the amount of times i almost accidentally tagged something as 'damen of vere' instead of 'damen of akielos' is truly astonishing
(there is a fanfic in this, i feel it...
"the first time it happened, it was truly accidental. a nervous courier stumbling over his own words while delivering the message.
'To King Damianos of Vere', he recited, stopped, flushed and continued with a wavering voice.
'To King Damianos of Akielos and Prince Laurent of Vere'.
It was all so new yet, it happened.
The second time it was decidedly not an accident. It probably wasn't the second time either, only the second time, Damen heard.
The Kyroi were speaking in hushed voices, arguing. Not all of them were equally convinced of the alliance.
"Damianos of Vere", another one interrupted. He spit the false name out like it was an insult.
Damen didn’t feel like it was.
There was the sound of an open hand hitting a face, hard.
"The King of Akielos", the first voice said.
Damen memorized who had argued for him and who needed some convincing, then turned and departed without his presence ever been noticed.
The third time it was spoken as a joke.
The men of the Kings guard - the Veretian Kings guard, although it weren't all Veretians anymore - were cramped into one corner of the great hall of Makedons humble home.
At the other side there were Laurent and Makedon engrossed in conversation and drink.
Damen had stealthily exchanged a couple of Laurents goblets with water but there still was a heavy blush on his cheeks.
The wine was good and heady and Damen would probably still have to carry Laurent to their bed later that night.
'It's alright, I can handle it', Laurent had said, privately, to him earlier. And then more quietly, 'I trust you.'
It had made Damen want to punch something, someone.
Now Lazar invited him to sit with them. Pallas, next to him flushed even more. It was edging on improper to invite a king like this.
But Damen had fought with these men, listened to their gossip over a campfire and cheap wine.
Their conversation was bawdy and Damen listened with a smile playing around his lips. There was an easy companionship with these men, that he couldn't find with anyone else.
'They call you Damianos of Vere', Lazar proclaimed, "behind your back." It was with a curiosity in his eyes, daring.
Pallas flushed even more, looking scandalized, his tanned skin not enough to hide any of it.
Jord threw Lazar a heavy look.
Damen had heard these and other men often enough refer to Laurent as a stone-cold son of a bitch. He had thought they could come up with better.
The fourth time it again was an accident. The villagers had never seen royalty before and were openly staring at them, high on their horses.
A Child, not even reaching to their mothers hip yet, peaked up at them and asked, 'Are you the King of Vere?'
Their mother flushed, opened her mouth to apologise, or correct it.
Damen smiled openly at the child. 'No, that is Laurent, the King of Vere. I'm Damianos of Akielos. But we rule this country together. Is there anything we can do for you?'
The fifth time it was a messenger again, rushed and without noticing his mistake.
Damen looked at Laurent when he said 'King Damianos of Vere'. There was a smile in his eyes that he carefully kept from his mouth.
They lay sated in bed, the sheets tangled around their limbs and the sweat cooling on their skin.
In a moment Laurent would get up to get something to clean up. In a moment Damen would let him.
Right now he was holding onto him a little longer.
'I like it, when they call me that', he said. 'Makes me feel like I belong to you.'
'Don't you?', Laurent asked, his fingers slipping to the gold cuff around Damens wrist.
'Yes. But i like the way it sounds.'
Laurent made a content sound when Damen pulled him a little closer, a little up, so he could bury his face in his neck.
He kissed him there, then moved up to his ear, where he bit carefully.
Laurent breathed out a laugh.
When he finally lifted his head to gaze at him, Damens eyes were sparkling.
'There is a nice ring to it', he said, eyes crinkled. 'maybe I'll put it on my official signature. Damianos of Vere, King of Akielos and Vere, Husband of Laurent, King of Vere and Akielos."