Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The bedroom was silent. A funny contrast to some of the other sounds that filled the castle. Constant walking and talking of guards or maids or someone just taking a stroll. True to the name, The Moon Kingdom was only chilled at night.

But when you have a high status, oftentimes you aren’t awakened. As the only sound Tamaki could hear was his dreams, over throwing the echoes of his light breaths. Soon that would end, as at one point one of the maids would come to wake him. Or in this case, a very rowdy but loyal guard. 

Knock Knock

“Prince Amajiki!” a muffled male voice said from the hallway.

It was enough to make the indigo open his eyes.

Knock Knock

Through the drowsiness Tamaki was able to weakly push up his upper body, keeping himself steady on one hand and rubbing his eye with the other. His bangs were a mess and his vision was still blurry. He could still tell who was at the door.

“Kirishima?...” his voice was still tired.

“Your Majesty-I was told by your father to wake you up for breakfast. I apologize for the interruption.”

Tamaki was able to form a small smile. Kirishima was probably the only employee of the castle that wasn’t intimidated by the prince. Eijirou was a guard specially picked by Fat Gum, to protect Tamaki personally, after events that perspired two years before. Kirishima was a loyal protector but much more extroverted than Tamaki. It was nice having someone around who could speak for him at times. 

“Thank you, Kirishima. C-Can you tell my father I’ll be down soon?”

“Yes sir!”

Tamaki could hear his friend’s footsteps as they trotted away. He pulled his legs to his chest, waiting for silence before moving. But he didn’t want to leave his room. Just meant he’d have to make more social interaction. It took him years to get used to giving the workers orders. He hardly does it now. Asking seemed to satisfy his shyness. 

But everyday he was able to walk out and kinda put on a brave face. Okay not a brave face. He was still worried 24/7.

“Let me back to my kingdom!” 

Tamaki turned to the window. There was the distant voice of a man struggling. He quickly jumped up, his puffy sleeves crowding his arms. When he got there, he leaned his messy hair out the window to see what the racket was. Over the drawl bridge there were two guards, practically dragging a very dirty looking man into the castle. He didn’t look like anyone from this kingdom. His clothes were very different. Where did he come from?

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“Bout’ time you’d leave your tower!”

Breakfast was always...fun. Fat Gum was non-offendedly a big guy. So there was always good food and some kind of sarcastic-funny comment from the king himself.

The private dining table was in a smaller room, with the same stone structure as the rest of the place. It was long and wooden, with a candelabra in the middle. Fat Gum always sat at the opposite end of the entrance, usually surrounded by the most food. 

“I-It’s not my tower…” Tamaki shyly stated. His purple, pellucid hood covering his face. It hung so low it tickled the floors. The lace sparkled in the light coming from the windows, just like lace did.

“Seems like it! You're the only bedroom up in that darn’ fortress.”

Tamaki just stooped down. He liked being the only person living on that side of the castle for two reasons. One, he was away from most people, an introvert’s fantasy. And Two, the only window in the room had a perfect view of a distant castle on top of a hill. A bright one, which shone like the sun. Miles away yet so close. It was the home to the rulers of the Sun Kingdom. The Sun Palace. 

It was led by King Nighteye, a very scary person if you’re not close to him. But his son was the true reason Tamaki took that room. Prince Mirio Togata. Mirio and Tamaki had been best friends for so long.

Years ago when they were just little kids, the kingdoms-who were already very close-wanted to expand their lands. So Fat Gum and Nighteye made an agreement to make their kingdoms expand to be right next to each other. The only thing separating was a wall and a huge gate that was open all the time. Anyone was welcomed anywhere, as long as you had a home in your assigned kingdom, you worked there and your offspring studied there. Other words the gates were free.

And since it took a lot of get-togethers with the kings to make kingdoms almost combine, Mirio and Tamaki were able to hang out a lot. Everyday the little boys would hang out with one another. Playing in the garden, getting in trouble by playing in the kitchens…. They were just a kingdom over. Though lately they haven't been so gifted. As they got older, their responsibilities grew. And now at 18, Mirio was head of the guards, training and taking care of things until late. And Tamaki was in heavy training to become ruler in the next few years.

That bedroom was more than just a sleeping place. It was a home for memories.

“Aw, sit up now,” the king stayed chewing on what looked like bread, his big crown almost falling off. “Don’t act so embarrassed. This here castle is big and needs to be used somehow.”

Tamaki didn’t answer. Instead he sat gently in a seat on the other end of the table, in front of where he stood.

“There’s plenty of food, I ain’t gonna eat it on my own!” Fat Gum gestured to the crowded food plates around him with a turkey leg. 

“I’m fine...though you could eat all that on your own,” Tamaki set his hands in his lap meanwhile Fat Gum nodded in agreement-well he tried to nod. All that fat he hardly could. 

As the king ate, the image of that man being arrested shot his brain. He was so curious about what kingdom he could have been from.

“Father?” Tamaki looked back up.

“Hm?”

“Uhm...this morning I saw guards struggling to bring someone into the castle. He looked like a criminal...”

The king swallowed before speaking.

“Ah, you must mean that darn thief who was stealin’ from the markets.”

“Another one?”

“Mhm-”

Lately, there have been runs of thieves around the Moon Kingdom. The monarchy had decent crops, since their sibling city was the Sun Kingdom, a place blessed with good crops from the sun. But one palace was not so fortunate. 

The Enchanted Kingdom, somewhere known for their experts in magic and potions and everything enchanted , were having difficulties with harvest. Not a lot was known about their situation. The most information heard was that their recent food supplies haven’t been doing so well, and no magic the civilians had could fix it. So many of the people so desperate started traveling to other kingdoms and stealing from markets and shops and stands and farms and everything in between. And though the Sun Kingdom had much better soil, their armies were too strong. Getting in would be too risky so the Moon Kingdom was their best bet. 

After months of stress over the robberies, every thief that was caught was brought straight to the dungeons, instead of transported back to their home. And no surprise, the Enchanted Kingdom was not taking it lightly. Their ruler was infuriated. Making a touchy edge for Tamaki’s home.

“But since we were startin’ to keep them thieves from the Enchanted Kingdom instead of transportin’ em back, Queen Ryukyu and her posse of witches are startin’ to threaten us…” Fat Gum leaned back as if he was taking a break from eating.

“Then shouldn’t we stop keeping them?” Amajiki asked, perking up just a smidge. 

“I’m afraid not, son. If we keep sendin’ them back then the kingdom will just keep putting it off. Keepin’ their people will give us the right reaction,” the big man held his hand out on the table like he was making a point.

“I guess...but can’t we try to stop them?” Tamaki looked to the side a bit, trying to avoid eye contact.

“That’s a lot of questions with good answers a future king should already know-”

Tamaki looked down at his lap in embarrassment, tensing up immediately and fiddling with his thumbs. The clear hood shaded his face.

But before Fat Gum could say anything, suddenly the big doors behind Tamaki opened. The small prince flinched a bit, as both the royals looked behind. A guard walked up with the standard uniform, his face covered with a helmet. When he walked, he clattered along with the metal.

“Your majesties,” he stopped, holding on to his hanging sword on one side and bowing. “Prince Togata of the Sun Kingdom is here as requested.”

Mirio?

Tamaki sat up straighter than what he already could. His eyes widened and a smile almost plastered on his cheeks. Why did he get so excited when Mirio came around?

“Oh good! Send him in, will ya?” Fat Gum stood with a smile and started walking around the table until he was in front of the guard. Meanwhile the indigoette turned to the side in the tall chair.

“Yes, your majesty!”

Only a matter of seconds later a tall blonde male started properly walking in. His buffed body perfectly fit his clothes. He wore one of those puffy white shirts that were wrinkled at the wrists and crowded your arms, with a brown leather vest over. The chest area of the best being almost pulled together by strings like a corset but Mirio never fully tied them. There was a thick belt that went around his waist that held a sheath and the excess vest coming out on each hip. Under that were thick beige pants and more leather, this time boots trailing up to his knee. Not to mention his pristine blue eyes that lit up the world. 

“Togata, I’m glad you got the memo!” Fat Gum proudly announced, putting whatever arms he had behind his back.

Mirio smiled taking a quick glance at Tamaki then turning back to the king. The indigo prince’s heart fluttered and he smiled lightly.

“That I did! I made sure to come as soon as possible. My father said it was urgent?” The young prince stopped with his hands also behind his back. At least someone learned something from king training. Good posture.

“Yep! I have a request for the head of your armies…”

That was Mirio. He wasn’t like most royals who just sat around in their castle all day, wondering when their life began. Mirio trained and trained until he became an excellent sword fighter. The only person he’d lost to in a duel was Sir King Nighteye, but that was an excuse. Eventually he started heading all the guards in his kingdom.

“As you know, my people have had some rounds with thieves from the Enchanted Kingdom. We have good forces but not good enough…”

Tamaki leaned in a bit to hear better.

“You’ve trained your knights to become some of the greatest defence in the land, is there any way you could pass that knowledge to my armies?”

It was true that Mirio changed the defence of the Sun Kingdom. His teaching ways somehow changed the way the soldiers thought and now they really were the most protected palace. His strategies have made many places rethink raiding or starting a fight.

“You mean like help train your armed forces?” Mirio asked.

“Yes, my boy. I believe that with just a few weeks of your hardiness to those guards will do them much luck.”

This wasn’t the first time Mirio was asked to help around the Moon Kingdom. He always said yes because of his family’s relationship with them, but the biggest reason he accepted: so he could see, Tamaki. He also agreed that they were much more carried away as they got older, and any chance he had to even look at his ‘friend’ was enough.

“I’d be glad to! It would my pleather -”

SNORT-

Immediately there was a snort and tiny giggles from both Mirio and Tamaki. They both looked down, Mirio trying to avoid eye contact while Tamaki covered his face. Fat Gum looked back and forth at the two laughing boys in confusion.

‘ Pleather ’ was an inside joke between Tamaki and Mirio. When they were younger, Mirio lost his front baby teeth and gained a pretty bad lisp for a couple months. It was funny to see him mess up words all the time. Tamaki even wrote down a list of words with the letter ‘S’ and Mirio read them all. They laughed for hours and hours until the bones grew back. The joke stuck with them for a long time.

“I should’ve known better than to let you two be in the same room,” Fat Gum smiled a bit while looking down the two boys. Though he was a king he could take a joke. Most of the time HE was the one making them. And he knew how close the princes were so he took the gag lightly. 

“I sure knew you would compromise with us-” the princes ended their small laughter when the king started speaking. “In fact, I already had the new head-in-trainin’ get some of his understudies together. Now Tamaki-” 

Fat Gum looked back as the hooded male tensed up. He looked up with a worried expression as he was a little freaked by his summon. 

“Though he already knows his way around, make yourself useful and show Togata to the back fields behind the guards’ tower, huh?”

Mirio did know his way around.

“Yes, sir…” Tamaki looked down when responding.

“GREAT! I have a feast to get to!” Fat Gum walked back to his chair.

Mirio already started heading through a hallway, turned around to wait for Tamaki with a smile. He did know his way around after all. Tamaki had to run a little to catch up, his purple cover pushed back a little by the wind. 

They turned one corner until they were in complete silence. Tamaki didn’t say anything just slightly looked down, his hood once again covering his face. The only sound was both the boys’ boots clamping on the ground. Mirio looked down at the indigo next to him. (They had a small height difference.)

“Are you gonna say anything?” Mirio asked with a goofy grin. Tamaki looked up at him like he was snapping back into reality. “Like maybe a ‘hi’ or a ‘hello’ or ‘how was your two days without seeing me’?”

“Uhm…” Tamaki didn’t really know what to say. “I dont know, I haven’t seen you for a few days…” 

They turned another corner, Amajiki fiddled with his fingers, looking down at them when he spoke. Tamaki’s voice was soft and quiet yet had some nervousness to it. Mirio let out a light sigh.

“It has been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Mhm.”

They didn’t say anything else for a few seconds. This was happening more often. The less they saw of each other, the less they had to talk about. It was hard to act like they just saw each other yesterday when it could have been a week. 

Then, Mirio’s eye caught a door at the end of the hallway. He got an idea.

“Hey, are there any employees on this side of the castle right now?”

He knew the answer but still asked.

“No, the maids clean the south towers during this time and the guards are just at their tower posts...” Tamaki said as they neared the mysterious door. “You knew that already...why would you WAH-”

Suddenly, Mirio opened the door to the room and snatched Tamaki’s hand, pulling them both inside in one swift motion. He slammed the door behind them. It was a cleaning closet. Sometimes he’d use it as a hiding spot when the princes played hide n seek as kids. It was dark, just shelves of cleaning supplies and buckets and mops.

Tamaki could hardly see anything. But before he could breathe , Mirio gently, yet swiftly put his hands on the hooded one’s cheeks and pressed their lips together. Amajiki had hardly any time to react, so he was just frozen there, his hands up a bit and his eyes open, though Mirio’s were shut and his expression joyful.

Tamaki quickly pulled away, pulling down Mirio’s arms. 

“M-Mirio!” The shy one wasn’t so upset but just star struck.

“What?! I haven’t been able to kiss you for two days what do you expect me to do?” Mirio let his hands fall to his “friend’s” waste.

Little did anyone in the kingdom, nor their families know, Mirio and Tamakis’ ‘friendship’ was a little bit more.

“Well I didn’t expect you to pull me into a cleaning closet to kiss me!”

“Would you rather me do it out there?”

“N-No…”

“That’s what I thought-”

Mirio immediately pulled Tamaki into another kiss. This time having a better grip as the other tried to keep steady on Togata’s arms.

Tamaki and Mirio were in love. It was a secret, though. Technically they couldn’t be together. Their families forbade it. Now see, the reason that the Sun Kingdom and the Moon Kingdom had such a good relationship was because their parents decided to keep it separate and only separate but work together if needed. The Kingdoms, like many others, had prophecies that went along to ruling them. And when the great merger happened, of course the rulers of magic-the fairies-had something to say about it. They said that if their kingdoms were to ever fuse and be ruled as one, then the kingdom would fall. But one day, great rulers will come and make their places whole.

Tamaki and Mirio getting together would mean a beyond-wall merger for the two kingdoms. The Sun and Moon authorities would fall. So, the past year was filled with secret kisses, hidden hand holding, and love letters sent to their windows by doves late at night.

Tamaki tried pulling away but Mirio’s kisses only trailed to his cheek.

“Mirio we can’t do this right now-”

“Mnnnn-5 more minutes…” Mirio mumbled.

His smooches pecked his love’s nose, then cheek, then lips, then head...

“W-We were supposed to be at a guard meet 5 m-minutes ago…”

The blonde’s lips started getting at Tamaki’s lips again.

He tried murmuring one last time: “M-Mirio…”

Mirio let off for a sec, looking into Tamaki’s flustered eyes. His face was so red.

“You know why I’m not stopping?” Mirio said to the short prince he held. Amajiki shook his head. “Because if you want me to stop you say ‘Mirio stop’. I can read you like a book. I know you’ve wanted to kiss me too.”

Tamaki just looked down embarressed. He really could read like a book, even when he couldn’t read himself. He didn’t say stop because he didn’t want him to. 

“But if you want to stop I’ll stop-” Mirio let his hands slide off Tamaki’s waste. 

“I-I...I just don’t want to get caught. Who knows what’ll happen…”

Tamaki’s expression was suddenly depressed. Mirio pushed back some of the indigo bangs and laid his hand on his cheek. Tamaki cuddled into it, his face squishing up a bit.

“Aw, you look so sad-” Mirio laughed a bit.

“Mmmmmm-”

“Your face is gonna make me cry-” 

“I-I’m s-sorry-” Tamaki jumped.

“No your so cuteeee dont apologize-”

Tamaki groaned as Mirio teased him a bit. But he secretly liked the small flirting they did. When Mirio complimented him it was like the world just disappeared and it was only them. As if that could ever happen. Till then this would just be how it was.

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Eventually, the boys got where they were going. Mirio out in the fields to train with the knights and Tamaki off to his duties as an upcoming king. Luckily, they were both done by nightfall. 

The glittering sky hung over the knight’s training fields. Many targets and arrows and sword dummies and whatever else they could fit was out there. The exit to the yard was in the south tower. Having a single door where the people came and went. Many of the guards were already hauling ass inside, leaving an entrance for Tamaki to come out and see Mirio. 

The tall blonde was standing over by some of the archery stands, which weren’t very far from the door.

“Good job today, everyone! We’ll start up again tomorrow!” Mirio smiled and gave a thumbs up at some fighters in armor walking toward the door where Tamaki stood. He stepped back as they walked past, holding his hands to his neck. He was so shady he went unnoticed.

“Tamaki!” Mirio said cheerfully standing facing his friend. “I see Fat Gum let you out.”

“He didn’t…” Amajiki walked outside, right toward his friend. The only thing that gave them light was the moon shining above. But you could hardly see 60 ft in front of you. It was so dark. “I’ve just been stuck in the castle all day.”

Mirio put his hands on his hips. “You’re always cooped up in there, aren’t ya?”

Tamaki just nodded.

Some days he left the castle and some days he didn’t. On those days it would be night by time he was free, and he wasn’t allowed out after dark. Fat Gum was just protective of Tamaki. There were some strict rules the prince had to follow, but he could get away with some.

“I take it studies were exhausting?”

“As usual. Though you seemed to have fun with knight torture,”

“Not torture , a lexure- ”

“Hehe-”

Then, a familiar voice started traveling towards the two. Very loudly.

“PRINCE AMAJIKI--”

Tamaki turned around and looked at whoever was calling him in shock. Mirio was a little startled as well. Non-surprisingly, Kirishima, the Moon Prince’s personal guard elected by the king, was running through the door passage. His armor and sword clattered as he walked. His spiky red hair hardly made a move. 

Out of breath, balancing on his knees in the grass, Kirishima was hardly able to speak.

“Ahh-K-Kirishima, w-what happened?!” Tamaki ran over and put his hands on the tired’s shoulders.

A few more breaths later he could speak.

“Your highnesses, I am so sorry for the interruption-”

“Kirishima, it's alright--but what’s so urgent you had to run like that?” Tamaki let off a bit as the knight in shining armor stood.

“It’s your parents and the councils of both Kingdoms…” Eijirou’s eyes bouncing back and forth between the himbo and the nervous one made things more concernable. “They’re in the throne room, arguing about the Enchanted Kingdom. I overheard them yelling at one another...somethings not right. I came here as a friend to both of you, not a bodyguard.”

Suddenly, the whole mood changed. Eijirou was always a very noble person. Often on duty he didn’t show his expressions because it wasn’t manly enough for him. Seeing him break character and talking to the people he served as a friend made the earth almost shift. Tamaki looked over his shoulder at Mirio.

“What’s your father doing here?” he asked worriedly.

“I don’t know, we should go find out, though.”

Mirio started walking forward a little bit.

“Thank you, Kirishima...I won’t say anything about you telling us.” Tamaki appreciated as he followed his blonde lover.

“Yeah, thanks, dude!” Mirio was much less formal.

“No, thank you!” 

But none of the thanks were making them side tracked. Mirio and Tamaki hurried through the castle halls. Their knee high boots abusing the floors.

“Why are the councils arguing about the Enchanted Kingdom?” Mirio asked, hurrying to catch up to the other.

Tamaki hesitated.

“It’s probably about the thieves' situation. My father told me this morning that he ordered to keep the prisoners here instead of transportation back home...Queen Ryukyu hasn’t been happy about it.”

As they neared the throne room, the louder the voices got.

“That’s impossible, it could put both our kingdoms at risk!”

“Our armies would be able to help you-”

“But what if they’re not enough?”

Every sentence came with a new voice. They were familiar to Tamaki and Mirio, who attended the council meetings before. Only in serious emergencies do both the Sun and Moon councils gather together. But not like this. Not screaming at each other in pure stress. 

Mirio and Tamaki eventually finished venturing the hallways and made it to the throne room.

The throne was the center of the entire Moon Palace. The main entrance to the castle was there, leading a long red carpet with gold patterns up to a leveling with a big throne in the middle and a smaller one off to the side. Meanwhile against the wall were pillars and long windows with colored pictures that described parts of the Moon Kingdom’s past. Curtains lined the ceilings and various parts of pillars to the thrones. It was truly grand.

But at night like this, the only light given were torches that hung on the pillars and on the sides of the main doors. They were closed, leaving only two open doorways as exits.

In the middle was one big table, where about 10 people stood around.

Many of them were in 2nd class clothing, some in hoods and some in nicer clothes than others. Many of them were recognizable. Standing out most was Sir King Nightere who was sitting down at a seat in the middle, his hand pinching his forehead and looking down. And King Fat Gum who was resting his hands on the table, bending over to look at all the scattered papers and quills with ink pendings. Meanwhile chairs were out of place and council members from both kingdoms scattered around.

“Ya know, you could’ve just transported the thieves back to their damn kingdom and we could’ve avoided this situation!” a woman in very tight clothing sarcastically announced. Her long blonde hair and corset that broke her ribs made her obvious. Mt. Lady, council women of the Moon Kingdom. She was wearing a cream top that puffed out around her chest, showing much cleavage, the bottom skirt purple with orange patterns on just below her knees. She stood with her hands on her hips giving dirty looks.

“We kept them for good reason…” Shota Aizawa said standing behind a chair pushed away from the table. He was a councilman from the Moon Kingdom. His long black hair hid his face as he leaned against the back wood.

“Good reason? In what way was it a good reason that they’re now declaring war upon your people?” the older women who spoke sat in a chair next to the annoyed Nighteye. She was Recovery Girl of the Sun Kingdom. One of the only witches who lived there, with the ability to cure people in the oddest of ways. Her silver hair pushed back made her short appearance intimidating, but the robe that draped to the floor over her feet were more hysterical.

“Th-There has to be another way to get through to them-” There was a blue colored girl who stood just right behind Aizawa. Her slim build and turquoise skin gave her an odd appearance. Though her white shirt ruffled at the elbows seemed to be cut off right below her breasts that showed her stomach, the collar not even tied and hanging loose. The skirt was very flattering, it matched her hair, and even sewed in bubbles that fit her personality. Bubble Girl of the Sun Kingdom. And even if it didn’t seem like it, she was the longest lasting council member.

“I’m afraid not my dear,” for once a tender voice joined in. A very short, plump woman rested a dear hand on Bubble Girl’s shoulder. Her hair was down, pulled back with a few strands into a bun. She had a very simple looking grey dress, made up by a beautiful maroon shawl that she wrapped around her shoulders and kept safe by her chest. Inko Midoriya, a councilwoman for almost two years. “They’re probably already on their way….”

“I agree, that kingdom is kind but in these times, they do not rest.” Midnight, by far the most hard working, yet one of the most outwardly suggestive people in maybe all the Moon Kingdom. She didn’t have any desire to do so, but her big breasts that hung out of her tops, and the thigh-high boots she wore under dresses made things different. According to her she was trying to ‘seduce her enemies’ so she could fight easily.

“It’s not enough time,” Vlad King needed hardly an introduction. Big man with white hair, owned by the Sun Kingdom.

“Not enough time my ass-OW-” Mt. Lady was soon interrupted by a fist upon her head. 

“Oh shut up, will you? I swear you shouldn’t be on this council…” Kamui Woods. Councilman of the Moon Kingdom. Only joined to make sure the blonde-cocky-mess didn’t make a fire of the place. Though he was one of the best men they had. But he wasn’t so strong outward wise. A wooden curse, trapped in a tree prison. Splintered skin.

“Everyone please…” Nighteye lifted his head looking up at the mess which was the councils. “We are all very stressed about this…-”

“Stressed?” Fat Gum jumped in. “I’m more than stressed here. And I’m usually a very enjoyable person…”

That was no lie.

“Our forces will help but won’t be enough…” Recovery girl suggested as she kept her hands in her lap.

“That doesn’t mean we should mope around about it. I say that we go challenge them on our own!” Midnight offered.

“Fortunately Miss, that won’t work,” Aizawa looked up a bit more. “Though Nighteye’s son was able to bring something out in your armies, they will be no match to a kingdom that specializes with magic; even being the home of fairies themselves. If you want to see both our palaces crash and burn within 24 hours be my guest. Just give me a head start out.”

“Who’s coming?” 

Suddenly, Mirio jumped out of where Tamaki and him were peaking in. Tamaki tried grabbing his hand to stop him but it just ended up slipping.

“You let the princes in, great.” Mt. Lady sarcastically remarked.

“Tamaki, come out, I see you behind that corner,” Fat Gum motioned over. The smaller prince shyly walked next to his friend whose guard was still up.

“Mirio, who told you two we were in here…?” Nighteye looked up.

“Uhmmm, we just...over heard you...from across the castle…” even Mirio knew how stupid that sounded. His comical face didn’t help either.

Nighteye gave a disappointing look and pinched his nose again.

“Son, you’re so bad at lying…”

“Why are we worrying about two children when we have a kingdom to protect?” Midnight interrupted. 

“Protect from who? As future rulers we have the right to know what you’re arguing about.” Unlike Tamaki who was quiet, usually trying to stand behind his lover, Mirio-when it came to future king business-he was very mature. His voice is serious and his confident stance… like a lion.

Miss. Midoriya walks forward a bit, slipping her hand off Bubble Girl’s shoulder.

“The Enchanted Kingdom…” she started. “Queen Ryukyu isn’t happy with the fact that their people have been kept here instead of moved back to their home. As you know, kingdoms here are very territorial. And the thought that their peasants are being held in other kingdoms is furiating.”

“And thus they’ve declared war on the Moon Society and are coming here to discuss what further action is to be done.” Recovery Girl was very straight forward with the topic. 

Tamaki’s stomach dropped through the stone floors. Though he was silent, his mind was running at 100 miles per hour. He’d heard about past war threats against his kingdom but none of which he was born yet to see. Now that he was alive, technically an adult, already training to become ruler in the next few years; experiencing it full throttle... jeez it was scary .

“W-War?” Tamaki said quietly. “Like f-fighting and death-”

The young prince started to shake a bit. Mirio couldn’t describe how badly he wanted to just hold Tamaki, kiss his head and tell him its okay. At least hold his hand or even smile at him. Reassuring an okay future. But not in front of the councils. Not now.

“Not if we can settle the dispute,” Vlad chimed in.

“Though I still disagree we will be able to,” Midnight crossed her arms, standing next to Aizawa. “That kingdom’s hard times are bigger than their sanity. They’ve had problems with many communities in the past months-”

Suddenly, the big SWOOSH of the entrance occurred. The huge doors swung open, a random knight with sky blue hair coming through in a worry. He was in such a rush that he didn’t even introduce the conversation formally.

“They’re here!” he said, fists clenched at his sides. 

“Already?” Mt. Lady was the only one to speak. The rest just became visibly nervous, standing up and straightening their spines.

“Queen Ryukyu, she’s-”

“That’s enough.”

The guard was stopped by a female voice behind him. He turned around, only to see a frustrated woman sternly walking up, her heels clamping down with every move. She had short blonde hair and pierced ears. Her dress was red and hugged her curves, trailing up to her neck with occasional gold lines and no sleeves. One side was slit, showing part of her thigh. It was topped off with a tiara-like crown on top of her head, the back part sporting dragon wings out each side of her head. 

The knight quickly moved to the said 

“Please leave us,” she asked the guard as she entered the doors. Her tone wasn’t as harsh as it once was.

Tamaki hid more behind Mirio, their bodies touching, they were so close. Mirio could feel Tamaki’s anxiety. His hitched breathing and shaky movements. He didn’t like loud noises or people being angry like this. It made him really nervous. Mirio hated it. So keeping a straight face, not looking away, he gently reached out a pinky, searching for fingers or a palm. Eventually he hit Tamaki’s pinky, gripping it with his own and hiding it behind himself. Tamaki didn’t let go and almost squeezed back.

“Queen Ryukyu, what a pleasure seein’ you come in uninvited!” Fat Gum sarcastically announced.

Mirio examined the queen as the guard left. She was nice and all, but he couldn’t help but notice the smaller girl right behind her. She wore a gown that poofed out to the floor. Teal with a purple trim going down the middle and a fancy rope that tied the waste. Over the golden hood laid her long periwinkle hair and on top a small crown with curly horns sticking out the top. Mirio had an idea who she was. Princess Nejire Hado of the Enchanted Kingdom. He’d just never thought she’d be as beautiful as they said she was. Though she stood straight behind her mother. Still looking worried from just rushing in.

“Your majesty its a little hard not to when the citizens of your kingdom are being held captive hours away from their home,” Ryukyu lightly argued.

Tamaki tightened their pinkies. The blonde stood straighter.

“They were stealin’ from our kingdom we had to do somethin’,” The big king was a little annoyed. Meanwhile King Nighteye’s grip on his forehead pinched tighter. It wasn’t proper to interrupt two royals from other kingdoms having a conversation, so the rest of the council stayed quiet.

“There was nothing wrong with sending them back!”

“Yes there was, wastin’ our materials and men tryin’ to transport your unlawful people hours back home put a part on our behalf,”

“We exchanged letters disputing this, you know the depression that has inflicted upon my kingdom.”

“Doesn’t mean yall gotta steal from us!”

“ENOUGH!”

The entire throne room went quiet. The council froze, the royals shut up, Mirio and Tamaki both jumped, their pinky grip breaking. Everyone started at the shady king no longer pinching his head who just yelled to get everyone silent. Sir slowly stood, keeping his hands on the table.

“Everyone please, allow me to get some words in before you tear each other’s throats out like hooligans…” they did so. Nighteye sighed before continuing. “It has come to my attention that this will take much longer than expected. Your majesty-you come unannounced to a kingdom you’ve had a disagreement with, bring no guards to protect you, or your daughter behind you. Your actions were justified, but not right. Now, if it is compromised, I say we discuss this with the councils tonight. There is no waiting since you implicated war upon us so immaturely.”

Suddenly, all eyes were on Ryukyu. Even Hado looked over to see what her mother had to say. And though she acted unfair against these people, she still sternly spit out:

“Fine...tonight we discuss what further action is to be done. Benefits for both our kingdoms and something to help us, especially.”

Still shooken, the place was silent. 

“Very well, now please, our children and future rulers are here. I don’t believe this is the best thing for them to witness as destined leaders.” Nighteye suggested.

“If you ain’t scared we’ll capture her too then I’d be glad to provide a room for the night,” Fat Gum offers, the grudge still found somewhere in his tone.

“I would fear nothing of the sort. My Nejire could fight off two of your armies if she wanted.” Ryukyu seemed very content with that. The periwinkle just smiled in response. Mirio thought she was very goofy for a princess, but he’d have to know her first.

“Good, Tamaki-” Fat Gum looked over at his son still hiding behind the Sun Prince.

Tamaki jumped out from behind his boyfriend and stood with his arms tightened at his sides, nervous to be brought in front of so many people.

“You know where those extra rooms are at, mind showin’ our guests where they’re able to stay?”

“Y-Yes…” the hooded prince answered shyly looking down at the ground, wishing he was hidden instead of in front of so many high class people.

Queen Ryukyu looked over at her princess and lightly nodded. Hado seemed hesitant, but still walked over to where Mirio and Tamaki were. Tamaki headed straight down the hall as Nejire and Togata followed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was very silent. Maybe there was a crack of the torches but other words, just footsteps.

Tamaki fiddled with his fingers, trying to slope down but his force-to-be-worn corset blocked him from doing so. Mirio tried acting normally, but it was kinda hard when a princess he’d never met before was around. They had no introduction whatsoever. Though the newly seen royal seemed a bit weirded out, her expression suspicious, looking down at the flooring.

Nejire looked up at Tamaki ahead and Mirio to her right. They were looking forward, not noticing her glances.

“Uhm…” Hado’s sudden speech caught the attention of both the princes. Only Mirio looked over to see what it was. “I know that our parents aren’t in the best of terms right now, but I don’t really have anything to do with that. So I won’t try to like…murder you in your sleep or anything. I’m not as vicious as the comment my mom made, ahah….” She made a swirly motion with her fingers and even put on a small small that looked kinda quirky. Still awkward to break the silence.

Tamaki was a bit... taken by the suggestion but Mirio was a little beamed. She had a personality, hell yeah.

“Oh that’s a relief!” Mirio said, grinning at her. Nejire smiled back. “And we never got to introduce ourselves but I’m Mirio Togata. Or I’m supposed to say: Prince Togata of the Sun Kingdom, but I don’t think that applies right now.”

“Ooooh good I hate the formal introductions. I’m Nejire Hado!” 

The three took a turn into another hall.

“Tamakiiiiiii~” Mirio fluttered. Running a bit to catch up to his friend. Nejire happily followed until they were both kinda hovering the poor boy. “She isn’t gonna kill us you can speak-”

“Mnnnn…” Tamaki just groaned, tilting his head down more, the finger fiddling worsening. 

“This is Tamaki Amajiki, we’ve known each other for years since our kingdoms were so close.” Mirio places a hand on Tamaki’s hood, pulling it down, revealing his soft indigo hair. Nejire noticed the purple cloak and suddenly stars were in her eyes.

“WOOAH--your cloak is so cool! Its like a really nice lace. But why is it see through? When did you get it? Was it expensive? Why do you wear it all the time? Is that even right for a prince to do?...” the fluffy periwinkle’s true side was coming out. A bubbly girl with a lot of questions she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

Tamaki didn’t answer though, he just tensed up and looked away a bit. Nejire bit her tongue.

“Sorry, he has some anxiety issues, so doesn’t talk well with people he doesn’t know…” Mirio scratched the back of his head in small nervousness. 

“Oh no its fine-I’ve met lots of people like that. I know I can be very comfortable with people so I apologize for my extrovertness.” her smile still almost lit up the world.

“If he can survive ME for 15 years then I’m sure he can stand you for some time.” 

The two laughed a bit while Tamaki stayed silent.

Dang. Mirio thought. Has it really been 15 years?

Even at 19 Tamaki was shy. He’s always been like that. Mirio hoped that one day he could break him out of his shell. The only time he’s seen his Amajiki’s personality really show is when they’re alone together. Those are the moments the Sun Prince wanted to last forever.

“We’re here,” Tamaki said quietly, stopping in front of a door at the end of the hall. “This is one of the 1st class bedrooms we have. A maid will be with you shortly….”

“See? I told you he could talk.” Mirio goofily remarked. Tamaki just looked to the side embarrassed. 

“I-I’m not th-that bad…” the smaller prince tried to argue, but turned into a whimper.

“Amajiki, you sound like a kitten though!” Nejire’s statement made them both look up in small confusion. “If you’re gonna rule this place some day then you need to have the heart of a lion not a kitten, silly!”

Mirio looked up at Tamaki with a ‘woah, what’ face. Like really impressed. Even shoving fingers at the smiling girl mouthing: ‘listen to her!’. Amajiki smiled just a smidge. It was enough to satisfy both Nejire and the himbo.

The princess let out a yawn.

“ Ahhh --well I’m kinda sleepy from riding in a carriage for four hours…”

“Sleep, sleep, we’re leaving--keep your precious brain cells alive please-” Mirio grabbed Tamaki’s arm and pulled him over.

“Hehe! Thank you again...for being nice to me after we sorta barged in.”

Mirio smiled and gave a thumbs up in response. They started walking down the hall as Hado entered her sleeping place.

“I’m kinda beat too…” Mirio put his arms behind his head. 

“Makes sense, not like you just trained a bunch of sweaty knights for 6 hours…”

“True, true...wait, where am I sleeping again?”

“I dunno where do you want to?”

“Next to you~”

“M-Mirio-”

“Sorry, sorry...can we though?”

“Th-That’s--” Tamaki didn’t answer. He was conflicted with himself and didn’t want to say what he wanted to say.

Mirio looked over in confusion. 

“I mean...if we were to sleep next to each other, I highly doubt anyone would catch us?” 

Was Mirio really suggesting they sleep together? 

Sleep…

Together?...

Tamaki shook his head like he was phasing out of a daydream. 

“W-We’ve never really slept in the same bed like that...plus we’re kinda in a crisis-”

“Yes, a crisis in which you need comfort and cuddles,” the point Mirio put out hardly convinced Tamaki. 

But the thought of them being close to each other...Mirio holding him in his strong arms...resting his head on Tamaki’s while Tamaki dug into his chest...the pillows covering their faces while the blanket they shared kept them warm... Tamaki wanted that so bad.

“I…”

If you get caught then you’re both fucked. Imagine what would happen to Mirio if you two were seen sleeping like that?

The voice echoed in Amajiki’s mind.

“Down there...t-to the right is another 1st class bedroom…” Tamaki put up a weak finger, pointing where he was talking about. He knew Mirio already knew where it was. Togata thought that he was just trying to get off the topic. 

He let out a light sigh.

“Alrighty then, g’night, Sunshine…” Mirio planted a quick peck on Tamaki’s cheek before walking away. Tamaki’s face went red, watching his knight in shining armor leave, wondering what would happen if he gave into his heart.

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“Do you wake him up like this every morning?” Nejire asked Mirio as they cheerfully trotted through the morning halls of the Moon Palace. 

Mirio and Nejire happened to be up at the same time and thus coming across each other’s paths in the hall.

“Only on nights I stay over. Tamaki really loves sleeping.” Mirio smiled happily. 

They got in front of Tamaki’s door, and just as Mirio was about to knock, a voice behind them said: “I’m already up ya know….”

Both Togata and Hado jumped, yelping a little before turning around to see that it was just Tamaki. He was in his usual purple cloak and corset. He hated that thing.

Though Tamaki was male, he was forced to wear a corset. It was one that tied in the front., but took years for him to get used to. Fat Gum didn’t want to but his son just couldn’t keep a straight spine. His only option was to make Amajiki wear a corset to prevent him from slouching. Unfortunately, it started shaping Tamaki’s sides to where they curved into a very light hourglass. It really humiliated Tamaki...the fact that his waste looked like a waitress at a pirate and thieves’ pub. But didn’t act like a boy sometimes. He wasn’t the ‘manliness’ Kirishima spoke of.

“GeEzZZ, Tamaki--why did you sneak up on us like that?” Mirio said, still holding his arms in front of his face as protection. He still sounded comical, though.

“S-Sorry...I’ve been up for a while…” Amajiki said as he averted his eyes. “They requested our presence in the throne room as soon as we all woke.”

Nejire and Mirio looked at each other, kinda like they were wondering about what was happening.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Good day, your young highnesses!” The three were welcomed in the throne room by Fat Gum. 

The table in the middle was gone, so were the council members. The only people in there were Nighteye, Ryukyu and Fat Gum. They were tired looking but flawless. Ryukyu stood on the red carpet leading the thrones, Nighteye standing just beside her. 

“Come, son,” Nighteye said to Mirio, gesturing a hang next to him for his son to stand. Mirio did so.

“My, Nejire,” The Queen smiled weakly, holding her hands out. Nejire ran up to her and grabbed her hands. “ I’m sorry, you deserve better than this. ”

The mumble worried Hado. Tamaki was already beside Fat Gum, hand on his arm worried.

The big king let out a sigh.

“Fortunately, it has been shown that the Enchanted Kingdom’s people are slightly unstable currently...and we’ve done come up with a solution to protect from attacks.”

Ryukyu let out a breath.

“It’s a common thing between kingdoms, but we both wanted better for our children…” 

Mirio noticed that her and Fat Gum grinned at each other a bit, but it was painful. Why the painful smiles?

“Though it should come naturally,” Ryukyu started. “The only way to prevent war between our kingdoms, is to arrange a marriage between you two.”

Arrange a marriage between you two.

Arrange a marriage between you two.

There was suddenly a heavy weight that filled the room. The visible shock on Nejire and Tamakis’ face. The blacked out look Mirio was giving-- arranged marriage?

“An arranged marriage?? Like me and Amajiki marrying each other? Like fusing our kingdoms together--mother I-” Nejire grasped her mother’s hands tighter.

“Love should’ve come naturally, dear, but as rulers we have to do what’s right for the kingdoms…” 

Every other word was blurred out. Tamaki couldn’t hear any of it.

Marry her? I have to marry someone already? I can’t be king I-I’m not ready.

Mirio looked at his Tamaki with empty eyes, a flabbergasted expression.

Tamaki...no...I love you.

Chapter Text

Tamaki had no idea how late it was. Just late enough for half the castle to be asleep and the garden to be quiet and dark like a mouse.

The garden in the back of the castle was like a secret hideout. The only people that went there were the gardeners and the prince himself. It was a safe place...with the bushed walls and calming flowers everywhere. No one would know where you were. Maybe birds would come and drink out of the many bird baths, but other words you were alone. 

Tamaki paced on the grass. He was in an area in the very back of the mazed garden. It was surrounded by tall bushes and had purple flowers plated everywhere. Even vines covering the grounds and the wall. It was so far behind that it hit the stone wall that surrounded the Moon Palace. It was old and cracked but right now there was no replacing it. And even with the calming environment around him, Amajiki was still panicking more than anyone could describe. He was waiting for someone.

Knock Knock

Tamaki stopped pacing and looked.

Two knocks meant Mirio was here. When they got a bit older, maybe 13, they started sneaking out after hours to see each other. This place in the garden was their best bet since no one went there. Mirio unfortunately, had a less simple way of getting there.

Knock, Knock

Tamaki reached over the bushes and knocked on one of the stones. It was code for: ‘come on over.’

“Look out!” 

Tamaki recognized the blonde’s voice anywhere. Suddenly a sheath with a sword in it was tossed over the wall and landed on the grass next to Tamaki, startling him.

“M-Mirio, you shouldn’t just throw your sword around!” Tamaki scolded.

“The sheath’s snapped shut that thing isn’t going anywhere,” Mirio said, grunting just a bit as he started climbing up. His hand pepped over the wall as he hiked.

He got one of his feet over and took a small misstep.

“S-Stop, you’ll fall!” Tamaki warned.

Mirio just smiled and said: “I got thi-” before tripping and falling over into the bushes with an ‘oof’.

“I’m okay, don’t freak out-” Mirio insisted as he stood and brushed himself off. But when he looked up, Amajiki had his hands up--probably ready to help his love up when he oh so gracefully tumbled-- with a worried expression. Worried to the point where he looked almost in tears.

And before Mirio could breathe, Tamaki swiftly ran into the taller’s arms. He tightened his grip on Mirio’s waist until Mirio finally hugged back.

“Oh, Tamaki…”

Though his face was hidden in the Sun Prince’s chest, his sniffling and small whimper made Amajiki’s crying obvious. Mirio held him tighter and brushed his hair calmly.

“I’m sorry…” Tamaki could hardly speak; he was so upset. The slight shaking showing the anxiety he’d been put through that day.

“Don’t be, none of this is your fault; you didn’t choose to marry her.”

It was that morning that it was announced. Prince Amajiki would have to marry Princess Hadou to stop the feud between the Moon Kingdom and the Enchanted Kingdom. 

Tamaki turned his head for air, still digging into Toogata’s chest. The air made the tears burn against his red cheeks.

“I don’t know what to do...I can’t rule a kingdom right now *sniff* I’m not ready for that…” Mirio squeezed more and more at Tamaki’s words...if only his arms could take away the pain. “M-Mirio, I d-don’t want to marry her…”

Togata didn’t really know what to say. He was powerless in this situation….

A painful laugh came out of the indigo.

“I *sniff* I can’t believe you came across both our kingdoms just for me to cry…” Tamaki’s voice was more unstable.

“I love you so much that I would literally travel across kingdoms for you. And I did!” Mirio cheered, using his extra hand to rub soothing circles with his thumb on Tamaki’s shoulder.

He felt Tamaki take a breath. He was more calm than before. Mirio holding him was truly the only thing that took away his anxiety.

“What are we gonna do?” Tamaki painfully asked, staring off at the flowers near the bushes.

“...” Mirio said the only thing on his tongue. “I don’t know….”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sun Kingdom was known for its strong extensive armies, so behind the castle was a big, big field dedicated for the knights to train. All the guards would gather there for 2 hours every few mornings and work their hearts out. Mirio didn’t work with everyone all the time, for the majority of hours he helped the newer knights since he was kinda like a commander behind the other guardians. 

It was hotter today, the sun especially bright but not scorching. Usually Mirio would be bright and happy on a morning like this, but instead he was exhausted. 

He yawned as he entered the yard through a back door from the castle. 

“I see you’re tired, commander?” a voice said to him. He looked up to see one of the newer knights. Izuku Midoriya wasn’t the greatest swordsman in the land but had ambition and potential. He often asked Mirio for extra training and Toogata couldn’t refuse. Midoriya was quite an enjoyable person to be around.

“Mornin’, Midoriya--and yes I am a bit tired haha…. Got here early I see?” Togata tried laughing it off.

“Yeah, since my mother joined the council those years ago its hard not to be early.” Midoriya smiled sheepishly.

Mirio wasn’t thinking when he snuck out last night. He kinda forgot about the knight’s training today. It wouldn’t matter anyway. He couldn’t sleep even if he wanted. Too stressed. 

“Are you still okay privately training me today?” Midoriya asked, gripping the sword in his sheath. He didn’t wear the usual armory since he was still younger, and much too tiny for it. He kept thick boots, blue pants and a dark green vest over a white shirt. It didn’t bother anyone since he wasn’t in any real battles yet.

“Of course! Its always a joy working with, ya!” Mirio gave a smile and thumbs up as the two started walking to a more obscure part on the field.

One kick at his feet and Izuku dropped on his back, the sword flying over his head in the process. He lifted his head warily, looking straight at the new found blade in between his eyes. His commander had no fear in pointing weapons at people.

“Hey, you’re getting pretty good!” Mirio said, stabbing his weapon into the ground so he could help his friend up. The ground was a free weapon carrier at times.

“Not good enough,” Midoriya said saltily, taking the strong hand the blonde offered. “The day I beat you is the day I say I’m pretty good.”

The two had gone to a side area slightly hidden by one of the towers of the castle. It was empty and quiet and by some woods. Perfect place to use sharp objects willingly.

“Oh, Midoriya. Your ambition will be your undoing one day,” Mirio let out a small laugh, plucking his sword out and lazily pointing it at his opponent.

Midoriya squatted down, not taking his eyes off his trainer to pick his weapon up. “But you always say ambition is a good thing,” the green haired boy counteracted.

Izuku tried quickly swatting at the taller but was blocked, a big clank occurring. 

“Yes but you gotta take it the right way-” 

Clank

“If you keep saying ‘I’m not good enough’-”

Clank

“Or, ‘when I do this then I’ll be able to accept that I’m pretty good’-”

Midoriya suddenly started running up to try and catch Mirio’s swipes and pushing their swords together to get him down.

With a struggling voice Togata tried to finish: “then you’ll only get burnt out-”

The blonde gave one big push and sent Izuku stumbling back a bit. Just enough for Mirio to kick the sword from the clumsy’s hand and send it up in the air. Sometimes bringing a foot to a sword fight helps. 

“Try looking more positively to it!” Mirio leaned forward a bit to grab the handle of the falling knife. He’s trained for really long and works on moves like that, now its easy to just throw shit up in the air and catch it.

Midoriya looked bamboozled. Mirio was truly an expert-no- godly swordsman. Though the prince denied it often, since there was no way he was as good as King Nighteye. The very few people that went against the king agreed fully but always put Togata as a close second. 

“It’s...kinda hard to look positively when I feel so weak…” Izuku clenched his fists at his side now empty handed.

Mirio flipped the new staff in his left hand downward and pushed it in Midoriya’s direction.

“You’re not weak. You have so much potential! You just gotta see it in yourself!” that smile almost made Midoriya’s eyes bleed with the light coming off it. But, he still grabbed his weapon. The two stepped away from each other, Mirio letting out another yawn. Midoriya lost his stance and stood straight to only ask a question.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why were you so tired earlier?”

Mirio hesitated, pointing his weapon down in front of him to lean on it.

“Just had some extra duties to take care of, haha…”

“Like ‘sneaking out the window in the middle of the night’ duties?”

Mirio’s eyes widened a bit.

“Wha-”

“Us newbies saw you sneak out your window last night.”

‘Newbies’ were the new group of teen recruits that Midoriya was a part of. Their sleeping floor in the knight’s tower did have a small view of where Mirio’s bedroom was. Wouldn’t be surprising if they saw him throw a rope out.

“Y-You saw that?” Mirio's voice cracked a little.

“Mhm,” Midoriya suggested, lifting his arm back up, ready to rechallenge Mirio. Togata did the same. “I assume you were going to the Moon Kingdom?”

They took lazy swings at each other.

“What makes you think that?”

Clank

“C’mon, Togata. We all know that you sneak out to see your friend, the other prince. Probably talking about the wedding that was just announced?”

Mirio stayed silent, sternly looking at his sword as it moved with the other’s steel. He should find out another way to sneak out...something less obvious.

“We won’t say anything. We like you too much to put Nighteye on your ass. Hehe.” 

The prince knew that Midoriya and the other new teens would keep their mouths shut. He’d somehow earned their trust and they were literally the little brothers he never had. Bonding and picking on them was so much fun.

“Prince Tamaki...doesn’t want to marry Princess Hadou. That’s what he told me,” Mirio said. It wasn’t a lie. Not at all, actually.

Clank

“A lot of arranged marriages are like that,” Midoriya suggested. “I’m assuming its an arranged marriage. Since the Enchanted Kingdom has been shitting on them.”

“Yep. The only way to prevent war or something.”

Clank

“I just...wanna be there for him, ya know? He doesn’t handle these types of things real well,” Togata’s tone was more upset than usual. 

Midoriya slowed down, the blonde moving with it until they both stopped, leaving Mirio staring off to the side. He was deep in thought. Something that only showed when there was a problem really itching at his brain. Like a bug constantly biting his ear and swarming his thoughts. 

“I don’t know how to help...but maybe just stick by him? You two have a good relationship, I can tell.” 

Those words echoed in Mirio’s head for the rest of the day. 

Stick by him.

Stick by him.

Stick by him.

He wanted to. He wanted to be near Tamaki all the time. Holding his hand along the way. Hugging him when he was scared. Kissing his head, telling him it would be alright when he was stressed. Just everything was toppeling down. And because of that stupid profecy in their kingdoms there was no way he could chime in like: ‘hey i love him now get away’. 

Togata just couldn’t see a way out. He was supposed to be a problem solver because that’s what future kings did, right? Guess that didn’t apply for himself. 

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“YuyuuuU!!!” 

From out a window, Tamaki watched as a carriage parked on the drawl bridge. Many footmen unloaded a couple chests and trunks and started bringing them into the castle. Nejire was staying in the Moon Palace until it was all official, so some of her stuff was brought there. Though it looked like all her stuff. Meanwhile the very happy princess hugged and cheered with the new arriving lady-in-waiting. 

The girl didn’t seem hesitant when Nejire squealed her name and hugged her. She had short hair, it was bubblegum pink. She had odd piercings around her ear and eyeliner for days. She didn’t look very poor but didn’t wear the most fancy clothing. A white top with ruffled sleeves and a belt separating the bottom that was green and looked like a bed sheet. It hung down to unfitting, large boots. Her style was odd but respectful.

“That right there is, Yuyu Haya,” a voice said from behind the staring prince. Tamaki looked over his shoulder, fiddling with the string that tied his purple pellucid hood together.

Fat Gum was standing there.

“She’s Hadou’s lady-in-waiting. She’ll be stayin’ with us until the wedding.”

The wedding . Why can’t people just stop saying things about the wedding.

Tamaki didn’t answer, just turned back and leaned his head against the stone. The king let out a sigh.

“I know you don’t want to marry her, Tamaki. You’re my son and I would jump off a cliff for you, but I also need to keep you safe. And I don’t want to put you in a war yet.”

“So making me king when I’m not ready to do so is a better option?” that was the extent of Tamaki’s talking back.

“If it means that you can wait longer to see the spoils of fightin’ and death then yes.”

There was one thing Tamaki wanted to say: “Why do you shelter me so much?”

Fat Gum just really loved Tamaki. And Amajiki was delicate already. The king just wanted to protect the prince. Protect his son, but it was harder as he got older. Tamaki’s anxiety was worsening, he had more responsibilities and he just wasn’t growing into someone he needed to be.

There was silence before Fat Gum answered to it. 

“I also wanted to tell you, bud, Queen Ryukyu and I have decided to go out of the kingdom for a while.”

Tamaki perked up. His pointed ears even bounced with the movement.

“Only a week. There’s some stuff we need to take care of in the Enchanted Kingdom.”

“What’s going to happen when you’re gone?” Tamaki asked, fully turning around to face his father.

“Well, we see it as a practice opportunity. For you and Princess Hadou. You’ll both be Queen and King in the next couple months, takin’ over for 7 days won’t kill ya.”

Rule for 7 days? 

Tamaki wasn’t violent, but the exact words that came to his head was: this is bullshit.

It was coming to reality. There was no getting away or procrastinating the thought he had a future wife. It wasn’t even a thought anymore, it was gonna happen.

“Th-The Moon Kingdom is under a lot of maintenance right now…we are fusing with another branch,” his thoughts ended up coming out loud, Tamaki’s worries were truly taking over.

“Exactly. Runnin’ a kingdom usually ain’t this hard but difficult. If ya’ll can get through a week of this, I see you makin’ a great Queen and King.” Fat Gum seemed too happy about this.

Tamaki pondered in his mind. Who knows the hell he was about to endure. Then again, Hadou was just like Mirio just asks way more questions and is a girl. One week, Amajiki. One week.

“When will you set off?” he asked, tilting his down a bit to avoid eye contact. The purple hood covered his face. 

“Exactly a day from now. By the mornin’ after next you’ll be temporary king,”

That’s just great.

“Now go down and meet Hadou’s lady-in-waitin’, will ya? And tighten that corset of yours a bit, you’re slouchin’,” Fat Gum sang as a random knight came up to him, Fat having to bend down so the poor guy could whisper in his ear. 

Tamaki wanted to growl but was too depressed and anxious to. His hands shook as he took the thin strings tied up to a bow on his corset and pulled. 

Ow, ow, ow, ow...

It hurt real bad. 

So bad...

But he’d gotten used to it after 3 years. He hated how his body looked now. He was already a little scrawny from not much exercise, his arms unfortunately fitting perfect to the tight black sleeves. The gold cuffs he was often forced to wear just dangled because his wrists were too small. Thankfully he didn’t have to look formal now. But marrying a girl while you have thin hips because of a rib-prison you’re forced to wear, and a dick that probably isn’t fit to make babies is just embarrassing.

By time Tamaki looked up, Fat was gone. He tried rubbing the side of his stomach to sooth the pain but nothing worked. The leather was too thick. He heard more squeals from the outside. Guess it was time to meet his new roommate. 

As Tamaki gently walked down the hall, he was often passed by maids or guards with the things from the carriage. And downward he could see Princess Nejire in another big dress-this time a mixture of light pinks and greens like roses- with Haya at her side. They were laughing and locking elbows with one another before Nejire noticed Tamaki down the hall. 

“Amajikiiiiii!!” she sang, unlocking her arm to run up to him, her smile spread across her face. She grabbed a hold of Tamaki’s arm and started walking him over to Yuyu who was catching up. “I want you to meet, Yuyu Haya! She’s my lady-in-waiting, slash, my friend.”

Tamaki’s only thought: why are you touching me?

They were suddenly face to face with Yuyu. She didn’t seem as energetic as Nejire, instead just bowing, greeting: “Your highness…”

Tamaki put his hands up defensively and shook a bit. “Y-You d-don’t have to do th-that…”

“Are you the one to marry Nejire?” Haya asked, standing straight and tilting her head. Still calm as ever.

Tamaki didn’t want to say so. Both him and Hadou got these looks like ‘do you have to say that?’ So uncomfortable, no confidence. 

“Mhm…” was the only noise Tamaki could make. He looked down at the ground. 

Nejire could feel Tamaki’s nervous waves coming off of him. 

“Uhh--come on, Yuyu! I wanna show you our room!” Nejire switched arms, her and Yuyu dodging maids and footmen. Tamaki watched them leave. He thought about being able to stay in the same room as his best friend. Yuyu was Nejire’s lady in waiting...but Mirio was Tamaki’s knight in shining armor. 

Amajiki didn’t have time to think about that. The things he wanted and wished for weren't on the list at the moment.

Chapter Text

Mirio couldn’t sleep, no matter how fucking hard he tried. He just laid there on his bed, mind racing as he stared at the ceiling. No surprise that word got around fast in the two kingdoms. He knew about Tamaki and Hadou having to rule for the next week. He couldn’t imagine the extra stress on his Tamaki right now. 

Damn that prophecy. If that thing never existed then Mirio could marry Tamaki with no problem. The fusion of the kingdoms would be great anyways. Heh, marrying Tamaki...that would be nice. Then they wouldn’t have to travel across a kingdom to find each other.

Mirio’s thoughts become less hectic. Thinking about Tamaki smiling when Mirio kissed him in private. That blush he got on his cheeks the first time they embraced. How Tamaki clings to his shoulders whenever Mirio gives him one last hug. He loved how Tamaki looked at him. How beautiful he looked at the annual Sun Ball. When they snuck up to a terrace so they could dance without anyone seeing. The stars made Tamaki’s eyes glitter.

If only he could relive that. 

He wanted to see those eyes again.

He wanted to see Tamaki again….

He wanted to hold him, and tell him its okay. He wanted to pet his head and give him comforting kisses. He just wanted to...to stick by him. 

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For once, it seemed silent. No voices around. Just the quiet sounds of night bouncing off the stone walls. Tamaki was thankful for it. Trying to take in the silence before chaos surrounded him.

The next day, Fat and Queen Ryukyu were set to leave for the Enchanted Kingdom. Princess Hadou and Prince Amajiki would be acting Queen and King for the Moon Kingdom, and Tamaki was not ready for that.

Sitting at his desk with thoughts that dragged in his head for miles. He watched the candle flicker in shadows as he rested his cheek on his hand. He was tired, but not sleepy. What an odd feeling. 

Maybe it was because he was uncomfortable? For some reason he still hadn’t changed into his night clothes. Still wearing that stupid corset….

Thud

Tamaki’s train of thought was at once cut off with a noise coming from his window. He looked over cautiously, scared of what lurked outside. Then, a set of fingers were suddenly latched to the ciel, another hand popping up and giving a little wave. He knew those hands-

“Uh-a little help?” a distant voice said. Oh my god...it was Mirio-

Tamaki jumped and ran over to the window, his hood blowing behind him. He held a firm grip with the recent waving hand, the now familiar blonde man able to pull himself up. Tamaki let go and took a step back when Mirio planted both hands down.

“M-Mirio?! How the fuck did you get up here??” Tamaki asked in a small panic.

“Its- grrr -easier to scale a castle than you think,” Mirio said in a hoarse manner, finally able to pull his bottom over the ledge. “Don’t ask.”

He finally pulled himself in, unfortunately ending in him falling to the floor.

Tamaki just stood frozen, hands up in worry of this dummies’ safety. “Y-You can’t just c-climb a palace in the middle of the night, Mirio!”

Tamaki could only stammer. Meanwhile the blonde was able to stand and brush himself off. He was wearing his usual everyday clothes, his hair only a little messy. Like he got into bed and hardly moved around. The weirdest part, he was missing his sheath. He brought his sword everywhere. Why not here?

Mirio looked up, finally noticing the shocked prince. He let out a few sighs, just admiring the person in front of him. Tamaki was just as he expected. His indigo hair was messier than usual. He wasn’t in night clothes which he forgot to change into when he was stressed. He still had his red nose and pointed ears... he was so beautiful.

There was only empty silence between the boys before Tamaki answered to it.

“Mirio, what’s...wrong?” the indigo finally had the courage to calm his hands, waking the blonde from his admiring state. He took one more glance at Tamaki, instantly at a loss for words. Instead, he made a sudden sprint, catching Tamaki in his arms.

It was so quick Tamaki didn’t have time to react. All of a sudden Mirio had trapped him in a tight hug. His face was squished into Tamaki’s shoulder, leaving Tamaki with his arms scrunched to his chest and an empty, loved glare.

“I just...really wanted to see you,” Mirio admitted, his voice coming out as shaky.

“Mirio-” Tamaki started to feel warm kisses peppering at his jawline. Not like happy kisses, like emotional relief kisses. Those kisses you give to someone you haven’t seen for a long time. They felt...nice.

Tamaki slowly sank into the touch, letting his arms slide around Mirio’s neck. Mirio hugged around his waist tight as his kisses became deeper and more spread out. It was a calm feeling Tamaki had. He let out gentle sighs. 

“...Mirio?” right as Tamaki said that, the smooches lightened up.

“Hm?...”

Tamaki placed a hand on the back of Mirio’s head, threading his fingers in the blonde locks. “What happened?”

Mirio hesitated for a second. He rubbed his hands under Tamaki’s hood, running them around his back through the black fabric.

“I don’t...I don’t really know…” the blonde’s mind went blank. He was so used to Tamaki wanting to pull away almost every time they had an intimate moment. Right now, he was just feeding into it. Letting Mirio kiss him. Letting him hold him. If only this could last forever. 

The sound of Tamaki’s dull nails scratching into Mirio’s head filled the room. He loved it when he did that. If Mirio was a cat, he’d purr louder than an avalanche. He started to feel restrained. Tamaki’s pellucid hood blocking him from fully grasping his body. Mirio wanted to touch him. If he wasn’t allowed to be with his Tamaki, he’d want to make these last few months last. He wanted to do as much as he could. No matter how scandalous it was. He carefully reached his hands up to Tamaki’s chest, searching for that targeted string.

Tamaki was confused at the blonde’s movements, stopping his ministrations to his locks. “What are you…” before he could finish, he felt the male’s fingers fiddling with the knot of the string that held his cloak. He was confudled. Was he…

Finally the rope came undone, the cape slipping from the small shoulders and landing on the ground. Mirio started at Tamaki’s neck again. This time placing more wet, firm kisses. 

“Mn-w-what are you d-doing?” Tamaki’s arms dropped from his lover’s neck, his hands squeezing at the sewing on his sleeves. Mirio didn’t answer, instead moving his palms to the tiny waist he held. He was greeted with the thick leather of that damned corset. 

“God, I hate this on you,” Mirio murmured against the raven’s neck. Tamaki’s eyes were shut as his head laid on Mirio’s trapezius. The grip on the white sleeves only tightened as he felt the hefty hands rub the outside of the corset, ending at the strings. “It hurts doesn’t it?”

Tamaki had no words. It did hurt. He knew Mirio hated it too. His stupid protective father. His posture wasn’t worth the strain he went through everyday. Even right now, when he’s never felt more confused and comforted, it hurts. He couldn’t describe his emotion. Just. Frozen. He worked up the muscles to give a shy nod. Mirio took it as an opportunity, slipping his fingers into the bowed knot. 

“You want it off?”

Nod

After much pulling, Mirio was able to unravel the strangling clothing. He felt Tamaki give out a sigh. It was weird, ya know, seeing his stomach move when he breathed. The freedom of that thing felt fantastic. Tamaki took it off every night, but every time was like a wave of relief. He usually wouldn’t let anyone see him without it on. Not only because he was afraid of his father giving him a lecture about his image to the kingdom, but because of how disgusting he looked now. This time, though, he was with Mirio. And even if Tamaki’s demons denied it, Mirio loved every part of him. 

It was true. Mirio reveled at Tamaki’s body. He was tiny compared to him. He fit perfectly in his arms. Tamaki was already small compared to many men, though his height didn’t help. Him being described as scrawny most the time. Not to mention his outfit consisted of a black long sleeve that was skin tight. It showed his alienated form perfectly. But Mirio loved it. Even the small indent his hips formed from years of the corset. He slowly dragged his hands down Tamaki’s sides. 

Tamaki felt a shiver going down his spine. This was...different than the times before. Was Mirio trying to do what he thought he was? They’d never done anything like that-

Suddenly, it all hit. He knew exactly what Mirio was doing. 

“W-Wait!” Tamaki exclaimed in a panic. He jolted back, grabbed the thick forearms and yanking them away. 

He looked up at Mirio with glassy eyes. Mirio was startled, his hands not moving a trace. 

“I...I know what you’re doing-”

Mirio was hit with a wave of embarrassment. He should’ve seen this coming the moment he started to oh-so-casually undress his boyfriend. 

“Mirio you shouldn’t even be out here, we can’t do this-someone could hear us-”

“But do you want to?” that phrase had so much passion in it. The blonde grabbed at Tamaki’s forearms, his fingers almost touching. He leaned into Tamaki’s face. The indigo was once more stumped in sentences. “It doesn’t matter if we can’t, right now its what you want.”

“I...I…” Tamaki hadn’t been told that...ever? He never got what he wanted. Mirio reached for his pale hands, holding them closed in his own.

“Tamaki we don’t have a lot of time left…. And unless we figure out something, like, settling the feud with the kingdoms or running away-”

“Running away?!”

“Besides the point. I just...one day I’m gonna probably gonna have to get married too. Its just how these kingdoms work. But when I’m married to someone I could never love as much as you, I don’t want to look back at these last months and see us grow apart. I want to experience as much stuff as I can with you. I don’t care if I get in trouble for sneaking out. You’re all I care about. I just want to savor my moments with you.”

Those words, they were so overwhelming. Tamaki felt so loved. He hated how this world worked. Every prince or princess forced to rule things they didn’t ask for. Sins passed down in the family that affect you when you did nothing to cause it. If they lived in a village, they could do whatever they wanted. They could get married, have kids, start a small shop where they’d go everyday and work together. But that’s just a fever dream. Something that could never be reality. This was reality. Forbidden love that could only last a little time. When Tamaki was married to that weird girl, all he’d have is memories. And he didn’t just want to remember memories, he wanted to savor moments. 

Tamaki surged up and clinged on Mirio’s neck, closing his eyes as he let their lips smash together. Mirio stumbled back from the unexpected leap, but quickly picked himself up, kissing Tamaki back with as much power as he had and wrapping his strong arms around his waist. Tamaki loved it. He loved feeling that close to Mirio. Every quick smooch of their lips was exhilarating. It was happy kisses this time.

Mirio smiled against the other’s lips, hugging tighter before turning around and finding the prince’s bed. Tamaki let out the cutest squeal and giggled as Mirio dropped them both onto the mattress, the pillows jumping with it.

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It was still early. You can tell when its still premature morning because everything seems baby blue. There’s mist on the ground and mildew covering every plant it can. The Moon Palace was just starting to wake up.

In just a few hours, Queen Ryuko and King Fatgum were supposed to leave for the Enchanted Kingdom. Both the temporary rulers were supposed to meet for breakfast to discuss duties, but the young prince hadn’t showed up yet? Thus sent Nejire on this journey through the confusing castle on the search for the missing royal.

Amajiki’s bedroom was only...six hallways away from Nejire’s current dorm. Not difficult to find right? Just gotta figure out if its the right hallway, or the left hallway. What is left and right? Is up and down even a thing? Its like a maze making her forget basic knowledge. The Enchanted Castle isn’t half this bad to coordinate. She let out a frustrated huff by time she came to another left and right situation. 

“Aw, fiddlesticks…” she mumbled to herself, the less poofy gown she wore swaying with her stop. It was her favorite dress, a teal top with poofy-lace yellow sleeves off her shoulders, a less poofy bottom with the same teal and a darker teal lace flowing out the sides. Everything was lined with navy purple ruffles which evaluated the swirley tiara she sported. 

Mn-!

“What da fu-”

Mf…

Something caught her ear. Just down the left corridor she heard...what do you call that, muffled ‘mns’? The more she walked, the more these moanatic sounds got louder and clearer. She walked as quiet as she could in those noisy slippers, the long periwinkle hair flying with her sped up steps.

Mi..

She navigated the sound to one room. It had one big door, much fancier than Nejire’s guest room but still very similar. 

She carefully pressed her ear up to the gate.

Ah-Mi...rio-

Was that, Amajiki??

It sounded like it. Even though it was muffled, it had that iconic grudge with a sprinkle of anxiety in it. What was he doing in there? Is he okay?

THUD

Nejire jumped at the large thud, followed with another ‘ ah ’. 

Oh no, was he hurt?? Was he stuck somewhere?? Is someone trying to capture him??? Her worry started to get to her head. She tried the doorknob, it was locked. That’s okay, she has something better than keys. 

Nejire bit her lip as she pressed her pointer finger in front of the key hole. In her mind she recited the quote that she studied in one of her sorcery books back home.

Slowly, a swirl of glowing yellow light erupted from the tip. It glowed as it twisted into the keyhole, a series of clicking sounds following until the door finally cracked open. She opened it swiftly and-

Tamaki’s heart dropped the moment he heard the door fly open. 

This was so stupid. Mirio should’ve just gone home. He shouldn’t have begged Mirio to stay for a little longer. If that didn’t happen, then they wouldn’t have started cuddling, and they wouldn’t have started kissing, and Mirio wouldn’t be on top of Tamaki, sucking on his neck and choking a tongue down his throat just before Tamaki’s future wife opens the door.

Tamaki turned away from his makeout session, distracted by the now open entrance and familiar princess standing wide eyed in the doorway of it. Nejire let go of the handle the moment she got it opened, making it swing back into the wall, startling Mirio enough to make him stop sucking at the ear of choice and looking over his shoulder to only now notice what the fuck is happening. 

Three seconds. 

Three god awful seconds these children stared at each other. Nejire looked shocked. Maybe she was trying to process looking at her future husband in bed with the boy from the other kingdom on top of him. Maybe Mirio was trying to figure out a joke to get them out of this situation. Tamaki just felt dread. The worst anxiety he’s probably ever felt. Thank god they were clothed. Yeah, Tamaki was in pajamas and a white robe, but it was something. At least she didn’t catch them last night when Tamaki was getting his ass fucked raw okay??

What was he kidding, the whole ‘clothed’ thing was to just make him feel better about this. About the brick smashing him in the face. About how now Hadou’s going to tell their parents about this. About how the whole kingdom is going to know that Prince Togata and Amajiki are in love when their kingdom’s rulers are forbidden to ever, ever love each other….

Three seconds. 

Three seconds of this hell...

Eventually, with still wide eyes and a jaw dropped face, Nejire suddenly swooshed her hand, the door magically following her movement and slamming shut. There was a weird sparkle sound that went with it? God magic was such a strange thing. 

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“Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay, let me get this right…”

Mirio felt like he was a little kid again. Having to stand against a wall in shame while the teacher scolded him for going out into the woods without permission during break. That’s what it felt like. Except both he and his best friend, stood shamefully against the wall while Nejire Hadou stood in front of them, trying to make sense of the insane story they just had to explain. Tamaki’s head hung down, his fingers fiddling with each other nervously. His white robe covered his black night shirt. The strings that held the v-neck together just barely seeping out. However, it couldn’t hide the long legs that failed to be covered by his scrappy shorts. Tamaki looked so cute in his pajamas. They were never as nice as his normal clothes, and Mirio loved it. He was surprised that his open feet weren’t cold on the floor though? Maybe Mirio was somehow radiating body heat that kept his lover warm enough. Tamaki did say he was the human fireplace everyone needed.

Still, even Tamaki’s beaming beauty couldn’t mask his worriedness. Hadou was waiting outside the door when they came to face her. He was surprised that she didn’t go to tell right away. 

“You two are in a secret relationship but you’re not supposed to be so you’ve been sneaking around but now that I’ve come into the picture you don’t want to marry me so you’ve been trying to spend as much time as you can together before we have to get married and for some god forsaken reason you thought that having sex with a non-enchanted door would be the best decision especially the night before you’re parent leaves and you have to rule for a week.”

“Do you, do you breathe...when you talk?” Mirio asked confusingly. 

“Not relevant,” Nejire put her hands on her hips. “But I got it right?”

“Uh, yyyyyyeeahhh…” Mirio reluctantly agreed.

“Oh god please…” Tamaki hid his face in his hands. “Please, please don’t tell anyone…. He-He can’t know. W-We weren’t planning on seeing each other after we married. B-But if anyone finds out...I don’t, I don’t know what’ll happen.”

Tamaki felt so ashamed. Having to resort to begging just to keep this a secret. Why did the world work this way…

“Well of course I’m not gonna tell anyone?”

Both Mirio and Tamaki perked up at those words.

“What?” Tamaki squeaked.

“Why wouldn’t you say anything?” Mirio insisted.

A smirk grew on the periwinkles face.

“Let’s just say...I don’t want to marry you either.”

Chapter Text

“You, you what?” Mirio couldn’t help but loudly wonder what the hell came out of that girl’s mouth. 

I don’t want to marry you either… the words replayed in Tamaki’s head like a broken record player. “What do you mean?” the indigo perked up.

A loud snort erupted from the periwinkled princess, followed by tiny giggles. “Of course I don’t want to marry you, silly! Its so obvious you’re gay for your best friend.”

Tamaki thought for a moment. “Is it...really that noticeable?” he stuttered, breathing getting heavier with the sheer anxiety of not only what just happened, but the fact that so many people probably suspect the scandal already.

“Well, it is for me at least. I guess gays recognize gays, am I right?” Nejire smiled proud at that. “Oh yeah I guess that’s another reason too, I’m not totally into men, ya know?”

That was a lot of information to take in. Too much actually. It went from ‘oh god they’re gonna get caught’ to ‘oh my god she’s a lesbian’. 

“You aren’t?” a flabbergasted Tamaki remarked. 

“Eh, not really,” Nejire scratched her cheek. “There're so many kingdoms trying to get their princes or kings to marry me that I just got bored of it. I only really got excited when I’d meet a pretty lady wanting to wed me off.”

The Enchantment Kingdom was known for their magic but one other thing, their beautiful princess Nejire Hado. It was a famous fact that their kingdom constantly got merging offers not because of their resources (because god knows they weren’t doing so hot with that right now) but because they wanted to marry the princess. 

“Then why won’t you say yes to any of them?? You could have gotten yourself a gorgeous maiden by now,” Mirio chimed in. 

That was another thing that got around fast. Sometimes you’d hear the castle staff gossiping about how the Enchantment Princess turned down another bachelor or bachelorette. Tamaki always thought it was because they wanted a kingdom more high class to marry off to, but after seeing the way Queen Ryuko reacted when they announced that they were getting married, maybe they were just waiting to see where Nejire’s heart was going. 

“I guess, they just weren’t my type, haha,” the boys had yet to see her act nervous.

Was this supposed to do something? Nejire could’ve easily kept that part of her life a secret. Confessing just made the situation more upsetting. Not only did the two not want to marry each other, but now they weren’t even attracted to each other? Two gays forced to marry and breed with one another when they dont even like the opposite gender? Tamaki already faced that reality, and now that he’s read this chapter, he knows that Nejire has too. Or maybe not? Nejire seemed like the airhead type in all honesty. 

A sudden look of pain washed over Tamaki’s face. What once was showered with loving kisses was now filled with sorrow. 

“That doesn’t change anything,” he hung his head down, the blonde and princess giving him an intrigued glance. “I’m not attracted to you either, and yet we’re still being forced to marry one another. A life sentence to ruling with someone you’ll never love. No matter how upset or gay we are, we’ll never be able to escape each other.”

That sorrowed expression affected all of them now. The stab of that fact really seeping to their bones. But Mirio wasn’t about to take shit from it. He slowly started to get more excited, even bouncing on his toes a little and slapping quick taps on the indigo’s shoulder.

“Hey-HEY this might not be so bad!” both Tamaki and Nejire looked at him like a crab had just crawled out of his anus. Mirio took a step back. “We all don’t want this to happen, right?” He made a double handed point at the two. They nodded in agreement. “Then let’s figure out a way to stop it. There’s three minds on this opinion now, what could stop us??”

“A lot of things,” scowlded Tamaki. 

Opposing Nejire now had a more hopeful expression on her face. “I mean its way better than weeping out in our own heads, right, Amajiki?” Tamaki just growled. 

“Aw, come on! Its not an entirely stupid idea,” Mirio insisted. He reached over to grab both of his lover’s hands, stepping closer. “Don’t you think we are worth fighting for?”

Tamaki shook his head like he was getting a bad idea out of it. “Of course we are but not like this! We can’t just play god! Mirio, you shouldn’t even be here right now!”

Something dropped. Pretty hard on the himbo’s head. He thought it was an atomic bomb setting off in his brain as the sirens started screeching within his ear drums. His pupils went skinny as a hard realization set in. 

“Oh, shi-MOTHER FUCKER- I GOTTA GET THE FUCK HOME -”

Suddenly, Mirio jolted out of the group and started booking it down the hallway. 

“TOGATA WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING??” Nejire yelled down to him. 

“I GOTTA GO, MY DAD’S GONNA KILL ME!”

“WHAT ABOUT THE PLAAAAAAN???”

“WE’LL TALK ABOUT IT LATERRRRRR-”

And then he was gone. One slick turn into another corridor and he vanished. Tamaki assumed that he was going to use the window next to the south tower. It had growing vines that Mirio used a lot when he snuck in.

“Okay c’mon now get dressed, chicken heart,” quickly changing the subject, Nejire pushed Tamaki’s shoulder towards his room door. 

“Seriously at a time like this-”

“Yes at a time like this! Would you rather get pissed on by your dad for being even more late for breakfast or keep procrastinating?” she pushed him until the door was shut. 

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Both Tamaki and Nejire finally made it to the dining hall. After a swift costume change, they were both finally ready to face the wrath which was the Queen and King.

At the entrance stood two familiar faces. On one side, a guard in armor with the helmet cover down (although you could still see the red hairs poking out of Kirishima’s neck), and the other a skinny bubblegum haired lady in ankle boots and a floral skirt with a buttoned top and leather vest. Haya didn’t dress very lady-like for a lady in waiting, Tamaki thought.

“I see you two early birds finally decided to join us,” the soft voice came from the elegant Queen sitting at one of the table ends. Far off on the other side, Fatgum had to sit sideways just to fit in the seat. 

“M..My apologies…” Tamaki shyly said, bowing his head a little. 

“Eh, ain’t no time for an apology now, son. Y’all come on the chefs brought your food in minutes ago,” Fat scolded . This time he was eating what looked like a giant steak for breakfast?

Across from each other were two plates, each with the same meal on them. Thank god for the thickness of the table. The king had it costumed made to fit his size, but that didn’t work out as much as he hoped. Still, it was nice not to feel the breath of the person eating in front of you.

Whilst letting Nejire walk first, Tamaki couldn’t help but notice the smirk she gave Yuyu. Not like a best friend smirk. Not the smile you give to your squad walking by, no no. This was mischievous . Tamaki was dating his best friend he should know. But still, he just carried on, grabbing his pellucid hood to take it down for the table.

Tamaki watched from his seat as Nejire licked her lips whilst looking at the food in front of her. It was nothing special though? Pork, eggs and kale. Still, she dug herself in the chair before immediately going for the fork. God, it was like watching Mirio eat. Even though all good princesses and princes were taught proper table edicate when they were little, he guessed maybe some forgot their manners at times. Tamaki peeked over at Ryuko who was greeting a maid bringing her a cup. She still hasn’t noticed?

“I see you’re a little hungry, huh?” Fatgum laughed, taking another bite from his much bigger spoon. Nejire looked up, frozen in time with a little egg hanging from her mouth.

“Oh, hun, please remember your manners?” the queen reminded her. Tamaki felt the wind of the maid rushing behind him to go back into the kitchen doors. 

“Oops- My bad!!” Nejire quickly grabbed the cloth napkin and wiped her face, laying it in her lap like how everyone was taught. 

“No need to apologize. You got a good appetite I see! Anyone like that is welcome in this family,” Fat assured. 

The Queen flattened out the bottom of her long red dress before digging into her own plate. “I do apologize, its been awhile since we’ve had fresh produce.”

Tamaki began laying his napkin in his lap as well. “Is it because...of the crop situation?” he asked curiously.

“I’m afraid, yes,” Ryukyu gently picked up her fork. “Our farmers have had so much trouble not only trying to grow food, but keep livestock as well. The livestock are suddenly found dead in the stables, they’ll wake up and their pumpkins or wheat are black and rotten.”

“Oh Oh, tag in!!” Nejire bounced in her seat. Ryuko gave a small grin and nodded her head slightly. She was probably happy that she could finally start feasting. “We think that its some sort of dark magic affecting the resources. A local professor tested out the remains of the crops and livestock and found this weird fairy dust. Wouldn’t be surprising if someone was trying to poison the produce with fairy dust since we are the number one kingdom for dark magic alley deals!”

“ Nejire. ” Ryuko hissed, as if she didn’t want people knowing that fact. Couldn’t blame her. “Hh, but that’s the just of it. We’ve had to use our emergency crop supplies but even that can’t feed the entire kingdom. So we haven’t had many good meals the past few months.”

Tamaki read about fairy dust once. A couple years ago when he didn’t have as many responsibilities, and when Mirio wasn’t around, he’d spend hours in their castle library. He loved educating himself on topics that he never learned in regular school. One of the books he read was about the fairies of the land. In a world with magic and strange creatures came these little pixies that watched over the kingdoms. Each one had a special ability and there were hundreds out there. But they always had to have fairy dust in order to work. They say that fairy dust is the key to all magic of the land, and without it magic itself wouldn’t exist. Witches like Nejire wouldn’t have powers, potions would immediately stop working. Fairies were sacred and hardly ever seen, just to make sure that the dust wasn’t put into the wrong hands.

“Well dig in then!” Fatgum lifted his cup up in the air to cheer. “Y’all are welcome to eat as much as you need, especially for the week we have ahead of us.”

And what a week that would be.

“Speakin’ of which, its probably a good idea for you to know what you’re gonna have to do,” another maid walked out from the big kitchen doors and up to Fatgum, taking his now empty plate. He ate that whole thing already?? “Tomorrow mornin’ you’re gonna have a list that you’ll both have to follow. Kinda like a calendar of some sorts? It gives you what you have to do each day at which time. Basically my duties split into two for a queen and king by me.”

Well at least Tamaki wasn’t going in completely blind. Still, he wasn’t excited about it. This was basically couples training. Hnn, he was getting uncomfortable again. If only Mirio was here…

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Mirio had never ran that fast, ever. The only time he has to book it to the exchange horse stable, take the back road through the woods, get the horse back to the Sun Kingdom stable branch, climb the castle wall and jump through a window to get home is...never. He never does that. The exchange horse system within the kingdoms was wonderful however.

Unlike the Moon Palace which was stone and slightly overgrowing in vines with bright purple flowers, the Sun Palace was completely clean and glimmering in the sunlight with its mainly gold atmosphere. By now the sun had come up, and it was almost blinding to look at. Sir was definitely strict about making sure the castle had a nice appearance. Fuck, Mirio sure hoped that Sir wouldn’t find him before he was able to make it to the knight’s tower where he was suppsed to be right now.

The window he had to go in from was on the other side from the knight’s tower, and the quickest way there was through the throne room. Mirio quickly walked through the corridor, careful not to let anyone hear his knee-high boots stomping on the ground. All he had to do was cross the throne room and dip into that one hallway that led straight into the east tower. Just a couple more-

“Wait just a second, Mirio.”

Fuck. He knew that voice anywhere. He stopped in his tracks, looking over cautiously. Standing there on the long red rug leading up to both thrones, the familiar tall man he so hoped to not see. His still slicked back green and yellow hair, the glasses that were white in the sunbeams. He wore his usual royal knight attire. Which was basically a commander’s uniform with more festive cloth. “Where might you be rushing off to this late?”

“U-Uhm, l-late?” Mirio was suddenly sweating much more than he already was. “I-I uhhh hadn’t noticed…?”

Truly, all the times Nighteye said: ‘Son you’re so bad at lying’ he was telling the truth. 

“You know you can’t lie to me, correct?”

Mirio gulped. “Y-Yes sir.”

Sir bent down to get a better look at the prince. Mirio was tall but not as tall as the king. Rounding at a match of 6ft vs 6’7 . Nighteye studied him. The blonde boy standing with his arms tucked to his sides as straight as he could. His cheeks were puffed out awkwardly, knowing that he was obviously not ready for the day. His hair was still in the bed, he didn’t even have his sword which he had with him everyday . Fuck, he should’ve stopped by his room to grab that.

It seemed like hours before Sir finally let out. Mirio felt like he could at least let out one breath.

The green haired man pushed his glasses to his face and put a hand behind his back. “Where were you, Mirio?” Mirio lost all eye contact. “You obviously weren’t in the castle, because the maids informed me that you were not in your room this morning, and the knights informed me that you were not at their training session this morning.”

Mirio still fell silent. He was so intimidated by Sir. Probably because he was his father, and the king, and the person who basically runs Mirio’s life. Decides everything that should and shouldn’t be for the future king. But Sir had a fun side. He just didn’t show it often. Especially when Mirio misbehaved. 19 years-old and still gets grounded. This world was such a fucking mess. Legal adult at 20 his perfectly rounded ass according to Tamaki. 

Sir let out a frustrated sigh. “I will not ask where you were because I already know. Just remember no matter how many castles you can scale, no matter how many guards you can sneak past and no matter how many kingdoms you can ride through on a 5 token horse, there is one thing you can never avoid. Me. ”

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The rest of the day wasn’t terrible. Nejire and Tamaki’s duties didn’t start until tomorrow so today the whole castle was to themselves with nothing to do. They both just hung out in the library, though. Tamaki found out that he was right about those mischievous glances Nejire and Haya gave one another. Turns out their best friends and also in love. That was really the only thing they talked about where he contributed to the conversation. Nejire’s really good and just talking for a long time without caring if anyone else is listening. While listening to her rant Tamaki thought she said something about her and some fairies having tea but figured that was too good to be true even for this perky ass witch.

Eventually, night came to say hello. Which was when the Moon Kingdom was most alive. That was the rule, the Sun Kingdom rules the day and the Moon Kingdom dominates the night. Tamaki was starting to get annoyed by the periwinkle’s continuous harassment. He couldn’t focus on reading at all and trying to day dream was doing him no good. Maybe having the moon family’s blood in him cursed him to never be dreamy during the day. OH my gosh imagine a world where the Sun Kingdom was awake during the day and the Moon Kingdom reversed cycled and Tamaki and Mirio fell in love like that. THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SUCH A GOOD STORY- FUUUUCK

Tamaki settled by leaning on the seil of one of the windows in the library. He loved looking out on the kingdom at night. Fireflies would come out, and dance around every building and every path. The roofs of the villages seemed to sparkle. The moon’s beams casted onto the trees and turned the leaves to ghostly blossoms only magic could create. Tamaki loved it...if only he wasn’t stuck up here to only watch the show.

“But its kinda weird with the fact that fairy god mothers could co-exist in this world, but studying fairy godmothers in the fairy tale books their magic seems closer to a fairy’s since a sorceress’s magic like mine can’t do that stuff with the limits of only spells. If I was powerful enough to write my own hexes then maybe I could twist the limits of the Magical Rules of Dimension and continue to use my magic such like a fairy’s but that’s never been heard of! Imagine replicating the complete power of a fairy. I think you’d need fairy dust to do that which is of course, impossible to find. Maybe not for me at least since fairies are literally like my home bois if you get what I mean, right, Amajiki? Amajiki…?”

Through her rambling she hadn’t noticed the slender indigo had migrated from his chair next to her to the stone aperture. She picked up her teal and yellow dress and stood from her seat, walking past the book cases to her future husband. 

“Hey,” she said. Nejire started off into the nightly city as well, leaning next to Tamaki. “Looking at the kingdom, hm?”

“Yeah,” Tamaki thought for a second. “I wonder what makes the night like this. So beautiful and elegant.”

“Hm, its probably just because that’s what your ancestors were. I don’t think anyones really sure how or why our families were connected to the things we are- but since your family was connected to the moon for some reason, your kingdoms are blessed with that trait. Same with mine, and Togata’s.”

Hearing Mirio’s name made Tamaki smile. Nejire noticed it, for possibly the first time since they’d met. 

“I think you two are meant for each other. There’s no reason why you two shouldn’t get married. The merger between the Sun and Moon kingdom would be great I bet!”

Tamaki gave her a disapproving look. 

“Do you even know the prophecy?”

“The what? A prophecy?”

“You don’t even know the background of the kingdom you’re going to rule, princess?”

Nejire shook her head innocently. 

“...Tell me please? I’m curious now.”

Tamaki let out a huff.

“It was a long time ago when our kingdoms were being built. Our families were amazing allies. Their empires were extremely close to each other, which is why they were such great friends. It got to the point where they wondered why the hell they were even still separate kingdoms. Why not just merge? Well, I guess the fairies didn’t like that. They appeared to our families, presenting a prophecy. Each Kingdom plays its own part. The day, and the night. The day and night aren’t supposed to mix. If the Sun Kingdom and the Moon Kingdom were to become one, then they would fall. Whether in a terrible war or terrible rulers. If either kingdom was to mix, it would be a cold day in hell. That’s why they never sign treaties, they have separate councils, and why two royals from each family cannot marry.”

“Oh... oh… ” Nejire was visibly shocked. “I...didn’t know…”

“It’s okay, a lot of people don’t,” Tamaki rested his head on his hand, drowning in his upset. 

“That can’t just be it, though? Every prophecy or spell by the fairies always has a loophole,” why did she know so much about this?

“Maybe...the fairies said something else. One day centuries from now, there will be those that can bring the kingdoms together at last. And only them can rule and their generations they create.”

“See I knew it!” Nejire hopped a little, causing Tamaki to scoot away. “So there is hope.”

“I guess, but no one knows who those people are or if they already passed in the line of generations. Everyone has been too scared to even try,” Tamaki explained.

“But prophecies are destinies, right? And destinies don’t just past by generations, destiny is destiny and it happens when it needs to however the fuck it needs to-”

“But its been proven that destinies can be broken, so its still a possibility…” Tamaki slapped his face in his palms, desperately just wanting to sleep at this point. A smirk grew on the periwinkle’s face.

“What if those rulers are you and Togata?”

Tamaki shot his face up and looked at her confusingly. “M-Me?!” his voice cracked. “I get maybe Mirio being the prophecy leader but me?? I don’t fucking think so.”

Tamaki turned and started walking away. “IT’S STILL A POSSIBILITY!” Nejire mimicked Tamaki’s previous phrase as she chased after him. 

Ya know, that whole prophecy stuff sure seems confusing...ooo maybe I’ll just ask them about it tomorrow!!