#and some side Nicholas/Seiji for fun

[iffeelscouldkill]

Fic: a dream or two (away from you)

Dear @breeze-tells-tales - happy Fence Secret Santa! I was inspired by your prompt to write a Harvard/Aiden fantasy AU :3 It's a (loosely) mediaeval fantasy with some dream magic. I hope you enjoy it! 💜

a dream or two (away from you)

Rating: 12+/Teen

Ship: Harvard/Aiden (and a tiny mention of Nicholas/Seiji)

Summary: Everyone knows that magic isn't real. Never mind that Aiden, crown prince of Feldhaven, has been having strange dreams from a young age in which he meets and plays with a young boy from a far-away kingdom.

He can't explain it, but he isn't concerned - until years later, when an eighteen-year-old Aiden is suddenly introduced to the new Captain of the Guard: Harvard Lee. The boy from his dreams.

---

Aiden was standing in the middle of a wood.

This was a bit strange, because he’d gone to sleep in his bed in the castle, and he didn’t remember coming out here. Also, he was still wearing his nightclothes. But everything around him felt clear and vivid – the grass under his (bare) feet, the wind through his hair… The only other odd thing was that he didn’t feel cold at all, even though it had been a chill night.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement among the trees and turned quickly. “Who’s there?” he called.

A boy emerged from the trees, about his age, slightly taller and with dark skin. He was also dressed in nightclothes, and holding a stuffed teddy bear. “Hello,” he said, with a reassuring smile. “Who are you? I’m Harvard.”

Aiden wondered if Harvard’s family must be from far away, if they didn’t know how to recognise him, Crown Prince Aiden. Then again, where was this? Were they near the castle grounds? (He wasn’t allowed to go beyond the castle grounds on his own. Definitely not without at least two bodyguards). The wood didn’t seem familiar.

“I’m Joshua,” he said, which was his middle name, but he didn’t know what this strange boy might know about him and he decided he’d like to keep it that way. “Where are we, do you know?”

Harvard shook his head. “I thought I was asleep in bed, then I was here,” he said thoughtfully. “I don’t think this is near my house.”

So this other boy didn’t know where they were either. Aiden thought. This could be an elaborate plot to kidnap him, but he didn’t see any kidnappers, or anyone else here besides Harvard. And he’d never been able to make a friend just on his own, before. His mind suddenly flooded with excited possibilities.

“Do you want to play tag?” he asked.

Harvard frowned at him. “Shouldn’t we try to find out what’s happening? Or find our parents?”

What Harvard was saying made sense for a boy like him, but for once Aiden’s parents (or the castle guards, or his nurse, or anyone) weren’t around, and he was desperate to make the most of it. “Maybe we’ll find out as we go.” He mimicked the way he’d seen commoner children playing out of the windows of his carriage, and reached out to brush Harvard’s arm. He felt solid. “Tag. You’re it!”

A grin grew on Harvard’s face as the thrill of a new friend and the game took over, and he chased after Aiden. Aiden shrieked and ran, and at one point tumbled to the ground and got leaves in his hair, and generally did a lot of things not befitting of an heir to the throne. It was glorious. He never wanted it to end.

He couldn’t say what it was that gave him the sense their time was up. But the sun cresting over the horizon might have played a part. “Harvard, I think I’m… going. I think I’m about to be home again,” he told his friend urgently.

Harvard nodded. He’d sensed it too. “It’s okay. We’ll see each other again,” he said.

Aiden was suddenly pierced by a stab of panic. “But how will I find you? I don’t even know where you live. What if we never come back here?”

Harvard gave the questions some careful thought, and then solemnly handed Aiden his teddy bear. “Here. Now you’ll have something of mine to keep.”

It didn’t answer his questions, but Aiden clutched the bear close to his chest. “I’ll take good care of him.”

Harvard smiled at him. “Bye! I had fun!”

“I did too,” Aiden said, but he found himself saying the words aloud to the dark of his bedroom. He was back in his own bed in the castle, like he’d never left. The only thing that had changed was the worn, stuffed teddy bear clutched in his arms.

(Read the rest on AO3!)

[rustandruin]

I saw that you like Red, White & Royal Blue and Gentleman's Guide To Vice and Virtue. Do you know any other books like that?

Oh wow, Anon. You sent me this forever ago. But I’m perennially bad at answering asks, so here’s a very late response! Hope you found some good books though!

NOTE: Both those books are excellent, and also, quite singular. It’s very hard to rec anything that comes close to the same “feel” of either. (I’m guessing you want something of the MLM variety.) But here’s my best attempt nonetheless. (I would like to add that I haven’t really read much in a while, beyond the few comics I’ve been keeping up with.) Also, important to note is the fact that RWRB is not YA, and rather a new adult romance. Since a majority of what I usually read is YA, a lot of this list will scratch that itch, apologies in advance! 

BONUS: Simon Vs. The Homo Sapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli: This is the book that the movie Love, Simon is based on. It’s extremely popular and you’ve probably already read it, but it doesn’t hurt to recommend it! It’s a sweet romance and an easy read. The movie is pretty great too. 

6.  Carry On by Rainbow Rowell: A Harry Potter-esque “chosen one” falls for his main nemesis and mortal enemy, and man is it a fun read. It’s based on a book referenced in Rowell’s earlier book Fangirl, and is basically her love letter to her love of Harry Potter, which makes sense because the book reads like a Harry x Draco enemies to friends to lovers-type fic, and I mean that in the best way possible. (Sometimes I wish published fiction hit like certain fics, and boy does this done.) The sequel (Wayward Son) is actually out soon. So this would be a perfect time to read it.

5. The Music of What Happens by Bill Konnigsberg: Full disclosure: I started this novel earlier this year, and have yet to finish it. But I love everything Konnigsberg writes, and this is possibly my favourite. It’s set in the 1980′s and tells the story of Jordan and Max as they spend the summer working in a food truck. It’s a case of “opposites attract” and everything I’ve read has been pretty solid. I cannot wait to eventually finish it. 

4. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: The myth of Achilles but told from his boyfriend/soulmate’s (Patroclus) POV all the way till the bitter end. It’s gorgeous from the get-go. Miller’s way with words is exquisite, and her descriptions of gay yearning is *chef finger kiss*. The whole novel feels like a feat of storytelling on its own. And that’s probably because it is one. (Also, one of my weird opinions about this book is that sometimes it feels like what Percy would think if this were an AU of GGtVaV.) 

3. Iceman Vol. 1 by Sina Grace and Alessandro Vitti: One of the few Marvel comics I’ve read in recent years. It’s basically Iceman navigating the world as a recently out young mutant, and it focuses on his attempts to date and also balance his identities. It’s a shame it got cancelled too damn early, but what we got was pretty great.  

2. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz: I know everyone and their mother recommends this book for any and every reason possible, but my god are we all right to do so. Benjamin Alire Saenz is one of my favourite authors of all time, and his way with words moves me beyond all measure. Ari and Dante’s romance is an eventual tale of friends to lovers, though, on many levels, they’ve been in love with each other forever. Saenz’s writing is lush and lyrical and captures every emotion possible. His second novel is also great. But this one is sheer magic.   

1. Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad: One of BOOM! Studios best series is set at a fencing-obsessed boarding school and tells the extremely slow-burn story of two roommates and rivals (Nicholas and Seiji), as they try and win one of two available spots on the school fencing team. The world is well built and the supporting cast is awesome. The art is so much fun to look at. Side note: It doesn’t follow Nick and Seiji as closely as those two books, but the book is still plenty queer, and there is another guy pining for his best friend, who remind me of Monty and Percy. (Nick and Seiji are very early Alex and Henry.)