Laying on the bed beside Nico, Bel's completely happy. He rolls on his side, his nose nearly touching Nico's cheek as he stares at him, taking in his messy blond hair, tired blue eyes, flushed skin. Bel laughs and throws an arm around Nico's chest.
"We should've waited for evening," he claims though there's no regret in his voice. "We have to get food. I don't think you'd like your men to see you like this." His tone may be slightly hoarse, but the tease is all there. He runs his hand up Nico's chest, to his jaw and turns Nico's head to face him.
Nico pulled his arms around Bel barely having enough strength to lift his arms. He knocked his nose against Bel's face affectionately, eyes still closed.
"Hmm," he hummed, throwing a leg over Bel. He didn't want to leave the bed. "They can kiss my arse. And we can just order our food to be delivered." His eyes fluttered open as he looked down at Bel. He smiled down softly at him, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "Do you want to do anything? Shopping or something?" All he wanted to do was sleep but he would stay awake if Bel wanted to something.
Breathing in, Bel closes his eyes and leans into Nico. "We could do that," but Bel's yearning to see the village outside. Of course not in this state-blissed out and boneless–but at some point. "Do you think we could stay another night? I'd love to see the village with you, but I hardly think you're in any shape to walk."
Curling up beside Nico, Bel's content to stay like this for hours. "You should sleep," he says. "I know you're tired."
"Another night sounds perfect." And it really did. Nico would get another day of blissful love, only delaying the inevitable. It was going to hurt even more and he coukd already see his friends giving him the look. He knew. He was painfully aware and yet he didn't say anything. He couldn't. The words died on his tongue before he could speak them.
"Only if you sleep with me," he mumbled, eyes closing. There was no keeping hom up. He was wholly exhausted.
"Happy to," Bel answers; he's smiling, slowly running his fingers through Nico's hair. He carefully finds the corner of a blanket they kicked off at some point and pulls it over the two of them. Though not nearly as exhausted as Nico, Bel feels the appeal of sleep, th draw of it slowly taking over.
The three remaining heirs hand four sets of reins to the stable boy. The village they arrived in is small and is by the name of Oliphan. Miran's been there a number of times in the past, neither of the sisters familiar with it's location. He leaves Val and Treya to purchase their inn keys, their clothing severely downgraded and hair mussed to look less like royalty and more like everyday travelers. While they busy themselves with the room, Miran excuses himself to his favorite bar, the one with a familiar face.
As he walks, he's constantly adjusting his coat and fixing his gloves. He's been far too cold lately, the stress of his missing brother and his father's degrading health finally getting to him. Miran's not blind. He knows his old man is an unjust ruler without a damn for any innocent life. As soon as Miran gets the crown, his first act will be to abolish two things: the war and the witchhunt.
The Red Doe is a small hole in the wall that reeks of strong alcohol and rusted money. Miran flicks the hood of his gray cloak over his head and pushes open the heavy oak door. For it being midday, there's still plenty of patrons singing and drinking and laughing far too loudly for Miran's taste. Though the smell sickens him, Miran maneuvers his way to the back room, hidden by thick maroon curtains. The aura of drunkenness and sin fades away into a much mistier smell, one of incense and magic. "Dell," Miran greets, letting the curtains close behind him.
The woman sitting behind a table looks up, her glowing eyes slowly fading to her natural brown. "Miran," she replies. "It's been a while, old friend."
The sun had long since begun to set when Nico's eyes finally opened and came to his senses. He was aware that he was in fact, without clothes on, and that his arm had fallen asleep from holding Bel those short, sweet hours. But he didn't move his arm away from him, only curled further into Bel.
He was happy until his dtomacj rumbled and reminded him he hadn't eaten in half a day. But he wasn't moving while Bel slept in his arms. So he kissed his hair, his forehead, "Oh my sweet Bel."
Bel awakes to soft kisses along his head. Humming, he stretches out and blinks his eyes open. "Good evening," he mutters. He's warm and content and still snuggled naked against the man who has surely stolen his breath and heart. "Did you sleep alright?" The more he awakens, he notices that the night has fallen. He's also realizing that he's incredibly hungry and thirsty. Carefully, he rolls away from Nico to fully stretch, listening to the cracks of his joints from being curled up for a few hours. He also notes that once again he is very sore, but it's nothing he regrets. Nothing he ever wants to regret. "Have you been awake for long?"
Nico gave Bel one last kiss before the prince could roll away from him and stretch. "Best sleep of my life." And he meant it. Even with his arm numb and his stomach grumbling, he had never slept better. He was happy and content with his life. His little bubble that would soon pop. But he didn't think about that. Refused to. He wouldn't let anything dampen his mood.
"No, not long. Are you hungry? We coukd go out for dinner if you would like? Or we could have the inn bring some up from the kitchens?" Both were desirable options. One, he would get to go out on another date with his prince. Two, he would get to spend the rest of the evening and night naked and tumbling around in bed with Bel. Both were equally appetizing. How coukd he ever make a decision?
Bel laughs, sitting up and letting the blanket fall and pool at his lap. "Yes, I am hungry," he answers. It's been hours since they last ate. "And if you wouldn't mind, I'd love to visit the town." He smirks, leaning into Nico to give him a few quick kisses. "That is, if you're not still worn out." Bel, for the end he was on, is surprisingly fine. Sore, yes, but his stamina remains.
Learning from their last inn, Bel's sure to grip the nightstand as he stands. His knees only shake for a moment before he's upright and steady. Their clothes are on the bathroom floor and soaked with water that splashed over the lip of the tub. No matter, Bel makes his way to their bags and fishes out clean-ish and dry garments for them both to wear.
Nico grinned at him, his eyes sparkling. "I'm never too worn out when it comes to you, my dear." He managed to grab Bel before he got up, give him a fat kiss, then released him. He flopped back down on the bed, stretching. His blonde hair was a mangled mess. Partly because of sleeping, partying because a certain prince kept tugging on it. "We can enjoy our night out in the town. There's plenty of things going on even after dark."
He finally trudged out if bed and got dressed in the clothes Bel had grabbed for him. He rung out their wet clothes and hug them out to dry. Since they were staying an extra day, he would take their dirty clothes to a laundry service so they would be clean. He stood in front of the mirror, trying comb out his tangles.
"I'm glad," Bel answers, quickly dressing and tucking his shirt into his trousers. As much as he loved wearing Nico's clothes, he much prefers wearing his own that actually fit his slender frame. When Bel figures himself ready, he turns to Nico–struggling in the mirror with his hair.
"Here, let me–" Bel insists, stepping forward to run his fingers through the man's hair. It's mostly dry from their bathtub tangle and luckily nothing too severe. It doesn't take long for Bel to swiftly braid Nico's hair down his back before tying it off with a spare piece of string. Bel tightly wraps his arms around Nico's chest, resting his chin on the other's shoulder. "Handsome as ever," Bel practically growls into Nico's ear.
Nico dropped his hands and stood still. He refrained from wincing. Bel was gentle coming through his hair but it snagged a couple of times. He waited patiently, smiling as he braided Nico's hair. He looked at in the mirror, then at Bel's reflection. "Remind me to have you braid my hair more often." If only there would be more often.
His cheeks flushed a soft pink at the compliment and he scrunched his nose. "I think I prefer the term sexy or maybe ruggedly handsome. But these scars, not so pretty." He shrugged his shoulders. He turned in the embrace and drew Bel to his chest. "You on the other hand, now this is what handsome is."
"I'll braid your hair every day if you want," Bel says, pressing his nose into Nico's neck. It's been years since he's had a proper model to braid on. His sisters were compliant at first, but they found their own styles and hobbies and didn’t bother giving Bel the chance.
At Nico's opposition, Bel openly laughs. "I'll use whatever adjectives I want to describe you–" His sentence is punctuated with two kisses to Nico's jaw. The other man whirls around and brings Bel into his arms. A beam breaks through his face at Nico's compliment, but he quickly turns the attention back. "And yes, I find your scars very attractive." He uses his thumb to sweep over the line slicing through Nico's cheek. "Don't downplay yourself. You're too honest to lie like that."
Nico's eyes fluttered shut at the feeling of his touch. He leaned into Bel's hand, pressing a soft kiss to the palm. "Perhaps not everyone finds them so attractive." He certainly didn't. He thought they were ugly. They were from a difficult time in his life. It was hard to look at his scars sometimes without feeling hatred and disgust.
You're too honest… Oh of only Bel knew. If he knew the things Nico was hiding from him he would hate Nico forever. And it was with that thought that Nico placed his chin on the top of Bel's head, hiding his face from him.
"Who cares what others think?" Bel responds, resting his head on Nico's collarbone. "I like them and I like you." Perhaps like is a little too soft for a word, but he knows it's far too soon to break out its stronger counterpart. Maybe later, maybe when they're both safe from this treacherous journey.
They sit there for a moment in a sweet embrace. Eventually, Bel feels his stomach rumble with the need for food and he pulls away. "Let's go get our food." Taking Nico by the hand, he leads them both through the door, pocketing their key and closing in behind them.
A smile returned to Nico's face at the sound of a stomach grumbling. It hand been his this time. He pulled back from Bel, giving him a smile and a kiss on the head. "Let's. I don't need your stomach getting angry at me for keeping food from you."
He gladly took Bel's hand and walked side by side with him. "What kind of food are you in the mood for?" There were a few different options in town. There was seafood, there was taverns with questionable slices of meat, and one or two nicer restaurants.
"Hmm." Bel hums as they exit the inn and arrive on the street. Despite it being so late, lanturns and restaurants and shops are still bustling with life. Bel squeezes Nico's hand a little tighter, taking in the small town with wide eyes. Thr village surrounding the palace back in Araniel is… bleak, mostly a military occupation without any real vibrance from the common citizen. Something pulls at his smile and heart, knowing that the kingdom that served as his home for so many years didn't serve as a home for so many others.
"I'd be happy to eat whatever you want," Bel answers. He can smell the seafood, the bakery, the steaks, the poultry, and a thousand others. It should be overwhelming. It should be, but Bel is completely excited.
Nico looked down at Bel. He decided then that he was going to take him kn a real date. They would go to a nice restaurant and have an overpriced meal and enjoy themselves. "Come on, I know just the place."
He led him along the side walk until he came to stand in front of a nice looking restaurant. Well, nice for this town that is. The Lavender Glasshouse. The walls were painted a beautiful lavender color, hence the name. Pots of plants and fresh herbs were scattered alone inside. They had the best slices of meat and the freshest seafood in the village. Which wasn't much but it was still beautiful and homey and good. And that's all that matter. "Do you think this will do?"
The restaurant is painted a lovely shade of purple, the smells absolutely divine. "Wow," Bel muses, allowing Nico to pull him closer. There's indoor and outdoor seating, the outside illuminated by warm lights set in blossoming trees. Indoor are comfortable candlelight booths. He may have eaten in a grand dining room for his entire life, but even all that glitter and gold fail to add up to the romantic aura of the small restaurant.
"I think this will do just fine," Bel smiles, turning to Nico to press a kiss to his cheek.
Nico smiled down at him and it widened at the kiss. "Where would you like to sit? Inside or outside?" Nico was fine with either as long as it was Bel that chose.
The night was calm and warm. There was a small breeze that made the air comfortable. It wasn't too hot nor too cold. It was the perfect temperature. But the inside was a little brighter and there wasn't a worry about bugs either. He knew Bel didn't like the dark but the patio was illuminated as well as the streets. Both were good options. It was up to Bel.
"Honestly those trees are probably setting off my allergies," Bel notes. "I didn't even know I had allergies until a few days ago." While beautiful, the trees are coated in flowers and pollen and even though most of the friendly bugs have gone off to sleep, there are still the unfriendly bugs that enjoy to bite. "Inside would be fine."
The walk through the oak doors and the quiet hubbub of the restaurant washes over Bel. There's a bar which a few polite patrons dine at, plenty of tables and booths throughout the floor. There could easily be a large family seated around a massive table towards the back of the room.
Nico pushed open the doors with a small smile and promptly told the Hostess a table for two inside. While night had cleared out some the restaurant and it wasn't nearly as busy. There were still several patrons inside enjoying the restaurant. It was mostly older couples or childless couples enjoying a night out.
They were sat in a booth towards the back. There was maybe one other table near them but that was all. Nico was happy with that. While he hadn't planned on doing anything terribly mischievous, he didn't want to be surrounded by other people. "I know you don't drink much but they have a great wine selection if that's more your taste. If not, they have several good nonalcoholic options as well."
Bel takes his seat across from Nico, immediately staring straight into the small candle adorning their table. The corner is quiet and comfortable, practically all to themselves. It's very nice. "No, I don't drink at all," Bel informs quietly, reaching for a menu placed beside the large window. Before even reading the food options, Bel finds himself temporarily enraptured by the scene outside. Despite it being dark and approaching the dead of night, lanturns and stars still keep it alight and alive. People stroll up and down the cobblestone streets, crossing over a small footbridge cresting over a stream.
"What's good here?" Bel finally asks, tearing his eyes from the window to the menu to Nico.
Nico reached across the table to take Bel's hand. He gave it a small squeeze. He hadn't meant to saything to upset him. He had only wanted to offer it if Bel wanted something to drink. "They have flavored lemonade if you would like to try some. Or different juices." He decided that if Bel wasn't drinking, he wasn't going to drink. Not tonight.
"Their steaks here are excellent. They always cook it just right. It's served with mashed potatoes and green beans but I'm sure you could sub something out if you want a different side. There's also some soups on the backside of the menu. I haven't tried them personally but Laurent has told me that they're really good."
"It's been a while since I've had a good steak," Bel hums, flipping over the menu to study the backside. While everything looks good, the sound of a steak piques his interest. It must be something in Nico's voice because a lemonade could not sound better.
He slightly straightens when a server comes by with a big smile and swooshing dress. She greets them pleasantly and hands them their utensils before taking their drink order and disappearing again. Bel deflates when she's out of sight–something about strangers forcing Bel to fix his posture and fix his speech.
