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To be honest, back in the Puerto Valor days, Sylvando was that one thing that largely motivated Hendrik to train.
Among all the boys Don Rodrigo took under his guidance, Sylvando was the most fun to spar with. He was challenging. Hendrik remembered each time he won against Sylvando, it were the sweetest victories he ever knew. Because sometimes it felt almost impossible to achieve, and Sylvando beat him much more often than Hendrik did. It frustrated him deeply as the kid was younger than him (and every year between teens felt like a gap) and still Sylvando was so much more talented and skilled than him, he was a natural. Everytime Hendrik finally caught up with him and managed to win against him, during the next sparring session Sylvando was five steps ahead. Maybe it was his father's strictness, maybe it was his own stubbornness, but he never failed to outmatch Hendrik next time they fought, there was just no limitations for both of their potentials.
So when Sylvando stopped frequently coming to the training, as he grew obsessed with the circus and started to run off from them to learn a
performancer craft, Hendrik started to train even harder. He just didn't leave the field. Maybe he hoped that Sylvando would eventually come by, on a morning or an evening training, and Hendrik didn't want to skip it. Maybe Hendrik was eager to impress him with what he learned in his absence. Maybe he was impatient to teach him a lesson and tease him that skipping classes took the better of him. And Sylvando did come and he never denied Hendrik in a sparring session, but… it was not the same. It was fun, and still much better than with other kids, but Hendrik felt the distance graduy growing between Sylvando, him and everybody else. He showed up rarer and rarer until one day he just disappeared.
Hendrik was aware of Sylvando’s continuous argument with his father; people in Puerto Valor were a loud folk. But he never expected Sylvando would run away. He felt Sylvando was slipping away from their hands, but he never guessed it would actually happen. Yet it did.
He also never expected Sylvando would haunt his dreams for the first several months of his absence. Dreams, filled with sun kissed skin, melodic laughter, gentle teasing, sea breeze, the taste of grapes they would steal when they were even younger, curly hair… Mind painted him the brightest days, when they were allowed to skip a day of training, and instead they run to the beach, to swim or to catch fish if fishermen would allow them to tag along; or they run to the countryside, to play with farm animals and get freshest fruits and vegetables from kind villagers. They were lying on greenest grass Hendrik ever knew, chewing on the reddest tomatoes, looking at clouds on the sky, bluest in the entire world. Juice would run over their fingers, and it was so stinky and gross, and they laughed, trying to wipe it out, but made it only worse.
He wouldn't call Sylvando his best friend, he was not sure if they were even close . But Sylvando was the most fun and most easy to be around. He was the sun.
Living in Puerto Valor felt like an entire summer. Hendrik left it not long after Sylvando was gone. His training was coming to an end anyway. Those last months without him felt like a void, Hendrik barely remembered it. Suddenly days just became grayer.
Then he moved to the castle and his childhood ended. He was caught up in a new life, full of duties, people and places. There was no time left for him to reflect on sweet summer days of his past.
***
Sylvando has changed. Or so Hendrik thought, because he started to ask himself lately did he really know him?
Sylvando used to take a huge place in Hendrik's youth, but it was Hendrik who filled his image with the sentiment of his own, drawing a certain picture he chased. He used to be obsessed with Sylvando, waiting for days for him to show up on the training field… but was he really waiting for him ? He never asked Sylvando about the circus or why he liked it so much, he ignored it, as everyone did. Of course Sylvando left, nobody cared about him and his personal ambitions, everyone saw him only as a future knight, as Don Rodrigo’s son. Including Hendrik.
Now even Sylvando’s prime weapon was not a sword anymore, he used a whip. In fact, he was skilled in a range of weapons now, which was impressive, but a sword… Hendrik wondered if they sparred now, would Sylvando beat him? After all, he was inclined to a more supportive role in the party, but it was hard to imagine it was because of his lack of skill in swordsmanship.
Maybe it was not wise to ask him to spar, especially after Hendrik concluded it was not fair to think about Sylvando only in those coordinates, but he couldn’t help himself. Maybe if he could reconnect with him on this level, he could catch up with things he failed to recognize when he was a kid.
“Oh, Henny, but don't you have enough practice already? If you ask me, you’re barely out of training.”
Why didn't Hendrik recognize him when they first met after… what? A decade? This foxy gaze and sweet smile were all too familiar, it was what made his blood boil back in the day in the first place.
“When we were kids, you were the most challenging partner one could possibly be paired with. It was always fun to spar with you.”
“Hm, I don’t know~ You have grown quite a lot, both in skill, and… physically.” What was the look Sylvando just gave him, eyeing him from tip to toe like that? “Darling, I’m not a match for you, I’m afraid. It wouldn't be as satisfying as you think.”
“Sylvando… Everyday we are battling side by side. I think I am good at judging your abilities. Plus, I am aware that my brutal force always benefits from facing more agile opponents.”
“Oh, so you grew to be aware of your weakest spot.” Sylvando smiled sweetly.
“Of course, if you don't want to, I won't pressure you.”
Sylvando smiled even more. There were tiny playful sparks in his eyes.
“I want to. Mind if I choose the weapon of my liking?”
Hendrik shook his head. Yes, he hoped they would fight on swords, but, as he mentioned earlier, it was not his prime weapon anymore. Sylvando also was not a boy he used to know, and he can't force him to be one. He reminded himself that his main goal was to know Sylvando better.
“It’s not a sword that makes a knight.”
For a moment Sylvando's eyes got wide with surprise.
“And here I was, darling, thinking you were more conservative towards such things. My-my, and it was me who used to tease you on acting by assumptions about people… How the tables have turned…’”
“It’s something I learned from you too-”
“Honey, enough!” Sylvando laughed. “You’ll sweet talk me to defeat. Let’s spar already.”
And, whistling, he walked away to prepare.
***
Everything was different. Sylvando’s posture, his movements, his weapon; at first it seemed he didn't leave anything his father taught him. Well, maybe Hendrik was exaggerating a little bit, since yes, Sylvando was breaking the rules they learned, but he did it with awareness of balance and physics. It was not a silly revolt for the sake of a rebellion only. No, he didn't cross over the knight training… he adjusted it to himself. Hendrik now saw it, Sylvando still respected the tradition, but wrote it into his own style. He wanted to be a part of knighthood, he just expanded the meaning of it. Both with his ideas, and his techniques.
Sylvando must have figured Hendrik noticed it. He smiled and reacted with happy “woah!” and “heys!” when Hendrik realized what block or attack were best to answer with, figuring what techniques they learned together were now transformed by Sylvando.
Hendrik felt how the long forgotten excitement was circulating in his blood once again. And it even was a happier feeling, as he was not just learning, he and Sylvando were creating something new.
And Sylvando, as a flirt he was, among normal attacks, occasionally hit him with a whip in a rather playful manner. Those hits were not painful, but they were quite embarrassing. Hendrik’s weakest spot was not only agile opponents but those who tested his swordcraft with allure…
“S-Sylvando!” Hendrik complained after another playful slap of a whip.
“Sorry, Henny! But you are so cute when you blush~” Sylvando winked and sent him a blown kiss.
And it was stupid as it was not poisonous or anything, it was not a trick, but still he got mesmerized for a second, and it was a mistake.
Just when he wanted to complain Sylvando didn't take the sparring seriously, it was he who allowed himself to be distracted.
The whip was tightly tied around Hendrik, it was the end. He barely could hold a grip on his sword, as Sylvando was moving towards him, playfully taking step by step. He drew so near, their chests were touching, Sylvando threw back his head to smugly look directly at Hendrik’s eyes.
“I won~”
Before he could think about it, Hendrik knocked Sylvando’s legs and balanced back, causing them both to fall on the ground. Hendrik landed heavily on his back, but he couldn't care less, as he felt the whip losing its grip. He couldn't waste any moment, and before Sylvando (who landed just atop of him) could regain his control, Hendrik moved forward and kissed him.
Sylvando yelped in surprise, and Hendrik broke the kiss. Maybe he should have been hesitant about it…
Yet Sylvando just continued to stare at him curiously, with his lips parted.
Hendrik couldn't look him in the eye, and just made a movement signaling he wanted to stand up. Sylvando quickly jumped from him, and helped him to stand up. He was also kind enough to try to brush dust from his clothing.
Hendrik sighed and nodded towards the nearest log.
“Let’s sit for a while.”
***
They now were sitting side by side, Sylvando pressing his hand against his cheek, endlessly staring at Hendrik with curiosity. Hendrik was clutching his knees, eyes wide shut, he now was lost and what he could possibly say or do… He had a lot of things to tell Sylvando, and even more things to do with him, but for now he was lost. Should he say sorry? Should he confess his feelings? Should he ask Sylvando what he was feeling first?
“Ah, honey, it’s sweet how you grew 2 meters tall, became His Majesty's finest knight, and still.. you blush like a tomato.”
It was embarrassing because it was true. Hendrik felt how his cheeks grew hotter and hotter as his mind was getting dizzy with furiously scampering thoughts in his head, and all of them were about Sylvando.
“I love that it always starts with your ears.” Sylvando brushed the tips of his fingers against his ear and Hendrik shamelessly sighed. Which started himself, and he worriedly looked at Sylvando, but his smile became only wider and his touch more confident. He caressed his cheek now. “Even if it didn't touch your cheekbones, your ears always got so deeply red. I really liked it.” Sylvando chuckled. “It was so cute as you were older and so self-important, yet still you were flustered so easily.”
“I think I still am.” Hendrik shrugged. “At least, with you for sure.”
Sylvando’s hand landed on his hip, and that simple gesture sent sweet shiver down Hendrik’s spine. Sylvando drew closer, still staring and staring at him. Then he hurriedly drew away.
“Sorry, honey, I can't stop looking at you. It’s funny, how you are really the boy I once knew, yet still, you also changed greatly…”
“I missed you.” Hendrik interrupted absentmindedly. And before he could stop himself, he just started talking, giving up everything that bothered him all this time.
“It’s true we never quite knew each other well, despite spending so much time together. And maybe it’s silly to try to dwell on friendship that maybe never was a friendship in the first place, or to recollect memories that I’m afraid are not true anymore, because I can't help but ask myself, maybe I was awful to you? I was too focused on you being a better knight than me, I was in awe, but… Did you need it? Did it actually make you more lonely? I didn't understand you back then, and I’m learning to understand you now-”
“Shhh, honey.” Sylvando said worryingly. “You overthought quite a lot of things, don’t you think? I have no bad memories of you, if it’s what makes you worry.” He chuckled. “In fact, you were my favorite among Papi’s pupils. I think you’re his favorite as well… You was so hot headed, but… I don’t know, you were so kind, and loyal, and you were a definition of who I would call a knight. Not only because of skill and discipline, but you had the soul of a knight. I still have the same expression. Fond memories are mutual, darling.”
While Hendrik tried to process that what Sylvando was saying was actually true, Sylvando sighed. “And yet, you are right, honey. We spent so much time together as kids, but never figured out how to get close to each other, each caught up in their own world. That’s how the kids are, I guess. And I think it’s especially hard to not second doubt what is between you and a person you quite treasured in the rather distant past. Honestly, I would never guess you would remember me, or that you liked me back then. I thought you were irritated with me, actually. And would be still, to be honest.”
Hendrik finally risked looking at Sylvando back. He was still looking at him.
“Well, when I was young I found your decision rather… Atrocious, to be honest. Mostly because I didn't understand why you found the circus equal to a knight’s pledge. Which turned out to be rather snobbish of me. I now see that it is rather stupid to look down or pity Don Roberto for his son’s decision…” Hendrik shook his head. “If anyone should be pitied, it’s those who can't see the importance of what you create.”
Sylvando sighed in the brightest smile, and gently put his hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, Henny…”
Hendrik hesitated. Yes, Sylvando was saying only nice things to him, but still…
“Are you… not mad at me for a… um… for my discourtesy of…”
“For kissing me?”
Hendrik gulped and unable to hold eye contact turned away.
“You think I would flirt with you or tell you any of what I told you today if I wasn't a tiny bit drown to you?” Sylvando chuckled. “What were you doing serving in the royal castle all these years? Did the whole courtship completely pass you?”
It seemed impossible, but Hendrik got even redder. He buried his head in his hands, not knowing what he could possibly answer him.
Sylvando gasped. “Don’t tell me…!”
“N-not completely!” Hendrik yelped. “Anyway, I had other priorities…”
“Hmmm… Defeating Mordegon seems to me quite an important task, don’t you think?” Sylvando comically tapped his chin. “Yet still you found some time to kiss me~”
“S-Sylvando!” Hendrik turned to him again, all worked up.
Catching a moment, Sylvando sat up even closer to him, and hugged his arm, squeezing his foxy eyes at Hendrik’s started expression.
“Henny~ I’m not mad. I’m happy.”
Somehow Hendrik was more prepared for denial rather than mutual words of affection, and he was not sure what he was supposed to do now. He knew what he wanted to do, but…
“It’s funny how we can't help to take steps to each other, feeling really guilty for losing composure and denying the other might like what we suggest.” Sylvando tilted his head to the side.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you know, it’s hard to fight the urge to wrap my hand around your arm, or catch a moment to just touch you, or just…” Sylvando shrugged. “Be around you more often than it would seem proper.”
“Oh…” Well, when Sylvando put this like that it made sense.
It still didn't hold right in his head, though. Somehow it was still hard to believe. But he could try to.
“Can I kiss you again?”
“Have you been listening to what I was saying?” Sylvando chuckled. He reached to gently smooch his cheek. “Honey, you don't have to ask.”