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There are people meant to be at the center of great stories. Then there are those who play the supporting role. In the margins, just out of focus. Shadows of the shining heroes and heroines that epics get written about. Ren was happy to play support for the young master. Duarte had always treated him like a brother more then an attendant. Most people had no idea Ren was staff when he was with Duarte. He was his right hand, eager to help him with anything. It sometimes felt like his young master could face anything on his own. His support was appreciated but probably not necessary.
That was until the day Duarte first laid eyes on miss Ylvia. It was as if his soul had leapt from him. His handsome features had never looked so soft as in that moment. Ren knew just from watching him, that he’d fallen in love at first glance. His confident and clever friend suddenly looked so young. As if he’d been reborn, the moment he laid eyes on her.
Ylvia was the young miss of a well-off merchant family. She’d come to the bustling market center to help out with the business. Her face glowing, her playfulness and confidence radiating off her. She chatted with customers and staff as if they were close friends. She seemed the most approachable sort, despite her wealthy status.
Which is why Ren was at a loss. Duarte would become a statue the moment he caught sight of her. This lovely young woman, not intimidating at all. Seemed to scare him stiff. As if the act of breathing and being enamored. Were simply too difficult to do at the same time; for the young man experiencing his first love.
Duarte was a noble whose own title was even higher than hers. His dashing looks tended to turn heads, his aloof air the only thing keeping women from flocking to him. When focused on a task he was almost too intense to approach. A focused frown often marring his handsome face. Ren often had to ease the staff around his master. Assuring them he was perfectly content with their work, that’s just how his face is.
Ren knew when it came to helping Duarte pursue miss Ylvia, he would truly have to give his full support. Finding chances for the two to bump into each other. Small moments at first. Passing in the street, eating at the same restaurant, going to shop at her family’s business. Duarte sharp as ever, noticed these coincidences quickly. But didn’t put a stop to Ren’s plotting. Alowing this fate to be designed by his friend.
With much effort and encouragement. His young master finally built up the ability to speak to miss Ylvia. His years of practiced suavity hiding his nervous excitement. The first time she smiled at something he’d said. Ren had to stay up with him all night. Listening to him gush as he paced his study. When she let him walk her home. Ren had to hold him back from trying to propose to her the next day.
After some time Ren spotted the signs that affection was also growing in the young miss’s eyes. Duarte had also built up enough resistance to being around her to act comfortably. His cool expression faintly easing to the fondness he had for her. Ren couldn’t feel prouder than to see the two love birds smile at each other.
Duarte officially stated his intent to court miss Ylvia. Her family didn’t seem to opposed to the possibility of the pair. The only thorn that suddenly appeared was Ylvia’s older brother Eamas. Who made it clear the two would go nowhere without his supervision. This seemed to be a natural way of things. Ren tried to be understanding of Ylvia’s family not trusting an aid like him to be a good enough third wheel. Still inside he cried out how this love story for the ages, wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without him. Pleading in his heart for the poets to spare him a line in their retellings.
So, the next stage of the romance between Duarte and Ylvia began. Now with two extra wheels following after them. Eamas proved to be a doting older brother, but was also fine with the two-acting lovey-dovey within his own level of reason. He seemed to be quite the sheltered young master himself. Who only knew how to study and work. Ren often found himself having to care for all three of the rich kids now; Eamas the new eldest of the group.
Too busy watching over his sister. Eamas would often be completely unaware of his surroundings. Ren often had to shuffle him out of harms way. Pulling him out of the path of a messy child or rushing worker, while they walked the bustling main street. There was even once a need to protect him from the chaos of a thief making a run for it. They were cutting through a side path when the ruckus came their way. Duarte skillfully pulled Ylvia out of the alley in time. But the two extras still within had to press against the wall to not be knocked into. Ren had managed to pull and shield Eamas in time. But the man still seemed frazzled after the commotion.
After that incident he stuck a bit closer to Ren, during their outings. Some grain of trust had been earned it seemed.
-
What Ren was unawares of was the way his care was being perceived by others. Duarte with his keen eye noticed it fairly quickly. The way Ren would pull Eamas by the waist to direct him around. This was a common habit of his aid’s. It was an act of care he did instinctively. To someone unused to Ren’s casual skin ship though. These small touches might seem rather intimate.
Ylvia noticed her brother’s feelings before he did. Eamas only realising his growing affection for Ren. After being closely pressed into the wall as he hovered protectively over him. The glare he’d sent after the ruckus, the soft way he had looked back at him. It had caused Eamas’s heart to nearly leap from his chest. The siblings who’d been brought to a café to rest after the incident. Began whispering to each other. A sibling plot to help support one another’s loves being hatched.
Duarte noticing the sibling’s scheme’s quickly joined in. The sudden side mission gave the couple an activity to do together. Ylvia was eager to assist her brother and Duarte thought this might allow him to repay some of Ren’s kindness to him. A chance for the couple to provide support after having their love be guarded so closely by the two tag-alongs. Duarte’s one concern was how his closest friend will deal with the sudden attention. Ren had never pursued anything for his own sake before. Eamas was equally unused to going after something simply for himself. Duarte and Ylvia set their hearts to the task of getting their brothers together. Making moments for the two to feel close. As the outings silently became for like double dates.
Ren wasn’t sure what has changed, but he sensed his master was keeping hush about something. He’s got that teasing mischievous glint in his eyes. Miss Ylvia is also suddenly speaking to him more, asking questions. Trying to get to know him it seems. Ren wanted to feel honoured, but also Ylvia could simply get the information from Duarte. Nothing about him isn’t also known by him after all. Eamas often joined in on the questions, even starting up conversations between just them at times. Ren assumes this brother-in-law had begun to relax around him a bit. Perhaps a new friend was to be made from all this.
Suddenly watching over the young lover’s dates becomes a lot more fun. Eamas even allows the two to get away from them at times. Leaving the two spares to idle away the time together. The shy young master isn’t versed in ways of the heart though. Even with his little sister’s encouragement he doesn’t know where to start. How to get the kind man to look only at him.
Every time Ren gently guides him around. Brushes dust off his clothes. Pulls fallen petals out of his hair. Eamas feels like his heart must be beating so loudly Ren can hear it.
He can’t help thinking himself special, until the moment those illusions are dashed. As Ren tends to Duarte just as closely. Ylvia keeps encouraging her brother, saying he just needs to get through the barrier Ren has over his heart.
-
During a romantic moonlight viewing. The two young lovers are having a late-night picknick, sitting close as they admired the sky. The moon full, golden against the night. The stars shine in delicate arrays. Ren looks on and sighs, what a perfect scene. Eamas beside him lets out a small sneeze. Ren looks over at the scholar shivering quietly.
Ren is as always more then prepared. He pulls out a spare cloak, draping it over Eamas. Whose face turns a rather impressive red suddenly. Rin startles placing his hand on Eamas’s neck to feel for a temperature. He flinches as Ren’s cold hands make contact. His eye’s meeting earnestly worried ones.
Ren leans towards him. Intending to check if he has a fever. Eamas startled and misunderstanding has a moment of boldness. With Ren’s face so close to his, he turns and steals a kiss. With a bit too much eagerness he presses onto Ren’s mouth, knocking him off balance. Ren falls onto his back, their lips still pressed firmly together. Eamas leans over him his pretty face dusted pink. Theres a glint of pride briefly in his eyes. Before his embarrassment catches up to him. Floundering as he tries to right himself and get off him.
Ren grabs hold of his waist, righting them both. Fixing the cloak that’s already askew. His mind is unable to process what’s just occurred. Before he can wrap his head around it. Eamas’s hand has creeped over to his. Hidden beneath the cloak, he holds his hand. Ren can feel him shaking though now it doesn’t seem to be due to the cold. Eamas doesn’t dare look at him, face pointed at the sky.
Ren feels an odd warmth take root in his chest. He tries not to laugh at the scholar’s odd behaviour. He isn’t quite sure why he was suddenly kissed or why their hands are now stealthily entwined. If it’s a sudden moment of romanticism brough on by the moon. He’ll leave it at that. In this moment Ren can’t deny it feels nice to have a hand warming his. He looks at his young master who is looking lovingly down at the miss as they share his cloak. All the beauty of the sky cannot compare to the woman beside him.
Ren looks over to Eamas. He’s now watching the pair as well. A doting look upon his face as his sister explains the names of the stars to Duarte. Ren wonder’s if Eamas taught her those names. He’s never looked so closely at his fellow chaperone. He and his sister are quite similar. With handsome angles and beautiful curves to their faces. His eye’s reflected the stars like shining mirrors. Ah perhaps that was what his master was doing. Why view the stars directly, when you can watch them through such lovely reflections. That none but you can see.
Eamas leaned over correcting quietly one of the star names his sister has mispronounced. When he turns to see Ren looking at him, his words get lost on his tongue. Ren is looking at him with such tenderness. Was the momentary boldness effective. Has his heart been opened to him. His heart leaps in his chest and the hand holding his gently squeezes. Ren whisper’s a question about the stars. Eamas is happy to answer his questions. The two men taking turns leaning into each other’s ear to speak.
When Ylvia get’s a bit too cold; the young couple feels content with ending it there for the night. Surprised to glace over and see their chaperones leaning against each other sound asleep. Duarte’s look of utter shock made Ylvia burst out laughing. Sadly, waking her brother in the process. Eamas groggily blinked his heavy eyes from his warm spot. Confused at why his sister was laughing and giving him gestures of encouragement.
As Ren shifted around him, Eamas realised he was practically in the other’s embrace. He sat up quickly hating the knowing look Duarte was giving him. Ren still somehow asleep followed the warmth that had escaped him. Leaning over and resting his head on the other’s shoulder. Again, wrapping his arms around him.
It took some shaking before Ren finally was roused. He took no notice of his resting spot and blurrily began cleaning up. Duarte was quick to shoo is aid off. Him and Ylvia collecting their things. Ren was confused when his master even took the reigns for the wagon. Throwing Ren in the back with Eamas and Ylvia. Ren in confusion tries to climb into the ridding seat before getting dragged back by Eamas. Ylvia giggled at them leaning over to chat with Duarte and turning her back to them. Silently giving her brother, a bit more time with his heart.
Eamas rejoined their hands together. Ren looked at the man, still unsure of the meaning of the tender action. He looked to his master who was being teased by the miss as he directed the horses. Eamas brought his hand up turning Ren’s face away from the two, quietly demanding his full attention. Ren swallowed nervously at the look he was being given. Eamas mouthed a few words to him, his cheeks red his eyes seeking. Ren didn’t dare think he’d read his lips right. Such a declaration. Wasn’t for men like him.
Ren felt something in his chest flutter, as Eamas slowly laid a soft kiss to his cheek. Well perhaps just for tonight. Under the moonlight they could experience what being at the heart of a poem was like.