Chapter Text
What do you get for the prince who has, and is, everything? This question loomed large on Rupert’s mind. It would be their first Yule together. The conversation between them at breakfast a week before was also still on Rupert’s mind.
They’d taken breakfast privately in their own dining room. Their mothers were busy as ever getting all the little details down and so the two princes were by themselves for a change. As with any breakfast, there was an urgent sense to enjoy the quiet time together before their duties called them away. They sat side by side at the small family table, holding hands and leaning against each other as they ate.
“What do you want for Yule?” Rupert asked as he pushed his pancakes around his plate.
Amir shrugged. “My mother never made much of our midwinter holiday. Yalda night just meant staying up all night, listening to old stories and poems and eating nuts and pomegranate. All my ‘gifts’ were purely functional. New armor, swords, arrows, or whatever I was studying at the time.”
Rupert shook his head as he set his fork down. “Remind me to not leave your mother in charge of parties. Although staying up all night is a lot of fun. So, you’ve never had a gift that was just fun?”
Amir held his fork against his lower lip as he thought about it. “Well, there was the year where mother got me a set of camping gear.”
Rupert turned to look at Amir. “Okay, and then did she have you survive out in the wild for a week to prepare you for camping in an evil forest?”
“It was only three nights. And I was twelve so it worked out. And it doesn’t get that cold around my mother’s castle, even in winter,” Amir said, trying to justify it all. Amir slumped his shoulders as Rupert shook his head and chuckled.
“Alright. So I just need to get you something fun, not functional,” Rupert decided. He picked his fork back up and started in earnest on his pancakes.
Amir set his fork down and wiped his mouth. “Why do you have to get me anything?”
Rupert paused with his fork midway to his mouth. “What, do you not want to have to get me anything? I mean, you don’t have to. If it’s not your tradition, well, I could just...”
Amir shook his head. “No! I don’t mind getting you something. I just don’t feel the need to have to get something in return.”
Rupert set his fork down and reached for Amir’s arm. “Amir, it’s okay. Everyone likes getting gifts. You don’t have to deny yourself something just so you look cool or more like a prince or whatever.”
Amir leaned away. “It’s not that.”
Rupert clenched his fist and set it down on the table. “Then what is it, Amir?”
Amir looked back and folded his arms on the table for a moment. Finally, he bit his lower lip and reached out one hand to cover Rupert’s fist. “I-I don’t know what to give you.”
Rupert snorted. “That’s why we’re talking about it now.”
Amir drew his hand back again. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Aren’t gifts supposed to be a surprise? If I talk to you about what you want, then you’ll know what you’re going to get!”
Rupert frowned and took another bite of pancake, making sure to nab a blackberry on the end of the fork. As he savored one of his favorite fruits, he looked back at Amir and swallowed. “You’re right. We already know what each other likes. Sorry I brought it up.”
Amir cast his eyes down, biting the inside of his cheek until it hurt. He looked up and reached over. Rupert opened his hand, palm up so that their fingers interlaced. “The greatest gift I have is your love, Rupert. Your heart completes mine, like two pieces of a puzzle. It just...Fitz.”
Rupert pulled his hand away, laughing as he swatted at his shoulder. “You’re a terrible sap and an even worse joker.” Returning to his pancakes, Rupert took a bigger bite than he thought and some blackberry juice trickled down his chin.
Leaning in, Amir took hold of his chin before he could wipe it away. “I am and you know what?”
As Amir’s thumb wiped away the juice, it trailed along Rupert’s lips. Rupert blinked quickly and his breath hitched. Clearing his throat, he finally found his voice. “Uh, what?”
“You love it.”