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A bead of sweat drips down Zelkov’s neck.

However, before it can reach his collarbone, Kagetsu’s tongue laps it up. Zelkov shivers, tilting his head to expose more of his neck as Kagetsu presses his face against it, teeth scraping against Zelkov’s skin.

Kagetsu murmurs something in a language Zelkov can’t understand and shifts his hips, pushing deeper inside of Zelkov. The movement makes Zelkov let out a choaked sound and he digs his fingernails into Kagetsu’s shoulders. It doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent, though, because Kagetsu continues to rock his hips, nuzzling at Zelkov’s neck in a way that would almost seem sweet, if it wasn’t accompanied by the obscene sound of Kagetsu fucking into him.

“Zelkov,” Kagetsu says, kissing the spot where Zelkov’s neck meets his jaw, and the tone of Kagetsu’s voice, warm and thick, makes heat pool low in Zelkov’s stomach.

Instead of replying, Zelkov kisses him.

Kagetsu responds as he always does, overeager and a little too forceful. He’s certainly improved since the first time they did this, but Zelkov doubts Kagetsu will ever lose this particular habit, and Zelkov’s even grown to find it somewhat… endearing.

“Zelkov,” Kagetsu murmurs again, against Zelkov’s mouth. The look in Kagetsu’s eyes, intent and wanting, makes whatever answer Zelkov could have managed catch in his throat, and the most he can do is pull Kagetsu closer as Kagetsu goes back to nuzzling at his neck.

However, just as Zelkov has settled into the warmth of Kagetsu pressed up against him, Kagetsu pulls away.

Zelkov tries to think through the haze of pleasure clouding his mind, shocked back into consciousness by the cool air on his skin. However, he’s not given much time before he’s distracted by the feeling of Kagetsu shifting his position. Vaguely, Zelkov’s aware of the sound of his own heavy breathing, but he’s more focused on Kagetsu, watching as Kagetsu sits back on his knees, hands on Zelkov’s hips as he pulls Zelkov back to meet him.

“Do you like looking at me so much?” Kagetsu asks, and Zelkov realizes he’s been caught staring. Kagetsu looks so childishly pleased, though, that it’s hard for Zelkov to care much, although he’s certain it will just make Kagetsu more annoying the next time he wants attention.

“I doubt I would be doing this with you if I did not enjoy looking at you,” Zelkov huffs, but it just makes Kagetsu laugh.

“You may look as much as you please,” Kagetsu says, and the impossibly fond tone of his voice makes Zelkov feel far too warm. Kagetsu’s hands guide Zelkov’s legs to wrap around his waist, and he adds, “As long as you allow me to do the same.”

Before Zelkov can reply, Kagetsu begins to thrust again, and Zelkov supposes the way he arches into it is answer enough.

It doesn’t take long for either of them to finish. Zelkov has found that Kagetsu’s general lack of patience extends to the bedroom, although that’s not something he’s particularly disappointed about. Kagetsu makes up for it with his enthusiasm, and although Zelkov would hesitate to call him rough, he is certainly… persistent.

Eventually, Kagetsu pulls out and collapses next to Zelkov with a sigh. Zelkov turns on his side in order to make room in the bed, but Kagetsu presses right up next to him, his chest flush to Zelkov’s back and his legs tangling up with Zelkov’s own.

“You will not keep me up until sunrise again,” Zelkov huffs, as Kagetsu nuzzles against the back of his neck.

“You enjoy when I keep you up until sunrise,” Kagetsu says, but he makes no move to take things further.

“You have the energy of a teenager,” Zelkov complains. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Kagetsu is well into his twenties.

“You have always kept up with me,” Kagetsu quips, and even without looking at him, Zelkov can hear the smile in his voice.

Zelkov decides not to reply.

The two of them fall into silence for a few moments. Zelkov can feel his eyelids start to droop, and he knows they should probably clean up before going to sleep, but he can’t quite find the energy to get out of bed. The warmth of Kagetsu’s body pressed up against him is more effective than any sleep tonic, and he’s only vaguely aware of Kagetsu taking one of his hands, playing with his fingers in a way that’s almost soothing.

“In Elusia,” Kagetsu says, a little abruptly, “what does it mean when a person gives another person a ring?”

“A ring?” Zelkov asks, his voice already heavy with sleep.

“Yes,” Kagetsu confirms. He brushes his fingertip over the knuckle of Zelkov’s left ring finger.

“It means that they care for that person… very deeply,” Zelkov answers. He pauses, then adds, “Exchanging rings signifies that you wish to spend the rest of your life with that person.”

“I see,” Kagetsu says, his voice unusually soft. Thoughtful, almost, although it’s the last word Zelkov would typically use to describe him.

“Why do you ask?” Zelkov asks. He shifts his hand to grip Kagetsu’s, forcing Kagetsu to keep it still.

“I saw the Divine Dragon carrying around a ring,” Kagetsu answers. “When I asked them if it was a new Emblem ring, they said it was not and that they intended to give it to someone instead.”

For a moment, the answer catches Zelkov off guard, but after a bit of consideration, he supposes it should not be that much of a surprise. After all, recently the Divine Dragon has been spending an inordinate amount of time with… well. And that person hardly seems bothered by the attention, so it’s a perfectly natural development that the two of them would…

“Zelkov?” Kagetsu says, breaking Zelkov from his thoughts.

“I’ve answered your question,” Zelkov replies, closing his eyes firmly. “Now let me go to sleep.”

Kagetsu lets out a little huffed laugh and mutters something in that language that Zelkov can’t understand again. He presses a kiss to the back of Zelkov’s neck, and for a brief moment, Zelkov wonders if the talk of rings and commitment has renewed Kagetsu’s interest in a second round, but in the end Kagetsu makes no move to take things further.

As he falls asleep, Zelkov finds himself thinking that he hardly needs a ring as proof of Kagetsu’s affection.

---

Zelkov has actually dabbled in metalwork before.

He’s never made anything quite so delicate, though, and it’s proving more difficult than he’d anticipated. He’d chosen gold because he’d thought it would better compliment the warm undertones of Kagetsu’s complexion, but it’s difficult to avoid overworking it when it’s such a soft metal.

At the moment, all he’s managed is a somewhat warped band, and it will definitely take more work if he wants to even think about trying to mount a gem in it.

Zelkov glares at the misshapen ring and wonders if he should perhaps just melt it down and start all over again.

“Zelkov?”

Zelkov isn’t entirely able to conceal the way he twitches.

“Boucheron,” he replies, affecting his best unflustered tone. Briefly, he considers slipping the ring down into his sleeve, but it’s hardly as if he’s doing anything elicit. If he manages to finish it as planned, eventually it will be on display on Kagetsu’s finger anyway, for everyone to see.

“What are you doing in the back of the storage shed?” Boucheron asks. He sounds leery as he eyes Zelkov.

“Kagetsu is looking for a sparring partner again,” Zelkov answers dryly. He fixes his eyes back on the ring and attempts to even out the shape a little with his tongs. “I don’t have the time to occupy him today.”

“Kagetsu is certainly enthusiastic,” Boucheron laughs. He hesitates for a brief moment and then adds, “You seem to do a good job of keeping up with him though.”

“I suppose I do,” Zelkov replies, pleased despite himself that someone else has noticed.

“I’m sure it must be difficult sometimes, though, with all the, uh,” Boucheron continues, a little haltingly. He’s fidgeting, and something about it sets Zelkov on edge. “The, uh, cultural differences.” Boucheron bites his lower lip, looking at Zelkov with big, earnest eyes, and asks, “Do you ever have difficulty communicating?”

“Not particularly,” Zelkov answers. If anything, it’s usually a case of Kagetsu misunderstanding him, not the other way around, and he’s self-aware enough to know that it’s usually because of his own difficulty expressing himself in words. At this point, he’s fairly accustomed to people misunderstanding him.

“Oh,” Boucheron says. He seems to deflate somewhat.

Briefly, Zelkov considers pretending not to notice.

Instead, he puts down his metalworking tools and offers, “If you are having any issues communicating with Kagetsu, I could perhaps provide advice.”

“Well, it’s just,” Boucheron replies, rubbing awkwardly at his neck. “Has Kagetsu ever asked to – ” A flush spreads over Boucheron’s cheeks. “ – to kiss you?”

“Hah?”

The noise of disbelief escapes Zelkov’s mouth before his brain can even register it, and Boucheron’s face falls visibly.

“Kagetsu,” Zelkov says, enunciating each word slowly and carefully, “kissed you?”

“No!” Boucheron assures him quickly. “No, he just seemed to be under the impression that kissing was a common greeting between friends in Firene. I made sure to explain to him that he shouldn’t greet people like that.”

“I see,” Zelkov replies. He is suddenly far too aware of the misshapen curve of the ring in his palm. “When was this?”

“A few months ago, I think,” Boucheron answers. “Did he say something to you about it?”

Zelkov makes a distracted noise as he tries to mentally calculate how long ago it was that Kagetsu first kissed him. Well before Boucheron had explained the significance of kissing to Kagetsu, Zelkov concludes after a moment of thought, and he presses his lips into an even tighter line. Then again, he supposes it’s not as if Kagetsu had stopped kissing him after learning the cultural connotations.

And even if Kagetsu had thought that kissing was a friendly gesture, sex is another matter entirely, isn’t it?

“It’s just that sometimes he teases me about it,” Boucheron continues, breaking Zelkov from his thoughts. “And I never know how to react.”

“He teases you about it?” Zelkov repeats, and Boucheron nods.

“I’m not very good at telling when someone is flirting with me,” Boucheron says morosely. “I already embarrassed myself the first time he teased me and I took it seriously, and I don’t want to make things awkward between us by reading too far into things, but…”

Boucheron trails off, biting at his lower lip.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Zelkov announces. “Kagetsu is not interested in you.”

With that, he shoves the ring he was working on into his pocket and stands up to push past Boucheron, heading towards the door of the storage shed.

“Zelkov?” Boucheron calls after him, and part of Zelkov is tempted to ignore it, but instead he pauses in the doorway. He looks back to find a bewildered expression on Boucheron’s face, and he feels his jaw clench.

“It’s a sign of camaraderie where Kagetsu comes from,” Zelkov lies. “The teasing.”

He doesn’t bother to wait for Boucheron’s reply before leaving.

It’s not until he’s halfway to the training grounds that he realizes he doesn’t know what he intends to do. He can hardly go confront Kagetsu about trying to kiss Boucheron, when it was clearly just a cultural miscommunication. And a little good-natured teasing can hardly be classified as – as infidelity, despite the way the mere thought of it makes Zelkov’s skin crawl.

Zelkov paces a few strides up the path and then turns to pace back down it. He can feel the tension in every muscle of his back, and with each step he takes, it only seems to get worse.

The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that he has very little concrete proof of their relationship. He has no ring, or even a verbal promise, and although Kagetsu is clearly affectionate, it’s difficult to say if it’s a special kind of –

“Zelkov?”

A soft voice breaks Zelkov from his thoughts.

Zelkov takes a deep breath to steady himself, and then turns to say, “Divine One.”

He does his best to school his expression, but he must be less successful than he’d hoped, because the concern is clear in the Divine Dragon’s expression as they ask, “Is everything alright?”

Zelkov opens his mouth to assure the Divine Dragon that he has the situation well in hand, but then he pauses.

“Has Kagetsu,” he asks slowly, “ever asked to kiss you?”

The Divine Dragon blinks at him. Then, their face flushes slightly, and Zelkov feels his heart sink.

“Well,” the Divine Dragon says, rubbing awkwardly at the side of their neck. “Sometimes when I give him a gift he really likes, he says that he’s so happy he could kiss me, but I don’t think he means it literally.”

“I see,” Zelkov replies.

His tone comes out a little colder than he’d intended it, and the Divine Dragon quickly adds, “I think he just means it as a gesture of appreciation.”

“Yes, you are likely correct in that assumption,” Zelkov says, bringing a hand up to his chin as he considers the situation. “Kagetsu is still not entirely attuned to Elusian culture and sometimes he misunderstands more delicate social cues. You should be sure to establish proper boundaries.”

It looks like he has some investigating to do.

---

The one good thing to come out the Divine Dragon’s confirmation of the… kissing situation, is that it suggests that Kagetsu does, in fact, think of kissing as a greeting, or some other sign of appreciation. If it had been only Boucheron, it would be much easier to wonder if there were some sort of romantic feelings on Kagetsu’s part.

Not that Kagetsu offering to kiss the Divine Dragon completely precludes him from being romantically or sexually interested in Boucheron, or the Divine Dragon, or both of them, for that matter, but it lowers the likelihood.

That is not the most important matter at hand, though.

Zelkov peers over the edge of his book.

He’s lounging in one of the chairs by the Somniel’s pool, under the pretense of pursing his latest hobby. So far, he’s found that pretending to read is a better conversation deterrent than pretending to knit, and it’s not too difficult to go about his observation if he holds his book at the right angle.

Kagetsu is splashing around in the pool, in what was initially an attempt at swimming laps, but has instead devolved into teaching Sommie how to doggie paddle. The creature looks a little waterlogged, but it still paddles enthusiastically after Kagetsu, tongue lolling.

The Divine Dragon walks past the pool, and Sommie nearly drowns itself in its attempt to rush after them.

Zelkov purses his lips.

Kagetsu’s affection isn’t all that different from Sommie’s, now that he considers it. Although with some careful observation, it becomes clear that Sommie favors the Divine Dragon, it will happily wag its tail for anyone who will scratch behind its ears. And there’s nothing precisely wrong with that, but one has to manage their expectations accordingly.

His own error, Zelkov has realized, is that he had assumed that sex had the same connotations regardless of culture. Or that at least those connotations applied to the sort of sex he and Kagetsu have been having. He’s well aware of the various elicit affairs that occur behind the scenes of the Elusian court, but Kagetsu has never acted as if their relationship was something casual or transactional.

So it had never occurred to him that perhaps where Kagetsu comes from, sex is some form of masculine bonding, and not something that lovers do.

“Zelkov!” Kagetsu calls out.

“Yes?” Zelkov replies. He watches as Kagetsu swims over to the side of the pool, resting his arms on the stone edge and peering out from the water like some sort of curious mer-prince.

Zelkov glances back down at his book. Perhaps he should take a break from Chloé’s fairytale recommendations.

“Join me in the water!” Kagetsu says, which is what Zelkov had expected him to say.

“I’m reading,” Zelkov retorts. He turns a page for good measure.

“Are you not hot?” Kagetsu asks, a familiar cajoling tone to his voice. “It’s very cool in here.”

“You are aware that I run cold,” Zelkov says dryly. His calves already feel a little uncomfortable in the swimming shorts he’s wearing, and he has no intention of removing his shirt.

“If you move, you will warm up,” Kagetsu quips, which earns him a glare. When Zelkov doesn’t immediately reply, he adds, “Swimming could be a good hobby.”

“I already have a hobby,” Zelkov huffs, but he drags himself up from his chair. Kagetsu’s eyes light up as he approaches, not too dissimilar from the enthusiasm Sommie had shown when the Divine Dragon had walked by.

He sits down on the edge of the pool, next to Kagetsu, and dangles his feet into the water. As Kagetsu had promised, the water is cool, and now that he is no longer in the shade of the awning, he supposes it could even be considered pleasant.

“I am not going to swim,” Zelkov reiterates, when Kagetsu gives him a hopeful look.

“Just looking at you makes me feel hot,” Kagetsu sighs. His shoulder brushes against Zelkov’s knee, and Zelkov’s skin prickles at the sensation of Kagetsu’s wet skin against his own.

“Then go swim,” Zelkov says, trying to pull back his wandering thoughts.

“It would be more fun if you would join me,” Kagetsu replies petulantly. He looks up at Zelkov with pleading eyes, and for a moment, Zelkov finds himself distracted by the way a couple of water droplets are still clinging to Kagetsu’s eyelashes.

Perhaps Kagetsu is less of a mer-prince and more of a siren.

“Surely you can find someone else to splash around with like a child,” Zelkov says, tearing his gaze away.

“Well,” Kagetsu sighs, “I suppose you leave me no choice.”

He starts pushing himself out of the water, leaning in towards Zelkov, and for a brief moment, Zelkov thinks Kagetsu is going to kiss him.

Instead, Kagetsu drags him into the pool.

It catches Zelkov off guard enough that he isn’t able to resist much, and he finds himself plunged into the cold pool. He sucks in a large mouthful of water, but thankfully Kagetsu has enough sense to pull him back up to the surface instead of pulling him down further, and he clings to Kagetsu’s shoulders as he tries to cough the water up out of his lungs.

“I,” Zelkov wheezes, “am going to kill you.”

Kagetsu opens his mouth to reply, but before he can, Zelkov shoves him down under the water.

A small stream of bubbles floats up from where Kagetsu’s head is submerged, as Zelkov continues to hold him down. Kagetsu tries to break out of his grip, but Zelkov is a fairly strong swimmer when his lungs aren’t half filled with water, and although Kagetsu’s extra muscle may usually make him stronger, in this situation it just makes him heavier.

It would be entirely too easy to drown Kagetsu like this, and for a moment, Zelkov is sorely tempted.

He releases his hold instead.

Kagetsu breaks through the surface of the water, gasping for air, and Zelkov begrudgingly guides him over to the edge of the pool. He looks more than a little waterlogged, his hair spilling out of its tie, and it looks like he’s also lost one of his hairpins. Zelkov can feel his own hair clinging in wet clumps to his neck and shoulders, and he wrinkles his nose as he wonders how long it will take to dry.

“You are,” Kagetsu says, once he’s caught his breath again, “a better swimmer than I thought.”

“You dunked me in the water without knowing if I could swim?” Zelkov asks with a scowl. Kagetsu coughs again, and Zelkov puts a hand on his back, rubbing gently between his shoulder blades.

“I intended to help you stay afloat if you couldn’t,” Kagetsu protests. With one of his hairpins missing, a few strands of his hair have come loose and are clinging to his cheek, and briefly, Zelkov is tempted to brush them away.

It occurs to Zelkov that he can’t recall a time he and Kagetsu have touched each other that intimately in public.

“Zelkov?” Kagetsu asks, breaking Zelkov from his thoughts.

“I suppose you will have to find a way to improve my mood now,” Zelkov says, letting his tongue linger on a few of the words. “If you don’t wish to be nearly drowned again.”

He’s not entirely sure what sort of look one should give to tempt someone into kissing them, but he does his best to look alluring.

“I can go fetch you a croissant or a crepe,” Kagetsu offers. “Bunet is on kitchen duty.”

Zelkov is half-tempted to shove him back under the water.

Instead, he sighs and drags himself out of the pool.

“Zelkov!” Kagetsu calls after him, and Zelkov is sure that if he looks back, he’ll find that hurt, puppyish look on Kagetsu’s face again.

“I must change, now that you have ruined my clothes,” Zelkov says. He rings some of the water out of his shirt and it splatters against the stone, as if to emphasize his point. “Find someone else to play with.”

With that, he leaves.

He can hear Kagetsu whining about something, but he tunes it out. He has far too much to process after today’s “observation.”

The first being that, although Kagetsu is affectionate in public, it is difficult to say that he is romantically affectionate. It’s a rude awakening to anticipate a kiss, and instead be dumped into a cold pool, and while perhaps that could just be because Kagetsu was not in that sort of mood, it is more concerning that he cannot recall Kagetsu ever kissing him in public.

There is also the matter that no one else seems to realize that they are a couple. He doubts Boucheron would have so easily sought his advice on… the situation if he’d been under the impression that Kagetsu was already spoken for. And although Zelkov has no particular desire to go around announcing to everyone that he and Kagetsu are intimate, it is still unsettling to realize how little they have actually put into words what they are to each other.

Zelkov has never actually said “I love you” in so many words, but he had also assumed that his actions said enough. It is stranger to realize that Kagetsu, who is always so loud about everything he feels, has never verbalized it either.

Perhaps he should take a step back from their relationship and reassess.

---

There’s a knock on Zelkov’s door.

For a moment, he considers ignoring it. There are few people who would visit him at this hour, and he’s not sure he’s ready to talk to Kagetsu after everything he’s learned today.

He goes over to open the door.

“What?” Zelkov huffs. As expected, Kagetsu is standing in the doorway.

“Are you still angry about earlier?” Kagetsu asks, looking at Zelkov with those big brown eyes of his.

“Perhaps,” Zelkov answers, a bite to his tone. He crosses his arms over his chest and does not move from the doorway to let Kagetsu in, like he usually does.

“Then I would like to apologize,” Kagetsu says. “I simply wished to have some fun with you, and it’s unusual to see you out in a public space instead of somewhere more secluded, so I thought I might be able to convince you.”

Zelkov examines Kagetsu for a moment, taking in the sincerity of his expression.

Then, he sighs.

“You are forgiven,” Zelkov says, letting some of the tension drain out of his shoulders.

After all, the real cause of his irritation is hardly Kagetsu’s fault. It’s not as if most people talk openly about the cultural connotations of things like sex, and it’s understandable that Kagetsu may have different expectations regarding intimacy. It’s his own fault for not confirming their relationship verbally.

Even knowing this, though, it is hardly something he wants to just ask about.

“Are you feeling alright?” Kagetsu asks, breaking Zelkov from his thoughts. Kagetsu brings a hand up to cup Zelkov’s jaw, brushing his thumb over Zelkov’s cheek, and Zelkov can’t help but lean into the touch.

“I am simply tired,” Zelkov sighs. “I’m afraid I will not be very good company tonight.”

“You are rarely good company,” Kagetsu replies, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, and Zelkov glares at him. “But perhaps I can find a way to – what was it? Improve your mood?”

Zelkov opens his mouth to protest, but Kagetsu presses a kiss to it before he can manage any words. It’s a light kiss, though, and Kagetsu pulls back after only a brief moment of contact.

Then, he scoops Zelkov up into his arms.

Zelkov lets out an undignified yelp, and Kagetsu grunts, “You are heavier than you look.”

“What are you doing?” Zelkov demands, as Kagetsu starts to carry him down the hallway.

“You’re tired,” Kagetsu says. His voice is a little labored as he tries to maintain his hold on Zelkov. “I know a good remedy for fatigue.”

“I am still able to walk,” Zelkov huffs, but he does not try to escape from Kagetsu’s grasp.

“You’re not so heavy that I can’t carry you,” Kagetsu protests, hefting Zelkov up a little higher for good measure.

“That is not – ” Zelkov starts, but then cuts himself off with a sigh. He should know by now that Kagetsu is stubborn enough that it is never a good idea to argue with him, unless one is prepared to threaten truly drastic measures.

So he lets himself be carried.

Eventually, Kagetsu lets him down in front of a door at the end of the hall.

“The bathroom?” Zelkov says, eyeing Kagetsu as he opens the door.

“A warm bath will be good for your health,” Kagetsu replies. He corrals Zelkov inside and over to the small bench in one corner of the room, and then closes the door.

Zelkov watches as Kagetsu begins to prepare the bath. It’s actually a little endearing to watch as he fusses with the water temperature, changing the ratio of hot and cold every few minutes. He also spends a decent amount of time examining all the bottles of bath oils and perfumes that someone – Rosado or Goldmary, perhaps? – had left on one of the shelves.

Then, Kagetsu begins to undress.

“You intend to join me?” Zelkov asks, eyeing Kagetsu.

“Of course,” Kagetsu answers. He seems to realize something, and adds, “Just to bathe. It is common where I come from for people to bathe together.”

“I see,” Zelkov says. He supposes this is further proof that he cannot make assumptions about Kagetsu’s sense of propriety.

“Although if you would prefer to relax in that way, I would not be opposed,” Kagetsu adds, with a playful smile that does strange things to Zelkov’s insides.

“Perhaps another time,” Zelkov says.

It doesn’t take long for them to undress. Zelkov watches out of the corner of his eye as Kagetsu undoes all of the various ties on his clothing, but even after all the times he’s helped relieve Kagetsu of his clothes, he is still not entirely sure he would be able to remove them without assistance (much less put them back on).

“Here,” Kagetsu says, once Zelkov has put aside the last of his clothes.

Zelkov blinks at the bucket of water extended towards him.

“What do you intend for me to do with this?” Zelkov asks, and now it’s Kagetsu’s turn to blink at him.

“How else will you wash yourself?” Kagetsu replies, a crease forming between his eyebrows.

“Is that not what the bath is for?” Zelkov says dryly.

“Is that how Elusians bathe?” Kagetsu asks, wrinkling his nose.

“What do you propose we use the bathwater for then?” Zelkov retorts. He crosses his arms over his chest, and wonders how Kagetsu has managed to make him self-conscious over something as innocuous as bathing customs.

“You wash yourself and then enter the bath,” Kagetsu says, as if this should be an obvious answer.

“Why should a bath be necessary, then, if you’ve already cleaned yourself?” Zelkov asks, bewildered.

“Why would you sit in dirty bathwater?” Kagetsu retorts, and briefly Zelkov considers arguing further, but then decides against it. He’s getting too cold to stand around arguing without any clothes on.

“Fine, then,” Zelkov says. “Show me how you… bathe.”

It turns out that where Kagetsu comes from, they wash outside the bathtub and then just… soak in the bath afterwards. It’s like a warm pool, but with less splashing.

“Are you feeling more relaxed?” Kagetsu asks. The bathtub is large enough to fit both of them, but not with much room left, and they’re pressed snugly together, Zelkov’s back to Kagetsu’s chest.

Zelkov considers the question, and says, “I suppose I am.”

“Good,” Kagetsu replies. He wraps his arms around Zelkov’s stomach and leans in to rest his chin on Zelkov’s shoulder, cheek against Zelkov’s neck, and Zelkov feels himself melt into the contact.

This can’t possibly be how Kagetsu bathes with everyone, can it?

“Thank you,” Zelkov says, a little abruptly.

“I don’t like when you’re angry with me,” Kagetsu murmurs. “You are important to me.”

“I am never angry with you long,” Zelkov huffs, trying to ignore the way his heartrate increases.

“You used to be angry with me all the time!” Kagetsu protests, and Zelkov can hear Kagetsu’s pout, even if he can’t see it from this angle.

“I merely found you,” Zelkov says, “distracting.”

Kagetsu goes quiet for a moment.

“Am I no longer distracting?” he asks, and Zelkov shivers as he feels Kagetsu’s breath ghost over the shell of his ear.

Zelkov’s fairly sure that cultural differences cannot account for all this.

---

“What do you think of this one?”

Zelkov indicates an elegant silver necklace, but Ivy does not let her eyes linger on it for more than a moment.

“It’s not suitable,” Ivy answers, instead turning to examine another display of jewelry.

“It would be beneficial if you would explain to me what we are looking for,” Zelkov says, unable to keep some of his irritation from seeping into his voice.

“I told you, we are looking for a gift,” Ivy replies, her own tone cool. Her gaze drifts disinterestedly over the sort of sleek, sharp accessories she usually favors, and she does not pay much mind to the cute, heart-shaped locket that might look at home in Hortensia’s wardrobe.

Zelkov does a brief check of their surroundings, and then drops his voice down low enough that they won’t be overheard, and asks, “And what sort of gift requires a princess to disguise herself and go hunting around a street market?”

Ivy goes quiet for a moment.

“I am attempting to foster cordial relations with Solm,” she finally answers.

Zelkov takes a moment to process the statement.

“I see,” Zelkov says, after a beat. “And is there a particular reason you found the entire contents of the royal treasure vault unacceptable?”

Although a good portion of the royal family’s assets are being liquidated in order to fund rebuilding efforts, that does not mean Elusia is completely without means. If anything, sending one of the more significant treasures would likely go a long way in reassuring the other countries of Elusia’s good will, even if it doesn’t entirely solve the issue of reparations.

“I have heard that Princess Timerra prefers to buy her own clothes in town,” Ivy says. She stops to examine a set of golden hoop earrings.

Ah. So perhaps this gift is more personal than political.

Zelkov watches as Ivy picks up the earrings to look at them more closely. The design of them is fairly simple, but they shimmer as they sway in the soft breeze, afternoon sunlight refracted off of them. It’s not hard to imagine them dangling from Timerra’s ears, but…

“Are they not a little,” Zelkov pauses, looking for the right word, “impractical?”

“Impractical?” Ivy repeats, turning to look at him.

“Princess Timerra often encounters bandits while camping at night,” Zelkov explains, bringing a hand up to his chin. “Something that reflective will be easier to spot in the darkness, which could make her an easier target.”

“I see,” Ivy says. She puts the earrings back down on the display. “Are there any other practical issues I should consider?”

“Well, she also tends to favor clothes that are easy to move in,” Zelkov replies, trying to recall what he’s observed of Timerra. “So I would avoid anything too intricate, or anything that might hinder her ability to fight.”

“Something more like these?” Ivy asks, indicating another set of earrings. Unlike the last pair, though, these are a pair of studs, fashioned in the shape of small flowers.

“Yes,” Zelkov answers. He pauses, and then adds, “Of course, you could also make your gift more personal by crafting it yourself. I have some experience making jewelry and could teach you, if you like.”

Ivy falters, her hand hovering over the set of earrings.

Then, she picks them up, and says, “We do not all have the luxury of showing such obvious favor.”

“Pardon?” Zelkov asks. He feels his forehead crease.

“Nobles love nothing more than gossip,” Ivy says, a little curtly. “Treasures from the royal vault can be a diplomatic gift and a gift from a street stall merely shows that I have studied Princess Timerra’s preferences. But a handmade gift suggests impropriety.”

Sometimes, Zelkov forgets that Ivy is the daughter of King Hyacinth’s wife, and Hortensia the daughter of his concubine. By the time Zelkov had been brought into the royal family’s employ, Hyacinth had already begun to dote on Hortensia as if she were of official standing, but if the court gossip is anything to go by, this was not a universally popular decision. And a ruler’s power may be significant, but Zelkov has been employed to… disrupt lines of succession too many times to believe that any kind of power is absolute.

“Sometimes I envy you and Kagetsu,” Ivy admits. She pauses, then adds, “Although I suppose Kagetsu will have to return to his duties someday.”

“What?” Zelkov blurts out, the word spilling past his lips before he can contain it.

“He is royalty, even if he rarely acts like it,” Ivy says, eyeing Zelkov as if his reaction has concerned her. “He’s said himself that he’s on a journey to see the world, but all journeys must come to an end eventually, and I doubt anyplace would give up their eldest prince that easily.”

“I see,” Zelkov manages, after a beat.

It’s not something he’d ever thought to consider.

He’d known that Kagetsu came from a noble line, of course. Kagetsu has never bothered to hide it, perhaps because Pale Sands is so isolated that their titles carry little weight in Elusia. But although Kagetsu works as a retainer for a foreign crown now, he has likely spent many more years living as royalty than not, and Zelkov doubts anyone could let go of that life so easily. How many stories are there of princes galivanting around in their youth, before finally returning to rule once they’ve reached proper maturity?

While twenty-six may not be particularly old by most standards, there are plenty of monarchs who have ascended to the throne at a younger age. Ivy herself is an example. And after travelling all throughout Elyos, fighting a war, and defeating the Fell Dragon, surely Kagetsu has enough accomplishments to return home with his head held high.

It is entirely possible that their relationship was always intended to be just a page in the tale of Kagetsu’s adventures.

Zelkov realizes that Ivy is studying him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, she looks like she wants to say something, but instead she turns back to the jewelry stall to wave over the proprietor. Vaguely, Zelkov is aware of her buying the earrings – and paying probably twice what they’re worth – but he’s too lost in his own thoughts to haggle on her behalf, and it’s not as if she can’t spare the gold anyway.

The unfinished ring is heavy in Zelkov’s pocket. Perhaps, at this point, he should just melt it down and make something else.

---

Two days later, Zelkov wakes to find a note on his bedside table.

I am returning home, is all it says, but the handwriting is unmistakably Kagetsu’s.

---

Zelkov finishes the ring.

He doesn’t intend to give it to Kagetsu. At this point, it’s uncertain whether he’ll even see Kagetsu again, and regardless, it’s clear that he’d misunderstood their relationship. He’s never liked leaving a project unfinished, though, and every time he had tried to pick up one of his other hobbies again, the ring itched at the back of his mind.

So he’d finished it.

“Zelkov!”

Zelkov looks up from his painting to find Amber waving at him enthusiastically.

“Ooh, are you painting again?” Amber asks, trotting over to peer over Zelkov’s shoulder. Today’s landscape is decidedly gray, despite the vibrant green of the Somniel’s garden, but he’s decided to label it as a monochromatic study.

“It’s a study in texture variation,” Zelkov explains, as Amber examines the painting. “I am attempting to portray the intricacy of shape in plant life, which is often overshadowed by the vibrancy of color.”

“Huh,” Amber says. “Well, it looks neat, I guess.”

It’s hardly the glowing review Zelkov would have preferred, but it will have to do.

“Was there something you needed?” Zelkov asks. He exchanges his paintbrush for a smaller one and uses it to adjust the petals of a hydrangea.

“Oh, yeah, my parents sent more alpaca wool for you,” Amber says, holding up a tightly bound package.

Zelkov blinks at it, and then says, “I do not recall requesting more.”

“Yeah, well, I told them about the sweater you made and they insisted,” Amber replies. He presses the package into Zelkov’s arms and Zelkov finds himself clutching it awkwardly, unsure what else to do with it. “They said you should make something for yourself this time.”

“How am I to repay you for the wool if I am supposed to keep whatever I make for myself?” Zelkov huffs, but he doesn’t try to give back the package.

“I told you, you don’t need to repay me,” Amber says, frowning. “That sweater you made would probably sell for twice what the wool is worth at market value anyway.”

“Would you like a painting?” Zelkov offers, ignoring Amber.

“I’m not really into paintings,” Amber hedges.

“A sculpture?” Zelkov presses. He’d have to gather the materials to make a new one, so it would likely take some time, but he is fairly adept at the craft, as it’s one of the hobbies he’s kept up for the longest.

“Art isn’t really my thing,” Amber says, rubbing at his neck a little sheepishly. “I like practical things better, I guess. I could use a new knife?”

Zelkov considers the suggestion. He’s never attempted to make a knife before, but he’s dabbled enough in metalwork that –

Something occurs to him.

“Here,” Zelkov says, digging the ring out of his pocket. “Take this.”

Amber blinks at Zelkov’s outstretched hand.

“A ring?” Amber asks. His forehead creases as he studies the gold band, examining the deep crimson stone laid into it.

“It’s not just any ring,” Zelkov scoffs. “It has been enchanted to give the wearer divine protection.”

“Enchanted?” Amber blurts out, his eyes going wide. “Like an Emblem ring?”

“It is not quite that powerful,” Zelkov admits. It had taken some consulting with Citrinne to figure out how to properly apply the magic, and even then, his affinity for magic is rather abysmal, so he’d had to ask her to cast it too. “However, it should strengthen your defense, and perhaps even your luck.”

“That’s so cool!” Amber exclaims, as he accepts the ring. He slides it onto his finger and then holds out his hand, and asks, “How does it look?”

“It is,” Zelkov says, a little haltingly, “acceptable, I suppose.”

“You’re really good at everything, aren’t you?” Amber replies. He admires the ring for another moment, and then flexes his fingers, as if he might be able to feel his newfound powers. “I’ve gotta tell Prince Diamant about this! Are you gonna make more rings? I bet a ton of people would love to have one.”

“I can hardly give an enchanted ring to the ruler of a foreign country,” Zelkov huffs, but he lets himself enjoy the praise a little bit. It’s a far cry from the response he’d been hoping for when he’d originally started on the ring, but it’s clear that Amber appreciates his craftmanship.

“Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting about that,” Amber says with a grimace. “But we’re allies now, right? Maybe you could make it, like, a gesture of international good will or something.”

“I hardly have the power to make an international gesture,” Zelkov replies. He supposes Amber’s suggestion isn’t entirely without merit, though, and adds, “I will ask Princess Ivy about it. She is interested in mending the bridges her father burned.”

“Great!” Amber chirps. His grin is bright enough that Zelkov has to resist the urge to squint. “Ooh, I should show this to Jade too! Do you think she’ll be jealous?”

Amber takes off before Zelkov can reply, though, already yelling for Jade. He supposes it’s alright if Amber’s just showing off the ring for now, and making more rings might even be a good project to work on, to distract himself from… everything.

Not for the first time, he’s glad to have his hobbies to rely on.

---

“Zelkov!”

Clanne’s voice, pitched high and a little frantic, immediately puts Zelkov on edge.

“What is it?” Zelkov asks, as Clanne stumbles to a stop in front of him.

“Kagetsu!” Clanne blurts out around heavy breaths. He slouches over, his hands on his knees as he tries to catch his breath, and finally manages, “Kagetsu is going to kill Amber!”

Zelkov blinks at him.

“Kagetsu – ” is back? he starts to ask, but then cuts himself off. That’s clearly not the most important issue at hand, and although he has a hard time believing that Kagetsu would kill someone without good cause, they do not need the international issue that would be caused by a knight of Elusia killing a knight of Brodia.

“They’re in the plaza,” Clanne says, and Zelkov nods his thanks.

There’s already a decent crowd gathered by the time Zelkov makes it to the plaza.

Kagetsu and Amber are, of course, at the center of it. Kagetsu has his sword out, poised to strike, but Amber is clutching his lance as if he expects it to act as a shield. It hardly looks like he’s facing Kagetsu of his own will, and Zelkov resists the urge to sigh as he wonders if they will ever be able to break Kagetsu of his habit of challenging everyone he lays eyes on to a duel.

Zelkov slides into the crowd of onlookers and asks, “What, exactly, is going on here?”

“It appears Kagetsu has found his conviction,” Merrin says. She seems more interested in the proceedings than concerned for Amber’s safety, and Zelkov looks around the crowd for someone else who might provide a more useful answer.

“I can just give you the ring!” Amber offers, and Zelkov turns his gaze back to scene unfolding at the center of the plaza.

“This is not merely about the ring,” Kagetsu announces, brandishing his sword. “This is about your relationship with Zelkov!”

… pardon?

“There’s no relationship!” Amber says quickly. He tries to take a step backwards and nearly trips over his own feet. “We’re just buddies! Alpaca buddies!”

“If you are simply friends,” Kagetsu retorts, “then why would he give you a ring?”

Zelkov feels the entire crowd turn to look at him.

Apparently Amber doesn’t miss the movement either, because he looks out at the crowd and it doesn’t take long for their eyes to meet. Amber looks on the verge of crying from relief, and he exclaims, “Zelkov!”

The next person Zelkov makes eye contact with is Kagetsu.

He’s fairly sure everyone near him takes a step back.

He supposes he can’t blame them, though. Although it’s rare, he has seen Kagetsu angry before, but the expression on his face now is something entirely new. There’s anger in it, and hurt, and something else Zelkov can’t quite name, and it makes his heart clench unexpectedly.

Kagetsu lowers his sword and marches towards Zelkov.

“Why did you give a ring to Amber?” Kagetsu demands.

“I fail to see how that is any of your concern,” Zelkov replies. He crosses his arms over his chest defensively.

“How could it not be my concern, when you are giving rings to other men?” Kagetsu retorts, the line of his jaw tense. “You told me that rings are for people with a special bond.”

“Could we perhaps continue this conversation elsewhere?” Zelkov sighs. His face feels hot under the eyes of everyone gathered in the plaza. “Somewhere more private.”

Kagetsu glares at him for a moment, his gaze so intense it makes Zelkov’s skin prickle. Briefly, Zelkov wonders if Kagetsu is going to insist on fighting Amber first, but finally Kagetsu gives him a sharp nod and grabs his hand.

Zelkov allows himself to be pulled away from the plaza and wonders how long it will take for news of this… incident to spread through the entire Somniel. Likely not long.

It’s not until they’ve reached Zelkov’s room that Kagetsu speaks again.

“Amber said you gave him a ring of divine protection.”

Kagetsu’s voice is strangely tight, as if he is expending effort to keep his emotions from spilling into his tone.

“I did,” Zelkov answers.

“So you have a special bond with Amber,” Kagetsu presses, and Zelkov suddenly remembers where he’s heard this tone of voice before. It was when Kagetsu had said they did not need to be friends, if he did not want to be.

It softens Zelkov’s anger and hurt somewhat, but not entirely.

“Where have you been for the past three weeks?” he asks.

Kagetsu blinks at him.

“I returned home, to Pale Sands,” Kagetsu says, his forehead creasing. “I believe I left you a note.”

Zelkov hesitates, but then says, “You did not say if you intended to return.” He pauses, then adds, “To Elusia.”

“Why would I not return to Elusia?” Kagetsu demands. He reaches out to take one of Zelkov’s hands in his own, gripping it tight.

“Do you not have duties to attend to?” Zelkov asks. He averts his eyes, suddenly uncomfortable with the intensity of Kagetsu’s gaze, but does not try to pull back his hand. “As the eldest child of a royal line.”

For a moment, Kagetsu looks caught off guard.

Then, he sighs and says, “I returned home because Princess Ivy told me I should settle my affairs before making any promises to you.”

Now it’s Zelkov’s turn to be caught off guard.

“I thought because my younger sister is already of age that it would not be so difficult to relinquish my title,” Kagetsu continues. He reaches his free hand up to run it through his hair, a visible sign of discomfort. “However, it took longer than I had anticipated to receive my family’s blessing, and a few more days to be granted permission to bring an outsider into Pale Sands, the next time I return home to visit.”

Zelkov’s heart beats fast in his chest as he wonders if Kagetsu’s words mean what he hopes they do.

“Your family has not seen you in years,” Zelkov says. He squeezes Kagetsu’s hand gently and can feel some of the tension drain from Kagetsu’s grip. “I am more surprised that they did not keep you longer.”

“They would not release me without a promise that I would come again soon,” Kagetsu laughs, his tone fond and a little wistful. “But even then, I would have rushed back to Elusia at once if I had known that my beloved would start giving rings to other men in only a few short weeks’ time.”

Ah.

There it is, the word that he’s waited so long to hear.

“Is that what we are?” Zelkov asks, slowly, carefully. “Beloved?”

Kagetsu stares at him.

“You are more difficult to woo than the shining princess in the legend,” Kagetsu sighs, his shoulders slumping.

The shining princess?

“I wish to spend the rest of my life with you,” Kagetsu announces. His tone is firm as he says it, his expression more serious than Zelkov has ever seen it. “I had assumed you felt the same, but now I am unsure.”

Perhaps, Zelkov realizes, he has made this far more complicated than it ever needed to be.

“The ring,” Zelkov says, a little haltingly. “It was originally intended for you.”

“The ring you gave to Amber?” Kagetsu asks, and Zelkov nods.

“I recently spoke with Boucheron and he informed me that you often jest about kissing him. He sought my advice on whether or not you meant it… romantically,” Zelkov admits. He’s not quite able to meet Kagetsu’s eyes as he says it. “I became insecure in our relationship and thought that perhaps I had been misinterpreting your affection in the same way.”

“It is true that I was under the impression that kisses were used as a greeting in Firene,” Kagetsu says, his face going a little red. “But I spend every night in your bed! Is that not proof enough?”

“Sex does not necessarily equate love,” Zelkov huffs.

For a moment, Kagetsu goes quiet, studying Zelkov. Then he says, “I see. Then how may I best communicate my affection for you?”

It’s strange to be asked so directly, but it is also so very Kagetsu.

“I suppose allowing me to make another ring for you would be a good start,” Zelkov answers. He considers the question further and adds, “And while rings are an important symbol of commitment in Elusia, they are most significant when exchanged mutually.”

“Can I not just retrieve the ring you gave to Amber?” Kagetsu asks. He puffs up his cheeks slightly as he says it, and it makes him look petulant and almost… cute. “I do not like the idea of someone else wearing a ring that you made with such romantic intent.”

“Even if I made the ring with intent, I did not give it to Amber with the same intent,” Zelkov retorts, not bothering to hide the exasperation in his tone. “Just as I assume you would not jest about kissing Boucheron in the same way you would offer to kiss me.”

Kagetsu at least has the decency to look sheepish about that.

“I suppose I will try to live with it,” Kagetsu sighs. He reaches a hand up to cup Zelkov’s cheek and then leans in to press their mouths together in a brief kiss, before murmuring, “And I would much appreciate if you would teach me how to make a ring for you, although I cannot guarantee that it will turn out as well as yours.”

Instead of replying, Zelkov kisses him again.

---

The lighting in Zelkov’s room is dim, but it still glints off of the ring on Kagetsu’s finger.

Zelkov’s heart beats fast as Kagetsu twines their fingers together, pressing Zelkov’s hand down against the bed as he braces himself above Zelkov. Zelkov can feel the ring on his own finger tap gently against Kagetsu’s and it sends such an inexplicable rush of joy through him that he’s sure it must show on his face.

Kagetsu leans in to bite at Zelkov’s earlobe and murmurs something in that language that Zelkov can’t understand.

For a moment, Zelkov considers allowing himself to ignore it as he usually does, and instead just bask in the pleasant feeling of Kagetsu against him. However, after a beat of hesitation, he asks, “What are you saying?”

Kagetsu pulls away to blink at him.

“I am saying that I love you,” Kagetsu answers.

Zelkov stares at him.

“Why would you not just say it in a way we can both understand?” Zelkov huffs. He tries to ignore the feeling of his face flushing with heat.

“Well, you have never said it to me,” Kagetsu points out, and part of Zelkov regrets having brought up the topic. “And I am not sure of Elusia’s customs about saying such things aloud.”

“It is,” Zelkov says, a little haltingly, “not uncommon for lovers to say it to each other.”

Kagetsu looks down at him expectantly.

Zelkov hesitates, and then says, “I love you.”

Kagetsu beams at him, face alight with happiness, and Zelkov supposes he could make an effort to say it more often.