Regiphobia

The Lovers

Goda was sitting in his study the next day, writing some random thoughts down so he could get them out of his head for the time being. He heard the door open, but he wanted to finish his sentence first, so he didn't turn around.

He then felt two hands cover his eyes as his vision went dark. A familiar voice, tinged with playful intent spoke up, "Guess who!"

"C-Can I have a hint?" Goda teased.

"It's your favorite person in the whole wide world!"

Goda pretended to think for a moment, "Oh, Arial, I had no idea you were in Monac-co! And your voice is so deep, too!"

He heard a huff behind him, "No, G-dog, I'm a dude."

"T-Tristan? I thought you'd been sent home!"

"Godaaaaaaaaa-"

"I know it's you, Juan," Goda giggled, taking his hands off his eyes. He tilted his head back and kissed Juan's jaw, a smile on his face as he heard the other chuckle.

"I'll fight you, you tiny strawberry, don't test me!" Juan joked, his emerald eyes playful.

"And then I'll lose, and you'll f-feel bad," Goda contested.

"You got me there- Anyway! What are you working on?"

"J-Just writing down my thoughts so they're not clogging up my head anymore," Goda said, turning in his seat to face him.

"Hey, that's a good idea, I might steal it," Juan said, a grin on his face as he pulled up a chair beside the other, "What do you have on there?"

"Not much," Goda shrugged slightly, "Um... I wrote down 'pickled p-potatoes,' but I don't remember where I was going with that."

"Pfft, that's great," Juan's grin grew, "Tell me more!"

"Oh, OK. I have... 'T-Toaster Toaster. A double toaster, for double the toast.' 'How would you pronounce "F-Fortified" if you had no teeth?' 'What if there was a bug on your nose, and you couldn't see it b-because it was on the tip of it and it didn't show up in mir-rrors or photos?'"

He heard Juan start laughing, and he looked over. Juan seemed to genuinely find the thoughts funny, which made Goda smile. "Toaster toaster, that's amazing-"

"Th-Thank you, I didn't mean to think it," Goda said, shifting his chair a bit closer to Juan to lean against his shoulder. As he stopped laughing, Juan suddenly put his arms around Goda and pulled him onto his lap. 

Goda flushed lightly and let out a little noise of shock, even as he shifted to be a little more comfortable. He leaned against Juan's chest and released a soft sigh. He looked rather content. Juan rested his head against Goda's neck, taking in and out his own quiet breaths. Goda shivered a bit when his breath brushed against his neck.

"Mayhaps someone's ticklish?" Goda felt Juan grin against his skin.

"D-Don't you da-" Goda started, then he broke out in giggles as Juan started tickling his sides. "St-Stop it!"

Juan, however, did not stop. As Goda's giggles grew more plentiful and his smile grew so large it hurt his cheeks, he had no doubt in his mind that this was where he wanted to be. In Juan's arms, smiling. That revelation left about as soon as it arrived. His chest and sides ached with laughter as he tried to squirm out of his grip. He soon went back to being just plain happy, especially as the tickling stopped.

"You're the worst," Goda kissed his cheek, still smiling wide.

"No, you," Juan said. He then lightly moved Goda's chin so it was easier to kiss him. Goda moved his arms around the other's neck, leaning into it. It was quiet in that room, but a good sort of quiet. The type of quiet that makes you feel like you're the only people in the world. Like no one else exists, it's just two people in their own personal void.

Goda pulled back, smile having now softened. They looked into each other's eyes for what very well could have been a full year if they'd let it be. But Juan lifted his eyes to the other's hair.

"Is this it's natural color?" he asked, sounding curious. Goda nodded, receiving a "huh," in response.

"Why?" Goda asked in return.

"I dunno, it's just so vibrant and unique. It's really pretty," Juan commented, and Goda blushed lightly. He still wasn't used to compliments that didn't have anything attached to them.

No apologies, no lies, just a compliment. It made him feel fuzzy inside.

"Th-Thank you," Goda smiled up at him, "A lotta people made fun of it when I was little."

"Well, they're all wrong! It's beautiful!" Juan smiled, moving his arms around Goda's waist. His smile grew as he curled into Juan's chest, resting his head on his shoulder. "Anyway, I also wanted to tell you how glad I am I can spend time with you."

"I th-think you made that pretty clear before," Goda mumbled, letting his eyes fall closed.

"Well, then I'll make it even clearer. Being with you is just... amazing," Juan said, leaving a gentle kiss on his temple.

"It really can't be that sp-pectacular."

"Stop putting yourself down, G-Dog! It is that spectacular! If you keep talking bad about yourself, I swear to god I'll hug you so tight you won't know what hit you!"

"Oh no!" Goda said, feigning worry, "Whatev-ver shall I do if I get hugged?"

"This!" Juan replied, squeezing him tight against his chest. Goda laughed quietly, curling into him.

It was abhorrently obvious to Juan exactly how starved for affection Goda was. It kind of made him sad whenever he focused on it, so he tried not too. However, at times like this, when Goda just seemed to need attention like it was air or water, it was hard to avoid. When he would curl up against Juan, getting as close to him as humanly possible, when he would immediately just attach himself to the other as soon as he walked in the room, when he rested his head on the other, no matter what they were doing together...

Juan could only wonder why he, the one with a fiancé, the one who should be more than fine in the way of love, affection, touch, everything, was so starved of it all. It made him wonder what Gabriel was doing wrong. It made him wonder if he was doing something wrong, too. He couldn't be, right? It wasn't like there was a rulebook on having an affair with the king of Monaco's fiancé, but that was certainly one hell of an autobiography name.

He could just ask Goda, of course, but he wasn't sure he'd actually get a straight answer. He also didn't want to ruin the nice mood the other seemed to be in. He just wanted Goda to be happy, and even if it was hard to do sometimes, it seemed to be working right now. Especially that the king was off on some trip. Saying something that went directly against that goal didn't seem to be the smartest move.

So instead, he said something he hoped would only make Goda feel better.

"I love you, Goda," Juan smiled at him, shifting his arms more comfortably around the other, "No matter what."

"I love you, too," Goda mumbled. He sounded tired, but Juan didn't mind. Even if they ended up sleeping in that room, he probably wouldn't care. He loved Goda. That was what mattered.