VI: Reciprocated.

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The days passed quickly now that Aether and Alatus had agreed on what times they could have their "dates", most of the time they spent in the library since despite being a large place there was usually no one apart from them, the silence and the tranquility transmitted by a pleasant atmosphere made them feel comfortable, safe.

Alatus was thinking of using the excuse that Shenhe was there too and saying that the prince liked to have double security in case someone walked in and saw them sitting next to each other talking, surprisingly that never happened.

The advances between the two came so naturally that they didn't even notice when exactly they started holding hands under the table or leaning against each other while reading. Sometimes Aether fell asleep on the guard's shoulder because since what happened he slept badly, or rather, he didn't because being in the same bed as the emperor made him tense.

As they approached the end of the novel they shared, they began to vaguely notice that they felt identified, and what was initially denied internally was inevitable, they were in love with each other. Alatus was the one who denied it until the last moment even going to the infirmary to make sure that the strange sensations in his body were simply due to illness and wow, he felt really stupid when Mr. Baizhu laughed at him and asked if he really didn't know what was wrong with him.

Aether, for his part, felt confused, on the one hand, he was really happy to be able to put a name to that feeling that he longed to know so much and, on the other hand, he was sad to think that the best thing would be not to risk advancing more than they had done so as not to cause problems, in order to continue to maintain stability in their dealings. The prince knew well what his father, the king, would say about the situation he was in, Dainsleif loved him but he was too serious a man and would always prioritize his people above all else, he could imagine him saying to put up with it, that the weight Celestia's stability for the next decade depended on him.

. . .

The crystalline tears finished running down the prince's cheeks, and his eyelids were slightly reddened but he didn't seem to be embarrassed by his image at that moment, after a few long minutes in which he processed the end of the novel he finally spoke.

"S-sorry, I didn't know it would end this way, really-"

Alatus brought his handkerchief closer to wipe the tears that little by little stopped falling, he remained silent until that moment since the prince asked him not to say anything until he was stable. He knows that he shouldn't feel this way, being absorbed just by seeing a new expression on the prince's face felt like sacrilege, and yet he couldn't help but admire how cute he was.

"Don't apologize, I understand you, still, I think it was an appropriate ending."

Alatus said with a wistful smile, he couldn't deny that it also affected him but he wouldn't cry for something like that.

"Appropriate? How would it be appropriate if death separates them?"

Aether asked curiously, if Alatus had seen that tragic end in a different way he wanted to know, maybe that way he would find more sense in it.

"I… I think that's not the point, it said that they would meet again, isn't it?"

He repeated the last words of the text as consolation.

"Yes... Perhaps what was really important was seeing the beautiful relationship they had in their last moments."

The prince replied as his fingers gently brushed over the words on the last page of the book, a promise of reunion. Aether sighed as his golden gaze didn't leave the book, he thought maybe it was better that way but it still hurt.

"I don't think it's pretty." -Shenhe spoke suddenly, since she should be there she ended up listening to how they read, and, being bored, she also began to comment.- "Why should they suffer like this? She never loved again and spent a lonely and sad life without being able to forget him."

"Life isn't necessarily nice."

Alatus replied looking the woman who was a little away from them, he crossed his arms and she did the same.

"Who wants to read about things that happen in the day-to-day having all the possibilities? The author could easily have made a happy ending."

Said the woman with clear discontent, Alatus snorted when listening to her, they had opposite ideas so it seemed that they were arguing when giving their point of view.

"That's not the problem, I'm sure it meant something with all this."

"Really? Even when he was stabbed on his way to say goodbye he was able to go see her one last time, but no, he went to die somewhere else, I just don't get it."

Shenhe replied, her voice becoming more defiant causing Alatus to frown at her attitude, although it was only because she became more passionate as she spoke.

The prince stood up silently, with the book in his arms as if he were hugging it and his gaze lost, attracting the attention of both guards. Alatus was quick to follow him as the blond walked through the corridors, shelves completely full of books of all kinds, looking for the place where he had taken the novel to leave it in his place.

"Majesty?"

Alatus spoke making the prince, absorbed in himself, turn around forgetting what he was thinking.

"Alatus? I thought you were still talking to Shenhe."

He said in a calm and sweet voice, Alatus understood that he had already recovered from that sad ending and that now he was simply thinking about the possible teaching, or meaning, in the whole story, or maybe he was feeling an emptiness due to the hours he spent reading.

"I just wanted to make sure you are okay."

He answered in a low voice, almost on the verge of whispering, something in the environment gave him the feeling of being in a dream, perhaps because of the dim light or because they were surrounded by books on both sides giving the impression that they were alone.

"I am." -His words were followed by a short, warm laugh, tenderness overflowing from the sound.- "I just need some time until I can put my thoughts in order and then properly opine with you two."

The prince explained as he averted his eyes finding the indicated place, a space between books denoting that one was missing, he did not remember that it was at that height so he stared at it for a few seconds.

Alatus nodded silently, he saw how the youngest was trying to put the book in its place but he had to stand on tiptoes to reach it, so he unconsciously approached, even if he was only a couple of centimeters taller, to help him. His hands touched sending something similar to electricity through their bodies, they probably actually imagined it, their eyes also met with surprise but they didn't move away, they left the book in place and slowly returned to how they were but without letting go.

"I'm sorry-"

Alatus apologized, his intention was to move away immediately but that instinct abandoned him when he heard the prince say his name with affection, his smile and his voice, his beautiful golden eyes, all of him, the mere fact of being with him made the guard's heart races.

"Alatus..." -He whispered, the magical atmosphere remaining thanks to the fact that no one interrupted them.- "I like your eyes..."

The prince slowly reached out with his free hand to cup the jet's cheek, his thumb lightly caressing his soft and warm skin, he noticed the intensity in the opposite look, that one with slanted yellow eyes, every time he looked at him.

Oh, Alatus could get addicted to that touch. Something so tender had never been directed at him, it made him feel weak but hungry for more.

"I-I... I like your hair..."

Dare he say, the blush painting his cheeks and apparently the prince's as well, he smiled at the compliment, his round golden eyes alight with an emotion that Alatus craved was due to the very thing he has been "suffering" for.

"I like you..."

The prince, Aether, confessed. The sincerity with which he had always spoken to him left Alatus in no doubt, and now, being here, he could no longer play the fool.

"I like you..."

He responded in the same way, his voice sounding as if he begged to be loved when there was no need for it, the prince had already shown that he appreciated him as a person, that he cared.

It was an instant too fast to process, they didn't know who took the first step or if it was at the same time, when they realized their faces were too close, their lips fitting perfectly with each other's, eyes closed as they gently tasted the new feeling that filled them with warmth, a strange tingling full of longing, and happiness.

They got closer, both hands joined fluidly and their fingers intertwined with the desire to touch more of the other, an instinctive desire to melt into the warmth of the other person motivated them. And then, the prince's body hit the bookcase behind him due to a movement they didn't realize they were doing, the noise brought them back to reality.

They stand still, moving away slightly to appreciate each other, Alatus could see the beautiful expression on the prince's face, just as he, seemed to feel that he was melting.

"T-That... That felt good."

Said the prince. Alatus may not know much about emotions but he easily noticed the joy in the prince, he felt blessed, totally grateful that what he did was not taken ill.

" I know... "- Alatus replied wanting to laugh, well, love drove him crazy.- "Oh Archons, that felt great ."

This time it was Aether who laughed at the comment, he was happy to be reciprocated, his first love seemed to feel the same way, could there be anything better? The euphoria didn't allow him to think.

"Alatus, give me more..."

He begged, a prince begging someone like Alatus, another sacrilege. Anyway, even if Alatus felt embarrassed at his words, he didn't think for two seconds to refuse.

Their lips met once more, slowly Aether was guiding the guard to teach him how to deepen that kiss seeing that he didn't have much experience, (he didn't have it either before getting married). Alatus moaned as their tongues met, it was strange but he didn't dislike it, he found the prince's mouth tasted sweet, so much so that he felt intoxicated by the sensations.

Their bodies slowly lowered until they sat on the cold ground, this time their arms wandered around each other's backs as they brought their bodies as close as they could, they didn't think about what they were doing, they just let it flow.

They separated again, the mixed saliva of both joining their mouths for a brief moment, the gasp of both of them losing their breath producing a certain satisfaction.

Aether couldn't stop smiling, and he felt so silly, like he was in a dream, all that his books and novels had described, all that he hadn't felt kissing Rex Lapis or being with him, all that he thought he would never feel it was overflowing, love, a sincere and pure love.

The prince dropped his head to rest on the guard's shoulder and the guard clung to his back hugging him, they both sighed at the same time.

"Oh, wow, is this even okay?"

Alatus said as if asking himself, the prince hummed before saying anything.

"Something that feels like this shouldn't be wrong."

He murmured snuggling against Alatus's body, his lips brushing the jet's neck causing chills. Aether knew what he meant, he also wondered what Rex Lapis would think about that but considering that he already has someone, in theory, he shouldn't care.

Aether wanted to believe that kind of happiness would be allowed to him.

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