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Simon smiles at his mother across the table. There are wrinkles around her eyes when she laughs openly like she is now. One strand of her hair is permanently white and she pushes it back behind her ear with a smile. Simon thinks it gives her a distinguish look. She’s getting older, but to him, she will always look the same. She’s his mom after all. He wonders if she has trouble seeing him as a man and not her little boy, but if she does, she never showed it before.
“Is today finally the day I get to take Ari and Hana home?” Sara asks.
She’s lying on the kitchen floor with Ari clinging onto her back while Hana keeps on trying to bite her sleeves. Simon grabs his phone to immortalize the moment and smiles when Hana lets out a little happy bark when Sara hurls her favourite squeaky toy across the room. Ari retracts her claws from Sara's sweater and jumps off her back, looking outraged that her favourite chair seems to favor playing with the other animal of the house.
“No, you can’t Sara. They’re my babies, not yours.”
Ari raises her big green eyes at the sound of his voice and walks over him, taking tiny steps with her little grey paws until she’s standing between his knees. Simon bends over and takes her in his arms, running his nose along her neck while he rubs her ears. She starts purring immediately.
He waits until his mom gets up to take their plates away and put them into the sink to check his notifications. Wilhelm sent him a picture of him in a formal dress shirt. He’s getting his hair done and doesn’t look really happy about it. Simon feels the ache to be with him right now and kiss away the wrinkles on his forehead.
My mother is taking us to a family dinner to celebrate the wedding anniversary of some cousin I don’t even remember
Apparently we have family who live in Berlin???
I’m sorry. I can’t believe I’m missing your birthday
I love you
Agata took the pic btw
Simon looks over at Sara but she’s still playing with Hana.
It’s okay Wille
You’ll make up for it next time we see each other I’m sure ;)
Tell Agata I’m thankful for her loyal services
You look hot in white…
I mean you’d look hotter without anything on but… you know
Simon covers his laughter by taking a sip of coke when he reads Wilhelm’s answer.
Don’t start please
I miss you so much it’s driving me crazy
It’s like there’s fire in my throat every time I think about you
I miss feeling your lips on my skin
Simon shifts in his seat, thinking about something sexy to text back when someone clears their throat next to him and he almost drops his phone.
“Jesus, Sara.”
Oh. Oh .
She has that look in her eyes.
“Who are you texting?”
“No one.”
She glares at him.
“Mamá, Simon has a new boyfriend!”
Simon smacks her arm.
“Shut up! That’s not true,” he adds when his mom comes back with a smile on her lips so bright that Simon regrets not wearing sunglasses.
“That’s wonderful mi amor. Cómo se llama?”
Simon shakes his head. He can’t tell them about Wilhelm. Not because he’s scared of people knowing but because he doesn’t want to see their eyes on him, filled with pity, and he knows Sara is going to give him shit about it. He opens his mouth to deny it but someone knocks on the door and Hana runs into the hallway barking.
The three of them look at each other, confused.
“Are we expecting somebody else?” his mom asks.
Simon doesn’t give an answer because he has no idea what’s happening. He puts Ari down gently on the ground, frowning, and heads to the front door. He looks through the peephole, heart falling to his feet when he sees who’s standing there.
“Surprise!” Wilhelm says after Simon almost kicked the door open.
Simon blinks.
“I- What. But how? Aren’t you supposed to be on a jet to Berlin right now? I don’t-”
Wilhelm grabs his chin and silences him with a kiss. When he steps back, Simon realizes that he is not wearing the same clothes as those in the photo he sent earlier. His hazel eyes glint with mischief and he can't seem to hide his smile.
“Oh my god, you totally led me on, didn’t you?”
The smile on Whilelm’s face gets bigger.
“I did… I’m so sorry but I really wanted to surprise you on your birthday.”
Simon chuckles in disbelief.
“Well, I am surprised.” He stops, looking around. “Why are you alone? Where’s Malin?”
Wilhelm points to a black car parked in front of the house with his finger.
“She’s staying outside the house to keep watch because, I quote: There are some things I don’t need to see and I doubt Mr. Eriksson will try to kill you.”
Simon bites the inside of his cheek.
“She’s not wrong. Killing you is not really on my list at the moment.”
Wilhelm smirks, flirtatious as he leans down to kiss him again, but Simon stiffens when he hears footsteps coming from behind him and shuts the door completely. “Shit, Wille. My mom and Sara are here.”
Wilhelm doesn’t look panicked. Why doesn’t he look panicked?
“I know. I was hoping I could see them actually.” Wilhelm runs his hand through his hair before letting it fall by his side. “They’re the most important people in your life after all.”
Simon doesn’t know what to think.
“You’re okay with them knowing about us?”
Wilhelm steps closer to him.
“I need them to.”
Simon raises his arm and strokes Wilhelm's cheek with the back of his hand lovingly. The skin is smooth and warm. He tries not to melt at the sight of Wilhelm pressing against his touch like a small kitten. It reminds Simon of the time he found Ari on the streets and brought her home. He desperately wants to kiss him but they need to go back inside the house at some point and they’ve already been standing outside for too long.
“Sara is probably gonna lose it. She’s not exactly you’re biggest fan.”
Wilhelm laughs.
“I’m ready to face her wrath.”
“Okay,” Simon says, and that’s the last word they exchange before he opens the door and comes face to face with his mom and Sara who are waiting for him in the hallway.
Several things happen at once. His mom takes a step back, hand coming up to cover her mouth while Sara's posture becomes straighter and her face hardens. Hana runs towards Wilhelm, waving her tail excitedly and sniffing at his legs until Wilhelm bends down to stroke her head, letting out small high-pitched noises when Hana tries to get on her hind legs to lick his nose. This is the most adorable thing Simon has ever seen.
“I didn’t know you had a dog,” Wilhelm says, practically sitting on the floor now.
“She’s only five weeks old, I got her pretty recently. I have a cat too!”
Wilhelm opens his mouth to answer but Sara cuts him off before he can even get the words out.
“What is this Simon?”
He can’t look at her. He really can’t.
“We’re seeing each other,” Wilhelm finally says after a tense silence. “It’s complicated.”
Sara lets out a fake laugh.
“Doesn’t sound complicated to me. You broke my brother’s heart and now you’re cheating on your wife and bringing him into your mess.”
“Sara!” Simon yells but he can’t say anything else. It’s like his tongue is made out of sand.
Her words struck Wilhelm hard but he doesn’t let that scare him. He stands up, his head straight and his eyes burning.
“You have every right to be angry at me. To hate me. I know I hurt Simon in ways I’ll probably never be able to amend for, but I love him. I do. And not that this is any business of yours, but I’m not cheating on my wife. We have an arrangement and perhaps Simon will tell you what it entails if you want to know.” He stops, looks at Simon briefly before taking a step towards Sara. “I can’t promise I’ll never hurt him again but what Simon and I have… there is no binding contract. He can walk away at any time and I won’t hold him back, even if that kills me. That’s how much I love your brother.”
Simon can see that Sara wasn’t expecting to hear all that. She bites the inside of her cheek, looks back at their mom who’s still silently watching the three of them, before finally turning to Simon.
“I trust that you know what you’re doing.”
Simon nods.
“I do.”
Sara lets out a sigh. She switches her balance on one leg to the other before walking up to Wilhelm until she’s standing right in front of him. The scene is almost comical because the top of her head barely reaches his chin, but she looks menacing nonetheless.
“I don’t care if you’re the Crown Prince or the King of Sweden, if you destroy his life, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Wilhelm swallows.
“I’ll let you.”
Sara smiles.
“Good. Let’s eat that damn cake now, I’m hungry.”
*
It feels a bit surreal to have Wilhelm standing right next to his mom and Sara when Simon is about to blow the candles, but he can’t help the giddiness from spreading to his fingers and toes. He closes his eyes, wishes for the year to come to be filled with love and happiness for all the people he cares about and blows. Wilhelm’s smile is big when Simon opens his eyes, and he’s clapping the loudest. It’s ridiculous how fast he still manages to make his heart beat.
Sara and his mom leave right after the sun sets. Simon hugs them for a long time and he’s reassured not to read any concern or worry on their faces just before they turn around. He comes back into the living room, heart fluttering in his chest at the sight of Ari rubbing up against Wilhelm’s legs affectionately while he scratches behind Hana’s ears who rested her head on his thigh.
He can’t get over how right it looks, Wilhelm on his couch, petting his dog and his cat. He takes out his phone from his pocket and quickly takes a picture before joining them on the couch, pushing Hana until he’s the one resting his head on Wilhelm’s thigh. Wilhelm smiles at him, this genuine smile that could make flowers bloom and tangles his fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp.
Simon enjoys this for a while before a thought comes to his mind.
“How did you know where I lived?”
Wilhelm stops his movements.
“I asked around.”
Simon sits up, almost face to face with Wilhelm.
“You’ve been keeping tabs on me, admit it.”
Wilhelm's cheeks turn pink.
“I may have been stalking your Instagram, yes.”
Simon scrunches his nose.
“Weirdo.”
“At least we’re dating this time,” Wilhelm quickly says before looking embarrassed and refusing to meet Simon’s eyes.
Oh.
“Did you really just say that?” Wilhelm doesn’t answer but his blush is spreading to his neck now. “Oh my god, qué lindo eres.”
“Whatever, leave me alone!” Wilhelm whines as Simon laughs so hard it makes his stomach hurt.
They stay on the couch for a while after that, talking and cuddling with Hana and Ari who both decided that their new favourite spot was going to be Wilhelm’s legs. Simon can’t really blame them for it, given that he himself is a big fan, especially when Wilhelm wraps them around his waist as Simon fucks into him. Simon shakes his head, chasing those enchanting images out of his mind, now is not the time.
“So, what’s happening now?” he asks. “Not that I don’t like having you here but I don’t understand how that’s even possible.”
Wilhelm stops the belly rubs he was giving Hana and shifts into the couch, his gaze wandering. Simon can’t help but think he looks really tired all of the sudden.
“I needed some air. I was already in a bad mood at the thought of missing your birthday and then my mom and I got into an argument.” Wilhelm stops talking to exhale slowly. “She doesn’t know where I am but she’s used to me disappearing on her when we fight and reappearing the next day. I know she’s not worried about me in the slightest,” he ends with a laugh that sounds forced.
Simon bites his tongue and starts to drag comforting patterns along Wilhelm's arm. He doesn't know what to say. There is not much Wilhelm shared with him about his relationship with his parents, but some things don't need words to be understood. It’s in the way Wilhelm seems to blossom under the praises Simon gives him and how he always seeks out Simon’s touch. How relaxed and genuinely happy he is whenever Simon hugs him or brushes a lock of blonde hair behind his ear. You don't have to be a psychic to understand that Wilhelm desperately clings to every display of love and affection that someone can offer him because he sorely missed it growing up.
It breaks Simon’s heart.
He didn't necessarily have an easy childhood with his father either, but he was lucky to have a mom who never made him doubt her love for him. Simon knows that his mom would put her life aside for him and Sara, would be willing to sacrifice her own happiness if it meant that her children were happy and fulfilled. Simon knows that Wilhelm can't expect the same from his mother.
She is the Queen of Sweden first and a mother second, that much is clear.
Simon kisses his forehead and cheek, before rubbing his nose against his, which at least makes Wilhelm smile.
“You know that you can talk to me if you need to.”
Wilhelm nods before leaning down to brush his lips against Simon’s. It’s a soft kiss, softer even that the petals of a rose, but it makes Simon’s heart miss a beat anyway.
“What do you wanna eat tonight? I was gonna order some food but I’m in the mood to cook.”
A gleam lights up in Wilhelm's gaze.
“I’ll eat anything you make, I’m absolutely famished. The cake was the only food I had all day – outch! Why did you hit me?”
“Because you need to stop skipping meals!”
“Are you my dad or my boyfriend?”
Simon narrows his eyes.
“Oh Wille, I can be whatever you need me to be. I’m sorry I hadn’t realized you had a daddy kink, that’s on me.”
Wilhelm stares at Simon for a second like he’s totally insane before bursting out laughing and almost knocking him off the couch. It’s enough to make Hana and Ari leave hastily.
“I hate you so much,” Wilhelm says after finally catching his breath. “Never say that to me again.”
Simon smiles. He always liked the sound of Wilhelm’s laugh, even more so when he was the reason behind it.
*
Simon asked Wilhelm to take out the spices they were going to need to prepare the food while he would cut the lamb meat into chunks, but after a while without anything happening, Simon stops, intrigued. Wilhelm is standing in front of the opened spices cabinet, motionless. It occurs to Simon then that since Wilhelm doesn’t cook on his own, he might not know how to recognize the spices they need and even if he does, his spices cabinet must be really… bland in comparison. It shouldn't be surprising, but it's endearing enough to make Simon smile.
“You need some help Wille?”
“No,” Wilhelm is quick to answer. “I mean… It’s just that I wasn’t aware that there were three different kinds of paprika… which one do you need again?”
Simon chuckles.
“Truly tragic,” he comments while flying to Wilhelm’s rescue.
Simon takes out flat-leaf parsley, pimento, sea salt and piquillo peppers before returning to the counter and dividing the herbs neatly into different piles. He brushes off his hands on the fabric of his pants, turning his attention back to the lamb.
"Anything I can help with?" Wilhelm asks.
Simon looks up at him, a slightly amused expression on his face, eyebrows raised, as though he's considering it.
"You can peel the potatoes and cut them into small chunks," he suggests, while he arranges the pieces of lamb in the pan and lights up the stove. “Think you can manage that?”
"I think I can yeah," Wilhelm says, and Simon huffs a laugh.
Cooking together is a lot more fun that Simon would have expected. Wilhelm asks him to turn on some music at some point and Simon gladly obliges, hips rolling to the rhythm of the latin drums. He tries to make Wilhelm dance with him but he’s terribly stiff under his hands, so Simon doesn’t push him. Wilhelm looks out of his element when Simon asks him to chop the garlic and onion, but he can tell he’s trying really hard and Simon soon finds himself unable to stop staring.
It’s just that Wilhelm is even more attractive when he's fixated onto something, brows furrowed just the slightest bit, shoulders set differently. He looks especially good tonight. He rolled up his sleeves when he was cutting the potatoes earlier and Simon can see the milky skin of his arms. It shouldn’t be so hot but for some reason it is. Wilhelm’s hair is also growing longer each day that passes, falling in front of his eyes and he has to shake his head several times in order to clear his vision since he cannot brush it back with his hand like he normally does.
Simon’s eyes trail down along his neck, remembering the times he left marks there, then back up to his jaw and cheekbone, which are adorned with freckles, to stop on the cute slope of his nose. Wilhelm does have a lovely side profile. A lovely everything if Simon he’s being honest. He should tell him more often. Wilhelm parts his lips just slightly as he inhales, the tip of his tongue darting out to wet them, and Simon loses focus again. This button up shirt he’s wearing and this dark shade of blue just emphasize his chest in the very best way possible. Simon pointedly refuses to acknowledge the black slacks and how great they make his ass look, or how they hug his endless legs just right. He still has a knife in his hand after all.
Simon snaps out of it, forcing himself to look away from Wilhelm's face as he carefully starts to cut the cherry tomatoes into little pieces.
“What are we making by the way? You didn’t tell me,” Wilhelm says after they put all the ingredients into the pot and all they have to do now is let their dinner simmer.
“Smoky lamb and pepper stew! My favourite when I was younger, but my mom didn’t make it very often because meat is expensive as fuck.”
Wilhelm hums, looking at Simon while he takes out a tupperware from the cupboard and wooden cutlery.
“What are you doing?”
Simon stops.
“Preparing the stuff I’ll need for after, when I’ll bring some of the food to Malin.” Wilhelm’s face is indecipherable. It still happens sometimes. Simon having a hard time reading him. “Should I not? I don’t know if she brought any –”
He stops midsentence, crushed by Wilhelm’s sudden embrace.
“Thank you,” he whispers into his hear. “God, every time I think I couldn’t love you even more. You go and prove me wrong by doing something that makes my heart stupidly happy.”
Simon hugs him tighter, hiding the redness of his cheeks against Wilhelm’s shoulder.
“It’s nothing.”
“No,” Wilhelm insists, taking a step back to make sure that Simon is looking at his eyes when he speaks. “It means something. To me.”
Wilhelm cradles the side of his face into his palm, kissing him as if it’s the last time he’ll ever get to do it. Simon makes a noise of surprise before letting his eyes slip shut, twisting his fingers into the light locks at the back of Wilhelm’s neck. They make out lazily for quite some time. Simon only comes back to himself when he feels something soft and furry brush against his arm and realizes that:
1. He somehow ended up on the counter with Wilhelm in between his legs.
2. He totally forgot to feed Ari and Hana.
“Oh my god, I’m such a bad parent.”
The look of confusion on Wilhelm's face is quite adorable. His hair is a mess of blond strands going everywhere and his lips are red and slightly swollen from all the kissing. He’s so beautiful… but it doesn't matter how inviting his mouth looks or how badly Simon wants to press his own mouth against the pulse point on Wilhelm’s neck and hear the sharp intake in his breath as he attemps to make him come without taking his clothes off, now is not the right time.
He jumps off the counter, determined to forget about this buzz under his skin. They have the rest of the night and tomorrow morning to get freaky if they want to. Simon just needs to prioritize. Ari watches him carefully while he pours the canned tuna into her bowl. Yeah, Simon thinks, if he wants his cat to leave his curtains alone, he needs to learn to control himself around his pets because Ari can be very territorial.
Just to prove his point, she ends up scratching Wilhelm’s hand.
What a drama queen.
*
If Simon had been told he would be spending the evening of his twenty-fifth birthday in a bathtub, he wouldn't have believed it. But in the past months, he learned not to be surprised when things don’t go as planned. There’s nothing ordinary he can expect out of his life when he’s secretly dating the future King of Sweden after all, he thinks to himself, smiling as he gets the water warm and running.
Simon eyes the bottles line up on the windowsill carefully. He owns all kinds of different scents but he doesn’t know what mood he’s in for today. He turns around to ask Wilhelm about his opinion, catching sight of him as he peels his clothes off and smiles at how carelessly Wilhelm leaves them on the tiled floor.
Simon ends up going for a bath bomb, its color reminding him of Wilhelm’s cheeks and nose when he’s feeling embarrassed. He knows the jasmine and clary sage are going to pull on their heartstrings just right while the soy milk serves to soften their skin. A brush of lips against his shoulder blade brings Simon back to the moment.
“Hurry up and get naked, I’m freezing my ass of here!”
Simon rolls his eyes but complies.
Soon enough, they’re both submerged in the water, heat enveloping them, penetrating the skin and muscles as they try to fit into the bath, not without difficulty given Wilhelm’s never ending legs and the regular size of the tub. They finally manage to settle into a comfortable position and Simon leans further back into Wilhelm’s chest, linking their fingers together over his bended knees. Wilhelm kisses his hair, his cheekbone, his forehead. Every part of Simon he can have access to in this position.
“I’m so happy,” Wilhelm confesses in a breath, heart pounding. Simon can feel the tumb tumb against his back.
“I’m happy too.”
Wilhelm’s arms tighten around his waist as Simon turns around to kiss him. He parts his lips immediately, eager for more and Simon gives in, letting that feeling of comfort and love wash over him, until there’s not a single thought in his mind besides Wilhelm. Wilhelm. Wilhelm.
They don’t do anything more than kissing, both far too exhausted and cozy to move but Simon enjoys the moment just as much as he would have if they made love.
"You’re comfortable?" Wilhelm asks him in barely more than a whisper, running his hands up and down his body, before reaching for the nearest bottle of shampoo, giving Simon an amazing scalp massage as he washes his hair.
Simon nods.
“I’ve never felt more comfortable in my life,” he whispers into Wilhelm's neck, relishing in the feeling of being held in the arms of the man he loves.
He can guess Wilhelm's fond smile against the back of his neck.
“Happy birthday, love.”
Eventually, the water starts to get a little cold so they get out of the bath, both standing on the bathroom floor with a towel wrapped around their waist. They can hear Hana whine behind the closed door, which makes Wilhelm pout.
“Can she sleep with us tonight?”
Simon arches an eyebrow.
“Did you think I was one of those people who make their dog sleep in another room? Of course, she’s sleeping with us! Ari too.”
Wilhelm looks at the floor, an affectionate smile tugging on his lips.
“Like a family.”
Damn it, Simon is so hopelessly in love with this man.
“Yeah. Exactly like that.”
*
The first thing Simon notices when he wakes up is that he's cold.
He rolls around under the covers, face scrunched up as he blindly looks for Wilhelm's body, barely stopping himself from sliding on the floor when he gets to the edge of the bed without encountering any obstacle. He sits up, confused, before the rest of his senses catch up to him and he hears Wilhelm's voice coming from the kitchen. It smells good too. Like grilled bacon and eggs. Simon can feel his mouth water as the aroma keeps on invading his room.
He stretches like a cat, fingernails clawing at the wooden headboard before finally getting out of bed. He puts on a clean boxer brief and picks up Wilhelm's button down shirt, lying discarded on his office chair. Simon runs his hands over the expensive fabric, enjoying the feeling of it against his fingers. He doesn’t have money issues anymore, but this piece of clothing might be the most expensive thing he ever held in his hands.
Simon bites his lip, stares at it a bit more before deciding to put it on.
The sleeves are too long on him. Over the years and probably with all the rowing, Wilhelm's shoulders have become a bit wider and the height difference between them doesn’t help. The fabric falls a bit on one of Simon's shoulders but when he looks at himself in the mirror, it doesn't bother him. He looks cute, and there is something about wearing his boyfriend’s clothes that makes Simon feel warm inside. The royal blue looks good against the tawny beige of his skin too.
He brings the collar to his nose and inhales, smiling softly as the floral smell of peony, lily and pomegranate cloud his senses. This reminds him that he absolutely needs to ask Wilhelm the name of his perfume, because he deserves to drown his pillows and scarves in it. He wants the smell to consume him, wants it rubbed into his skin so it can never leave him. Simon cringes at himself and runs his hands over his face before running them through his hair, untangling some of the knots that formed during the night.
When he deems himself presentable, Simon pads out of his room and steps into the kitchen as quietly as possible. Wilhelm is hovering over the stove, back turned to him as he sings along to the song playing on the radio. He didn’t bother with a shirt, deciding instead to go for a minimal look with his boxer brief riding low on his hips. Simon doesn’t need to see him from the front to know that his hair is probably a mess.
It looks so normal and domestic, like finding the future King of Sweden in his kitchen is a daily occurrence. Simon can barely contain the fondness he feels when Wilhelm crouches down to give Hana a pat on the head and a slice of beacon.
He’s so in love with this man, it’s ridiculous.
Simon sneaks up behind him and wraps his arms around his waist, hiding his smile against his back as Wilhelm jumps in surprise, before covering his hands with his, and relaxing in his embrace. Simon leaves a kiss at the top of his spine.
“No,” Wilhelm complains. “You were supposed to stay in bed and I was going to bring you breakfast.”
Simon chuckles.
“Really? How considerate.” He lets Wilhelm go. “I’m sorry I ruined your plan.”
Wilhelm’s mouth is already open when he turns around but then he stops, eyebrows raised high. Simon watches with satisfaction as Wilhelm takes into his appearance, eyes stopping on his bare thighs, which can be seen where the button down shirt stops. His Adam's apple twitches and the yearning in his eyes is apparent when he meets Simon's gaze.
“It looks good on you.”
“Thank you,” Simon says, hiding his face behind his sleeve. “Perhaps I should start wearing blue more often?”
“You should start wearing my clothes more often.”
Simon huffs, taken aback by his honesty. He doesn't have time to say anything back that Wilhelm’s arm is already around his waist and then there are lips against his. He closes his eyes, smiling when Wilhelm’s fingers end up under the indigo clothing.
“I thought you were naked under this,” Wilhelm sighs, disappointed.
Simon fakes a gasp.
“Who do you take me for? A common whore?”
Wilhelm laughs, loud and unbashfully happy.
“Shut up and sit your unaked ass down!”
Simon doesn’t object. He takes his usual seat at the table and plays with Hana while Wilhelm attempts to cook the rest of their breakfast. It’s funny to see him walking around in his kitchen like he knows where everything is. Ultimately, he doesn’t, and ends up opening every cupboards before finding the glasses, but it makes Simon happy nonetheless.
He burns this vision into his retina, and allows himself to imagine an alternate reality where he and Wilhelm are just two normal guys having breakfast on a Saturday morning, allowed to love each other. It sadly leaves a bittersweet taste in his mouth, that not even Wilhelm’s food manages to make go away.
But as Simon gazes at Wilhelm over his heart shaped pancake, he tries to remember that this, as small as it seems, is already pretty big all things considered.
And most importantly, that Wilhelm is worth it.
The end