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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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[Oz looks more pleased than he ought at Arthur's blushing. This is his charge, but more importantly now the young man he's going to vow to spend his days protecting and his nights revering. It's not as though he doesn't do that now, quietly, in his own way... but more overtly, he'll show Arthur a love he only has because Arthur exists.

Maybe he's doing too much at once, but the letters from Central have brought it all to a head for Oz, who wants this all to be over so he can call Arthur his properly again. For a few weeks, the Granvelles can claim him again, but in the end his hand is promised to Oz.

It is rather belatedly that he realizes Arthur is crying.]

I'm... don't...

[He's always just wiped Arthur's tears away when he cries, so he leans over the small table to do just that.]

[He sniffles, leaning into Oz’s touch. He feels a bit silly, just crying like this, but it’s… A feeling he’s never felt before, and he doesn’t know what else to do.

Everything feels so perfect.]

A-ah, sorry.

[Another sniff, as he gives Oz a watery smile.]

I’m just so happy.

[Why is he crying if he's happy? This makes absolutely no sense to Oz, who hasn't cried in a millennia, really. He runs a reverent thumb over Arthur's cheeks, trying to chase off the intense emotions Arthur is feeling.]

You work hard and succeed frequently. How could I be anything but proud?

[Though even when Arthur fails or stumbles, Oz adores him all the same. At first, it had been annoying, but now he sees Arthur's earnest efforts as endearing.

He thought overly much last night about all of this, his affection, their future.]

You are mine for a reason. [A pause.] For every reason.

[By now Oz should know that Arthur cries frequently and freely, though the shame he felt for his tears has long since faded. It had been so... Embarrassing, for a while, crying in front of someone as reserved as Oz.

Now he's more sure then ever Oz won't judge him, won't hold his emotions against him, even as he just ends up feeling more and more overwhelmed. It all still feels like a fairy tale.]

I'm yours.

[Even if they're not wed yet, Arthur knows he has always belonged to Oz. Saying it makes him feel so giddy, though, and he places a hand on top of Oz's to keep it there. Touches from Oz have always been something Arthur's cherished, and he doesn't want him to pull away just yet.]

And... And soon everyone is going to know that. It's really exciting, isn't it?

[Oz, in his usual way, has to think for a moment. Arthur's hand on his is warm and still to this day feels small, though they aren't so different anymore. Arthur's freely given emotion and soulful eyes make Oz feel like the world doesn't exist other than them, though in Oz's castle it's ever so easy to forget that even on a regular day.

Everyone... Everyone knowing Oz's private affairs like this... It doesn't bother him from a privacy standpoint, considering various things, but from the perspective of one who wants to keep Arthur to himself, it's kind of awful to think their shared life will be the talk of the world.

Yet... it's worth it, if he keeps Arthur. The tiniest of chagrined smiles tugs at the corners of his mouth, but fades as quickly as it is suggested.]

It is. [His hand flattens, curves against Arthur's cheek.] It will be everything you're dreaming of. I'll see to that.

[Arthur doesn’t even consider that Oz wouldn’t want to share him - wouldn’t even consider such a thing as sharing, really. The thought of everyone knowing delights and excites him. He wants everyone to know, wants to flaunt Oz to the world, wants everyone to see him and have them know that he’s who Oz loves, who Oz is going to spend the rest of his very long life with.

It just makes him so unspeakably happy.

His smile goes soft, though he’s still a bit teary.]

I know. You’ve always made things so perfect.

[He loves Oz so much. How could he have possibly gotten so lucky?]

[After a moment's hesitation, Oz withdraws his hand and looks down at the pancakes, as though they'll hold answers to a dozen unasked questions. He is... happy. He, Oz, is happy when Arthur is by his side. These last several years have been a dream he never wants to wake from, their bond morphing from cautious and tenuous to this, strong, abiding, true. Oz has never looked at anyone the way he looks at Arthur, and the idea of being with him for years, decades, centuries, is so appealing that it's almost overwhelming.

His eyes stray back to Arthur's, and he looks at him resolutely.]

You deserve everything.

[Happiness, safety, power, Oz.

Rising from his seat, he moves the few steps to stand beside Arthur. Then, wordlessly, he leans down and kisses the younger wizard on his forehead. His fingers flex almost nervously into a fist, then relax as he raises that hand and glides it through Arthur's hair.]

You... [His voice fades.] ...you are the reason I am who I am now. You changed me. I won't forget that. If anything is perfect, it's because all I want is for you to smile.

[Arthur isn’t quite sure he deserves everything, but he’ll take what Oz will give him gladly and without protest. Every word, touch, or gift from Oz is wonderful even if he always finds himself craving more and more.

There’s anticipation as he looks up at Oz once he crosses to him, his heart skipping a beat as he looks up at the older wizard. For a brief moment he thinks Oz is going to kiss him - like honestly kiss him - but then lips brush his forehead and he feels almost… Disappointed.

It’s fine, he tells himself. They’ll hopefully kiss at the ceremony. Arthur could live a life without kissing, he thinks, and it’s not like he has any experience with it anyways! But…]

Oz…

[Having Oz say these things, it’s a new feeling, and he feels overwhelmed all over again.]

I’ll do my best to make you smile, too! I want to make you as happy as you make me.

[Oz wonders if he'll have to get used to expressing emotions. Not just having them and dismissing them. Arthur wants him to be happy, so even though he's happy now, even though he's been happy... he supposes he'll have to actually come out and say it.

Arthur needs to eat. Arthur needs to do things as he's always instructed to do things daily throughout the castle, to practice, to learn, to study. Those wide, gentle, bright eyes make Oz's own heart skip a beat.

He does his best to smile, because that's what Arthur wants. And the blip in his monumental life that something like love or a wedding should be suddenly looms large and imposing. Because Arthur is a wizard, they'll have time. Arthur will grow and become stronger, he'll come into his own even more than he has already. He'll be a partner worth having on every level, and not just on the selfish ones Oz is considering in this moment.

His other hand, uncertain and almost trembling, comes up to rest along Arthur's jaw. With this hand, he eases Arthur's face to tilt upward, and the fingers in his silver-white hair curve adoringly.]

I have never been happier.

[He leans down slightly more, and his lips brush hesitantly over Arthur's.]

[Oz smiling is - well. It's awkward, painfully obvious how unused the man is to expressing himself, but to Arthur? It's absolutely radiant. It fills his heart with so much joy and makes him feel just a little less selfish for asking for it. He doesn't doubt Oz's happiness, and he feels he can generally intuit what the man is feeling, but...

It satisfies the small part of him that never left, that always wondered what the older wizard was thinking.

He blinks once, twice, at the hand on his jaw, tilting his face upwards. He's sure by now his blush just might be permanent, red staining his cheeks until the day he turns to stone. The kiss is chaste and hesitant, but Arthur still lets out a gasp in surprise. He's inexperienced - which Oz surely knows - but he's certainly enthusiastic as he presses into the kiss, reaching up and gripping at Oz's sleeve.]

[Oz pulls back a fraction at the gasp, wondering if he's done something wrong, but as Arthur chases back into the kiss, he throws caution to the wind. They'll be wed soon enough, and Arthur has been his for long enough now that he doesn't doubt they'll be together for a long, long time.

So he kisses Arthur, slowly, gently, uncertain and inexperienced. Maybe there was a time when he might've ventured more, but Arthur is too precious to stain with all of Oz's baggage. So this is soft, sweet in its own way, even coming from a wizard who would never presume to call a damn thing he does "sweet" in any way. This isn't the way he once kissed Figaro, and he doubts he will ever kiss anyone like this again. He doesn't want to, after all. For someone who puts little stock in permanence of bonds, he feels himself dangerously putting far too much faith and dare he say hope in this one.

He stays bent over like that, kissing Arthur much more kindly than the wrenching sensation in his heart and gut want him to, for what seems to him like forever. It's probably only a minute, maybe two at most, but it is such a monumental step for Oz that he feels fairly frozen in time for a while. When he pulls back, it's only a few inches, only enough to look down at Arthur so he can memorize whatever expression is on his face.]

[Oz pulls back after what feels like an eternity, and Arthur looks up at him adoringly, wonder on his face and cheeks flushed. The truly wondrous thing is that this is just the beginning - he has so many years with Oz ahead of him, which means so many more kisses and hugs and touches.

Touches like… Ah.

He looks away from Oz for a moment, clearing his throat, before he turns his gaze back and pushes out of his seat. He wraps his arms around Oz’s neck, so he can hold him close and ignore the thoughts that make his ears burn.]

Oz…

[He toys with a strand of hair, focusing on that and not the jumble of thoughts in his head.]

That was perfect.

[Of course, time will tell if Oz ever touches Arthur like that, and for now his thoughts are so impossibly gentle that it's far removed from his mind. He reads the blushing--and only barely--as embarrassment at the kiss, and wonders for a moment if Arthur really is completely innocent even after being around Oz's odd "family".

He wants to remember that soft, adoring look forever. He never wants to forget how Arthur's kindness radiates, how it's saved Oz from himself and the ravages of cynicism and time. As those arms finally go around him, Oz's mind slides back from his reverie, and he envelops dear Arthur in his arms in turn.

Though... what an odd thing to say... he was being impulsive and it was... perfect? Maybe he should be impulsive more often about happier things, rather than only acting quickly in anger.]

...I've never wanted anyone else.

[The truth, softly but firmly spoken.]

I'm happy that you want to be with me. [He would do anything to keep him. And perhaps more to keep his own horrible tendencies away from Arthur's blinding, brilliant light.]

[He can only hope, not that he’ll ever say as much out loud. It would be far too embarrassing, and he’s sure it’s just teenaged hormones running away with the excitement of their upcoming wedding.

It’s not something to dwell on, anyways, as Oz embraces him and he’s able to just bask in the warmth of him. He wonders if he’ll be able to get away with staying at Oz’s side for the rest of the day. He knows Oz still has letters to send and surely other things to do for the day… But nothing that he can’t do without Arthur around, he hopes.

Oz probably wouldn’t be surprised by him being clingy, anyways.]

Of course I want to be with you.

[Being told Oz has never wanted anyone else… It makes his heart swell, and he feels so bubbly and light. He’s not sure if there’s anything that could compare to this feeling…

But they have a long, long future together.]

You’ve always been so wonderful to me, why would I ever want to leave you?

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