Work Text:
Silky.
Elanuelo’s hand brushed over the new bedsheet. It had the same colour as his husband’s red strands of hair. It felt just as soft too. A familiar texture.
Then the emperor’s eyes gazed upon said husband, who was staring back at him with a little smile. His annoying little smile. It has become way more confident ever since they got married.
“What… are you doing?”, Turkey asked.
“Nothing. Just like the colour of this sheet.”
“I see?...”
Finally, Elanuelo climbed into their bed, placing himself next to Turkey. The duke immediately took him into his arms and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. Just as always.
This has pretty much been their nightly routine ever since they got married. Come back from work, get ready for bed together, cuddle and talk with each other until they fall asleep. Just the two of them, hidden in the castle of the Aculon Empire with nobody to bother them.
It was like a sweet little reward after a long day of work. The emperor let out a small, satisfied groan, burying his head into the crook of Turkey’s neck.
“Mhmm. You’re clingier than usual.” His hand moved up to brush through Elan’s hair – fuck, all of his movements were so sickingly tender. Elanuelo would’ve never thought that he’d ever be okay with acting this vulnerable around someone else, yet… here he was. How embarrassing.
Their legs were intertwined, both men taking slow breaths, enjoying the silence. Then, as always, Turkey cleared his voice to ask the question. “So… how was your day, love?”
Elan buried his head even deeper into the other's body, hoping Turkey wouldn’t see the red flush slowly appearing on his face. He’ll never get used to those stupid pet names. My Love, My Darling, My sweetheart... They were embarrassing and he hated them! They totally didn’t make him feel flattered. Or like a teenager falling inlove for the first time.
“My day was stupid.” he grumbled.
The other only laughed in response.
"What? Did something horrible happen again, like something slightly not going the way you wanted it to?”
“Urgh, don’t get me started.”
And so they talked, laughed and bickered. Just like always – just like they’ve been doing for years.
Elanuelo wasn’t very talkative unless it was just him and Turkey. Even then he’d be more prone to take the role of the listener, patiently listening to Turkey going on his third tangent. But his husband’s habit of constant yapping had undeniably, and unfortunately, encouraged him to talk more. More than he used to, at least.
Ever since he was a kid, the emperor was always said to be a quiet man. At first it was just taught “politeness” – to shut up and let his elders speak first, "respect" and whatever – then it became a genuine disinterest in human interaction.
Who wants to have people around at all times anyway? No one, 'cause it’s annoying and exhausting to deal with.
Elanuelo paused. He took a closer look at Turkey.
Okay, fine, maybe he understood where “normal” people were coming from.
His hands carefully brushed through his husband’s blond hair. It was annoying how beautiful he was. Stupid, stupid Turkey.
“But from what I know, Ender couldn’t– mghm!”
Elanuelo couldn’t stop himself from grabbing his face and placing a kiss on his lips. Turkey kissed back of course, slowly pushing him against the bed as they deepened the kiss. How nice. Just a few years ago the same man would've stuttered a bunch of incomprehensive words instead, something about this being wrong and unprofessional.
Luckily that isn’t the case when you’re already married. Now kissing is something they do every day! The emperor always gets what he wants.
Elanuelo shifted his focus back to the man on top of him. He liked how desperate he looked whenever they were kissing. His pleading eyes, tender yet confident movements, soft words and sounds that would slip out of his mouth…No wonder why he was so loved by their citizens. Popular with the people of other islands, even.
How lucky Elanuelo was to call him his.
To be fair, anyone else who would’ve dared to claim his husband as theirs would’ve instantly faced execution anyway.
Turkey kissed him again, and Elanuelo kissed back. He grabbed his hands, trying to get a hold of them when their foreheads bumped together. “Oops…” The emperor opened his eyes again as the other turned his head away. He heard an embarrassed chuckle escape from Turkey’s lips, but it didn’t make the experience any less enjoyable.
Elanuelo’s lips curved into a mischievous smile before he nuzzled his nose into Turkey’s warm cheek. He let go of his hand, now cupping the other side of his face instead. What a stupid man. Why did he even fall in love with him? Stupid, stupid Turkey! So incredibly attractive for what? No need for him to have all of that charm. Yes, Elanuelo hated how deeply he fell for that man.
He hid his feelings for him well. Even their own children, let alone the citizens of The Aculon Empire, couldn’t fully grasp why they were together. But hey, the fact that they did love each other enough to have three beautiful children should say enough, doesn’t it? Even if Elanuelo doesn’t spend a lot of time with them… Hm.
Maybe he was a little bit too good at hiding everything. Elanuelo always made sure everyone knew he preferred to be alone. It was to protect himself from others and himself, or something like that. Absence has become a habit for him. Turkey was most definitely the better parent.
The emperor let himself sink back into their pillows. Turkey paused, tilting his head in confusion. “Everything okay?”, he asked. Elanuelo took a deep breath before quickly wrapping his arms around his husband’s neck forcefully pulling his head onto his chest. The other let out a helpless little yelp.
“Mmm. I’m thinking.”
Turkey looked up, his eyes reflecting curiosity.
“Thinking about what?”
“A lot.”
“You do spend a lot of your time thinking.”
Elanuelo finally looked back at him, shooting a glare at him. “What does that mean?”
“Um…” Turkey gave him an awkward smile.
“That… you’re smart?”
Elanuelo’s gaze slowly softened, biting his lip and hoping that a laugh wouldn't escape his mouth. “Hm, then I guess I will let that slide.”’, he muttered. Turkey laughed, his hands moving back on Elanuelo’s body to caress his waist. He liked touching that part of Elan’s body a lot, always grabbing him by the waist whenever the opportunity was given. Elanuelo didn’t try to stop him. Why would he? He liked being touched by Turkey. And by that he meant Turkey only.
The emperor sighed, his hand going through Turkey’s blond hair again. He was slightly upset when Turkey decided to cut it a few months ago. It wasn’t short, but nowhere as long as Elanuelo's hair. Still, it was pretty to look at either way. Everything about the duke was pretty to look at, unfortunately.
Another sigh. “I’m kinda tired.”
“Me too.” The other nodded, looking up at him again.
“Good night, darling?”
“Good night, Turkey.”
“I love you.”
“Uh huh.”
Turkey’s head went up. Suddenly he grabbed Elanuelo’s face, planting three quick kisses on his lips. “Say it back~”, he chirped. Elan yelped in protest, but as always when it came to Turkey, he caved in eventually.
“I love– stop! I love you too.”, he grumbled.
Turkey smiled. “I know. Sleep well.”
What a stupid man.