The soft touch hurt immensely, but he leaned into it. He was so weak. He didn’t want this to end. The thought of never seeing them again made him double over in agony. He gritted his teeth and dragged his thumb along his brow.
“I cannot do that to them. Marsiquia is just a child, and Quirisa could not handle it. I have to go back. That was always the plan. I have to.” He looked up at them then. There was a glint in his eyes from both his tears and a stray beam of moonlight coming in from the shutters. “This is what I was raised for. The Palace was always meant to be mine. The responsibility of the oldest heir.”
A sort of strange peace came about him then, as it had in the bathroom at the Palace so many days ago. So he would die. He would suffer and die for his family in silence. That was always how it was going to go. But he’d been given a wonderful opportunity to be with Rin until that point. Shouldn’t he be appreciative of that chance?
Maybe that was why he’d sped things along with the confession. He’d always known his fate. He was wrong when he’d said they’d have all the time in the world to figure things out. If he was lucky, he might have a decade left. It would likely be much less.
“I will miss you,” he said, voice breaking. “I will miss you so much. I am so sorry.”
"They will adjust." he said softly. "You should not lead if leadership is not something you desire." they wanted to lead Kevra; they wanted to take on the kingship of their country, wanted to be the one to lead it into the future. The irony here was not lost on them. Arquis was taking on a burden of leadership that he did not want, and Rinlos might not be allowed to take on the leadership that he wanted so dearly. "You have already vanished, darling. If you never go back, how will they ever find you?" he knew it was a pipe dream. Knew that Arquis was too loyal and committed to just run away like that, but they wished that it were possible.
The sentiment was indeed sweet, but it was insanely unrealistic. Someone, whether it be Muria or the tangled, somewhat corrupt Anvillean court system, would send investigators after him. He’d end up at the Palace either by his own will or by force. Besides, he could never just disappear on his sisters like that. They’d be crushed under the weight of it all; the pressure would destroy them.
“I wish it were that simple,” he mumbled. That searing pain in his chest had returned, and he rubbed the spot over his heart. “But it is not. My fate is set in stone. I cannot change it, though I am glad that I am able to avoid it, if but for a little while.”
This next part was going to be hard. He squeezed his eyes shut so that he would no longer see the black dots appearing in his vision. His stomach lurched as his mouth opened. His tongue felt dry.
“Rin, you must promise me something. When I return to the Palace, you must never come visit. You must stay away.” He tipped his head back, breathing hard. “I do not want you to remember me like that. Remember me happy. Remember the person I was when I was with you. And if you ever hear of me, ignore what is said.”
Rin frowned, watching Arquis and wondering despairingly what he could do. The only thing he could think of to change this was…a rather drastic and sudden step. According to Kevran law, marriage automatically made someone into a citizen of Kevra. Furthermore, as Rinlos outranked Arquis, it would be expected that Arquis come to Kevra. Thus, Arquis would become a citizen of Kevra that was no longer expected to live in Anvillea. It could save the nobleman. But. Was there any way to carry this out without giving away everything?
"I can't do that." he whispered, looking over at Arquis. "I don't…I can't just abandon you to live and…and die alone." he swallowed faintly. "I…" he covered his face with a hand. "If I married you, you would become a Kevran citizen." his voice was quiet and muffled. "And as such, you could live in Kevra. Kevra extradites on a case by case basis, so they would not allow Anvillea to take you back for any prosecution."
(omg I was not expecting that)
Arquis stared at Rin in wide-eyed amazement. For about a minute, he was literally speechless. His mouth moved, but nothing came out. He almost felt like laughing. The idea of marrying anybody after less than two weeks of knowing each other was absurd. And yet.
“Marriage?” he finally asked, the word strangled and disbelieving. His heart was hammering in his chest. He reached over and gently removed the hand from in front of Rin’s eyes. Then, he repositioned so that he was on his knees in between their legs. He took off his gloves so that he could cup their face.
“You are wonderful, my love.” Every bit of him believed that statement, and it showed. His breathing was uneven; his eyes were glimmering, but he was no longer crying. “You are so, so wonderful, and I am not going to make you give away the rest of your life to save a man you just met.”
(neither was Rin lmfao)
("you can't marry a man you just met!")
Rin avoided his gaze, a bit embarrassed about it all. "It's not…it's not permanent, we could divorce later if need be. The marriage only has to last three years for your citizenship to be permanent, and then everything would be fine. We could go separate ways if we wanted to." they cleared their throat softly. "So it wouldn't have to be the rest of my life. And if I died before the three years would up, your citizenship would still be, ah, permanent."
Arquis actually smiled. It was a small, startled smile, but a smile nonetheless. The fact that they were embarrassed was endearing, though he wasn’t sure why. He just felt incredibly fond of him. If the situation wasn’t so serious, perhaps he’d give them a reassuring kiss, maybe even tease him about it all.
“Rin, love, look at me. Please?” He rubbed his thumb in a tiny circle against their temple. “You are so very sweet to have offered this plan, but there is a lot that it would not solve. My sisters would still be stuck in charge, and rumors of our marriage would inevitably make their way to Anvillea. I understand that you wish to save me, my dear. I personally want nothing more than to spend more time with you. But I cannot run away from my problems forever, or even just for three years. Someone has to take charge of the Palace, and if I marry you, it can never be me.”
"Why do you have to?" he replied. "What's the worst that can happen if you don't come back? Quirisa kicks into gear and takes some responsibility, before Marsiquia grows up a bit and takes on some of the load? Someone else takes over?" he raised his eyebrows, looking up at Arquis. "And like I said: Anvillea would not be able to prosecute you for our marriage, since Kevra would not extradite you back for that, so the rumors wouldn't bring either of us harm."
Arquis flinched. That hadn’t been the response he was expecting, and it caught him off guard. It took him a good moment to think of a way to reply.
“Quirisa would not know where to start. The responsibilities of the household would overwhelm her, and I fear that she would simply leave. She has never felt a deep attachment to our home. The only reason she has stayed this long is because of Marsiquia. But our younger sister does not, and will never, take priority over her freedom. If I abandoned the two of them, Quirisa would follow my lead. And Marsiquia would be left to suffer. She is far too young for that, and she has already gone through enough with the death of our father.”
He dropped his hands from his face, hoping that they wouldn’t be angry. This conversation was difficult. He didn’t know how to navigate it. The last thing he wanted to do was lose his closest ally in this whole mess, but maybe it was for the best. Maybe it’d be better if they weren’t tangled up in his disastrous life.
“And the comment about the rumors was not out of fear for our safety. As I said earlier, my identity would be a stain on my family. It would ruin their socioeconomic status. That would be so much additional stress, I… I could not harm them like that.” He looked at them pleadingly. “I would go with you gladly, my dear. I really would. But I would also miss them, and I fear that they would despise me for leaving.”
He hesitated for a moment, eyes flickering as he tried to think of what to do. "You can bring them too." he said slowly. "If…" they trailed off, shrugging. "They'd have to apply for citizenship, but…they'd probably get in. Someone else would take over eventually. It…it would work out." he hated the idea of Arquis dying like that, alone and secluded without anyone to help him.
Their optimism was lovely, but he was still somewhat doubtful. He sat back on his heels to think through the plan. It could hypothetically work. Once Muria was out of the way, he’d have full ownership of the Palace. Transferring that ownership to the Anvillean court system would be possible under the reasoning of permanent relocation. All he’d have to do is testify that staying at that location would cause unnecessary emotional distress, which would be accepted due to the attempted murder. The court could then transfer possession of the physical building to another wealthy family without causing economic ruin to those that were currently employed. Arquis would be able to move to Kevra with his sisters, assuming their citizenship was accepted. The marriage between him and Rin would prevent him from having to return to Anvillea to settle any matters related to Muria. No matter what she said or accused him of, he’d technically be safe. And Marsiquia would still be allowed to see Carsui. Being a nobleman meant that he traveled frequently.
He’d unknowingly said all of that out loud. The more he spoke, the faster and more eager his words grew. By the end of it, he was practically glowing with excitement.
“Oh, my love,” he breathed, gathering them into a tight hug. He pulled back to kiss him passionately. The kiss was only broken so he could exclaim, “Oh, my love, you are brilliant!”
Rin laughed a little bit, smiling as Arquis pulled back from the kiss. "So…you think this could work?" he asked slowly. "That we could…we can…" they trailed off, still a little shocked that he had even proposed this idea. Or, well, proposed. In perhaps the least romantic way possible. He cleared his throat faintly. "This is all…it's a lot, I think, and maybe we shouldn't make any decisions on it right now, but…but if it could work…"
Arquis sensed their hesitation and immediately moved back, suddenly worried. It had all been quite sudden. Were they regretting it already? Had he somehow pressured him into it? He didn’t think so. After all, he hadn’t brought up the idea. But still, he couldn’t help but fret at the change in tone.
“I really do think it could,” he responded carefully, monitoring their reaction. “And we can talk about it more in the future, of course. We should still have plenty of time here. But listen, love. If you do not wish to, we do not have to follow through with it. I would never force you into anything. All you have to do is say the word at any time, and I promise that I will not be upset. Not even a little. I understand that this has been terribly fast, and there is much we do not know about each other.”
Marriage. Goodness, they might marry him. The possibility had never entered his mind. He imagined holding them close every night and leaving kisses on his neck. He imagined living a life without constant, debilitating fear. It sounded too good to be true.
He let out a soft, still slightly embarrassed laugh. "I know." he said softly. "I…it's just a lot, and my father is, uh, going to be pissed if I come back married." he looked over at Arquis, flashing a faint smile. "But it would be fine. I'm not…I'm not worried about that, too much. He doesn't much like me anyway." he shrugged his shoulder faintly.
Arquis took their hands in his own. He looked down and studied the places where their fingers intertwined, observing the way his pale, scarred skin stood out. Then, he brought Rin’s knuckles to his lips and gave every single one a kiss. He smiled shyly up at them through his dark lashes. There was a pink, uneven blush spreading across his cheeks, but he didn’t bother hiding it. He felt overwhelmingly happy and warm all over. It was that bubbly champagne happiness, the kind that nearly made him dizzy.
“It is a lot, and I am very sorry if it complicates things with your father.” He gave them an apologetic kiss on the neck. An idea came to him, and he laughed faintly against their throat. He stood, then bent and—gathering up every ounce of strength he had—gingerly lifted Rin into the air. His biceps immediately started shaking; he wasn’t used to carrying much of anything, especially not people. He stumbled with them in his arms over to the bed and managed to set him down.
“Goodness. How in the world did you carry me all the way up that hill?” he mused. He collapsed into the empty spot beside them with another laugh.
Rin curled up against Arquis's side immediately, resting their head on his shoulder. "You are very light, for your height, my darling." he said, very softly. "And I didn't want you to die, so I carried you because I had to. You needed me to do it." he kissed his partner's cheek softly, looking at Arquis with a soft, gentle gaze.
Arquis placed his hand on their hip and drew a heart with his thumb, then another. He trailed that hand over to his stomach, tickling them, before bringing it up over their heart. There was that same reverence to his movements as before, as if he was worshipping them. He returned his soft gaze with a bashful look of his own. That blush of his deepened.
“No more speaking of death and other ills for tonight, my dear. No more talk of sad things. We are together, and that is wonderful.” He closed the slight gap between them, though he didn’t go in for the kiss yet. Instead, he asked, “Kiss me?”
He couldn't help the laughter that escaped him at the tickling, looking up at Arquis with a soft, pleased little smile. He leaned forward to press his mouth to Arquis's, eyelids flickering shut as he pressed a long, soft kiss to his partner's mouth. He reached up to wrap his arms around Arquis's shoulders, pulling the nobleman closer.
Arquis practically went boneless when Rin kissed him and, after remembering how to think, covered their body with his own. He groaned softly when he felt their arms over his shoulders. Acting entirely on impulse, he pressed them further into the plush mattress and kissed him with more fervor. He occasionally nipped at their lower lip, then tangled his hand in his hair, angling his head so that he could gain access to their neck.
“So beautiful,” he whispered, leaving a series of messy kisses along their jaw. His breathing grew slightly erratic; he wondered if they could feel the change against his skin. “I am the luckiest man in the world.”
His breath sharpened just a bit at the nip, and he easily let Arquis tip their head back, eyelids still shut. He shivered for a moment at the way Arquis's breath ghosted along his skin, their own breath growing slightly uneven. "Darling– I am still ill, and I would hate for you to catch it." they breathed, swallowing softly.
Arquis hesitated. That sounded like Rin wanted him to stop, and if that was the case, then he would do exactly that. But it also could have been a reminder or a number of other things. He certainly wouldn’t resume his actions until the meaning of it was clarified.
“Ah. Would you like me to stop, then?” he asked. Not murmured, not whispered against their throat. It was a clear, well-spoken question that needed a clear, well-spoken answer. “Or would you prefer to continue? I am alright with either option, my love.”
He took a soft breath, opening his eyes to look up at his partner. "You don't…you don't need to stop, I just…I do not want you catching ill from me, my love." he replied in a soft tone, their mouth pulling into a gentle little smile.
(I forgot Ari was still in the hall fhfhdhfhfj it’d be kinda funny if he walked back in during this)
Arquis returned the smile before dipping back down to bring their lips together. After a rather sweet, soft kiss, he broke away to whisper, “That is a risk I will gladly take.” He trailed his hands down to their sides, giving him a gentle squeeze on each hip. His gaze turned light and teasing. “Though perhaps I should put my mouth to use elsewhere?”
Waiting for a response, he hovered his lips over their neck once more. He wanted to leave another mark there to match the others. If Rin wasn’t feeling well or was too tired for it, however, then he would return to cuddling and kissing. It all depended on what they desired.
(lmfao me too tbh)
He returned the kiss, smiling a bit as he returned it. He cared so much about Arquis. Loved him. And the suggestion was, well. Made him wonder. "I…oh." he said faintly, looking at his lover. "Depends where you want to put it." he was quiet for a moment, then sat up a little. "Ari's waiting in the hall, though. Should we…should I go tell him to go back to his own room and we'll see him in the morning?"
Oh, this he could work with. Arquis put on his best poker face and pulled away as if seriously considering the question. He even feigned a touch of mild concern.
“Well, he did come all this way to see you. Surely it would be rude to send him away so soon. I do not wish to leave him unsatisfied.” Encouraged by a boost of rare confidence, he practically purred that last word. He ran a single finger down their jaw and brushed his knuckle against the shallow hollow of their throat. His other hand, which was still on their side, traced the curve of his hipbone through their shirt.
He shifted faintly, narrowing his eyes up at his lover. "Darling, I'll see him again tomorrow." He replied, wrinkling his nose a little bit. "Though if you want to satisfy him, you might need to get to know him better." They smirked slightly, chin tipping back just a little as Arquis's knuckle dragged along the skin of their throat.
Arquis hummed and leaned forward as if he was going to nip at their collarbones. Just before he did, however, he paused. He was so close that his every breath fanned out over his skin. He grinned, then retreated to his original position. His eyes were teasing and a little bit daring.
“Perhaps I shall.” Without waiting for a response, he slid off of them and over to the edge of the bed. He was almost to the door when he stopped, stretching in such a way that his shirt rode up. “Unless you have any objections, of course.”
It was a challenge; he didn’t mean it seriously, and it was obvious in the tone of his voice. He gave them a quick smile to indicate that he was joking just in case.
Rin watched him, biting his lip for a moment when Arquis's breath ghosted against his skin, sitting up on his elbow when Arquis moved away. He pretended to think for a moment, a smirk pulling at his lips. "I don't mind, though Honey might." He teased, laughing a little as they looked over at him.
Arquis feigned shock. “Really? You do not have even a single objection?”
His heart was starting to pound. What he was about to do next made him very nervous, but it also gave him a bit of a rush. He flattened himself against the wall, keeping his eyes on his partner, and ran his hand up to the bottom of his shirt. Slowly, he undid the first button, then the second, his movements precise. Once all of the buttons had been taken care of, he tugged at the halves of his shirt until torso was mostly on display. The low light of the room made his body look as if it were chiseled from pale stone. The only tells that he wasn’t a statue were the uneven rise and fall of his chest and the blush creeping down his neck.
“What about now?” he asked softly, swallowing hard. “Shall I go fetch him like this?”
Rin couldn't help the way his gaze moved across Arquis, slowly taking in the young man's form. "Oh." the word was very faint. They cleared their throat after a moment, eyes moving back up to Arquis's face. "Well. If that's…what you want to do." he ran his hands through their hair, gaze moving over his lover again.
