for Dorian (makingmyway) - Prince Dorian /Palace Guard Orym AU

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym spends too much time watching the prince. In fairness, it is his job to do exactly that, but it's gone so far beyond just the act of guarding a young noble. Of course it has.

When he'd first been assigned to this position -- the personal guard to Prince Brontë, a promotion really, after he'd managed to be in the right place at the right time to thwart an unexpected assassination attempt against the King and Queen -- he hadn't known much about the younger Prince Wyvernwind, save what he could tell from afar -- that he was beautiful, fair-faced and strong-shouldered, that he always managed to look the part of dutiful and perfect prince.

As he got to know him though, he'd seen more. So much more.

The prince is genuinely kind, not only for show in public. He's gentle and soft spoken, surprisingly down to earth for a young royal who's been sheltered in his kingdom all his life. He's funny too, clever and quick-witted once opened up. It took some time, really, but they've both let their guards down around each other. Orym has to remind himself again and again that he's nothing more than bodyguard, here to keep the Prince safe. Not to keep him company.

But oh he likes his company, has come to look forward to hearing that musical laugh, come to treasure when he's managed to convince Brontë to play or sing for him. There's a warmth in his chest when the Prince confides in him, when he's given glimpses into those surprising insecurities, his hopes and dreams.

It's several months into spending day after day with the Prince that he realizes he's fallen for him. It's foolish. It's utterly foolish and it can never be anything. So he wraps those feelings away and pushes them down as deep as he can.

Today they're in the palace courtyards. The sun shines bright from a sky that is a perfect shade of blue interrupted only by a few white clouds. Orym is rolling his wrist to let his sword dip and then rise, the familiar heft and weight of the blade comfortable in his hand.]

You know, you're good with a blade. I've seen it. But I could probably teach you a few tricks, if you'd be interested.

Comments

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Dorian?

[Orym echoes, breathless, stepping in closer and winding his arms around the other man once more, leaning into him. He needs to. He needs the contact, to remind himself that this is still real.]

I like it. A lot.

[He shuts his eyes as he turns to press his face to the place where Dorian's neck and shoulder meet, breathing in the familiar scent of him.] I've missed you so much.

[makingmyway]

[ With a smile, he's more than happy to return the embrace, holding Orym as close to him as he can. ]

Thank you. I like it a lot too.

[ Breathing a soft sigh, he presses a kiss on top of Orym's head. ] I've missed you too. Even while we were apart, you were always on my thoughts and in my heart.

[ Gently rubbing small circles in Orym's back, Dorian then hums softly under his breath, calling on the new magic that he has to send a gentle wash of healing over the halfling. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Something in Orym melts at the press of those lips through his hair, something that had frozen up without him realizing it, a winter that he'd slipped into unaware. And now spring is here once more, a welcome thawing.]

You never left my heart. Not for a minute. Even when I thought you were... [He tightens his arms around him.]

I'm not letting you go again. I can't.

[He feels the wash of that magic through him, soft and soothing, recognizing it for what it is.] Thankyou.

[makingmyway]

[ It's not too powerful, his magic still a bit new and unfamiliar. But he hopes it's enough to help at least. ] You're welcome.

And you don't have to. We can be together now, just like we wanted. [ Pressing another kiss to Orym's head, he then draws back a bit, cradling Orym's cheek in his palm, his eyes filling with tears even as he smiles. ] Whether we stay in this town, or we leave to find somewhere else, it doesn't matter to me, as long as you're there with me.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[We can be together now. Orym cannot remember ever hearing anything sweeter in his entire life. He leans into that touch, nodding in fervent, eager agreement.]

Anywhere. It doesn't matter where. As long as we're together. Wherever you go, I'll follow.

[This town. Any town. He lifts his own hand to settle against the other man's cheek, soft and gentle, and maybe Dorian will feel the ring on his finger.]

I love you, Dorian Storm. I will always love you.

[makingmyway]

[ With a smile, he closes his eyes and leans into Orym's touch, his hand reaching up and feeling the ring that he'd given his beloved. And maybe it's from the lingering fear of never being able to see Orym again, or the relief that they're reunited now and could live and love together, but his own tears manage to slip free as he draws a shuddering breath. ]

I love you too, Orym. I always have, and always will love you until my last breath.

[ Then, unable to hold himself back any longer, he draws Orym closer to capture his lips with his own. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[He loves him. Orym is overflowing with the feeling of it, of being back in the arms he belongs in. They're together. He can keep him safe now, can make sure that the nightmare of losing him never becomes a reality. He can remember how to live himself again.

Then those lips are on his, and Orym is kissing him back, an edge of desperation in it, but overwhelmingly it's relief and affection and a love so deep it threatens to consume him. He can taste the other man's tears on his lips, and he only moves closer, fingers finding their way into that ombre hair, holding him as close as he can.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian shivers at the fingers tangling in his hair, at the familiar scent and taste and warmth and presence of Orym that he had been missing for so long. His arms tighten around Orym's waist, holding him flush against him as close as they could possibly be.

But it doesn't feel like enough. After being away from his love for so long, it just isn't enough yet. ]

Orym...

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym is breathless in the wake of that kiss, and he chases Dorian's lips even as the other man speaks. No, it isn't enough, not yet. Maybe it will never be enough, but they have a lifetime to spend in search of it. A lifetime to make together.]

Dorian...

[The name tastes sweet in his mouth, natural even if new. He hears himself laugh, a sound he'd thought he'd forgotten how to make. But there it is, bubbling up in joy and relief.

And realization.]

I'm... I'm a mess. [Bloodied and dirty and...] I should really take a bath. [He leans back enough to catch the other man's gaze with his own, green eyes with a spark of something lighting them up.] ...want to join me?

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian's heart skips at the sound of Orym's laughter, something he's missed hearing in their time apart. And even knowing they'll be able to spend the rest of their days together, he hoards the moment in his heart, just as he had all the time he has spent with Orym, and just as he will with all the time that they'll spend together in the future.

Because every moment with Orym is precious to him.

The invitation sends a rush of heat through his body, staining his cheeks with a flush even as he can't help a grin. ]

Wellllll... we did spend the last few days traveling, so it would be nice to clean up.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym wants to know everything that he's missed. He wants to hear what Brontë -- ah no, what Dorian has been up to in his travels here. He wants to listen to the other man talk and sing. He wants to spend hours kissing him so that there's no room for words. He wants to hold him and be held and feel all of him.

The halfling feels alive for the first time since the day he was taken away from the palace, away from the man he loves. He inclines his head towards the washroom.]

I'll start the water.

[Though he can't seem to pull himself away from the other man, instead catching those lips in another kiss.]

[makingmyway]

[ He has so much to tell Orym, done so much during their time apart. While his time at the palace has been a blur, days blending together just waiting to be married off to whoever his father chose for him, since being “abducted” He’d done and learned so much. He’d even made some friends, the “bandits” hired to kidnap and escort him here to find Orym, having gotten to know them during their travels.

But more than anything he’s missed Orym so much, and the thought of being able to finally live the life they wanted, the life they had planned for makes his heart soar, a feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time.

He smiles into the kiss, holding it and returning it for a moment before drawing back. ]

Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym starts to lean in after the kiss, but right yes. Dorian has a good point, doesn't he? It was Orym's idea in the first place. He nods.]

Mm... right, yes. Let's go.

[Out of those arms and he starts towards the washroom, glancing back over his shoulder at the genasi to make sure that he's coming with him.]

[makingmyway]

[ As Orym gets up, Dorian rises to his feet himself to follow after the halfling. As he goes he slowly begins to undress, unclipping his cloak and setting it on the bed.

And as he removes his shirt, Orym might notice that the former prince seems to have gained some muscles during his travels - he’s still lithe, but his torso is a bit broader, and his arms are a bit more defined. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym begins stripping out of his clothes as well, pulling his shirt off. There are more scars than there were before, and he's leaner, sharper edged, though still all wiry muscle, still every bit the warrior. Maybe more than, as if that had been the only piece of him that had really managed to make it out here sent away from the man he loved, and then worse told that he had been killed.

But Dorian is here. Orym reminds himself and casts a glance back over his shoulder in time to see Dorian pulling his shirt off and oh. Well.

The halfling bites at his bottom lip. The road has clearly agreed with the genasi. ...he's totally going to get caught staring, and he doesn't care.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian certainly feels Orym’s eyes on him, but he doesn’t mind. He’s missed the feeling of the halfling watching him, feeling his gaze drinking him in.

Cheeks flushing a little, he glances over at Orym as well, but his expression sobers a bit now that he can really see the small figure. He’d felt that Orym seemed thinner, and while still all lean muscles he really takes in the new scars that mark his skin since he’d last seen Orym. ]

Oh, Orym…

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym blinks before he realizes what Dorian is reacting to. He looks down at himself and laughs, soft and sheepish.]

Guess I look a little worse for the wear, huh?

[Slowly he lifts his gaze back to the other man.] Is it bad?

[makingmyway]

[ Holding Orym’s gaze for a moment, he then steps closer and kneels before Orym again, tracing a few of the newer scars with his fingers. ]

Well… I’ll admit, I’m a bit worried about how often you’ve been fighting to get so many scars. But honestly… they do make you look more rugged.

Besides, I can’t really say all that much.

[ This close up, Orym might notice some scars here and there along Dorian’s skin. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

There's a little more to fight out here than at the palace.

[Protecting his prince had been an important job, and he'd earned the post with his accomplishments in the palace guards, but it had been a much quieter position than out on this remote town, the outskirts of what counted as civilization.

As Dorian kneels in front of him, he lets his fingers trace one of those scars on the other man's skin.]

We're together now. We can watch out for each other. But Dorian Storm, humble bard, you will always be my prince. I will always keep you safe.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian chuckles softly. ] So I’ve noticed.

[ Even just traveling between towns had been a challenge, running into creatures and monsters that he’d never imagined encountering.

His breath hitches softly, and a shiver runs down his spine as those callous rough fingers trace over the raised lines on his skin. He hadn’t thought much of them before, but the sensation of Orm’s fingers brushing over them sends a pulse of heat through him. ]

I trust you with my life, Orym. Even now, I know I’m safest with you. But hopefully this time I’ll finally be able to return the favor.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym hears the way Dorian's breath catches, and it kicks his own heartbeat up quicker, his touch lingering. His beautiful lover. The man who has given him back his heart, brought light back into his life when he'd thought that it would never shine again.]

You've saved me already... but yeah. We'll have each other's backs now.

[His hand slides up and along Dorian's chest, up to settle at the side of his neck.]

This is real. Actually rea.

[He's still wrapping his mind around the reality of it, that it's not a dream, not a cruel fantasy.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian releases a shaky breath as Orym’s fingers glide across his skin, and he swallows the lump in his throat as the touch sends more heat pulsing through his body.

The words have his expression softening though, and with a smile he leans forward to rest his forehead against Orym’s. ]

It is real, Orym. We’ll be able to stay together now, and always, I promise.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Always.

[Orym echoes, hand moving to settle against Dorian's cheek as they lean together. He wouldn't let him go again. It had nearly undone him, and the feeling when he thought he'd lost Dorian forever it was...

No, he's staying by his side now.

He realizes he's slowed their trip to the bathtub again but he can't feel bad about it.]

We should... the bath...

[makingmyway]

[ With a fond smile, Dorian presses a kiss to the top of Orym’s head. ]

Right. The bath.

[ Gently combing his fingers through Orym’s hair, he then gets to his feet and begins unfastening the ties of his pants. And after another moment, though, he can’t help a soft laugh. ]

Your hair has gotten pretty shaggy.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym moves to start the water finally. That's going at least -- the one little luxury he seems to have in this place, a spelled tap that will make hot water a thankfully easy commodity. He found himself bruised and battered enough that the hot water was a godsend.

More so now that he didn't have to worry about starting a fire before they could have a proper bath.

He turned back at the comment about his hair, laughing and lifting a hand to run his fingers through it.] Guess it has, yeah... I should probably get it cut, huh?