6

Sol has rarely slept this heavily. Last night feels like a dream, and it does not bleed into this day despite the words they shared, their confessions are left to yesterday's midnight hours.

Sol finds, he is lighter now. More awake. As he rouses, Yohan is beside him, watching him through a smitten gaze. He rests a palm against Sol's jaw. "Good morning, sweetheart."

He kisses Sol's forehead and chuckles. "You've had a talkative night."

"W-What?"

Sol blurts as he pauses. " Again? What did I—"

But Yohan merely strokes Sol's hair. "Nothing too notable."

Sol notices his beloved is being a tad more gentle in his movements, somehow, if that is even possible. "You were merely hugging me tight, and whispering I love you, Yohan, I love you, please marry me again! "

Before Sol can reply, Yohan presses their lips together, a low growl rises up his throat. "I could certainly get used to being proposed to every day."

"Oh my Gods. "

Sol buries his face into his palms with a flustered whine. But if it pleases you that much…"

He groans as he peeks at his knight again past his now-spread fingers. "I suppose, I could do it again."

Yohan is beaming; it is difficult to resist his warmth. He truly is a gentle sun , Sol thinks as he slips his arms around the knight's shoulders then nuzzles their noses together. "Also," he pouts, "good morning to you, too."

Yohan chuckles. " Ah, so sweet of you to say it back, my heart."

Something about the way that Yohan's deep voice reverberates against his ribcage finds heat pooling in Sol's loins. As Yohan laughs again then presses his lips to Sol's neck, Sol kisses the knight's temple. He yearns to be close to him today, nothing else, nothing more. He holds his beloved in silence, listening as their breaths intermingle for what feels like forever. There is birdsong outside. The taste of salt is strong in the air, as is the sound of waves crashing against the shore's rocks, Yohan's stallion huffs with newfound energy behind the old wooden door. Sol knows it will be time to go soon— they cannot possibly stay here forever, if they ever hope to make it home, before the summer ends.

"It isn't far from here,"

Yohan suddenly says, and his words pull Sol from his own reflections. "The flowers I wanted to show you."

Yohan brushes the hair out of Sol's face. "Do you still want to go?"

he asks. "It will only be a short detour."

Sol squeezes at Yohan's shoulders. "Of course, I do,"

he says, before he pulls away smiling. "I've been looking forward to it all month."

They have breakfast over a wooden crate and their picnic blanket—it is a short meal that consists of porridge and freshly cut fruit, Yohan bought two bowls of it from the marketplace yesterday, while Sol had the same bowls conserved with the aid of magic. As Sol brings a spoonful to his lips, the fruit is indeed, perfectly preserved; the apples taste as though they were plucked minutes ago from a nearby tree. He almost wishes he'd gotten another serving to last them for tomorrow's morning, however, Sol doesn't have too much time to ponder on his losses.

It isn't long before he and Yohan are off, out the lighthouse's exit and traveling across a trail that seems to grow longer by the minute. Yohan briefly stops when they reach the oceanside, he discards his armor then pulls his trousers to his ankles in hopes of nabbing a few small fish from the water. Sol watches him from afar with mild entertainment growing in his gaze, there are a few times where he gasps, whenever it seems Yohan may actually succeed. But in the end, the tide is too high today for fishing to be an easy task. And at the worry of wasting more time on this fruitless endeavor, Yohan gives up then rejoins Sol on his mount. "I guess I got ahead of myself…"

he grumbles under his breath before they take off again and Sol pats his back in reassurance with a laugh.

"It's still nice that you tried."

They rise up the mountainside, wading through paths each all the more rocky than their predecessors, their backs engulfed by the greenery. The deep forest beckons to swallow them whole as they leave the lighthouse behind; Sol appreciates the difference traveling by horse makes, now that they are entering more difficult terrain that would have usually given him great struggle on foot, the strength of Yohan's stallion carrying them across the land has him feeling as though they could be home any minute now.

Sol rests his head against Yohan's back as he holds onto his midriff. He yawns. "This is so much easier than when we were trying to get to the palace by foot…"

"Ah? Is it?"

The knight lets out a strong, burly laugh. "I didn't even notice,"

he says, his voice soft now, as if he is recalling a fond memory; and Sol has to wonder how much stamina the man has, until his beloved clears his throat then adds, "I was having so much fun traveling in your company, the journey flew by."

Sol's mouth forms around the shape of an oh that does not quite leave him in sound. What a sweet thing to say. He deepens his hold around Yohan's waist and embraces him with a smile. "Maybe…we could do this again sometime, when things are quieter and we've settled in? I agree that, despite how tiring it was at times, it was fun. It's a shame to think… it could possibly be our last adventure together."

"I couldn't agree more!"

Yohan's voice sifts through the air again, clear as the daylight that shines through the leaves above. "Not to mention!"

he steers his horse leftward, and Sol can hear the smile in his voice. "Now that I am free, traveling for my own sake instead of on the King's behalf seems like it would be a welcome change of pace, I am sure we can find plenty to task ourselves with once we are ready—can you imagine all the herbs and fruit that are simply waiting to be discovered in the region? Oh, Sol! Just thinking about it makes me want to leave today!"

Sol hums as he laughs in turn. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves now. Still…"

He sighs. "If I am to properly document every single plant in the area, that would indeed be a useful trip…"

"Wouldn't it?"

A grin takes Sol's lips as he leans into the knight. "I can't wait."

They ride for a little more in silence, leaves and little twigs crunch beneath the horse's hooves, they bask in the hospitable sounds and warmth of nature's gentle sunlight until Yohan's steed comes to a halt.

"We're here,"

Yohan tells him, before the two dismount. Sol catches that expression on his beloved again, a twitch of his brow, the corner of his lip being tugged downward.

"Yohan? Are you—"

" Well! "

Yohan clears his throat, and the expression disappears from his face anew. "I'll be back!"

he calls out before Sol can question him. Yohan walks away, to let his horse drink some water from an extra pouch he got just for this sole purpose; Sol remembers him filling it earlier this morning, how Yohan had said he wanted to be sure he'd have enough water for the day. He watches as Yohan ties the stallion to a tree beneath the shade, as if he hasn't a care in the world now.

Sol raises a brow at him whilst he watches Yohan in mild confusion. It doesn't seem like Yohan is in the right mood to have this discussion, but, they should… definitely talk about this later. Sol grabs hold of the satchel with their food for the day, and Yohan takes his free hand then leads him away.

They walk until they reach a clearing; amid the forest's core, is a field filled with little golden bobbing petals who sway in the winds of summer. The circlet of trees gives way to a full view of the sky, where clouds spill cream shades into the heavy cerulean ceiling. "Beautiful…"

the word leaves Sol's lips before he can even think it as he stares at their surroundings in pure wonder and delight. In all his short-lived life, he has never seen a sight like this before, it is something out of a dream. Or rather, a painting , might be more exact.

He turns back to glance at Yohan, with glee smeared across his lips. "How did you even find this place?"

It seems as though it would be incredibly easy to miss and difficult to remember all the same, considering its location.

Yohan's palm finds Sol's shoulder as he looks to the sky in turn. "When I first became one of the Old King's Cursed Riders, there was a day where I did not think I could take any more: the pressure, every duty, even having the knowledge that I might die before being able to live a life of my own was enough to make me wonder if serving the King was worth it anymore. Who cares if he frees me from the curse in twenty years? Who cares if Celestina protects me from being consumed by its darkness? Wouldn't it be better if I lived at least a few months of freedom instead of risking my life day in day out? I kept thinking to myself. So… I ran away.

"You—"

Sol's eyes widen. "I didn't even know you could do that…"

"Well,"

Yohan laughs with a shrug. "I was certainly one of the first and the last, they had their hands full with me, that was for certain."

Sol's fingers find Yohan's, his brows arch in solemn sorrow. "I'm sorry, Yohan."

He wishes he could take the knight's pain away.

Yohan threads his fingers through Sol's hair then kisses his cheek. "When I decided I wouldn't come back,"

he motions to the field of sunflowers, who seem to rise higher with every step he and Sol take, surrounding them in gold, in life, "that's when I found this place—and at that moment, in my heart I knew, after seeing this sight, that living was not some sort of optional, trivial thing."

Yohan's gaze falls upon the flowers as a gentle smile takes his lips, the wind brushes his hair back. "I just knew I had to live, to survive—I didn't want it to end then. I vowed to never let the curse take me. And, now that it is over,"

he squeezes Sol's hand then peers down at Sol, "you've no idea how glad I am to have made it this far. And with you by my side, too, now. My love." Yohan leans down to kiss Sol, when he pulls away, their gazes meet. "I am so glad we have made it this far."

To these words, Sol can find nothing to do but embrace his lover in triumph. As he holds his beloved closer to his chest, he whispers to the wind, "Me too…"

And the sun bathes them both in the warmth of its brightest light.

Amid the ring of sunflowers, across the lands afternoon settles, and Yohan motions to the bag holding their midday provisions with a tilt of his head. "Shall we, then?"

He needn't ask twice, Sol's appetite craves a good meal after their journey. However, when Yohan lays out another, different picnic blanket where two hearts containing the letters ‘ S' and ‘ Y' have been embroidered into its fabric, the sight takes Sol by surprise.

"Yohan…"

Sol leans down to where Yohan is kneeling, rearranging the blanket across the grass, to kiss the crown of his beloved's head. "Did you sew it yourself?

Sol swears that he sees Yohan's face blush a shade darker as the words leave his lips. "I-Is it not to your liking?"

"It is,"

Sol whispers, running his fingers down Yohan's neck. "You're sweet."

He can feel Yohan relax under his touch, and takes this opportunity to brush a hand through Yohan's hair, softly, as he whispers, "My good boy."

Yohan looks to him, his eyes full of longing. He rises to his feet, lets Sol feel the difference in their heights, before he cups Sol's jaw. He pulls Sol into a kiss. And Sol's teeth scrape his lower lip. And the knight's tongue pushes Sol's lips apart. And they pant, hungry and aching for more into each other's mouths. Yohan moans when Sol's hands trace an invisible path of his touch down his chest. "I'm starving, beloved,"

Sol whispers through lidded eyes as he stares at his knight—Yohan, who seemingly pretends not to notice that Sol was not speaking about the food.

"Then,"

Yohan chuckles whilst he pulls away with a playful smirk, "I shall lay out our meal."

There is fire burning the edges of their fingertips when they let go.

Sol licks his lips, wondering if they will revisit this later, before his eyes fall atop their meal. Across the picnic blanket, there are sandwiches filled with salad and fish, grapes and little strawberry jam biscuits. Tea, of course, is also on the menu—its contents still warm thanks to Yohan's Gift. Sol finds it slightly fascinating that this particular magic only seems to work on beverages, not food. He wonders why that is.

As Sol finds himself seated between Yohan's legs, and Yohan leans forward, into him—as much as they cannot keep their hands off the food, they also cannot keep their hands off each other.

Sol didn't think he'd consider returning to the lighthouse simply for the sole purpose of begging Yohan to take him there, quickly, however with the way this afternoon is going he admits the thought crosses his mind more than once—still, as two men with patience who dislike the idea of wasting of precious food, the two take the utmost care with finishing their meals. But when they get to dessert, the brush of their fingers against each other's wrists whenever they reach out to serve themselves with more fruit, how Yohan's lips are devilishly close to Sol's ears when he asks him if he is still hungry, if he would like more , is enough to send them tipping over the edge of desire.

Yohan feeds the last piece of grape to Sol who bites into it with a grand appetite; he swallows it, then licks the remaining juices off Yohan's fingers.

"Sol…"

Yohan warns, his voice low, enveloped by a taunting grunt.

Sol has rarely heard his beloved this worked up before. It is nice to know they share the same hunger. He tugs on Yohan's arm lightly, grasps at his hands before guiding them to his shoulders, in hopes that his beloved will pin him into the ground. The amount of lust he feels today is almost shameful—but he finds, that he wants to give Yohan everything. To let his big, strong knight control his pleasure. Sol lets a vulnerable, almost pitiful look cross his gaze as he meets Yohans. Softly, he tells his beloved, "I'd like you to take control, my love—full control."

Yohan's eyes widen, before he has Sol on his back in no time.

As his big, warm hand comes to rest on Sol's stomach and holds him down, Sol arches into his touch. Yohan breathes, hot and heavy against his ear. "My love, may I?"

The question pulls a giggle out of Sol, who reaches up to run his fingers down the side of Yohan's face, before he kisses his knight. "You may,"

he tells Yohan, a smile on his lips as he does so.

" Sol. "

Yohan kisses back, and his fingers twine with Sol's now. "Show me."

Another, low grunt. "Show me how to touch you, my heart."

Sol swallows his pulse that beats in his throat, as he grasps Yohan's wrists between his, he guides Yohan's hands across his body, atop his chest. "Here,"

Sol whispers. "And…"

He moves again, does his best to avoid his thighs, until Yohan's hand is between his legs. "Here, too—"

"I see."

Yohan says, his voice unperturbed as if they were talking about mere weather; he sighs against Sol's neck and pushes into the fabric of Sol's trousers.

The pressure of Yohan's fingers on his cock has Sol writhing beneath his beloved. "P-Please—"

Sol whines, he is so gods damned aroused, he does not know what to do with himself anymore.

Sol lays with his legs spread half-across the picnic blanket and the grass.

He takes a breath then stares at the beauty of the sky. As Yohan pinches the hems of his robe and raises his eyebrows at Sol, Sol gives him a knowing look, a nod with a playful grin as he bites into his lower lip. The knight soon disrobes him and brings his lips to Sol's chest, where he leans in to suckle on Sol's nipple as he glances upward to look Sol in the eye—for once, Sol does not look away.

As he meets the knight's gaze with trembling lips and his chest heaving up with the sharp inhale he takes, Sol lets the knight do as he pleases because it is also what pleases him. "Oh, that's so good, "

Sol hisses, when he feels Yohan's teeth rubbing up against his perked skin.

Though it should not, something about this feels forbidden, like fruit made only to be tasted by their lips. Yohan is loving every part of him— even the pieces Sol longed to wish away, it is so strange yet wondrous, that they are now a door to his pleasure —and when the knight reaches down with his free hand to rub rose pink flesh around Sol's cock without ever directly touching him, Sol finds himself grinding down against his beloved's hand.

His eyes roll to the back of his head, his eyes flutter shut with a shiver. "You're— a-ah —taking your time today."

Yohan chuckles against his skin. "Of course. I want to love you well, my heart."

A moan rises from Sol's throat. " F-Fuck— "

The sounds that pour out of his lips finds him flustered, Yohan is playing his body like a harp he has mastered, and Sol is so terribly keen to receive every gentle stroke of his fingers. " Yohan. "

Sol relishes in the way his beloved moves against him, as he hiccups another moan, Yohan leans in to kiss the skin over Sol's heart. And Sol gulps, he is certain the knight can hear his heart pounding, he wants him to hear. Wants him to know how much this means to him. How Yohan truly is everything to him: the dawn Sol wants to rise to, and the darkness he wants to lose himself in. "You always love me well."

Oh, how Sol pines for his irresistibly handsome lover, he reaches for Yohan again, his fingers trembling against the knight's shoulder. "Y-Yohan— Gods— it's so good… "

Yohan hushes him. "It is all right, Sol. You needn't worry yourself with anything right now."

Sol's beloved kisses the underside of his jaw, grinning, as he continues to rub circles across Sol's warmth, his fingers slowly inching closer to Sol's cock. "Close your eyes for a moment,"

he whispers with a press of his lips to Sol's eyelashes now as he touches their foreheads together. "Relax for me, my love."

As Sol stops fighting the urge to keep his eyes on Yohan, his gaze flutters shut. The pleasure indeed, does intensify, for is it the only sensation he can focus on now. The sky is gone. So are the sunflowers. It is only Yohan's fingers touching him, circling his cock in soft, gentle ways. " O-Oh— "

Sol doesn't mean for the sound to leave him, but it does when Yohan's fingertips rub against his warmth again—he is so sensitive now, after being teased for so long, that his release comes quicker than he expects and catches him off guard.

He clings to Yohan, the knight's name spilling out of his lips, as Yohan continues to stroke him in a gentle rhythm, Sol grinds his hips down against his beloved's hand. " Gods , I—"

The end of his phrase is followed by another, shaken moan.

Sol's climax only grows as he trembles, feeling hot golden warmth rushing through his veins—Yohan holds him through it all, kissing down the side of his face as he whispers sweet words and I love yous to Sol, until Sol is breathing heavily, his eyes wide as he stares at the beauty of the sky, the clouds passing him by. It is odd, perhaps, to feel as though he is completely connected to the world in this moment, but he does. He is. Sweat soaked skin dampens the hair against his forehead. A fire inside him is burning. Never in his life has he felt more alive. "Yohan,"

Sol finally exhales, "that was so…"

Sol blinks, he is still a tad shaken but in the best of ways, no one—not even himself—has ever touched him like that before. "Gods."

he stares at Yohan in awe. "I like it, when you take your time like that, actually…"

Sol smiles. "I didn't know that until now."

He doesn't know why but he is laughing now—everything was all so naturally pleasurable, without any need to think twice, it felt as natural as breathing. He didn't think it could be this way. Sol realizes, he is enjoying coming into himself like this—learning to enjoy what this body can do for him, dare he say, even reclaiming it as his own after feeling like a stranger in his own skin for so long.

It is so freeing.

So, so freeing.

He and Yohan lay beside each other, their heads turned towards one another, as they laugh together without a care in the world. Sol pushes up against his elbows to straddle Yohan's waist: though he is still naked from the waist down, his robe falls across his waist, again until it covers his thighs.

Sol stares down to his knight, licking his lips, his heart aflame with lust. "So, beloved?"

he asks with an innocent, tilt of his head, before his lips that he presses to Yohan's curve into an amorous grin. "What now?"

Sol whispers as his index finger comes to rest beneath Yohan's chin. "What could my good boy possibly want?"

"Sol, you— "

Yohan looks away with mild embarrassment as his face flushes a deep shade of vermillion, he covers his eyes with his free hand and Sol thinks he is truly, never getting over this man—every day he falls deeper. "I did not expect you to actually say it so often…"

"Ah?"

Sol coos as if he truly doesn't know what Yohan is referring to. Yohan has made him feel the divine today, and Sol wants to return the favor to him, tenfold. "Should I say it less often, then?"

Yohan sighs, long and slow; Sol watches the rising, falling of his chest with fascination. Until Yohan shakes his head. "Please, my heart…"

He is still covering his eyes with his palms. "Say it as many times as you wish."

Sol snickers as he leans in closer to his ear. "I see."

He nibbles on Yohan's earlobe. "That definitely sounds like something a good boy would say."

Yohan heaves in another breath, and Sol can feel him harden beneath his ass. Yohan's hips are trembling, it is obvious he is holding himself back from thrusting. His face flushed, redder than the strawberry jam they consumed just a minute ago, as he wears the smile of a man who feels deliciously out of his element. "Are you really going to make me beg, my love?"

Yohan whispers, his voice quiet as he glances upward to Sol, with utter subservience in his gaze.

Soon, Sol's face is flushed hot, too. All that Yohan encompasses excites him to no end.

Sol gently urges Yohan's hand away from his face, then rests a palm against his lover's jaw. He stares down to his beloved with a tender gaze. He coos, "You know I wouldn't do that to you, beloved."

And Yohan reaches for him in turn, he thumbs at Sol's cheek, his voice shakes in a vulnerable show. "I need you, Sol."

"I need you, too,"

Sol whispers before he is leaning down and kissing him, palming at Yohan's erection through the fabric of the knight's trousers.

Yohan thrusts into his hand. " Fuck. "

Yohan grunts as he pulls him close, until their breaths ghost against one another's lips again. "Come here, sweet love,"

Sol whispers until they are kissing, their tongues pressed to each other's, Yohan has rarely kissed him like this—it has Sol's knees trembling, weak. "Want me to take you inside, beloved?"

Sol pants.

And Yohan chuckles into his mouth. "Please do."

Sol swallows with anticipation as he undoes the front of Yohan's pants, he bites into his lower lip then palms at Yohan's cock. He hisses the words, " So big …"

into Yohan's mouth as he impales himself on the width of the knight's erection, eliciting a moan from his beloved, whose palms come to steady his hips with a firm grip.

The heat of Yohan's fingers seeps in through the fabric of Sol's robe. Desire courses and burns through Sol's skin, he places his palms over Yohan's chest, then starts to move. The control their position grants him is delicious—Sol cannot get enough. Every time he grinds down against the knight, he feels Yohan twitch and grow inside his pussy. " Sol— "

Yohan pants as he meets Sol's gaze through lidded eyes. "How good you feel, my love,"

the words have Sol immediately tensing around him—at the same time, Yohan decides to roll his hips into Sol's heat.

Sol cries out, whimpering, he is dizzy and hot from the feel of Yohan's thick, warm cock spreading him open. He leans down to embrace the knight. Then, in a small soft voice, mumbles a hungry request beside his ear, "Fuck me harder?"

And Yohan immediately flips him over, onto his back—Sol forgets how strong he is sometimes, but the reminder merely serves as more fuel for his arousal. Yohan fucks into him with a hand slipped around Sol's waist, and the other pinning either of his wrists to the ground. The way his beloved is grinding against him with such fervor has Sol's legs trembling. His mind is empty. He can't remember the last time he and Yohan let go like this— perhaps, it is even the first. They are kissing again, playing with each other's tongues, and Sol can do nothing but yield as he succumbs to the hot, overwhelming pleasure. Yohan's breaths warm his lips as he presses his hips to Sol's cunt and grinds into him until no distance is left between them.

Sol's eyes roll to the back of his head, he hiccups a moan then giggles as he wraps his arms around the knight's shoulders and buries his face into his chest. "Yohan,"

he mutters, when he holds on to the knight with all his remaining strength, "don't hold back."

And Yohan slams into him again, again until he has found a steady rhythm whose predictability sends Sol into a blissful reverie, entranced by knowing when Yohan will thrust next; Sol feels the certain sense of control he loves return to him, even when Yohan has freed him from the burden of any complexity in the act. It is only when Yohan stops, snug deep in his pussy—until he has spilled all of his seed inside Sol—that Sol is coming around him for the second time today. "Oh, Gods , Yohan— Oh, Gods , Gods, Gods— "

He cannot stop all the sounds that leave his mouth, hiccups and moans broken in the best of ways, small giggles of delight and ecstasy as the knight fills him with so much of himself that Sol feels a heated pearl warmth slip down his thighs when Yohan finally slips out of him.

They are worn from the lovemaking, and though it is tempting to lay there and look at the sky again— to rest —there is a need in Sol's body to be close to him again; and it seems, Yohan feels the same. Because they kiss for what could possibly be hours afterward. They explore each other with much less urgency than before. Sol loses himself to the slow loving attentions of his beloved as he sinks into the essence of his lover and sucks on his tongue.

Yohan has a way of moving his jaw when he kisses that always eases Sol. He feels so terribly relaxed now. Sol thinks he could lose himself forever to this feeling. To Yohan.

And he does.

He does.

By the time the two of them have finished indulging in themselves, Sol is quite certain he's burned the shape of Yohan's lips into his mind. They linger in the silence for a moment, their soft breaths carried by the winds. When Sol opens his eyes again, it is later than he anticipates, judging merely from the darkness in the colors of the sky.

Though Sol didn't think much of the thought of returning to the lighthouse when it briefly passed through his mind, in the end, the two find themselves circling back to it, in order to find shelter from the evergrowing night.

They may be a day later than expected, but that is okay, for they have all the time in the world now; and Sol has a feeling he and his lover will look back on this memory fondly, once they will have grown old together.