sins_of_a_father | Into the woods

Marco had grown up in a forest. Arden had always been something of a homecoming for him whenever he managed to spend some time in there. Unfortunately he didn't often manage because he had plenty enough of duties he had to maintain. This time he had taken Felix with him when he had to return to the Courts. He hadn't wanted to let Felix out of his sight after his 'episode'.

Merlin hadn't minded having his brother around for company, either.

When Marco had managed to free some time for himself, he had asked where Felix would want to go. And it hadn't been a surprise at all that he had chosen Arden. Marco traveled light, but not without luggage, his just was compressed into a hefty pack of trumps. He had convinced Felix to leave his clothes and essentials to Marco's closet too and copied him a trump to it. His closet was hidden behind a way and you needed to know the trick to get to it from his room. It was safe, Marco stored most of his treasures in this storage. It was only fitting to give Felix an access to it.

"It looks wonderful," he told Felix as they rode to the little cabin that had plenty of wonderful woodland magic about it. It was beautiful.

Felix hadn't thought he would have enjoyed the Courts, but he'd been just as reluctant to part with Marco even briefly as the time differential would make it. He had his own regular discomfort in any kind of courtly situation, but... it hadn't been bad. A chance to spend more time with his brother when he wasn't quite the toxic trash fire as he could normally be was also really nice.

It hadn't been as bad as being in Amber had been. Not at all. The Amber that Felix knew no longer existed, though, the worst of the infighting and backstabbing long past with Random securely on the throne with a long reign ahead of him, a beloved queen at his side, and not having a small army of children raised specifically to hate one another.

Different times.

Having a trump to Marco's personal closet was also quite a novelty, not that as it turned out Felix had much by means of things he owned. A couple pieces of clothing he was overly fond of that hadn't worn out yet, and several weapons - mostly an array of guns for different possible physics at play - other than that he traveled mainly with the clothes on his back and grabbed what he needed as he went. Though now that he had a safe place to keep things, that could change.

"It's got running water, too. Thank fuck, though gotta heat things the old fashioned way. There's a small lake just past the tree line behind it, too," Felix explained, dismounting gracefully and letting the horse graze the grass for now while he opened the door to check the inside before stabling it. The inside was just as he'd remembered it- cozy, a little dusty, it looked like no one had been through since Felix had last swung by to make sure it was still in working order.

"Looks good - I can get the horses taken care of, make yourself comfortable," he said, delighted. It felt like he could breathe out here like he couldn't quite manage anywhere else... well. Anywhere else before Marco. Being with Marco had made Felix often feel like Arden made him feel, and having Marco in the forest with him was an unparalleled happiness he was unused to.

"If you want to let them roam free, I can set up pen-perimeter for them after we've settled," Marco said as he slipped down from his saddle and gave his pale mare a pat on her chest before pausing to take out the bite from her mouth, leave her grazing as he walked towards the cabin curiously.

There wasn't much to do to get settled actually, but he could set up a tea for them and get the heating going on. This close to Amber he didn't dare to reach out to the universe with Logrus, but he had spells prepped for it. Mandor had taught him well in terms of culinary conjurations.

"You get the horses," he said to Felix and while passing him on the way, he leaned in to press a light kiss to his smiling cheek. "And I'll fix us some coffee and something to snack on."

He was happy to see Felix so relaxed, his smiles sunny and bright. Maybe they could just stay here for the rest of their lives if that was the effect this place had on him.

Felix also admittedly prided himself on his ability to 'rough it'. For all he was a virtuoso at shadow travel and all that related to it, he made a point to not be so reliant on it to be helpless otherwise. Sweeney, who had delved into the deep mysteries of the Pattern, could manage slight of hand and tricks with it with ease out in shadow that took Felix slightly more effort. Felix, on the other hand, could still do all those things in the middle of Castle Amber itself because his ability to get into a locked room was being a clever hand with picking locks rather than bending reality around him. It did unfortunately mean sometimes he forgot others might have issue.

"You're the absolute best," he said with a bright wolfish grin, his apatite coming back to something more normal for him, leaning in to steal a quick kiss from Marco's lips - brief, before he could get distracted wanting more. "Won't take long."

There was a small stable nearby the cottage - also a cozy little building, space for four horses comfortably so more than enough room for their two. Felix also just liked horses, liked taking care of them, all the menial tasks normally given to stable hands. So while he was eager to get back to Marco he still made sure both horses were brushed down and comfortable before he made his way back inside, a bounce in his step.

Mandor had abandoned Marco in shadow with nothing but his clothes on his back. He had learned the hard way how to handle anything that came his way. He'd gone from living a simple life in a simple cottage in the woods to the busy busy bustle of New York without anyone explaining to him what car was or internet for that matter. He had survived simply because he had the wit and brain for it.

His smile was an amused affair when Felix leaned in to kiss his mouth, turning just a little smug because it never ceased to be satisfying to still be able to draw Felix in like that, with that particular grin that would probably be the end of Marco one day. He considered it - actually yes he did - to just stop Felix right then and there and turn that grin into something more...

But he managed to pull himself away and instead turned his attention to the cabin. He made a quick round about the property, then returned to the kitchen to fire up the wood stove. He didn't bother using magic for this, or for lighting a fire in the other fireplace that would end up heating the cabin most of all. He did break out a few spells for dusting and vanishing some spiderwebs but part of the food happened by hand, because he simply just liked working with a proper stove whenever he found one.

By the time Felix was ready, Marco had found a coffee pot, that gurgled happily on the stove, he had filled a few sandwiches with bacon and eggs fried on the stove plus a small mountain of greens. They could both eat their way through a deli, so he hadn't held back. For a desert, he had used one of his spells that came with dishes and folded napkins, artfully displayed oven fried apples toppled with vanilla ice cream. The porcelain delicate and gilded, the ice cream dusted with cinnamon and crystallized sugar. Yes, yes, it was his father's hand right there. Mandor had sniffed at the apples and made a lot of suggestions; Marco still had tastes that were less delicate, however, so he had went with this.

His shoes were left in the vestibule and he wore a pair of knitted socks on top of the legs of his jeans, and had drawn a soft cashmere sweater on top of his shirt before getting to work, hair tied back to a tiny bun at the back of his head. Similar pair of socks and a thick, soft sweater rested on one of the chairs, waiting for Felix.

Felix waited for a few moments at the doorway, just watching Marco move around the space, heart feeling so full it could burst. The food smelled delicious, of course, as it always did with Marco, but there was something about him existing so comfortably in a space Felix felt familiar and comfortable in himself. His eyes traveled along that spill of golden curls, the pale stripe of skin revealed at the nape of his neck from them being pulled back, how soft and content he looked in the clothing and those knitted socks while his elegant hands worked tirelessly with expert precision. It wasn't just that Marco made him happy in the moment, but he could no longer picture a future where being happy didn't involve Marco... or rather, he could picture a future where he was happy, finally, because Marco was there.

His suddenly growling stomach rather ruined the effect.

"Unicorn that all smells delicious," he said, since his hunger had already broken the silence for him, balancing on one foot than the other as he removed his boots so he could pull on the socks left for him. "I can't believe I'm putting more clothes on around you."

Marco was aware of him standing there, but he said nothing, simply let Felix have his moment, whatever it was about. He was learning that loving someone meant also to give them space to be themselves. It was a whole new experience for him, not so much the space giving but also existing in that same space while giving space.

When Felix spoke up, he glanced at him with a smile, popping a cucumber slice into his mouth and winked with pleased amusement. "More clothes for me to take off of you later," he teased with a warm laughter.

He moved two chairs beside each other and put down plates, then fussed over to pour coffee. "Sit, eat. Your stomach sounds like it's trying to carve a hole inside you."

Steaming mug would appear beside Felix's elbow when he took a seat and Marco would lean down to press a kiss to his temple. "This place looks nice. Peaceful."

Felix felt a flush up his neck at the promise to take the clothes off later - as if that wasn't always something between them.

"I am in a constant battle to appease my stomach," Felix agreed, taking a seat, always happy to be spoiled when it came to food, especially Marco's. At the kiss he turned his head to nuzzle lightly against Marco's face, lips brushing his jaw, because he just couldn't get enough of him.

"It's my favorite. After I left Amber I still wanted to check in on my mother, but I didn't want to stay in the city or the castle and have anyone like... find out I was here. So I'd stay in some of these cabins throughout Arden, and well I kept coming back to this one. It's one of my favorite spots."

Most of his favorite spots were in Arden specifically, though he had a few far flung Shadows he enjoyed where enough time had passed he felt secure in returning to them without being recognized.

"It's on just enough of a hill that if you climb up on one of the trees you can see for miles, too."

Marco took a seat beside him, arranging his plate so that he could turn slightly towards Felix and nudge his foot against Felix's, one knee on top of the other, his toes wriggling against Felix's ankle. He listened to Felix talk about the cabin while watching his face, emotion playing on his features. Then he sipped his coffee and smiled.

"Thank you for bringing me here," he said quietly. "Means a lot to see a place that makes you happy and relaxed."

There wasn't a whole lot in Felix's life that he cherished like that. Marco wanted to see every last bit of those things though.

"Does anyone else come here?" he asked curiously, peering around to see if there were obvious signs of various aunts and uncles that could pop up at any moment.

Felix smiled a little bashfully at Marco's thank you, knowing he was transparent about his feelings here but not caring enough to try to hide them. They felt safe with Marco.

"Not really. It does technically belong to the rangers, it's not like it's unknown, but it's out of the way for anything actually useful. I've never had someone show up while I'm here," Felix clarified with confidence. Indeed, the place looked that while it was kept in good condition ready for occupancy, it showed no signs of recent occupation. Not by Felix or anyone else.

Of course, that was when the sound of the howl of hunting dogs came from the distance.

"Huh," Felix said, looking out the window but not seeming worried.

Marco quieted at the sound of the hounds and leaned back in his chair to take a bite of his sandwich. In his experience relatives rarely looked pass an opportunity to at least look in the face of those who had dared to venture into Amber. And Fiona at least would take any opportunity to have a word with Marco, which made him think there would be those would want to see Felix just as much.

His toes poked at Felix's leg, relaxed and centred. He refused to feel off his kilter anymore simply because of relatives showing interest.

"Seems like someone might visit today," he said with a quirk of his lips, studying Felix instead of peering out of the window. "Do you want to go invite them in? I can make more sandwiches."

Funny enough, Felix was used to going unbothered by relatives. Much as he passed that off as a general distaste from them to deal with him, he hadn't considered the angle of having earned their respect for his clear desire for distance. He chewed thoughtfully on his sandwich as well, listening to hear if the dogs sounded like they were coming closer or not. Just barely.

"Might still pass by. You sure?" Felix asked. The dogs - he knew the call of the stormhounds. Just about any other relative and he'd be ready to go on the war path to get them to fuck off, but this was definitely Julian, and while Felix felt rather shy about coming face to face with him again he didn't bear a grudge against the man like he did so many others. Just embarrassing fondness.

Marco watched his profile curiously, because usually when they had talked about family in the past, Felix's reactions had been uniformly negative, except for Merlin perhaps and his sister. But now he didn't seem all that troubled by the idea of Julian making an appearance. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Felix chose Arden as his safe haven, liked to spend his time in the forest and obviously felt safe and good around here.

Marco was curious.

"Yes," he said after a while, after another bite of his sandwich, which had given him a moment to think about it. "If you want to, please do."

He leaned in to press his lips to Felix's temple and murmured against his ear, "If there is a relative you don't mind meeting, I'm all for seeing this rare creature."

Felix's cheeks actually flushed a little at Marco's words, the bashful smile coming back. He turned his head again to brush his lips against Marco's, practically chaste at first before taking a more thorough kiss. He liked the idea of two of his favorite people meeting. He just hoped they'd get along. They probably would, he reasoned. They were both incredible people who had little patience for idiocy, after all.

Rising from the table, Felix shoved the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and went to the door, pausing to swap his comfy socks for his boots once more, pulling the last one on even as he did that sort of one-legged hop out into the forest again. The sound of the hounds came again, once more, slightly closer but still wide enough out that if he let it be they would probably pass by...

Felix felt uncharacteristically nervous, but Julian always made him feel that way. He was always back to being a teenager again, but the thought of Julian meeting Marco and seeing how wonderful he was urged him on. He didn't bother with the horse, just jogged into the tree line for a bit - the Storm Hounds would catch his scent soon enough if they hadn't already, and sure enough by the fourth call they were decidedly heading towards him. Rather than run, he waited where he was on the game trail, bracing himself just enough so that when the dogs ran to him and jumped up to greet him they didn't entirely bowl him over with their aggressively friendly greeting, licking his face and hair, tails excitedly smacking against the ground.

Like Morgenstern, Felix was uncommonly fond of the hounds that tended to cause terror to everyone else, and he made a point to check in with them every time he came by to play with them. It had a positive side effect that they knew his scent as one of a friend, and greeted him as such. He was still kneeling down to pet them and try to scratch all half dozen of them behind the ears and laughing at how eager they all were for attention when he heard the approaching heavy hooves of the war horse.

Like the dogs, he knew that sound by heart, and his own felt just as heavy in his chest as he looked up - and up, past the steel-gray horse to see the dark-haired figure of his uncle. No attendants with him, and in a lighter partial scale-mail rather than the full plate he usually wore. So, just riding for the sheer joy of riding, Felix figured, even if Julian's perpetual scowl was difficult for others to read the happiness in. Maybe happiness in. The man was inscrutable.

Felix smiled, bashfulness returning.

"Hi," he said, finally. Julian raised one eyebrow as Felix clearly had else to say but decided against.

"It's been a while. Just passing through, Felix?" Julian asked.

"Sort of? Short vacation. I'm here with someone, I wanted to show him the forest."

"Did you? He must be important, then."

"Yeah... Yeah. Marco's real important to me," and Felix felt absolutely lame at that phrasing. 'real important'. Understatement of the century.

"Fiona's Marco?" Julian asked, which surprised Felix, but he realized a moment later it probably shouldn't. Of course he kept tabs on the children she had, even if he didn't know them personally. Felix gave a small nod.

"Don't call him that to his face, though. Uh... want to have lunch? He cooks. Like, really good."

"High praise coming from you," Julian said, with just the barest quirk of the corner of his mouth. It made Felix's cheeks burn. "Lead the way."

He really didn't need to, Felix was sure. Julian knew where all the cabins were, knew the closest one to there, but he still let Felix lead as though he was showing him where it was. They didn't talk on the way, Felix too tongue tied and Julian disinclined for small talk regardless. They both set Morgenstern up in the stable comfortably, Julian giving a stern "outside. Stay." to the dogs as they approached the door before heading in.

Felix felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

"Marco - this is Julian. Julian, Marco," He introduced, as if that was needed too.

Julian gave a formal nod, but held his hand out to Marco even as his expression remained stoic, silently judging.

Marco stayed inside, looking after Felix from the window as he finished his sandwich, quietly wondering why his chest was tightening at the sight of Felix's backside. He was coming back, stop being an idiot.

To distract himself from all kinds of thoughts that weren't worth his time, he got up to prep a fresh pot of coffee, several new sandwiches, because he knew Felix wouldn't mind eating more, and stored the apples away into one of his pearls (because he only had two of those). Then he brought out a four servings of fluffy crumpets topped with rhubarb preservative and brie, throwing the fourth into a fridge to wait for morning. Again, Felix would eat it - he had a bottomless stomach as far as Marco knew. The plates that came with this dessert were very country chic with delicate hand-painted porcelain and a bit of gold dust. When he heard boots at the front, he was considering free-forming a pumpkin spice for the coffee. But since he was out of time he instead just popped out another handmade wonder in a large glass jar with a tap on the bottom and matching glasses to go with it, pink grapefruit lemonade, sitting neatly on a wire stand in the middle of the table. How very picturesque. Mandor would have been proud.

All things ready, he found a smile, small but actually genuine and walked to the door to greet Julian. He knew this uncle only by reputation, Julian had never been available in court when Marco had visited. But his sister and mother had told him plenty enough. He was about to launch into his usual 'charm their socks off' routine when the look on Felix's face made him hesitate.

He was so nervous. Ready to skyrocket through the roof honestly. What's the matter, babe? If this had been someone he didn't like or something had happened, Marco knew Felix would be full of acidic attitude and false grins. Now he looked breathless, a bit flustered, but... happy?

With a soft snort, Marco walked to them. But as he reached for Julian's hand to grip it firmly, he also let his other hand find Felix's to squeeze it warmly. It's okay, darling.

"I'm here as Felix's guest," he explained to Julian. "It's nice to meet you."

Years ago he would have been nervous looking back at his stoic uncle. He had met Benedict and Corwin plenty of times and all of those times had been marked with a lot of nervous flutter from him. But he was not a child anymore, and there was nothing all that strange happening here. Just spending time with Felix, relaxing. He didn't want anything out of Julian after all, so there was no reason for him to feel pressured. The only thing he hoped was that Julian wouldn't break Felix's heart, the adorable fool obviously was nervous around him.

Felix was terribly nervous, while he looked startled at Marco's reaching for him he quickly squeezed it back in return, that nervous but hopeful smile softening into the one of genuine affection that was just for Marco. Julian silently observed the exchange but didn't comment on it.

"Felix doesn't bring people 'back home', so it's very nice to meet you as well," Julian replied, having no shame in outing how big of a deal this was. Felix ducked his head a bit, running a hand through his hair. That warmly affectionate smile was still just for Marco, but when he looked to Julian - there were shades of it in there, in that nervous hopefulness.

First love, never really went away. Julian was the first to take a place in his heart and would probably always be there.

"Marco Sawall, correct?" Julian asked, continuing on. "I know of your father thanks to Merlin speaking of him but have not had the pleasure of meeting him in person."

Pointedly not bringing up the connection to Fiona, Felix noticed, since he had said as much. He had to bite his tongue against making a crass comment about Mandor.

Marco mused at this situation, Julian obviously knowing Felix well enough to speak on his behalf, Felix looking at him like a lost puppy. It made his stomach tighten, his eyes flash with cold fury but his expression didn't change, simply holding onto charm and polite friendliness.

"You are very important to Felix," he said warmly. And actually meant every word of it, even if it irked him that he did. "I'm very glad to meet anyone he deems worthy of meeting." A part of him wanted to demand a few answers of his own, what were Julian doing while Felix grew to be as broken in the heart as he did? Where was he? Judge Marco all you like, old man, but remember to look into the mirror too. Instead of letting that filth spill out of his mouth, he drew Felix close to him by the hand and wrapped an arm around him but didn't demand his attention otherwise, just reminding him gently that Marco would be here if he'd be needed.

"You probably would be the first Amberite to claim it was a pleasure meeting my father," he said drily and gestured invitingly towards the kitchen and the table laid out with food. "Except for my mother in some point of time in the past, I assume," he continued with a small huff of amusement. "Please, do sit down. I made sure there's plenty for all of us. Would your hounds need something? Water perhaps?"

Say what you want of his father, Mandor had beaten manners into his spine early on. If he was acting like the host in a house that belonged to both of the other men maybe equally and none to Marco himself, it was hardly his fault when neither of them had really stepped up to do that.

Edited 2023-10-11 09:16 (UTC)

Felix was easily pulled to Marco's side, sliding an arm around his waist by instinct at the proximity, resting his chin against Marco's shoulder and just enjoying the comfortable closeness. It was reactionary at this point, his body acting without any thought on his part, knowing Marco as affection and safety alike.

For all Julian was still mainly stoic in his expression, there was a snort of amusement as Marco ragged on his father.

"Felix spoke highly of your food - again, high praise coming from him," Julian said with a slightly raised eyebrow. At the suggestion of something for the dogs, Felix leaned up to press a kiss to Marco's cheek. Neither men were particularly used to hosting, admittedly, often preferring their own solitude to that of company. It was good Marco knew how to direct a party, even a small one.

"I can get water for the hounds," Felix said quickly, "And make sure the horses are set, too."

"Morgenstern is going to get fat if you keep sneaking him apples," Julian warned without venom as he took a seat at the table. He hadn't bothered looking up, but he didn't need to - Felix was going through his pack to get a small bag of apples he had brought as horse treats.

"Guess I'll have to take him on more runs then," Felix said shamelessly, giving Marco another kiss on the cheek every time he passed them by to grab some bowls for water then heading back out to see to the animals.

"... the new recruit Rangers that are children of nobility rather than rank and file are regularly set to clean up after animals as 'punishment'. It never worked with him," Julian commented, watching Felix go.

Marco tilted his head towards Felix when receiving kisses but didn't look away from Julian. "Felix is biased," he said fondly and before the man in question could run out with his apples and water, Marco stopped him to press a kiss to his lips, a quick glance to his eyes and silent question which was answered in a typical smile that still made Marco's knees feel a bit weak. (It would most definitely be his end one of these days.)

Finally he took a seat opposing Julian, drawing himself a chair, seating himself with careful, elegant grace. Felix was out of the door, it banging shut behind him. Blue eyes regarded Julian curiously.

Amber had never showed a single affectionate side to Marco. Fiona had protected him a few times, but most of the time Amber, various uncles and aunts and his mother, had tried to gain something from him, use him. He didn't expect there to be nothing much different with Julian. Not that he could see what the man would use him for. The last thing he expected was respect or familiarity because of family ties.

He put on a small smile, studying his uncle. He could learn something about Felix here, though. That smile curved a bit deeper at the mention of the man, affection shining through. "He's not a typical noble, is he?" he said quietly. "And I hope he never will be."

He didn't invite Julian to dig into the food. They could wait for Felix.

"I believe if he was ever going to be one, he'd have done it by now," Julian said with some measure of wary amusement in his voice, even a touch of fondness for those that knew how to see it. He took his time removing his riding gloves and setting them aside, seemingly content to wait for Felix's return as well. "He never liked getting special treatment because of his birth. Did he tell you how he joined up with the Rangers in the first place?"

"I imagine not," Marco hummed quietly under his breath. He urged his irritation to settle while schooling his face to a small, calm smile. He couldn't quite keep all the affection he felt for Felix to stay out of his expression, however.

"How did he join?" he asked, swallowing the whole hook line and sinker without any resistance. He did want to learn more about Felix.

Someone else might have been fishing for interest, but Julian was rather blunt more often than not - it was possible Felix had already told Marco the story since he seemed so taken with Marco, hence the asking.

"He snuck in," Julian said, and there was a brief moment when it seemed like that would be all he said before he shook his head, the corner of a rueful smile on his mouth. "There's a minimum age requirement, he was two years away from it. He lied and slipped in with the rank and file. It was three weeks before anyone noticed. He kept his head down and did the grunt work without complaint."

"And when I got shoved with the other nobility once I was caught, they complained twice as much as any dock orphan looking for a change of pace and regular work did at the lower ranks - while being asked to do less than half the work," Felix clarified, hearing the tail end of Julian's story as he came back in. He paused at the door, switching out his boots for the socks yet again then jogging the rest of the way to the table to sit between the two of them.

"Of course," Marco said with a soft snort. "Disregarding rules already back then," he teased a bit, just because he could. It did sound like Felix though, the Felix he knew, the one that Felix didn't think existed. The one that was more interested in real things rather than what things looked like, the man with a gentle hands with animals and kindness buried somewhere under all the bitter layers.

"Work builds character," he said and then reached over to take the coffee pot, raising to serve them all. "This is what my father says."

As much as Amber would hate to deal with Mandor, he wasn't quite as awful as they might think. Just very disillusioned and a realist. Marco understood him now better than he had before he met Felix.

"How long were you in the rangers?"

Felix resisted the urge to make a crass comment about Marco's father - his expression said as much. He managed to hold his tongue, though, if only because he was busy taking a sip of coffee as soon as Marco poured it. Julian was more sedate and murmured a word of thanks before taking up his own cup.

"-Five years or so? Intermittently, between being pulled away for other shit and all," Felix explained, thinking aloud.

"Technically you're still in them," Julian added, expression and tone mild. "You ran off, you didn't formally resign."

"Shit, talk about being AWOL."

"The benefits of royal blood."

"Anyway why are we talking about me anyway-?" Felix asked with an attempt to change the subject.

"You are the thing we all have in common, unless we walk to talk about how much we hate our parents."

"Maybe you should return to duty every now and then," Marco suggested mildly as he prodded the plate of sandwiches towards them. He thought Felix would enjoy that. It might give him peace and quiet and steady him in a way that other things couldn't.

Right now he still had time for it, too. Later in life - even if Marco didn't think about it for all that much yet - if he would stuck with Marco, he would be expected to stay closer to Chaos.

His snort of amusement was mild but real amusement lingered in his green eyes as he peered at Julian.

"Do you have any children?" he asked Julian suddenly. "And do you want to have any?" he pointed this question to Felix. "I suppose we should make a pact to treat them differently."

While both men gave a "No" to answer Marco's question practically in unison, they couldn't be more different. Julian's was a simple matter-of-fact answer to the question with no emotional attachment to it. Felix's on the other hand was a denial so vehement the life of his sister could be at stake.

"I have neither the time nor the inclination to be a parent, and if I had an 'accident' in the past when I was more willful I imagine they would have found the family by now," Julian explained. He had settled well into his position as Arden's solemn keeper long before Felix was born, in his experience the lost children of the royal family found their way to someone who could take them to Amber within their first hundred years of life at the latest. In even the slowest moving shadows, that time had passed.

Felix made a face at the thought - there were certainly shadows where things worked the way where two men could have children, and that was even before one learned the wonders of shapeshifting, but still...

"Risk turning out like my father? Fuck no. Absolutely not. Even the shittiest kid doesn't deserve that. Never. No pact needed."

"I see," Marco said with a small huff of amusement, mostly at Felix's vitriol about the topic. "Not even as a fuck you to your old man?" he asked with a quirk of his brows. "I would hope that having a poor example would help you be a better father."

But since Felix was so vehemently against it, Marco let it go, his lips quirking a bit.

"I suppose we're back at talking about you, Felix," he teased as he picked up one of the sandwiches and brought it to his plate. If the other two weren't going to eat, he would.

"What about going back to the rangers every now and then?" Topic change.

Julian also didn't comment on Felix's vehement denial, though when Felix was not looking he did cast the young man a sidelong glance that said his own opinion about that as well he was keeping to himself.

Instead he spoke up before Felix could find some denial to Marco's next suggestion-

"He'd be welcome if he wanted to. Felix was always capable, I doubt his skills have deteriorated since his ... sabbatical."

"Sabbatical," Felix said with a snort, shaking his head, incredulous. "Is that how you'd mark it down? Talk about royal privilege. ... I don't know, I don't like being parted from Marco for long."

"I'm sure he could find something to do in Arden as well," Julian offered, a small smirk on his face over the edge of his cup.

"It won't take me long to make a trump of this place," Marco countered, then gave Julian a quick glance but did not ask for permission. He had spent here enough time that he could make one with or without Julian's permission. "I have duties that you do not care for back in the Courts. If we're clever about it, you'll be able to spend your time roaming about in the forest while I handle the courtly duties and then the rest of the time we can spend together."

It wasn't that Marco didn't want Felix close and that it wouldn't be effortless given the time fluctuation and different forces pulling Amber and Chaos apart, but he could see how happy Felix was in Arden, how he actually enjoyed spending time with Julian and Marco knew already that he would make it work just to keep that smile on Felix's unfairly attractive lips.

Then he added, aiming for levity and perhaps to bring the mood up with a chuckle or two, "And I wouldn't mind seeing you in a uniform."

Julian cast Marco a curious glance back, one eyebrow raised - it was hard to tell what he meant by it, annoyance or impressed by Marco's lack of asking about making a trump directly into his territory. Not that he had a chance to comment, if he was going to. Felix laughed at Marco's final comment, giving him a wickedly pleased look for just a moment.

"So the truth of motive finally comes out," he teased, before turning to Julian, all bright excitement. "Marco's an incredible artist. Best I've ever seen. That reminds me - he made some new trumps for me, I'll give you one."

He didn't wait for an agreement, taking out his slim deck of trumps so he could go to where the extras Marco made for him were at the back. Thankfully meant to be handed out so he didn't have to worry about any racier images on the cards. Even then rather than simply take one out to pass over he moved some plates around so he could make space on the table to spread out the ones that were Marco's work so Julian could see.

"Not just trumps either, he does actual art-art."

Julian hummed thoughtfully as he leaned in to look at the cards spread on the table, careful to not spill anything on any of them. "Impressive work," he agreed, without a trace of sarcasm.

There was no challenge to that raised brow, Marco simply meeting Julian's gaze calmly. He wasn't about to apologise or belatedly ask for permission. He could give reasons for this, but as long as Julian didn't ask, he wouldn't be pressed to put them forward. And Felix's laughter distracted him from the silent conversation in any case, drawing his attention without a fail as he gave his lover a warm, easily open and sweet smile.

"You've found me out," he murmured, almost a sidenote. He didn't want to talk about the real reasons why he was pushing for this. Because Felix was not easy to convince when it was something he actually really really wanted. He would see a reason to punish himself, or to deny himself somehow.

The trumps being paraded on the table was hardly a surprise. Felix was very taken by his artistic skills. He considered it for a moment whether to put forward the reason why he had replaced all of Felix's cards. Every last one of them. And made him throw away Fiona's. It could be a very uncomfortable conversation and lead to tangents that none of them wanted. However, there was something to be said about putting his cards on the table, Julian might have some inspirations towards protecting Felix.

Keep it simple, Marco. Overthinking is not always the best idea.

"Thanks," he said with an easy smile. "I work hard for it." Then he leaned in to press a kiss to Felix's cheek just because he was adorable and deserved all the sugar in the world.

Then he reached over to flip one of the cards over, his own face, to its backside to show the design that was made as a replica to Felix's lightning tattoo, gold on black. Marco's own deck had a different pattern at the back, all the cards he usually did followed that same form, except Felix's deck.

"I made sure to personalise this for him. It'll make it harder for me to highjack this deck. Because that is not my intention in the least. I've been drawing trump cards for a long, long time, it was the first significant skill I learned. And I know all the tricks you can play with them. It might sound paranoid, but I didn't feel comfortable with Felix having a deck drawn up by my mother."

Cards on the table, Marco shrugged mildly and leaned back in his chair, one knee over the other, his toes drawing idle circle's on Felix's calf.

Felix couldn't help but smiling around Marco, as he explained every detail of his work like that. He had never really been interested in art before, but he could listen to Marco explain his process for hours without ever being bored.

"It certainly makes me feel special having such a beautiful deck," Felix said with a small grin, reaching out to squeeze Marco's thigh.

Cards on the table indeed. Again there was just the minuscule change of expression on Julian's part as Marco admitted to not wanting Felix to have cards made by his mother. Julian had been there for the worst of Amber's in-fighting, and Felix had been born when the throne was still hotly contested. It was an understandable precaution.

As such when Felix selected a card of his to pass to Julian, Julian did not just slip it into his own deck but fished out the older trump he had for Felix - one made by Fiona - and held it out for Marco to take.

Marco had been marinated in Court politics through most of his life, the kingmaker of Chaos was his father and Mandor did not let resources go wasted. Little things, like making sure your lover's trumps would not be spied upon were perfectly drilled into his spine. Which was why he noted the gesture for what it was as he took the card from Julian, this time with a genuine, warm smile.

"Thank you," he murmured before he pocketed Julian's card. One more of Felix's pretty face safe in his possession. On the return trip, he pulled out a card from another pocket, of his own face - one of many he carried - and handed it to Julian. "In case we feel the need to gossip about Felix one day."

He didn't know this uncle - yet - but he was inclined to change that fact, just because Felix seemed to like this man so very, very much. Marco might have been a little jealous, a little possessive even, but he pushed those thoughts and feelings aside in favour of broadening his understanding of Felix's connections. Julian was quiet and calm and he seemed to both know Felix very well indeed but wish him nothing but the best, which made Marco fond of him already. He'd be replacing Julian's card in Felix's deck tomorrow morning at the latest.

Marco let his hand slip on top of Felix's on his thigh, threading their fingers together. "So, about returning to duty every now and then," he said with a quirk of his brow. Don't think he forgot... "I think it sounds like a good idea."

Felix didn't blush often, and with his coloring it wasn't always easy to tell when he did. Still, Marco was observant enough to no doubt notice the way he faintly colored at the 'in case we feel the need to gossip about Felix', especially with how that got a laugh out of Julian - an actual laugh! - as he took the card with an agreeable nod to slip into his own deck.

"If you're sure you can spare me for all my important courtly functions of being eyecandy or a distraction, or both..." Felix said with a somewhat chagrined grin, looking adoringly at Marco.

"I can have you back in rotation in a day if you're truly serious," Julian offered, which had Felix looking briefly surprised before Julian gave a shrug and added - "There's always some that are good rangers aside from doing poorly with following commands by nobility."

"I'm nobility."

"You hardly act like it, though."

Marco might have looked just a little smug for both that flush and the laugh he surprised out of the stoic uncle. He was well settled into his 'charm the wits out of them' routine and he thought he had Julian where he wanted him, becoming inclined to look at Marco favourably if not quite fondly yet.

"I'll make a do," he promised, voice both soft and affectionate as he squeezed Felix's hand. "You'll be a lot happier here than doting over whatever delegate of whichever state or enduring the shameless flirting of various aunts and uncles." He brushed his thumb over Felix's knuckles and continued quietly. "And I'll be happier when you are happy."

When Julian jumped in to the conversation, though, he lifted his hand to pitch in. "Hold on, you two. Felix will be busy for three days." Marco had made sure that he wouldn't be missed for a couple of days and he fully intended to spend them with Felix, quite possibly pinned to the bed under him. "Then he's free to roam about for a while," he promised with a small, amused smile.

Felix had enjoyed being in Chaos, a lot more than he though the would. Sure it was courts, but he had Marco there, and he was getting to know his brother, and he could ... see a future there. For them. Together. Had Felix ever seen a future at all for himself? No, not really. With Marco it seemed possible. Seemed hopeful.

Arden was where his heart was, though. The first place Felix ever felt safe, felt worthwhile. A fact that was deeply ironic for the other side of his family given his mother had taken over the city manse for the family and raised Felix there because the country had made her feel trapped and alone. He was a little worried about being away from Marco for so long (unicorn, when did you get so clingy-) but the idea of being in Arden again for a longer period had him unexpectedly hopeful. Especially if Marco would come to visit.

"At least three days," Felix said with a small cough. He knew how they could get. He turned his hand so he could squeeze Marco's.

Julian gave a small snicker and shook his head, holding up a hand in surrender.

"I meant only that it could be done on short notice, not to cut your vacation short. "

All that settled, Marco leaned forward once again, now curious that he was saddled with a problem of keeping their schedules aligned. It wouldn't be easy, but he'd never been afraid of tasks that would require some detailed solutions.

"What does 'being in rotation' mean?" he asked, glancing from Felix to Julian. "On duty around the clock for a period? And then not?" It would make sense given the vastness of Arden. He was hoping it meant Felix would get extended periods of leave as well. Marco would come to visit him wherever they camped in any case, convince Felix to trump him the moment he was available - he could organise his time, which was faster and flimsier in Chaos anyway - but he also wanted Felix's uncontested attention at times, so leaves would be good for it. Eventually, if Felix would stay with him, he could not continue as Arden's guard. Or Marco could not continue as the heir to house Sawall. But that was neither the problem nor the topic of conversation for today, they had time to settle their affairs.

Marco fully intended to settle them with Felix by his side. The rest was somewhat ambiguous.

"If you have longer leaves, I would hope you'd spend them in Chaos."

"It's hardly a nine-to-five," Julian said, familiar enough with 'earth culture' to understand that reference if nothing else, even though he rarely left Arden for extended periods of time if he could help it. Since Marco was hardly an enemy informant even if he was from Chaos, he explained between picking at the food and drink. Besides, it would better to have a refresher in case Felix forgot.

"So being 'in rotation' means several weeks 'on' where you manage patrols, checks of the forest, and can be expected to be called upon at any hour. Mostly what you remember," Julian said with a nod to Felix. "And yes, several weeks 'off' duty between to keep from burning out. We're not at war at the moment, so it's a lot of drills and keeping in shape in the event one does break out and smaller skirmishes with individuals that have issues."

So hopefully easier to manage when your lover was on the other side of creation, in that case...

"This sounds very similar to the Black Rim watch," Marco offered, putting that out there just in case any hurt feelings were had about him nosing into Amber's defences. Not that he had any axe to grind here, his loyalties laid with Chaos but he would come to defend Amber as well if he were called upon it. And he knew this was Merlin's official line, so he wasn't all that worried about giving away state secrets. "I did a rotation there as a young man. Not for me, though. My skills with shapeshift aren't up to bar."

He squeezed Felix's hand and stood up. "All this, it sounds lovely, doesn't it?"

Then he took himself back to the kitchen with some empty plates, aiming to fill them up again while giving Felix an opportunity to talk with Julian by his lonesome. As much as he would like to keep Felix by his side at every given minute of a day, he wanted Felix to regain some of his swagger, some of that confidence and self-assured bravado that he knew would come when he was settled and felt like he was doing good things and also enjoying those things. He didn't know why Felix had dropped out of the rangers, but he meant to find out later and it didn't really seem like it was an issue anymore, whatever it had been.

It did sound lovely, and while Marco went to refill the plates, Julian and Felix talked quietly about specifics of it with some gentle reminiscing of old times when Felix was still so young and first joined the rangers, before he ran away from Amber entirely. Julian was good at deftly dodging landmines in the conversation, of knowing what to not touch on. And Felix supposed if he really couldn't stand being parted from Marco for that long, he could just cut and run after a rotation once again. Even if that was slightly more embarrassing to do as an adult rather than a teenager.

By the time Marco was coming back, Julian patted Felix on the shoulder and stood, pulling his gloves for riding back on.

"I'll not impose on your vacation any longer - though I won't be far if you've any need of me," Julian said, which to anyone else might seem like a threat given how accidentally sinister he tended to be, but Felix at least could see was genuine desire to be helpful. "Thank you for the meal, and it was truly wonderful to meet you, Marco."

Marco found that he was actually sorry that Julian was leaving. He hadn't expected this from a relative, quiet and insightful, respecting of natural boundaries and with a surprisingly well hidden sense of humour. It was by far the most pleasant experience he'd ever had with an elder Amberite, with either uncle or an aunt.

He came to stand behind Felix, putting a plate on the table that was heaped over with more food. His hand lingering on Felix's other shoulder as he smiled at Julian.

"If you happen to be available tomorrow at dinner time, I wouldn't mind hosting for three instead of just two," he said easily and then added with a smile that curved warmer and genuine than before. "Because it was rather lovely meeting you, uncle."

Julian was not thought of as anyone's favorite relative - except for maybe Felix. They had a special relationship, even if it wasn't the kind Felix had longed for in his youth as the hormones started coming in.

Julian gave a glance to Felix at Marco's invitation - checking to make sure it was indeed a welcome one, though he didn't really need to. It was more acknowledging that Felix had the right to say he didn't want company if he did not. Seeing only a hopeful expression on his face, his neutral expression softened a bit further and he gave a nod.

"It would be a delight. I'll see you both then," Julian said, inclining his head and holding up a hand when Felix moved like he was going to stand to see Julian out. "If Morgenstern sees you he'll expect another apple."

"He could have another apple..."

"You'll make him fat and useless."

The teasing was full of warm affection as Julian pulled on his boots next before heading out with a wave over his shoulder.

Felix watched him go, looking up at Marco when he was out the door to reach up and cover Marco's hand with his own, his smile so bright and open. He didn't know what he'd worried about before - of course the two best people in all of creation would get along.

The bickering about the horse made Marco's lips quirk in amusement but he didn't interject, simply waved his goodbyes to Julian. The way Felix looked up at him like he had hung the moon and the stars on his sky soothed any feathers that might have been ruffled and he berated himself for a moment to ever having felt possessive like a hoarding dragon. Felix needed in his life more people, who wouldn't put him down or take advantage of him, he needed more affection than Marco could give even if he would smother his darling with it all hours of the day. He needed to see there were people, who cared about him just the way he was and Marco would never forgive himself if he'd make that even a little bit harder for him. Julian seemed to be that.

"He really cares about you," Marco said as he let his hand cup Felix's jaw and tilted his head back further. Then their lips were coming together as Marco leaned down to press his mouth to Felix's in an upside down kiss.

There were few in this world that could take Felix's attention from Julian, but all of Felix's attention was on Marco now instead of mooning over every turn of conversation he'd made with his uncle. His smile turned a little bashful when Marco asserted that Julian cared about him. A part of him wanted to protest - just out of knee-jerk nature, that Felix was convenient for sticking it to Corwin that way - but even if they'd never be best friends, Corwin and Julian no longer were at each other's throats the way they had been when Felix had been young.

The idea that Julian just sincerely liked Felix had seemed so strange, never before considered under the haze of his own complicated mess of feelings.

Marco was kissing him right then, though, and everything fell away in favor of that. Felix sighed into the kiss, tongue and lips exploring Marco's mouth gently, adoringly.

"Seemed like he liked you too. 'Course, who wouldn't?"

"I liked him too. I did not expect to do so," Marco admitted, his lips moving against Felix's, because he wasn't all that eager to move away. They were finally alone after spending way too much time cooped up in Chaos under various eyes of his relatives.

"But I very much like you more," he hummed as his hands slipped from Felix's shoulders and down to his chest, gently pulling up the hem of his shirt so he could slip his hand underneath.

"Also, I demand a chance to fuck you in that uniform when you get one," he laughed, light and easy.

Felix's smile turned just a shade gloating at Marco's admission that he liked Julian even though he didn't expect to. He knew Julian had an (unfair in his opinion) reputation among the wider family, and every time he got a chance to prove it wrong was wonderful.

He groaned into the kiss as Marco's hands drifted down his chest, bringing his own up to cover them with his own. He loved Marco's hands especially.

"Fuck - you make me wanna ask for one early. Guess should leave it as something to look forward to after though. 'Sides, I'm wearing far too many clothes right now..."

"You are, I very much agree with that assessment," Marco practically hummed against Felix's mouth. "Let me fix that for you. Come here..."

He straightened up, nudging Felix up from his chair and pulled him in by the front of his shirt. Lips hovering right against Felix's mouth, Marco let his hands trail down along that lean chest, down to narrow waist and beyond. He breathed out a soft sigh as he hooked his fingers under a belt, pulling it open slowly while peering into Felix's eyes.

"Kiss me." A command, perhaps, or a request, barely more audible than a soft murmur but not asking for any arguments.

Felix was always happy when Marco moved him around as he pleased, arching into every touch, reaching up to tug at those beautiful golden curls, needing to touch Marco to tell himself the man was real. The command to kiss Marco was a welcome one, and Felix let out a relieved exhale for it before leaning in to press his mouth to Marco's, tongue eager and searching as his belt easily opened under Marco's clever fingers. He rarely wore clothing difficult to get out of, especially around Marco, so the removal of his belt made his pants loose enough to slip down his hips.

Marco was discovering that Felix's eagerness to follow his orders and yield to whatever demanding touch he put on the man brought him satisfaction that he hadn't exactly expected to feel. It was a little bit of a new thing for them but definitely something he enjoyed.

He let them both enjoy the kiss for a long while, his gentle fingertips dipping under Felix's underwear to push them down the same way his pants had gone, then spent a while just drawing light circles onto Felix's hips and glutes, sometimes dipping his fingers into creases of skin under his buttocks and between them. In the meanwhile their tongues intertwined together, Marco slowly taking control of the kiss, driving Felix back into his own mouth, which he happily made love to after, slowly and thoroughly.

Into the woods

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