#beanpots

teru gave in and they played cards...

Shigeo could see his every breath, and he smiled at it despite how childish it felt to do so. Though, he couldn't ignore the pain in his neck, so he stopped looking straight at the sky.

With the chill of night, along with the falling snow, he couldn't help but shiver. He was starting to regret leaving his overcoat in his room, but he had needed the fresh air.

Something settled over his shoulders. Grey material, familiar. A cape, he realized, and he gave a smile to Sir Hanazawa as he stepped to stand beside him.

"Shouldn't you have already gone to bed?" Shigeo asked. There was so much to do the next day in regards to the coronation ceremony. With Sir Hanazawa overlooking most of the guard operation, it was imperative for him to be well-rested.

"I could ask the same of you, Your Majesty." Sir Hanazawa frowned at him, then admonished, "You shouldn't be out so late."

"The moon hasn't risen that high." Shigeo tugged the cape higher so it would stop sweeping the ground with every move. Once he finished, he realized.

"You called me Your Majesty." Sir Hanazawa tilted his head. "Your Highness," Shigeo corrected.

Sir Hanazawa raised an eyebrow. "The coronation is hours from now."

"Yes, and until the crown touches my head, you will call me Your Highness."

A laugh. Bright-sounding and contagious. He tried to stay austere, but ended up smiling along.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

There was something about Sir Hanazawa's smile. The real one, the one that was happy. Before they truly met, it was dangerous and pointed. Near frightening. Now that they were on good terms, now that Sir Hanazawa was someone he knew he could trust and confide in, that smile of his was something that made Shigeo want to keep standing tall.

I'm staring, he realized. Sir Hanazawa didn't seem to mind. While in the midst of his thoughts, his knight had directed his gaze skyward.

"You haven't been outside long, have you?" Sir Hanazawa asked.

Shigeo shook his head. He held a hand out and watched as snowflakes drifted onto his palm, melting as soon as they fell. "I wonder if this is a bad omen," he mused. From the corner of his eye, he could see Sir Hanazawa turn to him.

"Don't put too much faith in omens, Your Highness."

"You're probably right," Shigeo receded, though he kept his gaze on his glove. He continued on, "It would be a shame if the people had to trek through snow tomorrow."

"I don't think it's snowing heavily enough for that."

At that moment, a large snowflake fell right between Sir Hanazawa's eyes.

He went cross-eyed and Shigeo laughed lightly. Lifting a corner of the cape, he reached up and wiped the water off Sir Hanazawa's face.

"Did you just use my cape to do that?" he asked, with an incredulous tone of voice. Shigeo took in his body language -- unoffended, he's teasing then -- and allowed himself to joke back.

"Isn't it in essence my cape?" He tilted his head towards Sir Hanazawa -- "My knight" -- he tilted his head to the cape -- "my cape."

"Your knight? I haven't sworn my vows to you yet." Then, Sir Hanazawa's eyes gained a light to them. "Unless you want me to do them now."

"No," Shigeo said quickly.

"I'll swear to you right here, if Your Highness allows."

"Your Highness does not allow."

To his horror, Sir Hanazawa was already dropping to one knee. Shigeo dropped with him, for lack of any better idea.

"Why are you kneeling, too?" Sir Hanazawa asked, voice full of laughter.

"I am not King yet-- stop lowering yourself!"

Sir Hanazawa had placed both knees on the ground and Shigeo could do nothing else but mirror him. Sir Hanazawa only laughed more-- was he going to bow lower?! Shigeo flailed before placing his hands on his shoulders to halt him.

"You're flustering me on purpose," he accused.

"I am," Sir Hanazawa agreed. Shigeo could feel his lips quirk in response.

"Stand first, would you?" he asked. "I believe my legs might be frozen."

Sir Hanazawa stood once Shigeo let go of his shoulders, and he added one last warning look to not kneel again. A hand reached out to him and Shigeo took it, letting himself be pulled up.

Oof.

He fell too far forward. He rested his forehead where it hit Sir Hanazawa's chest, letting go of his hand to brace himself.

"Are you okay?" Sir Hanazawa asked, sounding more curious than worried.

Instead of answering, he said, "Tell me no one saw that."

"No one saw that," came dutifully.

"I don't want to know if you're lying or not."

Sir Hanazawa huffed his amusement. Once it became obvious that he wasn't planning on moving, Sir Hanazawa's hands came to rest on his back. It was the loosest hug he had ever been given, but it was nice. The shared body warmth was also appreciated.

After a long moment, Sir Hanazawa asked quietly, "Do you feel better?"

Shigeo stiffened. Then, he exhaled into Sir Hanazawa's shirt. Of course he had noticed.

"I do," he answered eventually, far later than anyone would wait.

As if Sir Hanazawa had ever been just anyone.

"If it's about the safety of the people, then you know more than anyone how much we've planned for an attack," Sir Hanazawa said, matter-of-fact. "We've done our all to prepare, and we'll do our all to ensure everyone's safety."

Soothing circles started being rubbed into the small of his back. Shigeo relaxed into it. Sir Hanazawa was right. Despite the fact the rebellion could be staging an attack on the coronation ceremony, it wouldn't help anyone to be nervous. But--

"If it's about the people's opinion of you," and here Shigeo closed his eyes. It was so foolish to be anxious of what the people would think of him. Despite that, it was all he could think about, even more so than the people's safety.

He had to step up, he had to be a good leader. He knew his way around a sword, but the people's hearts? He was so terrified of letting them all down.

A finger on his chin tilted his head up and he was forced to meet Sir Hanazawa's eyes. They were kind and honest as he said, full of conviction: "Once they see the true you, they will surely fall in love."

"That's..." he trailed off because the telltale burning of his eyes was too much. For someone to believe in him that much...

He pressed his face to Sir Hanazawa's shoulder and he could feel his knight's hand move to stroke the back of his neck. He shook terribly and he was apologetic for it, but he made sure not to cry. Not then.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, muffled. “This is unbecoming.”

The hand on his neck paused. “Nothing about you is unbecoming, Your Highness.”

“Please don’t make me laugh right now.”

He could feel Sir Hanazawa about to comment, but he seemed to think better of it. Instead, the hold on him tightened and Shigeo allowed himself to hold on just as tight.

Once he collected himself, he moved out of the embrace to meet Sir Hanazawa's eyes. He took one of his hands in his and promised: "I will make sure your faith in me is not misplaced."

He received a smile, The Smile, in return. "I have no doubt that you will, Your Majesty."

He let him get away with it. Funnily enough, the title was a bit less scary than it was just an hour ago.

Sir Hanazawa cleared his throat before speaking again. "You should get to bed. Would you like me to escort you back?"

"It's alright. You need to get some rest, too." Shigeo let go of his hand and smiled. "Thank you for tonight," he said genuinely, hoping that Sir Hanazawa knew how thankful he was to have such a friend.

"You're welcome," Sir Hanazawa said after staring a moment. His cheeks were flushed. They'd probably been out in the cold for too long.

They exchanged good nights before parting ways, and Shigeo walked through the entrance of the castle, feeling lighter and warmer than one ought to feel after standing outside while it was snowing.

He had only taken a few steps before realizing that he still had Sir Hanazawa's cape. He held the fabric between two fingers, considering. Then, he wrapped it tighter around himself and continued walking back to his room.

He could always return it tomorrow.