Hello nice to meet you, I was wondering if I could walk you home

by Okapi_Anonymous

Summary:

Hugo had given up hope on seeing Varian again. The magic of the reincarnation made it hard to remember their memories but he remembered that the moonstone wielder meant a lot to him. So when they finally meet again, Hugo almost doesn’t recognize him.

Or
Lover’s oath au fic where they meet again

Chapter 1: Rainy day

Hugo couldn’t focus. He specifically came to this bakery to get a treat and focus on his work. It was his day off from the mechanic so he was trying to do some coding on a little robotic mouse he was making but nothing was working. It took him about two and a half hours just to get the arms to move without problems. He was about to move on to the legs when he noticed not only was the bakery closing but also it was pouring rain. He decided that was enough for the day and was grateful to his past self for packing an umbrella.

He was about to be done packing up his stuff when he saw him. It was one of the bakers, covered in flour and hair pulled up in little clips that he was taking down now that his shift was over. It wasn’t until the man walked out of the back and opened his bag to put all the hair clips back in did Hugo get a good look at him. He was short but strong, with black hair and a little white streak of hair in his bangs. He had freckles, so many freckles, and the bluest eyes Hugo had ever seen.

It was such a weird feeling, like the feeling that you know someone from somewhere but you don’t know where. Like Hugo’s seen him in a dream. What dream? He wasn’t sure but it was an important one.

The baker walked towards the door but immediately stopped when he saw the rain. He opened his bag back up and cursed. He looked back out, went to put his bag over his head but then put it back down shaking his head.

Hugo was walking over before he even knew what he was doing.

“I’m sorry, this is such a weird question but…” he started but trailed off when those beautiful eyes turned to him. They were almost magical, glowing like moonlight but it was just the way the lights of the store reflected off of them. Hugo swallowed. “Can I walk you home?”

The baker gave him a confused look. “What?”

“I’ve got an umbrella,” Hugo answered, gesturing to his umbrella lamely. “I’ll walk you there so you don’t have to get wet.”

The stranger, who didn’t feel like a stranger, opened his mouth to reply but paused. He looked at Hugo, like he was familiar to him too. His next words were small. “You don’t have to…”

Hugo shrugged, “I want to.”

The other man smiled and it was the best thing Hugo had seen in years. “I would actually really like that, thank you.”

The walk back was silent at first before Hugo couldn’t stand it anymore and started talking. He surprisingly really liked talking to Varian. Varian, that was his name. He was an only child but was really close to his cousin and his cousin’s wife. He grew up on a farm and wanted to be a chemist but didn’t have the money for university so instead he got a job at the bakery. He genuinely likes his coworkers, Vex, Kiera, Catalina, and Yong. He has a dog named Ruddiger, a fluffy guy who looks kind of like a raccoon. The white hair isn’t dyed, it’s something called piebaldism.

Hugo found that he loved talking to Varian. Loved learning new things about him. He didn’t want their walk to end but he got to Varian’s apartment eventually.

“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” Varian said as he walked in and for some odd reason, a part of Hugo’s soul cried at seeing him go.

 

“Oh no!” Varian exclaimed. Hugo’s ears dipped at the other’s pout. He knew Varian wanted to show him something outside but they could still go out. Hugo voiced as much and Varian shook his head. “No, I don’t know if the surprise is gonna hold up in the rain. Now it’s ruined.”

“It’s not ruined,” Hugo insisted even though he didn’t even know what it was. “Anything you make can’t be hurt by a little rain.”

Varian sat down, tucking his knees to his chest. “You don’t know that…”

“Sure I do,” Hugo countered, sitting down next to him and nudging his shoulder with his own. “Look, why don’t you show me? Show me what you wanted to show me and you’ll see that it’s just the way you left it.”

Varian looked at him, eyes big and blue and so magical. If Hugo had magic then he’d make the clouds go away so that Varian wouldn’t be as sad. “Is that ok?” He asked.

“Of course, let’s go.”

Varian led him through the small forest outside of the castle and to a collection of trees. There Hugo found a small treehouse built on the ground between the trees’ roots. Inside were pillows and blankets and books and all sorts of things the two liked to do on rainy days.

“It’s not great…” Varian muttered. “I just thought we could have a place to go to when we get tired on our adventures or if we need to… escape for a little bit. Just the two of us.”

Hugo felt his chest fill with warmth. The other boy didn’t know it but this had to be the nicest thing anyone had ever done for Hugo. He was half convinced Varian was doing some sort of new magic on him with how happy he was. “I love it.”

Varian smiled, big and bright and it was the best thing Hugo’s ever seen. “I’m glad you do.” Varian headed inside and looked out to ask “Want to spend the rainy day in here?”

He nodded and headed inside.

 

Hugo woke up, more like startled awake. His heart was beating so fast. He felt ten all over again, puppy crush making his smile dopey whenever a specific boy walked by. When he walked past.

Varian. That’s the name of the magic boy in the dream. His name was Varian.

He shook his head to clear it. This couldn’t be the same Varian, they had talked about reincarnation before but as the years went on, Hugo lost all hope. Reincarnation wouldn’t take this long. It’s been over 1,000 years for moon's sake! It was just a coincidence. It had to be.

Hugo fluffed up his pillow and snuggled up in his blankets, trying not to think of blue and black hair, not to think of acres of freckles, to think of big blue eyes.

Chapter 2: The want to help

Summary:

Hugo offers to help.

Hugo showed up a lot during closing. It made sense because he works at the mechanic's about 15 minutes away, and Hugo leaves work an hour before Varian does. However, he could just take his treat and go; he doesn’t have to stay until Varian leaves. Plus, his coworkers aren’t helping.

“I’m telling you, man, if we tell him you’re not here, he will walk away without buying anything,” Yong tries to explain as Varian rolls his eyes. “He’s like obsessed with you.”

“That’s a little strong, don’t you think?” Varian asked.

Katilena walked up to join the conversation. “I don’t know about being obsessed but anyone with eyes can see he has a crush on you.”

“He doesn’t,” Varian protested, cheeks growing pink. “And even if that was the case it’s not like I like him back.”

“The first time he walked you home you told us that a ‘hot stranger named Hugo’ walked you back to your apartment,” Vex pointed out.

“I can find people attractive without having a crush on them.” Everyone in the room gave Varian a flat look. “ok, not really, but the point is, this is just a friendship. He comes in to talk to me.”

“And walks you home,” Katilena added.

“And flirts with you,” Keria rolled her eyes.

“And puts ten dollars in the tip jar,” Yong interjected.

“We split the tip jar,” Varian retorted.

“You aren’t denying any of the other stuff,” Vex fired back and the freckled boy was about to lose it. They just don’t see it for what it is, friendship. The start of a normal friendship, nothing more. Right?

Katilena put a hand on his shoulder, “Listen, we’re just trying to help you.”

Varian didn’t shrug her off but he did leave her touch, going to get his bag. “Well, thank you but I don’t need relationship advice from a bunch of teenagers.” He looked out through the door of the kitchen and saw Hugo. Sweet, stupidly nice to look at Hugo. “See y’all later,” he called over his shoulder before walking off. He didn’t miss the yelled ‘simp’ from someone in the kitchen but he didn’t comment on it.

Hugo looked up from his computer and perked up when he saw Varian, like a puppy. It was the cutest thing Varian had ever seen. “Hey, ready to go?”

“Yep.”

When they reached Varian’s apartment, they both had to stop outside the door because a giant box was blocking their way.

The baker groaned. “Shit, I forgot I ordered that.”

“What is it?” Hugo asked.

“New dishwasher, mine’s all screwed up.”

He gave Varian a curious amused look. “You got anyone to install it?”

He shook his head. “Nope, but I’ll figure it out.”

“You know, I can do it,” Hugo suggested, rocking on the balls of his feet and looking nervous for some reason. “No charge.”

Varian was shocked. Not only because that was super nice but also because, and correct him if he’s wrong, that’s not a normal friend thing. Offering to install it would be one thing but doing it and not asking for a cent? That’s something a partner would do, right? Or is he overthinking this? Varian hasn’t had that many friends or people try to flirt with him so to say this stuff flies over his head would be an understatement. But he’s clearly missing something. “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Varian tried to play it off but so much was going through his mind.

“I know but I want to,” Hugo shrugged, like it was no big deal. “Here, let me help you get it in.”

After a lot of tripping over themselves, laughter, and almost dropping the box on Hugo’s foot, they got the box into the little apartment’s kitchen. Once the box was down, a gray and black German shepherd came bouncing over to the two of them.

“That’s Ruddiger, I was telling you about him. Come here Rudds!” Varian petted Ruddiger and scratched behind his ears before pointing him over to Hugo.

Hugo let the dog sniff his hand, waiting carefully for the dog to warm up to him. Slowly Ruddiger got closer and let Hugo pet him. The boy smiled, “Hey buddy.”

“Wow, he’s not the best with strangers. Are you a dog whisperer?”

Hugo laughed, “Maybe. I’ve had people call me that before.”

Varian let them meet each other a little longer before calling Ruddiger to his food bowl by filling it. While he did, Hugo got up and started exploring his place. He seemed oddly very interested in all of Varian’s small knick-knacks. Varian couldn’t see the other’s face but he weirdly wanted to know what Hugo thought of his place. Some of the stuff on the wall was personal, photos of people close to him, science awards, rocks he painted with his mom before she passed, and his embarrassingly large comic book collection. He didn’t know what he’d do if Hugo thought it was lame or made fun of it.

“I like your place,” the blonde said absentmindedly. “It's nice.”

Varian let out a breath. Wait, he was holding his breath? “Thanks, I tried to make it my own.”

Hugo went over to one of the photos, “Who are all these people?”

The freckled boy came up and pointed to each person as he answered. “That’s my cousin, Eugene, and his wife and their twins.” He moved on to the next photo. “That’s my aunt and uncle with my dad in college.” And the next, but taking half a second longer to answer that one. “That’s my mom and me when I won the science fair.”

Hugo gave a small smile but clearly something else was on his mind, like something was familiar. Maybe he had met someone from his family before and didn’t want to tell Varian? If it were going to be anyone, it would probably be Eugene. However, he didn’t get an answer, instead, Hugo pointed to a collection of photos on the coffee table next to some picture frames. “What’s this?”

“That’s my ‘photos to put up’ pile,” he answered. “Like I need a frame or haven’t found a place to put them yet type of thing.”

Hugo started to look through them, laughing under his breath at a few of them. Then suddenly he stopped and a huge smile spread across his face.

Hugo turned a photo over to him, “Wow freckles, I’m honored.” It was a photo of them that one time they got ice cream on their way home. Hugo had very maturely flicked ice cream in Varian’s face after Varian laughed at him for getting some of his stolen by a random bird. They were both laughing in the photo though. It was a timed photo that they both completely forgot that they had started.

Varian could feel his face going red but he tried to play it cool. “That’s um- haha I must have printed that on accident.”

The other boy raised his eyebrows. “Accident? Well if you don’t want it then I’ll put it up at my place instead. It’s a nice photo.”

“I can make another copy for my wall. You can-“ What was he doing? His heart was beating out of his chest and he was talking like he was in middle school again, trying to be cool for the cute person that talked to him. Come on Varian, you’re an adult, you can do this, be normal. “You can have this one if you really want it.” Close enough.

Hugo took it and smiled, “Thanks, I’ll put it on my wall too.”

 

 

“He’s not dangerous! I’m telling you!” Varian yelled, following his dad and his leya down the halls of the castle. “He’s my wolf and my friend, he’d never hurt me.”

His leya, Donella, stopped in her strides and turned to him. “I know about wolves, Varian, and they are monsters. Can rip your throat out just like,” she put her nails close to his throat, waited a moment, then quickly but lightly scratched at the skin. Varian flinched but only slightly.“That!”

Varian’s dad sighed. “As much as I hate to say it, I agree with Don. She knows a lot more about this stuff than you do.”

“But it’s not fair, he didn’t do anything wrong!” Varian protested, getting louder and louder with each word.

His dad tried to soothe him. “He’s not leaving yet, Varian, the king still needs to make a decision.”

“But the fact that he even might need to leave is unfair. I once saw him cry because he accidentally knocked a beehive in the river and was afraid the bees were going to drown.”

“Really?” Donnie Leya asked.

Varian sniffed, trying to hold back tears. He was a big kid now, big kids didn’t cry. “Yes Leya, he’s very caring and nice and he protects me!” He comes up to her and stands his ground. She leans down to meet his eyes. “If anyone hurts me, he takes care of them just like-“ he did the same scratching motion Donella had earlier, but she didn’t flinch. “That!”

She eyed him for a moment longer before whispering to herself, “Interesting.”

“Quirrn,” called Adira, coming up the hallway with a quiet Hugo by her side. “The king says he can stay.”

“And did he say why?” Donella cut in before Quirrn could answer.

Adira shrugged. “Says he has heart, and is too weak to be a real threat.”

“He’s not weak, Almo Adira!” Varian protested before coming up to Hugo and giving him a huge hug. Varian thought they were keeping the werewolf thing pretty private but clearly not enough to not be noticed. Then again, they were both only 8, and they were never any good at keeping secrets. “He’s strong and cool and my wolf.”

Varian hugged Hugo tighter and the adults were quiet for a moment before they started to whisper.

“I’m not taking this one, Quirrn.”

“Well, Don, is it really smart to have him so attached to a wolf?”

“It’s not smart to have him too attached to anyone but…”

Donella came up beside them and crouched down. The two parted to look at her, instead holding each other's hands.

“Do you wish to stay with Varian?” Donella asked.

Hugo nodded his head, “More than anything.”

She nodded back then stood up. “Then your training starts tomorrow at dawn,” she stated, a fact. “If you want to stay you will have to earn your place. Use your wolf-like strength to be the moonstone’s guard. I am willing to train you but be warned, I am not nice.”

Hugo straightened his posture proudly. “I’m up for the challenge.”

Donella began to walk away, the brotherhood members following behind her. “Dawn, pup. Dawn!”

Once they were gone, Hugo leaned over to whisper to Varian, “Your leya is scary.”

Varian smiled, “I know, she’s so cool.”

 

Varian woke up the next morning slightly confused. Damn, that was a weird dream.

Notes:

Leya: a godparent
Almo: aunt
More information about my dark kingdom language I’m working on on my tumblr.

Not my best but I hope y’all like it ^w^

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/okapis-anonymous

Chapter 3: Fall like snow

Summary:

Hugo comes to some realizations because of snow.

Notes:

Tw: grief, suicidal thoughts and conversation born out of grief

Hugo was starting to freak out. He offered to install the dishwasher because he wanted to see inside of Varian’s place. Get any clues on whether or not this was his Varian. His? What a joke! He had loved that Varian enough to remember him after a thousand years but, even with the hazy memories, he knew in his bones that Varian was never his. Never knew how much Hugo loved him and would never love him back the same way. Still, all of the photos on the wall were of people so familiar that it made Hugo’s skin crawl. Not to mention the Star-Painted Rocks and Moon Knight comics, it was so hyper-specific and it made him want to throw up.

Still, he was going into the bakery anyway. Even if all of this ended in disaster, Hugo couldn’t stay away from Varian.

He plastered on his best smile and walked over to the counter. Varian was thankfully already behind it, his shift changed from front and back of house at random so Varian already being at the front was a gamble. He spotted the blonde and suddenly became nervous, going for something in his pocket and fiddling with it. Hugo tried to turn on the charm to make Varian less nervous, maybe even laugh. “Good morning, blue eyes. How are you to-“

“Here,” Varian interrupted him by taking the thing from his pocket and shoving it in his face. It was a tiny wolf keychain. It was a white wolf with little blue stars drawn on it. That sick throw-up feeling was coming back. “I remember you said you liked wolves and I saw it and- well it’s just a thank you for walking me home. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“I love it,” Hugo said, trying to keep his voice steady even as he realized how screwed he was. He took the keychain and turned his backpack around to put it on the strap. “Thank you.”

Varian blushed a little, “Glad you like it.” He stayed quiet for a moment before looking back into the kitchen at something then back at Hugo. “You know um,” he drummed his fingers on the counter. “I was wondering if you wanted to… um,” he took a deep breath. “Go do something, more than just walking home and fixing my dishwasher. Like go out and do friend stuff.”

He put a lot of emphasis on friend, it felt awkward. Of course, as friends, the Varian he used to know never really wanted anything more, so why would this Varian be any different if they truly were the same? They were friends, no matter how much Hugo longed to be loved by him like he loved the Varian of the past.

Hugo’s smile wavered but only a little, “Sounds great to me.”

They went to the fair. There was one on Fridays during the fall and Varian hadn’t had a chance to go yet since he moved. It was the perfect place for Hugo to show him around and apparently, have more crises. First off, Varian was a wizard at science and math the same way past Varian was. He figured out a chemical compound formula at a “test your smarts” booth and they walked away with an insane amount of candy as a prize. Two, Varian had horrible aim, the same way past Varian did. Hugo tried not to laugh as Varian tried and tried to knock down the milk bottles with a baseball.

“Rach don ifrinn, botail gòrach!” Varian snarled at the bottles in perfect Gaelic before catching his anger and backing away. “I’m so sorry,” he started, laughing nervously. “When I get frustrated I sort of just slip out of English.”

“I’m sorry it’s probably annoying, I know you don’t know much Umbrasa.”

The words came to Hugo like a slap in the face. His past Varian did that same thing. Hugo remembered how cute some of those moments were. How devastating others were. Memories he couldn’t see choked him. Varian calling his bow dumb. Varian rolling his eyes and muttering something only he and Hugo would understand. Varian whispering about the view from his window. Varian crying softly in his arms, telling him about how he wished-

“I can stop if it’s annoying,” Varian said, bringing Hugo back to the world around him.

“Not annoying,” he reassured or at least he tried to while he was still experiencing whiplash. “Actually kind of cute.” Damn it.

Varian blushed with a pleased little smile. “Cute,” Varian repeated, in a whisper so small Hugo almost didn’t hear it. “You too,” Varian said at normal volume before the blush turned to crimson. “Holy shit, that was so lame.”

Hugo laughed, “Not lame. Here, I’m much better at this, let me win you something.”

Hugo won Varian a stuffed Raccoon. They spent the rest of the fair laughing and talking and generally having fun. If this truly were a date then it would be the best one Hugo had ever gone on. It wasn’t a date, but he was so happy.

They eventually stopped at a bench as the sun began to set to catch their breath. It was the best day but everything fell into place. Every last comment made since and it just reminded Hugo of the Varian he used to know better than he knew himself but now barely remembers.

He just had to. He had to ask one more question to be absolutely sure.

“Varian?”

“Yeah?”

Hugo took a breath in then out. “What are your thoughts on snow?”

Varian gave him a confused look, “Snow?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’ve never really liked snow. I don’t know, it’s cold and watery and just makes you feel awful.” He laughed as he explained but soon his expression turned to a deep-rooted sadness. “And my mom-“ he started, stopped to breathe, then continued. “She passed during a snowstorm, not because of it but during one. So I don’t really like them that much anymore.”

Hugo didn’t think, he just pulled Varian into a hug. He hugged him like he used to hug him. He cupped his head with one hand and put it in his neck. He rested the other hand on Varian’s arm. Varian tensed for a moment but then relaxed immediately. His breaths were shaky and loud but they always were in the beginning. Soon they calmed down, like what would always happen with past Varian.

Varian wrapped his arms around Hugo and it became clear as day. This was his Varian.

“Thanks, this helps a lot.”

 

 

The wind was screaming, crying. It felt fitting. Varian’s mom died, there was no poetic way around the truth.

Hugo couldn’t find Varian, not with all the snow. He’d shout his name but the moonstone was nowhere in sight. Hugo’s best friend was nowhere to be found.

“VARIAN!” He tried to out scream the wind. “VARIAN WHERE ARE YOU?!” He marched farther into the storm, knowing it would probably kill Varian if he spent too much time outside, even with the moonstone’s power.

Hugo squinted to identify every blob he saw, whether they were trees, rocks, or “VARIAN!”

He ran to his friend, fighting the wind to be by his side. He eventually came up beside Varian but he didn’t notice. He didn’t notice anything around him.

“Varian,” Hugo started, putting a hand on Varian’s shoulder. He still didn't notice. “Can you come inside please?”

“No,” he answered, soft, his voice disappearing into the snow. “I don’t want to be inside.”

Hugo pulled his arm a little, just enough to turn him. Varian’s eyes looked so lifeless that a part of Hugo’s soul cracked. “Then let’s go somewhere else,” he offered and after a moment Varian nodded.

Hugo guided him to their spot. Their little house that Varian made for them. It was worn and weathered but never destroyed.

Hugo sat him down by a small fire pit they had built inside, lit it, and tended to it to make sure the embers didn’t touch their little house. The wolf finished with the fire quickly and found a spot next to Varian to sit. Their arms and knees touched but nothing else.

“How do you feel?” Hugo said after a long silence.

Varian didn’t answer for a minute. “Cold and wet.”

“I bet,” Hugo responded, slightly laughing only to maybe make his friend smile. After more silence, he took off his coat and offered it to Varian. “Here, you’ll get sick if you don’t change your wet coat.”

The moonstone took it but didn’t put it around his shoulders, just laid it in his lap. “Do you think…” Varian eventually whispered. He was fiddling with the fabric of the coat. “Do you think I’ll go to the same place my Mera went to if I get sick?”

Hugo wanted to cry. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t either, might work.”

“But I don’t want you to leave,” Hugo cut in, fast. He couldn't hear Varian talk about that type of stuff anymore, and yes the sentence he said was selfish but it was at least something to stop Varian from talking like that. “I want you to stay here.”

Varian looked at him, angry but not at him. Hugo was just the only one around. “But Mera isn’t here, Gee Me Mera!”

Hugo heard a crack outside, the growing of a rock under the snow. He didn’t know what to do, what to say. Varian put his knees up to his chest and hugged them, losing contact with Hugo.

Hugo tried to speak but he knew that no matter what he said he was going to say the wrong thing. “I’m so sorry.”

“Mo gee ash-eba, gee me mera!” Varian shouted, turning his head to face him with tears building in his eyes. Another crack rang out, louder.

“Whe nom-ed ckor-ed mera ma!” Another crack, one loud enough for both of them to hear. Varian stopped shouting. He looked frightened, petrified. He had always been scared about his powers getting out of control. It gave him nightmares worse than Hugo’s, but maybe that’s just because Hugo dismissed his own as nothing.

After a moment of hesitation, he scooched closer to Varian. He put his hand on the back of Varian’s head and pulled him into his neck. He put his other hand on Varian’s arm.

“I can’t-“ Hugo started, fumbling to speak. “I can’t bring her back.” He paused for a moment. “But I can hold you.”

“Ash-eba, me hol, Ed bolma,” Varian whispered into his neck, tears falling freely.

“Mo ash-eba, Whe bolma.”

 

 

‘Why that one?’ Hugo thought as he woke up, tears softly falling from his face without his notice. ‘I hate that one.’

Notes:

I do not know Gaelic, I just translated from goggle translate

Umbrasa translation:
Gee Me Mera: want my mom
Mo gee ash-eba, gee me mera: I don’t want apologies, I want my mom (no want apologies, want my mom)
Whe nom-ed ckor-ed mera ma: you want to help, then give me my mom (you want help [me], give mom [to] me)
Ash-eba, me hol, Ed bolma: apologies, my wolf, I’m grieving (I grieve)
Mo ash-eba, Whe bolma: no need to apologize, you can grieve (no apologies, you grieve)

Hope y’all enjoyed!

Chapter 4: Courting

Summary:

Nightmares and questions

Notes:

OK FIRST OFF, I GOOFED!!! THIS AU (the lover’s oath AU) WAS MADE BY dasketcherz on tumblr!!! Go check her out! (I’m sorry I forgot to mention this sooner) link: https://www.tumblr.com/dasketcherz/786285342877745152/lovers-oath-a-moonstone-varian-x-werewolf-hugo

Second trigger warnings for this chapter! Nightmares, mentions of ptsd, and Hugo having a mental breakdown through literally the whole chapter

Varian was half tempted to ask Google how to ask a guy on a date. He wasn’t about to ask his coworkers because they’d just tease him and probably mess the whole thing up. He wasn’t going to ask his dad because he’d probably remind Varian that he had a shotgun if ‘this Hugo guy’ decided to break his heart. Eugene would say the same. So would Cass. And his Aunt and Uncle. His family was great but way too overprotective. So that only left…

“Hey Varian!” Rapunzel answered, her chippy happy voice easing some of Varian’s nerves.

“Hey Raps,” he replied. “What’s up?”

“Not a lot, just dropped the kids off at school. What’s going on with you? You don’t usually call, more of a texter.”

He sucked in a breath then let it out. “I need some advice but don’t freak out or be weird about it.”

She was quiet for a second before responding, “I’ll try.”

“So um,” God where to start? “How do you ask a guy out?”

“WHAT?”

Varian had to hold the receiver away from his ear at the shear volume. “I told you not to freak out!”

“But you’ve never had a real crush before, never dated anyone!” She exclaimed, probably bouncing up and down in her driver's seat. “I’m so happy for you!”

“Thanks?” A nervous laugh escaped him. “I want to ask him, I’m just trying to figure out how.”

“Well first off, tell me everything about him. That’s a good starting point. Maybe ask him to go do something you both like but he especially loves.”

Varian took notes, he took actual notes during the phone call. He wanted to get it right. In the end, they decided on the usual dinner and dessert date but Varian remembered Hugo mentioning his favorite restaurant in town so the location was taken care of. Rapunzel suggested he make him dessert and they could have it at Varian’s apartment, something cute, sweet, and intimate.

“Is that too much? It feels like I’m asking him for more or something,” Varian asked, the idea of going too fast making him uncomfortable.

“Oh no! I just meant it’s more romantic to be in a more private environment. I did the same with Eugene for our first date and all that happened was a peck on the cheek. I just know you don’t like being out and about that much so maybe something quiet and at home might be nice.”

“That makes sense,” he confessed. “What if he doesn’t like it?”

“Then it’s his loss,” she reassured. “If you put thought and effort into it then that’s enough. It doesn't have to be perfect. I’m proud of you for doing something outside of your comfort zone.”

“Thanks, I try, and thank you for the advice.”

“No problem,” she responded cheerily. “Also I’ll try to keep this from everyone as long as I can but once it gets out, no one is saving your boy from that shovel talk.”

Varian laughed, it was nice to talk to Rapunzel again.

He worked on what he was going to say later that day and came to work the next morning with an extreme amount of nerves and, weirdly enough, some confidence.

Varian was ready to ask, the only problem was that Hugo didn’t show up to walk him home.

 

 

Hugo was walking back from training when he saw the first one. He almost walked right past it. He was exhausted, Don wasn’t kidding when she said he had to earn his keep. He had placed down his sword to tie his shoes but right near his shoe was a tiny black rock. Hugo tied his laces quickly to get his shoe out of the way and examine the rock more closely.

It was sticking from the ground, it was a deep black and light blue, and it wasn’t alone. There were a few scattered down the hallway. The Wolf picked up his sword and followed the rocks. The more that appeared, the larger they got. Eventually, he was standing outside Varian’s room. There was a cluster of rocks sticking out of the ground around the prince’s room, the blue on them glowing in and out like someone sobbing.

Hugo approached the door slowly. He gave it a small knock. “My prince?” He asked. Since they were both getting older Donnella was more insistent that he had to start calling Varian by his title. Hugo hated that calling Varian ‘prince’ was already becoming a habit after training. It felt so impersonal, professional, not like him and Varian. “Varian?”

He heard shuffling from the other side of the door before it opened. Varian looked awful. His eyes were red and puffy and there were still tear tracks on his cheeks. His irises were glowing when their eyes finally met. The worst part was that his smile was nowhere to be seen.

“Hey Wolfie, just get done with training?” Hugo didn’t reply, he just encased Varian in a hug. Varian took a while to hug back but he did eventually.

“You’re supposed to be asleep,” the wolf whispered.

“Had a nightmare,” the prince whispered back.

Hugo thought for a moment before taking Varian’s hand and guiding him back into his room. He pushed him towards his bed then went to the bookshelf. He picked a random book and dragged a chair over to the side of Varian’s bed. “I can read to you?” He offered.

He nodded and Hugo began to read. He read for maybe an hour, about dragons and a prince and the knight that saved him. Varian was drifting in and out of sleep and Hugo thought he had completely drifted off by the time he closed the book. He went to stand up but a hand caught his.

“Will you stay with me?” Varian asks.

Hugo didn’t waste a second, “Yes.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

Hugo stayed with him the whole night. He fell asleep in that chair, holding Varian’s hand.

 

 

Hugo probably looked terrible and he knew it. It had been a week since he figured it out, and he’s been having nightmares. Nightmares about things he still doesn’t completely remember, and it’s making him lose sleep. Hugo doesn’t want to believe it’ll make him viable to break down any moment but it’s getting to a point. Hell, two nights ago he woke up screaming and didn’t even remember why.

He wanted to get coffee and something nice to eat but he didn’t want to bother Varian. He didn’t want to see him. It’ll break him even more than he already has. He could almost see the white hair as blue and his gorgeous royal robes instead of the hoodie and apron. He needed to talk to Don, fast.

He was brought out of his walk home spiral by his phone ringing and quickly answering without checking who it was, desperate for any type of distraction.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” Nuru’s voice rang out through the line. “Could you do me a favor and get me one of those cookies you got me last week and drop it off at my office on your way home? It’s been a kind of crap day and I could really use one.”

Well, shit.

If he said no, she’d know something was up and then she’d investigate. Nuru worked with Don on the Aurora council, a prestigious group for magic users, so he couldn’t just say “magic stuff” and be done with it because then she’d want to know even more. Better yet cars were blaring behind him so he couldn’t pretend he was already home.

“Sure,” he said, trying as hard as he could to be casual. “What flavor?”

“Two chocolate chip, please,” she responded, clearly too busy to pick up on his nerves.

“Cool, I’ll be there soon.”

“Great, thank yo-“ she paused and Hugo heard someone else talking to her. “Gotta go but thank you, I really appreciate it!”

She hung up and Hugo took in a deep breath, knowing that he was about to face the source of both his nightmares and desires.

The little bell above the door was still there. Everything was still where it was. Of course it was, just because his world shifted didn’t mean everyone else’s had too.

The excited kid, Yong? Was sitting behind the counter and sat up in shock at seeing Hugo. He leveled a glare at him, “You better have just been busy.”

“I was,” he lied but he was very good at lying.

The kid gave a nod before calling, very loudly, “VARIAN, HUGO’S HERE.”

Hugo heard the sound of sneakers squeaking against the tiled floor, a pan or something being dropped, and a muffled, “damn it, now? I look awful!” Accompanied by a bunch of teen girls pushing him out of the door to the front.

Hugo’s world stopped, if only for a few seconds. There was icing in his hair, right next to his white stripe. It was light blue and it caught the sunlight streaming in through the window, glowing. Varian looked divine, godly, beautiful. His vision flashed between the Varian he saw and the one he used to know and love. It scared him how similar they were. Tears pricked at his eyes, painful to keep back. He wasn’t going to be able to make it past one conversation. Hell, maybe even a sentence.

“Hey, good to see you,” Varian smiled and that was it, the tears fell. Varian stepped back, eyes growing wide with shock. Hugo wanted to whimper at the idea of Varian moving away from him, but he kept a death grip on his wolf. He had to keep control of something, anything.

“Sorry, it hasn’t been the best week,” he answered the best he could as he tried to contain the tears.

Varian nodded, eyes filled with concern and sympathy. He looked over to Yong and gestured for him to stop staring then took Hugo’s hand and pulled him to a back table.

Varian pulling him to the balcony when the disgusted and uncomfortable stares were getting too much. Him making Hugo laugh with wild stories and theories. Varian making Hugo little stone animals from his powers, mostly raccoons, mice, and wolves. Hugo kept every one.

Hugo didn’t even realize he was sitting down until his back hit the back of the chair. By some miracle, his tears had stopped. Varian was still holding his hand.

“Are you ok? Wow, that’s a dumb question, but you know what I mean. What’s going on? Do you want to talk about it? Do you need to?” He rattled on but Hugo didn’t really know if he was listening. He was too caught up on how wonderful it was to hold Varian’s hand again.

“I’m ok, my pri-“ fuck his life. “I’m fine. It’s just personal.”

Varian was blushing, clearly he’d heard Hugo’s slip. Maybe he just thought it was flirting. “I get it if you don’t want to share,” his prince said. No matter when or where, he would always be Hugo’s prince. “But I’m here.”

“I’m right here, Hugh, please talk to me.”

He swallowed, trying to come up with something close to the truth that wasn’t it. “I’ve been having nightmares,” the words were dragged out of him. “They’ve been really bad.” Varian squeezes his hand and the tension in his body just leaves. “I guess you could call them ptsd nightmares. I’ve had them for as long as I can remember but recently… It’s been hard to wake up alone or go back to sleep at all.”

Varian starts brushing his thumb back and forth on the back of his hand and Hugo melts. “Thank you for trusting me. That sounds awful. Here, how about this,” Varian takes his other hand and gets out his phone. “Give me your number and when you feel alone, you can call me.”

“That sounds great, thank you.”

 

 

“I have a girlfriend,” Horace announced with so much pride in his voice that you’d think he was getting married or dating a god.

“You do?” Hugo and Varian asked in Unison.

“Yep!”

Hugo gave him a skeptical look. “Why would anyone date you?”

“Many people want to date me!” The prince gasped, genuinely offended. “I’ve had a line of girls stacked up for miles but only one caught my eye. She’s a princess, you know.”

Hugo barked out a laugh, “A princess? That’s a joke.”

Horace shoved Hugo and he shoved back, soon wrestling in that way only teenagers do. At first, everyone was on edge that the wolf would hurt the heir or the prince would harm the boy so much younger and weaker than him, but after a while things changed. They but heads a lot but it wasn’t without mutual respect. Horace was older, more experience in training but Hugo had his wolf strength and was surprisingly clever. No one was concerned they were going to hurt each other at this point so most servants and guards walked past when they fought.

However, Varian was always the exception and he knew it. He went up to them and lightly kicked their sides. “Stop that,” he said and the other boys immediately stopped, stumbling out apologies. “Thank you.” Varian then looked to Horace, “Have you given her a stone yet?”

He nodded, smiling because he could keep talking about his princess. “She was kind of confused at first but she thought it was sweet when I explained it. She’s even baked me something already.”

It was Varian’s turn to look at him with disbelief. “What?! You’re lying.”

“Did you return it?” Hugo asked, more invested now than he was before.

Horace shook his head and laughed. “Moon no, not yet, I don’t want to seem desperate.”

Varian's face quickly turned from happy and disbelief to angry confusion. Hugo, for his part, just declared, “Gods, you’re an idiot.”

“That’s not how that works,” Varian almost yelled. “You need to return it. It’s just rude not to.”

It wasn’t that Varian was a stickler for tradition but he had always liked their version of courtship. It was beautiful and romantic in a way that he couldn’t explain. He had always wanted someone to court him, or recently a more specific someone. His feelings for Hugo were new and small, a puppy crush. Something to fill his dumb fourteen-year-old brain with fantasies of long moonlight walks, holding hands, collections of rocks on his nightstand, and maybe even his first kiss. However, he knew it would never become a reality, so he kept it something small and light. Not what it actually was becoming, something more.

“Ok fine, fine, I’ll make her something!” Horace put his arms up at Varian’s glare. “What do I even make her?”

“Good and maybe try brownies or something. I don’t know,” the younger prince shrugged. “I bet she’ll like anything you make her. But that’s a tomorrow thing, it’s like midnight and I’m tired. I’m going to bed, tell me how it goes after you do it.”

“Oh definitely, she’s gonna be so wooed.” Horace raced off, excited for tomorrow and taking the next step.

Varian rolled his eyes and turned to Hugo to smile. “Good night, my wolf,” he bowed lightly and began to walk away.

“Hey um,” Hugo started but cut himself off. Varian turned to face him, he looked nervous. “Could I walk you-“ Hugo paused again, for the briefest second, and Varian held his breath. He begged to the moon and all the stars in the sky that he would hear the words ‘moonlight walk’. Oh, how he prayed for it. “Back to your room?”

Varian let out the breath he was holding and tried to cover up his disappointment with a smile. “Yeah, sure.”

They walked in relative silence, it wasn’t awkward but it wasn’t their normal comfortable silence. The moonstone could tell that Hugo wanted to say something.

“Spit it out,” Varian waved his hand.

“Why were you so bothered by how he handled his courtship?” Hugo asked and Varian didn’t know what he was expecting but it wasn’t that.

Varian sighed, “Horace can get anyone he wants. I just want him to treat the one he finds right, you know?” He didn’t know how to explain it, but he had to try. No one besides Hugo listened to him anyway. “Plus, I don’t know, it just makes me feel lonely. Seeing how many options he has and I’m just alone.”

“You are never alone,” Hugo stated, a fact. “I’m here.”

Varian smiled at him. “Yeah, you are. Thank you, by the way. I don’t know if I’ve ever thanked you.”

“For what?”

He shrugs, “being there for me. Being my friend.” He wants to add ‘being near and dear to my soul in a way I don’t want to admit, even to myself,’ but he doesn’t.

Hugo smiled, a soft, surprised, proud smile that shines as bright as the stars. “No need to thank me, I’d happily do all of it over again.”

“Why?”

“I-“ he pauses and goes silent, the smile turning to something sad and sour. “I don’t know.”

“When you know, will you tell me?” The prince half-joked but he genuinely wanted to know.

“I promise.”

The silence washed back over them but it was more comfortable now, more them. The moon high in the sky and casting her light onto those who needed it. It guided their path.

When they arrived at Varian's room, he panicked slightly. He didn’t want this to end, he wanted to keep pretending that this was the beginning of a courtship. The beginning of them being something together.

Hugo went to walk away but Varian caught his wrist. “Wait-“

Hugo just looked back at him, waiting for him to continue. “Could you um, could you stay with me?” Varian didn’t need it anymore, the nightmares were calming down, barely there, but he didn’t want Hugo to leave. Something small tugging inside his soul telling him to get Hugo to stay.

“Of course,” Hugo answered and immediately went to the bookshelf for a collection of Flynn Rider short stories that Varian adored. He began to read and it didn’t take long for Varian to drift into that space between awake and asleep.

Varian heard the book close and felt Hugo stroke a piece of hair out of his face. His palm almost cupped Varian’s cheek but he pulled back. Varian wanted to grab his hand, to get his touch back but he was too tired, and too worried about how the other would react.

“I’m sorry, I’m not brave,” Hugo whispered and Varian immediately was confused. Hugo was very brave, what was he talking about? “You have no clue about all of the weird stuff you put in my chest. I just wish I could understand it so I can do something about it.” Varian was about to open his eyes, to give up the charade of being asleep before Hugo started talking again. “It’s almost like-“ he cut himself off and Varian could hear his breathing pick up, coming in short and scared. “Oh. Oh, shit.”

Hugo’s breath was still fast as he left the room, so quick that you would think he was running away from danger. Like feeling anything for Varian was dangerous. Hurt curled around his chest and he curled up tighter.

But then, after maybe twenty minutes, Hugo was back. His footsteps were light as he put the book up and sat back down in the chair next to Varian’s bed. The room was silent but Hugo started muttering to himself, a nervous habit. “They already think you’re a freak. It’s a miracle he’s your friend, they’d execute you if you even dared to ask for more.”

Holy, like the stars above, shit.

“He’s not yours,” Hugo mumbled, his voice becoming watery. “He’s not yours, being his will be enough. You’ve worked this hard to live, feelings aren’t going to be what kills you.”

So, Varian’s feelings were reciprocated but Hugo was scared of a few stupid views and laws. He could work with that. Gitty happiness returned to him as he drifted off to sleep. Everything was going to be ok, they were both going to get a happy ever after.

 

 

Varian didn’t remember his dream when he woke up, he just had this weird urge to call Hugo.

Notes:

Hope y’all enjoyed! I’ve been loving hearing y’all’s thoughts, it gives me so much joy!

Also much love to imanalbertross for inspiring the second flashback in this chapter with this post: https://www.tumblr.com/imanalbertross/787191870610669568/all-of-this-is-effing-amazing-love-it-when-people

The dark kingdom courting system: https://www.tumblr.com/okapis-anonymous/786699936571015169/ok-so-dark-kingdom-courting-ive-got-so-many

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/okapis-anonymous

Chapter 5: Can’t loose him

Summary:

Problems arise in the past and present. Too much hangs in the balance.

Notes:

HELLO IM SO SORRY!!! ITS BEEN CLOSE TO A MONTH!!! I have been moving, dealing with family stuff, starting university again, all the stuffs, BUT I’m back with a new 4.4k of angst, pinning, headcannons, and werewolves!

Hope y’all enjoy!

Hugo loves some things about being a wolf and hates others. His sense of hearing and smell is incredible, he's fast and strong, and ear scratches are the best thing in all of the seven kingdoms. However, one of the things he was growing to hate with burning passion was how wolves handled love. Wolves didn’t fall in love often, especially with someone who wasn’t a wolf, but when they did, it was fast and hard. It was almost hopeless to stop. He’d heard of an expression among wolves that he never related to more at sixteen: “wolves are loyal to their hearts alone, so be careful who you give it to.”

He was being careful, gods knew he was being as careful as he could but damn it, Varian was stealing his heart. Plucked it right out of his chest and has been carrying it around like it was just another piece of jewelry on his royal robes. Hugo didn’t know what was worse, how obvious he was or how oblivious Varian was. Everyone in the castle had seen Hugo’s crush by now, it was so obvious that they started calling him “the moonstone’s puppy”. The ruder staff and visiting diplomats used other words in place of puppy. Mut, creature, wholm, to name a few.

Hugo tried to ignore it, to carry on. There was nothing he could do about the whispers anyway. Instead, he focused on keeping down his feelings for his prince, his moonstone, his Varian.

‘He’s not yours’ he reminded himself. ‘He’s not yours.’

 

 

Hugo has been calling and texting him a lot. Not that Varian was complaining, it was more that with every conversation, every message, or silly gif, Varian’s crush grew and grew. He wanted to date Hugo, to kiss him, make him happy, but timing, that was the tricky part. Hugo kept having his ptsd nightmares and flashes and brushing them off. He was going through enough and didn’t need to start a relationship while he was still going through everything. In the meantime, Varian could be patient. He was good at waiting, for better or worse.

The bell chimed above the door and Hugo walked in but this time he wasn’t alone. With him was a woman with night skin and hair, the hair in question adorned with star charms. She was wearing something formal, something you’d see someone wear in an office but it was also covered in stars and space designs. She was holding something in her hands, it looked like a collection of charts and graphs but he couldn’t see what they were about. They were talking about something as they walked in, something private and whispered. They both looked so serious, it made Varian’s skin crawl.

Soon Hugo looked up at Varian and his face melted into a smile. The woman stopped talking once she noticed his attention was elsewhere and then waved her hand in front of his face. He snapped out of his trance. “This is serious,” she snapped at him. It didn’t sound harsh or mean, just urgent, worried.

“I'm listening but how about we get something to eat first,” Hugo offered. He took the papers out of her hands and she sighed. Maybe this was the friend he was talking about a bit ago, the one with a job she loved but was recently stressing her out. The one who asked Hugo to pick her up cookies because she couldn’t leave her work. ‘If that’s the case at least she was out of her office’, Varian thought, ‘that’s good’.

They approached the counter and she smiled but Varian could see the eyebags. “Good afternoon, I’ll have two chocolate chip cookies, please.”

“Of course,” he responded, trying to be polite to maybe lift her mood.

“Hey,” Hugo cut in, smiling. Varian loved that smile.

“Hi,” he replied, melting a little.

The woman looked between them back and forth before asking Hugo, “Who’s this?”

He startled at her question, like someone caught doing something they weren’t supposed to. He looks nervous when he answers. “Nuru, this is a friend of mine.”

“My name is Varian,” he smiles. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Varian,” Nuru whispers to herself then looks over to Hugo. “Nice to meet you.” She reaches over to shake his hand then turns to Hugo with a face of interrogation. “How did you two meet?”

There’s a sense of fear that enters his eyes and Varian begins to worry that something else is going on. “Well, it’s kind of a long story.”

“Not really,” Varian chimes in. “Hugo just comes in a lot and stays to talk and we became friends.”

Her shoulders drop into something more casual and so do Hugo’s. Varian relaxes too, happy that the weird tension seems to have disappeared, Nuru finding the answer she was looking for. However, in response to his story, she does snort and say, “Good joke.”

Varian goes to the display case to get the cookies as he asks, “What do you mean?”

She waved one hand while the other got her purse out to pay. “Hugo doesn’t ‘stay to talk’ unless he really wants to. We only became friends cause I work with his mom. Forced us to be in the same room for a bit, you know?”

“Yeah,” he tried to laugh but he was more curious about her comment if anything. “What would be some reasons he would want to get to know someone?”

She shrugs but her smile is playful. “Business, favors, hooku-“ Varian hears the sound of a shoe hitting skin and Nuru winces in pain then turns to Hugo. “Asshole!”

Hugo smiles at Varian, soft and sweet like he didn’t obviously just kick her. “I’m sorry she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

She gave him an odd look. “Yes, I do? Why are you being so weird about this?” She squinted at him then her eyes went wide. “Wait, did you finally get over him?!”

He slammed his hand over her mouth. “Shut up!” Hugo hissed to her. He then looked over to Varian, an apologetic smile on his lips. “Sorry, one sec.”

He took her arm and pushed her out of the shop, wanting their next conversation to be private. Varian waved them goodbye, feeling awkward and slightly uncomfortable. Who was she talking about?

 

 

Varian was summoned to the throne room. He asked Hugo why but he wasn’t able to answer, all he was told was to fetch Varian. Being summoned to the throne room without reason couldn’t mean anything good. He originally started with picking at his nails then he started playing with Hugo’s tail. The soft fur was calming him down and the blush on Hugo’s face as he carded his hands through the tangles was adorable.

The doors were opened for them but once they walked in the guards at the door were asked to leave. Not a good sign.

“Dad and Leya Donnie! And Horace!” He greeted, trying to seem more cheerful than he felt. It was only the five of them and it was setting his skin on edge. “What's going on?”

“We’ve been having some difficulties with the neighboring kingdoms,” Quirrn said after a sigh, getting into a topic that he clearly didn’t want to discuss. “They’ve been asking about our plans for you and the moonstone. More specifically your future.”

“My future?” Varian scrunched up his nose in confusion. “Like in general?”

The room fell silent. His dad was trying to find a way to enter the next part of the conversation gracefully but his leya cut in before he could. “Well, they’ve been more specifically interested in your marital future.”

Varian was even more confused and the uncomfortableness was setting deeper into his bones. Hugo approached from behind him and bumped his shoulder ever so slightly, the tiny bit of comfort in the storm around them. “Are people that excited for royal weddings or are they talking about sending suitors?” The wolf asked.

Donnella was silent for a moment before continuing with a set jaw and undisguised anger. “Less sending suitors, more sending business offers.” She paused for a moment to pick up and look through some papers that sat on a small table. “Or more accurately sending lists of demands.”

Varian swallowed, “I don’t follow.”

Horace rolled his eyes but he clearly looked as uncomfortable as Varian was feeling. “The neighboring kingdoms apparently think that your marital status is the most important topic of conversation at the moment.”

“He’s not old enough to marry,” Hugo cut in, almost growling.

“When has anyone ever cared about that?” Donella asked, setting her voice into something dismissive and at the same time aggressive. “Some royals’ marriages are put in place before their ten.”

“Arranged marriage? You want me to enter into an arranged marriage?”

“We don’t want you to do anything, Varian,” Quirrn corrected. “We just don’t have a choice at the moment.”

The silence came back as Varian stirred in denial. He wanted to look over to Hugo for comfort but he couldn’t move. “We are going to allow you to pick which one of the arrangements that we’ll sign into,” Horace chimed in but Varian could barely hear it through the fog in his brain.

“No,” Varian stated but his eyes remained glued to the floor. “No, we don’t need an arrangement like that right now. We aren’t in any trouble, so why should I have to go into a marriage? There’s no need for it.” He was trying to keep going, to stand his ground but his eyes were beginning to burn. “I will have the opportunity to love on my own and pick who I court or you will have no moonstone.”

“Varian-“

“No,” he finally looked up but he couldn’t make out the expression on their faces through the water in his eyes. “I do everything for this kingdom. You control my body and my mind but you will never control my heart or my earrings!”

“Do you think we want to do this to you?!” Donnella cut in, not yelling but loud and stern enough to make sure her voice is heard. The anger radiating off of her surrounded the room, almost choking it into silence for her to speak. “Like it or not but people view you as a trophy that they will stop at nothing to have. That means invasion, death, poison, genocide, torture, assault, theft, kidnapping, ANYTHING!” Her voice rose and rose as she went down the list. “When we receive threats we take them seriously and especially now, with half of our army down from disease, the promise of those threats are imminent. You are the only thing keeping us from invasion but you are also the cause of others' desire to invade. You are our first line of defense, whether through bloodshed or a wedding band and we’ve decided, for better or worse, to pick the option with the least amount of casualties.”

Donella kept the papers held in her hands as she approached Varian. She made sure their eyes met so that she could convey the seriousness of her words. “We love you Varian so we protect you and if you did not possess the power of the moonstone then maybe you could follow your heart but unfortunately that is not how fate played out.”

He shook his head, “I’m not that valuable.” He took a deep breath, in and out, before continuing. “I’m the moonstone, sure but no one would go to war over me.”

The moonstone’s leya pushed the papers to his chest and let them fall. “If you don’t believe me then read these. It might put everything into perspective.” Varian caught them before they hit the ground and nodded to her. Donella nodded back, “Let’s give him some privacy.” The rest of them began to follow her out but she shook her head at the prince and the wolf, “No, no, not you two.” She pointed to Hugo, “You take care of him. And you,” she pointed to Horace. “deal with the consequences of your actions.” She took a few steps closer and lowered her voice. “The only thing keeping you from my blade is your title.”

The throne room door closed, allowing the three privacy. Varian didn't want to look at the letters, didn’t even want to glimpse a word. It could be so much worse or so much better than he was thinking but he couldn’t steep in his anxiety forever. Besides, he’d always been too curious for his own good.

‘Dear Quirnn Ruddiger of Umbra,

Though we understand the need for space for your son, the pushback on our agreements is getting ridiculous. He is a prize beyond words and we would like the chance to do this peacefully. We have several incredible and beautiful members of our court who he can wed. Marriage would be a peaceful and joyful way to join our kingdoms together and yet you still deny us. I fear we will need to take immediate political action against Umbra if this continues. We live on your border with a fully funded and trained army, if we cannot have him peacefully then we will take him on the battlefield. You have the opportunity to make the right decision for your kingdom, your people, and for your son. Choose the peaceful option.

Sincerely King Ledon Walsh of Neserdnia’

He flipped to the next letter.

‘Dear Donnella Rottewange,

You have been incredibly disrespectful in our attempts to handle the situation peacefully. The moonstone is something that could be used to conquer worlds and you let it wither away in a castle. I am giving one last chance to be peaceful by the mercy and recommendation of my daughters and court. Let it meet with some of my court and we can unite our kingdoms into a power unseen by all the seven kingdoms. If not then I would like to remind you about our technological and medical advancements over the past decade. As well as our ability to obtain information. There is no corner of the seven kingdoms where you can hide the moonstone that we cannot find it.

With truth and promise, Tsarina Karina Volkov of Ingvarr’

He flipped to the next one.

‘Dear Quirrn and Donella,

We have compassion for your hearts. We are a people who are built on compassion and community, putting friends and family and our people first has always been a priority over fame, wealth, or land. However, in that vein, we hope that you will understand that we need the moonstone for our people. We are faced with a returning comet that devastates our lands and massacres our people. If we had the power of the moonstone then we would be able to protect our people, even just slightly, from this attack. He will be looked after here and will be allowed as many visitors as he pleases. We have a large collection of people within our courts who would love to meet him. He is bound to fall in love with one of them and we will pay for the entire procession. We beg of you to consider and ask you what you would do if the roles were reversed. We understand that you're trying to protect your family but we are also trying to protect ours.

May the stars bless you, Queen Mina of Koto with the memory of King Hoshi’

Varian couldn’t help it, his legs gave out under him and he fell to the floor. Hugo tried to steady Varian’s fall but it left the latter scattered across the ground.

“They all want me,” he whispered, finally breaking the silence. “They say I’m beautiful and powerful but it’s… wrong. It’s not me, it’s just the moonstone. I’m-“ a military weapon? A political tool? A source of magical intervention? A bargaining chip? A stone. “I’m not-“ he didn’t want to put sound to the idea, to make it real, but ignoring it was only going to make it worse. “I’m not a person to them.”

“I’m so sorry Varian,” Horace said almost like a confession. He knelt down to meet his cousin and put his hand on Varian’s shoulder to try and provide even a spec of comfort. “I should never have done what I did. I-“ the prince took a shuttering breath in. “I ruined your life.”

“You didn’t,” Varian shook his head but couldn’t meet the other’s eyes. “The rest of the seven kingdoms have.”

Hugo tried to provide his own comfort with a hand on Varian’s back but he flinched away. He couldn’t be reminded, couldn’t be reminded that all his plans and dreams about Hugo will most likely stay as that, plans and dreams. His heart was bleeding but he still reached for the next letter in the stack. The wolf hovered, reading over his shoulder with him.

‘Dear Knight Ruddiger and Dr Rottewange,

We have read your most recent letter and are willing to make an offer. If he doesn’t want to marry, we are ok with this. All we require is a way to produce an heir with his powers and we will pay handsomely. We have plenty of attractive ladies in waiting for him to choose fr-‘

“Fuck this,” Hugo growled before taking the letter from Varian’s hand and ripping it. His hands turning into claws and his teeth becoming sharp in his anger. He didn’t calm down until the letter was completely destroyed. “We don't have to look at it right now. Right now we’re going to go for a walk.”

“But-“ Varian tried to protest but Horace cut him off.

“A walk sounds lovely,” he pulled Varian to his feet and pushed him out the door with Hugo. “Go with the mutt and I’ll sort these out for now.”

 

The walk was difficult at first. Varian was silent and his face and body language adapted a rigidness that reflected the walls he was putting up around himself. He saw the concerned gazes of the staff but he pretended he didn’t.

Hugo didn’t try to cheer him up but he did try to make Varian feel normal. To feel safe and wanted as himself. Because Hugo was, in reality, too good for him. Maybe this was the universe’s way of saying that Hugo would be better with someone else. He deserves everything and Varian may have powers but there isn’t a lot he can give to the wolf within the chains of power that have been gifted to him. He didn’t want to give the other his own set of chains.

“You can cry if you want,” Hugo commented to the wind after an hour of them walking.

“It would be selfish,” Varian replied.

“No, it would be human.”

They didn’t talk for the rest of the walk.

Near sunset, Varian guided them towards Donella’s office. Luckily his dad was already there, he didn’t want to say what he had to say more than once.

They all waited patiently for the moonstone to speak.

“My only two conditions are that I don’t marry or make any of these deals officially until I’m nineteen and I get to choose who I go with.”

Hugo’s eyes went wide and he raced to be in front of the other, “Varian, you can’t seriously be agreeing to this.” He didn’t look up to meet the wolf’s eyes. Hugo took his hands instead. “We have options.”

“Not without blood on your hands. If we could, Horace, Dad, and/or leya Donnie would have found a solution by now.” He squeezed Hugo’s hands before dropping them and leveling his gaze at Quirrn and Donella. “Those are my only conditions, take it or leave it.”

She nodded, “We can work with that.”

“Good, I’m off to my room. Good night.” Varian left and contemplated his desire to be alone. Hugo was following him, of course he was and Varian was grateful but… did Varian want him to leave? Hugo wasn’t going to be with him for long, he understood the reality of that. When he moved to be married off to some random noble he wouldn’t be allowed to bring Hugo with him. He’d have to stay in Umbra. He was going to lose everything, his family, his people, his home, why was he so focused on Hugo? Why did he believe that if he just brought Hugo with him everything would be ok? At least to some degree. His feelings for the other were just a crush made larger by old hope and the world trying to control him, that’s all. Right?

“Can I at least wish you good night?” Hugo asked as Varian began to turn the handle to his door. When did he reach his room? “I don’t want to leave you quietly.”

The ‘I don’t want you to leave’ was left unsaid but Varian heard it.

“Stay with me?”

Hugo gave the smallest smile. “Of course.”

They walked into Varian’s room and the prince went straight to his bed, not bothering with pajamas. Hugo began to drag his chair over to the side of the bed but Varian interrupted. “No, get up here, wolfie.”

“I-“ Hugo’s eyes were wide and a blush was taking over his face, but there was also something else. Sadness? Fear? “I don’t think I can do that.”

“I’ll give you head scratches,” Varian commented, joked really.

Hugo shook his head, like there was some sort of miscommunication. “I’m not allowed.”

“Says who,” he shot back. “You're my knight and I order you to lie in bed with me. Come on, curl up as your little puppy and I’ll pet you.”

Hugo still looked hesitant but he transformed into his wolf and crawled next to Varian. He started to scratch at the wolf’s head and it was like a switch was flipped. Hugo snuggled in close to Varian, putting his full body weight on him like a living, loving weighted blanket.

Or a shield.

After Hugo was allowed to permanently stay in the castle Varian had read up on all he could about werewolves. One of the things that caught his eye was that werewolves would cover their whole body over something important to them if they thought they were going to lose it. If that thing were alive they would cover all of its vital organs. Become a shield that it would be hard for even death to penetrate.

He’d never seen Hugo do it, at least till now. Now Hugo covered every part of him. He used his paws to tuck in Varian’s wrists under his stomach. His legs were placed on the sides of Varian's torso to protect his stomach, lungs, and heart. Finally, he placed his head on Varian’s neck, nuzzling at it and whimpering.

There was also something else. Something that happened when Hugo was distressed in Wolf form. Varian could hear his thoughts. It was faint and he didn’t know why but he was grateful for it when it did happen. He wanted to help but he couldn’t if he didn’t understand Hugo’s pain first.

‘I could stay here forever,’ he could hear Hugo's voice whisper in the back of his brain. ‘I want to stay here forever.’ A pause and then another whimper. ‘I don’t want him to go. He’ll get married and he’ll leave. I’ll be alone.’

“You’re not alone,” Varian said with a finality to his voice. “If I leave you won’t be alone. You’ll have Donella, Horace, my dad, the brotherhood, so many people in the castle. You’ll never be alone.”

Hugo turned his head to look at Varian. Varian didn’t need to hear his thoughts to understand the message, ‘that’s not what I meant.’

Varian got his hand out from under Hugo’s stomach to scratch the wolf’s head, much to his protective protests. However the scratching was relaxing to both of them, and just before Varian drifted off to sleep he heard Hugo think, ‘I’m fine being alone as long as I’m alone with you.’

 

 

Hugo pushed Nuru out of the bakery, wanting to be anywhere and doing anything else besides having this conversation on the sidewalk.

“Miracles do happen!” Nuru cheered with an underlying sarcasm that Hugo did not appreciate. “You know being hung up on a guy for a thousand years was starting to become pathetic.”

“First off, I’m not pathetic,” Hugo corrected, trying to find some place for them to talk in private. “Second off, I’m not over him.”

“Then who is that?!” She fired back. “'Cause I could see your heart eyes from space.”

“That is him!” He snapped and he knew a millisecond after he did that he fucked up.

“You said he was dead,” Nuru stated, even and serious, and pushing him towards her car so that they could talk more privately.

Hugo took the hint and slid into the passenger seat. The first thing he said when all the doors were closed was “Reincarnation is a thing.”

Nuru shook her head. “He wasn’t cleared, I would have known.” She paused before saying, “You most definitely would have been told.”

Then her eyes went wide and she took in a breath. Nuru grabbed the wheel and let her head drop onto the horn. The sound made Hugo jump but Nuru didn’t notice. “You have to be honest when you answer this question.” She brought her head up to face him and waited for his nod of understanding to continue. “Does he still have his powers?”

“I don’t know.”

“This is why everything has been off!” She practically screamed. “Soon you’re gonna say his sentence, he’s gonna get his powers back, and we’re all fucked.”

“We’re not!” Hugo corrected, anger on behalf of his love coming to the surface. “I know him, he wouldn’t bring destruction.”

“That’s not what I’ve been told,” she tried to communicate, understanding that she may have been too dramatic. “Listen, I trust your judgment but I trust Donnella’s more. She says he’s dangerous. She said he was a good person and she cared for him so much but he was still dangerous.”

“I wouldn’t let him become dangerous, I just-“ Hugo took in a deep breath, shuddering a little. “Please don’t report him. I can’t lose him. Not again.”

They sat there like that for what felt like hours, just contemplating the new information. It was more like 5 minutes.

Nuru sighed, “Fine I’ll keep this a secret on one condition,”

“What?” Hugo asked, a little desperately but he didn’t care. “I’ll do it!”

“You have to tell Donnella.”

Notes:

Credit for headcannons and stuff!
Varian hearing Hugo’s thoughts and the arranged marriage subplot are from the lovers oath discord server! So many sweet people, thank y’all for rambling with me
The Wholm and Leya stuff are headcannons of mine that I’ve explained on tumblr if y'all wanna know more

Thank y’all for reading!
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/okapis-anonymous

Chapter 6: Within the quiet

Summary:

Some conversations are needed, even if they’re difficult.

Notes:

Tw car crash mentioned

The bakery was quiet early in the morning in an oddly peaceful way. Which was great because even Varian wasn’t fully awake yet. He wasn’t usually on morning shifts but occasionally he’d get unlucky. At least he didn’t work nights, god bless the ten pm to six am shift.

Five minutes to open and he was sipping coffee by the entrance, distractingly going through his phone. All of the regulars who were up early enough to get a fresh pastry on a Tuesday morning understood that they open at seven, so Varian was not expecting the knock on the bakery door. He turned to find a woman staring at him from beyond the glass. Her hair was a silver white but she clearly wasn’t old enough for it to be natural, maybe 40s. She wore a gray pantsuit with swirling blue and green moon embroidery. Her heels were tapping on the ground waiting for the door to be opened and her deep hazel eyes stared at him with an emotion he was unable to figure out. It was almost anger but it was rooted in so much sadness and relief that it could never be true anger. Like frustration at a child who was gone from home too long. Grateful for their return but angry they ever left or were gone in the first place.

She was still knocking on the door, incredibly impatient. Usually, Varian didn’t open up the door for customers during closed hours but he was starting to make exceptions with Hugo, he could make an exception for this woman just this once. He opened the door and greeted her with a smile. “Good morning ma’am, we don’t open for another four minutes but is there something I can help you with?”

She was quiet for a second before asking, “Varian?” A clarifying question.

His confusion must have been clear on his face. “Yes? That’s me.”

“Stay away from my son,” she stated. Her voice was clear and concise. “Please.”

She turned on her heel and walked away before Varian could respond. There was no denying who she was talking about and who she was. Hugo’s mom.

 

 

“Why are you training me?” The question was out of nowhere and Hugo knew it but he needed to know.

Donnella shrugged, “You wanted to stay.”

“That was years ago,” he walked over to the far wall and put up his sword. “Besides, I don't need any more training.”

“Everyone always needs more training, you can never have enough.”

“I know but,” he tried to find the words as she put away her own sword. “That can’t be the only reason. You could have left me to join the Brotherhood but instead you train me. In fact, you insist it.”

“I have my reasons,” she responded. “They’re just hard for you to understand right now.”

“I’m eighteen, don’t talk to me like a child,” Hugo slightly snapped. He didn’t mean to, he just wanted an actual answer.

She leveled her eyes on him, “Watch your tongue. I know how to remove it.”

He stared right back at her, “I know.”

Donella sighed, “Put up your things, properly this time, and I’ll tell you.”

Hugo was quick to put up his training equipment and follow his mentor down a flight of stairs and into a secluded hallway of the castle. It was gorgeous in a haunting way. Patterns of moons and suns painted across the ceiling and stained glass for the windows. No design to the glass but it covered the hall in a deep blue hue. It felt like he was underwater at night.

They stopped near the end of the hallway, a few doors near that end. She faces away from Hugo and her silver hair shown blue under the hall's light. She was quiet for a long moment before whispering, “You love him?”

“What?”

Donella turned to face him, her features set into a forced neutrality. “Varian, you love him?”

“I-“ the question was so abrupt, he couldn’t think of a lie. Was he that obvious? Was this her telling him that it was over and that he was finally facing the inevitable? Exile for daring to hope. Soldiers and brotherhood members weren’t allowed to have feelings for those they were serving. It clouded their judgment and caused mistakes in battle that could eliminate an entire fleet. Him and his wolf already didn’t belong, his affection for someone practically already betrothed would surely send him right back where he was before. Alone and abandoned to bleed out on his own time.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You aren’t exactly subtle, Hugo,” Donella corrected. “They call you his puppy.”

Hugo sighed, understanding his defeat. “I am aware.”

She approached him, each of her steps audible and purposeful. He expected a slap, a punch, a hidden dagger, some sort of retribution. She was Varian’s leya for moon's sake, it was reasonable to expect her wrath.

“I would tell you to stop but that would be hypocritical of me.” She placed her hands on his shoulders and squeezed, urging him to look her in the eyes. Her gaze was focused, serious, and bone-chilling. “You are putting yourself in great danger.”

Shock ran through Hugo and fear began to run up his spine.

“When I was asked to be his Leya, I accepted because I loved his mother more than anything. In her absence I have grown to care about Varian even though looking at him sometimes reminds me of the woman I made a mistake loving. Then he brought you in from the rain, bloody and close to death. When you woke up you snarled at him as he tried to calm you down. I knew in that moment that you’d either grow to love him or hate him.” Her eyes turn to something sorrowful, grieving. “I’m reaching a point where I wish you’d grown to hate him.”

“I’m scared to ask for clarity,” Hugo whispered, truth in every word.

She put her hands to her sides, fingers begging to fiddle with the hem of her cloak but being forced into fists instead. “It shocked me to my core but I’ve begun to care for you more than a pupil. In another life, you might have been my son. But you are not long for this world.” She took a deep breath, “Have you heard of the swirling council?”

Hugo shook his head. “It is a council of immortal magic users who maintain the balance of magic across the seven kingdoms. They’re discreet and silent, most people believe they’re a myth. I am a part of that council because they were impressed by my leadership and wanted me to lead the werewolf section of the council. However, they don’t just let anyone in. Those whom they choose have to first be put through a trial of loyalty and neutrality. They take the person you’ve fallen in love with and torture them. If you maintain your composure, integrity, and loyalty to your magic and leadership they will allow you to join them.

Donella blinked, moisture in her eyes. “Mine was put through burns, insanity, and disease. I did everything I could to help her, every amount of love, magic, and resources I had I poured into her. I told her I loved her, I told her the truth about everything and her return for my efforts was to leave me at the altar to run off with a soldier. I reclaimed loyalty to the council the next day.

They want Varian. They want his magic on their side more than anything but if his loyalty is somewhere else then he won’t be a good soldier to them. He loves you too, even the blind can see it.” She looked him dead on, conveying her next words carefully. “They’re coming for you, Hugo, and they are not kind. They will torture you just for the outcome of a test. If Varian doesn’t give you up, which will most likely happen, they will kill you to have him.”

Donella maneuvered around him to go back the way they came. Her body language was stiff and closed off. “This is a warning. Don’t do anything stupid and good luck. I want to continue to have you in my life so let him go.”

 

 

Varian: Hey, I think I met your mom.

Hugo was confused by the text. Donella didn’t go to bakeries, at least not by herself.

Hugo: Cool, hope she wasn’t too weird lol, who was with her?

Varian: She came alone

Varian: She told me to stay away from you

Varian: Is your mom super overprotective, or homophobic, or something? Or did I do something wrong?

Hugo paused and reread the message over and over. He didn’t know what he expected exactly. More? Less? But being clear and concise was very reminiscent of Donella. She never left anything to be assumed.

However, that didn’t keep his mind from running a million miles a second. Thank the moon this conversation was over text and not in person. Varian would be able to tell in an instant that something else was happening, he knew him too well.

Hugo: You did nothing wrong and it would be very hypocritical of her to be homophobic since she’s the biggest lesbian I’ve ever met

Hugo: She can just get really overprotective over very specific things, my relationships being one of them

It was the truth, Varian just didn’t need to know the other layer of magic and reincarnation. The conversation was tough but short. Hugo explained everything to her and Donella just took a deep breath, went to her liquor cabinet, and asked Hugo to get out of the house for a little bit. It could have been much worse so he counted his blessings.

Blessings, he didn’t have many of those.

“Hey, wolf boy,” Nuru snapped her fingers between him and his phone. “You got us into this mess, you’re gonna get us out of it. Stop drooling over your mate and come help me.”

Hugo’s face reddened as he put away his phone. “We never became mates,” he mumbled.

She lifted an eyebrow, “Really? That’s the part of the sentence you want to focus on?”

“Yeah, yeah, point taken. What are we working with?” Hugo asked. Nuru gestured him over to her computer. There were graphs and data calculating magic over the years. It all seemed pretty normal until a spike twenty-six years ago and one a few months ago followed by several smaller ones.

Nuru pointed to the first spike, “So that’s Varian’s birthday, and that,” she pointed to the second one. “Is where, I’m assuming, you meet him again for the first time. This version of him at least.” She hovered her mouse over the spike with Varian’s birthday, “the magical remnants that were collected from the spike were lunar and transformative based but there was also a spike in werewolves that year so that’s why we let it slide. The recent activity, however, is sporadic, we can’t get a good read on what type of magic it is or where it is. Hells, two weeks ago the magic was detected in Corona and yesterday it was in Bangar.”

She pushed back from the desk, swivel chair turning a little. Hugo could see the bags under her eyes. She may have been given immortality by the council but that didn’t mean she didn’t get tired. Nuru groaned and put her head on her desk, her cheek squishing against the wood.

Hugo knew he was staring but he couldn’t help it. He dragged a chair over so he could sit next to her. He put his own head on her desk and turned his face to greet her.

“Why did you choose this?” It was a deeply personal and kind of rude thing to ask but Hugo was never great at impulse control. “It just seems like hell.”

She looked at him for a few moments, unable to figure out if he was being genuine or not. She must have found the sincerity because she whispered back, “I didn’t. The council doesn’t really give you a choice, especially if they think you have potential.” She swallows, physically but also probably her pride, before she decides to keep going. “I’m from a small mage family and they still wanted me, it was a dream come true.” She took a shuttering exhale. “But Amber didn’t deserve what happened for me to get it.”

Hugo could tell Nuru wanted to stop there but she needed to voice her thoughts aloud. It was the only way to feel better.

“Going from a champion rock climber and horseback rider to paralyzed from the waist down is probably the worst thing she could have gone through,” Hugo remembered that, of course he did. Car crashes can be brutal, even without the influence of magic. “She was born to run, Hugo, and I took that away from her.”

“The council took that away from her, not you,” he corrected, unable to see who he considered his best friend to be suffering from a lie. “Besides, she’s still horseback riding and she’s a part of the qualifiers for the Paralympic Games. She’s still Amber and she always will be, no matter what happens.”

Nuru put an arm between them but that’s just because she was starting to cry a little. Hugo knew she preferred to do it in private so he closed his eyes.

“Don’t you remember she forgave you and told you she loved you? Really loudly and dramatically may I add.” He heard a chuckle and that’s all he needed to know that she’ll be ok.

“I know,” she said. She paused for a moment before adding, “I don’t deserve her. Or you.”

“You deserve the world, Nuru.”

 

 

Varian sifted through the letters, barely reading them. Every so often he’d stop on one but that’s just because he admired the penmanship or the wax seal rather than the actual content of the letter.

He sorted them into piles: look over later, maybe, and burn immediately. He tossed another into the burn pile as someone came into his room. He hoped with all his heart it was Hugo. He’d give up all of these hollow love letters just for one genuine one from his wolf, even if it were only a few sentences.

“I’m sorry.” Varian froze in his chair. Donella almost never apologized, and when she did there was always a reason. He heard her footsteps grow closer. When he approached his desk she tapped the wood twice to get his attention. “I know this isn’t what you want.”

“It’s how it’s meant to be,” he whispered back. “And thank you.”

“Hm,” she hummed. She placed a piece of paper in front of him. It was an invitation to a ball. One in his honor. The moon and star swirling on the invitation were beautiful and the penmanship was gorgeous, but it just felt like another stone on his shoulders. Another thing to carry.

“Cordially is misspelled,” he tried to joke, even giving Donella the best smile he could attempt at the moment. Something flashed through her face, more specifically her eyes. A pain so deeply rooted in her soul that it would take years to uncover the true root of its origin.

She looked away from him and sighed, “Moon, stars, and sun, you are just like your mother.”

She left the room then, putting a little too much effort into closing the door.

Varian wasn’t upset, in fact, he kind of understood her frustration. He’d always been frustrated with his mother’s ghost.

Notes:

Wow another chapter! Also holy shit 50 kudos! Y’all are so sweet!!!! <3 <3 <3

Next chapter is gonna be a longer one and it’s gonna be a ball so get your royal attire ready!

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/okapis-anonymous

Chapter 7: Try something new

Summary:

Hugo does to the ball with a new look in the past and he asks an important question in the present.

Notes:

Tw werewolf hunter

Hugo wasn’t excited about the ball. He’d be working, despite Varian’s protests. He felt honored that Varian was willing to put in the effort of arguing for him but everyone he protested to agreed that it’d be a bad idea. Varian was meant to be meeting with suitors, not talking with Hugo the whole night, and have them believe they have extra competition.

He stood watch by the front door and opened it for incoming guests. It was insanely below his station and made him seethe in muted hatred towards whoever came up with the idea of this being his post in the first place. Each suitor shot him a different type of look. Some were genuinely kind, smiling to him, a few thank you’s, one even complimented his uniform and hair. Others were not as kind. Not paying him any attention at all was common but it was better than those who sneered at him.

He was there for maybe an hour, a little more, before he heard a familiar voice. “You know we did this for your safety, right?”

Donella was standing in front of him. She wore a deep green dress with a wide circle neckline. Gold clasps held everything in place and gold jewelry made for beautiful accessories. Her hair was done up in a beautiful and elaborate fashion, something Hugo had never seen on her before because of how impractical it was.

“I know.”

She sighed, all of the guests were already inside so no one was around to eavesdrop on their voices. “You want to go?”

“Yes,” Hugo nodded. He had hope in his eyes, begging to be granted a night with the one he loved. “I’m going to die anyway, according to you, so why can’t I have one night?”

Donella didn’t say anything as she walked away but she did gesture her head for him to follow. She led him to her room, the definition of organized chaos. She went immediately to her closet and began going through her garments.

She pulled out a dress, long and cascading. The sleeves were off the shoulder and fell into a built-in capelet with a V-neck, black and covered in silver star designs. The actual dress is white with black stars and moons scattered at the bottom, a thigh slit making the bottom flow as smooth and wild as a river. She also held up a teal pearl belt to cinch the waist and a set of black gloves.

She dropped it into Hugo’s arms with little fanfare. “Only thing I have on me that’ll fit you,” she explained, nonchalantly. “I never gave you this.”

Hugo nodded, “I found it in a box under my bed.”

Donella's lips quirked up into the smallest smile. “Something old and dusty. Now go change and go be a stupid kid.”

The grin on Hugo’s face was wide and bright. He ran to change. The dress was a little difficult at first, he couldn’t remember the last time he wore one. He eventually got it on properly, attached the belt, and right as he was putting on the gloves, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

He looked… beautiful. He felt beautiful too. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt that way. A warmth filled his chest and suddenly everything else that was upsetting him about tonight fell away. Even if he didn’t get Varian’s attention, that was ok, because he felt wonderful with himself.

He was going to have a good night if it killed him.

 

Hugo entered the room from off to the side, desperate not to attract attention. A few people saw him come in but not many. Despite not wanting to be seen, he still tried to walk in with confidence. He was meant to be here, he just needed to believe it.

He looked around, hoping for a familiar face. Horace noticed Hugo before he could and headed over to greet him, bringing along the person he was talking to. She was tall, her sturdy heels adding extra height. Her long black hair was pulled up in a loose updo and she wore a decorated military uniform. Her lips were painted red but her smile was genuine.

“Hey, I didn’t think you’d make it!” Horace greeted. Hugo was surprised at the prince’s enthusiasm but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He gestured over to the woman next to him, “This is Leila, one of the officers from Neserdnia.”

“It’s a pleasure,” she took Hugo’s hand and shook it, her grasp lingering and fingertips examining his calluses through her gloves. “And who do I have the joy of meeting?”

“Hugo Rutterage, Varian’s personal guard.”

Leila stopped her examination but kept hold of his hand. She looked up at him with an intense curiosity and disdain, like a child with a stick about to poke at an ant hill. “The pup?” She asks and Hugo nods. “I’ve heard about you.”

“Good things, I hope,” he tries to joke.

She smiles but something is off, almost malicious. “I’ve actually been wanting to meet you.”

“Your highness!” Called someone from the side of the ballroom. “Can we see you over here, real quick?”

Horace immediately stood to attention. “Right,” he muttered before addressing Hugo. “I’ll be right back.”

Then he was gone and Hugo was alone with Leila. An odd sense of fear washed over him, something unexplainable but urgent. His mind and body’s plea to get out.

“You wanted to meet me?” He asked instead.

Her smile turned into something softer, definitely proud. “Yes, I have a gift.” She reached into her pocket and got out a necklace. It was on a simple small silver chain with a crested moon, spikes pointing down, and an animal tooth between the curve. Hugo couldn’t place what animal. A bear? A tiger? Either way, it was sharp. She unclasped the ends and gestured to his neck. “May I?”

Hugo had never received such a gift before. Feeling slightly honored, he answered, “Sure.”

She went up behind him and put the necklace delicately around his neck. Then he heard a click, a lock. He didn’t even have to tug on the necklace to tell that it wasn’t coming off without a fight.

“Do you have one like this already?” She asked, close to his ear and in a breathy whisper. A private question. Hugo shook his head and felt a huff of surprise on his neck. “I’m surprised you don’t already own this necklace. All you wolves are the same, keeping your bloody trophies near to you at all times. Tell me, where do you keep yours? How many bones do you have decorating your room, pretty pup?”

He couldn’t answer, could barely breathe. He knew that there were wolf hunters in other kingdoms, he had run into some a long time ago. However, this wasn’t a brutal attack like he had experienced so long ago, this was planned and calculated. A level of disgust that is less about fear and more about the need to eradicate.

He felt her gloved hand move to wrap around the back of his throat. “Answer me.”

“Excuse me?” A voice cut in beside them, causing the woman to pull her hand back and Hugo a second to breathe. The voice came from a man with brown hair in a wavy curled pattern. His suit was green with a high neck collar and gold clasps, designs, and shoulder pads. He looked kind, as kind as an Ingvarrian could be. “Are you Leila? Just wanted to let you know your commander is looking for you.”

“Grand, thank you,” she chipperly responded before turning her attention back to Hugo. “I’ll see you later, lupo assassino.”

“Pleasure,” he responded and watched her walk away.

The man who interrupted them came up to Hugo with worry in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, I just had to interrupt,” he started. “what kind of a monster does this? In public too!”

Hugo raised an eyebrow, trying to seem unbothered. “Do I wanna know what that necklace was?”

“It’s what they make werewolves wear in Neserdnia to track them. She was marking you, the asshole,” he sneered. He put his cup down on a nearby table and fiddled with the back of the necklace to no avail.

“Well isn’t that lovely to hear,” the wolf tried to joke. The stranger gave up and reappeared in front of him. “Thank you for helping.”

“Of course,” the man smiled. “It is a cruelty to insult someone as beautiful as you.”

Hugo’s cheeks flushed. No one had ever flirted with him before, especially not so blatantly. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“Well, that’s going to be a problem because I don’t particularly like being mean.”

Hugo hated to admit it but he laughed, starting into a giggle and turning into a small snort. He stopped laughing abruptly, embarrassment making his cheeks pink. The handsome stranger didn’t seem bothered though, in fact he was looking at Hugo like a precious piece of art.

“I’m Ivan,” he said, sticking his hand out in front of Hugo to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hugo,” he responded and reached out his own hand to shake.

“Hugo,” Ivan repeated the wolf’s name like it was a precious secret. Their handshake was brief because Ivan in one swift delicate move twisted Hugo’s hand and planted a kiss to his knuckles. “Tell me, what is an angel like you doing here tonight?”

“I- um,” Hugo stuttered. Moon above, Hugo never stuttered. “I’m a guard, just off duty at the moment.”

“Really?” Ivan lit up, clearly surprised but also impressed. He’d probably been expecting a noble son but Hugo was surprised to see no disappointment on his face.

“Yes, my mom works in the castle and trained me.”

“I’m about to be incredibly rude so forgive me but are you walking alone?”

‘Walking alone’. It was Ingvarrian slang for being single or showing up to an event without a date. It was an insanely bold thing to ask but Hugo found himself answering honestly and quickly. “I am.”

Ivan smiled, a pleased happy thing that made Hugo feel more desired than all the flirting combined. “Let me get you a drink, and then maybe we can talk more?”

Hugo should say no. His heart was still drawn and connected to Varian in a way he couldn’t explain except with the word love. However, it’s not reciprocated and even if it was, it’s not their decision to make. Varian will marry a highborn human with deep pockets and a nice title. Hugo was a wolf with very little money to his name and a small title he had to claw his way to. He was never meant to be Varian’s, so he might as well see where this goes. Ivan makes him feel desired, has made him laugh, doesn't mock his station, and he’s very handsome. Hugo can see himself growing fond of him.

“That would be lovely.”

 

 

Varian was closing up for the night when he got a call from Hugo. He hadn’t talked to him in a while due to them both being busy but they still texted often. Hugo never called so he was a bit nervous picking up the phone to his ear

“Hello-“

“Can I take you on a date?” Hugo interrupted over the phone speaker. “A proper one.”

To say that Varian was stunned into silence would be an understatement. The silence rang out between them until around thirty seconds later when Hugo asked, “Hello? Varian?”

“Yes, Yes!” Varian responded, seeming to come back to life at Hugo saying his name. “Absolutely!”

“Great!” Varian could hear Hugo’s smile. “What about this Friday, I’ll pick you up.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Perfect,” Hugo sighed. “I’ll see you then.”

“See you then,” Varian replied right before the line went dead.

His hands were shaking and could barely turn the key in the lock of the bakery. He eventually gave up trying and slumped into a chair.

“Holy shit.”

 

 

Varian did not want to be here, honestly, he’d rather stab himself. He didn’t really voice that to anyone but everyone could tell. He wanted them to know, maybe it’ll make all the suitors calm down and back off.

One was currently talking to him but it was going in one ear and out the other. He was blabbering on about something, clearly small talk. He was well dressed and charming with his words but he clearly wasn’t a diplomat if the lean muscles and military like alertness was any indicator. He had deep brown hair, an Ingvarrian crest on his suit jacket, and eyes that acted like they knew everything. However, Varian couldn’t care less. He just wanted the night to be over.

He was about to excuse himself, make up something about trying to find Horace, when a new person entered the room. He didn’t recognize them at first, they seemed reserved and unsure, not at all like anyone he knew with the exception of Hugo when he was exceptionally nervous.

But that’s exactly who it was. Hugo.

He looked so gorgeous and Varian was going to pass out. His shoulders were on display and the fabric of the dress hugged his waist. The mismatched stars suited him, the fabric of the skirt swaying with his steps, and- holy moon, there was a thigh slit in the skirt.

He couldn’t help himself from looking at the more revealing parts of the outfit, anyone with a working eye could see it and Hugo’s beauty in how he wore it. However, Varian also couldn’t help but see the parts that only he could really see. How the dress was clearly Donnella’s and that’s part of the reason why he was so happy to wear it. How he was nervous to get dressed out and glide into the hallway, even though he outshone everyone in the room. How soft his hair looked with two side braids going back into a loose bun. Varian wished he could card his fingers through it, to hold Hugo’s cheek gently as he kisses him, conveying to him how beautiful and precious he truly is without words.

Varian was staring, he knew he was but he couldn’t help it.

“Something caught your eye?” the suitor from before interrupted his train of thought with his question. Varian clearly didn’t respond fast enough because the suitor followed it up by asking “Someone?”

“It’s nothing,” Varian corrected.

“You know him?”

He swallowed at the question. “Just a friend.”

A pleased smile grew on the man’s face, “Delightful, friends are.” He politely clapped Varian on the back and said, “I’ll be back, I don’t want to take up all your time.” His smile grew. “All I ask is that you will remember me.”

Varian would not. He honestly couldn’t care less when Hugo was walking around with the beauty of a god.

As soon as the suitor was gone Varian immediately started heading over to Hugo. He was talking with Horace and a suitor he’d met earlier, Leila he thinks. Horace is waving his hand to the two, clearly called off somewhere else and Leila was approaching Hugo with something, Varian couldn’t see it clearly from the distance.

He was about to call out Hugo’s name when someone appeared, way too fast, in front of him.

“Hi!” She cheers and surprises Varian so much that he stumbles backwards and falls to the floor. She was short and hyper with deep black hair and skin covered in freckles. She wore a blue and white swirling dress and long delicate gloves. Her excitement leaves her for guilt as she realizes that she startled him. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I’m just so excited to meet you. The moonstone, your power is unmatched!”

She helps Varian up and she starts shaking his hand. “It’s alright,” Varian responded. “And yes I’m Varian, the moonstone.”

She lets go of his hand and bows to him. “I’m Sigrid and I’m an ambassador of Koto. I was wondering if I could borrow a bit of your time so that I could talk to you about Koto’s asteroid and how your power could help us.”

Varian didn’t really know what to say. She wasn’t asking for his hand or forcing small talk, she was asking for help. That is something he’d be more willing to do than get married for an alliance or power.

He looks up to try and see if Hugo was still there. He was but he was with someone new. Someone who was making him smile and laugh and feel seen. Varian’s blood boiled that it wasn’t him, that he wasn’t over there making Hugo smile, but he knew reality more than anything. He knew that he had no choice but to marry, marry someone who wasn’t Hugo. The best Varian could offer him was friendship and if someone else sees Hugo the same way he does? Someone to make Hugo happy in Varian’s absence? That’s all he can ask for.

“Yes, I’d love to discuss that with you. I’ve been wanting to.”

 

 

Hugo had to do it. He had to ask Varian on a date. If he said no, then Hugo’s heart would break forever but if he never asked then he would never have the possibility of getting a yes.

He pressed call on Varian’s contact and waited, holding his breath and holding the phone with a death grip. He formed his tail just so that he would have something to fiddle with. Luckily it didn’t take long for Varian to respond.

“Hello-“

“Can I take you on a date?” Hugo interrupted and he immediately internally scolded himself. “A proper one,” he tried to correct.

The other end was silent and it made anxiety creep up Hugo’s spine. That silence dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. Realistically Hugo knew it wasn’t. He’d already lived through about a thousand years of silence and yet he couldn’t handle these few seconds.  “Hello? Varian?”

“Yes, Yes!” Varian replied, quick and excited and certain. “Absolutely!”

Hugo’s tail was going a million miles an hour. “Great! What about this Friday, I’ll pick you up.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Perfect,” Hugo replied, and, moon above, he sounds so lovesick. “I’ll see you then.”

“See you then,” Varian replied and Hugo immediately hung up, scared Varian would change his mind.

He threw his phone onto his bed and started jumping around in celebration. After over a thousand years, he finally had a date with Varian.

“Holy shit!”

Notes:

This chapter is not my best work but to be fair I have been moving, starting back at university, and other stuff.
The earth kingdom (I was told the name is Neserdnia) is a mix of Ireland and Italy to me, can’t explain why but yeah. Also I’ll take any opportunity I can to slip Italian into my stories. I’m not the best at it but it’s fun to add what I do know.
As always shout out to the lovers oath discord server for being such sweet people and fueling my inspiration.
Hope y’all enjoyed!
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/okapis-anonymous

Notes:

For the lover’s oath au!!! This is only the beginning and I’m so excited!!

Title based on one of my favorite romance songs. Also piebaldism is an actually thing and I felt like it fit for modern Varian.

Hope y'all enjoyed!