A very late Christmas fic for @shoegazerx that I know she’ll secretly love and pretend to hate. *blows kiss* 

Royale Instinct AU: Last Christmas

Adam Towers was a fool no longer.

He still remembered the last words he heard Prince Jean Duran speak to him.

“Love does not factor into this and we both know it. My duty is to my kingdom not to you.”

Adam was shattered when the arrogant bloody prick left for his duty and sought comfort from anyone who would show him the time of day for nearly a month before he decided to do the next best thing:

Ignore it.

He went after every story, danced at every party, and even dated someone famous for a few months before he thought better of it.

Love was someone who had a heart and that no longer applied to him.

Jean Duran is in trouble.

The Prince fled his country after a coup de tete where they rebels kill his new wife and take over the castle because he’s “unfit” in their eyes. He thought he’d been so very careful but his dalliances had been found out and the blowback was immense.

The Future King was not supposed to be inviting men into his bed when his wife with her perfectly good womb waited for an heir.

Jean took solace at the embassy, made contact with the President himself, and was sure things would be cleared up before the Christmas holiday. Then he was invited to celebrate at a gala and ran into the one person he never expected to see again.

Adam looked radiant in his anger, justified of course as Jean had tossed him aside for fears he no longer had. His kingdom didn’t want an heir who had no qualms about who he took to bed? It was none of their business.

They avoided each other the entire evening though he felt Adam’s eyes on him more than once throughout. There was talk of him, the investigative reporter who would gladly sell his own mother for a story. Jean found himself intrigued by the change in him.

The dance floor was filled with couples by the end of the evening in various colors of red, green, and black. He spotted Adam with a man twice his age and the jealousy that overtook him was unwarranted.

That did not stop him from walking towards them.

“Excuse me, may I cut in?”

Adam’s partner chuckled and backed off, which made it simple for him to guide them together while surprise still seemed to have taken hold on his partner.

“What are you doing?”

“Dancing with you,” he murmured, turning them expertly, “Has it been so long since you’ve had a proper partner?”

Adam fought his hold and Jean held on. “No, I’ve had plenty. How’s your wife, Highness?”

“Dead,” Jean answered as he dipped Adam low.

For a split second there was sadness in Adam’s eyes but then indifference again. “I’m sorry.” 

“It’s no matter,” he continued, “She was barely a wife.”

“Are you that much of a bloody monster now that you…?”

Jean kissed him before Adam could finish and the taste of his tongue burned through right down to his toes. Adam pushed him back and stomped off, though there was interest now from the crowd. He followed and his guards as well from their hidden places.

There was a small courtyard that overlooked the skyline and he could feel the bite of cold against his face as he walked. Adam was as far as he could be and still quite alone on a bench with no coat of his own either. 

“You’ll catch cold.” 

“I don’t give a bloody fuck.” 

“Language.” 

He sat down and Adam moved to stand, though Jean held him still. 

“She’s really dead?” 

“Yes, there was an uprising. I’m surprised you’re not aware, working in the paper.”

“I like to pretend you don’t exist, so it was fairly simple not to know.”

Jean smiled and eased his hold, the touch soft as he refused to take his hand off Adam’s knee. “I’ve missed you.” 

Adam looked at him, his eyes narrow and hard. “I haven’t missed you.” 

“Liar. I can see it in your eyes.” 

It began to snow but neither of them moved as they stared. 

“What else do you see?” 

“Anger,” Jean whispered, “Hurt,” he reached up to touch Adam’s cheek, “Love.” 

There were tears in Adam’s eyes. “I hate you, so that one is definitely…” 

He kissed him quiet, the touch a soft burn now that he never wanted to stop. Adam pushed him back and then grabbed hold of his tie to pull them closer. Jean pulled back to press their cheeks together as he whispered. 

“Now?” 

“I can’t do this again,” Adam whispered, “I can’t.” 

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised and pulled back to look him in the eye, “I promise you. Spend Christmas with me.” 

“At the embassy.” 

“Yes.” 

Adam laughed. “As your…?” 

“Love, Shejtan,” Jean whispered, taking his hand up to kiss, “As my love.” 

Adam smiled. “How could I say no to that?”