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"Your Majesty, if I may have a moment of your time."
Dimitri looks up from his desk, smiling despite himself when he sees Felix enter the room. He looks dashing in his new duke regalia, ponytail swishing behind him as he bows in the same manner Rodrigue always has.
"There's no need for formalities when it's just the two of us around, Felix."
Letting his arms fall on either side of him, Felix huffs and shrugs before straightening and approaching Dimitri. "How am I supposed to know that no one else is in your office? You know those stuffy nobles will throw a fit once they see the new Duke Fraldarius breaching protocol."
"As I am well-aware." Tempting as it is to tease Felix about his tendency not to usually care about propriety, he knows they should not give people any reason—big or small—to doubt their capability to lead. As such, this formality must be observed, much as Dimitri detests it.
Still, it hasn't stopped Felix from calling him a boar away from judging ears, a fact that causes Dimitri to chuckle.
Felix narrows his eyes as he comes to a stop before Dimitri's desk. "What's so funny?"
"It's nothing," Dimitri continues as the furrow in Felix's brow deepens, "I was merely thinking of how you still call me 'boar,' even up to now."
"A boar is a boar, and I call it like it is." Felix huffs, pressing a hand to his temple. "... I'll stop if it bothers you."
"Not at all. I wouldn't say I'm boared of it."
"Ugh."
Dimitri allows himself a wide grin as Felix visibly cringes. Then pauses before rising and folding his arms. "Well, you wanted a moment of my time. What is it, Felix?"
"You need to take a break." Hand on hip, Felix gestures towards him. "I've been told you haven't been sighted outside your office for the past three days. Your guards would have thought you dead if not for the empty food trays you would slide out of the door after meals."
Ah, that.
"Reform takes work, and it is my duty as king to give it my all to stabilizing the Kingdom."
"The only type of reform you can bring with three hours of sleep is absolutely nothing. Stabilize your resting hours first before thinking of stabilizing anything else."
"You have a point." If it were any other person, Dimitri would have protested more. But it's Felix. Whose burdens are just as heavy upon his shoulders, working just as hard as Dimitri to do what needs to be done.
Who, despite his biting words, stayed.
"Hmph." Felix angles his head towards the door, a frown still on his face. One defeated exhale later, Dimitri rises. Though not without a longing glance towards his papers before following after Felix, who hastens away as if any second longer in Dimitri's office would cause him to change his mind about rest.
"Should you not be happier, Felix?" Dimitri asks as he easily falls into stride to Felix's left, locking the office door behind him as they depart.
As they walk through the corridor, Felix shrugs with a flourish. "I know you'll just run off to do the same thing tomorrow." A sigh. "But I'll count today as a victory."
Dimitri shakes his head. "I cannot rest as everyone else gives their all to their respective duties. What kind of king would I be if I do not work as hard or harder than my vassals?"
"A fool. That's what you are."
"I'd rather be a fool if it means Faerghus can continue to stand."
Felix freezes next to him. Shoulders tense, looking like he wants to say something.
"Felix?" Dimitri ventures after a few moments of silence.
"You do know there won't be any Faerghus without you?" Felix replies, fixing him with a glare as he balls his hands into fists. "Quit acting like being a self-sacrificing idiot would get you anywhere. If you go down, Faerghus goes with you."
Dimitri's lips curl upward, his smile not reaching his eyes. "I never imagined you would be this patriotic."
Felix stamps his foot. "You seriously think I—"
Dimitri cuts Felix off with a sweep of his arm, backing him into the wall behind as his fist digs into the surface.
"I don't," he says slowly as Felix's fierce amber pierces through him. "But what is it really, Felix?"
His heart skips a beat as he beholds Felix. Eyes wide with shock, brows knitted into a frown. A light flush painting his cheeks, familiar enough from their spars. Stray strands frame his elegant features, the torch light emphasizing his jawline as he swallows, then wets his lips.
Beautiful. A forbidden thought Dimitri entertains once more. But will Felix let him?
"You know the answer to that," Felix says slowly, eyes narrowing and darting to the side.
"Enlighten me," Dimitri dares, pausing long enough to wait for a response. When none is forthcoming, he reaches out with a tentative hand to cup Felix's chin. "Felix." A gentle nudge. "Look at me." And softly: "Please."
He can't bear to be wrong about this. But if he is, better the words come from Felix. A final stab, so he may lay to rest the yearning that's haunted him for as long as he remembers.
Dimitri's hand wavers as the seconds tick. As his fingers begin to slip, Felix grabs hold of his wrist, finally meeting his eyes.
"Is it not obvious to you?" Felix asks as he snakes his fingers in between Dimitri's, using their intertwined hands to cup his warm cheek.
"I'd love to hear the answer from your lips."
"What?" Felix's eyes widen once more, a flicker of uncertainty passing before a resigned sigh escapes him. "Ugh, damn it."
Without warning, he pushes in to close the gap between them, drawing first blood as he seals Dimitri's mouth with his own. Dimitri gasps, deepening the contact for a moment before Felix withdraws, a splash of red coating his face.
"Well? Say something," Felix says, breathless as he rests against the wall.
"I, uhh…"
Felix kissed him.
"... Boar?"
Felix kissed him.
"That's—not—"
"Alright, forget that happened." Felix turns away. "I'm out of—"
"No, Felix." One breath later, Dimitri catches Felix's wrist, shaking his head. "I don't want to forget."
Felix relaxes in his hand, frozen on his tracks. A sign to continue.
"Your words would have sufficed. Beyond that, I would never have—"
"Dimitri." Felix whirls around, completely crimson. Dimitri would have thought him utterly angry if not for the way he chews on his lower lip afterwards, his gaze a touch shy. "You are a complete fool."
And somehow, Dimitri understands.
"Your fool?" he ventures, unable to help the smile that breaks across his face.
Felix sighs as Dimitri lets go of him, leading the way back to the king's chambers with his face in his hands. "What have I ever done to the Goddess to deserve such an incorrigible king?"
Dimitri follows, still grinning. "Same thing I must have done to be blessed with such a dependable right-hand."
"Ugh." Yet Felix allows Dimitri to intertwine their hands, even squeezing back when Dimitri does. "You're so full of it."
And Dimitri wouldn't have it any other way.