Work Text:
During today's workie, Wille watches Simon mirror the anxious habits Wille typically illustrates. Wille looks around to see if anyone else notices the nail-biting and leg bouncing, but he’s the only one. Hesitantly, the prince reaches to place a small hand on the others’.
“Are you okay?” Wille delicately whispers. Without reciprocating eye contact, Simon shakes his head. Wille begins to trace comforting circles on the boy's hand while asking, “What's going on? Do you wanna talk about it?”
“It’s stupid,” He responds, his voice cracking.
“If it’s bothering you, it’s not stupid,” Wille reassures.
Simon takes a deep breath while turning to face the other, “It’s just,” He pauses, “I have to work twice as hard to be seen as half as much. You ever notice how exams aren’t a stressful topic at Hillerska?” Wille nods, “It’s because they all have private tutors. I mean, what’s the point in stressing if you pay for good grades?”
“Is that what’s stressing you? Exams?”
“I mean, that’s part of it. Just made me think about how poorly I’m treated here. Like, before you got here, people were horrible to me. They only saw me as a person when I became associated with you, a rich prince.”
“Shit, Simme, I’m sorry,” Wille sincerely responds.
“It’s not your fault. I’m so glad you transferred to Hillerska,” He says, offering a shy smile.
“Me too,” Wille responds, now sharing the same smile. Suddenly, his face lit up, and he reached into his bag. Simon's eyebrows furrow at the sudden and confusing movements. His boyfriend's hand contains a familiar citrus fruit which makes him realize what this burst of excitement is about.
“Is that…?” Simon asks with a bright smile on his face.
“A satsuma! Would you like me to peel it for you?”
“You don’t like peeling satsumas, though. The peel gets under your fingernails.”
“I don’t care. I’ll wash my hands after,” Wille responds, placing a soft kiss on the boy's cheek before peeling the fruit.
As Simon pops a slice into his mouth, he notices the other picking at his fingernails, he begins to softly laugh and says, “Wille, you can go wash your hands."
“Thank you,” He responds with an endearing smile on his face, before running off to the bathroom.
As soon as Wille returns, he is met with kisses placed all along his face. He laughs before asking his boyfriend, “What was that for?
Simon sits back down, “No one’s ever noticed I eat satsumas when I’m stressed.”
“How? I swear to god, you’re popping those babies like pez.”
“Shut up,” He smiles, playfully punching his arm.
“Seriously, I noticed you eat them when you’re stressed, so I started keeping some in my bag just in case!”
Simon reaches over, pulling Wille in a soft hug, “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done,” he whispers in the crook of his neck.
“I love you,” Wille softly responds, placing a soothing kiss into his curls.
“I love you too.”