How they realized they fancied each other.

Remember that these chapters are not posted in order.

The quest for the Arusian Crown Jewels was short in time but lasted lifetimes for Keith.

The Arusians were a neighborhooding kingdom at peace with Nefara, often trading in crops or information to the larger, even friendly participating in the biyearly Games with sword fights and fried fish.

A band of thieves had stolen the jewels and challenged anyone to take them back on the shores of the limestone beaches. It was a week's travel on horseback past many forests and small settlements, and for the most part was peaceful.

But Keith couldn't get over the slight thrill of traveling with Prince Hunakai.

He had bonded with his brother in arms, Lance, the most. They talked of the kingdoms and fit together quite well, and soon Hunakai had earned the nickname "Hunk" from Lance.

Keith thought it was rather rude but Hunakai embraced it and insisted on calling himself the name. Plus a band of young men traveling together would bring suspicion to the more gossip filled civilians, and calling a man by the prince's name would only draw more eyes.

Pidge, the former rouge turned noble, thought of it to be smart. They insisted on having notorious backstories for the travelers they've met, often changing their final location and lying through their teeth. It was nothing new to Keith, as he was from a closed Kingdom where secrets and lies lurked at every corner.

And he couldn't ignore the way Hunk looked at him. It was an interesting look, like how one might admire the valley on a daily walk. The same routine but yet some interest in it.

When he was a peasant girl he never got that look. When he realized he was a man and trained to become a knight he never got that look. He couldn't figure out what it meant.

Until Shiro, back ramrod stiff on his horse and shirt somehow clean despite the mud they've been sleeping in, smirked when he caught Keith staring at the back of Prince Hunk's head and teased him for having a fancy.

He never thought about having a partner. Knights often got wives later in life if they weren't killed, and he knew Shiro had a secret lover that worked as a merchant, but never gave thought to his own life.

And he stared at Prince Hunakai laughing at some joke Lance made, in commoner's clothing rather than his robes, long hair that Pidge braided that night before around the campfire, and thought that it could work.

And then he turned and smiled at Keith and Keith instantly changed his mind.

{~}

He took the second watch and was shoved awake by a half asleep Pidge at moonfall, told to watch out for the Fair Folk that lurked just out of sight, before they rolled over and instantly started snoring.

He sat up and leaned against the tree he had fallen asleep by, eyes drawn to the crackling embers of the fire. When sleep tugged at his conscience he stood, walked a few crisp laps around the camp, careful not to step on sleeping bodies.

"'Lo, Keith."

Hunakai, awake in his bedroll and soft smile alit by the dying fire, regarded the knight with that interested look that Keith still couldn't understand.

"My prince," he replied. "What has you up at this hour?"

"Pidge awoke me. I am but a light sleeper."

"My apologies, I'm sure they had no intent to." Keith awkwardly lowered himself nearby the prince as he sat up. "Do you not wish to sleep once more?"

"No Sir, might as well keep you company."

Oh goodness that smile. It made Keith want to run into the woods without even his gauntlets and perhaps never be seen again.

"There's no need to call me Sir," he said quietly. "I'm but a knight barely a year out of training."

"Of one who has slayed monsters and tricked mages?"

Keith could feel heat rise to his face. "I never tricked mages. Mages are prideful and easily swayable."

"Still of the most impressive. Lance spoke highly of your skills." The prince's fingers played with the edge of his bedroll. "Where do you hail from, Sir Keith? Your name is not familiar and your accent is of the northern kingdoms."

"Exactly that. I am from the far northern Taujeer, but came to these lands when I was but wee child. The nights and winters were bitter, and claimed my mother and father with the Fever. I all but grabbed this, burned the shack, and ran." Keith patted his side, where his blade was sheathed. It was a lie, of course, but not one so far from the truth. No one needed to know that he was from the magic ridden Galra.

Hunakai nodded. "I am sorry for your lost. But yet, I am amazed that you were able to climb the ranks to knight from but a peasant farmer."

Keith sat on the edge of his own bedroll, unafraid of falling asleep once more. "It was difficult, but I appreciate a good challenge."

They talked until the moon set, signaling the end of Keith's shift. Hunakai's eyes had begun to droop, and Keith kicked Shiro awake before settling onto his own bedroll, only closing his eyes when his heart stopped racing.

{~}

Pidge's keen hearing and suspicions had been the only warning before the arrows begun to fire from the trees.

Keith had dived from the horse with a clicking sound escaping from his teeth, drawing his sword, on his left Lance doing the same, drawing back his bow.

His chain armor could protect him from flint tipped bows, but judging from the thud of the arrow into the tree it was not flimsy rock, but rather iron. Which meant that whoever was firing was not fae, but rather roughs or thieves looking to rob weary travelers.

He was not a weary traveler. He was a knight of Nefara, trained under Shirogane himself.

He drew his dagger in his left and brought it to his lips, preparing to release air over the blade and-

Lance shot two arrows in quick succession, and two loud thumps sounded from a few units away.

"That's all of them." Pidge called from the dead rouge's sides, already looting the pockets for coins and weapons. Hunakai was grinning wildly, from either excitement or fear Keith could not tell.

"Oh Lord, they got maps to the White Cliffs." Pidge tucked the paper in their pocket and patted it lightly. "We will compare it to our maps, for rouge maps are more detailed than our own."

"Good. We would not wish to fall into quicksands," Hunakai replied lightly. "Very resourceful."

Keith patted the other rouge's side, finding a small bundle of berries and a dagger barely half a unit long, engraved with a single ruby on its helve.

{~}

"My prince, I do not wish for you to be limited to one weapon." Keith declared. "Please, take this."

He held the dagger towards his prince, with the hilt twisted towards him so the ruby was sparkling in the moonlight. Keith felt his face flush as he caught sight of his prince's face, dark eyes with those soft looking lips.

He wasn't expecting Hunakai to take the dagger, and press a small and barely there kiss to his lips.

"Thank you, my knight."

ITS DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE, TAKE THIS

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