The Wait

The practice fields were full of young soldiers crossing swords. The glint and clang of sharpened metal filled the air. But despite the flurry of sounds and movement, large, black eyes immediately focused upon their intended target. A tall man with brown hair, brown eyes, and a brown uniform stood among them. In a land of beautiful, exotic men and women he would look exceedingly average, but he was far from it.

The maou watched the captain of the guard as he instructed one man on proper sword handling. Conrad was always so patient, which was impressive given how trying an average day in Shin Makoku could be. They usually started with explosions and escalated from there.

Just as Yuuri was about to walk over to Conrad, the soldier's eyes caught him and the man flashed that familiar smile. It was rare to find an occasion when he wasn't wearing it as if it were every bit a part of getting dressed in the morning as his boots, but somehow it still felt like he wore it just for him.

"Conrad, I have a question for you," he began when the other man approached.

"You may ask me anything, your highness."

Yuuri could have supplied the response himself just as Conrad could have easily told anyone who asked that the maou's next words would be, "I've told you to call me Yuuri."

"Of course, Yuuri," came the somewhat amused reply. "What did you want to ask me?"

"Well," he began, "It's been five years since I arrived."

"Four years, eleven months and two days. Mother is already planning the celebration for the anniversary. You'll want to be careful." Amusement reached his warm eyes.

"You'll protect me. You always do." The king smiled, getting a little off track before remembering his carefully practiced speech and returning to it. It had been easier to say in the mirror. "It's been three years since Wolfram stopped calling me his fiancé."

Conrad inclined his head at that. It had been a very difficult time for his younger brother…for all of them, but in the end it had been necessary. The longer it had taken, the harder it would have been. And with Yuuri's positive attitude and bright spirit it hadn't taken so long for Wolfram to recover as he thought it might.

The blond never said so, but many in the castle suspected his ability to rebound was also due to the renewed bond of Cheri's two youngest boys. It had been a long time coming and it came on gradually, but it still surprised Conrad the day Wolfram hugged him and called him little, big brother again even if no one else was surprised.

The older man nodded and waited for Yuuri to continue.

"It's been a few years since it became obvious I'd keep aging like a human."

Brown eyes opened wider, not expecting that. It was true, of course, but it had become as much a taboo to mention as questioning Murata's loyalty or commenting on the inappropriateness of his mother's dresses.

"It's been a long time since I've said anything about it being strange for boys to be together."

Another slow nod as the older man tried to predict the maou's thoughts, which was only slightly less impossible than predicting the sage's.

"So, what I want to know is," he took a deep breath before finishing, "just how much longer do I have to wait for you?"

The question was finished, but Conrad felt no closer to reaching an understanding. "Wait for me, your highness?" He repeated, his confusion evident.

The dark haired boy sighed and shook his head. "I guess some things a king just has to do for himself."

The soldier was already a lot of things to his king—the man who named him, a loyal servant, a fierce protector, and an understanding confidant. Yuuri hoped he could handle this one last thing.

So, he wordlessly stepped forward and pressed his lips to Conrad's.