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

[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?

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian hums, and as he removes his pants he folds them and sets them aside as he regards Orym. ]

I don’t know, I kind of like it. I didn’t realize your hair was so… fluffy.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym just blushes at that. Fluffy. Well, as long as Dorian likes it... Orym ducks his head, shy now.]

Yeah, it's curly when it gets long.

[He strips out of his pants as well, moving to check to be certain the water is the right temperature, nodding to himself.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian chuckles a little, sitting on the edge of the tub and letting his fingers trail along the surface of the water. ]

Well, I think it’s cute. As long as it doesn’t get in your way, I wouldn’t mind if you left it.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Yeah? Yeah, all right then.

[Here is Orym wonders if that means he'll have more reason for Dorian's fingers in his hair. He'd like that a lot, thanks.

He steps up to where Dorian is sitting, fingers brushing down along his arm.]

Water's hot. We shouldn't waste it.

[makingmyway]

[ Oh Dorian certainly plans to take advantage of Orym’s longer hair. He wants Orym to know how nice it feels to have fingers combing through one’s hair, give Orym a chance to experience such a thing.

Shivering a little at the touch, Dorian glances at him with a smile. ]

Well, when you’re right, you’re right.

[ Carefully swinging his legs around, he releases a satisfied sigh as he sinks into the water. Then he holds out a hand for Orym. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym will enjoy that more than he has any right to. For now though he watches Dorian settle into the tub, and smiles. His prince, his love, here in his empty little cabin, and suddenly it feels like home.

Wherever Dorian is, that's home.

Orym climbs into the tub after the other man, taking that offered hand and settling himself right in Dorian's lap, straddling his thighs and wrapping his arms around his shoulders.]

[makingmyway]

[ He helps Orym keep his balance as he steps into the tub, not that he thinks the halfling really needs it but it just felt nice to do. And when Orym settles in his lap he’s hardly complaining, wrapping his arms around Orym’s waist and pulling him closer, resting his forehead against his love’s and taking in his presence.

They’re really here together. They can really have this now. ]

I love you.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

I love you too. I really thought I'd lost you for good.

[Twice. Once when he'd left, and then far worse when he'd heard that his lover was dead.

Orym nuzzles in for a kiss, lingering against his lips.]

Will your friends be looking for you?

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian hums a soft, unhappy sound. ] I’m sorry. I don’t regret the choice I made, if it meant saving your life. But it had been so hard, and I wasn’t the same during our time apart either.

And when Cyrus set all this up, I really hoped to get here before you heard the rumors. But traveling here had been difficult, especially having to stay out of the towns closest to the capital to avoid me being recognized.

[ Dorian is more than happy to kiss him, tilting his head up a bit to deepen it while he could. ]

Mmm… maybe, but they also know I’ve been excited to see you. [ He pauses, a flush spreading across his cheeks. ] They never said anything, but I’m sure I drove them a bit crazy with how much I talked about you.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

I'm not letting you go again.

[Orym informs him. He understands why Dorian made that choice. He does. In his shoes he would have done the same, anything to keep his love safe -- even if it meant giving him up.

But that, well, it nearly killed Orym. And from what he's hearing, it wasn't good for the genasi either. They're better together.]

Yeah? I can't wait to meet them.

[A pause.] I mean... I can definitely wait a little while. Right now I just want this. You. You and me.

[Tomorrow he will be willing to rejoin the world.]

[makingmyway]

[ With a smile, Dorian nods. ] Neither will I.

[ If push came to shove, he certainly would do it again, make any sacrifice necessary for Orym. But he was glad that they could finally be together now.

Dorian laughs softly. ]

I don’t mind that. And I’m sure they’ll understand. I probably will have to drop by the inn later to let them know I’m okay and that I’ll be spending the night here, but after that… I’m all yours.

[ Now, and always. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

All mine.

[Orym echoes quietly, pleased by the way it sounds. He'll let Dorian out of his arms long enough to let his friends know he's alive. That's fine. As long as Dorian comes back to his arms before too long.

All his.

The next words he say seem to burst from his lips of their own volition.]

Marry me?

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian draws a sharp breath, his eyes wide as another flush colors his cheeks. ]

R… Really?

[ He’d always imagined that they would eventually, once they started their new life. But he hadn’t expected Orym to ask so soon, after they’d just reunited. ]