Lee Chang had had enough of taking one step forward and two steps back.

It has been like this for almost a year now, for Yeong-shin maybe even longer. It was just a year ago that he finally understood what the little things Yeong-shin did for him were coming from more than the simple awareness someone had to protect someone.
Looking back at it there were signs before. Yeong-shin sometimes looking at him with a distant glance in his eyes he only had in those rare moments.
Yeong-shin who would not let anyone convince him to go to sleep instead of sitting outside Lee Chang's chamber the one time one of his wounds got infected and he was lying down for a week with a fever.

Seo-bi had to take him out with drops in his tea, that he almost did not take either.
And he definitely did not take any tea from her after that.

It was a sign, but Lee Chang was in a daze during those days and had a lot to catch up when he was awake again. His sickness had cost them valuable days.

The thing that finally made him understand was Yeong-shin's reaction to someone flirting with Chang. She was a widow and the owner of the place they stayed in for a few days. She was anything but subtle but still managed to not be too annoying. Even though Chang was not interested he could not help but laugh at something she said, he did not even remember it anymore but he remembered Yeong-shin dropping his glass and the way he was staring at him before he blinked and stormed away. He was gone for the whole night, Lee Chang tried to look for him but if Yeong-shin did not want to be found Lee Chang and no one else of their men was able to do so.
He was back the next morning as if nothing had happened but Lee Chang started to be more aware from then on.

He had seen the look Yeong-shin had, before.

It did not take long for him to figure it out from that moment. What took him a little though was the realization that Yeong-shin meant much more to him too. From early on he had been more than a simple lifeguard, he had long considered him as a close friend. Seo-bi and Yeong-shin had been like the family he never had.

When he noticed though, that Yeong-shin longed for more from him he started thinking about it. When Yeong-shin thought he would not notice and allowed himself a weak moment and stare at his lips. Lee Chang's thoughts started to go there too. To imagine how Yeong-shin's lip would feel. Would they be rough, firm? How would he kiss, slow and carefully or wild and rough like he fought? He would lick his lips then, thinking about Yeong-shin, and startling the very same with his movement.
He started to not even avoid Yeong-shin's eyes anymore after moments like this. Instead, he tried to catch them, tried to get another reaction out of Yeong-shin, admired the way his cheeks sometimes turned dark or how he would flee the room with a mumbled apology that barely made sense.

As much as Lee Chang cherished these moments he had enough.

Yeong-shin might be able to suppress his feelings. He himself would be too. But after living most of his life as a lie he was simply not willing to.

Yeong-shin liked him, desired him. Chang returned his feelings. It was simple.
He got bolder, trying to make Yeong-shin realize. He was a skilled observer after all. He must have noticed what Chang was doing. The problem was he was too afraid to act on it.

And Chang had enough of it. First, he wanted to let Yeong-shin come to him at his own pace. But after talking to Seo-bi about the matter and her mentioning that in fact, Yeong-shin was pining at least for four years of the five they knew each other was just too much.

Before he was even able to form a proper plan he simply acted when Yeong-shin was sitting alone in his room. He was waiting for him to talk about how training was going as they did regularly. Yeong-shin looked up at him when he entered. He wanted to get up to walk over to the table when Lee Chang raised his hand to stop him. Yeong-shin was confused, by the gesture but probably also the look in Lee Chang's face.
Chang got on his knees in front of him. Yeong-shin's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth to protest but was silenced instantly by Chang's lips on his.

His lips were much softer than Chang imagined. But he still did not know how he kissed because Yeong-shin did not react at all.

Chang leaned back, taking in the shocked face before him. Yeong-shin's eyes were wide and his lips slightly open, he stared at the prince like he was a ghost and Chang was wondering if he broke him for good when he finally blinked.

„You… I… Me… Why did you kiss me?"

Chang could not help but give him an unbelievable look. As mentioned before he was getting more obvious lately. Touching Yeong-shin whenever he found a good enough excuse for it. Or even without any if no one or only Seo-bi was around. Asking Yeong-shin to join him for a while longer after dinner, when Seo-bi already went to bed. Staring at him.

Chang cocked an eyebrow at him.

„You really can't figure that out by yourself by now? Can't you see it or don't you allow yourself to see it?"

„Your highness I…"

„Chang."

He bluntly interrupted. Yeong-shin had not called him that for a while now because he knew Chang did not like it if he did. He only used his old title to distance himself, to justify why he kept shying away.

Yeong-shin looked dow. When he met his gaze again something was different. Chang felt a tickle fo excitement run through his body when he saw it.

„You have to understand that if we do this I can't go back to before, I can't kiss you, feel you, love you and then have to stop again because it's not what you want."

„Is that a promise, do you swear to be my loyal lover from now on?"

„I mean it Chang."

„So do I."

Yeong-shin only stared at him for a few more moments and finally smiled.

„I swear but you will have to do so, too."

Chang grinned back at him.

„Look at you, a commoner demanding such an oath from his royal highness."

He leaned closer again and reached out for Yeong-shin's waist to pull him closer.

„Outrageous!"

Yeong-shin only laughed more and then finally he kissed him back.