A month has passed since the visit to Nightbane kingdom. The kingdoms has been busy with preparations for the upcoming wedding. Aurelian's wedding dress and after-wedding mini events dresses are all ready, his mother made sure of that. The wedding was scheduled to take place at Nightbane kingdom so, the decorations were already made, halls were refined. Performers were practicing. Speeches were being revised. Everything was going smoothly. But Aurelian felt uneasy, he felt pressured, so he did what he thought was best for him at that moment, he wrote a letter to Draven asking to meet up at the border. The messenger arrived hours later with Draven's response, agreeing.
Aurelian quickly got dressed and set off to the border. He arrived at the meeting point and waited patiently but he didn't have to wait long because Draven arrived a few moments after him. "Hey" Draven greets, "hey" Aurelian replies suddenly at a loss for words "what did you want to talk about?" Draven asks looking at him. "Can we just walk around? I feel stressed" Aurelian finally says after a moment of silence. Draven didn't question him, he just started walking with Aurelian by his side. They walked for a while before coming across a lake. Aurelian stared at the lake and suddenly spoke "I'm scared" "of what?" Draven didn't miss a beat "of everything" he looks at Draven, "there's just a lot of pressure and I feel like I'm not enough, like.. like..." His voice breaks, Draven wraps his arms around him,"shh, it's okay, I'm here". Aurelian fists curls into Draven's shirt, holding onto him for dear life,"please don't let go" he whispers "I won't" Draven whispers back into his hair. They stay like that for a while before Aurelian finally pulled back "thank you" he murmurs "for?" Draven asks "for being here, I'm sure I am the last person you'd want to see right now, let alone comfort" he clarifies. Draven stares at him without saying anything "please say something" Aurelian begs "what do you want me to say?"
"Anything, don't just stay quiet"
"Well I'm surprised you're finding comfort in me" Draven says, "I know right, it's just..you feel safe" Aurelian says looking away"that doesn't mean I like you!" He adds quickly -too quickly, Draven chuckles "I might get used to this" "Don't!" Aurelian covers his face with his hands, "just know you can come to me anytime" Draven says, Aurelian peeks out from his fingers "really? You're not teasing me?" He says "yes, I'm being serious" Draven confirms. "Come on, want to swim?" He asks "with you?" Aurelian asks tilting his head "what? Am I that embarrassing?" Draven asks though a smirk plays on his lips, "no, I just.. I can't swim!" He says looking away embarrassed. "That's fine, I can teach you" Draven suggests, "maybe some other time" Aurelian says "sure". They start walking back towards the border. "So, would you like to tell me now?" Draven asks carefully, "it's just... they're making much preparations and it's just feels like a constant reminder about the wedding and everything's feeling rushed" Aurelian finally confesses "it's the same over at Nightbane, even outfits are ready" Draven facepalms and Aurelian chuckles "at least, you were not forced to wear it three times a day just to be it's okay" Aurelian says still laughing "oh really? I was told to wear it five times!!" Draven exaggerates, "that's a lie!" Aurelian says laughing "maybe" Draven replies chuckling. They settle into a comfortable silence. "How come I feel much comfortable with him? Isn't this supposed to be wrong? Aren't I supposed to hate him? But... I just want to enjoy this peace, I can hate him later" Aurelian thinks. "Why does everything feel right with him? Why do i feel free -too free with him? Why does my heart leap with joy whenever he smiles?" Draven thinks. He looks at Aurelian "you look better" "ah, yes" Aurelian replies. They get back to the border, "it's getting late" Draven says,"yes, I should get going" Aurelian answers looking sad, "hey," Draven cups his cheek, Aurelian's heart races,his breathing hitches yet he doesn't pull away, he looks up at Draven "when you get back, bear with it, at least I'm rooting for you and maybe it'll be worth it" Draven adds looking at Aurelian, "okay, I'm rooting for you too" Aurelian says gently, "Draven's eyes widen a little, his ears burning red, "uh..yeah, you should..uh.." he clears his throat "..you should go". Aurelian turns away and start walking back towards his Kingdom, Draven watches him until he's out of sight before turning and walking back to Nightbane,"All I knew was this—
I wanted him to keep smiling.
And I wanted to be the reason why." Draven says to himself.