Bloom | By : chayron Category: +G to L > Kyou Kara Maou Views: 9093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou! It belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I'm not making any money from writing it. |
Disclaimer: I don’t own Kyou Kara Maou! – It belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I’m not making any money from writing it.
Warnings: yaoi (male x male), violence, swearing, angst, drama. Wolfram-centric, out of character, original character.
Summary: With Yuuri’s upcoming birthday, Wolfram makes his decision. Where will it lead him and what is to become of them? Should eventually be Yuuri x Wolfram.
A/N 1: Yuuri – 18 years old. Wolfram – 21. Eldara – 32. Halea – 20. Athara – 18. Gwendal – 54.
A/N 2: Greta doesn’t exist.
A/N 3: European/American/Japanese standards all at once depending on the plot requirements.
A/N 4: A tendency to ignore the anime/manga and supplement the story with my own imagined facts.
A/N 5: Season III is not taken into consideration, except for the fact that Wolfram’s uncle exists.
A/N 6: The umlaut in Gunter’s name is a bother.
Bloom
by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by Anonymously Awesome
Part 59
Almost nothing was visible through the matted, scratched up glass no matter how hard Yuuri tried to catch a glimpse of Wolfram and the earl outside. When the king had taken over the shack, someone had washed the windows but that hadn’t made much difference as old age, harsh weather and smoke had already turned them opaque. Nobody had ever bothered to wash them before, and the reason for that was simple – if one wasn’t able to see outside, it also meant that no one was able to see inside either. And this shack had apparently experienced some pretty wild things. Yuuri was certain that, if his plans went well, it was going to experience one more.
Yozak watched as the king stared futilely out of the window. He could have told Shibuya that the earl had no interest in men and that Wolfram was completely safe in his company. But it was much more fun this way. Still, it was safe to say that when it involved von Bielefeld, one could never be certain. Wolfram’s presence had a mysterious effect on people that could make them start doubting their preferences. Just like Shibuya himself.
The earl, however, was probably only teasing and having fun at the king’s expense. This was foolish of him. Shibuya wasn’t the same lost, naïve, foreign teenager that he was a couple of years ago. For better or worse, he had changed. He had a nation to lead. He was responsible for a country and its people. It was a crushing responsibility that Shibuya had faced head-on. The changes in him weren’t subtle either. Shibuya had become much more accustomed to his power, both magical and political. He used it much more often as well to get what he wanted. The earl had better not overdo it or one morning he might find that the new fort had been opened in his own castle.
“Have you sent that letter to Gunter?”
“Mmm? What letter? Ohh…” Yozak drawled, suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I completely forgot.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Yuuri said, waving his apology off with a lazy motion of his hand. “We shall ask the earl’s help in finding those skilled builders. And then maybe some building material that we lack or might lack. And if he’s still around by that time, maybe some horses.”
Yozak scratched his chin absently, wondering whether he was clairvoyant or it was just Shibuya who was transparent. “Do you really want to owe this man?”
The king’s eyebrows rose. “Owe? He will be adding to the welfare of the kingdom. It’s a privilege -an honor- and he should be grateful for the opportunity. Besides, the welfare of the kingdom is his own welfare.”
Yozak chuckled. “I see you’ve got this ‘kingship thing’ figured out.”
Yuuri sighed. If only. This was probably going to bite him in the ass.
_ _ _
The canteen was pleasantly buzzing with morning chatter. The king and von Christ were seated at the same table and were discussing the fine morning and their pancakes with fried eggs. Yuuri was running out of neutral things to talk about.
“It is admirable of von Bielefeld to seek kinship with the populace.”
The king glanced at Wolfram, who was sitting at the opposite side of the canteen, far away from them. He was laughing at something Lyam had said. The two other recruits he had seen hang about Wolfram were also there.
“Some men get too big-headed for their own good,” the earl continued, and Yuuri wondered if the man meant him, whether it was a sarcastic statement concerning Wolfram or if he was just being honest. Sometimes it was just impossible to tell. He didn’t particularly care whichever way as he was of the opinion that Wolfram was acting too familiar with those men, especially Lyam. It was, of course, a good thing that Wolfram had made friends, but… Frankly, the conversation between Wolfram and Lyam that he had overheard was bothering him to no end. He was exceedingly envious of their closeness and jealous of Wolfram. It was complicated. Wolfram, who was supposed to bear a permanent mark of unapproachable nobility, just like a king, didn’t seem to have difficulties finding friends. Yuuri meanwhile, felt oppressed by his own isolation.
“Your Lordship,” Yuuri said, “I was told that there aren’t enough experienced builders in Lesa. I would like to request your assistance in the matter. Surely there is one or two builders that Your Lordship could spare.”
The earl inclined his head. “Certainly, Your Majesty. I’ve actually sent out the order already.”
The king gave him a surprised look.
“His Highness von Bielefeld has expressed exactly the same request,” von Christ explained.
“Oh. I see.” Then Yuuri’s mind caught up with the meaning behind the information. “Is it in Your Lordship’s plans to extend the visit?”
“Ah, yes. For a few days.”
The displeased warning on the king’s face was only too obvious, and the earl couldn’t help smiling. “I can assure You, Your Majesty, that my interest lies solely in a spiritual friendship with His Highness.”
There was no expected relief on the king’s face and, in the confused silence, the earl waited for him to speak up. If the king didn’t even allow for that, there was no compromise to be made and he had to leave immediately or risk incurring Shibuya’s wrath. The situation didn’t seem amusing at all.
Yuuri suddenly felt embarrassed. “Yes. I mean, no. I don’t mind it as long as it is really within the boundaries of friendship.”
The earl inclined his head in a silent promise. “Of course. In this case, I must also mention that I have received an invitation to visit the White Owl. The invitation, naturally, extends to the rest of my family.”
The White Owl was the von Bielefelds’ main residence. Wolfram’s favorable invitation annoyed and upset Yuuri all the more as it indicated that, as promised, Wolfram intended to return to his lands after training. The king was tempted to ask if the invitation also extended to the earl’s long-term mistress Angelika von Gluck, but he held his tongue. There was no need to make enemies over something so trivial. At least Shibuya hoped that it was trivial.
The earl, however, had easily read the king’s thoughts from his face. He wasn’t particularly ashamed or even secretive of his relationship with Angelika, but he could appreciate the king holding back.
_ _ _
Lyam wasn’t easily frightened either by an opponent’s strength or money. Being dirt-poor, he didn’t have much to lose. He was also interested in a military career, which was going to either kill him or leave him crippled. Whether it would happen sooner or later didn’t make much difference to him. Yet, facing the king’s misplaced jealousy and anger didn’t appeal to Lyam at all.
“He keeps glaring at me,” he informed Wolfram. “Why don’t you explain to him that I’m not into dicks?”
“Explain that to him yourself,” Wolfram said. “Why should I care what he thinks?”
Lyam tsked angrily. “Maybe you don’t, but we do,” he said motioning at himself then at Kurt and Davidas. “Do you want us to get in trouble? You may well be enjoying making him jealous but we want no part in this!”
Davidas gave Lyam an uncertain look. Lyam was the only person in the fort who dared to speak to von Bielefeld like that. It was probably also the reason why the two were good friends. Von Bielefeld, however, could sometimes be unpredictable. There had been two times when he and Lyam had gotten into a fight. No one knew who had been first to start throwing punches but both times the two had made up a couple of hours after the quarrel.
Wolfram snickered. “Wasn’t it you who said that he’d want to console the king? Marry rich? It’s a good chance.”
“I’ll fucking punch you if you keep this up,” Lyam snapped at von Bielefeld in disbelief. “Don’t you fucking dare go jealous on me!”
Davidas shifted on his stool uncomfortably. “Uh, guys…”
Wolfram, however, fell quiet and didn’t say a word for the rest of the breakfast. Lyam took it as a promise to do something about the situation, and kept his mouth shut as well.
_ _ _
Flashes of lightning and thunder came at about midday. Everyone kept flinching and glancing at the dark sky and its rolling clouds but nothing happened for about half an hour. Then it suddenly started pouring buckets. All activity in the fort ceased at once, the soldiers running for shelter. Those who were out in the village or the new fort found shelter under trees or in villagers’ housings.
“Fuck it!” Wolfram cursed, his teeth chattering in cold. He had been standing under a chestnut tree for nearly half an hour now. His clothes were drenched, leaving him soaked to the bone.
“Just use your element,” Kurt told him. “No one will ever find out.”
From under the branches Wolfram took a look at the sky. The white sheen didn’t seem to lessen even though thundering and flashing had already moved deeper into the country. He followed Kurt’s advice and summoned his element to dry his clothes and warm up. Kurt asked him to dry his shirt as well. Quietly, he watched the blond do it. He couldn’t figure out what Wolfram thought about the king having chased him down to Lesa. He appeared to be discontent but there was obviously much more to it than that. Lyam knew the blond much better and was good at pushing his buttons. Not for the first time Kurt thought that the two would make a great couple. The problem was Lyam’s complete lack of interest in men. They joked about it often, Lyam often pretended to flirt either for laughs or to get what he wanted but when it came to actually sleeping with a man, he could punch one’s lights out for as little as a stolen kiss.
This was probably the main reason why Wolfram liked him. Whether the blond realized it or not all the men he had chosen to be on friendly terms with in the fort weren’t interested in him sexually. It puzzled Kurt somewhat, but he could guess several reasons for it. The blond seemed to be tired of attention. He did enjoy it, doubtlessly, but most of the men at the fort were hopeless sleazebags and Wolfram avoided them like plague. There was also the fact that by choosing to interact with the three of them he had skillfully avoided a conflict – the three of them weren’t interested in him sexually, so that didn’t cause any catfights and left him free for the rest of the fort. Sleazebags or not, there was no doubt that most of them had their eyes on von Bielefeld. He was also an unwelcome pressure on the already established couples since sooner or later one of them started swooning after him. The whole fort followed his every step like hawks. It had become troublesome but the king’s arrival had brought many back to their senses and put the fires out.
In general, von Bielefeld was a troublesome man to be around. His extraordinary, attention-drawing looks were almost a perfect match to his fiery personality. He was mostly reasonable, true. He was also pretty easy to get along with once one had his quirks figured out. However, he was narcissistic and stubborn beyond belief. Once he set his mind on something, there was no hammer big enough to beat the idea out of his thick skull. His self-confidence astounded one sometimes. It was natural for someone of his social status, but nonetheless. Strangely enough, he did respect those who stood up to him. Oh, he got mad as hell at them but, once the anger passed, he would suddenly offer a truce and a pint of beer. That was exactly what had happened with Lyam.
Kurt sighed. “What are you going to do about the king?”
Wolfram frowned at the question. He tossed the already dry shirt for Kurt to catch. “I don’t know,” he said honestly.
“Do you love him?”
The blond glared at him. “What kind of question is that?”
“Do you?”
Von Bielefeld was quiet and Kurt’s imagination started running wild. He had a hard time imagining the blond with someone in bed. He had heard those incredible rumors of him bedding von Ashira of Raizgad. Once having been asked about it, the blond had neither confirmed nor denied it. The duke, though, was much easier to visualize next to von Bielefeld than the young king.
“Now you’re imagining us together, aren’t you?” Wolfram accused, glaring.
Kurt shrugged. “You’d already let him have his way with you or else he wouldn’t have chased you all the way down here.”
Wolfram pursed his lips in protest. “Not exactly ‘his way’. And maybe he hasn’t come here because of me at all.”
Kurt grimaced in disgust. “If you were a girl, you’d probably sound cute. But now, you playing coy is just sickening.”
“Fuck you.”
Kurt grinned. “Gods… You’re so head over heels over him, aren’t you?”
“Fuck you!”
Kurt’s grin widened at the look on the blond’s face. “I don’t be-”
Then everything went white.
_ _ _
“How’s Kurt?” Wolfram asked and nearly doubled over in a bout of coughing. He moved into a sitting position on the bed. His voice was raw, his throat feeling as though it had been sanded down.
“He’s alright. He’ll live,” Yuuri said. Wolfram gave him a confused look, and he leaned in closer. “He is alright!” he shouted.
Wolfram flinched and leaned back away from him. “Don’t shout. I can hear you. Probably. My ears feel a bit funny.”
“Oh. It should pass soon. How are you feeling?”
“I… How did you say he was?”
“He’s fine, resting. I have worked quite some healing magic into him as well.”
Wolfram looked around. He was in the dilapidated shack that Yuuri had claimed as his royal office. He was in an actual bed, while there was another makeshift bed right next to this one. Several candlesticks had been lit here and there throughout the hut.
“How long was I out?”
“Not for long, several hours. But mostly that was because the healing magic had induced you to sleep. It’s about ten in the evening. Some children playing hide-and-seek had found the two of you unconscious and called for help.”
“Oh.”
The king watched him move, checking how his body responded. “You know, I wished for a dragon or maybe a group of bandits to attack us so I could play a hero and save the day in order to impress you. But lightning…? I can’t win against that… What were you even doing under a tree in a thunderstorm?”
“We thought it had stopped.”
Yuuri sighed. “So how do you feel?”
“Sore. Sleepy. Hungry. Want to the bathroom.”
“Seems like you’re quite alright.” He held his hands out for the blond. “Up.”
Wolfram was still somewhat unsteady, so he graciously accepted Yuuri’s help in dressing his uniform and putting his boots on.
“I want to see Kurt,” Wolfram said while they were walking through the door outside.
“He’s probably still asleep,” Yuuri said.
Wolfram wondered if that was true then decided that he didn’t really care. He trusted Yuuri not to lie about his condition, and there was nothing he could currently help Kurt with.
“You know, neither of them is interested in men,” he said instead. “Just so you know,” he said when Yuuri gave him a curious look. “They wanted me to tell you that.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I see. And you? Did you want to tell me that?”
“Mm…” Wolfram hummed, uncertain. “Not really,” he admitted finally.
“And why not?”
“Because you piss me off.”
“So you want me to feel jealous?” Yuuri concluded. “Is this your way of taking revenge on me? Or are you doing this because you simply enjoy seeing me jealous?”
“Maybe a bit of both,” Wolfram admitted, and Yuuri froze in unexpectedness. This was probably the first time when Wolfram had admitted to anything. He turned to the blond, but Wolfram kept going towards the toilets.
oOo_A few days later_oOo
Yuuri gathered all his courage and pushed the door open. Pairs of eyes stared at him.
“Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Your M...”
Shibuya raised his hand in order to stop the endless greetings. He cast a look around the sauna. It was just as he had expected: naked and half-naked men washing themselves. Wolfram was sitting at the door, staring at him just like the others. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, and Yuuri had to do his best not to shamelessly gawk at his bare chest and shoulders.
“Out,” Shibuya said, pointing at the sauna door.
No one said a word, there wasn’t even a sigh from those who had only started washing themselves. Everyone got up, turned to the door and filed out through it.
Wolfram was simply sitting on the bench, watching the other men leave one by one. However, he was considering sneaking out through the door together with the others. It would probably be easy since he was right at the exit. If only the king looked away for a moment…
Von Bielefeld’s face had almost healed; the burn from the lightning having retracted to a thin line across his cheek that forked out into two more lines. Yuuri thought that it looked like a cross made of pinkish thread. As expected, Wolfram had flipped out when he saw the mark on his face for the first time. It didn’t even matter that he knew that with all the healing magic that had been used on him it wasn’t going to leave a scar. At the sight of the burn, he let out a stream of menacing curses and nearly punched the royal guard for ordering him to stop swearing in the king’s presence then stormed off somewhere and returned only after a couple of hours.
Near the door was always where Wolfram was usually found in a sauna. He didn’t like it too hot and usually entered the sauna when there was hardly any heat and steam left. One would never think him a fire wielder.
The men finally left and Shibuya slammed the door shut.
“You might want to leave it open,” Wolfram pointed out. “Your jacket will get drenched in sweat in seconds.”
“I don’t intend to wear it for long,” Yuuri said meaningfully, and Wolfram’s eyebrows rose.
“And why not?”
Yuuri rolled his eyes. He could have easily answered that he intended to bathe, but it would have been a sarcastic lie. “Will you stop this finally?” he said instead. “You kept avoiding any chance of us staying alone and I can’t bear it anymore. I have made my intentions very clear, haven’t I? I want your honest answer.”
Wolfram put his palms on his lap and leaned his back against the wall of logs. “And I keep telling you to fuck off. What part of this you don’t understand?”
“I said, I want an honest answer, Wolfram. There’s none in this shit you’re spouting.”
“You’ve made a fool out of me once, and there won’t be a second time.”
The king threw his arms up. “I was the foolish one, Wolfram. I still am, alright? Why don’t you just give us a chance and see how it goes?”
“You can’t ask that of me.”
“I just have,” Yuuri said. His shirt was already sticking to his perspiring body, and he started taking his jacket off.
“Alright,” Wolfram said angrily. “Listen, I have tried to think about this from your perspective and…”
“No need for that,” Yuuri interrupted him, unimpressed. He threw his jacket on the bench on his left. “How about you just ask what I think?”
“Can you shut up and listen to me?”
“Yes, I can,” Yuuri said with a sigh. He rubbed at his forehead. He could already tell that now there was a bunch of most logical, but absolutely useless reasoning incoming.
“A relationship between a man and a woman,” Wolfram continued, ignoring the king’s sigh, “has a much longer-term expectancy because of its reproductive aspect. When they feel comfortable enough or by accident, they produce offspring and, even if feelings start to disappear, they stay together in order to raise said offspring.
“A relationship between two men, meanwhile,” he motioned at himself then Yuuri, “ends as soon as the passion is gone. It’s temporary and fruitless, isn’t it? Isn’t this how you think?”
Yuuri had to agree with Wolfram’s reasoning, yet the blond had simplified it all so much that it left no room for affection whatsoever.
“No, I don’t, Wolfram. I do agree that you’ve made it sound like an excuse I would have gladly used in the past. Currently, though, all I’m interested in is how to make this thing between you and me work. We’ll have to see for ourselves if this relationship will be fruitless and temporary. And even if it is, so what? So are most others. Men or women, there’s no guarantee for success. Besides, it all depends on what one defines as success. Personally, I would be happy as long as you finally stop running and acknowledge the feelings you have for me. Well, happy for now, that is.”
“I don’t want to.”
Yuuri rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I kinda figured you didn’t. But you do have them no matter how hard you are trying to deny them. We’ve nearly had sex too. You let me.”
Wolfram snorted. “Yeah, nearly. Listen, these are two completely different things. Even if I let you fuck me, which I won’t, it won’t mean anything.”
“Yeah, sure, that’s why you’ve been virgin right up to your twenties. Because you’ve been having sex left and right with whomever just told you that they wanted to.”
“Fuck you.”
Annoyed, the king shook his head. “Instead of having faced me directly, you have run all the way here. I suppose you wanted to see whether I’d follow you or not. Well, I did!”
“Suit yourself,” Wolfram said out of the blue. That was true. He hadn’t been the least bit surprised by Yuuri having chased him down all the way to Lesa. He had expected it to happen. He would have been disappointed and even insulted if it hadn’t. He was perfectly well-aware that Yuuri knew that as well.
The king tried to sit down on the bench next to Wolfram, but his trousers were wet and stuck to his legs, so he remained standing. “What do you want me to do, Wolfram? I have come after you just as you wanted. I keep declaring my feelings for you. What else do you want from me? A ring on your finger? Or is it a bracelet here? An official apology concerning the previously terminated engagement? I can do that.”
“That would be a start.”
Yuuri gave him a searching look. Wolfram looked annoyed. The king felt his own anger rise. “We keep on talking and talking, but you’re never honest. You just spew whatever randomly comes to your head. Will you finally stop it? To anything I say you have a thousand bullshit answers! Just fucking stop it, alright?”
“Make me.”
There was something malicious and cruel about the way Wolfram had said it. Uncertain, he watched the blond’s face. Then it suddenly dawned on Yuuri. This was actually the only way for him to have Wolfram. Just as Yozak had said.
“Alright, I’ll make you,” Yuuri said, unbuttoning his trousers. He hadn’t intended it to be so demonstrative, it had somehow happened naturally. The problem was that it ticked Wolfram off so much that the blond jumped to his feet with his fists clenched.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, outraged.
“And what does it look like?” Yuuri wondered. He kicked his trousers off and stepped up to Wolfram.
“It looks like you’ve completely lost the last few brain cells you possessed before,” the blond informed him.
Wolfram didn’t retreat, and Yuuri couldn’t help a bitter chuckle that escaped his mouth. Wolfram really was going to make it all his responsibility, absolutely all of it. Playing hard to get just so he could check his resolve. For gods’ sakes…
“What are you laughing about, you dickhead?” the blond demanded.
“I’m thinking about how long you will keep this charade up.”
The green in von Bielefeld’s eyes darkened. “Don’t you dare make fun of me.” Ignoring him, Yuuri’s palms pressed against the log behind the blond, at both sides of his neck, fencing him in. Wolfram’s eyebrows rose at the shorter man in disbelief. “I’ll fucking punch your teeth out.”
And that was probably true. Wolfram was physically stronger and well-versed in physical combat and could probably beat him into a pulp if he wished. Yuuri, however, was certain that he didn’t. “Then why don’t you?”
Yuuri kept forgetting that baiting Wolfram had never been a good idea since the blond almost always took the bait just to teach the teaser not to mess with him. Just like now. He staggered back at the half-hearted punch.
“Oh for fuck’s sakes, Wolfram!” the king yowled, pressing his palm over his left eye. He could tell that Wolfram hadn’t put much strength into the punch but it still angered him. He shoved at the blond’s chest. “Just stop this nonsense, will you!”
“Don’t you push me around!” Wolfram hissed, shoving back at him.
That was the last straw and the king slammed him against the log wall. The bench was further from the wall and that made Wolfram’s back and legs arch unnaturally.
The loud thump made two royal bodyguards enter the sauna. Wary, they stared at the scene that had unfolded before their eyes. Wolfram meanwhile had summoned his element. Only, it was absolutely useless against the king, who didn’t even bother severing Wolfram’s connection with the element. Instead, he batted the flame away as if it were an annoying mosquito.
“Get out,” he told his bodyguards. “We are about to have sex.”
Wolfram’s mouth hung open at first at the stupidly brazen declaration then he shrieked with spiteful laughter. “You don’t even know how two men do it!”
“Well, I’m no more knowledgeable about how a man and a woman do it, but wait and see if that stops me!”
Wolfram stared at him for a moment then burst out laughing again. “You’re a fucking idiot.” This time his laughter sounded more natural. He covered Yuuri’s hands with his and removed them from his shoulders. Reluctantly, Yuuri let him, and the blond stood straight again. He kept staring at the king without moving.
“Tomorrow at eight in the yard,” Wolfram said finally. “If you win against me in a duel, let it be.”
The king’s face acquired a troubled expression. There was no way he was going to win against Wolfram in a swordfight. Even if he let Shinou take over his body, Wolfram would still win against someone who was as out of practice as he was.
“Just kidding,” Wolfram said with a chuckle. “I think it’s about time I pretend to stumble and fall like that hen of yours.”
“Yes, please, be so kind and do so,” Yuuri agreed.
TBC
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