WATERBOTTLER 1.4

He can picture it, Sonic curled up like he does when the blue hedgehog escapes the castle for a nap in the grass. Safe. Cozy. Treasured.

Lancelot’s heart lurches at the thought of it, and he aches.

It’s a foolish thing, driven by instincts he didn’t even know he had, and it’s starting to cause him to lose sleep. Both Percival and Galahad had inquired after his health today. Percival had even gone so far as relieving him of duty early so he could get some rest, after plucking a stray feather from one of the pillows from his quills.

He can’t let this go on.

Lancelot especially can’t let anyone see the nest. Percival might be kind, but the rest of the Knights would not. The chicken jokes would never end. Neither would the inquiries about if he laid eggs. Which, he doesn’t know the answer to that and it’s got him all sorts of awkwardly tangled up inside.

Sonic seeing it would be even worse. What would the King say if he saw this? ‘Nice nest, let’s have a nap’-?

No, never. Instincts be damned, he should tear it apart, take it down. Dragonborn he may be, but he was better than this. Letting instincts rule him will only lead to sorrow.

He sighs, reaching to dismantle it, when the door to his chambers suddenly opens and slams shut. Lancelot spins around to find Sonic plastered against the wood frame, eyes wide and breathing hard. “Your Majesty?!” Lancelot blurts, suddenly very aware of his lack of armour.

“Heyyyy Lance.” Sonic gives him a weak grin. “If anyone asks, you didn’t see me.”

Lancelot swallows. The nest is right there. Put him in the nest. It’d be so easy.

He needs to get the King out of here, immediately.

There’s the clatter of footsteps down the corridor, the clank of armour as several people come stampeding through. “Check the rooms!” Gawain barks. “He couldn’t have gotten far!”

“These are our rooms!” Lamorak points out.

“Then they’ll be easy to check.” Gawain growls with steadfast determination.

Lancelot glances over at Sonic’s pleading look. He’s less worried about what shenanigans the King is up to than Gawain seeing the nest. Without a second thought, Lancelot walks over and opens the door, poking his head out. “What’s going on?”

“King ran away again.” Gawain rolls his eyes. It’s not an uncommon occurrence, Sonic is whip smart, but has very little patience for sitting still through mindless pageantry and paperwork.

“And you think he stopped running?” Lancelot dryly quips.

Both Gawain and Lamorak both pause as they consider Lancelot’s words.

“It’s a diversion!” Lamorak suddenly shouts, pointing down the corridor. “Keep running!”

Lancelot watches them leave before stepping back inside and closing the door. He sets the latch to secure it, just in case. One problem taken care of, he turns-

And finds the King in his nest.

“This is really nice.” Sonic says with a yawn, stretching his arms over his head, causing sleek fur and muscle to ripple over bone. He gives Lancelot a sleepy, contented smile, leaning against the edge of it. “It’s cosy, just perfect for a snooze.”

King is in the nest.

He looks really good in the nest. Cosy. Not panicking. Or acting like it’s weird that Lancelot has a nest in his room. Just… comfortable. Like he fits there.

Okay. What’s the next step? He really wishes he had an instruction list for this. Guidance. Something.

Lancelot can feel the muscles in his back flex, trying to spread and show off wings that are currently magically bound and tucked away. He swallows, mouth suddenly dry, heart beating like a rabbit inside of his chest. “You can.” He offers hesitantly, his voice a low rasp. “Nap. In there. If you want.”

Sonic lets out a soft little hum, then holds his hand out, palm up. “I will if you do.” He offers, expression hopeful. “Cuddle time? There’s space for two.”

Sonic in his nest is good. Cuddling together in the nest? Yes. Good. So much better. Why hadn’t he thought of that before?

Nest is perfect size for both of them to cuddle.

He can’t get words to work, just nods and steps closer. Lancelot can hear the swish of the King’s tail wagging as he approaches, grateful he’d already shed his armour.

Lancelot pauses at the edge of the nest, heart fluttering. He needs to… there’s something he needs to do. He can’t not do it. Instinct tugging at him again. “Can I?” He inquires, motioning to the gold ring on one wrist.

Sonic tilts his head to the side, clearly not understanding the request. “It’s your nest.” He says simply. “However you’re comfortable.”

It’s not comfort, but… instinct has gotten him this far, King in the nest. Lancelot removes the gold bands around his wrists, letting out a breath as his wings break through the laces on the back of his tunic for his quills.

He spreads them out, filling the room from wall to wall with their black and red colouration. A declaration. A promise. Strong wings, good for fighting. Good for protecting. Nothing would get through them to hurt his King.

“Wow.” The King breathes, taking them in, green eyes sparkling in admiration. “They’re gorgeous, Lance.”

Lancelot almost trills in delight. The King likes his wings. The King is in his nest. Where he’s Safe. Cozy. Treasured.

Lancelot lets out a happy thrum, taking Sonic’s hand when he holds it out again, allowing himself to be pulled into the nest, and curls around Sonic, tucking a wing around them both like a tent. Sonic lets out a happy hum of his own, pressing his face against Lancelot’s chest, wrapping and arm around Lancelot’s ribs and tangling their feet together.

“Perfect.” Sonic murmurs, body relaxing against Lancelot’s. He seemingly drops off between one breath and the next, trusting Lancelot to guard his slumber.

Lancelot rumbles back, pressing his nose against the top of Sonic’s head, feeling content for the first time since he had the urge to build a nest.

Perhaps following his instincts isn’t so foolish after all.

Dragon nest is the perfect size and shape for dragon and King to nap.

Excellent plan, putting the King in the nest.

+++

A while later, there’s a hesitant knock on his door, Galahad’s hesitant voice speaking up. “Sir? Have you seen the King? Sir Percival said she commented to him that you weren’t feeling well, and Sonic took off running. No one’s seen him since.”

Lancelot cranes his head down to find Sonic staring up at him with a guilty look, his ears pinned flat. His rational mind suddenly returns, leaving him highly aware of the extremely intimate position they’re both in, and feels a jolt of terror at trying to explain to Galahad how the King happened to be not only in Lancelot’s chambers, but tangled with him sans armour, in an apparently compromising position. While his wings are out.

In a nest.

“No.” Sonic says. Lancelot stares at him in horror.

Galahad hesitates a moment before responding. “Understood. I’ll tell Sir Percival not worry.” Lancelot mentally fills in a little head bob from the silver hedgehog.

“Thank you.” Lancelot gets out.

“Of course.” There’s no mistaking the smile in Galahad’s voice. “I hope you get some rest.” His footsteps walk away, filling the room with silence.

Lancelot is extremely aware of every part of his body that is in contact with Sonic’s, and it is a lot.

“So.” Sonic says with a little full body wiggle, getting comfortable again. “Dragon, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Nice.” He smiles at Lancelot, green eyes half lidded and sleepy once more. “Want to nap some more?”

If it gets him out of trying to explain this situation, Lancelot is completely for it. “Yes.”

“Excellent.” Sonic agrees, pulling him back down to cuddle. Lancelot allows himself to be arranged, hesitantly wrapping his wing back around them. Sonic hums happily, scooting closer, and Lancelot purposely avoids thinking about how nicely the King fits in his arms.

He has the King. In his nest.

He really should figure out what the next step is.