viktor-horvat:
i want some more (what are you waiting for?)
@danika-novak and @littlewritingbee
Viktor couldn’t remember his last day off. Working in the kitchens of the palace was a full-time job, where he worked over twelve hours a day. It was an exhausting and thankless job, but it paid the bills. Even on the rare chance when he didn’t have work, which was unusual, Viktor had other obligations to tend to. His mother, for example, was dementia-ridden and needed full-time care. Between the small amount of government money and his paychecks, he barely afforded an in-home nurse. On days that he could relieve the in-home nurse, he did. Taking care of his mother was awful, but it saved him money and allowed him small conveniences. Take-out, for example, was a rarity in his life. While it would be a hell of a lot cheaper to dump her on the side of the road, Viktor couldn’t do that. Unlike his mother, he was a decent human being. Besides, it was only temporary. She was getting worse, and the doctors didn’t expect her to last much longer. It was a sad truth, but Viktor had been prepared for a long time. Growing up, his mother was a junkie who came in and out of his life. He could handle one more of her departures.
This week was a special week, and nothing, not even his mother, could ruin Viktor’s good mood. Most of the royal family was out of the country on some diplomatic bullshit, leaving him with nothing to do. Thankfully, the palace still paid for his time. That money automatically went to his mother’s care so he could take a legitimate break. The best part of this mini-vacation was the company he’d be keeping. Danika had talked her parents into letting her stay home. That meant they got a whole week together, doing whatever the hell they wanted. It was Saturday, the third day of their “stay-cation,” and Viktor wanted to do something normal. For him, normal was taking his girl out shopping and pretending like they were an average couple. While the stores weren’t up to her level of sophistication, it was still fun to browse. Viktor would regret using his credit card later on, but for now, it was fun.
To obscure his girlfriend’s features, Viktor insisted that she wear a headscarf and sunglasses. She looked like a character from a 1950s movie, which Viktor thought was adorable. As they walked, without worry of her being recognized, the couple was able to swing their clasped hands back and forth. For the first time in the entirety of their relationship, they weren’t afraid of being caught. Viktor knew it would be hard to go back to their regular routine of sneaking around the castle, so he savored this moment. Maybe someday soon, this could be a normal occurrence for them. While they weren’t talking about their future (again), Viktor knew this was it for them. They had tried to stay apart, and it was pure torture. They would figure something out.
After two hours of shopping, Viktor led Danika towards a little cafe. While he had never eaten there, he heard good things from others who worked in the kitchen. Since he never got to eat out, he was treating them to the experience this whole week. After talking to the hostess, they were sat outside in a nearly empty courtyard. It was perfect. Once seated, Viktor leaned back in his chair, taking in the view. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so content with life. It wouldn’t last long, so he needed to savor this moment like his life depended on it. Licking his lips, Viktor grabbed his menu and regarded their options. “So, what do you think? Is normal shopping as fun as shopping in Paris?” He glanced up, an endearing smile on his lips. “There’s no champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, but mall pretzels must be equally good.”
Danika never dreamed she and Viktor would have more than little spurts of time or maybe a day together. Much of it had been stolen kisses in the pantry, or those times that she could find a proper excuse to leave for a while and slip off to his place for a night together. An entire week had always seemed unattainable. Yet, here they were, relishing in the past few days they’d had all to themselves, and still several more along the way. Was it terrible a part of her hoped her family’s excursions would be extended indefinitely? She was milking every minute with Viktor, and trying not to think of what it would be like when they were back to their more clandestine routine.
The disguise she was wearing made the princess giggle at her reflection in one of the passing store windows, but it was her heart that fluttered wildly at the visage of her and Viktor hand in hand. She had never really seen them together before. While her face was spread all over media, it wasn’t with his attached. Even though she wouldn’t want that neurotic lifestyle for him, Danika did want him at her side. They had been through the conversation so many times, deliberating their future. All she knew was that she wanted him in it. Only though, if he was happy too. They would have to find a way.
She worried about Viktor’s well-being more often than not. He had a good head on his shoulders and while she found his devotion to his mother to be wonderful, the princess hoped he took care of himself as well. Danika wanted to be there with him, always, to ensure it. If he was sick, she wanted to be the one to take care of him. She’d attempt one of his best soup recipes, even with the mind that it would never compare to his craft. She yearned to brush her fingers through his hair; putting him to sleep after a long, restless shift... and just being there. The warmth of his strong hand gripping hers as if they were a normal couple brought Danika back to the present, and she lit up at the prospect of trying this cafe he had in mind. She had tried many times to pay herself, but Viktor wouldn’t let her. Finally she relented and relaxed.
The courtyard was beautiful, though the best view was of the stunning man before her. Danika loved the way the sun highlighted his features – how the foliage made his eyes pop. It was much different than succumbing themselves to the inside of the castle, or his place. She wondered if this was what being normal was like. She could get used to it. “It’s absolutely more fun,” she promised sincerely, pulling down her sunglasses to reveal glittering hazel eyes. Daintily she sat them on the table. Surely they wouldn’t be noticed here. “Paris is too... stuck up,” the blonde chuckled softly as she scanned the menu. Or tried. Her gaze was far more focused on him than the food. “Especially because of the company though,” Danika admitted, her free hand skating along the table to tickle his palm. “I will take pretzels any day if it’s with you. And of course if you feed them to me,” she added more cheekily. “How about you? I haven’t weighed you down with my bags yet?”
