Three years of sleeping beside the most beautiful person Yuuri had ever met (and he'd met some ridiculously beautiful people) and one too many drinks proved too much for Yuuri's newly awakened libido one night. So an embarrassingly awkward attempt at sex later (he had no idea what to do, and refused to let Wolfram lead) Yuuri realized that he was maybe not quite as straight as he'd once thought (and that anal sex required lubrication).
Armed with these new revelations, Yuuri's nights promised to be more interesting. It was the days that were the problem…
"It's not that I particularly mind discussing wedding plans," he explained to Conrad as they cooled down after their run. "But that's all Wolfram ever talks about now." Yuuri snorted. "I never thought I'd say this, but I miss his jealous outbursts and fighting with him. It's just so…" Yuuri couldn't find the right word. Boring? Monotonous? Irritating? None of them encompassed the reflexive wince whenever Wolfram started talking. Even when the topic wasn't the inevitable wedding.
"You're transitioning to a new stage in your relationship," Conrad explained easily. "Things will smooth out in the end, you'll see."
Yuuri sighed. "I just wish it seemed like Wolfram was having the same problems too."
Conrad smiled gently. "I'm sure he's just having… different problems."
While that may have been true, Yuuri couldn't see any sign of that as he entered the dining area. Wolfram was sitting by Greta, contentedly eating breakfast as if everything was fine. He perked up when Yuuri came in. "Yuuri, I–" Yuuri winced as he felt that unique headache that only Wolfram's voice could provoke. Wolfram's face fell. "…Greta wanted to ask you something."
Greta looked as surprised as Yuuri. "Um… I was just asking Wolfram if we could go on a picnic, the three of us. Like old times."
Of all the people Yuuri knew in Shin Makoku, Greta was the only one who'd visibly aged, and she'd been growing distant from her adoptive fathers as she approached their ages. This was a wonderful opportunity to rebuild their connection. "That sounds lovely." Yuuri didn't have to check his schedule; Wolfram knew it better than he did and if it was okay with him, then Yuuri was free.
That was one of the things that Yuuri was simultaneously grateful for and resentful of; the way Wolfram 'took care' of him. Rather than partners, Wolfram still treated Yuuri like the clueless boy he'd been when he'd first arrived. True, it meant that Yuuri had strong support close at hand when things became difficult, but mostly it meant that Yuuri had someone who was sure they knew best and was always prepared to condescend to him. It was tolerable coming from Gunter, even expected coming from Gwendal, but from Wolfram, who looked no older or experienced than Yuuri, it was getting old.
Still, it was what he was stuck with. Yuuri sat down beside Wolfram and let the maid pour him tea. "Can you pass the bread?"
Wolfram did, and Yuuri was taken aback by the elegance of his hands, reminded of the way they felt on his skin as they…
"Yuuri?" Wolfram looked at him with concerned eyes and they were still the brightest, most beautiful eyes Yuuri had ever seen. All told, Wolfram's beauty was angelic, undeniable, enrapturing…
…and lately, the only thing Yuuri could stand about his fiancé.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to Wolfram and it wasn't fair to him. If Yuuri was willing to accept the benefits of an adult relationship with Wolfram, he should at least be able to settle his irrational feelings.
Yuuri raised his head and met Wolfram's eyes with his own, and a smile. "Thanks."
When Wolfram smiled back, Yuuri felt like he'd accomplished something.
The picnic was wonderful, the three of them acting like the family they had been, then no longer needing to act as they fell into an easy rhythm together. Greta wasn't quite the young child she'd been when she first arrived, but she was still younger than her fathers and let herself relax around them. Yuuri, in turn, stopped expecting this young woman to do the childish things she used to, and Wolfram even started treating her like a lady. By the time the picnic was over, Yuuri felt closer to both of them than he'd felt in a while, even if their bond weren't the same as they were.
Wolfram's hand found his and Yuuri found himself thinking that perhaps these bonds were, in their own way, even better.
That night was one of the best Yuuri could remember. Wolfram was warm and pliant and beautifully reactive. When they were done, breathing hard beside each other as they cooled off, Wolfram slid his hand into Yuuri's and it felt… nice. Comforting. Yuuri laced their fingers together and turned to watch a lovely, hopeful smile blossom over Wolfram's face in the moonlight.
Yuuri smiled back. He could do this. He could be the man Wolfram wanted, he could embrace the life that had been set out for him from the moment his palm had come into contact with Wolfram's face. He snorted.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just thinking about that engagement again."
Wolfram huffed a little, in embarrassed humour. "Would you take it back if you could?"
"I don't… no," Yuuri said decisively. "No, after getting to know you and having a family with Greta and everyone… I wouldn't give that up for anything."
Wolfram seemed satisfied with that, curling up against Yuuri's side and falling peacefully asleep.
OoO-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-OoO
Wolfram considered that night the turning point in their relationship.
He'd admit, however, that his and Yuuri's 'relationship' had a lot of turning points. The first being, obviously, the engagement. Then Conrad's desertion. Greta. Shinou stealing Wolfram's heart, whenever Wolfram thought he'd been about to lose Yuuri, when he broke the engagement himself, their first night…
Wolfram tried not to think of that. It wasn't that he had been reluctant to give his body to Yuuri; from the moment the engagement was formally settled, he'd expected it, even going so far as to appear naked in Yuuri's bed. But Yuuri had never taken him up on any of his non-verbal offers and Wolfram had fallen into a pattern of habitual nonchalance.
Who was he kidding? He'd completely dropped his guard.
When he and Yuuri had staggered into their room that night, Yuuri too drunk to stand on his own, Wolfram had expected the usual; Yuuri would look at him weirdly, then collapse on the bed.
Well, he did get the weird look. Followed by a heated kiss and Yuuri tugging at his clothes.
It had been humiliating. Yuuri's eyes had been glassy and unfocused and he'd refused to allow Wolfram to do anything, keeping him supine and beneath him with grunts and rough handling. Wolfram remembered how willing he'd been to just take this opportunity, and how surprised when Yuuri had tried to take him, dry and without any preparation.
He remembered a blast of fire, the Maou, being soaked and held down as he panted in the most stomach-churning mix of fear and pain and arousal that ended the experimentation.
Yuuri was completely apologetic the next day, and thrilled when Wolfram agreed to try again.
They eventually got it right, but it was still… one-sided. Yuuri occasionally let Wolfram guide but never take control. Not that Wolfram minded – if that was what Yuuri preferred, then that was fine with him. No, what Wolfram minded was the way Yuuri seemed to regard their coupling as separate from the rest of their lives.
What should have been a consummation of their love was instead a stress release at the end of the day. And nothing changed.
Until that night.
After that, Yuuri took their relationship more seriously, becoming more circumspect, more attentive. He acted like the perfect fiancé and Wolfram had nothing to complain about. Except…
Wolfram couldn't shake the feeling that it was an act. Yuuri didn't seem malcontent or anything, but he didn't seem… fulfilled either.
At first, Wolfram tried to make Yuuri happy. Yuuri wasn't flirting, so Wolfram wasn't jealous. Yuuri listened to him, so Wolfram no longer nagged. Yuuri wanted Wolfram at his side, so Wolfram left him alone without any complaints. Their relationship stabilized into that of a happy couple.
It was Yuuri who brought up the marriage next, publicly even, at the supper table. It took Wolfram by surprise as much as anyone else.
"Gunter, is there anything done in Shin Makoku to decide on auspicious days for events?"
Gunter looked up from his plate. "Well, there's astrological readings, of course, geological variants, immediate omens that can't necessarily be planned for… why, Your Majesty?"
"I was wondering," Yuuri placed his hand on Wolfram's, "if we could get some dates a year from now. For a wedding."
Wolfram's heart stuttered. Gunter frowned. "This is a little sudden, Your Majesty…"
"No." Yuuri turned to smile at Wolfram and he looked… satisfied. "It's just formalizing what's already there." He took Wolfram's hand and kissed the back of it. "I want to be a real family."
Wolfram could barely speak past the lump in his throat. "Yuuri…" He could feel his eyes stinging with happy tears. This was everything he'd ever wanted.
…not that that made him suspicious or anything. Especially not after Yuuri took him to bed and slowly drove him out of his mind with pleasure. No, lying next to his fiancé, Wolfram wasn't the slightest bit uncertain or worried. It was just…
"Where did that come from?"
"Hmm?" Yuuri rolled over to face him. "What? I don't think I did anything new…"
"The wedding plans. You didn't mention anything about it to me."
Yuuri sighed and lay back. "It's natural, isn't it? We've been together for years and together for months. It's not like we're ever going to break up, so why not make it official."
…right. Why not. "Do you really want to?"
"Go to sleep? Yes."
"Marry me."
"I wouldn't have brought it up if I didn't."
"But–"
"Look, Wolfram." Yuuri sat up, suddenly impatient. "We're together, we're engaged, and I'm willing… I mean, I want to marry you. We don't have to make any decisions right now but this is what you wanted, isn't it? I don't know what else to say!"
Wolfram swallowed. It had been months since they'd fought. He'd almost forgotten how. "I'm sorry." The words came easier than they ever had, but felt hollow. "It just seemed too good to be true."
Rather than ease the discord, that seemed to make Yuuri angrier. "You still don't trust me!"
"What? No, I…" don't. Not really. Wolfram stared at Yuuri in stunned realization. But, still… "I love you."
That, finally, calmed Yuuri down. "Well… fine then. Good night."
"Good night." Wolfram was nearly asleep when the thought hit him.
For all the times he'd said I love you, Yuuri had never once said it back.
OoO-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-OoO
There was no final date of the wedding announced after a few weeks, and Conrad felt the tension between Wolfram and Yuuri steadily growing.
He'd thought they were beyond this. That they'd made their peace and found happiness with each other. He'd hoped for it, prayed for it, sacrificed for it, always ignoring the small voice in the back of his head that whispered tempting things and snide observations.
He loved Yuuri.
He loved Wolfram.
He knew his place.
It by Yuuri's side, guiding and protecting him. Wolfram was a protector as well, and a better one with his powerful maryoku than Conrad could be, but Conrad was different. He wasn't just a protector, he was a shield. Anything that could harm Yuuri should harm him first, if not kill him outright. Whether that harm came from swords or magic or the inappropriate feelings Conrad carefully locked away.
When Yuuri discovered that he shared a soul with Julia, Conrad's old love, Conrad had seen realization and pain enter his eyes. He longed to explain that that wasn't why he acted or felt the way he did, but instead he settled on a half-hearted promise that he saw Yuuri as Yuuri. That promise served its purpose, healing the hurt, but the rift, caused by Conrad's desertion and Yuuri's doubt, was never healed. Or even addressed.
When Conrad returned, Wolfram and Yuuri were closer than ever, although far from as close as they would become. Even the Great Sage, a boy of similar age and Yuuri's friend from Earth, couldn't fill the hole Yuuri's life that only someone like Wolfram, who aggressively made himself Yuuri's equal, could.
Conrad could never be Yuuri's equal. Conrad was stronger, more intelligent, older. Yuuri was braver, cleverer, brighter. Whether Conrad stood above Yuuri as his guard or Yuuri stood above Conrad as his Maou, they never stood on the same level, even when they stood together.
It had been a foolish fancy to begin with. Yuuri claimed not to like boys, and no one but Wolfram, strong-willed, determined, breathtakingly beautiful Wolfram would have been able to change that. It had taken years, but it had happened. And now they getting married. Probably. Possibly…
Yuuri and Wolfram had found a kind of balance together before Yuuri announced his intention of going through the engagement. Afterwards, that balance was gone. Wolfram, always sensitive, started biting at anything having to do with their relationship. Yuuri, rather than playing the pacifist as he usually would, egged Wolfram on, pushing until Wolfram either snapped or stormed away. A few times, Yuuri managed to twist Wolfram's words so that Wolfram was shamed enough to publicly apologize. Rather than victorious or smug at the apologies, however, that made Yuuri more confused and upset.
Their spats used to be entertaining. Now they were genuinely embarrassing and occasionally scary.
Conrad had played the role of confidant for Yuuri since his arrival, but lately Yuuri would tense and get upset and refuse to talk about it, even on their runs. Conrad was running out of ways to beg Yuuri to let him help.
"Is it sex?"
Yuuri tripped over his own feet. Conrad trotted back to him and pulled Yuuri up, brushing off the dirt. "Are you hurt?"
"No."
Conrad nodded. "Well? Is it sex?"
Yuuri's face turned bright red and he backed away. "Could you not talk about that while standing so close?"
Well. It appeared that, excepting Wolfram, Yuuri's homophobia was alive and well. "Yuuri, answer me, please. Your relationship with Wolfram is important, to Shin Makoku, to Greta, to me…"
"To you?"
"Yes. When you called me 'brother' that day, after Shinou took Wolfram's heart…" Conrad smiled. "It made me very happy." A bittersweet happiness, but better than nothing. "If you're having a problem you can't resolve on your own, then I want to help."
Yuuri looked almost ashamed. "It… it's not the sex. That's fine. It's everything else! I'm doing everything I can to make it work, and he doesn't appreciate any of it. He can never just be grateful, he's always suspicious or begrudging or…" Yuuri sighed. "It's exhausting, trying to be what he wants. And it's frustrating when it never works. And sometimes, I just get so resentful…"
Conrad's arms were around him in a tight embrace before he could stop himself. "Yuuri…"
Rather than retreat, Yuuri brought his hands up to grip Conrad's shirt. "I had a plan, Conrad. Everything was going to be perfect. I was finally going to do things right. Why won't he let me?"
"Yuuri… are you doing this for you? Or are you just doing it for Wolfram and Greta and the country?" The way Yuuri ducked his head was answer enough. "I'm sure Wolfram just wants you to be happy. He loves you, Yuuri. You are… so loved."
Yuuri sniffed and lifted his head. "I know. I know, but Conrad…" Their eyes met and for a long moment, Yuuri just stared at him, the misery draining from his dark expressive eyes, leaving something like wonder behind. "Conrad…"
As Yuuri raised himself up higher, Conrad's arms tightened reflexively. He knew better. This was a bad idea. It was taking advantage, of his king, of his brother's fiancé… of Yuuri. He shouldn't allow…
Yuuri's lips were soft.
Conrad's head buzzed with different and occasionally conflicting thoughts, but the only one he could properly grasp was that Yuuri's lips, against his, were so soft.