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When Nico wakes, the sun burns his retinas. There’s something dangerous about the man beside him, yet so soft and caring. Staring at the sun for too long can cause irreversible damage, but Gods above, Nico can not bear to look away.
Will smiles at him. The action crinkles the corners of his eyes. A dimple forms on his cheek, the perfect indentation for Nico’s thumb to press when they kiss.
Nico tests it, placing the pad of his thumb on the indent. It seems to grow the harder Will smiles. It’s nearly impossible to kiss him when he smiles like that, but it’s even harder for Nico to restrain himself.
Will rubs circles into Nico’s exposed hipbone. It nearly sends him crumbling, the warm, calloused hands of Will, holding and touching him like he is the earth.
Maybe that’s what they are. Nico is the earth, pulled into Will, revolving in his orbit.
They spend far too long getting lost into each other. Nico is content to do such a thing, he could get lost all day. He’d wander the clear blue of his eyes, the gold of his hair, the tanned skin, the freckled cheeks. He’d wander off the edge of the world if he could have Will for one more moment.
Responsibility pulls Will away. He reminds Nico of his duty in the infirmary, but with each insistence his hand strays lower and his mouth stays on Nico’s. It goes like that until an attendant knocks on Nico’s door, calling him to breakfast.
They spend far too long dressing. The clothes are from yesterday and rumpled from being tossed onto the ground the night before. Nico enjoys watching Will dress. He loves the way his muscles flex and his hair grows messy when he attempts to tame it.
Nico kisses him again before opening the balcony doors. He grabs the dirty sheet from under his bed and throws it over the side. With one last longing glance Will climbs over the side.
Nico watches him slink off the castle grounds, but it seems like the sun won’t let him get away without beaming upon him. He’s a marvel, no matter what he is doing. It’s enough to make Nico stand on the balcony until Will is out of sight. It feels as if Nico can not function until Will is too far away to feel, or too close to the point he burns.
An attendant pounds on the door, threatening to break in if Nico does not come down for breakfast. He cools his warm cheeks and racing heart. His mask of royalty slips on as he walks back into his bedroom.
The attendant leads him down the stairs and into the grand dining room. Breakfast is spread across the grand table, pastries, meats, and eggs, enough to feed the whole kingdom. It’s a feast, a strange sight for a random day.
The King is not sitting at the head, neither is the Queen. Surprisingly, Hazel is. She picks at a pastry and stares absently at the window.
Nico takes a seat across from her, blocking her view of the window. She smiles pleasantly, then a smirk crosses her face.
“Morning, dear brother.” She stuffs a piece of her pastry in her mouth, swallows, then smirks again. “Did your guest enjoy their stay?”
Nico almost doesn’t catch it, but when he does he stops his pastry mid way to his mouth. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“Ah, then the mention of a blond man scaling your balcony won’t jog your memory?” She asks so smugly, like she already knows she’s trapped Nico.
“I’m sure I don’t know about such a man.” Nico knows the lie is unbelievable just by the sour taste it leaves. “We should alert Father of an intruder.”
Hazel is nearly giggling with glee. “I’m sure Father would be concerned by the strange noises coming from your bedchambers this morning. We should definitely alert him.”
“Hazel!” Nico hisses, nearly spitting out his pastry. His cheeks blush a violent pink. “Must you speak so loud?”
Hazel does laugh, throwing her head back from force. “So you do know him? It sounds like you know him well.”
Nico puts his head in his hands, pointedly ignoring Hazel’s eyes. “Yes,” he admits. “I know him well.”
The laughing from his sister gets cut short. He peers from behind his hands to see why. Hazel looks extremely serious, eyebrows furrowing.
“Does Reyna know about…your lover?” Hazel whispers the last part.
“No, she does not.” Will’s been his, only his. As wrong as it feels to keep a man like him secret, it’s the safest thing for them. Not only would Will’s reputation as best medic fall, but so would Nico’s.
Affairs were not uncommon for royalty. But most affairs occurred between men and women and most were of the same class. Nico being royalty and a man who is having an affair with a man would get both of them in trouble.
“Will Reyna know?” Hazel keeps her voice down.
“I don’t know,” Nico admits. He looks at Hazel, eyes pleading for her to understand. “You must not tell a soul, Hazel. You have to understand.”
She nods, expression equally as serious. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Guilt roils in his stomach. Will shouldn’t be a secret. He’s much too bright to live in the dark of Nico’s room. His radiance deserves the light of day. His kindness should not be confined to Nico’s ears alone.
“He does not deserve to be kept a secret, but thank you.”
Hazel smiles, small but significant. “You love him.”
Although they’ve whispered the sentiment to each other several times Nico’s never had it said so pointedly. He supposes, that yes, there’s no better word to describe how he feels other than love.
Nico smiles down at his plate. “Yes,” he whispers, imagining lying with Will. “I suppose I do.”