All bad ideas need to happen sometime. How would the vastness of reality understand that it was a truly bad idea unless someone, somewhere decided to act it out in an impulsive decision that they would surely live to regret?
This bad decision was made by Alberu Crossman.
The awkward and stilted visit to check up on Cale Henituse had left him feeling a bit more worried than before he'd gone. Cale's behavior had been anxious in a way that stuck out starkly from all of Alberu's previous interactions with him.
Of course, as the crown prince they had no deeper relationship so to speak of and thus it would be strange for him to press for more information. And truthfully that should have been the end of it. Alberu really did have no connection to Cale other than the complicated feelings of responsibility that arose due to the kidnapping.
There was nothing else to it.
Restless and unable to let it go at just that, Alberu made what is commonly referred to as a 'stupid decision'.
He couldn't visit any further as Alberu Crossman but that wasn't his only option, was it?
Alberu's feet tapped down gently on the balcony. Despite all of the stealth he currently utilized, he couldn't help but check his surroundings yet again to make sure that he hadn't been spotted. Once he was sure that absolutely no one was paying any mind to Cale's balcony, and why would they? It was the dead of night, he gently knocked on the window. Adjusting the veil concealing half of his face yet again, anxious not to be recognized.
There was a long enough silence that he thought he might have to knock again but then the window opened to reveal Cale's confused face.
"...you're that one bastard." Cale hissed out, apparently crude even when he was too surprised to even scowl. "What are you... how..."
Alberu shrugged helplessly, only now understanding that his very bad idea also had very poor planning because he didn't have the slightest idea how to answer. "I was worried about you."
It was the truth. There really wasn't any deeper meaning to that simple fact.
Alberu was entirely unprepared for the red that flooded Cale's pale cheeks, entirely prompted by his words.
Alberu's heart picked up, pounding restlessly in his chest. He suddenly couldn't help but remember Cale's words and actions in vivid detail.
"W... why would you worry?" Cale sputtered a bit, attempting to scowl to hide his fluster. "Who are you? Why did you help me?"
For some reason, Alberu heard the question differently than he ought to.
Maybe it was the way the moonlight danced on Cale's deep red hair or the way his too brown eyes sought out answers. The disheveled appearance of a man who'd only just dragged himself from bed. The memories dancing inside of his mind mockingly.
Alberu knew, logically speaking, what Cale was actually asking. A suspicious stranger helps him escape kidnappers and checks up on him afterwards? Who wouldn't be curious about such a shady individual.
And yet the question really cut through to him.
Why was he, Alberu Crossman, so intent on helping Cale Henituse? Why was he so concerned over him? Why did his eyes follow him in any room? Why did he remember their every interaction with such attention to detail?
Why was he so entirely enraptured by everything that Cale was?
"I don't know." Alberu reached out without really intending to, his thumb gently caressing Cale's cheek as for just a moment he wondered what it would be like to make a really bad decision. "...I think I might be enchanted."
Bad decisions have to occur somewhere to be real. Someone has to make all the mistakes for the universe to mark down that, yes, that was indeed a stupid thing to do.
Alberu leaned forward, grazing his lips gently against Cale's through the veil as though asking for permission.
Anyone in their right mind would push him away. Anyone would be smart enough not to get swept away in this ridiculous impulse.
Cale wasn't known for his good decisions either.
Cale pulled away the veil, wrapping his arms around Alberu's neck and pulling him inside the dark bedroom to deepen the kiss.
Foolish and hasty with pounding hearts that mirrored one another, it didn't take very long at all before Alberu was pressed up against the wall with his arms securely around Cale's waist and insistent kisses littered down Cale's neck.
"That doesn't answer my questions at all." Cale complained but the weight of his body kept Alberu pinned, his fingers running through silky dark locks.
"I know, I'm sorry." Alberu apologized between kisses.
How long had he wanted to kiss Cale Henituse?
He couldn't say for sure but at this moment he couldn't understand why he'd held back from doing so for so long. The taste and feel of Cale was addicting.
"Is this revenge for when I bit you?" Cale asked, arching his neck as Alberu kissed the base of his neck softly.
"Yes." Alberu hadn't intended for it to be so but Cale had left a rather uncomfortable mark that was hard to hide. He wondered how it would feel to leave a matching mark on Cale...
The sharp gasp that Cale let out made his heart hungry for more.
Alberu's fingers danced along Cale's spine and an impulsive thought made him wonder if he could feel his skin.
Cale pulled him up by his hair and he was met with a greedy glare before Cale claimed his lips in a possessive kiss that made his knees feel weak.
Alberu knew they needed to stop. This couldn't continue. Cale didn't even know who he was and for that matter, this was a match made in hell. The crown prince and the trash of the count's family? It couldn't work.
He knew he needed to gently push Cale away and apologize for instigating this mess. Leave before he caused anymore damage. He needed to do the right thing.
Perhaps he'd just spent too much of his life pushing away any hedonistic instinct in favor of doing the right thing because Alberu couldn't find the strength.
It felt good. It was insane and stupid and he could feel Cale's heart beating against his own with how close their bodies were pressed together and he didn't want to stop.
Cale pulled away, lips pink and eyes dark with a desire that sent shivers down Alberu's spine. "Are you at least going to give me a name?"
Alberu wondered how much worse this could get. Should he come clean right here? Admit fault and leave? That would be the right thing to do. But he also couldn't let his identity be revealed and the truly correct thing to do would have been to never cross this boundary.
"...Bob."
Cale snorted. "That's a dumb name." He pulled 'Bob' into a biting kiss and smirked. "I think I'm a bit 'enchanted' too, Bob." He said without a hint of shame and there was an elegance to his expression that looked so out of place on Cale's normally roguish face. "How about we do this again sometime?"
Alberu nodded mutely. Some alarm in the very back of his mind was blaring with piercing accuracy. If he let this go on then there was very little he'd be able to deny Cale Henituse. It was learning he had a weakness all the while falling prey to it.
Cale smiled again but it was softer this time, pressing his lips against Alberu's gently. "You should leave now." He said. "Otherwise I will definitely take this farther."
It was startling for Alberu to realize how tempting that was. But even he had enough self control left to agree with the line Cale was drawing. They shouldn't go any farther yet.
Yet was implied in the way Cale's eyes consumed him hungrily and the way Alberu wanted nothing more than to throw away his every reasonable reservation. Cale's loose clothes and the fresh hickeys lining his neck and lord it was hard to walk away.
Alberu nodded again, swallowing his impulsive desires and fixing his veil, looking off towards the window. "...when should I come back?"
He could hear the smirk in Cale's voice. "Tomorrow night."
This was well and truly a bad decision.
It was a bad decision that they had every intention of repeating.