Dragon's Consort

A/N: I know I haven't even finish this fic yet, but I have this urge to start another one.

Lance

It was raining outside.

That was the first thing Lance noticed when he regained his senses. It hadn't rain for some time in Blackthorn, so it surprised him a little that it was raining so heavily. The Sea Dragons were probably in a rather good mood. For a moment, he was worried that the Fire Dragons might be annoyed by this and that they might plan on scorching his Kingdoms tomorrow with merciless heat. But then he remembered that he was the Dragonlord, and that he was more than capable of ordering those Dragons around as he pleased. I'm getting worried over nothing, Lance thought as he rolled over. His hand landed on the other side of the bed; the side which his wife used to occupy, the side which had been cold for the past two years, but felt miraculously warm that morning. Just then, he remembered who was supposed to be there.

He sat up with a jolt, "Damn..." he muttered as he realized that Steven, once again, wasn't where he was supposed to be. Holy Rhea, where is he this time?

He was about to get off his bed and put on some clothes when he noticed that Steven was standing by the window across the bed, looking out at the gloomy sky and the pouring rain. Relief immediately washed through him as he realized that Steven was safe and whole.

Steven suddenly tore his gaze away from the sky outside and looked at Lance with a smile on his face, "Good morning."

Just like the time when they first met, and the time he found Steven with Sorengard in the Sanctuary, Steven looked so captivating at that moment, bare naked by the window, with only a thin, white sheet covering his lower part. Lance drank in the sight of his pale skin, the contour of his shoulders, and the shape of his firm ass covered by the white sheet. There were red marks around his neck, the marks that he had left last night in the heat of the moment. They stood out in contrast to his pale skin, a proof which showed that what they had last night was as real as it was terrifying. At that moment, Steven looked so flawless, so beautiful, as if the Goddess had carved and molded him with her own hands.

"Good morning," Lance managed to reply.

Steven's smile turned mischievous as he asked, "Are you pleased by what you are seeing?" Lance quickly looked away, somehow embarrassed for staring so openly. He heard Steven chuckled in amusement, before silence fell between them. It wasn't awkward though, the sound of rain against the window and the cool air made the atmosphere felt quite serene.

Lance laid back down on the bed. Since it was raining, he was in no hurry to start his day. Usually he would drag himself out of bed to train, but there was no way he was going to train under this weather. There were also duties that he must perform as a King, but then the Councilors were able to take care of them just fine, so there really was no reason for him to get out of bed. He thought about getting some more sleep, but it was obviously impossible since his mind kept on returning to the man standing there by the window.

Lance sat up again and decided to ask, "How are you feeling?" It was a good question, especially remembering that his son had assaulted Steven just yesterday morning. Also, he admitted that he had treated Steven quite roughly last night.

Steven looked slightly surprised that Lance had asked, but he quickly regained his composure and replied, "I feel wonderful." he then walked over the bed and sat down next to Lance. "Last night," Steven said, his eyes reflecting his pleasant mood, "Was the best sex I've ever had in my life. You are truly amazing."

It was the first time someone complimented him in that way, so Lance really didn't know how to reply. He felt a blush creeping up his face though, and he had to look away from Steven because the urge to hug Steven came out of nowhere all of a sudden. "Thank you," he finally decided to say.

Steven chuckled, "My pleasure." Steven then got off the bed and began picking up his scattered clothes. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty hungry. A good night always work up my appetite."

"I can order the maids to bring breakfast here," Lance quickly suggested, even though he didn't know why.

Steven looked at him, the look on his face unreadable. "I am fine with that, but are you sure you want me to stay?"

That question sounded ridiculous at first, but then when Lance gave it a second thought, it did kind of make sense. After all, he was the King, if words got out that he had slept with Steven, then there might be some unwanted consequences. It was best to keep quiet about last night and pretend that nothing ever happened, but Lance wasn't sure that he wanted that. Still, what did he want from Steven anyway? Did he want this to be a one-time thing? Or did he want this to continue for an indefinite amount of time?

Lance knew that there was something between them; a spark that awakened the other side of him he thought was long dead, an irresistible attraction that made Lance want to touch and dominate. This something between them felt so raw and primal, untamed and irrational, and Lance wasn't sure if pursuing it was the right course of action. He was, after all, meant to look for a Consort, not a bed slave.

Steven put on his clothes as Lance continued to think. When he was done securing the clasp of his cloak, he turned to Lance and said, "I'll take your silence as a 'no'."

Lance quickly looked at him, "It's not -"

"It's fine," Steven cut him off with a smile. "You don't have to worry about me. You're the King, I understand what kind of position you're in." He stood before Lance and leaned over, "I'm very good at keeping secrets too, you know. I promise, whatever happened between us last night, stays between us."

Will there be a next time? He wanted to ask, but the words wouldn't come out. Common sense was holding him back, telling him that asking would only complicate the situation. It is best to let it end like this.

"Goodbye," Steven whispered by his ear, before he kissed Lance on his cheek and then pulled away. He flashed Lance a smile for one last time, before he turned around and left the room.

Lance collapsed onto his bed with a sigh, feeling as if he had let go of something truly important.

Steven

The rain continued until the late afternoon. Steven sat down by the window of his room, enjoying the sight of rain falling upon the roofs of Blackthorn's buildings and houses. The sound of the droplets hitting the ground, the cool air, and the sight of a lonely city made him feel contented. It never rained in Rustboro, only snow, and snow never made such a beautiful sound as they fell from the sky. Snow was too quiet to his liking. And too cold as well.

"Lord Steven," his valet knocked on his door.

"Come in," Steven absently said, not taking his eyes off the view outside.

His valet entered the room, and brought with him a rack of clothing that quickly told Steven that he wasn't going to be alone for the rest of the afternoon.

"Lady Alice wants to have you for tea. I believe it is a good time to prepare yourself." His valet said as he closed the door behind.

"Lady Alice?"

His valet gave him a curious look, "Yes, the lovely lady who oversees the training and tutoring of the candidates for the Court."

Ah, that shrill-voiced woman, "Of course. My apologies. I am incapable of thinking clearly at the moment."

"Yes, I heard what happened to you the other day, and I believe that it's quite unfortunate. However, it turned out for the best, did it not? You were able to personally speak with the King, do you not?"

You have no idea. "Yes, I suppose I am."

"How did the King treated you?"

Just as I've always dreamed, "He treated me well and apologized on behalf of his son. That was all."

"Ah, patience is the key to success in Court, Lord Steven. You may not have gotten far, but at least he knows your name. That is as a good start as any. Your cohorts would do anything to be in your position at this moment."

Considering that the King just fucked me, then I suppose so.

"Alright, enough chit-chat, let's get working." His valet walked over and helped him undress even though there was no need to. Steven didn't complain though, he had learned during his first day in Blackthorn that arguing with that man was near to impossible. However, as soon as he unbuttoned Steven's shirt, his hands froze and his eyes quickly widened. "Lord Steven..."

Steven then realized what his valet had seen to make him react like that. The marks the King had left on him last night. He wrecked his brain to make up a story that didn't involve the King but could explain the marks, and immediately he said, "It was one of the wyvern riders." He immediately cursed his brain for malfunctioning at the very wrong moment.

"I see," his valet finally regained his composure, the look on his face grim though a hint of shock was still there. He proceeded to help Steven undress, before helping him put on his shirt, waistcoat, breeches and shoes. Steven noticed that his valet hadn't mention the corset, which was perhaps done out of concern for his condition after the assault the other day. But something still didn't feel right, and when he looked at his valet in the eyes, he quickly realized what was wrong.

He knows.

"It is time," his valet finally said. "Let us go."

So much for keeping it a secret.

Lance

So much for keeping it a secret, Lance bitterly thought as he watched his Councilors arguing with one another, trying to figure out the best course of action now that they know that a young Lord had captured his attention. I should fire Koga. It had slipped from his mind that there was nothing that escaped Koga's sharp eyes and keen ears. If he only he had remembered, he could have asked the Spymaster to keep quiet and never mentioned it to the Councilors. But Lance had forgotten and Koga had reported his finding to the Councilors, and now Lance was in deep trouble.

"I do not see why we can't let Lord Steven spend more time with the King," Agatha spoke up. "If the King truly likes him, then all's fine and good, isn't it? After all, it's the King's happiness that matters."

"A young Lord who dare seduced the King is no respectable Lord," Birch argued. "We can not let him be the next Consort to the King!"

"It is not for you to decide! If the King wants him, you have no right to say 'no'!"

"Councilors, Lord Steven managed to seduce the King in less than a week since his arrival. Do you not think that something is amiss? Has it not cross your mind that he might be using tricks to seduce our King?"

"He could be using dark magic!"

"Forbidden magic!"

"He could be an incubus!"

"That's outrageous! An incubus seducing our King?"

"We can not let this happen! We need to punish that lecherous devil immediately!"

As they continue arguing, Lance was lost in his own thoughts. An incubus? The idea never really crossed his mind, after all, he had never met an incubus before in his life. Sure he had heard of them once or twice; about how they seduce men and women alike, and feed on the energy given off when a man or a woman reached the apex of his or her pleasure. He also heard that they were supposed to be more beautiful than humans in average, with charms that can tempt even saints and priests. Due to their lecherous nature though, some cities enacted a law that forbade incubus to work in anywhere but the brothels. Well, he is truly beautiful. And he was great in bed too. If Steven really was an incubus, that would explain Lance's irrational attraction and desire. The theory sounded plausible, but Lance wasn't going to jump to conclusions.

"Councilor Birch, I think you need to calm down," Agatha snapped at him, "We do not know if he really is an incubus, it is only a theory."

"But I've seen the young Lord myself, Agatha," Lorelei said, "And my eyes do not deceive me, he is a very beautiful man. I have asked Koga to go to Rustboro and dig deeper into his background. I believe he would return with the truth in a week or so."

"We don't have a week," Samuel Oak argued, "If he can seduce the King in less than a week, just imagine what he's capable of doing in a week's time."

"We can make sure he stay away from the King, Koga's men can keep an eye on him."

Wait, there's also that other thing... Lance frowned as he tried to remember one more thing he had heard about incubus. If you have sex with an incubus for too many times, then you can... Lance couldn't remember what was the consequence though. What was it again? It had been a long time since he first heard of it. What could happen? He thought about asking his Councilors, but seeing that they were busy arguing on how to keep Steven away from him, Lance quickly dropped the intention.

He had never felt the need to intervene when his Councilors were arguing, even if they were arguing over very important matters, because in the end, the final decision was all up to him. He had made his decision long before he had entered the room. He had thought it through all morning, and finally had came upon a decision he should have considered right from the beginning.

"What do you think of our plan, Your Majesty?" Councilor Oak finally asked.

Lance looked at him and said, "I wish to know Lord Steven better."

Steven

The news spread faster than expected. It was amazing how quickly information was circulated among his cohorts, though he really shouldn't be surprised. This was, after all, the Court, and the King was up for grabs this year, so of course everyone was on full alert.

When they heard that the King had requested to get to know Steven, some of the young lords and ladies congratulated him, some sincere, others simply out of obligation. There were those who were less pleased by the revelation, and bitterly claimed that the King must have done it out of guilt, since it was the young prince who had harmed Steven in the first place after all. Those people didn't believe that the King was really interested in Steven, and, frankly speaking, Steven didn't believe it either.

The King requested Lady Alice to let him spend time with Steven, meaning that he wanted to get to know Steven better, meaning he was interested in taking Steven as his next Consort. The idea should have thrilled him, but instead he was faced with a numbing dread. He didn't want to get to know the King better, he didn't want to be the next Consort. All he had wanted was just to have sex with a man he thought was very handsome and attractive, but apparently he got more than what he had bargained for. The King was interested in him, and apparently the idea of turning him down was as horrible as signing his own death warrant, or so Lady Alice had impressed upon him. I should have known, I should have seen this coming, Steven miserably thought as he ate what felt like a bland dinner.

This wasn't the first time a man of power wanted to seriously woo him after a night of passionate sex. It had happened to him in the past, but Steven always found ways to graciously turn down their advances. There was that one time when he had to escape from a tower just to get out of the grasps of the possessive maniac who wanted Steven so bad that he locked Steven up in a tower. He immediately fled the city as soon as he touched the safe, solid ground. Steven wondered if he had to do the same thing now with the King, though he might need to escape from the five United Realms afterwards.

No, no... I need to find a way to make him hate me somehow. Steven didn't have that many vices which could put off a potential suitor other than his inclination to sleep with just about anyone as long as he was attractive. He had no deep, dark secret either. He was simply what he looked like to be; a brother of a minor lord who liked to travel and behold the great sights of the world, and sleep with attractive men once in a while. This is troublesome, maybe I should just tell him that I'm not interested? That was probably the best alternative he had at that moment.

"Lord Steven," his valet's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "You have a long day tomorrow, so I suggest you turn in early for the day."

Steven looked at him and nodded.

Yes, tomorrow is going to be a long day.