Snow fell harder, pretty much blinding everyone walking through it. That included Jake and Derrick, who walked side-by-side to who-knows-where in complete silence. Without really speaking, they seemed to agree to head back to the castle. Problem was: the front gates were a lot farther away than they originally thought. Which gave them a lot of time to think.
Jake decided he had no regrets trying to kiss Derrick. If he didn't take the initiative, then who would? His main concern was his new discovery of Derrick's worst fear. His fear to love. It was weird really. Why was he afraid to love? The werewolf was now determined to find out.
Jake was also a bit antsy that he couldn't feel any tingly feeling in his stomach-that strange feeling that he got when Derrick felt a good emotion. Did this mean the prince did not like the almost-kiss? Then it hit Jake- was this an invasion of privacy? Should he tell Derrick that he knows all of this stuff about his emotions?
But, unknown to Jake, Derrick was still hung up on what happened mere minutes ago.
Did Jake really just try to kiss him?
Derrick didn't know what he thought about that.
Wasn't it too soon? Derrick had never kissed anyone, didn't know anything about it, and knew for sure he wasn't going to be good at it.
He didn't even want to be kissed anyways.
Nope, no siree, nuh-uh, not one bit, absolutely not- no kisses for this prince.
Derrick looked at Jake, who looked deep in thought as well. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss someone. He had always thought it was extremely gross. But, then again, if it was so 'gross' then why do people do it all the time? The prince let his walls down just a tad and cautiously allowed his mind to wonder what it really felt like. What would it feel like to have someone you trust- someone you love's lips against yours? Derrick's eyes traced over Jake's lips for a second, before darting to Jake's eyes to distract himself.
Jake felt eyes staring at him and turned his head to face his soulmate. Eyes locked for a second before Derrick looked a away, slightly blushing.
The prince's walls raised back up.
What are you doing? he chided himself, Idiot! No falling in love, remember?
"Derrick?" Jake asked, his voice kind and calm.
And now you're caught! Derrick thought, This is why I don't let my guard down.
"Yeah?" Derrick mumbled, wondering if Jake was going to make fun of him.
"Have you...felt something?" The werewolf nervously bit his lip.
Derrick raised a questionable brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean-" Jake sighed- "Like do you get tingly when I smile?"
Derrick must have choked on air, because he was coughing and red-faced.
Jake's eyes widened.
"Wait! No!" Jake corrected, "I mean- like every time you feel happy or something, I get this warm little tingly feeling in my stomach."
Stop, Pickle snickered, Just stop.
"Jake," Derrick winced, still red in the face, "I really don't want to kno-"
"Pickle told me that every time you feel happy, I get these tingly feelings in my stomach," Jake tried again, "What I am trying to say is that...I'm starting to feel your emotions."
Derrick immediately scowled.
"You what?"
"I promise," Jake said, "I have no control over this. I know it's sorta an invasion of privacy, but I'm sorry. I can't help it. I-I just want to know... Do you feel mine too?"
Jake thought Derrick was going to explode. He knew Derrick had secrets and was sure the prince would blow up with rage if he knew that someone was invading his space.
"No," was all the prince said, staring at the white snow in concentration. Jake noted how the prince's eyebrows furrowed when he was thinking hard- and how he bit his pretty pink lip.
"You're not mad?" Jake questioned.
"Not at you," Derrick said, "You didn't do anything." Derrick shook his head, " I should've known this was going to happen."
Derrick looked a little...discouraged? It seemed as if he too was realizing that they were getting closer and closer.
Jake shifted closer to Derrick and reached out to grab his shoulder. The two stopped and looked at each other. Derrick wondered what Jake was doing.
Suddenly, the werewolf pulled the prince into a loving hug.
They were still in the cold winter outside the castle, but as soon as Jake hugged him, Derrick felt heat spread everywhere. Sparks of warmth bounced around on his insides, as if there wasn't still some there from that almost-intimate moment they had together. It's like when they were separated, the sparks were put out. However, a simple touch, a hug, or even a smile and they seemed to re-light.
Jake hunched over and buried his face into Derrick's shoulder, taking in the smell of his soulmate.
You do realize he's not going to feel your emotions until he accepts you as a soulmate, right? Pickle told the werewolf, And when he does accept you- WHICH HE WILL- everything is going to come at once. You two won't REALLY get close until he wants to. So you better get your gay werewolf butt into action, boi. 'Cause you know he's not just gonna wake up one morning and say 'You know what? Let's accept that our soulmate is half-dog!'
I know, Jake chuckled, I've got a plan.
No, you don't, Pickle huffed, then suddenly purred as Derrick hugged them back.
You're right, Jake said, I don't. Got any ideas?
Yeah...I've got a couple, Pickle said calmly, Well, first of all-
"Jake?" Derrick asked.
I swear, if any of them have to do with sex-
"Jake!" Derrick said, angrily poking his shoulder. Jake looked at his soulmate.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"You can let go now," Derrick huffed. In all honesty, the prince didn't really want his soulmate to move away. Mainly because it was snowing and Jake was pretty warm, but the prince was extremely stubborn.
Jake let go of his soulmate, pushing thoughts of his and Pickle's conversation behind him. He noticed that Derrick's nose had taken on a red tint and cooed inwardly at how cute he looked. It was like looking at a cute little kitten that got caught in the cold.
Even though he was just freezing and grumpy.
~{()}~
"Just-Just sit here, take a nap, or something," Derrick sighed, "I need to go somewhere."
"Where are you going?" Jake asked, curious, "Why can't I go with you?"
"Because- Ugh!" Derrick growled and looked at his soulmate, who was sitting on his bed. It was about an hour after their almost-kiss and they were trying to decide what to do. Derrick wanted desperately go to the attic since he hasn't been for two days- all because of the man sitting on his bed. He usually went everyday, so he felt starved from his place of safety.
And no way in God's name is he ever going to show it to anybody. And that included Jake.
"Okay," Jake said, breaking his train of thoughts, "You can go. I won't force you to tell me. I won't follow you or anything. Just...if I take a nap...can I sleep in your bed?"
"You know what? Sure," Derrick sighed, pointing an accusing finger at the werewolf, "Just don't mess anything up."
Jake smiled, "Yes, your majesty."
Derrick didn't know why he blushed, but he did. The prince swiftly walked out of the door, closing it loudly behind him. Jake waited a few seconds, just in case, and then fell backward onto the bed. Dang, he hadn't been on a bed in a very long time. Like a dog, the werewolf wiggled on top of the comforter, probably messing up it's neatness. He didn't care. He turned on his stomach and nuzzled into the pillows and blankets. He took in the scent of his beautiful prince and smiled at how strong it was when he smelt it. Almost giggling, he dug his face into the pillow.
Good night, Jakey-poo, Pickle said, Dream wet dreams for me.
Good night, Jake sighed in content, ignoring what Pickle said. He wasn't about to have those kind of dreams yet, but that didn't mean Derrick wouldn't be the subject of his dreams.
Maybe- in his dreams- they might have finished what Jake started in the gardens.
~{()}~
Derrick climbed a latter to the entrance of the attic. As soon as he made it inside the worn room, he pulled the latter up and shut the trap. He glanced around at the dust-covered instruments and the rusted objects. He looked at all the old art stuffed into boxes- stuff he or anyone else hasn't touched since his mother died.
He wouldn't dare move anything. It made him think back of the day when his mother and him last left this room together.
Derrick was frustrated. He was sure his mother would accept him- accept Jake. But she isn't here anymore. What if his father found out? What if he hated Jake? What if he kicked them both out?
What if one day he couldn't come to this attic anymore?
The thought alone made him want to cry. A lump in his throat started to build, but he forced it back. Thoughts came pouring in. Bad thoughts.
Each one made him doubt himself.
What if his mother was just trying to be happy for him? What if she really didn't accept him? What if she was up there in heaven or wherever and thinking to herself 'What did I do to deserve such a weak son?' What if his father said the same thing? Would destiny really be that awful to him?
Derrick never believed in self harm. Never.
But right now he was so frustrated and confused to the point of wanting to release some tears-to the point wear he just wanted to punch something-someone.
Even if it was himself.
He settled with punching the floor, hoping he didn't damage the sacred room. He sighed when he noticed that it did nothing.
The prince decided that it was time to go back before his soulmate broke anything. He had only spent a few minutes in the attic, but he would be back tomorrow. Right now he had a responsibility.
But before he left he sat and looked at a drawing he drew as a kid- one that he and his mother hung up many years ago.
"Mom?" he asked, feeling kind of stupid, "If you're there...show me that you're okay with this. And if you can-help me be okay with this."
He sat there in silence for a bit, as if waiting for a response. After a while, he figured she wasn't going to answer back, so he stood up. He opened up the trap door and lowered the latter. Before leaving he mumbled, "Love you, mom."
The prince walked down the hallway, ignoring the maids and servants bustling past him or giving him greetings. When he arrived at his door, it came to his attention that his soulmate was on the other side, but there was no noise coming from inside the room.
He prayed that Jake didn't do anything rash.
As he opened the door, he braced himself for impact. He was met with the werewolf snuggled into his sheets. Jake appeared to be so at peace and warm-and dare he say- cute.
Derrick sighed and shook his head.
This guy was going to be the death of him.
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