For a moment, Alfred's jaw works wordlessly - then he laughs, a bit sheepish.
"Well, you see - when I was little, I - I used to dream about a castle. It was big, and it scared me. I was...I was not a daring child."
His expression is thoughtful as he tries to think back.
"And there was always a man there outside the castle, and he would always tell me not to be afraid. That there was a Prince in there, and someday, I could...I could grow up and be his Knight. I told my parents about it, and they...well, they questioned it, said that I must mean a Princess, but...."
Idly, he toys with the end of Herbert's hair.
"...But no, the man definitely said Prince. A lonely Prince who would need me, someday." His brows furrow.
"Come to think of it...the man was...I think he was a shepherd."
"He must have been. He was! I know it was him, now. It - so much makes sense."
The younger vampire beams, bright-eyed. "I'm not much of a Knight. But I'm... I'm so glad. I'm so glad it was real. That I found you. That we found each other."
"You're my Knight. You've rescued me from loneliness and boredom. From a lifetime of a broken heart. You've mended me, and I thought that wasn't possible."
Being called a Knight like this, being assured of what he's done for Herbert - it makes his heart swell, eyes welling up.
"I never thought any of this was possible, either. That I could - that I could feel like this. About anyone. You make me feel like...like I could do anything."
"That's how I felt, when I first saw you. That I could and would do anything for you." And now he knows why he felt like that, that love at first sight. But every day that he's with Alfred, his love for him grows deeper and stronger. Beyond just having found Solin again, he loves Alfred for all that Alfred is, and all that he can do.
"My remarkable boy. I will say it as often as you need to hear it, I love you."
For his part, knowing that their souls are intertwined across time this way makes Alfred feel...at peace. The knowledge that he's this important to someone else is something that makes him feel like he has a reason, a purpose beyond just being...useful.
He knows there is no loss of love for him, knowing who he once was. He can feel Herbert worrying about it, but he...just isn't.
"I love you too - my Engel, my Moonlight." He reaches his hand around to caress Herbert's cheek. "You're absolutely amazing. And sometimes you need reminding about that, too."
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2022-01-23 10:01 am (UTC)"Well, you see - when I was little, I - I used to dream about a castle. It was big, and it scared me. I was...I was not a daring child."
His expression is thoughtful as he tries to think back.
"And there was always a man there outside the castle, and he would always tell me not to be afraid. That there was a Prince in there, and someday, I could...I could grow up and be his Knight. I told my parents about it, and they...well, they questioned it, said that I must mean a Princess, but...."
Idly, he toys with the end of Herbert's hair.
"...But no, the man definitely said Prince. A lonely Prince who would need me, someday." His brows furrow.
"Come to think of it...the man was...I think he was a shepherd."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-23 10:06 am (UTC)That means you were always meant to be here, someday, and to rescue this poor lonely prince."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-23 11:07 am (UTC)The younger vampire beams, bright-eyed. "I'm not much of a Knight. But I'm... I'm so glad. I'm so glad it was real. That I found you. That we found each other."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 02:32 am (UTC)"I never thought any of this was possible, either. That I could - that I could feel like this. About anyone. You make me feel like...like I could do anything."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 02:50 am (UTC)"My remarkable boy. I will say it as often as you need to hear it, I love you."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 03:04 am (UTC)He knows there is no loss of love for him, knowing who he once was. He can feel Herbert worrying about it, but he...just isn't.
"I love you too - my Engel, my Moonlight." He reaches his hand around to caress Herbert's cheek. "You're absolutely amazing. And sometimes you need reminding about that, too."