Regiphobia

The Dinner

Arial made her way downstairs after a brief touch-up. She was followed by Angelica, her advisor Liam, and two guards. She walked into the dining hall, a light smile on her face. A few people were already present, and they all moved to stand. She quickly signed to Angelica, who knew where she was going before she even finished. "You don't need to stand, don't worry." The room settled back into their seats.

Arial found her chair, sitting and signing back and forth with Angelica. It was a few more minutes before the door opened and everyone stood. Arial gasped at what she saw, albeit silently.

Goda limped into the room at Gabriel's side, his leg in a cast. His head was down, but it was obvious he wasn't smiling. He looked incredibly thin. Arial's eyes flooded with worry.

He took his seat beside the king, and everyone else sat as well. Arial couldn't tear her eyes off him. Not when the food and drinks were served, not when people slowly trickled out of the room, not when the king stood up and started out of the room. She stood as well, stopping the progress of the two by placing a hand on Goda's shoulder.

Goda turned around, looking surprised. When he saw who it was, his eyes lit up. "Hey, Arial."

She smiled at him, but her worry was more than obvious. She signed to him, 'How have you been?'

"Oh. Um. Alr-right," Goda said, eyes flicking to his fiancé and then back to her. The king was facing her as well now.

Arial signed a question to Goda, and he hesitated before turning to Gabe. "Uh, sh-she wants to know if we c-could speak alone for a little b-bit."

The king put on a charming smile and nodded to Arial, "Of course. I have work to attend to, anyway."

Goda let out a small sigh, relief seeping through him. He looked up at his soon-to-be husband. Gabe slipped a hand onto his shoulder and whisper in his ear, "Don't take too long, darling. You know how much I value my time with you." He nodded, smiling softly. The king then turned and walked off without another word.

Arial's smile faltered slightly as she started leading him away. Through the newly-renovated elevator, up to his room. As soon as they stepped inside, she started rushing to sign questions to him. He startled slightly at all the motion but tried his best to answer. He told her about breaking his leg, but he gave a new, fake story. Lies. He told her that he simply hadn't been hungry at dinner, he'd eaten earlier with the king. Lies. He told her that he was OK. That he was happy with Gabe. That he couldn't wait for the wedding.

Lies.

She sighed, pulling him into a soft hug. He leaned into it, relaxing. The contact seemed to brighten his mood considerably, due to how little of it he got when he wasn't with Juan.

...

No. He absolutely could not tell Arial about Juan. Who knew what she'd do with that information. Goda would be a dead man.

'Sorry if I'm worrying too much. I'll get out of your hair. Stay safe,' Arial signed before leaving his room. He sighed, waiting for a few minutes before making his way back to the elevator and up to Gabe's study. He knocked on the door and waited.

Gabe pulled it open, giving him a soft smile, "Thank you for keeping it brief, doll. I know I can be... a touch eccentric, perhaps even overbearing, but never forget that I only want the best for you."

"I kn-know," Goda smiled back. Gabe moved to let him inside, and soon enough he was sitting and resting his leg. The other kneeled in front of him, taking his hands.

"I love you, Goda. I love you more than anything. More than this castle, more than the way I live, more than my family, more than my own life. If I had to give it all up to stay with you, I would in a heartbeat. The crown, the life, the power, it all pales in comparison to my love for you," Gabe said, gently running a hand over Goda's cheek, "I love you more than the sun, and the moon, and every star in the night sky. If I could capture the universe in a bottle and give it to you, I would do everything in my power to do just that."

Goda nodded, entranced by his words and leaning into even the slightest of touches. Gabe's smile widened at the state he was in. So desperate for love that he would do anything to keep just a scrap of it. Anything, like staying with him. Anything, like become Prince Consort for a man he should run from.

Anything, like risk life in jail or death to be with his lover for just another moment. Though, Gabe had no way of knowing.

"I would do anything for you, all you need do is tell me," Gabe said. He moved forward, trapping Goda in a kiss. They stayed like that, together, arms around one another, for just a moment. Then Gabe pulled back, stood up, and brushed off his suit. "I have work to get back to."

Goda was slightly stunned, slightly entranced, and slightly tempted to beg him to come back. He just curled up on the couch, silence covering the room. 

A few hours slipped by while Goda read and drew in a small notebook, then Gabe stood. "Come along, dearest, let's get to bed." Goda got up, grabbing his crutches and following after him. They took the elevator down to the second floor. Gabe lead Goda into his room, shutting the door of the King's Suite behind him. Goda sat on the edge of the bed, resting for a moment before getting changed. Before he could slip on his pajama shirt, Gabe walked up to him. He was also shirtless as he ran a gentle hand over all of Goda's scars.

"Beautiful," he mumbled, looking into his partner's chocolate eyes. He then backed up to continue getting changed, leaving Goda slightly breathless and frozen for a second.

Goda laid back in their bed after getting completely ready. Gabe laid beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist. They fell asleep like that. Together.

Meanwhile, José was sitting on his own bed, his brother across the room from him and ranting about who knows what. The younger looked at how distracted his brother was. "Something on your mind, hermangran?" he asked, blinking.

"...Kind of," José shrugged, looking at the wall instead of Juan.

"What is it?"

Silence.

"C'mon, tell me! I may be kind of annoying and have the brain capacity of a melted scrap of plastic, but I can keep a secret!"

"Just follow me, I shouldn't say this here," José said, standing up and starting to the door. He heard Juan jump up to follow him, but he didn't turn. He was mapping out the castle in his head, figuring out which rooms didn't have security cameras that could listen to them.

After a bit of walking, they ended up in the infirmary. José turned to Juan, "You can't tell this to anyone."

Juan nodded, making the zipping motion over his lips. José sighed, closing his eyes and taking a breath.

"You know of the visiting queen, correct?" Juan responded, opening his mouth to say something before shutting it again, thinking better of it. "...It's something about her. She's gorgeous."

Juan was silent, trying to process the words for a moment. Then his face lit up, "Hermangran's in loooove-! You should talk to her more, or- what if she likes you back? Then you could-!"

"I'm not going to, and she doesn't," José said, a note of finality in his tone that Juan ignored.

"Why not? If you like her, and she likes you, then-" Juan watched as José looked down. His bright face fell, "It's... not that simple, is it?"

"Love is off the table. I'm not in love with her. It's just her looks," José said quietly.

"But you-"

"I'm going to see what I can be doing," José cut him off, walking away.

"Hermangran, wait-" Juan called, but he was already gone. Pain flashed through his eyes as he was left alone in the infirmary. He sighed, dropping his head and leaving as well, walking back to their shared room. Why couldn't things be different? Ever since that stupid fucking bomb ruined their lives, he'd lost his brother. He forced a smile when he walked past a few other officers. But his heart hurt more than he could say. He slipped into his room, flopping back and wincing slightly at the ache in his shoulders.

What he wouldn't give to have Goda in his arms right then.