Nico wasn't quite sure how she would be able to do her job effectively if she was scared to walk around them. But Bel grew up in this life and he would trust his judgement. Even if he thought it was wrong. With the mask off and his arms up, Nico slid the shirt over his head and helped him maneuver his arms through the sleeves. He tried not think about needles that had been inserted into his sides as Bel's bare chest was in view for a few fleeting moments.
He leaned forward to kiss his forehead gently before grabbing his trousers out of the bag next. Je motioned for Bel to stand, holding the trousers so they would be easy to step into.
Bel laces the top of his newly acquired shirt, cinching it in a practiced manner. After he's done, he finally removes his mask and takes a long, deep breath. There are mirrors indents on the squares of his jaw from where the contraption had especially dug into his skin. As soon as he sees Sella, he must ask for a larger size. His first few breaths of air are much crisper, cleaner than he's noticed in weeks.
"Love–" Bel almost laughs. "I can put om my own trousers, thank you." Despite his words, Bel still steps into them and kisses Nico firmly when their faces meet. "Thank you," he says again, quietly. "For everything."
Nico only smiled and waited for Bel to step into the trousers. When he finally did, he pulled the fabric up his legs until it reached his waist. He let Bel finish buttoning his trousers. He placed his hands on his hips, returning the kiss as Bel stepped close to him. He reached a hand up, tracing the indents the mask had left. His lips pulled unto a frown. "You have nothing to thank me for, my love." Not when his ignorance coukd have gotten him killed.
Nico pulled the other shirt out if the bag and slipped it over his own head. He stood, looking down at Bel. "We should get going, yeah?" As if on que, his stomach rumbled at the thought of food.
"No, love, you saved my life and introduced me to a new world. I thank you for everything." Another few kisses, hoping that they can smooth out Nico's frown. "And yes, we should get going. I hope I remember the back way out. The main entrance goes right by the dining hall and I know my cousins will be overjoyed to see me." He sighs, resting his head on Nico's collarbone. "I don't have the energy to deal with all eight of them right now. Maybe for lunch. After a nap." He smiles and pulls away, finding his boots sitting by the bathroom to slip on.
He pockets the key sitting on the entry-side table and looks back to Nico. "We all ready?"
Nico melted into the kisses, as small as they may be. Bel had him eating out if the palm of his hand. Both of them knew it by now. The frown faded away after the first kissing he responded eagerly. He wasn't going to argue on this anymore. Simply ignoring the issue at hand by bringing Bel in for another kiss. "We'll slip right out then and pray that no one notices us." Nico wasn't sure he was ready for meeting any of Bel's family right now either. Breakfast, some shopping, and then a nap sounded wonderful. Family could wait.
He laces his shoes up before standing and walking over to Bel's side. He reached forward to take his hand before twisting the doorknob. He nodded his head. "I'm ready. Remember, swift and silent." They didn't want to get caught by his family just yet.
"Silent and swift," Bel repeats with a small smile as he opens the door and leads Nico by the hand. They pass the puma resting on the top of the staircase, Bel making sure to stop and scratch her head before descending the stairs. After the first flight, they find themselves in a long hallway. It smells of food and there are young, chattering voices through a large arch in the hallway. Dining hall. There should be an exit near the kitchen… Easy to get food and goods in and out without dragging it through all of the castle. All to familiar with watching his steps within palace walls, Bel drags Nico past the opening, where the prince catches a brief glance of his cousins all around a large table. Loven sits at the head beside an empty chair, looking slightly out of place with her pale skin and scarlet hair.
Luckily, nobody seems to notice, and they continue to the kitchens. There are a couple chefs milling about, talking of the latest morning gossip in Blakkian. Bel notes every word but doesn't care enough about Hildred and Mason to bother staying to listen. He offers an apologetic smile as he weaves past them, muttering apologies in their native language until they reach the open door allowing the morning air into the kitchen.
Nico did not share the same sentiments when it came to the pumas. It was off putting to him. Pumas were wild animals that should remain in the wild. And yet somehow they had been domesticated and trained to be guards and mounts. It was uncanny. He tired not to make his discomfort known as they passed by the guard puma. As they neared the dining hall, he could hear the voices overlapping each other. Young voices. He hoped his roof friend was in there and not flat on the pavement somewhere. Perhaps one day someone could get through to him that climbing on roofs was not a good idea.
Bel led him back into the kitchen. He heard the cooks speaking but didn't understand what they were saying. He needed to remember to have Bel teach him the language. If he could at least learn the basics he would consider it a successful lesson. With some maneuvering, theh finally made it out the kitchen and into the open air. He let it a silent breath of relief. He felt stuffed in the palace. It felt good to be out.
"You alright?" Bel asks, noting Nico's relieved sigh when they're finally on the streets of Blakkast. Unlike Araniel, the palace here connects straight to the surrounding village–no walls, no moats, no awaiting death traps for any intruders. When Bel was little, he thought it absurd for the castle to blend so seamlessly with the town. Now Bel only wants the same for the kingdom awaiting for him. Oh, how nice it would be to wake up and immedietly find the morning market. He would fill his rooms with baubles and trinkets made my kind old women and wide-eyed children. He would stock up on countless spices and learn of brand new imported fruit. Yes. Yes, that would be very nice.
Bel squeezes Nico's hand a little tighter and begins to drag him through the crowd. Bare of anything to prove him royal, Bel mostly weaves through the population without trouble. There are a few bold shopkeepers who belt and brag of their goods, trying to get Bel to stop and look at them, but the prince is far too hungry for shopping. He has a mission. "I think it should be around this corner?" Bel furrows his brow and rounds the block. There it stands. It looks slightly different then Bel remembers, but he knows quite a bit can happen in a decade. The sign has been repainted and the cartoony egg looks a little sillier. The outdoor patio houses many guests, smiling and sipping their teas as they await their breakfast. The surrounding flowerbeds are full of indigo and white peonies. Bel smiles. "It's still here."
Nico nodded at Bel. "I'm alright. Just happy to be out of the palace." He had never grown up in the palace at Araniel. He hadn't even stepped foot in it. He'd only seen it from a distance and even then, it was only a handful of times. He wasn't used to such luxury. He had always been moving around. Staying in their, albeit glorified, tents. He had stayed in a few homes and cottages on longer missions but it was nothing fancy. It had always been just enough to get by. He knew it woukd take time to get used to the palace and even then, he may never fully get used to it.
Nico ignored all the shop keepers, glaring at those that were a little too bold into submission. He was in no mood to deal with vendors. He was hungry. Just thinking of food had his stomach rumbling. He continued to follow Bel, guiding him through the crowd to make sure he didn't run iver anyone in his determination to find this little nook of a restaurant. But it was there. As they turned a corner, Bel stopped in his tracks and Nico almost ran over him. He smiled, squeezing Bel's shoulders and dropping a kiss on the top of his head. "You ready to go inside?"
If Nico wasn't able to handle the Blakkian palace, Bel wonders if he'll ever be able to endure Araniel's. The walls are colder, the floors are bare, the throne room pulses with power that causes even Bel to grow nauseous. Blakkast has a full dining table, the children around them laughing freely and stretching across the table for an extra bread roll. Perhaps it could warm when Bel's father is gone, but he's never quite been hopeful. There's a reason Bel avoids the hallway in which they found his mother's corpse. It smells like soot and blood. The walls sometimes scream.
Shaking away his memories, Bel leads Nico towards the entrance. He can already smell the eggs and hash, making his stomach grumble the closer they get. The young hostess greets them with a smile before leading them towards a newly cleaned table in the center of the restaurant. Before Bel's able to take a seat, he hears someone yell his name. He straightens, searching the crowd until his eyes land on a tall sous chef with shoulder-length black hair and eyes darker than ebony. "Bel? My gods!" They drop their pans and scuttle through the open kitchen to the dining area.
It only takes a moment for Bel to recognize them as Madden, a friend he had made back when he was a boy. "Mads?" Bel answers, abandoning his chair in favor of hugging his friend. He switches almost immediately to Blakkian, knowing that Mads is hardly fluent in common. "It's been too long!"
"Well, a little hard to find anybody with the borders closed for the past decade," Mads snorts, bringing their hands up to ruffle at Bel's hair. They look behind the prince, seeing the blonde awaiting him at a chair. "I'll leave you to it, but we must hang out before you leave again. I have far too much to tell you." Mads smiles at Bel, then to Nico before ducking back to the kitchen for the morning rush.
Bel laughs disbelievingly, shaking his head as he takes a place across from Nico. "An old friend. We used to love coming here as kids. Who knew they would get a job here?"
Nico had his own worries on how he woukd adjust to the palace life, especially when he took his crown and his kingdom. He felt out of place here in the Blakkast palace. Perhaps it could be that it simply wasn't his home but he doubted that. The life, the luxury, it was all so strange to him. So different. But he believed with time he would get used to it. He had to, or else there was no hope for him taking the crown.
He followed behind Bel, placing his hand on the small of his back as they were les to their table. He moved to pull the chair out for Bel to take when someone called his fiance name. He turned his head to see someone approaching them. He took a small step back, watching their interaction. He didn't understand what they were saying. Another reminder to have Bel teach him the language.
He helped Bel into his seat as the friend slithered away into the kitchen. He took the seat opposite of him, smiling gently at Bel. "I'm glad you were able to reunite." And he was. It was good for him to see old friends. Bel needed friends. Ones that weren't Nico or any of his men.
"Me too–" Bel responds, leaning back in his chair to catch a glance into the kitchen. Mads is smiling wide, dimples in their tanned cheeks and glossy, curly hair pulled back into a bun. "Gods, what are the odds?" Bel finds his own smile growing. As much as he, erm, appreciates Nico's friends, he hardly considers them his own. They're harsh and tough and probably still think of Bel as some blubbering weak link that managed to seduce their rock solid leader. No, Bel needs people who know of spice racks and fine tailoring and the delicate art of book binding. Who needs a sword when Bel has plenty of pens to share?
An elderly man approaches their table with a notepad in his wrinkled hands. He asks for drink orders, and Bel just responds with their finest warm tea. After getting Nico's order, he nods and shuffles away. Bel turns his attention to the menu, noting how it's all written in Blakkast's sprawling script. "Do you need any translating?" Bel asks with a raised eyebrow. He's already decided on the dish he remembers so fondly from his childhood. While he ordered from the kids menu, his mother had asked for an Eggs Benedict with a side of rosemary hash. Bel wants the same.
Nico reached across the table to take Bel's hand. He tried not show his protectivness. Not because he was worried about some boy coming to take his prince away. But because he was worried about Bel's illness and wanted to be near if anything were to happen to him. Perhaps he would be able to convince him to meet up at the palace where Nico and plenty of doctors were around to help him if need be. He loosen the need to be so near in time but…he had watched Bel almost die just yesterday. He was utterly terrified. What if something had happened before they reached Blakkast? What if Nico hadn't been there? So much could have gone wrong.
As the old man aporached them to take their drinks, he ordered an orange juice and a water. He turned to Bel, offering a small smile. "It's a breakfast restaurant. I'm sure they have a stack of pancakes, that's all I want. Perhaps tomorrow you can tell me the other options." But right now, he was craving something sweet.
Bel raises an eyebrow at Nico's hold on his hand, but doesn't say anything. He's sure the old man taking their order won't try to flirt with Bel, so it's highly unlikely they'll have a repeat of last time. Bel has to repress his shudder thinking about what had happened, how a beautiful night had turned sour so quickly. They're safe now, within the walls of Bel's mother's home. Nobody would dare touch them with Sella on the throne and with her army dutifully following behind her.
The prince smiles. "Yes, I'm sure they'll have pancakes if that's what you want." Just for safe measures, he scans the menu for the listed item. It's listed under the singular entrees and they come in stacks of three or five. "Ooh, they have about seven different types of syrup–" Bel has never personally been of a fan of the sticky sweetness, but the unexpected blackberry syrup piques his interest. The old man returns with their drinks, Bel's tea in a beautiful white china cup painted with delicate blue flowers. Nico's cups are entirely made of metal and frosted from the chill of the liquid. He could almost laugh at the stark difference, but then the man asks for their breakfast order and jolts Bel out of his mind. He asks for the eggs benedict, cooked well and with a small side of their savory bacon hash. The man nods, turning to Nico.
Nico was not worried the least about the old man they had as their waiter. While he was a little suspicious of this Mads person, he wouldn't say a thing about it. Their interaction had been completely platonic and there was no reason for him to worry. At least not yet. Nico held Bel's hand simply because he wanted to. Because it felt nice to have physical contact with him. And because he had been so close to death, he felt like as long as he was touching him, Bel couldn't slip away from him.
He takes the glass as soon as it's set in front of him and takes a sip from it. It was cool and fresh and it made him smile. It reminded him of home. If there was an orange tree near by, they pick some and squeeze it for breakfast. They didn't do it often. They didn't want to take all the fruit from the trees. But it had been a nice delicacy. He orders his large stack of pancakes with regular syrup as the man turns to him. He also asked for a small side of the blueberry syrup so Bel could have a taste with Nico's pancakes.
Bel sips quietly at his tea and sends off their menus with the waiter. He holds Nico's hand a little tighter and finds himself wondering how the shape of their conjoined hands will change with the addition of a ring. Bel's had no issue with jewelry before, but just thinking of a simple piece has his heart squeezing and mind wondering. The colors will be gold and purple. Bel will ask Miran if he'd like to walk him down the aisle, knowing fully well his father will want to part in whatever non-political marriage he's indulging in. Perhaps Val if Miran declines. Treya as a last resort, but he'd rather have his sisters as his bridesmaids–where will they even have the wedding? Blakkast? The scenery is gorgeous, the hosts generous, and the surroundings familiar and more homey than Araniel could ever be. But if they wed within the borders of Araniel, it would be a powerful move to have the first official, royal decree be such a stain on Bel's father's legacy.
Before Bel's mind spirals too deep into all the logistics, the waiter returns exceptionally quickly (or was Bel just zoned out for too long) with their food. It looks amazing, smells even better, and Bel finds his mouth just watering at the thought of it. He hums, already gripping a fork to slice into the egg.
Nico watched Bel silently. He could tell that he was lost in thought and thinking hard. He didn't want to interrupt whatever he was thinking. So he simply squeezed his hands and enjoyed the silence. He watched the people around them. The young couples nervous to be on one of their first dates.a family out with their young children. The group of older women catching up over coffee. And he watched Bel. It wasn't hard to decipher what he was thinking about. He was staring so hard at their connected hands. Nico was thinking the same thing, how would a ring look on both of the hands?
Some time passed and their food finally showed up. He let go of Bel's hand only so the plates could be placed in front of him. He thanked the waiter and picked up a fork. "Don't eat to quickly, Bel," he said, giving him a look. He looked like he was practically drooling.
"I won't," he answers with a smile as he takes his first few bites. It's just as good as he remembers. A decade ago, he was sitting in a similar chair with his mother across from him and his siblings sat around the rest of the table. Miran was grumbling over his bacon and waffles, Treya enamored with her yogurt parfait, and Val sipping at her porridge. His mother offered him a bite of her eggs, and Bel had accepted without hesitation. Maybe Bel will try and get this place to cater for a wedding. He would certainly pay very well.
The rest of breakfast passes quietly and pleasantly. The old man stops by at some point with the bill, one that Bel quickly pays. It's his turn. He doesn't want Nico to pay for anything any longer. "Did you like it?" Bel asks as he pokes at Nico's empty plate.
Nico gave him another look before starting on his own pancakes. It was sweet and delicious and he practically drowned each bite in syrup. He loved syrup, perhaps a little more than the average person did. He offered Bel a bite or two with the blueberry syrup he had asked for along with the regular one. He knew it had peaked the prince's interest and he wanted him to try it. Even if it meant sharing his food.
Nico stared at Bel stunned when he snatched up the bill and paid for it. Nico had always paid. He wanted to pay. He was still looking at him in shock when Bel asked him a question. It took him a moment longer to respond. "I don't want you to pay. Let me pay."
Bel smiles, raising an eyebrow challengingly. "Love, I have more money than grains of sand. I need something to do with it." Now that he's back in semi-familiar territory, it's a lot easier to access his funds. Sella won't notice if he pocketed a few coins from the room they were staying in. When he's back in Araniel he'll repay her and Nico tenfold for whatever they've bought for him. "Stop complaining and let me do it for once." When the waiter comes by again, Bel's quick to hand him the bill and more than enough coin to pay the tab. "Keep the change–" he instructs before the old man walks away, more than a generous tip left for him.
"Ignore the bill, I want to know how your food was." Bel licks a last bit of syrup from his lips, very sweet and tasting of a multitude of berries. He doesn't understand how Nico could possibly eat pancakes beneath all that syrup, but who is he to judge.
Nico jutted his lips in what could be considered a pout. He wouldn't say he was pouting, of course, but it was obvious to everyone around him that's what he was doing. "And I have money. Lots of it. I don't want you to feel like you ever have to pay for anything. I can support us both." Granted, most of his money came from stealing and looting, only those that deserved it, but still stolen. He had enough money to give them a happy life. They wouldn't ever want for anything. And that was only if for some reason he didn't take the throne.
He had the audacity to cross his arms as the waiter came and took Bel's money. This was strange to him and he didn't know how he liked it. Actually, he did know. He didn't like it. He was supposed to pay for things, not Bel. He would not ignore the bill but that was going to be a conversation to have somewhere more private. He knew that, at least. "It was fine. It was good." He reached across the table to take his hand again. "Come on, we have some shopping to do remember." And he was going to try to pay for everything.
"Oh my gods, are you really going to be this person?" Bel raises an eyebrow as he tries not to smile. Nico's rapid insistence is… cute, almost and Bel has to use every ounce of self control to hold in his laughter. "Nico, love, I'm literally a prince. I've had things paid for me for my entire life. Let me do something I never get to do." He swipes his hand through his hair, the other still holding on tightly to Nico's hand. "We can both support each other tenfold with our respective balances. Stop getting so worked up over a bill, love."
With that, Bel stands, dragging Nico up with him. He waves good-bye to Mads buried in the kitchen, a promise to meet up again soon communicated wordlessly between them. They leave the small restaurant and head straight into the morning market. It's a bustling, beautiful place with stands upon stands of different goods. There are geodes from the mines, fabrics from the tailors, fine jewelry from the jewelworkers–it's nostalgia and wonder all rolled into one and Bel begins to study each of the stands.
Nico released a sigh after a moment. It was against his morals to let someone else pay for the bill but it wasn't something to start a fight over. So he wouldn't. He squeezed his hand and shuffled out of the seat with Bel. "If you must be so insistent, then I propose we put our money together so we will never have ro fight over who pays. It will be both our money then." While he wouldn't be happy with it, he was willing to compromise. He pulled Bel close to his side and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, kissing the side of his head. He glanced back at this Mads person and simply shifted his focus forward. He didn't know yet how he felt about them.
Nico finally separated from Bel and trained beund him with his hands clasped behind his back. He watched in amusement as Bel examined the content of each stand and cart. Nico was a simple man. He didn't need much. Clothes on his back and a blade at his side and he was content. But he woukd buy Bel all the finery the world had to offer if it made him happy.
"Mm, I like that idea," Bel responds, leaning his head into the brief kiss. As they turn the corner, Bel catches one last glance at his friend. It's been a decade since he's last seen Mads, and he's shocked that they've hardly changed. Sure, they're taller, broader, and older, but their dark eyes still remain the same–excitable, eager, and ready for a new adventure. Since the border got shut down, Mads must have been trapped here. As kids, Mads had already climbed nearly every peak in Blakkast, leaving hardly any more room for discovery. Hopefully Bel will be able to reconnect easily. He needs friends that aren't prone to violence.
The shop is similar to most he's wandered through. He smiles at the old women behind cauldrons of soup and humors the children who point excitedly to their own handmade bracelets. At one point, a child no older than eight struck up a conversation with the prince. Of course, Bel stops to speak with the kid, smiling and nodding and offering a few responses when the child stops to breathe. She's a sweet child and Bel buys a beaded purple bracelet from her to show his appreciation. He returns to Nico's side, wordlessly grabbing his wrist to secure the bracelet before entwining their fingers. "Children are sweet," he notes as they move on.
(Happy 1000 posts!)
Nico had a feeling he would. Though he didn't quote like the idea it was better than Bel trying to pay for everything. He had more than enough money to support them both. He didn't need or want Bel to pay for any of it. But he had known the argument wasn't going to end if they didn't compromise. And this was the best compromise. Even if he didn't like it. He squeezed his shoulder one more time before releasing him so he could go look at the shops.
He followed Bel into a shop, smiling at the older woman politely. He stood a few feet away, just watching as Bel interacted with the children. He watched with a gentle look. Nico liked children, always had. He got along with them well, or at least the few children in his camps. He had always wanted one of his own one day. But he also knew with his mixed preferences in partners, it might not happen. He knew Bel and he could never have a biological child together. He had no idea who he would name his heir after he died. Probably one of Bel's siblings children, should they have any. That could be figured out later, after he had won his throne. His smile brightened as Bel came back to his side and wordlessly put the bracelet on his wrist. He stepped out the shop, hands entwined.
