Work Text:
The sun was already high in the sky when Percival woke. He yawned and stretched his muscles reaching for the man he had fallen asleep next to only to find the other side of the bed empty. Grunting in displeasure he rolled over to better view the entire room, it was empty. Although he wasn't sure of the exact time Percival knew it must have been late enough that Leon could no longer wait for him to wake before beginning his day. Percival did however feel more rested than he had done since he had left for the outer villages a month ago so he was grateful for the opportunity to sleep in even if it meant missing out on sleepy morning cuddles with his lover.
Sitting up, he could now fully take in the room. It had been far too dark when he returned home last night to notice any changes that may have been done in his absence but it was a pleasant sight to see almost everything was as he had seen it last. These chambers had belonged to Leon since only 2 weeks after his marriage to the Queen and before that Percival had only known them to be empty.
Merlin had once mentioned they had belonged to Morgana before her betrayal. After that they sat locked, Guinevere had said they reminded her of times she did not wish to think on, Uther felt unable to look into them and Arthur had repeated the same reasons after his father's death although according to his servant he had been known to occasionally use the passageway connecting his chambers to this one at times he had been overcome with sadness. It was because of that passageway -leading from behind one fireplace to another- that Leon had been granted this room. It didn't take the newlyweds long to realise they would never be comfortable sharing their space, they both knew their vows were purely for the good of the kingdom and nothing more but that passageway allowed them keep up appearances when needed or gave fast access should the need ever arise.
Leon had settled into them fine enough. His few belongings not taking nearly as much space as was now available, his previous chambers had been the size of a broom closet in comparison so it had started out rather bare looking. Some journals on one shelf, half the wardrobe filled, a very small collection of trinkets that reminded him of lost friends but over time, as he and Percival grew closer, it started to fill. Now there were books lining almost all the shelves, full drawers, items of comfort lain about and the room felt brighter each day. From the bed Percy could see his own boots by the door, Leon's sweater on a chair, a pitcher of water with 2 goblets sat beside it on the hearth. All of these things were items that had become commonplace to him and familiar.
What wasn't familiar though was the very large round tub taking up rather a lot of the floor space. Percival really must have slept deeply if he had missed the servants entering and bringing it in to the room, he was rather sure it hadn't been there when he returned last night. The fire was lit but there was no water heating above it, instead Percival could see a metal grate had been placed in front of it with a large robe hanging over it to keep warm. Excitedly he jumped from the bed and made his way to the fire to collect the robe, wrapping it around himself and immediately being enveloped in the warmth of the material. The heat almost as good as the heat of waking next to someone else. A close second.
Turning the face the tub he noticed it was empty and with no water above the fire Percy started to wonder if he really did just miss it last night and it had been there all along, although he noted his discarded clothes and armour had been tidied away from where he had abandoned it when we went to bed last night meaning some servants had definitely been in at some point during his slumber. Looking around the space once more he found one last thing that was not a familiar sight here, apon the table that sat against the back wall was a large tray containing a multitude of foods. Cold meats, fruits, bread, sweet treats, all of Percival's favourite foods had been collected up and left in the room for him. He made his way over to the table and found a note sat in front of the plate.
Percival-
I apologise for not being with you when you woke.
I wanted to be, but more importantly I wanted you to rest as long as you needed.
Ask a servant to fill the bath for you, enjoy this meal and relax.
You deserve the chance to recuperate after your long journey.
I'll see you later today.
All my love - Leon
A grin spread across Percival's face at the thought of how much work Leon had put in to make sure he was well taken care of. Immediately he headed to the door to find someone willing to fill his bath. It hadn't taken long, servants were all around the castle at this hour, their days having started long ago, and as a nice enough boy prepared the tub for him Percival sat to enjoy the food that had been left for him. After so long away from home and much of that time spent journeying to and through it had been a while since he had enjoyed such a filling meal, he felt rather spoilt that was for sure. Once he had finished his meal and thanked the servant for his work he made his way back across the room to the bath which was now steaming from the warm water inside. The servant had also placed a towel across the metal grate in front of the fire to warm and Percival placed the robe back across it too before climbing in to the tub. The warm water instantly causing his muscles to tense before the finally relaxed as he sat down, the water lapping at his chest as it settled. It is funny how much more enjoyable these things are when you have missed them. Following Leon's advice Percival allowed his body to relax as he rest his head on the wedge of the tub, keeping him above water. The steam soothing his mind as well as his body, it only took a few moments before sleep began to creep on him once more.
A gentle hand is what woke him this time, running over the back of his head soothingly. Groggily he shifted and opened his eyes, being greeted with a small smile from Leon who had brought a chair over to sit beside the bath. "Afternoon." Leon spoke first
"Afternoon?" Percival sat up straighter "How long have I been asleep? I've wasted the day."
"Relax Perce," Leon soothed "It's okay. You needed the rest, no one can fault you for that." Which earnt a scoff in return
"Says the kingdoms hardest worker? When was the last time you took a break?" He questioned in return.
"Oh hush!" Leon scolded with jest as he placed their foreheads together and they closed their eyes. Percival hummed in contentment.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"This. All of it today: the food, the bath, making sure I had a warm robe to wake up to. I feel very spoiled." He lent back to watch Leon's face.
"It's nothing more than what you deserve love. I imagine things mustn't have gone as well as hoped out there." The reminder caused Percival to abruptly sit up causing the water to splash from side to side in the tub, some of it falling over the sides.
"I was supposed to meet with you and the Queen this morning!" Percival was no longer looking at Leon, instead he was staring straight ahead and talking quite fast. "To talk about what had happened, before the others return and -"
"Percy! Percival calm down love!" Leon, who had a chuckle in his voice, stood from his chair and placed himself behind Percival, moving his hands to his shoulders and pressing lightly to massage the muscles beneath. Encouraging him to lean back once more. "The day's not over yet. Besides when Guinevere awoke this morning she didn't even know you had returned. There's no rush." Percival looked up towards Leon as he answered
"I want you both to know what happened before the whole group returns. It's important to me."
"Then it's important to me too. However you rode 2 days and a night, hardly resting, to make it back home when you did. If they are back tomorrow night I'd still be surprised. There's time." He sighed and nodded, accepting Leon's words before a new thought came to mind.
"If there's time…" he began slowly, a smile creeping across his face "...does that mean you're going to join me?" But Leon threw his head back as he laughed.
"You've been in there so long my love, I do not believe for one second that water is still warm!"
"Oh is that how it is then!" Percival laughed with him
"Yes! And I'm certain you must have shrivelled up in there by now." Leon reaches down to pull one of Percival's arms from the water, jokingly inspecting his hand "Oh yes, see? You're starting to look like a toad!" He laughed, showing Percival his own hand before letting go. Turning toward the fire which now burnt low in the fireplace.
"A toad! And here I thought you loved me!" Percival began to stand in the tub as Leon collected the heated towel and brought it over to him, wrapping it around him tightly as he stepped out.
"I do love you…" Leon said earnestly but continued with their previous jovial tone "...but if you were a toad maybe I would not." And they both laughed. Stood close enough to one another that they could feel the others breath on their face as they did so
"I can't believe you." Percival joked again before Leon stepped back and turned to the fire once more, retrieving the robe for Percy to put on after he had dried himself off.
"I told the Queen of your return when I first saw her this morning." The atmosphere shifted, back to work. "I also told her what I had arranged for you, so she understands why you haven't spoken to her yet." Percy nodded as he switched towel for robe and listened intently. "Take your time, get dressed, whatever else you want to do first, then we'll all meet together in the small chambers and you can tell what happened whilst you were gone. How does that sound?"
"That sounds wonderful Leon. Thank you again my love." The taller man pulled his lover in for another embrace, their heads finding their usual position resting against one another.