Work Text:
Three days. Another three whole days until Hugo would be back in Corona. Varian had already waited long over two weeks (eighteen days, but who was counting?) and it was slowly killing him.
They hadn't really spent time apart since they first met, and Varian knew that not seeing his favorite annoying blonde would bug him a lot, but it was so much worse than he expected. His sort-of-boyfriend had gone over to Ingvarr to help Donella build something, and Varian was stuck impatiently waiting way too long for him to come back.
Before he left the blonde said it should take about sixteen days. And it was six to get to Ingvarr and back, so if they both did the math right, and as long as the winds weren't working against him, it should be three left.
Varian wished he'd gone with him, but he knew he had too many royal projects to work on that couldn't wait. And secondly, less importantly to probably everyone but Varian, they still weren't officially dating.
They both knew they were as close as it came - they kissed eachother sometimes, they followed eachother around like lost children, they usually slept in the same bed, they were pathetically obsessed with eachother. In nearly every way the two were already a pretty real couple.
But, they hadn't properly spoken about how they felt, or about what they were, or even what to call eachother. And how can you really be a couple if neither of you ever actually said you were?
It only got more terrifying the more they ignored it, and Varian didn't want to take the risk of finding out he was wrong, that their mess of a relationship didn't mean as much to Hugo as it meant to him.
Normally that wouldn't stop Varian wanting to be around him, but spending three days traveling alone in a hot air balloon with nothing around to distract him? He wouldn't be able to keep himself from accidentally telling Hugo he loved him.
He didn't want to risk scaring him off and getting 'broken up with' in Ingvarr - or worse, in the hot air balloon.
And he knew he would say it if given the chance. Because he really did mean it. He had already known how he felt towards the boy for a while, and somewhere deep in his soul he could feel that he always would. But how do you tell your favorite person how much they mean to you when you don't know for sure that you're their favorite too?
The sun set outside his window and he leant his head onto the pillow. Only three more. He could wait three more.
Varian wrapped a dark green jacket around himself - one of Hugo's that had been left in Varian's room a little while ago. It wasn't the same as having him there, but it was something at least. He tucked his cold hands into the sleeves and let his eyes close.
Not long now.
°°°°°
Hugo didn't want to wait another three days. He didn't want to be seperated at all, but that wasn't an option. So instead of even trying to be patient, he'd just spent absolutely all of his time building the stupid thing.
He'd barely slept after the first week. Donella eventually had to stop him going into the workroom when it got "too late." And even then, she could only stop him on the days where she caught him - usually he'd sneak in and just work until he dropped onto the workbench. And then get told off when she came in the next day.
And it wasn't the best idea but twenty one days without Varian was not going to happen. He needed to get that number down using anything he could think of. And he hadn't been able to do a lot but hey, he got it done three days early and he was proud of that.
He'd sent a letter to Rapunzel before he left Ingvarr to let her know he'd be back soon, and to keep it a secret. He wanted to surprise his not-really-boyfriend and was mildly annoyed that he had to tell her at all. But he didn't want to have to sneak into the castle, and after she wrote him he figured it'd be polite to at least tell her when he was coming back.
For all Varian knew, he would only be leaving Ingvarr tomorrow. He smiled to himself. He really hoped Varian missed him as much as he did.
Hugo's balloon gradually fell into Corona, and he had barely stepped out before Rapunzel tackled him into a hug. Thankfully Hugo had already gotten used to her greetings - the first time she did that it nearly knocked him over.
"Welcome back!" She practically shouted into his ear. "It was so weird not having you around!" He patted her back awkwardly and nearly laughed.
"Uh yeah. Missed you too Raps." He muttered, stepping away the moment she loosened her grip. Eugene came up behind them and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders.
He waved half heartedly at Hugo, but he was blatantly only there for Rapunzel. The sun had set almost three hours ago and the Coronian summer was still somehow too cold for him at night.
"Varian's going nuts without you, kid." Eugene stated, laughing when Hugo's face turned red. The former blonde nodded vigorously, either not noticing or not caring about how flustered it made Hugo.
"Still insisting you guys aren't in a real relationship?" He asked, leaning his head on his wife's.
Hugo glared at the man. "Yeah because we're not. I'm... planning on asking him properly tonight actually." Ah, the second reason Hugo came back early. Raps practically squeaked at him.
It wasn't really a secret that Hugo and Varian were too scared to fix their relationship. Hugo was sure at this point everyone in Corona had asked if they were dating, only to be met with panicked stuttering that was never a real answer. But going that long without him had given him courage.
Leaving Varian behind was bad enough, leaving when he didn't even know whether to call him his boyfriend? Hugo hated it. He would not be leaving Corona without him again until he had at least told Varian he loved him.
Whether or not it went well was out of his control though; it was terrifying to think about. He pushed that thought to the back of his mind.
"We should get you inside then!" Rapunzel's smile could not get any wider, she was nearly bouncing on the spot. Eugene smiled at the younger boy and stepped back to lead them inside, taking Rapunzel's hand as he went.
Just gotta tell his not-boyfriend he loves him. Just three little words, he could handle that. For now he was just going to ignore everything in his head screaming at him to keep it in.
°°°°°
Hugo said goodbye to the royal pair at Varian's door and watched them walk down the hall together. Leaning into eachother as they walked, matching rings glistening in the dimly lit hall. That's the kinda sappy shit he wanted with Varian.
But that was a thought for the future - he needed to actually date him first.
He pushed the thick door open as quietly as he could, not wanting to wake up everyone else in the castle. It was silent when he went inside, Varian must've been asleep already.
The door shut behind him and he walked through the cluttered bedroom. And there, cocooned in a big blanket, his favorite alchemist slept. Wearing the jacket Hugo assumed he'd lost ages ago. It didn't fit him, and Hugo loved the idea that Varian missed him enough to steal his clothes.
He giggled and knelt down by the bed. He shouldn't wake Varian up, he should just go to bed. The sleeping boy looked so peaceful. Hugo knew he was going to wake him up anyway, but at least he felt bad about it.
On another day, Hugo liked to think he would've at least tried to wait for the next morning - but it had already been way too long since he'd heard Varian's voice. He wanted to confess of course, but at the very least, he needed to say hello before he drove himself insane.
Because if he did reject him, Hugo didn't know what he'd do with himself. He'd probably just leave Corona completely. Hugo sighed, he was really trying to stay positive so he wouldn't chicken out. But sitting in silence when he was right there would not go well for his mind.
And lying next to Varian all night without being able to talk to him just once? Hugo would never be able to fall asleep like that. So, time to wake him up.
°°°°°
"Goggles... Varian, hey-" Varian grumbled and his eyes blinked open. He felt the hand lightly touching his cheek before he actually released there was someone in front of him.
"Hugo?" He mumbled, tiredness still leaving him confused and disoriented.
"Hello Varian." he responded fondly, pushing away the hair in Varian's face. He woke up more after that. He blinked the tiredness away and grinned at Hugo, who quickly smiled back. Hugo was there.
"You came back." He whispered, pressing his face harder into Hugo's hand.
Of course I did." The taller boy said quietly, leaning his elbow on the bed. Varian would've thought it was a dream if he couldn't feel him. He shouldn't even be here yet, should he?
Varian sat up and Hugo got up to sit on the bed with him. He immediately missed the touch. "You came back early." Hugo laughed quietly and nodded. Did he come back for him? He hesitated before saying, "why?"
Hugo paused, before moving over to sit as close to him as he could. "I missed you, so I worked late and finished early" Varian felt his brain melt at that. He rested his head on Hugo's shoulder and hoped the other boy would ignore how red his face had gotten. So he had come back just for him.
"I missed you too."
"Being away from you makes my brain hurt, actually." The blonde muttered, dropping his head on top of Varian's. Varian snorted.
"Oh really? Why's that?" He asked teasingly. Hugo seemed to freeze for a moment, as if he was really thinking about his answer. Varian almost took back the question, but he was curious now.
"Because I love you, idiot." Oh. Oh shit he said it. Varian's eyes widened, and it was as if everything in the world stopped for a moment. Did he really say that? And did he really mean it? How are you meant to respond to stuff like that?
"If you don't feel the same way it's totally fine! I just. Uh-" Varian pulled away to stare up at Hugo, his wide eyes making him cut his sentence short.
"Do you mean that? You love me?" Hugo looked scared, Varian didn't blame him. At least he was brave enough to actually say it.
"Uh.. yeah. Is that okay?" Varian grinned and pulled him into a kiss. Hugo hesitated but pulled him closer. "That's a yes right?" He laughed unsurely. He'd wanted to hear Hugo say that for so long. Words couldn't describe the relief he felt at not having to start the conversation.
"Yes! If course I love you too, you dumbass!" Varian laughed, this time Hugo kissed him. Varian didn't know what else to do but kiss him, in that moment he couldn't be happier. Hugo lay down and pulled the smaller boy with him; Varian didn't fight it, he just rested his head on Hugo's chest and smiled.
"Can we talk about our relationship properly tomorrow?" Hugo whispered nervously, hand already in Varian's dark hair. Varian agreed quietly and yawned. Hugo hugged him tightly, and Varian's gradually fell back asleep.
Tomorrow would be a great day. But for now, Varian was content. Just happy to finally fall asleep in his boyfriend's arms.