EXTRA…

A Matter of Honor


Author's Notes: This is a small gift of "thanks" for melodyz07, maric195, and lunerwerewolf.


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The one year anniversary was quite an affair. Lady Cheri had spent six whole months organizing the most wonderful feast that Shin Makoku had ever seen including a whole roasted pig with an apple in its mouth, trays and trays of barbequed beef, and a six foot berry cake, which was Wolfram's favorite, with sweet honey cream. Four tables for drinks were placed together. Champagne flowed freely along with spiced wines from the von Voltaire lands, and pear punch which was for Greta and her friends. There were also black, blue, and gold streamers waving like waterfalls from the ceiling of the Grand Ballroom. A long list of guests from the nobility of both Mazoku and human lands were in attendance as were foreign dignitaries who typically used such peaceful events as a cover to do some real business.

Yuuri didn't really understand why they couldn't just sit back and enjoy, but Günter explained that this was common—making stronger ties and pseudo agreements during supposed "relaxed occasions" meant that negotiations could start and no one would get their hopes up because nothing was "official." Gwendal did his best to stress that the foreign dignitaries had approached them. Thus, the interest appeared legitimate and much could be gained from goodwill.

To Yuuri, this sounded like a bunch of Japanese CEOs drinking together after work. And, he understood the kind of bonding that took place because of that.

Now, the double black wanted to join them, too, but that idea seemed to distress Günter and Gwendal. Apparently, they all had to keep up appearances. And, when the young king seemed reluctant to agree to the situation, Gwendal pulled out his final ace in the hole: "And I'm sure your husband will be perfectly fine about you missing the anniversary party. …You leaving him all alone, that is."

Okay, the possibility of being fried to a crisp won him over.

Throughout the evening, Yuuri tried to dodge jabs about this being the Longest Night and what a "lucky man" he was. Yuuri already knew that he was lucky, but he didn't like the implications of "getting lucky" which the men at the drinks table had been shooting his way. It was crude and Wolfram deserved better than that. He was a great person, not just someone to warm his bed at night and to use to his heart's content carnally. Sipping his drink and walking away to find Wolfram, Yuuri felt glad that he was the one to win Wolfram's heart. The others in the kingdom, he felt, were not kind-hearted enough or had ulterior motives that made him sick inside.

"You're mad," Wolfram noted, suddenly appearing at his elbow. He had a way of appearing and disappearing at his husband's side at parties now.

"I'm not mad…exactly," the double black denied but half-heartedly. "It's just that…I kind of…"

Wolfram nodded at that, tossing his long, blond pony tail over his shoulder. It was tied back with a black silk ribbon. It matched the outfit Wolfram had on—charcoal grey vest and trousers with a cream shirt underneath and light colored stockings with buckled shoes. "I've been teased repeatedly for getting married on the Longest Night, too…many times." He sighed but it wasn't angry. "My mother, your mother, and the sage can be quite taxing when they want to be and, I think, Greta overheard… and both you and I will have questions from her later on."

Yuuri groaned and smacked a hand over his face. "Just our luck."

Green eyes darted his way. "Do you regret it?"

This was a question Wolfram asked often and it demonstrated to Yuuri just how uncertain the blond could be at times. In fact, the day before their wedding, Wolfram had suddenly materialized before him in their bedroom with a backpack from Earth, a bed roll, and some wrapped up sandwiches. Yuuri had, at that moment, blushed and thought that Wolfram had planned a last moment, romantic getaway until he heard the words, "It's not too late. If you want to leave…to forget this wedding…I'll help you escape."

"Wha-?"

It hurt, Yuuri had to admit. He didn't understand why Wolfram had given him the chance to leave, but he was doing just that.

"Of course, Earth is another option for you." The fire Mazoku lowered his lead a little. Deep down, Yuuri knew that Wolfram didn't want him to go there. But, this was an offer of escape, and he wasn't going to deny Yuuri anything if it was what his heart truly longed for.

In that moment, Yuuri remembered, Wolfram never looked braver or more resolute. He offered his hand without hesitation.

A white knight here to rescue me…

They were going to sneak out of the castle. But something would break if he did go and, he knew, it could never be repaired.

"This way," the blond soldier said, gripping Yuuri's hand tightly and leading him to the door. He opened it a crack and peeked curiously. Was someone in the hallway? Could they leave now and not be seen?

Wolfram was trying so hard. He was doing his best no matter what his own heart cried for.

All for me.

"Wolf?" He whispered the name.

Did he even hear?

Their hands, clasped.

You're trying to let me leave, Wolf.

"Yuuri, I…" But, then, Wolfram's arm reeled him backwards and, before he could take another breath, Wolfram found himself in Yuuri's arms. Heavily, the backpack straps fell away from his shoulders, knocking the bedroll tucked under his arm, and the sandwiches hit the floor. Pieces of lettuce tumbled out.

Raven eyes looked kindly into green.

"If you're nervous about the wedding, Wolf, just say so. I won't judge you." Yuuri wrapped up the fire wielder in a warm, protective hug.

Yes, he was giving Wolfram's pride a way out. He would make the blond believe that he'd misunderstood—which was easy. It was obvious that Wolfram thought his fiancé was marrying him because he was trapped or had no other alternative. Worst of all, Yuuri suspected that his blond believed that there was really no love between them and that they were marrying for political reasons only. That rumor had been flying around the castle for the last week. So, naturally, Wolfram would learn about it and Yuuri knew that it was so easy to believe in the dark tales people told.

"But, thank you…Wolf. You always put me first, and I can't tell you how much it means to me."

It always felt good to hold Wolfram. The lithe body seemed to mold so effortlessly into his own and it made him contented. But, he'd known that for months now. However, when he really thought about it, it was more than touching; It was a closeness—a fondness—that ran far deeper than any physical act.

He shook his head. "It's just that…" Wolfram's voice sounded wet now. He was going to cry and the double black hated that more than anything.

"I want this life with you. So, don't listen to rumors and don't bother repeating them to me. I don't want to hear." He rubbed his cheek into the curve of Wolfram's neck. It seemed to soothe, and Yuuri could feel the blond resting his arms around his waist.

"Promise me?"

"Yes, but…"

Yuuri smiled and pressed a kiss on the blond's cheek. "The answer should simply be 'yes.' So, stay with that."

And, Yuuri noted with satisfaction, it had been a good time, too, with the exception of the awkwardness following the wedding night. At three am, both were too exhausted to do anything and Wolfram, lying with Yuuri—wrapped up in his arms on the royal bed, had fallen asleep while discussing how adorable Greta looked in the dress he'd ordered for her. Of course, the next morning, he awoke mortified. They were supposed to have had sex, right? He'd missed it! Yuuri remembered pinning Wolfram to the mattress with a kiss and watching, with satisfaction, as the shy blond shrunk back with eyes wide open and a tomato red face. He gave Yuuri a hard punch on the arm when he heard, "Gee, Wolf, if you're like that with just a kiss, I can just imagine…"

He never finished the sentence.

Yuuri handed Wolfram a slice of berry cake from the table. "Happy first anniversary, Wolf."

The blond shook his head "no" and said, "Your mother gave me something else just as sweet.

"Me?" he teased.

The blond glanced around casually. "Do you want to leave this party early?" He cocked his head to the right handsomely and Yuuri just couldn't resist.

"Okay, lets make our way to the front of the room, grab a plate of something, and go out the door."

And, with sly glances to each other, they left.


In the adjoining bathroom, he'd heard the unmistakable sound of something "crunching" while he was changing into the new thong with matching silk pajama set Wolfram had given him as an anniversary present. "Wolf? Uhhh…what are you doing?"

"Eating crackers in bed again."

Yuuri stopped struggling with the blue, lace-up the front thong to let his head fall backwards onto his shoulders in frustration. "Oi, Wolf! I hate sleeping on crackered sheets. Don't do that."

"But we need the plate."

"Eh?"

Wolfram, hair untied and spilling down over his shoulders, smacked loudly and wiped his chin off with his thumb. "Remember our wedding cake? Well, your mother took the very top tier and froze it for us to eat on our first anniversary." Putting aside the knife, he opened the gold trimmed cake box and peered at the beautifully frosted cake with white roses dotting the top. "Apparently, it's some kind of tradition." Out of consideration, he brushed crumbs off his blue nightie in the direction of the floor. "So, come out soon…okay? I want to eat this with you."

Yuuri turned off the water. "Wha-? Wolfram? Did you just say you wanted to eat me?" He ran his fingers through his hair with a boyish smirk. "That's a little bold, even for you."

Wolfram blushed and flustered something with an edge in his voice that Yuuri couldn't make out. He snickered into the palm of his hand, hoping the blond wouldn't know he was laughing at him.

"Oh," the double black called back. "Oh, and Wolf…"

There was a pause before "Hmm?" came uncertainly from the other room.

"Can you stoke the fire? I'm a little cold and this silk pajama set is a little…thin."

Wolfram chuckled darkly—casting a fireball into the already blazing fireplace. Inside, the broken remains of what was once a small, leather bound trunk burned merrily along with the firewood. Little embers floated on high.

"Oh, and Wolfram?"

The blond lifted his chin towards the closed bathroom door. "Yes, Yuuri?"

His voice mellowed into a soft, sincere tone. It was one that he would use with Wolfram for the rest of their lives. "I'm glad you agreed to marry me."

Wolfram nodded. "Yeah, me too."