Thaddeus helped him stand then offered his arm to him. A few of his soldiers hollered some inappropriate words that only had him looking back and glaring at them.
Once they were out of the hall, he leaned down to whisper to his husband. "It's a beautiful snake, you have. What's its name?" He was very observant and hadn't missed the snake. He found it curious and planned to ask him about it more, should they want to tell him about it. He wouldn't pressure them, however. He understood he was wary of Thaddeus. Anyone in their right mind should.
"I'm not quite sure where your bedroom is but I would much like to take you to your room, if you would guide me. What sort of a gentleman would I be if I didn't walk my husband to his rooms first?" He had no intention of going any further with Theo thank walking him to his room. He was tired. He wanted to sleep for the next week to recuperate. Unfortunately, there was much he would need to do tomorrow.
Theo blinked in surprise. Well, at least the sight of an inkmouth python did not alarm Thaddeus. “Her name is Vivi,” he said quietly. “She’s a good friend of mine.”
At the mention of his bedroom, Theo got scared. They remembered their mother’s look, and hoped what he thought was coming wouldn’t come. Technically, they didn’t have to consummate the marriage. The symbols on their wrists were proof that their marriage was legitimate, most people wouldn’t question it. However, Theo knew his parents wanted them to consummate anyway, to be sure that this marriage, this alliance, was a done deal. Even if they didn’t do it tonight, the king and queen would pressure him to do it soon enough.
They just took a breath. “I’ll show you the way, Prince Thaddeus. You are very kind to walk with me.”
He took him to a separate wing of the maze-like castle and eventually arrived at their room. “Here it is.” They placed their hand on the door handle, and looked back at his husband, unsure if he would go to his own rooms or if he would ask to go inside.
"A lovely name for a lovely snake. I am glad you have such friends." Thaddeus wasn't sure how someone had such a relationship with a snake but he did not question it. "Do you have any other friends like Vivi." Perhaps it was the alcohol that made hik so talkative. He wasn't the most spoken person, prefering to observe. He only truly spoke to his friends and council.
He tried to memorize the halls as a passage to his husband's room but he feared he was a little too drunk for it to be put to memory. As they stopped in front of the door, he turned to face Theo. He took his hand it brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss.
"This is where I leave you, husband, unless you would prefer I come inside." He could see the indecisiveness in his face. "If you would like, I could always come in and we could jump on the bed a bit, bang on the walls, and make some moaning sounds so they don't question us."
Theo nodded, pleasantly surprised that Thaddeus was interested in the snake. “I do. Another snake, a beaded adder named Ko. And I met a black gecko in the gardens recently.” They tended to prefer animals over humans. Vivi and Ko were his closest friends, and he’d known them for a long time. They had befriended a few of the children of the council, but it was mostly surface-level.
He watched as Thaddeus kissed their hand, and allowed a smile to show on his face at the suggestion. Some of the fear died away. “You are drunk, prince, and we are both tired. I would not want to keep either of us from our rest.” If they were honest, they just liked the idea of going in and talking. He did not really know who his husband was, and so far had just assumed he was one of those warrior princes who was all the things Theo was not. Their conversation had been pleasant enough, and he wouldn’t mind if it continued.
However, they could still see the way Thaddeus swayed where he stood. He could feel himself trying to suppress a yawn as well. Even if they stayed and had a chat, they wouldn’t be talking for very long.
Thaddeus listened as he talked about his scaly friends and gave him what could be considered a smile. It was strange to him but he didn't voice his opinion. As long as his husband was happy.
"Yes, you are quite right," he agreed. Even now, he could feeling the aching in his bones tugging him towards sleep. "However, I must confess, I'm not quite sure how to get back to my rooms. Your palace is a bit more labyrinth like than I'm used too."
The truth of it was, he had exceptional memory, but he had drunk to much to remember the way back to the main hall and to his room. It would be quote contradictory if Theo had to walk him to his own rooms when Thaddeus had just walked him to his. A bit embarrassing, to be sure. Something that would hit him in the morning.
Tomorrow, work had to be done. There was so much to do and so little time. And he wanted to visit his dragon. He had sent her ahead of them. It would have been dangerous to have her at his home when everything went down and it was likely he wouldn't have been able to reach her in time. This was safest option.
Theo sighed, also realizing that he couldn’t show the way to Thaddeus’s room for various reasons. They hesitated, then pulled the door handle and opened the door. “Come in.” They were husbands now. It should be fine.
His room was spacious, with bamboo flooring and rugs on top, similar to the other rooms. The bed was large, and would hopefully fit both of them on it. Otherwise, someone was sleeping on the floor, and Theo did not plan for it to be him. There was a desk in one corner, a dresser and changing curtain in another, and bookshelves along one wall. There was a window on another wall. Vivi was coiled up on the bed, and Theo walked over to her.
Prince.
He smiled, and scooped her up. “We’re going to bed, you can’t take up all the room.”
The snake’s eyes caught sight of Thaddeus. Why is he here?
Theo looked at his husband, then glanced back to Vivi. “He has no where else to go,” they yawned, putting a hand to their mouth. He went over to the desk and placed Vivi on it.
Thaddeus walked into the room as he was welcomed in. He took a small glance around, observing his husband's room. He made a silent vow to himself, that when he won his kingdom back, he would spare no expense in decorating Theo's room. They would have separate chambers. It was just how it was done. It didn't mean they couldn't share a bed together but they had their own space.
He noted the snake but made no comment on it. He was too tired to question anything. He just bent down, carefully unlaced his shoes, and pulled them off, placing them by the door. Grabbing his shirt by the back of his nape, he pulled it off in one swift motion. He dropped it on the ground and his trousers followed quickly, leaving him in just his undergarments.
The bed was large though he wasn't sure they would both fit without their limbs touching each other. It wasn't something that bothered him but he wasn't sure about Theo. His husband might not be so accepting of his touch. He was about to find out.
Thaddeus peeled back the covers and promptly fell into the bed. He lay on his stomach, his arms holding the pillow as he laid his head on it. "Come to bed, husband, I won't bite, unless you ask me too."
Theo turned to see their husband in the bed, and a pile of clothes on the floor, and sighed. “I will, but not yet.”
Indeed, they were nothing alike. Theo had a routine that he went through each night before bed, and even though he was tired, they weren’t going to make this night the exception. He went behind the changing curtain to get out of his dress, not because he was embarrassed, but because it was just what they always did. They put on a grey night tunic with black lacing, then moved to the dresser. After taking off his accessories and undoing his topknot, they put the jewelry in one of the drawers, then went through another drawer and took out a comb to comb his hair with. The repetitive motion, as well as the familiarity of doing this routine helped calm them.
Soon they were finished and placed the comb in the drawer. He then went to a small door, hidden between the bookshelf and the window, and opened it. Theo entered a bathroom, found a bowl of water, and used it to wash the rouge still on his face. And with that, they were ready.
He returned to the bedroom and studied Thaddeus in the bed. With a yawn, they crawled in. There was enough room, but Theo laid close to the edge. He already hated this. Sharing his space with someone was weird, and they weren’t used to it. Thaddeus was warm though, he could feel his body heat even though he tried not to touch his skin.
“Goodnight,” they said simply, and closed his eyes.
Thaddeus turned his head to watch his husband. It wasn't in a creepy, perverted way. He was just observing. He wasn't able to watch him change due to the curtain but he did watch as Theo carefully took off all the accessories he had on and put them away. He admired the way their hair fell down their back as it was pulled out of its updo. A filthy thought flashed through his head, sending blood and heat straight to his groin but he had no urge to act on it. He was a man after all and his husband certainly was beautiful. He couldn't help but notice it. He would not act on any of his thoughts, not without his husband reciprocating the same feelings. Besides, he was drunk and they were both tired. Sleep was what was best for them both.
By the time Theo had emerged from the bathroom, his eyes were shut and he was halfway to sleep. He felt the dip of the bed as they climbed in and felt the heat of his body. In his sleep stupor, he moved closer to his husband and slung an arm over him. It was a habit whenever he shared a bed with others. Despite his cold personality, he never kicked anyone out straight after sex. He didn't mind them sleeping with him as long as they understood it was just casual.
Theo stiffened when he felt an arm go over him. They were finally in bed, but they couldn’t make himself go to sleep. They started to get scared again. Thaddeus’s size had not been lost on him, and added with the fact that he was drunk, it wasn’t impossible that something could happen. Theo’s tired brain started to spiral into dark thoughts. Maybe Thaddeus wasn’t as tired as he seemed. Maybe, out of nowhere, he would turn him over on his back, hold them down, and ravish them. But immediately Theo pushed those thoughts away. There was plenty of evidence to the contrary.
The arm that laid over his torso was warm, and heavy. They could feel his husband’s skin on his back. He tried to relax, take deep breaths. They weren’t going to get any sleep if they were constantly paranoid. Eventually, his mind drifted, and sleep took over his body.
Thaddeus had his head turned to face his husband, fast asleep. His platinum hair had fallen over his eyes. The braids he had in were messy and strands were beginning to fall out. The sheets only came to his waist, exposing the dozens of scars littered on his back. They were several stripes that looked to be made from a whip and several others done by swords or knives. There was a story behind each one of them but it wasn't something he cared to talk about. There were some that him no qualms to speak about. And there were others that would cause nightmares for days.
He was still in sleep, almost deathly so. It was only the rising and falling of his chest that proved he was still breathing. And while others' expressions may soften while they slept, Thaddeus did not. He still had a hard face, unamused, concentrated. He looked very much a warrior in his sleep as he did when he was awake. When he shifted, his muscles stretched and flexed. He had a perfect physic had it not been for the scars.
(Lol alright, just wondering)
Theo awoke slowly, gentle sunlight peeking through their eyelids and causing him to stir. His eyes blinked open, then closed again. They didn’t want to get up. Not now. It was warm… warmer than usual… it was nice. Wait. He remembered. They turned, saw the large body beside them, and sat up. A yawn caught him by surprise, and then he looked around. It wasn’t too late. The sun had barely risen above the horizon. They turned, and placed a hand on his husband’s shoulder.
“Prince,” they murmured. “Are you awake?”
(Sorry it’s short djdsijk)
Thaddeus had tightened his arm around his husband during the night somehow. Passing nightmares that had caused him to stir but never fully wake. Just enough to get a physical reaction from him.
When the dawn came and sunlight began to peak through the curtains, he awoke. His head was pounding and his body was sore. He kept his eyes closed to block out the sun. He buried his head deeper into the pillow. He would give himself some tome to let the headache pass before getting up, he decided.
However, Thaddeus found himself watching his husband as he slept, thus causing him to stay much longer than he intended. He watched them wake up and stretch. He closed his eyes briefly and only nodded as his husband asked him a question. His eyes opened once more where he watched them unbashfully.
He studied Thaddeus, then sighed. They remembered how drunk he had been, the consequences of that. Theo should have remembered, at least kept it in mind. He ran a hand through his dark hair, not really minding his husband’s eyes on him at the moment. Slowly, gently, they then took Thaddeus’s arm and put it aside so it wasn’t over him anymore.
They looked around. There was no sign of any snake or other scaly creature, but Theo was not alarmed. Vivi and Ko did not live with him, after all. They were his friends, not his pets. They usually turned up later in the day, when they had gotten a decent sunbathe.
Theo took a breath. “Can you find your way to your rooms?” They asked. Their voice was tired, a little gravelly.
Thaddeus turned on his back, watching his husband, before deciding to sit up behind his husband. He had always found himself particularly touchy in the morning, this morning was no different. While he was careful not to touch Theo, he was so close to him that they could likely feel the body heat radiating off of him.
"Probably not," he spoke in his thick, deep morning voice. "I have meetings that I'm late for." Though they were likely as hungover as he was. "However, I find myself wanting to skip them today."
Theo frowned. “All the same, you need to leave.” Although he didn’t want to be harsh, the early hour prevented them from using any sort of filter. He didn’t particularly care about any meetings or whether or not Thaddeus would skip them, they just wanted him to go away. If they were being honest, he wanted this bed all to himself again, and sleep in a little longer.
Someone is prickly in the morning.
Thaddeus only snorted and swung out if bed. So this was how it was going to be. He thought they had made at least some progress the night before. He wanted then to at least be friends. They were stuck in a marriage together.
He pulled his arms over his head, stretching. The sunlight bounced off of the scars on his back, particularly the whip scars. Several streaks down his back. His muscles were pulled taunt, showing off his figure. He slowly pulled on his clothes from the night before, not bothering to out on his shirt. He at least hoped he could spark rumors of them consumating their marriage so there would be no whispers.
Without a second glance or word, he strode out the door. He would figure out where his room was or he wouldn't. He was sure he could some sweet servant girl to show him to his room.
Theo watched him, his eyes drawn to the scars strewn across Thaddeus’s body. When they realized they were staring, he looked away. When the door shut behind him, Theo sighed. Thank the Goddess.
They fell back onto the bed. Thinking back over what had happened, he immediately covered his face with their hands. I’m a terrible husband. He was making this ordeal more difficult than it needed to be. He always knew they would be terrible at this, but after what had happened last night, how Thaddeus had listened to him, how could they repay him with this? They let their hands fall on either side of him, and stared at the ceiling. I’m a terrible person.
Thankfully, Thaddeus ran into one of his soldiers, who grinned at the prince and thumped hik on the soldier, very loudly talking about what a long night the prince must have had to be walking around without a shirt on. He only rolled his eyes and shoved the soldier away playfully before they were walking back to the prince's room.
Finally, back in his room, Thaddeus bathed and dressed for the day. He had a war council meeting to call. The sooner they faced the threat of his father, the sooner it would be over. He was ready to take his crown and his birthright.
He sent a maid forward with his message of starting a war council meeting. Another one showed him to the war room, where he looked at the maps that were drawn, where they believed his father's soldiers were stationed. He made quick work of fixing it. There had likely been changes in the past week He had left. His father was stupid but he also couldn't fully change where his military was stationed. So this was best Intel that he had.
He stood at the head of the table, hands clasped behind his back, and waited.
Theo managed to snatch another 30 or so minutes of sleep before a manservant knocked on the door and informed him that their mother had requested their presence in her chambers, soon if not immediately. This scared Theo a little and only intensified the self-hatred spiral they ended up falling into as he got ready for the day. He had a morning routine as well as an evening one, and it was only after completing every step with the help of his few maids that they ventured out from their room, feeling frankly quite miserable. Of course, he hid this with his even posture, poised gate, and clear expression as they made their way towards his mother’s chambers.
Meanwhile, the war room slowly filled with the sort of people you would expect to be at a war meeting. Military officers, generals, and captains in their simple but professional uniforms and their grim expressions; war mages and witches with their long robes and belts filled with potions and pouches of raw ingredients, their staffs and wands. Most regarded Thaddeus with respect, though a few whispered to themselves when they thought he wouldn’t hear. A few even had hope in their eyes when they saw him.
