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The first time Luka and Félix met, it was a complete, unmitigated disaster.
If one considers their personalities, it isn’t an unexpected disaster. But the prince of England stumbling mid-argunent into a chocolate fondue fountain was absolutely hilarious to Internet personalities everywhere. And also to Luka.
In his defense, he hadn’t pushed Félix in. If not for the argument, the whole incident probably wouldn’t have happened, but it wasn’t directly his fault. The only person to blame is Félix himself.
Admittedly, Luka has a tendency to get defensive about music, but His Royal Highness kept insisting that classical was the only true music, which is very obviously wrong. Luka’s a strong orator when he needs to be (because he doesn’t want to be often). He hurled out every piece of non-fallacy rhetoric he knew. (Plus a couple fallacies, but Félix never called him on it.)
And the whole thing might have triggered a very minor international incident, but while Ma repaired the diplomatic damage she was laughing.
Luka’s moved on since, but it doesn’t really look like Félix has, based on how much Félix is glaring at him from across the room at this New Year's gala.
He’s with a woman that Luka’s seen before but doesn’t remember the name of. She’s typically with Prince Adrien. In spite of her small stature, she carries an air of intimidation. Most of that animosity, however, seems to be directed at Félix, rather than the crowd. Weird.
Juleka approaches him with two drinks in her hands. She wordlessly passes him one.
"Do you know who the woman with His Highness is?" Luka asks. She has a better memory for people; he spends time talking where she spends it cataloging.
"Her?" Juleka stares down at her hand, studying her nails with a forced casualness. Luka recognizes that tell — it means that Juleka probably slept with her at one point. "Her name is Marinette. She’s usually Prince Adrien’s bodyguard."
Oh. That makes a lot of sense.
"It’s a good cover because a lot of people think they’re dating," she continues. "So they don’t think of her as a threat until she forces them to. But I know she isn’t taken."
Well, that confirms Luka’s suspicions.
"I wouldn’t really think of her as your type," Luka muses. "Honestly, she’s more my type, if I had to think about which one of us would ask her out. But yeah, sure, I know how to roll with the punches. What I don’t understand is why she’s with him instead."
"Prince Adrien isn’t here tonight," she notes. "And Prince Félix's bodyguard is the type of man you would expect to be a bodyguard. Very stereotypical. Overly conspicuous." She sighs. "I want to talk to her, but we haven’t seen each other since that night. It’ll probably be awkward."
Luka hums. "Not as much as Félix hating me is."
"Right." She frowns. "You didn’t push him, right?"
Luka shakes his head. "He fell in by accident. Not that His Highness thinks that, or so he says. I think he's just looking for an old-fashioned nemesis. Personally, I don’t think I’m cut out for the position."
Juleka attempts to arch an eyebrow. "Really? That’s your theory?"
He shrugs. "Do you have anything better? If you distract Marinette, maybe I can sneak away with him so we can settle things. I don’t really want him to hate me."
"...this isn’t one of your better ideas," Juleka says. "I'm just saying. Warning you."
She tosses her hair over her shoulder and approaches the two of them anyways.
Juleka manages to lure Marinette just far enough from Luka where he can snatch Félix and get them both outside.
It’s cold, which…obviously. It’s December. Formalwear always has sleeves, but they probably shouldn’t stay out here for long.
"What do you want from me?" Félix asks. "You are the person I happen to loathe most at the moment."
"I know you hate me for my bad opinions about music. And that you think I humiliated you in front of the world."
"I know you didn't push me." Félix turns away. "Is that what you needed me to say?"
"No, but I do like hearing it." Luka jams his hands into the pockets of the suit. Who’s going to see it, at any rate? "I already knew. I just thought you wanted to hate me. I just want to know why."
"Because I don’t know what else the intensity of my feelings to you could be," Félix admits in an atypical outburst. "I have believed it to be hate. I am uncertain of what else it could be."
Luka has a few ideas. If he listens, he can hear the countdown to the New Year inside.
"I have an idea," Luka admits. "But…I need to test it first."
"And just what would that entail?" Félix challenges.
"You’re about to find out," Luka responds, and kisses Félix as the countdown reaches zero.
He’s never kissed another guy before. His bisexuality was mostly theoretical up to this point. But now Luka can be absolutely certain of it.
Félix steps back.
"I’m not—I’m not queer," Félix says, spitting it with a lot of desperation. "I can’t be. I must carry on the bloodline."
Luka shrugs. "Maybe you are. It was an experiment. Call me if you change your mind. Or message me on Instagram. You know my Instagram." He’s rambling.
He steps away and flees back into the party.
"How was it?" Juleka asks. "Marinette realized the prince was missing before we could finish talking. Didn’t get to settle about whether there would be a next time or not. It doesn’t seem like things went well."
"I don’t think it was all bad," Luka says. "But it was very confusing for everyone."
He receives a message from Félix three weeks later.
After thorough self-examination and far too much research, I have come to the conclusion that I am gay.
Seconds later, another message pops up.
I suppose the realization was an inevitability, if my research is to be believed.
Luka laughs.
I am sorry if my words to you that night implied that being queer is a bad thing. As you may be aware, the British royal family is not exactly known for how socially progressive they are. These three weeks have also been spent unlearning my misconceptions.
Oh.
Luka texts back an acceptance of Félix's apology.
It’s time to move forward.