Work Text:
It was early morning in Oahu, Hawaii. The sun shone brightly through the window, soon waking a certain Chevalier. He groaned tiredly as he stood, shuffling across the room and closing the curtains as best he could, hoping to get at least one more hour of sleep. He turned around to do just that, but instead of going back to the soft double bed he paused, watching his lover as he dreamt.
“When he sleeps, he could be a child again.” he thought to himself. Philippe, especially in that peaceful moment, was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. So, naturally, he picked up the camera laying on the vanity and took a picture, wanting to capture Monsieur’s beauty forever. Unfortunately, the sound the camera made was louder than he realised.
“What are you doing?” came the sleepy voice from the bed, as its owner turned to look at the Chevalier with a raised eyebrow. He’d been caught red-handed.
“Nothing… just looking through photographs.” he lied as nonchalantly as he could, pretending to be inspecting the holiday snaps they’d taken so far.
“Then why was I just awoken by the sound of a shutter?” By now, Philippe had sat up, and was swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. The Chevalier instinctively drew the camera closer to himself.
“No reason,” he watched his lover warily as he strode towards him, knowing how defensive the Duke was about his image and his privacy. “You were just hearing things, mignonette.”
“And yet you are like a thief caught in the act.” Immediately, another pair of hands were on his own. “Give me the camera.”
“Why should I?” he challenged, earning a sigh for his petulance.
“Because I know you well, my love.” a moody pair of eyes met his own. “I know you simply cannot resist, but I do not like having photos taken without my knowledge or consent. Now give me the camera and we can go back to bed.”
The Chevalier simply smirked. “But this would go so well with the rest of the album! Surely you cannot expect me to just get rid of it?” he teased, secretly delighting at the look on his lover’s face.
“Album!?” he screeched, horrified. “You mean to tell me you have an entire album of photographs like this, which I had no knowledge of until now?”
“Would you expect anything else of me?”
“Well… no. But even so. Delete that photo, and whatever others you may have on there.” he demanded, now deadly serious.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” the Chevalier tried not to laugh at the glare he received.
“You can, you will and if you refuse I will make you.” Philippe grabbed for the camera, but growled in frustration as it was quickly drawn away, held high above his head. Monsieur would not suffer the indignity of jumping. Ever.
A few minutes later he almost had it, but his infantile boyfriend stopped him in his tracks by running at full-speed down the hotel corridor. It was absolutely ridiculous, but really he had no choice but to chase him.
And that was how they ended up at the beach, Philippe pinning his lover down onto the sand as he held the camera out of reach, dangerously close to the water's edge.
“Please,” he begged. “just give me the camera and you will be free.”
“Never.” came the Chevalier’s stubborn reply.
“Might I remind you that the tide is coming in rather quickly, and that currently you are in grave danger of being engulfed by the Pacific Ocean?” the Duke prompted, hoping that he could use persuasion, or even force, to get his way.
“Just let me go and neither of us will have to worry about that.”
“Never.” and then, it occurred to Philippe that he didn’t have to use force at all. He could play tricks just as well as his dear Chevalier. So he did, watching with delight at the way his lips parted and his breath hitched as he leaned in, pupils dilating, loosening his grip on the camera just enough to -
“Bastard!” and Philippe had never ran faster in his life, laughing triumphantly as his lover chased him along the sands, camera clutched tightly in his hand as they raced along the seafront, much to the confusion of other tourists.
The photo (and the album it belonged to) still remained for many years to come, but it served as an important lesson for the Chevalier: never try to best the King’s brother at anything.