Of Lips That I Am Yet to Kiss
Prince Roman was cursed to sleep for the rest of eternity. As if that wasn't cruel enough, he could still listen to everything happening around him. For almost a hundred years, Roman has been stuck listening to the world go on without him. It was a terribly lonely, maddening way to live.
That is, until a new caretaker is assigned to him. One that actually seems to care.
Huge huge huge thank you to @wisecolorthing for beta reading. They were such a huge help and I'm incredibly grateful for it.
AO3 link
Pairing: Royality, Platonic Intruality, Creativitwins
Warnings: Background minor character death, references to neglectful parents, and allusions to suicide (it doesn't take place, but a character is worried it did). This is angst with a happy ending though, I promise.
Word Count: 6976
Prince Roman was cursed. And he found it extremely boring. Day after day, lying in bed, asleep but not truly asleep. Dead to the world but able to hear everything around him. It was a cruel form of torture.
He felt the sun creep in through the chamber windows, the light warming his face.
The familiar clacking of footsteps came down the hall, and he recognized them immediately. With nothing else to do but listen for the past century or so, Roman was able to tell everyone by just their footsteps and their movements.
His caretaker came into the room, ready to ensure that the Prince was still at his best. His current caretaker pulled his hair too hard when brushing it.
But there was a second set of footsteps, one that Roman didn't recognize. The two sets of footsteps paused right outside the room. The heavy wooden door creaked open, and soft, hesitant footsteps made their way to Roman. Soft hands Roman never felt before gently brushed his cheek on the way to push his hair out of his face.
Roman's regular attendant then took over. They sat Roman up to brush his hair (pulling too hard, ouch), washed his face, changed his clothes. Occasionally the newcomer would step in before the regular decided that they were too slow and took control again.
When the person with the soft hands was yanked away, Roman immediately wished for them to come back.
But no such luck.
With Roman completely dressed and his pillow fluffed under him, Roman was left alone again.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
The following days were the same. The attendant and the person with gentle hands would come in and care for him, and then it was back to nothing.
Roman couldn't even get the momentary reprieve of actually falling asleep.
So he waited.
But one morning, Roman heard only one set of footsteps come down the hall - one that was not his normal caretakerâs. Roman tried to fight down the hope that fluttered up in his chest. But he couldn't help but feel his excitement grow as the door was unlocked.
And then those soft hands were back on his face, pushing his hair away.
Those hands very gently sat him up, rather than rudely yanking him around like a rag doll. Fingers ran their way through his wavy hair and Roman wished he could lean into the touch.
"...Hello," the person said so softly Roman wouldn't have heard it, had he not become proficient in listening over the years. "My name is Patton. I'm your new caretaker."
Roman could've cried, had he been able to. It had been so long since someone had uttered a word to him.
Hello! It's so lovely to meet you.
"I know I'm not allowed to speak to you," Patton continued to whisper, hands still running through his hair, "But I thought that must be so lonely."
It is, Patton. It is.
The rule had been created by Romanâs grandparents before he was born, then upheld by his mother and father. They thought themselves too high to be talked to from the help unless absolutely necessary or spoken to.Â
Roman and his brother - he tried to ignore the sharp pangs of grief that always came with the thought of Remus - had gotten most of the friendlier servants to ignore the rule and talk with them. And once he fell asleep, those servants would come in and talk to Roman. Tell him the happenings of the castle and the village, of the gossip between staff. His friends continued to speak to him like nothing was different - as if Roman could actually respond.
Until his parents caught them and fired them all. They hired new staff and enforced the rule even more diligently than before. Something about treating royalty with respect. Roman was forced into silent solitude.
Patton's hands stopped running through his hair, and Roman wanted to cry out and ask him to keep doing those comforting motions. But then Patton started brushing his hair, and he was soft - gently working through the small knots that appeared rather than yanking through them like some others.
Though Roman was, technically, asleep, there was nothing restful about the state he was in. For the first time in probably decades, Roman let himself relax.
"I've been here for a few months now," Patton continued, "Cleaning the castle and serving the Baron. But then Catherine - that's the woman before me - wanted someone to replace her in attending you, and I volunteered. I'm glad I did. I hadn't realized how little they actually did for you."
Roman really, really, wanted to cry.
"I don't know if you can hear me," Patton sighed, "But I think speaking to you anyways would be comforting."
Yes, Roman thought, It really is.
"Maybe you'll recognize my voice when you wake up."
Patton finished brushing his hair and moved to wash his face. The rag was soft and the water was warm, and Roman felt happier than he had in a long, long time.
"The current Baron is... um... hm," Patton said, pausing to ponder how to word his thoughts. "We're not allowed to speak ill of the Baron, but I don't think you'll tell anyone," he whispered, "He isn't very nice."
Roman would've been amused at Patton's antics if the thought wasn't so worrying.
The first person to take the throne after Roman's parents died was not Remus, which was incredibly concerning. It was their parentsâ first advisor. And after that, someone the advisor trusted. Then that person picked a successor, and then that person did, until now they were at the fourth person to rule that wasn't a part of the royal family.
A messy political situation, to be sure.
"But I don't see much of him, so I'm alright," Patton said as he put his rag down, "And he'll be gone once you wake up."
If I wake up.
"I hope you don't mind me undressing you," said Patton, "I'm sorry you can't respond, but you need fresh clothes, your highness."
Roman immediately hated the way the royal title sounded coming from Patton's mouth.
Patton changed Roman's clothes, and Roman was amused, but also grateful, with how Patton did his best to avoid touching below his belt, muttering apologies every few seconds.
"Well, there you are, your majesty," he said. Roman was disappointed that Patton had to leave, and he wanted to believe that that was disappointment in Pattons' voice, too. "I'll see you tomorrow, then. Rest well."
And with that, Patton was gone.
Roman already missed Patton's voice, his soft touch. It was the closest thing to social interaction he'd had in god knows how long. He was looking forward to tomorrow, and he tried his best to think of anything else to pass the time and not dwell on the sing-song voice of his new attendant.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
His parents had occasionally come in to talk to him.
They would sit by his bedside, and tell him everything that princes needed to know: How the economy was doing, new decrees they had written, new taxes to be created. It was extremely dull. Except when they explained what happened to Roman.
Roman had been cursed by the king of the neighboring kingdom his parents started war with. The King had said the only way he would wake Roman was if they handed their kingdom over to him.
They hadn't. They killed him in cold blood.
His parents didn't sound remorseful when they told him this.
"But don't worry, Roman," his mother had said, "We already have the castle mage working on a way to break this curse."
Well, he didn't.
His parents never seemed worried for years. Just once Roman wanted them to break down in tears - to show their regret over killing the King before the curse was broken, to show regret for what they had done.
But they only grew worried once they grew old, and Roman wasn't awake to take the throne.
So they weren't really concerned for Roman, just the monarchy.
Roman felt guilty that he didn't feel sad when a servant came to announce his parents' deaths. He was just happy to have heard a voice after so long.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
"Good morning, your highness," Patton said once the door was securely shut - He was nervous about being caught speaking to Roman. "I hope you're well today."
As well as I can be.
Patton reminded Roman of his old friends. He, too, talked to Roman like nothing was out of the ordinary. Which was bittersweet, since Roman couldn't actually respond. But it was nice to be treated like a normal person.
"Gracious it's stuffy in here," Patton huffed, "I know they keep the door locked for your safety, but jeezy creezy, it sure does get hot."
Roman was certain it was summer, or at least nearing it. With the sun hitting him directly from the windows in the afternoons and the room staying locked, Roman had spent many summers feeling like he was trapped inside a furnace.
Patton walked around to the other side of the bed and let out a small grunt before pushing one of the windows open.
"There," he said, "Hopefully that will help."
The soft breeze that came through the window was an immediate relief.
Patton chattered on as he brushed out Roman's hair and washed his face. Apparently he was very excited for summer, going on about swimming and the summer festival and strawberries and peaches his neighbor grew.
It all sounded wonderful. Roman couldn't wait to wake up and experience all the happy things of summer, not just the incessant heat.
Roman heard Patton humming as he rustled through one of Romanâs chests.
âIâll be just a moment. Iâm trying to find you thinner clothes for this weather. It wonât be your usual princely garb, Iâm afraid, but they should be much more comfortable.â
When Patton came back and changed him, Roman could instantly feel the difference between this outfit and the clothes chosen for him yesterday.
Patton pressed the back of his hand to Roman's forehead.
"Oh, you're still burning up! Wait here."
As if Roman could do anything else.
A cool, damp cloth was placed onto his forehead and Roman hadn't felt this comfortable in a long time.
"There you are, highness," Patton said softly, hand brushing against Roman's cheek before being yanked away. Roman wished he could pull the hand back to him.
"I do have other duties, but I'll pop in throughout the day to make sure you don't get too hot again! I'll see you later, Prince Roman."
Roman's heart was so full. It just felt so, so nice to finally have someone look out for him again.
And Patton kept his word, coming in occasionally and changing the cloth on Roman's forehead, telling Roman all about his day so far ("Can you believe that the Baron didn't touch any of his sweets at lunchtime? I knew that man was crazy.").
All Roman could think was how did he get so lucky, for Patton to come into his life.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
The sun started to creep through Roman's curtains, and he grew impatient for time to move faster. But then finally he heard soft footsteps walk down the hallway and his heart fluttered in excitement.
"Good morning, Prince Roman," Patton said, though his voice was not not nearly as cheery as usual.
Well, that would not do at all. Whatever had upset him, Roman would vanquish as soon as he awoke. Nothing could upset his dear Patton, nothing-
"I have good news this morning. They've got a princess coming to try and lift your curse."
Great.
So someone, somehow, found out that Roman's curse could be broken with true love's kiss. True love was a powerful thing, able to counter almost every curse.
Supposedly.
Roman grew doubtful as the years passed.
But his parents managed to even mess that one up, insisting that Roman's true love was of course no other than a princess. So only princesses from kingdoms worth their merit were invited to try and wake him.
And there was another teensy, tiny little problem: Roman had never been interested in princesses. So unless his true love somehow managed to sneak onto castle grounds, past the guards, and manage to find his way through the maze of hallways and doors to find roman's room, well, Roman was as good as dead for the rest of eternity.
"I wish I could tell you more," Patton continued as he brushed Roman's hair out of his face in that familiar, comforting manner, "But servants aren't told special information like that. I only heard because I was serving the head staffs' breakfast this morning. But I thought you'd like to know before someone comes and kisses you."
Yes, thank you.
"This is good news,â Patton said, though he didn't sound particularly happy.
"This is good," He said more firmly, though it sounded like he was talking more to himself, "You can wake up, and you can take your rightful throne away from the Baron."
Roman was very unfond of this Baron already. Patton hadn't spoken much of his political actions, but Patton did once come in sniffling after he yelled at Patton for dropping a tea tray, so this man had to go.
"I hope she's nice," Patton whispered, hand barely tracing Roman's cheek before once again being yanked away, "After all this, you at least deserve a queen who's kind."
Roman wanted more than nothing to reach out towards Patton. That wouldn't be most people's first concern, the new queen being kind.
"This is good news," Patton repeated quietly.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
A few days later, Roman heard many pairs of footsteps approach his chambers. His wing of the castle never got much traffic anymore, so this many people was only for one thing.
Regularly, Roman received a bath and new bedding, which required a small team of people. This never really mattered to Roman until he met Patton, and he realized Patton couldnât speak to him on those days.
But Roman had received a bath and bedding just two days prior, so it must be a very special occasion. The princess must be coming later. Not much else was special for him.
As Roman was picked up and undressed and placed into the water basin (Patton must be the one to draw the baths now, as the water was actually warm, bless him), he could occasionally feel Patton's soft hands brush against his skin. He did his best to follow Patton's footsteps, to keep track of where he was in the room, and hope that he would soon return to him.
Roman's head was currently rested against Patton's shoulder, forehead touching the crook of his neck, as Patton gently scrubbed Roman's arms. Roman was in heaven. But then he heard that familiar disapproving sigh from Catherine, and soon Patton was replaced, and Catherine was not as gentle as Patton.
At least Patton was the one to rub his hair dry with a towel.
Once Roman was dressed and styled and laid back on fresh bedding, he was left alone.
Roman felt the sun move across the sky through his open curtains, and after a few hours he again heard footsteps walking down the hall: Patton's, Catherine's, and a stranger's.
"Thank you so much for coming, Princess Arabella," Catherine said as her voice grew clearer. They were right outside now. âAnd if you need anything at all, just ask Patton and heâll get it for you right away. Right, Patton?â Her voice was much harsher than it had been with the Princess.
"Yes, ma'am."
The door opened and closed, and Catherine's footsteps walked down the hallway. The room was silent until the sound of her footsteps disappeared.
"So. You 'escape' my castle just to end up in another, serving a man who's basically a corpse?"
Oh, Roman did not like her.
"You can speak to me, boy."
"Yes, your highness."
Patton was the friendliest person Roman had ever met in his over one hundred years of being on planet earth. When he spoke to Roman his voice was so kind and warm. Now, he sounded scared. Ashamed. Roman didn't like it one bit. What he would give to sit up and wrap Patton in his arms, telling the woman to leave immediately and assure Patton that it was okay, it would all be okay. If only Roman could comfort his dear friend.
Roman lay still.
"So I suppose your little dreams of leaving me to go off on your own didn't work out like you hoped?"
"No, your highness."
"I suppose that had something to do with the men who robbed you just outside the kingdom, yes?"
"How did you..." Patton started before trailing off, the answer evident as the woman let out a condescending laugh.
Roman despised her.
"I was fond of you, Patty," she said, her dress rustling against itself as she approached the bed, "I told you leaving me would end poorly."
Just kiss me already so you can leave.
"He's handsome enough, I suppose," she said as she traced a finger down Roman's face. Her hands weren't soft like Patton's. Her cold fingertip made chills run down his spine and her sharp nail dug into his skin.
Cold lips were pressed against his.
Roman knew that there was no way this woman could be his true love, but for a moment he was worried that he'd be able to open his eyes and she'd be the first thing he'd see and-
Nothing. Roman was actually relieved that all he could do was stay still.
"Oh, well," Arabella sighed. Though she didn't sound upset. "It's not like I'm having a hard time finding suitors to rule besides, anyways."
Roman heard Patton mutter something. He hoped that the Princess didn't hear whatever it was.
"What was that?" she snapped.
Roman was immediately back to wishing he could get up.
"N-nothing, your highness-"
"I'm not stupid, boy. Tell me what you said or I'll have you dragged out of here and-"
"I said that he will be a better ruler than you," Patton said, trying to be defiant, though Roman could hear the tremor in his voice, "And he's better off without you."
Oh, how Roman wanted to pull Patton behind him and defend him from whatever was about to be thrown at him.
For a moment, all that was heard was the princess's heavy breathing.
But then she laughed.
"Do you- do you think- that you know this man?" Arabella struggled to say through her laughter. "You come in here for, what? An hour a day? Brush his pretty hair and change him and ogle him-"
"I don't-"
"And now you know him?"
"I just-"
"Oh, oh! Do you wish for him to be your true love?"
âI-"
âOh, that is rich!â Her laughter died as quickly as it came. "But Patty, you do know me. And you know that I will be nothing but a firm, competent ruler. Unlike this lot, who let their son fall under a curse for a century. And I'm sure you know that I can have you thrown in jail for the rest of your pathetic little life if I wanted."
Patton said nothing, though Roman did hear a soft sniffle from where he was standing.
"...I'm sorry, your highness."
"You are pathetic," she sneered, "And trust me. I know no royalty would ever have anyone as small and insignificant as you for their 'true love.'"
"Yes, your highness."
"Now let's go deal with your rude little outburst."
Her footsteps left the room and slammed the door behind her. Patton slowly walked over to Roman's bed.
"...I suppose she's right," Patton whispered.
Roman wanted to scream. He wanted to shout at that horrible woman for making Patton cry. To tell her how wonderful Patton was. To tell her how awful of a human being she was and worse of a queen she'll be. He wanted to hold Patton tightly against him and assure him that he is better than she would ever be. That Roman would never let anything bad happen to Patton ever again.
"I don't really know you," he finished after a moment.
No, no, you're my friend, Roman thought desperately, My dearest friend. Isn't that enough?
Patton sighed, brushed the hair from Roman's face, and left.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
Patton wasn't back the next morning.
Roman was panicking the rest of the day. Panic was a painful sensation when one had no physical way to relive that anxiety. His chest was too tight and his body too heavy and it hurt. It only worsened over the next few days as people who weren't Patton kept coming in to grab at him and change him. So, when Roman heard soft footsteps come down the hallway, and then soft hands gently brushed his hair away, he wanted to cry.
It's you, Roman wanted to sob out.
"Good morning, Roman," Patton said quietly.
Roman just wanted to wail out, to let out this pent up emotions that had built so heavily the last few days.
It's you, it's you. It's really you-
"I was put on leave due to my inappropriate behavior with Princess Arabella. But I'm back."
Don't ever leave again. I can't take it.
Those familiar, welcome hands sat him up against the bed frame. "I hope you don't mind, but since you learned a good deal about me the other day, I may have went out to learn about you."
Oh?
"There's some records written about you from those who worked under you when you were awake," Patton said as he brushed Roman's hair, "They were supposed to be given to your caretakers so they could learn about you, but your parents threw them out when those who wrote them were fired. But I found them hidden in the library!"
The smile on his face was evident in his voice.
"The people said that you were a very kind person, so we should be very careful with you. I knew you would be nice, I just knew it," Patton was so excited that he had stopped brushing Roman's hair, "They said you would let them talk to you, so I won't get in trouble. I knew you wouldn't mind," he said smugly.
"They talked so highly about you," his voice grew softer, "Some people really cared about you, Roman."
Yeah, Roman felt choked up, They did.
"They also said that you and your brother were big troublemakers," Patton teased.
And though the comment was lighthearted, Roman couldn't help but feel the painful sadness that accompanied the thought of Remus.
"I know you and Remus would sneak into official meetings to spy on them. The staff said they helped you two. Then they said that Remus would sneak into your bedroom late at night, and that the staff would hear you giggling into the early morning. And-"
Enough, Roman pleaded, Please, it hurts too much.
Patton paused, putting the brush down.
"If no one was allowed to speak to you, has no one told you about Remus?"
Roman wanted to cover his ears and tell Patton to stop - spare him the pain of the fate of his brother.
Remus had visited him only once. It had been their birthday - the first one since Roman had fallen asleep. Roman had been hurt that Remus hadn't come to see him, though he understood. He didn't know if he would have been able to stand seeing Remus like this.
Footsteps approached his room, and Roman knew they were Remus'. He knew Remus immediately - he always would.
The door had been angrily flung open and then slammed shut. He heard Remus' heavy breathing as he walked towards him. Remus' breathing became shaky, and then he started to cry. Remus could never be quiet, not when it came to anything. So his crying was the loud, painful, angry kind. The kind that made Roman's heart rip apart.
"Come on, Roman, you gotta wake up," he had cried out, "Come on, you idiot! Get up!"
He grabbed Roman's shoulders and pulled him up, shaking him slightly.
"Wake up! You can't leave me!" His voice cracked as his crying became more desperate. "You said you'll always be there for me, so wake! up!"
Remus dropped Roman and collapsed, crying against Roman's side, struggling to breath through his sobs.
"All our friends are gone. You can't leave me, not with mom and dad," he cried, voice muffled against Roman, "I miss you, Idiot. So you have to wake up."
Roman had tried. He tried harder in that moment than he ever had. He tried to fight against the curse, to bolt out of bed and hug Remus against him. But the curse was powerful, and there was nothing Roman could do.
Remus stood abruptly. "I'm going to wake you up," he said, "I'll find a way. I don't give a fuck what it takes. I am going to save you, Roman."
Remus ran out of the room. Roman wanted to call out after him, to stop him from doing something so insanely typical of Remus.
Roman never heard from his brother again. His parents didn't even mention him anymore. Anytime they were forced to bring him up, they would sneer and refer to him as "that idiot boy."
Roman knew that his brother was brash and quick to act, but he didn't think his brother would be so desperate to...
He couldn't finish that thought.
Roman never heard anymore of Remus' escapade. Nor did Remus ever get to marry or have children, hence why there's no heir on the throne now, and why their parents were so anxious to wake Roman up near the end of their lives.Roman couldn't help but be worried that Remus might have done something terrible to himself. He missed his brother. He missed Remus more than anything. A day didn't go by when Roman didn't think about him.
Patton moved from behind Roman to sit next to him on the bed. He took Roman's hands in his.
Roman couldn't believe that Patton was so sweet as to sit this way to try and comfort a man he wasn't even sure could hear him. He also could believe it wholeheartedly. Patton was so kind, kinder than anyone else Roman had ever met.
He hoped he got to wake up in time to see Patton's face at least once.
"Your brother did everything he could to try and find a way to break the curse," Patton said, his thumb running over the back of Roman's hand in soothing motions, "Everyone in the kingdom had heard of his efforts to save you. Even a fae."
Roman's heart stopped.
"This fae made Remus a deal. They could make the curse no longer unbreakable, could make it so you could wake from true love's kiss. But in exchange, Remus, too, must fall asleep, only able to wake when you do."
Roman's heart was now hammering in his chest. Did that mean-
"Remus agreed. He's asleep in another chamber, just down the hall. I care for him the same I care for you."
Roman first felt absolute overwhelming joy. His brother wasn't dead, he was safe. He was just down the hall and-
Oh, no.
He was stuck asleep until Roman awoke.
Has he, too, been stuck just listening to the world go by for a hundred years? Was he aware Roman might never wake up? What if Remus was mad that Roman made him stay asleep so long? What if they never woke up, and he never got to see Remus again? What if they were trapped forever? What if-
"Everyone I've spoken to in the village thinks it was a noble sacrifice. I think it's sweet that he cared so much," Patton continued, "But people here in the castle don't seem to agree," his voice took an angry tone,"While I had to be vetted for a few days before I cared for you, they let me care for Remus immediately. It seems like Remus isn't taken as seriously as you are, especially since you're the heir to the throne. The people here seem to think Remus is just... some idiot!"
All those people had to leave immediately.
"But he's royalty, too!" Patton said, voice raising in volume. Roman was worried someone was going to hear him. "But besides that he's a person and he deserves respect and care just like anyone else and-!"
Patton took a deep breath, held it, and sighed.
"Your brother is safe, is what I wanted to tell you," Patton said softly, "I'm caring for him, so please don't worry. I treat you both like my friends," Patton said, squeezing Roman's hands, "Because I like to think we are. Or maybe we're not. Maybe you actually hate me and..."
No. I could never hate you.
"No. No, that's not who your friends said you are. They said you two were kind. So I think we're friends."
Yes, Patton. Dearest friends.
A tremor of fondness fluttered in Roman's heart when Patton squeezed his hands again, and he was disappointed when Patton let go.
"Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
"Good morning, Roman! Happy birthday!" Patton said in a cute, quiet, excited voice.
Was that today? No one had mentioned his birthday in a long time. He supposed they didn't actually count since he didn't age under the curse. At least the King had been that courteous.
"Okay, your birthday was actually yesterday," Patton said as he hopped up on the bed beside Roman. If anyone saw Patton sitting by the Prince he would be fired on the spot - jailed, possibly. But Roman didn't mind, and he was glad Patton was getting more comfortable with him. "But, you know, since we bathed you yesterday I couldn't say anything. I got you something though!"
Well that was very surprising. What would you even give a basically-corpse?
"I skimmed through that book your friends wrote again to try and get ideas. And one of them said that both you and Remus hated being silent for too long. Which, oof, ya know?â
That was true. The twins preferred there be some background noise, at least, or they both grew almost physically uncomfortable. The last century has been absolutely maddening.
"So, here. I got you both one of these."
Patton took Roman's hands and encased something inside. It was a metal box with engraved detailing.
"It's a music box. It's enchanted to not play the same song over and over, so you won't get tired of a single song."
That must have cost a lot, especially considering the servants salaries. Roman had fought with his parents about it before, but his friends told him to not risk getting in trouble. They would get higher salaries later under his rule, anyways.
How that worked out.
Roman really, really wished he could hug Patton right now.
Thank you.
"I hope you like it."
I do, Patton.
"I won't play it all the time, in case you get tired of the music. I'll turn it off before I leave for the night. But I thought it'd be better than just laying in silence all day."
It is. Thank you so much.
Patton took the box out of Roman's hands and placed it on a table. He turned the crank, and a soft, gentle melody began to play.
As Patton brushed Roman's hair, Roman didn't recognize any of the songs, but Patton did. He hummed quietly along to some of them, sometimes singing in a gentle voice that left Roman utterly entranced. Maybe when he wakes up, he could ask Patton to sing some more for him.
He was pretty sure Patton would say yes. They were friends, after all.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
Roman was worried by how busy Patton was the next day. Slightly annoyed, but mostly worried. He had to rush through taking care of Roman instead of taking his time, sometimes even having to stop and run out for a few minutes.
"I'm sorry about this," Patton panted as he ran back into Roman's room, "The Baron let a lot of people go. I'm having to do three people's work."
Roman really, really hated the Baron.
Patton was in the middle of changing him when someone down the hall angrily called for him.
"I'm so sorry," Patton said in a desperate voice before running out of the room, leaving Roman half naked and sideways on the bed.
It was three songs from the music box before Patton came back.
⧠⧠⧠⧠â§
Patton stayed busy like that for days. Roman missed him, and Patton seemed remorseful he had to rush through their time together.
Roman didn't hold this against Patton, though.
Patton was clearly tired, and Roman was angry that the Baron had forced him, and the entire castle staff, to take on so much.
He prayed he would wake up soon.
The sun had set, leaving Roman in cool darkness. Patton hadn't come in yet to turn the music box off, so Roman was waiting in anticipation for their last few minutes together of the day.
Roman heard Patton's footsteps running down the hall. The door was flung open, but still shut gently.
Patton collapsed on the side of Roman's bed.
"Oh, Roman, it's terrible!," Patton cried out, voice wet from tears, "The Baron is trying to take complete control. He's saying the country can't depend on you anymore. He wants to put his son in power. He's trying to create a new monarchy! But Roman, they're both so awful. They're mean and they're cruel and they punish the servants-"
What.
"And I've listened in on their meetings, and I just know that a lot of people are going to get hurt if they take over."
Patton muffled a sob against Roman's shirt.
"There have always been people supporting you. Mostly in the village, because of how awful the past few rulers have been. But the numbers have dwindled a lot over the years. Any staff caught not supporting the Baron was let go. I barely got away with it."
No. Patton can't leave. He can't be alone again, he can't.
"The advisors want to 'send you and your brother away,' saying it's safer for you. But that's not true! Well, I don't know if it is, but I can't let them take you! Who knows what they'll actually do to you. I can't let you out of my sight. What if they hurt you?
"I don't know what to do," he said, voice small and absolutely miserable, "I need- the whole kingdom needs you. But we need to find your true love and that could be anybody and I doubt they're going to let anyone in to try now."
There was a moment of silence before Patton moved to push Roman's hair away, the familiar motion comforting.
"Whoever it is, they'll be lucky to have you," he whispered, voice still shaky, "I've heard about all the great things you did when you were awake. You're kind, and you're strong, and I know you'll do great things as king."
Patton's hand moved down to cup his cheek.
Roman's heartbeat quickened.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered so quietly Roman barely heard it, "How lucky they'll be, to see your face first thing every morning."
Patton...
Patton started rubbing his thumb over the swell of Roman's cheek, causing Roman's heart beat to go that much faster. "I hope you're as excited to see me as I am to officially meet you. I think we can be great friends."
Yes, of course I am.
"This is embarrassing, but I've thought about it a lot. About us going on adventures together, like you used to. Some with Remus, but some just the two of us. When I don't have to worry about getting in trouble for spending time with you."
It was literally killing Roman to not be able to reach out to Patton right now.
"...There's always a chance," Patton whispered, more to himself than Roman, "Do you think...?"
Yes. Whatever it is, I'll say yes for you.
"I'm sorry I can't ask permission. I hope you don't mind."
Roman knew what was going on, and it wanted it so badly.
Patton, please-
Lips were pressed against his. Soft and warm, and exactly what Roman thought it'd be like when he imagined Patton's lips on his. Roman couldn't stand not being able to move.
But then, he could.
He immediately tangled his hands in Patton's hair, feeling curls under his fingertips as he pressed his lips back against Patton's.
Patton gasped against him and pulled away. Roman opened his eyes to see brown eyes staring at him, wide in shock.
"Oh, Patton," Roman whispered, "You're beautiful."
"You know my name."
"I heard everything, darling."
Patton broke out into a smile, and Roman urgently pulled him back down to kiss him. One of Roman's hands moved from Patton's curls to Patton's back, pushing them as close together as he could. It had been so long since he'd been able to reach out to someone. But now darling, sweet Patton was in his arms, kissing him like the world depended on it and he was able to kiss back.
"Thank you," Roman whispered as they separated. He was crying - something he had pent up for a hundred years. "For being my friend."
Patton gave Roman his own watery smile as he wiped Roman's tears away.
A door was flung open down the hallway, and frantic footsteps ran quickly towards Roman's chambers, followed by the startled shouts of castle staff.
Roman let out a shaky gasp and Patton helped him sit up. He pushed himself off the bed, but movement felt foreign to him. Patton helped him stand and held him around his waist to support his shaky legs.
The door slammed open and rattled against the wall, nearly falling off its hinges.
And there was Remus. His brother, his twin, standing before him, looking exactly the same he had one hundred years ago.
"Roman," he choked out, tears falling down his face. The two ran and grabbed each other, holding on tightly as they cried into the other. They sank to the ground from the sheer exhaustion and unstable bodies.
Sleeping for a hundred years can take a lot out of you.
The two pulled apart and Roman grabbed onto Remus' face.
"You made a deal with a fae, you idiot?" he laughed.
Remus let out a wet laugh. "Yeah. It went alright, I think."
"Alright? We were both asleep for a century!"
"But we're here together, aren't we?"
And yes, that was enough. Roman pulled his brother back to him, Remus burying his face against Roman's neck.
Remus caught eye of Patton and sat up.
"Hello," Patton said with a little wave, "It's nice to see you up."
Remus' eyes widened.
"You," he breathed out as he pushed himself to his knees, legs stumbling as he tried to stand. Roman grabbed his hand to support him. "You're my friend."
"I am," Patton smiled as more tears fell down his face.
Remus reached for him, and Patton met him halfway, Remus collapsing against Patton in a hug. Patton muttered soothing words to a shaking Remus. Patton gently reached to pull Remus' hand away from his hair, which he would pull when he got stressed or nervous, or simply overwhelmed.
"It's okay. You're okay. I'm here. Roman's here."
Roman stood, fighting the shakiness in his legs as he wrapped his arms around the two others, all of them holding each other as tightly as they could.
Eventually, Patton sat the twins on the bed despite their protests. Which was a good thing, since they could all tell their legs probably wouldn't be able to support them much longer.
They were about to pull Patton down to sit with them when there were loud footsteps coming down the hall, ones that Roman recognized.
Patton went and opened the door to greet her.
"Patton, you daft boy, what on earth have you done now?" Catherine berated once she stepped into the room.
"You shouldn't speak to him that way," Roman said, pulling out his "princely" voice, "He's in line for the throne, you know."
Patton let out a little surprised squeak. Patton hadn't been thinking about the throne at all, had he, if he just realized that now. And god, Roman was so happy that Patton wanted him and not his title like everyone else who had kissed him, he thought was going to burst.
"Your- your highness!" Catherine stammered out, bowing deeply.
"Highnesses," Remus corrected from where he sat, slumped against Roman's shoulder.
"Y-yes, highnesses. I will alert the Baron at once!"
"Alright, but tell him not to bother me until tomorrow morning," Roman said, "I really am not in the mood to deal with political upset right now."
"Of course, your highness," she said before she bolted off. Patton shut the door behind her.
"Waiting until tomorrow may give him time to plan something," Remus muttered against Roman's shirt.
"Especially now that we have a castle staffed with people siding with the Baron," Patton said. Though no one moved or made any effort to do anything else.
"I'll deal with it in the morning. If mother and father did anything right, it was preparing me for the throne. And therefore, preparing me to deal with people who want to take it from me. Now Patton please come lay down with us."
Remus reached out with grabby hands.
Perhaps Roman should be more worried about the mess that was going to happen tomorrow. Perhaps he should be more concerned about how he, a century out of date, was now supposed to take his spot back on the throne. And perhaps he should put more energy into preparing how he shall greet the public for the first time.
But his "sleep" for the past one hundred years was in no way truly restful. Not once did he fall into the true blissful nothing of sleep, able to rest his mind, body, and soul.
Roman was exhausted. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. All he wanted was to stay in bed with Remus on his left and Patton on his right as they held each other tight.
And with them by his side, he didn't think he had to worry at all.
