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“Welcome back, Sir Akito.”
He’s greeted by an onslaught of servants and knights alike as he walks down the vast hallways, most of them questioning about his most recent expedition. It is expected. Head of the Royal Knights and His Highness’ loyal guard, Sir Akito, had finally returned from a 2-month long visit to various towns and villages in the country, providing aid to those suffering from the aftereffects of the Great War. It’s not uncanny for the residents of the castle to question everything about his travels, wanting to know more about his experiences outside the castle. But frankly, it is getting slightly overwhelming for a worn out Akito.
He was already pushed to his limits by his fellow knights, Tsukasa and Mizuki, during their travels. Day by day, he had to deal with the constant badgering of both knights, one being overly boisterous while the other never failing to tease him about the smallest things. If that wasn’t tiring enough, the two would frequently get distracted by shops and restaurants in the area and he would have to babysit them. That’s right. Akito was practically a nanny for two months.
He won’t lie though. The expedition was way more fun and interesting with them around. But back to the part where Akito feels like he’s experiencing a splitting headache barely a minute after his return.
The voices around him start to blend and ring a little too loud in his head, the questions are beginning to feel like white noise instead of discernible sounds for him to comprehend, his body is now no different from lead, threatening to pull him down onto the closest surface to collapse on. He’s really exhausted.
But still, Akito keeps an outgoing front, trying his best to answer the questions being fired at him with no end in sight. He asks about their lives while he was away in return, jokingly flirting with a few servants here and there, and keeping his friendly image up when all he wants to do is crash into his bed and fall asleep as soon as possible.
He hopes this impromptu gala will end soon.
“Ah! It’s Your Highness!” Akito hears the incoming footsteps in their direction and the panicked reactions of everyone around him.
He’s here. Akito thinks with a hint of a smile.
Turning around, his eyes meet a certain pair of grey eyes, the slight shimmer in the cloudy orbs reflecting the hidden excitement of the man standing before him. It’s his prince.
My one and only beautiful prince.
Everyone bows down to the prince as he arrives, with scattered greetings of “Your Highness” echoing in reverence. “At ease.” His Highness says softly, eyes only focused on Akito.
Akito gets down on one knee, gently takes His Highness’ delicate hand in his calloused grip, and presses his lips against the top of it. His Highness lets him. Akito sees a princely, formal smile appear on His Highness’ face, enjoying the moment of fond affirmation between them.
They stay in this position for a second longer, both relishing in the warmth and tenderness of the supposedly formal greeting.
“I have returned, Your Highness.”
“At ease, my knight.”
He gets up.
“Welcome back, Sir Akito.” It’s the same words used as everyone else, but the warmth and longing in them melts his heart and kisses all his exhaustion away. It feels like they’re the only two people in the hallway and no one else matters. The butterflies in his stomach won’t stop fluttering.
“I’ve heard great news of your travels. I hope you’re not injured anywhere?”
“It’s an honour, Your Highness. I’m doing well, a little tired, but well nonetheless. Have you been well, Your Highness? Hopefully you haven’t been reading too much at night while I’m away, hm?” Akito replies, albeit a little cheeky, head still giddy with joy from this small conversation.
“You know it’s a bad habit, I can't get rid of it that easily.” And with that, His Highness turns to the crowd of servants and knights, waving them off with a subtle smile. “You’re dismissed. Have a pleasant evening everyone.”
The crowd disperses, with a mix of farewells and affirmations to his prince, noise slowly drowning itself out of the hallways. The castle feels more comfortable now, with the return of fresh air and personal space. Akito feels less suffocated, finally being able to be alone with his prince.
“Let’s go back, Akito.”
Akito’s prince takes his hand. Akito lets him, and they return to their safe haven.
“Welcome home, Akito.”
They’re on Toya’s bed, with Akito sitting in Toya’s lap and letting Toya manhandle him. He feels Toya’s hands tilting his head up and closes his eyes in confusion. There’s a tender kiss being placed on his forehead, his cheeks, each of his barely visible freckles, and his ears that are slowly growing red. He feels Toya’s touch everywhere— but his lips. It’s… embarrassing. It feels weird being at the centre of Toya’s affection, when Toya was the one who should be at the centre of his . He’s the prince after all, and Akito is merely a lowly knight.
But Toya has never cared about status.
“Toya, I’ve just returned, I’m still— t-that tickles! I’m still dirty, s-so stop kissing me everywhere,” Akito barely manages to squeeze those words out of his mouth as Toya continues to leave soft kisses all over his face. In a desperate attempt to keep Toya’s mouth clean from dirt and grime, he covers his face with both of his hands, face still flushed red with shyness. Toya stares at him with those damned irresistible grey eyes, before taking Akito’s hands in his own.
Toya smiles at him with so much fondness and pure love. “It doesn’t matter. You’re beautiful, Akito.”
His heart soars at Toya’s words and his radiant smile.
Toya brings Akito’s hand to his lips, and he kisses his fingertips, his palm, his knuckles. It’s slightly ticklish, but Akito doesn’t fight back this time. He can’t. Not when Toya is treating him with so much love and adoration. Akito is usually the strong, reliable knight whom everyone can depend on; He is His Highness’ (overly) protective knight who’s always standing by the prince’s side. But here? When Toya is peppering kisses all over his face and hands? When Toya effortlessly whispers every praise and affection? When Toya smiles at him like he’s his world?
Akito throws his dignity out the door, and completely melts into his lover’s embrace.
“Toya.” He mumbles, head foggy from Toya’s onslaught of affection and body slowly sinking in Toya’s embrace. “Yes, Akito?” His lover responds.
“Uhm… Why haven’t you - uh - kissed me yet?” The outside world will never witness Akito being this spoiled. He swears on it.
“What do you mean? I’ve been placing kisses everywhere, have I not?” Akito can hear the grin in Toya’s words, knowing what he wants immediately.
“W-well yeah– But…” He trails off, cheeks heating up in embarrassment as Toya continues to smile at him. Toya idly pats Akito’s head, giving him time to compose himself and utters the words he so desperately wants to hear. “I– Do I really have to say it? It’s… embarrassing.” Akito whispers as Toya rests his head on Akito’s shoulder, enjoying the latter’s cute show of bashfulness.
“Use your words, love. Tell me what you want.” Toya’s voice reverberates in his ear, making him shiver from the close intimacy in their enclosed space. It’s embarrassing. So embarrassing. But it’s Toya. Toya wants Akito to say what he wants. And Akito…
Akito wants him so bad.
“Toya…Kiss me. On the lips. Please. ”
“Anything for you, my prince.”
Before Akito can protest, Toya takes his breath away. He closes his eyes, focusing on Toya’s slightly chapped lips resting on his own scarred, imperfect lips. They’re in an awkward position, Akito having to crane his neck towards Toya, who’s sitting behind him and Toya having to bring his head down to the shorter male. Akito will never trade this moment for the world.
Toya interlocks their hands, and the small surge of affection with it has Akito breathless. He opens his mouth in an attempt to catch his breath, but in that moment, Toya slips his tongue into Akito’s mouth, surprising him even more. He produces a small squeak of shock as he feels Toya’s tongue intertwine with his, not knowing what to do in this situation. Toya’s lips on his, Toya’s hand linked his own, Toya’s other arm wrapped around his body, Toya’s tongue exploring the insides of his mouth, Toya, Toya, Toya.
Everything feels so overwhelming.
Akito can only lose himself in the sensation. His mind goes blank as Toya continues to kiss him and embrace him in his arms. He doesn’t notice the trail of drool at the side of his mouth. He doesn’t care about the possibility of someone walking in. All he notices is Toya’s lips on his. All he cares about is this intimate, heated moment between them.
The kiss is – unfortunately – cut short as Toya pulls back, both boys gasping for air and panting hard. Akito looks at Toya, and he can’t help but stare. Toya is as out of breath as he is, grey pupils blown out and laced with tears. His two-toned hair is ruffled, slightly messy from the intense moment before. There are beads of perspiration dripping down his forehead; his lips are swollen, probably the same colour as Akito’s cheeks right now.
Toya looks so beautiful.
Toya wipes the drool off Akito’s face and places a chaste kiss on his lips, smiling as Akito gets flustered all over again. I keep losing my composure around him– He drives me crazy. Akito thinks. He watches as Toya shifts his position and plops in front of Akito, gently intertwining their hands and caressing the scars and burns on that of Akito’s.
“I love you, my prince.” Toya smiles at Akito.
“I– I’m not a prince.”
“You are in my eyes. My stubborn, easily flustered, adorable prince.” Akito’s eyes well up with tears, his heart bursting with all the love he has for the beautiful boy in front of him. Words can’t describe how much Akito loves Toya. There’re so many memories shared between the both of them, and every single one he will treasure, hoping to create even more memories to hold on to. He wants to create a future where Toya will smile brightly everyday, where they can live their lives in happiness. He knows he doesn’t deserve this pure, unadulterated love from Toya. He knows their relationship can never leave this room as long as Toya’s father is King. But he wants to try. Akito wants to give Toya all the love he deserves.
He hugs Toya tightly, refusing to let go. Toya does the same.
“I love you too, Toya. Let me stay by your side, always.”
“Okay, my prince. I’ll stay by your side too. Forever and always.”
Welcome home, Akito.
He’s home.