A snowflake for treeninjas!
Sep. 3rd, 2022 12:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowmods09 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
snow_exchangePairings: Iwamoto Hikaru/Meguro Ren
Genres: Drama, Royalty Au
Rating: General
Summary: The General, The First Prince, destiny and an unspoken love
Warnings: (if any) None
Author's notes: (if any) None
Eldest prince, Meguro Ren, a prince who was for the people, a prince whose beauty outmatched anyone in the lands of Elysium, a prince with a heart that was won by the people. Meguro was loved by people far and wide in Elysium, he spent a lot of his time in the markets and different districts, learning about the people there, learning about their lives. He had a heart of gold as some might say, some even said it was all an act and that he didn’t really care.
But one thing was known for sure, Prince Meguro Ren was destined to have even the strongest of waves to be calmed by his heart. Yes, Prince Meguro Ren was destined to be loved so strongly that it could stop the strongest of storms. His mother would never stop telling him that, she would never stop reminding her eldest son of how he was to be loved so much that people would go to war for him, but Meguro could never believe it, he didn’t believe such things and fairytales, he believed in realism even if it hurts him.
It was a week before he turned 21, and three months from now, he’d have to be arranged with a suitor just like his father and mother. The whole citadel and kingdom were wondering who his suitor would be, who he’d rule the kingdom with until he eventually passes them down to his children. Everyone was talking, keeping their eyes on any woman or man that enters the castle walls.
Meguro had no interest in finding a suitor, he believed if the Kingdom were to be passed down to him when he eventually turned 25, he would do well by himself. Or that’s what he preferred to believe when he’s seated with his mother by the fire, talking about old stories, and from the corner of his eyes he sees Iwamoto Hikaru. He was only four years older than Meguro, they had met when he was 18 and for some reason, he was entranced. He tried to find hatred in his curly hair, in his brown eyes, in his smile, in everything, but his efforts were futile, and he was left with secret glances across rooms, subtle touches here and there, all in secret, ones that only he and Hikaru knew about.
It felt wrong, like he was living a lie away from his family, from his people, from his friends, a lie that only existed between him and Hikaru. But when he hears about his parents discussing his suitors, all he can do is just dismiss the conversation and bring up something else because he didn't want someone who was gorgeous, he didn’t want someone who would give him riches, he wanted the General of the Royal Army.
“Apologies, my queen,” Hikaru bows, a hand over his heart and the other behind his back. He looks over at Meguro and smiles, “My prince.”
Meguro swears he feels fireworks go off under his skin as he nods, “General.”
“I need to speak with you regarding our troops moving to Niflheim,” Hikaru continues, and Meguro swears he could listen to him speak for hours, but he’ll settle for small sentences here and there.
“Oh yes,” Meguro’s mother stands up and looks over at her son, “I’ll see you for dinner, my dear.”
“Alright, mother,” Meguro smiles faintly, eyes averting to the gorgeous general standing by the door, he flashes him a smile and Meguro smiles back. As they leave, he sighs, leaning against the back of the chair and he thanks god for the dim room hiding the flush on his cheeks. He curses the gods, he curses the heavens and hell, he curses this goddamn castle for making him more stuck than he already was.
He hated pretending, he hated acting as though he didn’t want to run into his general’s arms, he wanted to be loved and to love by him and only him, he didn’t want to keep meeting in the dead of night, he didn’t want to kiss in secret any longer. But what could he do?
*
Meguro walks by the garden, watching as the servants set up the area for his birthday, and while he should be ecstatic, he feels rather dull and he knows why. His parents were arranged to get married to one another, they seem happy, yes, but he didn’t want that. He flashes a smile to the servants who bowed to him as he continued walking around the castle grounds, aimlessly and thoughtlessly, he was always one to be stuck in his own world but he just wished he’d stay in there, in a world where he didn’t have to be obligated to hold up a persona, where he could just be Meguro, or Meme as Raul would call him, where he didn’t have to worry about running a kingdom, where he could be happy and fall in love with Hikaru without boundaries, freely and sincerely.
He heaves a sigh, running his hands through his hair in an attempt to calm himself down. He could seriously do with running away from the kingdom for a while, or putting a pause on life until he was truly ready to carry the burdens he was too unprepared to bear.
“My prince?” A familiar voice calls out from his left. Meguro turns his head to see none other than General Iwamoto Hikaru, standing there, radiant as ever as the sun presses against his face, “What are you doing roaming the castle on your own? I thought you were with Master Raul.”
“I just needed some air, and Raul was busy,” Meguro smiles softly, “What are you doing here, general? You were pretty busy the last time I saw you.”
Hikaru chuckles, walking closer to Meguro who swore he could explode any minute now, “All the work has been done and I came down to have a walk to clear my mind. You seem troubled, is everything alright?”
Meguro laughs and shakes his head, “Everything is fine, general. I’m just scared.”
“Of what?”
“Getting married to someone I don’t want to marry,” The younger sighed powerlessly, “It’s not a bad thing of course, but I’d rather be with someone I love, I value who I want to spend my life with- And I’m blabbering, I’m sorry.”
Hikaru lets out a hearty chuckle, “It’s quite alright, my prince. Loss of control in such an important part of your life is devastating, which is why selfishness was created.”
“Have you ever allowed yourself to be selfish, general?” Meguro asks curiously.
Hikaru hesitates for a while before he loses all the tension in his body, “Would it be considered selfish to not want to see you with anyone but me, my prince?”
The prince feels his heart race as he processes the words that came out of the general’s mouth, heat rises in his cheeks as he smiles, “No, my general.”
“And would it be selfish if I did this?” He brings the prince’s hand up and places a kiss on the back of his palm sending flutters in his stomach as the smile he had on his face stayed.
He reaches out a free hand to Hikaru’s cheek, caressing it as he looks into the eyes of the man he loved, “No, it wouldn’t be.”
Hikaru places a kiss on Meguro’s forehead and smiles, “Then, I have never allowed myself to be selfish.”
Meguro laughs quietly as he rests his forehead against Hikaru’s, “I don’t think a general should be doing this.”
“No,” Hikaru spoke, “But as the one who loves you, I should.”
*
Meguro finds himself passing through the crowd of people, muttering soft ‘excuse me’s as he makes his way to where Raul, son of a noble family in Elysium and a close friend, stood with Mukai Koji, Prince Mukai Koji, a longtime friend and prince of the neighbouring nation. The two notice as the black haired male approaches them and they smile, “My prince,” Koji bows jokingly to which Meguro chuckles, pushing the older back up.
“Drop it,” He laughs as he shakes his head, “It’s my own birthday and you don’t even wish me.”
“I did! I got my guards to relay the message to your father,” Koji exclaims.
Raul rolls his eyes, “Well, I already wished you this morning during breakfast, but again, happy birthday, Meme- Oh, Koji, you should’ve been there for breakfast it was just amazing.”
“Oh, how long will you be staying?” Meguro perks up at the idea of spending a few more days with his closest friends,
“Only for two days, I’m afraid,” Koji frowns, “You don’t even reply to my letters, and now you’re sulking over not being able to see me…”
Koji continues rambling until Meguro catches sight of Hikaru, walking out to the garden. He excuses himself from the two as they check the direction Meguro was looking at, only to catch a glimpse of the famous general of Elysium standing by the edge of the hill that the garden sat on and they share a knowing glance and laugh to themselves.
Meguro walks towards the hills,the chill breeze of winter blows against his face and spreads across his cheeks, Hikaru turns around to see the face he was so fond of and he feels himself be put at ease. Meguro stands next to him by the stone railing, placing his arms against the top and breathes in the chilly air, “You’re at the party, but you’re not at the party. Penny for your thoughts?”
“Just a lot on my mind, my prince,” Hikaru chuckles defeatedly, “It’s your birthday, you should be with the guests and Prince Koji and Master Raul.”
“I’d rather jump off this hill than be dragged away by my parents having me meet some prince or princess from a neighbouring kingdom to be my betrothed,” The younger laughs as he drops his head. He looks over at Hikaru who had anxiety written all over his face and Meguro is quick to stand up straight, “What’s troubling you, my general?”
“It’s really nothing, my prince,” Hikaru smiles and what usually would put Meguro at peace worries him even more, but he trusts Hikaru even more to know that he’d tell him anything when he needed to. So, he drops the topic and places a reassuring hand over Hikaru’s.
For the remainder of the night, they didn’t share any words, but gentle and reassuring touches to remind one another they were there, yes, physically present, but also to remind each other that no matter should the sky fall or should the gods reign hell on earth, they’d always have each other. And they hope it’s enough to keep the love.
*
“You can’t keep doing this, Hikaru!” Abe roars, “He is set to get married two months from now, you know, I know, Shota knows, this can’t go on for long. Our troops are over in Niflheim fighting a war, and you’re too caught up with a boy?”
Hikaru shakes his head and turns his back on Abe, “You know that’s not it.”
“Then what is it, Hikaru?” Shota speaks up after a long silence from him, “You love him, there is no doubting it, but are you willing to let go of your love for the people? Our men are waiting in Niflheim for us, your mind is with the people, but your heart is with the prince.” “He hasn’t even chosen a suitor,” Hikaru says quietly, but loud enough for Abe and Shota to hear to which they sigh.
“And what if the queen hears about this?” Abe replies, it was short but it started to put things into perspective for Hikaru.
“Hikaru, we make our way to Niflheim in a week,” Shota gets up and makes his way to the door, “I suggest you find a way to figure out if you’re better off using your mind or heart.” He opens the door and sees a raven haired male standing before him and he bows, “My prince.”
Hikaru’s head shoots up and he sees Meguro’s eyes staring at him, filled with anger and despair, he sees Meguro’s figure walk away and he spares no second jumping to his feet and running after him, he sees his silhouette standing by the window and he approaches him slowly.
“My prince, I-”
“Is this what you refused to tell me that night?” Meguro says simply.
Hikaru holds back his words and nods, despite being the one he loves, he is still his prince. Before Meguro was Hikaru’s, he was still his prince. Guilt washes over him quickly as he hears Meguro scoff dryly, it wasn’t something you’d often hear the first prince do, he was always beaming and his laughter echoed through rooms, but no, not this time.
“So, you were going to leave me, and you weren’t planning on telling me?” Meguro chokes back tears and in his peripheral vision he sees Hikaru nod again and his lips curl inwards as he laughs, “But why?”
“I was going to leave you a letter, I didn’t want to hold you back anymore, my prince,” Hikaru says, but it comes out more as a beg to keep Meguro listening, “All I’ve done is hurt you, held you back from moving on in your life. I’m not someone you could love.”
There is silence in the air as Hikaru mentally begs for a response from Meguro who only breathes in, “You can leave me, you can tear me apart, and I’d still love you, Hikaru. But will you?”
Hikaru feels his heart stop when he hears Meguro say his name so simply and so easily, and sure it was just his name but he had never heard it out of his name and before he knew it, Meguro was walking away and he knew this time he could no longer chase after Meguro.
*
The week was over, Hikaru, Abe and Shota were bidding their goodbyes to the Queen and King as they were about to make their departure. Meguro was nowhere to be seen, and the three noticed this, and for what will be for the last time in a long while, Hikaru excuses himself and goes down to the garden where he just knew he’d find him. And just on cue, he sees a head of raven black hair sitting behind the hedge. He composes himself and walks towards Meguro who knows he’s walking towards him, but he doesn’t try to stop him, he lets Hikaru come to him knowing it’d be better to see him one last time.
“My prince,” Hikaru spoke, Meguro turns around and the older bows, “I’ve come to inform you that I, along with Advisor Ryohei and Lieutenant Watanabe will be making our leave for Niflheim.”
“I wish you the best of luck on the field, general,” Meguro says monotonously and Hikaru accepts it for what it is and bows one last time and walks away.
“Hikaru.”
The man stops in his tracks and turns around to the male who had stood up, tears rolling down his cheek but he still manages to smile, “Come back soon.”
“I will.”
Hikaru’s footsteps fade into the distance and Meguro wipes away his tears and his eyes avert at the gardenias blooming. Spring was coming.
*
“I don’t want to get married.”
The sound of metal cutlery hitting ceramic plates echoed through the dining hall and Meguro braces himself for the lecture he’s about to hear, but all his mother says is, “Why?”
He honestly didn’t prepare for the best case scenario where neither one of his parents were mad or go on a tangent about how they had to do it before, about how it’s for his own good. No, all he got was pure, sincere, curiosity.
“Because he’s in love with someone,” His brother remarks snarky and Meguro shoots a glare at him to which the younger shrugs, “I’m not wrong, I’ve seen it.”
“Ren, is this true?” His father asks, again, no ill intent at all, just curiosity.
Meguro takes a sip of his drink and places the cup down, “Yes, I am in love. And I do not want to get married to a suitor.”
“Who is this person?” His mother smiles while taking a bite of her food, “Do we know them?”
Meguro hesitates for a second, biting at his bottom lip and his father notices this, “You can tell us, we won’t be upset.”
“I know!” He exclaims suddenly, to which he apologised for almost immediately, “It’s just… It’s General Iwamoto.”
There is silence that fills the room following what Meguro said, he stares down at his food, preparing for anything in the world that could possibly happen, mostly negative reactions. He sees memories of him and Hikaru in his mind and he’s starting to realise he missed him. He missed his general, he misses the man who would stop by his quarters at night, sliding a letter under the door telling him about his day and telling him he loved him, but Meguro never said it back. It was too late now, Hikaru was in Niflheim, fighting a war, and Meguro was seated at the dining table waiting for his parents to react to his statement.
After a good minute of pure silence, his mother breathes, “You really were destined to be loved so strongly that it’d stop storms, my dear.”
“Pardon?” He looks up, eyebrows furrowed and face laced with confusion.
His father laughs, “When General Iwamoto was born, it was said that sunflowers bloomed. Sunflowers have represented loyalty and adoration for centuries. Because of this, he was destined to devote his heart to someone, and love them with unrivalled loyalty. Then, you were born, and your destiny was the direct opposite of General Iwamoto’s.”
“We hadn’t thought much of it as you were growing up, but when you turned 18 and met General Iwamoto, we knew you two were destined to be,” His mother smiles, “You are my son, and General Iwamoto is like a son to me as well, if he is who you want. You have our blessing.”
*
One year and eight months later
Meguro sat in his quarters, it was silent besides his quill scribbling away on the parchment. He decided maybe it was best he start replying to Koji’s letters, and half of that decision was influenced by Raul talking about how Koji writes to him saying how much he missed hearing from Meguro. However, he had never sent a letter to Hikaru, he was scared that he’d never get a reply back, or scared that he’d get news he didn’t want to hear. But, he read through all of his old letters that Hikaru would slide under his door at night. He’d laugh and sometimes cry, it’d been over a year since he last saw the man, and he can only hope he’s doing alright with the lack of news being heard over in Niflheim.
He places his quill back in the ink bottle and walks to his window where his messenger crow sat, he places the letter between its beak and watches it fly off in the direction of Koji’s kingdom, “I should pay him an actual visit soon.”
He smiles to himself and takes a seat at his study once again, opening the drawer where he kept all of Hikaru’s letters and takes out another to read until his door swings open and he jolts in his seat, turning around to see a panting Raul standing there, hand on the doorknob and Meguro admits he’s a little frightened.
“Raul? What the hell is the matter with you?” Meguro stands up, approaching the younger boy slowly so as to not jump again.
Raul puts up a finger, catching his breath for a bit until he stands up straight and breathes, “The troops are back from Niflheim.”
Meguro’s eyes widened as he felt all the air get trapped in his lungs, “Where are they?”
“They are in the grand hall right now.”
“Take me to them!”
The two don’t waste a second running down the stairs and through the halls, and Meguro swears he cursed the castle again for being so stupidly large. They slam open the side door, and are greeted by the Queen and King sitting at the throne with Abe, Shota, and finally, Hikaru, standing there holding a piece of parchment his eyes were glued to, but given the sudden noise, they look towards the side door and Meguro looks at Hikaru, his hair was longer, eye bags heavier, and more tan than before. The war had taken a toll on him but he was still Hikaru, the man Meguro knew he loved more than life itself.
He doesn’t hesitate as he runs towards the older male, jumping into his arms and completely disregarding the fact that Queen and King, and the Advisor and Lieutenant were still there, but they didn’t care. No amount of people could make them feel ashamed for wanting to hold each other again after a year and eight months.
“I thought you were dead,” Meguro says through sobs.
All Hikaru could do was laugh and tighten the embrace, “I thought you hated me.”
The two chuckle under their breaths and pull away, smiling at one another as Hikaru wipes the tears from the younger’s face, “Give me your hand.”
“Why?”
“Just trust me,” Hikaru grabs Meguro’s hand and turns to the Queen and King who sat upon the throne, “Your highness and your majesty, concluding the battle review, there is one last thing I need to say.”
The king leans forward with a soft smile, “What is it, General Iwamoto?”
Hikaru squeezes Meguro’s hand and inhales deeply, “I am in love with your son, Prince Meguro Ren. I have loved him since I met him and I don’t plan on ever giving up on him, he is the only one I love and I can’t see a life without him in it. So, if you will, give me your approval and blessing to marry him, please,” He lets go of Meguro’s hand and blows deeply.
There was no hesitance in Hikaru’s voice, it wasn’t forced or practised. Anyone could tell it was his own words, it was from his heart, and that heart was beating only for Meguro, and could only love Meguro. The black haired male is taken aback to say the least, he looks at Hikaru and to his parents who share a glance and nod knowingly to each other.
“You have our blessing, Hikaru,” The Queen says, walking down from the throne and Hikaru stands up, looking at the Queen with teary eyes, “We know you love him, and we know he loves you too, that’s all that matters to us, my child,” She smiles and wipes away Hikaru’s tears, “Make him happy.”
“I will, my queen!” He bows again and she turns around, going back to the throne and her husband takes her hand and places a kiss on the back of her palm.
Hikaru looks at Meguro and all they can do is beam with pure happiness, like everything that has happened has led to this very moment and Meguro doesn’t know what to say but he just laughs. He holds Hikaru’s cheeks with his palms, caressing it and staring at him like Hikaru was the one that hung the moon and the stars in the sky, and you know what? Maybe he did to Meguro, “I love you, Iwamoto Hikaru.”
Hikaru’s eyes widened, not at the sound of his name, but that Meguro said it. He told Hikaru he loved him and he felt joy overwhelm him like he was a child again, “May I kiss you, my prince?”
“You always could, my general.”
And as their lips meet, smiling into the kiss, all the two can think of is their first meeting, how enthralled Meguro was by Hikaru, and how fast Hikaru fell in love with him. They didn’t yearn for this, they didn’t long for it, they knew it’d happen one day, when gardenias have yet to bloom, and the leaves on the old olive tree in the garden have fallen, they’d reunite again and love once more. And Meguro knew he deserved to be in Hikaru’s arms again.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-03 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-04 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 07:38 am (UTC)