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Craig perked up from his book due to the loud noise of scissors snapping. Setting his book down, he stood up from the chair he sat on and made his way towards the balcony, which was where the noise was coming from.
He already had a soft smile on his face when he saw who it was. It wasn’t strange for the gardener to come by and tend to the flowers surrounding his fence. In fact, Craig had grown quite attached to his gardener, he’d feel as if his day was incomplete if he went by without talking with him or seeing him at least once.
Most people would find that weird, but Craig couldn’t care less. He wasn’t like most people; he was a prince.
“Hello, your majesty.” The blond horticulturist sang, putting his scissors in his open bag and cupping his face as his elbows rested on the tinted metal. Craig smiled, sitting on the cheap white plastic chair he’d ask his mother to get for him, despite him being able to afford a much comfortable chair, that sat on the balcony floor. “Hello, Mr. Tweak.” He greeted.
“Oh, stop it with that formality, you can just call me Tweek.” Tweek waved his hand around bashfully. “I will, when you start calling me Craig.” Craig retorted, crossing his right leg over his left. “That’s not fair, ngh—you know it’s different. You’re the prince.” Tweek frowned, digging back into his handbag to bring out a smaller plastic sack.
“And the prince, demands that you call him by his name.” Craig snickers, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward, his hands gripping onto the bottom of the seat. Tweek stayed silent for a moment, pouring a pile of greyish particles onto his hand and spreading it on the dirt of the flowerpots that stayed close to the fence. “Guh—Maybe one day, prince Tucker.” He smiled shyly.
Craig was disappointed that he couldn’t hear Tweek call his name, but he wouldn’t push it. It was a big favor of him to ask, considering their class levels and Tweek wasn’t sure if he could handle calling someone so above him a name that was so casual and meant they were acquaintances of some kind. Tweek was aware that him and Craig had developed a bond overtime; he’s just terrified of what that bond could turn into.
Terrified of how that bond made him feel.
“Will you be attending my coronation next month?” Craig asked, he began to sweat at the question and suddenly his collar felt too tight around his throat. Tweek laughed, taking Craigs question as a joke but then realizing it wasn’t after seeing how Craigs expression remained unchanged. “O-Oh, Uh… My prince… Mgh—It is mandatory.” Tweek smiled.
Craig nodded, “I am aware. However, not everyone is allowed inside of the castle during the coronation, you’d only see me after the crown has been bestowed upon me.” he explained but Tweek was unsure what Craig was getting at. “Yeah…?” Tweek raised an eyebrow. “And…” Craig paused, taking a deep breath. “I want you to be there to see it.” he finished; his gaze now fully locked onto the flowers that blossomed on the veins of his balcony.
Tweeks eyes went wide at Craigs words, and his heart nearly pounded outside of his chest. “Gah!! What!?” He exclaimed, the bag of fertilizer slipping away from his hands and way onto the floor. He lost his balance, and the tall ladder went falling back with his feet until Craig grabbed onto his arms and pulled him forward, keeping a strong grip on Tweeks arms as the blond tried to regain his balance.
“Careful!” Craig scolded, he’d almost scared Craig half to death for not being more careful. “Sorry! You caught me off guard!” Tweeks face reddened in embarrassment but also because he became hyperaware of how close his face was to Craigs. “Is that a yes?” the latter asked, using all his willpower to keep eye contact with Tweek to show him how much this meant to him.
Tweek opened his mouth, but no sound came out, as if his thoughts were too fast for him to even process. “I-I! I don’t know! I’m—just a gardener... at the end of the day I go home and work at my family’s grain shop.” Tweek said, rubbing the fabric of Craigs sleeve in his fingertips. “I’m—mgh—not significant.” He shrugged, a defeated look on his face that made Craigs heart shatter.
“You’re very significant; to me you are! Which is why I’d love it if you could accept or at least consider this invitation.” Craig let go of Tweek carefully, being sure he had his balance before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Tweek, who hesitated to take it but opened it once it was at his hold.
In golden letters, it had engraved his own name along with Craigs signature at the bottom of it. “Oh, sweet Jesus.” Tweek whispered to no one in particular. After staring at the invitation for a minute he looked up at Craig who was looking rather nervous and Tweek didn’t have the heart to decline. “I’ll think about it.” he decided, he needed more time, being put to make a straight decision on the spot was way too much pressure.
Craigs face lit up at that, not exaggeratedly but noticeably. “Thank you.” He said, the warmth in his smile transferring to Tweeks already rose freckled cheeks. “Of course, prince.” he replied, his tone quiet and his eyes locked onto Craigs.
He wondered how he never noticed how beautiful Craigs eyes were.
He wondered why Craigs eyes slowly fluttered closed, not noticing that his were too.
He wondered what the mesmerizing feeling that was pressing against his lips were.
Tweeks eyes shot wide open, and he pushed Craig back, but not hard enough for it to hurt. Craig also had as much of a shocked expression as Tweek did.
“My apologies—” Craig started but Tweek interrupted him, “No! I’m sorry! I should’ve never—! I’m sorry!” Tweek bowed his head down, slipping his arms away from Craigs grasp and then climbed down the ladder. He’d have to thank Craig for holding it steady for him, if he ever had the guts to face him again, that is.
Craig watched with a frown as Tweek jumped off the last step and ran off, completely forgetting about taking the wooden ladder with him. The noirette sighed, putting his chin on his palm, and watching Tweek until he turned a corner and Craig could no longer see him.
His frown turned into a loving smile as the tip of his fingers grazed against his lips, remembering the moment they shared.
No matter how impatient Craig was, he’d wait for Tweek, sitting on his balcony filled with begonias and hydrangeas.