(hndgbf sorry for the wait)
Unto Sabbas,
Unfortunately, my schedule for the day is full, and no matter how much I would like to see you, I must also attend to the duties and requirements of my crown and throne. Tonight, then, come to my chambers. I shall ensure there is no one outside of the door who would cause trouble.
Yours,
Edward
He normally had a guard outside of his doors at night, but he would find a way to send them away. He could not have anyone knowing about Sabbas's visit, not at night.
Unto Edward,
Very well then, my dear king. You are too kind. I look forward to seeing you in the candle light tonight. In the time that must pass before then, do best to not strain yourself from your kingly duties. I shall do my best to arrive to your chambers as soon as soon as dusk falls.
Yours,
Sabbas
Sabbas immediately went about his work after sending the letter. Most of his "work" was simply just meeting with people or going through letters from home. His mind was buzzing the whole time. It was a miracle he was able to read through and respond to his correspondences. When the sun was setting, he dismissed his servants for the evening. After an hour, Sabbas made his way to the king's chambers. Once he had gotten lost, but continued to stroll along till he wandered up to the doors. There wasn't a single guard in sight. Gently, he knocked on the door and quickly stepped inside.
Edward waited and waited for Sabbas to be able to come, doing his best to fill his time with other things. Dinner, and meetings, and even spending a bit of time with Marie. But then he was back to his chambers, ensuring that the guards were gone for the night so that Sabbas wouldn't run into any trouble, and there was no one to catch them. He was dressed now in just casual, easy clothes, his crown set aside. He just looked soft and tired and sweet. None of the royal trappings, none of the decorative anything. Just Edward. Not his majesty, the king.
The door clicked shut behind him. Sabbas took another step before stopping. His eyes instantly landed on Edward. Almost every muscle in his body stopped as he stared at the king. He wanted to walk over, wrap his arms around Edward's wait, then rest his chin on his shoulder while whispering compliments, but he couldn't. Whatever suave that normally possessed him wasn't there at the moment. The corners of his lips tugged up into a small grin. It wasn't until his heart thumped did it grow into something bigger.
Somehow his legs and feet started moving again. They didn't stop until he was right beside Edward. He breathed, "Never have I been so eager to see the sun set below the horizon only to find myself with someone who's much brighter."
Edward smiled as Sabbas approached, reaching out to take the ambassadors hands. "Ah, and myself, the same." he responded softly, rubbing his thumbs over Sabbas's knuckles. "It has been…oh, it has felt like a long time." even though it had only been a scant few hours, it had felt like so much longer. Had felt like decades. An eternity. When really, it had only been a few hours. And yet, now, despite all that waiting…he didn't know what to do next.
He wouldn't have dared to move his hands the moment Edward took them. If Edward wanted to hold them forever, he wouldn't say no. He loved the feeling of the king's thumbs brushing his knuckles. "Indeed, it has been an eternity." Sabbas wasn't sure what to do or say next. This has never happened to him before. All of the excitement about seeing the king again had barely left any room for him to consider what to do when they met. He couldn't get over his hands being held by Edward or the sparkle that always shined in his eyes. Sabbas moved his head so he could kiss the king's left cheek. "Let us spend an eternity then to make up for the time we have spent apart."
Edward's cheeks flushed faintly at that kiss, and he ducked his head for a moment, a soft smile pulling at his mouth. He was not used to this sort of affection being shown to him, not so freely. Nor the flowery words that Sabbas gave him every time they saw each other. "Yes. Let us– let us do so." he stammered out, blush intensifying just a little bit. To distract himself, he glanced around the room, as if he were not already deeply familiar with every small detail, every painting on the wall and every piece of rich fabric that draped every piece of furniture in the room.
Seeing Edward blushing made him giggle. If Sabbas spoke what was on his mind, he for sure would cause Edward to turn as red as a rose. It was feasible to think such things though. The king was alluring. Not just in beauty, but in his heart and intelligence. A strong leader nonetheless. Sabbas's heart was drawn towards him. He just wanted to caress the king's rosey cheek. His eyes followed where the king was looking. For a while, he took a glimpse at each of the paintings. "Which one is your favorite, Eduardo? Could you tell me about them?" He asked while moving behind him. Sabbas wrapped his arms around Edward's waist while resting his chin on the king's shoulder.
Edward knew that he blushed easily, but this felt almost ridiculous. When Sabbas came behind him and wrapped his arms around him, his cheeks felt aflame, even as he leaned back into the Spaniard. "They are, ah, mostly of my ancestors." he replied. "Past kings and queens that have ruled over England. My own portrait shall likely be added some day, though not just yet." he of course had an official portrait, but it did not hang in this room. It was hung somewhere more visible, an obvious representation of himself. "I…do not really have a favorite, as they are just my ancestors."
His eyes scanned all of the portraits. While he took a moment to appreciate the details of each painting, his attention wasn't entirely fixated on them. He hummed softly while nodding his head. Staring at them reminded him of when he was back in Spain, looking back at the portrait of Edward. His arms gave a light squeeze. "They all look lovely. Yours is the most beautiful though," He mused. "Perhaps we should get you some paintings of landscapes or flowers or scenes from tales of long ago…That way you will have a favorite or two."
(sorry for the wait!)
"Perhaps we should. But, this room is not only mine. It was my father's, and it will be my…my son's." he left unspoken the if. If he had a son. If he ever had a child to begin with. If he could bring himself to lay with his wife the way he should. The way he needed to, in order to continue his family line. He exhaled, pushing that aside and leaning back into Sabbas instead, closing his eyes and just leaning his head on Sabbas's shoulder. He did not want to think of that for now. He did not want to think of all of that, not while he was with Sabbas.
(it's okay!)
Sabbas hummed softly. His chin rested on the top of Edward's head. There is no bond stronger than royalty, lineage and power. So many things are passed through these three traits: rooms included. Over his shoulder, he gazed at the bed. "Let us not forget, it's Great Britain's along all of its glory. Power rests in this room above all." His eyes returned to the walls in front. All of the portraits hung, holding power within themselves. "No worrying for the future, mi Eduardo. We have to make it first." The ambassador removed his chin. In the back of his mind, he was beginning to plan out a painting to gift to Edward. To them, it will symbolize themselves and their relationship. To the rest of the world, it will symbolize diplomacy between the two empires.
Edward hummed very faintly. "Precisely. This room is a heartbeat for the crown. It is…generational." he said softly, then smiled a little bit at Sabbas's next words. "Yes. We…shall make the future." he finally said slowly, glancing back at Sabbas for a moment. This softness, this closeness already that…that was so comforting. He had not had something like this before, had not had a relationship this soft. And he already felt close, and almost…seen, despite how new to this relationship they both were.
The ambassador swore that Edward's eyes twinkled on their own. The king's gaze left him looking away with a burning, flushed face. Almost reluctantly, he had let go of the king. His arms came undone, only to sway at his sides as he went to stand in front of Edward. But he couldn't let his hands stay at his side for long. Whatever future they are making, even in this moment, he just wanted to spend one moment (or many, if possible) to look into those eyes. Sabbas's right hand gently held Edward's cheek while his left arm returned to his waist. He pulled the king in towards him hen whispered, "And what do you want your future to be, Edward?"
Edward smiled as Sabbas pulled him in, leaning into the touch, and reaching up to lay one hand over Sabbas's right hand, the other wrapping around Sabbas in order to hold onto him. "I have not yet decided." he responded in that same whisper, a soft smile pulling at his mouth. His future…oh, he did not want to think of it. He would rather be here, in this moment, face to face with Sabbas. His future was complicated, and he could not picture one other than the one that he had always pictured. He did not want to try. He would rather stay here, in this present. "And what is yours, Sabbas? What future do you desire?"
His heart thumped. Sabbas stared into Edward's eyes, gently brushing his thumb against his cheek. "I am not quite sure myself," He admitted. The past and present, he had those two; he controlled them. The future, on the other hand, is what he spends most of his time praying to God for. He had been doing so ever since he could remember. Whatever his future will be, right now, he was only sure of two things. One: he'd like to be alive or at least…this high noble reputation to be alive. The one where only a few know who (or rather what) he is. And second…."I desire to see you again, to hold you again…just the way we are now." That's it. That's all he wanted at the moment.
Edward was still leaning into Sabbas's hands, happy to be held like this. "I think that I am in agreement with that. I would also desire that." his smile was soft, gaze easy and calm and content. He loved this, and was so glad that he was able to be here with Sabbas. To just be held, and desired, with no other, extra expectations being placed on him.
Sabbas wished that he could capture the way Edward was smiling. His eyes watched as the corners of those rose pink lips hung up into a grin. When he blinked, gazing back at Edward, his breath hitched. With ease, he smiled back. He wanted to be in Edward's company again. It's like being in a whole new world. One where they can be themselves and enjoy each other. Just like how they are now. "I think this will be a future that we can make," He breathed. "I am not sure how when I feel time stopping when I look at you."
Edward wanted to kiss Sabbas. He really did, and that knowledge made him shiver very very faintly. He cared very much about Sabbas already, but there was still that faint twinge of guilt in his heart, still a feeling of sin that he could not quite shake. Did not God frown on men who behaved like this? He exhaled softly, and wrapped his arm tighter around Sabbas's waist, pulling him closer and doing his best to push away those thoughts. He did not want to ruin this moment. "We can." he responded in a whisper.
He wanted to get closer to Edward. He wanted Edward to get closer to him. They may be in each other's arms, but he wants him in his heart. It was beating at its normal pace, yet he swore that it grew warmer and warmer by the second. There was a feeling that began to buzz in his heart. His eyes squinted. Turning his head over his shoulder, he gazed down at Edward's arm around his waist. Sabbas licked his lips before gazing back. "Is there something on your mind, Edward?" He asked. With his hand, he brushed away a golden strand of hair. "Is there anything I can do for you at this moment?"
Edward shook his head faintly. "There is nothing on my mind that you need to worry about." he replied softly, leaning closer to Sabbas. His gaze flicked, just for a moment, to Sabbas's mouth, tracing his lips, and then his cheeks warmed and he looked back up to Sabbas's eyes, to his hair, anywhere but his mouth. God, he felt like a schoolboy with a first crush, and he could hardly understand it. But then again, Sabbas was…decidedly different from the previous men that Edward had felt things for. Those affairs had been different. Far slower-moving, far more subtle.
He couldn't ignore where Edward's eyes were looking. He didn't know where to look himself. "Perhaps your heart then?" He wondered, staring off to the side. His eyes flickered back. He didn't know where to look. Eyes…lips…Sabbas breathed. Not once could Sabbas ever recall having such a moment with previous encounters. Most, if not all, of them were for ulterior motives. Now, he can barely look at Edward without his heart stopping. He was surprised how his legs haven't become wobbly. It's a miracle that he has yet to fall over. In an (almost) absent-minded way, his right thumb was brushing the edge of Edward's bottom lip. It was softer than silk. How can someone be so precious, so divine? His own bottom lip stuck out in a pout.
Edward shifted faintly, moving just a little closer to Sabbas. "I…would like…" he trailed off. COuld he even ask for this? How could he think to ask for this, of all thigns? But yet, he wanted it. He wanted it, damn him. He was damned, all things considered, and if he were already going to hell, then…well, perhaps he had best make it count. "I believe my heart says that I would like a kiss." he replied softly, lips twitching in a faint smile as he watied for a reponse from Sabbas. Waited to see if Sabbas would give him a kiss. He could not imagine Sabbas would deny him, but yet…oh, he just hoped that the Spaniard did not deny him a kiss.
"A kiss?" Sabbas smiled. Heaven knows that he would give him more than just a kiss, but he also would only do what Edward was comfortable with unless the king wanted more. The more he remained still, the more warmer it became. It was undeniable how much heavier his heart was pounding. He tilted his head so he could press his lips against Edward's. It was gentle yet firm, but he had to hold himself back from his eagerness. Edward's felt sweet and pillowy. He thought that it had felt better moving against his lips compared to burshing against his thumb. Sabbas's lips moved slowly before being pulled away. He let out a shaky breath. His chest rose up and down with each heavy exhale. "Now tell me," He whispered, "What does your heart say then?"
Edward returned the kiss softly, still holding onto the Spaniard. When Sabbas pulled away, and asked another question, he exhaled softly, leaning his forehead against the taller man's. "Mm…I believe that another one is in order?" he replied, mouth pulling in a faint smile. That soft kiss had managed to chase away the worries of God and man and sin, heaven and hell and what his actions would cause. Now he was just here. Present. In the arms of a handsome man, alone in his bedroom, with no one's eyes but Sabbas's on him, and he could live quite happily with that.
