Work Text:
“Stay,” Hugo mumbles, arms wrapping around Varian like an octopus. The black-haired alchemist sighs in equal parts amusement and frustration as he attempts to wiggle out of Hugo’s grasp. “It’s like 6am,” Hugo whines when he gets free, cracking one eyelid open and pouting.
Varian glances outside, eyes tracking the slow rise of the sun. “7am,” he says, pulling on his boots. “It’s like 7am. I promised Rapunzel I would be there first thing.” The two had decided the previous night to leave castle renovations for the morning and instead focus on enjoying each other’s company. It was the first visit Varian had taken to Corona since he’d set out on his quest, and he didn’t want to waste the entire stay talking shop.
Hugo squints at him in the dim, morning light. “You like her more than me,” he accuses.
“Most of the time,” Varian replies agreeably, receiving a pillow to the head for his troubles. “She doesn’t throw pillows at me!” He throws the offending object back into Hugo’s face. His boyfriend makes an umph! noise at the impact.
“Fuck you,” Hugo says muffled into the pillow, “and everything you stand for. What am I supposed to do with you gone?” He removes the pillow from his face.
Varian is this close to ribbing Hugo about their codependency issues but figures Nuru already got that on lock. “You could come with?”
“Hmm, make friendly with Corona Royalty? Hard pass.”
“You’re just scared of Eugene.”
“Noo, no I’m not,” Hugo sits up, hand searching for his glasses on the nightstand. “Prince Fancypants and his royal goatee does not scare me.”
“You seemed pretty upset when he recognized you.”
“All thieves are upset when they see each other in settings they shouldn’t!” Hugo gives up looking for his glasses and throws his hands up in the air dramatically. “One minute you’re stealing priceless grand pianos from a world exhibit in that super religious country with a guy and the next you find that he’s a class traitor.”
“So Eugene was actually a lost prince this whole ti-”
“ Class. Traitor ,” Hugo emphasizes, poking Varian in the chest. “I have no trust, my trust is gone.”
Varian grins. “I think you’re just scared of him.”
“Am not -”
“What did he and Cass talk to you about?” Varian innocently asks.
Hugo glares at him. “Oh no, I”m not telling you. You have a big enough ego here.”
“So it was about me,” Varian says, instead of pointing out the hypocrisy of calling Varian egoistical. “Nice to know they care enough about me to shovel talk you.”
Here Hugo makes a face. “Babe, everyone cares about you.”
“Yes, I’m sure everyone has very strong feelings about me. Now whether they’re good feelings-”
“Everyone who matters cares about you,” Hugo corrects. “In other words: me,” he adds, trademark smirk on his face. Varian rolls his eyes. “Which is why you should definitely stay and cuddle with your boyfriend longer.”
“Or, I can talk to Rapunzel about installing a-”
“Ugh, fine, you suck,” Hugo flops back onto the bed. “Bring me back some blueberry muffins.”
“So you’re not coming?” Varian asks, pulling his jacket on.
“And listen to you and Queen Chipmunk and Prince Class Traitor nerd out? Hard pass. I love you, but not that much.”
“I love you too,” Varian replies, giddy each time they get to say that to each other. Hugo blushes, an annoyed scowl forming. Varian thinks it’s cute how he pretends to be allergic to emotion but demand cuddles every morning. The duality of Hugo. “Well,” Varian says, hopping to his feet and grabbing his satchel. “Have fun with my dad!”
“Wait, what.”
“I mean, he should be back from the Dark Kingdom with Adira sometime this morning...and this is his house,” Varian says casually.
Hugo groans. “You play dirty.” He manages to locate his glasses and shoves them onto his face. “Wait up.”
A few minutes later they’re hand in hand on their way to Corona Castle. Hugo grumbles and pouts and Varian teases and promises to buy him coffee. All is well.