Laurent of Vere (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
prince_of_vere) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
marlowemuses2018-02-14 08:39 am
prince_of_vere) wrote in marlowemuses2018-02-14 08:39 am
Entry tags:
Lover, I know you're weary
It was a subtle thing. King Auguste wasn't sure how long it had been going on without him noticing. Months. Perhaps even years--Laurent was an introspective creature, and Auguste hadn't thought to look for signs of Laurent's infatuations. Laurent was nineteen now, and Auguste supposed that Laurent must have started feeling romantic attraction years before, but Auguste had never noticed. Laurent was still his baby brother, bookish and shy.
Laurent trotted after them everywhere. He was like a cat, in that it was hard to tell he liked you at all until you noticed that he took care to be in the same room as you as often as possible. Nyx was Auguste's best friend and his trusted guard captain, and it was often the three of them together. They were Auguste's closest and most trusted advisors.
So it took Auguste some time to notice that Laurent's eyes followed Nyx around a room. Even when he noticed, he thought that Laurent had developed some suspicion about Nyx. It took longer for Auguste to notice that on very rare occasions, Laurent's lips would part when he looked at Nyx and an expression of yearning would cross his face.
It was sweet, and at first Auguste dismissed it as a crush.
After four months, Auguste realized that Laurent was in love, and that he would never say anything and Nyx would never notice. So he hatched a plan.
It took some time for him to get a chance to speak to Nyx alone without Laurent present.
"I have a strange request to make of you," Auguste said. His eyes lingered on the door where Laurent had recently left.
no subject
“There’s no one else I’d trust, Nyx.” Letting go of him, Laurent drops back on the bed, propping himself up on his elbows and lifting his leg to offer the lacing at his ankle. “You’ve seen how people treat me. There’s no one I trust more. No one I desire more. If it would please you, you’d be welcome in my bed every night.”
Laurent’s confident, certain eyes drop away at that last line. Affairs are common in Vere, but Laurent doesn’t trust that his unknown future husband will be permissive. “Until... as long as we can.”
no subject
Words well up in his throat- flirtatious self deprecation, brushing off the compliment-- and die away. Even if Nyx hardly feels worthy of so much trust, it would be churlish to make light of this, the affection Laurent has admitted to him, the certainty in his voice. He swallows, trying to fight back the flush of red coloring his cheeks. There's already one virgin in the bed tonight, no need for Nyx to do his best imitation.
(Had he ever heard anyone say such a thing to him...?)
"I'm honored..." Your Highness, he nearly says again, and catches himself just in time with a wry grin. No, Laurent's made it clear-- no titles, no standing on ceremony. Just the two of them tonight. And perhaps Nyx can manage that, setting aside duty and status and the weight of all his secrets just for tonight. For Laurent.
He catches Laurent's foot, leans in to press a kiss to his knee, fingers smoothing over his thigh, slender, deceptively well-muscled legs before pulling at the lacing, undoing them with deft fingers before tugging free the knee-length boot.
"And I'll stay by your side for as long as you'd like. Until... you wear me out, that is." Another kiss brushed against Laurent's ankle before he reaches for the other boot. This time, the grin Nyx flashes up at him is in earnest, the sweetness of it all finally getting to his head. Laurent wants him in his bed, wants Nyx, scars and teasing bravado and stupid jokes and all. It truly is an honor.
no subject
He laughs when Nyx turns his hesitation into a jest, making light of the situation and letting Laurent push his fears aside so that he can focus on the delight of the moment. "You're setting high expectations of my stamina," Laurent replies, watching Nyx with affection and trust clear in his eyes as Nyx unravels the complex series of laces.