Chapter Text
A cool summer breeze flew through the open window, giving a breath of life to the new day. The outside sky shone pink as the sun rose. A new day in Nohr was about to begin, and all the castle servants had begun their morning duties. The distant sounds of silverware clinking and a tea tray being dropped was an alarm clock to some.
With a tired sigh, Laslow awoke from his deep sleep, squinting at the open window. His head felt fuzzy and a shot of pain swept through it at the slightest nod. By all means, he was hungover. Vague memories of some friends and a tavern hit him and, gods forbid, him drunkenly dancing in public. “Oh….” He groaned weakly, hands covering his face. “That’s the last time I let Odin treat me….”
The grey haired man looked to the rising sun and let out a soft sigh before attempting to get up and start his day, only to be held back by a weight around his chest. He looked down to see a pair of arms wrapped around him, then looked to his side and saw a sight that brought a rush of memories from the night before. Still fast asleep at his side was his partner in retainership and now life, Peri. Laslow truly wanted to try and start his day early, but Peri’s grasp on him made him think otherwise. She looked so peaceful with the sunlight streaming in as her long, light blue hair flowed down and framed her face beautifully. It almost made Laslow feel like his head wasn’t being split in two. But wanting to be the ideal retainer to his liege won him over, and Laslow chose to quietly escape Peri’s comforting hold on him and finally start the day.
As he was putting his pants on, Laslow couldn’t help but stare out of his window at the breath-taking sunrise. The bright sun was harsh for his headache, but the gray haired retainer couldn’t help but lose himself to the sight. The calming blue sky was highlighted with streaks of warm, orange sunlight. Were he a painter, he’d make a dash for some supplies. Sunrise always made him feel a certain sense of joy, one that could keep him going through even the most arduous hardships. He liked to think his bright smiles were similar.
Suddenly, Laslow heard a shuffling of bed covers behind him. Peri must’ve finally returned from her peaceful sleep. He smiled to himself as she got up and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him again and leaning into him. “I see my lovely princess has awoken from her beauty sleep.”
Peri mearly let out a small noise of agreement and sighed as she rubbed her chin on Laslow’s shoulder like a cat showing affection. Despite having more to drink than he had, Peri seemed virtually unaffected by the previous evening’s events. “I can’t sleep without my cute prince keeping me company!” With a smile on her face, Peri tried to playfully pull Laslow back to their now messy bed, but to no avail.
“My love I’d want nothing more than spend the morning with you in my arms and a soft, warm cover around us.” If he were honest, that bed seemed like the goddess Naga herself was whispering for Laslow to come. “But our liege expects the best from us.” Laslow gently rubbed her head. “And that means waking up and fighting through a nasty headache.”
But Peri wasn’t happy with his reasoning. “C’mon, Lazzy! Lord Xander’ll understand us taking a day off!” Crocodile tears started to fall from Peri, a feat Laslow was shocked she even had the energy for. “Waaaah! Is it me? Do you get bothered by me?”
Panicking inside, Laslow was quick to pull his beloved into a comforting hug. “Far from it, my love. I just don’t want Lord Xander to be angered by us staying in.”
“But it’s our first day together! He’s gotta understand that, right?”
Laslow looked out the window to the still rising sun. Get started on the tiresome, but important work of a royal retainer while he still had a headache, or stay comfortable in bed with Peri just a little longer. “Well… I suppose we have earned at least some respite for all our hard work.”
Peri hugged Laslow tighter and kissed him quickly. “Oh, I knew you’d come around, Lazzy!”
After getting comfy with Peri wrapping her arms around him yet again, Laslow couldn’t help looking out the still open window. He knew their Lord would give them a stern lecture, but Laslow wasn;t foreign to such things. And besides, Peri would be with him, so anything could happen and he would feel the same joy as now. With a gentle touch, Laslow held Peri’s folded hands and gave a small kiss. “Staying like this is such a wonderful feeling, Peri.”
“Yeah. I just wanna enjoy it forever.”
The cool breeze that followed helped in rocking the duo to sleep, hands in hand, and hearts crossed forever.