A little, pre-game Jade/Peony piece. This is my first story for this pairing and I hope you enjoy it and leave a review!
A relationship between the Emperor and his colonel wouldn't be appropriate, especially since they were both grown men who were always in the eyes of the world, so the Emperor and Colonel had to pretend that they were just that to each other, nothing more.
But, in private, when all the servants had left the room and they were sure there were no prying eyes, they became Jade and Peony to each other and didn't have to pretend anything. These moments rarely lasted long. A day in each other's arms, an hour of kisses, a second of a glance. Most times, the time together, really together, was fleeting. And, they had to quickly go back to being Emperor and Colonel.
So, Jade had to pretend not to run into Peony's arms after a long trip. Instead, they had to face each others for hours, obeying protocol, not giving each other a second glance in case someone's resolve didn't break and they revealed all to the public. Peony had to pretend not to wonder who the women he had seen Jade with in public was and Jade had to not become jealous when the emperor hit on some serving girl. Of course, Jade wasn't the jealous type to begin with, at least he didn't act like he was, but sometimes he did wonder if the Emperor's newest girl was really just around to keep up appearances. Sometimes it seemed like a pretty girl just hung around to dissipate any rumors that might have been started about the Emperor and his favorite Colonel, but other times Jade considered that maybe Peony would want a relationship he didn't have to hide. Sometimes, Jade considered the fact that the Emperor needed a legitimate heir. It couldn't just be Jade and Peony forever, not with the way society worked. Someday there would be a woman and Peony might even love her.
But, that was someday. Some future that might not even exist, given the way the world was going. What Jade and Peony had was a relationship that didn't require discussing the future: they had one that consisted of kisses behind closed doors, of Peony resting his hand on Jade's knee just for a second in a meeting. Of lies and secrets, but also of love.
The Score didn't say anything about their secret love and Jade was glad of that, but sometimes Peony wished it did. Despite having the Score, Peony really didn't want to think about the future: he just wanted to rule the best he could at each moment and to love Jade the best he could at each moment too. Even if some of those moments were shorter than others. He did like to imagine, though, a future where he could embrace Jade in public. He was the emperor after all. Shouldn't he be able to do that? But, that future didn't exist, at least he knew that from the Score. And, with the nature of Jade's life, Peony knew that he might not even have a Jade to have that future with. So, for now, when the doors shut and Jade fell into his arms, Peony held him as tightly as he could. Until the morning came and they were once more just Emperor and Colonel.