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[Arthur is young, when his grim-faced father tells him he’s going to get married to a man he doesn’t know. His mother watches on dispassionately as he explains they’re sending him away, to get to know the man - the wizard - before their wedding when Arthur turns 18. Arthur is too young to know what that means for him, and readily agrees.

Not that had a choice.

He leaves before the whispers start, the rumors fueled by his brother and mother, that there’s a hope this cruel, Northern wizard will kill him because Arthur is a wizard, too.

But Oz does not kill Arthur. He doesn’t really think to consider how the man feels about his young fiancé being dropped on him, but… Arthur likes to think he enjoys his company. Arthur certainly enjoys Oz’s, and he only grows more and more fond of the wizard as he gets older. The man raised him, taught him everything he knows about magic, and has done so much for him… He thinks fondly of mornings with Oz cooking pancakes, or evenings on the balcony, looking out at the aurora. Being married to be Oz… Will be nice, he thinks. He’s excited to see how their relationship will change, and now it’s only months away…

He enters Oz’s study, carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups on saucers. There’s a fond smile on his face as he sets the tray down and busies himself with pouring the both of them tea. He’s still looking down when he speaks, feeling uncharacteristically shy.]

Are you looking forward to our trip to Central?

[It was a given that that was where their wedding will be held. Arthur is excited to see his family again, after years away, but… He’s mostly excited to be tied to Oz even more deeply.]

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[He wants to tilt his head up for a proper kiss, but… The wait will be worth it. More than worth it.

Reluctantly, he pulls away, as much as he wants to linger… He needs to get that list written.

He gives Oz one last smile.]

I’ll be back later with the list. For now… Good night, Sir Oz.

[He pauses to pick up the tray with the tea kettle on it, and drifts out. He goes straight to his room, and wastes no time in writing up a list of names. It’s… A short list, admittedly, but he returns back to the study with it nonetheless, barging back in.]

[When he barges back into the study, he'll find Oz's head on his writing table, resting on the back of his hand near a pen. He's fallen asleep after penning the strongly worded requests to Central, having exhausted the last of his social skills for the evening. As far as he knew, Arthur wasn't going to come back in here, so it was fine to rest his head for a moment...]

[He stops as soon as he sees Oz asleep, laughing softly to himself. He crosses the room, gently setting the list down on the desk, before placing a hand on Oz’s shoulder.]

Sir Oz.

[This wouldn’t be the first time he’s found Oz asleep outside of his room - and he doubts it’ll be the last. Hopefully he won’t be too cross over being woken up.

He shakes his shoulder gently, hoping that’ll be enough.]

[Though he sits up quickly, there's a moment of grogginess from Oz. He blinks blearily at Arthur, then furrows his brow at being seen in such a vulnerable state. Then again, no one else is here, and no one else could get in.]

Arthur.

You fell asleep.

[Obviously. He smiles softly, leaning in to press a kiss to his hair.]

You should get some real rest - we’re only going to get busier from here.

[Oz looks something like embarrassed for a moment, and he really wants to deny that he was asleep... But.]

Then you should, as well.

[He stands smoothly, but with presence. (Actually, it's because he's tired....)

And then he offers a hand to Arthur.]

[Ah? Ahhh??

His smile goes a little confused.]

I can head back to my room on my own!

[Arthur you stupid fucking moron--]

[Arthur. Arthur please.

Well. Oz is Oz. He won't argue with Arthur. Even if that's not what he meant. If he doesn't have strong feelings about it, he won't push it.

If Arthur wants to sleep alone, that's fine. He seems so excited about the wedding that Oz thought... Well... Never mind.

Oz lowers his hand.]

Very well.

[Arthur is very bright! But there are some things he just doesn’t pick up on.

Still, he’s not going to leave without one more embrace. He steps forward, wrapping his arms around Oz and stretching up to press a kiss to his cheek.]

I’ll see you in the morning, okay?

[Oz wraps his arms around Arthur, and for once the embrace lingers. He doesn't let Arthur go until a few seconds after he's said that.

Then he runs his fingers through Arthur's hair and presses a kiss to his forehead.]

In the morning. I'll send the letter tomorrow.

[All of these little touches and kisses… They make Arthur feel so happy, and he wants to cherish them for as long as he can.]

Okay. Thank you.

[…]

I love you.

[And he’s going to turn bright red, saying that again.]

[A pause.]

...

[Oz brushes past Arthur, patting him gently on the head as he does so. He loves this young wizard with everything he is, but saying it feels like such vulnerability. The conflict it creates in him this time causes a clap of thunder outside.

When he responds, it is only as he's in the doorway, back turned to Arthur, and as quietly as his booming voice can manage.]

...I love you, Arthur. [Louder:] Good night.

[He watches him go, heart clenching for a moment. He thinks Oz says something, but he can’t catch what it is.

So it must not be important.

He’s not upset at Oz not saying he loves him in return. Perhaps Oz loves him, perhaps he doesn’t. It doesn’t matter, because Arthur will love him all the same.

Oz leaves, and Arthur follows after him, heading towards his room. When morning comes, he’s up bright and early as he always is. His first stop is the kitchen for breakfast, and to see if Oz is there.]

[Oz heads to his room, mentally kicking himself for not saying it louder.

So the next morning, he decides to make it up to Arthur by rising early and making the one thing he's gotten better at cooking over the years: pancakes. Arthur should arrive to find a small stack of lumpy, oddly-shaped pancakes that have a weird indent at the top. The little stack has wild winter berries atop and alongside it, with a little dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of honey to finish it off.

Was he trying to make them heart-shaped? Well. He tried. He failed, but he tried.]

[Well, he's never seen pancakes that look quite like that before. The shape is quite strange, but he's touched nonetheless. Even if they look strange, they'll certainly take delicious!

(He's far too enamored with this man.)]

I wasn't expecting you to be up so early! I would have tried to come help, if I knew...

[He likes spending time with Oz for most things, but seeing the man as he tries to master something he never has before... Those moments are extra special.]

I didn't need help.

[Wait. He meant to say "these are for you" but the wrong words... happened... Can he just say it now?]

...I made them for you.

[Okay, close enough. Is Arthur going to get that they're hearts? Probably not, huh...]

[Arthur seems to perk up at that, as if he could possibly get even more excited about pancakes.]

They look absolutely wonderful, Master Oz!

[He absolutely does not register that they're shaped like hearts. They do look kind of funny, and it's such a consistent but wonky shape that he's curious...]

Is there a reason they're such an odd shape today?

Yes.

[Does Arthur know he's watching Oz slowly die inside...

At least they're cooked well. They're just shaped funny.]

Oh…

[He absolutely does not know.]

I’m sorry, I’m not sure what shape this is supposed to be.

[Oz stares down at the pancakes for several seconds, as the last one in the pan starts to overcook.

He stares and stares, and finally scrapes the half-browned final pancake out to put on his own plate.

Then he looks to Arthur.]

...They're hearts.

[…

He looks down at the pancakes again. If he squints and tilts his head, he can see the hearts…

It’s still enough to stain his cheeks red. It’s a romantic gesture he would have never expected, and he’s more overwhelmed than he expected to ever feel before the wedding.]

They’re wonderful.

[He’s almost afraid to start eating…]

[In the brief silence, Oz is absolutely ready to incinerate them all so Arthur doesn't have to look at this total failure. But then he says they're wonderful, and Oz even manages to feel a little flutter in his chest.

Taking the plates over to the table, he sets them down beside two mugs of fresh hot chocolate.]

...you were worried I didn't love you.

N-no!

[He says far too quickly, and not at all convincingly. He drifts after Oz, before the weight of the lie gets to be too heavy.

Which doesn't take very long, admittedly.]

I know you have a fondness for me, but I wasn't... Expecting reciprocation.

If I didn't reciprocate it, I wouldn't marry you.

[He looks at the pancakes, his ugly little failures of a gesture, and thinks for a long moment.]

If I didn't love you, I would have killed you and eaten your mana stone already.

[It's a strange way of saying things, but Oz feels oddly like coming clean this morning. They have only a few short weeks to get the castle in order and solidify any plans. He can't waste any time no matter how hard it is to admit such things.]

Last night...

W-well, the marriage is more political in... Nature...

[He trails off, blinking at Oz for a moment. It... Goes against everything he's come to believe about Oz, how he could just coldly state that he would have just taken his mana stone.

...

He knows that Oz cares, though, that it's his way of saying that he cares deeply for Arthur and wants what's best for him.]

What about last night?

[Just move on past this whole mana stone thing.]

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