Gabriel lingered in the Emperor's study long after Charles had left, his fingers tapping idly on the wooden armrest of his chair. Charles' words had lodged themselves in his mind, unwelcome but immovable.
'The Emperor is smitten with you, Gabriel. Completely. He'd do anything for you.'
It was ridiculous. Damian was demanding, possessive, and, if Gabriel is honest, infuriatingly unreadable most of the time. But smitten? Gabriel let out a scoff, shaking his head.
And yet…
There had been moments. Damian's hand lingered a second too long at the small of his back, his otherwise commanding voice softened when addressing him, and his golden eyes held something Gabriel would not dare to name. He would dismissed it as a strategic maneuver, another way to keep him in check. But Charles' confidence in his claim made it difficult to dismiss.