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Takumi doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. Castle attendants scurry about him, scrubbing at pillars and sweeping the floors. Others hang up banners, beautiful thick fabric adorned with the Hoshidan royal crest.
All of this over some Nohrian prince.
There’s a collective flinch in the crowd when a powerful gust of wind blows against the building, rattling the doors and windows. Takumi scans the hall, checking for any signs of damage. It’s become a habit lately.
Recently the winds were gaining speed and power, threatening the nation’s crops and architecture, and many of the nation’s onmyoji were spread thin trying to keep the volatile element at bay.
That was the whole reason for the arrival of the foreign prince. The behavior of the wind meant Hoshido’s elemental affinities were out of balance, and it happened after the only Hoshidan with the power to rebalance them passed away. People with magic strong enough to handle a whole country’s elemental power were few and far in between. After fruitless attempts to train skilled onmyoji in the art, and with the situation growing more dire by the day, the kingdom of Hoshido decided to request the presence of Prince Leo, one of the only mages in the continent with elemental mastery.
It bodes ill that Hoshido is in this state to begin with, with Nohr being an ever constant threat and no one able to identify the root cause of the elemental imbalance. While Takumi doesn’t feel his life threatened living in Shirasagi, he worries for the rest of his people.
Still, he thinks it’s completely unnecessary to summon Prince Leo. They can’t be certain that the Nohrian won’t just double cross them and somehow make the situation worse. And if you were to ask him, he would tell you that it’s more likely every atrocity committed by Nohr is what’s poisoning the magic in the land.
Takumi detects no noticeable damage in the castle hall and so continues on his way to the throne room, where all his siblings are gathered. Hinoka shoots him a knowing look. She harbors the same skepticism that he does. He returns the look with a deep frown. After a few more grim nods, they all turn to the door, waiting in uncomfortable silence for the arrival of the Nohrian prince.
The heavy doors swing open, and Takumi tenses. In walks a man clad in a black cloak, his dark heeled boots clicking on the tiled floor. His hair is blond, adorned with a black headband. He carries his head high, his expression neutral, confidently striding into the middle of the room. Flanking him on both sides are two other men, a tall man with messy white hair and an eye patch, and another blond with a jeweled circlet and a rich red cape.
“Welcome, Prince Leo of Nohr,” Queen Mikoto says from her seat on the throne.
Prince Leo bows deeply. “It is a pleasure to serve you, Your Majesty.” Takumi resists rolling his eyes.
The Nohrian speaks with Mikoto about his duties and what he would need to accomplish them and before long the conversation ends. The queen’s attendant leads Prince Leo away and the tension in the room dissipates as soon as the doors close behind him.
The rest of his siblings quickly excuse themselves, leaving so quickly that Takumi can only gawk at their retreating figures. He realizes he’s the only one who didn't make concrete plans for the day. His mother turns to him, an apologetic smile on her face. Takumi immediately frowns.
“Dear, it would be a great help to me if you would accompany Prince Leo while he prepares the spell.”
Great. Perfect. Now he knows exactly why his siblings were in a hurry to leave. He gives his mother an exaggerated sigh, but they both know he has no other choice.
–
Within the heart of Shirasagi is a sealed room sitting just above an important vein of magic, used exclusively by the mage tasked with manipulating the elements. They’d unlocked the room just before Prince Leo’s arrival. Guards are posted along the hall and in front of the room, each one acknowledging Takumi as he walks past.
He slides the door open without announcing his presence. He’s actually never seen the inside of this room, considering he’s rather incompetent at magic and would have no business in it. There’s a great sigil in the middle of the floor, ornate tiles arranged around it. Otherwise the room is rather sparse, with no windows, a single table, and a few chairs. Prince Leo stands in the back of the room, poring over some book.
“You must be here to keep an eye on me,” Prince Leo muses, not looking up from the book in his hand.
“Nohrians cannot be trusted.”
Prince Leo scoffs. “Well, I'm not stupid enough to pull anything while I'm alone in a hostile country.”
“I have a hard time believing that.” Takumi widens his stance, putting a hand on his hip.
Prince Leo glances at him, placing his book on the table. “Nothing I can do about your prejudice, I suppose. You’d better take a seat, you'll have to babysit me for a while. It takes a few hours to cast this spell.” He gestures towards the seats at the other side of the room.
Takumi decides to ignore him, sticking to the spot he was already standing at. Prince Leo rolls his eyes before returning to his task.
Several hours pass, with no obvious progress. Takumi’s feet hurt. He should’ve brought something to do. Turns out casting important magic is incredibly boring.
He’s almost dozed off on his feet when he hears a loud humming and the room fills with a bright green light.
“Watch out.” Takumi hears Prince Leo say faintly over the noise. The bright light is accompanied by an intense heat. Takumi finds it almost unbearable, the heat emanating in visible waves from the ball of magic. He quickly shuffles back and steps out into the hallway. Sweat drips from his forehead and he wipes it away with a hand. From here he can only see the light through the cracks in the door.
The green light bursts into a startling red and Takumi jumps. It looks like fire. Prince Leo must be trying to burn down their elemental room! He knew Nohrians couldn’t be trusted!
“What are you doing?!” Takumi shouts, slamming the door open. The heat is so strong that he thinks his hair might burn right off.
Prince Leo starts, the massive ball of light floating in front of him changing its course and hurtling straight towards Takumi instead. The other prince is yelling something he can’t hear. Bright green light engulfs him, blocking the rest of the world from view.
Then everything turns black.
—-
Takumi groans as he opens his eyes. He squints at the blurry outline of the ceiling lantern above him for a few seconds before he recalls what happened.
He shoots upright, whipping his head from side to side. He’s still in the sigil room, sitting on the now cold tile. His head throbs and his back hurts but he’s thankfully still in one piece. There’s no sign of the strange spell anywhere, no burns or craters on the ground.
“Finally,” Prince Leo huffs behind him. Takumi spins around to face him.
“What happened?”
“You interrupted my spell, which caused it to destabilize and hurtle towards you. It would have killed you, by the way,” Prince Leo says, his tone bitter. “Luckily I felt like stepping in and casting another spell to protect you.”
“Oh.”
“Don't get all excited now. Thanks to your antics I don’t have the mana to cast another spell. It's a miracle I’m even standing right now. I hope you'll have fun telling Queen Mikoto that you're the sole reason I have to stay in Hoshido for another ten days to recuperate.”
“Ten days?! It can't possibly take that long!” Takumi shouts.
“Because you're the expert on magic now? Oh, I'm so sorry, I should let you stop the wind then,” Prince Leo snaps.
Before Takumi could form his scathing retort, Prince Leo’s face scrunches up and he topples over, nearly landing face first on the tile.
The Nohrian prince swears under his breath. He pushes himself into a sitting position with shaky arms. “Knew it was too good to be true,” he mutters.
Takumi stares at him, panic rising in his chest. He decides the ideal course of action is to ensure his mother hears about this change of plans from him first, so he walks over and picks the blond off the ground. This earns him a surprised yelp. He settles Prince Leo gently in his arms, going against his every instinct to simply drag him along the floor. This whole ordeal makes him nauseous. He feels Prince Leo’s fingers curl into the loose fabric of his kimono, gripping onto it for security as they make their way to the throne room.
The small crease that forms between his mother’s brows when Takumi walks in does not go unnoticed by him, though the rest of her demeanor remains serene and composed. Takumi sets Prince Leo gently down on a cushion and turns to explain the situation.
His mother sighs quietly and Takumi flinches. “I am deeply sorry for the actions of my son, Prince Leo.” She glances towards Takumi, her expression stern. “And my son is very apologetic as well.”
“Right. Uh, I’m sorry,” Takumi mumbles, bowing. He clears his throat, feeling his mother’s gaze boring into the back of his head. “I apologize for the anguish I have caused you.”
Prince Leo exhales slowly, his lips pulled into a thin line. “What's done is done. The focus now is on fixing the situation.” Takumi is nearly impressed by how easily he puts on his best behavior in front of the queen.
“Hoshido will accommodate your extended stay and recovery. I will dispatch a messenger to Nohr with news of your delay, but we would greatly appreciate your assistance in assuring the kingdom of Nohr of your safety and that what happened to you was merely an accident.” Queen Mikoto’s staff raps against the floor and several attendants appear at her side, including Orochi who oversees the onmyoji forces. Another ten days of no fixes not only means keeping the Nohrian prince in Hoshido for that long, but also that the onmyoji fighting off the gales have to brace themselves for another ten days of hard work. Guilt worms its way into Takumi’s gut.
“I thank you, Your Highness.” Prince Leo bows his head. “Once I am recovered I shall ensure the full restoration of Hoshido’s elements.” Queen Mikoto smiles at him.
“Takumi, my son, you will be accompanying Prince Leo during his stay here. Take responsibility for your actions by assuring his comfort and extending the full extent of Hoshidan hospitality.” Takumi’s heart sinks, but he isn't surprised. He tries to not let it show on his face or in his tone when he acknowledges his mother.
Prince Leo’s blond retainer appears in court, bowing deeply before lifting his liege into his arms. Takumi bows his head to his mother before following after the Nohrians. He probably just earned himself a proper earful once the whole thing was over.
—
“Milord, it is absurd to send us both back to Nohr.”
Takumi stops just outside of Prince Leo’s room.
“Are you defying my orders?”
“No milord, we’re just tasked to protect you, and your life is in danger here.”
“I can handle myself. There are important matters for you to handle in Nohr. Your tasks will be provided in the morning. I’ll hear nothing more about it.” Prince Leo says firmly, although exhaustion creeps its way into his voice. Takumi can’t believe that Prince Leo is sending his retainers away from his side. Is there really something back in Nohr worth more than his life? Footsteps approach the door and Prince Leo’s white haired retainer steps out of the room, his eye narrowing as he takes notice of Takumi standing nearby. Now is about as good a time as any for Takumi to enter the room.
The Nohrian prince is laid out on the luxurious guest futon, settled down against the pillows, which Takumi notes are several more extra than they normally provide for guests. Takumi sits cross-legged on the floor nearby. Silence hangs over them as he racks his brain for the appropriate words. He opts to pretend he didn’t just hear the conversation earlier.
“So, what exactly does your recovery entail? Are you going to be bedridden the whole time?” he finally asks, deciding there’s nothing he can say that will make anything better.
Leo regards him with distaste, plunging them both back into awkward silence.
“No, probably just for the night. The key to mana recovery is to avoid stress, so I will have to spend much of my days resting, eating nutritious food, and receiving stress relief treatment,” he finally says.
Fantastic. Takumi’s going to waste his whole week tending to some pampered little prince. Takumi sighs, his eyes slipping closed. When he opens them again he sees that Prince Leo has already drifted off to sleep. Takumi only now notices just how sickly he looks. His face is pallid, sweat glistens at his brow, and mussed hair sticks to his forehead.
Takumi slips quietly out of the guest room. He returns to his quarters and begins pacing around his room restlessly, trying to come to terms with his task for the week. Except he can’t accept it. Sure, it’s his fault that Prince Leo is in this situation, and he should be grateful that Prince Leo chose to save his life, although that was probably more for his own benefit than out of the goodness of his heart. But if Prince Leo wasn’t so sleazy to begin with, Takumi wouldn’t have done anything, the spell would have been completed and the Nohrian prince would have been off to Nohr the next morning. He shouldn’t have to spend the whole week atoning for this.
Just outside his room a large branch slams into a pillar, splintering into pieces with a crunch. Maybe he does deserve it after all.
At least for now Prince Leo is not in need of his presence. Takumi wanders around the castle, ducking out of view when he sees one of his siblings in the distance. Eventually he makes it to the royal library, scanning the books and scroll boxes for something that looks interesting. He spots a hefty tome on mana he’s never read before and decides to start with that. It could help to learn more about the situation he’s in. Skimming through the table of contents he finds a section on mana consumption and quickly flips to it.
“Sometimes an onmyoji finds themselves completely spent, which is why knowing one’s individual limits is vital for anyone who dabbles in magic. The recovery of mana in this situation can be extremely stressful for an onmyoji, as many have shared that their magic feels like an extension of themselves, almost as if a separate set of senses, and they will notice its absence.
As research into the properties of mana continues, we now know a lot more about how it works and how it moves. Scholars have uncovered several different methods to alleviate the pain that a mana-spent onmyoji endures. Humans are a walking source of magic, and because mana flows easily through skin, close physical contact has been shown to expedite the recovery period (via Lord Asuka). In addition, it is theorized by the great sage Lady Callardine that sexual intercourse is the most efficient method to regenerate mana, with results of her early studies showing patients who partook in intercourse recovering at a rate two times faster than that of patients who did not have sex during their recovery.”
Takumi almost tosses the book aside, his face flushing. Everything about magic is absurd, and of course would entail something like this. He stays his hand however, and chooses to keep reading. Although he doesn’t change his mind about how ridiculous magic is, he ends the reading session with a better grasp on mana. And while sex is completely out of the question, he has another idea that might help Prince Leo. It won't be as efficient, and he won't enjoy it, but it’s doable.
—
The next morning Takumi accompanies the servant carrying Prince Leo’s breakfast up to the guest room. Leo is already up, gazing out the window, which is open only a sliver. The guest room looked down into the west gardens, a normally breathtaking view, if most of the plants hadn’t been moved out or covered to keep them from blowing away. The window itself isn’t allowed to be opened in case the severe wind brings in debris from outside that harms the occupants and objects within.
The servant places the meal on a small wooden table and quickly bows out of the room. Prince Leo finally turns away from the window.
“Rest well?” Takumi seats himself on the floor again.
Prince Leo joins him on the floor, picking up a spoon and poking at his breakfast with it. There are dark circles under his eyes and his face remains the same sickly pale it was the day before. It seems like he can stand now though, so that’s better than yesterday.
He doesn’t respond.
Takumi clears his throat. “Since the order for you is to relax, I thought it best for you to try out our hot springs.”
Prince Leo hums. Takumi takes that as an agreement.
“I’ll be back then. Be ready to leave in a couple of hours.” Takumi slips out of the room.
—
Shirasagi’s grounds have a fair number of hot spring houses, ones strictly reserved for the royal family, ones that were specialized with unique features, and yet others that were used for different seasons. There are several important factors to consider when choosing a bath house, although the most important is that Takumi did not want to be spotted soaking with a Nohrian. He doubts anyone in Hoshido would. The bath house of choice is in the back of Castle Shirasagi.
“This is much smaller than I expected from a Hoshidan bath,” Prince Leo remarks when they enter the bathhouse.
“I had to pick one that wouldn't be frequented by all the others. You don’t want other Hoshidans to walk in on you, do you? So this is what we’re left with.” Takumi waves a hand. Prince Leo shrugs, seemingly in agreement.
They undress and leave their clothes in the changing room. Although Takumi is normally not too bothered by other men seeing him naked at the bath, Prince Leo makes things awkward for him. They’re similar in age and status so he can’t help but feel the need to compare himself. Luckily the Nohrian prince seems to be shy about it as well, crossing an arm over his body and keeping a towel wrapped around his waist.
Takumi enters the bath first and Prince Leo follows in after him. The water is the perfect temperature, great for such a chilly morning.
“What do you think? Shirasagi’s hot springs are among the best in the nation,” Takumi asks after settling.
Prince Leo closes his eyes and leans back against the rocks. “Passable,” he murmurs flatly. Takumi considers throttling him for a second. It’s only that doing so would require their bodies to be in much closer proximity than they already were, and this holds him back.
He instead chooses to roll his eyes. “As long as it passes.”
According to his reading, mana passes in greater quantities through water, and so while Takumi will under no circumstances cuddle up next to a Nohrian, sharing a hot spring bath with him should at least be better than doing nothing at all. The choice of bath and its small size is to facilitate this idea as well.
He just wishes it wasn’t this small. It’s a bath that easily fits at least four people, so there’s ample room for the two of them, but he’s still sitting much closer to Leo than he ever wanted to be.
Takumi glances over at the man across from him. The water reaches up to just below his chest, the bare skin not yet scarred by battle, although there appears to be a faint magic burn mark starting on his upper arm and dipping below the water.
His hair is damp, golden locks curling into his face, framing his delicate features. Takumi begrudgingly admits to himself that he is a beautiful man, the sort of person described in fairy tales. He’s taller too, Takumi notices when they stand near each other, and it only makes his heart smolder with envy.
Prince Leo’s eyes open, slivers of deep red gazing right back at him, and Takumi quickly turns away, his cheeks pinking. They don’t chat or anything, so it’s not his fault he ended up staring. He has nothing better to do.
His heart sinks with the heavy realization that he is really going to have to waste his time sitting silently in a bath with a Nohrian every single day for over a week. Then again… Takumi peeks at Prince Leo’s bare chest.
There are activities that don’t require any talking. Just by moving forward a little their bodies could be pressed together. He could pin Prince Leo’s wrists down against the walls of the bath, bite down on the smooth skin of his neck. How much time could be cut from the ten day total if the other prince sat instead in his lap, grinding his hips into him? Or if he took their throbbing members into his hand and stroked them until they both got off?
Takumi’s cock twitches, heat pooling in his stomach. He nearly jumps, shocked at how eagerly his body reacted to his imagination. Prince Leo is thankfully looking off into the distance behind him and doesn't seem to pay Takumi any mind.
Takumi bites his lip, ashamed that he even let the thought of fucking Prince Leo to cross his mind, let alone how he—
He snaps his eyes shut and tries to calm down. Inhale. Exhale. The water is still a nice temperature, soothing his muscles, calming him. There’s a soft scent of jasmine from the bath salts. He’s calm.
“I think I’ve had enough of the bath,” Prince Leo mutters. The water ripples as he moves away.
“A-Already?” Takumi stammers, his eyes flying open. There’s no way he can leave the bath now.
Prince Leo clambers out of the water. Takumi makes the mistake of looking at his figure.
“I would rather not turn into a prune. I must say that was rather refreshing though,” Leo explains.
“Go on ahead then, I want to bathe some more,” Takumi suggests, struggling to keep his tone steady, praying Leo won’t wait around.
His prayers are answered. Prince Leo turns and heads for the changing room. Takumi waits for what he assumes is the time it takes for someone to get dressed before rising out of the bath, his face burning as he’s confronted with the fact his cock hasn’t calmed even a little. He just needs to reach a towel and then–
The bathroom curtain opens. “I don’t know which cabinet to use.”
Takumi freezes. Prince Leo freezes. His eyes move downwards.
Takumi plops himself back into the water with a big splash, wishing it were deep enough to submerge himself. Maybe Prince Leo hadn’t seen— who was he kidding, he definitely saw.
To his dismay, Prince Leo doesn’t walk out. He simply steps up to the edge of the bath and looks down at him.
“I wanted to ask something of you, but I can see now you have some other business to take care of.” He places a hand on his hip. “Hoshidans bathe with each other often, so why do you still react to naked bodies like this?”
Takumi could drown him right now. He’s definitely stronger. Maybe he could even stage it to look like a tragic accident.
“It's because of the stupid book. Nobody in this country wants a Nohrian staying here but why is the only solution for a filthy mage something like sex?” he blurts defensively, as if that explanation absolves him of any shame.
Prince Leo doesn’t answer straight away, his expression unnervingly neutral as he appears to ponder seriously.
Takumi can't stand that face. “Go away,” he snarls, baring his teeth. But the Nohrian doesn't even flinch. He sits down at the edge of the bath, dipping his legs in the water.
“I admit I find a certain joy in this,” he drawls, a smirk spreading across his face. Takumi wants to kill him so badly. “You see, this whole time you’ve managed to see me at my worst. A grand mage without the ability to use magic, stuck alone in a nation that most certainly detests me. All caused by your hand. So it warms my heart to have a part in this, for the opportunity to watch you burn with shame. Maybe I should feel touched that you want me gone so badly you seriously thought about it? Hoshidans actually have quite dirty minds don’t they?”
Takumi’s face burns hot. How dare this Nohrian scum insult his people like that? But what was he doing thinking about his enemy like that in the first place? He can only glower at Prince Leo, which does nothing but fuel his amusement.
Prince Leo narrows his eyes. “What are you going to do now? You can use your hand.”
He kicks his foot underwater, the distance between them too big for it to touch him, but the action rushes water against Takumi’s skin and he shivers.The worst part about all this is that despite everything, his body shows no sign of calming down. If only Prince Leo wasn’t still almost completely naked in front of him.
“Or I can offer my assistance,” Prince Leo adds.
“What?!” There must be water in Takumi’s ears. Or maybe they’ve both lost their minds.
“I only act in pursuit of my personal interests, and you've read that sex improves my condition. It’s true, though I don’t generally deplete my mana enough to have tried it myself. If it weren't for your current predicament I wouldn't even consider it, but as it is now it would be beneficial to us both if I lend you a hand.”
Takumi can’t believe what he’s hearing. This must be a sick joke. If he accepts this insane proposal, Prince Leo is sure to laugh at him, taunt him for being stupid enough to believe he was being serious. But if he declines, then Prince Leo will sit and watch him anyway. Both scenarios end in his humiliation.
“Didn’t think you’d stoop so low for a joke,” he says instead.
The smirk on Prince Leo’s face vanishes. “It’s not a joke. I want to leave here just as much as you want me gone. Sex will accomplish that. Besides, it’s a natural process. Unlike you, I don't blush and hide like a maiden at the suggestion of it.”
Prince Leo has to be bluffing. There's no way he isn't having reservations about sex with a Hoshidan, with an enemy. He may be skilled at talking and reigning in his emotions but that’s all it is. Talk.
Takumi steels himself. “You’re right. There isn’t any reason to hide at the suggestion of it.” He stands up, putting his body, and his cock, in full view of the other man. If he’s wrong about this he might have to leave Hoshido entirely. “I think we should help each other out.”
Prince Leo’s eyes widen and his cheeks pink. He sits still in place and it’s clear he’s also out of his depth, as Takumi suspected. He wonders if Prince Leo will back out now that he’s made his move.
“We’re in agreement,” Prince Leo says with a stern nod, his composure recovered. He slides into the water and wades over. Takumi can commend him for being stubborn, as annoying as it is. They stand at arm's length, face to face. Prince Leo moves first, wrapping his fingers around Takumi’s cock, and his touch sends shivers up Takumi’s spine. His fingers are hesitant, his thumb ghosting over the slit at the tip. He slides his hand down to the base, and then back up.
With his every movement he seems to gain confidence, until he’s pumping his hand quickly along the shaft. Takumi feels like he’s so close and yet he still doesn't come, he won’t come, unwilling to let himself be undone by a Nohrian hand.
“Hm.” Prince Leo stops his hand. He then sinks to his knees.
“What are you—?!” Takumi yelps.
Prince Leo sighs. “What do you think?”
Takumi thinks he's insane.
He watches intently as Prince Leo’s fingers wrap around the base of his shaft once more. This time he leans his head close and presses his lips against the tip of his cock, pulling back with a smirk when Takumi gasps and slaps a hand over his mouth. Takumi flushes scarlet, his reaction belying how inexperienced he is. But the other prince makes no comment, tilting his head to lick a stripe up the underside of his cock, tracing up until the tip. He flicks his tongue, teasing the head.
After a short pause he finally takes Takumi’s cock into his mouth, sinking down the length of it. Takumi’s cock is engulfed in a wet heat that makes him gasp into his fingers.
The sight before him is unbelievable, the famously haughty Prince Leo filling his mouth with Takumi’s cock, lips glistening with saliva and precum. Takumi shuts his eyes, overwhelmed and ashamed, desperate to come but not like this. He wills himself to pretend it’s someone else sucking him off. His breath hitches when he feels the tip hit the back of a throat, a nose brushing against his silvery hairs.
His companion begins moving, tentatively slow at first but gradually gaining speed. Waves of pleasure course through Takumi every time his cock hits deep into the back of the throat.
Takumi is so close. So close it makes him feel frantic, his hips bucking forward, chasing slick heat and friction. His fingers find their way into soft hair and he yanks at it. Prince Leo moans around his cock, and all of Takumi’s efforts to pretend crash around him. Prince Leo’s pretty mouth is around his cock, Prince Leo’s hair in his fists, Prince Leo’s fingers pressing into his hips, Prince Leo’s strained and muffled voice.
The rush of shame and arousal that floods his mind once he completely admits that to himself is overwhelming. He panics, yanking back, pulling Leo off his cock. But it’s too late. As soon as the Nohrian’s lips are gone he reaches his climax, spilling with a choked sob.
When he opens his eyes he realizes what he's done. Thick white drips down Prince Leo's cheek and sticks to his golden hair.
He freezes, his heart pounding wildly in his chest and he barely lets himself breathe as his eyes remain fixed on Prince Leo. Fury reflects in his burgundy eyes as Prince Leo gazes up at him.
“A little warning would have been nice,” he says, tone cold and biting. Takumi exhales shakily.
“I'm sorry,” he stammers. He drops to his knees, cupping water in his hands to wash Prince Leo’s face.
Prince Leo shrugs with one shoulder, tilting his head. “Don’t rush, you should take in your work.”
Takumi yelps, splashing the water onto his face. Prince Leo bats his hands away, glaring at him from under his mussed up and still sticky bangs. “You—” he pauses and his expression calms. Ice drops down Takumi’s stomach. “No wait, I doubt you did that on purpose. You got scared didn’t you?”
“I did not!” Takumi sputters, a complete lie. “We didn't talk about where, you know.” He gestures vaguely. Does it even really matter what he did? Is it supposed to be less humiliating if he finished in his mouth?
Prince Leo wipes at the mess on his cheek and Takumi quickly backs out of the bath before he can rethink his stance on any of that. He’s gone before Prince Leo can comment on his obvious retreat.
—-
Takumi collapses on his bed. He cannot think of a time where he’s ever been nearly as stupid. Prince Leo is Nohrian, an enemy. He just had sex with an enemy prince. If they had gotten caught it would have single handedly ended any flimsy notion of peace his mother has been attempting to uphold. He played with the destruction of his life just for a blowjob. A blowjob he didn’t even have the decency to loathe.
He couldn’t blame Prince Leo for all of it because he started it. His betrayal of Hoshido began with the wicked thoughts in his own mind. None of his siblings would have been so careless, so easily swayed by an enemy. None of them would have put aside all their values and pride the same way he just did. They probably wouldn’t have taken their eyes off Prince Leo in the first place, messed up his spells and gotten everyone into this current situation.
The more he thinks about it, the more his actions feel typical for him. There’s always been something wrong with him, something twisted and bent out of shape. The laughingstock of the royal family. Second Prince Takumi, who had sex with a Nohrian prince and enjoyed it. Takumi buries his head in his pillow.
Prince Leo did insist that sex reduces his recovery time, and it has to be by a significant amount for him to want to actually do it. The book on mana did say the recovery rate was two times faster or something like that. The specifics were unknown to Takumi, and considering the sage who ran the experiments wasn’t Hoshidan, he might never find the research. It might still be worth trying.
Surprisingly, grounding himself with these thoughts calms him down a little.
He can't shirk his duty for too long, Prince Leo left unattended is a disaster waiting to happen. Eventually he trudges back to Prince Leo’s room. To his relief, the man is present, sitting quietly at the table. Takumi takes a seat nearby. There’s solace in Prince Leo’s silence and avoidant gaze.
—-
Takumi arrives at the guest room after breakfast, spending half an hour before then to lament his position. Prince Leo stands in the middle of the room, accompanied by an attendant draping a kimono over his shoulders. Due to the Nohrian’s unexpected change in travel plans, new clothes were required for his comfort. Arrangements to procure Hoshidan clothing for him were completed just yesterday.
Prince Leo doesn’t pay him notice, so Takumi stands near the door and waits for the attendant to finish. The Nohrian was particular about wearing dark colors, which made finding clothes for him more of a bother than it needed to be, but the deep purple kimono suits him well. He looks too good in it, Takumi decides bitterly.
The attendant bows before vacating the room, leaving the two of them alone. Prince Leo turns to face him but Takumi keeps his eyes away, focusing on a painted scroll hanging on the wall.
“Am I allowed to visit your royal library? Or is it off limits to Nohrians?” Prince Leo asks. He pulls off a perfectly cordial tone, as if he knows that is exactly what throws Takumi into further emotional turmoil. It seems he’s choosing to act like yesterday never happened. Not like Takumi had a crisis over it or anything.
Takumi runs a hand through his hair. It's well known that Prince Leo is a bookworm, even his luggage contained a few books that are now scattered on the table and bed. It’s almost surprising he didn’t ask earlier. And as much as Takumi doesn't want outsiders touching their books, it’s better if Prince Leo wants to spend most of his recovery holing up in the library. They can sit in silence and nothing terrible will happen.
“We can’t give you access to most of the library, but the first section is open to all visitors of Shirasagi.”
Prince Leo nods. “That's fine.” He smiles a little, attaching a belt with a tome case to his waist and looking back up at Takumi. “Can we go now?”
Takumi blinks at him, stunned by his sudden enthusiasm. “Uh, yeah, I guess so.” He can’t think of any reason why not.
—-
No one else appears to be using the library, but Takumi can’t help but peek around the corners to check. After a quick browse the pair decide to sit at the seating area in the back, furnished with piles of lavish cushions and low tables. Takumi picks out a single book, but Prince Leo carries a small stack of books with a scroll balancing precariously on top.
The range of titles in Leo’s stack are familiar to Takumi, he even recognizes some of them just from the color and wear. They’re all books he’s read and enjoyed before. Prince Leo undeniably has good taste in reading, which Takumi doesn't like. He doesn’t mention it to him, cracking open his book and electing to ignore the presence of the Nohrian prince.
Several minutes pass, and though the book in his hands is interesting, Takumi can’t focus on the words. The week has been too absurd already to feel comfortable partaking in his usual activities.
The floorboards creak as Prince Leo stands up and pads away towards the shelves once more. Takumi wonders if he found the other books boring. Maybe he should feel insulted.
The Nohrian returns with a couple of gold scrolls. Not just any gold scrolls but the ones that documented many years of Hoshidan history, and not something Takumi wants a Nohrian skimming through. He stands, marching up to the blond and snatching the scrolls out of his grasp.
“These are—” Takumi forgot about them. Technically they’re housed in the area he said was fair game for the Nohrian, placed within gilded boxes and resting in a little alcove covered in intricate carvings. The decoration alone should’ve made it obvious they were precious and not meant for just anyone to handle. “You’re not supposed to touch these. What if someone saw you putting your grubby hands all over our important literature and thought you were stealing?” he hisses.
“There’s no one else here. Besides,” Leo says with a shrug, “I took the opportunity to lock the door.”
“You did what?” Takumi cranes his neck and sees the heavy latch in place on the door. His mind races. When did Prince Leo do that, and why hadn’t he noticed?
Prince Leo’s eyes narrow. “It’s your responsibility to check, isn’t it? To keep an eye on me? You’re letting your guard down. I suppose you’re lucky I have no intent to kill you.”
Takumi falters. He did let his guard down, and that let Prince Leo lock him in the library. Without his magic the other prince is much weaker, and in hand to hand combat Takumi would best him, but a trap could still prove deadly. His lower lip quivers and his face burns with shame. What is wrong with him? Why can’t he do anything right?
Prince Leo’s hands move to the tome belt around his waist and Takumi looks up at him with a start, but all he does is unbuckle it with a click. He hands it over.
“I’ve said it before, I’m not dense enough to try to harm anyone in the Hoshidan royal family. You can check my belongings yourself. I simply don’t enjoy the looks I receive from your fellow countrymen,” Prince Leo states.
The tome belt is lighter than Takumi expects one to be, and it seems as though there isn’t a book inside at all but several loose items. He opens the flap and takes a look inside. There’s a small vial of liquid, a handkerchief, and a pair of gloves. Takumi picks up the vial, brandishing it at Prince Leo. The Nohrian picks it up, pops it open and pours some of its contents onto his palm.
“It’s oil. Not much to harm anyone with. Especially without my magic. I’m sure that’s why you’ve been so sloppy.” Prince Leo puts the vial away, wiping his hand on the handkerchief. Takumi really wants to know why he’s carrying oil, except he also really doesn’t.
“This isn’t enough proof. Nohrian soldiers are often found hiding weapons on their bodies,” Takumi decides. Although right now he feels rather certain that there are no weapons.
“Ah, of course you would have heard about that. Normally I would have one too, since you can never be too careful, but not today. You don't have to take my word for it.”
Takumi swallows thickly. Prince Leo is just toying with him now, poking at a vulnerable spot and quickly following up with more jabs before he can recover his composure. He clearly enjoys watching Takumi flounder.
Yet, after letting his guard down once today, there’s nothing wrong with being thorough now. Takumi holds up his hands. Prince Leo seems to understand, nodding as Takumi approaches. He pats down Prince Leo's front, feeling for anything unusual. Next his back. Then he lifts his arms and pats him down there too. Unsurprisingly, nothing feels like a weapon under his fingers.
“Shouldn't you be a bit more thorough?” Prince Leo chides, lifting a knee. He pulls the layer of fabric to the side, revealing the bare skin of his thigh. “There are a lot of places to hide a weapon.”
Takumi’s face burns as he stares at the newly bared skin. He knows there’s nothing, he can't even imagine what sort of weapon wouldn’t have been detected in his pat down. But Takumi is no coward, and if the other man wants to take it that far then he must not back down. He takes a deep breath, mentally bracing himself.
“May I?” He gestures at the black obi.
Prince Leo blinks, pink spreading across his cheeks. “What kind of inspector would ask that?” he huffs, shaking his head slightly. “Yes.”
Takumi’s fingers untie the obi, pulling it free from his waist. With a firm tug the dark purple fabric falls from Leo’s shoulders, bunching at his elbows. Under the kimono is Nohrian style underwear, quite different from his own fundoshi, thin and black. He’s only staring because he's thorough. Placing his hand gingerly on Leo’s shoulder, he urges him to turn around for inspection of his back. Takumi’s eyes might have lingered longer at certain places, taking in the divots and curves.
“I have concluded that you are carrying no weapons on your person,” Takumi declares shakily.
Prince Leo pulls his clothes back over his frame and leans against the bookshelf, a wry smile spreading across his face. The loose kimono slips off his shoulder, his pale skin contrasting starkly against the dark books.
“No weapons, no magic. I'm in far more danger than you ever will be. You think I could hurt someone like this and escape? Hah! It wouldn't matter if the door was unlocked or if there were dozens of bystanders, if you wanted to kill me at any time no Hoshidan would stop you. I certainly couldn't stop you either.”
Takumi is taken aback by the bitterness in his voice. This is the second time that Prince Leo expressed his frustration over his position and lack of magic. It's believable of course, his magic is what sets him apart from the rest of the Nohrian royal family. Yet his words don't convince Takumi that he's not a threat.
Prince Leo’s expression is complicated. He makes no attempt to fix his clothes, to cover up his shoulders. There’s no way a half naked Nohrian could put him in any real danger and yet Takumi still thinks there’s something he doesn’t know yet, something Prince Leo is waiting for. Whatever it is he's thinking, the only one who deserves to take the brunt of his actions is Takumi.
Takumi tips his head down, his hair now blocking out most of his view. The door is locked. Hoshido is in crisis. The same solution for their troubles hangs over his head. “My task is to help you with your mana recovery. Nothing else.”
He doesn’t want to lift his head, to see the look that might be on Prince Leo’s face. Blood pounds in his ears. Then Prince Leo’s forehead bumps gently against his.
“I’ll have you fulfill your task then,” Prince Leo whispers.
Takumi licks his lips and nods, pulling himself away. He kneels down to fetch the tome bag thrown against the cushions. Prince Leo sheds his clothes, splaying out near where Takumi sits. He watches indifferently while Takumi uncaps the vial and spills oil onto his hand.
Above all else, Takumi doesn’t want to hurt Prince Leo, to make everything worse again. He decides to start slow and pay close attention to how the other man responds. He presses one slick finger into Leo. Prince Leo gasps, his eyelids fluttering shut. He’s beautiful like this, his dark purple kimono fanning out around his naked body, golden hair resting on lavishly embroidered cushions. Takumi moves his fingers, diligent in his effort to stretch and prepare him. He's doing this for Hoshido after all.
After some time Takumi slips a third digit into Prince Leo. He continues to focus on the man below him, taking in the reddening dent in his lip from the way he bites it to stay quiet, the crease that forms between his brows when Takumi moves inside him.
“I don’t pity you at all,” the words spill unbidden from Takumi’s lips. He presses his fingers against Leo’s insides. “You’re cunning and resourceful. Possibly the only person who could harm a Hoshidan in Shirasagi and get out alive.”
“Shut up,” Prince Leo hisses. Takumi curls his fingers, managing to hit the right spot. He watches Leo gasp and shiver, too distracted to continue berating him.
“You have all the odds against you and yet you’ve managed to back me into a corner a few times already. Actually, I think you’ve already figured out how to get what you want and just wait until I act accordingly.” He waits for Prince Leo to open his mouth before interrupting him by removing his fingers all together. This earns him a solid kick in the arm. Undeterred, he moves just out of range and begins undressing.
“Maybe you just need to stop being so gullible. There’s nothing impressive about being able to get anything out of you,” Prince Leo seethes.
“You’re probably right,” Takumi responds, spreading oil along his cock. Maybe there’s nothing impressive about Prince Leo essentially seducing him, because he’s simple and gullible. Maybe he just lacks the most between the two of them, and Prince Leo expends no effort in getting what he wants out of him. “I’m not changing my mind about you.”
For once Leo appears flustered, his silver tongue frozen still. Takumi revels in being the reason that his lips are pulled into a scowl, any aggression betrayed by the deep flush of his cheeks and the hard, needy cock between his legs. That feeling catches Takumi by surprise. It's not something he's ever felt toward anyone before. He hesitates, the confidence he built over the past few minutes crumbling.
“We don’t have to keep going,” Takumi suggests pathetically.
Prince Leo’s lips curl. “I suppose you don't want me out of Hoshido that badly.”
“You're the one who looked uncertain. I have no interest in continuing if you’re going to complain about it afterwards.”
“You’re imagining things.” Prince Leo rolls onto his stomach, conveniently hiding his face. “Finish what you’ve started,” he commands. Takumi rolls his eyes.
He lifts Leo’s hips, lining himself up with his ass. Takumi pushes his cock in, sinking down until his hips meet Prince Leo’s skin. The tight heat engulfing his cock is breathtaking, enough to make his head spin.
Takumi gives Prince Leo a moment to relax and adjust before moving his hips. He pulls back nearly to the tip and thrusts back in, starting with a restrained pace. Small muffled sounds come from Prince Leo, and Takumi glances down to see the edge of his kimono clenched between his teeth.
Takumi begins to adjust his angle with every thrust, trying to once again find the spot that makes Prince Leo keen and shiver. Then Prince Leo jolts as if struck by a bolt of lightning, his toes curling and spine arching, and Takumi knows he’s found it.
His heart suddenly floods with the desire to see this Nohrian prince come undone beneath him. Takumi doesn’t fight it. Adjusting his grip, he leans over and pounds his cock into Leo faster than he ever planned to, aiming solely for that one spot. Prince Leo shudders with each attack, the fabric slipping out of his mouth, leaving his loud, unmuffled cries to echo in the narrow space between the bookshelves. Takumi snakes his hand around Prince Leo’s waist and takes hold of his cock, pumping it in time with his thrusts. Just a few strokes and Prince Leo finishes with a groan, soiling the kimono beneath him.
Takumi is close, and he’s determined not to repeat his mistakes. Pressing his chest against Leo’s back, he thrusts his cock in deep, spilling inside.
“Prince Leo,” Takumi says breathlessly. He pulls out and reaches for Prince Leo, rolling him onto his back. His mind races with a rush of feelings he can't sort out. Anxiety sits at the forefront, followed by guilt, doubt, excitement, plus an annoying and insistent craving for more. That one is a sentiment growing between his legs. What he needs is to ask if Prince Leo is okay, or apologize, or something, but his tongue doesn’t move.
Prince Leo’s heel presses against his shoulder.
“The passing of mana between you and me,” Prince Leo says. His voice is calm, if not a little raspy. “How intriguing.”
Takumi is confused at first. Then he notices it. The unusual feeling where Prince Leo’s foot touches his skin, warm and a little tingly. He doesn’t know what to make of it, but it isn’t unpleasant.
Prince Leo begins to withdraw his foot but Takumi catches it. The same tingling sensation blossoms under his palms. He positions his hands under Prince Leo’s knees and pushes his legs up towards his chest. Prince Leo’s eyes widen at the sudden embarrassing position, face flushing.
“If mana is still being transferred then it would be better to continue my task, wouldn’t it?” Takumi asks.
“An astute observation. Surprising, coming from you.” Prince Leo’s backhanded insults mean nothing when Takumi has him spread out like this. He seems to understand that as well, sighing and averting his gaze.
Takumi presses his erection against Prince Leo’s entrance. He grips the soft flesh of Leo’s thighs, thrusting his cock in and out of him at a quick pace. Prince Leo tries to hide his face with his hands, eventually giving up and wrapping them around Takumi’s neck. Tears streak at the corners of his eyes, his face flushed a lovely scarlet.
Prince Leo throws his head back. “I’m— Prince Tak—” he cries, digging his nails into Takumi’s back and clenching down on his cock. Takumi feels his release spatter onto his stomach.
He continues to pound into Leo until he reaches his climax, something that sounds like Prince Leo’s name spilling from his lips when he finishes.
Takumi lowers Prince Leo’s legs, letting him lie more comfortably while he catches his breath. He flicks his eyes across his body, assessing the state he’s in. His carefully styled hair is in disarray, his skin sticky and glistening with sweat. Beautiful. Takumi doesn’t allow himself to think any more than that, the physical exertion catching up to him. He lets himself fall, landing on top of Prince Leo. The mana transfer feels faint now, nothing more than a murmur against his skin. It’s a comfortable feeling. He slides his fingers against Leo’s, pressing their palms together. Every drop of mana he has might as well be offered up to him.
Heavy footsteps sound from the hallway outside and Takumi jumps. He scrambles to his feet and throws on his clothes, then pulls Prince Leo up to assist with his.
The footsteps continue marching past the library and fade into the distance. Lucky. Takumi exhales the breath he was holding. He's violently reminded how open and public the library is, and someone could have knocked on the door at any point.
“Let's get out of here,” Takumi says, tugging on Prince Leo’s sleeve. He starts walking down the aisle and suddenly stops, spinning around. Prince Leo nearly crashes into him. Takumi lifts his hands to Leo’s hair and tries to pat it down, fixing the position of his headband at the same time. Heat creeps up Takumi’s face as he makes several more feeble attempts to fix the mess he made of Prince Leo’s appearance, to make him look less like he just had sex in the library.
—-
At sunrise, Takumi jogs around the training grounds, biding his time until he visits Prince Leo. He made peace with his decision, that he was really going to sleep with Prince Leo until his mana recovery was complete. At least he thinks it’s more productive than the original plan to spend every day doing nothing in silence. As if that really makes the arrangement seem reasonable. It’s still ridiculous, and risky, but they’ve already gotten this far.
Takumi exits the training grounds, dunking his head in a bucket of water. It’s strange how he ended up here in the first place, how being around Prince Leo makes him act. His fingers quiver as he changes out of his training clothes, and he doesn’t know if it’s out of trepidation or anticipation.
When Takumi arrives at Prince Leo’s room there are two guards waiting in front of the door. The guest room usually had one guard on watch overnight, not two. Takumi wonders if something happened.
One of the guards notices him and bows. “Prince Takumi! There has been a change in plans.”
“What is it?”
“The nobles in the capitol want to rewrite some of the marketplace rules. Her Majesty has requested that you oversee the meetings as a representative of the royal family. I will be taking care of your work attending the Nohrian.”
“I see,” Takumi confirms.
Takumi watches the guard walk into the guest room. It really is better this way, he wants nothing more than to return to his normal life, with his normal training and normal chores. He should be happy he got out of it sooner than he anticipated.
—
Meetings with this particular group of economics-obsessed nobles are characterized by the mind numbing hours of disagreements. What probably could have been wrapped up in one day turns into several. Takumi is stuck attending, and he spends them thinking about Prince Leo more than he would ever like to admit. The two hadn't met up ever since, Takumi insisting on using the opportunity to return to his usual princely duties. But he doesn't know if it reflects worse on himself or the noblemen of Hoshido that he sometimes thinks his time would be better spent with a Nohrian.
—
Prince Leo declares his mana recovery complete after only six days. This is much to the surprise of those who expected a full ten days of recovery. Takumi quickly dismisses himself, unable to keep the flush spreading across his face from knowing exactly why this had occurred.
During a break in what he hopes is his last meeting, Takumi learns that Ryoma is the one tasked with accompanying Prince Leo on the second attempt to right the elemental balance. He tries not to think about it too much.
The meeting does conclude with a final agreement, and Takumi walks back to Shirasagi with a lighter step. He notices how quiet it is as he steps down the hallway. No wind rattling the windows or debris clattering against the walls. Prince Leo must have succeeded with the spell.
Takumi pauses at the bottom of the staircase. It would only be courteous to congratulate the other prince on a job well done.
“Prince Leo,” Takumi says in front of the sliding door. There’s a pause before it slides open. Takumi walks into the room, sliding it back shut behind him.
Bags and belongings are gathered at the center of the room. Prince Leo stands nearby, eyeing Takumi curiously. He’s rid of his borrowed kimono and dons Nohrian clothing, a white buttoned shirt and sleek black pants. “Do you need something?” he asks. “I have some packing to do.”
“The spell must have been a success.”
Prince Leo turns towards the window, now open halfway. “Naturally.”
“Then you’re leaving Hoshido tomorrow?” Takumi winces. He already knows when Leo leaves.
“Indeed.”
Takumi swallows, staring down at his feet. He knows Prince Leo doesn’t see him. It was a mistake to come here, to be alone with him.
“Again, do you need something from me? Oh, don’t tell me you’ve gotten attached. I’ve never once liked you.”
“Full of yourself as always. Nothing between us happened because I ever liked you. The opposite, actually,” Takumi blurts. He stomps forward defiantly.
Prince Leo finally turns around to face him, a glint in his eyes. “I’ve been thinking. In my current state, I could cast a spell that destroys you with a flick of my wrist,” he muses, placing a hand on Takumi’s chest. Takumi’s pulse races at the slight contact. “I have an advantage at this range, don’t I?”
Takumi instinctively grabs his wrist. He presses even closer still. “Do you really?”
Prince Leo needs two things to cast, his hands to guide the magic and his lips to voice the incantation. And at this distance Takumi can do something about both.
Takumi seizes his other wrist and crashes his lips against Prince Leo’s. He immediately regrets it. Their relationship isn’t like that. But Prince Leo quickly responds by tilting his head and kissing him back, and his unease melts away, replaced by a light fuzzy feeling in his head. Takumi has never enjoyed kissing so much in his life, it’s almost infuriating how nice Leo feels seemingly everywhere. He eagerly deepens the kiss with very little coaxing.
“I suppose I don’t,” Leo murmurs after they part for air. Takumi chuckles lightly, almost forgetting what they were discussing before. He leans in again, but Leo interrupts him. “Actually, I might have deceived you.”
Energy pulses through the air and Takumi realizes that Leo was able to cast magic after all, even with his hands and mouth restrained. There’s a crackling at his side and before he can react, a large vine coils around him. Takumi frowns. He thought the conversation was hypothetical, never did he expect Prince Leo would actually use magic on him.
“Show off,” Takumi mutters. He feels surprisingly calm. This doesn't feel like the spell that explodes him. His heart twinges a little. Maybe instead it's Leo rejecting him.
Leo folds his arms. “As I said, I have the range advantage. Don't worry, I’m sure you’ll find a way to wriggle out of this.”
Takumi wiggles his fingers. No, he doesn’t think he can. The vines are tight, and his hands are bound to his sides. The restraints are also sturdier than they look, and there’s no way he could break them apart with just brute force. Fujin Yumi could probably sever them but this is Leo’s room and the divine bow is kept safe in his own room. Takumi looks up at Leo, who offers no further explanation. He must be trying to get Takumi to squirm, just like always. Which means that’s exactly what he won't be doing.
Takumi takes a deep breath and falls backward, landing right on top of Leo’s ridiculous pile of pillows. Leo is shocked, maybe even a little panicked, Takumi can tell because the vine around him weakens just a little. The reaction is a bit surprising, but he won’t waste the opportunity. He yanks one hand free. Leo, likely knowing the binding had loosened, conjures another vine to ensnare him once more. The new one is easy to dodge now that he expects it. Takumi gets up onto his knees and snatches at Leo with his free hand, tugging him forward and twisting so that he can push Leo down onto the futon. He lets go and pins him down with his knee. Maneuvering himself on top of Leo, he uses his free hand to immobilize Leo’s left hand and his leg to pin down the other hand.
He’s not won. Leo can still cast. Slimy bastard. Still, he never expected to get this far, much less back Leo into a corner.
“Are you even trying?” Takumi taunts.
His heart pounds in his chest, adrenaline from his narrow escape rushing to his head. He’s missed this, the risky games they always manage to find themselves playing. Having Leo under him only excites him more, his cock beginning to strain against his underwear.
The edge of Leo’s mouth quirks up. “I thought I put in a decent effort.”
Beneath them a black puddle starts oozing across the futon and Leo slowly sinks into it, startling Takumi who jumps back. Leo disappears into the dark matter. There’s a sound nearby and Takumi realizes that Leo has materialized directly behind him.
Suddenly the vine still restraining his arm dissipates. Takumi blinks twice before whipping around to face Leo.
“See? you managed to wriggle out of it,” Leo pants, his face red and hairband knocked out of place.
Takumi frowns. “You gave me that one.” Although he managed to free one hand, he doesn't consider that a proper victory.
“I did.” No hesitation. “I think by now you understand why I’m one of the only mages who can control the elements.”
“Maybe. I managed to pin you down easily.” Takumi grins.
There’s a shift in Leo’s demeanor. “You did,” he murmurs. His eyes are hooded, dark with lust, pinning Takumi in place with the intensity of his gaze.
The familiar crackling of magic returns, making Takumi’s hairs stand on end. Leo’s vines reappear, this time by the dozen, creeping along the walls and covering the door and window. Takumi stares at them in disbelief. The guest room looks more like a jungle than a part of Shirasagi. His eyes flick back to Leo and he’s moving forward, closing the distance between them with a few steps.
“There is,” Leo starts, “No benefit to continuing. And no reason to.” It’s true, and yet Takumi firmly believes if they aren’t on each other within a few seconds they will both go mad.
“I can think of one. I’m curious what you're like when you're not simpering and self pitying,” Takumi says, jabbing a finger in Leo's direction.
Leo quirks an eyebrow at him, amused. He grabs at Takumi’s collar, crumpling the fabric, and begins pushing Takumi backwards until his legs hit the windowside bench. Then he shoves him onto the bench and straddles him.
“You're hardly deserving of that,” he scoffs, his ass pushing back against Takumi’s clothed cock. “But luckily I am feeling quite magnanimous.”
Leo begins stripping his clothes, tossing them off to the side before his fingers work on freeing Takumi’s cock from his clothes. He seems uncharacteristically impatient, fingers fumbling with the unfamiliar Hoshidan clothing. Takumi finds it surprisingly endearing. For now he’s content with letting Leo handle things, in this state he will probably snap if he’s interrupted.
Purple balls of light appear at Leo’s fingertips and a vine slithers away, a leafy tendril circling around a brown satchel before bringing it over. Leo pulls out a bottle and shoos the vine away. Takumi is less surprised that Leo uses his magic for everything he can. Show off. He wants to poke fun at him over it, but the insult he builds never leaves his mouth because Leo inserts a finger into himself, his face scrunching up from the sensation. Takumi watches spellbound at how Leo works himself, his back elegantly arched and a hand gripping Takumi’s arm as his fingers move in and out.
Leo pulls his fingers out, panting. His attention quickly shifts back to Takumi, lifting his hips and using his hand to guide Takumi’s cock. He lowers himself, bracing a hand on Takumi’s shoulder. The tip of Takumi’s cock disappears inside him. He inhales and bows his head, sinking down.
Once he’s taken Takumi all the way, he lifts his head and flashes a lopsided smile, maybe trying to smirk but missing the haughtiness that usually comes with it. Takumi’s heart skips a beat. His cock throbs and he fights the urge to thrust up into him.
Leo is soon moving, grinding down on his cock, making them both groan. Takumi thinks he's lucky to hear Leo’s voice so unrestrained, to feel his shuddering breath hot against his skin. Leo stops, impaled on Takumi's cock, before lifting his hips up Takumi’s length and sinking back down. Takumi gasps, pleasure pulsing through him as Leo slides up and down his cock. Takumi begins bucking his own hips, matching his pace with Leo’s movements.
It's not long before Leo throws his head back with a cry, his hips moving erratically. His thighs shake with effort. Takumi grips his waist to steady him. He shivers under Takumi’s fingers, Takumi’s name spilling from his lips over and over.
Takumi feels close to the edge, and the clenching around his cock means Leo is close too. He thrusts his hips to meet Leo halfway. There’s a flash of green before his vision turns white, and he comes at the same time that Leo’s release splashes against his stomach. When Takumi calms just enough for his eyes to focus, he glances down at Leo’s thighs and abdomen, the red marks blossoming where his fingers gripped his hips. He moves his eyes up to Leo’s face. Leo looks back at him with wide eyes, his face flushed and flustered. That’s when Takumi finally notices the strong earthy scent in the air and the new growth of thick green leaves on all the vines in their proximity. Small white flowers bloom between the foliage.
“Really shouldn’t have filled the room— with so many of them,” Leo wheezes and Takumi can’t help but snicker.
Leo slides off of him, laying himself on the bench beside him, legs draping over Takumi’s lap. Takumi’s eyes slip closed, his breaths steadying. Minutes pass. He feels Leo shift.
“How very like you to so thoroughly distract me from my packing,” Leo gripes, poking Takumi in the forehead. Takumi huffs quietly, poking him back in the side.
—
The sun sits just above the horizon, brilliant red creeping into the room. They’ve both dressed, and the room looks normal again without the magic vines covering the walls. Takumi adjusts his kimono nervously.
“Tomorrow we can finally put all this behind us,” he finally says. It's not quite what he wants to say.
“Indeed,” Leo responds quietly. “Honestly, I hope I never see you again.” His voice was devoid of any strong emotions. Takumi doesn't even feel insulted because he thinks he knows what Leo means. There’s no guarantee that the next time their lives cross paths will be on the same peaceful terms.
“Well, I feel exactly the same way,” Takumi snaps, putting effort into sounding affronted. Leo pretends to look offended in return. They exchange a glance, smiling half heartedly at each other.
—
Prince Leo is gone early the next day. Hours after his departure, Takumi passes by the guest room that he stayed in, the door left open for cleaning. Not a trace of the Nohrian remained, not even the pile of pillows atop the futon. It’s better that way. Takumi continues on down the hall.