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[deniles]

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[deniles]

Would you believe I can't always be honest with my feelings? It took a lot of courage to ask you.

[He shivers, feeling Ryoma's finger in a romantic way. Before, this would lead to something far less sweet and far more rough. Tonight, Niles doesn't want that. He only wants Ryoma to look at him and hold him and tell him his true feelings.

All day. And all night.]

I'd marry you tonight if it wouldn't be an issue. We could escape and become wed... but I know everyone would wish to attend your wedding.

[He pauses for a moment.]

...Saizo. Please forgive me for stealing your lord away for life.

[lightninglobster]

I... understand how you feel. I only hope that it's easy to admit your true feelings in our days to come, even if it's only to me.

[He pulls Niles close, arms wrapping around him as he runs his hands up his lover's back, forehead against his as he gazes into that steely grey eye, the stain of red on his cheeks. Niles looking so open, so honest... it warms Ryoma's heart and makes him want to gather around him, to protect him from whoever would cause him to be so distant and cold.

The thought of eloping is a funny one--Ryoma smiles, kissing Niles' forehead.]

I'd be happy to marry you tonight--but I also want to present you as my spouse before everyone. Also, my sisters might kill him if I pulled a stunt like on them.

[Saizo grunted from the other room. Something like 'you aren't stealing him, you're adding to my burden' grumbled through the door.]

[deniles]

Someday. If you continue to be patient, I will be open.

[He smiles softly, looking into the kind gentle eyes that Ryoma is showing him right now. They're beautiful eyes. And he's a beautiful man. Every moment he looks at him, his face turns more and more red.]

Ha... Leo certainly would too.

[He ignored Saizo's grunt, and moved to grab onto Ryoma's hand, pulling him towards the bed.]

[lightninglobster]

I'm known for being patient. Perhaps too patient. But I will wait by you and support you.

[Ryoma strokes a thumb up Niles' cheekbone once more, smiling as softly and sweetly as he ever had--but there's something sweeter about it, with the sense of love in the air and the open, flushed glow to Niles' face. He allows himself to be drawn up and tugged towards the bed, following with no protest of his own. Saizo can do plenty of grumbling for both of them.]

See? So it's best I declare my love to the world, so you don't end up a widower before you're truly wed.

[deniles]

I could ask for very little more than that.

[He smiles softly as he climbs backwards up onto the bed, his hands moving backwards now as he climbs up. Chuckling nervously.]

I'd like not to be alone again.

[He pulls him up with a kiss.]

For tonight... let us share a bed together. I could use the rest.

[lightninglobster]

As long as you'll have it, my heart is yours.

[He'd say it a hundred times if Niles needed to hear it. He follows him into the bed--this strange, raised Nohrian platform that's just this side of uncomfortable--and kisses Niles, playing with his hair for a moment as a glimmer of mischief hits his eyes.]

Just rest, then?

[Niles' usual tendencies are infectious... but Ryoma would be perfectly happy just sleeping next to the man he loved.]

[deniles]

Then I'll keep it forever.

[Niles loves to hear it. Every time he hears it, he feels more at ease. Letting out a heavy breath as they sat together on the bed. He placed his hand on Ryoma's shoulders.]

Just rest. I want to have everything in place before we do more.

[Once the marriage to be was approved... then they could enjoy each other's company.]

[lightninglobster]

[He seems pleased as Niles accepts his devotion... and though a wry smile twitches onto his lips in the next moment, it softens out into something sweet and kind. It was a big late to try and shut the barn door on that particular pegasus, but if Niles wanted rest, he could do rest. He was just happy to have his love close at hand.]

Rest, then. Come, love, and sleep.

[He moved to get comfortable under the covers on the bed, turning on his side so that he could hold Niles close once the man had followed suit.]

[deniles]

[Niles smiled towards him as he joined him in bed. Resting his head against Ryoma's body, the man so much larger than he was, and he was trying his best to hold onto him.]

I look forward to a good night's rest with my fiance.

[Yawning, he starts to drift off peacefully.]

[lightninglobster]

Good night, my dear.

[It takes Ryoma a little longer to sleep--Nohrian beds are strange, but it's a blessing. It means he gets to enjoy the sight of Niles sleeping for a little while, tracing the lines of his face in the low candlelight.

He can't remember the last time he'd been this happy for himself.]

[deniles]

[The wedding preparations began almost the next day. They had to talk to Leo, which nearly ended in an international incident. But after it was all talked out, Niles and Leo said their farewells.

For now, at least.

Ryoma would head back to Hoshido almost immediately to take care of some things. And a few weeks later, after his small bag, and the one bed he wanted to have, were packed, he headed there himself by carriage.

When he stepped out, he had to shield his eye as he looked around.]

...Ryoma?

[Well. Now he's actually out of his element.]

[lightninglobster]

[It had been a long month.

On the plus side, more than a few members of the noble class were newly aware that Ryoma had an actual temper, and that it was very easy to push him to the absolute brink of his temper when his father was mentioned. He'd done plenty of debating--and then stopped debating because he wasn't going to change his mind and the information given thus far was only a courtesy.

Through it all, he'd missed Niles so, so very much. The letter announcing that he was due in a week's time had been both a welcome revelation and utter torture, because Niles was so close, and yet, so far.

It'd taken all of his willpower not to look down on the capital city like an overeager child awaiting a parent who'd promised a gift--but the moment word traveled through the shinobi information network, he'd gotten to a pegasus with a second's reins in hand.

Niles had been brought to a lovely sort of receiving garden at the base of Shirasagi's mountain, a guard and a pair of shinobi making their way towards their most honored guest.]

Lord Niles?

[deniles]

[Lord.

Leo had tried to prepare him to hear that word, but hearing his name and the word 'Lord' in front of it set him off kilter. He had yet to really visit this castle much, but today... it was going to be his home.]

Ah, yeah?

[God, compared to them, he really did look like a commoner.

He also looked very warm.]

Is Ryoma here?

[lightninglobster]

[The small entourage bowed in deference to poor Niles, the guard glancing skyward and lifting a hand to indicate the pair of white streaks steadily making their way towards the courtyard.]

His majesty is on his way. He figured he would take you the swift way, as opposed to the long.

[They could hup Niles' bed up the back road with its bridges and zigzags and general architectural nonsense, what even the fuck, Hoshido.

Ryoma, meanwhile, would never admit to having practiced riding simply for this day--he, as all noblemen--had been trained in the art of horseback riding... and promptly developed more of a taste for moving on his own two feet. However, seeing his fiance to the top of the mountain--with the best view of all--was worth getting back on the horse, literally and figuratively.

It wouldn't be long before Ryoma did a lazy circle to slow his steeds, landing them with sharp whinnies as he vaulted off of his mount, a second and third guard taking the reins as he immediately started for Niles.]

[deniles]

[Niles just blinks upwards, looking up at... oh god. Pegasus.

Niles can ride horses. He's not great at it, but he certainly can ride it. A Pegasus? He's unprepared. He looks a bit nervous when his fiance lands with them. His eye goes wide when Ryoma comes towards him. He immediately goes over to him and wraps his arms around him to kiss him.

For a short bit.]

I'm not riding up on a pegasus. I'm sorry, Ryoma.

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma pulls Niles in, close and tight, arms wound tightly around him as he pulled him up for a good, firm kiss. He had so many days worth of heart-aching, missed passion to make up for, peppering Niles with kisses for a minute before he let him have enough space to speak. He frowned, glancing at the pegasus and then back at Niles' carriage, a furrow coming to his brow.]

If you go by carriage, it'll take you the better part of an hour to make it up the mountain.

[deniles]

[He wants to say he doesn't mind. Ryoma can ride with him in there and they can talk again like they haven't in so long. He doesn't really have a rush to go up there.

But the frown.

Fuck.]

...Well. Then I'll ride on your pegasus.

[Niles may like to win, but he hates when Ryoma frowns.]

[lightninglobster]

[There'll be plenty of time to talk and to be together again... in the castle proper, where it was comfortable and full of interesting things that needed talking about. Ryoma relaxed a little, smile coming to his face as Niles acquiesced--he waved a hand and one of the guards took the smaller of the two pegasi, while the other led the larger to Niles and Ryoma.]

You first, then.

[deniles]

[Fine fine. Niles shakes his head, moving in to kiss Ryoma on the lips before climbing up on the pegasus. Gripping onto the reins, he looks down at him.]

Just remember if I get sick, it's your fault.

[He's still smiling, though. Even if it is a little bit nervous.]

[lightninglobster]

You'll be fine. You're made of sterner stuff than that, my dear.

[Ryoma hefts himself up behind Niles, arm around his waist as he gently takes the reins and arranges them to best distribute their weight. The pegasus whickers and flaps its wings when Ryoma digs his heels into its side. He tugs the reins to wheel the beast around and get it up to a gallop in the length of the courtyard, digging his heels in again so the beast leaps, wings catching the air and clawing the bird upwards.

Ryoma locks his arms around Niles, holding tight as they go higher and higher by lengths, pegasus going in a long, looping diagonal to carry them around the mountain and towards the castle. The city bustles beneath their feet.]

[deniles]

And yet I haven't ever ridden on a pegasus before.

[He just holds onto the pegasus as they begin to come upwards. His head and body backwards against his fiance, trying to stay still. He looks down for only a moment, but it's far too high for him to keep watching.

He just hopes they land on sturdy ground again soon. Looking at the castle that comes out, it just makes him realize.

This is his home now.]

[lightninglobster]

There's a first time for everything, right?

[Ryoma's cheer was a bit like the rest of his emotions--a bit blunt and forward and not particularly sweet, but it's what you got and good luck on dealing with it.

Castle Shirasagi reaches for the heavens where Castle Windmire burrows into the depths; it's a beautiful tower-like structure that catches the sun's light and sends it shimmering over the gold that Hoshidans so love to adorn with. The greenery is bright and lush, and the people wandering the grounds are adorned with colorful robes--Hoshido loves color on its buildings and its people and everything.

This is home now. And Ryoma is merciful enough to bring them to ground as soon as it's safe enough to do so.]

[deniles]

Yes. And sometimes a last time.

[But he imagines Ryoma will convince him once again.

Everyone looks so well dressed up. Niles, meanwhile, is still dressed in his Nohrian outfit. And already he's starting to feel regret about not finding something cooler because he's sweating a storm.

Servants come and move to help him down, which he's more than happy to take. Looking around the place and then back to Ryoma.]

Do your siblings know I'm coming?

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma just chuckles in response--he's missed Niles so very much. His sharp wit, sharper tongue... Niles grounds Ryoma and settles the parts of him that get so caught in what everyone else needs. It keeps him humble.

Ryoma gets off of the pegasus without aid, moving to Niles side with a pleased hum, hand coming to rest on the small of his back.]

Of course they do. I informed the court of my intentions about a month ago.

[He studies Niles for a moment, a small smile tugging at his lips.]

We should talk while you take refreshments--change out of your traveling clothes, perhaps. There are some things you can wear until your carriage makes it up the mountain.

[deniles]

[Niles does not care about others that much. That's just a fact of life. He grounds Ryoma in caring about himself like Niles care about him.

He blinked, looking behind him. He gave a quick move so Ryoma moves down to touch his rear. That's better.]

I'm sure everyone is pleased by the cruel Nohrian man Niles being a Prince-Consort.

[He smiles back.]

I don't think any of my clothes are suitable now that I can really feel how warm it is.