Riven leaned back into the wooden bench, arms crossed, and a scowl tugging at his lips. The large common area filled with other campers buzzed around them, but his attention was fixed on the figure just a few benches away.
His class partner, Mira Lune nervous eyes glanced toward the figure discretely—he was staring. Not just looking, but practically burning a hole through her.
"Umm...Riven? Is it just me or is Prince Vaelorian glaring at us?" she whispered, voice trembling slightly then her gaze flicked nervously toward him again.
She shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing a little, and when his intense gaze stayed fixed on her, she quickly looked away, squeaking silently. Riven rolled his eyes at Vaelorian before turning to the girl.
"Nooo! He's not glaring at us! He's just...facing this way. Yeah, he's definitely just facing this direction. Pay no mind to him, okay?" Riven replied using a dismissive tone. He was trying to downplay the whole thing, but deep down he knew the truth. Vaelorian's stare was sharp, unwavering, and way too focused on them to be just a coincidence.
The older boy was definitely messing with him.
"What are you doing?"
Riven projected his thought into Vaelorian's head and the older boy chuckled.
"Good! He heard me." Riven thought.
He was glad his mental defenses had gotten strong enough that Vaelorian could hear his thoughts from this distance. Not that he was going to give Vaelorian the satisfaction of knowing his training has been effective, of course.
"What do you mean? I'm just here to chill like everyone else," Vaelorian replied inwardly while with a visible shrugging.
"You're staring!"
"Yeah, so? What's the big deal?" the voice in Riven's head replied mockingly.
He sighed. "Can't you see you're making her uncomfortable? "
"Am I? Good," Vaelorian's voice echoed in his mind, smooth and confident. "I didn't think it was working from this distance."
Riven scowled, Vaelorian was really getting on his nerves.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Have you forgotten our deal? You two way too comfortable from where I'm sitting. Why are being touchy with her?" Vaelorian shot back, an accusing edge to his tone.
"What are you talking about? I'm not..."
"You heard me!" Vaelorian's voice interrupted Riven before he could even finish.
"Dude! We're literally working on something that requires us to be this physically close. Can't you just chill?"
Vaelorian clenched his fists, frustration bubbling. Why won't Riven see what's right in front of him?
"Well, I don't like it!" the older boy said grumpily.
"Yeah, well, this isn't about you!" Riven countered, sounding irritated
"Right than! You can keep being touchy with her, and I'll just continue staring. Fair enough?"
Riven's jaw tightened. "You're being ridiculous."
Why the hell was Vaelorian giving him hell right now?
"Say what you want, but I won't stop staring until you stop being touchy with her," Vaelorian replied. He sounded determined and Riven knows how stubborn he can be.
Riven sighed and moved from his sitting position and into the seat opposite him and his project partner making the Mira Lune raise a confused brow and he just shrugged with a small smile.
"Good boy!" Riven heard Vaelorian's voice in his head and he resisted the, urge to give him the middle finger.
"Stop staring! I've done what you wanted. Now, cut it, out!" Riven thought fiercely, glancing at Vaelorian. The Prince smirked in satisfaction before standing up and walking away, leaving Riven to glare after him.
"I'm only letting this go because you did what I wanted," Vaelorian's voice echoed in his head again, silky and calm. "Come to the room once you're done." Riven rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, sure, like I'm just gonna follow your orders, asshole!" Still, he knew he couldn't ignore him completely. Vaelorian practically owns him thanks to the stupid things he has done.
This time, his project partner caught what Riven said but decided not to comment on it. A lot of weird things have been happening since she started working with Riven and for the sake of her sanity, she's not going to question it.
They went back to working on their project without someone staring or distracting them this time and before long, it was time for them to take a break for the day. They went their separate ways and Riven went back straight to the room. It was time he put an end to whatever this is before it got out of hand.
Riven doesn't belong to anyone, especially not Vaelorian!
"What the fuck was that earlier?" Riven yelled at the older boy moment he made it into their room.
"Don't cuss, please." was Vaelorian's reply.
Despite Vaelorian's tough appearance, he's a stickler for good manners and decorum.
"Oh, forgive me for saying 'fuck' Your Asshole-ness!" Riven shot back, rolling his eyes. "Now, answer my damn question. What was that about?"
Vaelorian just shrugged on the bed and turned his attention back to the book he was holding which made Riven even more pissed.
It's like something dark snapped in his head. Vaelorian wasn't just going to brush this aside like he always does. He won't let him!
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Riven said ripping the book out of Vaelorian's hand and the latter sighed.
"What do you think it was?" Vaelorian spoke running his hand through his thick hair, "I was bored and decided to mess around." he added making Riven scoff.
"I know you Vaelorian. You're not someone that just messes around with other people because you're bored. Plus, you scared that poor girl half to death!"
Something dark flashed across Vaelorian's face before he said. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you cared about her that much!"
"Oh no. no! We're not turning this on me. You decided to mess with an innocent girl because you couldn't stand the thought of me disobeying you, even though I specifically told you there was nothing going on between us. What kind of sick game are you playing?"
"What if she's into you, huh? Will you turn her down, then?" Vaelorian suddenly yelled, voice rising.
Riven froze, taken aback by the sudden outburst. "What?" he asked, stunned. This wasn't their usual back and forth—something about this feels different.
After that amazing kiss they shared last time. He decided it was better if he forgot about it because Vaelorian clearly told him he did it to mess with him. The kiss that still hunts his dreams. Nothing else has happened between them to make him act like this. Both of them have only ever been physically close during practice. And even then, they were always teasing each other for fun. Nothing serious. So why did Vaelorian sound so…serious right now?
"Nothing! Forget I said anything." Vaelorian spoke, he sounded resigned. Like he was tired of fighting.
Riven's mind was spinning. What kind of half-assed answer was that? That doesn't fucking clear things up, if anything he's more confused. Fine! Vaelorian wants to do this the hard way, Riven can totally work with that.
The younger boy stormed over to the bed, grabbing Vaelorian by the collar of his shirt, he yanked him closer. The prince's eyes widened as Riven loomed over him, chest heaving with frustration.
"Say what you're fucking thinking, damnit! I'm fucking sick of you doing whatever the hell you want. I'm putting an end to this bullshit now!" Riven voiced his demands, voice low and rough.
Vaelorian looked like he was about pushing Riven off him, then he stopped, and then sighed heavily.
"You and that mouth of yours," he muttered, trying to keep his tone even. "Can you just...get off me first?"
"Not yet," Riven growled. "start talking!"
Vaelorian was caught. His mouth opened, then closed. His mind was a jumble—he wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. Instead, he felt his body reacting beneath Riven, and he cursed himself silently.
He was practically stuck with Riven straddling him on the bed and since his voice wouldn't cooperate, he has to find another way to communicate. Vaelorian closed his eyes and reached up, gently touching Riven's face he spoke from his heart into Riven's head.
"Riven? Please get off me first and I promise to answer your questions, I really can't focus like this."
But Riven didn't move. Instead, when Vaelorian reopened his eyes, their faces were dangerously close—so close he could see the faint flecks in Riven's eyes, and hear his shallow breathing.
When did he get so close?
Vaelorian's eyes landed on Riven's plum lips, his breath caught in his throat because all he could think of was sinking his teeth in those juicy lips...he's so screwed!
"Please!" He whispered with a shaky voice, praying Riven would just do as he asked.
Vaelorian can't believe this is how he gets caught! He has been playing the part of the nonchalant and bold roommate for weeks but now everything is about to come out in the open. He was freaking out! What will Riven say?
What Vaelorian doesn't know is, something had been bothering Riven for a while now—the way Vaelorian looked at him, the things he said or did when he thought Riven wasn't paying attention. But that's not all, something else had been troubling him. This body had literally punished him with excruciating pain when he thought about getting a haircut, and the same pain struck again when he tried hooking up with Anya.
That one kiss almost ended his life.
It was as if the owner of this body instinctively pushed away the people and things he didn't want—yet when Vaelorian kissed him, he didn't resist or hurt him. Riven liked the kiss or rather, it wasn't him who liked it; it was this body that responded. It defies logic, and yet, in some inexplicable way, it's the only explanation that fits what's been happening to him.
"Vaelorian?"
"Hmm?"
"Kiss me." Riven's voice was soft, barely a breath, yet the meaning was clear. His gaze lingered on Vaelorian's lips, a silent plea that shattered the fragile walls of resistance Vaelorian had so carefully built.
Vaelorian forgot how to breathe after hearing Riven's words. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the air between them charged with an electric tension that neither could deny any longer. Vaelorian's resolve crumbled, his heart pounded in his chest. He finally decided to stop overthinking and gave in to the pull that had been tugging at him for so long.
He leaned in, his movements slow and deliberate, as if every inch closer was both a surrender and a victory. Their breaths mingled, and when their lips finally met, it was like the first spark of a flame—gentle, sweet, yet filled with the promise of something more.
The kiss was soft at first, a delicate exploration, but it quickly deepened when Vaelorian's hand found its way to the back of Riven's neck, his fingers tangling in the soft strands of hair as he pulled him closer, as if trying to erase any remaining distance between them. The kiss grew more urgent, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
The taste of Riven's lips was intoxicating, a blend of sweetness and something uniquely him that Vaelorian couldn't get enough of. Their bodies pressed together, heat radiating between them, and Vaelorian could feel the rapid beat of Riven's heart against his own
When they finally pulled away, it was only by a fraction, their foreheads resting together as they caught their breath. Riven's eyes were half-closed, his lips slightly parted, and Vaelorian could see the same hunger reflected in his gaze that he felt burning within himself.
"See? I was fucking right! No pain!" Riven thought.
This is all the evidence and reassurance he needed.
What exactly does this mean? Riven wondered, his thoughts drifting between the intensity of the moment and the unspoken emotions it carried.
Riven has had his share number of hookups in his past life but it was only with girls. He hadn't even thought about kissing a guy until Vaelorian kissed him first, and the fact that this body didn't protest like it should...does that mean this body's owner is into guys? If so is he willing to trade his secret crush for Vaelorian instead?
Riven wished that would be the case because while he's stuck here and no way of finding out who the secret crush is, this body settling for Vaelorian would make his life much more easier. At least he would focus on making the Duke proud instead of chasing an unknown crush.
"Riven?" Vaelorian called out, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about everything, and for being a pain earlier. I don't want to fight anymore." Vaelorian whispered into Riven's lips their mouth inches apart.
"Don't worry about that anymore. I think we're even now." Riven replied chuckling at the fact that Vaelorian can't even say 'pain in the ass' when he's talking about being a pain before connecting their lips again.
Riven moaned into Vaelorian's mouth as his hand made his way to his long hair again.
"More! I want more of him! I want to sink my teeth in his soft beautiful skin, I want a taste of every inch of him." Vaelorian thought as their kissing grew more intense so he flipped them over and towered above Riven who looked back at him with the same hungry gaze.
Riven reached up and gently tugged on Vaelorian's waist band.
"Vaelorian?" He whispered the name with such a delicate tone like he was afraid of breaking the intimate atmosphere.
"Yes?" Vaelorian whispered back as he dropped his body low on Riven's.
Riven cradled Vaelorian's face in his hand and kissed him again before whispering.
"I want you."
Those three little words were like a sharp knife cutting all of Vaelorian's restraints as he tore his clothes off and did the same for Riven.
"I'm yours to do with as you please!" Vaelorian whispered into Riven's ear before playfully nibbling on it and that was all the permission Riven needed to pounce on the older boy.