"I need a break," Nai says bluntly, his tone quite informal.
"A break?" Aelius tilts his head and steps back to his bed, plopping down carefully, so as to not spill his drink. "From what?"
Nai steps toward Aelius, "You know I have never been a fan of being the Blessing of the Sun. And lately, it has been a more demanding task than ever. I am simply tired of my duties and wish to take a break from being everyone's hero constantly."
"And how long were you thinking of taking a break for?" Aelius asks, taking another sip.
"A year."
Prince Aelius almost spits out his drinks. "A year?! Nai, you know I cannot allow you to take a break for that long."
Nai sighs. "I know, but..."
"No, Nai, you don't know," Aelius frowns. "You don't know how much everyone worships you. Hell, you have seen this huge festival we have thrown in your honor, yet you still think you can take a break? That you can relax while millions of people are counting on you to save them from those vile fucking Demons? Nai. I'm sorry. I truly am. But I cannot allow you that time off."
"Aelius, I did not come here to seek your approval," Nai looks down at the prince, a sorry look on his face. "I came here to inform you of my leave. I am taking this break, and now you know. So if I suddenly disappear from the battlefront, you know that I am merely taking a small holiday. A much-needed time off."
The Crown Prince stares up at Nai, speechless. Where had that obedient, compliant, dog-like Nai gone? And who was this new, headstrong, unyielding person standing before him?
Dropping his glass and letting it shatter on the floor, Aelius grabs Nai's wrist, spinning and flinging him onto the bed. The red liquid in Nai's cup spills all over the bedsheets. Nai is pinned underneath Aelius, hands grasped and forced against the bed, legs peeled open and Aelius' body in between.
Nai blinks several times. "Aelius … What are you doing?"
Anger sergers throughout Aelius' body. Nai was really going to leave him without so much as a second thought. "Don't … Don't leave me."
Aelius presses his mouth to Nai's, forcing whatever Nai was going to say to go unsaid. At first, Aelius was gentle, his fear of losing Nai evident. But as the time went on, the kiss deepened, their tongues twirling around each other.
Aelius was ecstatic. Not only was he finally getting the kiss he had waited so long for with Nai, but Nai was also kissing him back. Aelius presses his body against Nai's, releasing one of Nai's hands from his grasp and sliding it up his shirt. The Crown Prince slides his slender fingers over Nai's smooth, pale skin, loving the little twitches Nai gives whenever he touches a sensitive, tender spot.
"Stay with me," Aelius breaks the kiss, the two gasping for air. He bites Nai's bottom lip before travelling down his neck, leaving kisses as he goes. Aelius' hand slides over the curve of Nai's waist before hesitating, not sure if Nai would like what he's about to do next. Instead of asking, however, Aelius shrugs off the question and slides his hand into Nai's pants…
"-Lius … Aelius … Aelius!"
Prince Aelius snaps out of whatever fantasy he was just indulged in, sighing as he looks up at Nai, who is still standing with that cup of wine. Why did he have to snap out of it right at the good part?
"Sorry," Nai says, bending over to place his glass on the floor. "You must be extremely busy to have blanked out like that during a simple conversation such as this. I apologise, I should have asked if you were busy before I came here."
Aelius shrugs and looks away, too embarrassed to look Nai in the eyes. "It's alright, really. I enjoyed seeing you again … Where do you plan on going?"
Nai shrugs. "Somewhere secluded and quiet. Maybe a small village by the ocean or in the mountainside. Depends on what I feel like when I'm deciding. And what Noah wants, too."
An awkward silence fills the room. Since when did their relationship get so rocky? They don't make jokes and laugh anymore. Instead, they bask awkward silences.
Nai smiles, clasping his hands behind his back. "Anyway, I should go. I didn't plan on staying for very long, but I was hoping you could lend us that room to borrow for the night - and don't worry, Noah and I will be out of you hair by the morning."
The Crown Prince turns his gaze back to Nai, looking at his with curious eyes. That child. Doesn't seem right. Surely Nai had been bewitched by that child. Nai is not the type of person to go out of his way and adopt a random kid he had found on the streets so easily. No matter how much Nai has changed, he couldn't have change THIS much. There was something strange going on with their relationship. And whether it was due to jealousy, or just pure curiosity, Prince Aelius would find out what exactly was going on between them.
"Take your time leaving, there is no need to rush," Aelius says sheepishly. "You are my lifelong best friend, yet it seems like you are rushing to get away from me. Stay a little longer, you are more than welcome."
Nai shakes his head. "No, I think it is for the best if I leave tomorrow. Noah doesn't seem to like busy, crowded place, anyway, and I would like to start my holiday as soon as I can."
Aelius rolls his eyes. God, it's always Noah, Noah, fucking Noah. Nai is definitely under some kind of spell. Maybe Noah isn't even a child, but a full grown person is disguise? "Do whatever you want."
Nai nods, spins on his heels and heads for the door. "Then I'll be on my way. It was lovely, of course, to see you again, my dear Prince."
A sigh escapes Aelius' lips. 'How am I supposed to get over you if you keep calling me stuff like that?'
"Oh," Nai spins back around, a gentle smile on his face, "I heard that you got married and your wife is with child. Congratulations. I hope you and your family stay healthy and safe."