#this is exactly why I don’t regret leaving the server btw I’m so done with the catty bullshit

[gummy-sharks666]

Getting characterized as the “enemy of the fandom” just bc I don’t fw 2 people is crazy

[kaitycole]

Once Upon an Us

Summary: Riley wants Liam, but Liam wants Drake.

Pairings: Liam x Riley, Drake x Liam, Riley x ???

Word Count: 4254

Warnings: (16+) Mentions of cheating and arguing. Vague mentions of sexual relations. Angst. Fluff.

A/N: The wonderful, beautiful, talented @dcbbw requested either Liam x MC angst to Driam fluff. While trying to figure out which one to do, my brain said ‘why not both?’ Here we are. Enjoy! 

Note: In my series ‘A Royal Mess’ I mentioned another empty duchy (similar to Valtoria) as being Mirandola and Leo was tilted the Duke of it, so we’re just gonna reuse it for this one too! This is NOT an extension of that series, btw.

Note 2: I have no idea what this is. A mess, that’s what. But here we go. 

It has been three years since Riley Brooks took Cordonia by storm, quickly becoming the one who won the polls for who the country felt would best serve by Liam’s side. While it didn’t take long the citizens to be smitten with her, a few others around the palace weren’t so captured by her and there was one who remained as icy towards her as he had been from day one.

*                      * The Palace

Liam is sitting at the head of the table, sipping his coffee while reading the various newspapers in front of him. It still surprised him just how different one paper was from another, reporting the same story but from opposite viewpoints, so certain their points were more factual than the others. But as King, it was important to be thoroughly informed.

“Liam.” Riley smiles at him, sitting to his left as a server brings her a plate of breakfast.

“Mm.” He hums in response, not taking a moment to even look from his paper.

She nods slightly before dropping any expectations they might share a meal with playful banter or exchanges common between married couples. Riley smiles when her and Liam’s assistants join them to go over their schedules and upcoming engagements.

Riley just nods as he chews on her bottom lip. She knew what she was getting into, at least she knew to an extent that Liam’s heart belonged to another and she simply made the best stand-in. She knew when she accepted his proposal that she was just playing a role for the Crown, for the citizens of the country, but even with knowing that, it didn’t help the gaping hole in her chest.

“Is the paperwork for Valtoria complete?” Liam asks his assistant who has been jotting down a few notes.

“Almost, Sir. We just need the Crown’s seal and your signature.” His assistant Andrew tells him, an uneasy expression on his face. “Does this weekend still work?”

“Yes. Please make sure my schedule is cleared starting Thursday and leave it open until Sun- no, until Monday.”

“What’s the weekend?” Riley asks innocently, looking at her husband for clarification, who doesn’t bother to look her way.

“It’s when Valtoria is scheduled to have a new Duke placed in power, Ma’am.” Juliet, Riley’s assistant, answers.

“I wasn’t aware that we had picked someone this soon.” “The deci-“ Andrew is cut off when Riley raises her hand.

“I’d like to hear this from my husband. Liam?”

He sighs, annoyed. “I didn’t think you needed to know the details. It’s not like it honestly concerns you.”

Juliet and Andrew share a quick glance before standing up, excusing themselves and bowing as they leave the royal couple alone.

“Is it not enough that you treat me like a burden rather than a wife, but you really have to parade him around?”

“You knew exactly what you were getting into.”

“Don’t pull that card with me, Liam. If I knew it was going to be like this, I would’ve never agreed.”

“You’re the Queen of Cordonia. You have endless funds, endless resources, anything you could ever want or need, but somehow you are still miserable. I don’t understand you, Riley.”

“And a husband who wouldn’t notice if I wasn’t there.” She tries to steady her voice, anger lacing her words, “you promised that you would try!”

Shaking his head, Liam stands up, pushing his chair in with more force than necessary. Riley stands up slamming her hands on the table, letting her anger out as he starts walking out of the room, ignoring her.

“I did, Riley. The results just weren’t for your liking.”

She rushes up behind him, grabbing his suit jacket to stop him which causes him to whip around, anger plastered on both of their faces. He’s leaning down just enough for the two of them to stay nose to nose.

“Do NOT grab me, I am the King!” “And I Queen!” Despite his attempt to shut her down with his aggressive tone, she remains firm. “I won’t be ignored!”

“What do you have to say? I have things to do.”

“You can give him as many fancy titles as you want, Liam. It doesn’t change how the citizens will view him, it won’t change who you’re married to or who will be the one to give the throne heirs.”

As her words are processed, his anger dissipates changing into remorse. This façade cracking as each word sinks deeper into his chest, the realization of just how right she is becoming added weight in his chest. He’s been selfish, not only with his proposal to Riley, but to the man who owns his heart, but what could he have done? One can’t live without a heart, he couldn’t let him go, right?

She stops, knowing she’s wounded him, looking slightly over her shoulder as she adds salt to cut she’s left. “If you’re going to Valtoria this weekend, I’ll be heading to Mirandola.”

He snaps his head and turns to speak, but she’s gone. He knows he has no right to get mad, to demand that she stay home in the palace while he’s away. He feels like he might have had the right had he tried, had he actually upheld his end of the botched proposal he gave her, but he didn’t. He never intended to try with her because if he was being honest, he knew if he had he might’ve ended up regretting dragging her into this mess in the first place. He’d spend every night in his lover’s arms instead of across the hall from the woman he was all but forced to marry, who he forced to marry him under false expectations.

*                      * Valtoria

Liam falls to his side, panting next to his lover as he props himself up on his right side, facing him. Drake pushes his chest off the sheets, a smile on his face as he meets Liam’s eyes. Liam feels his heart melt at the pure adoration in Drake’s eyes because he didn’t care how miserable things were at the palace, in moments like this, the look in Drake’s eyes made up for all of that if only for a few days a month.

Drake places his hand on Liam’s cheek, his thumb caressing the thin layer of stubble on the King’s face. He wrinkles his nose when Liam leans forward, kissing his forehead. “What’s bothering you?”

Liam cocks his head to the side, his fingers running through the brunette’s damp hair. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t shave, that usually means something’s on your mind.”

“Riley said something to me a few days ago, just been on my mind I guess.”

The brunette stiffens at her name, of all the people he remains the only one who refuses to accept her, to try to warm up to her. He bites his bottom lip just enough for it to bleed because he needs to feel something other than this sinking feeling in his stomach. He pushes himself off the bed, grabbing his boxers off the floor, putting them on before gathering the other articles of abandoned clothing.

“Drake, talk to me.” He tries to stop Drake, but he’s just pushed out of the way. “Drake.”

Tears are in his eyes when they look up to Liam’s, his heart already in shattered pieces, “she’s pregnant, isn’t she?”

Now it was time for Liam’s heart to break, to become a mess of jagged edges piercing into his chest. He wanted to be hurt, to question why Drake would doubt his love for him, but he can’t be because it’s only natural. Neither he nor Riley had ever brought it up, but it was something that always lingered in the air, something that eventually would start to be expected from the royal couple. Leo and Liam had both, in their own ways, shook the foundation of the throne, an heir would help stabilize it once more.

Liam pulls the other into an embrace, tightly wrapping his arms around him. He places both hands, one on each side of Drake’s face, pulling his face up to look at him. Drake’s eyes are red and puffy, but he still looks handsome to the King. Liam presses a chaste kiss to his lover’s lips, deepening it with hopes his love could be translated through the gesture.

Their actions are desperate as sloppy, wet kisses trail each other’s necks, Liam’s fingers toying with the waistband of Drake’s boxers as they attempted to make their way to the bed. Their steps get tangled together causing them to fall to the floor, small laughter coming from both of them. Drake shakes his head when Liam tries to get up, pinning the raven-haired man’s arms above his head as he straddles him. Liam smirks, both noting this will be the second day they fail to leave the grand suite of Valtoria.

*                      * Mirandola

“You could always just get an annulment.”

“And go back to waiting tables in New York?” She shakes her head, “how do I go back to black and white when I’ve seen color?” Leo offers a small smile, looking at her over his reading glasses. “I’m sure you could talk him into gifting you one of these lovely duchies. Valtoria is lovely this time of year.” She tosses him an annoyed look which gets her a chuckle from the abdicated prince. She knows that she’d be able to get something if all of this ended, the façade, the sham of a marriage, but part of that feels wrong. She just wanted to be happy, that’s why she left New York to begin with, she thought this would be a magical adventure. Something should’ve clued her in when Drake never let up his annoyed glances at her or how he tried to interfere with every secret meeting Liam would ask Riley to attend.

At first, Riley flattered herself, thinking that Drake had feelings for her, but then a drunken Maxwell let it slip that Drake and Liam had a relationship deeper than just best friends. That the social season might’ve been traditional protocol in the public’s eye for a Crown Prince, but that his father was using it as an alternative method to separate them.

“Did you hear? Drake now owns Valtoria.” She smiles as Leo chokes on his tea, coughing as he tries to breathe. “Liam is up there now.”

“I didn’t know he had it in him.”

“To parade his lover around as if he doesn’t have a wife?”

Leo walks behind her, leaning close to her ear, his hot breath dances around her bare neck, “aren’t you doing something similar? You are here after all.”

Riley watches as he walks out, tossing her a wink before he leaves the dining room. Her shoulders drop, knowing that he’s right. She doesn’t have any moral high ground to stand on, while she didn’t make it a hobby to think about whatever her husband did at Valtoria, she knew what she was doing here was no better.

Falling into Leo’s bed wasn’t something she thought she would ever do. She really did love Liam, she wanted things to work, why else would she agree to the fucked-up arrangement? It broke her heart to watch him turn colder and colder towards her when all she wanted was the chance to win him over. But she allowed herself to believe that one Rhys was just as good as the other, not that Leo cared whose name she called out anyways.

*                      * Valtoria

“Pout all you want. I can’t stay babe.” Liam laughs, pulling Drake into a kiss.

“But we never finished our talk from Friday?” Drake once again pokes out his bottom lip at the King who has been trying to leave for the last hour.

Liam had been hoping that Drake would’ve dropped the subject over the weekend, he figured between the strenuous workouts and the ceremony making him the newest Duke of Valtoria would keep him occupied, but he was wrong.

“She said it didn’t matter how many fancy titles I gave you, it wouldn’t change anything.” Liam shakes his head, “that at the end of the day it was her with me and not you.”

He turns his head, looking at Liam with the same adoration he always had, since they were kids, “she’s with you on paper, so what? I get the side of you no one else does.”

“But don’t you feel cheated?” Liam sighs, “or like I’m just being too selfish? Maybe I should’ve fought my father more.”

Drake kisses Liam, rendering him speechless which makes both of them smirk. “Hush. If you’re being selfish, I’m being just as selfish. I just want you, Liam.”

“One day, it won’t be like this anymore.” Liam promises, pressing one more kiss to Drake’s lips before letting him go.

“I know.” Drake waves, finally letting Liam leave to go back to the palace, back to her.

*                      * The Palace

It’s late when Riley stumbles back into the palace, getting a few not so nice looks from the maids who are getting ready to head home. She gives them an ‘I’m sorry’ smile as she tiptoes up the stairs up to the right wing of the palace.

Within that wing, was the traditional royal suite where most royal couples stay together, sharing the bed chamber. However, in their situation, Liam opted to take a room just down the hall while Riley kept the original set up. Just few apart from one another, but it felt like miles worth of distance.

“Enjoy your weekend?”

Riley jumps, her heart beating against her ribcage, if she was a cat she’d have lost a life or two for sure. Typically, Liam was either in his room or office, they didn’t have many run ins this late at night.

“Did you?” She bit back, regretting it once she realized his words were sincere. Although she wasn’t shy about the way her eyes lingered on the purple marks accompanied by bite marks that covered his chest and shoulders which caused Liam to regret his decision to not wear a shirt.

“I did a lot of thinking.” He crosses his arms, feeling embarrassed under her gaze, trying to cover up as much as he could.

“I did as well.” She sits down on the edge of the bed, sighing.

“I think we should start the annulment process.” Liam says as Riley says, “I want us to give it one more try.”

Both quickly respond with, “what?”

“If we try and things don’t work out, I won’t ask for another try. I just don’t want to have any regrets.”

“Riley, I can’t do that. You know that.” He shakes his head.

To Riley, Liam is being stingy and selfish. He’s been an asshole to her because she’s fairly convinced that if he gave her a chance, she could win him over. She knows that they could be happy, that she’s the best thing for the throne and that’s what hurts the most. The fact that she knows she’s found her true love, the one she should be with, but he just won’t open his eyes and accept that.

To Liam, Riley is being irrational. He knows that giving her a chance would be leading her on because he can’t give her what she’s looking for. Not just that he can’t, but he won’t. What people don’t seem to realize, Riley included, is that he’s loved Drake for as love as he can remember, that with Drake it’s the kind of love that starts wars, breaks family ties, it’s the kind of love people write sonnets about. It may seem like he’s fine with the arrangement, but he’s not because if Leo is different that all the other Rhys before him, it’s that he actually hurts when he causes other’s harm.

“Why can’t you?” She yells, her anger turning into tears as they stream down her face.

“I can’t hurt him like that. I can’t hurt him anymore than I already have.”

“But you can hurt me? You asked me to do this!”

“I told you how things would be. I never lied.”

“But you never said it would be this bad!” Her voice cracks, the sobs breaking apart her words.

“Riley.” He squats down in from of her, taking her hand in his. “I never meant for you to get this hurt. I’ll do whatever it takes to try to make this up to you.”

“All I ever wanted was you, Li.” She throws her arms around his neck, pulling him into her chest. He stumbles at the force of her action, sighing in defeat as he wraps his arms back around her.

*                      * Valtoria

Drake walks through the duchy, other than a few servants and maids, he was the only one there. It’s empty and lonely, the opposite of how he spent his life growing up by the palace and he hates it. There’s the buzz of construction outside, Liam was having a stable put up or remodeled, honestly Drake lost track of everything lately.

He’s walking through the foyer when he sees a few black SVUs pull up, a smile spreads across his face because he knows Liam’s there. Drake’s surprised because Liam usually waited a few weeks before making another visit, but he surely wouldn’t complain.

Rushing to the door, he opens it, running down most of the walkway before throwing his arms around the King, the hell with whoever saw, he really didn’t care. But Liam doesn’t return the embrace, he doesn’t pat his back or anything. Instead he pulls away, slowly meeting Drake’s eyes with a solemn look on his face.

“We need to talk.”

*                      * Mirandola

Leo walks into his study and looks panicked when he sees his brother sitting behind the desk. He knows the look on Liam’s face, the same one he got a lot growing up by his father and Bastien, one that just radiates disappointment. A chill runs down his spine as he tries to keep up a poker face, pacing out each step slowly as he creeps closer to the desk.

The blonde eventually gets to the chair in front of Liam and he sits, wondering if this dread he’s feeling is felt by those who sit here when he’s on the other side of the desk. It’s been a very long time since he’s felt this way, since a King has made him feel so, so small.

Liam shuffles the papers that are in front of him, tapping them on the desk to straighten them out before finally making eye contact with his brother.

“I didn’t do it!” Leo quickly blurts out until he realizes that he’s a grown ass man and that what a child would say.

“Oh, but you did.” Liam smiles a smile that’s closer to the Cheshire Cat rather than a caring brother. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

Leo has always hated riddles, always hated people beating around the bush when it came to what they needed to say. It’s the same reason he hates the cringy small talk before one asked for a favor, he finds it all pointless and Liam knows this which makes Leo’s stomach drop. Whatever it is, it’s bad enough for Liam to toy with him.

“Don’t look so grim, brother. A child is always something to celebrate.”

C-c-child? Leo suddenly can’t breathe. His thoughts are becoming a jumbled mess.

“Don’t fret. I already have things in order.” Liam holds the stack of paperwork out for Leo, who is shaking as he grabs it.

“In order?”

“Yes.” Liam clears his throat. “Riley couldn’t take the stresses of being queen which lead her to seek comfort with you. Since regardless of which Rhys is the father is, it’s still an heir which means she’ll be moving into Mirandola after a quick marriage ceremony.”

“Guess you get everything you want.”

“No, actually I don’t.” He shakes his head, “I didn’t want her name drug in my mud, Leo. I may not have loved her, but I care for her and I was working out a way that would be easiest for her to still show her face at royal events without whispers.” Leo bites back any further comments knowing that he’s been thinking poorly of his brother for no reason. He should’ve guessed Liam would look out for her, he wasn’t joking when he said Riley wouldn’t be left empty-handed, but it was his doing, the abdicated prince once again tarnishing the very things he wants to keep precious.

“Chin up, brother.” He turns to walk out of Leo’s office. “Oh, don’t worry, hopefully you’ll make a better father than brother.”

*                      * Valtoria

“Duke Walker!” A reporter calls out trying to grab the attention of the man who just wants to disappear.

“Your Grace! Your Grace!”

He turns to the sea of cameras and flashing lights, briefly wondering if this overwhelming feeling was something Liam got used to or if he still wants to shrink under this uncomfortable pressure.

It had been a few months since Liam told him about Riley’s pregnancy, how they’d be handling things on that end and Drake was told to wait which he has been. He’s been waiting since they were 8 years old, blinding following Liam around like a pup without a home. At 28, you’d think he’d stop following so blindly, try to step out from the sidelines, but it’s where he felt most comfortable.

“Duke Walker, what’s next for you and the King?” “Your Grace, will you be leaving Valtoria for the palace?”

“What do you have to say about the pictures of you and King Liam holding hands, Your Grace?”

Drake takes a deep breath, wanting to just turn around and leave, but his feet feel frozen in place. This wasn’t his thing, Liam always stood front and center. If Liam was north then Drake was south, if Liam was day then Drake was night and for their whole lives he liked it that way.

“The Duke of Valtoria won’t be answering any questions today.”

A few wide eyes and gasps from the reporters have Drake turning around to see Liam walking up behind him, a smile on his face. It takes everything in him to not run up to his lover, beg him to get rid of the press so he can kiss him, but he can’t. He gives Liam a small smile as he walks up, stopping at Drake side.

“Your Majesty.” The reporters take a moment to bow slightly as he throws up a wave.

“I think we have time to answer two questions.” He looks over at Drake who gives him a slight nod.

“Your Majesty, what brings you to Valtoria today?” De Luca asks, looking over her sunglasses.

“That’s simple, I have to ask Duke Walker a question.”

He wouldn’t? Drake’s eyes widen as he looks at Liam, who is completely calm whereas the Duke’s heart is beating out of his chest.

“King Liam, are the Duke and you the newest royal couple?” A newer reporter asks, getting a few looks from his veteran colleagues.

“That would depend on his answer to this question.”

Drake closes his eyes, nerves completely shot at this point, trying his hardest to breathe in and out at a steady rate. When he opens them, he sees Liam down on one knee in front of him, the presses snapping pictures rapidly.

“Li…”

“Are you gonna let me speak first?”

“No.” “Drake.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this. In front of everyone.” “Quickest way to get the word out.” “I could say no.” Drake crosses his arms, momentarily forgetting they aren’t alone. The press having an absolute field day with the playful banter between the King and his oldest friend.

“You wouldn’t dare.” He feigns shocks, a hand on his chest, biting back a smirk, “you’d embarrass me in front of the whole country? The whole world?” “Isn’t that what you’re doing to me by asking me this right now?”

Liam shakes his head, “I haven’t asked you anything yet, you haven’t let me.” “Fine. Ask me.”

“Will you attend the royal masquerade with me tonight?” “I wi-wait, what?” Drake’s jaw drops which is quickly followed by the press having the same reaction.

“What did you think I was going to ask?” He stands up, whipping on the knees of his pants. “Drake, did you think I was going to propose?”

Drake’s face turns red with embarrassment, “well you did get down on one knee.” “My shoe lace was undone. I didn’t want to trip.” Liam smirks, “that could’ve ended embarrassing, what if you said no?”

“My point exactly.” Drake’s grumpy demeanor surfacing from a mixture of embarrassment and slight disappointment.

“But would you?”

“Would I what?”

Liam smiles, pulling a small box out of his box, remaining on his feet this time. The flash of the cameras once again all but blinding the pair. There’s a silver band inside the box when Liam opens it.

“Would you marry me?”

Drake buries his beet red face into the crook of Liam’s neck as he’s pulled into a hug. He mumbles something just loud enough for Liam to be the only one who hears it which makes the king laugh. Liam whispers something back which brings a sigh from Drake’s lips as he lifts his head up.

“Yeah, I’ll marry you.”