TW: Panic attack & Mentions of Blood in the mini-part
The room was mostly dark when he got back, illuminated solely by a candle on the desk where Paolo was writing. Will hung back in the doorway for a moment, watching the muscles of the man as he wrote and crumpled the papers and wrote again. Whatever he was doing it seemed to be in desperation, signaled by the papers littered around the floor where Paolo sat.
"And what's got you so busy tonight?" Will laughed softly, startling the other man who spun around quickly. There was something strange in his expression, oddly hostile despite the warmth of his presence.
"What?"
"I was just making fun of you for whatever all this is," He said, motioning the crumpled piles on the floor around him.
Paolo had a warm smile that dismissed any suspicion that he had earlier. "Oh, it's just nothing. Writing to a friend in Hele."
The mention of his home peaked his attention "Hele?"
"Yeah. Just because I'm an Aruman doesn't mean I can't have friends from other kingdoms."
"That must be nice." Paolo raised his eyebrows questioningly, so Will raced to clarify. "To be able to talk to people in other kingdoms, I mean."
"Ah," He seemed to consider it for a second, "Yeah, it is I guess. Nice to be able to understand a life different from mine. You're from Hele, right?"
"Yep," He said, popping the p at the end. "Born and raised."
"Makes sense. Heles always have been the most attractive people"
At some point during the conversation, Paolo had left his perch at the desk, now standing awfully close to him in the center of the room.
Will blushed, trying to play off the comment, but his face was growing warmer with each passing second. "Most people yeah, but their servant class is always basic like the other kingdoms."
"I wouldn't say that's the case for you," Will looked to the ground, furiously trying to make his face stop burning, but all hope was lost when a hand snaked under his jaw, raising his chin up to meet Paolo's eyes, "I'm serious, Will."
His breath hitched in his throat, their faces barely a centimeter apart. He could feel Paolo's breath tickle his face, watched his eyes flit towards his mouth than back up. Fuck it.
Will closed the gap between them, pressing his mouth to Paolo's who tensed with surprise before giving in. It was a sweet kiss, soft with the possibility of more. When they pulled apart to catch their breath, he looked at Paolo who was beaming at him with a wide smile and couldn't help but laugh happily.
"I've been wanting to do that since the day you came here," Will admitted quietly with a soft smile tugging at his lips.
It was Paolo's turn to blush, looking back at him bashfully. "Really?"
"Yeah," Will snorted, "Thought I was the luckiest person alive when Jackson told me you were my roommate."
"You thought you were? What about now?" He egged him on, looking for more flattery.
"Well, I guess I still do. Nice to know that I have a boyfriend who will be with me in this kingdom full of those who hate me."
Paolo's face flinched with shock. "Boyfriend?"
Shit.
"No, that's- I - I just-" His panic was shut up by a kiss, this one much quicker than the last.
"You really mean it?" Paolo smiled happily as he pulled away.
"As long as you are okay with it," He admitted weakly, watching the other man for any signs of rejection.
Paolo mulled it over jokingly. "Yeah, I guess so," and pulled him back in. And for the first time in Aruma, Will felt like he was making progress.
-Mini-Part: Nico POV-
The hallway turned cold as night crept in, but he stayed anchored to his spot. People went in and out of the room in front of him, the door slamming closed each time, but he never flinched. How could he? The cold seemed to seep into his bones, the stone floor pulling the last bit of warmth out of him with each passing second.
The servants and guards passed him, all shooting him questioning glances, but never truly speaking to him. They knew better. They knew that if they asked the Prince what was wrong, that he would give them some snarky, vague response that left more questions thank it answered. That was for the better. The more he pushed people away, the less he had to deal with them.
He hated people. They always brought bad news. It wasn't that he didn't have a heart, he would just prefer it if he didn't. There were people in life that he could tolerate, yet they always seemed to leave him. So he shut down. Only two people had remained for him: Hazel and his mother. Now, he was left with one. He still could hear the voice of the doctor, words ringing clear in his head as they were when he had arrived home that morning. Taunting him.
She's dead
S h e ' s d e a d
S h e ' s d e a d
S h e ' s d e a d
D e a d
D e a d
D e a d
D e a d
Dead.
He didn't know at what point his nails had broken skin, but soon there was blood running down his forearms from where he was gripping on for dear life.
Inhale.
Exhale.
There was someone next to him, asking what was going on. Their voice was blurry, why were they worrying about him when his mother was in the next room?
Inhale.
Exhale.
Someone was pressing something warm to his arm, they were trying to stop the bleeding. Why aren't you trying to save her?
Inhale.
Exhale.
They're shaking him now, their hands rough on his shoulders. Why aren't they in the room with her right now? She needs a doctor.
Mom.
Maria.
Mom.
Dead.
Queen Maria.
She's dead.
MOM
DEAD
Inhale.
Inhale.
Inhale.
YOU ARE READING
At Your Service- A Royalty Solangelo AU
FanfictionCover art is a work by @alessia.trunfio The sister kingdoms of Aruma and Hele have had a longstanding history of unease between the nations. And when the kingdom of Hele begins to plan their invasion, they do not know where to begin. Enter Prince Wi...
