O.o o.O

“Keita. Keita. Keita.”

A soft voice called Keita out of the haziness of slumber, and he sighed before he came to his senses and hastily sat up, dizzy and disoriented still but already stumbling from his futon towards the huge bed that sat in the centre of the room.

“Your Highness?” Keita picked up the burning oil lamp that stood on the nightstand and lifted the bedcurtains with his free hand.

“Oh, there you are.” Ryuichi looked relieved, sitting up in bed, hands clenched into small fists in his fluffy comforter. “I need the bathroom,” he said.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Keita said, drawing the curtain back further to allow room for Ryuichi to slip out.

Ryuichi paused, bare feet dangling over the edge. “Where are my slippers?”

“Your…oh.” Keita had accidentally kicked one under the bed in his scramble, and he bent over quickly to retrieve it, kneeling on the ground as he slid the slippers onto Ryuichi’s feet.

Wordlessly, Keita held out his hand for Ryuichi to hold, helping him off his bed and guiding him through the dark room towards the bathroom. Ryuichi gripped Keita’s hand tightly, not voicing his fear of the dark but declaring it all the same with the frown on his brow and the firm pinch to his mouth.

“Don’t look,” Ryuichi ordered, even though they go through this at least once a week, and Keita answered obediently as he turned around and listened to Ryuichi use the toilet, flush, and wash his hands.

“Ready?” he asked, when he felt Ryuichi’s small, cold hand slip into his own.

“Yes,” Ryuichi answered primly, a stubborn pout lifting his chin, and Keita smothered a smile as he led Ryuichi back to bed. “Ah, Keita, you do spoil me,” Ryuichi murmured, obviously pleased when Keita lowered himself on one knee for Ryuichi to climb back onto his raised bed instead of using the step stool placed on the side.

“That is why I am here, Your Highness,” Keita said in return, and made sure that Ryuichi was tucked in properly.

“I thought you were here to protect me,” Ryuichi replied, yawning and snuggling kittenishly into his soft pillows.

“That most of all,” Keita conceded with a nod. “But I am still yours to use as you will.”

“Then will you sit here with the light until I fall asleep?” Ryuichi rubbed his eyes sleepily, arms going around a large stuffed hippo.

“Of course,” Keita said, settling onto the bed next to Ryuichi.

“Good night kiss,” Ryuichi said, pointing towards his cheek.

“Sleep well, Your Highness,” Keita whispered, allowing himself the luxury of breathing in Ryuichi’s perfume as he leaned in close.

“Mm. Hippo, too,” Ryuichi demanded, pushing his hippo against Keita’s face.

“Sleep well, Hippo,” Keita said, kissing the hippo as well.

Ryuichi fidgeted slightly, getting himself comfortable, eyelashes forming dark crescents against his snowy skin.

Keita watched Ryuichi breathe, watched the rise and fall of his chest, and his eyes darted over to Ryuichi’s fingertips as he scratched Hippo’s side and hugged him tighter and, “Keita?”

“Yes?” Keita answered quietly.

“Sing me a lullaby?”

“If you wish. Which one would you like me to sing?”

“You choose,” Ryuichi said, without opening his eyes.

“Alright,” Keita said, clearing his throat before beginning to sing softly, as softly as he could, an old tune that all the village children knew.

Keita continued to watch Ryuichi, gaze roaming over the pink curve of Ryuichi’s lips, the slope of his nose, the expanse of skin at his neck as Ryuichi turned his head to the side, and somewhere along the way Keita’s song trailed off into nothing when Ryuichi shifted and the comforter moved down to reveal a dark pink nipple underneath a translucent nightgown, and Keita’s fingers itched to touch, but he bit his lip and sat on his hands instead, the oil lamp perched precariously on one thigh.

Ryuichi’s breaths had slowed with slumber, and his mouth fell open as he sighed and rolled over, his death grip on Hippo never loosening even as he kicked one leg out from underneath his sheets.

Keita licked his lips. “Sleep well,” he whispered again, “I’m here to protect you.” He allowed himself one last indulgent look at Ryuichi, lips grazing against Ryuichi’s cheek before forcing himself to look away and slide out of Ryuichi’s bed, setting the lamp on the nightstand before going back to his futon in the corner of the room.

Tucked cosily in bed, Royal Protector defending him against any monsters lurking in the shadows, Ryuichi dreamed of a future far off in the distance, of sunshine and flowering gardens and his very own Keita offering him kisses and songs while holding him close in his strong, safe hands.

O.o o.O

Fin.