[ Mako doesn't want him to, by the gods she doesn't want him to, because he's hers and she's his and they were meant to be together. But kings must do what is right by their people and not themselves, and Mako knows this better than anyone else. She's not a woman who is worthy of his station in the eyes of the court, and Mako is fully aware of this. She does not feign otherwise, and when he looks at her, she sees the pain in his eyes.
It hurts him to know it, and it hurts her to say it out loud, because she loves him more than anyone else. He's her sun and stars, the other half of her own soul, and she kisses his soft, pink mouth gently, delicately, her hands coming to smooth over his arms.
She's the first to break the gaze, because she's too proud to let him see how much this is costing her. ] I know. But there is no other way around it, and we both know it, too.
[ She shifts against him. ] You need an heir. I cannot give you that.
[When Mako looks away, he leans in to rest his forehead against hers, sighing quietly. He knows that he needs an heir, that the same thing that happened with his brother cannot happen a second time, not that Raleigh really believes anything is going to happen to him with Mako around.
He trusts her that much. Believes that she would do anything to keep him safe and she's the best fighter he has.
An heir doesn't seem that important, not as important as keeping the peace but that leads them right back to this answer anyway.]
I wish that you could. Any son of yours would have the kaiju running in fear.
Perhaps the gods of the kaiju are afraid that our son will bring their ultimate destruction.
[ Even if Mako fully intends to rain hell of them herself, with their armies and their ships and their weapons and the fire of vengeance. She feels him press his forehead against hers, and she shifts to press a kiss, tender and warm, on his lips. Raleigh must have a son, an heir to the throne, even if it's not by her blood, even if it hurts her heart to know that her king, her man has to be in another woman's bed, to impregnate her with the royal lineage Mako cannot carry.
She is the fiercest warrior in Raleigh's kingdom, the smartest, but the honour of being his wife and queen will always be denied her. She understands this, but she offers a wife's counsel anyway, gently guiding. ]
For your people, Raleigh. I am your sword and your shield; I am your lion, but not your queen.
[He smiles back at her, maybe it is the gods' intervening hand that he should love perhaps the last women he'd ever be allowed to marry and have heirs with. Raleigh will always listen to her, even when he doesn't like what advice she's giving him. Can't she be selfish instead of rational for once.
Moving in to kiss her again, a drawn out, thoughtful kiss, he knows that this decision has really already been made. It hasn't been said out loud yet but it's clear where their lives are headed.]
You're my queen in all the ways that truly matter. A crown doesn't give you worth.
Nor do I want one. [ Mako muses, nuzzling against him and responding to his kiss, savouring every moment of the way his mouth feels against hers, the thorough exploration of their affection. She has to be rational to complement him, doesn't she?
It's a part of why he loves her, because Mako says what is needed, not what is desired. She doesn't have the gift of sweet words, but then again, Raleigh's never needed those. She runs her fingers through his hair when she looks up at him. ]
The crown is too heavy -- and everyone tells to kill you to get to it.
[That she speaks her mind, and has a good ability to read situations for what they are, and not what he wants to hear, is why he fell for her in the first place. It just doesn't stop him from wishing, just once in a while that she could throw caution to the wind, be more impulsive like him and lie to him just once.]
I wouldn't let them get close enough to you anyway.
You are. But that doesn't mean I won't defend you.
[Raleigh would fight for any of his knights, for any reason if it was needed because he's as loyal to them as they are to him. He would perhaps, fight a little harder if it were Mako at stake, if someone threatened her. He's allowed to have favorites, isn't he?]
[ He's not allowed to take any of the other knights as mistress and lover, if that's what he's asking. Mako knows his loyalty to them, and she just runs her fingers through his hair, taking the time to admire his features, the way he looks at her. ]
You're the king, you're definitely not allowed to throw your life away recklessly.
[ Mako makes a soft noise of dissent, disagreeing -- whoever heard of a king who would throw his life away for his knight? She doesn't want to think about him dying, or jumping into harm's way just for her -- the thought of it makes her heart clench, makes her reject it the moment it comes to mind, like a terrible, terrible thing. ]
No. [ She pushes lightly at him, displeased. ] If you love me, you don't risk your life for anything, including me.
[What about a man laying down his life for the woman he loves? That's a popular story, and she's never going to convince him to step aside if she were in danger.]
If you gave up yours for mine, you might as well give me a death sentence too. [ She presses her head against his. ] I'm not going anywhere without you.
[That dedication, her stubbornness about it quiets him for a few moments. He knows that she'd lay down her life for her, that's never been an issue, but that she would die if he dies? It's more than he expected.]
If I died, I would prefer if you lived, Mako. Made something for yourself.
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It hurts him to know it, and it hurts her to say it out loud, because she loves him more than anyone else. He's her sun and stars, the other half of her own soul, and she kisses his soft, pink mouth gently, delicately, her hands coming to smooth over his arms.
She's the first to break the gaze, because she's too proud to let him see how much this is costing her. ] I know. But there is no other way around it, and we both know it, too.
[ She shifts against him. ] You need an heir. I cannot give you that.
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He trusts her that much. Believes that she would do anything to keep him safe and she's the best fighter he has.
An heir doesn't seem that important, not as important as keeping the peace but that leads them right back to this answer anyway.]
I wish that you could. Any son of yours would have the kaiju running in fear.
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Perhaps the gods of the kaiju are afraid that our son will bring their ultimate destruction.
[ Even if Mako fully intends to rain hell of them herself, with their armies and their ships and their weapons and the fire of vengeance. She feels him press his forehead against hers, and she shifts to press a kiss, tender and warm, on his lips. Raleigh must have a son, an heir to the throne, even if it's not by her blood, even if it hurts her heart to know that her king, her man has to be in another woman's bed, to impregnate her with the royal lineage Mako cannot carry.
She is the fiercest warrior in Raleigh's kingdom, the smartest, but the honour of being his wife and queen will always be denied her. She understands this, but she offers a wife's counsel anyway, gently guiding. ]
For your people, Raleigh. I am your sword and your shield; I am your lion, but not your queen.
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Moving in to kiss her again, a drawn out, thoughtful kiss, he knows that this decision has really already been made. It hasn't been said out loud yet but it's clear where their lives are headed.]
You're my queen in all the ways that truly matter. A crown doesn't give you worth.
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It's a part of why he loves her, because Mako says what is needed, not what is desired. She doesn't have the gift of sweet words, but then again, Raleigh's never needed those. She runs her fingers through his hair when she looks up at him. ]
The crown is too heavy -- and everyone tells to kill you to get to it.
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I wouldn't let them get close enough to you anyway.
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[ Mako says softly, before she presses soft kisses against his collarbone. ] I'm the one who's supposed to defend you.
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[Raleigh would fight for any of his knights, for any reason if it was needed because he's as loyal to them as they are to him. He would perhaps, fight a little harder if it were Mako at stake, if someone threatened her. He's allowed to have favorites, isn't he?]
If the need arises.
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You're the king, you're definitely not allowed to throw your life away recklessly.
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[If it were for any of his people, but especially for Mako-- it'd be worth it to him.]
I love you too much for that.
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No. [ She pushes lightly at him, displeased. ] If you love me, you don't risk your life for anything, including me.
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I won't promise you that, Mako, you know that.
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Your life is worth countless thousands, how could you just give it up for anyone?
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My life isn't worth any more or less than yours. Or any of my men's, simply because I have a crown. And yours is precious to me anyway.
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If you gave up yours for mine, you might as well give me a death sentence too. [ She presses her head against his. ] I'm not going anywhere without you.
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If I died, I would prefer if you lived, Mako. Made something for yourself.