Chapter Text
“I told you I don’t care-!” Osora’s stomach filled with knots. His mind was tangled between thinking rationally and screaming. Suddenly the air around him was too humid, and his palms were clammy.
“I give you utmost freedom and I see you kissing up Arias?!” His father’s face was red, glaring at Osora as if they committed the worst sin on this planet. “You are a betrothed man! Now, how would Catalina feel about this information?” His eyes narrowed. “I always had a feeling you were never cut out to be a real man. This proves how much you really act like a girl,”
Osora felt as if his heart had been ripped out of him and squeezed of all feeling he had. They felt as if all of his skin had been peeled inside out and all their emotions had been revealed to the world without him knowing. “What, just cause I want Arias and not her?” Tears started brimmed his around eyes. “I never loved Catalina, I never wanted to. I’m tired of you deciding my fate for me. I don’t care if I’m not your idea of what a man is.”
“You little—“ He grabbed onto Osora’s shoulders. Staring into their eyes. “Listen here. YOU WILL marry Catalina, and forget about all this.” He sneered. “I won’t let my son be a disappointment. Think of your mother, she died to give you life. And you do this in return? How selfish. Kissing boys huh? You really love embracing that femininity of yours”
Osora’s lips quivered. At mention of their mother the tears rolled down his face. They hadn’t known the women, but they knew he wouldn’t have disappointed her, maybe, just maybe. She would’ve loved him regardless. Unlike his father, who could never see the good in others, not him nor the Sergos.
It hurt to be regarded as less than a man because he’s in love with arias. And yet, Even if they was nor female or male, no one else but Arias made them feel more euphoric, in whatever gender was to Osora.
Because Arias would love them, even if he defied gender all together.
Before his father could send him another plethora of foul language, Osora bolted through the door. They didn’t have an exact destination in mind, but he would do anything to avoid anyone in the castle. Their father didn’t bother following.
The wind outside howled through Osora’s blonde hair, a shiver ran down his back. The first of the seasons snowfall had begun to flutter down to the ground, bringing down the temperature.
Maybe his tears would freeze the second they poured out of his eyes, at least that’s what it felt like. No matter how hard he rubbed, they wouldn’t stop pouring out like a leak in a pipe, or maybe like the ocean crashing and hitting hard against the shore.
Osora sat down by a nearby tree, they looked up at the white sky, snow falling into his eyelashes. Along with the tears, he couldn’t see anything. His knees pushed up to his chest, hugging them to maintain warmth.
Osora dug their fingers into the snow already fallen on the ground. The numbness alleviated the fury that pulsated into his veins like lava flooding through a volcano.
Dusk hit, the pale sky turned grey, and eventually into black. Osora hadn’t even realized how much time passed by… maybe he even fell asleep. Eyelids fluttering, head lolling against the tree. Exhaustion washed over him like a disease, taking out all of his rage, but even his ability to feel the frostbit air around him.
Osora came back to his consciousness when he felt a warmer presence beside him. “Cold?” A hand ruffled his hair. He hadn’t even noticed footsteps creeping up behind him, someone could’ve easily killed him.
Arias.
It was clear he was taking it way too easy, since he practically looks dead out here. It would be rationale to keep up your guard, they clearly hadn’t.
Osora lifted his head. Arias gently caressed their cheek, rubbing their tearful eyes with his thumb. “W-what are you doing here,”
“News spreads quick when the prince runs away,” Arias wrapped an arm around Osora’s shoulder. “I knew I’d find you before anyone else did.”
Osora scooted closer to him, while Arias pulled the him into his lap. “You’re warm.” Osora muttered. “Super warm.” His back pressed up against Arias’s broad chest. Some may consider it harder than rocks, but to Osora, it felt like home, more so than the castle did. More so than his father, or anyone else.
“Yeah,” Arias chuckled, cuddling Osora close to him. “Wanna talk about what happened?” he whispered, the condensation from his breath evident.
Osora frowned. “Don’t you already know!?” They were confident his father spread the word everywhere, especially to Arias. He would’ve went on and on about tainting his poor “son” and what not.
Arias raised an eyebrow. “I don’t, your father was simply angry. I had heard from other guards that you had run off, so I went to find you.” He kissed Osora’s cheek. “I am matter of fact, completely in the dark.”
Osora pondered for a moment, how could his father not yell at Arias, he was ready to show them his tough side, yet not Arias?
He obviously picked favourites. Arias was strong and very reliable in times of battle. Of course he couldn’t get Arias in trouble.
Osora had the unfortunate fate of being his son. Meaning he’d be the one to blame.
“Father found out about us,” Osora had a blush creep up on his face. “It was, entirely my fault. The door hadn’t been locked and he saw… us you know. Kissing. He didn’t barge in and you know go insane at us he just… yeah. Right after you left, I had to deal with him.” He groaned. “Made a huge deal about it, complained how I wasn’t acting like a real man… he’s still on about me marrying Catalina I’m just. Done with him.”
Arias nodded along with Osora, he didn’t seem at all bothered. “Well, it’s not like we could’ve been a secret forever. I’m sorry it ended up that way. I should’ve been there,”
“It’s fine.” Osora cut him off abruptly. He didn’t need Arias to fight his battles for him. “I can handle it on my own,” They knew he meant well.
“I know you can.” Arias squeezes him a little tighter. “I still wanna be there for you.”
Osora turned around, so he was now facing Arias. They laid their face on his chest. “Can we stay like this? I don’t… wanna go back yet.”
“Of course, I’m just worried you’ll catch a cold baby,” Arias used his arms to cover as much of Osora as he could.
“I’ll live.” Osora, for the first time in hours cracked a smile, but he kept it hidden with his face in Arias’s chest.
“Your smile is just so cute,” Arias ran a hand through Osora’a hair.
Osora’s little grin turned upside down into a frowned expression. “I wasn’t smiling ,idiot.” He punched Arias’s chest.
“I think I’ve memorized all of your expressions,” Arias laughed, pinching Osora’s cheek. “I think this one is one of my favourites.”
“You are the worst.” Osora punched his chest playfully for a second time. Pouting at Arias’s cheeky expression. Even the winter air around them had been forgotten, because of how warm he felt when Arias was around.
“Your actions always contradict your words, sweetheart.” Arias cups Osora’s cold and pink cheeks. “Such a smart mouth you have,” He leans down, pressing a peck to Osora’s lips.