'Cause I'm Overcome In This War of Hearts

[KAWAI]

"The storm is getting intense. Come along, dusha. Let's go home," Kosta said to Tamiko who gladly let Igor hold his hand as they got up, before leaving. The Lycans were going on with their day like this was normal for them, though a few of them were worried. 

So, when the two mates got to the palace and saw the kind of abnormal normal there Tamiko was the first to speak, seeing as Kosta was used to this. He could easily point out the source anyway.

"The storm is growing, but why does it seem like none of the Lycans are worried about this?" Tamiko used and Kosta just chuckled as realization dawned on him. The skies were suddenly getting clearer outside and the day was seemingly normal.

Someone had tricked them, or rather, someone wanted the both of them back in the palace, someone powerful enough to trigger a storm just because he could and someone protective enough to not want to let them out of his sight.

This was the Lycan King's doing.

"Wait, it's disappearing?" Tamiko wondered as he rushed to the nearest window, while Kosta looked up to the King's chamber only to see a smirking Zaffuto casually leaning on the balcony rails like he didn't just ruin their moment.

"Don't worry, we have been used to this for more than three decades. It's nothing new. Sometimes the storm takes longer to disappear, and sometimes, it takes a few minutes. 

"It's always hard to tell what the outcome is," Kosta said as he shook his head at the smirking King. Well, it was somewhat comforting to know that the Lycan King was determined to protect his son, regardless of what he had to do. 

Zaffuto Hinata had spent nearly thirty years without his son and his wife, and now that he got him back he wasn't ever going to let him go. 

However, would the King come clean to the young Lycan who was staring outside the windows in awe, as he wondered what kind of a phenomenon the storm was out there? 

Perhaps it was a crazy idea, but then it wasn't like the entire Lycan Kingdom was like an isolated bunch of crazies, being led by the psycho of psychos, a man so excited to see his son yet so mad that he missed twenty-five whole years of his son's life. 

Oh, Zaffuto wanted to compensate in more ways than one, to the point that if he wasn't careful, he would suffocate his son, and force the youngling to pull away – which wouldn't be good for any realm across the universe.

"Well, can you give me a tour of the palace? Since we still have some time left of our time together and before you go back to work," Tamiko said excitedly and the barbaric bounty hunter stopped to stare at the happy prince he was mated to.

"Tamiko—"

"Oh," Tamiko began before adding, "It's alright, don't worry. Besides, I loved the time we spent today. I'll be fine, Kosta."

"No, baby. Listen," Kosta said and that got Tamiko shifting his attention to the Lycan Chief before him. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but he knew this was most likely about Kosta being busy or having so many errands to run and not having time for him. 

Well, Tamiko genuinely understood him and wouldn't complain. He knew Kosta had responsibilities to the Lycan Kingdom and just because they were mates, didn't mean that they could spend every turning minute together. It wouldn't be fair to Kawai either.

"I understand, I promise. You're a Lycan chief, Kosta. I don't expect you to—" Tamiko rambled on, trying to be calm about the whole thing, even though he didn't know what he would do without Kosta. 

Tamiko knew he would roam around and then soon enough people would know he wasn't from Kawai and then would tell the King he was a captive of war which would turn into so many things. 

Honestly, the thought of being alone was suddenly freaking him out, even though he was trying his best to be calm about the whole situation. Perhaps there would be another time for this?

"Fuck this," Kosta said before capturing Tamiko's lips in a sudden kiss, one that got the young prince's eyes so wide like it was a taboo to be kissing inside the palace, with all the Lycans roaming around and with the possibility of the King being around. 

Well to be fair, King Zaffuto was up there watching them amusedly.

"Hmmph," Tamiko tried to talk, but eventually gave in to the kiss, as the sparks flew between them, reminding him just how much he enjoyed being kissed by Kosta. It was like they were everything he looked forward to, each time he saw Kosta. 

The kiss that was intended to shut up Tamiko, eventually ended up being a soft slow kiss, one that seemed to be their channel of communication, because Kosta wanted to tell the Lycan prince before him that he wasn't leaving. 

He was never leaving his side and he was always going to be there. Perhaps Tamiko didn't need the reassurance, but Kosta would do it either way.

"That was—" Tamiko began when they finally pulled apart, though his feet were wobbly and the Lycan Chief had to hold him by the waist, to keep him closer.

"Long overdue?" Kosta teased and Tamiko just shied away, burying his face in the Chief's chest. He could hear the voices of the Lycan around and he didn't want to imagine that they had seen him get so wrapped up in a kiss that he couldn't even walk properly. 

At that moment, Tamiko wanted to disappear, but Kosta wasn't done with him, just not yet anyway.

"They're all staring at me, Kosta," Tamiko said and Igor just held his head closer to his chest, like he didn't want Tamiko to leave or disappear.

"Let them stare. You're mine, just as I belong to you, dusha," Kosta said and Tamiko wished they could just disappear.

"As I was saying before you started rambling, I'm not going anywhere, baby. I used to think going bounty hunting was my sole purpose and the one thing that made my heart beat, and made me feel alive—

"—But I was wrong, baby," Kosta began as he stroked Tamiko's long hair, like he was soothing the Lycan prince and trying to make sure the kid felt safe with him. Oh but Tamiko felt safe with Kosta.

It wasn't even negotiable, given how down they were for each other.

"But—"

"Let me finish first, baby. If you need me, I will show up for you. It doesn't matter if I'm on the battlefield or not. I will wade through them and get to you. I don't care what time it is, where you are, what is happening around you, but as long as you need me, I'll be there. 

"I will always, always choose you, over my own life. I live for you. I breathe, for you. I exist, for you. You're everything I need, and I'll willingly drop everything for you. So don't you ever think you'll come second ever. 

"You will always come first in my life, alright?" Kosta said softly, and Tamiko relaxed in his embrace. 

The Lycan Chief took that chance to look up at the King who was smirking earlier, only to see the great mad King wiping a stray tear.

Was King Zaffuto Hinata emotional, or had Igor Konstantin just seen his things?