Work Text:
‘This place has changed so much. This was a poor village with nothing only a few years ago. All the children studying in the capital… They now receive a good education at higher institutions…’
Javier thought as he observed a teen girl returning from school, running up to her father.
‘... and although the orcs and elves have very different dispositions… None of that matters here in Frontera.
The thought continued as he then watched an orc and an elf play a harp together.
He overheard Kougar and Emily having a conversation where Emily showed off her muscles before they partook in a race together. Behind them, they pulled stone cylinders, Emily’s much smaller than her partner’s.
“Catch me, Kougar!” Emily shouted behind her.
“Hahaha! Emily, that’s cheating, oink!” Kougar shouted back.
“Hm…” Javier hummed to himself, continuing on his walk.
‘It’s all a bit unfamiliar, so I need time to think. Everyone here is realizing their dreams, is being fed, and reaping the benefits of their work.’
Javier saw people cheering at the erection of a Lloyd statue, he saw Solitas crying out in happiness at his (poorly made) sculpture of a dragon, he saw elves eating a meal. He saw children playing and people working hard in the market stalls set up.
‘Everyone here is enjoying themselves in this bright, beautiful place. But what about you? When will you come out here?’
Javier found himself standing in front of the estate house. He hadn’t meant to wander here. Not really, anyway. A thought struck him, however, and he knew Lloyd was here as well. Probably stuffed away in the library like he always was when he needed to ‘figure things out’. Javier felt a frown tugging at his lips. He really did wish his young master would come out and see just how much he’s done for everyone. Maybe he should ask. Yes, that seems like it may be a good idea.
With that, he walked into the building and made a bee-line for the library. After some minutes of walking, he stood in front of the twin doors that barred the room from the rest of the house. He partly wondered if maybe he could offer Lloyd help - take some stress off of his shoulders. Another part of him wondered if Lloyd would be upset to see him. The heir did tell him to take a vacation until further notice. But wouldn’t that mean he was to do as he wished? Wouldn’t this be doing so? Lloyd may be his master, but he was also a friend. Would it be wrong to want to help or be around a friend? He decided that, if asked, he would reply with that very question. He opened the doors and walked in, immediately being greeting with the windows shining light on rows and rows of book cases. They were filled to the brim with books, full of the knowledge that Javier knew Lloyd craved.
Javier continued through the library, looking between each row of shelves to see if he could find his master. Finally, somewhere around the middle of the room, he saw him. His breath nearly caught in his throat at the sight. There Lloyd was, sitting with his legs sprawled out as he leaned over an open book. There were books scattered around his body, some open, some stacked on top of each other. It was messy. The light from the window shone down on him, bouncing off his clothes and casting a very… pretty, Javier decided, shadow across his features. Yes. He looked pretty. And focused. And slightly disheveled. Like he was stressing. Right. That’s why Javier was here. Not to stare and gawk. He cleared his throat, and that’s when Lloyd looked up with a jolt.
“Javier? What are you doing here? You startled me,” came the questioning voice of his young master.
“Ah, apologies, my lord. I came to see if I could be of use to you,” Javier answered, placing his hand over his chest and bowing slightly.
“I gave you until further notice off? Don’t tell me you went and lost your hearing,” Lloyd jabbed with a playful tone, though the knight could hear an edge to his voice.
“I heard you clearly, and I don’t plan to consider this working. I came here to offer help. As a friend,” he offered, straightening himself back up.
Lloyd blinked at him,“Friend, huh? Alright, fine but don’t go talking too much. I need some silence to think.”
Javier faintly smiled and walked closer to Lloyd before taking a seat next to him. He took a moment to lean over and look at what Lloyd was reading. It was a map. One of Lake Kapua and the land surrounding.
“So, what are you trying to do, my lord? You walked off with such a troubled look earlier.”
“Hm… I’m trying to find a place for the jewel of truth. If I build it in the lake, it runs the risk of flooding the estate. It must be somewhere that eliminates that risk,” Lloyd mumbled, almost too quiet that, if not for Javier’s heightened senses, he wouldn’t have heard it. He nodded, not entirely understanding how Lloyd knew it would flood, but his master had been wrong about so little that he trusted his judgment.
They stayed like that for a while. Lloyd studied the map and occasionally flipped through a few pages of a different book that, Javier assumed, had something to do with his train of thoughts while the knight sat and observed. He had offered help, but there was little he could actually say or do to act the offer out. He was content like this, however. It wasn’t common that the two were together outside of work and their nightly routine. Javier found he rather enjoyed watching the way Lloyd’s eyebrows furrowed together in concentration, or the way his thumb would tap the pages rhythmically while he was deep in thought. Javier felt like he could watch him forever. There were so many things Lloyd - Suho Kim, Javier corrected - did that were different from the original Lloyd. The way he carried himself, the way he talked and dealt with things. It was so different that, if he put aside his resentment for the original Lloyd, Javier could see himself feeling things for him. Perhaps he already did. Feel things, that is. And maybe he could get past the resentment.
Before Javier could get too much deeper in those thoughts, Lloyd slammed the book shut and went “Aha!” so loudly it made the knight nearly jump out of his skin.
“Master Lloyd?”
“I’m a genius! I can just build it downstream on the Frona River! I would just have to build a dam and that would solve the flooding problem!” Lloyd sounded so excited it was hard for Javier not to smile. “I must go there while daylight is still on my side.” Lloyd stood quickly and began to leave.
“May I follow?” Javier followed suite, brushing his jacket off of any dust from the ground.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it you’re a lost puppy without me. Just hurry up,” Lloyd teased, not slowing down the slightest bit. So there they were, power-walking through the estate house. This continued until they ran into the count and countess. The count had something draped on his arm.
“Lloyd. You’ve finally emerged from the library,” Arcos began before nodding in Javier’s direction. “Javier.” Javier nodded back.
“I know you’re busy, so I’ll get straight to the point. I have a gift I’d like you to have,” Marbella continued for her husband.
“A gift?” Lloyd glanced down at the cloth Arcos held. The count held it out to him and Lloyd took it hesitantly. “Cool, a nice jacket. Thanks!”
The count’s eyebrows creased together. “Do you not remember? You used to watch your grandfather wear that coat. You’d always wanted it for yourself.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m surprised you remembered! Thanks, again!” Lloyd smiled at his ‘parents’ before continuing on his walk. Javier’s eyes met the counts before he swiftly looked away. They both knew Lloyd had never met his grandfather. This is something Javier would need to discuss with him later. For now, he continued following the brunette with the same quickened pace as before.
They did not stop their quickened pace until they were at the lake and nearing the river. The sun gleamed across the water, turning it a rich orange. The sun kissed the tree leaves the same way it did to Lloyd’s face. The sun wasn’t quite setting now, but it had a golden glow to it that complimented the man’s features in such a way it made Javier think back to how he looked in the library. ‘Pretty’ he thought once more before he could catch himself. He glared ahead at the ground beneath him. What was wrong with him? That is the second time today that Javier had thought such a thing, and he found it quite inappropriate and embarrassing. Sure, he admired Lloyd, but to think he was beautiful of all things? Ridiculous.
“Geez, Javier, what’d the ground ever do to you? You look like you’re about to mana blast it to hell,” Lloyd spoke up, pulling Javier from his inner turmoil.
“Oh. I hadn’t realized I was. I was merely thinking about some things too deeply,” Javier replied. He hoped Lloyd wouldn’t question him further.
And to his delight, he did not. The heir simply gave him a suspicious look before shrugging and turning back to where the river meets the lake. They stood in silence while Lloyd observed the area.
“Yes, this will work. We’ll begin construction tomorrow! Thanks for the help, Javier,” Lloyd smiled, giving the knight a light tap on the shoulder.
“I didn’t do much of anything, Master Lloyd. I simply followed you around,” Javier quirked an eyebrow. Why was he thanking him for nothing?
“Ha! Yeah, but still. You were a great emotional support,” Lloyd… complimented? Javier wasn’t sure if that’s how he should take it. Nonetheless, he gave a curt nod in acknowledgment.
“Does this mean you’ll finally relax for the evening, my lord?” Javier asked, hoping the other wouldn’t take the question negatively.
“Relax? Hm… I suppose, yeah. There’s not much daylight left,” Lloyd shrugged, turning to his knight.
“Would you like to sit with me near the water? It’s rather beautiful this evening,” Javier heard himself ask before he could think about how that might sound to his lord.
Lloyd blinked at him a few times, looking back between him and the water. If he squinted, he might be able to see a light dusting of pink on Lloyd’s cheeks.
“Alright, yeah. Sure,” the heir agreed, walking over to the shoreline. Javier followed, and they both sat next to each other when they had reached it.
“Master Lloyd, there’s something I must tell you,” the knight began after a moment of silence.
“Go on.”
“It’s about the jacket… Lloyd - the original one, that is - never met his grandfather. I thought you should know this before you see the count and countess again, in case they question you about it,” Javier explained, looking over at his master. He nearly jumped at the face he was making. It was one mixed of regret and horror. It made the knight ever regret thinking this man was pretty. The ways he could contort his face was nothing less than ugly.
“What!? And you let me say what I did!? What if they suspect me now and know I’m not their son? Oh, no, this can’t be good,” Lloyd began to panic before suddenly turning serious. He grabbed the knight’s shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. “If they ask you about it, lie. Tell them I have brain damage or something. Or amnesia. Something.”
“My lord, please calm down. I will think of something if asked, do not worry. I just thought I should explain in case of any future instances of this. You’ve never met your grandfather, and that coat is the Frontera family coat. You’ve wanted it since you were small, understand?” Javier explained further.
“Got it,” Lloyd nodded, finally bringing his face back to normal. It nearly made Javier sigh in relief. “Thanks.”
“It is no problem, my lord. I have no desire to see anything happen to you or this estate. You’ve done so much, and I am… appreciative. You have become very dear to me, master Lloyd,” Javier admitted, trying his best to keep his tone even and not full of conviction. ‘And I seem to be in love with you,’ is what he did not say. He fought the frown that threatened to make it’s way to his face.
“Eugh, don’t be getting all sappy on me. It makes you sound like you like me or something,” Lloyd cringed, putting his hand up and waving it toward the knight.
‘Screw it,’ Javier thought almost bitterly. “And so what if I do?” He challenged, looking right back up at the man.
“I’d say you have terrible taste,” Lloyd stuck his tongue out. His tone was playful, “And don’t be ridiculous. You have countless suitors wanting you. Don’t joke like that.” Wow, getting anywhere emotionally with this man was stupidly difficult.
“Lloyd,” Javier gritted his teeth in annoyance, dropping all honorifics,” I like you. Do not make me repeat myself.”
Lloyd stared. He stared in silence for such a long moment, Javier did not know if it was one minute or one hour. It made the knight’s determination falter, and he began to regret confessing as he felt an urge to laugh in the man’s face and tell him it was all a joke. Then, Lloyd spoke.
“Oh.”
Lloyd paused.
“I… like you too.” the heir muttered. He broke eye contact and turned his head away, though it did little to hide the reddening of his cheeks and ears. “Wow. I never thought I’d actually tell you that.”
Javier hummed, letting a small smile break through. “My lord, if I may request. Can I kiss you?”
He heard Lloyd’s breath hitch. The man slowly turned toward the knight, his eyes wide. He nodded slowly, giving Javier permission to lean over, take Lloyd’s cheek in his hand, and lean in. Soft, pink lips met chapped, dry ones. It was such a contrast, but it sent sparks flying in the best of ways up Javier’s spine. It was a brief, shy peck, but a kiss nonetheless.
“This is not how I imagined this night would go,” Lloyd chuckled against Javier’s lips.
“Me neither, though I am simply grateful my lord feels the same way I do,” Javier replied before closing the gap once more and taking Lloyd in a longer kiss. Their bodies moved closer as the kiss deepened. Javier licked Lloyd’s bottom lip, asking for entrance, but the heir quickly pulled back, looking a little bewildered.
“No offense, Javier, but this is very new to me. I don’t want this going too fast,” Lloyd said, sounding as shy as ever.
“Of course. My apologies. I will take it slow,” Javier nodded, taking Lloyd’s hand in his and craning his neck down to plant his lips gently on the back of it. He was fine with taking things slow. He had the rest of their lives to love, and if Lloyd wished, he would wait forever to kiss him again.