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]

[ 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. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[Orym nods, serious and steadfast as he holds the other man's gaze, looks at those sky blue eyes, his own expression overflowing with how much he loves this beautiful soul in front of him.]

Really. I don't want to imagine life without you again. I want to spend every day left in my life with you. As my husband. As my everything.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian’s heart hammers in his chest, sending blood rushing through his ears. Despite that though, his smile is one of peaceful joy, even as tears fill his eyes. ]

Oh, Orym… I want that more than anything. To be with you for the rest of our lives. Of course I’ll marry you.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

[For a moment those tears have something in Orym's chest squeezing, but he realizes the smile means they're happiness. Relief maybe.

He hears himself laughing, all the joy that he'd never thought he'd feel again.]

Let's find somewhere far away from here. Where no one knows who either one of us is.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian nods eagerly, squeezing Orym closer. ]

Let’s do it.

Although… could my friends come with us? I mean, they should be safe here, since it’s far enough from the capital, but it would still be safer for them outside of the kingdom.

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Of course. If they're your friends, they're my friends too.

[Also the fact that Dorian has friends makes Orym feel incredibly relieved and warm. That he hasn't been on his own in his escape from his former life. That he's found other people who care about him.]

We can go wherever you want.

[makingmyway]

[ Technically they had been the people his brother hired to “kidnap” him, and travel with him to keep him safe. But he had been fortunate to get to know them better during their travels, and he was honestly glad to have them.

And he couldn’t wait for Orym to meet them, sure they would love the halfling too. ]

What… What about your original home? You said you’d come from somewhere far away, right? Could we maybe go there?

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

I... yeah, of course. It's beautiful in Zephrah. I think you'd love it there.

[He smiles the, leaning his forehead to Dorian's.]

You can meet my mom. She'll love you.

[She'll adore him and spoil him rotten no doubt. It's been a long time since Orym has been home, after all, and him coming home with someone who so clearly holds his heart? Dorian will be thoroughly welcomed.]

[makingmyway]

[ With a smile of his own, Dorian gently nuzzles into Orym. ]

I'd love to meet her. And to see what your home is like. You'll show me around, right?

[ He wants to see everything, to see all the places of the home where Orym grew up. ]

[bigmoonlittlemoon]

Of course. The full tour. The cherry blossoms and the cliffs and...

[Well now he's just excited.

He finds the bard's lips with his own again, another kiss then another. He feels light. Giddy. Alive again for the first time in what feels like so long.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian hums a content sound as he returns the kiss, tilting his head and pulling Orym closer to deepen it as his own heart races in his chest.

He's excited now as well, more than he's been able to be in so long. Even the hope of seeing Orym again after he'd left home had been tinged with a bit of fear, that something might have happened to Orym and he wouldn't be here anymore, or that things might have changed.

But being able to be together now, with the hope of going to see Orym's home and be with him, to have a life with the man he loved and the new friends he'd made, has his heart feeling so full and warm. ]