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The sun was gently caressing their flushed skin through the thick leaves of one of the many trees in the far corner of the royal garden.
The Prince and his knight were settled down in the shadows, hidden from the praying eyes. The deep blue of the spread out cape shimmered under faint rays, and Izuku let his lips curl into a small smile at the sight. The water in the pond he used to play in as a child was the same shade on sunny days. His fingertips traveled on the fabric, the softness soothing the after-training ache. Their swords were put carefully against the tree, also out of sight not to let their break be known.
A gust of wind sent shivers down his sweaty back. Izuku flinched, his eyes widening as the sweet haze of memories was ripped from his mind. He pulled his hand back. The contrast of blue and green was now too sharp for his eyes to take. Izuku gulped and averted his gaze.
It was not the place and time for such thoughts. The blue cape they were sitting on was royal. It cost more than all of Izuku's belongings. He leaned on the rough bark and took a deep breath to stop the world from spinning.
A soft rustling of fabric and grass reached him through the blood ringing in his ears. Izuku pulled the shattering pieces of his mind together and looked up.
Shoto's back was pressed to the tree trunk, small bits of dry bark clinging to his linen shirt. His hair was a mess of sweaty locks, falling on the pale forehead and getting in his eyes. The uneven flush on his cheeks made his scar stand out, and Izuku couldn’t help but stare. Shoto’s slightly parted lips, and the way his chest went up and down while he was regaining his breath looked charming, as sappy as it sounded.
A sign interrupted the silence between them.
Izuku gently took Shoto's hand, absentmindedly playing with long pale fingers and admiring how soft, despite all of the sword training, his hands were. Unlike the calloused and rough skin of Izuku's own. Sometimes the fact made him embarrassed to touch Shoto’s delicate ones, even though the Prince hated when his title was being highlighted like this.
"I can almost hear you overthinking," Shoto said, frowning slightly. "What’s on your mind? You can tell me." His eyes were firm, more out of habit from being raised in the environment of the Endeavor, but soft at the same time.
Izuku took a deep breath, allowing his shoulders to relax. It took him a while to form his next words, but Shoto's always been patient, especially when it came to him.
The thought brought a smile to Izuku's lips, and he glanced at Shoto, now knowing exactly what to say.
"It's about us, my Prince," Izuku said with a smirk, enjoying the way an annoyed huff slipped past Shoto's lips. "I've been thinking about what we are,” His grip on Shoto’s fingers tightened. “Definitely more than a Prince and his knight, but less than lovers," Izuku looked at their intertwined hands, sadness clear in his gaze. The memories of those hands on his skin in the most affectionate way, holding him like he was something truly special, filled Izuku's mind. "And before you start arguing: we are lovers only when we're alone, just like now. For everyone else we're nothing more than allies, or maybe friends, whose relationship is still strictly controlled. I wish it was different, but we can’t change things with our will. It hurts so much to only be able to touch and hold you when we're alone, but it's simply the way it is. The throne needs an heir, and the Council will never allow a not blood-related child to be one. I know you hate this - I do too." Izuku paused, taking a chance to breathe and watch Shoto's reaction. The Prince's face was unreadable, and it made Izuku's heart sting painfully in his chest. While it was a common expression Shoto had been wearing for years around other people, he almost never put it on with him.
"Yet again, I wish it was different, I wish I could tell the whole world how much I adore you, but—" Izuku got interrupted by Shoto's fingers on his lips, gently and effectively shutting him.
There was something deeply emotional in Shoto's eyes. Guilt, regret, love and adoration, it was way too much for Izuku to handle without tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes.
"I know," Shoto put Izuku's hand on his cheek, leaning into it like a stray cat craving affection. "But I don't care as long as I get to have moments like this with you. Fuck the council, fuck the whole kingdom with it's damn tradition. The only thing I ever desire is to be myself at least in front of you, and if I can’t tell everyone about my feelings, then I'll tell you about them."
Izuku could feel the first single tear sliding down his cheek. This very moment he felt nothing like the strong and confident knight he was. He felt once again like a little village kid, whose mind is full of dreams that will never become true. Exposed, wearing his heart on his sleeve, eyes shining with hope.
But this time, his dreams were really destined to remain only dreams.
With a pained expression, Izuku leaned forward, pulling Shoto into a hug. He refused to look at his face, to see the same pain twisting his beautiful features.
After a silent moment, Izuku spoke again. "Then let's let it be. Let's be together as much as we can, like there's no tomorrow." Izuku pulled away, only to take Shoto's hand in his own and bend down to press a soft kiss to Shoto's ring finger, a silent promise of what they can’t have now. Three words they didn’t dare to say hang heavily between them.
***
Shoto was half asleep on the couch, letting his mind drift freely, thoughts blending into an incoherent mess. The only source of light was the TV that was long forgotten and used as a background noise.
Shoto was comfortable.
The suddenly added weight of the blanket startled him a bit, but a gentle touch to his hair soothed him again, bringing a smile to his face. Shoto’s heart did a happy flip when hot breath touched his ear and a soft whisper broke the cozy silence.
“Hey, I’m not carrying you to bed if you fall asleep.” The smirk in Izuku’s voice could be distinguished even by Shoto’s sleepy mind.
“Mean,” He murmured, hiding his growing smile behind the blanket corner. “You’ll miss the cuddles.”
“Oh right, how can I sleep without the warmth of my husband. “ The word was still new, but it slipped off Izuku’s tongue easily. It was natural to use.
Shoto frowned when the blanket was lifted, cool air causing him to shiver, but relaxed at the feeling of Izuku’s hand finding his. Calloused fingers started playing with longer and paler ones, gently massaging the joints. Suddenly his hand was lifted up.
Izuku’s lips gently touched the wedding band, then traveled a bit higher, right to the faint mole that was almost covered by the ring. His gaze stayed on the small brown spot for a few moments.
“It seems your previous life’s partner was a romantic.” Izuku whispered with a smirk before placing one more kiss there.
“I bet it was you.” The sleepy haze made the affection in Shoto’s eyes even more obvious. Warmth in his voice was soothing like honey.
“I love you too, you sap.” Izuku rolled his eyes playfully, then returned to playing with Shoto’s fingers.
The matching ring on his own hand was shining in the dim light.