Work Text:
After hours of scanning the inky blackness of the night, Trausi finally decided to accept the lethargy clinging to each of his limbs. Everyone else who lived within the fortified walls of the castle compound had gone to bed hours ago, but he’d stayed awake to keep watch for a while in case of a late-night attack. After the past few days, he wasn’t keen on taking any chances but tonight had been quiet.
Frowning into the dark horizon one last time, Trausi finally turned from the ledge of the watchtower and began making his way down the steps. Pausing at the door, he decided to do a lap around the castle before heading to his own home for some much-needed rest. Despite sleep being a welcome thought, he felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep without double checking that the gates were all locked.
He knew they were—he’d closed them himself earlier in the evening—but paranoia was becoming a close friend to them all these days.
It was… surprising, quite frankly, for him to realize he’d gotten attached to the group of Rusty Bones. A slightly rag-tag group of any random strangers turned quickly into close knit friends. He hadn’t expected to enjoy his time in the kingdom as much as he was, and he knew quite well the main cause of the positive energy.
King Foolish was a surprise, in a world full of untrusting, advancement-obsessed people, the man seemed a bit above it. Easy with smiles and laughter, calm with someone yelling in his face or with a gun pointed at him, quick to offer help or a listening ear. All of these were traits Trausi had noted in his new king with no small degree of shock before quickly realizing that Foolish was just like that.
The number of people who had flocked to Rusty Bones and since sworn their life to the kingdom and in particular their new king was almost baffling at first but Trausi found himself just as drawn in to the rather magnetic air surrounding the sickly ruler. He could hardly judge others for joining up after only a conversation with Foolish when he was no exception to falling for the easy charisma the king seemed to barely notice he was exuding.
Within the large group that had been attracted to the kingdom, Trausi found himself getting along with many of them and his days had been pleasantly spent working on different things and passing by different people with a friendly greeting shared. The strangers of days before had become instead familiar faces he went to battle beside, or that asked for advice on random things, or came to him to offer some information to pass on to Foolish or another royal. They were friends now, and, even if it meant staying awake watching for attacks, he wanted to protect them and the strange little lives they’d carved out for themselves here.
Trudging through the castle grounds, Trausi felt the last remnants of anxiety settle at the sight of everyone’s doors locked and all of the gates firmly shut. Within the gardens a few people had, dew from the cool night air had settled on plant leaves, glittering in the moonlight. A slow, quiet sense of peace washed over him as he came towards the castle entrance, his last place to check for the night.
Unsurprised to see the doors open, letting golden light from indoors stream onto the ground outside, Trausi paused when he heard the faint sounds of music. He really hadn’t expected anyone else to be up, and curiosity drove him to creep into the glow of the castle to see who it was.
The music became louder as he moved in and the sight that greeted him left a slow, warm contentment creeping through his body.
Foolish sat at the piano, playing a piece that Trausi thinks he’s heard the king play before—catching snippets between conversations where Foolish got drawn in as a mediator or authority. The king was quietly humming along to every other note, his head tilted down as if looking at the keys but his eyes were closed. He must be good at this—and know the song well—Trausi considered idly, to not be looking at where his hands were moving to play.
A greeting sat on the tip of his tongue but the words got caught in his mouth before he could call out. Instead, Trausi found himself just leaning against the wall to quietly listen without disturbing his king.
It didn’t take an idiot to realize that Foolish was ill, the coughing whenever he laughed and the raspy, strained voice were dead giveaways. In their own unique fashions, everyone in the kingdom tried to keep an eye on him because they all knew it took a toll on the man to talk and be active at all, never mind in the constantly chaotic and busy way being king required. No words were ever exchanged between him and the others, just a few quiet looks of shared concern whenever Foolish doubled over, caught halfway between a cough and a laugh. Trausi gave gifts of weapons and armour and whatever else he could find to provide to protect him, others offered vehicles, or company, or any number of other things they could give to bring a smile to their king’s face.
Trausi had seen Foolish bark a sudden, surprised laugh, or giggle uncontrollably for several minutes at a time, or simply chuckle at something, but he’d never seen the sort of quiet joy his king had right now before.
A small, almost imperceptible uptick of his lips was the only indication of a smile on Foolish’s face but the loose posture of his shoulders and way he swayed slightly on the piano chair along with the music was clear enough.
It made him glad, that his king had playing piano as a method of relaxing.
Trausi had gotten so caught up just listening that when the final few notes of the song played he hadn’t had time to move away or disappear back into the night to avoid alerting Foolish to his presence before the king’s eyes were open again and had found him across the room watching.
“Hey! Didn’t see you there, how’s it going?” Foolish beamed brightly, the words no less exuberant than usual, but a faint tension had appeared in his frame,
“Oh, good,” Trausi replied, an automatic, absent response as he narrowed his eyes, studying the man, “I was just doing a final check before going to bed.”
Foolish nodded sagely at this, “Yep, yep, I get that. Always better safe than sorry, though sleep is also important. You don’t want to be dragging in the morning.”
Humming noncommittally, Trausi queried, “So why are you up this late then? You tend to be up quite early like I am.”
“Ah… y’know… just making sure I’m not getting rusty—in the bad way, not the rusty bones way,” Foolish patted the piano keys affectionately, just light enough that they made no sound, “One of the few things I’m actually pretty good at around here. I’m not very handy with all that weapons-making stuff or building or anything,” he waved his hands around in nonspecific gesture, “But I can at least play piano.”
“It sounded nice,” he commented, quietly absorbing the more personal commentary from the king, “You do play well.”
A faint smile crept across Foolish’s face, closer now to the expression he had while playing, “Hey thanks man, that’s nice of you to say.”
“When did you learn?” Trausi asked, curious when faced with this different version of his king. No, not different, just a little more unguarded perhaps, open.
Face shuttering slightly, Foolish hid the drop in his expression behind a mild cough before answering, “When I was young I started playing. Something low energy you can do even while, ah, sick, and music is supposedly a refined skill for a royal. I ended up quite liking it and actually… well, that bit doesn’t matter so much, but the point is I do like playing.”
Trausi could tell there was more to the story with the slight slip in the king’s speech, but he suspected the only reason Foolish tripped up at all was the fact that it was late. He’d caught similar moments of holding back before, but never one quite so obvious as this.
“Anyway,” Foolish shuffled, getting up from the piano with an awkward grin, ”I’m uh… going to sleep now, I think.”
“Alright,” nodding simply as he tried to decipher whether or not to push, Trausi carefully caught the way Foolish’s eyes darted away from him nervously, “I’ll walk you back over to your home.”
Giving a slightly tight grin, Foolish accepted the company with a quick nod and the pair left the main hall. Foolish’s arms came to wrap around himself and immediately a few shivers ran through him. It wasn’t that cold out, he thought with a frown.
Trausi tried not to stare obviously, but outside of the warmth and soft, golden fire-light glow of the castle, Foolish looked far worse. He seemed far paler under moonlight, and the shivers made it that much more obvious than normal that he was sick. His shoulders were pulled forward, like he was trying to hide in the shape of his own body and he had eye-bags that Trausi could have sworn hadn’t been there in the daylight.
They were all busy, he knew that better than anyone, but the king in particular must be overworking himself to seem this tired.
“It’s so quiet here at night,” Foolish’s quiet comment snapped him out of his thoughts, the sudden words a surprise.
“It is,” Trausi agreed automatically, wondering again at this more subdued version of his king.
A light, reverent sigh came from the man at his side, “Nobody needs to talk to me at nighttime.”
Pieces clicked in Trausi’s head just as they arrived at the door to Foolish’s home.
Just before the king was able to reach for the keypad on his door, Trausi spoke, the words spilling from him without forethought, “I think I’ll take all the early risers out tomorrow to gather some resources. It could be helpful for the next few days, we’ll need supplies.”
Foolish’s face made an interesting expression, twisting into something both excited and dreading, “Sweet, I’ll probably be up earlier than that but let me know when we’re ready to go-“
“No, no, you stay here. We can’t have the castle without someone there to keep watch,” Trausi immediately shot back, only half aware of what result he was trying to get.
“I’m the king, I can’t expect my people to do things I’m not willing to do myself. Someone else can keep watch,” the slight scowl on Foolish’s face was a surprise.
Raising an eyebrow, Trausi said, “Keeping an eye on the castle is something you’re not willing to do? But you’ll ask one of your people to do it?”
“Okay-“ Foolish faltered, “Well… No, I am willing to but-”
“Take a morning to yourself,” Trausi said, voice dropping quieter despite the fact nobody else was around to hear, “Play piano, go fishing, plant things, whatever, but take some time.”
Perhaps predictably, Foolish’s scowl was back, and he waved his hands between them, almost a barrier, “No, Trausi, that’s not what I need. Actually, you’re the one always saying that we need to be productive and stuff!”
Mouth curling into a deeper frown, Trausi pointed out, “You can’t be productive if you are tired from staying up all night”
“This is a one-time thing, never happened before,” Foolish denied, shaking his head.
“It doesn’t matter,” he insisted, “Your people need you, right?”
Silently, Foolish nodded.
“Okay, then they need you at your best,” Trausi raised a hand to stop his king from interrupting, “It does no good if you are exhausted and run down. A strong leader makes for a strong kingdom.”
It was… not exactly the train of logic he’d have liked to use. He’d much prefer if he could just say hey let us take care of you but he was quickly understanding that Foolish probably wouldn’t accept that. If he had to frame this as something for the good of the kingdom to get Foolish to take more than a few minutes throughout the day to go sit down at the piano or stay up late just so that he could have a quiet moment of peace then so be it.
“Are you really saying I need a vacation for the good of the kingdom,” Foolish’s tone was sardonic, a wry smile on his face.
“Not a vacation, no,” Trausi shrugged, purposefully casual, “Just an hour or so where you can do something aside from being king.”
Foolish protested, “I’m fine, I’m the heir, I was trained to be king. I have nights to do what I like you don’t need to…” suddenly Foolish trailed off, scanning over Trausi’s expression. He let him look, unsure of what Foolish was searching for until finally he said quietly, resignation in his tone, “You won’t drop this.”
“No, my king, I won’t,” Trausi confirmed, not quite able to parse the sudden shift, “We all want you well, and it’s hardly a chore. We do need resources, and we do need at least one person here to keep watch.”
Time stretched out as Foolish stared at him, his mind visibly ticking away.
Trausi was trying to come up with another pitch when suddenly his king spoke up, “Okay.”
“What?”
“I said okay,” Foolish frowned, slightly petulant, “Don’t make me say it again.”
Trying to suppress the pleased feeling in his gut, Trausi accepted this with a nod, “Alright, good. Now sleep,” he reached forward and pat Foolish on the head like the king did to many of his subjects, lightly ruffling his hair, “Staying up late can be bad if you’re getting up early too. Rest is important for your health,” Trausi said, keeping his voice carefully level as Foolish struggled to hide his surprise even as he stayed still under the contact.
“Yeah-“ the king swallowed harshly, seeming to readjust as a sudden bright grin grew on his face when Trausi pulled away, “Yeah you’re right Trausi, you always are.”
A softer smile grew across his face without his permission, “I am your war general after all.”
“Yeah you are,” Foolish’s eyes were shining, more stark against the night sky than any stars, “But make sure you get sleep too y’know? Take your own advice.”
Trausi nodded, “Of course my king.”
Foolish made eye contact with him, and a quiet, wordless understanding passed between them. Trausi felt the same swell of protectiveness as earlier return in full. Rusty bones was his kingdom, and Foolish was his king. He would keep them all safe, and if that meant less that he needed to go to war and more that he needed to offer Foolish a few quiet moments to himself, so be it.
“Goodnight Trausi,” Foolish said, finally turning to open the first of his doors, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight,” he replied, “Sleep well.”
With a final smile, Foolish closed the door and Trausi was left alone in the night.
Walking to his own house, he considered what kinds of materials he could get everyone to gather tomorrow. Taking a deep breath, he realized again that it wasn’t a particularly cold night.
Maybe they could hunt some boars, their king could always use a fur-lined coat to keep him warm. Nobody would want Foolish to get any sicker, so they couldn’t let him be out in the cold unprepared.
Yes, Trausi nodded to himself, that was a good plan.