Nasch wakes to warmth, both a blanket and another body wrapped around him. He breathes in, then out, then turns to face Durbe. He's still sleeping, face peaceful, and Nasch wishes he could let him continue dreaming, but light is filtering through the shades and he knows this won't last forever. Nasch wraps an arm around Durbe's waste and leans forward to press his lips against the tip of Durbe's nose, then his eyelids, then finally Durbe's mouth.

Durbe's eyes flicker open at this. "Morning, Sunshine," he mumbles, blinking and stretching out his arms. He kisses Nasch back, and Nasch closes his eyes, desperate to implant this into his memory. This will be the last time they can be together like this for the foreseeable future, and he wants to remember every moment of it.

They separate too soon, and Durbe slips out from under the covers to go collect his clothes scattered on the floor. Nasch doesn't move from his position besides rolling into his back to watch Durbe pull on his clothes. He doesn't want to get up, doesn't want to get dressed and go downstairs and act like there's nothing between him and Durbe when he sends Durbe off.

If Merag was here, she'd accuse him of acting like a child, not a king. She'd yank the blankets off him, shove him out of bed, and tell him to get off his ass and do his duty for his kingdom. Even if that means letting Durbe go.

So Nasch climbs to his feet, dons his ceremonial robes, and brushes his hair down. He opens the blinds to let the sun in.

When he's finished, he turns to his partner. "Durbe, I want to say goodbye now."

"Now?" Durbe repeats, lacing up his boots.

"Yes, without an audience."

Durbe stands, his attention caught. "What do you wish to tell me, my King?" His lips twitch up into a smile.

"Don't be like that," Nasch rolls his eyes and sits on the edge of the bed, then changes his mind and stands again. "Be safe out there," Nasch's eyes flicker towards the window and the sky beyond. "I mean it, too. I want to see you again one day."

Durbe steps forward into Nasch's personal space, his smile fading. "I'm not planning on dying, you know. And I can't stay here forever."

"And I do not intend to keep you here forever, I just." Nasch pauses. Durbe does not speak, giving Nasch time to swallow his pride. "I just fear that you will not come back, and I will be here praying for your return just like the women do when their husbands leave for war."

Durbe shakes his head and takes Nasch's hands. "It won't be like that, Nasch. I'm not going to war, and you'll be so busy you'll hardly know I'm gone."

Nasch sighs, "I don't like goodbyes."

"Then don't think of this as a goodbye. Think of it as... a vacation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, you know." Durbe smiles at his own joke, and Nasch can't hold back a smile of his own.

Durbe lets go of one of his hands to caress Nasch's cheek. "This will not be the end of us, my King. We will see each other again one day." He presses their lips together. "This is not goodbye," he repeats, then goes for another kiss.

When they pull away, Durbe is no longer smiling. Nasch wonders if Durbe believes his own words, but there's no time to ask because there's a knock on the door. Durbe steps back. "It's time to leave."

At the door waits Merag, and she gives Durbe a kiss on the cheek in greeting. "Good morning, Sir Durbe, brother. Are you ready for your flight?" Durbe nods. "Good. Let's go, boys, breakfast is ready for us."

She leads them to the dining room, none of them speaking. Breakfast is a quiet affair too, the only sounds being the clinking of forks against plates as they eat their eggs.

Breakfast also finishes too fast, and soon Nasch and Merag escort their foreign companion to the stables. A handful of Durbe's friends wait for him, holding last minute goodbye presents to give to him. Thick clouds conglomerate in the skin, and everyone is forced to say their goodbyes quickly before the heavens begin to pour. Durbe insists Mach can handle a storm, but it's bad luck to send a guest off during a rain shower.

"May your flight be smooth," Merag says as she slips out a small package of hard candy out of her pocket and hands it to Durbe. They share a smile and a hug.

"Thank you, Lady Merag." They step away, and Durbe turns to Nasch. "Goodbye, my King."

Nasch shakes his head, thinking of what Durbe told him earlier. "This isn't goodbye, my friend."

"You're right, of course." Durbe's goofy smile makes Nasch's heart flutter. "We will see each other again, my King."

Thanks for reading! Please remember to leave a comment~