Kyle and Victor seemed to be arguing when Robin came down the stairs the next morning. He had woken on Victor's bed late in the morning. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept in so late. Then again he had been an aching mess and not just his yoni but his body had been sore.
Kyle stopped as soon as he saw him.
"Robin," he greeted. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Robin mumbled, trying not to blush while wondering if Kyle knew what Victor and he had done last night.
"Victor wants to take you to see the president right now but I can't let you."
"That's not your decision to make," Victor argued, coming to stand beside Robin.
"No! He has to go shopping first. He is a prince, he can't go out wearing second hand clothes," Kyle said.
"It's not an official meeting," Victor protested.
Kyle glared at him before taking Robin's arm. "So? No one knows him here and we have always been careful. I will be quick, it's just one dress."
Arthur, who was sitting on the sofa, gobling strawberries, chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?!" Kyle snapped at him. "He needs formal attire."
"I didn't say anything," Arthur said, defencesively.
"There is nothing wrong with the clothes you gave him. Moreover, he is not going as a royalty, he is going as my mate," Victor said.
Robin looked at Victor at those words, his heart fluttering at the sound of it. He didn't think he would ever enjoy being called 'my mate' but he did…he did quite a lot.
"Do you want your mate to look shabby in front of the whole court?"
"I won't be taking him in front of the whole court. We will meet Lawrence in private."
"Let him take Robin, brother," Arthur said, walking to Victor and placing his arm across his shoulder. "He will hold resentment against you his whole life if you don't let him do what he wants to do. I know from experience," Arthur said. Robin didn't miss the secret look Arthur gave Kyle. And Kyle glared right back at him, something unknown passing between them.
"Fine," Victor sighed. "Only because my mate deserves the best. I will postpone the meeting for tomorrow," Victor said finally agreeing. Kyle smiled wide, taking Victor's hand and pulling him towards his room. He gave him another one of his clothes to wear. They took Kyle's transporter to travel downtown for shopping. They went to a place that specializes in Omega fashion. The shop looked expensive just by the looks of it. Robin never thought about money before today. He didn't need to when they stayed at the palace. He bought robes through their exclusive seamstress without thinking twice about how much it would cost. Right now however he was hesitant about using Kyle's money.
"Kyle," Robin whispered, pulling him to the side. "I should warn you I do not have money"
"Don't worry about it. I am using Victor's money," he winked.
Robin didn't want to spend Victor's money either. He decided to pay Victor back when he got the chance.
Kyle helped him pick up a few traditional omega robes, the kind he used to wear at the palace. But these were much more modern looking. Robin tried on a few of them, finally deciding on a blue-toned robe made of stiff silk. It gave a certain structure to his shoulders making him look more formal. Kyle picked up a few more clothing items for Robin's everyday use before they left.
"What's it like living with Victor's family?" Robin asked while they were driving back to the house.
"I am going to be honest, it's not easy. Alphas have strong personalities and living with them under the same roof becomes too much at times. Not to mention we have limited access to the outside world. We can't work, or contact our friends or family."
"Do you parents know where you are?"
"I don't have parents, I grew up in an orphanage. But I have friends and they think I died during the war along with every other Thrall family member."
"Your citizens think you guys died?" Robin asked, suprised.
"Yes, the civilians do think that."
Robin wondered how long he would keep feeling guilty for his father's actions. He wished he could do something to change things for them but there was nothing he could do.
"Victor never told me how your husband died," Robin said. He knew Victor's family died during his father's invasion but he didn't know the details. And he was too scared to ask Victor. Too scared to upset him. But he was curious to know the full story.
"Johnathan was in the Army. He idealised his brother and he followed his footsteps. He joined the Army as soon as he turned sixteen. He died during the war fighting against Marcella troops."
Robin gulped down a knot. There was brief silence where Robin didn't know what to say.
"I wish things were different, Robin," Kyle whimpered.
Robin squeezed his palm. "I am sorry he did this to you, to your husband. King Harold Marcella is a monster, and I am ashamed to be his son."
"I don't believe a man like him can be good to his own family," Kyle said. "I'm glad you eloped with Victor."
Robin gave him a tight-lipped smile. He hadn't exactly eloped, but he wasn't going to correct Kyle.
Caroline and Rody were in the kitchen when they walked into the living room.
"What are you guys making?" Robin asked, standing by the countertop.
"Steak. Do you like steak, Robin?" Caroline asked.
"I do," Robin said. He had eaten his fair share of steak at the palace. Some of the most expensive beef in the world infact, but there was something very homely about sharing meals with Victor's family. Everything tasted a thousand times better.
"Pass me the butter," Caroline said to Rody, fully focussed on her work. Rody gave her the butter before kissing her on the cheek.
"Don't ruin my focus," Caroline swatted him away.
A smile spread on Victor's face at the cute exchange. He wondered if Victor and he would have a similar relationship. It wasn't like the relationship he had seen his omega brothers have with their Alphas. His own parents didn't have a loving relationship. He didn't remember the last time his father looked at his mother with affection. If this was how a marriage looked like in the Thrall family then the idea of being married to Victor didn't seem so bad anymore. He looked around for Victor to find him playing with Nina near the pool.
Robin walked to the poolside and stood at a distance adirming Victor. He imagined a life with that man. How thoughtful, how loving he was. He was nothing like the Alphas he had encountered in his life.
"Aunty Robin," Nina exclaimed. "Come play with us."
Victor looked at him and smiled knowingly. He leaned and whispered something in Nina's ear. She jumped with excitement and ran to her room.
"What did you say to her?" Robin asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I said she could watch TV." Victor smirked. "How was your shopping?" Victor asked, walking towards him.
"Great. You want to see what I got?"
"Yeah, show me."
"Follow me," Robin said, suggestively. Victor raised an eyebrow before following him up the stairs.
Robin walked inside his room and Victor tailed behind him. When they were both inside Robin's room Robin locked the door, pushed Victor against it and merged their lips together. He had been dying to kiss him since morning.
Victor placed his hand under Robin's butt, picked him up then flipped them so Robin was pushed against the door. Their kiss was feverish as they merged their lips together, fighting for dominance. Teeth clanging, tongues tangling, lips bruising. Like they were starved. Like another second of not having each other would kill them.
"Victor…Victor," Robin panted, needing more.
Victor held Robin's face and forced him to look at him.
"Robin," Victor said, bringing Robin out of his haze.
Robin stopped trying to kiss Victor and looked at him like he demanded.
"I need to talk to you about something," Victor said, sounding serious.
Robin frowned. He got down from Victor's hold and righted his clothes. "What is it?" he asked.
"Sit down first," Victor said, standing by the door awkwardly, looking hesitant for some reason. Robin sat on his bed, ankles folded.
"I want you to meet the President."
"I know. You were talking about it in the morning. I bought a dress for the occasion," Robin said.
"I need to clarify a few things before we go there."
"Okay," Robin said, all ears now.
"Remember I told you I will be raging to war against your father."
"I don't have any issues with that. He deserves to be dethroned…I will…"
"Robin. Robin…listen to me," Victor said, walking to kneel before Robin, placing his palm on his left cheek. "I might not make it out alive."
Robin's heart dropped. He knew war came with death and loss but he never considered losing Victor.
"You will be fine. You are a great war strategy. I have read about you in the books. And you have leverage this time, my father thinks you are dead. He won't expect you to attack. You could.."
"No matter how good I am, death is always a possibility in war." Victor said intruppting his babbling. "I don't regret bringing you with me. I love you more than words could explain. But I realise I would be selfish if I asked you to stay. You deserve to be happy. And if you want to find happiness outside of me I won't stop you."
"Shut up, Victor," Robin snapped. "I don't want you to die, okay?" Robin said, trying to hold back the tears.
Victor licked his lips, his eyes brimming with tears as well. "You know, I have never been able to forgive my brother for taking my place on the third day of war. The day he died. He knew he would never come back from it. He knew he was going to get ambushed yet he went in anyway. It was me who was supposed to go. Your father had the perfect plan to kill the future king. Johnathan's sacrifise saved me. But at what cost? He went in knowing his omega mate would be a window, his little girl would be fatherless. His country came before his family and I hate him for making that decision. He chose to save me so I can save the country and now I have this burden to hounor his death. To honor his wishes. And I feel like a bastard for wanting to abandon it all and just run away with you. Give you everything he would never give his own family. I don't want to do what he did to his family."
"Don't say that," Robin snapped. "Why are you saying all this right now?"
Victor squeezed his eyes shut and breathed in. "Because I am thinking like a man in love and not like a responsible Alpha. And I feel guilty. I can't bear to think of you being in pain after I am gone. I can't do that to you."
Robin stood motionless in shock at Victor's confession.
"You…you love me?" Robin asked in awe.
"More than I have loved anyone else."
"Would you marry me after you come back from the war?" Robin asked.
"Did you not listen to a word I said?"
"I stopped listening the moment you said you loved me, because that's all that matters to me," Robin said.
Victor chuckled, shaking his head. "You stubborn little boy."
Robin took Victor's face between his palms. "And even if you don't return, which I know is a possibility, I would stay here. I don't want to go back. I stopped being my father's son the day I learned about the atrocities he had done to your family, to your citizens."
Victor opened his mouth to say something but Caroline knocked on the door before he could.
"Lunch is ready," Caroline shouted.
"Come on, let's go," Robin said. "We can discuss it later. We have the whole night."