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Soren felt like he had just finished an intense workout, body heavy and sluggish as he dragged himself back to his chambers, up the millions of stairs.
‘Why in the hell does this palace have so many damn stairs? I mean, even Katolis didn’t have THIS many stairs. And it had towers!’
Soren can barely muster up the energy to even complain about the palace’s weird layout, sighing in relief when he finally made it to his chambers, giving the guards guarding the doors a lazy salute as he passed by. Finally in the safety of his rooms, Soren let out a loud, long groan that echoed and bounced off the sandstone and marble walls, his hands already taking off the heavy neck aching crown that he had to wear the entire day.
“Geez, I don’t know how anyone can stand wearing this thing all the time. I feel like my neck is gonna break if I went a second longer wearing that.” Soren complained loudly, only to jump and let out a yelp when he felt someone’s arms wrap around his waist and a chest against his back.
“I thought your big strong muscles could hold anything.” Soren shivered as a laugh brushed against his ear, tilting his head up to pout at the amused look in the olive eyes and dark brown hair he fell in love with.
“My arms and legs, sure, but not my neck! I’ve never worn a crown before. Harrow and Ezran made it look so easy! This thing weighs like a million pounds!” Soren loudly defended the insulted honor of his muscles. Kasef only chuckled at his husband’s dramatics, Soren humming pleasantly as the vibrations traveled through his body. Gods, he was so in love with his husband.
“You wore a crown on our wedding day.”
“Yeah, but that was a different type. It was waaay smaller and lighter. Why can’t we wear those crowns?” Soren knew he was whining now, but he couldn’t help it! The crown he had to wear nowadays was just too heavy! And what’s the point for him to wear a crown anyways?
“Because we must show our strength and the glory of Neolandia to all who look upon us, as we are their rulers. Or at least, that’s how Father described it.” Kasef quoted his father’s words from when he was a child, letting go of his husband and walking around him to a nearby dresser. As he looked into the mirror, he saw the quick flash of pain and grief grip Soren’s face before he tried to cover it up with a pained smile when Kasef turned around to look. Not that it helped, Soren can tell that Kasef saw that his smile did not reach his eyes.
Thinking about his Dad still hurt, even two years later. It still tugged at his heart whenever he remembered that day. Where he was forced to make the hard choice between family and duty, once again. It still haunts him, especially on quiet nights. The sound of his sword going through his father, the gasp that left his illusion father’s lips, the horrified and torn look on Claudia’s face, the blood seeping onto his father’s shirt-
“Soren.”
Kasef’s voice was what yanked Soren out of that moment back into the present, a gasp tearing out of his throat as his lungs quickly and painfully reminded him that he needed to breathe. Blinking the tears out his eyes, blue gray eyes met olive greens, filled with worry and concern. And the just the mere idea that a man like Kasef would worry about a boy like Soren absolutely blew him away. Because...why?
‘Kasef’s smart, and cool and brave and always knows what to do. He’s a king! I’m only….a Crownguard. The son of a shamed ex High Mage and the brother of a fugitive Dark Mage sister. An idiot who can’t even make simple right choices without someone getting hurt.’
“My Love.”
Soren refocused back onto Kasef who was now giving him a look that always made him feel like he was melting. The first time Soren got that look from him, he was frozen mid sentence, face turning bright red from all the love and adoration he could see being directed at him. Kasef smiled down at him, leaning down to gently kiss him, his hands cupping Soren’s face gently.
“My Prince, I see the way your mind is spinning again. You’re drifting away tonight, so let me anchor you again. You are my prince because I married you. I married you because I fell in love with you. I fell in love with you because….you enchanted me. Entirely. Your heart and soul and the way you cared for me even after...That. The way you didn’t and still don’t flinch away from my scars. The way you find joy and ramble on about the most inane things that others ignore. My Love, how can I not choose you? My Heart? How could there be anyone else?”
Soren was left speechless. This wasn’t the first time Kasef spoke like this to him. He always did whenever Soren was sinking into that type of mood on bad days. And every time he doubted himself or Kasef, his husband always knew what to say. And each time he used those nicknames, Soren knew that he meant it. Nicknames were not a very big thing in Neolandia, as he quickly found out.
“Thanks, Sef. You always know what to say to cheer a guy up.” He sniffles, trying to blink away the tears welling up in his eyes.
“That’s my job as king and husband.” Kasef teases lightly, giving Soren another long kiss and chuckling as he felt Soren’s body melt against his.
“Mmmm….I still haven’t come up with a nickname for you yet.”
“I thought Sef was my nickname.”
“No! Well, I mean, yeah, it is but, I mean like a sweet nickname…..like the ones you call me.” Now Soren was absolutely certain that his face and neck were beet red judging by the laugh Kasef let out.
“You mean like My Prince and My Love? The ones that make you shiver so nicely for me?”
Soren recognised that glint in Kasef’s eyes, throat going dry and face feeling as if it were on fire
“Y-Yeah.”
“Hmm...I like it when you say my full name.”
Soren pouted at that, disappointed. He was really hoping that Kasef might give him an idea. A cute childhood nickname or something.
“Ugh, that’s boooooooring. I want something fun! Something that has the same effect on you as it does on me. Like…...Kas.”
“What?” And there was the confused, slightly frightened look that started their whole relationship 2 years ago.
“Or...Oh! Kassie! Kassie…..Does it make you shiver?”
“In disgust? Yes.” Kasef answered, moving away from Soren and beginning to take off his royal daytime clothing. Soren however, was deadset on finding a nickname tonight.
“Hmmmm, there’s not a lot of letters in your name that would make a good nickname.”
“Good. Why don’t we just stick with my normal name?” Kasef gave one last attempt to distract Soren, all in vain. Even when undressing from his robes, he was still trying to think up a nice nickname for his husband.
“Ef?”
“No.”
“Effie?”
“No.”
“Sas?”
“No.”
“Sassie?”
“God no.”
“What?! What’s wrong with that one?” Soren asked defensively, falling into bed next to his husband dramatically, resting his head on his arm to pout at him. He really liked the last one. Kasef gave him another horrified pained look. As if Soren just said something that he should already know the answer to. Unlike the ones his dad gave, this one didn’t make him feel stupid or make his heart hurt. It was honestly kinda funny.
“Soren.”
"Yeah?”
“Go to sleep.”