School boy | Prince Caspian

26

Otto swung himself off the horse and flopped back into the grass. He tipped his head up, inhaling the fresh scents. The sun was shining brightly, their horse ride having taken the rest of the morning. Otto heard Caspian as he sighed deeply. The dark haired man dropping down at his side. The horse grazing a short distance away. Otto turned his head to smile up at him. The light bright and almost magical in the way it highlighted them with gold. Caspian tuned and smiled. Both of them relaxed. Not kings here. Just two boys on a date.

"You promised me apple pastries", Otto grinned. Caspian chuckled and held up the bag. Otto sat up and held out his hands. The bag sailed through the air and Otto caught it.

"You going to share it?" Caspian teased. Otto looked up at him, mouth full. He looked down at the bag then back up again. He pulled out another pastry and held the bag out. The two of them sat there for a while, eating in the warm sun. The shadows of the leaves from the branches above them sent dappled shadows over their faces. Small comments and questions passed through full cheeks as they licked their sticky fingers. Fruit and sugar tart and sweet on their mouths.

"We never got stuff like this back in London", Otto commented as he licked the last residues of sugar from his fingers.

"Oh?"

"We were at war. Food such as sugar was rationed. That why these are my favourites now", Otto grinned. Caspian smiled back, eyes bright.

"Do you miss anything about your other world?"

Otto had to pause to think about it. Did he really miss anything from England? He didn't have any family waiting for him. He was pretty sure his father had not even bothered to look for him. "I suppose I miss Peter and the others", he muttered. "I did not really have friends until them. And the books. I think I miss them. But that's not a huge loss. There are many books here too". He shrugged. Fingers absentmindedly tugging at the grass as the spoke. "England was busy and did not care for the land anymore. There is no magic there, not like here".

Caspian hummed. He shuffled closer and laid his head on Otto's thigh. "It all sounds crazy", he muttered. He looked up at Otto, gaze soft and dark. "A world of machinery instead of magic. But I'm glad you're here".

Otto leaned back on one arms as his fingers ran through Caspian's long dark strands. He watched as the dark eyes fluttered closed and a pleased hum rumbled through his throat. Otto leaned back into the grass. The ground soft and comfortable. He kept his fingers in Caspian's hair as he gazed up at the clouds, finding shapes in the blue and white. After a long while he felt Caspian's breathing steady and deepen. Otto rose onto his elbow to gaze at his boyfriend's sleeping face. A warm fondness curling in his gut. After a moment he leaned back and closed his own eyes.

——

Otto opened his eyes. The sun was still shining brightly so he must have only been asleep for less than a hour. He blinked and rubbed his eyes groggily. Caspian was still using his thigh as a pillow. The quiet sound of his slight snores the only thing Otto could hear. Otto sat up, careful not to wake Caspian. He looked around. What had woken him?

There was a rustling noise to his right and he turned. A small dark figure emerged from behind a tree. It was small and cloaked. A dwarf maybe? Definitely a narnian. The figure waved at him, beckoning him closer. Otto gently moved Caspian's head to the earth, taking care not to disturb him. He stood and placed a hand on the knife at his belt. He had forgone his sword today. Left it back at the castle in his excitement at having a day off. The figure waved more urgently and Otto found himself walking forwards.

"Hello?" He asked as he got closer. The figure moved back, keeping a length of distance between them. Otto frowned and moved closer. "Are you okay? Do you need help? It's okay. We are friends of narnians". The figure skittered back and Otto followed slowly. As he go close he realised that the creature was taller than a dwarf but due to the black cloak, he still didn't know what it was.