Henri was near scared to death as he rolled over in bed, only to hit Octavian's chest. He leapt up. Catching any sound he might make with his hand pressed over his mouth as he looked at the snoozing man. Face smeared with ink and relaxed as he let out a shallow breath. He hadn't been in bed earlier, so it was certainly a surprise that he made it here at all.

Henri caught his breath as he looked around, it was early morning, early enough that they were undisturbed in their room, not a servant in sight trying to rally them up for the busy day ahead. It was only his surprise and nothing more.

"Goodness Vian..." He gently eased himself back into bed, whispering to himself as he tried his damnedest to keep him asleep. His husband never failed to get his heart rate running. In more ways than one of course-

"hmm..." He let out a small hum as he seemed to rise up regardless, he was the lightest sleeper, so it's no surprise that his whispering and shifting woke him anyways.

"You can go back to sleep, you just startled me, dear... But when-"

The door slammed open, and just like that did the option of perhaps dozing off for a few more minutes flew out the window.

"UP UP UP we start our partying now gentlemen!" Robin danced into the room, holding a bottle of wine over her head as she twirled in her nightgown. Waltzing over to fall over her brother as she offered the already opened wine to Henri. Which he looked at distastefully.

Octavian let out a low groan as Robin carelessly crushed him. But he still made no move to get up, or even acknowledge the fact that she was there.

"It's not even 7 yet..." Henri said, taking the bottle away from her hands to keep her from drinking it, a pout forming on her lips as she reached out to snatch it back.

"Wine is just old grapes it's fine-" She batted his hand away as he tried to reach for it again. Scowling in a manner that he could only say was far too reminiscent of her brother.

"You'll die at this rate-" Henri gave up with a huff as she brought the bottle to her lips, sliding up as Octavian finally started to stir.

"He's right," Octavian muttered groggily, actively trying to push Robin away now as she nearly toppled off the bed. "-go drink fresh juice idiot. You have to act properly today." He scolded before swiping the bottle himself. Taking a much larger drink like a true role model.

Does alcoholism run in the family? Henri couldn't help but think as he watched him down the wine like water in a desert. Robin already yelling to get it back only to get a hand in her face to keep her away as her arms swung forward to try and reach.

"Here you go-" He said finally, handing back to her an empty bottle as he shot both of their deadpanned faces a shit-eating grin. "Now we won't have a drunk princess to present, and I can probably handle seeing more people today."

"That's why you're face looks like you were dropped in a pit of tar." Robin scowled as she hugged the empty bottle to her chest. Henri stood up from his bed before Octavian could successfully pull at her hair.

"Okay enough, enough, go start getting ready Robin we'll be down for breakfast after Octavian washes up. Stop taking the wine bottles also darling we don't need two Vian's-"

"You wish you had two of me-"

"Alright alright, RiRi jeez.... Make sure my ass of a brother gets cleaned up, he looks as haggard as usual-" She was pushed out of the room with a joyful laugh. Octavian gently touching his face once Henri turned back to him.

"What's on my face?" He asked curiously, not at all remembering what Victor had done to him just before he had woken up the first time. Henri snickered before going over to place a small kiss to his smudge free lips.

"I think ink. Your hands are covered in it too... Where you up writing?" He asked lightly. Curiosity clear in his voice as to what he was up to. He figured out a lot of the activities his husband was usually up to when he fell into his bad habit of pushing down his tiredness. But he was still as unpredictable as always.

"Yes. Drawing and writing." And watching Victor break a few fingers. Just for the satisfying snap it caused.

He fell silent for a bit.

"Victor told me that there was going to be another attempt at killing me today." He thought it best to share before Henri went through the day with no clue. Saying it as casually as if he was telling his husband about how he wanted pancakes for breakfast, not the planned assassination to take his throne. Which now without his royal advisor- was ultimately to fall into Finn's hands with no further problem. He hoped.

The flame that immediately sparked in the man's bright blue eyes told him that perhaps there was a different way to tell him about this.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO KILL YOU? ARE YOU INSANE TO BRUSH THAT OFF SO CASUALLY?! YOUR SISTER'S PRESENTATION IS TODAY-" He immediately began to pop off. And it made Octavian admittingly glad that he had drunken Robin's wine before he said anything.

"Henri-"

"Don't 'Henri' me." He seethed. Already running through the hundreds of possibilities going through his head. How they could raid the castle, how they could try and take Robin hostage, or worse, oh goodness Harlow was here- "We need to cancel everything now-!"

"Henri-"

"Why in the world did this come out so suddenly this is horrid-"

"Henri-"

"aND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THE MOMENT YOU FOUND OUT-"

"HENRI"

They both fell quiet then. Octavian was an angry man, sure, but he rarely, if ever, raised his voice. Much less at the King of Pride.

"What." He grit through his teeth as he watched him finally stand. Disheveled, in the same clothes he was wearing yesterday, face smeared with ink, but his eyes steady, not at all red or tired like they tend to be. Henri couldn't help but notice it, that and the stern and sure look on his face. It almost reminded him of the first fight they had. How little he spoke during it. Just listening to everything that angered and hurt him until Octavian found out exactly what he needed to do. He always had that look when he knew what he was doing. One without a shred of doubt. It made Henri involuntarily ease his stance, as if already accepting that he knew how to fix things like he always so desperately tried to do.

"We can't cancel, we can't change a single thing. It'll throw it all off." He said quietly. Running a hand through his hair to brush it out of his face. "I already know their exact plans to do it. And we need to capture the assassins instead of alert them that we know they're there."

Henri chewed on his bottom lip as he processed this.

"How did Victor find out?"

"He broke in-" "Typical." "-shush, well, he snuck in to play with a maid and stay over, since I did invite him to the celebration. He found Royal Advisor Reignhill talking to a boy about overthrowing me before I handed over the throne. As he was... Unfortunately... next in line if accident were to occur."

"So he was planning an 'accident'?"

"He was going to lure me out of the dance hall to meet with him. As far as I knew he was first going to drug me with some wine before letting someone else do the hard work of killing me."

Henri tilted his head. "That sounds stupid. Why not poison you if he'd go through all that trouble of getting you to drink?"

"You used that crown to keep us both almost immortal... Apparently, that means I can't be poisoned, seeing as he's already tried, only for me to be mildly ill. Being brutally stabbed apparently might work out better."

"So that's it then? They wanted to kill you in private like cowards? What happened to your Advisor?" Henri scowled.

"Victor gave me his head. He wanted to take his body to someone else, Gods know what for." Octavian shrugged, clearly unfazed by the idea that he simply took it with no explanation. "Regardless, now I know what to do, and I know that you don't need to exactly involve yourself-"

"HOW AM I NOT-" Octavian was quick to stride over and push a hand over his mouth. Letting out a heavy breath as Henri bit his hand.

"I hate when you do that." The smaller man hissed as Vian finally pulled his hand off with a wince. "But how in the world do you expect me to stand by while you're in danger?"

"By making sure everyone else is safe. I can handle myself in this position. But everyone else has to stay clueless so I can figure out who the hell is trying to take over my kingdom. I can't simply hand this mess over to my son as if it's his problem and not mine."

They looked at each other in silence, and before they spoke again, Octavian pulled Henri against his chest in a warm embrace, arms tightly wrapped around him as the King of Pride did the same. Pressing his face into his shoulder as he sighed.

"Why is it always you that has to suffer through all this...? What makes it so that everything just naturally has to be against you.... And you alone?" Henri spoke quietly, his words muffled, but not sad. Mainly frustrated. Tired.

"I don't know." He muttered. Jumping lightly as the door was pushed open behind him. A trail of servants coming in with morning tea and their clothes for the day ahead. All of which quickly earned a glare from the King of Wrath. Why people never knocked in this place, he'd never know.

Henri pulled away first, letting out a little displeased huff.

"Well, if nothing's to change. You might want to go and clean yourself up. I can't be seen with a hobo-" He smirked before laughing flat out at his frown.

The hobo didn't find it too funny.

-

"You look nice."

Victor narrowed his eyes at the simple words that fell out of Octavian's lips. A compliment? From him? It was an undeniable one of course. He knew he was handsome as hell in his black suit, fitted well to his toned body, the only light colors to brighten things up a silky silver, in both his cravat and the lining of his smart tailcoat. Victor wasn't really ever a step off from his best. In the quiet hall, both men stood in, it's clear to see that he always stood out.

"Who are you and where did you put the man who tried to kill me with a letter opener?"

"Is it illegal for me to be nice to you? Or maybe you simply enjoy my scowl better?" He scoffed, The King of Wrath was dressed in his house colors, as tradition during these sorts of occasions, dark yellows and golds adorning his deep grey suit, the crown of Wrath, adorned with the priceless jewels and forged with gold from the beginnings of the Kingdom of Irae, sat crookedly at the top of his neatly trimmed hair. He looked the part for once, and he seemed quite satisfied by the fact.

"No. But I'm more comfortable with your brash and angry childishness." Victor tugged at his cheek to pull up his frown. Octavian at this point didn't feel the need to bother in pushing his hand away.

"Stop talking, you looked nicer with your mouth shut." He tugged his head away. "Noticed anything out of the ordinary as of yet?"

Victor looked about, casting his molten gaze across the empty hall before turning them back down on the other King.

"Not yet. You seem to be alright as of now. I think they were planning for more action when the day grows darker..."

"This is starting to get annoying. I'm not a fan of having to actually carry this heavy thing..." He muttered as he shifted his feet, bringing to Victor's attention a very faint cut through the air of ringing metal, concealing anything like this to arm himself is odd in its own right. He was more of a man to fight with his fist (or whatever what near him, he was a fairly good shot when it comes to throwing). Anyone who wanted to dispose of him knew better than to try and reach him unarmed themselves though, so no doubt would they bring weapons of their own.

"You're human what do you expect. They might not even send other humans to try and assassinate you. I heard they wanted to contract that elf fellow first."

"He wouldn't. He doesn't like me, but Queen Iris does... So we all know how that works." Octavian mumbled much to the other man's amusement.

"How scandalous."

"Not like that, a harmless crush she had when she was younger... Quite a few lurid letters... They stopped quite abruptly when she first let her eyes fall on Finn though." He sighed before leaning against the wall a bit abruptly, another faint metal ring sounding out that started to irritate Victor as a small strand of hair fell out of place from under his crown.

"You can never be too prepared anyways. The details we strangled out of your advisor where few and scattered. You have to be keen on every angle." Victor slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out an ornate pocket watch that he flipped open with the ease of an act done a thousand times. Raising a brow before gently clicking it shut, an action Octavian couldn't help notice the man had done with a large amount of care.

He was just about to ask him about it when Victor slipped it back into his pocket.

"You sound like my husband. But Victor-"

"As much as I find this fun, I don't think I've had enough to drink for the hour it's heading towards. Keep safe while I do my own lookout near the bar." He hummed as he turned down the hall, having cut the conversation short. He'd search for more entertainment in the meantime, he needed a pre-show before things spiraled into the main event.

"Victor!" Octavian was about to start before he was shushed by the man already halfway down the hall with his large strides, disappearing around a corner with nothing but a wave he knew the other would find pretentious.

"He's like a cat... Does whatever the bloody hell it wants." He couldn't help but mutter to himself as things fell remotely silent, he didn't want to follow him. Octavian could faintly hear the cacophony of sounds, almost like a gentle hum, of the guests flooding the dance hall as they celebrated like there wasn't a problem in the world around them. A good distraction from the destructive truth they all felt deep inside, or far behind in the backs of their minds. When was the last time he had thrown a party? He put more of his weight against the cool stone wall, drifting into thought to pull an answer out of his head. Years ago he had them held nearly every week, an excuse to get drunk out of his mind, wondering which of his few options would happen first, he'd poison himself with his thoughts and dreams, quit being a coward and put a blade to his throat, or finally be happy in his position. Back when everything he had seemed to just crumble at his touch.

With an almost sharp echo, he thought of Maxima. A woman he didn't deserve.

He felt a lot of hollow emotion then. Difficult feelings he didn't realize he hadn't thought for a long, long time. On his long list of misdeeds, she was one he couldn't forgive himself with, whether she forgave him or not. He wanted to scratch at the scar on his neck, his hand already traveling upwards to do so as he fell deeper into his thoughts. Small numbers tumbling past his lips out of habit as he stared out into something far beyond the opposite wall his eyes fell against.

It interested the man who watched him carefully. Not exactly what he expected when hearing the tales of such a ruthless human king.

His stilled as he grew closer, a safe enough distance so that he didn't notice the new, near silent presence as he wondered cluelessly. Distracted. Helpless.

He was intrigued. Truly. Almost a bit dissapointed to see him in a much more subdued state. Had he not been looking for someone, perhaps it would have been a different matter if he didn't sneak up to him like this.

Then again, when would there ever be another time to catch him alone?

"A King's King, wrapped in silk and left out of others sight. Why is that Sir Lumis?" His voice pulled him out of his trance like the crack of a whip as his chin snapped up towards the sound. Octavian reacted accordingly, the action smooth and near effortless one couldn't help but notice as his arm flung back, the sound of sharp metal cutting through the air as the polished iron made its appearance, cleverly hidden up his sleeve so that it would cleanly fall into his palm.

He felt the tip of the warm blade graze the skin of his cheek. His eyes, like pools of clear blue, followed the blade along the startled man's grip, tracing it until his eyes met the hardened ones of the King of Wrath.

"What do you want? The party isn't in the halls." He did carry authority with the deep voice he had. But he was quiet. Curt. He clearly didn't want to be heard. Any royal in his position would have guards stationed around him at all times, or at least hidden to leap out at his every call. But he clearly wasn't fond of that rule.

"No need to be so strained." He dismissed his question to gauge how he'd react. But he didn't even flinch, he was used to being disobeyed. Octavian eyed the new subject warily. He was tall, well mannered, handsome, and there was something odd about his presence that just commanded his attention. It was unsettling in his own opinion, he was sure he was something he didn't need to be around, especially not at this point in time. How he stood beside him, looking down as if he were something to play with made him a very bad distraction.

"I need an answer." He persisted, pressing the blades flat edge against his pale flesh a bit more as he only leant in to the touch.

"No you don't."

Octavian pursed his lips, he reminded him of Victor, this was fairly similar to the first time they met... though this man was clearly more subdued. More careful, calculating, he lacked the laters playfulness.

Gently he felt the man's hand take hold of his wrist, lowering the blade from his face as he took another step closer. Octavian took one back, but it didn't create much more space between him as his back met flush against the wall.

"You didn't seem to be the type to listen to me so easily." The man tsked. And it was then that he was finally greeted by the sight that he was looking for as the King's face suddenly cracked from it's stoic default. Confusion swarming his features before it was suddenly hit by anger.

"I take orders from no one." He growled as he made a move to raise his blade again when he took another step, only for the hand that held it to be pinned to the wall behind him roughly. The glinting metal falling from his grip and clattering to the ground as Octavian grit his teeth. Though his surprise didn't last long as he was quick to try an retaliate, his other hand flinging back for a similar blade to rest into his palm like before. The man couldn't help but give him points for being prepared as he watched the quick steel run close to his face.

But the man knew what to do, it was effortless how he turned the blade on the king. Pinning both of his wrists above his head as he pushed him back, feeling the metal plate hidden underneath his clothing and raising a brow as he did. He most certainly was waiting for someone if he was decked out this cautiously, but it didn't take too many clues to see that it wasn't one that might end in a friendly manner. 

Now it was his turn, and just like he had done earlier when he first startled Octavian, he pressed the sharp blade into the skin of the man's cheek. Gently triggering a scowl to form as he tried to pull his hands away from his grip.

"Don't worry, I'm not planning on being the person who this was meant for..." He used the sharp edge to trace the man's jawline. His husbands crown surely does wonders to keep him so well maintained, in his opinion, if he weren't so sour. He might be much more enticing.

Not that he hadn't piqued his interest already.

He scratched a thin line over his pulse, expecting at the very least a flinch, only to get another detestful growl.

"Let go of me you pri-"

"Shh-" He hushed him, listening to his pulse quicken as he pressed the blade harder against his skin. Fascinated by the action as his breath hitched, the skin cut just below the sharp line of his jaw. "I just wanted to see what you where like outside of your stories..."

It looked like he was done thrashing as the knife only pushed deeper into the cut, and perhaps if he didn't know any better, he would have missed the slight flinch Octavian made as he did so. The small trickle of blood began to drip as he carefully pulled the blade away, his eyes gleaming as Octavian pondered how in the world he was going to get this man off of him and with a knife in his throat.

Leaning forward, the King couldn't help but let out a surprised gasp as he lapped at the wound. His warm tongue an unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling as he began to thrash in his grip again. He was not going to be played with like this by some stranger for his twisted amusement-

"Let go of me you filthy outsider-" He watched the man lift his head before Octavian could drive his into his nose, catching his red blood on the other man's lips before he swiped it away with his tongue. Savouring the taste almost before eyeing the seething man in his grip.

"You're all red, your majesty. Are you sure you want me to let go?" He smiled deviously far to calm for the situation at hand.

Octavian might've grown a shade redder from his words, from embarrassment or anger, one couldn't really tell, though the scene was surely something to witness.

Just ask the two people standing at the opposite end, watching in complete shock

"Castinago?"

The sound of hurried footsteps behind the voice made both men turn in surprise. Octavian, as if he couldn't get anymore flustered than he already was, grew an even deeper shade of red as he found his eyes on two people he was far from wanted to see him like this. Both Victor and Henri.

He watched them both look on in shock, and now more feverently than before he tried to push the near immobile man away from him, especially as he saw the first signs of Henri beginning to fume.

"Help." He grit through clenched teeth. But it seemed to be an unnecessary effort, as the man, Castinago apparently, dropped his hands as the knife clattered to the floor. His wide blue eyes found the figure who spoke his name and that oddly gentle smile returned to it as Octavian adjusted himself, and made sure to put some distance between him and the other man.

"You know him, Victor?" He hissed as he tried to avoid Henri's glare at both men.

Victor still seemed a bit surprised as he strode forward to meet the slightly shorter man with a tilt of his head.

"Of course he does. He's why I'm here." Castinago looked up at him curiously. Waiting for a reaction as Henri pulled Octavian close to ask him what the hell he was doing behind them.

Victor took a breath. Hand rising up to pat the other man's head.

"He's my brother. Castinago Castellano." He confirmed as the pair both seemed to gleam at the fact.

Far from the reaction he got from both of the much less excited men behind them, and as they looked at eachother, you could almost hear the thought they had.

Now there's two of them...