gentle  chime  of  ryker’s  voice  filled  the  silence,  weaving  warmth  into  the  spaces  where  doubt  had  lingered,  it  was  easy  to  believe—for  a  little  while—that  the  weight  of  the  future  crown  was  not  his  alone  to  bear.  he  found  himself  lost  in  that  world  of  make  believe  more  often  than  he'd  dare  admit.  especially  when  moments  like  this  reminded  him  that  they  were  indeed  made  for  each  other  &  darius  had  simply  been  lucky  enough  to  meet  his  soulmate  during  his  time  alive.  whether  they  could  actually  be  together  or  not.

ryker  never  failed  to  remind  him  to  focus  on  the  now.  that  bite  pulled  him  out  of  his  own  head,  darius  let  out  a  soft,  breathy  whimper,  fingers  trembling  where  they  tangled  in  ryker’s  hair.  the  sharp  sting  of  teeth  against  his  skin  sent  a  shudder  rippling  through  him,  his  body  instinctively  arching  into  the  touch  rather  than  away  from  it,  eyes  finding  the  prince's  again  -  dark  &  overflowing  with  trust  need.  heat  bloomed  beneath  the  surface,  a  brand  that  would  fade  far  too  soon,  much  like  the  space  between  them  when  duty  inevitably  called  him  back.  marks  didn't  ...  worry  him  for  he  could  have  lovers.  he  assumed  he  could,  though  he'd  never  explicitly  inquired  whether  it  was  allowed  or  not.  not  that  it  mattered,  the  fact  ryker  wanted  to  leave  his  mark  on  darius'  skin  was  ...  compliment  enough  that  consequences  didn't  faze  him  in  the  slightest.

his  breath  came  in  shallow,  uneven  gasps,  catching  in  his  throat  as  ryker’s  fingers  pressed  against  his  jaw,  his  grip  firm  yet  measured—controlling  but  not  cruel.  never  cruel.  darius  had  spent  his  life  commanding  attention,  standing  tall  beneath  the  weight  of  expectation,  but  here,  in  ryker’s  hands,  he  felt  stripped  of  all  that,  unmade  and  undone  in  a  way  that  only  he  was  allowed  to  see.

his  lashes  fluttered,  a  quiet,  needy  sound  escaping  as  ryker  pulled  his  fingers  from  his  mouth,  leaving  him  aching  for  something  to  replace  the  absence.  his  lips  parted  instinctively  at  the  light  slap  to  his  cheek,  not  from  pain  but  from  the  sheer,  dizzying  rush  of  being  handled  like  this.  his  voice,  when  he  finally  found  it,  was  barely  above  a  whisper,  breathless  and  ...pleading.

“i—”  he  swallowed,  the  words  caught,  his  throat  tight  beneath  ryker’s  hold.  “please…  i  need  you.”  not  want.  need.  his  gaze  flickered  up,  wide  &  wanting,  stripped  of  all  pretense.  don’t  make  me  beg  for  it.

fingers  trailed  down  his  thighs  &  that  was  all  he  could  think  about  with  fingers  no  longer  pulling  his  whole  attention.  “f-forgive  me,”  he  murmured,  voice  barely  more  than  a  breath,  though  there  was  a  rushed  worried  undertone,  laced  with  something  dangerously  close  to  pleading.  “i  must  have  forgotten  myself.”  a  lie.  they  both  knew  it.  he'd  been  afraid  to  stumble  upon  someone  else.  but  if  ryker  wanted  to  hear  him  admit  his  fault,  if  he  wanted  submission  wrapped  up  in  pretty  words,  darius  would  give  it  to  him  freely.  anything  to  keep  him  from  holding  back.  anything  to  get  what  he  wanted  craved.

his  fingers  curled  into  the  sand  beneath  him,  grasping  at  something—anything—to  ground  himself.  the  heat  of  the  grains  pressed  into  his  skin,  fine  dust  clinging  to  his  palms  as  if  the  earth  itself  sought  to  tether  him,  to  keep  him  from  floating  away  on  the  force  of  his  own  need.  his  hips  shifted,  barely,  an  unspoken  invitation.  “how  shall  i  make  amends.  i'll  do  anything,  ry.”

though  he  didn't  get  to,  because  ryker  moved  fast.  the  dragonrider's  trembled  beneath  him,  a  shuddering  breath  torn  from  his  lips  as  the  smallest  push  of  ryker’s  fingers  sent  a  shockwave  through  his  body,  want  pooling  low  in  his  belly.  gods  please.  it  was  maddening.  his  spine  arched  instinctively,  hips  betraying  him  with  the  yet  another  desperate  twitch—more  than  enough  to  prove  the  varlinnis  prince  right.   

the  command  was  unspoken,  but  ryker  made  certain  he  obeyed.  darius  resisted  at  first,  jaw  tightening  just  slightly,  but  the  fingers  at  his  chin  were  insistent,  tilting  his  head  until  his  gaze  followed  ryker’s  own.  the  sight  before  him  sent  fresh  heat  rushing  to  his  cheeks—his  own  guards,  standing  firm,  unwavering,  but  watching.  some  turned  away,  granting  him  a  sliver  of  dignity,  but  others…  others  looked.  their  expressions  unreadable,  their  loyalty  unquestioned,  but  the  weight  of  their  eyes  burned  against  his  skin  all  the  same.  he  usually  tried  to  ignore  them,  for  his  own  sanity,  but  found  it  difficult  when  so  openly  confronted  with  their  presence.

shame  curled  in  his  gut  &  yet—gods,  it  only  made  the  ache  sharper.  his  fingers  dug  into  the  sand  beneath  him,  grasping  at  something—anything—to  ground  himself.  but  there  was  nothing.  only  ryker,  only  the  unbearable  slowness,  only  the  deep,  satisfied  chuckle  from  the  man  above  him  &  the  knowledge  that  if  not  until  then,  they  definitely  had  an  audience  now.  he  swallowed  hard,  voice  barely  above  a  breath  regardless,  because  those  words  from  before  still  whirled  around  inside  his  head.  like  you  can't  wait  to  get  your  pussy  cored  out.  he  could  indeed.....not  wait.  "for  you—"  audience  not  forgotten,  but  ..  set  aside  to  worry  about  later.  let  them  see  the  real  you,  what  about  it,  right?  right.

darius’  breath  hitched,  his  body  taut  with  mortification  &  need  in  equal  measure.  the  weight  of  ryker’s  words  pressed  down  on  him,  as  heavy  as  the  man  himself,  sinking  into  his  very  bones.  show  them.  the  demand  curled  around  his  mind,  insidious  &  damning.  the  shame  of  it  burned  through  him—but  it  did  not  chase  away  the  arousal  pooling  in  his  gut.  lifting  one  hand  to  grasp  at  ryker’s  wrist  where  it  held  his  jaw.  not  to  push  him  away—no,  he  wouldn’t.  he  couldn’t.  instead,  his  grip  was  weak,  a  silent  plea  as  his  thighs  shifted,  spreading  wider  beneath  the  man  above  him,  his  skirt  &  tunic  riding  up  more.  he  turned  his  head  just  slightly,  baring  his  throat  further  in  unfiltered  submission,  letting  the  restriction  of  ryker’s  hold  control  the  movement  rather  than  resisting  it.

the  ghost  of  hot  breath  against  his  lips  sent  a  shiver  through  him  &  darius  barely  held  back  the  whimper  clawing  at  his  throat.  it  was  too  much  &  not  enough.  his  lashes  fluttered,  gaze  heavy,  imploring,  as  his  mouth  parted—his  tongue  flicking  out  ever  so  slightly,  desperate  for  the  taste  of  the  man  keeping  him  pinned.  a  quiet,  trembling  breath  escaped  him,  and  when  he  spoke,  his  voice  was  softer,  stripped  of  every  last  remnant  of  his  usual  composure.  "please."  a  confession  in  one  word,  an  offering,  submission  laid  bare  in  a  way  that  left  him  trembling.  "please,  ryker.  i—"  eyes  glossed  over,  body  a  mess  of  shivers,  trying  so  desperately  to  angle  his  hips  just  right  for  more  &  voice  his  rough  with  quickened  breaths. 

not  even  the  spectacle  in  the  sky  above  could  pull  his  attention,  he  doubted  anything  could  with  how  his  body  was  burning  for  the  other's  touch.  if the tremble in his voice or dripping arousal underneath his tunic wasn't proof enough for how badly darius craved him, then...    "i  need  you.  gods,  please.  i  need  you."

"   perhaps i haven't missed the party after all, seeing as your people are still enjoying the revelry.   "           samras says, looking down from the balcony to the crowd still bustling below-- still drinking, dancing, and singing praises to their new king, though there are some that are already pulling down decorations and cleaning up.

he wondered then, if the time for his own coronation would come, would the people also celebrate him this way? the people of lysain, with all of their love and support for their crown prince, are still different from the people of vissai. would he even deserve the throne?

with a sigh, he finally turns to darius with the prettiest smile he could muster, even if it's small.    "   you look so different now, your highness.   "    he says, bowing to show his respect.    "   i really regret not coming to your coronation. how does it feel? the crown on your head?   "

“it  has  been  many  years  since  my  father  was  crowned.”  the  people  of  vissai  were  unlike  any  other  &  darius  would  not  trade  them  for  all  the  kingdoms  in  the  world.  no  doubt  every  realm  had  its  loyal  subjects,  but  none,  he  was  convinced,  were  quite  like  his  own.  for  the  past  week,  the  streets  of  drakereach  had  been  bathed  in  firelight  &  music  &  even  now,  revelers  carried  on,  as  if  unwilling  to  let  the  festivities  end.  he  could  only  hope  they  would  continue.

it  would  not  do  to  be  the  first  king  in  history  to  sour  his  people’s  joy  within  mere  days  of  his  reign.  many  travelers  had  already  taken  their  leave,  yet  not  all  had  departed.  darius,  for  his  part,  was  simply  enjoying  the  cool  night  air  from  the  very  balcony  where,  just  yesterday,  he  had  delivered  his  coronation  speech.  it  had  gone  well—so  well,  in  fact,  that  he  might  even  allow  himself  a  measure  of  pride.

with  a  little  …  breath,  darius  caught  the  prince's  gaze,  “good.  i  would  not  have  missed  yours.”  vissai’s  alliances  were  no  trivial  matter  &  darius  had  spent  years  ensuring  their  strength.  he  had  traveled  far  &  wide,  forging  ties  between  his  house  &  the  royal  families  of  foreign  lands,  knowing  that  in  times  of  hardship,  division  would  mean  ruin.  to  miss  the  coronation  of  another  sovereign  would  be  to  unravel  that  work,  to  cast  years  of  diplomacy  &  trust  into  question.  such  a  slight,  whether  intended  or  not,  would  be  unthinkable.  if  it  had  been  him,  his  father  would  have  kept  the  crown  for  another  thirty  years,  surely. 

he  exhaled  a  quiet,  breathy  laugh,  fingers  idly  twisting  one  of  the  many  rings  adorning  his  hands.  "truthfully?  it  feels  much  the  same  as  before—if  one  ignores  the  crushing  weight  of  expectation  and  the  ever-looming  specter  of  failure  at  one’s  back."  his  lips  curled  into  a  wry  smile,  head  tilting  slightly.  "so,  in  essence—light  as  a  feather."

Darius' nerves stunk. Along with manipulating emotions, he could easily sense the emotions in someone else, their anxiety, fear, anger and pleasure, and Darius was very much in need for a day off, or at least the next couple of hours. As he not-as-soon-to-be king sunk deeper into the water, his arm reaching back and around Darius, he put a little more focus into calm and soothing breaths, that expelling out of him and into the air, only made stronger as Percy's arm resting against Darius' back, the skin to skin contact making it easier. " Let me take the edge off," He asked, not wanting to just do this without his friends' permission, his voice was a soft and deep. His hand on Darius' other side, reached forward, resting on Darius' shoulder as he rubbed it softly, " Trying to pent your nerves on me...making me think of my Kinghood," He teased, despite feeling those nerves all the same, as much as he was amazing at making those around him happy, was he capable of making an entire Kingdom the same? As Darius' leaned into him, Percy accepted the comfort, his legs moved closer in the water, pressed against Darius' own, arm slinking more around the other's shoulders, hand now pass Darius' shoulder, fingers dancing lightly on his chest, " I will say...I'm surprised you don't have Ryker here right now," He admitted, knowing full well of their courtship.

he’d  known  perseus  for  a  long  time—almost  as  long  as  the  younger  prince  had  been  alive.  maybe  just  as  long,  actually.  some  days,  he  felt  his  age  more  keenly  than  others,  especially  when  he  looked  around  at  the  faces  surrounding  him.  perseus,  samras,  lys…  he  could  have  been  their  father,  a  thought  that  only  underscored  how  long  it  had  taken  for  his  own  to  deem  him  worthy  of  vissai’s  crown.

his  head  tilted  back,  resting  lightly  against  perseus’  arm.  the  younger  prince  had  always  been  good  at  this—at  making  him  feel...  lighter.  whether  it  was  at  his  lavish  parties  or  just  the  two  of  them,  away  from  the  world  &  its  expectations.  "your  kinghood,  right."  darius  chuckled  softly.  "because  it’s  so  common  to  forget  who  you  are."  as  if  any  of  them  could.  they  were  born  with  this  weight  &  would  carry  it  until  the  end  of  their  days.  would  he...  one  day  place  that  same  burden  on  a  child  of  his  own?  was  there  another  way?  perhaps  he  could  find  one.  he  did  not  wish  this  pressure  on  anyone  else.

but  right  now,  he  was  comfortable.  this  was  comfortable.  a  soon-to-be  king,  curled  up  in  the  arms  of  a  younger  man—a  sight  to  behold,  surely.  darius  would  never  allow  himself  such  ease  in  public,  &  his  father...  well,  if  he  ever  knew  the  truth  about  his  son,  speechless  would  be  an  understatement.

oh. he  let  the  silence  linger,  the  weight  of  his  own  words  settling  over  him  like  a  too-heavy  cloak.  the  thought  of  seeing  him  again—of  feeling  the  warmth  of  his  touch,  the  quiet  understanding  in  his  eyes—was  both  a  comfort  &  a  torment.  he  wanted  to  be  patient,  to  carry  himself  with  the  dignity  expected  of  him,  but  gods,  it  was  hard.  his  heart  was  a  caged  thing,  restless  &  aching,  beating  itself  raw  against  the  bars  of  duty.  he’d  spent  years  learning  to  silence  it,  to  put  the  kingdom  first,  to  deny  himself...  but  when  it  came  to  him,  all  those  carefully  built  walls  felt  paper-thin.  "he’s  not  in  vissai  yet,"  he  murmured,  half-lidded  gaze  drifting.  "otherwise,  i’d  be  hiding  away  with  him  already."  he  exhaled,  slow  &  deep. 

"when  my  father  was  injured,  he  came  to  stay  with  me  for  a  while,  but  he  returned  home  not  long  ago.  he’s  not  expected  to  arrive  for  a  few  more  days."  him  &  the  varlinnis  royal  family.  “who  knows,  might  just  pack  my  pack  and  leave.”  as  if  he  could.