Chapter Text
Despite the fiery rage that soars through his blood, he maintains a languid pace traveling down the long winding halls of the castle.
Aware that it would arose suspicion if he were seen running down the halls like a bat out of hell--though he internally notes the long seconds until he finally reaches his destination and comes face to face with Arbeloa; his trusted knight who diligently stands watch at his doors.
"You do no need to stand here and guard my chambers, I know you have friends here those who you have not seen since your days in Spain. I give you permission to converse with them and take your leave, I will be fine in your absence" he calmly regales avoiding eye contact but implementing a strong sense of command underneath the words.
He truly wishes to be alone, to lick his wounds and figure out if he can truly stay knowing what he knows now.
"My prince if I may speak freely?" Arbeloa's deep voice rumbles deeply and he wonders if the knight heard anything he just uttered and chose to ignore him or if he simply has something of more importance to recount but nonetheless he nods his acquiesce and stands to receive the message.
"I've been your knight since you were a boy, I've watched you grow into the brilliant man you are today and not once during the lifetime I've known you have I thought that boy King was worthy of your hand--" he cannot control his quiet gasp of shock and knows he should cease this line of conversation but Arbeloa continues impassioned, taking three powerful strides towards him to close the small distance that separate them.
"Now more than ever I am certain that is he not worthy of you, I think it best we take our leave of this place and leave him to his own demise he is no longer any concern of yours" the coldness that curtains the Spaniard's dark eyes reminds Gareth that Arbeloa would do anything for him, he has seen the knight brawl with the intent to kill.
He absently wonders if the knight has ever been successful, ever took another's life?
If looks had the clout to ends one existence his betrothed would he laying under the cold ground now.
His voice has disappeared, gone into the hiding along with his heart it appears and he cannot find the words to counter the knight.
He doesn't want to abandon Cristiano, he hasn't only given his hand in marriage he intended to spend the rest of his life with this man but now....he struggles to stay in his presence one more day.
He wants to leave.
Why stay any further and decimate the remaining fragments of his heart?
Before the question can permeate in his mind, he sees flashes of their childhood. Boyish moments of laughter, the first time he beat Cristiano in a race and the bewilderment that overtook his handsome face, the way the young prince had tackled him to the floor demanding a rematch and forcing Gareth to promise he'd never tell another soul of this victory. Mock battles in the training grounds, wooden swords clashing in brutal hits under the watchful eyes of both their knights both ready to intervene lest the battles venture into something more. And then…..
Their first and only kiss.
On his 15th birthday, there was a huge celebration held in his honor and he'd been showered with affection and presents, though this was nothing of precedent after all he was a prince and a bit spoiled as it were.
Yet the only present he’d wanted was Cristiano's presence but his father-King Frank had informed him that the young Portuguese prince had other duties and would not be able to attend.
He still recalls the void that consumed his joy and restrained him from joining in with the festivities.
He'd wondered out into the garden and stood by the same rose bush that they had when they were mere children, where Cristiano had taken his finger and gently kissed them alleviating any pain that he felt following the accidental prick.
His cornflower blue eyes twinkled like the stars that glowered above his head and he'd done something only children partook in; he wished upon a star. Pleaded for the only present he truly desired.
He'd opened his eyes quickly after the ridiculous impulse had passed and berated himself for his childish actions, he was almost a man now. A man who would one day lead an entire nation….
"What did you wish for?" that voice had crashed over him so suddenly that he felt his heart ricochet off his rib cage and splatter around like chicken with its head cut off. He had stood there frozen, terrified that when he turned around there would be no one there and it would simply be his imagination cruelly taunting him.
Then, a warm hand grasped his elbow and spun him around.
And there he stood, the crown prince of Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.
"What are you--how...I thought..?" He fumbled to construct a coherent sentence and the smirk on the Portuguese's face widened each second he stumbled over his own tongue.
"Prince Gareth I haven't seen you this flustered since we were children, surely we are past those instances now. I received your letter and I came as quickly as I could, congratulations on another year of prosperous life have you obtained everything you desire?"
"Now I have" he'd instinctively answered throwing all caution to the wind, too elated to worry about the frankness of his statement.
The very obvious implications.
Cristiano merely smiled at his response and a streak of light provided by the moon, revealed the blush that shone brightly on his cheeks. He smiled in return.
"Will you take a walk with me?" He quietly requested and they walked around the garden, side by side hands brushing at every step. That would have been enough for him, surpassing anything he could have envisioned but at the end of the walk around the sprawling garden Cristiano stopped him in front of the very same rose bush, their rose bush as he'd taken to thinking of it.
"Turn around" he'd barely waited for Gareth to respond before he was taking hold of his hips and physically moving Gareth as he saw fit.
Gareth felt a chill traverse through his body as Cristiano came to stand behind him, his soft puffs of breath caressing his skin causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up in anticipation.
Then a cold chain was wrapped around his neck and when he looked down, he saw infinite endless blue.
"I purchased it in a market while traveling with my father in Arabia, it reminded me of your eyes." Cristiano whispered and he couldn't help myself, he felt so much love in his heart he feared it might pop.
He turned around and looked up with those blue blue eyes and for the first time took what he yearned for without asking.
Their lips met in a soft caress.
Delicate as a rose's petals and just as sweet, he didn't dare press for more nervously awaiting Cristiano's reaction. Pleasantly surprised when his hips were taken and his body was dragged across the galaxy that separated them.
The closeness of their bodies caused the smooth jewel to press into his chest branding him as Cristiano's forever. He'd flushed at the first pressure of Cristiano's tongue at the seam of his lips, he'd never kissed anyone before much less with that appendage. He'd pulled away in shock and embarrassment. Cristiano's eyes were molten and dark and hungry and it made something inside of him tingle. "I'm sorry I've never..."
"Surely you jest? Your lips were made for this very activity."
And if he were not already the color of ripe strawberries he would be now, how could Cristiano say something so...flirtatious? And whom exactly would he be kissing, he belonged to Cristiano; all of him he had no desire to be intimate with another.
He felt jealousy rush thorough him imagining all the others the young handsome prince must have kissed before him to learn such technique.
"Put that teasing pout away I was merely jesting I know what we are to each other, I've never either. It was instinct, I wished to taste you your lips are quite lovely."
Before he could offer another embarrassing display and promptly place his foot in his mouth, Cristiano drew him back.
"You claim you are mine and if that is true then surely I can be the first to taste you, can I show you?" Cristiano requested with eyes locked to his lips and he could do nothing but tremble in agreement.
This memory has been the fuel for many of his fantasies, dreams of their embrace and the gentle opened- mouth kisses filled with innocence in their youth. But as he grew older they did not stay this way, innocence made way for darker desire fantasies of what those kisses could have led to.
Cristiano has always been his darkest fantasy.
"I thank you for your concern but I have made me decisions and I need to be here, love means being there even when the one you love believes they do not require your presence. I could never abandon him, he's my destiny" he replies steadfast easily walking around his knight and entering his chambers finally remembering himself, and how far is he willing to go to ensure Cristiano is happy.
Completely unaware of the silent prince that hangs on the edge of his every word behind closed doors, traitorous heart pounding as if it has never beat before.