Sanders Sides One-shots

The Royal Garden: Pintroverts

Warnings: This is a bit more angsty than I thought it would be, I apologize in advance. There's also one kiss in here, it's nothing major, but I thought I'd tag it for anyone who needs it tagged.

Summary: Thomas is royalty and is in an established relationship with Nico, the castle's gardener. Thomas finds himself in the garden one morning during sunrise because he misses Nico and wishes that they could see each other more often.

Hi, again! Sorry I disappeared for so long. Writer's block and school both challenged me to a fight, and I lost, so I've been struggling with productivity and being proud of my work. But I'm back now, so I hope you guys like this idea!

Note: I need more Pintroverts content, so I decided to make it myself. This was the result.

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Thomas watched his step as he walked down the pristine, white tiled pathway beyond the castle's interior, smiling softly to himself as he was met with the familiar sight of the palace's elegant garden, which practically shone in the light of the rising sun.

There was a peaceful quiet in the air as the prince walked forward, gently picking up a delicate gardenia that had been resting on the fountain's edge. His smile widened slightly as he held it in his hand, a small sigh escaping him. The flower had done little to ease the dull ache in his chest, but he cherished it anyway, even though he knew that there was something missing.

His smile faltered just a bit, and he found himself longing for his lover's embrace, a comforting sensation that had become a mere memory, one that only made his heart ache more with every day they spent apart. He knew that being the heir to the throne wasn't easy, but it still hurt to know that they had been kept apart by his responsibilities, and a status he couldn't help being born with.

Thomas was pulled from his pensive state by the sound of abrupt footsteps, which instantly derailed his anxious train of thought. He managed another smile at the small sliver of hope that he had left, but, of course, a shadow of looming doubt had cast over him.

He felt a pair of hands resting on his shoulders and turned to see who had come up behind him, his smile widening into a loving grin once he saw Nico there.

"Hello, my love." He said softly, taking his lover's hands into his own. A wave of adoration seemed to consume him when Nico gently caressed his hands in return, making the tension in the prince's body disappear in the breeze.

"Hello, Your Highness." Nico replied, his voice quiet, as if he were afraid to interrupt the pure bliss that had settled between them in that moment. "You've missed me, haven't you?" He added with a chuckle, no doubt seeing the yearning and affection that rested within Thomas' eyes.

"Of course I have," Thomas replied, as if the answer were obvious. To him, nothing could have been clearer, "It's been ages since we saw each other last." He watched as Nico sighed, seeing the way his shoulders slumped ever so slightly, guilt shining in his eyes.

"Believe me, I know," He started quietly, seating himself on the marble bench that Thomas had been sitting on moments before and gesturing for the other to follow suit. "I wish I could have seen you more often, mi amor."

"There's no need to apologize." The prince replied, dismissing the apology with a shake of his head as he sat next to his beloved. He somehow couldn't find a way to be upset at his lover, even though he clearly remembered how much his heart had ached before then.

Nico merely smiled, shrugging in a way that showed he didn't regret the apology in the least. Thomas opened his mouth to contradict him, but he quickly closed it again, finding no use in arguing with him when their time was far too precious to waste.

The two turned to watch as the sun continued to rise, signifying the nearing end of their time together. They both sighed, exchanging  knowing glances as they held each other close, cherishing the minutes they had left.

"Nico?" Thomas inquired after a few moments, breaking the unintentional silence in the air.

"Yes?"

"The flower you left for me... what does it mean?" He asked, smiling at the expression of realization on Nico's face.

"Well, gardenias symbolize many things, but the most common one is secret love between two people." Nico explained, making Thomas feel as if his heart had swelled with fondness, the tiny cracks in it slowly beginning to heal with the help of his lover's presence. He gently cupped the other's cheek with his hand, carefully leaning in as they locked eyes.

Their lips met briefly, only being interrupted by the sound of Thomas' advisor's voice ringing through the garden. They reluctantly pulled away from each other,  both sighing softly as they looked at each other apologetically.

"I'm sorry that our love has to be a secret." Thomas said as he stood to leave, taking the flower that Nico had given him and looking meaningfully at it.

"It's alright, mi rey. I know neither of us like it, but I'm willing to do this to keep you safe." Nico answered reassuringly, standing with him and kissing his head.

Thomas nodded. "I'll see you soon, darling." He said just before he turned away, making a silent promise to his partner, one that he knew would never be broken as long as they loved each other.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this update! Again, it's the first fic I've had the motivation to finish since my last one, so pls forgive me if anything seems off with it. Also, feel free to give me constructive criticism if you feel it's necessary, I'd love to know what you guys think!

P.S.: Halfway through writing this idea in my notes, I remembered that Nico's last name is Flores, and I personally think that makes this infinitely better.