Work Text:
Wriothesley wandered through the beauty of the midday sun of Fontaine. Ever since he helped the citizens of the city in the catastrophe, he had wanted to come out again to the surface. Before that day, it had been years since he had last come out and after it he was too busy with the aftermath of the catastrophe. So finally after almost a month, he was able to go up and have a nice walk under the sun.
He walked and walked and he couldn't have enough of the beauty of every single landscape. After some hours, he decided to go to the city and look around, after all, it had been years since he was able to be there and shop anything. As he strolled through the city, he met quite a few Mélusines. Some of them asked for Sigewinne, he found it truly wonderful and heartwarming how every one of them seemed to care so much for each other and even for humans who, in the past, had treated them badly. Such good little creatures he thought. He approached the Palais Mermonia of Fontaine with a big smile on his face. Although he hadn't noticed Neuvillette about his visiting, he knew, or at least hoped, he wouldn't mind a little visit from his friend. He walked in and everyone turned to look at him with a smile, he approached the little Mélusine at the reception and smiled at her.
"Good evening, I'm here to see Neuvillette" he said as he looked down at her with a smile.
"Good evening Monsieur Le Duke, I'm afraid.." she said as she looked down at a document of many pages "You do not have an arranged meeting with him do you? I do not have it on his schedule nor was I personally informed of this by him, he is quite busy at the time so if the matter is of high importance, you may leave him a note with me"
Of course, every single meeting with The Iudex had to be previously arranged, even one with an old friend. It isn't so crazy anymore after you realize the large document on the Mélusines hands is Neuvillette's schedule for the week. He didn't want to lie but he really really wanted to see Neuvillette right now so it was time to put on a show.
"Oh?" He acted surprised "How odd, I did talk to him about this meeting, he said I could come by the beginning of the evening since he wouldn't be so busy. Could he have forgotten about it? Or maybe he forgot to inform you? The matter is quite important and we have already postponed the meeting quite few times. I would really appreciate if I would just squeeze in the schedule just for a few minutes? It won't be long, really."
The Mélusine frowned down at the schedule and up at Wriothesley before scratching her head. "He has been quite busy recently so maybe he forgot to tell me... Alright, you can go in after knocking"
"Thank you very much" he smiled charmingly at her and walked up to the front of the door to Neuvillette's office.
He smirked as he arranged his hair and clothing, he then knocked tree times and after a rather long pause, he heard the echoes of some words.
"Come in" it said.
As the echo told him so, he did. He entered the room with a bright smile on his face and closed the door behind him as fast as he could. Neuvillette stared expressionless at Wriothesley as the latest walked firmly to the desk at the end of the room.
"Wriothesley? What are you doing here? As far as I remember, we did not agree to meet" he said, his voice deep, calm and most of all, sexy.
"Oh come on" Wriothesley sat down on the chair at his side of the desk "I just wanted to come to see you, I decided to walk up to the surface and I couldn't pass the opportunity to come and have a chat"
Wriothesley looked at the man before him and almost had to stop himself from fainting. He was so beautiful. His silky white hair ran down his back and over his shoulders, making him looks majestic. And oh his uniform, how elegant and masculine looking. Although Neuvillette's features were well defined and also masculine, he had a touch of softness and smoothness to his look, different form any other man Wriothesley had ever known. Wriothesley looked at him and the only thing he could think of was how ethereal and hot that man was.
"How much did you have to manipulate Sedènne to let you enter?"
"Hey! I did not manipulate anyone, I just told a little lie that's all" he clarified.
Neuvillette hummed and looked back down at his work. "What is it that you want?"
"Oh, I just came to see you and maybe chat if you could. We haven't had time to talk much lately, ever actually. I missed y-"
He stopped himself before finishing that sentence but it was too late. It sounded too romantic and wired coming from him. Although it was true and he had indeed romantic feeling for Neuvillette, that was not something he needed to know. As to not make it more awkward, he just smiled at Neuvillette who was now looking back at him. Wriothesley couldn't decipher his expression but it wasn't something he had seen before. It was like a mixture of frustration and confusion yet very slight. Wriothesley cleared his throat and threw his hands in the air.
"Anyway, what are you working on right now?" Wriothesley leaned over to see the papers. He didn't actually care que just wanted to change the subject.
"... Trail papers, this one trail I did yesterday. It was exhausting" he sighed as he kept writing. He seemed to have gone back to his usual cold self. "What... Have you been up to lately? It's been years since you last came up to the surface, last time you did it was for a meeting with me if I'm correct" he looked up again and stopped his writing.
"Meh, not much, just a lot of new work" as Wriothesley talked, Neuvillette pushed away the papers he was working on and put all his focus on Wriothesley "many many new inmates, well you can guess since you have so many trials every week, and just so many organizations problems and blah blah blah. But yes indeed last time I came to the surface before the day of the catastrophe was to meet with you. I was just missing the sun and air honestly, and the landscapes"
"Mhm, I see, Fontaine is beautiful at this time of the year" Neuvillette looked back at his big window as he spoke.
"Fontaine is always beautiful, no matter the time of the year" Wriothesley mumbled under his breath as he looked to the man before him with sorrow eyes. He was not talking about Fontaine. Wriothesley wished he could grab onto Neuvillette and have him, to tell him everything he felt, to do everything with him but he could never say it. He was so scared of the other's reaction and didn't want to lose the friendship they had because they at least had that, but if he confessed, who knows what would happen.
"You're right" Neuvillette said as he looked at Wriothesley once again. The latest just smiled and Neuvillette just gulped, they situation was clearly awkward. "Care for some tea?" He got up and walked to a little corner of his office.
"Always" Wriothesley went to sit on the couch and waited for Neuvillette.
After a few seconds, he was back with a warm teapot and two tea cups. They drank the tea and talked and talked, so much more than anytime before. About each other's life, about work and so much more. Wriothesley sometimes would unfocus and get lost in Neuvillette's gaze, appreciating his lilac eyes and his beauty. Indecent thoughts would escape and wander in his mind form time to time witch he pushed away by drinking tea. As hours passed, the evening soon became night. By now, everyone in the Palais had gone home, actually, earlier Sedènne had come to give Neuvillette some papers and was clearly shocked that Wriothesley was still there, but she didn't comment about it. The only ones left were those two. At first, the two of them were awkward to speak but the more they spoke, the more the atmosphere cleared.
"Wow, it's been hours" Wriothesley chuckled "I'm sorry I interrupted you, you weren't able to finish your work"
"Do not worry about it, I was almost done anyway"
"Yeah... Um well" he got up and somehow in a few seconds, all the progress they had made during the past hours seemed to had gone to waste. "I should go now, it's so late and you probably have work early, thank you for today"
Neuvillette got up quickly, desperately. "No wait" there was a long pause and he wasn't making any eye contact. "It's quite late and... Well why don't you stay at my place for the night? It's just outside the Palais down the elevator. You can sleep on my bed, I will take the couch and... Yes that, I can also lend you some sleeping robes"
The invite shocked Wriothesley to an insane extent. He felt the tip of his ears go hot and his cheeks as well, at this point something else might go hot to.
"Um... You don't mind?"
"No at all, well if course only if you're okay with it" Neuvillette's cheeks were slightly pink yet he kept his elegant posture and didn't disclose any other sight of embarrassment.
"I do not mind, no. Just... You don't have to take the couch, I will, it's your bed after all. It's already considered enough to have me stay for the night" Wriothesley walked up to Neuvillette with a slight smile as he spoke.
Neuvillette didn't respond and just sighed, he walked to his desk and took his cane and some other stuff and motioned to Wriothesley to follow him out of the door. As Neuvillette promised, his house was just down the elevator. The walk to it was truly the most embarrassing and awkward thing in the world. The house was small and looked cold from the outside, it was white and indigo coloured. But inside, the vibe was quite different form what Wriothesley had expected, although the furniture was mostly different shades of blue and the walls were white, the light was low and the whole house felt calm and strangely welcoming. Everything was well organized and he had quite alot of decorations. Glass figures of dragons and mermaids and beautifully crafted vases. He had one large painting of the Opera Epiclaise and a little framed picture of a man and a Mélusine on a little table besides the couch. Although everything might sound overwhelming, it was actually soothing. It gave an "under the ocean" vide in a very good way.
"
Sorry for the mess, I haven't had time to clean up" he said as he took his jacket off and put it on a little pole besides the door.
Mess? What mess? Wriothesley thought, he couldn't see anything out of order. Neuvillette signed him to take of his jacket and give it to him, and so he did.
"Don't worry about it, it's so minimal I can't ven see it" he chuckled.
Neuvillette was only wearing his under shirt now, a white button up with a fancy neck. So so fucking hot, Wriothesley thought. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to go there, he might have a hard time controlling his body. Wriothesley himself had taken off his jacket too, wearing only a tight black t-shirt that he wears under his thick layers. Neuvillette looked at Wriothesley up and down.
"I'm afraid my sleeping robes might be a little tight on you"
Wriothesley's body is very muscular, more than Neuvillette's and although they are the same height, his clothing would definitely be tight and look somewhat ridiculous on him.
"That's okay, I mean I can still sleep in this" he looked down at his clothes.
There was a moment of silence.
"No"
Wriothesley chuckled at the answer and surrendered. Neuvillette told Wriothesley he could take a bath first and that he would prepare something to eat meanwhile. An so he did, he showered in very hot water, it was calming. The bathroom smelled like slight lavender and the body soap like vanilla. There was plenty of hair products Wriothesley didn't even know the names of, he only knew Shampoo and Conditioner. And there was at least two different sorts of each product form what he could catch. As he got out of the shower, he smelled like a vanilla cake. So that's where Neuvillette gets his scent form, although Neuvillette's was much stronger. The clothing Neuvillette had given him was the larger he could find, it was a white t-shirt, that was just slightly loose around the waist and down but tight on the chest, and black silk pijamas. He got out of the bathroom with the towel around his shoulders drying his hair.
"I'm done"
He walked to the kitchen, Neuvillette was still finishing the meal.
"Alright, I-" Neuvillette turned around and he couldn't finish his phrase. He held a tight grip on the spoon in his hand and blinked forcefully. It took him a while to finish his words "I'm going to take my shower now then... Suit yourself
What was that? Wriothesley didn't know but he tried not to pay it too much thought. He saw that as the man walked out of the kitchen, he tied up his hair in a very high bun. Wriothesley did not intend to eat before Neuvillette got out of the shower, he wanted to wait and eat with him. A few minutes passed, minutes that felt like hours to the Duke. As Neuvillette got out of the bathroom, Wriothesley straightened his position and gulped. He walked to the kitchen, he was wearing a long silk blue nightgown and his hair still up in a bun, little strands of white and blue hair were out of his bun and running down his face, they were wet and dripping water slightly on his face. What a hot view, Wriothesley almost got a little too exited right then and there but he managed to calm down.
"Did you like the food?" Neuvillette asked as he looked around the room.
"Oh, sorry I haven't eaten yet, I was waiting for you to be done"
Neuvillette expressionlessly looked at Wriothesley and then went to the kitchen counter, he signed Wriothesley to follow him and so he did. Neuvillette gave Wriothesley a plate and after they had gotten their food, they went to sit. They sat one in front of the other and ate without spilling a word. Although they did exchange quite some awkward looks throughout their meal. As they finished, they steadied the kitchen together and walked to the living room. Neuvillette movement were elegant and light, his thigh would sometimes show when he stepped between the split of his nightgown which made Wriothesley feel things he which he wouldn't.
"Okay so I will take the couch" Wriothesley said as he sat on it and smiled at Neuvillette.
"I said I would, you're my guest"
"It's your house Neuvillette, and it's your room"
The latest sighed and went to his room, a few seconds later, he came back with a blanket and a very fluffy pillow. "Fine" he threw them on Wriothesley which made him laugh. "Do you need anything else?"
The Duke shook his head as he took the pillow and put it on one side of the couch. Neuvillette walked away and before he entered his room, they exchanged a shy goodnight and a sleep well. Wriothesley got comfortable on the couch and rolled left and right a few times before finding his position. He thought about the events of the day and couldn't help but blush, he was laying on the couch of his long time unrequited love and even got to wear his clothes. Neuvillette looked so majestic and hot at the same time and Wriothesley couldn't ignore that, he really really wanted that man but he didn't have the gusts to confess or try anything. Wriothesley tried to close his eyes but he couldn't sleep, he spent 15, 30, 45 minutes trying to do so, eventually around an hour and a half passed and he still wasn't asleep. He was nervous, he had butterflies in his stomach. He decided to get up and go to the bathroom, trying not to make much noise. He thought about all the lost opportunities of the previous day and felt quite stupid but he just let that though go away. He didn't know what was more stupid, being too scared to talk about his feeling or eventually doing so and loosing Neuvillette because of it. As he got out of the bathroom, he heard footsteps and saw Neuvillette get out of his room, the house was dark but he could see a little. He saw Neuvillette walk a little and eventually stop when he saw Wriothesley standing at the bathroom door.
"Wriothesley? Is something wrong?" The man walked up to the Duke.
"Nothing's wrong, I just can't sleep, that's all. And you?"
"Nothing, I can't sleep either... I was going to get water"
Wriothesley giggled slightly and walked to the kitchen with Neuvillette once more, he turned on the light and soon Wriothesley noticed that the Iudex's shoulder and half his chest was out. It was and exiting and obscene view, his hair was also quite messy, which just made it even worse, he gulped and just looked away. Neuvillette served two cups of water and gave one the the other man.
"So, why can't you sleep?" Wriothesley asked, trying to avoid any type of eye contact as he just looked down at his water.
"Insomnia... You?"
"Hahaha, same as you"
The silence was awkward and suddenly Neuvillette realized how he looked, he arranged his clothing, yet his hair was still messy. He coughed on his fist.
"Sorry, I didn't pay mind to how I looked"
Wriothesley could finally look at him "Don't worry, I didn't notice" Liar, he almost got hard on the spot.
Neuvillette frowned for a while and suddenly approached Wriothesley. "Your cheeks..." He reached to touch his forehead with the back of his hand "You have a fever"
Fuck yes he had one, what could be more hot that the man before him?
"Oh? Really? I didn't notice" he touched the back of his neck "Yeah I guess, I'll go down by itself"
...
"No, go sit in the couch and bring your cup of water, I'll bring you medicine"
Wriothesley did as asked and went to sit on the couch which was currently his bed. Neuvillette got back with a box and a towel and sat down next to him. His hair was less messy now.
"Thank you for waiting to take care of me but it isn't necessary, it'll pass eventually"
Neuvillette sighed and sat down, he opened the box, he took out a little pot of pills and took two. He gave them to Wriothesley which he quickly swallowed. Neuvillette then soaked the towel in hot water using his Hydro element.
"Lay down"
He did, the couch wasn't big enough so he had to shrink his legs. Neuvillette leaned over Wriothesley and put the towel on his forehead. He sat the box aside on the table besides the couch and rested his back and head on the couch.
"Are you not sleepy yet?" Neuvillette asked.
"Nope"
"...Are you're comfortable here?"
"..."
Wriothesley looked at Neuvillette, who was also looking at him.
"What do you mean? Of course I am, why wouldn't I?" No he wasn't, and not because he didn't like the place or Neuvillette, but because he liked them both way too much.
"You don't seem comfortable, have... Have I done something wrong? I'm not very good at figuring out how humans feel but I can sense you're not feeling your best and not just because of your fever"
"Aaah~" Wriothesley chuckled sadly "You've figured me out, put it has nothing to do with you, you haven't done anything wrong. I'm at fault for my own feelings"
The atmosphere was tense, Neuvillette had his eyes fixated on Wriothesley's as this one had them closed and his head on his pillow facing upwards. It took him time to think whether he would speak or not but at the end he just didn't care anymore.
"Look, I'm going to be completely honest" Wriothesley sat up holding the towel on his forehead, he was shaking "I really fucking like you Neuvillette, that's why I'm uncomfortable here, because I like this way too much when I know I shouldn't. I don't want my feelings to interfere between our friendship but sometimes I can't control myself and I become an in live and horny mess" he said as he sat the same way Neuvillette did although he was facing up. Neuvillette on the other hand was now sitting straight and completely facing Wriothesley.
"...Wha-"
He didn't have time to finish before Wriothesley chuckled sadly once more "Yes I know, it's creepy. I just... I'm sorry" he closed his eyes "I should probably go, I don't want you to become uncomfortable with me here after what I just told-"
"No!" Neuvillette practically shouted. "Just listen to me" His voice was like a whisper, a sad, surprised and frustrated whisper. His face now forward, eyes facing down "I... It's not creepy, I wouldn't be uncomfortable with you here. Not because you like me, but because of the same reason as you..." His voice was raspy and sad. He looked back at Wriothesley, whose eye's were as big as they could be and they were directly looking into his. "It's been centuries since I've felt this way, I don't even think I've ever felt what I feel right now for anyone else" he looked back down "I don't understand humans, I don't understand myself but I know what I want and what I'm feeling right now. I want you, and I'm in love. I was terrified that you could one day find out, I didn't want to loose you, I didn't want to let you go even if what I had of you was nothing but friendship. But I came to the conclusion that, although I might be immortal, sometimes opportunities are limited even to me. I took my chance and invited you over, I wanted to talk earlier but I got scared and then I couldn't lay my eyes at the thought of you in my house and at the thought of loosing this one miracle of a day into nothing. I love you, I really do" and for the first time since Wriothesley met Neuvillette, he saw vulnerability, weakness and sadness, deep deep sadness in Neuvillette's expression, a tear running down his cheek. And laughter, laughter followed, low, small and sweet.
"Neuvillette..." Wriothesley approached the man before him, the latest moving his face to look at his beloved once again. Wriothesley whipped away the single tear on Neuvillette's face with a finger, slowly sliding his palm on his cheek after, his thumb caressing the soft skin. "I love you too, I have for quite a long time"
He lay his forehead on Neuvillette's, both of them eyes closed. They were warm, they could feel the warmth of the other and they wouldn't change it for anything else in the world.
Neuvillette took a soft grip on Wriothesley's hair at the back of his scalp and slid his head down to the crook of his neck. Breathing in the soft sent of his own soap but most of all, breathing in the happiness that these touches brought him. He was embarrassed, afraid, afraid that Wriothesley would slip away at any moment. But he knew he wouldn't, he really knew it. He felt the warmth of strong arms wrap around him, pressing against his back and a soft kiss on the back of his head. He looked up at Wriothesley and pressed a kiss on his cheek. They were being so cheesy, so awkward but that's how everything starts isn't it? They hugged for a while, and each minutes, Neuvillette's desire for Wriothesley became bigger, because not only did he already want him before this but know he knew he could have it. He wanted everything he could get. As they broke the hug and sat one besides the other, they eventually laughed. All of this was so childish to Neuvillette, he was a grown, a very old one, yet he struggled more than most with his feelings. And Wriothesley, he thought he was so confident and ready in life but seeing that he was just as scared as himself made him sight and laugh of relief. Neuvillette felt Wriothesley's hand on his cheek once again, he felt his face getting closer and closer, his cheeks flushed and he closed his eyes, wrapping his arm around Wriothesley's waist and pulling him closer. He felt the Duke's lips against his and a wave of heat passed through his mind. He leaned in the kiss and deepened it, he might not have had much intimate experience during his long life but he just did what he felt like doing. He sat on his knees and leaned over, not breaking the kiss for a second. Wrapped his arms around Wriothesley's shoulder and gripped his hair with one hand. He fell on top of the other man accidentally, breaking the kiss and startling himself.
"Oh, I'm sorry" he held himself on top of Wriothesley's with both hands to the sides of his face on the couch.
"Don't be" Wriothesley caressed his cheek while looking softly at every detail of Neuvillette's face, which made his face heat."You're beautiful..." He slid a strand of Neuvillette's falling hair behind his ear.
Neuvillette kissed Wriothesley's cheek and then layed in top of him, head resting on his chest. They talked and laughed and kissed, eventually, they fell asleep together, Wriothesley's arms wrapping around Neuvillette.