Kyle hadn't eaten much during dinner, instead pushing his food around and downing a few glasses of ale. He played it aloof and even blamed it on stress, and the court seemed to settle with that excuse. In truth, Kyle spent his entire meal putting up a front. Stan kept eyeing him across the table, smiling at him and subtly flirting. The king managed to save face; he let Stan's actions slide, remaining completely neutral and calm as he conversed with him. By some saving grace, his cheeks did not turn the same shade as his hair for the duration of the meal. He refused to give the royal court so much as a sliver of an idea that something existed beneath the surface of their respective roles.

He consulted Stan about this when they later met in the royal garden. A plethora of flowers and foliage shielded them from the outside world, though most were still in the process of reaching full bloom. Tall trees, bushes, and walls of flowering plants made for a secluded area of nature's most beautiful gifts. They walked along the path through the magnificent display, holding hands and staying close. Stan had noticed something was bothering Kyle when he didn't respond to a comment he had made.

"Is everything alright, my love?" he asked. They slowed to a stop, and Kyle let go of him. He looked up at the knight with tired eyes, breathing out a sigh.

"Your actions at dinner were unacceptable," he answered pointedly, crossing his arms. Stan's face fell.

"I know that a lot will go over the court's heads, but honestly, that was embarrassing," he frowned. "Please, don't do that again."

Stan took him by the sides of his arms, gently leading him to a nearby bench. Stan sat down, his palms on Kyle's hips as he looked up at him. Kyle stood in front of Stan in a defensive posture, hesitant to give in. Though no one could see them from outside the garden, Kyle still chose to disregard Stan's affections. Stan knew exactly how to make him weak in the knees, and he wanted to make his displeased feelings known.

"My love, I am so sorry for the way I acted," he began. "You know I meant no disrespect, especially in front of the court. I should have restrained myself." He hugged his waist, planting kisses on his stomach. Kyle let out a breath at his apology, releasing the tension in his body and running his fingers through Stan's hair. Stan relaxed at his touch, nestling his face against Kyle's abdomen.

Kyle caressed his dark locks, then slid his palm underneath Stan's chin, lifting his face to look him in the eye. "You're on thin ice, you know," he said steadily, his tone cool and gentle. The knight remained still as Kyle studied him. "But I still want you to ravish me."

At his words, Stan slowly stood up from the bench, taking Kyle's chin between his thumb and index finger. "As you wish," he murmured, never breaking eye contact as his half-lidded gaze elicited a swarm of butterflies in his stomach. Kyle longed to kiss him right then, but maintained composure long enough for Stan to take his hand and lead him up the stairs in the castle. Their surroundings became a blur as he could barely register any coherent thoughts.

Once safely inside Kyle's bedchambers, Stan locked the doors as the king prepared a fire. An orange glow that danced shadows back and forth on the walls warmed the room within minutes. Kyle drew the curtains and removed his crown of branches, setting it carefully on a nearby table. The two looked at each other in silence for a moment. Stan gingerly stepped up to Kyle, a change in pace, calming the atmosphere. He took a moment to simply hold his gaze, gently taking him by the waist. Kyle instinctively wrapped his arms around Stan's neck and smiled sheepishly at him.

"Happy now?" he asked.

"As soon as you let me make you feel good," he said. He kissed him once, pulled away just enough to look at him for a second, then kissed him again.

Kyle leaned back a bit with the intensity of Stan's lips on his. His pulse raced as he felt Stan pull him impossibly close. The two stumbled backwards, clumsily falling onto the edge of the bed. A smoother transition from standing to sitting would have been possible had they come up for air, but common sense was reduced to an afterthought.

Stan eventually broke their kiss only so he could lay Kyle down on his back. He parted his legs, then lowered down to reconnect their lips, hovering over him on his knees. Kyle grabbed Stan's face as he kissed him, curling his fingers in his dark hair. His mind became blissfully numb as his heart pounded, a paradox that threw his sense of self out from underneath him. His world collapsed, closing off the outside and nearly suffocating him in Stan's air.

Stan grazed his hand beneath the fabric of his trousers, caressing and gently grabbing at sensitive spots. Kyle held his shoulder in a vice grip as Stan touched him unbearably and almost teasingly slow. The king struggled with staying quiet enough so the entirety of Zaron wouldn't hear him. He pushed himself up on his elbows, breathing hard, looking at Stan sit back on his heels to undo his belt.

All articles of clothing eventually ended up on the floor, as now no barriers existed to keep them any farther apart than could be physically possible. Stan worked two fingers in the tender part of his backside, Kyle desperately clinging to him and failing many attempts to suppress sharp gasps and moans. He bit his lip in an attempt to reduce his vocality, but Stan's introduction of a third finger rendered it useless.

"Please," Kyle breathed, moving Stan's bangs off of his face with as steady a hand as he could manage. Stan took his hand back, smiling down at him. He became calm, lazily dragging his eyes over every plane of Kyle's body as he laid unprotected and defenselessly open underneath him. His touch was soft, moving across every line, curve, and bone with a delicacy that indicated his admiration for Kyle's fragile beauty. Stan traced his thumb on his cheek, then his bottom lip, opening his mouth slightly wider.

"Ready?" he murmured, stroking the freckled skin of his face. Kyle looked at him with half-lidded eyes, nodding as he allowed Stan to touch him.

"Yes. Please," Kyle repeated, breathing out a sigh. No other words or coherent language came to mind, leaving him unable to verbally express the desire that engulfed him.

Stan kissed him once more, barely mustering the strength to keep his calm. He looked down at him, silently comforting him as Kyle gritted his teeth. Hard breaths and deep grunts melted from Kyle's mouth as he left fresh, bright red scratch marks all over Stan's back. The heat of the fire expedited the sweat on their skin, illuminating their vulnerability with an amber glow. Kyle wrapped his arms around Stan's shoulders, and Stan buried his face in his neck.

The lines of reality and a dream-like state blurred. Kyle tasted honey as the petals of his innocence ascended into full bloom. Ocean waves slowed to a calm ebb and flow, and his vision returned.

They remained still in their close positions, nothing to be heard except for the sound of heavy breaths. The two looked at each other briefly, smiling softly, sharing a laugh. Stan groaned and flopped over on his back, lying next to Kyle as he rubbed his face.

"Do you feel ravished?"

Kyle pushed out one sharp, final breath, "Absolutely."