It was only after a month had gone by that Yuuri and those living on the castle had decided that they had at least gotten somewhere and there was no need to rush so frantically anymore. Everyone had kept a close eye on their king, as he looked paper thin after working just as hard as anyone else.
Gwendal was exhausted and he still felt the faint pulling his body from his recovery. Anissina had cornered him alone recently to tell him something that not even Gisela hadn't seen. It had made his heart sink a little and yet he took it with the same grace as he took any bad news.
He'd never be the same as he was before he'd been infected.
Apparently, according to Anissina, thanks to one moment when his heart had stopped and yet he'd been, by a miracle, brought back, his reaction to the plague had changed. Even though it was gone, it had left irreparable damage on his body. His heart wasn't quite as strong as it used to be, his stamina wouldn't be quite as extensive…in truth, the way he saw it, everything he could do was shortened just a bit.
He had no intention of telling anyone and knew why Anissina had made sure he was alone before letting him know. It was a personal thing for him, something that affected only himself, and no one else needed to know. Especially Günter, since he had a guess as to how badly the Mazoku would take it. It wasn't like he was impaired at any rate, he could still do all the things he did before, just not quite as well or as long.
Gwendal pushed himself away from his desk and stood, heading back to his chambers. Lately, Günter had taken to sleeping in his room, but there was nothing sexual about it, really. Usually when he got back, Günter was already asleep, and he couldn't really blame the man. Gwendal was used to this level of stress and work, he did it every day, but even Günter never usually did it on a constant basis.
Or so he thought. Before the whole thing, he hadn't really paid much attention to what Günter actually did besides teach the king.
However, when he entered, Günter was awake for once. He smiled brightly upon seeing Gwendal and launched up to hug the bigger Mazoku. Happily, his arms slid around that slim waist and the hug was almost bone breaking, at least from Günter's end.
"I missed you," came the whispered voice in his ear and he just melted.
"I…missed you too," he replied, not quite used to such openness. He hadn't courted anyone for a long, long time.
"Are you tired?" And suddenly Günter was everywhere with an energy the tired Gwendal thought should be criminal in that hour and after all that work. He was pushed to sit down on the edge of the bed, his jacket and shirt stripped with surprising speed, and Günter moved to kneel behind him.
"What are you doing?" he asked in curiosity, but never got a verbal answer. Instead, hands pressed into his shoulders and began to move in slow, sweeping circles, causing him to groan when the stiffness drained out of his body.
"It's been awhile since we've got to talk." Günter left a kiss at the nape of Gwendal's neck and the bigger Mazoku shuddered just a little. "I've really missed you. I'm used to just going to see you whenever I wanted."
"Regardless of what I might be doing."
Günter laughed despite his complaint. "That's what made it so fun, among other things."
Companionable silence descended and the atmosphere fell back to its easy relaxation. Of anyone else he'd ever met, oddly enough Günter was the one that could relax him like this with just his mere presence. He just felt so comfortable despite the fact that many would say they were complete opposites.
"Gwendal…"
He glanced over his shoulder. "What?"
A kiss was his only answer, a kiss that threatened something that would leave them gasping instead of sleeping that night. Günter didn't hide his restrained wants and it was communicated very effectively through their lips. It made him realize then just how long Günter must have restrained himself for years.
Though he would have loved to take up that offer, but he was far too tired so he only pulled away and gave Günter an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Günter, but I—"
"It's all right, I know you're tired." He swore he thought he saw disappointment in those lavender eyes, but Günter proceeded to tuck him quite enthusiastically that Gwendal wondered if he'd been mistaken.
Really, one of these days, he hoped that Günter would still tell how he felt instead of trying to figure it out on his own.
---
"How's Gwendal doing, Father?"
Günter glanced up from Yuuri's desk as Gisela approached. Their king had taken a break and he was merely checking over what he had done for the day. Really, he was a fast learner. He would have probably already completed all, or at least most, of his studies by now if he hadn't spent so much time trying to figure out how to skip.
"He's fine, though just as tired as the rest of us are. His recovery is coming along nicely and it almost looks like he was never sick at all."
Gisela's smile was blinding in its happiness and for a moment of dread, he feared that his daughter had fallen for Gwendal. She seemed just so happy about it…He'd always been so worried about Anissina until a few years ago. And boy, had that one been a surprise! "That's wonderful! Did you tell him yet?"
"Tell him what?" he asked in perplexity.
"Tell him you love him, of course!"
Honestly, does everyone but Yuuri know?! Yuuri was as dense as bricks to that sort of thing. Much as loved his king, he realized that flaw abundantly clearly. Perhaps if he had more observation skills about that, some of the conflicts he'd had in the past wouldn't have happened.
"Was it that obvious?"
"To anyone who really knew, except the one that knew you the most." Her smile became somewhat saddened. "I love you, Father, but I also know you well enough to know I don't know you at all. I know you love me, but there always feels like there's this invisible wall between us. I know it was a hard decision to make, letting me take care of Gwendal, and it was the first time that I felt like you really trusted, in me and my abilities. You raised me and I watched you in everything you did in return. I could tell what you felt, though you hid it exceptionally well."
Guilt slunk, cold and hard, down his throat and spine. "Gisela, I'm sorry—"
She shook her head. "You don't need to apologize. This is just who you are. I think, after all these years, that the only one you ever truly trust entirely, no matter what it is, would be Gwendal. I just wish sometimes that whatever caused you such pain to be like this, never happened or that I could have prevented it."
For a moment, he didn't say anything and when he did, his voice was little more than a whisper. "It was long before you were born, Gisela. Before Gwendal was even born and there was nothing anyone could have done."
"I'm sorry for bringing up such painful memories, but I just wanted to let you know that I'll always support you. You are, after all, my only father."
Had he really raised such an observant child, he thought as she walked away.
---
"Gwendal, do you ever wonder what made me the way I am?"
Gwendal lifted his head from the pillow in surprise and when he saw the faintly sad expression on his partner's face, he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair away. "Not really. You're you. Besides, it's the past and has nothing to do with us now, does it?"
Günter smiled and promptly curled at his side, head using Gwendal's shoulder as a pillow instead. It caused Gwendal to blush a little, as now he could feel every inch of Günter's warmth and body next to him. But the other Mazoku was asleep, and the thought to disturb him was repulsive. Another time then perhaps.
In his 'sleep', Günter sighed at Gwendal's thoughtfulness and sometimes wished he wasn't that way at times like this.