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Sweet aromas filled the air with fresh baked breads, blooming wheatgrass, and the fresh scent of the river breeze flowing through the town square.
The youthful prince strode down the cobblestone streets, darting between buildings to keep from the eyes of curious watchers. His ever loyal guard in tow behind him. Their boots making gentle clicking noises on the stone and the guards light armor making only the softest of noises as he walked.
Prince Alfred looked along the alleyway, popping another citrus candy into his mouth. Pondering his next move Alfred thought.
He had a secret, one that was no longer much of a secret. He was close to love with his guard. Maybe it was love, maybe it was lust, either way he was smitten. Alfred loved every bit of Ivan, the stoic yet brave side, the soft side that he rarely got to see when he had a day off. Alfred admired the way Ivan's silk soft hair waved in the wind after he'd remove his helmet during a late summer evening. The way his lavender eyes seemed to glow after a successful training session. The way his pale scarred hands gently lifted Alfred up to cross the creeks when his boots were at risk of getting wet.
Alfred smiled to himself at the thought of the big strong knight behind him. "You know, sometimes I wonder what animals people would be."
Ivan made a noise of interest.
"Like Matthew would be a deer," Alfred thought about his brother. "He's shy but has a lot of personality once he opens up. He'd also fight someone without warning. The lady at the fabric store would be some sort of bird, maybe a dove."
"You remind me of a rabbit at times, a young one." Ivan watched as Alfred jumped over a rope laying on the ground. "Full of energy and mischief, able to sneak away easily."
Alfred laughed at the subtle jab at his tendency to sneak out of the castle at night. "You got me there. Wouldn't I make a cute bunny?"
"The cutest in the land," Ivan gently smacked the back of Alfred's head playfully. "And what would I be?"
Alfred pretended to think. "A bear."
"A bear?"
"Yeah, one of those big ones, the big Siberian ones that are massive." Alfred took another bite of his candies. "You know, if you were a real bear you'd make a bad guard, and a bad boyfriend. Bears hibernate for a while so who would be there to protect me while you slept?"
"This is an entirely hypothetical situation."
"But who would be there to be my big strong handsome protector? Who's strong handsome cheek would I get to kiss when they--"
Ivan rushed Alfred, pushing him against the stone brick wall, leather clad hand mere inches from Alfred's golden hair. The bread rolls and candies Alfred had been holding forgotten as they dropped to the ground scattering. Time seemed to slow for that moment as Ivan leant down, close enough Alfred could feel Ivan's minty cool breath on his lips.
"Don't poke the bear unless you want to get bitten." To make his point Ivan nipped the air in front of Alfred's nose.
Alfred's face flushed, never had he expected the teasing to be returned in kind.
The tension was thick, the moment seeming to last forever. Ivan pulled back straightening his armor then Alfred's soft blue tunic, acting as though nothing happened. Alfred stood there in stunned silence, Ivan looked as though he hadn't just done that, on guard as he should be.
Alfred shook his head and looked to the now spilled treats. "Aw man! I was gonna share those with Mattie."
"Then ask the chef to make you more." And with that Ivan started walking away, in the direction of the castle.
"Ivan, wait, you're supposed to walk with me!"
The remainder of the walk was quiet, the soft crunching of the dry grass and the gentle clicking of Ivans armor being the only sounds to be heard. The air was thick with tension, causing the hairs on the back of Alfred's neck to raise. They approached the castle through the side trail. Alfred wanted to say something, he bit his tongue.
He looked to Ivan whose face was blank except for a high blush, even more than the late summer evening heat would call for. Alfred's hands itched to reach out, an urge he usually didn’t ignore. He fought the urge but as they neared the castle he couldn't.
Alfred reached, grabbing Ivan's hand, Ivan didn’t react, his leather gloved hand tense even through the thick material. Alfred felt dejected, hoping for more. Then Ivan did the unexpected, he moved, interlocking their fingers, and tightening his grasp. Alfred looked to Ivan's face, it was looking at him with the softest and fondest look he had ever seen from the usually composed man.
“So uh--” Alfred started, pausing for words. “Are we dating now?”
Ivan looked puzzled for a second. “As long as you don’t tell your father, and stop flirting with every girl you see.”
Alfred laughed. “You know I was doing that to make you jealous right?”
Ivan raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I wanted to see if I could get you to finally make a move, so that you could let them know that I wasn't available.”
“That is an entirely ridiculous idea.”
“But it worked didn’t it?” Alfred smiled.
“No comment.”