Archive of Our Own

There’s a bit of loose paneling on the window leading to the roof of the White House, if you know where to look. Those who know to look close enough know that there’s a hidden message scratched into the wood there, if you peel back the wood with something sharp. No one knows who wrote it. It’s accepted as a truth among those that have found it that it had to have been a First Son or Daughter. 

Jesper discovered it on his second night in the residence. He hasn’t shared it with anyone.

It reads, in thick lettering: RULE #1: DON’T GET CAUGHT

⋆☆⋆

The East wing on the second floor is Jesper’s safe space. Usually reserved for the First Family, it’s otherwise unoccupied save for the only First Child of the president. Sometimes, Inej will take over the bedroom across the hall, but usually, it’s just him. He had the dark blue walls painted over in a soft green, then covered them in various posters and a dart board above his dresser. 

He wasn’t originally supposed to take up a room in the House, but when he dropped out of Georgetown in the middle of the spring semester, his mother insisted on his moving in so they could spin a story about him being suddenly interested in politics. 

As he opens his door, Jesper tosses his bag on the sofa on one side of the room, and makes his way over to the other side to drop face first on his bed. He’s able to enjoy a moment of quiet, the first of the day (maybe week), before he feels the mattress dip on his right side. He jolts upwards, only to be met with his best friend’s sneaky grin. 

Jesper rolls his eyes as he moves into a more comfortable sitting position, and Inej wiggles her toes under his thigh from where she sits against the headboard. “You have got to stop sneaking up on me like that, ‘Nej.”

“Not a chance,” she shakes her head, “not when it always gives me such a good reaction. I could sell that to Buzzfeed, you know. Make some extra allowance.”

“But then I’d never speak to you again, and that wouldn’t be worth it.” he retorts, to which she rolls her eyes. “Did you bring any mags with you?”

With a flourish, she reveals three magazines from behind her back. “Of course. Only the ones with us on them, though.’

“Those are the most important ones,” Jesper agrees, scooching closer and snatching one. “Ooh, this one says I was kicked out of college for sleeping with a professor. That would certainly be more interesting. Maybe I should have given it a try with Higgins.”

Inej scoffs. “Like he’d give you a second glance. Look, this one says you and I are on a break after I found you in bed with the ‘mysterious’ Kaz Brekker.”

That causes Jesper to let out a loud laugh. “He’ll kill me for that one, I’m sure.”

“Maybe we should just get married,” Inej proposes, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “You know, give them something real to talk about for once.”

“I’ll let Kaz know you’re interested,” he teases, and earns a smack on the shoulder for his effort. “C’mon, Inej! Give me at least some update. I’m starving for gossip over here.”

Inej’s face remains impassive, and instead flicks through the third magazine. “This one mentions you, but more of the same old news. It’s mostly about the royal wedding.”

Jesper glances at it with only a hint of interest, and reads the Royal Wedding Madness! headline and scoffs. “I can’t wait for this to be over so we can talk about something else for once. Look, it says they spent $75,000 on a cake.”

“What, something else like you?” she pokes his side, and he squirms. “What are you wearing, by the way?”

“What?” he says, furrowing his brow. 

“To the wedding,” she replies, as if he’s five years old. “Don’t tell me you forgot, Jes. It’s next weekend!”

“Of course I didn’t forget.” He totally forgot. “I had Anika approve my outfit like three weeks ago.” Which was actually true.

“Good,” Inej nods, turning her eyes back to scan the pages. “Your tie will match my dress, of course?”

Jesper leans forward to press a loud kiss to her temple. “Of course, darling. Can’t start any rumors if we don’t at least make an attempt.”

⋆☆⋆

The flight to England doesn’t get any easier, no matter how many times he’s been shuffled across the Atlantic. Thankfully, he was also able to get Kaz a ticket, so the two of them and Inej sit across from one another in the back of the jet. Kaz is working on some spreadsheet, but Jesper has given up trying to understand what is schoolwork and what is Kaz’s personal hobbies. Inej is reading, her legs curled up under her body and turned sideways so her head rests against the back of the seat. Jesper is stretched out on the opposite seats, headphones in one ear so he can hear his friends’ occasional mumbling. 

Anika sits in front of them, completing what Jesper thinks is a sudoku puzzle. Across the aisle is Rotty, who has headphones pulled over his ears and his eyes closed. Jesper knows from experience that he’s a light sleeper, and is always ready to jump into action if needed. 

“Anything we should know before we go into this alternate reality that is a royal event?” Jesper asks aloud, breaking the silence. 

“Bow, don’t chew with your mouth open, and don’t step on any toes,” Kaz answers, not looking up from his computer. “Surely you knew that already.”

Jesper rolls his eyes and looks at Inej, who has a small smile pulling at her lips. Her gaze flickers to him as she says, “The bride is closer in age to the prince than her husband-to-be.”

“Right, because King Jan is practically rotting, yet can’t stay single for the rest of his life,” he nods, like this makes sense. “But that’s old news, ‘Nej.”

“The prince is going solo to the wedding,” Kaz chimes in, finally glancing up at them. “Twitter is going crazy about it.”

Jesper grins, “Right, because god forbid his royal highness spends a single night without a lady on each arm.”

“Maybe you can dance with him,” Inej suggests, purely because she knows what reaction she’ll get from the man in front of her.

“Please,” Jesper scoffs, “maybe in his dreams.”

“His?” Kaz questions, eyes twinkling. “Or yours?” Jesper shoots a glare in his direction. 

There are several things that the White House staff is made aware of when they’re hired. His mother’s need for something sweet to be in the cabinet at all times, for her frequent 2am kitchen raid. His father’s olive allergy. Jesper’s tendency to sneak back home at late hours in the middle of the week. The way Inej makes no noise unless she wants people to know she’s there. Even Kaz appears frequently enough to have a steady stock of energy drinks in the fridge. 

Most importantly, Jesper’s rivalry with Prince Wylan.

To be fair, it’s mild for a rivalry. He’s always called dramatic when he uses that word. But how else should he describe their mutual dislike of one another? Jesper has only had to interact with the English prince a few times, but each encounter has left him with a sour taste in his mouth and a shake in his hands that takes hours to get rid of. 

So they’re all aware of how much he’s dreading attending this wedding.

⋆☆⋆

It’s not bad, for a royal affair.

For a wedding, it’s completely outrageous and over the top. But at least the ceremony isn’t too long, and there’s a steady supply of champagne at the reception. The King and his new Queen make their rounds to shake hands and say their thank yous, and Jesper finds himself and his friends at a table near a wall, on his third glass. Kaz and Inej are playing some game, but Jesper isn’t sober enough to keep up. It’s only when a man in a sharp suit approaches that he’s able to focus.

“Miss Ghafa,” he begins, ducking his head in greeting. Inej eyes him with curious interest. “His Royal Highness Prince Wylan would like to extend an invitation to dance, if you’d be so gracious to accept.”

Jesper can’t help the way his jaw drops, and his gaze slips to the side to see Prince Wylan himself, standing straight and princely-like at the edge of the dance floor. Inej spares a glance at Kaz, who provides no reaction, and stands. “I’d be honored.”

Prince Wylan bows as Inej reaches him, and takes her hand in his to guide her to the floor. They hold each other at a respectful distance as they twirl around the dance floor, and Jesper notices how most eyes turn to them as they pass. He looks back at Kaz, but the other man is staring at the table, seemingly unbothered. 

The dance is brief, but has definitely accomplished its task of producing enough talk that it will appear in tomorrow’s articles. Inej sits back at the table, and she and Kaz continue whatever they were doing before. Jesper spots Wylan lingering at the cake table, eyes flickering around the room but never landing on anything for more than a few seconds.

Jesper would die before he told anyone about this, but when he was thirteen, he saw a picture of Wylan on the front cover of a teen magazine at the grocery store. His mother was still climbing the political ladder, but Wylan was already well known around the entire world. Jesper used to look at photos of him and wish they could be friends one day. 

He returned to the store a week later with his allowance to purchase the magazine. In the middle was a poster, which Jesper carefully cut out and stared at for what felt like hours. He hid the poster and the magazine in between his mattress and bed frame until they moved houses. Now, it was probably in storage somewhere in the White House.

Perhaps it’s the three glasses of champagne, but Jesper can’t help himself as he gets up and moves toward him. Wylan’s eyes seem to avoid looking at him until he’s standing nearly pressed against his side.

“Jesper,” Wylan greets with a slight nod, “I’d wondered if I would have the pleasure.”

His words cause Jesper to roll his eyes. How no one else gets exhausted by how pretentious the other man is, he has no idea. “Your highness. It’s a beautiful wedding.”

Wylan hums, and flicks what must be lint off his sleeve. “Indeed.”

This infuriates Jesper even more, so he says, “Is this too small of a wedding for you? I’m not sure how you can outdo the King, but maybe when it’s your turn, you could have three champagne towers. Maybe a chocolate fountain. It would be humiliating to not have a chocolate fountain.”

Wylan’s expression narrows for the briefest moment, and when it straightens, he’s smirking slightly. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Does it ever get exhausting? Pretending like you’re too good for everyone else?”

“Is that something I do? Or are you projecting?”

Jesper wants to wipe the smug look off his face. “Sorry I’m not obsessed with you like everyone else seems to be.”

At this, the prince leans towards him just a little bit. “You’re not doing a good job of convincing me that you’re any less obsessed with me.”

Jesper splutters, which seems to satisfy him. Wylan ducks his head in a small bow, “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Fahey.”

He begins to walk away, but Jesper refuses to let him have the last word. He grabs at Wylan’s sleeve before he gets too far, which causes him to look back at him in irritation. Jesper tries to tug him again, but Wylan resists, and it sends Jesper off balance. He barely has time to tighten his grip on Wylan’s arm before he’s teetering backward, pulling the prince with him into the table behind them.

On the bright side, this will surely top Inej’s dance in the papers.

On the not so bright side, he’s not sure how good he looks with cake in his hair.

As the two of them land on top of the $75,000 cake that they’ve knocked on the ground, Jesper hears Wylan mutter, “Fucking Christ.”

Well. He’s relieved to learn that Prince Charming does have somewhat of a spine. 

⋆☆⋆

Jesper’s mother is a kind, but stern woman. He was afraid of disappointing her even before she was elected president.

Now, Aditi Hilli is too busy being the first woman in office to be personally scolding her grown son on his missteps. Not that he makes it any easier for her. Yet, when Jesper is called to her office Monday morning, she is alone, not accompanied by Anika or any secretary tasked with delivering her report.

“Ma,” he greets, keeping his tone light but wary. She nods at the seat in front of her, which he takes and sits up straight for once.

“Jes,” Aditi sighs, taking her glasses off her face and rubbing at her eyes. “You have to know how much of a nightmare you’ve caused.”

At this, Jesper protests, “Ma, it wasn’t my fault! Wylan is just so infuriating–”

“I know, darling,” she interrupts, fixing him with the look . “While I can entertain the idea that maybe it wasn’t completely your fault, I also have to do damage control. So, my solution is this. Next weekend, you’re flying back to England.”

He groans dramatically, “Ma–”

“Jesper.” At that, he quiets. “Our story will be that you and Prince Wylan are best friends who rarely have time to see one another, and were just so overjoyed to be able to spend some time together that you took the joking too far and stumbled.”

“Best friend,” Jesper repeats incredulously. “There’s no way anyone will believe that. We’ve only been in the same room as one another like four times, and we can’t stand each other.”

“I don’t care,” Aditi says firmly, “I don’t have any choice but to do this. Anika was on the phone with the prince’s representatives all weekend, and this is what we’ve decided. So, take this.” 

She hands him a stack of papers, and on the top, he reads HRH Prince Wylan Fact Sheet. He glances up at her with a raised eyebrow, and she continues. “Memorize it. Per your contract, you two will attend two events together and do one interview this weekend. I expect you to be on your best behavior, and not push the prince into any more baked goods.”

“So pushing him into a river is fair game?’ Jesper jokes, and he’s met with a dry stare. “Did he get one of these for me?”

Aditi nods, “And I’m sure Anika wants to skin you alive for having to spend her free time making it.”

“God, ma,” he says in exasperation, flicking through the pages and skimming the words. “You can’t expect me to be able to pull this off. The prince is the most bland person I’ve ever met.”

“Jes, darling,” his mother begins, folding her hands on the desk in front of her. “I love you. But you’ve been making this presidency difficult enough. I can’t have this international scandal on my resume going into next year. You know that.”

He holds her gaze for a few seconds before he drops it, disappointed in himself. “I know, ma. I’m sorry.”

Aditi stands and makes her way around the desk, putting a hand on his head and kissing the top of it. “I know. Love you, little rabbit.”

Jesper smiles faintly and watches as she leaves the office.

⋆☆⋆

“So you’re replacing us with a prince, I hear?”

Jesper rolls his eyes as he watches Kaz and Inej make their way into his room, closing the door behind them. Inej is holding three glasses and a bottle of what he assumes is wine, and Kaz carries a bowl of popcorn. “Please don’t make this worse than it already is.”

“I lack any sympathy for you,” Kaz states, resting his cane against the end table and sitting on the sofa in front of where Jesper lays on the floor. Inej sits next to him, keeping enough distance between them. 

His other best friend smiles gently, “I somehow have about an ounce left, but it’s thinning pretty quickly.”

He flips them both off as he pulls himself into a sitting position. He takes the glass from Kaz and holds it out as he pours him a drink. “Now I have to memorize this awful fact sheet about the most boring person on earth and pretend I can be friends with someone like that.”

“Ooh, let’s make it a game!” Inej suggests excitedly, “I’ll quiz you, and you drink for every one you get wrong.”

“And you two drink for every one I get right,” Jesper adds, and they agree.

“Okay, easy. Parents?”

Jesper clears his throat. “Father: King Jan van Eck. Boring. Mother: Marya van Eck, former queen. Famous musician before she married into the crown. Deceased. Okay, drink.”

Inej and Kaz take a drink, and then Kaz says, “Pets?”

“A cat,” Jesper answers. “Named Noodle. Who the fuck names an animal Noodle?”

“It’s cute,” Inej says as she takes another sip. “Best friends? Name, age, and occupation.”

“Nina Zenik,” Jesper says immediately. “Twenty-two. Friends with Wylan since they were children. Manages the Zenik Foundation in several countries.”

“Favorite book?”

“Uh,” Jesper hesitates, “Fuck. Wait–”

Kaz boos, “Drink. It’s. Oh. Great Expectations.”

“I think you two should also have to drink for that one,” Jesper complains. “That’s horrendous. Charles Dickens?”

“Fair,” Inej agrees. “I wish we could see your fact sheet.”

“Face and ass sculpted by the gods,” Jesper says dramatically. 

“Allergies: pollen, green beans, and shutting the fuck up for longer than two seconds,” Kaz deadpans.

Jesper glares at him as Inej giggles. “Shut the fuck up!”

That sends Inej laughing harder, and even Kaz grins. Jesper rolls his eyes but can’t help laughing with her. The sound is one of his favorite things in the world. He’s glad he at least has these people, his real friends, forever.

⋆☆⋆

A week later, Jesper is once again flying across the ocean and being driven to a royal property to meet with the prince. In the car, the man in the passenger seat has him sign an NDA, which he thinks is ridiculous. What could he possibly learn about Prince Wylan thats worthy of breaking to any gossip site?

He’s escorted to an outdoor area, which is empty. He spares a moment of thought on where the prince is before he sees him. 

Wylan is literally riding towards him on a white horse. If there weren’t cameras nearby, Jesper might actually vomit. 

The prince dismounts and removes his helmet and gloves as he approaches him. Jesper hears the click of cameras as they get closer to one another, and plasters on a smile that he knows will look friendly to anyone else. But when Wylan is within hearing range, he speaks between his teeth, “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”

Wylan returns his fake smile and offers his hand, “I’d rather take a swim in the Thames.”

Jesper releases a laugh loud enough to reach the photographers, and pats Wylan’s shoulder as he releases his hand. “Let me know if you need any help with that.”

The man from the car, who Jesper assumes is Wylan’s equerry, nods at them. “That should be enough. Ready?”

Jesper and his belongings are brought to the guest quarters of Kensington Palace. He spends only a minute gazing around at the ornate walls and decorations before he’s calling Inej’s number. 

“‘Nej,” he says as soon as the facetime call connects. “If I die here, avenge me.”

She grins at him through the small screen. “Stop being so dramatic. Tell me everything.”

He spends at least an hour ranting and complaining about his trip so far, and the whole ordeal in general. Inej nods and offers commentary in the right places, which is what he loves about her. He and Inej hardly knew each other personally before his mom chose her dad as her running mate, but ever since they were forced to hang out together at political events, she’s become his best friend. Other than Kaz, of course, not that he’d ever tell him that. 

It’s dark by the time he makes his way to the kitchens, struggling to remember the directions the equerry (who’s name is Pim, he learned) gave him before he departed. He pours himself a glass of water and hops onto the counter as Inej says, “Give me a tour of the kitchen!”

Jesper smiles and flips the camera so he can span it around the empty room he’s in. He’s just about to turn it back to himself when it catches on another person entering to his right, and he just about jumps out of his skin. Inej’s brows furrow on the screen, “Is that–“

He ends the call abruptly and Wylan pauses, the two of them staring at each other in surprise. Jesper has never seen him in this state; curls messy rather than arranged, pajamas disheveled, barefoot. It’s almost startling to see him look so human. There’s a familiar ache in his chest, but before he can place it, he shoves it aside. 

“Sorry,” Wylan speaks. “I just wanted a cornetto.”

“A what-o?” 

Wylan approaches the freezer and removes a box, setting it on the counter. He takes out a wrapped snack, but Jesper can’t see it underneath the foil. “Are you nervous?”

“For?” Jesper questions, leaning back on his hand. 

“The interview,” Wylan answers. “Convincing the world that we’re best mates.”

Jesper scoffs and tries not to roll his eyes, “Not at all. Look.” 

He hops off the counter and approaches Wylan, adjusting the box in front of him and holding his phone up. He positions the camera so that Wylan’s hand is visible in the corner, and takes a photo of the cornettos box. He pulls up instagram and posts it with the caption, Late night snacks with @PrinceWylan. He turns his phone around to show Wylan, “Not hard at all.” 

Wylan nods, barely managing to look convinced. Jesper stares at him blankly, waiting for him to speak. When he stays quiet, Jesper says, “Are you finished? I was on the phone.”

The prince jolts, and nods. “Right. Goodnight, then.”

He walks towards the kitchen’s exit, looking as if he’s sleepwalking. Before he turns the corner, he looks over his shoulder and says, “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

Jesper blinks and he’s gone. 

⋆☆⋆

The interview the following morning is with a popular British morning show that Jesper has seen online before. It lasts no longer than five minutes, and Jesper does most of the talking. Wylan laughs in the right spots and makes charming jokes and Jesper has never hated him more. 

After the interview, they’re ushered to St. Hilde’s hospital. The brief Jesper was given on his flight said that they’d be reading to children in the pediatric ward. They are once again photographed as they go through the main entrance, and follow Pim through the hallways and up to the west wing. From there, they begin making their rounds through various rooms. Jesper lets the child he’s going to read to choose from the books he’s been given, newer picture books that he doesn’t recognize. 

When he’s read for almost half, he enters one private room to see Wylan already there and backs up until he’s hidden from sight. The prince sits in the plastic chair, pulled up close to the hospital bed where a small girl is curled under some blankets. Jesper notices that he doesn’t have a book in front of him just before the child speaks, “Can we do something other than read? I’m not very good at it.”

Wylan’s face twists in an expression Jesper can’t place before he smiles assuringly. “Of course. Reading can be very hard. I prefer watching movies anyways.”

The girl lights up, and words fall from her mouth at a rapid speed. “Me too! What’s your favorite movie? Mine is Star Wars because it has princesses and light swords and fights and explosions!”

Jesper smiles softly and Wylan laughs, “I love Star Wars, too. Who’s your favorite?”

“I love Rey,” she answers, “She has really cool hair. I dressed up as her for Halloween last year and my mom did my hair just like hers.”

“Rey is so cool,” Wylan agrees, “I like her, and I like Finn, too. I think it’s important to know that it’s not where you come from that makes you the person you are, and that no one can tell you how you’re supposed to feel about things.”

The girl is nodding along with him, but before she can respond, a nurse enters the room beside Jesper and announces “Okay, little miss Ronnie, it’s time to say goodbye to Prince Wylan.”

Ronnie pouts, and turns to Wylan and says, “Can’t you stay? You have to stay!”

The nurse shakes her head, “Mind your manners, Ronnie. I apologize, your highness.”

“No need,” Wylan assures, and reaches for Ronnie’s hand to give it a squeeze. “Rebel leader outranks the prince.”

As Wylan exits, he catches Jesper’s eye and raises a brown Jesper straightens and walks alongside him, refusing to acknowledge that he was eavesdropping. “That was nice.”

“Surprised?”

“Impressed.” At that, Wylan gives him a look. “Just a little,” he adds. 

Before Wylan can reply, there’s a loud booming noise, and a scream. Rotty is suddenly behind them, ushering them into a supply closet and saying “Stay down,” before closing the door. 

Wylan is knocked off balance as he’s pushed inside, and collides with Jesper to knock them both onto the tile floor. Wylan lands first, and Jesper falls right on top of him. He manages to catch most of his weight on his hands, and holds his upper body just above Wylan’s so that their noses are almost touching. 

“This feels familiar,” he quips, and watches in delight as Wylan rolls his eyes and shoves him away. He lands beside him, and feels an elbow dig into his side. “Do you mind?”

“Me?” Wylan asks in outrage, “This is all your fault!”

“You’re the one who tripped!”

“If you hadn’t tripped and sent us both into a cake a week ago, we wouldn’t be in this position in the first place!”

Fair enough. But Jesper can’t help but poke at him more, “Yeah well, I don’t ever get shot at when I’m doing solo appearances for my mom’s events.”

“Not like I get shot at on a regular basis either,” Wylan argues, sounding like he’s two seconds away from punching Jesper. He’s loving it. 

He angles his elbow into Wylan’s side, telling himself it’s payback and not that he’s trying to rile him up even more. Wylan yelps, and Jesper whispers, “Shut up! Do you want us to get found out?”

The prince rolls his eyes but keeps his mouth shut, which isn’t what Jesper was aiming for. “So, you like Star Wars?”

Wylan huffs, but nods. “Just because I’m a prince doesn’t mean I’ve never seen a movie before.”

“I figured you just watched prince tutorials every day since birth, and had no time to enjoy pop culture,” Jesper shrugs. 

“There…” Wylan hesitates. “May have been prince tutorials.”

Jesper struggles to keep his laughter quiet. “So, do you pretend to not like popular things in order to keep up appearances for the crown, or for yourself?”

Wylan’s eyes narrow. “I don’t think you’re allowed to psychoanalyze a prince.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t make it so easy, sweetheart,” Jesper winks, which earns him a light blush that he can see even in the low lighting. “Besides, you just told little Ronnie that where you come from doesn’t make you who you are, but you’re sounding like you’ve come straight from a Royalty textbook right now.”

“I’m not sure why that’s any of your business.”

“We’re supposed to be best friends,” Jesper replies, “Not just now. Not just at our next PR event. But this is going to have to last if we have any shot of convincing people we like each other. I, for one, am not interested in hanging out with someone who won’t even pretend to have a personality for months.”

“Right,” Wylan says, “Why do you hate me so much then?”

That surprises Jesper. He looks at him in question, “You really want to do this now?”

When Wylan nods, Jesper scoffs. “Seriously. You don’t remember being an asshole to me at the Olympics?”

Jesper’s never been able to forget. He was eighteen, sent to Tokyo with Kaz and Inej to represent his mother during her campaign. He had the time of his life, getting drunk with his best friends in a foreign country. He remembers every minute, including when he met Wylan for the first time. Any time he’s interacted with Wylan since, he hasn’t been able to get the sound of him turning to his equerry and saying “Can you please get rid of him?” out of his head. 

“Was that the first time you threatened to push me into the Thames?” Wylan asks sarcastically. 

“No, it was the time you were a dick to me at the diving finals.”

Wylan is silent for a moment before, “Ah.”

Jesper can’t help but snort. “Yeah. Ah.”

“I didn’t realize you heard that.”

“Right, because that makes it okay?” Jesper questions incredulously. 

“Of course not,” Wylan replies. “Was that all?”

“Well,” Jesper pauses. “That’s what started it.”

Wylan’s stare feels like it’s burning a hole through his skull. “I’m sensing an ellipsis.”

“It’s just…” Jesper trails off, and sighs. “I don’t know. It’s hard doing what we do. And while I can understand you’ve been doing this your entire life, I can also understand that it’s harder for me in ways you’ll never have to deal with. I’m the mixed son of a black female president. But everyone loves you, you’re like the perfect Prince Charming. I guess it just sucks that I’m always compared to you and your family when I could never work hard enough to please anyone.”

They sit in silence for long enough that Jesper feels like he’s going to burst from his own skin. Wylan hums. “Well, there’s not much I can do about the rest, but I can apologize for how I treated you that day. I don’t mean to make excuses, because there isn’t one, but it was the second anniversary of my mother’s death. I was an areshole to just about everyone at that time. I am sorry.”

Jesper curses himself internally. Of course. It had been on the fact sheet, and on every headline in the world. Queen Marya Van Eck, dead at 45. Heart attack. And St. Hilde’s–it was Marya’s passion project. She would read to the children almost weekly ever since she was crowned. 

He thinks about Wylan’s less than perfect appearance in the kitchen, when he showed up in the middle of the night looking like he hadn’t slept in days. 

Instead of anything reassuring or kind, Jesper says, “It makes me feel better to know that you’re not perfect.”

Wylan laughs at that, and Jesper can see his eyes roll. 

They’re quiet for another moment before Wylan says, “The Force Awakens.”

“What?”

“I do like Star Wars. And my favorite is the Force Awakens.”

Jesper grimaces, “You’re wrong.”

“I’m wrong?” Wylan asks, “How can I be wrong about my favorite movie?”

“First of all, the originals are better than the sequels,” Jesper begins, raising his hands so he can gesture. “And Empire is the best, hands down.”

“I can appreciate that,” Wylan concedes, “But don’t judge the sequels completely off the last two movies. The Force Awakens—“

“Killed Han Solo,” Jesper interrupts, “Please don’t make me listen to this.”

Wylan pauses. “But you can agree that Finn and Poe were totally in love, right?”

“ No doubt.” Jesper nods. 

The door opens then, and Rotty’s tired face appears. “Coast is clear. Dumbass kids playing with fireworks. This is cozy.”

On the steps of Kensington, Jesper snatches Wylan’s phone from his hand and adds his contact before the prince can get a word in. “Here. Since we’re going to have to get used to this. Text me whenever.”

Wylan stares at him in bewilderment as he walks away, and Jesper throws up a mocking solute before turning around and getting into the car. 

“No booty calls,” he says before he shuts the door, just to see the look on Wylan’s face. 

⋆☆⋆

The press eats it up. The next morning, every gossip magazine has some headline varying how best friends FSOTUS and HRH Prince Wylan are best buds and friendship goals. Kaz even sends Jesper a link to a Buzzfeed article that includes tweets about them, the first reading omg jesper and wylan??? i totally ship it.

Jesper is reading in his room when he gets the first text. 

This bloke looks like you.

It’s a picture of fucking Waluigi. Blurry, captured from a TV screen where a list of Mario Kart characters await selection. 

Jesper snorts in humor and outrage, and reads the text that follows. This is Wylan, by the way. He adds him to his phone under Princeling.

He ignores it, and doesn’t text back until a week later. There’s a photo of Wylan shirtless in swim trunks on an Australian beach, and the temptation is too strong.

are the moles a result of all the inbreeding? 

Wylan’s reply comes a couple days later with a screenshot of a Daily Mail article that reads Is Jesper Fahey going to be a father? The text reads: But we were ever so careful, dear. 

Jesper laughs hard and hates himself for it.

Their next conversations are over random topics, but they argue over almost anything and everything just for the sake of it. Jesper loves to rile Wylan up by calling him sweetheart and other ridiculous pet names. Wylan loves to correct Jesper any time he’s wrong about anything. Jesper refuses to use the word like for how he feels about Wylan, but he is having fun. 

He finds himself checking his phone when it’s been a few hours without a text, and when he catches himself doing it, curses mentally and doesn’t touch it (until five minutes later, when he checks again). Wylan sends him pictures of his cat, wearing a hat or various pieces of clothing, and Jesper texts back with pictures of Inej’s cat. He learns about Wylan through bits of conversation and photos, and even develops an obsession with Pim via texts like Did I tell you Pim has a motorbike ?

None of this was on the fact sheet. Jesper wonders how he himself compares to what Wylan had known about him previously. 

Wylan is strangely interested in chemistry, and gives Jesper random facts about strontium chloride and how fireworks are made. He learns about elements that he had never even noticed on the periodic table. 

Jesper also sees a lot of Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar, Wylan’s best friends. Nina and him have been friends since they were children, but Matthias only joined the group within the last few years. He sees them from the opposite side of a booth over brunch, Nina sitting with her feet on Wylan’s lap in her apartment, Matthias wearing silly hats that Wylan forces on him in public. 

He doesn’t realize how much of Kaz and Inej he gives away until Wylan remembers Inej’s secret service codename is Wraith or how scary Kaz’s photographic memory is. It makes Jesper feel weird inside – not bad, just different. 

Princeling

i hate that tie

What tie?

the one you just posted

What’s wrong with it?

boring 

Sorry my formal wear doesn’t please you, Jesper.

i appreciate the apology, but do better next time.

You’re such a pain in the arse.

you’re welcome, sugarplum. 

Princeling

Why did I just receive a 5 kilo package of pins with your mother’s face on them?

wear one to your next event!

I hope I don’t need to actually explain to you why that’s a bad idea. 

⋆☆⋆

“Jesper, it’s not my fault you just found out. Everyone knows about this,” his mother says, power walking down a hallway.

“Seriously?” Jesper calls after her, nearly struggling to keep up. “We put fucking turkeys in a luxury hotel suite every Thanksgiving?”

“Jesper–”

“Gross government waste!”

“I don’t have time for this, and I certainly don’t have time to relocate the turkeys.”

Jesper doesn’t think it through before he says, “Put them in my room.”

He regrets it later.

THEY KNOW. He texts Wylan. THEY KNOW I ROBBED THEM OF FIVE-STAR LIVING. THEY’RE GOING TO EAT ME ALIVE . 

Cornbread the turkey stares back at him from his cage at the end of Jesper’s room. The responding text he gets says Please send photos.

Wylan shouldn’t be awake this late, but Jesper knew he would be. Both of them have shitty sleeping schedules and have worked it into their texting schedule. It’s really annoying though when Wylan ignores Jesper’s late night selfies. 

After he sends a photo, Wylan replies I think he’s cute. 

he’s haunting me. his gobble is going to plague my nightmares for years. 

Ah, yes. The most terrifying animal noise: a turkey’s gobble. 

“You motherfucker,” Jesper says as soon as the line connects. “Prepare yourself, I’m going to make you listen and then you’ll have your own nightmares. 

“Jesper?” Wylan’s voice is thick with tiredness, “Are you really calling me in the middle of the night to make me listen to a turkey?”

“Yes,” Jesper says, suddenly feeling a little ridiculous for actually calling him but refusing to let Wylan know that. “You won’t understand unless you hear it, Wylan.”

He hears a sigh come through the speaker. “Alright then.”

“Brace yourself,” Jesper warns, holding his phone out closer to the turkey’s cage.

They both wait. 

“Truly terrifying,” Wylan deadpans. “Thank you for that. I’ll never be able to sleep again in fear of that gobble filling my dreams.”

“They’ve been screeching all night, I swear!” Jesper exclaims, staring at the turkey in disbelief. 

“Right,” Wylan says in a tone that indicates he doesn’t fully believe him. 

“Shut up,” he snaps, “Hold on. I’m gonna make them gobble.”

“You could try gobbling,” Wylan suggests, “See if they respond. Like a mating call.”

“Shut up,” Jesper repeats, then hesitates. “Do you think that would work?”

Wylan sounds like he’s trying not to laugh. “Sure. My family has hunted turkeys before. That usually works for us.”

“Oh. So what do I do?”

“Get closer.”

“Okay,” Jesper shuffles as close as he’s willing to get to the cage. “Now what?”

“Look directly into his eyes,” Wylan instructs. 

“Okay…”

“Now put yourself in the turkey’s mindset. Connect with him. Befriend him.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Buy a summer home in—“

“Fuck you,” Jesper sits up straight, feeling foolish. Wylan cackles on the other side of the line. It causes Cornbread to emit a startled gobble, and Jesper shouts, “Did you hear that?”

“Yes,” Wylan says after he’s calmed down. “I agree it is a little terrifying.”

“A little,” Jesper grumbles, making himself comfortable on his bed again. “Thanks for the help, you asshole.”

“Don’t you have a guest room?” Wylan asks, “Surely there’s a spare room you can sleep in just for tonight.”

“But that would be admitting I’m wrong,” Jesper points out, “Which I can’t do.”

“Right,” Wylan drawls. He says something else, but cuts himself off, “And— ah! Hello, love.”

“What?” Jesper asks, feeling warm at Wylan’s use of the endearment. 

“Sorry, it’s Noodle.”

“I still can’t believe you named your cat Noodle.”

“Would you argue that it’s not a fitting name?”

“Well,” Jesper hums. It is a very fitting name. 

“Anyways, she jumped on my chest. Scared me a bit.”

“What are you even doing right now?”

“Eating Jaffa Cakes,” Wylan answers. 

“And what else?” Jesper prods. 

“Watching Fleabag.”

“Cute. And?”

Wylan’s response takes a moment. “I might be wearing a hydrating face mask.”

Jesper laughs, loud and sharp. “I knew it! Is it pink?”

“It’s green,” Wylan says indignantly. “And it’s very helpful when I have early morning events back to back.”

“Right,” Jesper agrees, still giggling. “Does it cost thousands to keep your skin so smooth and soft?”

“I’ll have you know my skin is naturally soft,” Wylan says, annoyed. “Maybe you should try one sometime.”

“Maybe I will,” he grins, glad Wylan can’t see it. “You’re kind of surprising, you know.”

“How so?”

“In that you’re not completely boring.”

“Such high praise,” he deadpans. 

“Don’t get used to it.”

“Did you truly think I was some idiot?”

“Maybe,” Jesper lies, and then has to cover his mouth as he yawns. 

“Jesper,” Wylan says, “Go sleep in a spare room.”

“Fine,” he relents, and then says nothing. Wylan doesn’t say anything either, and Jesper realizes they’ve never spoken on the phone before and neither of them are sure how to end the call. “Well, goodnight, I guess.”

“Goodnight,” Wylan echoes, voice strangely soft. 

Jesper waits a couple more seconds before ending the call, wondering why it feels so hard to do. 

send me a pic of noodle. it’s only fair. 

He doesn’t think he’s going to get a reply, but it comes four minutes later. It’s a selfie of Wylan, face scrubbed pink and hair messy. There’s an orange cat perched on his chest, nose tucked into Wylan’s sleep shirt. 

Goodnight, you menace. 

⋆☆⋆

Princeling

some channel is playing old footage of one of ur mom’s concerts, why is she kinda….

DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE. 

⋆☆⋆

Jesper’s da has been back home in Texas for a few weeks, and the first time he sees him since he left is Christmas Eve. His mom has been in the kitchen all day, because she refuses to let someone else cook their family dinner and she’s the only one of them who actually can cook. They’re having their traditional meal on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day because Anika has plans to visit her family, and both Jesper and his parents refuse to have dinner without her. She’s been attending their holiday meals since before his mom was elected. 

Inej joins too, even if she doesn’t celebrate Christmas outside of spending it with Jesper’s family. Kaz, of course, is forced into a red and green sweater as he has been since they were children, and he doesn’t even complain this time. 

Jesper’s own sweater is colorful and features a 3 dimensional reindeer on the front, complete with a button that, when pressed, plays 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.’ Anika hates it. 

Dinner goes smoothly, and it isn’t until after Anika and Kaz have both left that the night takes a turn for the worse. They’ve relocated to one of the more comfortable sitting rooms, Inej and Jesper curled up on a loveseat with the former having fallen asleep minutes after she sat down. Jesper’s parents sit on the sofa next to them, his dad rubbing circles on his mom’s back soothingly. He’s enjoying the silence until his mom breaks it. 

“I was thinking,” she speaks quietly, cautious not to wake Inej. “You’ve been out of school for a while.”

He feels a knot building in his stomach as he looks at her. “I know.”

Colm is giving Aditi a warning look, but she ignores it. “Have you thought about going back? You know we have a lot of positions open in our campaign offices. Maybe we could find you something that you’d like.”

“We’ve talked about this, ma,” Jesper says, trying not to sound too irritated. “I don’t want to go back to school. And I don’t want to work a desk job.”

“It doesn’t have to be a desk job,” she shakes her head. His dad’s hand has stilled where it rests on her back. “You could do some speeches, I know you’ve liked doing those before. Or—“

“I’m not sure I’ve ever actually said I liked doing speeches,” Jesper interrupts. He feels the sting of tears building behind his eyes and he hates that he might cry over this. “You know school isn’t for me. And you know I can’t sit still at do paperwork all day. You know I’m not interested in politics. So why are you still trying to force this on me, ma?”

“Honey,” Aditi holds a hand out placatingly, leaning forward. “I’m not trying to force anything on you. I just thought that since you’re not doing anything right now, you might want to be useful—“

“Aditi.” This time it’s Jesper’s da who cuts her off. Colm is frowning at her, and she looks surprised to see it. “Don’t do this right now.”

Jesper, who had stood as soon as she said the word “useful,” blinks back the tears now pooling in his eyes. “I appreciate that, mom. Wouldn’t be Christmas without hearing I’m useless from at least one family member.”

His parents both call after him as he walks quickly from the room, but he doesn’t look back. He feels a brief sting of regret for leaving Inej behind, but at least she didn’t have to be awake to hear all that. 

He’s calling Wylan’s contact before he even closes his door, and before he even realizes who’s name he’s clicked. It was instinctual, but now that he’d done it, he knew that there was no one else he could speak to right now. 

“Hello,” Wylan answers. His voice sounds sleepy but also more cheerful than Jesper is used to hearing him. “What did—“

“Hi Jesper!” A voice calls from the background. He thinks it must be Nina. “You should see the patterns on Wylan’s—“

“Alright then,” Wylan interrupts, and if Jesper wasn’t on the verge of a break down right now he would take the bait. 

“Sorry, this was weird,” he blurts, running a hand over his hair. “You’re with your family and I’m interrupting, I’ll just go and talk to you later.”

“Hey,” Wylan’s voice sounds clearer now, and he must have taken him off speaker. There’s muffled speaking in the back and then the sound of a door closing. “Jes, it’s alright. Breathe.”

Later, he’ll be pissed that he missed Wylan calling him Jes for the first time. Now though, he does as he’s told and takes a breath. Wylan hums approvingly. “Again.” 

Jesper takes several deep breaths, and then finally feels calm enough to sit instead of pace around his room. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Wylan replies calmly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Jesper hesitates. “I don’t want to bother you.”

“You aren’t,” the man on the other line says. “I’d like to hear about it.”

And then Jesper is talking. He’s used to speaking for long periods of time, but never this personally. He finds himself telling Wylan about struggling with school his entire life, how he can never sit still and focus on a lesson. It was hard enough through high school, but when he got to college it was so much worse. He was never diagnosed with anything and never sought out any accommodations, so it just kept building and building until it manifested in the worst ways. Jesper’s never told anyone besides his parents, Kaz, and Inej about his addiction before. Instead of going to class one day, he went into a gambling house. He didn’t come out until the next morning. And he went back every weekend. 

It got so bad that he failed all of his classes and had to drop out of school. His parents tried to be supportive, but he could always feel their disappointment. His mom’s comments tonight brought back every bad thought he’s had about himself in the past year. 

When he stops, the line is quiet. Then, “It sounds like you’re doing the best you can.”

Oh. No one’s ever told him that before. 

He doesn’t get to reply before there’s a knock on his door, a familiar pattern that lets him know that it’s Inej. 

“Right. Um, sorry, man. Thanks a lot. I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Jesper-“

“Thank you. Merry Christmas.”

He ends the call and looks up as Inej enters, a frown on her face. She looks at the spot next to him and doesn’t sit until he nods, holding an arm out and letting him tilt into her side. “Your dad told me I should come check on you.”

“Sorry,” he murmurs into her shoulder. “Didn’t want to wake you.”

“Don’t be silly,” she says softly. “Did talking to Kaz help?”

Jesper looks up at her, confused. “Kaz?”

“Yeah,” Inej nods. “I heard you on the phone before I knocked.”

“Oh,” he trails off, not sure how to proceed. “Well, um. I was actually talking to Wylan?”

Inej freezes. “Wylan. Prince Wylan?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my god,” she whispers, and then says louder, “Jes, you made a friend!”

At that, Jesper rolls his eyes and sits up so he can glare at her. “I have friends, Inej.”

She giggles, “Yeah, me and Kaz, who you’ve known for most of your life so he barely counts.”

“Ouch.”

“C’mon,” Inej claps her hands excitedly. “This is good! I’m happy for you, Jesper.”

“We’re barely friends,” he says, just because thinking about Wylan being his friend makes him feel weird. “We just have to hang out, and we have things in common so it’s easier not to hate him.”

“Aw,” she coos, poking his cheek. “You’re blushing.”

He slaps her hand away, “I’m not blushing!” 

⋆☆⋆

With Christmas out of the way, Jesper can start preparing for the holiday he’s really excited for. 

He’s thrown a New Year’s Eve party every year at the White House since his mom got elected, and he intends on making this one the best yet. Kaz and Inej get involved too, and so it’s become their thing, and the press jumps all over it. 

He spends hours planning with the staff over the dance floor, the color of the curtains, the food, the Snapchat filter, and everything else. Inej helps a little, but Kaz contributes nothing as usual. Or so Jesper thinks, until he’s looking through the invite list. 

“Wait a minute, who put Wylan on here?” He asks, pointing at his name. 

“Not it,” Inej says immediately, and her eyes dart towards Kaz. Jesper turns to face him, glaring. 

“I heard through the grapevine that you two are friends now,” Kaz shrugs. “Don’t we invite friends to this thing?”

Jesper stares at him in disbelief, and then Inej, “You told him?”

“Why was it a secret?” Inej asks. “You guys are friends. So what?”

The two of them have some knowing tone in their voices, and it’s irritating the hell out of Jesper. He looks between the two of them, and then groans, “I hate you guys, by the way. I’m not babysitting him all night.”

“I gave him a plus one,” says Kaz casually, “He won’t be alone all night.”

“Who’s he bringing?” Jesper questions, trying to keep his tone light. Inej shoots him a smirk. “I’m just curious.”

“Nina Zenik,” she tells him, “I can’t wait to meet her.”

Sure enough, Jesper sees Nina post a selfie of her and Wylan on Instagram from the plane. It’s captioned USA bound!! and Wylan is smiling softly next to her, while she’s grinning wildly. 

Princeling

fyi: i’m wearing green velvet tonight. if you even try to steal my thunder, you’ll be greatly embarrassed and everyone will laugh at you. 

Not sure it’s possible to steal attention from you, but I wouldn’t dare try. 

Honestly, fuck this guy. 

The party is in full swing by the time they arrive, and Jesper is several drinks in. Kaz has disappeared as he always does once people actually start dancing, so Jesper is left to twirl Inej around the dance floor to a Selena Gomez song. She’s wearing a gorgeous purple dress that flares out at her waist, with her hair pinned to one side by sparkly clips. Jesper himself is in his green velvet suit, curls perfectly arranged and cheeks glowing with bright highlighter. The two of them haven’t stopped laughing in minutes. 

Suddenly Inej’s gaze catches on something over his shoulder, and she yells “Look!”

Jesper turns to see a flash of bright red and sparkles. Nina Zenik appears before him, hair perfectly curled and dress cut low. She’s beaming, and he finds himself matching the expression. “Nina Zenik, pleasure to meet you!”

“You too, gorgeous,” Jesper grasps her hand so he can kiss the back of it and they both laugh. 

Wylan catches up to them, and Jesper’s eyes shift to him. He’s wearing a dark blue suit with black lapels. His tie, however, is pink. Jesper can’t help the laugh that escapes him as he looks at it and then back up at Wylan, who’s grinning. 

“I like the tie,” he compliments, nearly shouting to be heard over the music. 

“I dress to impress,” Wylan says, and Jesper feels like his cheeks might burst. 

“And who is this?” Nina asks, and he notices Inej has joined them. Nina takes her hand into both of her own and her expression looks awestruck. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Can we dance?”

Inej’s eyes are sparkling to match her hair as she says, “Please.”

  Jesper watches them go, and then looks at Wylan with a shocked expression. “No way did that just happen. I thought Nina and Matthias were together.”

“They are,” Wylan nods. “He’s used to it.”

Jesper snorts, “Well come on, let’s get you caught up.”

Turns out, the first son of the United States and the prince of England are a sight to see, and Jesper feels the states follow them all the way to the bar. He can imagine what’s going through everyone’s heads and knows how wrong they would be about all of it. Maybe if they had the full picture: late night texts, panicked phone calls, inside jokes. But Jesper feels strangely proud at how differently he knows Wylan than everyone else in the room. 

He manages to get Wylan to take two shots, and then they grab drinks and make their way to the center of the dance floor where Nina and Inej are. The girls cheer, and make space for them. Wylan moves awkwardly, mostly just bobbing his head, but Jesper manages to get him moving mostly in rhythm by the third song. At one point Jesper and Inej have to make a speech about the cause they’re supporting tonight, but after that the night is their own.  

Wylan’s still dancing pretty stiffly, so Jesper shouts at him, “Loosen up a bit, Wylan!” The prince nods, but he doesn’t move any less awkwardly. Jesper rolls his eyes. “Watch me!”

“I am,” Wylan says, but Jesper’s attention has already shifted. 

“Oh my god! Fuck yeah!” He yells, throwing his hands up. “I fucking love this song!”

Wylan looks taken aback as the bass blasts even louder than it was a second ago. Jesper catches sight of his wide eyes and laughs, “You’ve never been in a high school gym with dozens of sweaty teenagers grinding to this song?”

“You know I have not!” Wylan exclaims. 

Jesper laughs again and reaches for Inej so they can dance inappropriately together. They try to get Wylan to get into it, but he refuses. Nina, on the other hand, falls in with their movements seamlessly. 

When the song ends, the DJ announces that they’ll be starting the countdown to midnight. Jesper and Inej wink at each other as it hits zero and they exchange a short kiss. It’s tradition between the two of them, has been ever since they started these parties. Jesper turns back to look at Wylan, but the prince is gone. His brows furrow as he scans the crowd, but he catches no sight of the red-gold curls. Just as he’s about to give up, he catches sight of him out the window. 

Jesper follows, unsure where Wylan is heading until he stops at a linden tree in one of the smaller gardens. He stumbles across the grass as he makes his way closer to him, and it takes Wylan too long to hear him coming. The other man flinches as Jesper nearly trips, and forces a smile onto his face. 

“What are you doing out here?” Jesper asks, wishing he still had his suit jacket on but he’d discarded it thirty minutes ago. “Bored already?”

“It’s not really my scene,” Wylan says, and his smile turns more genuine. “You should get back in there, though.”

Jesper shrugs, “You didn’t answer my question.”

Wylan groans and rolls his eyes. “You can never let anything go, can you?” At Jesper’s knowing grin, he sighs. “It’s just a bit much.”

At that, Jesper scoots closer to him and presses their arms together. The point of contact is warm and makes Jesper wish he could wrap that feeling around himself. He sees the corner of Wylan’s lips twitch. Jesper can’t relate to feeling like this is too much for him, but he hopes that he can help bring Wylan back into himself a little bit. Maybe absorb some of the “much.” 

“Do you ever wonder…” Wylan begins, and pauses for a moment. “What it would feel like if no one knew who you were?”

“Meaning?”

“Like if you weren’t the son of the president,” Wylan explains, “If you could just live your life privately. Peacefully. No expectations. What would you do if you didn’t have this life?”

“Probably model,” Jesper responds, smirking, “Would be a shame to deprive the world of this face.” Wylan rolls his eyes again. “What about you?”

“A musician,” Wylan says softly, like if he says it too loudly someone will show up and steal the dream away. “Like my mother.”

This shocks Jesper only because Wylan had never mentioned playing any instruments, but then it makes a lot of sense. “Can you not do that now? Your mother did it and she was queen.”

“My mum played before she was queen,” Wylan corrects. “My father thinks there are more useful roles for the crown. Like military.”

That makes Jesper wrinkle his nose in disgust. Before he can reply, Wylan continues. “I’d probably date more, too.”

Jesper looks at him, “Surely you have plenty of options.”

“You’d be surprised.” Wylan is looking at him like he’s trying to get him to understand something, but Jesper can’t figure it out. “The options I’d like… they can’t be options for me. Not like this.”

“I don’t get it.”

Wylan huffs, and Jesper can feel how tense he is from where their bodies touch. “I like people. But I’m not supposed to like them.”

“Wylan, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jesper says honestly. 

“You don’t?”

“No, I don’t.”

Wylan stares at him incredulously, and then casts a frustrated glance at the sky. “For someone so smart, you can be a real idiot sometimes.”

And then Wylan’s hands are on his face and his lips are on his. 

Jesper can’t move, frozen where Wylan’s body touches his in three places. He’s trying to add up every interaction they’ve ever had, trying to figure out how they got here and what clues he’s missed. But he’s never been that good at math. 

Instead, he pushes into the kiss and is rewarded with a sigh from Wylan. It jolts him back into feeling present in his body, and suddenly he feels like he needs to be touching Wyaln wherever he can. Their mouths slide against one another and the first touch of Wylan’s tongue makes him melt. It feels like everything and not enough. Like a gunshot. Like prairie fire. He was well aware of one of their hearts pounding, but honestly wasn’t sure who it was. 

Just as he reaches upwards to touch the back of Wylan’s head, the other man pulls away with a gasp. He stares at him with wide eyes, pupils blown and lips swollen red. Jesper can’t look away. He doesn’t get a chance to say anything before Wylan is backing away and practically running back up to the house. 

Jesper can’t move, can’t chase after him. All he does is press a hand to his mouth, trying to hold the feeling of Wylan’s lips there for as long as he can. 

Then, “fuck.”

⋆☆⋆

So here’s the thing. Jesper is straight. 

Mostly. 

Sure, there was that time in college where he made out with some random guy at a party. Sure, there was that time where he had a crush on Kaz for a few months. But that didn’t make him gay, it just made him—accepting? He grew up in a household where his parents were open to everything and never made him feel like he had to hide any bit of himself. They’ve been to pride parades together . Surely, if he liked men, he’d know it by now. 

He’s pretty out of it for the whole week. His mom asks him to sit in on a meeting, but Anika kicks him out halfway through because he just can’t pay attention. He can’t sit still and finds himself fidgeting any time he tries. The one thing he does want to do is talk to Wylan, which he can’t do because he’s been ignoring Jesper. 

Underneath all of his excuses and reasoning lies the feeling he got when Wylan kissed him. If he spends too long thinking about it, he sends his mind into another spiral. Things with Wylan are hard, but they’re also so easy. Wylan doesn’t make things complicated or confusing (until now). He lets Jesper ramble and only teases him to be a pain in the ass, and never makes him feel like he’s saying too much. And Jesper likes listening to Wylan talk, even though he usually never wants to sit and focus on one thing at a time. 

Then there’s Wylan’s stupid face, which he could probably spend days thinking about and never get bored. Wylan has a dimple on one side of his face, and it stands out when he laughs. His hair has gotten long enough that it covers most of his forehead and gets in his eyes when he ducks his face, and Jesper confirmed it himself the other night that it’s as soft as he looks. He’s practically drawing a mental image of him and still can’t do the real thing justice. Fuck, he wants to kiss him again. 

So. Straight people probably don’t spend this much time convincing themselves that they're straight. Or thinking about kissing boys. 

Jesper hasn’t told anyone, not even Kaz or Inej. He’s been tempted to, but the words get caught in his throat and he says nothing instead. They catch on, of course, but don’t call him out on it. At least not at first, but then Jesper gets home for the first time all day and opens his door to find his two best friends sitting on his bed like it’s their own. 

He sighs, “What?”

Inej raises a brow. “C’mon. Sleepover time.”

“What are we, five?”

“You begged me for a sleepover less than a month ago,” Kaz deadpans. “I’m only doing this because Inej asked.”

“Of course,” Jesper grumbles, unable to help the jealousy he feels. And then catches himself and realizes it doesn’t help his internal crisis right now.  

He positions himself across from them, careful to avoid Kaz’s leg stretched out in front of him. Inej hands himna pint of ice cream and a spoon, and he feels like he could burst into tears with how much he loves her. She doesn’t press him for questions until he’s put the carton aside. 

“So…” she trails off, tilting her head as she studies him. “Are you gonna tell us what’s up?”

“Nothing is up,” Jesper tries, and then feels his cheeks heat with the look they both give him. “Wylan kissed me.”

Inej gasps, covering her mouth with her hands. Kaz doesn’t make a sound, but Jesper sees the surprise in his face. It’s Inej who ends up speaking first, “Did you kiss back?”

“That’s besides the point!” Jesper snaps, but when Kaz hardens his gaze, he nods. Inej gasps again. “It doesn’t matter! I’m having a sexuality crisis.”

Inej looks confused, and Kaz says “Oh. Did you not know you were bisexual?”

Inej shoots him a glare as Jesper gapes at him, “What!? How do you know that?”

Kaz hesitates, seemingly realizing he shouldn’t have said that. “I thought you knew.”

“If I knew, don’t you think I would have told you guys?”

“It’s not our place to label your sexuality,” Inej says pointedly, half to Kaz. “Or to expect you to come out to us.”

“How long have you known?” Jesper asks Kaz, desperate to know the answer. 

“I’ve suspected for a while,” Kaz shrugs, “But I confirmed it when you had a crush on me in tenth grade.”

Inej laughs, and then covers her mouth like she didn’t mean to. Jesper’s jaw has dropped and he thinks he would rather melt into a puddle than have to have this conversation right now. Kaz glances between them and then continues, “You weren’t very subtle about it.”

“Not helping!” Jesper screeches, grabbing the nearest pillow and chucking it at him. “I didn’t have a crush on you!”

“You don’t have to be weird about it,” Kaz rolls his eyes as he dodges the pillow easily, “I know you don’t anymore. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me! I didn’t even realize it was a crush!”

He had known Kaz since they were kids, and had gone to the same elementary school. Jesper was at the Rietveld’s nearly every night, and when he wasn’t there, Kaz was at his house. They’ve gone through numerous fights and always came through closer than before. Kaz practically moved in with him after the accident that took his parents and Jordie away from him, and even after Jesper’s mom won the election, moved into his own apartment not too far from the White House. 

But Jesper couldn’t help the small (and it was small) crush he developed in high school. It was after the accident, and Kaz had changed in the way he interacted with people, including Jesper. They remained best friends still, but Jesper, the most tactile person in the world, couldn’t touch his best friend as easily as he used to. He blamed that on the way his feelings manifested in a different way — he wasn’t sure how much of it was crushing and how much was just yearning for Kaz’s attention. 

Now, he wishes he could go back and slap his younger self in the head. Instead, he throws another pillow at the man across from him. 

“Hey,” Kaz says harshly, grabbing the pillow and throwing it right back at Jesper. “Stop acting childish. I’m sorry I embarrassed you, I thought you knew that I knew. Can we go back to you being head over heels for the prince of England now?”

“I’m not head over heels,” Jesper practically whines. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You like Wylan?” Inej asks, though she looks like she knows the answer. Jesper nods. “Then kiss him again.”

“Ah gee, that would be much easier if there wasn’t an ocean between us,” Jesper says sarcastically, “And if he wasn’t acting like I don’t exist. I don’t even know if he’s gay.”

At that, Kaz is the one who laughs. “Jes, please don’t be ridiculous. He’s always been gay.”

“How do you know these things?” Jesper asks loudly, exasperated. “Your gaydar cannot be this good.”

Inej giggles, and Jesper doesn’t miss the fond look Kaz tosses at her. He rolls his eyes. The two of them accusing him of being ridiculous was unfair. 

“He goes on so many dates,” Jesper argues, “With women.”

“Right,” Inej agrees, “But why do you think they always make headlines?”

“Because he’s the prince?” says Jesper, like it’s obvious. 

“You think the King of England is going to let his son, his heir, be gay?” Inej asks, which stops Jesper in his tracks. “It’s different for you than it is for him.”

Which, oh. Jesper knew that. But he didn’t really think about it that way. 

The next day, photos of Wylan and some blonde woman are all over all the British tabloids. Each captures a snapshot of their date outside a restaurant, including the kiss goodbye. Wylan’s lips touching her cheek makes Jesper’s blood boil. 

He remembers what Inej said about things being different for Wylan.

Fine. But Jesper’s not going to let him get away pretending he’s okay with it.

⋆☆⋆

Per their contract, Jesper and Wylan have one more event they have to attend, this time in America. It’s a state dinner at the end of the month, where there will be many important people there. Including Jesper, Inej, and Wylan.

Jesper is stuck in a boring black tux, and he picks at his sleeves as he stands next to Inej and watches as people arrive. He knows she’s aware of his nervousness, but she leaves him to his fidgeting in peace. He catches sight of Wylan and feels himself freeze. Wylan is also in a black suit, but he looks elegant and, well, royal . Jesper wants to rip it off his body.

He knows when Wylan sees Jesper because his steps falter ever so slightly, and his eyes dart away. They’re forced next to each other to take a photo, and Jesper greets him with a fake smile and a “Hello.”

Wylan nods and stretches his lips into a smile for the photo. Then he disappears into the crowd.

Jesper planned for this. He makes eye contact with Inej and nods, then watches as she makes her way to Wylan. Jesper sees Rotty hovering by one of the exits, and walks over to him.

“Can you get me ten minutes alone with Wylan?”

Rotty looks at him incredulously. “You’re in a room full of some of the most important people in the country and you think you can steal the Prince of England away?”

Jesper pouts exaggeratedly, which he knows never works but can’t resist giving a try. “Please?”

Rotty sighs, and checks his watch. “I can get you five minutes in the Red Room. No longer and no further.”

Jesper beams and pats his arm. “You’re the best, thank you.’’

He approaches Wylan and Inej from behind so that the prince doesn’t see him coming. When he reaches them, he grasps Wylan’s arm and can feel him jolt. “Thanks, “Nej.”

Wylan shoots her a look of betrayal as Jesper pulls him away and through the crowd. He’s smart enough not to resist too much and cause people to stare, but he does try to snatch his arm from Jesper’s grasp. He ignores his protests until they reach the room Rotty guards.

“You’re not going to kill him, are you?” Rotty asks, looking like he really doesn’t know the answer. 

“Probably not,” Jesper shrugs, and grins when Rotty moves aside.

“What the hell are you doing?” Wylan hisses as Jesper tugs him into the room, finally breaking away from his hold. “We–”

“Shut the fuck up,” Jesper growls, feeling torn between kissing him and punching him. He gets Wylan’s stupid boring tie wrapped around his hand and pulls his face into his own, pressing their lips together firmly.

Their momentum moves them back into the wall behind Wylan, and he can feel how long it takes for the other man to catch up. Finally, finally , Wylan kisses back, and god it’s even better than last time. 

“Hold on,” Wylan pulls away, breathing heavily. Jesper is seriously going to scream if he doesn’t start kissing him again. “Should we slow down?”

Jesper looks at him blankly. “Seriously?”

“I just thought–”

“Stop thinking.”

“Right. Will do.”

Then Jesper is pushing Wylan back into the table next to them, and lifting him onto it. Wylan’s legs wrap around his waist as they kiss again, pulling him impossibly close. It’s more frantic than either of their last kisses, and Jesper wants it to last forever. Wylan’s head knocks against the wall and his head tips back, giving Jesper the opportunity to kiss down his neck. He feels like he’s burning, inside and out, and it’s spreading across Wylan’s body the longer they’re intertwined.

Jesper’s hands hold Wylan’s face as he kisses him, and Wylan holds onto his wrists tightly, surely going to leave a mark. He feels heels in the back of his thighs and grins against the other man’s mouth.

“Time’s up!” Rotty knocks lightly on the door.

They pull apart from each other and both make attempts to hide how ruffled they are. Wylan is running fingers through his hair and it takes a lot of self control on Jesper’s part not to move his hands away and do it himself. Instead, he says “I’m going to kill you.”

“Yes,” Wylan agrees, out of breath.

“Fuck, you look–” Jesper curses, running a hand over his face. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. We are going to go act normal and stay away from each other for the rest of the night.”

“Right,” Wylan says slowly, looking confused.

“When the dinner is over, you’re going to wait a reasonable amount of time and then meet me in the East bedroom on the second floor. I’m going to do unspeakable things to you, and you’re not going to ghost me ever again. Okay?”

“Okay,” Wylan repeats, and his pupils are blown wide as they look at each other. Jesper goes to leave, but Wylan grabs his wrist and pulls him in just so he can place a soft, short kiss on his lips. “Now I’m good.”

⋆☆⋆

It takes longer than Jesper thinks it should for Wylan to knock on his door. He’s been pacing the bedroom for what feels like hours before he hears the soft taps, and yanks it open to reveal the prince staring at him sheepishly. “Sorry, got lost.”

Jesper rolls his eyes, but he’s grinning as he pulls him into the room. Wylan takes a second to look around before nodding and looking back at Jesper. They stare in silence, both of them too afraid to break it. 

“How do you want to do this?” Jesper asks, because even though it was his idea, he’s suddenly feeling out of his depth. The way Wylan’s expression softens tells him he sees right through it.

“Sofa?” Wylan questions, nodding towards that side of the room.

Jesper sits sideways, his back against the arm of the chair. He reaches out to pull Wylan into his lap, placing his hands on the man’s knees where they bracket his thighs. They don’t kiss, but Wylan rests his head against Jesper’s gently.

“You haven’t spoken to me in weeks,” Jesper says quietly, and he can hear the anger in it even if he’s not trying to sound upset, “You went out with a girl.”

“Jes,” Wylan says, and he’s said it before, but hearing it in person sends a jolt through his spine. “I’m gay.”

Jesper snorts in laughter, and Wylan shuts him up by pressing their lips together. It’s softer than their kisses from earlier tonight, likely because they know they have more time now. Their lips move slowly, and Jesper finds that using a bit of teeth elicits a gorgeous moan from Wylan’s mouth. He wants to do it again and again, but Wylan is trailing kisses down his jaw and towards his chest and his mind goes blank. 

Still, he can’t help himself from asking, “Why did you kiss me? On New Years?”

Wylan pulls back, and if he’s irritated about being interrupted, he doesn’t show it. “I felt like you reciprocated my feelings, and thought I should give it a try.”

“And what are those feelings?” Jesper questions, smirk pulling at his lips.

Wylan rolls his eyes, and instead of answering, presses more firmly into Jesper’s lap, earning him a groan. The man above him grins, and when he bends down to kiss him, it’s with more intent than he had a moment ago. Jesper releases a breath into his mouth, reaching up with one hand to run it through Wylan’s hair like he’s been wanting to for weeks. It’s soft, and when Jesper accidentally tugs on the strands, Wylan grinds harder into Jesper’s lap. They both moan softly at that.

“Wait,” Jesper stops him once more, and the look on the other man’s face indicates that the next time he does it will be the last. “Bed. Please.”

He smiles at that, and makes to move off Jesper’s lap, but Jesper holds tight to the bottom of his thighs and stands up. Wylan yelps, and glares at him as he carries him over to the bed and drops him. Before he can complain, Jesper is crawling over him, pressing open mouthed kisses across his chest and face. They pull apart to allow one another to take their shirts off, and then Jesper struggles to keep his eyes off Wylan’s bare torso. He has a dip in his hip that Jesper presses his thumb into and finds it fits perfectly. 

Wylan pulls at the chain that dangles from Jesper’s neck, “What’s this?”

“A key to my childhood home in Texas,” Jesper answers, eager to get small talk over with and get to the good part. “Something about reminding me of home and keeping me grounded. Can we stop talking now?”

He presses Wylan further into the mattress as he leans fully over him, and the kiss he receives in return feels like it’s going to swallow him whole. Jesper feels more of that gunpowder-like feeling he recalls from the garden, the feeling that nothing bad is going to happen to him while he’s in this man’s arms. Jesper’s hands tease the hem of Wylan’s pants, causing him to squirm beneath him.

Even though he said no more talking, Jesper can’t help from speaking when he looks at Wylan again. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, by the way. And I’m incredibly bisexual.”

Wylan’s cheeks are flushed red, but he’s smiling. “I thought you wanted to stop talking?”

“Sure,” Jesper nods in agreement, “Want to shut me up?”

His eyebrows raise at that, “You mean–”

“Can I blow you?” Jesper asks eagerly, “Please?"

“Holy fucking shit, Jes,” Wylan cusses, “Of course you can, what–”

“Thank fuck,” Jesper says, moving off Wylan’s lap so he can tug at his pants. “Off please.”

When they get Wylan’s pants off, Jesper presses another kiss to the man’s lips before moving down his body. “Fair warning, I’ve never done this before. So feel free to give me any tips to improve your experience.”

Wylan’s eyes start to roll in annoyance but then roll back in pleasure when Jesper finally puts his mouth on him. Wylan is very talkative through the entire thing, mostly murmurs of curse words but he does provide scattered praise, “Just like that,” thrown in with “Wait, do the thing with your tongue again – fuck!”

After, when Wylan has returned the favor and they’ve both gotten off and Jesper has collapsed against his pillows in exhaustion, Wylan looks uncertain about what to do. Jesper sighs in annoyance before tugging at his hand, bringing Wylan to lay next to him so Jesper can tuck his nose into the other’s neck. He can feel the tension leave Wylan’s body, and is glad he can hide the way it makes him smile.

“Hm,” Wylan hums, wrapping an arm around Jesper. “So that’s all it takes to shut you up? I wish I had known that earlier.”

Jesper pinches his hip, “Fuck off.”

Wylan chuckles, and his whole body shakes with it. Jesper feels oddly fond, and tilts his head back so he can grasp Wylan’s chin and guide it down into a soft kiss. “You’re not freaking out, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Liar,” Jesper grins, poking Wylan’s dimple with his finger. “Hey, don’t worry. This was fun, right? We can keep doing this and having fun. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Wylan looks at him uncertainly, “You understand that this is complicated, right? Whatever it is we do or don’t do, it’s anything but simple.”

Jesper knows that and hates it. “Hm, I changed my mind. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Menace,” Wylan manages to say before Jesper kisses him again. 

“Looks like I found a way to shut you up, too, princeling.” Jesper whispers, punctuating it with another press of his lips. 

They allow themselves a few more moments of laying there together. Jesper doesn’t know what this means for them or for his own heart, but he knows he wants to do it again. It’s very weird to have a moment like this with Wylan (besides the sex), where they’re allowed to touch each other and say what they really mean. Weird, but wonderful.

“You can stay as long as you’d like,” he finally says, hating himself for breaking the silence. “But I think it might be smarter–”

“I know,” Wylan interrupts, and the tension in his shoulders is back. “Don’t worry, I’m just working up the strength to move.”

That makes Jesper laugh, and Wylan looks proud of himself for it. He does shift then, causing Jesper to move over so he can get out of the bed. After he stands and finds his clothes to put back on, he once again looks at a loss.

Jesper looks at him blankly. “No kiss goodbye? I just had your dick in my mouth, I think you can manage–”

“Jesus fucking christ,” Wylan curses, shutting him up by kissing him shortly, but a little dirty. “What have I gotten myself into?”

Jesper can’t help but grin at him as he walks out the door, ignoring how awful it feels to watch him go.

⋆☆⋆

“You want me to go where?”

“Connecticut,” Wylan says through his phone speaker, “It’s a charity polo match, $10,000 a seat. I can get you on the list. Unless you’re too busy.”

“I’ll try my best to make it,” Jesper says, then covers the speaker to murmur to the person next to him, “Tell Anika to clear my schedule, please.”

Inej gives him a knowing smile when he tells her where he’s going under the guise of improving public relations , but he ignores it and gets himself on a place to fucking Connecticut a few days later. He’s rewarded with the view of Wylan on horseback once more, this time in uniform. Jesper is glad the first game is relatively short, so he can corner Wylan near the barn after he’s put his horse back in its stable.

“Your highness,” Jesper greets, winking as he uses the title. “Nice to see you again.”

“Jesper,” Wylan nods, keeping his tone polite. They’re both aware of the cameras behind them. “I was about to come find you.”

“Looks like I did it first,” Jesper says, “Is now a good time for you to show me that, uh, thing?”

“Now?” Wylan repeats quietly.

“I have a car scheduled to pick me up in an hour, so yeah, now.”

“Right.”

He’s led to a windowless supply room in the stables, and although the smell isn’t pleasant, there is a bench. Jesper is tempted to make a joke, but Wylan starts rambling, “I don’t know where else we can go that’s private, but if this is–”

Jesper shuts him up by grabbing his shoulders and kissing him, which is becoming a habit he’s happy to encourage. When he pulls back, he looks the other man up and down. “You look stupid.”

Wylan frowns at his outfit, “Should I take it off?”

He reaches down to his boots, but Jesper slaps his hands away. “What? No, keep them on. I like your stupid uniform.”

The twinkle in Wylan’s eye tells him he’s not hiding anything, but he doesn’t comment on it. They kiss again, and Jesper fiddles with the buckle on Wylan’s belt, cursing into his mouth as he struggles. It takes too long to get it and the button undone, but finally he’s able to pull them down Wylan’s legs, ignoring any remarks he hears as he does it. Wylan goes silent shortly after that.

When they have to leave, Wylan tilts his head as he asks, “Any chance you’ll find yourself near London any time soon?”

“Nah,” Jesper grins, “I’m avoiding that shithole at all costs.”

“Oi,” Wylan laughs, “I can have you arrested for that disrespect.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” Jesper calls over his shoulder.

⋆☆⋆

He calls Wylan a few days later, and when it goes to voicemail, he can’t help but actually leave a message.

“Hey, royal pain in the ass. Incredibly rude that you’re ignoring me now, but whatever. There’s a fundraiser in Paris this weekend. I think it would be mutually beneficial for us both if you found yourself attending. Text me later.”

It’s not a text that he gets in response, but a voice memo through their text chain. 

“That’s not my official title and you know it. I can’t make it to Paris this weekend, I have plans. Don’t have too much fun without me.”

Jesper isn’t sure why he sends another voice memo in reply, instead of a text, but he can’t help it.

“No one else puts the ‘fun’ in ‘fundraiser’ quite like you do, sweetheart. I can make it worth your time, I promise. Insert something about my tongue or whatever.”

“You’re impossible, you know that? I’ll try to get to Paris.”

Wylan does meet him in Paris, and they spend the day eating crepes and drinking wine. By the time they make it back to the hotel, they’re both happily drunk. It’s the first time they spend the night, and Jesper feels this thing between them shift.

They have a lazy morning, nibbling on food they requested from room service. Jesper reads a copy of Le Monde out loud at Wylan’s request. They kiss each other goodbye and make their way back to their own countries.

Anika texts Jesper with a link to an article celebrating their bromance, along with the message Good work you little shit.  

He knows he should be afraid. They’re playing the role of best friends in public, but any misstep could ruin whatever they have going on. And Jesper’s not even sure what it is that they have going on. Any time he gets too much in his feelings about it, he just goes back to their text chain, Wylan’s voice memos, and the way Wylan laughs when he comes.

“Is your first name technically “His?’”

“What?” Wylan asks, laughing a little through the speaker. 

“You know, your whole title is His Royal Highness or whatever. Does that make ‘His” your first name?” Jesper asks, grinning from where he lays flat on his floor, staring at the ceiling.

He can practically hear the eye roll on the other end. “No, my first name is Wylan, you dork. Why would my first name be ‘His?’”

“I think we’ve established that I have no fucking idea how British royalty works, darling.” 

Wylan huffs at the way Jesper says the last word with an exaggerated British accent. “It’s not that complicated.”

“Sure it is,” says Jesper. He pauses. “Are you okay? You sound off.”

Wylan says nothing for a moment. “I don’t like that you can tell just from a phone call.”

“I’m a man of many talents,” Jesper teases, then says more seriously, “You can talk to me, you know. I talk a lot, it’s only fair that you get to return the favor.”

“You do enough talking for the both of us.”

“Fine, then I won’t talk anymore, and you’ll have to carry the conversation alone. Which I also happen to know is your worst nightmare.”

He wonders if it scares Wylan, how well he knows him. It scares Jesper, too.

“Menace.”

“Baby.”

He hears the intake of breath and smiles. It’s a word he’s learned will make Wylan come apart, both physically and emotionally. He’s not against using it to his advantage.

“It’s just some family stuff,” Wylan finally says. “I don’t want to bore you with more details about the British royal family.”

Jesper rolls his eyes. “Yeah, but you’re the exception and you know it. Listen, you don’t have to tell me anything. But I’d like to be able to comfort you. Or whatever.”

There’s another moment of silence. “Alys is pregnant.”

“Oh? Congratulations,” Jesper says, confused. “I mean, I figured that was coming eventually. Are you not excited for a little sibling?”

“I guess I am,” says Wylan. “It’s a little odd though. Their whole marriage is. She’s closer to my age than she is to him. Now I’m twenty two and about to have a newborn sibling.”

Jesper hums, nodding even though Wylan can’t see. “I get how that’s weird. They must love each other though, right? I mean, I guess I don’t see the point in a political marriage when he already has an heir.”

“Helps to have a spare, though, right?” Wylan asks dryly, and Jesper is confused again at the tone of his voice. “Just in case it didn’t work the first time around.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Wylan is silent for so long that Jesper has to pull his phone away from his ear and check that they’re still on a call. He rises into a sitting position, frowning as he speaks. “Wy? What’s wrong?”

Wylan’s breath comes through the line harshly. “I can’t read.”

This doesn’t help ease Jesper’s confusion at all. “What do you mean?” He asks again. “Is it, like, dyslexia?”

“It’s not just that I can’t tell the difference between an M and a W.” Wylan responds, “I just can’t read.”

“Oh,” Jesper whispers. “Wait. I’m sorry, I’m confused.”

“I can’t read anything, Jesper,” Wylan repeats, “I was taught but I never learned how. The words just swim in front of me any time I try. My father invested so much money in the best tutors the world has to offer. None of it worked.”

“I thought you majored in English?”

“I majored in chemistry,” Wylan corrects, “My father didn’t want people to know that. The deal was that I could attend college instead of military enrollment if I pretended to be an English major. I wanted to do music, but that would've been following too closely in my mother's footsteps.”

“Why would he do that if he knew you couldn’t read?” Jesper is trying his best not to jump to conclusions, but it’s too late. “Wylan?”

“He didn’t want the world to know he had a defective son.” is the response he gets. “He wanted me to keep quiet about it. Never missed an opportunity to remind me how useless I am.”

“You’re not useless,” Jesper says sharply. Then a thought comes to him, “Oh my god. That’s why he had us read to children that day at the hospital.”

Wylan laughs, but it’s bitter and not warm like it usually is. “Yeah. I only read books that I’ve memorized from being read to as a child.”

Jesper’s head is spinning as he thinks of how off Wylan was that day. “Wylan, your dad fucking sucks.” That earns him another laugh, but he continues. “I’m serious. You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Don’t patronize me, Jesper,” Wylan pleads, “I can’t hear that from you.”

“I mean it,” Jesper insists, “You know so much about the world and art and science, and you’re good. It doesn’t matter if you can read or not. You have so much more to offer than repeating words from a goddamn page. Your father had so many options when he found out you couldn’t read. He could’ve found another way to teach you. He should’ve accepted that he had a genius for a son.”

“Jes,” Wylan’s voice was so soft, and Jesper suddenly hated how far away they were right now. All he wanted to do was hug him. “I’m not a genius.”

“If you argue with me one more time, I’m gonna tell Matthias that you tried to hook up with Nina.”

Wylan laughs at that, finally. “He’ll never believe you.”

“Fine,” Jesper huffs, “Then I’ll tell Nina that you tried to hook up with Matthias.”

That one seems to work. Wylan sighs, “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Jesper says, and he means it. He was just telling the truth.

“The only other people that know are my father, my old tutors, and Nina and Matthias,” Wylan tells him, “It’s never been easy for me to tell people. Thank you for not thinking I’m weird.”

“Well I do think you’re a little weird,” Jesper teases, “But it has nothing to do with your reading skills.”

“You’re a menace,” Wylan repeats, “I can’t stand you.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, darling,” Jesper says, not joking. “Hey…”

“Yeah?”

“Did your mom know?”

He hears another sudden breath at that. “Yeah, she knew. She didn’t care.”

Jesper smiles, “I’m glad you had her for that. Can you tell me about her?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything. Everything.”

Wylan tells him about his mother’s music. She could play just about anything, but loved piano the most. He used to sit on her lap at the piano bench and smash at the keys until she’d take her hands in his and let him pretend like he was playing the beautiful music. Her diagnosis felt sudden, and he wasn’t allowed to see her in the final days of her life. He didn’t even find out about her passing until the next day, and he’s never forgiven his father for it.

Jesper remembers hearing about Queen Marya in the news. Everyone seemed to love her, even if they didn’t have much to say about the king. He always thought she was so pretty, and he always loved seeing photos of her with her small son. He thought it was so cool how the prince was his age.

“Thank you,” Jesper says to him once he’s finished, “She sounds wonderful.”

“She was,” Wylan agrees, “Thank you for listening.”

“Did she know you were gay?” Jesper asks, feeling very intrusive for asking so many questions but unable to help himself.

“She did,” Wylan says, “I told her when I was fifteen. She just smiled at me and told me she knew. She promised to never tell my father.”

“So he doesn’t know?"

“He knows,” Wylan’s tone is bitter. “He sat me down after she died and told me he didn’t care what I did in my free time, but that he expected me to marry and produce many heirs.”

“I hate that guy,” Jesper frowns. “I don’t even care if that’s like, illegal to say to the prince of England. Your dad sucks.”

Wylan chuckles, “I won’t tell anyone you said that.”

“Good,” nods Jesper, and then words are tumbling out of his mouth before he can stop them.

He tells Wylan about growing up in Texas. His father was a farmer before he met his mother, and then when she was elected to the Senate he became a stay at home dad. Jesper was glad to have at least one parent around, seeing as his mom was rarely home. The move to DC was a fresh start, but Jesper pretty much ran it down the drain with his addiction. He hasn’t been tempted to gamble in months, but he’s still cautious around big cities. He wouldn’t have come as far as he did without Kaz and Inej.

Once he brings the two of them up, he continues to tell Wylan all about their romantic tension that they think no one else can see. He doesn’t share the dark details about Kaz’s history or that he wears gloves because he can’t touch strangers, but he tells him enough so that he understands that it’s not so simple for them. By the end of it, they’re both giggling about the story Jesper reveals of the time Kaz called Inej an ‘investment’ and she stomped on his foot.

“What did he even mean by that?” Wylan asks between laughs. “That makes no sense.”

“No idea,” says Jesper, “Maybe it made sense in his business-major brain.”

“They sound great,” Wylan replies. “I mean, Inej has been very kind any time I’ve met her. Kaz scares me a little, though.”

“You’d like him once you got to know him,” Jesper assures him. “He just likes to pretend he’s all big and tough.”

Jesper had moved up to his bed thirty minutes ago, and now lays on his side with his phone resting on one ear. He imagines Wylan curled into the same position on his opposite side; like two parentheses enclosing an entire ocean. 

He can’t help it when he says, “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too,” Wylan replies, and Jesper thinks he sounds like he’s smiling. 

 ⋆☆⋆

The next week he has dinner with his parents, Kaz, and Inej. It’s easy to feel like they’re all one big family when they’re together, even if most of the discussion is politics. Aditi at least tries to get some sort of personal talk in first.

“Okay, one good thing, one bad thing, go.” She orders, clapping her hands together.

“Good thing,” Jesper’s dad starts, “I’ve finally nailed the centerpieces for the upcoming dinner.”

Jesper and Kaz share a secret grin. Colm has really loved stepping into the decor duties that come with being the First Gentleman. 

“Bad thing,” he continues, humming in thought, “Is that I stubbed my toe on the bed frame this morning.”

“Lovely, darling,” Aditi smiles, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Inej, go.”

“My good thing is that I nailed my final paper for my lit class,” Inej beams, and they all properly congratulate her. “My bad thing is that my history professor is being a total jerk about our final exam, and I don’t think I’m going to do well.”

“I’m sure you’ll do amazing, ‘Nej,” Jesper says, and she reaches over to squeeze his hand. “Okay, my good thing is that I finished my speech for the DNC early. My bad thing is that the kitchen is out of cherry coke.”

“I’ll have them restocked as soon as possible,” Jesper’s ma assures him, chuckling a bit, “Go ahead, Kaz dear.”

“My good thing is that I’m done with this semester,” Kaz starts, “So I’m all good to graduate. My bad thing is still that Pekka Rollins got the Republican nomination.”

They all groan at that. Kaz has been using that as his bad thing all week, and it always succeeds at switching the topic right back to politics. Pekka Rollins is a grade A asshole running against Jesper’s mom for the upcoming election. He’s the last thing Jesper wants to hear about right now but he knows it’s all he’s gonna listen to for at least an hour. 

He tries to call Wylan when he goes back to his room, but he receives no answer. So instead, he sends him a voice note.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Thinking about you and your ass more than usual this evening. Dinner was fine until it got to politics talk, as usual. Hopefully you actually slept some. Time zones are weird. Do you think you could, like, get rid of them? Is that within your princely powers? Let me know.”

In the morning, he sees the response.

“I did get a few hours. Not sure yet about the time zones thing. Maybe Nina could? She could do anything. Anyways, I’m also missing you and certain parts of your body. Call me tonight?”

Princeling

Nina’s attending a fundraiser in LA this weekend. She says that she can get three extra invites. See you there?

wouldn’t miss it. 

Jesper meets Matthias for the first time in LA, and he’s exactly what he expected. He’s practically smiling the entire time, but it brightens considerably any time he glances at Nina. He doesn’t speak much, but he does pull Jesper in for a hug when they greet him and passes out matching kimonos that he bedazzled with names on the back for each of them.

Jesper’s is a lime green and lemon yellow combination, and reads BLESSING IN DISGUISE on the back. The words on Wylan’s pink one read PRINCESS BUBBLEGUM . He’s obsessed. 

After they’re done with formal appearances, they are shuffled into a limo and proceed to accuse chaos. Inej and Nina are a deadly combination, and even Kaz seems to be having a good time as he drinks the champagne that’s stocked in the car. Wylan and Jesper are allowed to sit as close as they want to one another, and it feels incredible to be able to pretend like they’re two normal people who can kiss in front of their friends.

Nina finds a shitty karaoke bar somewhere, and they don’t even have to be talked into agreeing. Jesper can tell Kaz is drunk when he just shrugs at the suggestion. Their security team is sent ahead of time to scope out the place, and when they arrive he’s surprised at how little they’re stared at.

“Is this tequila?” Wylan asks, staring at the liquid in the shot glass he’s just been handed.

“Yes!” Inej exclaims, throwing hers back. Nina and Matthias share giggles, and Jesper feels left out.

“You don’t like tequila?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that it makes me, well–”

“A fun time,” Nina interrupts, “Last time he got drunk on tequila was in uni, and he fully danced on the bar.”

Jesper’s eyes light up. “We’ll have another round, please!”

The lights in the bar are dim, but Jesper and Wylan keep their distance to avoid any chances of photos. Wylan looks absolutely ridiculous in a dress shirt and hot pink kimono, but his eyes are glinting and his skin is shining under the lights and Jesper thinks he’s the most beautiful person he’s ever seen.

Nina is the first to actually sing, choosing a Taylor Swift song that gives Jesper the greatest idea he thinks he’s ever had. When she finishes, the two of them do a killer duet to “King of My Heart” that leaves Wylan blushing. 

Kaz is refusing to even touch the microphone, but Matthias shocks them all with an impressive rendition of “Dangerous Woman.” Nina’s jaw is dropped the entire time, and when he gets off stage, she practically throws herself into his arms.

Nina and Inej team up to sing another pop song, and while Kaz and Matthias are distracted with that, Jesper texts Wylan: want to do something stupid?

After subtly nodding to Rotty, Jesper makes his way into the bathroom and Wylan follows two minutes later. He doesn’t give him a chance to chastise him for being reckless before he’s kissing him and letting Wylan back him against the wall. 

“You’re singing next, right?” Jesper murmurs against his skin, accentuating the words with a nip of his teeth. 

“No way in hell,” Wylan says breathlessly. 

“We’ll see about that,” Jesper winks, and drops to his knees.

Ten minutes later, Wylan is belting the words to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen with Kaz as back up. Jesper has no clue how he’s managed any of it. At this point, the entire bar is aware of who’s present on and around the stage, and are hyping them up by sending more rounds of shots to their table. Everyone is so into it, responding to the calls that Wylan is prompting from them.

His kimono is draped over one shoulder and he somehow has a plastic crown on his head. Jesper stares at him in awe and leans over to Nina beside him to say into her ear, “I am so fucking bisexual.”

Nina shrieks in agreement and they twirl each other around the small space on the floor until the song is over. 

They get burgers from a drive thru and make their way back to the hotel, where Nina and Matthias take one room, Kaz and Inej take the one with two beds, and Wylan and Jesper take the third. Jesper is giggling into Wylan’s hair as they open and lock the door, his arms around the other man’s waist and walking so close behind him that Wylan almost trips several times.

When they fall into the bed, Jesper lands on top and sloppily kisses Wylan’s forehead. “You have a great voice, by the way.”

Wylan hums, nudging Jesper’s nose with his own until he kisses his lips. “Thanks, Jes.”

They kiss some more, until Wylan pulls back to look at him seriously. “What do you want?”

Jesper thinks for a moment, before he rolls off Wylan and tugs at him until their positions have flipped. With Wylan on top of him, he wraps his legs around his waist and stares until his intention is clear.

“You’re sure?” Wylan asks, eyes flickering between Jesper’s own. He knows that what he’ll see is surety and trust.

“I am,” Jesper nods, “Please.”

Jesper thinks it’s the best night of his life. 

In the morning they shower together and then make their way to the ground floor. Jesper watches as Wylan’s shoulders tense more as they leave their temporary moment of bliss, and wishes he could sweep him away and keep him somewhere forever.

They meet up with the other four, and Rotty raises his eyebrows as he hands them each a coffee. “So. This is a thing now, huh?”

Jesper looks at all of them and can’t help but grin. “Yeah. I guess so.”

The papers in the following weeks refer to them as the Silver Six . They all agree it’s very fitting. 

⋆☆⋆

“If your goal from all of this was to render me useless and dumb, you’ve succeeded with flying colors. I haven’t been able to think of anything this past week except for the shape of your lips and the sound of my name falling from them. This past weekend was more than I could ever dream, and I wish I could live in that moment forever. Call me when you’re up, love.”

“Fuck you for not answering your phone after telling me to call you. But to everything else: ditto. You and your stupid face are practically keeping me awake every night. Insert something here about me missing you without sounding like a sap. I’ll call you again tonight, sweetheart.”

Jesper saves all of Wylan’s voice notes to his iCloud without a second thought. They might seem dumb to anyone else, but he’s glad for them any time he feels overwhelmed or upset and can simply listen to the sound of Wylan’s voice without bothering him. They continue texting, but their texts and voice memos exist as two separate conversations. Jesper knows now that Wylan uses a screen reader to text him, and he likes knowing that he can listen to some of their messages in Jesper’s own voice. 

As the election approaches, social media becomes a much less fun place for him. The campaign battle is uglier than ever this year, and Jesper has been called almost any name imaginable by republicans on Twitter. He goes with his mom to a rally in their home state of Texas, and it goes so well that he’s riding the high of it all throughout the next week. 

When he goes through his mail on Monday, he pulls out a thick, horribly embossed envelope with an invitation to Wimbledon of all places. 

Princeling

wy what the fuck is this

what a waste of money?? this could’ve been an email. 

Maybe I was trying to romance you. 

Please come?

So Jesper ends up back in London once more, in the royal box of fucking Wimbledon. 

As they’re walking towards the box, Wylan murmurs to him, “I have to warn you. Brum will be joining us.”

Jesper raises an eyebrow, “The prime minister?”

“And Matthias’s adopted father, yes,” Wylan nods. Which, fuck. 

From what he knows about Matthias, his family died when he was very young and he was adopted by the Brums. Jarl Brum was famous for his anti-everything ideology, and passed it onto Matthias as well. At least until he met Nina, who shook him from the life he knew. Matthias does not speak to his adopted family anymore. 

Sure enough, Brum approaches them within minutes of stepping into the box. He grins, which Jesper finds pretty creepy, and offers his hand to shake. “Your highness, Mr. Fahey. Happy to see you both here.”

“You as well,” Wylan says shortly, clearly trying his best to be polite. 

“How is your gap year coming along, Wylan?” Brum asks. “I see you’ve been traveling quite a bit. Any plans to start your military service soon?”

Wylan’s fists clench, and Jesper wishes he could hold his hand. “I’ve been working with Miss Zenik on her foundation’s progress. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

Jesper bites back a grin as Brum’s jaw shifts at the mention of Nina. “Right. What a shame Miss Zenik couldn’t join us today. Though, she would be rather out of place.”

Jesper opens his mouth to retort, but Wylan beats him to it. “I’m sure she’s having a wonderful trip with Matthias this week.”

Brum doesn’t bother maintaining a smile at that. “I’m sure. Perhaps you should shift your focus and your time to those who run in the same circles as you. I hear your father would like you to marry soon. It is your duty as heir, after all.”

He doesn’t wait for a response, knowing he won’t get one, and bows before making his way to his seat. Jesper eyes Wylan cautiously, watching the way his eyes harden and his shoulders straighten before he turns around and walks out of the room. Jesper follows, trying his best to keep up but struggling even with his longer legs. 

Wylan stops once he’s zig-zagged through many hallways, in front of a door that he opens and allows Jesper to follow through before closing it. It’s a large storage room with folded tables and chairs, but Jesper doesn’t have any more of a chance to look around before he’s shoved against the door.

He gasps, and Wylan takes the opportunity to kiss him roughly, holding his face gently even if it doesn’t match the ferocity in which his lips move. Jesper tangles a hand in Wylan’s hair, hearing Wylan moan at the feeling of his nails scratching his scalp. He uses his hand to tug at his curls, pulling Wylan’s head back so he can speak.

“What are we doing?”

“I want to do anything but what I’m supposed to do right now,” Wylan pants in the small space between their faces. His eyes flicker to Jesper’s before focusing on his lips. 

“Okay,” Jesper nods, “Fuck me.”

Wylan stills at that, and Jesper can feel where the other man is hard against his leg. Blue eyes stare back at him. “You’re a dream.”

Jesper preens at that, and lets Wylan kiss him a bit more before pulling away again, “Just so we’re clear. We’re about to have sex in a closet to spite your family, right?”

“Right.” Wylan says distractedly as he’s pulling out a packet of lube from his jacket.

“Got it,” Jesper nods, “I’m so fucking down.”

He’s laughing as he’s kissed again, and very shortly stops laughing as hands tug off his clothes and lips trail down his body. 

Afterwards, Wylan brings him to the palace and to his rooms for the first time. The whole place is decorated thoroughly all the way through, but Jesper is able to see pieces of Wylan the closer they get to his own space. Instead of taking him to his bedroom, he brings him into a music room, and sits down at a piano.

Jesper sits beside him and kisses his temple. “Play me something.”

Wylan moves through some classical pieces, and grins when he plays something Jesper recognizes from the radio, before transitioning into something he’s never heard before. He listens as the chords ring softly, and he knows before he even asks that this is an original piece.

“You wrote this?” He asks when Wylan finishes and rests his head on Jesper’s shoulder. 

“Yeah,” Wylan replies, taking Jesper’s hand into his own and intertwining their fingers. “My mother started it before she passed. I found the sheet music left on the piano the first time I got the courage to come in here after. It’s not finished, but I’ve finally been able to start working on it.”

“It’s beautiful,” Jesper whispers, “It feels like you.”

Wylan turns his head further into his neck and softly presses his lips there. It tickles a little when he says, “She named it after me.”

“Baby,” Jesper says, feeling like he could cry if he let himself. 

Instead of replying, Wylan stands, still holding Jesper’s hand, and leads him to his bedroom. Jesper sits on the chaise and Wylan settles on his lap, and they make out lazily for long enough that Jesper loses track of time. When they finally move to the bed and continue there, Jesper finds it impossible to form any words at all as Wylan takes him apart.

He has a distant thought that this just got more dangerous – the feelings he has for Wylan. It feels an awful lot like how he imagines falling in love would feel.

⋆☆⋆

The day after Jesper lands back in the US, he is ushered into meeting after meeting for DNC prep. At the last Democratic National Convention, Jesper had introduced his mother and cried on the sidelines as she accepted the nomination as the democratic nominee. His speech went so well last time that his mother is having him do it again, which is fine, but it also means that he can’t be in Brooklyn right now, where Wylan is visiting with Nina to work on foundation stuff. 

The plane ride to New York is fine at first. It’s Jesper, his mom, Anika, Rotty, and a few other security on Air Force one. Anika is knotting, Rotty is reading, and Jesper is restless. 

He manages to keep to himself as his mom looks over his speech as well as her own. He has headphones in, but it doesn’t give him enough to do so he ends up tapping his foot and spinning his rings around his fingers. 

“Jes,” his mom says, and he is able to hear her when one song fades before another begins. “Alright?”

“Yeah,” he says, shooting her a smile and pausing his music. “Just feeling a little fidgety.”

Aditi smiles comfortingly. “Your speech is really good, you know.”

“Thanks,” he grins, more genuinely. “Kaz helped.”

“Of course he did,” she laughs. Then she hesitates. “You know. If you like doing this, writing speeches, going to meetings, there’s a position—“

“Seriously?” Jesper snaps, feeling the anxiety in his body come to a head. “Mom. We’re on a plane right now, and you’re using it as an opportunity to corner me about getting a job?”

His mother frowns at him. “Don’t be unfair. I’m just trying to help you.“

“But I don’t need your help,” Jesper says. “And I never asked for it. I don’t want you to get me a job. If I did, don’t you think I’d already have one?”

“I just think that maybe you should consider what you’re wanting to do long term,” she says, “This could be a great opportunity to get your foot in the door.”

“I don’t want a foot in the door, ma!” he exclaims, aware that he’s yelling a little but unable to calm down. “I don’t know how else I can tell you that I don’t want that for myself. I’m sorry that you think I’m a disappointment but there’s nothing I can do about that now.”

Aditi starts to say, “That’s not—“ but Jesper has already put his headphones back in and pressed play. He turns the volume up as he faces the window and ignores her. 

He continues to ignore her for the rest of the flight, as well as the car ride to the hotel. He texts Wylan in the car and is able to get a response, but by the time he gets to his room and is able to call, Wylan must be busy because he doesn’t answer. 

Jesper spends about an hour in his room before making his way down to the bar. He’s twirling his glass, watching the liquid spin around and around and thinking about calling Wylan again. Just as he has the thought, he hears a voice to his right say, “Whiskey, please.”

Jesper spins, looking at Wylan’s smiling face in shock. “What are you—“

“Finished up my work in Brooklyn,” Wylan says, sitting on the stool next to him. “Had some spare time.”

The tightness in Jesper’s chest has faded at the sight of him. If he thinks too much about the way Wylan being there right now makes him feel, he might have a panic attack, so he pushes it aside. “Please hurry up and finish your drink.”

Wylan’s face is tanned slightly from being in the sun all weekend, and the top two buttons of his dress shirt are undone underneath his jacket. Jesper’s gaze jumps around, focusing on different parts of him for a few seconds before moving on. He’s actually incredibly pissed that he chose to order a drink. 

Jesper doesn’t say much as they sit there, but Wylan seems to understand and does most of the talking. He tells him about the work he and Nina are doing, and his eyes are lit up as he talks about it. Jesper can’t help the soft smile that pulls at his lips as he listens and nods in the appropriate places. He doesn’t even realize when his eyes close while he thinks. Fuck, I like him . 

His eyes open when Wylan’s knee presses into his under the bar. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Jesper hums, glancing down at Wylan’s now empty glass. “Can we go upstairs?”

They keep a respectful distance between them as they head to the elevator, and keep it until they are finally in Jesper’s room and the door is locked. He sheds his jacket and tie as he walks toward the bed, toeing his shoes off so that he can sit with his legs crossed underneath him on the edge of the mattress. 

Wylan follows, coming to a stop in front of him and placing his hands on Jesper’s cheeks. His thumbs rub soothingly at the skin there and it’s easy for Jesper to close his eyes again. Lips press to his forehead before Wylan says, “I’d like to hear about it, if you’re willing.”

It feels like an echo of one of their first conversations over the phone. Jesper opens his eyes to look at him, “I just don’t understand why she can’t leave it alone.”

“She’s your mother,” says Wylan, gently. “Not that she’s right for it, but I think she’s just trying to help.”

“If she wanted to help, she’d drop it instead of making me feel stupid,” Jesper argues, and hates the way he feels tears stinging behind his eyes. “I know that I’ve fucked up before. I know that if anyone found out about my addiction, it could damage her reputation and chances at reelection. I don’t need a daily reminder of that. But sitting in an office all day or giving speeches isn’t going to do anything but remind me that I can’t do anything right.”

His breathing is ragged, and he can feel his heart beating fast in his chest. He’s trying his best not to start sobbing, because he doesn’t think he can handle Wylan seeing him like that. The hands on his cheeks press more firmly into his skin and it feels like a grounding touch and a jolt of lightning all at once. 

“Jesper. Breathe,” Wylan instructs, looking a little worried but voice remaining calm. “Just breathe.”

Jesper does, doing his best to inhale slowly and let the breath escape steadily. Wylan nods approvingly. “Again.”

He takes another large breath and then Wylan kisses him. 

Jesper practically melts into the kiss. He remembers how their first kiss felt — this is tenfold. Wylan’s lips move against his so gently and purposefully as if he’s trying to tell Jesper something. Jesper’s hands are clinging to Wylan’s shirt, pulling him as close as he can get in the position they’re in. He lets Wylan tilt him back until he’s laying on the bed, feels pressure on his waist as Wylan sits atop his lap. 

“You’re good,” Wylan says sincerely, breaking the kiss to speak the words directly to him. “Not just good enough. You’re more than that. You’re good, Jesper.”

Wylan has this way of saying exactly what Jesper needs to hear. He doesn’t understand this easy and open type of speaking that Wylan reserves for their private moments. It shouldn't feel this easy — nothing about what they’re doing is simple. But here in this hotel room with the prince of England, Jesper feels more seen and understood than he ever has, maybe in his life. 

The words I love you sit on his tongue with a heavy weight, but he knows speaking them will ruin this entire moment. Instead, he allows Wylan to undress him and take him apart piece by piece until he can’t form any words at all. 

Jesper’s woken from the most peaceful sleep of his life by a banging on the door, and yelling that sounds just like Anika’s voice. His body is pinned to the mattress under Wylan’s weight, and he soaks in the feeling for a few seconds before the words make it to his brain. 

“Fahey, if you don’t open the door in sixty seconds, I’m breaking it down!”

“Fuck!” he whispers, shoving Wylan off of him so he can jump to his feet and pull some clothes on. 

Wylan sits up in confusion, until Anika yells again and his eyes widen almost comically. He starts frantically searching for his own clothes, but only manages to get his underwear on before Jesper is shoving him to the closet. He picks up Wylan’s pants and shirt, pushing them into his arms as he hisses, “Get in there!”

He’s aware of the irony. 

He closes the closet door just as he hears the beep of Anika’s keycard unlocking the door. She storms in glaring, head swiveling to take in her surroundings. He sees it just before she does, Wylan’s phone on the nightstand. 

“Seriously? Who is she?” Anika demands, turning her fiery gaze to Jesper. “I cannot believe you brought a hook up to the fucking DNC.”

“No one, Anika, calm down.” Jesper lies smoothly, pulling his pants up his legs. “They’ve signed an NDA.”

“This is just—“ She cuts herself off as they both hear a series of bangs from inside the closet, and then the door slides open and Wylan tumbles out. 

Jesper slaps a hand over his face in exasperation. Anika’s eyes are wide, and she looks between them incredulously. “No fucking way.”

“Uh, surprise?”

“This can’t be happening to me,” Anika groans, “You have got to be the worst job I’ve ever had in my entire life. The fucking prince of England, Jesper, seriously?”

“Please don’t tell mom,” Jesper pleads. “She doesn’t know I’m bi yet.”

Anika rolls her eyes, “Right. Let me just keep this a secret from the president of the United States. Fine. But you tell her, or I will.”

“Deal,” Jesper agrees, glad he can at least do it on his terms. 

“Did I do this?” she asks, as Wylan finally gets his shirt over his shoulders. “Is this my fault?”

“Er,” Wylan starts, looking immediately like he regrets speaking at all. “If it makes you feel any better, it was inevitable on my end.”

That makes Jesper grin, but Anika releases another noise of frustration. “Get him out of here. I don’t think I need to explain what will happen to either of you if he’s seen.”

They both nod in unison, and she spares them one last look of irritation and anger before she storms out of the room. 

⋆☆⋆

“Um, okay.”

Aditi sits across from him patiently, arms folded on her desk and smile in place. She looked confused when he asked to meet with her this morning, and he can still see it in her expression as she looks at him. 

“So, uh. I’ve recently discovered some things about myself. And I’d like you to know about that.” Jesper says, trying to repeat the words he’s been practicing for days now. “I’m bisexual.”

His mother’s smile brightens and she exclaims, “Oh! Darling, that’s wonderful! I was worried something bad happened. Thank you for telling me.”

Jesper smiles weakly, knowing that the hard part is next. “Thanks, ma. And also, I’m uh, seeing someone.”

“That’s nice, Jes,” she says, glancing at a message that appears on her phone. “I’m happy for you. I’m assuming that—“

“It’s Wylan.”

She pauses. Glances at him. “Wylan.”

“Yes,” he nods. 

“As in…”

“As in Prince Wylan, yes.”

“Oh,” she nods once, as if reassuring herself of something. “Okay. I thought you hated him?”

“I did,” he agrees, “Maybe. I think. I’m actually not so sure if I ever did, but that’s not really the point.”

“Right.” Aditi looks more frazzled than he’s ever seen her. She doesn’t say anything else, and neither does Jesper, so they sit in silence for a few moments before she clears her throat. “Okay. I’m glad you told me, darling. I love you. But we do need to think about this thoroughly. I’m going to have to have you fill out some paperwork later today with Anika, make sure we cover all our bases. Okay?”

Jesper nods, his chest easing a little in relief. “Yeah. Okay, mom.”

She smiled at him, “Okay, dear. This is pretty serious. This is the prince of England. And you’re the first son of the United States. If people find out, this is something you carry for the rest of your life. So you need to figure out how you feel about him and if it’s worth this forever.”

Forever . It feels too big, but not big enough to describe how he feels about Wylan. 

She lets him go with a warning about safe sex that has him covering his ears and yelling over her as he runs out of the office. 

That night, he’s spent so long thinking about his mother’s words about forever that he can’t help the voice note he leaves for Wylan at 3am. 

“ Listen. I’m not a poet and I’m not good with words. I don’t have sonnets in my head that I can recite to sweep you off your feet. But basically I’ve been thinking a lot about you and me and where we’ll fit into history one day. Sons of foreign leaders. Lovers, or whatever we are. And I just think that it would be really cool to see what kind of history we can make together. Talk to you later, Wy. ”

His response is time stamped at 5am

“ I’m not very good with words either. But I am good with music. ”

Jesper expects to hear the sound of a piano, but it’s a flute that Wylan plays for him. He’s never been very into instrumental music, more into pop or indie kind of stuff. But the piece Wylan is playing is beautiful and Jesper closes his eyes so he can focus on only the sound coming from his phone. The playing ends. 

“ I thought about using some music terminology to really cheese this up even more. Instead, I’ll let it speak for itself. I’ve often thought about my place and history and how much of it I’d be able to control. History, huh? I think I’m into making some history with you, Jes.”

“Playing the flute over a text voice note was cheesy enough. It was beautiful though, sweetheart. Way to make me look lame in comparison. Hey. So Kaz, Inej, and I are going to be staying with my dad at my parents’ lake house in a week for a few days. Mom can’t make it. Would you like to come? No pressure, but it’s a good chance to relax and I think you deserve it. Let me know.”

The text he receives says: Will clear my schedule. xx

⋆☆⋆

Jesper feels at ease the moment they land in Texas. His father has left their old jeep at the airport so he can drive it over to the lake house and pick up Wylan on the way. Inej gets aux privileges (Kaz doesn’t even put up a fight), and they blast her music down the interstate with the windows down. 

They pull into the private hangar where they’re picking up Wylan, and Inej practically flies out of the car to sweep him up in a hug. Jesper hears the oof he lets out as they collide, and then Wylan chuckles. “Hello to you, too!”

Kaz greets him much more casually, but Jesper pulls him into a hug so he can squeeze him tightly. He inhales the scent of him and grins when Wylan whispers, “Hi, Jes.”

Then they’re back in the car, this time Wylan in the front seat and holding Jesper’s hand over the center console. Jesper can't help but look over at Wylan every minute or so, and see the wide grin on his face as he sings along to the radio. The drive is about an hour long but it feels like only a few minutes before they’re pulling into the driveway. 

Their security teams are staying in the house next door, so it’s only Jesper’s da who greets them at the door. Colm grins as he hugs his son and Inej, trading a traditional fist bump with Kaz, and then turning to Wylan. 

“Nice to meet you formally, Mr. Fahey,” Wylan says politely, holding his hand out to shake. 

Jesper’s dad smiles at him as he takes the hand, then pulls Wylan in for a hug. “None of that, son. Call me Colm.” 

Only Jesper knows how much the word “son” spoken in such a kind way truly affects Wylan, and he’s very grateful to his da for it. He smiles softly as his dad walks into the house and Wylan is left looking a little stunned. He leans over so he can hold his hand and squeeze it tightly, then tug him into motion so they can walk inside together. 

His dad has made them lunch, and they take it outside to eat after changing into their swimwear. Once they finish eating, Inej and Jesper take off at a run and launch themselves into the lake headfirst. Wylan and Kaz follow at a much slower pace, and Kaz stops to sit at the end of the dock while Wylan joins them in the water. The three of them splash each other so much that Jesper thinks he’s swallowed so much lake water that it’s unhealthy. 

When they calm down, they gather around where Kaz sits on the dock so they can all gossip about the election and get some juicy details about what’s going on in England from Wylan. After a bit, Jesper has to go to the bathroom and stops on the deck on his way back to chat with his da for a few minutes. 

“So,” Colm says eventually, tone remaining light. “How long have you two been together?”

Jesper’s head snaps to him and he asks, “How did you know?”

“Give me some credit, Jes. I have eyes,” he teases, and Jesper rolls his eyes. “No mistaking how the two of you look at each other.”

“It’s been a few months,” Jesper answers, looking out at the lake to watch Wylan laugh at something Kaz said. “You’re not, like, upset?”

“That you like men?” Colm questions, and Jesper nods. “Like I said, give me some credit. I also saw the way you looked at Kaz when you were a teenager.”

Jesper groans loudly as his dad laughs at that. “It wasn’t that bad!”

“Sure,” Colm nods, still chuckling. “Anyway. Does your mom know?”

“Told her last week,” Jesper says. “She made me sign a shit ton of papers.”

“Sounds about right,” his dad pauses before he continues. “I heard about your little argument on the way to New York a couple weeks ago.” Jesper is quiet. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but she is proud of you.”

“Proud of what?” Jesper scoffs. “I’ve done nothing for her to be proud of. Unless she likes having a useless addict for a son.”

“Hey,” Colm says gently, but Jesper can hear the sternness lying under it. “You’re not useless. Our love for you does not depend on what you can offer us. I’m going to love you no matter what, and so does your mother.”

“Then why won’t she leave me alone about this damn job?”

“She’s worried,” his dad replies. “She worries that you’re restless and you’re going to leave. She worries that you’re going to resent having to move to DC.”

“That’s stupid,” says Jesper, but he’s beginning to understand. “I wish she would tell me that instead.”

“I know,” Colm sighs. “Neither of you are very good at talking to each other about that kind of stuff.”

Harsh, but that’s very true. Jesper doesn’t say anything more as his three friends make their way back to the deck. Kaz and Inej sit on the sofa while Wylan takes a seat on the loveseat beside Jesper. Colm disappears inside and when he comes back out he has a tray of snacks and his guitar, which he offers to Wylan with a raised brow. 

Wylan takes it shyly, and then Inej and Colm lead them in singing some silly campfire songs. Kaz and Jesper exchange looks as they both try to keep hold on their fond expressions. They continue like that until it gets dark and they all get drunk enough that they start to feel tired. They all make their ways to their respective bedrooms, and Jesper blushes at the look his da gives him when he follows Wylan into their room. Jesper and Wylan crawl into bed next to each other and kiss lazily before falling asleep. 

The next morning, Jesper is awake before Wylan and manages to scoot out from under him so he can get dressed and make his way to the kitchen. He starts cooking breakfast, but his mind isn’t focused on what he’s doing at all. 

Instead he’s thinking about Wylan, which has pretty much become his permanent state of mind. Having him here, at his family’s second home, feels so dreamlike and unreal to Jesper. He thinks about the way Wylan looked last night, strumming the guitar and looking dumbfounded at the American songs they were singing. His chest feels so tight at how much love it contains for this man 

Eventually he hears footsteps behind him and feels arms wrap around his waist. He smiles as Wylan presses his lips to his neck and whispers a good morning into the skin. Jesper takes his pan off the stove so he can turn in his arms and kiss him properly. 

Wylan smiles into the kiss, which causes Jesper to smile until they’re both giggling too hard to properly kiss one another. Jesper holds Wylan close to him with hands on his lower back, inching lower the longer they stand there. Just as his fingers tease the waistband, he hears a throat clear. 

“I don’t think that’s very sanitary.”

Jesper pulls away to glare at Kaz while Wylan backs up, blushing. “Shut up.”

Inej giggles as she grabs a plate, “Thanks for cooking, Jes.”

Colm joins them shortly after and they all eat at the dinner table inside. They spend the morning watching a couple movies and then eat lunch outside again. The four of them go back down to the water for an hour or so and then sit on the dock until Colm calls them in for dinner. 

It’s probably the most peaceful day of Jesper’s life. 

They go to bed earlier that night. He’s not been asleep long when he suddenly jolts awake, the feeling of a weird dream leaving his mind. Wylan’s head is resting on his chest, and he feels the man start to move slightly as he wakes up from the sudden movement. 

“Sorry,” Jesper whispers as Wylan blinks up at him. “Didn’t mean to wake you up.”

Wylan hums sleepily. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” Jesper nods, and presses a kiss to his head. “Go back to sleep.”

But as they lay there for a few more minutes, it becomes obvious that neither of them are going to get any more sleep for a while. Jesper offers a night swim, and after Wylan agrees, they sneak through the house as quietly as they can until they’re outside. At the end of the dock, Jesper shoots Wylan a teasing grin and proceeds to strip out of all of his clothes and slip into the water. 

“Menace.” Wylan states, and then strips before diving gracefully into the water. 

When he comes up for air, Jesper spits water at him which causes him to sputter and splash him back. They fight like children, pushing each other under the water over and over until they tire. Then Jesper grabs Wylan’s waist and holds him, tucking a wet strand of hair behind his ear. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Wylan echoes, smiling softly. 

I love him , he thinks but does not say. 

“You look gorgeous out here,” he says instead, spinning them in a slow circle. “The sun brings out so many more freckles on your cheeks.”

“Yeah?” says Wylan, his head tilting to one side as he stares.

“I’m glad you came,” Jesper continues, “It feels good to have some real time together.”

“I’m glad I came, too.” Wylan agrees, ducking his head forward to kiss Jesper’s nose.

“We could do this again next year, after inauguration,” Jesper suggests, getting more excited about the idea the longer he thinks about it. “Just the two of us. During spring.”

“Oh,” Wylan says, a weird expression on his face. “That sounds nice, but not very possible.”

“Think about it, Wy,” Jesper says eagerly, smiling, “We won’t have to worry about an election or a campaign. I’ll be able to breathe finally and we can spend some real time out here relaxing. It won’t even matter if anyone sees us.”

“But it will matter,” Wylan frowns, and Jesper can’t read the look in his eyes. “You have to know that it will always matter. What are you saying right now?”

Jesper backs up a little so he can look at him openly, and feels like he’s baring his soul right now. “I just feel different, here with you. Like it doesn’t matter what my mom thinks about my nonexistent career, or what the world thinks about my sexuality. I kind of feel on top of the world right now with you in my arms. I just – I don’t know how to express it. I just feel .”

Wylan is still silent.

“Baby,” Jesper says, moving one hand up out of the water to hold Wylan’s face. “Wylan, I–”

Wylan slips out of his arms and backs away. “Ouch,” his voice is shaking, “I think I’m getting bit. Are there mosquitos out here?”

“Yeah,” Jesper breathes, feeling like his heart is sinking to the bottom of the lake, “Wy–”

“I think I’m ready to go back to sleep.” Wylan says with false cheer, plastering a smile on his face. “So tired. I’ll see you inside.”

Jesper watches him pull himself out of the water and tug his clothes back onto his dripping body. The further away he gets, the more final this moment feels for him, for them. But Jesper doesn’t know what to do here, how to make him come back.

When he gets back to their room, Wylan is curled up on the edge of the bed, back to Jesper. His breathing is steady as if he’s actually sleeping.

When Jesper wakes up, he’s gone.

There’s a new text at the bottom of their message chain: Sorry, had a family matter come up. Left early and didn’t want to wake you. Thank you.

He doesn’t hear from Wylan again.

⋆☆⋆

Jesper stops sending texts after the third day. He drafts countless voice notes, never pressing send, until he gives up.

He spends the following week in a daze, no doubt worrying his parents and his friends. Inej and Kaz come over for movie nights twice, but Jesper is quiet through the entire film and doesn’t touch the popcorn. Inej tries to coax it out of him, but he just shakes her off and assures her that he’s fine. 

On day eight, he’s hanging up some shirts in his closet when he finds the bright green kimono Matthias made him. He shoves it aside, and a piece of paper falls out. It’s a page ripped from a notepad with a hotel logo at the top, and sketched on it are two lines of musical notes. There’s no staff, so Jesper couldn’t Google it if he wanted to, but he knows it would be useless. This is something Wylan wrote.

It’s signed, a heart followed by the letter W at the bottom.

It sends him over the edge. He texts Rotty and books two plane tickets before he receives a response. By the time his security officer is knocking on the door, Jesper’s bag is packed.

When they land in England, it’s raining. He’s called Anika by the time they arrive at Kensington, and although she cusses him out she was clearly able to notify Pim that they’re on their way. He’s waiting for them when they enter the gates at the back of the palace, holding an umbrella.

Jesper doesn’t care that he’s soaked as soon as he steps out of the car. Pim smiles tightly, “Good evening, Mr. Fahey.”

“Let me through, Pim.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Pim shakes his head, “Please, leave before I have to call more security.”

“Fuck that,” Jesper curses, and then glances up at the single lit window on the top floor. “Wylan!”

Pim’s stare hardens as Jesper proceeds to yell. “Wylan! Get your ass down here!”

“Jesper, what the hell are you doing?”

Jesper’s gaze drops to see Wylan, under the cover of the overhang, staring at him stonily. “Nice of you to join us, your highness.”

“Let him through, Pim,” Wylan sighs.

Pim obeys, and Jesper follows after Wylan as he leads him inside and up the stairs into his bedroom. Jesper stays quiet the entire way, and waits until the door closes before he starts yelling.

“Nice to know that you’re alive,” he spits, “You know, since you haven’t responded to any of my texts in a week. You’re an utter asshole, you know that?”

“Say whatever it is you need to say,” Wylan says, and the calmness of his voice sends irritation up Jesper’s spine. “And then you will go.”

“Fuck you,” Jesper curses, taking a step towards where the other man stands on the opposite side of the room. “Are you kidding me right now? Last week we were sending fucking voice recordings about missing each other and you met my god damn dad, and then you just ghost me out of nowhere? Literally who the fuck does that? Like you don’t even care enough to properly end this.”

“You think I don’t care?” Wylan asks lowly, and Jesper is pleased to see him fight back at least a little. “Don’t be a fool, Jesper.”

“Well then don’t be an obtuse fucking asshole!”

“Are you planning on only insulting me tonight?”

“I’m planning on telling you that I fucking love you!” Jesper exclaims, breathing heavily with the confession. Wylan freezes. “You’re probably the most impossible person I’ve ever met and I love you anyway.”

Wylan starts shaking his head, “You shouldn’t have said that. Jesper, you can’t say that.”

“Well I did,” Jesper says, “And I mean it, and I’m not taking it back.”

“I can’t do this,” Wylan tells him, sounding like he’s pleading. “You know that I can’t do this.”

Jesper exhales sharply. “You don’t want to even try to be happy?”

“I can’t try to be happy, Jesper,” Wylan says, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I’m heir to the fucking throne. I don’t get to inherit happiness, just a country.”

Jesper pulls the note out of his pocket, the one with Wylan’s scribbled melody, and throws it at him. “Why did you write this? You wrote it and you left it for me.”

“It was just a stupid song,” Wylan answers, looking at the paper with disdain, “I just had to write it down when I thought of it.”

“So it means nothing to you,” Jesper concludes, nodding. “So I mean nothing to you.”

“Don’t be a fucking idiot,” Wylan hisses, finally taking a step towards him, “I have done nothing but love you this entire time, Jesper. If you haven’t seen it, then you’re blind. But this isn’t about me being in love with you, or you being in love with me. I’m going to be King of England one day. You think loving you is possible with all that comes with that?”

Jesper is breathing heavily, and stares at him, rooted to the carpet. Wylan won’t meet his eyes as he continues to speak.

“I was fine with it. Loving you. And I was going to live with it. But you ruined everything by loving me back. Now I have you standing in front of me asking me to make a choice that I don’t have the luxury of making.”

“But you can,” Jesper insists.

“I can’t,” Wylan states firmly.

“Don’t you want to?” Jesper asks softly, feeling resigned. “Do you want me?”

“Of course I do–”

“Then have me–”

“But I don’t want this.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Jesper asks, raising his voice again. 

“How many times do I have to say this before it gets through your stubborn skull?” Wylan asks rhetorically. “I can’t have both. I’ve accepted that I have to love you from afar for the rest of my life. I don’t live a life that is supportive of what I want and who I love. So you may not respect it, and you might think I am a coward, but that is the only choice I can make.”

“You’re not a coward.” Jesper states, and Wylan finally looks at him again. “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met. You think I want that? You think I want to live in a palace, never able to speak a damn word of my own?”

“Then what is the point of fighting this, Jesper?” Wylan questions. “If you don’t want this either, why are you here?”

“Because I want you.” Jesper answers, “I love you. And I think if you loved me enough, you’d work on this with me so we can figure out a way to live this life together in a way we both want.”

Wylan’s eyes harden and he says, “I can’t.”

Jesper takes a deep breath. “Fine. Okay. I’ll go.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll go and never come back,” Jesper nods, taking more steps to bring him closer to Wylan. “But you have to tell me to go.”

They’re face to face at this point, and he can see the tears pooling in Wylan’s eyes. “I’ll fly back to America and never text you again. Maybe I’ll see you at your coronation. You can live your boring life here and I’ll go live mine. Just tell me to go.”

Wylan’s voice breaks when he speaks, “Fuck you.”

Jesper feels his hands grab his shirt forcefully, and he grins. He’s going to love Wylan for the rest of his life.

“Say it,” he whispers, practically into Wylan’s mouth. 

His back hits the wall as Wylan kisses him forcefully, biting at his lips. Jesper tangles his hands in Wylan’s hair and tugs, swallowing the moan Wylan releases into his mouth. Jesper lifts his leg to dig his heel into Wylan’s thigh and pulls him closer, slotting his other leg between Wylan’s. When they’ve kissed against the wall for long enough, Jesper taps the back of Wylan’s legs with his fingers until he gets the memo and lets Jesper pick him up.

He carries him to the bed, dropping him onto the center of the mattress roughly. Wylan’s pupils are blown as he stares, mouth swollen and red from where Jesper’s teeth dragged along his lips. Jesper crawls on top of him and kisses him again, taking his time to make Wylan breathless.

He fucks Wylan for the first time gently, and he isn’t sure if he’s imagining how much it feels like a goodbye.

They sleep how they usually do, Wylan’s face tucked into Jesper’s shoulder and their legs intertwined. Jesper stares at the ceiling and tries not to think too loudly until he falls asleep. When he wakes, he’s alone.

He takes a moment to adjust to his surroundings, sitting up in the bed and propping himself up against the headboard. His eyes are still heavy with sleep, and he glances around the room and looks at the sun coming up through the window. When his gaze lands on the nightstand, he sees the copy of Le Monde that he read to Wylan that morning in Paris. 

Before he can truly begin to panic, and maybe even cry, the door opens and Wylan steps in. He’s holding two mugs, both steaming, and smiles softly at Jesper as he approaches and sits on the bed next to him. 

“Here,” he says, and hands Jesper one mug. It’s coffee, and when he takes a sip, it’s just how he usually takes it. 

“You’re in a better mood,” Jesper comments, leaning his head back against the headboard.

“So are you,” Wylan chuckles lightly. He takes the mug back from Jesper’s hands and sets both on the nightstand. Then he leans forward and kisses Jesper softly.

Oh, so he’s not getting broken up with.

“I had to take a walk,” Wylan begins, and Jesper is eager to hear where this is going. “Think about things. And I couldn’t stop hearing my father’s voice in my head. Useless, disappointing, damaged goods.”

Jesper wants to protest, but Wylan shoots him a smile before he continues. “You’re the first person in a long time to make me feel like he’s wrong. I’ve long since resigned myself to a boring life. Marry young, produce some heirs, watch my father die and then take over ruling the goddamn country. But that’s not the life I want. And It’s not enough.”

“It’s not?” Jesper can’t help but ask, and Wylan reaches forward to grab his hand.

“You make me want more,” Wylan answers. “Better. Different. I’ve never let myself consider what that might look like. But you’ve turned my entire life upside down in just a few months, and I like the view better from where I am with you.” 

“You deserve it,” Jesper says, squeezing his hand. “And I want to stand here next to you against all of it, whatever awaits us in the future.”

Wylan’s smile is watery. “I believe you.”

“So…” Jesper trails off, looking down at the blankets covering his legs. “Does this mean that we’re doing this?”

“I’ve never been so scared of something in my life,” says Wylan, nodding. “But apparently you think I’m brave. So yeah, I want to do this. When they write my name in the history books, I want it to be next to yours.”

“Cheesy fucker,” Jesper jokes, but he’s blinking away tears. “Okay, stop being stupid and emotional and just kiss me.”

Wylan does with a roll of his eyes, and leans most of his weight onto Jesper as he presses their lips together. 

Jesper thinks of the old magazine photo of Wylan he has somewhere in a box in his room. Thinks of the boy he had been, tracing the lines of a prince’s face and not knowing what the feeling was that it gave him. Now, he drags his fingers along that same prince’s face and finally puts a name to it. He’s so in love he thinks he might die.

When they’re at breakfast, he finally opens his phone to see dozens of texts in his group chat with Kaz and Inej. Mostly from Inej.

the lion, the witch, and her slutty wardrobe

nej <3

YOU’RE IN LONDON RIGHT NOW??

JESPER WHAT THE FUCK

oh my god you absolute sap

this is so romantic im gonna cry

text me updates!! good luck!

kazzie!! 

don’t get shot by palace guards.

He sends them a selfie of him and Wylan and ignores the new texts that come through. 

There’s two texts in the chat he has with his parents. His dad’s reads: Fly safe. Tell Wylan I said hello . And his mom’s: You get this from your father, you know. Good luck, darling.

Wylan asks Pim to not arrange Jesper’s flight for another day, and Jesper grins at the wink he sends his way. 

“You know,” Wylan begins, watching Jesper sip from his second cup of coffee from next to him on the bed. “Being with me is going to make your job search much harder.”

Jesper shrugs, “Not like I’ve been actively looking anyway.”

Wylan's brow furrows, and Jesper is tempted to smooth it away with his thumb. Then he remembers he can do that, so he does. Wylan smiles. “You’re seriously not worried about what’s going to happen?”

“Well, yeah, of course I am, Wy,” Jesper says, “But I also think we can do this. Wait until after the election, plan the hell out of it, and we can do it on our own terms. We’ll be okay.”

“How long have you been thinking about this?” Wylan asks.

“Probably since you kissed me on New Year’s,” Jesper answers, setting his now empty mug down. “But I went through like three different stages of denial along the way. How about you?”

“Me,” Wylan repeats, deadpan. “Jesper. The entire time.”

“The entire time?” Jesper parrots.

“Since the Olympics.”

“The Olympics?” Jesper shrieks, sitting upright and staring at Wylan in disbelief. “You’re kidding.”

“How about you, he asks,” Wylan mocks, doing a truly horrible American accent. “As if I haven’t been obsessed with you since the day we met.”

“Oh my god, shut the fuck up,” Jesper says, grinning widely. He practically jumps on top of Wylan, ignoring the dramatic oof he lets out, and straddles his waist. Wylan opens his mouth to argue, probably, but Jesper pushes him into the pillows and kisses him filthily. 

⋆☆⋆

Sneaking out of the palace without security is one of the most fun things he’s ever done. Jesper giggles most of the way, and at one point Wylan pins him against a portrait and kisses him until he shuts up. They’re wearing hoodies, walking on the wet pavement outside of the palace until Jesper sees a sign.

“Oh my god!” He whispers excitedly. “Prince Consort road? Wylan, take a picture of me with it, please.”

“Come on, keep moving,” Wylan tugs at his hand, and he pouts as he follows him again.

They reach a door in an old, large building that Jesper can’t place. Wylan pulls out a set of keys and winks at him as he unlocks it and pushes it open, urging Jesper through. As he walks in, it clicks. The V&A museum.

An old security guard waits for them, but Wylan simply says, “Thank you so much, George.” Jesper sees the thick wad of cash he slips into their handshake.

Then Wylan is grabbing his hand and pulling him along again. He moves intently through each room, passing many pieces and displays that Jesper doesn’t recognize. 

“I used to come here with Mum,” Wylan tells him as they walk, and Jesper squeezes his hand, “Now I like to visit during the night. I’ve seen every room, but I’ll never truly know it all. I like to listen to the audio tours and just sit in the middle of the room and look around. Don’t even get me started on–”

Jesper cuts him off by yanking him backwards into a kiss. 

“What was that for?” Wylan asks, and Jesper feels a rush of pride at how breathless he sounds.

“I love you,” Jesper says, to which Wylan smiles softly and kisses him again.

Wylan starts walking again, and they enter a large exhibit room. “This one is my favorite.”

“Tell me about them,” Jesper says, but he’s looking at Wylan, not the displays.

Wylan tells him about the sculptures, all some sort of Greek or Roman myth. Jesper knows he’s telling him much more than is written on the cards in front of them. Jesper struggles to focus on the statues the entire time, mostly looking at Wylan and feeling the rhythm of his voice rather than hearing the words. Finally, Wylan says, “Kind of ironic. Two queer men standing in Victoria’s museum.”

“Oh she would hate this,” Jesper says with a grin.

“Absolutely,” Wylan agrees, and then presses his lips to Jesper’s just for spite. 

Jesper pulls away from Wylan and holds out his phone, lining up his camera to capture Wylan’s bright smile. “What are you doing?” he asks Jesper, laughing but cheeks flaming red.

“Taking a pic of a national gay landmark,” Jesper answers, smiling widely. 

“You know,” Wylan says as he takes Jesper’s hand again and they’ve moved on to another room, full of saints. “I used to walk around here with my mum and dream about bringing someone I loved so we could slow dance right here in this room. A silly dream, really.”

He removes his phone from his pocket, and presses the screen a few times. “You remember the song I played, the one my mum started?” Jesper nods. “I finished it.”

The sounds of a piano pour from the phone, and Wylan sets it down before extending a hand to Jesper. Jesper’s eyes feel watery as he takes it and allows himself to be pulled into Wylan’s chest. As they spin in slow circles to the sound of Wylan’s song, Jesper kisses the man in his arms softly, and tries to pour everything he feels into the embrace.

Wylan charters a private plane for his trip home. At the airstrip, Jesper stands in front of Wylan and watches his hair blow into his face with the wind.

“Hey,” Jesper says, using a finger to grab the chain around his neck and fish the key from under his shirt. He slips it off his neck and stares at it in his hands. “I just want you to know. I want this, and I’m sure about it. Like, a thousand percent.”

He holds the chain out, key dangling through his hands, to Wylan. The other man looks at it, then back at Jesper. “I can’t take this, Jes.”

“Too bad, because you will.” Jesper rolls his eyes, and then slips the chain over Wylan’s head. “Just. I’ve always worn it to remind me of home. But I don’t need a physical reminder anymore, because I’ve got you. I think you could use it more than I could.”

Wylan’s eyes are watery. “This is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

He hates that he can’t kiss Wylan, so he settles for hugging him tightly and whispering in his ear. “I love you so fucking much, Wy.”

⋆☆⋆

“ Hi, baby. Just got back to the House. Luckily I can avoid seeing mom until tomorrow. Spent the entire flight thinking about you, as usual. Remember that little girl you talked to in the hospital about Star Wars, and you told her that it’s not where you come from that makes you who you are? Well, take your own advice, Wy. You’re bigger than your family and your country. I know it’s hard to see that when you’ve been raised since birth to know your place. But I’m always right about everything, so take my advice. Also, you need to come back to Texas. It’s my turn to take you on a tour. Love you.”

“You’re a sap, you know that? I’d love to go back to Texas with you. I want to see your childhood home, too. Do you have embarrassing posters on the wall? I’m guessing there’s a One Direction one at least. Speaking of, I’ve decided to redecorate my room and I could use your advice. I’m hesitant to say that given your rather, er, colorful wardrobe. I’ll send you some ideas I had. Good luck with your mother, let me know how it goes. I’ll be stuck in meetings all day. I love you so terribly much.”

“Ma was alright. More understanding than pissed off. What are your meetings for? If your father is in any of them, give him the middle finger for me. And yeah, you’re right about the posters, but I won’t tell you which member of One Direction it was. Sorry I don’t have much time between my own meetings today. Love you.”

“You must know that I cannot pass on your message. And you don’t have to tell me, I know it was Niall. My meetings were mostly about my future, and more king training. Nothing interesting or new. Spent most of the day thinking about you, anyway. Remember when we first met? You were wearing a truly awful bright green dress shirt under your suit jacket, with a bright yellow tie. I saw you laughing with Kaz and Inej before you approached me. You were so ridiculously beautiful, and I thought if someone were to love me like that, it’d set me on fire. And of course I fell in love with you anyway. I still can’t believe you love me back. Anyway. Hopefully your teeth haven’t fallen out from all that fluff.”

“Ugh, fuck you for making me emotional in public. So it’s my turn. I now present to you: an incomplete list of reasons why I love Wylan Van Eck. One: the way you blush at literally everything. Two: your stupid face. Three: when you square your shoulders to look tough. Four: the honest and easy way you have of speaking that makes me feel like anything is possible. Five: your hands. Six: specifically your hands when you play piano. Seven: how knowing you has made me know myself better. Eight: your awful opinions about Star Wars. Nine: how you have Taylor Swift’s entire discography memorized. Ten: the way it feels when you wrap your arms around me and everyone else ceases to exist. Eleven: your bravery. Twelve: your hair in the mornings. Thirteen: the fact that you kept the issue of Le Monde from our morning in Paris. Fourteen: your random chemistry facts, and that I now know how fireworks are made. Fifteen: your dick. Sixteen: revisiting the blush because I know your cheeks are red after that last one. Seventeen: the smell of your shampoo. Eighteen: your stupidly amazing heart. Nineteen: that you love me. Twenty: that you’ve loved me the entire time. Remember, it’s incomplete. I’ve typed it out for you as well but figured it would sound more romantic in my own voice. Call me later?”

His response is a text. 

You stupid romantic idiot. I cannot believe I’m in love with someone like you. Calling in a minute. xx

⋆☆⋆

Jesper is startled awake by the sound of his phone buzzing on the nightstand. He reaches out blindly to feel for it, and sees Anika’s name flashing on the screen. 

“What the fuck did you do?” she yells, before he can even say a word. 

“What?” Jesper asks, sitting upright. “What are you—“

“You were stupid enough to be photographed. What the fuck is—“

Jesper pulls the phone away from his ear and opens Google, searching for his own name. 

BREAKING: Photos Reveal Romantic Relationship Between Jesper Fahey and Prince Wylan 

OMG! Are FSOTUS and Prince Wylan doing it?

THE ORAL OFFICE: Jesper Fahey’s Romantic Voice Notes to Prince Wylan 

Royal Family and White House Refuse to Comment on Leaked Voice Messages between FSOTUS and HRH

Jesper’s eyes are wide with horror as he scrolls through dozens of articles. He makes the mistake of clicking on one and a clip of one of his voice notes to Wylan automatically plays. 

“Listen. I’m not a poet and I’m not good with words. I don’t—“

Anika bursts into his room, grabbing his sneakers by the door and throwing them at him. She slaps a pile of magazines onto his bed. “Let’s go.”

He follows her at a run down the hallway as he looks through one of the magazines. Photos of Wylan and Jesper walking down the hotel hallway together at the DNC. Blurry snapshots of them in London at night. A zoomed in picture of Jesper kissing Wylan against a building. 

Anika comes to a stop and he almost collides with her back. “An, I need to call Wylan, I need to—“

“No,” she cuts him off, glaring. “You’re on communications lockdown.”

His chest aches as she turns and ignores him. She opens the door to the office they’ve stopped in front of. Jesper looks up to see his mom standing in front of a conference table where maybe ten people sit, staring at them. 

“Out,” Aditi says, and Jesper thinks she’s talking to him. No one moves. “Did you not hear me? Everyone out.”

The people rush to grab their things and get out the door. Jesper steps in hesitantly, unsure if he should sit or stand. His mother frowns at him and gestures to the chair in front of her. He sits. 

“Are you okay?”

He blinks as he looks up at her. His mind since he opened Google has been running through every possible scenario and worrying about Wylan. Now that he’s stopped to think about himself, he thinks he might cry. 

“Oh,” he says quietly. “I don’t really know.”

“Darling,” his mom sighs, pulling up a chair so she can sit and grab his hands. 

“I thought we’d get to do it right,” Jesper continues, staring at their hands. “On our terms. But now…”

“Listen,” she says, and he sees the determination set in her eyes. “I am your mother. You are my priority right now. Tell me what you want to do and we’ll do it. I’m here for you. So, do you feel forever about him?”

Jesper doesn’t hesitate. “Yeah. I do.”

Her eyes twinkle. “Okay. Then let’s get to work.”

Jesper spends the next five hours in meeting after meeting. He isn’t given the chance to look at his phone but he doubts he’d have any texts from Wylan anyway. His brain is doing nothing but spiraling all morning. 

It’s almost ten when he’s finally released, and he stands in the hallway, unmoving, for a few minutes. Finally he looks up and turns his head, and that’s when he sees them. 

Inej barrels down the hall towards him while his father follows at a slightly slower pace. She pulls him in as soon as she can reach, squeezing her arms around him tightly and burying her head in his chest. He leans down to rest his forehead in her hair, and finally feels the tears escape. Inej practically hands him to his father once he starts sobbing, but she keeps ahold of his hand. He manages to stay upright for a few seconds before he collapses to the floor, his dad moving with him unflinchingly. 

His breath comes in gasping sobs, his chest heaving with the force of it. He knows he’s having a panic attack and he tries to remember the way Wylan tells him to breathe but he can’t calm down enough. Distantly he hears his dad and Inej speaking to one another worriedly, but can’t focus on the words to hear them. At some point he’s brought to his room and laid down on his bed. He doesn’t sleep. 

Instead, he scrolls through social media. 

A caption on Instagram: if the first family can lie to us about this, what else are they keeping from us??

A tweet: I CALLEDDDD IT!! I KNEW WESPER WAS REAL!

A comment: lmao have y’all listened to all these voice notes?? jesper is a little slut! 

A tweet: oh my god, did you guys listen voice note #5?? wylan can’t read?????

Inej confiscates his phone when she enters his room and he doesn’t protest. She sits with him and holds his hand while he closes his eyes and pretends he might fall asleep. 

Anika bursts into the room, “Pack a bag. We’re going to London.”

She avoids all their questions as Jesper packs some clothes into a backpack, along with his headphones. Anika is holding a suit that he’s apparently going to wear to meet the king. She won’t tell him anything more than that. 

His parents hug him before he leaves, and Inej squeezes him tightly as she whispers, “Give them hell, Jes.”

Anika and Rotty get on the plane with him. He spends the entire flight sitting by himself with his headphones in, and can’t stop thinking about everything that’s happening. His mom is supportive of telling the truth, but there’s no way in hell that Jan Van Eck will be. Not only is his son’s sexuality out in the open, but so is Wylan’s disability. Jesper and Wylan shared some pretty deep and intense things about their respective families, and the king was not painted in a flattering manner. 

He’s not mad that people know. In fact, it feels strangely freeing in a way. He just wishes they would’ve been able to keep some things for themselves. Those were his words for Wylan, and Wylan’s words for him only. Those aren’t words that he ever wanted to share. 

He manages to fall asleep on the plane, and doesn’t wake until landing. Rotty’s hand is heavy on his shoulder as he shakes him gently, and Jesper appreciates the soothing smile the man sends him. There’s a car waiting for them but Anika won’t tell him how she arranged it. 

“How do you even know they’ll let us in?”

“Pim owes me a favor.”

Sure enough, when they arrive to the palace they are directed in through the back. Pim greets them at the gate and leads Jesper inside, but Jesper is able to find his way to Wylan’s room alone. 

He knocks on the door and it takes a moment for it to open. When it does, it’s just wide enough for Nina’s face to fit through and glare at him. She seems to realize who she’s glaring at and her eyes soften. “Jesper!”

He accepts her hug, but his eyes are focused on Wylan on the sofa behind her. Matthias sits beside him, but when he sees Jesper standing there, he gets up. He hugs him, too, and then the two of them leave Wylan and Jesper alone in the room. 

“Baby,” Jesper says softly, and Wylan’s gaze jumps to his. Then he’s up, and Jesper is catching him in his arms and squeezing him probably too tightly. 

“Jes,” Wylan breathes into his neck, fingers digging into his back. “Hi.”

“Hi, darling,” Jesper says into Wylan’s hair. “How are you doing?”

Wylan pulls away and gives him a look that makes them both laugh. “This fucking sucks.”

“I know,” Jesper agrees, running his thumb across Wylan’s cheek. “We should probably talk about what we want to do.”

“Well, I—“ Wylan starts. 

“I think—“ Jesper says at the same time. 

“If you want to—“

“We could—“

“Hold on,” Wylan interrupts, shaking his head. “Are we trying to say the same thing? Do you want to tell the truth?”

“Yeah,” Jesper nods. “Do you?”

“Yes,” Wylan smiles, and Jesper just has to kiss him. 

When he pulls away, Wylan holds his face in his hands tenderly and says, “I don’t want to lie about this and I don’t want to hide you.”

“Me neither,” Jesper agrees, and then he feels tears in his eyes, sudden and unwanted. “I’m so sorry.”

“Jes, my love,” Wyaln frowns, wiping the tears from under his eyes with his thumbs. “This isn’t your fault. And I’m not sorry for a thing.”

“God, I love you,” Jesper whispers, to which Wylan smiles and kisses his nose. 

“I love you too.”

They settle on the sofa Wylan had previously been sitting on, Jesper laying down with his head on Wylan’s leg. Wylan calls out to Nina and Matthias, who were clearly listening from the hall, and they rejoin them in the room. Nina tells Jesper about their crazy morning, except she embellishes it anywhere she can to make it more dramatic and outrageous. Matthias follows each part of the story with how it really happened. 

Eventually, Jesper turns his head and looks up to see Wylan asleep, head resting back against the sofa. He smiles fondly and then sits up so he can tilt Wylan until his head is more comfortable on Jesper’s shoulder. Matthias watches them with a smile. 

“He hasn’t slept all day,” he says, almost startling Jesper. 

“I…” Jesper trails off, eyes on the man beside him. “I don’t really know what to do. I feel like there’s something I’m missing.”

“He misses his mum,” Nina says sadly, and it clicks for Jesper. 

“Oh.”

“He’s been through a lot,” Matthias speaks, and Jesper can hear in his voice how much he cares for his friend. “I think you’re good for him. You just have to understand that there’s always going to be a part of him that’s sad for what he lost, even if he’s happy with what he’s found.”

Jesper nods, because he sees this in Wylan. “I feel it. It scares me sometimes. But I’ve never backed away from anything just because it’s scary. I’m gonna love this stubborn shithead forever, because I choose it. I love him on purpose.”

He swears he hears Matthias sniffling, and Nina beams. “Oh, you sap! You’ll do fine, lovey.”

Eventually they leave, bidding Jesper goodnight, and Jesper lifts Wylan up so he can carry him to the bed. He lays him down and cuddles in behind him, feeling like two puzzle pieces or whatever other cheesy shit that his brain is coming up with tonight. 

The next day is their meeting with the king. They head to Buckingham around midday and are brought through the back entrance, and then are led to a hall where a small woman stands outside double doors. She wears jeans and a soft green sweater, with her hair pulled back with clips. Her belly is very round.  She smiles widely at them, and Jesper feels Wylan tense as they approach her. 

“Wylan,” Alys van Eck says, reaching to squeeze his hand. He lets her. She turns to Jesper. “Nice to formally meet you, Mr. Fahey.”

“What are you doing here, Alys?” Wylan asks, and Jesper is reminded of the limited relationship Wylan has with his stepmother. 

“Well,” Alys shrugs, “You’re here to fight, right?”

Jesper and Wylan exchange a confused look. “Uh, yeah?”

“Great!” She claps her hands together. “Let’s do it.”

“Sorry,” Wylan stares at her incredulously. “You’re here for us?”

“Of course,” Alys says, as if it’s obvious. “I support you, Wylan. And I’m not going to let you face your father alone. Either of you. If you don’t want me in there, I won’t go, but I’d like to be there for you.”

She speaks and dresses very formally, and Jesper can’t help but remember how young she is to be a queen. He loves her. 

“Thank you,” Jesper says, and she smiles at him. “We’d love to have you there.”

The three of them enter the room and take seats at the conference table. Wylan takes the seat at one end while Jesper and Alys sit on either side of him. His knee is bouncing, but Jesper reaches over to place his hand on it and applies slight pressure. Wylan stills, and shoots him a shaky smile. 

When the king enters, they stand until he takes his seat. The first thing Jesper notices is his receding hairline, and makes note to make a joke about it to Wylan later. The room feels colder as soon as Jan van Eck enters the room and fixes his eyes on Wylan, then Alys, and finally Jesper. 

“Well,” he says, and even his voice is chilling. “Have anything to say, Wylan?”

Wylan’s jaw clenches. “We’re going to tell the truth.”

Jan makes a tutting noise of disapproval. “That seems foolish. We’ll claim the pictures and recordings are edited. Technology these days is certainly capable of such things.”

“Jan, dear,” Alys speaks, voice confident. “I think it would make us look very strong to support Wylan and Jesper through all this.”

The king shakes his head. “It’s not just a matter of your sexuality, boy. The whole world now knows about your defect, and I won’t allow that to remain a given truth. You won’t be allowed to humiliate me like this.”

“It’s not a defect,” Jesper says angrily. “There’s nothing wrong with him.”

Jan’s gaze shifts to him. He frowns. “I don’t recall giving you permission to speak.”

“Enough,” Wylan says, “Don’t speak to him that way.”

“You do not give orders,” Jan says sternly. “I shouldn’t need to remind you of your place.”

“Jan, we should consider our options,” Alys says, “We take control of the story. Make Jesper an official suitor.”

“Your plan is to let him choose this life?” Jan demands. “He’s first in line to the throne, Alys. It’s his duty to produce heirs.”

“We could still do that,” Jesper blurts, and Wylan’s head snaps towards him. 

“Hold your tongue,” the king commands, voice low but strong. “It doesn’t just matter what I think. The country would never accept this.”

“We don’t even know that—“

“I know my people well enough. Better than—“

“Oh shut up,” Alys interrupts, tapping on her phone. She stands and approaches her husband, showing him something on her screen. He stares in distaste, and then she turns it so Jesper and Wylan can see. 

It’s news coverage from BBC, and the text at the bottom reads WORLDWIDE SUPPORT POURS IN FOR PRINCE WYLAN AND FSOTUS. 

Then Alys moves to the window and yanks the curtains open. 

Hundreds of people flood the street. Jesper sees pride flags of every variety, signs declaring their support, kids raised on shoulders with rainbow paint on their face. His eyes water and he turns to look at Wylan to see a similar expression on his face. 

“Oh for goodness sake,” Jan rolls his eyes. “Just because some people are in favor of this doesn’t mean the entire country will be.”

Wylan stands and walks to the window, touching the glass with a finger. Jesper sees a sign that says “Prince of our hearts!” and notices tension leave Wylan’s shoulders. When he turns around, his face is set in determination.”

“I’m done,” he announces, staring his father directly in the eyes. “I won’t do this anymore. I relinquish my title and claim to the throne.”

Jesper and Alys gasp, and Jan shakes his head furiously. “Stupid boy! You can’t simply give up your title—“

“I know,” Wylan interrupts. “I’ll go through the proper channels and whatever I need to do. Consider this me informing you, your majesty.”

Jan watches in anger as Wylan grabs Jesper’s hand and begins leading them out of the room. “You’re going to give up your entire life for him ? You’re damaged goods, Wylan! How long will you last without being able to—“

“I’m a grown man,” Wylan says, rolling his eyes. “Besides—“

“I’ll read to him,” Jesper says. And he means it. “For the rest of my life if I need to.”

“He has a very soothing baritone,” Wylan nods, and then he’s pulling Jesper out of the room. 

When the door closes behind him, Jesper turns to Wylan in shock. Wylan himself is wide eyed, as if that wasn’t him who just abdicated the fucking throne. The two of them stare at each other before they burst out laughing. Wylan leans into Jesper as he giggles, cheeks red with joy. Jesper can’t help but stare at him and feel so full of love. 

“You’re sure about this, right?” Jesper asks, holding his hand in both of his own. “I don’t want you to think you have to to this for us to be together or—“

“Jes,” Wylan leans in to kiss him and shut him up. “I did it for me, mostly. I don’t want this. I’ve never wanted it. Besides, he has another heir coming soon.”

“I’m so proud of you, holy shit,” Jesper leans in for another kiss, and this time they let it drag on for longer. “You’re the bravest son of a bitch I’ve ever met. I fucking love you.”

Wylan smiles widely, and Jesper can see how much weight has been lifted off his shoulders. “I love you too, Jesper.”

They begin walking down the hallway, towards the front entrance. “I can’t believe you’ve deprived me of the chance to become king of England, actually,” Jesper teases, delighting in how Wylan rolls his eyes. 

“King consort,” Wylan corrects, and pinches Jesper’s side to make him yelp. “And that’s even if they were to let us.”

“We don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Jesper grins, and he can’t believe he’s joking about marrying Wylan right now and not freaking out about it. 

They reach the grand entry hall, and Wylan stops in front of the doors. He suddenly looks nervous. Jesper turns him so that they’re facing each other. “Hey,” he says softly. “They’re here for you.”

Wylan kisses him again. “I love you,” he says, resting his forehead against Jesper’s. “I love you, I love you, I love you—“

Jesper laughs as he kisses him to get him to be quiet. And it doesn’t matter who sees. 

A few minutes later, Jesper nudges Wylan towards the doors and he nods at the guards to open them. They step into the crowd together. 

⋆☆⋆

If you asked Jesper to compare the first time he arrived the the White House as First Son of the United States to today, he’d be able to make a list full of differences. 

In 2021 he was so nervous he threw up in the limo. He remembers having to wash his mouth out before stepping out of the car and plastering a smile as he walked up to the residence. His mother’s hair was straightened, and his father wore a tie that perfectly matched her dress. Jesper had worn custom cufflinks in the shape of pistols. 

Today, he arrives alone. But when he gets out of the car, Inej is waiting for him and wearing a soft orange t-shirt painted with the words History, Huh? She grins at him and he feels close to tears as he hugs her tightly. 

“Is Kaz here?” Jesper asks as they walk, her arm in his. 

“Well, no one’s seen Kaz in two days.”

“What?” Jesper stops walking. 

“No one can get ahold of him,” she explains. “I’ve been to his apartment and he doesn’t answer the door. I’m really worried but also very irritated.”

“Nice,” Jesper murmurs, and they start moving again. “I can always count on Kaz to be there for me.”

They reach his mom’s office and walk through the open door. Aditi looks up at them and smiles, pulling Jesper into a hug. She has a box of donuts on her desk and the three of them plus Anika sit in various positions around the room as they eat. 

The door slamming open startles Jesper so bad that he slips off the couch. Kaz walks in with his laptop, wearing a black HILLI FOR CONGRESS ‘12 crewneck and glasses on his nose that Jesper hasn’t seen him wear in public for years. They all stare at him in shock as he slams the laptop down on Aditi’s desk. 

“You need to read this,” he says to her. 

She looks at him in confusion but glances at the laptop. Jesper watches her expression narrow and then her eyes widen as she reads. “Kaz, where did you get this?”

“I hacked it,” Kaz says, like it’s obvious. “The leak was too much of a coincidence, happening right before the election. Had suspicious written all over it. I was right, as usual.”

“Oh my god,” his ma says, her eyes reading whatever was on the screen frantically. 

“What?” Jesper asked, now standing. “Kaz, where have you been? What the fuck is going on?”

Kaz turns around and he looks apologetic, or as apologetic as Kaz Brekker can be. “I found hidden files on Rollins’ servers. He was the one who leaked your messages with Wylan.”

“What!?” Jesper, Inej, and Anika exclaim in unison. 

“He set you up,” Kaz nods. 

“I had people looking into it already.” Jesper’s mom says, still staring at the laptop. “They haven’t found anything. Kaz, how…”

Kaz shrugs, looking way too nonchalant. “I haven’t slept in sixty hours. Never estimate the power of espresso and RedBulls.”

“You’re insane,” Inej says, but she’s grinning at him like he’s hung the stars. Kaz flushes under her gaze. 

Jesper walks around the desk to look over his mom’s shoulder. Sure enough, there’s a thread of communication between Rollins and his staff, discussing evidence they had found. He sees a blurry photo of Wylan and Jesper in the hallway in the hotel they stayed at during the DNC. The response reads: Not enough. I need more. 

“What the fuck.” Jesper says, and feels like he might cry a little. “Why would he—“

“I’m so sorry, darling,” Jesper’s mom grabs his hand. “You never deserved this. But trust me, we’ll make him pay.”

“We’re leaking to the press, right?” Kaz asks, and his mom is nodding. 

They continue to discuss with Anika how they’re going to go about it. Jesper takes a seat on the sofa again, and he’s thankful for Inej being there to wrap an arm around him. Pekka fucking Rollins outed him. And Wylan. And almost ruined everything. 

Jesper was going to make sure he paid for it. 

⋆☆⋆

[MUSICAL INTRODUCTION: 15 SECOND INSTRUMENTAL.]

LANTSOV: Hi! I’m Nikolai Lantsov, and with me as always, is my gorgeous, terrifying, wickedly smart cohost, Zoya Nazyalensky. Thank god she’s here, or I’d not be nearly as famous. Say hi, Zoya

NAZYALENSKY: Hi, Zoya. Thanks for the glowing intro, Nikolai. I’m being held against my will, by the way. 

LANTSOV: She loves me. So. Today we’re discussing the hot goss circling every news outlet this week. Last week, we were all shocked to find out about the Prince of England and FSOTUS being in a relationship via leaked messages between the two. Yesterday, we learned that Republican candidate Pekka Rollins was behind the entire leak. Rollins had Jesper Fahey stalked and hacked in order to out him and Prince Wylan to the entire world. Frankly, I can’t wait to see him rot in hell. 

NAZYALENSKY: I’d scold you for being so frank if I didn’t agree with you entirely. 

LANTSOV: Aw, I’m so glad I got that on video. 

NAZYALENSKY: Anyways. Jesper Fahey is scheduled to make a speech to the nation tomorrow morning. I think we’re all eager to hear what he has to say. 

⋆☆⋆

“This is perfect, Jes.”

Jesper can’t help but duck his head under his mom’s approving gaze. She hands him his written speech back and leans forward to kiss his head. “Love you.”

“Love you,” he murmurs, and escapes the room as soon as he can. 

Wylan has been in meeting after meeting to finalize his leaving the royal family, but he’s finally free enough to fly to the States and be present for Jesper’s speech. Jesper waits for him outside the residence and glances over at the garden where they first kissed with a grin. The car pulls up and Wylan exits, wearing dark pants and a brown sweater. 

Jesper giggles as he sees him and Wylan shouts “What?” as he approaches. 

“You’re so hot!” Jesper calls back, and is delighted to see Wylan’s blush even from a distance. 

Jesper drags him inside and they find an empty room to make out in until Anika blows up his phone to tell them he’s about to be late. They’re moved to a makeup room to ensure they’re camera ready, and then shuffled to the reception room. 

Wylan stands in front of Jesper and straightens his collar, smoothing the fabric with his fingers. Jesper stares at him while he does it, feeling goofy for the way he can’t take his eyes off him. He feels Wylan’s fingers touch his collarbone briefly. “Five minutes and then we’re through, love.”

Jesper tugs at the hem of Wylan’s sweater. He’s sure the outfit breaks royal protocol, but what are they going to do? Kick him out? “I love you a shit ton.”

FIRST SON JESPER FAHEY’S ADDRESS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, OCTOBER 2, 2024. 

Good morning. 

I am, and have always been, a child of America. I was raised here. I grew up here. I’ve seen so much of this country and given up a lot of myself for it. 

The first time we talked was when I stood on a stage in 2020 and introduced my mother as your candidate for president. Inej wrote that speech for me. I’m using my own words today, if you don’t mind. 

Just as much as my parents did, you raised me, too. And now I stand with a prince behind me, who was raised by his own country. I know you all want the truth: so here it is. 

Wylan and I have been together since the beginning of the year. You’re all now intimately aware of our relationship and secrets that should have remained just ours. One thing we were most excited to do was show the world who we are on our own terms and timeline. We were not afforded this liberty. 

I stand here to tell you my truth now: love is indomitable. I know America believes this also. So, I’m happy to tell you I love him. I’m someone who has the honor of bearing a legacy, which means I also have the privilege of choosing a partner with whom to share it. It just so happens that he has his own to share with me, too. We chose each other. He’s my choice. 

This is a terrifying truth to say out loud. As much as I love my country, I also recognize that it can be a scary place for people like us. I want you to know that if this is something you can identify with as well; I see you. I’m the First Son of the United States and I am bisexual. That will be remembered in history. 

I know I’m not in much of a position to ask things of you, but please. Please don’t let my actions influence your decision at the polls next month. This is bigger than me and bigger than any individual person. My mother, your president, is what America deserves to bring four more years of truth, growth, and prosperity. Remember that, not Wylan and I. 

I’m still the kid you raised. I forever will be. Being a son of America has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I hope you’ll continue to allow me this honor next year. 

⋆☆⋆

The next 24 hours are a blur, and Jesper hardly remembers any of it. Snippets flash through his mind. Wylan, squeezing him tightly as he finishes his speech. Inej, pouring a glass of champagne, still in her orange t-shirt. Hundreds of people marching through DC, waving pride flags and signs with Jesper’s name on them. Kaz, standing in Jesper’s doorway and looking unsure.

“Dude, are you going to stand there all day?” Jesper raises an eyebrow, and it seems to snap Kaz out of whatever trance he was in.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you,” Kaz says, standing next to the sofa where Jesper sits. Jesper tries to mask most of his shock. “I didn’t intend to leave you alone.”

“Would’ve been nice to have my brother there,” Jesper admits, and refuses to glance at Kaz to see how he reacts to that word. “But it’s okay. I wasn’t completely alone. Besides, you helped in your own way.”

Kaz nods, but says nothing. Jesper can’t help but ask. “Your thing with Pekka Rollins. It’s not just because he sucks as a human being. It’s personal.”

Kaz seems to have expected the question but also doesn’t seem like he wants to answer it. “I found out about two years ago that Rollins caused the accident that killed my parents and Jordie.”

Jesper gasps, turning sharply where he sits to face Kaz more openly. “What? Oh my god, Kaz. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know how,” Kaz says truthfully, “It felt like I should be over their deaths and that bringing it up would make me sound crazy.”

“You are crazy,” Jesper agrees, “But not for this. Are we taking him down?”

“Your mom is,” Kaz nods, “When she beats his ass next month.”

Jesper grins at that. “Hell yeah she is. I’m sorry, for what it’s worth. That you had to go through that alone.”

“I wasn’t alone,” Kaz smiles slightly. “I had my brother.”

Jesper’s felt like crying over Kaz Brekker before, but the emotion that swells inside him is brand new and overwhelming. “Holy shit, man, you gotta warn me before you get nice.”

Kaz barks a laugh. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jesper rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling so widely his cheeks hurt. 

Wylan’s been given a guest room while he’s there, and he insists on respecting Jesper’s mom by sleeping in it. Jesper, however, couldn't care less, and sneaks through the halls every night to slip under Wylan’s covers. He lays there now, his body curled around Wylan’s and lips pressed to the back of his neck.

“I can go back with you, if you want.”

“No,” Wylan says, shaking his head slightly. “I appreciate it. But I have to do the rest on my own.”

Jesper kisses his shoulder. “I know. But still, I’ll hop on a plane if you need me. I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Wylan chuckles, and then he turns in Jesper’s arm so he can press their lips together gently. “I’ll be finished soon. And then I’ll come back to you.”

Jesper hums as he smiles, “I like the sound of that, sweetheart.”

They kiss again, and one of Wylan’s hands buries itself in Jesper’s hair so his nails can scratch at his scalp. Jesper squeezes Wylan tighter, pressing their bodies together anywhere he can. He bites at Wylan’s lip teasingly, and then yelps when he gets a pinch to his hip. Wylan giggles and breaks the kiss, to which Jesper rolls his eyes but kisses his forehead anyway. 

They lay wrapped around each other, and Jesper falls asleep thinking about their future. How they get to love each other however they want now. It’s scary. It’s exciting. He can’t wait. 

⋆☆⋆

A couple weeks later, Jesper gets a call from Nina. 

He’s confused when he sees neener!! flash across his phone screen, but answers the call anyways. “Hey, Neens. What’s up?”

“Jesper!” she greets excitedly, like she always is. “Hello, lovey. Have a moment to talk?”

“Always for you, babes,” he says teasingly, and they both laugh. “Everything okay?”

“Of course!” she answers. “So I’ve been talking to Wylan, and I have a brilliant idea. He said I should bring it up to you myself.”

“Okay,” Jesper says slowly. “Because that’s not ominous at all.”

“Hush. So you’re familiar with my foundation, correct?”

“Of course I am.” The Zenik foundation has been opening youth centers across Europe for the last couple years, and Jesper’s heard Nina talk about how she wants to branch out.  

“I’m currently in the process of opening my next shelter in New York,” Nina tells him. “And it’s going to be for LGBTQ youth.”

“Nina!” he exclaims, grinning. “That’s amazing. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, babe,” she says kindly. “But that’s not all! It’s not just going to be the Zenik Foundation. We’ve decided to call it the Zenik-Hendriks shelter.”

Hendriks. Holy shit. “And he wanted you to tell me this? No offense Nina.”

“None taken,” she giggles, “He wanted me to tell you because I’m offering you a job.”

He thinks he stops breathing. “A job.”

“A job,” Nina repeats. “While Wylan will be stationed over there full time soon, I can’t be at the shelter super often. I’d like for you to help him.”

“You want me to help run your LGBTQ youth shelter,” Jesper says, knowing he sounds stupid but needing clarification. “In New York. With Wylan.”

“Well I won’t be adding your name to the place or anything,” she teases. “And it’s a lot of paperwork, especially because—“

“I’ll help Wylan with paperwork,” he says immediately. 

“I know,” Nina agrees. “There’s also organizing and recruiting and—“

“I’m so in,” Jesper cuts her off again, too excited to listen. “Nina, oh my god. You’re sure?”

“Of course I’m sure, love!” she exclaims. “I’ll send you an email with all the specifics. Just wanted to hear your voice when you said yes.”

“Cheeky thing,” he says, and she giggles again. “Nina—“

“I know,” Nina says. “You love me and don’t know how you could possibly thank me. Don’t worry. Go ahead, give Wylan a call.”

“I do love you,” he agrees. “You’re the best. Thank you.”

He does try to call Wylan, but it goes straight to voicemail. He goes to start a voice note, and hesitates. What if this one gets leaked too? Then Jesper shakes his head. He won’t let them take this from him. 

“Wylan fucking Hendriks you goddam son of a bitch. We’re going to work together? I can’t believe you waited for Nina to tell me. Oh my god. You fucker! Call me back ASAP so I can yell at you more. Love you. So much.”

⋆☆⋆

“You’re gonna wear a hole in those shoes.”

Jesper stops in his tracks from where he had been pacing, staring at Inej like a deer in headlights. She smiles softly at him, and he hates how easily she can read his mind. She approaches him slowly, and reaches out to straighten his collar. “Alright, Jes?”

“Yeah,” he lies, and he knows she can tell. “Just a little nervous.”

“I am too,” she nods. “But it’s out of our control now.”

“But what if she loses and it’s my fault,” Jesper says, and his voice cracks at the end and he’s going to jump out of his window. “What if a bisexual son is too much for America?”

“America doesn’t deserve you, Jes,” Inej tells him, dropping her hands so she can take one of his in them. “It’s not your fault you were outed and it won’t be your fault if she loses. I could get Kaz to tell you the math on it, but I don’t think that would help.”

“It might, actually,” he grins, and she chuckles. “I just kind of feel like I’ve done everything wrong and everyone knows it.”

“If you keep talking like that, I’m going to jab my cane in your eye.”

Jesper rolls his eyes as Kaz walks in, a shit eating grin on his face. Inej smiles fondly at the two of them, “Can’t even tone down the threats on election day?”

“I wouldn’t be myself if I did,” Kaz says, and Jesper thinks he’s actually losing his mind as Kaz literally winks at her. “Ready?”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh come on—“

“Everything okay in here?”

That’s the voice Jesper has been waiting for. Inej drops his hands so he can meet Wylan halfway, letting him pull Jesper into a tight embrace and kiss his cheek. “Hi, love.”

“Hi, Wy,” Jesper murmurs into Wylan’s shoulder. 

“Hi Wylan!” Inej beams, and Kaz echoes a less enthusiastic greeting. 

“Hi guys,” Wylan smiles, “Thanks for taking the morning shift.”

“Hey,” Jesper mumbles, still hiding his face. “Mean.”

“You love it,” Wylan whispers. Jesper hums. 

“Ugh,” Kaz scoffs loudly. “Can we go now?”

Jesper rolls his eyes and silently thanks Inej when he hears a soft thump of something hitting Kaz’s arm. He hears them move and slowly shuffle out of the room until it’s just him and Wylan. He finally pulls his face away so he can see Wylan’s smile himself. 

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” Wylan agrees, “Even if I know nothing about the American election process. What the bloody hell is the electoral college?”

Jesper snorts. “You fit right in. Okay,” he takes a deep breath and kisses Wylan. “Now I’m ready.”

Wylan pulls away and offers his hand to Jesper. He takes it and squeezes. 

⋆☆⋆

It’s a risk, doing the election in Texas. Sitting presidents usually go to their home state on election night. But 2020 was rough for Texas, and Jesper still remembers the sting of watching his state turn a bright red on the TV screen. Now, after everything that’s happened with him being outed and how awful Texas has been in general, he’s not sure how much of a chance they have of turning it blue. 

He remembers the last election clearly. Eighteen, wearing a (boring) navy blue suit, arms wrapped tight around Inej as they watched them call 270 votes for his mom. Ripping his jacket off and running down the hall screaming loudly, practically lifting his mom off her feet. Inej’s smile never faded, and he remembers pushing her on stage first to have a moment with her dad. 

Now, Inej walks with him into the exhibit hall, staring at her phone. “It’s early, but I think we have Illinois.”

“Okay, good,” Jesper nods, “That was projected.”

“But I don’t like how Pennsylvania looks,” Kaz adds, trailing behind them. 

Wylan walks beside Kaz, and says “What does any of this mean?”

“Too late to explain it to you, babe.”

It’s a smaller hall, just for the families and campaign staff. Jesper saw several HISTORY, HUH? shirts on his way in, and couldn’t help but look back at Wylan just to see the blush on his face. Jesper can’t even take a seat, instead resumes his pacing and glancing at the screen every five seconds as if it’s changing. He never cared much for elections until his mom started running in them, and now they make him so anxious that he can’t sit still until it’s called. 

Jesper’s dad sneaks his way in through a side door and approaches them, holding his phone out. “Kaz, Jes, she’d like to speak with you.”

“Mom?” Jesper asks, confused. “You okay?”

“Can you two do me a favor?” his moms’’s voice asks through the speaker. “Can you edit this speech for me? Just in case of, you know, concession.”

Jesper’s gaze hardens, but Kaz grabs the phone before he can. “Aditi, you can’t ask us to do that. We refuse. You won’t need a concession speech because you aren’t losing. You can’t give up now, do you understand?”

Aditi sighs through the phone, “You’re right. Jes? Could you say something to the crowd?”

“Sure, mom,” Jesper nods, and immediately wishes he said no. He turns back to Wylan in panic, but Wylan’s already reaching for his shoulders. 

“Hey,” he says quietly, “You’re the First Son of this country. You can do this. You know what to say.”

Jesper exhales loudly and then looks at Inej, “Have they called Texas?”

“Too close to call,” she says, her eyes shining.

“Fuck,” he sighs, and then he’s making his way in front of a crowd of people, stepping up to the microphone.

“Hello,” he begins, and looks across all the faces staring back up at him. “Hopefully you all know me by now. Do you know what they’re saying right now? Texas is too close to call. The last time this happened was in 1976, when Texas went blue. I think it seems like Texas has had enough of being lied to, yeah?”

The crowd cheers and he grins. “Y’all know how I am about history. Should we make some again tonight?” That gets them going even louder, and he cheers with them away from the mic. 

When he steps backwards, there’s a familiar weight pressed behind him. “Beautiful,” Wylan says into his ear, “You did brilliantly.”

Jesper can’t help but spin and kiss him, hard. 

When they make it back into their room, there’s a new bout of votes appearing on the screen. Four more states are turning blue for his mom, bringing her and Rollins neck and neck. They still have to wait on the west coast. 

Rollins gets Iowa, Utah, and Montana, but California shines a brilliant blue, sending their fifty-five votes to Aditi. 

It’s midnight when they announce Florida. An unsurprising, ugly red. 

“Inej,” Jesper says, and doesn’t even have to ask before she speaks. 

“We either need Texas or Nevada and Alaska. But Richards will need all three. They haven’t called Nevada yet but–”

There’s a collection of groans as Nevada’s name flashes next to ROLLINS. 

“What the fuck?” Kaz swears.

“It’s Texas,” Jesper says in disbelief. “Whoever gets Texas wins the presidency.” Wylan’s hand squeezes his even tighter.

Half an hour later, they’re still waiting, and Jesper is pacing again. Texas never takes this long, which could be really good or really bad. Inej is sitting next to Kaz at their table, leaning her head on his shoulder. His mom has joined them, clinging to his father tightly. Wylan sits in his own chair, holding Jesper’s hand and swinging his back and forth as Jesper walks in front of him.

There’s a sudden increase in noise and their heads whip towards the screen. They’re about to call Texas. Wylan stands so he can wrap an arm around Jesper’s shoulders, a comforting weight.

The shape of his state stays gray. Then: beautiful blue. 301 votes for Hilli.

“Holy shit!” Jesper screams, jumping up and down. “Holy fucking shit!”

“Four more years!” Aditi is yelling, over and over again.

Jesper is turning and hugging Wylan so tightly he isn’t sure how either of them breathe. Wylan pulls away so he can cup his face in his hands and kiss him like they’re in a fucking movie before pushing him at his mom.

He takes in his surroundings in flashes. Kaz, holding one of Inej’s hands in his gloved one. Inej, beaming, and leaning over to kiss Kaz’s cheek. Kaz, cheeks red. Anika, standing on a table. Jesper’s dad, arms wrapped tight around his wife and son. Jesper’s mom, crying in Jesper’s ear. Rotty, popping champagne and spraying it all over the people around him. Wylan, looking around wildly and not stopping smiling for even a second.

His mom gives a victory speech. Please forgive him if he’s not in the right state of mind to remember it yet.

 ⋆☆⋆

Jesper grabs Wylan by the hand and tugs him out of the room. They sneak out a back door and then they’re running, through the streets and in between buildings. Wylan laughs breathlessly beside him and they don’t stop until they reach a brick house.

He walks to the door slowly, and when he reaches it, he turns and loops his finger around the chain that loops Wylan’s neck. He tugs, pulling the key out from under his shirt and pulling it off his head. Jesper presses a kiss to Wylan’s nose before turning back and using the key to unlock the door.

“Take this back now,” he says, handing the chain back to Wylan so he can slip it back on. He pushes the door and they take a few steps in.

It’s dusty, but not empty. He leads Wylan upstairs and down the hall until they reach Jesper’s old room. Wylan snickers at the Niall Horan poster on the wall. Jesper takes Wylan’s hands in his and presses their lips together softly.

Wylan doesn’t let him get further than that before he’s pulling away. “I have to tell you something. I bought a brownstone. In Brooklyn.”

“You didn’t,” Jesper grins, “Seriously?”

“You knew I was moving here,” Wylan teases. “But not the point.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his own chain, and Jesper sees a new key at the end of it. “You gave me a real home, with you. I’d like to return the favor.”

“No fucking way.” Jesper swears, looking at it in shock. “Wy, sweetheart."

“You did the cheesy thing first, so you’ll excuse me if I copy you a bit,” he smiles. Then he hesitates. “Did you mean that thing you said to my father? About reading to me.”

“Of course,” Jesper nods, “I’ll read to you forever. Anything you want. Even a spicy book. But I do charge a steep fee.”

Wylan rolls his eyes, but he’s still smiling so brightly. “I can more than afford it, I’m sure. So does this mean you’ll move in with me?”

“How official,” Jesper comments, and reaches up to poke Wylan’s cheek when he rolls his eyes again. “Of course I will, baby.”

Wylan slips the chain around Jesper’s neck. Jesper looks down at Wylan’s chest where his own hangs. Two different homes. For both of them. He can’t wait.

He kisses Wylan again, tugging him over so he can push him onto the bed and climb onto his lap. When Wylan leans back so he can lay down, Jesper follows. Only Jesper knows about the old poster he used to have of Wylan in this room. Only he knows that feeling he got when he looked at it – the beginning of something. 

“We won,” Wylan murmurs against Jesper’s mouth. 

“We won,” Jesper echoes, and continues kissing him.

“About that fee,” Wylan starts, pulling away for a moment. “Is this considered my down payment?”

Jesper cackles loudly. It feels good. “We’ll discuss it later. Now shut up so I can kiss you more.”

As Wylan giggles into the kiss until they’re both laughing more than kissing, Jesper’s heart surges. A key dangles in front of him, the weight pulling it down until it rests on Wylan’s chest, on top of his heart. A string of fate? Something connecting them and their futures?

Jesper’s never been one for words, but he finds he doesn’t need them now. This is enough.