The Sole Prince

Don't worry, I'm a great teacher. [part 2]

"I've been wanting to talk, James."

"Me too, actually," James says, hesitantly. "About two things, mainly."

"Great minds think alike," Sage smiles. "Care to start us off?"

"Well, uh, firstly. About us." Sage gestures for him to keep going, that he could say anything in the world, and it wouldn't affect how the older man felt, all with a single nod of the head and tightened grip on James' waist. "If it wasn't already obvious, I, how do I put it... I like you. Significantly." Sage smiles, almost laughing at the word choice but stopping himself short.

"I like you a lot too, James. Even more than that, really." James blushes.

"And so, I was wondering, uh, how it works. Like in general. Especially with," James pauses, gesturing to the two of them with his hands. "Two men, you know?"

"It can work however you want it to, sweetheart," Sage says calmly. "No need to think about how we fit into the rest of the world when we fit so perfectly with each other." The younger erupts, taking a moment to stew over his words.

"Does it work if I just want to be yours?"

"You're already mine," Sage replies.

"That's why I, uh, like the marks," James says. "Physical proof, you know?"

"You're not as secretive as you think you are," Sage older man says with a smile. "And before your wondering mind starts thinking, I'm all yours, just so you know." James is the one who smiles this time.

"I'm all yours, if that wasn't already clear."

"Yeah?"

James nods as Sage dives in for another kiss, distracting the two of them from their other topic of conversation before the older man finally pulls away.

"Before we move on," Sage whispers, their foreheads touching. "I just want to make it clear that we'll be taking it at your speed. Judging by what you've told me, I might have a little more experience than you. And all that means is that you'll be in charge."

"I'm not sure if I'm good at leading."

"Just tell me what to do, Captain, and I'll be sure to follow through."

"If that's the case," James says with a grin. "I think I want another kiss."

"Of course, sweetheart," Sage says, before diving in once more. James feels as if cleaner air flows into his lungs each time their lips meet, new hopes are created in his mind with each touch Sage gives. It's only when the older man pulls away, he remembers what he's been meaning to say.

"Not to ruin the moment, but about Roriark," James says quietly, looking the larger man in the eyes. Their hearts beat as one. "I'm not really sure what I want to do other than that I want to do it with you."

"It's far too late for me to just drop you off," Sage says with a smile. The sentence means so much more than its surface context. "The world is your oyster, sweetheart. The choice of what you want to do is yours."

"But, I'm not sure what I want to do. It's not like I can just go back to being a prince, even if I wanted that," James says, breaking eye contact for a moment. Sage lightly scratches the smaller man's back, providing a brief burst of comfort to shoot through the smaller man's body.

"Why not? You still are the prince, you know."

"True, but." James bites his lip. "What would you do if I went back to being a prince?"

"I'm still a pirate as well," Sage replies with an attempted smile.

"But what would befall upon us?"

"A pirate out at sea and his love on land wouldn't be too bad, would it?"