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It was a normal, uneventful day for Yuder. Waking up at his designated time, eating breakfast, training with the cavalry members and then doing his work as the cavalry assistant.
Other than the fact that Kishiar was staring at him with excessive spark in his eyes, today was rather normal.
Yes, normal.
“Yuder.”
“Yes, commander.”
“Yuder Aile.”
“...yes?”
“My lovely assistant.”
“....commander?”
A deep sigh left Kishiar's lips as he slumped back on his chair. It was likely the fifth time within this hour that Kishiar had called out to Yuder and sighed. While Yuder did not understand what was going on inside of his head, he felt that it was something that concerned him.
Placing the stack of letters on his desk, Yuder walked towards Kishiar who was watching all of his moves like a predator waiting to pounce at the prey. Although Yuder moved towards him without his permission, Kishiar very obviously welcomed this action by putting a small smile on his face.
“Is something the matter?”
Finally, going around the table, he stopped exactly three steps away from the chair. Kishiar's smile deepened as he shook his head.
“None, you can just continue your work. Pay no mind to me.”
“Commander knows that’s not possible.”
“It's nothing that my precious assistant needs to be concerned about.”
Normally, Yuder would have stopped probing by now but for some reason, today, he found himself pushing a little more.
“If it's something that concerns you, it's only natural for me to worry. So please tell me, Akit.”
Kishiar seems to have been caught off guard by the sudden mention of his nickname despite Yuder using it more often recently. It was an impulsive decision to call him by that name. To be honest, Yuder did not expect it to yield much effect. However-
“..hahh..sometimes, I feel like you are doing this on purpose yet…fine i'll tell you so come closer.”
It surprisingly worked.
Yuder advanced two steps and stopped exactly one step away from Kishiar. Not even an arm away.
“Recently I have realised that the Assistant has been calling me by my nickname often.”
“...”
“Of course, I'm not complaining, I will prefer it if you do it even more often. But I feel like I too should refer to you by a more familiar title.”
A more familiar title. Not understanding what he meant, Yuder tilted his head backwards.
“Commander already calls me by my name.”
“Names are names. Gakane Bolunwald and Deputy commander Kanna Wand also call you by your name. Does it mean that my assistant considers us to be on the same level?”
“That…no of course not.”
It felt strange to put Gakane and Kanna, who were his friends and Kishiar, who he had shared his body and heart with, on the same level. But Yuder still didn't understand what else Kishiar wanted to call him. As if privy to Yuder's thoughts, Kishiar let out a small laughter as he pulled Yuder towards him.
The assistant, who was pulled into Kishiar’s lap, naturally positioned himself comfortably. The bare hand gently stroked Yuder's back.
They were in a place that anyone could visit. One twist of the door knob and The person on the other side will be greeted with the well respected Cavalry assistant, Yuder Aile sitting on his commander's lap as if it was second nature. But neither of them were concerned about it.
‘Besides…if a cavalry member opens the door to the commander's office without knocking…'
Yuder’s face darkened as he thought about one of the members committing such disrespect. Although it was only a ‘what if’, Yuder thought it would be good to have all of them retake etiquette class once more.
As Yuder contemplated on making the members' life a little more difficult, Kishiar, who was not too pleased with losing Yuder’s attention, pressed his fingers on Yuder’s spine with a little force, strong enough to send a shiver up his spine.
“Then, shall we decide on something else?”
“If you wish so.” A sigh ladled with defeat escaped Yuder’s lips.
“Ah, what do I do if my cute and lovely assistant seems so uninterested in my suggestion?”
The ruby-like eyes seemed to be glowing as it stared at him. The blond hair looked like gold under the sun’s glow. Yuder always found it hard to believe that a man as ethereal as Kishiar La Orr found him to be ‘cute’ and ‘lovely’. Most people thought the opposite of yuder. However, there has never been any trace of dishonesty when Kishiar praised his physical appearance.
The hand stroking his back encircled his waist before grabbing it.
“Does my assistant have a nickname that he would like to be called?”
A nickname; Yuder hadn't had one in many years. After his grandfather’s death, no one even called him by his name for a long time. And the only nickname he received in his childhood was not something Kishiar would call him lovingly. In the end, the only answer that he could give Kishiar was a head shake.
“There is none.”
“I see.”
Although Yuder was not privy to the exact thoughts inside Kishiar’s head, something told him that the man was rather pleased with his response. For the next few minutes, Kishiar seemed absorbed in his thoughts as neither of them spoke. The office, where only two of them were present, was filled with a tranquilent and comfortable silence. Basking in Kishiar’s body heat, Yuder subconsciously lowered his guard against the outside world. It was very unprofessional and unlike him to not constantly be on guard for Kishiar’s safety yet in his presence, Yuder constantly found himself at ease.
‘Before..it would be very unimaginable..’
Sure, Yuder had sat on Kishiar's lap in the previous game on multiple occasions. But back then, it always felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles. And instead of ease, he only felt agony.
Yuder always felt that going back in time was an opportunity to right the wrongs. However at mundane times like this, when the drastic change in his relationship with Kishiar made itself crystal clear, he felt more appreciative towards the fact that in this game, he could receive another chance with Kishiar.
“Before that, are you fine with anything?”
“Yes.”
“Are you not worried that I will take advantage of my assistant's kindness and give you an outrageous nickname?”
“Is it possible?”
Yuder, who had seen every inch of Kishiar, body and soul, knew there won't be such a moment.
The other hand slowly intertwined with Yuder’s. Kishiar closed his eyes before re-opening them. Suddenly, Yuder was taken aback by the sudden surge of emotions in his stomach. Happiness, contentment. The feeling that didn’t originate in his body, left him speechless. But what surprised him the most was the source of such emotions.
“Commander?”
“What if I call you outrageous names in front of others? Would you still not care?”
Others. It was surprising to hear this word from the mouth of a man who purposely spread rumours about their tryst to the entire empire. Yuder did not care about how others perceived his relationship with Kishiar. Unlike in the previous game, when Yuder still had the thought process of a young twenty year old, where their entire relationship was built on an unstable foundation, this time, Yuder did not want to let go of Kishiar.
Even though it might mean to be against the entire continent.
“Doesn't matter.”
Kishiar's eyes softened at Yuder's firm answer. He grasped Yuder's palm tightly and brought it up to his lips. Then from the lips, Kishiar brought Yuder's hand to his chest, right above the heart. Kishiar took a deep breath as he mumbled something to himself in a barely audible voice.
“...yes…if it's you…”
The beating of the heart only intensified. Like a drum in a musical festival. Two hearts pounded at once— or maybe just one did. Neither of them could truly realise. In those red eyes, Yuder saw not a fire burning ablaze. Instead, he saw a burning fireplace, flames burning so gently, so tenderly. The fire was not rampant with desire but calm like a still ocean. And within those eyes was his face, equally engulfed by such warmth and love.
‘Love..yes..that's it.'
“My love.”
First, as if checking the temperature of water, Kishiar scrutinised Yuder's expression. Then, like a mantra, Kishiar repeated those words like a desperate believer. The man who was supposedly the descendant of a god, now stared at him as if he were a deity crafted to be idolised.
Because maybe he was, to Kishiar at the very least.
“My love,..my dearest.”
The small arc on his lips widened into a grin as he snuggled his face in the crook of Yuder's neck. The assistant, too, moved his free hand towards the blond locks, combining through them with an unfamiliar pattern.
As he had thought, Kishiar is incapable of giving him a loathsome nickname. The feeling that Yuder got from hearing Kishiar repeat those words was not something that could not be vocalised.
An unknown amount of time passes before Kishiar pulls away from Yuder, still reluctant to part as he flashed a wide grin at him.
“Well… There is no need to indulge me. So tell me if you don't like it.”
Although Kishiar had already scrutinised Yuder's face enough to know that he wasn't uncomfortable, He still dutifully asked for his lover's opinion. No matter what happens, Kishiar's first priority will always be Yuder's comfort.
Instead of replying, The black haired man decided to respond through actions. Tugging away his palm from Kishiar's hand, Yuder held Kishiar's face with both his palms, cupping it. And with all focus, he leaned in to kiss the same red lips that called him endearments just a few seconds ago.
The connection, started by Yuder, was quickly taken over by Kishiar. With his tongue that invaded Yuder's mouth, Kishiar probed all the corners of that mouth. The sweet taste from the herbal tea he had previously drank was prominent in the kiss.
At last, Kishiar quietly retreated from Yuder with a final suck.
“...I…”
“Duke.”
Kishiar stopped speaking as Nathan's voice was heard on the other side of the door along with a light knock. Throughout all this, he had completely forgotten about the adjutant who he had sent away for an errand. And Nathan couldn't have found the worst timing to come back.
“...Sir Nathan is back.”
“So he is.”
Despite agreeing with Yuder, the arm on his waist showed no sign of loosening, causing the younger man to raise his eyebrows.
“..commander.”
“This isn't the first time Nathan has interrupted us. I'm starting to think he is purposely doing this.”
While Yuder found Kishiar's words to be rather nonsensical, he couldn't deny it entirely.
To be honest, at one point, Yuder suspected that Nathan Zuckerman did in fact interrupt them on purpose but that didn't make sense, causing Yuder to deduce that it was probably Nathan's sixth sense that caused him to interrupt them.
“Please let go.”
Kishiar sighed playfully before very reluctantly and slowly removed his arm from Yuder's waist. Yuder swiftly slid off Kishiar's and fixed his crumbled uniform. He spared a last glance at Kishiar's bright face before quietly making his way back to his own seat.
“Come in.”
Nathan Zuckerman, who strode inside the office, uncharacteristically stopped in his tracks after seeing Kishiar's unusually glowing face before quickly glancing towards Yuder. Although the gaze lasted for only three seconds, Yuder was certain Nathan had scrutinised his entire figure for anything out of the ordinary.
Well, it's not like he would find anything anyways.
–fins