@erchommai continued from
Jace watches as he gets up, his eyelids weighing as he allows himself to linger in the burning sensation of the hard kiss, in the intimate affection of Jonathan’s hold. He loves him, so much more than he should, but it’s been too many years now for him to deny it. He slips out of bed, soft furs rustling his skin before he gets up and walks towards him. Jace holds him from behind, closes his eyes as he buries his face against his upper back, and sighs, muttering low, “remember our sign... If at any point you change your mind-”
The reminder was barely needed at this point, but Jace had only agreed to go forth with this once they had both settled on a safe word. As much hatred and disgust as he carried for the king, he was still Jonathan’s father. Jace hated taking lives, and yet he would have butchered the man with glee, but for it to happen under consent and help from Jonathan, himself... He just had to be sure he wouldn’t regret it. As much as he hated the king, he somehow had managed to love the king’s son more.
Quietly, and with a new ease, he started to help Jonathan with his attire of the day, fingers graciously dancing through the strings, knots, and buckles. Not because it was his duty, not because Jonathan needed him to, but because he chose to. Nearly all of his life inside these four walls, or wherever he found himself alone with Jonathan, had become that: a sanctuary of choice. He did only what he wished to, and what he had found over the last few years, was that there was a life altering difference between choosing to be of service to someone, and being made to serve them. He also found that not only he didn’t mind the former, he could actually let himself enjoy it.
Once he was done, he circled the prince and pulled himself up to press hungry tight kiss of his own to his lips. When they were alone were also the only moments when Jace allowed himself to think of his own title in the same way. Outside, he was a slave. People called him by his birth name, without regard, and other worse denominations. And Jace had had to simply get used to it or lose his mind. But in Jonathan’s bedroom, he was still a prince, fighting for his royal lineage, for his people, for their loyalty which he carried in his heart.
He had no idea what would have become of him, of his mind, and strength, and soul, if he hadn’t once been Jonathan’s gift. “I love you,” he whispered to him, over his lips. “More than Heaven or Hell could withstand it. We make it out of this together, or not at all.” He pulled back, and glanced over his shoulder at where a couple of his daily attires were hanging. He was thinking gold and white, today, the colors of Herondale House. He’d finally honor the death of his parents. Today he’d finally take back his name.