sic semper tyrannis

vivat rex

"Do you think the crown looks nice?"

Kaveh had his arm against the armrest of the throne, fist pressed against his cheek as he tilted his head. It only made the band of gold around it glitter in the light, bringing Alhaitham's eyes to it even more.

"It suits you," he said.

Kaveh sighed, his lips forming a frown. He sat back up in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest, letting out a quiet huff. "Of course, it suits me," he muttered. "It was made for me."

Alhaitham took a few steps closer, enough for their knees to brush as he leaned slightly over the throne and took Kaveh's hand from where it was placed on his arm. He raised it to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. "You made it beautifully."

Kaveh flushed a light red, but he didn't pull his hand back. "You think so?" he asked, his tone coming out more as a whisper than it was likely supposed to.

Alhaitham gave a light hum in response that was supposed to be taken for confirmation. Then he turned Kaveh's hand, pressing it against his cheek and giving another kiss to his wrist as Kaveh spread his fingers along his skin. "I think," he was whispering in turn now, rubbing idle circles into the back of Kaveh's hand. "It's silly how one compliment can completely destroy the confidence of the man who is now Sumeru's king."

Kaveh's light touches against his cheek turned harsh, digging nails into his skin just deep enough to leave crescents in his wake. "Don't forget yourself."

Alhaitham smiled, moving his grip down to Kaveh's wrist and yanking him up by it. Kaveh yelped as he flew into Alhaitham's chest, grabbing onto him by the shoulder in order to avoid collapsing back down into the chair. He flushed an even darker red, the color of his skin matching his eyes as he stared at Alhaitham, surprise engraved into his features.

Below them, the crown fell to the floor. It clinked when it hit the ground and rolled off somewhere, though Alhaitham didn't bother to see where. That would be Kaveh's problem, not his.

It was so easy like this. So easy for Alhaitham to raise his opposite hand to Kaveh's neck and press down just enough to make him freeze in place, utterly trapped between him and his throne.

"I believe you're the one who's forgotten," he said in a dark tone. It made Kaveh's pulse speed up and Alhaitham tightened the grasp on his wrist just to feel it a bit more. "There may be a crown on your head now, but your place is beneath me."

"Haitham," Kaveh sputtered under his grasp, but otherwise stayed still.

"What?" Alhaitham took a step forward, forcing Kaveh back. His legs buckled out from beneath him when the back of his knees came in contact with the throne and he fell back down onto the chair, the back of his head knocking against the plush red cushioning. The look of mixed surprise and fear Kaveh then gave him was absolutely delicious.

Alhaitham let go of the hold on his neck and wrist, instead placing both of his hands onto Kaveh's knees and spreading them apart. Kaveh whined quietly, trying to push back against his hold, but it didn't do much to deter him. Besides, he could already see he was half-hard, straining against his pants.

"If you want me to stop, say something now," Alhaitham murmured, raising one hand to unzip the fly of Kaveh's pants and then sink greedy fingers under the band.

Kaveh whined again, raising a hand only to place it firmly onto Alhaitham's wrist. "Stop saying that every time," he spat angrily. "I'm not some precious princess who's about to be deflowered, you can at least give me the courtesy of treating me with some respect."