Work Text:
“Yuuri! Stop being a henachoko and get back here this instant!”
“Awww! Come on, Wolf!” Yuuri whines and laughs at the same time. “Have some fun, why don’t you? You need to lighten up a little. Otherwise, you’ll start looking your age, y’know. Uh, not that you wouldn’t still be a super angel-like bishounen, anyhow …”
“A what? What is that? Is that a man?”
“Mn, a very specific one, actually …”
Casually adjusting the fastenings of Wolfram’s hood, Yuuri playfully pokes the elegant nose beneath and swiftly darts away, laughing.
“Hey! Yuu—!”
Cursing under his breath about his tenderfoot fiance who is much too cute for his own good, Wolfram von Bielefeld darts after his partner.
It’s not that he is having any difficulty keeping up with Yuuri’s energetic pace. That’s not what Wolfram is irritated over. Not at all. He is a well-trained soldier, after all. It’s the task of keeping up to make absolutely sure that the henachoko does not lose his footing in any way, less he slips and falls, or something along those troublesome lines.
Grrgh! Who gave him the idea that running in the rain is fun, anyway? And damn, it is raining — what did Yuuri call it again? — cats and dogs? It could be raining zomosagori dragons and negroshinoyamakishies for all Wolfram cares, just as long as Yuuri doesn’t get hurt!
A couple of hours ago, Yuuri had dragged Wolfram out to town. Even though Wolfram had pointed out that it was clearly going to start raining heavily, Yuuri had insisted fervently. But despite his dire prediction of an oncoming downpour, they had enjoyed the first hour and the better part of the second in relatively mild weather.
During this time, Yuuri had seemed strangely keen on hanging out in various shops that sell sweet treats. A bakery, a confectionery, a dessert parlour …! Wolfram didn’t think his health-conscious fiance had much of a sweet tooth, but Yuuri insisted on trying all those different kinds of sugary delights, asking Wolfram to recommend which are his favourites.
Maybe it’s because Yuuri wanted to try as many as he could, so he ended up eating only a small portion of everything, always giving the larger portion to Wolfram. Or maybe he thought Wolfram was eager to have them …? Hmph, the henachoko! Of course Wolfram would put up an overenthusiastic front just to get the first bite of everything, so that the sweet and kind boy wouldn’t realise that his own fiance was conducting the necessary tests for poisons.
In spite of his gentle nature, Yuuri is quite astute, and is used to this precautionary measure by now. But when it comes to Wolfram, he seems to let his guard down. If it were anyone else tasting his food before him, Yuuri would know at once why they did so — he wouldn’t like it, but he has learnt to accept the protection. But with Wolfram, it’s different. Wolfram despises manipulations — but, as he sees it, he isn’t really manipulating anyone, just allowing the presumptions go by. He just didn’t want to spoil the afternoon for Yuuri. They are so used to sharing everything all the time. Add that to the fact that Yuuri knows well of Wolfram’s fondness for sweets, he doesn’t suspect a thing. Otherwise, the King would be sure to get upset and put up a great deal of fuss, and they would be argueing about it all the way home.
Then, it had started raining in huge torrents.
Instead of getting discouraged, Yuuri had whooped excitedly. Conversely, Wolfram huffed in annoyance, and was about to give his fiance an earful about not heeding his warnings, when he found himself grabbed by the hand all of a sudden. And the next thing he knew, he was running through the rain!
When Wolfram had collected himself enough to jerk them to a hault and demanded to know what the hell they were doing, getting soaked to the bones like this, Yuuri had given him a sort of shy smile and mumbled something he couldn’t quite catch. Did he say ‘it's supposed to be ramen’? Wolfram couldn’t really hear him clearly over the rain and wind. Or was that ‘ramen … tic’ …? Tick …? Stick …? Hm, maybe he was talking about eating ramen with those chopped sticks or whatever. He doesn’t know very much about that Earth cuisine, but how would running in the rain remind Yuuri of that noodle dish? Honestly, one can never tell with Yuuri!
Noticing Wolfram’s frown of contemplation, Yuuri had reached out to smooth his brows. He used his fingers to gently knead Wolfram’s face into an idiotic expression. He let out a laugh and commented something about an adorable doll. Wolfram had reached out with both hands, intending to pull his cheeks in retaliation, but it seemed Yuuri was watching for it. He quickly dodged and grinned teasingly over his shoulder, as he ran off, knowing full well Wolfram would keep pace.
And so here they are — His Majesty Shibuya Yuuri and His Excellency Lord von Bielefeld Wolfram — running around like little children, playing in the rain!
Wolfram sighs inwardly. But, at the same time, he can’t help but smile. He suppose it’s too much to expect the henachoko to behave with dignity, if it’s just the two of them. The constant unseen guards don’t count, so far as they are concerned.
“Wait, Yuuri! You’re heading the wrong way. Home is in this direction — hey! Yuuri!”
“It’s all right, Wolf, trust me!” Smiling brightly, he swings his right hand back and catches Wolfram’s left. “Come on!”
And off they go again. Wolfram has to grudgingly agree — this is sort of fun. There is something exhilarating about running so freely and recklessly … and living in the moment with Yuuri.
“Look, Wolf! Isn’t this the place?”
Somehow, they find themselves in the forest right outside the capitol, close to Blood Pledge Castle. The surrounding greenery adds to the enchanting feeling of the rain.
“Hmm,” Wolfram hums thoughtfully and folds his arms. “Are you referring to that time when we almost had a second duel? The one that was interrupted right from the start, because Conrart intervened by suspending us upside down by our ankles?!” he huffs indignantly.
“Y-yeah.” Yuuri gulps slightly. “You remember…?” He laughs nervously. “Gwendal was in Gurrie-chan’s dress … the Chinese-style, jade-coloured dress, with the slit up to the thigh?”
Wolfram grimaces at the memory of his respected older brother’s mortification at being caught in that garment.
“Don’t remind me … Gunter was in Mother’s infinity dress. And you —” he jabs a finger at Yuuri, “— were in Gisela’s military uniform!”
“Hey, don’t glare at me like that!” Yuuri complains. “I had no other choice — we had to dress as women in order to get in through that entrance! Heh…! Ah, don’t worry — just now we entered using the way you must have taken back then, so no cross-dressing required.”
“Yuuri, why did you bring us back here?” Wolfram asks impatiently. “If you’re thinking of settling that duel we never had, let me remind you that you are unarmed, and there is no way I’m lending you my sword.”
“What?! Of course not!” Yuuri protests in shock, looking slightly hurt. “No, Wolf, I don’t ever want to fight with you again!”
Wolfram’s heart softens, as Yuuri leans forwards and presses his forehead to his shoulder. He wraps his arms comfortingly around Yuuri’s shoulders, while Yuuri runs a hand down his chest and on to his stomach.
As suggestive as this might have sounded, Wolfram knows what Yuuri is really thinking about. It’s the wound to the stomach that Wolfram had gotten from their unintentional sword fight in that evil underground tunnel, back in Seisakoku. Wolfram knows Yuuri couldn’t help blaming himself for that, even going so far as to think that Wolfram hated him after that.
“I just thought it would be nice to create some happy memories here, you know, to make up for the unpleasant ones related to this place …” Yuuri mumbles into his neck.
“You mean the unpleasant experience of cross-dressing?” Wolfram snorts. “You looked decent enough, even though that was a female military uniform.”
“Ugh, at least it wasn’t a dress or a skirt! But that’s not what I’m referring to. I meant what happened before that.”
“Hah! If you’re talking about the bad dream you had from using that stupid pink pillow Anissina invented—”
“Close, but not quite.” Yuuri straightens up. “I mean, I don't care about that dream anymore, obviously. After all, a dream is just a dream, right? I don't need that pink pillow for those sort of dreams, when I already have reality.” And he playfully nudges Wolfram in the side.
“Hmph!”
“I’m talking about the unpleasant recollection of those childish things I said to you,” he continues seriously. “Those critical words could have ruined so much. I foolishly let my anger loose and spat out those awful things. It wasn’t your fault, but I snapped at you, because I was agitated by that dream I had. Thinking back to that point, I guess, really, I was angry with myself …. I had been so good at pretending that I even pretended to myself. But then my pretence started to slip — and that dream was one of the more obvious signs, I think.”
“Mmh, and this is the pretence you spoke of when you came to sleep with me in Seisakoku?” Wolfram clarifies gently.
“Y-yes, when I said I’m not going to pretend anymore,” Yuuri confirms with a blush. “But way back then, after that fiasco with the pink pillow, I was still stubbornly trying to cling on to that pretence. And I unfairly took my frustrations out on you! I — to think that I — I could have lost—”
Yuuri seems to be choking on his emotions, all playfulness from before gone. Even after all this time, he’s still not the best at talking about sentimental feelings and matters of the heart, huh?
“That was a long time ago now, Yuuri,” Wolfram says soothingly, stroking his black hair off from his forehead. “That was even before Caloria. We had just adopted Greta not long then, remember? So you shouldn’t worry about that anymore. Besides, if memory serves, that was the only time you seemed to have been really upset and lashed out about our engagement.”
The rain is still pouring heavily, as though trying to wash away any pain, as Yuuri looks into his eyes and smiles softly.
“You’re right.”
“And you’ve already made up for it by asking me out on a date, right before that supposed duel commenced,” Wolfram reminds him with a smirk.
“Eh?”
“Don’t tell me you forgot? What was it again…? ‘Win or lose, let’s have dinner tonight’, wasn’t that what you said then?”
“Yeah, and you said you were thinking the same.” Yuuri coughs out a chuckle. “Ah, Wolf, to think that you intended to win that duel to help get rid of my nightmares…! You have a very kind heart, you know that…?”
“Not really.” Wolfram responds with a shrug. “I just didn’t want to put up with that terrible mood of yours all the time.”
Yuuri shakes his head in amusement.
“Mmm, but still … I’m glad you reversely proposed to me on that ship, the Red Sea Comet, you know …” Yuuri steps closer and wraps his arms around Wolfram’s neck. “Because it removes any doubt that might have arisen from that time.”
Standing in the rain, they share a sweet and lingering kiss.
Wolfram has his eyes closed, but, in that tender moment, he can feel Yuuri’s sincerity, and, most of all, taste his love and devotion through their kiss.
“Rain or shine,” Yuuri murmurs against his lips, “i-it’s … y’know … us.”
“Mmm, of course.” Wolfram agrees throatily.
When the kiss starts getting rather heated, Yuuri quickly pulls away breathlessly.
“You know what? L-let’s go home and take a hot bath …” Yuuri suggests, blushing. “Then we can take it from there.”
“Oh, now you want to go home?” says Wolfram sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
“Eh? I can’t let my Honey-chan catch a cold now, can I?”
Resisting a smile, Wolfram just rolls his eyes, and takes the hand Yuuri holds out for him.
He wonders if Yuuri’s henachoko qualities are somehow rubbing off on him, because he can’t help the warm fuzzy feeling … that going out in the rain with his fiance is kind of sort of romantic … in a way that is hopelessly only Yuuri.