A few weeks passed by, and Draven's condition was still the same. His wounds had healed but his mental state had not changed. He had resumed his old routine. Draven woke up early, bathed, went to training, attended to royal duties all day, ate dinner and went to sleep. Almost everyone had adjusted to Draven's new behaviour—almost. Not Aurelian. He had been silently watching Draven, making sure he eats and uses the medicine the royal physician had prescribed. At some point, Draven had snapped at Aurelian, "STOP, it's useless, nothing will change." But Aurelian didn't give up. He couldn't. A small foolish part of him still hoped Draven would recover.
Aurelian met Draven in the garden. "Hey—" he started gently. Draven turned around and his dark gaze lands on Aurelian. "Can we talk ?" Aurelian started and Draven nods as a go ahead. Aurelian took a step forward before continuing,"do you know why I haven't given up on your recovery yet?", he asked, Draven crossed his arms, his expression not changing in the slightest. Aurelian felt like giving up but he couldn't. Honestly? He didn't want to."You almost died because of me and in that moment..I realised something", Draven uncrossed his arms and stepped closer,"what?", he asked, "that I didn't want to loose you", Aurelian answered him before going on, "You know, when you took the arrow for me and was unconscious…" he swallowed, then continued, "I made a promise that if you woke up, I would admit you were better at archery," he chuckled. Draven raised an eyebrow and then he smiled. A reaction. A show of emotion. Aurelian's heart skipped a beat and then gently, as if he spoke too loudly something fragile would break,"Draven… You smiled."
"So?"
"You showed a reaction! The medicines are working!" Aurelian exclaimed, not bothering to hide his excitement. Draven watched the boy in front of him."You are working, not the medicine," he whispered.
Aurelian shouldn't have heard but he did.
"What?" he murmured.
Their eyes lock in a moment of intensity and something passed through them. Raw and undeniable."It's about to rain," he said, trying to change the topic. Draven's gaze drifted, slow and torturous, from Aurelian's eyes to his lips. Aurelian's tongue instinctively darts out to wet his lips. A beat—then two. Draven stepped closer. Aurelian didn't move—couldn't. He wanted this. He knew that. "Draven...", Aurelian breathed as droplets of rain started falling. Aurelian's heart pounded wildly in his chest, Draven stepped into his personal space and his breath hitched. Silence. The rain had started pouring now—not too heavy. Draven lifted Aurelian's chin, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip. Aurelian's face was bright red but he didn't pull away. Draven had given him a chance to and since he did push him away, there was no backing out now. Draven's lips met Aurelian's in the rain. The kiss was hesitant at first—as if testing the waters. But gradually Draven deepened the kiss. His tongue pushed past Aurelian's lips. Claiming every inch and corner of his mouth. Aurelian's hands found their way to Draven's shoulder, holding onto him for dear life. Draven wrapped his other arm around Aurelian's waist, pulling him flush against his chest. Aurelian felt his knees buckle but he was far too gone to care. When they both finally pulled back, they were breathing heavily, lips swollen and glistening with saliva. The garden had beared witness to something new and real and up in the palace windows... King Malric and watched it all happen. Aurelian had cured Draven and stolen his heart long before now.