"Potemkin..."

The king who always has words of hope for his people finds himself speechless before the genuine emotion emanating from Potemkin. The mountainous soldier is but man right now. A man running his fingers against Ky's skin as if this is the first time he has ever touched him. The more Ky considers it, the more he realizes that is likely the case. The blond trusts and values Potemkin for who he is, but how many other things did Potemkin write off due to his size and herculean strength? How many options were closed from him, despite his admirable sense of duty and loyalty?

Did the man have a civilian life at all? The sudden question very nearly stuns Ky in his thoughts. He realizes he doesn't know Potemkin as well as he ought to.

Ky decides it's time to change that.

"I wonder... how many 'wants' you've dismissed from your mind." His words are slow, deliberate, and thoughtful. He's wandering into truly personal matters, and he's wary of stepping on Potemkin's metaphorical toes. "After all these years of holding back..."