Chapter Text
The Crown Prince stands on his doorstep. It’s only been six months since he last saw Wilhelm. Standing there he was a bit shorter, his hair long, eyes glowing in the light of the porch. He looks so different now. This time, his hair is shorter, more princely. His eyes are dark despite the light. He stands tall, dressed casually in black jeans and a black t-shirt. In the night he almost looks like a regular boy. But he’s not, he is still the Crown Prince, still has his country to inherit, his castle, his mother pushing him to become a husband and produce heirs.
Simon opens the door to his apartment, pushing his feet into his sneakers and stepping outside. Wilhelm leans against the railing of the porch, a cigarette situated between his lips. When he sees Simon, he snubs it out and flicks it into the bushes.
“You’re littering,” he tells the prince.
“Shut up,” he retorts with a wide smile. He crosses the porch and holds Simon’s face in his hands, gently like he might break him. He can smell smoke on his hands and taste it on his tongue when Wilhelm connects their lips. Always so gentle. Simon’s hands come up to grab Wilhelm’s wrists.
“I’m not your girlfriend, Wilhelm,” he jokes.
Wilhelm’s eyes bore into his, “whatever Simon. Are you ready to go?” He asks, dropping his hands from Simon’s face. He nods and follows Wilhelm to his car. A black Ferrari with a red interior, the roof is down, it used to be Erik’s.
“So fancy, just for me?” Simon quips. He knows Wilhelm is rolling his eyes as he says “only the best for you, babe.” Simon brings a hand to his chest like he is head over heels for the prince. Wilhelm pushes his shoulder, no real bite to the action.
Wilhelm drives for a while, one hand on Simon’s thigh, the other on the wheel. Occasionally, he’ll look over and find Wilhelm staring right back. He can feel the anxiety radiating off of him.
“Here,” Simon says as he takes a cigarette from the glove box, lights it and puts it in Wilhelm’s mouth. “What’s the plan for tonight?” He asks as he reaches over to take the cigarette from Wilhelm’s mouth and take a drag of it himself.
“Thought we could take the boat out for a bit.”
“We’ll get arrested,” Simon replies, letting the fact that they can’t arrest the crown prince slip his mind.
“No we won’t,” Wilhelm reminds him.
“Wilhelm,” Simon whispers.
“Stop calling me that,” he laughs, plucking the cigarette from Simons lips and tossing it out of the car. “You don’t need to pick up smoking, bad habits die hard.”
“Mmm,” he hums. It’s ironic, really, because meeting up in secret every few months is an old habit the two of them just can’t seem to break. It’s like they’re addicted to each other, nothing can stop the magnetic pull between them. “I missed you,” he tells Wille at a red light.
“I missed you,” Wille says and squeezes his knee. Simon takes his hand in his, squeezing it.
-
The air is cool and damp as Wille steers the motorboat to a stop in the middle of the lake. A small thing bought with his private funds. They brought blankets from the car and Wille brought some sliced fruits - so princely of him.
They lay on the floor of the boat, Simon curled into Wille’s body, both of them staring at the stars. He can feel the slow rise and fall of Wille’s chest, hear his heartbeat. When he kisses his neck, he feels him shudder beneath him.
Wille pulls him up to meet his lips, still tasting of cigarettes. Wilhelm opens his mouth, inviting his tongue, and he complies. A dance they’ve done thousands of times. It’s like they cannot get close enough, they push their bodies together, Simon straddling Wilhelm. Wille pushes his lower back closer and closer and closer.
He feels Wilhelm pull away. “I wish we could just become one being,” Wille whispers. “I can’t get close enough to you.”
“You can’t say things like this and then leave in the morning.” He runs his thumb over Wille’s bottom lip, who in turn pushes his lips into Simon’s, hard. Bracing his hands under Simon’s thighs, Wille flips them around. Simon laying on his back, Wilhelm between his legs, kissing the hollow of his throat. Wille tugs at his shirt and he lets him remove it for better access. He takes his time kissing down Simon’s torso. Once he makes it to the waistband of his sweatpants, he stops, looking at Simon for permission. He nods and throws his head back on the floor of the boat.
-
Once they have caught their breath and are looking at the stars again, Simon speaks. “Do you remember the last time we were here?”
Wille hums.
“We were nineteen. A year out of Hillerska. You told me you loved me.” He confesses.
“I still do,” Wille whispers into the dark.
“Don’t say that,” Simon says light heartedly.
“You knew I loved you before then. You know I’ve loved you since that night, four years ago. I’ll always love you,” he breathes.
Simon moves into Wille’s chest, if only for something to ground him. “You know I’ll always love you.”
Minutes or hours pass, there’s no way to tell.
“Wanna get in the water?” Wille asks, absentmindedly drawing shapes on Simon’s chest. His hands in Wilhelm’s hair.
“It’s like two or three degrees!” He chuckles, pulling Wille closer to himself.
“It’ll be fun,” Wille promises, standing up and offering his hand to Simon, who reluctantly takes it and allows Wille to pull him to his feet.
“We’re going to freeze!” He yelps as he follows Wille into the water.
Wilhelm chuckles, “come here, I got you.” He pulls Simon to himself and holds him tight. Their naked bodies slick in the water. They kiss for a long time. They laugh and splash each other, until Simon takes ahold of Wille.
“How long do I have you for this time?” He asks.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Wilhelm replies. “I’m going to talk to my mama again, she has to understand.” It’s almost convincing. Simon can’t let himself dream about it, because it won’t happen.
“You know we’re just going to keep doing this in private, things won’t change.” Wille shuts him up with a deep kiss, he pushes him away. “Seriously, don’t make me any more false promises. How long are you here?” In an attempt to be more convincing, he kisses Wilhelm gently, once on the lips, once on his nose. He pushes his wet hair away from his eyes.
“I leave tomorrow for England. I have to meet some people. Make some appearances. I hope you’ll watch,” Wilhelm cards his fingers through Simon’s hair, making a place for them at the back of his neck.
“You know I won’t,” he whispers into Wilhelm’s skin. “Come on, let’s go home.”
-
When they are showered and safely tucked into Simon’s bed, limbs a tangled mess in an attempt to be as close as possible, Simon forgives himself for having this. They may not have much time together, but the time they do have is so important. He nuzzles himself into Wilhelm’s chest, the princes arms wrapped securely around his waist, and drifts to sleep.
He wakes up to Wilhelm staring at him and running his fingers up and down his spine.
“Did you sleep at all?” Simon asks, still sleepy.
“No. I couldn’t miss this,” he says. “I have to go.”
“Okay,” Simon lets a tear fall down his cheek. Wilhelm wipes it away and kisses him deeply.
“I’ll be back.”
“I know.”
“I love you,” Wilhelm says, squeezing his hand.
“I know,” is all he can respond. And then, just as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone.