PSL for red_peril

[ill_take_bottom]

[Past lives AU. In a past life, Napoleon was the Duke of Suffolk under King Henry the Eighth. Illya was the Prince of Valencia. They had met when the Duke was visiting Valencia to attend a ball in the King's name. Incidentally they met before the ball due to the Duke being on the grounds hunting and rescuing the Prince from an assassination attempt while he'd been out for a walk. The Duke had seen the Prince drowning and dove into a small lake after him. Soon after this they began an affair and fell in love, but it ended tragically when the Duke was killed in battle. Now they have found one another again. During the first chase, Napoleon felt like he knew the man chasing them and this was why he didn't shoot him. During the meeting the next day, when they were fighting, suddenly Napoleon remembered, but he kept it t himself sine he didn't want anyone to think he was crazy. Illya remembered after he almost drowned and Napoleon saved him. Of course, Napoleon knew that he knew when Illya called him by the name of the man he had been, Charles. After this, Napoleon tried to act like it was nothing, pushing Illya away even though Illya tried his hardest to get closer.)


Charles frowned as the rabbit he'd been aiming at turned and took off as the sounds of what could only be a struggle reached his ears. He turned himself, looking back towards the palace grounds before humming and heading in the same direction they were coming from. He'd only been in Valencia for two days and already he'd fallen in love with it. The city was absolutely beautiful from what he had seen so far and the game was plentiful. When he'd been given permission to do a little hunting, he'd certainly taken the opportunity. Though now he was beginning to wonder if perhaps he should have left the palace grounds themselves.

As he was stepping out of the forest he frowned when he saw a robed man hitting another over the head before quickly dumping him over the edge of a nearby bridge and into what looked to be a deep pond. "You there! Stop!" He shouted, running as quickly as he could towards the bridge. He raised his bow, aiming carefully and managing to embed the arrow he loosed into the attacker's leg, though he doubted that would stop the man completely from running. It might still help them identify him later. He turned, throwing the bow and his quiver down then, turning to the edge of the bridge and without a second thought he dove in, grabbing the other once he found him.

He pulled them both above the surface, gasping for air as he tried to force the other man to breath. "Come on. Breath. Breath!" He shouted, but nothing. So he swam for shore, carefully laying the man out and frowning. He was carefully as he tilted his head, pressing against his chest. It was a new technique, one that had recently made news from Amsterdam and he hoped like hell that it actually worked. He pressed a few times before pressing his mouth over the others, blowing to try and get him to breath again.

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[red_peril]

Andrew coughed and the water spewed from him. It seemed like gallons. He tried to breathe and coughed up more. Thankfully, someone had the sense to roll him onto his side. It took him a few minutes of coughing to regain his breath and recover his senses. When he looked up it was to see the face of a stranger. One with the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. "T-thank you, sir," he managed to mumble between coughs.

[ill_take_bottom]

"Don't try to talk." He said quietly, keeping him rolled onto his side after he'd started coughing the water up. He was patting his back, trying to help bring the water up before turning his head to look at where he'd shot the attacker. Of course he was gone from what he could tell, but it wouldn't be hard to find him again with the wound Charles had given him. "I'm Charles Brandon. The Duke of Suffolk...thank god I heard the struggle while I was hunting. Whatever happened to cause that man to attack you?" It wasn't as if he knew who the man was, after all.

[red_peril]

"Charles, thank you," Andrew said, he could breathe now and rolled over to get a better look at the man who had saved him. "I'm Andrew..." he hesitated to tell the stranger exactly who he was. This wasn't the first assassination attempt, it wouldn't be the last. It was hard to know who to trust these days.

"Ah... just a thief. I refused to give up my purse. Seems he got it after all." More likely it was at the bottom of the pond, not that it mattered. He sat up carefully, ribs aching.

[ill_take_bottom]

"Well, if you get word to the King quickly, they can send a party out looking for the thief. I left a rather unique wound, one he wouldn't be able to hide easily and I doubt he would have gotten far yet." He said, watching him a moment. God, the man was beautiful and for a moment, Charles couldn't stop staring at him. He cleared his throat though, looking away and brushing his fingers through his hair. "I managed to shoot him through the calf. If he doesn't bleed to death, the wound would be easily found."

[red_peril]

"I would rather not bother my... King with this," Andrew said. The Duke of Suffolk. Henry's man. He had no idea what a precarious state Valencia was in.

Andrew's father could do nothing about the attack. Nor could the Duke know that the man behind the assassination attempt was Andrew's uncle, the king's younger brother. "My cottage is not far from here. If you would help me get there, it would be greatly appreciated."

[ill_take_bottom]

"Of course." He said, offering his hand to help the man up before smiling warmly. "At least it is warm here. Not much chance to catch a chill in Valencia this time of year. It is a thing to be grateful for." Then he let the other man direct him towards the cottage he spoke of. As they walked he continued to study the man carefully, head tilted somewhat. "Will you be at the ball tomorrow night? Perhaps I will see you there. It would be nice to actually speak to someone who could tell me a little more about Valencia that is not...someone who will only show me the best. I'm the kind of man who enjoys seeing everything a city has to offer."

[red_peril]

"Thank you," Andrew said as the man helped him to his feet. "That is true." He smiled softly. "I will be there," he admitted. Although, if Charles was going to be there, it might be a more pleasant affair. "Well, I think you have seen the worst of it."

The cottage, as he said, was not far. It was a modest thing. Definitely not the place most would expect to find the son of the King. It had been the home of the horse master of the court. Since the man had died, years before, Andrew kept the place up and used it as a sanctuary of sorts. He opened the door and ushered Charles inside. Andrew had some clothes there.

"Everything meaning, gambling and companionship?"

[ill_take_bottom]

"Well yes, that too, though I don't wish anyone of the court to see me brutish." He said with a laugh and a blush on his cheeks. He knew, even in other lands, that rumors of him had spread. Men knew to keep their wives and daughters well within their view and away from him. It was also well known that he wasn't of noble birth. He'd been given his station by his dearest friend, King Henry. Many people looked down on him for that fact and that was some of the reason he acted the way he did. The less well known rumors, though they were still rumors nonetheless, were that his proclivities didn't only lie with women. No one had any proof of this, of course. Charles was smart and very discrete. He'd had to be, afterall.

"Of course, I think that happens to be my reputation anyway." He shrugged a shoulder, his smile only going wider as he looked around the cottage. "This is a lovely home you have, Andrew." He turned back, locking eyes with the man. "You mentioned clothes, correct? Would it be too much of a bother if I borrowed some and had them delivered back to you?"

[red_peril]

"I doubt anyone in the court here would see you so. You are not the only one with such a reputation." Gambling and womanizing was not seen brutish in Valencia. It would have been thought particularly unmanly not to do so. "I am afraid we share in that reputation." And more.

"It is not much, but it is quiet. Indeed, I did," he said. One small room with a bed, a table and chairs, and a fireplace. What else did he need? He went to the chest by the bed and opened it, pulling out dry pants and shirts for both of them. The clothing was plain. Nothing that one would imagine to see a prince in. He also handed Charles a towel with which to dry himself. Andrew couldn't help but notice his savior's hair was drying into thick dark, curls. "You can leave your clothes here to dry, if you like, and get them later." He slipped out of his own wet shirt and hung it from one of the bare rafters.

[ill_take_bottom]

"That would be most appreciated." He said with another laugh as he took the towel and stripped out of his own shirt. He looked the other man over when he thought he wasn't looking, certainly appreciating his form. "Is it just you here, though? Surely you have a wife? Children?" Oh he knew he was searching, he only hoped the man wouldn't realize why and turn him in or start even more rumors about his deviancy. At least it seemed the man was only a servant, so it wasn't likely that his words would matter much. Though, he did say he would be at the ball which indicated either he was a high standing servant or perhaps he was a member of the court who preferred the privacy of the cottage. It was something to consider.

He cleared his throat, looking over again briefly as he finished stripping out of the rest of his clothes.

[red_peril]

Andrew held out his hand for Charles' shirt and hung it up with his own. He did notice the looks that Charles was giving him. "No. I have no one. I have not yet found a woman who would put up with my company."

Not that his family hadn't tried to marry him off. At one time, they had entertained the idea that he should be betrothed to Mary, Henry's eldest daughter. Though on finding out she was just a child, and Andrew almost twenty years her senior, he had refused.

Charles need not have worried. Andrew wouldn't turn him in. Not without compromising himself. The Englishman wasn't the only one indulging in glances at somebody.

[ill_take_bottom]

He hesitated at the small clothes he wore, turning his head a bit. "I know this is...awkward, but do you also have small clothes I could have? I promise I will replace them. I just don't particularly...feel..." He trailed off for a moment, his jaw dropping slightly as he turned his head more to stare at Andrew. The man had actually stripped down and he could look upon him properly as he moved. He swallowed, snapping his mouth shut suddenly when he saw that the other was looking at him.

He turned away, clearing his throat before pushing his fingers into is hair. "I am sorry. I should have waited a moment..."

[red_peril]

"Oh, yes, of course..." Andrew said, digging into the chest again to get out some for both of them. Though, being in a warmer climate, the 'small clothes' he had were not the same sort the English wore. They definitely did not cover up as much.

"Here..." he looked at Charles a moment, really looked at him. "You have nothing to be sorry for, sir." He shrugged. "Now we have both seen one another and can vouch that we are both men." He did blush a little, handing Charles the underthings.

[ill_take_bottom]

"Certainly..." He started, though he trailed off a bit at the way Andrew looked at him. He had taken the underthings, bunching them in his hand for a moment before setting them aside. "Its warm enough...perhaps we don't have to get dressed quite yet." He said, the words slow, hesitant.

"We could finish drying as we are. I would see no issues in it...if you do not mind."

[red_peril]

"No, I do not mind," he started to towel himself off. Charles was not certainly not offensive to the eye. Andrew toweled off his hair and then finger combed it into place. There was a bruise on his chest that was a bit sore and he was developing a lump on the back of his head where the 'thief' had hit him. He didn't recall the man hitting him in the chest. He rubbed his hand over the spot. He must have gotten it when the attacker dumped him off the bridge. Not that it mattered.

"Would you like something to drink?"

[ill_take_bottom]

He finished toweling himself off as well before hanging the wet towel up to dry as well. He cleared his throat once more, standing still and looking at the bruise before he moved closer slowly under the impression of wanting to get a closer look at the bruise and to make sure the man was alright. He reached out, touching the skin around the bruise carefully. "You'll likely be sore for some time. I think when your assailant pushed you over the edge of the bridge you might have caught on the outer wall. Turn around so I can see where he hit you." He said quietly, looking into his eyes.

"Oh, yes a drink would be nice. But in a moment perhaps. I want to make sure you're okay."

[red_peril]

"Alright," Andrew turned as he was asked and sat on the edge of the bed, so that Charles could have a better look at his head. The back of his head was tender and he could feel the swelling there. "Does it look as bad as it feels?" It felt like it was the size of a goose egg.

"I'm very fortunate that you were hunting nearby and that you were able to save my life." Aside from the bump on his head, and the bruise forming on his chest, he felt as well as he could, he supposed.

[ill_take_bottom]

"I actually had other plans today. I was trying to seek an audience with the Prince, but was told he was otherwise occupied." He said softly as he moved up behind Andrew, brushing his hair apart and carefully touching around the bump and frowning. "I don't think it is serious, though you should certainly take it easy. Wouldn't do for you to pass out." He smiled then, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm glad I was hunting and that I came along in time. I have to say, other than you being attacked, this would have to be the highlight of my day." He smirked a bit, slipping out from behind him, but not before brushing his shoulder carefully.

[red_peril]

He hissed at the touch, gentle as it was, it did hurt. "Well, it was my lucky day that the prince was not available. I will have to thank him." Andrew had a little smirk of his own. He was tempted to tell Charles that he was already having a very private audience with the prince. But why spoil the fun?

Especially after that touch on his shoulder. How often did he get to play the ordinary man? Even if the man was slightly deviant from the norms of society. He looked at Charles openly as he moved apart from him. The Englishman was of good form and he certainly seemed open to the idea of spending his afternoon with Andrew. "I really should find a proper way to thank you, Charles. But I am as you see, a man of humble means."

[ill_take_bottom]

"You have already allowed me to borrow a set of your clothes and you are giving me time to dry off and have offered a drink. I would accept any way you wish to thank me, even if it were only in words." He said softly, licking his lips a moment later. He stepped closer, resting a hand on his shoulder this time, feeling the muscle beneath the skin and slowly drawing his thumb over, moving his hand until it was resting around the back of Andrew's neck.

This was a daring move and he knew it, but currently his mind was throwing caution to the wind so he leaned in. His eyes were on Andrew's, watching for any signs that this was not welcome and that he had misjudged before pressing their lips together slowly.

[red_peril]

Charles' touch on his shoulder this time had more intent. He shuddered when that questing hand reached the back of his neck. Andrew blushed a bit as he watched the Englishman come closer, and gave him a smile to let him know that his boldness was appreciated. Andrew closed his eyes as their lips met. After a moment, he parted his, letting Charles deepen the kiss.

He slid an arm around the Englishman's waist and drew him to the bed as they kissed. When their lips parted, he smirked a little. "Here I thought I was supposed to be the one thanking you," he teased.

[ill_take_bottom]

"This is certainly a start." He teased back before playfully pushing Andrew to the bed. Once the man was there he moved closer, crawling up over him before letting a hand tangle in the man's blond hair, holding him as he kissed him again only deeper this time.

He shifted, slowly rolling his hips down against the other man's, groaning softly.

[red_peril]

"Indeed..." Andrew chuckled, perfectly willing to let Charles continue in his boldness. "A very good start, I think." He liked the man's hands on him. No one usually dared touch Andrew like this. He found he quite liked it.

Andrew moaned into the kiss as Charles moved over him. His body naturally answering to the Englishman's moves. He opened his legs, welcoming the other man closer.

[ill_take_bottom]

He settled himself there when Andrew's thighs spread to give him room, smiling before sucking in a breath as their skin brushed and created just the right kind of friction against both their cocks. "Andrew..." He sighed out, sliding a hand into his hair as he started kissing him again.

[red_peril]

He gasped a little as Charles moved over him, skin against skin setting up a delicious friction. He slid his hands over Charles' skin. Reaching up, he tangled his fingers into the dark curls along the back of the Englishman's neck. Andrew kissed him back, relishing every moment, every inch of skin explored. He wanted to lose himself in Charles' embrace and for once in his life, just be Andrew instead of a King's son.