Work Text:
Beneath the clear skies of a fateful night, Scarab had found himself in the midst of the frigid lands of the Winter Kingdom, silence filling the bitter atmosphere apart from the occasional whispers of the blanketed wind fluttering by.
Taking in his surroundings, the auditor scorned at the sight - he couldn't fathom how exactly he had found himself in the middle of a bitter universe at such an ungodly time. He was accustomed to dealing with anomalies, but this situation seemed peculiar even by his own standards.
With an escaped sigh of disbelief, Scarab took a glance upwards - The skies were bewitching, revealing a dazzling array of stars that adorned the cosmos in all their glory where they sparked in a glimmering promenade together along the moonlight. The insect’s mandibles shivered at the sight, his eyes sparkling a twinkle in them. And yet, despite the stunning display overhead, he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that he shouldn’t find himself distracted from the luminous sight.
As the snow underneath continued to crumple through his march, the cosmic entity grew more wary of his surroundings. However, Scarab began to slightly grow more tense as he felt a sudden sense of urgency. It was almost as if something was watching him… or perhaps, even someone. With tensions beginning to rise, his grip on his cane grew firm. Swiftly, he picked up on the sound of footsteps trailing behind him and swung it right at the source responsible for it-
"Ah! Careful where you swing that, darling!"
Scarab felt his eyes widen, almost dumbfounded at what his gaze gawked upon - In front of him stood a tall, lanky, pale blue man donned with a royal figure, whose entrancing demeanor brought a peculiar sense of warmth to even the kingdom’s chilliest aura. Ah, this must have been The Winter King, the ruler of this very kingdom.
“I wouldn’t want you to bring any harm to my kingdom now!” Winter King enthusiastically admitted, although Scarab continued to keep his guard up as his cane pointed towards the ruler’s chest. “Now, now… let’s drop the weapons - you haven’t even introduced yourself to The Winter King!" The king proclaimed, a sly grin beginning to form on his face. A huff escaped out of Scarab, keeping his cane still pointed towards the monarch out of caution. “Tell me - what is your name, dear lovebug?” He asked, the nickname rolling out with grace.
Not expecting such a straightforward response, the beetle continued to keep a sense of caution. “Scarab.” He answered at last, “Don’t try anything funny.” He warned beneath his breath, his gaze dropping deep into the king's. Nevertheless, his warning earned nothing but a laugh out of the latter.
"My my! The king is not that kind of person, my dear!" Winter King teasingly stated, before raising his glasses down with the help of a finger. "And what is a fine critter like yourself doing on this evening all on your own?"
"That is..." Scarab scowled, his words trailing off into the distance, "...none of your concern." he added, his tone almost venomous. Nevertheless, that earned a laugh out of the royal figure who placed a hand on the auditor's shoulder.
"Ha! Such a feisty little bug!" The king chuckled, his charm warming up the breezing atmosphere between them. "I'm quite fond of that!" That last statement made the auditor grumble underneath his breath which caught the attention of the ruler of the kingdom.
“You seem quite tense,” Winter King began, his tone growing soft. “Come now - Why don't we both help clear our minds on this beautiful night? It is as young as we are after all.” He inquired, his voice faintly dropping in a hushed whisper as he leaned a bit closer to the beetle who tensed up in return.
Scarab huffed in return, crossing his arms at the idea of stargazing at this current state. “I do not have time for such simple-minded activities with such an anomaly like yourself.”
Hearing his bold statement only caused the king’s eyes to roll amusingly, a smirk forming on his face. “Oh, pish posh! We’ve got all the time in the world!” Winter King insisted, now taking a hold of the auditor’s hand which caught him off guard. “Let us admire them together!” Despite the beetle’s protest, the ruler brought them hand-in-hand together towards a tall hill coated in snow. Winter King invited Scarab to take a seat right next to him, sitting peacefully on the night-kissed grass.
The auditor sighed, and reluctantly dropped his guard. While he took a seat next to the king, his eyes darted upwards once more - The view was phenomenal, where along with the display of the ice palace, the sky gleaming with stars was even more evident. Perhaps a bewitching distraction was all he needed after all.
“I am frankly quite glad to be able to watch the stars, especially with someone tonight.” Winter King sighed, his gaze glued to the night sky. “My duties as a king barely allowed time for myself to enjoy the night’s beauty, and by the heavens, I’m thankful I was able to buy some time.”
Scarab took note of the ruler’s words - he held a similar sentiment as well. His duties as a cosmic auditor never fulfilled the time for him to admire the cosmic atmosphere around him, let alone the stars. He scooted closer towards the ruler, who widened his grin in return.
As they continued to watch the looming starry sky, the serene atmosphere filled the breeze. Scarab felt a peculiar sense of warmth as they huddled out of pure instinct. The regal aura and the warmth beneath the frosty exterior intrigued him in ways he couldn't quite understand which sent shivers down his spine.
"The sight is quite the beauty, isn't it?" Winter King asked, his voice hushed into a whisper. Unbeknownst to him, the cosmic entity had all eyes on him, a warm blush beginning to spread on his face.
"...It certainly is." Scarab breathed out, attempting to dart his gaze to no avail.
As Scarab stole glances at the Winter King, he couldn't help but feel an unexpected warmth creeping into his tiny bug heart. The regal figure beside him seemed more captivating than the stars themselves. The way his eyes sparkled with each mention of a constellation, or the regal poise that made the bitter cold more bearable as well.
Unbeknownst to him, Winter King also found himself drawn to the meticulous bug, intrigued by his tough exterior and diligence.
Eventually, with the night wearing on, fatigue caught up with the Winter King as he leaned against Scarab's shoulder, succumbing to a peaceful slumber. Scarab, now caught in a mix of emotions, couldn't believe the surrealness of the situation. Here he was, in this very moment, where the fine ruler of The Winter Kingdom was slumbering on his shoulder, creating a moment that transcended the cosmic responsibilities and boundaries that defined their worlds.
Scarab exhaled once more, blanketing the resting monarch into a huddle full of warmth as he torn between his responsibilities and the unexpected warmth that had blossomed in their hearts. The stars silently continued their celestial dance overhead, seemingly approving of this unlikely connection.
————
"So..." Prismo began, "I've heard that you and Winter King have been acting pretty close." He added, a light snicker escaping while his fingers continued typing out on his laptop. "Seriously - It's almost like you got a thing for him or something, dude."
Scarab couldn't help but feel his eyes widen, his mandibles twitching in unison. "Our relation is none - none that concerns you at least." He scoffed, crossing his arms in disbelief.
Taking notice of the beetle’s bashfulness, the rose-tinted wishmaster could only chuckle once more. "Heh, sounds like denial to me!" That statement made the cosmic auditor mutter in frustration while the latter could only laugh it out.
Once the mood began to soften up, Scarab continued to cross his arms but a blush began to spread more evidently on his face. “...Don’t bring this up to anyone else.” He cautioned in a sigh. “It’s almost too embarrassing to even think about.”
Earning another snicker out of him, Prismo looked up from his laptop with a teasing grin. “You don’t have to worry dude,” he replied, his tone comforting yet playful, “Your secret is safe with me.”