bsumone | ❝ Then, happy low, lie down! ❞

A shocked sort of hush fell over the room in which they’d all been gathered to hear the news. All the highest-ranking officials, the advisers and ministers, the generals of the military, and of course, the family were there. It made the silence a palpable thing, like a blanket slowly smothering them all. Gilboa’s most powerful, men and women who made their living with their wit and silver tongues all stunned to silence. Some were truly grieved, others less so, but faked it well enough.

Michelle cried first, the queen wailed, a prelude to the keening she’d do over her husband’s coffin in days to come. But Jack, now watched by all, kept his back straight and his face expressionless. He wasn’t unmoved, though. Silas had been his father with all the failures and successes that came with the title. In spite of their distant and cold relationship, Jack couldn’t help but grieve for the father he’d once known when he was still a small boy. It was for a father that he would shed his tears, not for a king.

Murmurs rustled through the assembled like wind through trees, all of them once again flinging themselves into the roles they know best as if to get some comfort from the normalcy of governing. They were wise to know it wouldn’t be long before the people discovered what happened. They had to make an announcement, get it to all the news providers first before rumors circulated. With the queen in her grief, it was Jack they turned to for direction.

A statement was given to be issued and Jack sent for a man to make arrangements for his father’s burial. It would need to be a public affair so the people of the nation could mourn, a monument to the king’s great deed. Eager as he’d been for the crown, Jack dismissed the suggestions of an immediate coronation. The people and his family needed time to grieve before they could imagine something to celebrate. Silas should at least be in the ground properly before the crown rested on Jack’s head.

Once the work was done and all the ministers and officials scurried on their way, his mother cloistered in her suite to mourn, and Michelle bravely stepping up to oversee some of the funeral details, Jack retired to his private apartment, away from the bothers of family and palace life. For a few, brief hours a week this place was a sanctuary.

The rest of the time, it was just as much as prison as any other part of Jack’s life. It was here, after all, he had to make good of his skirt-chasing, if only to keep his father appeased. Still, for a few hours, he was able to spend his time here alone. For fewer hours still, his time was spent with the companionship he preferred.

Would he still have to hide when he was king? Was his father right? We give up what we want when we want power.

For now, Jack sat sprawled on his couch, sipping some over-priced bourbon from equally over-priced crystal. He was lost in his thoughts, making it impossible to hear the turn of the latch at his door. Its swing open, however, drew his attention. He watched the door open, but made no move to greet whoever walked through it.

When he finally rose, slow steps carried him across the room to the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was a bittersweet moment sweeping his eyes over the Shiloh skyline. As promised, his father had given him all he wanted, but at such a cost. Jack allowed more of his genuine sadness bend his frame. Even though Jack knew, it still came as a shock to realize he would never see his father again. There was now no hope of reconciliation between them.

“The king is dead.”

Gaura had been surprised to get the call from Jack telling him to come to the apartment where they'd spent that first night together. It had taken him time to get here, having gotten lost once. But there was a tension in the air that had him concerned enough to push forward, getting to the place and going to the apartment as he'd been instructed.

When he opened the door he saw his boyfriend in a state. He couldn't read his expression but there was something...off. Frowning in worry, he stepped closer then watched the man rise up and go to the windows.

And then the four words...

His heart hurt for him. He'd known there was strife in that family and to have lost his father without being able to repair all of that? That was a wound that would perhaps never heal for Jack. It had to hurt far more than any grief actually ever would.

Quietly, he crossed the room and went to wrap his arms around him from behind, pressing his cheek against his shoulder.

"I'm here for you."

It hasn’t been long since Jack confessed the truth of his identity to Gaura. Maybe a couple of months. Much to Jack’s surprise, nothing changed between them. That’s not to cast any aspersions on Gaura’s character. It’s simply what Jack’s come to expect from the world at large. Even his so-called friends are people who would abandon him if not for his wealth and influence.

The second Gaura’s arms were around him, Jack let out a shuddering breath and slumped. His relationship with Silas was so complex. It wasn’t good, they were both manipulative… but in the end, for good or ill, the man was his father. A father he’d never have a chance to have a real relationship with. A father he’d never see again.

Oh, there was still his mother to contend with and her influence… but he could deal with her.

Jack raised his arms to drape them over Gaura’s. His anchor. The one person in all this mess who could be level-headed and not blinded by emotion. The one person he could trust to hold him while he silently sobbed.

Shifting his weight, he let Jack lean on him. The man was taller and heavier due to more muscle but he didn't care. He'd still support him with everything that he had, hold him while he cried. Though he couldn't see it, he could feel it. And he knew that Jack didn't like to expose this side of himself to others which meant that he trusted him.

Gaura would never do anything to violate the trust of this man. Because that was always what he'd be to him. Not a soldier, not rich, not royalty...a man. His man.

So he held him strong while he let him cry for as long as he needed to, eventually letting them sink to the floor and gathering Jack close. His arms remained tight around him and he kissed his hair while he let him just have this time to release all of the emotions that had been bottled up since childhood. If he was his rock then he would be the most solid one in the world just for this man that he loved so much.

He didn’t even expect this sort of support from his twin sister, the most caring person in their family. Michelle was always Silas’ favorite and their relationship was always different from the one Jack shared with their father. Just as his relationship with their mother was very different because he was her favorite. Michelle, at least, while overly protected, was free to be herself. Yes, she was the eldest, but the treatment for her youthful illness left her unable to have children. Which meant the task of carrying on the family line fell to Jack.

Jack, the closest homosexual of the family. His dad knew that fact. His mom learned it after Joseph died when Jack lashed out in one honest burst of grief. Other than that, he was never able to properly mourn that person he’d loved.

The feeling was similar with Silas. Not because he harbored any great affection for the father who treated him so poorly, who tested him, who kept moving the goalposts to ensure Jack was under his thumb. But knowing there was no hope for any understanding or reconciliation, that’s what hurt the most. With Silas gone, there was no chance to repair their relationship. He would forever be his father’s disappointment.

Jack didn’t even realize they slumped to the floor. All there was was the suffocating feeling that made it hard to breathe and those comforting arms clinging to him. God, how he needed that. And not from just anyone. Not from his mother or his sister. Not from the bodyguard he’d occasionally slept with between Joseph’s death and meeting Gaura. It was Gaura he needed right now, in this moment. He reached up to grip Gaura’s arms clinging to him so hard his hands began to ache.

Time went soft and Jack couldn’t hazard a guess at how long they sat there on the floor before his breathing steadied and his death grip on Gaura’s arms began to loosen by degrees. Jack sucked in a breath that finally felt like it was filling his lungs and shifted in Gaura’s embrace so he could look up at him with red-rimmed eyes.

“I want you by my side when they crown me.”

It wasn’t the first thing he said because the coronation was important to him. That was a ceremony that was important to his country. Had he wanted to be king? Had it been promised to him since childhood? Absolutely. But what was most important to Jack was that Gaura be there with him. Beside him. Seen by God and country standing beside their king. Seen by his people as his chosen partner, not some sham relationship with the woman he was pressured to get engaged to. Poor Lucina Wolfson. She seemed to be one of precious few who actually liked Jack for something other than his status and wealth, too. At least he would try to call off the engagement gently. It was Gaura he wanted, no one else. And while his mother and the various government ministers and the wealthy oligarchs of Shiloh might try to steer him in some other direction, on this matter, Jack was no longer taking suggestions from others.

The sound of the sobs filled the room but he didn't once tell his boyfriend not to cry. He knew he needed this and he wasn't going to stop him. No, Gaura just kept quiet and stroked his arms and his hair and his back to offer him support and comfort. If he needed to be in this position for hours then he would be. Jack needed this more than ever.

So when the man finally turned to look at him, he was a little surprised but he didn't hesitate to allow him to turn. Gazing down at him, he watched him and wondered what expression could be there, gently stroking his face to dry some of those tears.

Then he gasped softly at the words. Him? But that would...

"But what about your future wife?" Shouldn't she be at his side? Wasn't that the proper way?

“Lucinda’s not the first woman I’ve been engaged to,” he pointed out. Though the first hadn’t even been announced before a mysterious car accident took her out of the picture. Jack’s sure that was his mother’s doing since she hated that woman. Of course, it would’ve been a more ideal situation for Jack since she was well aware of his preferences and even agreed to let him have his others once they’d done their duty in producing an air. Oh, sure, he was being blackmailed into it, but it would’ve been better for him than his engagement to Lucinda Wolfson who thought she was genuinely loved and had no idea who Jack truly was.

At least he wouldn’t have her killed or spirited away. No, he’d tell her the truth, plain and simple. His heart belonged to another and he couldn’t stomach a marriage that was just for show.

“I’m calling it off. I won’t be like my parents and fake it for the public. I only want to be with you, Gaura, the one I love.”

The one he loved. The words echoed through his mind and sank into his heart. Jack was going to be the king and he was going to risk everything to be with him at the same time. Only where everyone would be able to see them. His heart was pounding in his chest at the very thought but he knew what his decision was long before he even made the decision. There was only one thing that it ever could be. Because he'd chosen this man awhile ago when they'd first gotten together and had stayed with him even when things were rocky.

Gaura shifted so he could take his face between his hands. Though he'd never know if he was handsome or not, he always knew that he was. He felt it when he felt the way Jack loved him. How he held him and kissed him. How they made love together.

"If you want me at your side before the world I'll be there. I'll go anywhere you need me to be. I'm yours and I always have been, Jack. That will never change."

In Jack’s head, it felt odd to be discussing this now, in a moment when he should be grieving. It felt strange to feel relief and joy at hearing Gaura’s willingness to stand beside him. Oh, but he was so tired of keeping half of himself in the shadows. He was tired of keeping Gaura in the shadows, tired of giving and getting only stolen moments and scraps of time together. He wanted more and Gaura deserved better.

“There will be pushback,” he warned, his voice a bit more nasally from the crying. “The government is still mostly made up of my father’s allies and my mother still has some sway with them.”

Jack twisted himself around a little so he could better reach up to cup Gaura’s cheek in his hand.

“If you don’t want to deal with it… I’ll understand. We can keep things as they are. I won’t drag you into this life without your consent.”

Bringing one hand up, he rested it on the hand over his cheek. Closing his eyes, he just held it like that a moment before opening his eyes again.

"I am yours and that means we are in this together. As long as you want me there I am."

They could say what they wanted about him or even to him. He didn't care. What matter was what Jack thought of him and he knew that he didn't believe any of those things. Gaura smiled warmly at him and turned to kiss the hand against his cheek.

"You have my consent."

Was it right to feel joy in that moment? In the shadow of his own father's death? But how could he not knowing that Gaura would stay by his side, privately and publically? For what felt like the first time in his life, Jack didn't feel lost and angry, like some scared little boy hiding bugs in his bedroom.

No. He felt anchored, full of purpose. Oh, he may never bear the title of a great king, but Jack's resolved to make his country better for people like him. For all those nameless people out there hiding who they love because his father was too hung up on his religion to care about them. If he can't be a great king, at least he can help the people his country's overlooked in its short existence.

"I'll do what I can to protect you from any vitriol."

Gaura shook his head and ran his fingers through Jack's hair. He understood why the man wanted to protect him but that wasn't what he'd consented to. Whatever happened he would be by his side. Good or bad. He didn't need to be protected by him. They would face this together. So he took his hand and gently pressed a kiss to it.

"We will be united in this and face this together. I can handle what they throw our way."

He'd faced worse in his life, of that he was certain. "You are not alone anymore having to protect the ones you love from pain. I consent to be at your side through everything."

Jack shifted then, turning to face Gaura properly. He wanted to see his lover's face clearly, to take in those features he already knew so well, but now saw in a new light. Not some hook-up, not some clandestine secret affair. A partner in every meaning of the word (even if Jack will sometimes forget that). So far he's done his best with Gaura, even if their relationship has been mostly on his terms.

He settled on his knees in front of Gaura and reached out to take the man's face in both hands. Everything felt so deep, so raw in that moment. Frightening and exciting.

"I don't know if we'll ever be able to marry," Jack paused to swallow. "But from this day forth, I am bound to you, Gaura. Whatever may come, we'll stand together."

"I never believed I would be able to marry in my lifetime. So if that's to be I'll be alright. Knowing that I get to have you is enough for me."

He smiled and leaned forward into those hands, feeling the warmth in them. His eyes closed as he enjoyed how they felt against his skin. Even now they felt so strong. The hands of a future king.

Gaura opened his eyes again. "By paper or not, I am bound to you, Jack. I'm yours and I'll stand by your side through everything."

He lingered a moment, gazing into Gaura's eyes. There was so much warring in his heart, fear for what they may face (whatever it was, they would face it together; Jack wouldn't shrink away from it anymore), a thrill knowing without any doubt that this man here before him loved him. Gaura loved him, Jack. Not his titles or his money or his influence. Him.

Letting his hands fall from Gaura's face, Jack slipped one of his many rings off his finger and offered it to the other man. "Will you accept this?"

Gaura gasped softly when the ring was offered to him. It was practically a marriage proposal. They couldn't get married yet but there was the ring offered to him. Reaching out, he took the ring like it was the most precious treasure. "Yes. I will accept it."

He looked up and offered him a smile. "It might seem silly but," he offered the ring back to him, "will you put it on my finger? I know we can't be married and that's alright. It would just be special."

The question startled him, made his heart skip a beat in the best of ways. Without a word, he took Gaura's hand in his and slipped the ring onto his finger. It was probably not sized correctly, but they could fix that. Looking to, he met Gaura's eyes and stared at him intently, even if Gaura would never realize it.

"I don't need God or any man's blessing. You are mine in every way that matters. And I'm yours."

Jack did what he asked and he couldn't help but smile more as he felt that ring slip onto his finger. It was a little big but that was alright. He didn't mind that as he looked up at him again. Then those words were said and he felt tears come to his eyes.

Gaura had always wanted to have someone to be just his but that had never been a reality for him. Now here was this man devoting himself to him. Not caring that they couldn't get married and essentially marrying him right then and there. They didn't need a ceremony or official papers. They had what mattered most to them.

"You are mine and I am yours. Always. In every way that matters."

Jack lifts Gaura's hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles with soft, warm lips. What more did they need than this? Who cares about paperwork or blessings? As far as Jack's concerned, Gaura is his husband now. End of story.

Peering over at him, such a warmth came over him. Even if Gaura would never know his face, he knows Jack's heart and that's more than enough. It's everything!

"Tomorrow... will you help me with the funeral arrangement?"

It’s no surprise to find Jack out at the clubs and visiting the most exclusive after-parties. There are perks to being the Kingdom of Gilboa’s crown prince: he gets in for free. His presence usually brings in patrons to the bar, more people pouring into whatever club he’s deigned to visit. He’s there with his usual entourage of friends (and bodyguards).

Generally, this is when he makes a show of dancing with women, all while secretly sizing up the men. If Jack’s lucky, he might find one to sneak into his private apartment later. Until then, he’ll just have to play the socialite. At least that gives him a good excuse to talk to the guys.

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❝ Then, happy low, lie down! ❞

Long live the king

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Party Prince (possibly NSFW option)

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