Chapter Text
Scott spent a lot of time just pacing around his room, getting used to the new environment as he tried to get out his nervous energy. When that stopped helping, Scott instead sat on his bed and started trying to take the jewelry off of his wings. It was uncomfortable, weighing him down and making it so that he couldn’t even properly open his wings or move them in the correct way. He would spend hours trying to free his feathers, though eventually he gave up.
He laid on his stomach, wings spread out over top of him as he saw the light fading from the sky outside of his window. He could try and get some sleep, despite his discomfort. He quite honestly loved his room and the bed provided, it was cozy with two floor to ceiling windows on either side of a large fireplace. The windows made it feel less cramped, less like a prison. Unfortunately he couldn’t enjoy the beauty of the room or the comfort of the warm bed when he felt the chains weighing uncomfortably on his frazzled and messy feathers.
It was early in the morning when Scott finally gave in. He hadn’t slept a wink and felt absolutely horrible. The chains in his feathers had gotten even more tangled and uncomfortable. Scott found himself at the door of Ren’s room, unsure if the king even was awake. He knocked on the door and to his surprise, Ren was already getting on with his day. The king looked concerned as he looked Scott over, surely seeing how tired and not put together Scott was.
“Hello your highness.. i- um, sorry to bother you..” Scott wasn’t really sure what to say. How was he supposed to address the king? Even if he was his husband. Scott watched Ren's worry and concern fade into a soft smile as the king moved out of the way, bringing Scott into the room.
”Scott, you don’t have to call me by any titles, you’re my equal. And you aren’t bothering me, is something wrong?” Ren was gentle as he spoke to Scott, more gentle than anyone else had been to the prince in… well, Aeor knows how long. Scott couldn’t help but like it, being treated with such care. Maybe he was being treated like he would shatter if Ren was too harsh, but Scott didn’t see it as demeaning. Ren clearly meant well, so Scott accepted the king’s gentleness.
Scott was quiet for a moment as he was led over to the kings bed. He sat on top of the messed up covers, clearly untamed after the king had his nights rest. Scott had no doubt that Ren had slept much better than he had. The prince attempted to sit with proper posture but that just pulled at the chains tangled in his feathers and caused even more discomfort, discomfort that the king happened to notice. Ren didn’t say anything despite his worry, giving Scott the time to explain himself.
The prince sighed heavily, deflating as he gave up on trying to be all proper and princely. Ren clearly didn’t care, so he could let down the curated version of himself that he so often had around others.
”There’s a tradition among avians.. When we get married our partner is supposed to help preen our wings and take off the jewelry… So it’s practically impossible to take this stuff off on my own.” Scott motioned to his wings, the typically well cared for marble of white and silvery-grey feathers was now a mess of feathers, chains, jewels, and whatever else had been caught in them from the day prior and throughout the night. Scott knew that this small act would likely mean nothing to Ren, but it was a big deal to him with how he was raised. It was a very intimate moment that he hadn’t wanted to have with one he was forced to be with but he was desperate.
“Oh, well, I’m not sure exactly what to do but I can try and help?” Ren was clearly eager to be of assistance. Scott hadn’t known a royal to act like this before, typically they weren’t so caring and hands on with helping.
“I’ll guide you through it, just be careful please.” Scott was hesitant but he patted the spot beside him on the bed. He let ren sit before the prince turned and spread out his wings as much as possible to make things easier for Ren.
Scott carefully guided Ren through the process of removing the jewelry and preening his wings but not long into the task Ren seemed to not need instruction anymore. Scott had gone quiet, tempted to just relax and let himself fall asleep. Ren was so gentle and cautious with his movements. Scott would have just melted into the comforting feeling if he had only let himself, instead he stayed stubborn. He wasn’t supposed to be enjoying this. He wasn’t supposed to feel anything but hatred towards Ren and this situation but with how Ren was… he couldn’t help it. Maybe he could let himself at least be a little more comfortable around the king.