The evening air in the training camp was cool, carrying the scent of pine and distant cook fires. Inside Riven and Vaelorian's shared room, the mood was warmer, charged with the lingering tension of the day—and the delightful memory of a morning's teasing. Riven paced, then stopped by the window, gazing out at the star-dusted sky. Vaelorian sat on the edge of the bed, carefully unlacing his boots, his usual composed demeanor cracking just a little.
Riven took a deep breath. "Okay," he began, turning from the window. "I need to apologize."
Vaelorian looked up, a brow raised. "For what?" His tone was even, but Riven could sense the underlying curiosity.
"For… earlier. At the training grounds. And this morning." Riven ran a hand through his hair. "How do I even put this without sounding completely insane?" He mumbled pulling his hair gently. "I might have… implied…that my intentions were to, uh, 'tear your clothes off in public,' because I wanted to see your reaction."
Vaelorian's lips twitched, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners.
"And what was my reaction, pray tell?"
"You looked like a deer caught in a headlight," Riven admitted, a genuine smile finally breaking through his own seriousness. "And then you teleported away. Which, by the way, is a completely unfair advantage in an argument."
Vaelorian chuckled softly, a warm, melodic sound that filled the small room.
"It is efficient."
"It's avoiding the conversation," Riven countered, walking closer, standing between Vaelorian's knees. He gently reached out and took Vaelorian's hands, pulling them into his. "Look, I'm sorry. Really. It was a stupid thing to say, and I know you have to maintain your image. I wouldn't actually… you know. Not there."
Vaelorian's thumb traced the line of Riven's knuckles. "Not there?" he repeated, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Riven rolled his eyes playfully. "Okay, you know what I mean. My promise: I will never, ever, under any circumstances, attempt to compromise the Prince's image in public. Or tear your clothes off in front of the mess hall. Or make you teleport away in a panic from a perfectly innocent conversation."
Vaelorian squeezed Riven's hands gently. "I appreciate the promise, my love. Though, to be entirely honest…my panic was not entirely innocent."
Riven's breath hitched. "Oh?"
Vaelorian's gaze intensified, his eyes darkening with an emotion Riven recognized and reciprocated wholeheartedly.
"It was… overwhelming. The thoughts. And the location. And the risk." He paused, then sighed, a sound of profound contentment. "But mostly… the overwhelming desire."
Riven felt a blush creep up his neck. Okay, definitely not just me then. He wants me too. Good. Very good. He leaned in, resting his forehead against Vaelorian's.
"So, you're not mad?"
"Mad?" Vaelorian whispered, his voice husky. "Riven, my love. I was terrified. Terrified that I had… gone too far. That I'd hurt you." He pulled Riven gently, so he was sitting on his lap. "I never want you to do anything that you're not comfortable or ready for because I asked, my love. You're very important to me."
Riven wrapped his arms around Vaelorian's neck, resting his head on his shoulder. "You didn't. You couldn't. And I liked it, Vaelorian. All of it." He pulled back slightly, looking into Vaelorian's earnest eyes. "It's just…I understand you. We have to be careful here, right?"
Vaelorian nodded slowly, his expression serious now. "Yes. We do. Our positions… it has eyes on it, especially now. Constant scrutiny. But that does not mean we cannot be ourselves, when we are alone." He gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Riven's forehead. "And I promise you, I will not teleport away from our conversations again. Unless it is truly an emergency."
Riven chuckled, a soft, happy sound. "Deal." He snuggled closer, letting the warmth of Vaelorian's body seep into him. "So, no public displays of… affection. No tearing of clothes outside this room. Got it."
"Excellent," Vaelorian murmured, his lips brushing Riven's hair. "Though I confess, the thought of public disrobing…was rather compelling."
Riven chuckled happily, a pure, uninhibited sound. "He's flirting. He's actually flirting back, openly. This is good. This is so, so good." He twisted slightly, so he could meet Vaelorian's gaze directly.
"Is that something you'd open to in the future, Your Highness?"
Vaelorian's smile deepened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Perhaps… a suggestion, that would be greatly appreciated. With my full approval, of course."
Riven leaned in, capturing Vaelorian's lips in a soft kiss, a silent reaffirmation of their understanding. This was their new normal—a delicate balance of public discretion and private passion, of duty and an undeniable, growing love.
"This," Riven thought, pulling back just slightly, "thi...us talking like this is so much better than a make-up sex."
As they settled into the quiet intimacy of their room, the starlight filtering through the window, Riven knew that even with the lingering challenges of camp life and the ever-present threat of Kaelen's taunts, he had found something truly precious. And it was worth every careful step, every stolen moment, and every whispered promise. He's going to protect this with everything he got.