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The conversation Wriothesley had been dreading for weeks now had finally arrived.
He was surprised, in all honesty. It had been a good day. A good week, really. Never mind that it had nearly ended in catastrophe when the Prophecy had been fulfilled at last. He knew that many people were still dealing with the results of the flooding: trying to dry or rebuild their homes, looking for their belongings, pets, people that hadn't been so lucky when the rising waters had caught up with them.
It had still been a disaster, even if the worst of it had been averted. For Wriothesley it meant dealing with the inhabitants within the Fortress, reassuring them that he was reaching out to see if their families were alright, whether they needed help, promising to let visitors come down or to organize escorts for trips into the city for a brief reunion after everything had nearly ended fatally. Bringing down therapists to help people after the panic had ensued when the walls had started shaking and the pipes started groaning and everyone had been sure they would be the first ones to drown and die.
He still, surprisingly, had less work to do now, though, everything considered. The ship had been a success, but now he could finally let that project come to a rest. It had been taxing, time consuming. He hadn't shown it on the outside, but the constant lack of time or resources or the like had been draining mentally.
The only thing that had managed to brighten his days during the late stage of the construction had been the Fatui envoy that had come by every so often to check on the agents that had been deployed here to help once they had managed to come to an agreement.
He knew that Lyney hadn't been happy about being sent down here again at first. He’d always been quick to snap at him, or to complain, or to straight up leave again if Wriothesley had annoyed him a little too much that day.
It had been funny to find out why he was able to get under his skin that easily. Aside from the very obvious “ you kidnapped my siblings and used them to blackmail me. ” It had been a passing comment from Clorinde when she’d come to visit once and Wriothesley had told her about the young magician’s antics.
“Curious, really”, she’d mused. “I recall his sister mentioning that he was quite looking forward to meeting you before they got sentenced. I met her at the café once afterwards and she told me there when I asked how they were doing. You really messed up, considering how much he dislikes you now.”
It had gotten Wriothesley thinking about the siblings’ stay here. How he’d never run into Lyney until that fateful day, but he’d surely caught those soft, lavender eyes trained on him from afar more than once. He’d never paid attention to it. Lots of prisoners kept their eyes on him after all, for multiple reasons. But now he wondered whether for Lyney, there had been curiosity in his gaze. Or maybe genuine interest.
So, of course Wriothesley immediately asked him the first chance he got during their next meeting.
To his surprise, instead of yelling at him or calling him an asshole, Lyney had turned the most adorable shade of pink. And without any word being said from him that day, he’d turned on his heels and left his office again.
To say that Wriothesley had been shocked was an understatement. Lyney only showed his face again around two weeks later, and that whole time he’d been wrecking his brain on how to deal with him going forward. The younger man had clearly been embarrassed - Did he simply not want to admit to how much he’d wanted to meet him before everything had gone so wrong between them? Did he perhaps even have a crush on him? - and Wriothesley could be kind and let it go, or… Well. He wasn’t sure.
Perhaps his heart had already made that decision for him, because when Lyney came back again and tried to act like nothing had happened, it ached painfully. That day was the first time Wriothesley didn't purposely try to rile Lyney on. He talked normally to him, listened attentively, a soft smile ready on his lips just for the younger man to see. He asked him about how he’d been recently, whether his siblings were faring well, whether he got enough sleep because there were faint rings under his eyes, visible despite the makeup he wore. He could tell that Lyney had been perturbed by how nice he’d been when he’d left that day.
But then he came back a couple days later, tentatively smiling at him as well now, his gaze lingering on him when he thought Wriothesley wouldn't notice, their hands brushing in a too innocent touch when Wriothesley handed him his cup of tea like usual..
It had been so easy after that.
The banter and bickering between them had turned from spiteful to playful, exasperated cursing and storming out of his office to bright laughter and rosy cheeks and teasing right back. Lingering gazes and the occasional compliment or flirty remark had turned to Lyney staying longer for tea, to leaving late in the evening with a longing look on his face. Wriothesley hadn't wanted to trust this peace between them, that more could be possible, until Lyney rounded his desk one day and leaned down to him and connected their lips in a gentle kiss.
This small flame burning between them had been both hot and cold, sweet and intense at the same time. Wriothesley hadn't wanted to call it love, for loving would mean opening himself up to the possibility to be hurt. And yet Lyney had been so quick to utter those three words, a mere handful of weeks after their first kiss, their first date, the first time he’d stayed with him in the Fortress, next to him this time, their legs tangling in the sheets at night as each other’s names fell from their lips in soft gasps.
They’d stood in front of the window overseeing the construction of the Wingalet, and Lyney had only been able to spare a short glance for it before turning back towards him. He’d reached up, cupping his cheeks with a smile on his lips and had said, “I think I love you, Wrio.”
This thing between them had been perfect, and that's precisely why he couldn't make himself trust it.
Months had passed since they’d met and everything around them had changed for good. Perhaps they had changed, too. Wriothesley knew that he had, otherwise he wouldn't be caught off guard by what Lyney had said just now.
“What?”, he finally said after several seconds. He hated how his voice sounded slightly choked. “I said that Father isn't happy about me still coming here. She says I have no reason to, now that everything is over”, Lyney repeated calmly.
Wriothesley swallowed thickly. Lyney was sitting on his usual spot, smack in the middle of his desk so he never could actually work whenever he came to visit. He couldn't make himself look up at him. He tried hard to keep his hands from clenching into fists.
“I thought you… told her about us.”
“I did.”
Great. So this was it then, huh? That easily all this was over. Wriothesley hadn't even gotten to enjoy life after the prophecy with Lyney yet. This was the first time he’d come down to the Fortress again after all those events a week ago.
He clenched his jaw and looked aside, though his eyes were unseeing as his thoughts raced. Wriothesley had known that this would come, but perhaps he’d forgotten, had pushed it aside in favor of feeling wanted. Why else would his pathetic heart hurt this much?
“What’s wrong? I didn't think you’d care for Father’s approval like this”, Lyney said after a moment. It made him want to laugh, or cry. He wasn't sure. The casual cruelty didn't suit his lover. Or whatever they were now.
“Yeah, right”, he muttered after a moment. Almost immediately he felt gentle hands cup his face, warm even through the gloves. He pressed his lips together when Lyney made him face him at last. The worry he saw on his pretty face sent another pang through his chest.
“Wrio, talk to me”, Lyney said softly, his eyes roaming over his features. “I only told you so you know, should she ever bother you. I told her to get lost. I thought that was obvious.”
Any answer that might have been forming on his tongue froze over the moment he heard those last words from the younger man.
Wriothesley sat there, completely still and unmoving, his eyes fixed on lavender ones. As quiet as he was though, his thoughts were racing, and not in a good way.
He hadn't let himself trust Lyney or what they had precisely because he’d known his priorities from the very beginning. After all, hadn't all this between them started when he’d made that dreaded demand of him, to choose between his Father - the loyalty to The Family - and his beloved siblings? Lyney had chosen back then already – or rather, he had been unable to choose. But that indecisiveness had nearly cost him, hadn't it? In any case, knowing that his precious Father might be even more important to him than his actual family… It’s what had made Wriothesley weary.
And now Lyney supposedly chose him over the Knave?
He finally pulled back, out of the hold those gentle hands had on him. Wriothesley huffed a wry, self-deprecating laugh and shook his head. “No, you didn't.”
Lyney frowned and crossed his arms. “Well, I didn't use those exact words of course, but the sentiment was the same”, he mumbled sheepishly. Wriothesley huffed again and looked away once more. “Don't lie to me.”
Perhaps only now Lyney realized that something was truly wrong. Wriothesley didn't look up at him, but if he had, he would have seen him blanch, would have noticed the brief hurt in his eyes that this specific accusation caused before worry took over.
“Wriothesley, look at me.”
He did no such thing. Didn't listen, until Lyney took matters into his own hands again, hopped off of the table and into his lap instead, getting all up close and personal so Wriothesley couldn't possibly avoid his eyes any longer. Though he sure tried.
“I’m not lying. The last time I lied to you was when I said I didn't like it when you call me kitten and that was weeks ago”, he said, a small attempt at humor to lighten the mood. He hated that it worked. Wriothesley smiled despite the hurt he was feeling and finally glanced into those gentle eyes of his. Lyney cupped his cheeks again and pressed a tender kiss to his lips.
“Tell me what you’re thinking. Please. No matter how ugly”, he whispered once he pulled back. Wriothesley let out a shuddering breath, trying to find the right words. “I… I don't want to believe you. Because I didn't want to trust you. Or what we had. Have”, he finally started haltingly. “I thought that… if it came down to it, you would choose them. Your Father or the Fatui or your siblings. But not me. Never me.”
Wriothesley could see the hurt those words caused in Lyney’s eyes, on his expression. He could see how the younger man swallowed thickly, how he remained quiet at first to not give it away too much. But of course, he’d always been able to read him so easily.
“I thought you’d leave me”, Wriothesley added after a moment. “Perhaps not too soon, but… I thought that you would, sooner or later. And maybe if I anticipated it, it wouldn't destroy me as much. Because what we have is… everything I ever wanted for me.”
He felt himself tear up then and he was quick to try and look away, but Lyney was even quicker in gently wiping away the few tears that managed to fall. The feeling of icy wet tears on his cheeks was utterly foreign. The last time he’d cried had been years, decades ago. He thought he’d forgotten how to cry long ago.
“Oh Wrio”, Lyney mumbled after a moment and then tightly wrapped his arms around his neck. He sniffed softly and then hugged him back, his face burying against his neck. He faintly smelled of the Rainbow Roses he loved so much. The familiar scent managed to calm him down a little. “How could you possibly think that when just about everyone we know is getting fed up with me for how much I talk about you, my perfect, kind, handsome boyfriend, all the time?”
Wriothesley let out a choked laugh, and perhaps another few tears managed to fall at those words.
“But… the Knave. Didn't she say something?”, he asked after a moment, his voice once again sounding slightly choked. “Of course she did, but it’s not like I cared”, Lyney huffed. “I told her that she was being unreasonable. She couldn't expect this of me, when I’m so sure that… that you’re the one for me. She let it go after that, even if she wasn't happy.”
Wriothesley felt long hidden and suppressed feelings bubble up in his chest and it was like he was choking on it. He could hardly get his next words out, but he needed to know. He needed to hear it come from Lyney’s lips. “So you… won't leave me?”
Lyney leaned back slightly so he could look him into his eyes. His hands held onto his neck and gently rubbed upward, cupping his face, so gently rubbing over his stubbly skin. “No, Wriothesley. I won't leave you. Not as long as you want me, and not as long as I have a say in it. And if I have to leave for missions, I will always come back to you. You know I love you.”
Wriothesley desperately tried to hold back his tears at that, but he failed miserably. His chest was overflowing with feelings and he hid his face against Lyney’s neck again as he let it all out and cried. It felt like the weight of the very ocean had been lifted off of his back from hearing those words alone.
Lyney just wrapped his arms around him again and held him throughout it all. He kept whispering “I’ll stay, Wrio” and “I’m yours” and so many things that so easily tore down all the walls he’d created around himself so long ago.
The last time he’d loved someone, the love he’d gotten in return had been all fake. The last time he’d thought someone wanted him, those very people had tried to sell him away. The last time he’d trusted someone, it had ended with their blood on his hands when they had betrayed that trust.
Wriothesley had spent years locking those memories away and trying to grow from the experience, to do better, to be better. All that to make himself forget that he was still healing, and he hadn't gotten much better in certain aspects. And here Lyney was, gently brushing over those remaining bruises on his very soul, soothing them after all those years. Gently saying all those things he hadn't realized he still needed to hear.
When he finally calmed down again, enough time had passed for their tea to grow cold. Lyney had never stopped holding him or stroking his hair or back or saying those sweet little words. Wriothesley finally managed to pull back and wiped over his wet eyes and cheeks, and he could only let out a small laugh when Lyney pulled out a tissue from out of nowhere and held it out to him.
When he finally looked somewhat presentable, somewhat calm again, they sat facing each other.
Wriothesley felt content, for the first time in… He wasn't sure. He thought he’d been content with the status quo in his life before, but that had been before he’d met Lyney. Before he’d realized the younger man had a crush on him. Before he’d realized that he returned those feelings, even if he shouldn't, even if it had scared him.
“I think I love you too”, Wriothesley said quietly at last. Lyney’s eyes widened when he heard those words from him for the first time, after weeks and weeks, and his lips spread into a wide smile a moment later. He leaned forward, pressing their lips together in a loving kiss. It made his heart race, made his usually cool hands grow warm when he cupped Lyney’s cheeks and gently held him in place as he deepened the kiss.
This wasn't the first time they kissed, but it might as well have been. Somehow, this felt different now. The way Lyney pressed up closely against him, the way he sighed against his lips before cheekily prodding his tongue against Wriothesley's lips to explore his mouth… It made him feel hot all over.
It actually made him feel hot all over.
Wriothesley pulled away with a snort and looked over Lyney’s flushed face. “You okay?”, he asked, a grin spreading on his lips. “Sorry, I just… I feel very happy”, Lyney said sheepishly and fanned over his heated face with his hands. It was about the most adorable thing he’s ever seen. Had someone told him just weeks ago that Lyney out of all people might lose control over his vision in a random outburst of happiness when Wriothesley told him he loved him, he might have laughed at it.
“I feel happy too”, he said quietly after a moment and pressed a lingering kiss to Lyney’s cheek. “I’m glad to have you. I’m sorry for not daring to… trust you, or this relationship sooner. I really am.”
Wriothesley had reached out to gently pull off Lyney’s gloves as he spoke, and then his sleeves, in an effort to cool him down a little again. Feverish, yet gentle hands moved to his chin and gently tipped his head up again.
“We’re two sides of the same coin. Isn't that what you told me so long ago?”, Lyney said softly.
He had. During their very first official meeting, when Lyney had tried to act as if nothing had gone wrong between them previously, and Wriothesley had destroyed the act with one pointed “Those masks are no use on me, kid. I’ve already seen the worst of you.” When Lyney had blustered after that, grown red faced, spewing insults and accusations and calling him the biggest asshole for demanding that it be him specifically to come down to Meropide again, it had been that very sentence that had remarkably managed to calm him down once more.
“Don't act like that now or I’ll seriously question the Knave’s decision to make you her successor.”
Lyney didn't look surprised that he knew, but he still looked pissed off. Just short of fuming really. Given his size, it made him look like an angry kitten. “And you’re oh so all knowing, aren't you? Don't act like you have any idea of how I actually feel.”
Wriothesley smirked knowingly at him. “Oh, Mr. Lyney. We’re two sides of the same coin. I understand you a lot better than you might think.”
Wriothesley shouldn't be surprised that the younger man had remembered. That he might have turned that sentence over in his head, over and over again during the past weeks, dissecting all its possible meanings. Realizing that Wriothesley came with a multitude of masks of his own, he’d just grown better at hiding the seams. Detaching himself from everyone enough that no one could figure out his triggers.
He said nothing for a long moment, just tightly wrapped his arms around Lyney’s waist again. He was at a loss for words, really.
“I… When I first laid eyes on you, it was as if I was looking at a mirror and saw my younger self”, Wriothesley said quietly, a near whisper. “Perhaps that’s why I treated you the way I had at first. You’re so similar to me… I don't know why I’m surprised now that you understand.”
Lyney smiled wryly at him before wrapping his arms around his neck. “You were such an asshole at times, but I still liked you despite that, deep down. Very deep down. So who’s the bigger loser here, really?”
Wriothesley burst into surprised laughter. He couldn't help it. “What, you never actually stopped liking me? You were very convincing in your hatred, you know?”, he said between chuckles. Lyney’s cheeks turned a little red again and he huffed, but he seemed to genuinely think about it for a moment. “I think I hated the fact more that I felt betrayed because of my silly crush on you than I hated you.”
He had to fight hard to reign in his grin at that, but it was hard. Lyney saw it and just rolled his eyes at him.
He made himself small a moment later and tucked himself against Wriothesley's bigger body, arms wrapped around him, head tucked under his chin. Their usual cuddling position when Lyney wanted physical touch but Wriothesley was still busy working. Now he just let his hands rub over his back, his face buried against soft, blond locks.
Several minutes passed in content silence. He loved this about their relationship. That just being together like this was enough to soothe his mind. He let his thoughts wander, allowed himself to think about how he’d freaked out so very quickly at the possibility of Lyney leaving him. He did his best to let it go, though he knew that those feelings might still linger for a while yet. Perhaps he could move on, knowing now that Lyney would stay.
“You love me”, Wriothesley finally mumbled into Lyney’s hair. Not a question, and yet he felt Lyney nod slightly.
“I do. And you love me.”
Wriothesley smiled. “I do. A lot.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of Lyney’s head, closed his eyes as he took in his comforting scent.
“You’re mine.”
He could hear the smile creeping into Lyney’s voice now as he answered. “You’re mine, and I’m yours. And you won't be rid of me anytime soon, Wrio.”
Wriothesley laughed softly and pulled him closer. “Good.”
Archons, his heart was so full with love, and hope, and holding Lyney like this… It made him want to weep again. It made him want to run out of his office and declare for the entirety of the Fortress to hear that Lyney was his, and would be his for a while yet.
That urge got so strong, until Wriothesley finally pulled back slightly and gently pushed against Lyney’s shoulders. The younger man straightened with a slightly grumpy sound slipping out, but he still looked up at him curiously when their eyes met.
Wriothesley only briefly hesitated before pressing a short, sweet peck to his lips. Lyney immediately deepened the kiss with one hand at the back of his neck before he could pull away, and Wriothesley couldn't help but smile into the kiss because of it. So he did what he wanted to so suddenly without looking, gently took Lyney’s other hand while still kissing him, and slipped one of his rings onto his thumb.
Lyney pulled back with wide eyes at what he’d done so quickly, looked up at him, and then down at his hand. At the ring that now adorned his thumb, when it had been on Wriothesley's pinky just a moment ago. Under different circumstances he might have laughed about their size difference once again, but instead he was filled with nervous anticipation as he waited for Lyney’s reaction.
The young magician carefully traced over the ring once, twice, before he looked up at him once more. Lyney saw the muted question in Wriothesley's eyes, and he could watch in real time how confusion turned to understanding, turned to overflowing happiness.
“Yes, Wriothesley.” Another gentle kiss, hot lips meeting cold, their hearts thundering in their chest as they held each other tightly. A promise just between the two of them.
“Yes, I will.”