Once A Tale (MXM, BXB)

Snow King and the Bee: Bonus Short II

a/n: this actually takes place before the previous short!! lmao continuity who

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"Will you be the king's consort? My consort?"

King Malthe's proposal had been made on the perfect day, if he did say so himself. Oskar was looking adorable as he always did, his fluffy blond hair in disarray, and they sat together taking tea after a marvellous, thoroughly romantic breakfast.

Oskar had stared at him for one long moment, then another, and Malthe felt a nervous clamminess creeping over his palms.

"Uh," he said at last, eloquently, "let me think about it?"

Alone in his chambers, Malthe now buried his face in his hands in utter woe. Oh, what had he done wrong? He thought that all of his hints over the last month had been the perfect precursors! In fact, it was only expected that the lover of the king would become the consort, his husband and second-in-command of the entire kingdom. He could think of no other that he wished to have by his side than Oskar.

Yes, he was reticent and, yes, sometimes Malthe didn't understand his impassive face in the least, but he trusted him. Furthermore, Oskar was someone who made him feel loved, listened to him solemnly while offering his own ideas, his thoughts without hesitation. The distance he had always felt between himself and the other snow bees and other people was nonexistent. Oskar had little care for formalities, for all that he served in the palace.

"I'm just a drone 'round here, really," he'd told Malthe once with a dismissive shrug. "That's how I like it. I just do my stuff and then go home afterwards, nothing serious to think about."

... Ah, yes.

Malthe sat upright in bed, abruptly embarrassed, woes gone. He'd just offered Oskar not only his hand in marriage but a slew of responsibilities that came along with it. Certainly, he had those in his palace to handle the goings-on, but he'd been taking pains to become more involved, dedicating himself to the growth and health of his home.

Now he was asking for Oskar to join him in those goals.

To do all of that, well, thinking-work he disparaged.

"Oh, you fool," he moaned at himself, embarrassed, rubbing his face furiously with his hands. He'd made the proposal out of his love, fierce and powerful, without remembering the very solemn roles his proposal entailed. Nothing doing, he would go to Oskar and tell him that he needn't do anything! The proposal was an expression of Malthe's love and he only wanted Oskar by his side, he didn't want to force him to do anything he didn't want to.

Leaping to his feet, he was almost to the door when someone knocked.

Malthe drew up short, patted down his mussed hair hastily, and commanded, "Enter."

To his relief, it was Oskar, who sidled into his bedroom while looking about with his hooded eyes. He took account of their surroundings before letting his gaze settle on Malthe's. This was another thing Malthe loved about him, how he always made eye contact, unerring and unwavering.

"Hullo," Oskar murmured, sounding awkward. He shut the door behind him, took a few steps across the immaculately polished floors, then stopped directly in front of Malthe.

"Oskar," Malthe said, beaming. "I was just about to find you. You see, I--"

Then, Oskar took to a knee in front of him and Malthe shut up, teeth clicking together with a snap as he shut his mouth. He stared down at him in shock as Oskar rummaged in his pocket with a few embarrassed mutters.

"Sorry, I went to get something," he said and pulled a velvet box from his pocket. Malthe nearly swooned with shock and excitement. "I figured we kinda needed it. For this."

Malthe let Oskar's hand take his own. He was warm and gentle, despite his usual disposition and dour manner.

"You... then, you wish to become my husband?" Malthe breathed, gazing excitedly at the ring box. "I wanted to tell you, Oskar, that you needn't take on any responsibilities that you hate or anything, I simply want you by my side."

Oskar stilled in the act of opening the box, flicking a surprised look up at him. Then, to Malthe's surprise, he scowled slightly and said, "What kind of sorry husband would I be if I skulked about while you did all the work? I thought about it while I was getting this and yeah, I'm sure it'll be a pain, but I think some of it could be..." He trailed off for a moment, gaze drifting. Malthe thought his pauses were spent evaluating himself, his feelings, figuring out how to put them to words. "... fun. So long as we're together."

"Oh, Oskar."

"Don't hug me yet. Haven't given you the ring yet."

To Malthe's delight, there were not one but two rings in the box. One was inlaid with a pretty, glittering blue spinel and the other an equally lovely yellow citrine, a faint haze of orange marking the outside of the gem. Slowly, Malthe knelt before Oskar as he hesitated, gaze switching between rings.

At last, Oskar offered him the one with the citrine and he was happy to receive it, watching its bright, warm glint, so similar to Oskar's fluff of hair and his pretty eyes.

"May I?" he questioned, taking Oskar's hand in turn.

Oskar breathed in, his cheeks flushing slightly, and he stiffly nodded. He relaxed his hand to allow the ring on and Malthe admired them silently, beaming down at their hands side-by-side, each with their respective rings.

"Oskar, they're wonderful."

"Glad you like 'em." Oskar leaned in slowly and Malthe felt his hair first, then the ticklish rub of antennae. He chuckled, nosing close, close enough their lips grazed together gently. He saw Oskar's pale eyelashes flicker in his field of vision, then their hands locked together as Oskar kissed him, slow and sweet.

Malthe truly could have asked for no-one better, he thought.