I'm just going to assume you know that I'm sorry. Have a chapter.

It was only an hour before the crowds started coming and Yuuri retreated inside the ancient palace. As expected, it was practically empty at the time, aside from two conversing guards who saluted immediately when he walked in.

He smiled politely back as he passed, his own elite guards following closely behind him. He was quick to dismiss them, leaving only Otabek, his bodyguard dressed in his silvery-blue armor behind. Otabek had been given this job as soon as he had gained his knighthood. His officials were quick to notice that the young man worked hard in all his assignments, and gave him the position after Yuuri's previous bodyguard retired.

Otabek had been faithful to Yuuri ever since that fateful day five and a half years ago. Even when he didn't hold his position as a bodyguard, he had befriended Yuuri. It had given him the advantage in being appointed, as Yuuri had made a clear point he didn't want a stranger following him everywhere.

Now, Otabek followed him through the people beginning to swarm. It wasn't long before Yuuri heard a commotion outside, and knew exactly what it was: the king of Solis had arrived.

Viktor, also had noticed the large crowd outside, and his guards had been quick to lead him to the solitude of inside, where servants and other officials had begun to gather.

Yuuri had been talking with two nobles, Guang-Hong Ji and Sueng-Gil Lee, when King Viktor walked in. On cue, everyone bowed deeply, save Yuuri, who made eye contact with the blue eyes, and slightly bowed respectfully, earning a smile and a nod back.

King Viktor was flanked by several helmeted guards and his bodyguard, who was not wearing a helmet. Yuuri knew who one of the guards were. One time, at a different eclipse, one of King Viktor's guards had been of duty and had resorted to flirting with Yuuri instead. The name Christophe Giacometti had been seared into his brain after that experience. Viktor's bodyguard's name was Mila Babicheva. As Yuuri had heard, she had been an exemplary student and been one of the most gifted swordswomen in all of Solis. Her bright red hair matched her gold armor rather well as she stood dutifully by Viktor's side.

Viktor was a sight in himself. He was wearing a piece of clothing that almost resembled that of a military officer, but the bottom extended down to the floor. A cape was wrapped around his shoulders, with what looked like clouds draping across the top. The top half of the cape was a calm orange, the color seen just as the sun was rising. The bottom half was a sky blue that seemed to ripple with the cloth, in a way that made Yuuri want to run it through his fingers to see if he was really touching the day sky.

Viktor was wearing brown gloves, and his crown was resting on his silvery hair. Yuuri had been surprised, when just after his coronation, Viktor had cut it from its previous waist length to a much shorter cut that covered his left eye. It had been a shock to both kingdoms, but Yuuri had decided that he like the more mature look of the other king.

The people in the room rose from their bows and continued with their conversations. The two noble Yuuri had been speaking with were called away. Viktor strolled up to Yuuri, his blue eyes shining.

"You look wonderful," Viktor said quietly, sliding up next to him, just loudly enough so that only Yuuri could here.

Yuuri was blushing. He knew it, but whispered back nonetheless. "As do you."

Viktor seemed happy with these comments exchanged between them, and walked away. Yuuri released the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He couldn't understand why, after so long, Viktor would want to say something so personal and flirtatious. Although, the king of Solis had been known to be rather… well, sexual.

Yuuri tried to shake the feeling out of his head. It's stupid, he thought to himself. We must be professional. If we even tried to have a real relationship, we would have to be secretive and- He cut himself off before he could finish the thought, reminding himself to be a king, and not another lover of the king of Solis. Rumors were floating around that he had had many, even if the man claimed that he was a romantic, and would never seek someone purely for pleasure.

At least, that's what he said, right? Well, said leader of the sun kingdom had been known to be rather surprising during his reign, thriving off his unpredictability. He might have just said that to lead people off guard, and then throw them all into a pit of confusion. It wouldn't be totally against his character, would it?

Maybe Yuuri was just overthinking it. Maybe King Viktor had really thought he looked good, and decided to voice it to him in a large room of people, who could have been listening and getting the wrong idea! And of course, Viktor had seen him in these clothes before, so why would he chose this specific meeting between them to voice it? Again, it would absolutely be in the king's character to plan out an exceptionally flirtatious comment just because he knew that Yuuri would be stuck next to him for the rest of the day. But the only way that he would have known that was if he had already spoken to Phichit, his friend betraying him by telling the king of his intention to stay, all the while mulling over the fact that his colleague had just said that he looked good!

"Yuuri?"

Yuuri whirled around, now face-to-face with the viceroy of dusk, with what was most likely a very blank look on his face.

"Yuuri, you've been having a staring contest with the floor for five minutes," Phichit said.

Yuuri blinked, his face returning to normal. "Sorry. I was just thinking."

His friend snorted loudly. "Yeah, you were. I saw Viktor say something to you."

Yuuri turned away, hopefully hiding the blush creeping up on his cheeks. "It was nothing important."

Phichit hid another sound of disbelief behind a cough. "Suuure."

"Shut up, Phichit."

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