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Minho wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, the world is spinning a little and suddenly his clothes are too tight, his sheets are too hot and his throat is too dry. He blindly searches for the night lamp on his bedside table to turn it on but instead, his fingers end up touching soft skin. There's a snore and then, a voice calling his name.
Well, almost his name.
“Your Majesty?” The voice asks, Minho could recognize that voice anywhere even through the haze of what seems to be a fever. “Are you feeling unwell again? Should I bring the doctor to your room?”
Minho sighs, his heart feeling tight on his chest at the thought of Changbin spending the whole night keeping guard just to make sure Minho is okay while he's asleep. The royal guard is not supposed to sleep kneeled on the floor by the prince's bed.
Minho tries to sound snarky, he really does but it's difficult to do that when you have a congested nose. “Changbin-ah, I thought I told you that you could address me by my name when we were alone. We are alone now, aren't we?”
The royal guard is supposed to keep five feet of distance from the prince at all times, even when it is his duty to take care of Minho's life.
Changbin reaches for Minho's hand, touching his wrist briefly before standing up and stretching in front of him. A royal guard isn't supposed to touch the prince, not now or ever but Changbin and him are more than a royal guard and a prince waiting for his coronation.
“Hyung,” Changbin calls easily, Minho can hear the smile on his words. Through his feverish state, Minho wants nothing more than to hold onto him and ask him to smile again, only for Minho. Always for Minho. “I think your fever is back.”
Minho rolls his eyes, of course Changbin only touches him to take his temperature. “I’m sure you're exhilarated to get rid of me, Changbin-ah.”
Changbin has the ability to make any man back up in fear with only one look but it has never worked on Minho, maybe that's why against all the rules they ended up the way they did.
“If I wanted to endanger the crown prince, I'd have tried to do so already, Your Majesty.”
The threat doesn't really move Minho, there is nothing but fondness towards Changbin, he palms the side of his bed that's empty between the sea of pillows that surround him, making Changbin’s mouth twitch in a half smile before it’s gone in a matter of seconds.
“Since you’re not planning to endanger me then you should lay down with me, Changbin-ah.”
Changbin, always the one to follow orders without blinking, always correct and conflicted, stays put in place. While Minho is tucked in bed, he looks taller and almost intimidating in the barely lit room, statuesque and distant. The way he always looks when Minho asks him to cross the royal boundaries for him.
“Your Majesty, I don’t think that’s a good idea—”
“It’s ‘hyung’, Changbin-ah.” Minho says, he tries to keep his voice neutral but he can’t ignore the way he sounds a little sad even to his own ears. He will excuse it on his runny nose for now. “I feel cold and hot all over and all I want to do is to lie down with my boyfriend, is that too much to ask for?”
Changbin’s sigh echoes through the whole place but Minho remains quiet, he will not force Changbin to spend the night with him but he will not turn down his offer either. He knows he’s asking for a lot, he knows all the risks that would fall upon Changbin if the Queen or the King find them together in the same bed but right now, he doesn’t really care. What he does tonight would be a problem to solve for the Minho of tomorrow.
Minho hears the click of the door locking and it’s almost afraid to look up to find out the room alone, it’s not until he hears the thud of Changbin’s boots falling to the floor that he’s able to look at him again. Changbin leaves his jacket over one of the many chairs that decorate the space of Minho’s room along with his sword and garments before walking all the way to the bed and falling face down on it.
Minho can’t help the laugh that escapes him and becomes louder at the sight of Changbin’s flushed face and happy smile. His hair is a nest of dark curls that look even more luxurious than the fine bed sheets that cover Minho’s bed, his dimple looks way more comfortable than any of Minho’s pillows. He wants to shrink himself to be able to rest on Changbin’s hair, to be able to be kept in Changbin’s pocket so he can take him everywhere with him.
Minho doesn’t think he’s brave enough to tell him those thoughts out loud yet.
“Are you afraid of germs, guard? It took you a long time to comply with my order.”
Changbin huffs, by the light of the open window his figure seems to blur with the moonlight, his eyes two dark gems looking into Minho’s. “I’m afraid of many things, hyung.” Changbin says, his tone serious. “But I’ll never be afraid of you, even if you have a runny nose.”
Minho tangles his fingers on Changbin’s hair, anything to keep his hands occupied from other places. He’s a greedy man, he has always been and will continue to act on it as long as Changbin stays on his side. “You looked quite afraid just a moment ago.”
Changbin closes his eyes, leaning into Minho’s touch. He seems younger like this, Minho presses on the scar on his chin with his free hand, traces his face with his fingertips.
“Your coronation is almost here,” Changbin whispers to Minho’s fingertips, Minho’s heart beats wildly inside his chest. “Once you’re King, you’ll have to find a fine suitor for you—”
“No,” Minho replies plainly, “there wouldn’t be a ‘fine suitor’ for me because when I’m King, I’ll find a way to tie the knot with you, Changbin-ah.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Changbin-ah,” Minho says, firm and hopes that his firm tone eases his lover. Minho has been in love with Changbin for longer that he remembers his royal duties, grew up with him, saw him become the man he’s today: his protector, his confidant, his first love and his last for as long as he can keep it that way. “I will tie you to me, you’re the perfect suitor and no one, not even my Father or my Mother would stop me from doing so once I’m King. I’ll find a way, I’ll always find a way for us.”
Changbin makes a sound, petulant. A whine of sorts that Minho knows pretty well. “You’re so cheesy, Minho hyung.”
Minho smiles, scooting closer until he’s able to kiss Changbin’s forehead, his eyes, and his cheeks. “For my lover? Always. Do you trust me, Changbin-ah?”
Changbin groans and opens his eyes but there’s no trace of annoyance in them, Minho sees reflected in his eyes what he knows his own tell right away. It’s simple, it’s easy, it will always be him. “I do trust you, my King.”
Minho hums, satisfied. For tonight, he gets to hold Changbin and next month, he will get to hold him every night for the rest of their life. Minho will make sure of it, one way or another. “Good.” Minho murmurs. “Goodnight, my soon-to-be consort. I love you, hm?”
Changbin giggles, coming closer to kiss Minho square on the mouth with a happy exhale. “I love you too, hyung. For as long as you will have me.”
“For now tonight, my beloved but soon I will have you forever.”