Chapter Text
October 2022
Simon
“Has your visit been registered?” the burly dude in the black suit asked, staring him down with piercing blue eyes that made Simon shrink back inwardly.
He squared his shoulders and cleared his throat. “Uhm, no. But…”
From the corner of his eye he noticed the other security guy hurrying over to them. He murmured something into the first man’s ear, then turned to Simon with a curt nod. “Sorry, my colleague is new. You’re on the list, of course.”
Simon flashed him a grateful smile. He was on the list, of course. Good to know. Still, a tiny bit of uncertainty tingled in his stomach when he drove through the wrought-iron gates. Maybe he should have called Wille in advance after all. Should have waited four more days. But he just couldn’t. Not when today was the day they had met twelve years ago. He had woken up, his mind filled with Wille, a restlessness buzzing in his veins, his whole body aching with yearning.
The last four months had been a special kind of hell. While underneath it all a new kind of quiet certainty had kept him grounded, the waiting had driven him crazy. It hadn’t helped that Wille had been all over the news after his casual coming-out and two weeks later when he’d released a statement announcing the end of his relationship with Cecilia and to please respect their privacy.
While, surprisingly enough, most media had indeed been respectful in their reporting, some others had felt justified to publish outrageous speculations about Cecilia breaking it off because she was secretly homophobic. If Simon hadn’t already warmed to her again just for not being Wille’s girlfriend anymore, the fact that she then went and had one of her friends post a snapshot to their Insta on which Cecilia was very enthusiastically sticking her tongue down another woman’s throat, that would have won him over.
Simon’s own social media channels had experienced brief flare ups, after Wille’s coming-out and his separation announcement respectively, with people correctly guessing that it had something to do with him. But since there was no further new evidence, the rumors never made it into the mainstream media and slowly died down to their usual level.
As expected, there were public discussions about the line of succession and the hypothetical practicalities of having a king with a male consort. But all in all, the outcry turned out to be a lot tamer than Simon’s inner 18-year-old had still been expecting. The queen felt prompted to publish a statement declaring her unwavering support for her son, the Crown Prince, and to please respect his privacy. Which Simon didn’t quite know how to read but decided to take as a good sign until proven otherwise.
By August, the excitement had all but died down and Simon couldn’t decide whether it was easier or harder not to have Wille’s face pop up in his news feed every day.
His small concert tour around Europe had been a distraction and his vacation with Sara and Linda had helped a bit. But September had been horrible. He’d stopped counting the times his finger had hovered over Wille’s contact button because in his weakest moments he had been more than willing to put up with the cheating rumors if it just meant that he could fucking throw himself into Wille’s arms already.
In his unrest he had started writing songs again. And before he knew it, he had created a whole album worth of songs. His producer Nikita had veered between exclamations of delight and serious concern for his mental well-being.
Simon took a deep breath and walked around to the car’s trunk to get out his travel bag. Maybe he had been presumptuous when he’d thrown several changes of clothes into it this morning. He didn’t care. He wasn’t planning on leaving any time soon if he could help it. And if Wille would have him.
The teeny, tiny sliver of doubt pricked in the back of his mind, the one that had been forcing unbidden questions into his consciousness all throughout the last four months. What if Wille had changed his mind after all? What if he had cooled off and now… No! Determinedly, Simon slung the bag over his shoulder, pressed the ‘close’ button on the trunk and walked up to where a staff person had poked their head out the door.
Fuck, what if Wille wasn’t even home? They would have told him that, surely. Right?
“Welcome to Drottningholm”, the woman in her pristine uniform said and holy shit this was actually a palace and Simon was walking into this palace for the first time and would be doing so on a regular basis from now on. Because he was… what? Dating the Crown Prince felt like an understatement of what he intended to do. Because he was going to spend the rest of his life with the Crown Prince. Except for the fact that he would someday become king and why the fuck was this only really hitting him now as painted monarchs and aristocrats gawked at him dully from their gilded frames?
Simon tried to get his breathing under control as he followed the staffer up flights of stairs and down corridors. He was going to be fine. Wille would be with him and they would figure it out.
His heart was drumming in his chest and his breathing sounded much too loud in his own ears when the woman stopped in front of a door. “The Crown Prince is in there”, she said and stepped to the side, hovering, clearly waiting for Simon to get his shit together and just knock on the stupid door.
He startled when a squealing sound reached him from inside the room. Followed by Wille’s voice, an unfamiliar pitch to it, and then his laugh. Simon’s knees actually went weak. He raised his hand and knocked.
“Come in”, a female voice called over the laughter.
With a shaky hand, Simon pressed down on the door handle.
He took two steps, then froze; the strap of his bag slowly slipping off his shoulder. Wille was sitting on a sofa, his side towards Simon, balancing a baby on his knees, his head extended forward, nose nuzzling the baby’s tummy who in turn was emitting happy giggles.
The woman next to him was looking at Simon. A wide smile brightened her face. The bag thumped from Simon’s shoulder to the floor.
Slowly, Wille’s head turned. He jerked up, the woman’s hand shooting forward protectively behind the baby’s back. Wille stared at him, wide-eyed, and then his lips began curving into a smile.
“Uhm, hej”, Simon finally managed.
The woman wrenched the baby out of Wille’s grip and after he remained frozen for a beat longer, he jumped up and rushed over towards Simon.
“Hej”, he said, his voice trembling slightly and holy fuck, Wille was finally here, in front of Simon.
“Uhm”, Wille said, clearing his throat, gently placing a hand on Simon’s arm, “Simon, this is Felice, my best friend, and her daughter, Nova.” He gestured over to the couch. “Felice, this is Simon. My uh…” He trailed off. And Simon was right there with him. Because nothing seemed fitting for what they were to each other. ‘Boyfriend’ just sounded ridiculous. And they were so much more than ‘partners’.
“Oh, I know who he is”, Felice said and slowly walked over to them, the baby hoisted onto her hip. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. So happy for you guys.”
Simon smiled at her, acutely aware of Wille’s gaze still on him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to intrude”, Simon heard himself say and he didn’t even sound half convincing to his own ears.
Felice chuckled and shook her head. “It’s fine. Really. Here, hold her for a sec, will you?” With that, she pressed Nova into Wille’s arms and Simon wasn’t entirely sure that was the safest place for her to be right now, seeing as Wille barely glanced down before his eyes landed right back on Simon. As a precaution, Simon stepped forward a bit, just in case Wille would drop her.
A few moments later, Felice was back, a gigantic bag slung over her shoulder, toys poking out everywhere. Her eyes flickered between them and she let out a soft snort as she gathered her daughter safely into her arms. Simon felt her hand on his arm and she said, “I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
“Me too”, he replied with a smile.
Wille pressed a fleeting kiss to his friend’s cheek and closed the door behind her.
“I can’t believe you’re really here”, Wille said, shaking his head in disbelief as he stepped closer.
“I know it’s technically only been three months and 26 days”, Simon said, slowly running his palms up Wille’s arms. “But today… I just couldn’t… I missed you…” He felt unable to keep talking with Wille smiling at him like that.
“I’m not complaining”, Wille murmured and then his lips were finally on Simon’s and his arms around him.
It took Simon a while to realize that the soft whimpering sounds were coming from him. He couldn’t help himself, not when his whole body was burning up in the most thrilling way and Wille felt so good and was fucking finally his to kiss and hold and –
“Do you, uh, wanna…”, Wille drew back and jerked his head towards the couch.
Simon shrugged. “I mean, I’d prefer a bed, but we can totally do it on the couch, if you want.”
Wille huffed out a laugh and shook his head.
“What?” Simon asked in mock-offense, smoothing his hand over Wille’s shoulder. “Four months, Wille. Four months!”
Wille grinned. “Well, technically only three months and 26 days.”
“Oh, I’ll show you three months and 26 days”, Simon murmured, grabbing Wille’s ass and using it as leverage to roll his body against him.
The sound Wille made was only briefly satisfying before it sent a flush of heat through Simon with a ferocity that left him lightheaded.
“Fine”, Wille gasped. He bent down, grabbed Simon’s bag with one hand and his hand with the other and dragged him out the door.
Simon honest to God giggled when Wille started speeding down the corridor so fast, he almost had to fall into a jog to keep up. Wille beamed at him, his eyes sparkling with laughter when he looked back over his shoulder.
Slightly breathless, Simon stepped into the bedroom while Wille closed the door behind them and unceremoniously dumped Simon’s bag on the floor. The nerves returned with full force and Simon inhaled deeply to calm his racing heart. Wille gently rested his hand on his upper arm and walked around to face him. “Are you ok?” he asked softly.
Simon nodded. “Just nervous.”
Wille furrowed his brows. “Why?”
Letting out a breath, Simon shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s been more than eight years. And I guess… I’m a bit worried that I’ve… dreamed about this so much that the real thing ends up being a disappointment.” He studied Wille’s face, to see if he could find the same doubt there. “What if we... lost it?” He let out a nervous little laugh.
Wille’s features softened and he shook his head lightly. “You’re afraid that we lost it?”
Simon nodded sheepishly.
Without breaking their eye contact, Wille lifted his hand. Slowly, the touch featherlight, he trailed his thumb over Simon’s bottom lip, leaving a tingle behind and sending a delicious ache melting all over his insides. Wille’s thumb continued its path, across Simon’s cheek and down the side of his neck. Goosebumps broke out on his skin and he shuddered.
“Oh, I don’t think we have”, Wille murmured and when his lips met Simon’s again, his hands cradling his head, the pleasure surging through Simon’s veins vaporized every last bit of doubt. Because, oh, they definitely had not lost it, not one bit, which was evident in the way Simon felt his body burning with want as he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss.
His hands didn’t know which part of Wille to touch and caress first as they feverishly stroked over his cheeks, once again momentarily surprised to find the beard there, threaded through his hair and ran down his back. He needed more, needed to feel skin, now. His fingers fumbled for the hem of Wille’s sweater and impatiently tugged at the fabric. Wilhelm pulled his own hands from where they had been shoved under Simon’s shirt and with one fell swoop rid himself of the offending garment. Simon followed suit immediately, carelessly letting his clothes glide to the floor.
He stilled, breathing heavily, taking in the beauty that was Wille’s naked torso in front of him. Vaguely familiar, yet so different. His shoulders broader, the muscles on his chest and his abs more pronounced. Hair. There was still not a lot but decidedly more than there used to be and Simon loved it. Loved every bit he saw. He lifted his hands and gently placed them on Wille’s pecs. Wille’s heart drummed against his palm as he let his hands explore, let them feel the warm, soft skin. Let them remember.
He desperately wanted to lean forward, lick up Wille’s chest, taste him, but he reigned it in, trying to pace himself. Instead, he angled his hands so his rings lightly caught on Wille’s nipples, reveling in the gasp it elicited as they stiffened under his teasing.
Wille reached forward, his hands wrapping around Simon’s waist, and pulled him closer. His lips found the spot above Simon’s heart without hesitation, soft and sure. Lifting his head, he whispered, “I can’t believe you never removed this.”
Wille’s index finger lightly traced the letters. JÄD. “Why would I?”, Simon replied. “This”, he rubbed a hand across the tattoos on his chest, “is my story. You are a part of it. Of me. And you always were, even when…”
A flicker of pain crossed Wille’s features before he surged forward and wrapped Simon into his arms, pressing him against his chest, warm skin against warm skin, dispelling every memory of pain.
“I love you”, Wille mumbled against his lips.
Simon smiled into the next kiss before he could answer. “And I love you. So much.”
Without breaking their kiss, Wille slowly walked them backwards until Simon’s legs hit the edge of the bed. “Can I take these off?”, Wille panted against his mouth, fingers tugging at the waistband of Simon’s jeans.
It was about fucking time. Simon nodded enthusiastically and in return went to work on Wille’s trouser button. And holy shit, Wille knew exactly what he was doing when he shoved Simon’s jeans down his hips, dragging the fabric over Simon’s cock that was straining against his boxer briefs, begging for attention. An involuntary moan escaped him and he gave Wille a taste of his own medicine by grabbing his ass and grinding against him as soon as his trousers had slipped halfway down his thighs.
He eagerly swallowed Wille’s moan as he slid his tongue back into his mouth. Wille’s hands felt firm and strong and big where they gripped Simon’s hips, holding him in place as he slightly bent his knees to grind into him, the friction just right and not enough at the same time. It was ridiculous, the way their mouths devoured each other while they rubbed against one another like horny teenagers, pants pooling around their feet. Still, they couldn’t help themselves because it felt so damn good and also, they were starving.
Ignoring Simon’s desperate whine of protest, Wille eventually pulled back. Panting, his eyes glassy and his lips red and swollen, he said, “Let’s slow down. There’s no need to rush.”
Simon didn’t know if he wanted to kill him or keep kissing him. He settled for finally ridding himself of his unnecessary underwear and scooting back onto the bed, watching impatiently as Wille bent down and pulled his phone out of his trouser pocket. What the fuck was he doing there when he was supposed to be here, all over Simon? A few seconds later, music started playing. Ok, fine, music was nice, he guessed, and they did have time.
Wille smiled at him as he stepped out of his pants, removed his socks and, after dragging his gaze all over Simon, pushed down his briefs. Simon’s mouth went dry at the sight and his fingers tingled with the urge to touch and feel.
“God, how are you so beautiful?” Wille murmured as he lowered onto the bed and crawled over to where Simon was basically trembling with withdrawal. He reached forward and pulled Wille towards him, crashing their mouths back together, possessed by an overwhelming need to keep kissing him, to feel his body against his. They had waited years, yet somehow every second now where they weren’t touching was too long.
Wille shifted and Simon found himself on his back, Wille kissing and sucking down his neck, slowly driving him insane. Wille’s lips were hot and wet as they trailed across Simon’s chest. Then they stopped and Simon looked up to find Wille hovering above his armpit, biting his lip. Slowly, he lowered down, pressing soft kisses right at the edge of the dark patch of hair.
He kept going and Simon stilled when Wille buried his nose there, inhaling deeply. Simon realized that Wille had never seen his unshaven armpits. Yet another thing that had changed. Maybe it should have been weird but it somehow wasn’t, on the contrary, the deep, throaty noise Wille made as he exhaled and rubbed his nose there, seared Simon straight to his core, making him go slightly feral.
He rose and turned them over, pressing Wille into the mattress and shamelessly gave into his urge to award Wille’s chest the attention it deserved. Wille’s skin still tasted the same, he found out, as he kissed and licked his way across the vast expanse of it. The hair over Wille’s sternum was coarse under his tongue, just as the hair around his nipples, a stark contrast to the velvety smooth skin in the middle.
Simon firmly swirled his tongue around a nipple before gently sucking it between his teeth. Sure enough, Wille still made that same needy, whiny sound as he did so, and it still drove Simon to the brink of madness. His cock twitched desperately and he couldn’t help but press forward, sliding along Wille’s thigh.
He felt Wille’s hands under his arms, dragging him upwards, at the same time as he propped himself up in search of Wille’s lips. A stabbing pain shot through his forehead and Wille hissed, “Ouch!” Both of them burst into laughter, rubbing their foreheads where they had just inelegantly collided.
Wincing, Wille said, “Maybe we have lost it after a…aaahhh.” His last word turned into a drawn-out moan when Simon ground down, rolling his pelvis along the length of him.
“No, we haven’t”, Simon murmured and pressed a gentle kiss to the quickly reddening spot on Wille’s forehead.
Wille smiled. “Ok, fine.” He wrapped his arms and legs around Simon and turned them so they came to lie on their sides. Tightening his embrace, he pulled them together and Simon wiggled around, trying to get his arms and legs to fit so he could mold into Wille’s body. He sighed deeply when they finally lay tangled up in each other, fitting perfectly, as close as humanly possible, not a single part of them not touching the other.
His eyes prickled when he buried his face in the crook of Wille’s neck. They held each other like this, breathing each other in, their hearts beating together, silent except for the soft sounds of their slightly ragged breaths. Never again would Simon give this up. For nothing.
They started kissing again, their lips brushing gently, tongues languidly sliding against each other. Soon, the heat returned with fervor, and their kisses grew passionate and hungry. Helplessly, Simon found himself rutting against Wille as much as the restrictions of their entangled position allowed, desperate for relief, his cock throbbing with want.
He moaned encouragingly when Wille’s hand slid over his back, down, towards his ass cheeks where it stilled. Simon pressed back against it. “Wille, please…”, he whined. “Your finger… need… yes. Right there.”
And holy fuck, Wille’s long, slim fingers would be the death of him, the way they rubbed and teased with just the right amount of pressure. Simon’s hand shot back, gripping Wille’s wrist with a sound of protest when he tried to pull away. How dare he stop now?
Wille chuckled and kissed him. “Just getting lube”, he murmured against his lips.
Reluctantly, Simon let him go, already mourning the loss of contact when Wille rolled over to the side of the bed, opening the drawer on his nightstand. Simon couldn’t stop looking at him, at his glorious nakedness, and the expression on Wille’s face when he crawled back towards him made his chest feel like it was about to explode.
Wille bent down to kiss him and grabbed a pillow to shove it under Simon’s hips. Simon held onto him for dear life as they kept kissing and Wille slowly proceeded to open him up. It made Simon’s heart ache in the best way when he discovered that Wille still went about it with the same gentle determination and dedication he always had, with relentless caresses and kisses and that look in his eyes, as if it was his only purpose on this earth, making Simon feel good and making sure not to hurt him. Worshipping him. Loving him. It was blatantly obvious, now that Simon finally allowed himself to see it.
He was a sweating, whimpering mess, gasping for air and slowly going insane by the time he rocked back on three of Wille’s fingers. Reaching down, he stilled Wille’s hand, afraid that he would come if they kept going. Gently, Wille withdrew his fingers. Simon sat up, searching for the lube when his eyes landed on the packet of condoms next to it on the duvet. Suddenly, he couldn’t bear the thought of there being even a single barrier between them. He wanted Wille closer than he had ever been with anyone, wanted Wille to get to have him in a way no one ever had.
“Uhm”, he said hoarsely, pointing at the box. “I’m clean. You?”
Wille’s eyes slowly wandered from his face to the condoms and back. They darkened as he nodded, “Yes.”
“So, would you wanna fuck me… without…?”, Simon asked breathlessly, his eyes inevitably drawn to Wille’s cock. Wondering what it would feel like. Skin on skin. Wille coming inside him.
Wille cursed under his breath. “Yes”, he breathed. “Very much.”
Hot, dizzying arousal shot through Simon at his words and he scrabbled blindly about for the bottle, unable to tear his eyes away from Wille. He squeezed a generous amount of lube into his hands, spreading it between his palms and moved towards Wille. Without breaking their eye contact, he firmly rubbed both hands down Wille’s hard length, reveling in the way Wille’s eyes rolled back and his mouth dropped open in a silent moan. He repeated the motion with even more pressure, rewarded with a throaty moan, until Wille’s cock was slick with lube and pulsing against his palms.
With one swift motion, Simon straddled Wille’s lap, slowly lowering down over his cock, his hand guiding him in.
It might have been the five months of celibacy, but more likely it was just because this was Wille and everything was so much more fucking intense with Wille, but the feeling of Wille filling him, stretching him, was so overwhelming, so indescribably good, that it almost pushed Simon over the edge right then and there. And by the way Wille had stilled, his thigh muscles clenched and his teeth pressed together, he seemed to be just as close to losing it.
Simon paused, his forehead resting against Wille’s, breathing slowly and deliberately. Wille’s hands ran up and down his thighs, gently, soothingly, then over his ass, up his back until they came to cup his face again. Their lips met in yet another kiss, soft, gentle, slow, unhurried. The quiet before the storm would sweep them away, inevitably and inexorably.
Simon tried to draw it out, he did, starting with small, slow movements, his hands roaming Wille’s back, twisting in his hair. Still, soon both of them were slick with sweat, barely able to keep kissing. Simon ground down with more enthusiasm and Wille stifled a groan against his neck, the sensation making Simon shudder.
“I can’t believe this is real”, Wille breathed as he frantically peppered kisses along Simon’s cheek, his ear, his throat. “You’re really here.”
“Yes”, Simon whimpered as he rocked his hips. “I’m here.”
And he didn’t know where it came from because he was very much his own person and belonged to no-one but himself, but right now, right here in this moment, he needed to tell Wille.
“I’m here. And I’m yours”, he gasped against Wille’s lips, his movements growing ever faster and desperate.
“Yours”, he moaned as Wille’s fingers dug into his shoulders, pulling him downward just as Wille thrust his hips upwards. It was so damn good and hit just right that Simon stopped thinking and when Wille gasped into his ear “I’ve always been yours”, he felt his release building, like the water pulling back from the shore only to gather into one giant wave. It finally crashed down on them, carrying them along, Wille crying out Simon’s name and Simon spilling hot and wet between their bodies.
He collapsed onto Wille, resting his whole weight on his shoulders for a moment, burying his face against his neck, catching his breath.
“I love you”, he mumbled against Wille’s skin, too weak to lift his head.
Wille’s chest vibrated with soft laughter. “Holy shit”, he huffed out. “Fuck, Simon!” His lips pressed onto Simon’s collarbone. “I love you. And we have definitely not lost anything.”
Finally, Simon lifted his head. He grinned down at Wille and reached forward to push a sweaty strand of hair out of his face. “We might need to repeat this experiment. A lot. Just to make sure. Statistical errors and so on.”
Wille laughed, shaking his head. He looked so young and carefree in the way he was grinning up at Simon, cheeks flushed and a twinkle in his eyes. Happy. Something tugged on Simon’s heart when he realized how new and unfamiliar this look was. He leaned down, capturing Wille’s lips in a kiss, and hoped that he would get the chance to grow accustomed to this look.
***
“Come on, I told you we need to get ready”, Wille said when he came back from the bathroom.
Simon yawned and stretched under the soft, warm duvet. “And I told you to come back to bed”, he mumbled.
Wille shook his head and walked over to his wardrobe. “I’m sorry, but breakfast with my parents first. I want them to meet you.”
Simon sighed. He’d known it was inevitable, he had. It didn’t mean he wasn’t dreading it.
“How weird do you think it’s gonna be?” he asked as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
Wille shrugged and pulled a t-shirt over his head. “They had plenty of time to get used to the idea. I had a long talk with them and I hope they used their chance to come to terms with it.”
Simon frowned. “When did you talk to them?”
Because Wille hadn’t left his side in three days for more than a few minutes to use the bathroom.
“Oh, the day after my birthday”, Wille answered and pulled on a pair of trousers.
Warmth melted all over Simon’s chest. “What?” he asked. He took his last pair of underwear and socks out of the travel bag and put them on.
“Yeah”, Wille said, his voice muffled from the fabric of the sweater currently covering his face. “I told them that starting four months from then I would be with you. And that since I was intending to spend the rest of my life with you, they should get used to the idea.”
Simon stilled, one foot in the leg of his jeans. Of course, Wille had told them that four months ago. His heart was ready to burst out of his chest, so full of love was it for the man who just ran a hand through his ruffled hair.
“What?” Wille asked, a smile playing on his lips, stepping closer.
Simon shook his head. “Nothing. I love you. A lot.”
Wille’s smile widened. “And I love you.”
They exchanged a brief kiss before Wille reminded Simon that his mother didn’t like people being late so he better hurry if he wanted to brush his teeth beforehand. Ten minutes later, they stood outside a wooden door with gilded ornaments and Simon felt a bit more nervous than he would have liked to admit.
“Do you think they found a way to be ok with it?” he asked hesitantly.
Wille waggled his head. “Yeah.”
“That doesn’t sound very sure.”
Wille smirked.
“Wille, what’s going to happen to me in there?”, Simon glowered at him. He was only half joking.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you”, Wille murmured and kissed his cheek.
Simon shoved him away playfully. “I don’t need your protection. Unless”, he narrowed his eyes, “what were you thinking. Do you have a sword? Would you go all Prince in shining armor on me? Because… that sounds kinda hot.”
Wille chuckled and stepped closer. “Yeah?” he asked in a low voice.
“M-hm”, Simon nodded.
Wille’s lips were soft and their kiss tasted of toothpaste and Simon’s fingers were probably messing up Wille’s hair quite severely. He just couldn’t care, not when they hadn’t really kissed this morning and not when it felt so good and – “Fuck”, he cursed and gently pushed Wille off him. He took a deep breath. “I can’t go in there and meet your parents with a boner.”
Wille grimaced and stared into the distance. He was squinting his eyes as if he was concentrating really hard on solving a complicated math problem.
Simon snorted. “Too late?” he asked, unable to keep the laughter from his voice.
Wille nodded with a pained expression, breathing deeply. He shoved his hands into his pockets adjusted himself and looked down before shooting Simon a grin. “Good enough”, he said and knocked on the door.
Somehow, the breakfast turned out to be a lot less uncomfortable than Simon had anticipated. Kristina and Ludvig didn’t actually physically embrace him, which he hadn’t seriously expected anyway. But after the first stiff handshake, they thawed more and more, smiled at him and seemed genuinely interested in his answers to the polite questions they asked him.
However, the warm fuzzy feeling in his chest when they left the room two hours later was first and foremost due to Wille. Because Wille – he was sparkling with a giddy, infectious joy, cheerfully leading the conversation and coaxing several laughs even from his mother. Simon found his gaze inevitably and repeatedly drawn to study Wille’s face next to him, his heart overflowing with love.
Wille was just telling his father something that Simon had long stopped listening to, instead focusing on running his thumb in small circles over the back of Wille’s hand and studying his face. When Wille laughed, Simon smiled along because how could he not when he loved this man so damn much?
Across the table, he caught Kristina’s gaze. She was studying him with a thoughtful expression, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. It widened briefly when their eyes met. A silent understanding seemed to pass between them. Different as they might be down to their core, they shared a love for the man who was currently teasing his father about the price of his new golf clubs. And sooner or later, they would get used to one another.
As Simon returned her smile, he felt a new sense of confidence and certainty settle over him.
They would be ok, him and Wille. This time, they would be ok.
June 2023
Wilhelm
Wilhelm’s cheeks were aching from all the smiling. Not only because right now he was posing for the photographers, having just taken his seat in the front row next to his parents, with the concert about to start.
He couldn’t actually remember when he had last smiled this much on his birthday, if ever. From the moment he had woken up next to Simon, his face seemed to have forgotten that there were any other expressions. Even the handshake parade had been – yes, fun with Simon by his side. More than once Wilhelm found himself watching Simon greeting fans, shaking their hands, exchanging words, making jokes. He admired how good he was at this.
Wilhelm had been surprised by the sheer number of people of all ages and genders who came up to them and told them how much their relationship meant to them. Quite a few had been moved to tears and it had affected both Wilhelm and Simon more than they had anticipated. They’d shared a long, soothing hug afterwards, not quite able to grasp that them just being together, openly and unashamed, held such enormous meaning for others.
Wilhelm took a deep breath when the photographers finally moved away. It was ridiculous, but after having had Simon by his side for the whole day, he was already starting to miss his presence. But in return, he’d get to watch Simon perform, which would be adequate compensation. He would never tire of watching Simon come alive on stage, of witnessing him doing what he loved.
It might have been his rose-tinted glasses, but he thought that Simon’s stage presence had become even more captivating recently, especially since he’d started performing his new songs. Then again, Wilhelm was perhaps slightly biased, seeing as they were mostly love songs. About him.
Ultimately, it was as simple as that: They were good for each other and their love made them happier than either of them had ever been. A new lightness had crept into Wilhelm’s life and more than once he’d caught himself thinking that people would surely stop taking him seriously if they knew how ridiculously giddy and childish he and Simon behaved at times. They had so much lost time to make up for and they took that task very seriously.
People had indeed gotten a taste of the madly-in-love couple when Simon had asked Wilhelm to accompany him to the 2023 Grammis ceremony. He had gladly obliged, knowing full well that it would be tantamount to an official announcement of their relationship. Even if they had still been trying to keep anything on the down-low, the footage that evening yielded wouldn’t have fooled anyone. They had been giggling like the infatuated lovebirds they were, unable to stop gazing lovingly at the other and sharing intimate, casual little touches the whole way down the red carpet.
They did indeed not sneak off to the bathroom this time, but for all intents and purposes they might as well have, because their love was leaping out of every single image from that night.
In late April, Wilhelm had finally met Simon’s whole family when Linda married her partner Elias in a big ceremony with relatives from all over the world. Wilhelm had found himself rather nervous in the weeks leading up to the wedding and had dedicated most of his free time to polishing up his Spanish skills on Duolingo.
In the end, his worries had been unwarranted. He had been welcomed with open arms and hardly any reservations due to his position. Linda had hugged him tightly at one point and confessed with tears in her eyes that she had always been holding out hope that they would find their way back to each other one day.
Wilhelm turned around, looking for Simon’s family in the crowd and waved when he’d spotted Linda, Elias, Sara and her girlfriend Beri. They would stay for a few days after this, so their families could get to know each other. It had been Wilhelm’s idea and he was intent on seeing this through, even though he couldn’t deny the fact that he was a bit apprehensive.
The concert began and Wilhelm watched the performances, clapping along when all he really wanted was to finally see Simon up on stage. When Simon eventually emerged into a roar of applause, Wilhelm’s heart swelled in his chest, full of love and pride.
Simon stepped forward, holding up his mic. “Thank you so much”, he said, when the applause eventually died down a bit. “One year ago, I performed right here on this stage.” More applause. Wilhelm’s throat tightened momentarily as the memory of the emotional turmoil of that day overcame him.
“So, I thought, this year, I might switch things up a bit”, Simon said and Wilhelm perked up. What was he talking about?
“Consider this my birthday present”, Simon continued, eyes fixed on Wilhelm, a smug grin on his face. He had been rather ominous that morning, telling him that he’d have to wait until tonight. Anticipation fluttered in Wilhelm’s stomach.
“Her Majesty, Duke Ludvig, Wille, everyone – may I present: For the first time back together, on one stage, this is HIGH 5!”
Even as he was still shouting the last word, people had jumped up from their chairs, delighted yelps and excited whoops sounding from all around. Wilhelm laughed and shook his head at Simon. How the hell had he pulled this off behind his back? He must have had an accomplice, sneaking this past Wilhelm. He threw his parents a sideways glance, but both were looking straight ahead, smiling courteously.
It was a surreal experience when the first song started playing. Wilhelm felt himself transported back in time, to a concert nearly 13 years ago. The illusion was almost perfect, except that the men busting out their best dance moves up on that stage were clearly not the boys they had been back then anymore. There were the obvious visual differences in style and appearance. Their voices had changed. But there was also the pure joy they exuded while the expressions on their faces left no doubt that they were just as aware of the silliness of it all as the audience.
Still, they pulled off their old dance routines with dedication and a pinch of self-mockery and Wilhelm loved every second of it.
“Gotta thing, gotta thing, I already got the ring”, Simon sang.
And he looked straight at Wilhelm as he did so, flashing the ring on his left ring finger. Wilhelm’s finger ran over the narrow silver band on his own finger as he beamed up at Simon, his heart bursting with happiness. They had bought the rings a few weeks after they had gotten together in October. Because they didn’t need anyone’s permission, follow antiquated protocols or have an official ceremony to know they would spend the rest of their lives together. They knew. They had promised each other. And that was enough.
Of course, there were still matters to sort out, obstacles to overcome. They still needed to figure out if and how Simon could keep doing what he loved after marrying the Crown Prince, for one. From the corner of his eye, Wilhelm caught his mamma looking at him. She smiled warmly before returning her eyes back to the stage and clapping along to the song.
Wilhelm rose to his feet along with the rest of the audience when the performance was over. Instead of returning backstage with his former band members, Simon leapt down the small steps leading off the front of the stage and hurried over to Wilhelm, a big smile on his face.
“Happy birthday”, he shouted over the cheers and threw his arms around Wilhelm. Wilhelm squeezed him tightly, inhaling deeply, in utter disbelief how he still hadn’t burst into a million pieces from the happiness coursing through his veins. The noises faded into the background and all Wilhelm felt was Simon wrapped up in his arms, his hair tickling his cheek, and his own heart beating strongly in his chest.
He pressed his lips against Simon's ear. "I really wanna kiss you."
Simon drew back and smiled up at him.
“Go ahead”, he replied. “Let’s show them how it’s done.”
And so, they did.