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Will heard steps approaching. Anger seized in his body. Before he understood the full weight of his words he was whipping his body around, chastise on his lips,
“Father I am aware-“
His anger ceased as quickly as it boiled over.
“Micheal.” He coughed into his fist. “Good evening.”
He wasn’t wearing his helmet, his sculpted face on full show. He was, though, adorned in his chainmail hauberk and coif. Will always found the knight’s uniforms to be less intimidating and more gaudy, but he figured it didn’t matter how silly you looked as long as you carried a sword.
No matter how rudimentary the armor was, or seemed to Will whilst on the average soldiers back, he would be lying if he said that Mike looked anything less than breathtaking in uniform. The blue and gold cloth draped across his body atop the chainmail of his armor drew the eye in most appreciated ways.
“Your royal highness,” Mike lowered his head as everyone was expected to do for him. Will despised it.
Mike was more capable than him in every regard, if anyone needed to bow it was Will. But blood had a weird way of selecting the unworthy.
“I am sorry-“ he stumbled over his words, “I thought you were…” Will groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
“Your father, his Majesty, is currently quite occupied, your highness.” Mike fidgeted with the pommel of his sheathed sword, he was itching to say something and waiting for Will to prompt it out of him. This had become routine for them in the years since Mike’s appointment to the Royal guard. Will wished the boy would speak freely with him, but there always seemed to be a barrier between them. Aptly, the best guard in the castle kept his feelings quite guarded.
“With?” He tilted his head, unable to prevent a smirk from making its way onto his face. As much as he wished the boy would simply speak his mind, he did appreciate the back and forth. It was endearing. There was something insanely attractive about the game of prying information out of Mike, knowing the boy was more than willing to share it and purposefully withholding it.
“Your brother.”
Will saw a small smirk brighten Mikes features in response to his own.
“Do you know what they are speaking of?” He raised a brow. He was quite sure that Mike wouldn’t have brought this to him if he didn’t know the content of this conversation.
“I believe it is about you, your highness. Your conversation with his Majesty just this morning.” Mike always seemed to mirror Will’s own expressions, raising a brow of his own. It was a knowing look, he’d overheard his fight with his father. The entire castle likely did, they weren’t exactly being quiet.
“What is my brother saying to my father?” Will turned on his heels, walking out into the courtyard, where he was headed before this interaction. He made his way to his favorite tree, sliding down its bark and sitting at its base. He placed the book in his hands onto the grass beside him, patting for Mike to sit down at his other side.
The man sat down, the sound of his chain mill crunching as he did so.
“I believe he is arguing your same position.”
Mike spoke as if he was holding back a laugh. Will wished he would just laugh. He wanted to hear it.
“Do you believe me wrong? Should I marry her?” He pulled a knee to his chest, resting his head on it while looking at Mike keenly. Mike was a very calculated man, so Will trusted his advice. However, Mike was also a stubborn, opinionated man who would not shy away from opposing Will’s decision.
“I don’t fully understand why you do not. Jennifer is a beautiful girl from a wealthy noble family,” he starts, considering his words carefully. Mike’s eyes were trained on a spot in the grass a few feet in front of them.
“Though I do respect your decision. If you don’t want to marry her, I don’t see why you should be forced to,” Mike concluded.
Will smiled at him gratefully.
“And if I never choose to marry?” He knew he was pushing his luck, and the mischievous smile on his face made that clear to Mike too. The man rolled his eyes, scoffing at him.
“That would be absurd.”
Unfortunately, no matter how mad it may be, Will truly did consider it. He had no desire for a wife, and he knew no woman in her right mind should want him. Not when his attractions were placed elsewhere. It’s not as if he needed to reproduce, he was the spare, not the heir. He did understand that to ensure the safety of the bloodline it was important to have several lines of succession, but it wasn’t necessary. He didn’t want to marry unless it was necessary.
“Heard that one before.” He laughed, tilting his head back against the tree.
“Your brother seems to be under the impression that you do want to one day marry. That you will feel inspired to as soon as you find the right lady,” Mike still averted his gaze. Will wondered what was going on in that mind of his.
“My brother can believe what he wants. I have no intentions of marrying.” He said curtly. He didn’t mean to get snippy with Mike, it’s just that the topic of marriage wasn’t one he enjoyed very much.
“Your majesty,” Mike sighed, finally turning his head to look Will in the eye. “There will be a worthy lady who you will be taken with and you will marry her.”
“Not you too!” He groaned, the smile on his face betraying his annoyance. If it was anyone other than the beautiful knight saying these words to him, he’d likely storm off before they’d finished their sentence.
“Must be nice for you, sworn not to marry, sworn not to bear children,” he spoke wistfully, “would you like to switch places?”
Mike looked at him blankly, “If we could, I’d do so without hesitation.”
Will smiled at him, he knew he was being a brat. He was a prince, there were many more upsides and privileges in his life than downsides. His reluctance to marry wasn’t even necessarily even a problem being a prince, but of any man with his attractions.
“I will read my book now,” he offered the man a warm smile as he dismissed him.
“I do hope you enjoy it, your majesty.”
Mike clanked with the sound of metal on metal as he walked away.
That night, much like many others, Will found himself in the castle’s observatory. He was lying on the floor, gazing up at the limitless heavens. It steadied him to think about the small amount of power he truly held in the grand scheme of things. He was the prince of a great nation, that came with responsibilities, yes, but his power was nothing in comparison to the boundless universe. He would not have the power to stop the sun from rising, or the stars from shining. It made him feel weak to look at all the things he couldn’t control. He was grateful for that lack of responsibility.
He turned his head to where Mike was standing. He’d followed Will up here like every other night, and just like every other night he wasn’t appreciating the view above. His eyes were glued to Wills limp body on the ground, not the beauty of the solar system overhead.
“Look up! Up, please, Micheal!” He raised an arm, smiling brightly as he motioned to the sky. Mike’s eyes flicked up to the stars for a moment before returning to look at him.
“There is nobody here to harm me!” He sat up, motioning around. “If you are here to kill me, please show yourself!” He ordered loudly, “see, safe. Now take in the beauty above you!”
He wanted Mike to star gaze with him, to relish in all that the heavens could offer. Why did he seem so disinterested?
“Join me, Micheal,” he patted the floor beside him. Mike slowly walked over to him, a hand on the hilt of his sword. His face was an emotionless but focused on Will and Will alone. He was used to having eyes on him, but Mike’s gaze was intimidating.
The man slowly lowered himself onto the ground beside him.
“I do not like to look at the stars.”
Will sucked in a gasp. It was as if it was a personal offense. Mike never gave any unprompted opinions, yet he chose to attack one of Will’s favorite things the only time he did so.
“Tell me you are jesting,” he insisted, clutching a hand over his heart. Mike might as well have ripped it out.
“I do not jest.” He said plainly, his eyes on Will with a hint of amusement.
“You have never disappointed me more, Micheal,” he pointed at the man accusatorially. “Why don’t you like looking at the heavens?” He pressed. If Mike was to insult one of his favorite sites he would need to explain himself.
“It is scary. Makes me feel so small, so… powerless.”
Will scoffed, surely Mike was kidding. After a moment of silence and the look on the man’s face he realized that he must be serious.
“But that is the entire appeal! To remind you that nothing you do truly matters.” He pulled his brows together, trying to make the man understand.
“That’s where you and I differ, your royal highness. I like to feel like what I do is important, thinking of all of the ways my actions do not matter makes me…” he trailed off, trying to find his words, “I like control.”
Will pursed his lips, trying his best to understand Mikes perspective. He considered the fact that from a young age Mike wasn’t expected to carry what felt like the weight of the world like Will was. Mike joined the guard willingly, trained relentlessly, and worked tirelessly. Mike worked to be able to control things that he would otherwise have no power over, he needed no reminder of all the things he couldn’t control.
Will on the other hand had been raised to believe that a broken vase, a cough, a tantrum was bad luck for his nation. The reminder of things he couldn’t control was comforting, not a sick reminder of what he already knew like it was for Mike.
He played with the soft wool of the hose on his legs. He wondered how many times he had made off handed remarks that were painfully unaware of how people who weren’t royal lived. It embarrassed him, made him feel incredibly dumb.
“Right… I can understand why. I am sorry.” He spoke quietly, his eyes drifting up to the sky again.
“Why are you apologizing?” Mike scoffed. Wills eyes snapped over to the boys face when he heard what sounded like it could be a smile. He wasn’t mistaken. Mike was smiling at him. He’d only had the privilege of seeing that sight only a handful of times in the years he’d known him. Every time he cherished the sight.
“I was being inconsiderate,” he frowned at Mike. Though it seemed like his embarrassment only seemed to be amusing the man more.
“No you weren’t,” Mike shook his head, his smile unmoving, “You like the stars, you wanted to share the stars with me. It was a kind gesture.”
His deep eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Will wasn’t used to Mike looking at him so keenly, but he would do anything but complain.
“What do you like then?” He prompted, twisting his body to turn fully towards Mike. The boys smile softened a bit, but it didn’t leave.
Suddenly Wills mind was plagued with incredibly appetizing visions of tasting that smile. Kissing it off of his face. He dragged his eyes back up to the boys eyes, and if he didn’t know any better he might’ve thought he saw Mike go red as Will’s eyes journeyed back up to a more respectable place.
“I like to read,” he answered easily, playing with his hands.
“What do you like to read?” He raised a brow. He was incredibly enthusiastic to finally learn about the mysterious knight that has conquered his imagination in the last 4 years.
“Sonnets,” he spoke as if he was imagining his favorites at that moment, a pleasant far off look in his eye. “Like the one you read earlier today.”
Will hummed, an idea popped into his head.
The next day when Mike followed him up to the observatory, instead of gazing at the stars he opened a book of sonnets. It soon became routine for them to sit under the cover of the sky, reading to each other.
“I am upset.”
He crossed his arms as Mike walked him back to his room, the same as he did every night.
“What are we to do?” He groaned. “Why would my father only now tell me that a statistician would be invading our observatory for three weeks!”
Mike laughed as he opened the door to Wills room and entered after him.
“You do have the most advanced technology in the country,” he pointed out.
“His presence is not welcome,” Will spoke plainly, kicking off his shoes. “What are we meant to do every night for the next three weeks? Mope? I will mope.” He shook his head, flopping onto his bed.
Mike stood at the end of it, looking down at him with an amused expression.
“I suppose we will have to find another way to fill our time.”
The bed dipped as Mike took a seat beside him on the mattress.
Suddenly it was as if everything stilled. Wills breath, his body, maybe even his heart. Mikes knee brushed his own and the sensation drowned out all bodily functions. He sat up slowly, suddenly met with their intimidating proximity.
His face was too close, and somehow Will still felt an almost animalistic urge to pull it closer.
He coughed, “I suppose we could find something else to do.” His voice was just a bit too high to be natural, and his face was growing hot by the second.
This seemed to please Mike, though. He smiled at Will, shaking his head,
“or somewhere else to be?” He gestured with his chin to the room they currently inhabited. It wasn’t right for them to be locked away in Wills room every night, if his father were to find out he would undoubtedly have questions. Mike knew this. Yet he still suggested it anyway.
Surely he knew what people would think if word got out to the staff. Surely he would care if rumors that he was spending an unnatural amount of time with the prince in his chambers started to spread. Surely he would care if he was accused of doing unholy things, being unholy himself. Surely he would care if those lies were told.
Suddenly it occurred to him that if such rumors were to spread, they might not be so untrue.
His eyes trailed down Mikes face. His pointed nose, his full lips, his strong jaw. He wanted to taste him. He wanted to feel him. It was all so overwhelming.
Will wetted his lips with his tongue, he surely looked like a starving beast at their first sight of food.
Mike didn’t back away.
His eyes flicked back up to Mikes eyes, studying the intense heat that beamed from them. It felt like if he wasn’t spared any time soon he might just melt under his gaze.
“Something else to do… here,” he murmured, feeling his heart race. He could hear it beat, feel it in his fingers, his temples, his toes. It was maddening.
Mike licked his lips, his eyes trailing down Wills body. That was his last straw.
Will surged forward. Their lips crashed together sloppily.
Hands immediately grasped at fabric, pulling, tugging, wanting it off. Mikes steady hands found their way under his tunic, having quickly undone his belt. The garment was ripped from his body in an all-too-perfect way.
Mike pushed him back against the bed, crawling atop him. He placed kisses from his collarbone all the way to his waist, stopping where his hose began.
His kiss was hot, searing, but addicting. He craved its burning sensation in the small increments of time between each kiss, but his ever present exploratory hands made up for it.
He’d never experienced anything like this, never believed he would be afforded the privilege of mutual attraction and affection. It’s not like he knew of anyone who also liked men, it wasn’t exactly something people liked to share. He knew there had to be more people like him, likely some he’d met, but he never thought he would be lucky enough to share love with one.
Apparently he was quite lucky, though. He wasn’t just with anyone, he was with Mike.
His calloused fingers slid down the sides of Wills body as he returned to his lips. Will let his hands grasp at the man’s hair roughly. He wanted this more than he’d wanted anything before. He wanted Mike to touch him and hold him and taste him and never stop.
“I hadn’t realized…” he said airily, swallowing thickly as Mike nipped at the base of his neck. “Hadn’t dared to hope…”
“Why not?” Mike pulled back, looking down at him. His lips were swollen from use and his face was flushed. It was exhilarating to know he’d done that to him.
“You were always so distant… seemed uninterested,” he shrugged, unable to stop a smile from forming on his face.
Mike scoffed, “couldn’t risk doing something I wasn’t meant to.” He spoke of it so easily that it sent shivers up his spine. So easily he referenced what he wanted to do, what they were presently doing.
“You made that hard, though. Always so smug. You knew what you were doing.” Mike rolled his eyes before leaning back down to suck at Will’s collarbone.
“I didn’t actually,” he giggled, biting back a huge smile. He hadn’t realized Mike had such an extensive attraction to him, and learning of it was doing dangerous things to his heart.
“Good to know you were taken by my beauty, though,” he joked. Mike pulled back again, an amused look on his face as he shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“You’re an idiot.”
He slid his hand down the front of Will’s hose, opening the floodgates to a new and much appreciated sensation.
“That’s no way to speak to your prince.”