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Having Ren back in his life was the single greatest and the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. On one hand, he and Ren were able to sneak off and make out like no time had passed. On the other hand, he needed to hide hickies and other unsightly blemishes from their little escapades. He didn't want to recount how many times the chambermaid walked in to wake Goro to find Ren in the bed with him.
After his mother's death he felt lost and utterly alone with only his father to share meals with. Therefore, it was a relief to have someone so familiar around the estate. Goro felt like he could breathe again and that his home was no longer so bone chilling.
Ren was back home for good now but during his time away he had matured and gained more fame for himself. It felt like they were back in the academy where girls fawned over him and the boys were jealous.
Goro had his own following of women (though he didn't have the heart to tell them that he favored the other sex), men were constantly trying to find ways to impress him (and some he fell into bed with), and other nobility frankly made fools of themselves in hopes he would give them even a modicum of attention.
"What are you thinking of, love?" Ren asked, running his fingers through Goro’s hair as they laid together in a lone grassy field.
Goro leaned up to look at the grey irises of the man he so deeply found himself enamored with. "Nothing of importance," he said, bridging the distance between them to steal a kiss.
He couldn't believe that Ren had kissed him that night – the night of their reunion. Like a prince out of a fairytale, he had swept Goro off of his feet without a single protest. Goro berated himself for not recognizing that smile or those eyes that he ardently missed.
Ren took the kiss softly, like he always did. The first kiss they had ever shared would always be the one that Goro would treasure. Though, he came to treasure every kiss between them since he knew now to not let their time together go wasted. He never knew if their current kiss would be their last.
"You're thinking very loudly," Ren mumbled against his lips as he pulled Goro closer.
Goro sighed and gave him one last peck. "Sorry. I'm… afraid…" he admitted quietly.
Ren sat up and kept the young Lord in his lap. He ran the back of his knuckles along Goro’s cheek. "What could you, Goro Akechi, possibly be afraid of?"
Goro leaned into the touch like a feline and smiled softly. "Losing you."
Ren hummed, the sound pleasant to Goro’s ears as he rested his head on his chest. "You won't lose me. I'll make sure of it."
"You can't promise something like that," Goro pointed out.
"You know I don't promise things lightly, Goro. If I say I'll do something I will do it."
Goro looked up and noticed his serious expression. "I know and it's for this reason I love you."
"To have your love is the greatest thing I could ever have in my possession," Ren said as softly as the wind that blew through the field, tickling both of them.
"Simply having you in my life is enough but your love is euphoric," he proclaimed, leaning up and capturing his lips once more in a kiss.
Ren pulled Goro closer and the young Lord drank in the attention greedily. He didn't know how much time he had with Ren but he was adamant on making the most of their time together.
***
Goro had just escaped from the horde of people in his family's library with success. His father was adamant on marrying him off. It didn't matter if it was a man or woman as long as they were someone who his father could boast about having in the family.
He made his way to his chambers, taking the hallway past his father's study. " – decided then. The marriage seems to be in order. I'll have Goro informed of this arrangement."
Goro paused out the cracked door. He couldn't hear the other voice, only his father's. Part of him wanted to bust in and demand just who he had been pawned off to. What gave his father the right to decide Goro’s future for him? Wasn't it enough that he was already paraded around like a show horse? Goro had already given up most of his agency since he knew he'd be nothing more than a legacy for his father.
If his mother was still alive, he bet that she would have stood up for him. When he was a child she shielded him the best she could from the pressure and the unfair expectations of his father but as he got older, the harder it was to protect him. Though, there were some things she wouldn't dare protest against her husband. He felt that she would have fought him on this issue. That his happiness was more important than things like titles. But he'll never know.
He would have had another moment to stew had he not heard footsteps approach the door. Quickly, he dashed down the hall to avoid the scorn of his father.
Once in his chambers, he shut the door and leaned heavily against it. He was right to think his days were numbered with his lover. How could he have been so foolish to think he and Ren would have all the time in the world. They didn't. They were both eligible bachelors who would be sought after for their fame, fortune, and their bloodlines.
Goro sank down to the floor and rested his forehead against his knees. He was an idiot for thinking he could keep Ren. His own father would probably find him someone notable with good genetics, anyone to raise their position in nobility. Ren, like Goro, was only a means to garner more influence for his family. The same family that exiled him for a stupid mistake – for Goro’s stupid mistake.
He'd need to talk to Ren and tell him what he heard. And he hoped it wouldn't break his heart like it was breaking Goro’s.
***
Goro sat in a gazebo in the gardens, making sure to cast a spell to keep them hidden from prying eyes. The last thing he needed was someone to witness the anguish that would soon transpire. Every moment he waited felt like a moment closer to doom because he feared there was no way they could come out of this unscathed.
"There you are," Ren said as he appeared, handsome as ever with a wide smile on his face.
"Here I am," Goro stood and made his way over to the man.
Ren's smile morphed into a frown as his lover came near. The raven immediately pulled Goro into his arms, cradling his head as he held him. "Are you alright?"
Goro closed his eyes and kissed him slowly, deeply as if he was trying to commit to memory the feel and taste of his lips. Who knew how long he'd have to kiss him? Either way, he didn't want to take for granted their borrowed time.
Ren, though, breaks their kiss after a moment, his grey eyes dark as they sweep across Goro’s face. "Something's wrong," he said, running his thumb along Goro’s cheekbone.
Goro kept his eyes shut as he felt himself shake. "I…"
Ren immediately pulled him to sit on the bench. His hand grasping Goro’s tightly. "Sh… take your time. I'll be here."
Goro nodded and focused his gaze on their joined hands. "My father… He's arranged my marriage. He's fucking arranged my marriage."
Ren didn't say anything for a moment – a long moment. Why hadn't he said anything? Goro looked up to see his lover staring back at him not in anger, or agony, instead he was staring like Goro had told him something obvious.
"Why aren't you upset?" He asked immediately, pulling himself away from the man.
Ren still look perplexed but now it seemed like he was mulling over his words like he was dancing with fire and avoiding a burn. "I… knew," he said after some thought with a careful expression.
Goro stood up quickly, his eyes never leaving Ren as he glared at him. "You knew?!" He barked the words out at the man.
Ren knew that Goro was going to be married off and didn't even tell him? What the hell was Ren playing at? For what reason would he not tell his lover that they wouldn't be together anymore?
Unless…
"You helped arrange my marriage," Goro concluded. It was the only explanation for why Ren didn't look distraught or heartbroken. Ren had sat down with his father to find him the best suitor.
He had picked Goro’s fiancé for him.
"That's not what-" Ren stood up to follow Goro but the young Lord didn't give him a chance to speak before a gloved hand striked Ren across the cheek.
"How dare you arrange my marriage for me? What happened to us always being together?" He cried, staring at the man he thought he loved.
"If you would just give me a moment to explain-" Ren pleaded, holding his cheek.
"No! I won't! You betrayed me and I never want to see you again," he hissed, stalking past him but not without throwing an icy glare over his shoulder. "I hope you're proud of your decision."
And with that, he left. He left behind the man he loved with tears streaming down his face.
***
He didn't see Ren for the next month. Even if Goro had forgiven him and wanted to see him, he couldn't. There was a wedding to prepare for and it took most if not all of Goro’s attention.
Because he didn't get to choose his partner he was adamant that he would organize the ceremony and the reception to follow. This would be the last thing that Goro would be able to control in his life before he had to share it with someone else.
Even in times like these, he found himself playing with the worn silver bangle inside of his coat sleeve.
He stood in front of the long mirror of his chambers adjusting his new suit for the wedding. He had chosen the suit to be white and gold with splashes of red throughout. Part of him hoped that this would have been the suit he would have worn for his wedding to Ren but that had been a child's dream.
At least he didn't need to worry about moving across the kingdom or anything of that sort. His new partner would come to live with him and his father at the estate since he would be inheriting it from the bald bastard. Though, he may change chambers because the memories he had of a raven were too prominent within the hallowed walls.
"Master, it's time," came the voice of one of the servants who awaited in the doorway.
Goro looked over at the woman and nodded. "Thank you," he said before turning back to the mirror and doing one final adjustment.
The walk to the gardens were the ceremony would be held felt like a funeral march. As he approached the aisle and took his place at the end of it with the priest, he lamented his final moments with Ren.
He'd been so angry with him that he threw away the last moments that they had with one another. And now, he would never be able to kiss him again much less even see him.
The quartet played a sweet melody that he had prepared for his new partner to walk down the aisle to.
His brain didn't care who came down the aisle because all he saw was Ren. He saw the raven's dazzling smile. He saw his unkempt hair that could only flatter him. He heard his rich baritone voice that loved to make whisper sweet nothings into his ear. He felt his hands take his and hold them precariously.
Goro regretted many things but the one thing he truly regretted was not telling Ren he loved him one final time.
"Open your eyes," came his voice.
"You're not real," he whispered.
"Love, please open your eyes we need to continue with the ceremony," the voice said and immediately like Goro had been doused with water his eyes shot open to see a pair of grey eyes right in front of him.
"Ren…" he said, his mouth falling open.
Ren smiled and brushed his fingers along Goro’s cheek. "It's me. I'm going to be your husband but only if we can make it through this ceremony."
Goro nodded and listened as the priest went through their vows. He didn't dare take his eyes off of the beautiful and bastardly man in front of him.
"To unify their marriage, the couple will now exchange rings," said the priest.
Goro produced the ring for Ren, a simple white gold band with ruby embedded into the metal. He slipped it onto his finger with his promise for their marriage.
Ren produced a black ring with a diamond and slipped onto Goro’s finger with his own promise for their marriage.
After some more sentiments from the priest they kissed and Goro felt weightless afterwards well into the reception.
The sun had set long along and the other party goers were enjoying food and wine as the new couple danced away by themselves.
Goro rested his head on Ren's shoulder as they swayed. "I can't believe you didn't tell me."
Ren chuckled, the sound pleasant to Goro’s ears. "I tried to but you didn't give me a chance."
"I was furious. You arranged my marriage," he huffed with no real resentment behind his words.
"Your marriage to me," he laughed, kissing the top of his head.
"My point still stands," he said, squeezing his lover – no, his husband.
"It doesn't matter anymore. We're together and nothing is going to drive us apart again," he said much like his vows.
Goro leaned back to kiss him as a way to seal their commitment and as a way to begin their new journey with one another.