Coronation

[featheredflames]

It is all far too much attention for Joshua's liking.

He knew this was how it would be, that there would be a certain amount of fussing the be expected...but this was beyond the scope of acceptable fussing surely. So much unnecessary commotion over a fitting of ceremonial robes that he wouldn't wear more than a handful of times at that... Would it not be better to spend time focusing on the clothing he would be draped in when he finally dawned his father's mantle? The day-to-day wear that he would need to sport as Archduke of Rosaria.

That would come later, in time, he had been reassured. This outfit would get at least a few days of wear out of it. The ceremony was to last more than a singular evening, festivities dragging on for nearly a week after the event of the coronation itself. Already Joshua feels weary at the thought. Fancy suppers and meeting with dignitaries were in his future but right now his present reality was a miserable one. Fabric is cinched around his waist as measurements are taken and pins are adjusted. He feels like a doll as he's fitted, made to stand for bells on end. Founder he could only hope that some semblance of reprieve would find him soon, hopefully before his knees gave out...

Swallowing he stares out the window, doing his best not to move as the tailors do their work as quickly as they can. It would be unfair if he told them to stop - they were only doing as they had been instructed to, to rework and refit the robes his father wore on his crowning day. Joshua cannot help but think they don't suit him - Clive would wear (and fit!) them far better than he. Yet it was tradition...and while he may be able to escape the tailors ere long, there was no escaping protocol and the duty that loomed over him.

Comments

[flamebrand]

And oh, what a shame that Joshua hides his beautiful face as he unravels so perfectly for Clive, coaxed by hands and friction. It's the only thing keeping Clive from coming himself, overwhelmed by the knowledge that he's made his precious brother orgasm― he twitches between Joshua's thighs, but keeps himself from spilling over until the warm body under him slowly eases itself of tension.

An encouraging hum, and he slowly untangles himself from Joshua to see how his brother's flush roses his cheeks, and how his lips part to pant out his pleasure.

"I bade you come for me. And you did it so well." Praising, adoring. Clive kisses his affirmation against the corner of Joshua's mouth, then carefully repositions their bodies so that they're chest to chest again, with Joshua tucked loosely against him while Clive pumps his erection with the slick of his brother's spend.

"My perfect, pretty bird. I want to kiss you while I come. Can you do that for me?"

[featheredflames]

His brother is so kind.

Teasing, sure, but beneath that is a kindness no others have ever shown him. Scooped up into Clive's arms he is praised and cuddled, secure and warm. The heat has still not left his face, nor has the rest of him cooled as he meets Clive's gaze and nods with a hum of agreement.

How can he praise him so? Perfect, pretty bird. If it were anyone else he would be insulted, but from Clive's lips? He wants to hear more.

Clive wants to kiss and Joshua is eager to oblige him, pressing their lips together as he sets a hand against his brother's cheek. The soft, wet sounds of kissing fill the room, along with airy soft exhales as he groans into Clive's mouth. He need not ask twice - whatever Clive wants from Joshua he will give it to him without protest.

[flamebrand]

He could spend all night praising Joshua, but... ah, his mouth is busy. It's the most thrilling sensation in the world, to be trading breaths like this with Joshua, with his brother, with the young man he loves with the entirety of his existence― it's an intoxicating thing, to be so close and to be permitted such heart-seizing intimacy.

They kiss, and his hand moves faster, and though he could draw this out for longer, Clive decides not to. Joshua came apart so prettily for him, and so he should give his brother the same grace, the same reassurance that Clive also can't last when Joshua is involved.

So, a soft whine against Joshua's lips, and Clive lets himself fall over his edge. A low, husky groan, as he dirties his palm with spend. It's intense in all the right ways, so different from the times he'd clinically taken care of himself in the past.

It takes a while for his brain to come back to earth, but when it does, he parts their mouths to murmur more soft compliments.

"...Your kiss is all it takes to undo me." Another brief peck, his lips curved in a half-smile.

[featheredflames]

Just his kiss...

"You flatter me." Even if Clive speaks true, his brother is ever so terrible at lying, it does not mean he is immune to flustering. To see his brother smile so contentedly and to know it is is doing to have Clive seem so calmed and happy...

Joshua's heart feels as if it may burst in his chest if they continue on in such a fashion.

"I love you, brother...I will love no other as much as I love you."

[flamebrand]

A surreptitious wipe of his hand against linen (he'll clean the sheets in the morning; he can't quite trust any of their maids to do this particular task for him), and Clive has Joshua back in his arms again, cuddled and shielded.

"And I, you. From the moment you were born."

He met Joshua, and his world changed. It's the one thing that will always keep Clive firmly in the light despite the worst of his hardships.

Stroking Joshua's hair, he hums and appends: "...Before that, even. From the moment Father trusted me to name you, I loved you."

Had Elwin ever spoken to Joshua about that? He doubts Anabella would have, given all the ways in which she'd tried to keep Clive from being in Joshua's periphery.

[featheredflames]

"...You named me?"

His eyes widen at the sudden, new knowledge that winds him the way falling from a chocobo would. He had never known...all these years and his name had been a gift from Clive? His brother had named him?

His heart begins to race before he pushes his face right into Clive's chest, tucking his head under his chin. He's overwhelmed.

"Oh Clive..."

[flamebrand]

Ah, so Elwin hadn't said anything about it. It makes something in Clive's chest ache a bit, knowing that his love for his brother had always been something to tiptoe around.

It doesn't matter now, he supposes. Joshua will always know how much he means to Clive, and Clive will make sure of that.

"You're beloved to me, in name and soul." He smooths his touch down Joshua's back, soothing him the way he'd used to when Joshua would cling to his front after a particularly bad fit. "It's a privilege, you know. To call your name."

[featheredflames]

"And it is a privilege to be called by the one I love most."

If there was one thing Joshua would never doubt it would be this, his brother's love and adoration for him. Now, blessedly, he could experience that love even deeper than before. How lucky he truly was. He smiles against his chest, pressing his lips there in a tender display.

"I hope to hear called countless times on the night of my coronation."

[flamebrand]

A blink, as he drinks in the rather raunchy implications of Joshua's latter statement, and Clive laughs.

"You needn't wait until your coronation for that."

He can call Joshua's name as many times as his brother would like, from now until then. Smiling, Clive demonstrates by dipping his head by Joshua's ear and murmuring his name, over and over as he touches along his brother's back, his waist.

"Joshua. ...Joshua."

His sweet boy. Clive thinks that Joshua has no earthly idea how much he really is coveted.

[featheredflames]

He may not know the full extent of his brother's obsession with him, but he knows well enough how much he cares and cherishes him. The low grumble of his brother's voice is warm and threatens to reignite that very same flame that had excited him in the first place.

"Clive...you are a menace..."

[flamebrand]

"I've deprived you for long enough."

If, in fact, Joshua had wanted him for longer than this day, that is. His heart still flutters at the thought of it, that his brother had yearned for him in the same way that Clive had yearned for Joshua for years now.

"Is it wrong of me to want to give back?"

[featheredflames]

He has deprived him, but not on purpose. How were either of them to know that the other truly felt the same way? That their familial love could be breached and far deeper? He huffs out a laugh, unable to help the smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth.

"No, I see nothing wrong with it...so long as you allow me to do the same in return. I wish to share with you all of me, Clive."

He may be the heir and the soon-to-be leader of their homeland, but that didn't mean Clive wasn't going to be right beside him through it all, with same amount of say if he had any say in the matter.

[flamebrand]

All of him. A pretty idea, though Clive knows that realistically, he'll have to share Joshua with the rest of Rosaria: their people need an Archduke, and Clive well and truly does believe his brother to be the most capable young man for the job.

In the privacy of their shared space, though, he can try to believe this little fantasy they share. Can try to fulfill it as best as he can, even. A small smile, and he lands another kiss (the millionth of the night, perhaps) against Joshua's forehead.

"You'll make a greedy man of me yet." Clive doesn't want for much, but Joshua is the exception to his rule. "And likewise－ whatever you want of me, you need only ask."

He takes one of his brother's hands and places it loosely against his chest, over his heartbeat.

[featheredflames]

Palm to chest Joshua can feel his own heartbeat settle into a contented thrum. It's all too easy to fall victim to the fantasy that his chambers provides them both. Here, hidden in the privacy of his room, they can pretend there is no one else. That their lives can be for one another and they have a say in their futures.

"I have all I could ever ask for...the best big brother in all of the Twins."

Which is the truth and not up for debate.

"You are allowed to be greedy with me. Always."

[flamebrand]

He could certainly debate 'best'－ most older brothers have never nearly killed their younger sibling, not to mention never have lurid fantasies about fucking them into the mattress－ but he won't push the point. If Joshua believes that to be true, who is he to take that belief away? Clive will hold to it, and do his utmost to live up to that distinction.

He rolls both of their bodies, him on his back and Joshua splayed comfortably against his chest.

"Then, brother... will you permit me to indulge in you for a while longer?"

[featheredflames]

"You need not ask permission, not now."

Even if he knows Clive always will - it's just the type of person he is. Nestled comfortably against his brother's chest, Joshua is all too happy to indulge any request he might make.

"If you indulge in me I am indulging in you in turn...how could I possibly say no to that?"

[flamebrand]

"Then..."

A low sound from the back of his throat, considering. After he lets that syllable hang, Clive rakes his hand along the small of his brother's back, touching with a bit more intent.

"...I'd like to prepare you for when we renew our vows."

Tracing Joshua's tailbone with his index, drawing small circles on his skin.

"I wouldn't dare risk hurting you on the night of."

[featheredflames]

"Ah..."

What a proposition to make. Clive isn't wrong - what he is offering is something that will have to happen regardless...but to suddenly be presented with the option right now?

Well, so long as it is Clive's fingers that stretch him and not his cock...

"I think that is a very wise idea."

[flamebrand]

Much like 'best', 'wise' isn't the word Clive would use to describe wanting to make Joshua melt, but again－ what Joshua says, goes.

A mild huff, affectionately amused, and he cranes his head to kiss against his brother's ear.

"Have you any oil?" His fingers travel downwards, then slip carefully between Joshua's lithe legs.

[featheredflames]

He shudders involuntarily as he feels Clive's hand back between his legs, the question that follows has his cheeks flaring hot once more.

Did he have oil?

"In the drawer of the nightstand...there is a small vial of oil."

Should he move to get it? He should, right?

[flamebrand]

"Will you fetch it for me?"

Answering Joshua's question for him, without Joshua having to ask. It's obvious that Clive means to utterly spoil his brother for the night, and he pitches his voice low and sweet, for Joshua's ears only.

"After you do, I won't make you move off of me again."

[featheredflames]

"Of course."

Clive need not ask twice and Joshua is quick to pry himself from his brother, hobbling over to his nightstand to root through it. Out comes a little glass vial of rosehip oil which he grips, fingers trembling as he clambers back onto his bed.

Gingerly he presses it into Clive's palm, swallowing the lump of embarrassment that's begun to form in his throat.

"Here...there is still some left."

[flamebrand]

Spying those trembling fingers, Clive takes Joshua's hand as he's handed the oil and presses his lips to the rise and fall of his brother's knuckles, intending to soothe the nerves out of him. It's sweet, in a way, that Joshua is so nervous when he'd suggested something so audacious moments before－ Clive will be thinking about that beautifully arched back for ages－ but says nothing of it.

"Thank you," is warm, as he pulls Joshua closer to his chest again. "Now relax, and remember that you can always tell me if anything feels uncomfortable."

Trust is integral to the process, after all. An encouraging smile, light and sincere, as he uncaps the vial and starts to coat one thick digit with it.

[featheredflames]

Clive always has a way with his words and knows how to soothe him better than anyone else ever could. Naturally, Joshua finds it easy to settle back down against his brother's chest, pulled close as he's told to relax.

He knows he can tell Clive if something hurts, if something is uncomfortable...but frankly he is more worried that he will enjoy it far too much.

"I will." He answers easily enough, cheek pressed to Clive's chest. Oh how warm and reassuring he is beneath him... "I know you will make me feel good...you always do."

[flamebrand]

Enjoying something too much is the ultimate goal, so－ as ever, Joshua is doing everything right. Is what Clive would say if he could read minds, which he can't, so he tries to convey his intent through actions, ever preferring to let what he does speak for itself.

"I pray I don't betray that trust."

Playful, but semi-serious. He would never want to give Joshua any cause to doubt him, but he also doesn't want to make Joshua nervous about what should be a good experience for the both of them, so...

...again, another smile, as he moves his now oil-slicked finger to massage Joshua's sensitive entrance, to circle and rub at its rim to acclimate Joshua to the feeling of the potential intrusion. Gentle and careful, taking his time with it before the actual breach; coaxing his brother to relax and breathe for him as that first digit pushes inwards.