Following Peter, Edmund realized, was like following light, and everyone behind him in the shadows.

Peter the Magnificent, always Peter the Magnificent. And Edmund beneath him, always quiet, always overlooked, and always in love.

--

There was a boy at school who was - well, there were many words to describe him, but they all meant, however crudely, that he fancied boys, but all the boys hated him (it was wrong, they said, so wrong). Whenever he walked by, Edmund always looked down, always trying to hide the roses blossoming on his cheeks.

That was when Peter pressed his side against Edmund's, kissing the top of his ear. Edmund knew then that he was that boy, the boy they would whisper about and ignore and who was wrong, so wrong.

--

The four kings and queens had a meeting with the king of a distant country, Peter at one end of the table, foreign king at the other end, Edmund some number of places to Peter's right. As the king addressed Edmund, or vice versa, Peter turned his eyes to watch his brother; Peter talking, and Edmund diverted his eyes to catch every golden, silken word.

Meeting over (conflict resolved), the small group dispersed: king to his guest quarters, Susan and Lucy to the gardens, Edmund left with Peter. He walked to where the eldest brother now stood. They were quite alone. Hand reaching out to touch coal-black hair, Peter leaned in.

--

Susan and Peter were arguing in whispered voices (hissing tongues) in Peter's room. Edmund heard something about disgracing the country, hurting your brother, when he leaned in a bit to far and - softly squeaking - the door opened to reveal Susan, upset, Peter almost below her, and strangely calm.

Susan scoffed and left, looking back, questioning. Peter simply looked at Edmund, who felt his face grow warm. Peter continued to smile at him, and when he finally left, brushed his body against Edmund's side. Edmund was, for the first time in a long time, alone.

--

Edmund thought he always sort of knew he loved him, and that Peter loved him back. But Peter had done nothing but smile, smile at him knowingly, obviously. But once -

Peter had Edmund's body pressed against the wall, his own moving against him (within him). Edmund in the shadows, Peter in the light; golden-white hair fell in his eyes and kisses burnt fire on Edmund's skin, going down, and down, and down...