Chapter Text
Even at the higher echelons, Adam doesn't love the military life. Getting up at six am is a racket on his brain and uniforms are a hassle but he bears with it. On this particular morning, his house is cold and quiet. He tightens the sleeves of his jacket, even though he’ll bunch them up by noon, it’s nice to at least try to look put together. He grabs his bag, making a mental note to call Ty later on his way out the door.
He putts around the office cleaning up from the previous day while a very large mug worth of coffee brews in the staff kitchen. Adam likes to get in early so he can have some peace and quiet while it lasts. By the time staff filters in, he's resting at his desk reading reports and sipping very sugary coffee. Around 11 his desk phone rings.
“Yes?” Adam questions.
“Sir, you have a personal call.” The secretary says over the phone. Adam sighs.
“Put it through,” he says. It’s about a fifty percent chance it’ll be Ty or Jason.
“Adam?” okay, he was wrong. Instead, Mom’s voice comes over the receiver.
“Hey, Ma, what's up?”
“You haven't called in a while...” she says. There's a sad, guilt-tripping lilt to her voice.
“Sorry, I guess I've been busy.” Adam concedes.
“Neither has Tyler,” she says, “I get worried about the two of you, you know?”
“I talked to Ty yesterday, he’s been hanging out a lot more with Seto, I think it just slipped his mind,” Adam explains.
“Well, you tell him to call next time you see him okay?” Mom asks.
“Sure Ma,” Adam replies, rolling his eyes. Addendum, call Ty and tell him to call Mom.
The conversation continues for a while like that, but when the clock hits noon Adam has to cut off the conversation. Because if he doesn't leave soon he’ll be late to his lunch meeting with Maria. He tumbles his fingers impatiently on the desk until Mom finally says goodbye and hangs up the phone.
When Adam curves the hall and spots guards by the private room door, he knows Maria is already inside. Maria sits at the large table, stirring a cup of tea.
“Afternoon,” she says, gazing up at Adam with a quirked eyebrow.
“Sorry, my mom was talking my ear off on the phone,” Adam explains with a sigh as he slides into the chair across from her.
“Oh lord,” Maria says with a laugh, “I’ve only met her a few times but I know she can be a handful.”
“Who haven't you met?” Adam jokes, rolling his shoulders. He seriously doesn't know where the list could end or start.
“Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to,” she replies, sipping at her tea. Adam laughs a little.
“So... how have you been doing?” Adam asks, folding his arms over the table.
“Good, I talked to Taylor the other day,” she says.
“Oh really?” Adam questions.
“Yeah, apparently the prince got into some ruckus he had to sort out, but you’ll want to hear the full story from him,” she explains. Adam laughs.
“I swear the royal family is going to run him ragged someday,” he remarks, distantly he makes a note to call Taylor right next to the one to tell Ty to call Mom. Adam gazes around the room for a moment before his eyes fall on a folder next to Maria.
“What is that?” Adam asks, motioning to the folder.
“Oh, just some legacy selections,” she says placidly. Legacies, the thought had never even crossed his mind. Maria being furher had always been a permanent fixture in Adam’s brain, even before she was.
“...or just one,” she adds, pushing the folder towards him. Adam delicately takes the folder from her, flipping it open. He doesn't need to read anything, the picture clipped to the top corner of one of the pages tells him all he needs to know.
“Me?” Adam questions, Maria nods.
“It still needs to be approved, but yes,” she explains.
“Why?” Adam asks.
“Oh please, you're a wonderful diplomat and good tactician. It was obvious.” Maria remarks. The explanation still leaves Adam dazed. The idea feels oddly foreign to him. Maria sighs.
“I thought you would be excited,” she says.
“It's just…” Adam starts, “...I guess I never considered it. We were always focused on getting you to be furher that I thought you would be furher forever.”
“Well I put it off as long as I could, but I'm turning 40 soon. I’ll have to step down,” she says. Adam slumps lower into his shoulders. Maria outstretches a hand to pat his arm.
“They’ll love you,” she says, “I know they will.”
The coronation won't be for a few months but the idea fills Adam with anxiety and excitement. He knows the first few weeks will consist of diplomatic visits, as if he isn't already very well acquainted with the leadership of other countries. it's mostly formality after all. But past that the future feels both bright and intimidating. Its micromanagement on a level he's never dealt with and without a safety net. He can’t lean back on Maria too much without his leadership coming into question too. It's a delicate balance he’ll have to master.
Otherwise, though, everything stays mostly normal. The days warm up Minecraftia slowly as spring settles in. a letter comes in the mail from an address he hasn't seen in a long while, although the writing is just as chicken scratch as he remembers. It’s from Jerome. He and Mitch are going to escort the new Attican embassador to Minecraftia for the royal family. Although Adam knows implicitly that really means the princess asked them, since she adores them.
Regardless, Jerome wants the three of them to meet for dinner while they’re in the capital. It's a risky proposition, but Adam has never been able to say no to Jerome so he writes back quickly. That sounds like a wonderful idea . He can’t wait to catch up.
It just so happens that Adam is with Maria while they greet the new ambassador. Maria’s hands meet his easily and politely. He quirks an eyebrow up at Adam and extends his hand once it's extracted from Maria’s.
“And you are?” he asks. Adam shakes his hand firmly.
“This is one of my advisors. Adam Ellis, meet Antinai Deni,” Maria interjects. Deni smiles at Adam in return.
“I look forward to working with you,” Adam says, returning the smile easily. Over Deni’s shoulder, he spots Mitch and Jerome. Jerome gives him a big toothy smile. Mitch is looking elsewhere. Adam returns his attention to Maria and Deni.
“If you'll come inside with me,” Maria says, motioning to the door. Adam nods his head.
“Excuse me please, I’d like to talk to your escorts,” Adam says, motioning at Mitch and Jerome.
“Oh, you must be their friend,” Deni says with a smile.
“Yes sir,” Adam replies before nodding his head again and walking towards Mitch and Jerome. Maria and Deni proceed inside.
“What did you tell him about me?” Adam asks quietly.
“Jerome may or may not have talked about you on the way here,” Mitch remarks, crossing his arms over his chest. Adam sighs.
“It was nothing bad, I promise biggums,” Jerome reassures. Adam rolls his eyes and opens his arms for a hug. Jerome easily scoops him up and squeezes him firmly.
“I missed you too fluffy,” Adam remarks, squeezing his arms around Jerome's neck. Jerome lets Adam down and pats his paws together impatiently. Adam laughs a little. No matter how old Jerome gets he's always so spastic and excitable.
“C’ mon,” Adam says while patting Jerome's arm, “let’s go get some food.”
The restaurant they picked is nice. Adam had had it in mind because of the high ceilings. After all, it's hard to accommodate a 6’10” Bacca when all the buildings are made for humans. Jerome still needs to duck a bit at doorways but the place itself is a comfortable fit.
Adam slots himself into one side of the booth, Mitch and Jerome slide into the other. The waitress seems fairly nervous but takes their orders without so much as stuttering. Mitch gives her one of his patented smiles and Adam roll his eyes. jerome is practically vibrating with excited energy.
“What have you two been up to?” Adam asks, “Besides a 14-hour train ride,” he adds.
“Well…” Jerome says, “Mitch got a little jealous.”
“I did not,” Mitch protests. Adam quirks an eyebrow.
“Some of the Lamian Royalty was visiting and the princess was all over their prince,” Jerome explains. It kind of begins to click in Adam’s head. The princess of Attica had always fawned over Mitch, ever since she first saw him fight. It must have been an odd sight to see her push him aside. Mitch crosses his arms over his chest, clearly annoyed.
“Wow, and how did the prince react?” Adam asks.
“He likes her too,” Jerome says, “and they spent the whole visit together~,” he adds. Mitch rolls his eyes.
“Well, that must have been fun to watch,” Adam remarks, “you think their parents will set them up?”
“Hopefully,” Mitch says, “I'm getting tired of the queen trying to get me to marry her daughter,” he complains.
“Geez, I can’t even imagine,” Adam says, shaking his head. Mitch pauses for a second and takes a sip of his drink. Adam turns back to Jerome.
When they're done and leaving the restaurant the sky has turned dark blue and the wind has picked up some. Its Friday and the streets are scattered with pockets of people around patios and bars. Mitch rolls his sleeves down and smiles into the cool night. For a moment Adam finds himself temporarily dumbfounded. Jerome catches his attention, however, when he stretches out in the corner of Adam’s eye.
“Feels nice out,” Jerome says. Mitch hums is response.
“You guys staying with me?” Adam asks.
“If you don't mind?” mitch asks.
“I don’t,” Adam replies. They'll probably have to leave in the morning anyway.
Adam wakes up to the sound of shuffling downstairs. He dismisses it as Jerome, probably, and goes back to sleep. When he wakes up again. Mitch and Jerome are gone. There's a note on the counter Jerome left him. They had to get on an early train it seems. Adam hopes they made it on time and stows the note away in his pocket. He glances at the calendar in the kitchen. His coronation is only a week away.
The jacket that Maria pulls over his shoulders is white, gold, and even more constricting than usual. The diadem on his brow feels heavy and solid. Maria is dressed similarly, but with silver accents instead of gold. The amulet hangs heavy around her neck.
She steps out into the light, giving her farewell to the people. Adam doesn't hear much of it though. His heart is thrumming in his chest as anxiety passes over him in waves. He places a hand over his chest to calm himself but quickly discards it when he hears his name. He looks up and Maria is extending a hand in his direction. He takes a deep breath and steps out into the light.