33.

“I mean, the sun kills the moon in the end.. seems like the story fits us, doesn’t it?” Arlon insists on going further into the joke, and it flushes Elai’s cheeks redder than ever before.
“Everything but the love.” Elai can’t join in on the joke, though. Not because he’s disgusted, or because he doesn’t want to. No. Simply because he secretly wishes it was different. If he had just met Arlon in a different setting, a different lifetime.. maybe then.. just maybe..
“The myth usually has about 400 pages. We’ve got time.” It is the last thing Arlon has to say to make Elai stop walking. He pulls his arm away from the king, heartbeat in his throat.
“What are you trying to do? Are you trying to be a good Turian? Trying to make me think otherwise?” His anger does not come from hate. Oh, he wishes it did.
“I will kill you, Ruaidhri.” Elai’s anger comes from fear. Fear of whatever he feels when he looks at Arlon, or when he listens to his voice. He can’t stand the jokes because he wishes to laugh at them, to hold onto him tighter and tell him they indeed do have time.
Now he is supposed to despise them, and he has no clue how. It frustrates him.
“Even if you’re funny, or kind, or a real gentleman. I will kill you. I will make my father proud of me.” Elai starts walking and listens to the footsteps that follow him.
“Your father is not worth all of this.” Arlon dares to speak those words now that the secret is out. He doesn’t care if it offends Elai.
It does not one bit, though. Elai would much rather even agree. But he can’t. The sun has given him his purpose, and if it is making his father proud, he will gladly follow the path chosen for him. He is loyal to the sun. He has to be.
“But of course you will kill me. I will allow you to, even, if that is what you want.” The green around them seems to tower over both of them, leaves tightly holding onto their branches. Elai has his hands bawled into fists as he slows down his pace. His breath gets stuck in his throat when he feels Arlon’s hand around his wrist. He allows the king to turn him around, faces now only inches away from one another.
“Do you want to kill me, sunshine?”
“I have to.” Elai already seems to drown in his own words.
Arlon squints his eyes a little, wet lips longing to plunge forward. “But do you want to?”
The question is simple, it can easily be answered. Yes or no. It has to be one of those words. Yet Elai does not decide to choose a path. He does not answer. He just stares right into the king’s eyes with his mouth tightly shut.
“You intrigue me to the bone, Amias. I thought I could get rid of the feeling after finding out who you were, but..” Arlon doesn’t move his head an inch. He stays right there, close enough to share his breath with Elai.
“I guess it has only gotten worse because of it.” Arlon is much more outspoken about his interest in the younger boy. He doesn’t seem to care that Elai is not only his biggest enemy, but his potential assassinator as well. He simply can’t shake the feeling. He needs to know him, needs to.. see him.
“Why did you tell me?” Elai is out of breath, and he knows it’s because of the adrenaline. He’s looking right at his enemy yet all he wants to do is kiss him. He sees his shiny skin and he wants to touch it with care.
“Because you were leaving.” Arlon’s voice softens as he brings his hand up to touch Elai’s cheek. Both are aware that his announcement has made things worse, and not just for the people around them. It has worsened the pull they feel between their bodies, as if they are meant to collide.
“And so? You wouldn’t have been in danger if you just let me go.”
“But I don’t want you to leave.” Arlon’s fingers are beginning to burn against Elai’s cheek, but he is aware that it is not meant to hurt him. He can feel the difference in heat; Arlon isn’t meant to do this. It reveals a secret Elai had already found out. He had seen it before, in the training arena. Arlon’s control disappears when his feelings are spiraling, when he doesn’t know how to keep his emotions in check. “I don’t want to see you go.” The words are making it hard for Elai to breathe. He tries to read the lies off of Arlon’s face, but he simply can’t. The king is being truthful.
Arlon does not want him to leave.
The king’s gaze has changed. His eyes aren’t squinted, his teeth aren’t clamped together. His eyes are tender and full, even in the dark of the night. Elai’s lips part. His entire body is begging for him to move forward, to kiss the king and get it over with.
“A dumb mistake.” So why does he resist it? Elai shrinks away from Arlon’s touch and turns around, the heat fading away from his cheek. Maybe he just doesn’t want to give into it because he knows it will hurt when he kills him. Now that nothing has happened between them, he’s able to kill him without remorse. Or maybe it is already too late. Maybe he can’t kill him at all.
“When Connie told me what blood you owned, he was ready to kill you. He was ready to spare you the trial and execute you.” Arlon still has his hand sticking out, as if he’s waiting for Elai to notice and grab it. It is foolish. “I persuaded him in sparing you. I told him I was willing to risk everything, just to avoid the sight of you- of your-“ Arlon’s eyelids flutter. He can’t even say it. he cannot even fucking say it.
The boy doesn’t give in, though. “As I said; a dumb mistake.”
“Or a gut feeling.” Arlon’s words startle Elai enough to make the younger man turn around. Their eyes meet once more, a spark seeming to flow between them. “If you take just one step closer to me.. if you just..” Arlon’s breathing pattern is becoming quicker. If Elai comes just a little closer, he will do it. He will grab Elai’s waist and do it. He will kiss the softness of his lips and take in the warmth of his mouth. He knows it. all Elai has to do is take one more fucking step.
Elai can feel the tension is about to burst, in either disappointment or desire. Both are bad; he isn’t supposed to want to do this. He is supposed to huff and walk away. He stares into the eyes of his enemy once more, just to make sure he can resist it. He can’t take this, not today. Not after Arlon revealed his secret, not now that he knows he needs to kill him. With all the power he has, Elai manages to turn around and walk away, leaving Arlon’s lips cold. He knows the king will come after him; he has figured Arlon out that much. He’s a determined young man; he will get what he wants.
“Wait, Elai!” Arlon’s pace fastens, just like Elai’s.
The blonde boy is wearing a grin for the most obvious; Arlon wants to kiss him, too. They share a feeling, a thought, a desire. He should be angry and stressed, but he is not. He is glad, he is happy. Staying here will be a bit less difficult now that he knows this.
“Elai!”
“Is there anything else you want to discuss, moonlight?” The nickname tastes glorious.
“No but I-“
“Then I wish you a good night. May your dreams be wonderful.” Elai bows for Arlon for the very first time, and if it wasn’t so difficult, Arlon would’ve taken him right there. He would’ve stopped the boy from walking away and ripped of his clothes, just to feel Elai’s bare skin against his own palms. Just to feel him. Fuck. He wants to feel him.
“Will you be training with me tomorrow?” Arlon can barely believe it is him who asks the question. It is out of his role, out of everything he is supposed to be.
Elai smiles without turning around.
“But of course, my king! How else would I be able to kill you?”
It brings a wide smile onto Arlon’s face.