The pitter-patter of rain bounced off the greenhouse's glass roof as Rhae and Kaisan made another loop before finding an empty chess table to sit at. Kai looked around but couldn't find any of his cousins in the area - except the eldest female, who was leading discussions at the ladies' tea tables. It seemed she didn't notice their presence. Rhae looked in the same direction as Kai, spotting the familiar face with a smile before turning back to him.

"Your cousin seems to be leading the discussions—she seems to be as forward and brazen as you," Rhae chuckled as he leaned back while the servants moved in and set up the chess pieces and some finger food to snack on. After both chose coffee, Rhae waved at Kaisan to go first, a smirk prominent on his lips. 

"She's only like that around family, but contrary to your biased opinion, she's a perfect and elegant lady well-known for leading fashion trends," Kaisan scoffed, reaching to move his knight first. "Besides, no one can beat me at being forward and brazen."

"Why the assumption?" Rhae chuckled, moving a center pawn. Kai flashed a toothy grin and pointed between them, then swirled his index finger in a circle to indicate the public around them. A few people had been glazing over in curiosity. 

"We are out and about publicly. We've hidden nothing. All the servants already knew, so by this point, I'm not surprised that most guests now do as well. Who hasn't heard about us or even seen us in possibly compromising positions by now?" Kaisan shrugged, smirking right back to Rhae as he moved his pawn. His foot slid under the table to tap Rhae's shoes. Rhae leaned forward while sipping his coffee, using his shoe to lift the hem of Kai's pant leg and slide it along the inside above the ankle bone. 

"I have nothing to be ashamed of," Rhae commented, putting his cup down as he moved another piece on the board. "How can I not be confident with you next to me?"

Kaisan didn't respond, but all his focus was directed to his next chess move. His ears and the back of his neck blended in with his hair almost seamlessly. A servant swooped in to pour fresh cups, and Rhae nodded his thanks before turning back to the board for his turn.

"Is my fairy prince still embarrassed at such comments? I'm sure I say more vulgar things at night," Rhae joked. Kaisan gave a slight kick under the table, staring daggers. 

"There are some things you should not say in public!" Kaisan hissed. Rhae chucked, passing a grape over to him, and Kaisan took it without hesitating before realizing that he did so in the same public space he was worried about. He sighed, crossing his ankles before continuing the game - stealing glances at his opponent whenever he assumed he wouldn't be noticed. 

***

Shoes clacked and echoed across the stone-tiled floor of the indoor training area. The vaulted pain-wood roof made it easy for the sounds to bounce. The ribbon-adorned rope that parted the two sides of the court swayed with each return of the esteuf—a small, hand-sewn fabric ball. It was a popular game amongst the nobility, so the viewing area was crowded. Rhae led Kaisan by the hand through the crowd of spectators towards an empty spot. He pulled the shorter male down next to him, squeezing them both tight against each other. 

"When my father was younger, he enjoyed playing Paume himself. He and my maternal grandfather would always work out their disagreements this way," Kai commented, eyes watching the court unfocused as the two teams of two used their beaters to bounce the esteuf into the opposite court, shouting known terms with each successful hit. 

"Cross-over!" Yelled out the game commissioner, and the teams switched sides. 

"I was never one for the sport. I've played before, and I had to learn the rules according to my father, but I've never cared enough to play again," Rhae replied, watching Kaisan from the corner of his eye as he faced the court. 

"To impress the gallery!" Shouted one of the players in joy, patting one of the opposing team members on the back as they switched sides. The crowd clapped in agreement. Both Kai and Rhae joined in, though they had missed the supposedly impressive move the man must have pulled. 

"I wish I had a choice just to walk away from it. But with those two idiots always competing, my siblings and I - even my cousins, were all forced to participate in a recurring family tournament. Attendance was mandatory. It was probably due to all these sports they enjoyed that I have such an active sporting life, with as much muscle as I have built." Kai continued. 

"Hmm," Rhae nodded with a proud smile, closing his eyes to re-immerse himself in every memory he had collected so far of his lover's well-toned form. 

"Wipe that perverse smile off your face," Kaisan stared at him in horror, his hand dating out and smacking Rhae on the thigh before he could even think. Rhae captured his hand and held it, keeping the same smile on his face, but it only made his dimples pop out. 

"I am allowed to share in your pride," Rhae leaned in and whispered, blowing against Kai's ear before sitting back straight. The entire back of Kai's neck was stained red as he pursed his lips and chose to ignore Rhae and watch the game.  

"I was a little bit looking forward to participating and working out my frustrations. But after the early morning torture that you put me through, I don't have the leg strength to pull off a single set," Kaisan sighed in exasperation, once in a while tugging his hand as a test to see if he could even free it from Rhae's grasp. Rhae tilted his head with a smile as if asking, 'What is this cute action?' while holding firm.

"We have to conserve our energy for tonight's masquerade ball. Did you forget?" 

"I'm used to tending enough of these festivities that they more bore me than tire me out. With my stamina level, no matter how many rounds you force me to dance, I won't tire." 

"I wasn't referring to the dancing," Rhae chuckled, tossing a smile to Kaisan. Kai used his other hand to slap Rhae's that held him trapped.

"I believe I just asked you not to act out such perverse things," Kaisan's eyes widened as he whipped his head to look at Rhae. The taller man just gave a reassuring smile and gently patted their hands, turning his focus back to the game. "I'll be returning to my own room to change for tonight."

"Are you going to hide from me behind a mask just to avoid dancing?" Rhae laughed, the sound lost in the crowd's cheering with a set point.

"Maybe. You claim to love me. Let's see you find me," Kaisan laughed in response. His eyes squeezed shut, and his shoulders shook, making him appear younger than he already was. Rhae was once again enchanted into silence. 

"Not even a hint of what you'll be wearing?"

"You won't be able to recognize me by my hair colour, either," Kaisan proudly said, crossing his arms as he looked at Rhae. 

"That means when I recognize you, you're not allowed to run away or hide. The game's over, and we get to dance."

"Deal." Kaisan agreed as they both continued to enjoy a few more matches.

***

Rhae adjusted his midnight-blue tailored cotton-silk three-piece tuxedo suit with a nervous sigh. His hand ran under the ivory silk shawl lapel to straighten its edges. His cotton shawl lapel two-button vest was a much lighter midnight blue, contrasting with his ivory silk pleated high-collar dress shirt. His tight, straight sleeves were set well against his black five-finger half-gloves, which matched his black dress shoes. A silver pocket watch hung from the vest pocket and wrapped around the bottom button. 

After a final check, he entered the main building where the masquerade was being held. His shoes clacked off the halfway tile as he approached the ballroom doors, which were kept open for the guests to come and go. He passed the knights guarding the doorway and entered the crowded dancefloor - his hand patting his face to check if his panther mask adorned with the night stars was still secure on his face. Feeling confident, he started his search. 

Kaisan had given him only one clue - his hair would not be what gave him away. So, he either changed his hair colour, wore a wig, cut his hair, or wore some obscure hat. Rhae chuckled at the thought, then shook his head. There was no way his Kai would wear a hat. He was too confident in his own looks and wouldn't allow something to diminish it. As he was momentarily lost in thought, Rhae felt a gaze on him. Typically, he wouldn't be surprised with how well his suit fit his form and the beautiful design he adorned. But these eyes felt familiar to him, and he felt those gazes every day this week.

In his attempt to look around discreetly and quickly, he noticed a face had whipped away to avoid being seen. All he could see through the crowd was it was a man with long, smooth black hair tied neatly into a low ponytail. With a smirk, he approached the shorter male, at least to spot his outfit. As he approached, his smile broadened. He knew that shape from head to tie, for he had held it dozens of times over so that he memorized every curve.

Finally, he was close enough in view to take in the young man's entire outfit and had to hold in his laugh. Even if he disguised his hair, he couldn't change his soft, more feminine event outfits. A white wool two-piece suit that hung snugly to his body and contrasted the dark hair, with gold embroidery, soft pink ribbon corseting the back, and a large bow placed in the middle of the back of his waist. His eyes became more prominent against the dark strands that draped his face over the pink and white bunny mask. He took several steps forward confidently and wrapped his arms around his target's waist.

"Found you," he whispered through the black hair, that a few pink strands were left untamed behind his ears upon closer inspection. Kaisan snapped his head to look at him, flabbergasted that he was spotted at lightning speed. Rhae chuckled. The look in his eyes matched his rabbit mask, like a prey caught by its predator. 

"H-how?!" Kaisan explained loudly, Turning in Rhae's arms. "No, wait. You got the wrong person…"

"Nice try. It's a good thing you're not the firstborn and that you were born as pretty as you are," Shae shook his head, questioning the intelligence of his lover. Kai's mouth gaped open and closed silently a few times before spinning to face away and attempting to bake free after being insulted. 

"Let go. So rude and shameless," Kaisan clicked his tongue. Rhae buried his head in Kai's neck and shook his head.

"You promised not to run away or hide. It's time for our dance," he smiled, his breath causing goosebumps on Kai's skin. "There's a penalty for trying to break our deal."

"... Go easy on me. Tomorrow is the hunting tournament," Kaisan sighed, finally giving up. Rhae dropped his arms as his little black-haired fairy got into position for an endless amount of dancing. "Be sure to fetch me snacks all night."

"Always, my love. I'll feed you a great many things for eternity." Rhae replied, laughing heartily as he took Kai into his arms and begun their first of many turns for the night.

1. Jeu de Paume is a ball-and-court game, also known as racquetless tennis, which is modernly known as 'real tennis.' Prior to the current tennis, it was played indoors without racquets but with your hands (similar to volleyball). Eventually, gloves replaced bare hands, then paddle-like bats (beaters), and finally racquets. Real Tennis (court tennis in USA) is also known as the sport of kings. It is different from lawn tennis, which is played outdoors. Played 1v1 or 2v2. There was an outdoor version that existed called Villains, which had no net and played with 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 players.

2. Please see the Wikipedia form for Jeu de Paume for the extensive list of expressions that come from the game and what they meant (i.e.: To impress the gallery; Falling at the right time; He who goes hunting… etc.)