Chapter 8: Time Is Limited
Wolfram opened the door to The Royal Bedchamber late that night after his patrol duties. It had been an average night, nothing much to report to Gwendal. Wolfram approached the bed and sat on his side in order to take off his boots. Yuuri stirred behind him, but he paid no mind since it normally took a herd of rampaging elephants to wake the double black after midnight.
Yuuri blinked his eyes open having not been able to sleep yet that night. He saw Wolfram leaned over working on the laces of his boots. He almost spoke out to the boy, but didn't want to scare him.
"Then again…" Yuuri thought thinking back to earlier that day when he had woken up holding the blond boy close to him and had been teased.
Wolfram began unbuttoning his dark blue overcoat after tossing his boots and socks aside. An arm wrapped tightly around his stomach and a hand clamped over his mouth to stifle the surprised noise the blond tried to get out.
The soldier's senses quickly peaked and he slid low, causing his attacker to lose his grip. The blond grabbed the man under his arms and threw him over his own body and onto the floor while simultaneously unsheathing a knife in his boot.
It was then that Wolfram noticed the familiar groan Yuuri let out when he came in contact with the stone floor. The blonde's eyes widened as he realized what he had done.
"Yuuri!" Wolfram said worriedly standing up. The double black sat up and glared at the blond.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you." Wolfram tried to excuse himself.
"Who else would it be? We're the only two in here!" Yuuri said irritably. Wolfram raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Why the hell were you grabbing me?" Wolfram countered placing the knife back into its sheath and placing it on the nightstand. Yuuri wasn't quite sure how to answer that question.
"I just…wanted to see your reaction?" Yuuri said unsurely, sitting on the ground and facing the other boy. Wolfram rolled his eyes.
"Do not do that again Yuuri. I almost really hurt you." The blond said seriously. Yuuri smirked devilishly.
"And here I thought would have liked being pulled into bed by me." Yuuri said with a sigh. Wolfram blushed brightly even in the darkness of the night. Yuuri nodded, that had been the reaction he was hoping for.
"Don't tease me Yuuri, I know that was the last thing on your mind." Wolfram said, only slightly hoping that such a situation would have been the case.
"Do you? Your throwing me off the bed ruined any chance of you finding out what my intentions were." Yuuri retorted.
"I can guess." Wolfram said.
"You would be wrong." Yuuri stated. Wolfram's eyes narrowed.
"Are you saying that you planned on advancing the touch barrier in our relationship to beyond that of holding hands? Somehow I think not." Yuuri shrugged in response.
"Guess now you'll never know." Yuuri teased. Wolfram huffed indignantly before standing up and walking over Yuuri and picking up his shoes and jacket to put away in the armoire before changing into his nightgown.
"I tire of your banter Yuuri; I have been up too late as it is." Wolfram said as he removed his shirt and put it into a small basket near the dresser. The cravat and beads around his neckline were placed into a small drawer to be worn again. He heard Yuuri stand up and begin walking, he assumed, towards the other side of the bed. Wolfram began to brush his hair as he did every night in order to tame the unruly curls and knots the wind created at night. The brush clattered loudly on the floor when Wolfram dropped it in surprise as arms encircled his stomach again.
"Yuuri!" Wolfram exclaimed in a whining fashion.
"Hush." Yuuri said, turning the blond around and pushing him gently against the armoire. The older boy quieted instantly and gulped as Yuuri leaned forward, his face now inches away from his own. Wolfram swallowed nervously and waited to see what Yuuri was going to do.
"I've never done this before, so I'm not quite sure how it goes." Yuuri said softly, a bit unsure.
Wolfram nodded, also lacking in experience though he was quite a bit older. Yuuri leaned the rest of the way in, and their lips met briefly. Yuuri pulled back to see the reaction of the other boy, but Wolfram was more eager. The blond gripped Yuuri's shirt and pulled him in for another.
Wolfram was somewhere up in the clouds that night as they began the most basic changes in their relationship. Yuuri would take things excruciatingly slow, but the blond was willing to wait as long as he had to, especially now that he had a taste of what their relationship could be. The blond fell asleep peacefully, finally in the arms of the boy he loved.
Yuuri smiled as he felt Wolfram's breath grow more deep and even with the slumber that had found him. The king ran his fingers through the blond hair and grasped the boy's hand with the arm draped around Wolfram's shoulder.
Yuuri had been surprised by how easily and boldly he had advanced on Wolfram that night. Even more so, was his surprise at how right it had seemed. Now fully prepared, and happy with what his choice would bring to his future, Yuuri leaned back and began to mentally prepare his message for the guests at the ball tomorrow.
The double black fell asleep with a smile on his face and thoughts of Wolfram's stunned face when he formally announced their engagement in front of the many kingdoms that would be attending.
"- up Yuuri!" A voice intruded on the king's sleep. Yuuri groaned and grasped the squirming boy tighter. Wolfram's eyes went wide at first, but finagled his way into facing the double black.
"Yuuri, the sun is up. The guests will be arriving soon, we need to get up." Wolfram said dutifully, though Yuuri knew he couldn't possibly want to leave their current position.
"No." Yuuri closed his eyes again, Wolfram rolled his eyes and pushed against Yuuri's chest, but the dark haired boy did not release the other.
"Yuuri, if you are going to sleep in at least let me up so that I can get ready." Wolfram complained half-heartedly.
"Wolfram-" Yuuri whined, "if you get up, I will be cold and it will make my getting up just that much harder." Wolfram rolled his eyes.
"You have never held me in your sleep before and you never complained of the cold. Now get up before you get us both into trouble for being late." Wolfram stated matter-of-factly. Yuuri let out an overdramatic sigh, and released the blond before slowly sitting up. Wolfram sat up as well and swung his legs off the side. The blond was about to stand when his wrist was grabbed and yanked so that he fell back with his head in the king's lap.
"Yuuri! What the hell-" The blonde began, but his sentence was lost when Yuuri leaned down close to him. Wolfram stared up at the other boy for a moment waiting for his king to close the distance. Sensing the blonde's agreement to the action, Yuuri leaned down further and kissed him. Wolfram reacted quickly and entwined his fingers into Yuuri's hair just as the double black had begun to run his right hand down Wolfram's side. Wolfram's eyes flew open when Yuuri's hand reached his hip and he pulled out of the kiss.
"Yuuri, we are going to be late." Wolfram said breathlessly in an excuse to pull away. In reality, the blond was must to excited already be the happenings the night before not to be effected so early in the morning by Yuuri continuing to increase the gap in their touch barriers. Yuuri nodded in understanding and let Wolfram out of his grasp.
The boys bathed quickly, Wolfram blushing brightly every time he caught Yuuri staring at him. Yuuri had always bathed with him, but never before had he been blatantly checking him out. The king had always found Wolfram good looking, but now that there was an actual attraction that registered in Yuuri's mind, he could not look away.
Yuuri dressed in his traditionally black royal attire, adding the dark purple cloak around his shoulders. Wolfram stared at his armoire for a long time debating on whether to wear white or his normal blue color.
"You always wear blue, wear white tonight." Yuuri suggested kindly, Wolfram seemed to agree and began to dress in the white uniform that resembled the blue in style. He also picked out a black cravat and green beads to dress it up. Yuuri, having been dressed and ready for ten minutes now regretted not letting Wolfram get up earlier than himself since the boy seemed to be taking forever.
"Come on Wolf, you look great, we are going to be late and your brother will probably skin us both alive." Wolfram chucked and set the brush he had been tidying his hair with.
"Gwendal will do no such thing. Besides, my hair is unruly if I don't brush it properly." Wolfram retorted smartly. Yuuri rolled his eyes as he could not imagine Wolfram's perfect hair ever looking out of place. The king grabbed Wolfram's wrist and dragged him out of the room.
"Simply take any of the stones offered to you, and place them into this vase here." Conrad said lightly as he briefed Yuuri on basic door greeting etiquette. Yuuri nodded.
"Yeah, Wolfram told me what it all means the other day. Will a lot of people really being trying to win me over?" Yuuri asked. Conrad shrugged.
"Many bring the stones just as a formality, but yes, there will be several men and women here that wish to take a piece of the crown."
"Even though they all know I'm engaged?" Yuuri questioned. The taller man frowned.
"You have not formally accepted that title, and until recently, showed no interest in ever doing so." Conrad stated. Yuuri nodded, that would change tonight.
"I see. It kind of sucks that people only want me for what power I can offer them." Yuuri thought aloud.
"It is the curse of being royal. Many people only want you for power. You were lucky, I suppose, to find someone like Wolfram who hated you at first for your power." Conrad said lightheartedly. Yuuri chuckled, remembering how pissed off Wolfram had been when he found out that Yuuri had been chosen as the nation's king.
"I'll say this at least. Wolfram has never liked me for anything other than myself, that's for sure. I'm just surprised he has put up with me for this long."
"Why is that Heika?" Conrad inquired.
"It must have hurt him so much. Knowing that I didn't feel the same way towards him." Yuuri said sadly, wishing he had realized his feelings much earlier.
"Do not underestimate Wolfram's strength or love for you Yuuri." Conrad said. "I believe Wolfram would do just about anything to remain with you for as long as he can." Yuuri nodded in response. Though, Conrad understood what Wolfram did about their years together being limited, Yuuri had yet to fully grasp the concept. The idea just seemed so far-fetched to him.
"What will he do…when I look old enough to be his father…grandfather…" Yuuri wondered.
"He will continue the way that he is now. Wolfram will rule by your side and enjoy every moment to the fullest. After you pass, he will rule the country in your stead in the way you have always wanted it to be run."
"You say that like he is just a robot programmed to do what I want." Yuuri said in a defeated tone.
"A robot?" Conrad said in a confused tone. Yuuri forgot again that the others did not know about Earth things.
"I guess I mean that you aren't taking into consideration his emotions. I know that he will do what is right…but won't he be lonely? Living for so long after me." It was then that Yuuri realized how truly lucky he was. Wolfram would love him every moment of the time that they are together, but Yuuri was the one who would end up leaving the blond alone in the end.
"He will be lonesome, but this is the life he has chosen Yuuri. He knew what he signed up for when he chose to accept you as his betrothed." Conrad concluded. Yuuri nodded and let the subject drop. As the double black stared out into the courtyard before him he thought to himself how he would never let Wolfram be sad while with him. He would make the most of their time together, even if that time was limited.
Okay, so this chapter has the most change by far. I think the flower idea got a bit lost in thought when I created this story, and I think that something like this may work a bit better for being more believable. Yes? Good new changes? Reviews?