The Idea of You (Bdoc Royal AU)

Chapter Twenty-Six: Dance the Night Away

[Day 27]

Again, make it night

-

Bdubs stared up at the ceiling as he laid in bed, Doc's arm draped across his torso. He didn't dare to close his eyes out of his irrational fear of succumbing to another nightmare. Rolling over, he stared at Doc's face, and although his eyes were closed, he wasn't sure of his state of consciousness.

"Are you still awake?" He quietly asked, to which Doc slowly opened his eyes.

"Yeah," he murmured. "Can you not fall asleep either?"

The prince picked at his finger as he debated giving the truth. "I... Last night I- listen I know it's silly but I had a nightmare last night and um, I'm a bit... nervous about going to sleep again," he explained, embarrassment heating his cheeks.

Much to his surprise, Doc pulled him closer and kissed his forehead. "It's not silly. Honestly, the reason I was more anxious and protective today was that I also had a nightmare last night. You were... dead and it scared me," he whispered, lightly clinging to Bdubs' clothes.

In silence, the two tightly held each other, neither seemingly sure of what they could say to calm each other. Bdubs would press the occasional lazy kiss to the metal panels on Doc's shoulder. Meanwhile the other rubbed his thumb against his back.

"Why can't I just have peaceful dreams? I want to dream of us dancing together," Doc mumbled, breaking the silence.

"Well, it seems as though every time we dance something goes wrong. First, we yell at each other, then I almost faint," Bdubs recalled with a light laugh.

Suddenly, the hybrid sat up. "Hey, neither of us are getting sleep anytime soon. Plus, like you said every time we dance something tends to go wrong. Why not use this opportunity to dance now?" He suggested, fidgeting with Bdubs' hand.

As he grinned, Bdubs sat up with him. "I don't see why not!"

They climbed out of bed, Doc using a control panel on his arm to softly play music through the speakers in his room. It was a solo violin, which at first seemed sorrowful, but then as the melody picked up, hope weaved between the notes.

He opened the doors to his balcony, letting in the warm night air. His view heavily contrasted that of which Bdubs was used to back home. Instead of seeing the soft glow of the forest beyond, all he could see were the sharp, bright lights of the city with its tall skyscrapers and other such buildings. Still, the colorful lights were quite pretty, even if it was hard to see the stars.

"May I have this dance?" Doc asked, bowing as he held his hand and kissed the back.

Bdubs bowed in return. "You may."

Holding hands, he moved his free hand to Doc's shoulder whilst he was holding his waist. His smile grew as Doc hummed along to the lyricless music and they slowly danced around. Without warning, the hybrid twirled him so his back was against his chest, only to dip him. Bdubs laughed, holding his betrothed's cheek as he leaned down to kiss him.

The mage followed him up, stealing a second kiss, and then a third. "I like this song," he hummed as Doc guided his arms to drape over his shoulders whilst he hugged his waist.

"You do? This is the one I was considering for our first dance at our wedding," he admitted.

"Let's use it then," Bdubs decided with a grin.

As they slowly danced around, Doc continued to hum the song until it ended. When the next began - a piano piece accompanied by a harp and a flute - he began to quietly speak. "Whilst you were gone today, your father told me of how he married your other father."

"Ah," Bdubs nodded with a smile. "It's a cute story, no?" He recalled when he too was told the story when King Cub revealed how he had to calm down King Scar just before the ceremony because of how nervous he was.

"He suggested we follow their mindset, and I like the idea. Honestly, if I treat the wedding as anything more than the celebration of our kingdoms uniting and my love for you I'd probably freak out," Doc chuckled.

Bdubs hummed, pulling him closer to rest his head on his shoulder. "I do think pretending marriage isn't a big step in a relationship we've hardly been in will help the anxiety," he whispered. "Did my father also tell you that although one can marry someone of a much lower class, it still isn't entirely accepted socially? It's... it's why my friends felt bad when they thought I liked the stable boy. Although it technically could've worked, they knew people would...talk and therefore I'd never pursued."

Doc squeezed him. "Does what others think of you matter in your mind?"

"Very much so. My people- well, soon to be our people, care a great deal about me, and I don't want to disappoint their expectations. I think- I think that's why I am a little... put off by the Oropolian people's nervousness around us royalty. I'm so used to people being so open about their opinions towards me that not knowing worries me so," he admitted through a deep breath.

A kiss was pressed into his hair. "You needn't worry yourself with the opinions of others. They could be a monarch and it shouldn't matter."

"Thank you," Bdubs whispered, gripping Doc's shirt.

"What happened in your nightmare?" The hybrid prince quietly asked as they swayed back and forth.

With a deep breath, Bdubs explained as much as he remembered. Kisses were peppered across his freckled face, pulling a giggle from him. "I'd never abandon you like that," Doc promised.

'I know," he murmured, pressing his lips against the small square panel on Doc's jaw. "I trust you, okay?"

The prince nodded, before twirling him around, wrapping his arms around his torso and hooking his chin on his shoulder. Humming, Bdubs crossed his arms and held onto Doc as the two admired the view. "Your kingdom is beautiful," he breathed.

"Soon to be our kingdom." The audible smile in Doc's voice was addictive.

However, as lovely as the scenery was, Bdubs let out a big yawn, nestling himself in his betrothed's embrace. "Ready to head back to bed?" Doc prompted, but he shook his head.

"Not quite. I'd like to admire the view for a few more minutes." One of his hands was lifted so a kiss could be placed on his ring.

"As you wish," Doc sang, and with that, the two continued to slightly sway to the soft music.