"I know, I know…" Marius rested his head on Evan's shoulder. "And I enjoy your company in a way that I've never enjoyed another person's company before. It's… it's strange. I'm still not quite used to it, but… I'm trying my best to get more comfortable with it."
"Take all the time you need." He said with a smile, removing his arms from around Marius so he could have some room to shuffle around and get comfy. "I've been eating fruit all day so we should probably head back soon so I can get something more substantial." He kissed Marius's cheek. "I wish I wasn't rooming with her, but with you instead."
"You can come to my room if you want to…" Marius looked away and fidgeted a bit more. "I mean, it's still kind of a mess from when I destroyed it, but the bed still functions as it used to, so… you know…" The tips of his ears twitched a bit at a distant wolf howling. "We could still sleep in it and stuff…"
He shook his head. "Marianna would get mad. She's in love with me remember?" He sighed and shook his head. "Won't stand for it. Well less in love, and more obsessed. She likes to dress me up in her clothes because she thinks it embarrasses me. I pretend that it does. In secret I dress up in drag at nights and trick all the men at balls." He chuckled. "Of course if you never want me to wear a dress around you that is perfectly fine. It's not for everyone. My mother obviously supports me expressing my gender with more then just what is seen as binary but, it isn't something for everyone. So I'll leave that up to you."
"I don't give a damn what you want to wear as long as I don't have to." Marius shrugged a bit. "I like it on you, but I don't think I'd much enjoy it on myself. If Marianna tries to stick me in a dress, she'll absolutely regret it." He glanced around warily when the wolves howled again, the fur on his tail bristling. "I have no interest in cross dressing, personally. I'm perfectly content to wear my normal clothes.
"And that's fine. Too each their own. We should head inside shouldn't we? Do you mind if I carry you?" He said gently, taking a few bites out of an apple before offering it too Marius, a smile on his face as he kissed Marius softly once more, and gave him a little squeeze, a mini hug.
"You can carry me if you want…" Marius mumbled, accepting the apple from Evan with both hands. He curled up a bit in the other's arms to take a bite of it, holding it close to his face as he bunched himself up. "We should definitely head in, though…"
Evan smiled and picked up Marius bridal style and started walking back towards the castle, giving Marius a forehead kiss. "I will kiss you forever Marius. Don't ever forget that okay sugar?" The pet name just flowed out of his mouth before he could stop it and he blushed and hid in Marius. (We forget sometimes Evan is a bottom who gets embarrassed easily)
"Mm… don't call me sugar. I'm not sweet or anything, if that's what you're getting at." Marius huffed indignantly and kept eating his apple. "Fuck, I've missed properly eating food… I mean, my teeth aren't exactly built for eating much other than meat, but I don't really care…"
"S-sorry…" He went quiet as he looked away, continuing to walk. There was nothing but the sound of his breathing as it fogged in the air, blushing as he looked straight ahead. "Also you're awful sweet to me…" He finally said quietly, barely a whisper.
"Am not!" Marius squawked, tossing the apple core over his shoulder as Evan carried him. "I'm a dick like, all the time, and you know it." He curled his tail around Evan's arm and burrowed his face into the other's shoulder.
"No you're not Mari. You're sweet when we cuddle, and adorable when you're overprotective. Even when mad, you're sugary sweet to me. Not that I'm complaining. I rather enjoy all the love you show." He said this with a hum to his voice.
Marius huffed indignantly and clung tighter to Evan. "I'm not sweet… you're gonna ruin my reputation, you know." He yawned a bit, unable to keep himself from looking like a sleepy kitten. "Just… just because I'm short doesn't make me cute…"
"Shortness doesn't have anything to do with it." He laughed a bit as he pet Marius. "Don't worry, I'll only ever call you sugar in private. Everyone else can perceive you as they wish but, I think you're adorable, and kind, and more in love with the stars than with me, which I find absolutely magical and lovely about you." He headed into the castle, still carrying Marius.
Marius whined a bit and put his mask back on, his ears drooping. "But m'not sugar…" He mumbled, letting his tail dangle down and brush against Evan's legs. He closed his eyes, resting his head on Evan's shoulder and trying to keep himself from purring.
"Yes you are sleepy. You're MY sugar." He kissed Marius's forehead and walked into his room, and gently set him down on his bed, and sat down on a chair beside it, petting him softly. "But it's okay to be my sugar, I like the taste of sweetness better anyways."
Marius looked up at Evan from where he was laying, hesitating before taking his mask back off. He didn't like sleeping with it on anyway. He glanced around the wreckage of his room and sighed. "How could someone who did this be sweet? I just… I destroy everything, Evan… I don't wanna destroy you."
"That right there is how you're sweet." He said with a wink. "You deeply care about me and want nothing but the best for me." He kissed Marius deeply. "I love you Marius very much, and I know you won't destroy me." He gave him a little hug and stood up. "Try to get some sleep. I'll try to keep Marianna quiet."
Marius curled up more tightly on his bed when Evan left, fidgeting with the sheets a bit. Am I being stupid? I don't… I don't want to be sweet… He shook his head a bit and closed his eyes. Evan's the only one I care about… I'm not sweet to anyone else. They don't deserve it like he does… He yawned and settled himself down, eventually drifting off to sleep.
The next morning Evan was eating breakfast in a blue and black dress, with touches of purple. He kept fumbling with his food. He absolutely loved being dressed up like this, in makeup and a pair of flats, but him being an actor really helped when having to fake things like this, which currently was faking anger and hatred. Marianna was in a deep unrelenting conversation of gushy ridicule about Evans appearance while he faked being bad at peeling an orange. Crystal was down in the town, finding some new fabrics and other trinkets, liking to find her treasures early in the morning, before the market place was busy. Then there would be less competition, and she could talk with the villagers and make a bit of a name for herself within conversation. So it was only Marius's parents that could mediate the rising situation before it bursted into smithereens.
Marius headed out of his room, his hair a bit disheveled from sleep. He sat beside Evan at the table, trying to keep his eyes off of the other so as to keep himself from blushing, and picked up some food. He hesitated before simply setting it back down, not wanting to just teleport it into his stomach when he could properly eat, but also not wanting others to see him. He glanced up at Evan, unsure what to do.
Evan leaned down and whispered. "Teleport, but eat it lightly. I'll sneak you some food to eat later." He nearly kissed Marius's cheek but stopped and simply went to shyly eating and glaring at Marianna as she played with a piece of his hair. "Isn't he just DARLING? I would've given him a corset, but he just has such feminine hips and is SO skinny~" "Marinna!" Evan said in a strict tone. "Enough! You will be marrying into this family, is this really the impression you want to leave behind?" "I do not love them why does it matter? I will spend most of my time travelling with you as I always have." "Do you not remember dearest sister? I am now Marius's personal tutor. Not yours." "WHAT? When was that?" "You were too busy trying to wondering about the curse that beset his mouth too listen in on such important matters you dimwit." An argument was about to breakout between the two siblings.
Marius nodded a bit when Evan said he'd sneak him some food and started teleporting some of his breakfast into his stomach, tapping one foot on the ground as he did so. He growled softly at Marianna's insults to Evan, and cowered when his mouth was brought up, his cheeks lightly flushed. Don't fight. He insisted to both of them. Marianna, you are to be queen of this kingdom. Start acting like it.I won't allow you to be a part of any decisionmaking for the kingdom if you're going to behave like a child. And yes, Evan will be my tutor, per request of the king and queen.
Marianna looked between the two, and tucked her blonde hair behind her ears, her wild green eyes angrily glowering between the two. "Evan. Are you in love?" She asked very suddenly. Evan's back stiffened a bit, caught off guard. He was very glad he was wearing heavy foundation, or else his blush would've given him away. "No Marianna." He said, making his voice heavy, cold, and icy. She hummed a bit and shook her head. "Mother says differently. You know she cannot lie, it is her personal promise to the whole queendom." Evan sighed. "Did she say who?" "No. But I WILL find out the gentleman that has beseeched your heart, and string him up by his toes, and let the birds and wild things eat him. How dare someone try to steal my Evan from me." "I was never yours. I am a worker to you, not a friend nor a partner of any sorts." Evan stood up very suddenly, and backhanded his sister. "I will not be in your presence until you start working on yourself and your actions. Mother should've whipped you more as a child." He then picked up his plate as he stormed out, Marianna rubbing at her cheek with a death glare, Marius's parents taken aback in complete surprise.
Marius sighed softly and pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. Unfortunately for you, Marianna, I can't allow such behavior. Evan never loved you, and he never will. If he is in love with a man from our kingdom, that's his business. He's a servant. His love life should not concern you. He got to his feet and headed back to his room, hoping to avoid suspicion by not choosing to follow Evan, much as he wanted to.