#kahnah23

The other prince, young Gavin, though really not much younger than him, had started scheming to take him to their garden. His whole face filled with smirks and giggles and with the promise of the destination and the thrill of going with the person taking him there, Ryan couldn’t say no. The Stoneworld never had time or space for a garden, but the Jungles here left lush vegetation that the palace here seemed to enjoy collecting. Ryan couldn’t help but be curious as to what this garden looked like. Though he hadn’t expected the other half of the prince’s grand plan was taking the tight secret passageways there.

“Ok, I think they passed,” Gavin breathes, pushing away. Ryan resists reaching out and pulling him back. Aching to hold him, feel his warmth and his smile. He hasn’t known the other long, this only his fourth or fifth visit with him since trade and treaty negotiations started with their neighbors. Despite the short time, it hadn’t taken long to fall hopelessly for him. But it isn’t right or the time, so he tries to stuff the feelings down yet again, shoving those thoughts to be forever locked away.

“That’s good,” Ryan says instead, clearing his rough voice. “Are we far?”

“No, it’s right around here,” Gavin beams. The boy always seems so bright, those green eyes huge and full of wonder and excitement. So different from anyone else he’s met in Stoneworld. He can’t remember the last time he’s even seen someone this happy. This excited about something as simple as showing off a garden.

“Come on,” Gavin adds, taking his hand before Ryan can realize what he was doing and pulling him along. Ryan wraps his hand back around his, his stomach churning at the contact.

God, what his mother would be thinking if she saw him like this. Blustering like an idiot over her so called ‘enemy’. She doesn’t need to know about this, though. He can have this. It’ll be ok to have this. Right?

Gavin weaves with expert ease through the thin passageways, chuckling in glee and dragging Ryan along. Before long they’re bursting outside the castle, moving around a hidden boulder behind some bushes of the garden. Ryan steps out into the sunlight, warm and intense as it peaks out amongst the towering trees. His free hand raises to cover the light, squinting and blinking as he adjusts. Slowly a world of color sharpens in his vision, swarms of blues and reds and purples and greens. So, so much green.

Ryan spins around in awe, looking at each and every plant and flower and tree, so much more life than he’s ever seen growing all in this small place. He doesn’t realize how silent he had become, how slack-jaw until he hears giggling besides him.

“You like it?” Gavin’s soft voice is heard, moving to his side. “I can’t believe you don’t have a garden where you’re from. This is one of my favorite places in the whole kingdom.”

“I can see why,” Ryan hums, focused on all the colors. He carefully steps towards a flower bush in front of him. He has no idea what they are, but their petals stick out, blooming shades of red and orange. He reaches up, fingertips brushing the fabric of the petals. It bends under the weight, soft and delicate. Surviving with the plentiful rain and sunlight that blesses the land, thriving from it. So unlike anything in his colder, desolate soils from home.

He catches Gavin at the corner of his eye, standing besides him, staring. His expression is soft, eyes glittering and shining, as lush and vibrant as the greens of the garden. But more so, filled with emotions Ryan doesn’t think anyone has ever looked at him with. Adoration, admiring, awe. Ryan feels his whole face and ears warm, but he can’t bring himself to tell him to stop or apologize for being so distracted from him with a simple flower.

“Gorgeous, aren’t they?” Gavin pipes up, chuckling in a way that warms Ryan’s heart.