#being attentive to what's important to people/replying to letters and keeping in touch/conversing at parties eloquently

[sinner-as-saint]

Let Me Love You.

CEO!Bucky Barnes x Reader AU.

Run-through: Things happened between you and your boss over a weekend recently; while on a business trip. Boundaries were crossed, lines were blurred – rather salaciously. Following this; you decide to resign from your dream job because you couldn’t handle the guilt of having been so unethical. So vulnerable and open. Neither could you handle his burning stare at work, nor the craving of being under him each time you looked at him. So you decide to leave before you ruin your own career and further. But then, your boss shows up at your doorstep – determined to make you realize that this isn’t so bad after all…

Themes: smut, fluff, ceo!bucky (because I miss him)

You felt awful as you stepped into your apartment.

Sighing as you looked around; thinking about how the job you just quit had paid for this lavish home you owned currently. Removing your shoes by the door, dropping your bag and keys beside them you lazily crossed your spacious living room and stepped into the main balcony.

Given you were high up, the view you had of the city was to die for. The sun was going down, and usually you loved sunsets but you couldn’t appreciate this one as much as you wanted to. You were stressed; now jobless.

You thought back to the past week you had just hustled through. Monday was weird; he avoided you like the plague. Tuesday was the same, except you caught him staring in your direction while in a rather important meeting. Wednesday, he still didn’t say a word – except for his usual demands which being his PA you had to meet. Thursday he didn’t come to work; which then gave you more time to think about everything which happened recently, allowing you more time to feel guilty and weird.

And today, given it was Friday he was the busiest he’s been all week. Yet despite that, he managed to send you looks which spoke volumes even in crowded rooms. And you couldn’t take it anymore. You believed you were someone who wouldn’t be able to mix work and pleasure and find a healthy balance, so for the sake of your own peace of mind; you produced a resignation letter and placed it on his desk when he wasn’t in his office. And you left for the day.

You knew he always lingered at his office for a while longer on Fridays. So you were sure that by now he must have found your letter. You wondered if he felt just as awkward and weird as you did, and if so, then he’d accept your resignation without any hesitation.

You sighed one more time, taking in the cool air and the orange-pinkish sky. You walked back inside and decided that soaking in warm water and essential oils would make you feel a little better. So that’s what you went for.

 Thoughts of him filled your head as you soaked in the warm bath water. Your boss. James Buchanan Barnes; powerful name for an equally powerful man. He was the kind of person you couldn’t forget even if you tried. Respect, fame, wealth, authority, power; he had it all.

And recently, just a week ago, he had taken over you as well…

-Flashback-

Friday morning you came to work and found out that you would be accompanying your boss on a short business trip. You didn’t make a fuss, even if it meant sacrificing your days off. The paycheck you received each month made up perfectly well for it.

Paris for weekend, to attend a business conference didn’t sound so bad after all.

“Sir, I’ve just been notified that you’ve cancelled the hotel reservations?” you questioned while scrolling through your mails. While you were just a little confused by this, the man in front of you was clearly not.

Sat across you on the dark seat; well-groomed as always – dark suit, perfect hair, perfect face, strong jaw and strong built. He looked like he could be on a magazine cover. Pure, drop dead gorgeous male. Many of your friends often asked you how you kept your calm and composure around him, and how could you not want to jump his bones all the time. To which you answered; you didn’t see your handsome boss in that light.

But oh did you lie.

You were human. And you did find your boss to be super attractive just like the rest of the world did. But did you do anything about it? No. Firstly, that would be highly unprofessional. Secondly, he was way out of your league. Still, it was hard being around a man this handsome. Knowing he was single and available made it worse.

“I did.” he answered, just as confidently as he did everything else. “It’s just one night, Y/N. We’ll stay at my penthouse.” He stated.

You nodded and replied back to your assistant who had initially emailed you about this sudden change. ‘We’ll stay at my penthouse’…

You had shared residence before. Once you spent the night at his mansion because of work load. Then another time you two shared a cabin while on a trip. Once you shared a hotel room because separate rooms weren’t available. But this, today seemed a little different. And you couldn’t place a finger on what it was.

It didn’t rub you the wrong way or anything. He just seemed so cheery, which was unlike the normally slightly grumpy man. But then again, who were you to question his decisions? So you went along.

You two landed in Paris on Saturday morning. The conference was to be held on the same evening, followed by a formal party of some sort, then the two of you would be making your way back home by Sunday evening. Quite a tame weekend… until it wasn’t.

 Throughout the whole conference, you felt a pair of eyes staring at you from across the room. Meanwhile you were talking to an acquaintance – legal advisor of one of the many businessmen who were attending the same conference as your boss. Steve was a friend of a friend but you two were currently bonding more and more due to work.

And little did you know, that Bucky hated it.

He was watching. He’s always watching you. Not in a creepy manner, in a protective way. As a woman, you were somewhat oblivious to the effect you had on people when you entered a room. You never noticed it, but your boss did.

Bucky knew how every man turned their heads to look at you. How every woman envied you. And it was never about what you wore, or how you did your hair. It was always about how you carried yourself, how you walked so confidently, how you were always polite and proper. And so beautiful.

As much as he liked showing you off, Bucky hated it when he wasn’t the only one who had all your attention. Like right now. He clenched his jaw as he studied how this man approached you. Blonde hair, tall and muscular – Bucky hated him immediately. He hated him a little more after he saw how the guy hugged you; a lingering hug which Bucky never got. Then he hated him a little more when he saw how you dragged your hands down the guy’s arm, refusing to let go of him.

You never touched him like that. Bucky asked someone close by and he was told that the guy you were talking to was someone named Steve Rogers, and he was a lawyer and an acquaintance of yours.

Hmm.

He tried to look away but he couldn’t. Bucky envied the guy talking to you. He didn’t like how close he was standing to you. He didn’t like how he kept his hands at your elbows so gently, caging you, keeping you to himself. He hated it.

 Then he asked you about it on the elevator, as you two made your way up to his penthouse to get changed and ready for the party later.

“You know Rogers?” he asked out of nowhere. His tone just as serious and cold as always.

“Yes. He’s… a friend.” You smiled innocently, thinking back to how you and Steve had successfully broken the ice earlier.

Silence.

 You each took a room inside his lavish penthouse apartment. You immediately loved the place. You had about two hours before the party so there was no need to rush. You took your time, yet your mind couldn’t help but drift towards how your boss has been acting in the past hours. First he was all cheery and warm, and now he’s back to his grumpy self.

Oh well.

You stepped out of your room just in time, your boss was waiting by the foyer dressed in a signature, all black, 3-piece suit. He looked devilishly handsome.

“You look lovely, Y/N.” He said softly as you walked towards him. You couldn’t help but smile and tried to hide your face by looking down at the marble floor. Before you could recover from his rare compliment, he reached for your hand and walked the two of your towards the elevator again.

You noticed it then. The shift between the two of you.

The party was amazing. Lovely people, lovely music, nice conversations; what more does one need? Then again, you could still feel a pair of eyes on you. At some point, you dared to look up and you made eye contact with your boss.

He was staring with an unreadable expression on his face. You shook it off and went back to the conversation you were currently part of, but you could tell he hadn’t stopped staring at you.

 You two met on the elevator again after the party, on your way up for the night.

“You and Rogers seem close.” He pointed out.

You were surprised at the tone he used – that of disgust and anger. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

He scoffed, then turned to you. “Is something going on between you two?” Same tone as before.

Your eyes widened. “No. No, what makes you say that?” part of you wondered why the hell was he so suddenly interested in your personal life.

“Just asking.”

You couldn’t help it. “Are you alright, Mr. Barnes? You haven’t been yourself in the past-,”

He cut you off abruptly. By backing you into the corner of the elevator, the cold metal pressing against your back as his warm hand held you gently at your waist.

“Am I alright?” he mocked in that authoritative voice of his. “No, Miss Y/N. I’m not alright.” He confessed. “I’m not alright with you being so close to me, yet not being able to touch you. I’m not alright with seeing other men making you smile,” he inched his face closer you yours, “making you laugh, dance with you, touch you like I can’t. I hate it.”

His warm breath fanned your face. And as the metal cage got higher and higher, your heartbeat increased in the same tempo. Racing. Rushing. Your thoughts were a mess. Your body was tingling, he was so close. Too close. And you could feel yourself giving into him already.

And you did eventually.

“Then what’s stopping you?” you asked in a whisper, and you heard his little chuckle under his breath. This could be a wrong idea, but it felt right. You looked up into his piercing stormy blue eyes and you saw it; the hunger, the desire, the need.

You were sure yours mirrored the same emotions. Bucky pulled away just for a second, to press the key to stop the elevator from moving upwards any further. Then he turned to you again. “Can I kiss you?” he whispered against your parted lips, barely touching them with his own but the proximity was enough to make you lightheaded.

You nodded quickly and his mouth was on yours immediately. His lips moved against yours perfectly. He slipped his tongue past your lips and stroked the top of your mouth, driving you crazy. His kiss was just how you imagined it would be; hot, passionate, and exciting.

Your hands found their way into his hair and your fingers ran through his soft locks. He pushed his muscular body into yours even more and you gasped as you felt how close he actually was. His body heat wrapping around you.

His hands slowly reached up and slid the straps of your satin gown down your shoulders, letting it fall and bunch around your waist. He had been wanting to do that all night, especially since he saw you dancing with that guy Steve.

Bucky smirked at the sight of the flimsy, lacy lingerie you had on; which he was sure he could tear off your body in less than a second. And he did, allowing the thin material to fall to the floor. He gently touched you wherever he could; letting his hands linger at your breasts and taking his sweet time; caressing and kissing your skin. His lips trailing down your neck; kissing, licking and biting.

His mouth didn’t leave your skin as his hands slipped in between your legs with ease; caressing your inner thighs as he went. His hand slipped into your underwear with no shame, his knuckles gently stroked your wet folds; making you shiver at his touch. He chuckled upon feeling just how aroused you were. “So perfect…” he whispered.

He ran his fingers up and down your folds, gathering and smearing your arousal around as he went. You whimpered quietly against him; your gown barely covered your body. But Bucky was nowhere near complaining. In fact, he had been thinking about what you looked like under that dress since the first time he saw you this evening.

His hand gently wrapped around your throat. He gave it a little squeeze and an involuntary, playful smile formed on your face. His smirk grew, and so did the fire in him. “Like it when I choke you, huh doll?” he spoke, dragging the tip of his nose along your jaw as his other hand slipped under your skirt and rubbed your clothed core. He couldn’t take it any longer. “I need to have you.” he growled. “Now.”

He pushed his two fingers past your entrance with ease and moaned right in your ear as he felt your wet and warm walls immediately welcoming him in. He curled his fingers inside of you, hitting all the right spots which made you weak in the knees. You bucked your hips against his hand involuntarily, and he chuckled as you moaned out loud while he touched you.

Feeling more confident than earlier, you quickly unbuttoned his pants, palming him through his underwear and feeling his erection. You smirked to yourself as he grunted the moment you touched him.

“I want you…” you mumbled breathlessly. All your worries and overthinking left behind, you wanted him bad. And that’s all you could think of at the moment.

Bucky smirked. He lowered his pants and underwear, then he hurried in pulling down your underwear, letting it all fall and pool around your ankles. You stepped out of it and Bucky picked you up by your thighs and kissed you deeply while holding you between him and the metal surface tightly.

Your legs wrapped around his waist and your arms held on to him tightly. His cock briefly brushed against your wet folds in the process and you whimpered through the kiss. Bucky needed to be in you already, all he wanted was to hear you scream his name as you cum around him. So he wasted no time in aligning his throbbing tip to your dripping wet entrance.

He pushed himself into you; stretching you out. His nails digging into your skin as he held you by your hips, and yours scratching at his shoulders as he filled you up; making you whine and moan as he went. You were both gasping by the time he filled you up entirely. His body didn’t feel as foreign as you expected. You two fit perfectly.

Bucky started rocking in and out of you, without wasting any time. You felt all of him; your walls clenched around his thick cock as he started out with slow strokes and then gradually sped up into you. You felt all of him, the bumpy and the velvety skin of his length. He was perfect as he stroked your walls with his pulsating cock. You were a moaning mess in no time.  

His strong arms supported you up by grabbing you at the curve of your ass; holding you against him, as he sped up into you; showing you how much he missed you. He pushed his head into the crook of your neck and swore under his breath, all while occasionally mumbling how much he loves you and how good you feel wrapped around him.

He fucked you relentlessly; earning more and more moans out of you each time his cock stroked your walls. Your hand slid into his hair and you tugged on it each time he pushed into you. You soon felt the familiar pressure forming; pressing inside you as the familiar warmth spread all over your body. You moaned wantonly.

Bucky nibbled at the skin under your ear and you lost all control you had left. Your thoughts became cloudy and all you could focus on was how his body brought you immense pleasure; your mind a foggy mess. Your clit rubbed against his pelvic bone each time he buried himself completely in you, and he soon quickened his pace; earning even more moans and mewls from you.

He pounded into you as fast as he could, your back slamming into the wall with each thrust; it hurt just a little. Your body moved along with his like a rag doll. And you never complained once. You could hear the wet sounds that he caused and the sounds of your skin clapping against each other – it was all too sinful.

He moaned right into your ear and the sound sent shivers down your back like it always did no matter where he took you. Your legs started to shake around him as he quickened his pace; pounding into you relentlessly. The pleasure built nicely as he took you higher… and higher… and higher. Until you couldn’t hold back anymore. So, you came undone around his cock; screaming his name in the process.  

And that was one of the many times he made you cum around him that night…

 -End of flashback-

 Fuck…

You shivered in the warm water at the thought of him deep inside you; how perfect he felt, and how you never wanted to leave that bed with him in it. But then, you thought about how wrong that was; how you shouldn’t have gotten so intimate and personal with your boss. It was wrong, and unethical and a terrible mistake. But it felt good…

Stepping out of your bathroom, wrapped in a soft robe, you felt chills all over your body. Not because of the temperature, but because it felt as though you suddenly weren’t alone in your home. You panicked for a moment. Your heart racing, your thoughts racing faster.

Then you sensed it.

Sensed him.

He was here.

 “Miss Y/N.” He spoke in that damn voice which could make you drop to your knees in less than a second.

Yet you managed to maintain your composure as you slowly turned around to face him. Realization hit you a little late, and you gasped under your breath when you finally saw him standing in the middle of your bedroom. Your initial reaction was to hug your robe tighter around your body.

He looked flawless and powerful as always. Hands shoved in his pockets; accentuating his broad shoulders. That gorgeous smirk on his face. Flawless hair. Flawless face. Bucky smirked. “Oh don’t hide from me. I’ve seen it all, haven’t I?” he teased so effortlessly.

You felt your face getting hotter under his intense gaze. “How did you… how-,”

He cut off your rambling. “I own the building, doll.” he answered like it was the most obvious thing ever.

Right. Of course he owns your apartment building. He also owns half the city.

There was an air of arrogance around him at all times. And you tried so hard to hate it, but you couldn’t. It suited him; the arrogance, the power, the authority. And he sure knew how and when to use it.

You cleared your throat as you kept your eyes focused on the ground, rather than look into his stormy blues ones because they were a new weakness of yours. “You shouldn’t be here.” You mumbled, not hating that he was here.

He scoffed. “Oh?” he raised an eyebrow at you and took a few steps towards you. You were surprisingly not hysterical about the fact that this handsome man found his way into your home out of nowhere. He walked over to you, grabbed you by the waist and pulled you into him.

You had no other choice but to look up into his ocean blue eyes and you could feel yourself melting already. He pulled you closer and leaned in, gently kissing along your jaw repeatedly. You closed your eyes and tried your hardest not to sigh in pleasure or moan as you felt the softness of his lips and the roughness of his stubble altogether.

“I’ve missed you.” he whispered against your skin, stopping for a moment and kissed you at the corner of your mouth. His arms circled around you, holding you close to him. Your arms circled around him as well, slowly. You realized you had missed him as well. His warmth, his voice, his mouth. All of him.

And just like that, he took over your very being again. One touch of his lips and you were under his spell with no intention of making it out anytime soon. “I missed you too…” you whispered breathlessly as he kissed your lips gently.

But those few words from you triggered something in him. An irritation he had carried inside since he saw that letter of yours on his desk. Overflowing emotions he couldn’t handle; due to which he was here in the first place.

“Yeah?” he whispered through the kiss, then slide his hand into your hair and tugged on it to pull your face away from his. He clenched his jaw as he looked down at you. He was conflicted, should he be mad that you even dared to think you could just leave him, or should he just fuck some sense into you? “Yet you dared to leave me your resignation with no warning?” Oh. “Huh? Is that how it is now, you think you get to decide everything?”

Oh. So he was mad.

“I didn’t mean-,”

He kept going. “Shut up, babygirl.” He spoke softly. “Now you listen to me,” he inched closer, gently biting your lower lip, “You’re not leaving me. You’re not resigning. You’re not going anywhere.” He stated, then pulled away to look at you again.

There was a fire in his deep blue eyes. “We can’t keep doing this.” You tried to come up with something. An excuse. You were looking for an excuse.

“Why not?”

“It’s wrong.”

He scoffed and then smirked again. “Is it? Does being with me feel so wrong to you now, huh?” he cooed, knowing it was only a matter of another minute or two before you give into him. “That wasn’t the case this past weekend, was it?” He moved the two of you backwards, towards your bed in the middle of the room.

You knew you wouldn’t be able to resist him for too long now. But you still tried, in vain. You sighed loudly, wrapped in his strong embrace. “You’re my boss.”

He chuckled. “I know that.”

“Exactly.”

“What?” he questioned, already untying your robe as he stopped at the end of your bed.

“You know what. How are we supposed to be professional at work if we’re sleeping together?” you asked.

He smirked looking down at you. “Then let’s not be professional.”

You sighed again. “It’s-,”

He cut you off with a kiss again, sliding your robe down your shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. “Shh.” And just like that, you melted under his touch. “It’s okay babygirl, let me take care of you.”

He pushed you down on your bed and held your stare as he undressed himself; smirking as he watched how you grew more and more desperate with each item of clothing he took off. He hovered on top of you in no time.

Bucky lowered his face; pressing his forehead onto yours gently, while he pushed his erected cock past your tight entrance. You moaned out loud as he did. He grunted once he filled you up entirely, and he gave you a couple of seconds to adjust.

“Fuck…”

You were so full of his thick cock that even forming a proper thought seemed impossible at the moment. You shuddered as you felt all of him. His lips found yours again, attempting to get you to stay quiet while he rolled his hips against yours.

He removed himself and pushed himself back into you, and watched in awe how you struggled to adjust to his size. He lowered his face again, and leaned into your ear. You heard him panting and swearing under his breath as he rocked into you. Your nails sank into his skin, around his shoulders; which you held onto for dear life as he pounded into you.

“Thought you could just leave me, huh? Thought I would let you?” he mumbled right in your ear as he fucked you relentlessly. “You thought I would let you go? Let someone else touch you, pleasure you, fuck you like this? Did you babygirl?” he growled. “Answer me!”

You whined, throwing your head back and moaning at how good he felt. “No… please I didn’t-” you were breathless. You tried matching his thrusts but were unable to; so you simply let go. Your body moved against his like a rag doll.

He growled at how your walls clenched around him. “What? You didn’t what? You didn’t think I’d come back looking for you? You thought I would just let you go because you asked for it?” he accidentally let out a moan, followed by swear words. “You think you make the rules here, doll?”

He reached up and grabbed your jaw, forcing you to look at him. His blue eyes were wild and fierce; staring deep into your soul. His gaze made you tremble in pleasure. He looked so powerful. Broad and strong, hovering above you, his cock buried deep in you. Looking down at you like he owned you.

He kissed you, bit your skin, kissed your open mouth while he rammed into you; and you never complained once. Given his size, he stretched you out completely. And it did hurt, but the pleasure compensated for the pain.

Your legs trembled as you lifted them up to wrap them around his waist. This allowed him to thrust deeper into you, and in the haze he was in, he managed to mumble right in your ear about how good you felt. He was relentless, as though each moan, each mewl which left your lips only encouraged him to get more and more rough.

 At some point, right when your walls started clenching around him and when you were just about to come undone; he removed himself from you and flipped you onto your stomach and pulled you onto your knees by your hips. He kissed the back of your neck and pushed himself inside you again. You felt his hard body press against the curve of your ass as he filled you up again.

You moaned out loud at the new sensation of him rocking into you from behind. Bucky’s hand found its way to your front and he pressed the palm of his hand against your lower abdomen. He liked the thrill each time he felt himself thrusting deep within you.

His hand travelled all the way to your throat and he bent down to whisper in your ear, “Can you feel me deep within you?” he boasted as he gently squeezed the side of your throat. But hard enough to make you lose your mind.

“Please…” You could only moan and whimper in response while he kept pounding into you incessantly. You felt him quicken his pace as he chased his own orgasm. And finally he let you, and you came undone all around him – moaning his name out loud.

-

You woke up an hour later, the sky was darker and you felt a lot better than you had all week. You turned to your side and found your handsome boss passed out next to you. A smile formed on your face involuntarily.

“Don’t just look, you can touch too.” His gruff voice spoke up a second later, his eyes still closed. You chuckled and snuggled closer to him.

“So what now?” you asked, wrapping an arm around his bare torso. His body heat was something you were quickly getting used to.

He took a deep breath, smiled and lazily reached over to place a kiss on your forehead. “Now you let me love you.”

[blueeyedgeorgie]

MCYT ROYAL AU (1)

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 2.7k+

____________

"I'm not too sure about this." He crossed his arms as he spoke, it was a chilly night. Usually he was kept warm by his cloak, but tonight wouldn't be a smart time to wear it.

The night was silent besides the sound of their boots hitting the ground. As the two men walked side by side, nothing disturbed them as they quietly spoke to one another. "You need to take a load off friend, you've worked hard. One night of fun won't ruin your name."

"What name do I have, Nick? Nothing. I just believe it's a risky move to enter a place where most want me dead," A green-eyed man spoke. He prayed to himself silently, hoping no one would recognize his face. It was rare for him to remove his cloak, let alone his mask. He felt nude without them.

"Well, I've heard quite the few call you cloak, I prefer smiley mask," a hint of humor could be heard in Sap Nap's voice as they walked. The joke was quickly put to rest with the taller man jabbing him in the side. "Alright, alright... I'm trying to get some to call you mask. It's the best we could come up with at the moment."

"It stills sounds terrible."

"Then why don't you come up with a better name?" A moment of silence passed between the men as they thought in silence. "What about speed? After all, you're quite fast when you escape us."

"You might as well just stick with mask at this point, friend." The dirty blonde let out a huff of breath created from a bit of frustration. He had been escaping and breaking cruel laws for years now, yet no one had given him a name yet. He couldn't even come up with a name to use.

"Don't let your spirits down. Tonight is going to be filled with joy, laughter, dancing, and drinks. Focus on that, you can plot your fugitive name another day." Sap Nap had picked up his pace, the king's castle was now in sight. "You are quite the lonesome man, maybe if you play your cards right you'll find someone to love while you're at it."

"No one loves a criminal, Nick."

Staring at herself, Y/n couldn't help but smile. Her gown was beautiful and tailored just right. It was a pastel shade of blue, the sleeves made of lace with her skirts made of silk. Her corset was tight enough to show her figure but loose enough for her to breathe and enjoy a bit of dancing. Her hair was pinned up with a stunning jewel pendant sitting on the right of her head.

In only a few minutes, she'd meet her fiance. For weeks she had been waiting for this very moment. Letter after letter, she had gotten a chance to speak to her future lover, but for the first time, she'd get to see him in person.

Y/n was a bit nervous about the thought of engagement when the news was first sprung on her. But after hearing from her partner, she was quite interested in meeting her future husband. Her father had listened to her wishes, making sure her future husband was close in age with a good heart. The lucky part of this marriage was that it could bring peace between two kingdoms and help each town flourish.

"Your highness. It's time."

Her smile brightened as Y/n turned, facing a good friend of hers, Lord Soot. "You know you don't need to call me that, Wilbur."

"It just feels right, just for tonight. This is going to be an important night for you after all." The tall man held a wide grin on his face.

"I can't believe this is it. My future is so close."

"You're quite right. You and Prince George will work well together, I can tell. I'm happy for you, Y/n." Moments like these were always nice, Wilbur had been friends with the princess for what felt like forever. Considering he was one of the king's best vassals, he was allowed and trusted to be close to his daughter. Their friendship was similar to how siblings would act, making silly inside jokes and teasing while also being protective and kind.

"You really think so? What if he turns out to be cruel and his kindness is all just a ruse?" The h/c girl had begun to pick at her hands as she spoke, she always did this when she doubted herself or felt anxious.

"Impossible, you can tell that man has a good heart. Just by the way he stands, you could tell he wouldn't hurt a fly unless he needed to." Taking a few steps forward, he pulled out a golden pocket watch, flicking it open, "By the looks of it, I have two minutes to get you downstairs before your father sends Technoblade up."

"Then we should hurry down. We wouldn't want to upset either of them tonight."

"I completely agree with you on that, your highness." After getting her grand entrance to come to a close, Lord Soot had accompanied Y/n to the front of the ballroom. Her father had sat on his throne, a few quite important people huddled near him. Y/n's eyes glazed over the small crowd, where was he?

"Don't be nervous. He's excited to meet you." Wilbur muttered quietly, loud enough only for Y/n to hear over the music playing.

"What gave it away?"

"you're picking at your hands once again, Y/n."

"My daughter! Finally, it's time!" Standing from his seat, he had thrown his hands into the air. "I'd like you to meet, Prince George." He pointed to his left, with a man stepping aside Y/n's eyes landed on him.

It was him, George. Her future husband. He was quite handsome as he smiled kindly at her. Already she could tell, she was going to have a happy ending. When she was a child, she always feared her father would give her away to a monster of a man who'd use her as an item instead of a   person.  But when she spoke to George, she knew her father had found her someone who'd love her like a person.

"My lady." Those were the first words he spoke as he approached his fiance, "I have waited for this moment since I first heard of our engagement. It's amazing to finally meet you."

"As to you, my prince," Y/n bit her lip, trying to keep herself from grinning like a fool.

"Your highness, I must thank you once again for throwing this ball to give me the chance to meet your daughter. She can easily be mistaken for an angel." George had turned towards the intimidating man sitting on top of a throne made of gold.

"Take care of her, or many consequences will come your way, Prince."

"You have my word that I'll keep her safe, King Schlatt." With a short bow, George had turned back to his future partner, "My lady, would you like to have our first dance?"

"Please."

While the music played, Sap Nap couldn't help but sway his hips as he sauntered through the hall. Next to him, his friend merely walked, not a  touch of rhythm in his step. He couldn't focus on the music, he felt out of place. It was normal for him to sneak from place to place without being noticed, but this had just felt wrong.

His eyes had landed on a few people he recognized, people who wanted him dead. He had spotted the vassal Technoblade quite a few times in the corner of the hall, standing by King Schlatt every now and then. He seemed too busy focusing on someone else to notice him.

Tonight was his first night back in this kingdom since months has passed. The last time he was here, he had escaped with a stolen sword and a nasty cut on his shoulder. There wasn't any sign of him coming back soon, but after receiving a letter from his friend asking for his presence, he couldn't say no.

"You really need to wipe that frown off your face, friend. You're at a party, enjoy yourself."

"It's hard to do, Sap."

"Then take a drink or two."

"I..." He passed his stroll. The fugitive's eyes had landed on one thing that did interest him, a beautiful girl in a blue gown. She was smiling as she stepped off the dance floor. "Who is that?"

Sap Nap took a moment to look for whoever had caught his friend's eyes. It took a few seconds before he realized who it was. "Oh, that's the Princess, her name's Y/n."

"Y/n..."

'It makes sense she's royalty, just look at her. She's beautiful. But why haven't I noticed her before?' The tall blonde thought to himself as he watched her walk through the ballroom. She was as graceful as she was beautiful.

"I'm going to speak to her."

"I..." Sap Nap paused, rethinking his answer, "You should, you two will get along quite well. Just be careful not to pull attention to yourself."

Moving towards the princess, the blonde muttered only a few words to the knight, "My middle name is careful."

"Wait, is it?"

"Princess."

Turning on her heels, Y/n had come face to face with someone new. A man towered over her, with almond hair and beautiful green eyes. She had never seen him before, yet she felt like she could trust him with everything. Something was so intriguing about this stranger that had only muttered a word to her.

"Sir."

"I couldn't help but notice you from across the room, may I have this one dance?"  He bowed briefly, putting his hand out towards her. For a moment she stared, hesitant. Would she betray her future husband with just one dance with a stranger? ...No This couldn't be considered cheating, it was just a friendly dance.

Gently, she placed her hand in his calloused one. A smile appeared on his face as he carefully lead her to the dance floor. "You may have to excuse me if I step on one of your slippers, I was never trained to dance when I was younger." A sense of humor could be heard in his voice.

"I'll simply return the favor if you do," she smirked, placing a hand on his shoulder and he put a hand on her waist.

"Ouch." He shot a smirk right back at her.

"I can't believe it... he's actually doing it," Sap Nap muttered to himself as he watched his friend. His eyes glanced over to the King and his Vassals, they seemed to be busy in a conversation. How had this turned out so well?

The knight watched his fugitive friend, it made sense he was a good dancer. He had always been good on his feet. Sap was a bit curious about what his friend had been saying to the princess. Whatever he said was quite charming to the princess, she kept laughing and replying to him. Both held smiles on their faces as they danced together.

Song after song, they kept dancing. All Sap did was watch, looking out for any sign of someone catching onto his friend. The knight was happy for his friend, he looked like he was finally enjoying himself. As time passed, Sap Nap seemed to lose interest in his friend's activities. He was a wanted man, if he could run from a crime he could run out of the ball if he needed to. He had now turned his attention to the food set out in the corner of the room. Turkey, potatoes, bread. It all looked delicious.

Prince George was busy as well, speaking to the king about plans for their future. He only had a few dances with his fiance before needing to excuse himself, he felt a bit bad for leaving her alone. But he needed to get a few things sorted out for his stay. He couldn't stop reminding himself that she was probably alone, looking for him. She had been so happy to meet him.

But that was the thing: She had found company from a man who never spoke his name. But as they spoke and dance, she found herself laughing at his lame jokes, opening up to him about her life, and even blushing at his compliments. This moment seemed too perfect.

The green-eyed man knew he had to keep an eye out, and it was a good thing he did. He had noticed Lord Techno had disappeared from his spot by the king. It had only taken a moment for him to spot the pink-haired man stalking through, his eyes set on him. He was trying to get close. This wasn't his first time outsmarting his enemies.

The green man only smiled to Y/n, beginning to lead her across the dance floor. It seemed to be a perfect moment for the music to have such a dramatic change in how it was played. Spinning, gliding, he did everything to distract Y/n as he tried to move them to the opposite side of the dancefloor.  Every time Technoblade had gotten close, the pair moved to the opposite side of the dancefloor.

'As nice as it to have a moment with her, when will this song end?' the green-eyed man thought to himself as he spun Y/n carefully for what felt like the 100th time. Technoblade was across the ballroom. It seemed to be perfect as the song has ended, seconds after the green-eyed man had thought to himself.

"This has been a lovely time, Princess. But I now to leave you be." He had pulled them to the side, giving a short bow with a mischievous smile plastered on his face.

"Will I see you again?"

"I..." His eyes had caught onto Techno how was halfway over to them, "I'm sure you'll spot me around."

"Good to hear," she cracked a smile at him, watching as he began to step away. Y/n hadn't noticed the way his eyes were glued behind her as he disappeared into the crowd, she could only focus on how it felt to have his eyes on her. His pretty green eyes.

"Princess Y/n."

Turning on her heels, she looked to find Technoblade towering over her.  "Hello, Techno."

"Your father is demanding your return to him." He mumbled, barely loud enough for Y/n to hear.

"Alright, thank you, Techno." Y/n and Techno had a strange relationship. While they didn't agree on certain terms, they were still great friends. They had known each other for almost as long as Wilbur knew Y/n. Technoblade always had a soft spot for her, it seemed he was her one weakness, yet he'd never admit it. Techno was always so harsh towards many, but with Y/n... she was different. He would always protect her.

As Y/n passed him, Technoblade's eyes glazed through the ballroom. Where had he gone? He had noticed a man dancing with Y/n, he had seemed so familiar, yet Techno had never seen his face before. He needed to see why this man was so important.

The green-eyed man could tell Techno was looking for him. He kept moving on his feet, trying to get as far as possible from the vassal. It seemed like he'd be fine, it was impossible for Technoblade to realize who he really was. As soon as the vassal had turned to make his way back to King Schlatt, the green-eyed man could feel himself slow his pace. He turned his attention away from the pink-haired man, looking to see in the corner of the hall two young boys. One was brunette, the other was blonde. They had broken into a fit of laughter, holding onto one another to steady themselves.  The green-eyed man couldn't help but smile to himself, they reminded him of his childhood best friend, it had been years since he had seen him.

Stopping his train of thought, the green-eyed man paused. He had bumped into someone. "So sorry," His eyes widened. It couldn't be... it wouldn't be a smart idea to stay here, he needed to step away before he was recognized. Leaning his head down, he ducked away into the nearest crowd. It was George, it had to be him.

"I..." George caught his breath, freezing in place. He had to be hallucinating. It was impossible that was him, Clay was dead.

[snowonthebeachmp3]

July 2016

Jul 3rd - Taylor's 4th of July festivities kick off at her Rhode Island house. Guests include Tom Hiddleston, Abigail Anderson, Matt Lucier, Claire Winter, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Karlie Kloss, Josh Kushner, Austin Swift, Ruby Rose, Harley Gusman, Halston Sage, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Britany Maack, Ben LaManna, Martha Hunt, Jason McDonald, Uzo Aduba, Chioma Aduba, Jordan Masterson, Kesha, St Vincent, Ed Sheeran, Cherry Seaborn, Rachel Platten, Kennedy Rayé and the Haim sisters. (x) (x) (x) (x)

This is the day Tom wears the infamous 'I <3 TS' tank top while they're all at the beach. (x)

Jul 4th - The online mockery for the 'I <3 TS' shirt is quick to pour in. Daily Mail commenters are yet to shut up about it in 2021.

The party continues with a giant inflatable waterslide, body painting, karaoke, charades and fireworks. (x) And also Kesha and Haim getting tricked by Cara, Uzo and Ruby into thinking they heard scary noises in the night, and trying to call the police but not knowing their own location. (x) (x)

Jul 5th - The day after the party, when all the guests post their photos online.

Britany posts a photo of her & Ben, Blake & Ryan, and Taylor & Tom. (x) The internet has a field day with Ryan's unimpressed facial expression. (x) (Ryan later says that it's just his resting bitch face as he wasn't aware a photo was being taken. (x))

Taylor posts several photos to Instagram of her celebrating the 4th July with friends, but doesn't post any pictures with Tom. (x)

Claire Winter posts a bunch of Polaroids, including one of Taylor and Tom kissing. (x)

Abigail posts a photo to Instagram showing the banners Taylor put up to celebrate her engagement to Matt and the anniversaries of Cara & St Vincent (real name Annie Clark) and Ed & Cherry. (x)

Jul 6th - Taylor and Tom fly out of Rhode Island (x) and arrive at LAX that evening. (x) They then get on a plane to Australia.

Joe attends the Warner Music Group summer party in London. (x)

Rumours are swirling that Tom is no longer in consideration to be the next Bond, due to his relationship with Taylor. (x) (x) (x) (x) (x)

Jul 8th - Taylor and Tom are flying on a commercial Quantas flight so someone is able to take a pic of them on the plane. (x)

According to another passenger on the plane, Taylor plays Scrabble during the flight (presumably on her phone because nobody takes big physical board games on commercial flights and the creepshot of Hiddleswift on the plane suggests she wouldn't have had anywhere to put the board anyway). In hindsight, knowing how Taylor and Joe play lots of Scrabble together including online Scrabble aka Words With Friends, and how they stayed in touch largely via texting that summer, it’s very possible she was playing against Joe.

Taylor and Tom arrive in Sydney, where Tom is about to start filming for Thor: Ragnarok. (x) Aussie media, including daytime TV, goes nuts over Hiddleswift's arrival in the country. (x)

Flying from LA to Australia involves crossing the international dateline, so they would have left the US on the 6th July local time and arrived in Sydney approx 15 hours later on the 8th July local time.

Calvin's new song Olé, written for John Newman, is released. There is speculation that it's a Hiddleswift song, written from Tom's perspective and containing lyrics implying that Taylor cheated on Calvin with Tom. However, sources also told multiple outlets that the song was written and recorded months earlier, and its supposed links to Hiddleswift were just for publicity. (x) (x)

Jul 9th - Tom goes out for a run (x) and avoids answering questions about Taylor. (x)

Jul 10th - Taylor and Tom go out for dinner to Gemelli Italian restaurant in Broadbeach on Australia's Gold Coast. (x)

Jul 11th - Taylor is named as the highest earning celebrity on the 2016 Forbes Celebrity 100 list, with earnings of $170m mostly due to the 1989 World Tour. If she and Calvin had not split up, they would have been the top-earning celebrity couple. (x)

Jul 12th - Taylor visits Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane. (x)

Jul 13th - Us Weekly makes a wild claim that Tom is planning to propose soon, and Taylor is going to say yes. The magazine cover also claims they're already talking about babies. (x)

TMZ claims that Taylor wrote TIWYCF, and that Calvin disrespecting Taylor following its release was the reason for their breakup. (x)

Taylor Swift really is the creative brains behind Calvin Harris' monster hit "This is What You Came For," and their relationship fell apart because he disrespected her when the song was released ... this according to sources connected with Taylor.

It's a fascinating story. We've learned an early fan rumor about the song is true, but to a deeper extent than anyone suspected. During their relationship, Taylor wrote the song, sat down at a piano and did a demo into her iPhone. She sent it to Calvin, who loved it. They both went into a studio and did a full demo with Taylor on vocals and Calvin doing the beat.

They both knew the song would be a hit, but Taylor wrote it for Calvin and both agreed it was a bad idea to let the world know they collaborated as a couple ... it would overshadow the song.

So Taylor, who kept the publishing rights, used the pseudonym Nils Sjoberg on the credits.

//

The problem in the relationship came the day the song was released. Calvin appeared on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and Ryan asked, "Will you do a collaboration with your girlfriend?" Calvin responded, "You know we haven't even spoken about it. I can't see it happening though."

We're told Taylor was hurt and felt Calvin took it too far.

It was a quick downward spiral from that point. One source called it "the breaking point in the relationship." The Met Gala was several days later, when Taylor danced with Tom Hiddleston.

Tree confirms to People magazine that Taylor did write TIWYCF under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg. (x)

Calvin also confirms that Taylor wrote TIWYCF and goes on a Twitter rant:

Katy Perry tweets a gif of Hillary Clinton with a smug/'told you so' expression. (x) She also retweets an older tweet from May 2015 which reads, 'Time, the ultimate truth teller.' (x)

#TaylorSwiftIsOverParty trends on Twitter (x) (x) and Taylor's Instagram comments are spammed with the snake emoji. (x)

Following Calvin's tweets, TMZ publishes another article claiming he is downplaying Taylor's involvement in the song as she wrote the melody in addition to the lyrics. (x)

Jul 14th - Taylor goes out shopping in Gold Coast. (x)

Tom mentions Taylor in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter: (x)

You're in the middle of a cultural frenzy right now because you're dating Taylor Swift. How would you respond to people who claim that you're involved in some sort of publicity stunt?

(Laughs.) Well, um. How best to put this? That notion is — look, the truth is that Taylor Swift and I are together, and we're very happy. Thanks for asking. That's the truth. It's not a publicity stunt.

Martha says at a Pepsi/World Emoji Day event that Taylor and Tom are 'both happy and free together. It's amazing, I'm all about people being happy in love.' (x)

Kim talks about Taylor and the Famous controversy in a clip from an upcoming episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. (x)

“I never talk shit about anyone publicly, especially in interviews. But I was just like I had so had it,” Kim says in the clip to her sister Kourtney. “I wanted to defend him in it. She legitimately quote says, ‘As soon as I get on that Grammy red carpet I’m gonna tell all the press. Like I was in on it.’”

“And then she just didn’t like the reaction?” Kourtney says in response.

“Yeah, and you know just another way to play the victim,” Kim replies. She then brings the infamous VMAs moment from 2009 by saying, “It definitely got her a lot of attention the first time… I just don’t think he should be punished for it still to this day.”

Jul 17th - Kim posts an edited recording of Kanye and Taylor's phone call. In it, they discuss the 'I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex' line and Taylor says, 'Go with whatever line you think is better. It’s obviously very tongue in cheek either way. And I really appreciate you telling me about it. That’s really nice.' However, nowhere in the Snapchat video does Kanye consult her about the line, 'I made that bitch famous,' which is the line Taylor insisted she had never approved. (x) The other Kardashian sisters retweet and support Kim. (x)

(The full recording of the call, leaked in 2020, confirms that Kanye never told Taylor he was going to call her a bitch. It also shows her reminding him that she sold 7 million albums before he had even heard of her, in response to him suggesting the lyric, 'I made her famous.')

Kim takes to Twitter to call Taylor a snake.

Taylor posts a statement on Instagram responding to Kim's Snapchat video. (x)

Selena tweets, 'There are more important things to talk about… Why can’t people use their voice for something that fucking matters? This industry is so disappointing yet the most influential smh' (x)

Katy Perry tweets, '#RISE above it all' and links to her new single. People interpret it as a dig at Taylor. (x)

Martha Hunt tweets, 'It's pathetic how quick our culture is to sensationalize a fabricated story...' (x)

Jul 18th - #KimExposedTaylorParty spends the day trending at number one worldwide on Twitter. (x) To the point where 0.8% of all tweets posted in the entire week from the 18th-24th use the hashtag. (x) (Assuming that 1/7th of the week's total tweets were posted on each day, that means more than 1 in every 20 tweets on the 18th used the hashtag.) #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty also returns.

TMZ claims to have a copy of a letter from Taylor's lawyer, dating back to February, demanding that Kanye destroy the recording of their phone conversation and reminding him that it is a felony to secretly record a phone conversation in California. (x)

Taylor changes the name on her writing credits for TIWYCF on the BMI songwriters database. She is now listed as Taylor Swift instead of Nils Sjöberg. (x)

Camilla Belle, the subject of Taylor's 2010 song Better Than Revenge, posts a quote to Instagram which reads, 'No need for revenge. Just sit back & wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves & if you’re lucky, God will let you watch.' (x)

Abigail tweets against Kim and Kanye, saying, 'May God forgive you & your wife for doing to others the very things you pray are NEVER done to your daughter.' She deletes the tweets after receiving death threats but leaves a tweet which reads, 'Guys…I will always stand by my best friend. There's no point in fighting over that.' (x)

Joseph Kahn (director of many of Taylor's music videos) defends Taylor on Twitter. (x)

The aunt of Dinah Jane from Fifth Harmony tweets, 'I always knew @/taylorswift13 was a SNAKE! Trying 2 break up my girls & use @/camilacabello97 as her protégé bitch bye you’ve been exposed!’ (x) The tweet is soon deleted and she claims her account was hacked. (x) (Camila quit the band at the end of 2016 and has since said that Taylor had nothing to do with her decision to leave.) (x)

Paula Erickson, Taylor’s former publicist from 2007 until 2014, likes a two-and-a-half-week-old tweet dragging Hiddleswift for being a badly executed bit of PR by Taylor and Tree. (x)

James Corden spoofs the recorded phone call on the Late Late Show. (x)

Calvin is rumoured to be dating Tinashe. (x)

Jul 20th - Todrick Hall defends Taylor, saying, 'She's one of the most genuine people I've ever met in my entire life.' (x)

Uzo Aduba says Taylor is 'a beautiful person and strong' and that she will overcome the Kimye drama. (x)

Paula likes another tweet shading Taylor and Tree. (x)

A graffiti artist creates a mural in Melbourne 'in loving memory of Taylor Swift' (misspelled as Smith). According to the artist, they are then contacted by Taylor's lawyers and threatened with legal action. (x)

Jul 21st - Taylor's Wikipedia page is vandalised with insults. (x)

Taylor and Tom fly back from Australia into a private airport in LA, and are seen out and about. (x) (x)

Jul 22nd - Fergie, who had Kim appear in her M.I.L.F. $ music video, says she thinks the Kimye-Taylor feud was planned and 'they’ll probably all come together at the MTV Awards or something.' (x)

Taylor goes to the gym in LA. It is the first time she has appeared in public since Kim posted the edited video, and her phone screen is now shattered. (x)

She also returns to Instagram to wish Selena a happy birthday. (x)

Jul 23rd - Taylor goes to the gym in LA. (x)

Tom is at Comic Con in San Diego. (x)

Calvin lip-syncs to Kanye's song That Part in a video posted on his Snapchat. (x) He also attends J-Lo's birthday party and is photographed with Kim. Apparently they have a friendly chat. (x) A source claims to E!, 'When Kim walked in Calvin saw her and stood up. He was clearly excited to see her and said 'hi' to Kim backstage.' (x)

Jul 24th - Taylor blocks the snake emoji from her Instagram comments section using a new Instagram feature. (x)

Tom is seen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills with members of Taylor's security team. (x)

Jul 26th - Tom flies back to LA from NYC, where he has just spent a couple of days. On the same day, Taylor's plane arrives back in LA from Nashville, where she has spent a couple of days. (x)

VMA nominations are announced. Taylor is not nominated in any category, despite Out Of The Woods and Wildest Dreams being eligible, leading some people to think she has been snubbed. Gossip Cop, an outlet widely used by celebrity publicists to quietly squash rumours, says that Taylor did not submit any videos for consideration this year. (x)

Jul 27th - Taylor goes to the gym in LA. (x)

John Newman, singer of Calvin's song Olé, jokes, 'Supposedly we had a holiday where he was movin’ on from his ex-missus,' referring to the trip to Mexico to film the music video, which involved girls and a yacht. He also says he doesn't think it's his place to say what inspired Calvin to write the song. (x)

Taylor and Tom go for dinner at Hillstone restaurant in Santa Monica. One source claims they 'seemed to really be enjoying each others’ company.' (x) It is the last time they are papped together.

Kanye makes a surprise appearance at Drake's concert in Chicago where he responds to Kim's Snapchat video for the first time, saying, 'All I gotta say is, I am so glad my wife has Snapchat. Because now y’all can know the truth. And can’t nobody talk shit about ‘Ye no more.' (x)

Cara appears on James Corden's show and talks about how she, Uzo and Ruby pranked Kesha and Haim at Taylor's 4th of July party. She mentions consulting Taylor and Tom first so that security knew what they were up to. She also says that Taylor and Tom got woken up at one point by all the noise they were making, and came upstairs together to find Cara and Uzo still making ghost noises. (x)

Jul 28th - Taylor goes to the gym in LA. (x)

Jul 29th - Sources close to Calvin deny rumours that he is planning to collaborate on music with Kanye. (x)

Abigail likes E! News' Instagram photo of Tom and Taylor going out for dinner on the 27th, which has a gushing caption about them. (x)

Jul 31st - Taylor is seen entering her gym in LA through the back door. (x)

A fan sees Tom and Taylor at The Church Key restaurant in LA. (x) The outing is not papped.

Intro // February // March // April // May // June // July // August // September // October // November

[sunshinejihyun]

Fire Escape Nights || Saeran Choi

Summary: Saeran isn’t a many of speaking many words, but he does write them down Word Count: 1.4K

Masterlist

Saeran’s journal was something everyone knew not to touch. When he first got out of the Mint Eye, he saved up for a nice, leather bound 200 page blank book and once he got it, he kept it with him everywhere. No one knew what he was writing, but they always knew not to disturb him.

Some of the RFA speculated he was writing a book. Zen was sure that Saeran was keeping a hit list and writing down everyone who’s done him wrong, complete with a full plan to murder the aforementioned people. Even Jumin theorized that his journal was where he wrote down a list of days that was important to him. So it may come to a shock that all that was in his notebook was tons of letters dedicated to you. Letters that, if they were ever to be shown to you, would cause Saeran to up and leave South Korea in shame.

Hypothetically, you were the one person that Saeran could tell everything to, but in reality, the only time Saeran was able to talk to you was when Jumin wasn’t around, afraid that he would accidentally say something to you that made Jumin catch on to the fact that Saeran was absolutely captivated by you.

He wasn’t sure when it had happened. Saeran had seen you hanging around Jumin a few times, not really paying much attention because he thought you might have been with the aforementioned, but that changed when Jumin brought you back to the next RFA party. Jumin introduced you as his younger sibling and no one seemed to take notice of the light pink dusting your cheeks or the way that when all eyes were on you, you’d scratch your nose as a nervous tick. Saeran did, and that’s the night he started writing. At first, the messages were innocent; he felt that he knew you enough to be able to talk to you about his day and what he hoped to do when he finally started to get better, but he also knew he didn’t know enough to really have anything turn personal. Of course, those thoughts were foiled when Saeran got to know you more, the messages turned into soliloquies of unrequited love and things he noticed about you that you wouldn’t think anyone would ever observe.

Saeran promised himself he wouldn’t fall in love, let alone fall in love with someone related to the RFA, an organization he was trained to hate for the longest time. However, here he was, sitting and writing about how in love he was with you every single night.

“Hey, are you even listening to me?” You asked, running your long fingers through your hair.

You and Saeran were sitting on the fire escape of the rented house you stayed in with some other students from the school you were attending. Both Jumin and your father insisted you didn’t have to live this way, but you wanted to; getting a proper university experience was something you wanted to do by yourself, no help.

“Yeah, sorry. Just distracted tonight.” Saeran replied, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants.

You bumped your knee against his and Saeran’s heart fluttered at the contact. “You sure you’re not just tired? It’s,” you paused, turning to look at the clock kept near the window you access the fire escape from. “It’s almost 4am.”

“I couldn’t be more wide awake,” Saeran replied honestly, not taking his eyes off of where your knee was still touching his. “But you should go to sleep.”

You sighed, leaning back against your hands, sending a lazy smile towards the boy who sat with you almost every night. “Yeah, but if I go to sleep, what are you gonna do?”

The first night Saeran spotted you sitting on your fire escape was when he and Saeyoung got in a fight and he stormed out, searching for the solace that only midnight air could bring him. When you saw him, you called him up and if it were anyone else, he would have refused; but it was you, the person who he wrote letters to so, he scaled the side ladders and sat down next to you, indulging in easy conversation. You and Saeran quickly bonded over the fact that neither of you slept well, opting for maybe an hour or two of sleep in favor of staying up and talking, or some nights, cramming for a test you had the next day. Saeran’s favorite part of the day was walking to your apartment across town after dinner time and finding you waiting for him, a blanket wrapped around your shoulders, no matter the weather.

“I could do stuff. Journal. Maybe even learn to draw.” Saeran sighed out, reaching subconsciously towards his left jacket pocket where his journal was sitting snug.

You let out a breath and turned to Saeran. “Seriously, what is on your mind tonight? It’s like you’re here but you’re also a million miles away.” You grabbed his rough hands in your soft ones and he felt his resolve melt softly. “I know you well enough to know when there’s something wrong. So what is it?”

Saeran stayed quiet, letting the outcomes of actually telling you how he felt run through his mind. You could hate him. Or you could pity him. Or a ton of other options where it would leave him heartbroken. But there was one outcome that had Saeran wanting so badly to tell you what was going on: you could maybe feel the same way.

“I promised myself I would never fall in love with you.” Saeran started and you opened your mouth to reply but he stopped you by holding a hand up. “You’re my brother’s friend’s sister, for goodness sake. But we’re sitting and laughing on a fire escape at 4 in the morning every single morning and I can’t help thinking that I am totally fucked.” Saeran let out a sigh and went to stand up, pulling out his journal. “I want you to have this. I’m gonna go for right now and leave you to process.” He started climbing down the fire escape but stopped at the last minute. “If you want want to talk to me after this, be here at your normal time. Otherwise, just leave the journal in your normal place.”

You sat there, playing with the frayed edge of the journal, not looking up to meet Saeran’s eyes, no matter how hard he tried and he sighed, shaking his head and making his way back to the house he’s learned to call home.

That next morning, Saeran felt sluggish and Saeyoung knew. He didn’t bother him, or tease him, opting to leave him alone. There were whispers on the phone, most likely about him and the fact that he was sitting in solitude without his journal.

He didn’t want to leave his bedroom but his stomach was rumbling and he was pretty sure that Saeyoung was out, doing whatever he does when he was gone. So when he walked to the kitchen and found you sitting at the table, an uneaten sandwich laid out next to you and as Saeran approached, you quietly offered it to him.

He silently took it, watching you as you pulled out his journal and handed it to him. “I added something new in there.”

Curiously, Saeran opened to the new bookmarked page and he almost couldn’t believe what he was reading as the title of that page. “Two insomniacs fall in love.”

“I’m not a writer like you, but I wanted to start the next part together.” You admitted, pushing hair that fell out of your pony tail to the side.

Saeran set down the sandwich stepped closer to you, his hand wrapping gently around your waist. “You really mean that?” The small smile on Saeran’s face was slowly creeping towards being a huge smile and when you nodded Saeran didn’t hesitate to lean in and press a small kiss to your lips.

“Jumin’s gonna kill you,” Saeyoung called from the doorway, dropping cans of PhD. Pepper on the floor and making you giggle and kiss the worry away from Saeran’s cheeks.

“Don’t worry, he’ll have to get through me to get to you.” You stepped away from Saeran and sighed. “I have to get back to class. I was just on a lunch break, I’ll see you later.”

It wasn’t a question. Saeran and you both knew that no matter what Jumin will say or do when Saeyoung tells him what’s going on between Saeran and his younger sibling, that Saeran will be on that fire escape by 10 o’clock at night, ready to hold you in his arms until the sun starts to rise.

[katefiction]

Revolution, Part 1

by katefiction (Maria) / 2014

It was a boiling hot day, the day before. I remember because George’s cheeks were bright red all day long. I’d had to resort to stripping him down to a vest and his nappy to keep him cool. It didn’t help that he’d recently discovered how to run. Every fourth step, he would lose his balance and fall to the floor, but he was so happy using his legs, chasing Lupo around the apartment and screeching as he went.

‘George, come here!’ I shouted, grabbing his arm as he ran past me.

I wiped his face and back down with a cold flannel, and made him sip on some water.

‘Ok, go’ I said, releasing him into the wild again.

The air conditioning had broken down a month back, or been switched off. We didn’t know which, but suspected the latter. We had been strongly advised not to open any windows, it would be “inviting trouble”, they had told us.

We’d had to make do with a few portable fans, but that wasn’t enough to cool down our twenty-room home. We decided instead to use only the rooms we needed and it was beginning to feel like a cage. Of course, I would never say that out loud.

With George occupied by Lupo, I sat myself down on the couch with a glass of iced tea. I never thought I’d be this kind of person. A housewife with nothing better to do than sit at home all day and watch daytime TV. But there I was expertly flicking through the channels, deciding between a DIY makeover show and a chat show. The news channels weren’t an option for me, I was sick to the teeth of the constant discussion; the repetition; the poring over of every detail hour after hour.

It was only when George commanded my attention that I snapped out of my zombie like state.

‘Da!’ he shouted, throwing his blue rhinoceros stuffed toy at my feet.

‘Georgie, don’t throw poor Ronald, that’s not nice’ I grabbed the toy and cuddled it to my chest, prompting George to reach out his little chubby arms.

I handed Ronald back to him and he smiled for a second or two before throwing him down again. ‘Da!?’

Ronald was a gift from William, and had quickly become George’s favourite toy. So much so, that he sat in George’s cot every night, standing guard over him.

‘Da? Da! Da?!’

‘Baby, he’s not home yet’, I scooped him up off the floor for a kiss and a cuddle, but he quickly wriggled out of my grasp.

Much to my annoyance, George had said ‘Da’ before he’d said ‘Mu’, which were his names for us. William had revelled in the fact that it was his first word, taunting me about it with the perseverance of a woodpecker.

Forcing myself off the couch, I decided to start on dinner. When I opened the fridge however, it was all but empty. A few vegetables sat limply in the bottom drawer and milk for George was lined up on the shelves. I sighed and slammed it shut. In the kitchen cupboard were a few cans of soup that we could eat with some bread. It riled me to see our kitchen so barren.

William came home at five, just as I was deciding between tomato and leek and potato for the third time that week.

‘Hey’ he said, leaving the door ajar for a few seconds to let some air in. His face was so tired, with dark patches under his eyes as if a storm cloud were shadowing his face.  

‘Hey, how was it?’

He rubbed his worn face with his hand. ‘They won’t budge’

I sighed and turned away from him, ‘did you ask when our food would be delivered?’

‘I forgot’

For days I regretted how I acted next, wondering if it was that which pushed him over the edge.

‘William, I asked you to do one thing!’

‘I had more important things to think about’, he said, too tired to argue.

‘More important than feeding your son?’

‘Not tonight Kate, please…’

I slammed the can of soup down on the counter and tried to pull the ring pull back, but it wouldn’t move.

‘For God’s sake!’ I muttered under my breath.

William came over to me, his body hot from the searing heat, ‘leave it, we’ll order pizza’

‘We can’t live on takeaway’ I said unreasonably.

‘George’s got puree in the freezer; we can cope with pizza tonight. I’ll sort the groceries tomorrow, I promise’

I leant back into his chest and closed my eyes, ‘I’m sorry’

‘So am I’ he said, pushing his mouth into the top of my head.

‘So, what did they say?’ I asked finally.

‘The decision was final, all my engagements are cancelled, and I’m not to be seen in public until they say so’

‘Didn’t Jamie try and convince them?’

‘He was out-numbered; there was nothing he could do’

Over the last two months, our court had been slowly transformed with letters of resignation coming in every couple of weeks, until there was only Jamie left of our original staff. He was supposed to have all but left, but loyally, he’d stayed on. In place of our trusted advisers had come strangers who were now advising us that we shouldn’t even leave our home.

‘We need to get rid of them, we can do with just Jamie for now’ I said.

‘That would be admitting defeat; we can’t do without a court’

‘Do you trust them?’

‘I don’t know’. He pulled the pizza menu from the letter rack and sat down at the breakfast bar.

That was when I knew we were in trouble. William had always been so sure of the people around him. Like a sniper, he would seek out anyone he couldn’t trust and cast them out. But that night, he was worried and he couldn’t do a thing about it.

*

The history books will tell you that the Revolution began on May 6 2014, when the general election was called a year early. Britain had gone to the dogs with riots flaring up around the country over benefit cuts, energy prices and unemployment to name just a few.

Those of us that lived through it will tell you that it had started years earlier. The recession hit the country hard, and May 6 was the eruption of all those years of struggle. When the Green Party came into power that day, with its promise of a new prosperous Britain, it bought with it republican ideals.

The Republic had campaigned against the monarchy for years, but it wasn’t until that May that the British public stood up and took notice. The first months of 2014 were harsh and aggressive with rains and storms hitting our little island with no mercy. People were being forced out of their homes as the rain water crept in, ominously seeping under the doors and destroying everything it touched. Every penny was being whittled away by fuel and food, and the country had had enough of the government that had failed to protect them. By May, it was at breaking point, and the Republic seized their chance to use it against our family, so warm and dry in our fortified homes.

WE ARE PAYING FOR THE MONARCHY TO FEAST WHILE WE STARVE! They shouted, mounted on the lions of Trafalgar Square.

The protests intensified, with echoes of the 2011 summer riots rising once again. Outside all the palaces in London, masses stood, placards in hand, calling for the abolition of the institution that had served their country almost a thousand years. Little children who had once been so excited to meet us, now chanted along with their mothers and fathers. My little family of three hid behind our four walls, watching from the window as the police attempted to turn them away. But this wasn’t a violent protest; it was controlled, thought out and passive aggressive.

‘What do they think will happen?!’ I appealed to William. ‘We’ll just throw money out of the windows, chuck in some priceless paintings and jewels, and that will solve this country’s problems?!’

‘They want us to disappear’ he said gravely, stepping back from the window. ‘We represent sickening wealth, it doesn’t’ matter that we’re trying to help. Come away from the window before you’re seen’

We continued our engagements as best we could, our police protection bumped up just in case. But this only angered them more. The two princes, once so loved for their ‘normal’ personas and giving natures were now brandished all over the papers as spoilt and useless. No amount of PR could turn them back.

In June the Queen left for her summer holiday early under the cover of darkness. No one, not even William, knew if she was truly in Scotland.

That was when the Revolution hit us. With Her Majesty gone, our staff left one by one. Our engagements were cancelled and we were told to stay inside for our “own safety”.

It was the beginning of the end.

*

Unlike our groceries, the pizzas arrived promptly, Americana for me and Margarita for William. As I laid out the food on the table, I listened to him over the baby monitor putting George to bed.

‘Ok GB, it’s way past your bedtime’, he said, as George drank down his milk. ‘You are a greedy guts, aren’t you? Look how fast you’ve drunk your milk’

George babbled in reply.

William couldn’t wait for the day that he and George could have full blown conversations, and neither could I. I hoped it would stop William giving him a new name every week. There was ‘GB’ or ‘Team GB’, an acronym ‘Giant Baby’ in reference to our baby’s 8lb, 6oz weight at birth and ‘Grumplestiltskin’ was for when he was tired and grumpy.

Then there were the names he gave me. ‘Mum-a-tron’ was his current favourite.

‘Just like Daddy aren’t you, big appetite…now where’s Ronald?’

I heard him stand up, the creak of the rocking chair audible in our state of the art monitors.

‘Ah ha, there he is. Ronald’s going to look after you, isn’t he? He’ll protect you no matter what, I promise’

I heard him kiss George and put him into his cot. He didn’t leave the room right away, and I knew he was standing over the cot looking at his son as he so often did when he had something on his mind.

‘Dinner’s up’ I said when he returned to the kitchen.

We took it over to the couch and William immediately put on the news as he had done most nights for the last couple of months. I sighed inwardly.

‘Shall we put something else on tonight?’ I asked hopefully.

‘I just want to watch this for a bit’, he replied, ignoring me.

‘Will, please, can we just have one night without thinking about all this?’ I pointed to the TV, where a member of the Republic was arguing with the presenter about taxation.

‘This is my only source of information, they aren’t telling me anything’ he said scornfully.

I sat back into the sofa, defeated by William’s stubbornness. He was right, though, because an hour later, a breaking news bulletin flashed up on the screen.

PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL LEAVE BRITAIN

I jolted up from my slumped state as the presenter read from the auto cue that had evidently just popped up in front of her.

‘Aides to the Prince of Wales have confirmed he has left Britain for an undisclosed period. They have declined to reveal his location but confirm that the Duchess of Cornwall is with him. It comes after the Queen left for her annual holiday two months early allegedly due to increasing pressure from the public and the campaign group Republic. Royal sources this evening have revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Prince Harry remain in the UK’

The TV was the loudest sound in the room, but my ears were focussed on William’s breathing next to me. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and wordlessly called his father. I watched as his eyes darkened and his breathing intensified. After a few seconds, he ended the call.

‘What happened?’ I asked cautiously.

He didn’t answer me, and instead called Jamie.

‘Jamie, did you see the news? … I just tried, his phone has been disconnected … did you know? … Should we be worried? … OK, I will, bye’

‘What did he say?’

‘It’s the first he’s heard of it. He hasn’t heard from Papa’. His face was so full of worry, I just wanted to reach over and comfort him. But I knew when William was stressed, he needed time to himself.

‘What now?’

‘We stay inside until they tell us otherwise’

My phone buzzed on the sofa arm. It was my mum calling.

‘Tell her we’re ok, but nothing else’ William said, spotting the caller display, ‘we don’t know if our phones are being watched’

I reluctantly did as he said. I wanted more than anything to leave that place right then and go to stay with my parents. But something in William’s tone told me to leave my family in safety.

William, meanwhile paced around the apartment double checking every window and shutting all the curtains. He locked every door he could too.

 ‘Should we go to the panic room?’ I said anxiously when he returned.

The panic room was a high tech protected zone disguised as a normal room – in our case it was hidden behind our walk in wardrobe.

 Suddenly he softened, coming over to me and taking me in his arms, ‘don’t be silly, you’re perfectly safe’

‘Then why are you locking us in here?’

‘As a precaution. As long as I’m here, you’re protected. The only time you’ll need that room is if I’m not’

I knew he was trying to placate me, and I let him because I didn’t want him to know I was scared. Looking back, I know he was doing the same thing.

We went to bed that night anxious but comforted by each other’s presence. After touching base with Harry, I insisted we bring George into our room for the night and we placed his cot as close to the bed as possible.

‘I’m sure your father’s tried to get in touch’ I began.

‘Tomorrow…we’ll talk about it tomorrow’ he said quietly, consumed by his own thoughts.

Somehow, we managed to fall asleep. It was a sleep so deep that I didn’t hear a footstep or a whisper that night, let alone hear him leave.

*

I woke up to silence. It was 6am and my body clock told me that George would wake up and demand breakfast in half an hour. When I looked to my left and right, neither of my boys were there.

It wasn’t unusual for me to wake up and find William not there. He was a light sleeper, and often he would get up before George so he could be there as soon as he woke, allowing me half an hour extra in bed. Recently, he’d been waking up before the sunrise, unable to stay in bed a moment longer than necessary.

I told myself that they were probably in the living room in front of the TV, watching the news so I lay there for a peaceful fifteen minutes, letting my body get used to being awake.

Eventually, I got up and went straight to the living room, only to find it was empty. The kitchen merely had the empty pizza boxes and menu scattered on the counter. Lupo was asleep in his basket in the corner.

Confused and trying to push down a rising sense of panic, I headed to the bathroom, which was cold and lifeless.

George’s room, I thought resolutely, chastising myself for overreacting. I would sometimes find the two of them playing in there, toys scattered all over the carpet because George only had to point and William would get whatever he wanted down from the shelf. Never mind the twenty cuddly toys already on the floor.

The room was vacant.

It was then that my heart shot into my throat.

‘William?!’ I shouted to no reply. ‘George?!’

I rushed back into the bedroom, looking for a note, checking my phone, anything. William wouldn’t have taken George for a walk without telling me, not in the current situation and certainly not without Lupo.

I felt the bile start to rise to my throat, my body breaking out into a sweat with the panic. Stay calm, I willed myself, taking deep breaths and letting my heart slow down.

I closed my eyes, and organised my thoughts. I would go through every one of our twenty rooms methodically and then and only then would I allow myself to worry. Collecting the keys from the study, I went about unlocking every door that William had locked the night before, switching on the lights to make extra sure as William had drawn all the curtains.

When I finished without finding a thing, I went back to our bedroom and did what a panicked wife and mother would do. I tried ringing him.

His phone went off within seconds, still lying on his bedside table where he always left it. My face popped up on the screen as it rang, smiling brightly into the camera. I wanted to throw it against the wall.

What was I supposed to do next? Who was I supposed to call? My mind blurred with all the things I’d been told in my training for emergencies when I’d married William. He would know what to do, I thought, my frustration momentarily overtaking my fear. I had never felt as alone as I did in that moment, my child missing, and my husband not there to calm me down.  

We hadn’t planned what I’d do without him. ‘As long as I’m here, you’re protected’, he’d said the night before as if it was so simple.

Then, as if from nowhere, and in the most inappropriate of circumstances, a memory flashed through my mind. Every year we would join my family on holiday in the Caribbean. What I loved more than anything was standing in the crystal waters, the sun on my back, waiting for the warm waves to wash over my legs. No matter what was happening in my life – an imminent break up or a tough pregnancy – that moment was like hope rushing in.

Standing in my bedroom that day, sweat dripping down my face, the same sense of hope washed over my body, a force so strong it nearly pushed me backwards.

‘The only time you’ll need that room is if I’m not’

I hurled myself towards our walk in wardrobe. The door was closed and I knew immediately someone had been inside. We never closed that door.

Switching on the light, I hurried to the end of the long narrow room, which was lined top to bottom with shelves and rails of clothes, shoes and accessories. At the back end of the room, William’s suits hung immaculately in a row and I pushed them aside roughly to reveal a small, barely visible panel concealed within the wall.

There was a brass latch along the skirting board, and I struggled to remember where it was, fumbling my fingers along it until after what felt like an age, my finger landed on the piece of cold metal. Pulling it up, I heard the panel click and it jutted out, allowing me to slide it to one side.

Behind it hid a thick, heavy metal door. The last time I’d seen it was when we’d moved in. Security had shown us just how secure it was, the loud clunk of the four door latches filling the room. It did so again as I pushed down the handle, and breathed a sigh of relief as I found that it was unlocked. Pushing it open, I entered the room. The lights were cut out and the darkness engulfed me. My other senses strained to make up for the loss of my sight.

After a few seconds, I heard him, his tiny chest heaving in his slumber.

I stumbled around the tiny square room, running my hands clumsily along the wall until I found the light switch.

George was lying in the middle of the room. I hadn’t noticed when I rushed through the wardrobe, but the bottom draw from the large chest in the closet had been removed. It usually held my knitted jumpers, and now it held my baby.

I almost screamed with relief when I saw him lying there in his makeshift cot. Next to him was Ronald. I pulled him out as gently as I could but couldn’t help but squeeze him tightly.

‘Thank God, thank God’ I whispered, kneeling on the ground. ‘How did you get in here baby?’

George fussed in my arms, displeased to be woken up.

‘Where’s Daddy?’ I said trying to stay calm. ‘Where’s your silly daddy gone?’

Taking the room in, it revealed two phones, a radio transmitter, a box of emergency unperishable food, and a small portable toilet in the corner. But no William.

Taking George with me, I circled the apartment again, looking in every single room again for sign of him. I tried to convince myself that he’d just gone out for an emergency meeting or something, but the cold silence in our home told me different.

Returning to the panic room with a bottle of milk, some food and my phone, I decided we should stay in there until I decided what to do. After all, would it be overreacting to call the office, the protection officers even? He had only been gone a few hours at the most. I took Lupo with us too, who by that time, was just as awake as George, and I hoped that they would keep each other entertained while we waited for word from William.

George now fully alert and drinking his milk happily, climbed back into the drawer. If William were there, I knew he would’ve pushed George around in it, pretending it was a boat or a tank. I knelt beside him and noticed my hands trembling.

It was at that moment that I saw it, just as George joyfully threw Ronald from the drawer. Nestled between my knits; a note written haphazardly on a scrap piece of paper.

Don’t come looking. I’m sorry.

*

Jamie arrived within half an hour of my call; as if he was expecting it. With him were two of our new “advisers”. Steven, a tall lanky man in his early forties with sandy blonde hair and sharp features was calm and controlled. In comparison, the new press secretary, Alec, overweight and balding, had been loud and brash every time we’d had the misfortune to encounter him.

‘Ma’am’, they all said, Steven and Alec bowing their heads reluctantly.

‘What exactly happened Ma’am?’ Jamie said kindly, noticing my obvious distress to which the other two were oblivious.

I explained everything from start to finish, all the essential parts anyway. ‘There’s no reason that he would leave like this, something must’ve happened’ I said calmly as I could.

‘Let’s not go over the top here’ Alec said, his voice booming around the room, ‘there’s probably an explanation – have you tried calling him?’

‘Of course I have! He left his phone here’

‘With all due respect’ Steven said, chiming in, ‘it has only been a few hours, perhaps we should wait before jumping to conclusions’

‘I’m not jumping to anything; he would not leave us like this, not after yesterday’

‘And of course we’ll do our best to help’ Jamie said.

‘But we do have a lot on, you understand, we can’t go on a wild goose chase’ Alec looked pointedly at Jamie. ‘Tell me, where’s the little one?’

‘Asleep in the nursery’ I said cautiously. I didn’t like strangers getting too close to George, and as far as I was concerned, Steven and Alec were just that.

‘I believe the duke has been under a lot of pressure recently’ Steven said coldly, ‘perhaps his leaving has something to do with domestic matters?’

I grew hot with embarrassment and anger, ‘what are you insinuating?’

 ‘Did anything happen last night that might have encouraged him to leave?’

‘We had a tiny disagreement about not having any food in the house, but it was nothing’

‘Sometimes small arguments can cause people to re-evaluate things, especially with the big changes happening of late‘

‘My husband has not left me’ I said with a shaking confidence. ’Something has happened to him, besides he hasn’t taken a single thing with him’

Steven nodded patronisingly. ‘We’ll look into it’

‘Give it a few more days though’ Alec added.

I realised then that they were going to do nothing to help me find William. I looked to Jamie for back up.

‘I’ll be right behind you’ he said to the other two, who were making moves to leave.

‘We can wait’ Steven said, halting on the spot.

Jamie looked right at me, his eyes unwavering. It was as if he were trying to communicate something to me without words. ‘I’m sure he’s just fine, Ma’am’.

* 

The following days were filled with anxious waiting and little to no sleep. It had been seventy two hours since William had disappeared and I hadn’t heard a thing. I had tried countless times to convince Jamie that we should call the police. 

At first he told me that we had to wait twenty four hours before reporting a missing person. When those twenty four hours came and I rushed down to his office to make the call, he was apologetic, telling me we should wait a bit longer.

On the third day, I was back in his office yet again.

‘The problem is Ma’am, he left a note, so he’s not technically missing’ he said, wiping his brow, the heat still searing.

‘He’s been gone three days Jamie. You know as well as I do, something isn’t right’

‘I’m afraid the police won’t see it like that, they’ll agree that he left of his own accord’.

Stephen appeared from the adjoining office after hearing my voice. I had managed to avoid him and Alec for the past three days.

‘Is there anything I can help with?’ he said, his voice sending uncomfortable waves of nausea through me.

‘Nothing’ I said shortly.

I glanced in the direction of his office, finding something to focus on that wasn’t his sharp, sly face. He stepped to one side as if to block the doorway from my view. Our old staff kept their doors open for us, happy for us to know what they were doing and discussing.

‘Where’s the little’un today?’ he asked with an informality that was clearly against every bone in his body.

‘He’s being looked after’

‘By whom may I ask? I didn’t see your mother arrive’

Stephen and Alec had CCTV monitors installed in that office. Ever since the protests outside the palace, the security had been intensified. George’s nanny had been let go too, we couldn’t let her stay with us in potential danger no matter how much George loved her. I wondered whether Stephen and Alec’s concern was not really about who was coming in, but who was going out.

‘George is fine. Thank you’ I said.

‘If you insist. Ma’am’ He nodded curtly and slid back into his office.

I bolted up the stairs the minute I left the office. How could I be so stupid to leave George with someone outside the family?

‘Antonella!’ I yelled when I got into the apartment. ‘Antonella, where are you?’

The comforting smell of tomato and basil wafted from the kitchen, followed by the shuffling feet of our some-time cook and housekeeper. Jamie had finally convinced Steven and Alec to let her return after weeks of her not being allowed “for security reasons”.

‘Yes Ma’am’ she said, her tone one of constant worry nowadays.

‘Where’s George?’ I said irrationally and out of breath.

‘In his cot Ma’am, where you left him’

Clearly, Antonella was confused by my sudden change of attitude. Ten minutes previously, I’d asked her to watch George while he was napping so I could speak to Jamie.

I ran into the nursery to check on him, where he was splayed on his front like a starfish, gentle snores escaping his mouth.

‘You should probably go’, I said to Antonella when I returned to the kitchen.

‘But what about the din-‘

‘I said go!’ I shouted this time, my steady façade gone.

She didn’t hesitate, gathering up her things and scuttling out of the door.

It was only when the door clicked shut that I let myself crumple into a heap on the floor. I gathered my knees to my chest and sobbed into them, great wells of tears that had been bursting at the seams for three days. I had no idea where William was and no hope of finding him. I had been convincing myself that he wouldn’t leave us, but spanning my mind back, my bitchiness over the food and his stress that night made me doubt myself. Maybe he just wanted out.

I picked myself up and tuned off the stove, where Antonella’s pasta sauce was close to burning. I couldn’t bear to eat anything now.

*

That night, I sat on my bedroom window ledge, unable to sleep. Scrolling through William’s phone for the fiftieth time, I flicked through his picture album. Before George was born, I would tease him for only having six pictures stored in his phone, compared to my two hundred. But now, his was as full as mine, with shots of George from the day he was born to just last week when he was trying to climb on top of Lupo.

I looked out into the black night, wondering how he could have left all this. I thought about where he might go to escape.

Scotland, Windsor? Too close.

Kenya? That was his favourite place on earth, after all. But people knew him there now.

William had once told me, ‘I’d love to move somewhere where I could lose my identity, to be small fish in a big pond, a nobody’.

I had just laughed at him and told him he’d have a hard job finding such a place.  

I shook away the thought of him being far from me and focused back on the night he left.

Did he leave through the front entrance, the darkness of Kensington Gardens engulfing him so he wasn’t seen? Or perhaps through the back, scurrying into a car while we were all asleep?

As if knowing which exit he used would help me find him, I chided myself.

I stopped my thoughts in their tracks. There was a way I could know how he left, of course there was.

I wrapped George in a blanket, careful not to wake him and tip toed out of the apartment. It was almost midnight and all the staff had gone home, at least I hoped.

As I unlocked the office door, I silently thanked Jamie for giving me a key when William and I had married. Those days of transparency were long gone now, I knew that much. I headed straight to Steven and Alec’s annexed office, where this morning, Steven had been so unwilling to let me see inside. Mercifully, it was unlocked.

Suspended on the wall was a plasma screen split into twelve, each showing a different entrance of the palace. Now, there was no movement, but I knew if I looked for the tape from the night William left, I may just have something to see. Swopping George to my other arm, I pulled open the heavy drawer of the filing cabinet under the screen and found rows of cds all neatly labelled with dates. William disappeared on the 12th and my heart pace increased and I spotted the July section.

10th, 11th,   13th.

George whined in my arms as if sensing my distress.

‘Shhh baby, shh, Mummy’s here’

I knew there was no point looking for the missing cd, it was gone, most likely destroyed. It only confirmed my belief that I was swimming against the tide. Not only were these new advisers reluctant to help me, they were actively hiding information.

‘Yes it’s getting in the morning edition’ a voice said, coming from nowhere and startling me. ‘Ha! Runaway Prince, I like it’

It was Alec, and by the sound of it, he was out in the corridor.

I panicked, ducking down under Steven’s desk. George didn’t like the sudden movement and let out a cry.

‘Shhhh!’ I said holding his head close to my chest, my heart beating like a drum.

Alec continued. ‘What? Yeh I told them she’s frantic, prissy little bi-‘

George cried, louder this time.

I crouched lower, ‘please baby, be quiet for Mummy’ I whispered desperately.

I heard the outer office door creak and after a long pause, his breathing low and heavy, he finally spoke again.

‘Oh nothing…just a cat outside. Anyway, make sure you get the message to Redfern tomorrow, we don’t want him staging a comeback…’

Alec’s voice trailed off as he shut the door and left. I breathed a sigh of relief, planting kisses all over George’s face for keeping quiet when he really needed to.

*

Back in the apartment, I paced the lushly carpeted floor. Who was Redfern and what did he need to know? I’d never heard of that name, and desperately wanted to call Jamie to ask him. But I now realised the lengths Steven and Alec were prepared to go, and couldn’t risk using my phone.

My eyes were tired, deep bags forming under them, but I couldn’t sleep. Out of desperation and insomnia, I fired up the laptop and typed ‘Redfern’ into Google. The first couple of results were meaningless; a publishing house and a photographer with the name.

But the third caught my eye.

Redfern, Iowa

I clicked on the link.

Redfern is a town is Iowa, United States. The population in the 2010 census was 104.

I looked up from the screen, not daring to believe it, or to let myself hope.

‘I’d love to move somewhere where I could lose my identity, to be small fish in a big pond, a nobody’.

*

The sun had broken by the time I had worked out a way to contact Jamie without using my phone, which William warned me could have been bugged. A niggling feeling warned me to be careful. Maybe I couldn’t trust him either. But he was my only hope of finding William.

I hunted around in my underwear drawer and eventually found what I was looking for. Tucked into one of my socks was my old mobile phone, a Nokia to be exact. It was the very same that had been hacked all those years back. William would’ve been mortified if he knew I still had it, with all those messages still stored on there. But I couldn’t let it go, it was a potent memory of the days when our communication consisted of love yous and miss yous, unlike the last text I sent to him, which simply said Don’t forget to ask about the food.

I prayed that after all these years the old thing would be able to switch on, let alone make a call. By the time the phone had woken up, I had finished packing mine and George’s bags. I had started as soon as I’d decided that Redfern was the place I needed to go. Our bags consisted of a few clothes, as much cash as I could find, toys – Ronald of course – but mainly were filled with food and water.

It was only 5am, and feeling bad for Jamie, I delayed calling him for fifteen minutes by looking at some old text messages from William.

09/05/2006 : I can’t wait to see you baby  

How true that was now. I felt a tinge of fear that maybe I was wrong, maybe Redfern was something totally unrelated to where William had gone. I pushed the doubt aside, it was all I had left to cling on to.

*

The car pulled up quietly at eight am. Jamie had been furtive on the phone, worried about my state of mind. But I insisted and pleaded with him, and something told me he didn’t think my idea was as crazy as he made out.

‘Ok Georgie, time to go’ I said to him as he sat on the kitchen floor rolling a ball into Lupo and then shouting as if he expected him to roll it back.

Distracting myself from the fact that I was leaving my home seemed so easy when I had packing and last minute calls to make. It seemed ironic that the same phone that was infiltrated was now being used to avoid that very situation. I had explained to my family what was happening but declined to tell them where I was going. My mother was frantic.

‘Catherine, you can’t just disappear! How will we know you’re safe?!’

‘I’ll get in touch as soon as I can, I promise mummy’

It broke my heart to hear her so worried and upset, but I reasoned that if would be safer for them to not know where we were. I still didn’t know what I was up against. Harry hadn’t answered his phone but Jamie had promised to let him know where his brother was once we knew for sure.

Lupo sat solemnly on the kitchen floor as if he had heard me ask my mother to take him in. 

‘Ok boy, time to say goodbye’ I nuzzled my face into his fur but he didn’t respond. ‘Say bye bye to Lupo, George’

George waddled over and imitated me by patting him on the head. I forced back the lump in my throat. 

Carrying all three bags and George on my hip, I opened the door and looked around our home for one last time. Lupo trotted up to us and started scratching at my legs.

‘No boy, it’s just me and Georgie this time’ I pushed him down and said goodbye to him and to the life we once lived.

 *

After creeping through the servant’s corridors and out of a side door, George and I bundled into the car that was waiting for us. On the seat next to me was not Jamie as I expected, however.

‘Susannah, what are you doing here? Where’s Jamie?’ I asked, strapping George into his seat.

‘We thought it’d be safer if I came, I pretended I was going out for a morning jog and met the car on a side street’ she said.

Jamie’s wife sat next to me, a worried expression on her face.

‘You think you’re being watched?’ I asked.

‘Jamie thinks so, these ex-military types are suspicious of everyone though’, she let out a wry laugh.

‘I know the feeling’ I said, thinking of William and his intense dislike of Steven and Alec. That time he was right. 

As we set off, I tried to make conversation, ‘how did Jamie organise all this? I thought the whole palace was being watched’

‘Let’s just say there’s still some loyal people working for your family’ she smiled.

We made our way through the streets of London, I had no idea where the plane was that I’d be taking to Iowa or how Jamie managed to get it, but I didn’t ask. I was relieved enough to be away from Kensington. 

Driving around Green Park, Susannah handed me a newspaper she’d been clutching.

‘I don’t know if you’ve seen this Ma’am’

I unfolded the paper and read the headline. Exclusive! Runaway Prince! Prince William walks out on Kate.

I shut it with haste. So this was what Alec was talking about last night.

I said nothing and focused instead on our journey. The drive seemed to be taking us down the Mall and towards Buckingham Palace. As we got closer, a strange noise caught our attention. It was a mass cheering of some sort, but not the type I was used to when standing from that famous balcony. It was more like jeering. 

Getting closer to the palace, my eyes connected to the sound. 

Up on that balcony, which had been used for so many scenes of celebration was a large group of people waving their arms in victory.

Replacing the red and gold trimmed banner so often used on big occasions was something very different hanging from the the balustrade.

Blue, with a shocking pink cross struck through the middle. The Republic.

‘Good God, they’ve taken the palace’ Susannah gasped. 

From the windows of the palace, Republic flags were dotted around, flying proudly. 

On the ground, gone were the uniformed guards in their famous bearskin hats. People stood behind the golden gates cheering and shouting, and on the other side, members of the Republic pulled at the chains to let the masses in. News vans were just arriving to the scene.

We watched as the flag rose from the top of the building, where the royal standard used to fly, signifying their final victory.

‘We have to turn around, go a different route’ I heard Susannah say to the driver in panic ‘if they spot Their Royal Hignesses…’

‘Don’t call us that’ I said blankly.

Susannah looked at me but said nothing.

I kept my eves on the palace even as the driver turned the car around. Although I had only been royal for three years, the pain of watching the palace being seized throbbed through me. It was where we’d spent our first day and night as a married couple, where we’d danced all night on the wave of love and affection of the country. And now they celebrated, and no-one; no police, not even Her Majesty’s Armed Forces were there to stop them. 

‘It’s over, isn’t it?’ I whispered to no-one in particular.

George let out a long yawn, snapping me out of my daze. I turned to smile at him, he was looking out of the window, with not a care in the world. He was the spitting image of his father. It was then that I finally allowed to let myself think the unthinkable – what if we never found William, what if he was gone.

I held George’s hand, enclosing his chubby fingers in my palm as we escaped from the city.

It was just the two of us now, we were going to have to do this alone. 

‘Come on then’ I said, leaning in to him, ‘let’s go find your daddy’.

[idiotchosen]

AHAHAHAHA I’m sickfic trash, so I did another sick Zelos fic. Sorry Zelos. Maybe next time it’ll be Lloyd’s turn?

AO3 Link

Prompt: Working Through the Cold

Rating: T

Fandom: Tales of Symphonia

Pairing: Zelos/Lloyd

Warnings: N/A

Words: 3965

Even at the best of times, Zelos had never been a big fan of parties. At least, not the way they were done in Meltokio. There was something so suffocating about them, between the customs that needed to be followed, the stuffy outfits that needed to be worn, and the meaningless conversations that needed to be had. They were an amplification of everything Zelos hated about living in high society. 

Unfortunately, as the Chosen, he was given very few opportunities to refuse to attend, especially when the party was being held in his name. For as long as he could remember, his birthday had always been one of the most lavish events of the year, on par with celebrations held for royalty. The festivities would last long into the night, not ending until pleasantries had been exchanged with each of the countless guests (all of whom Zelos was expected to know by name). 

Even after the worlds had been reunited and the Chosen system abolished, the fact remained that he was an important figure in Tethe'allan society– perhaps even more so, now that he was one of the heroes that had helped save everyone from Mithos Yggdrasill. Zelos had been able to escape some of the pressure by joining Lloyd on his journey for exspheres, but he wasn’t naive enough to believe he had escaped his responsibilities as nobility. 

Which was why, when he received a letter inviting him to his own 23rd birthday party, he wasn’t surprised in the least.

At first, Zelos had expected Lloyd to help him refuse. The two of them didn’t have a lot of free time, and he knew Lloyd had little to no interest in such things after seeing how uncomfortable he had been at the Princess’s dinner party. So he mentioned it offhandedly a few days after the letter came, assuming that would be the end of it.

He still had a lot to learn about Lloyd Irving’s thought processes.

“I didn’t know your birthday was coming up,” he had replied. “We aren’t too far from Meltokio, so why not go? Taking a break for a night might not be a bad idea.”

Well. So much for that plan.

As far as everyone else knew, Zelos loved parties. Lloyd was probably just being considerate by agreeing to go. Zelos was sure that if he admitted that he didn’t want to go, Lloyd would help him come up with an excuse not to, no questions asked. But then, he realized, Lloyd would figure out he had been lying, which would only open him up to more questions. And being interrogated by Lloyd would be far worse than dealing with the upper crust of Meltokio for the night.

Which was why he found himself back at his mansion the next night, the day before the party was to take place. After greeting Seles and Sebastian, who had both been watching his home in his absence, he was quick to retire to his room for the night. It was late, and they had been traveling since early that morning, so Zelos was completely exhausted. His head was starting to ache, and despite his normal insomnia, he found himself in a restless sleep mere minutes after collapsing into his bed. He would think about the party when he woke up. For now, at least, he could rest.

_______________

It was Lloyd, as always, who woke him up the next morning. Zelos would never understand how the boy could get out of bed when the sun was barely up, let alone have so much energy as he did so. Upon hearing Lloyd call his name and shake him gently by the shoulder, he groaned and rolled to the other side of the bed. His head was already pounding, and the last thing he needed was to face the sunlight streaming in through the open curtains. 

“Five more minutes,” he muttered into his pillow, realizing as he did so how raw his throat felt. He assumed he just needed a glass of water, but he couldn’t remember whether it was usually that bad in the mornings. He tried clearing his throat, but it had little effect.

“Not today!” Lloyd grinned. “Sebastian sent me to wake you up. He said if we don’t start now, we won’t be ready in time for the party.”

Right. The party.

Zelos was going to protest again, but he was cut off by a sudden, overpowering tickle in his nose, followed by a muffled sneeze into his pillow. It didn’t give him much relief, though, and he sneezed again moments later, followed by a quick cough in another attempt to clear his throat.

Oh, no. No, this was not happening. Not today.

Lloyd furrowed his brow, and reached for Zelos’s shoulder again in an attempt to get a better look at him. “Zelos? Are you–”

“I’m fine, Lloyd.” Reluctantly he sat up, and cast his friend a smile. He couldn’t help but notice a note of congestion in his voice, and he was sure Lloyd picked up on it too. “Come on, let’s go.” Lloyd only narrowed his eyes more at this, and without saying a word, he pressed his hand against Zelos’s forehead.

“You’re a little warm,” he stated. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe we should ask them to push the party back a few days.”

“That’s really not how it works, Lloyd. They plan this stuff months in advance. This isn’t some small get-together between friends.” Zelos sniffed, the itch in his nose refusing to disappear. “Anyways, I’m fine. You worry way too much.”

Lloyd looked like he wanted to say something else, but closed his mouth at the last second. “If you’re sure…”

“Hunny, I’m sure. Now come on, we shouldn’t keep Sebastian waiting.” He winked. “The sooner I get to see you all dressed up, the better I’ll feel.” Lloyd rolled his eyes, but seemed to relent, moving out of Zelos’s way so he could climb out of bed. 

_______________

The next few hours went by in a flurry of activity. Neither Zelos nor Lloyd had a second to themselves as countless maids fussed over their appearances, making absolutely sure they were up to the standards of high Tethe'allan society. Lloyd, though seemingly overwhelmed by all the attention, was doing his best to keep up. Zelos would have found it endearing, if he wasn’t so preoccupied by how much his head hurt. His nose wasn’t doing much better, but with so many people around him, he refused to do anything about it, aside from the occasional sniffle to keep it from running. It was only through sheer willpower that he hadn’t sneezed all over some poor maid, but even so, he was reaching his limit. He was really starting to regret agreeing to attend this party.

Zelos had hoped he would get at least a few minutes between the preparations and the start of the party, but only moments after the finishing touches were put on his braided hair, he was whisked away to the castle, where people were already starting to file in. On the walk over, he let himself stifle two sneezes into the crook of his elbow, careful not to dirty his suit jacket too much. He had a feeling, though, that it wouldn’t matter by the end of the night, as he had already caught himself wiping his nose on the back of his gloved hand without thinking. Lloyd cast him a worried glance as the entered the ballroom, but had no time to say anything before Zelos was surrounded by a crowd of admirers.

“Oh my, Chosen, it’s been quite some time. I’ve been getting lonely, you know~”

“Master Zelos, is it true that you’ve been out traveling with some Sylvarant boy?”

“Chosen One, I trust you’ll save a dance for me tonight?”

“Chosen–”

Zelos spoke over the crowd in as loud of a voice as his sore throat could manage. “Now, now, my darling kittens, the night is still young. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up, so there’s no need to rush.” He winked. “My greatest desire is that you all enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.” It had been so long since he had needed to speak in that manner that even Zelos was surprised at how easily the words flowed from his mouth. Even when he wasn’t feeling his best, it seemed, old habits died hard. Still, the words seemed to have the desired effect, and the crowd thinned just enough for Zelos to take Lloyd by the hand and pull him through.

“You’re as popular as ever,” Lloyd muttered as soon as they were out of earshot. Zelos shrugged.

“I don’t know what you were expecting, Hunny, but I am a pretty big deal around these parts.” He sniffed. “I’ve been gone a while, too. They’re probably not too happy about that.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? You don’t sound very excited.” Shit. Why was Lloyd only now seeing through him, when it was far too late to back out? For a moment, Zelos contemplated coming clean, admitting how much he hadn’t wanted to come. He knew that if he told Lloyd how exhausted he was, both from nerves and the head cold that was getting harder and harder to deny, that would be the end of it. Lloyd would be more than happy to help him make a break for it.

And that was exactly why he couldn’t say anything.

If there was anything worse than dealing with nobility, Zelos knew from experience, it was dealing with nobility that felt as though they had been slighted. All of Meltokio’s biggest names had gathered with the expectation that they would be meeting with the ex-Chosen, and if they didn’t get what they came for? Well. There would be hell to pay, and it would be far worse than spending the night pretending to flirt while pushing through a cold. 

So Zelos said nothing, only planting a quick kiss on Lloyd’s forehead. “For the last time, Hunny, I’m fine. Stop worrying about me and go enjoy yourself.”

“But–”

“Lloyd.” Zelos was done arguing. He really didn’t have the energy for it. “I’ll meet up with you in a little while, okay? People will get angry if I don’t start making the rounds soon.” He smiled, his first genuine smile of the night. “I’ll save the last dance for you, if you’ll take it." 

After a moment, Lloyd smiled back. "Only if you show me how to dance before that." 

"Of course. Be grateful, country boy, you’ll be learning from the best of the best." 

"Okay, okay.” Lloyd laughed. “I’ll be waiting for you, then.”

“Deal.” And with one more wave of his hand, Zelos disappeared into the crowd. It was only a matter of moments before he was stopped again, though, and if he thought he could sigh without being labeled as impolite, he would have. It was going to be a long night.

______________

Zelos wasn’t sure how much time had passed, or how many women he had been forced to dance with. His head was caught up in a permanent fog, and thanks to all his sniffling, he had lost the ability to breathe through his nose a long time ago. He was sweating underneath the multiple layers he had been forced to wear, and he was fairly certain that he had a slight fever. If the other party guests had noticed his illness, however, they had either been too afraid or too polite to say anything, even on the few occasions where he had needed to stifle a sneeze in front of them. He hadn’t had the time to meet up with Lloyd yet, and he hoped the boy wasn’t having too much trouble fitting in. 

Still, for the first few hours of the event, Zelos thought he did a good job of holding himself together. He was even starting to think he might make it through without any problems.

Then she walked up.

“Oh, Master Zelos, I’ve been looking all over for you,” she purred, taking him by the hand and curtsying. Zelos didn’t even register her words at first, as he was entirely distracted by something else about her. Namely, the awful perfume she was wearing. He wasn’t sure how the scent managed to bypass whatever was keeping his nose so clogged, but it had an immediate effect on him. He felt his nose twitch just a bit, the tingling he had been trying the whole night to suppress coming back all at once at full force.

Still, though, he attempted to play it cool. “A-ah, yes, if it isn’t my beautiful Henrietta,” he said, putting everything he had into keeping a straight face. He wasn’t sure it was working. “I must say, you grow more gorgeous every time I– Ah…” Zelos felt his breath hitch. This was really not good. At this rate, he was going to–

“Master Zelos?”

“I-ah-I’ll be right back,” he said quickly, before running off. Normally he would have been more formal about it, but he did not have the time for that. He would deal with the consequences later. At that moment, all he needed to do was go somewhere he wouldn’t be seen. He dashed through the ballroom, either not noticing or not caring about the stares and whispers he was getting. As soon as he was out of the room, he saw a bathroom a few doors down the hall. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do.

Zelos barely made it to the sink before the first sneeze tumbled out. It was followed by another, and another, until he lost count. Each one made him pitch forward, and it only took a few before he had to keep a hand on the sink for support. It should have felt good, to finally let out what he had been holding in all day, but more than anything, he was just tired. He was vaguely aware of how much he was soaking his glove, but all he could really focus on was that tickle that never seemed to go away, no matter how much he kept sneezing. It was like his body was making up for the time he had lost during the day, while also making it ten times worse. If nothing else, though, he was glad that he had made it somewhere private before–

“So much for being fine." 

Shit.

Zelos knew that voice all too well. It belonged to the absolute last person he wanted seeing him like this. He struggled to catch his breath as quickly as possible, rubbed desperately at his nose in an attempt to get it to stop, and, finally, found the strength to look up at his obviously concerned lover.

"Dunno– ah– what you’re talking about, Hun. I am completely, one hundred percent fi- achoo!” One last sneeze escaped at the last second, making him double back over. His chest was really starting to burn. Lloyd crossed his arms.

“Maybe when you can say that without sneezing I’ll believe you.” His tone was harsh, but his eyes were soft with concern. Before Zelos had a chance to move out of the way, he felt Lloyd’s forehead bump against his own. “Yeah, you’re even warmer than this morning. I knew I should have made you stay in bed…”

“You might not want to get so close,” Zelos muttered. “Idiot.” Lloyd turned bright red, and pulled away.

“What else was I supposed to do? I can’t check for a fever with my hands if I’m wearing gloves!”

Zelos couldn’t help but laugh at this. “You do know gloves are removable, right?”

“Shut up. You’re trying to change the subject." 

"And you’re overreacting. It’s just a cold, Lloyd, I won’t die if I push through it for one night.”

“Well, yeah, but…” Lloyd sighed. “You know I hate it when you pretend there’s nothing wrong. I wouldn’t worry so much if you didn’t give me reason to." 

"Lloyd, I–” Zelos wanted to respond, but his nose clearly disagreed, as he was forced into yet another sneezing fit. He was starting to feel dizzy, and he knew that wasn’t a good sign, but he also didn’t want Lloyd to be right. There was a fine line between concern and pity, and as always, Lloyd was coming dangerously close to crossing it.

When his fit finally subsided, Zelos looked back up at Lloyd, who only shook his head.

“Yeah. There’s no way you’re going back out there looking like that.” He crossed the bathroom, grabbed some toilet paper, and thrust it towards Zelos. “Blow.” Only then did Zelos notice how much his nose was running, and he gladly accepted what Lloyd was giving him. Blowing his nose didn’t actually accomplish much, but he was able to wipe himself clean for the first time that night, which made him feel a little less disgusting. 

“Does that mean you’ll let me go back out there if I don’t look gross?” What Zelos really wanted was to go back to his mansion and sleep, not waking up until this miserable cold had subsided. He wasn’t sure anymore why he was so insistent on staying– word was going to spread quickly about how he had run out of his own party, in the middle of a conversation no less. The damage to his reputation had already been done.

Lloyd sighed. “I’d really rather you didn’t, but we are here to celebrate your birthday. That only comes once a year, right? If you think you can make it without ending up like this again, I won’t stop you.” He paused, his gaze shifting down to his feet. “Besides, you haven’t taught me how to dance yet,” he muttered. Zelos stared at him for a moment, and broke out into a grin.

“Fortunately, I think I have one last dance left in me.” He released his grip on the sink, and took Lloyd’s hand. “I’ll even do my best not to sneeze on you.”

Lloyd rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Now come on. Let’s go show those nobles what a real dance between lovers looks like.” Lloyd’s face turned bright red. 

“D-do you really want to be so open about it? Won’t all those girls get mad?”

“Oh please, Lloyd. They won’t be the first hearts I’ve broken.” He pulled Lloyd’s hand up to his lips and gave it a light kiss. “Besides, they’re going to find out sooner or later. Why not give them a show while we’re at it?” Zelos pulled Lloyd towards the door. “Come on, let’s go." 

It took them a few minutes to get back into the ballroom, with Zelos being stopped every few feet by his admirers, but after handing out several polite refusals, they finally made it. The whispers began as soon as they set foot in the room. Most were about how the Chosen had a lot of nerve, abandoning such a fine young lady, but a few were already starting to make comments about the man he was still holding hands with. Zelos didn’t seem to pay them any mind, though, and didn’t stop walking until they had reached the very center of the dance floor. When he knew most of the room had their eyes on him, he spun Lloyd around and grabbed his shoulder with his free hand, pulling him closer. 

"Just follow my lead,” he whispered. “Don’t worry about messing up, just follow the music.” Lloyd nodded, and wrapped his arms around Zelos’s neck. He stumbled a bit at first, but after a few measures of the song, the two of them seemed to find a rhythm. Zelos wasn’t paying attention to how much his head hurt, or the other guests’ critical gazes. All he saw was the boy in front of him, doing his best to keep up in a world he knew nothing about. The boy he wouldn’t trade for anyone in the world, who wasn’t afraid to show how much he cared. 

The final note of the song echoed through the hall, and there was a very brief silence. By then the whole room was watching their dance, disbelief evident in their eyes. The Chosen, known flirt and lover of all women, dancing with another man, who wasn’t even close to royalty? It was unheard of. Even those who spent all their time gossiping, at that moment, had nothing to say, holding their breath as they waited for Zelos’s next move.

The whispers and shocked gasps began anew when he pressed his lips against Lloyd’s. It wasn’t a long kiss, but it was enough. “That should keep them entertained for the night,” Zelos whispered, grinning ear to ear. “C'mon, let’s get out of here.” Not letting go of Lloyd’s hand, he gave a dramatic wave to all the onlookers and used the last of his limited energy to dash out of the room, his (still very stunned) lover in tow. People called for him to stop, but he ignored them entirely. They were followed all the way out of the castle, and up to the doors of his mansion. Even after the doors were tightly shut and locked behind them, the sounds of the crowd were still audible.

Zelos collapsed onto the couch, panting. He had made it back home thanks to pure adrenaline, but now that the moment had passed, he was once again becoming increasingly aware of how ill he still felt. Still, he didn’t regret what he had done a single bit. He sniffed, and smiled up at Lloyd.

“Maybe we should stay in bed tomorrow.” He paused, the screams of his fans still ringing in his ears. “Maybe for the next few days, actually. They’re gonna need a chance to calm down.” His sentence was punctuated by a sneeze, and he shivered, suddenly feeling chilly despite how uncomfortably warm he had been only moments before. Lloyd laughed and shook his head. He grabbed a blanket that had been hanging off of a nearby chair, wrapping it around Zelos’s shoulders.

“I was thinking the exact same thing.”

_______________

Lloyd sniffed, and coughed weakly into his elbow, before shooting another glare at Zelos, who laid next to him. Zelos put his hands up in self defense.

“Hey, what’s that look for? I said I was sorry.”

Lloyd shook his head and groaned. “I still can’t believe I let you kiss me while you were sick. I must be an idiot.”

Zelos tried to laugh, but found himself coughing instead. “It’s okay, Hunny, I didn’t fall in love with you for your brains.”

“Don’t act like you’re any better, running around with a fever like that. It wouldn’t have gotten so bad if you just stayed in bed in the first place.”

“Heh, maybe you’re right.” Zelos closed his eyes. “Still don’t regret it, though.”

“Easy for you to say. You were already sick. I could have avoided this.” Lloyd sneezed into his pillow, and groaned again. “This sucks…”

Zelos shrugged. “Hey, look on the bright side. When was the last time we got to relax like this?” He rolled over and lazily threw an arm over Lloyd. “I, for one, think we should get sick more often.”

“You’d better be joking.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry. Too soon.”

“Idiot…” Lloyd found himself smiling in spite of himself. “When we get better, we should celebrate your birthday again. Just the two of us.”

Zelos smiled back, not with a dumb grin like before, but with a genuine smile. “Yeah. I’d like that.” Without opening his eyes, he maneuvered his hand around the bed until he found Lloyd’s hand. “I’d like that a lot.”

[ancientbooshartifacts]

Memento Mori

Author: MandyBling

Year: 2010

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Richmond/Denholm

Richmond walks briskly through the lobby of Reynholm Industries, nervously combing shaky fingers through his short blond hair. Standing in front of the lift, he smooths his grey pin striped suit for the millionth time. He has an interview with the the head of the company, Denholm Reynholm. He’s heard stories about this man. His take no prisoners business sense; kill the weak, divide and conquer. Riding up in the lift Richmond goes over his resume’, list of accomplishments, schooling, background... Birth date. He’s shaved a few years off this final line to make himself look more appealing. ‘I can do this. I can be the new blood this company needs. I’ll be the young go getter’, he thinks to himself as the lift takes him higher and higher, to the topmost floor. Once on the correct floor, Richmond goes to the front desk to let the secretary know of his arrival. She presses a few buttons and talks to someone, then gestures him towards the large double doors. He heads in the direction she points and opens one of the large doors slowly. “Come in, son!” a booming voice pierces through the normal office din of noise, causing Richmond to jump slightly. Walking in, Richmond shuts the door behind himself, plastering an over confident smile to his face. ‘Fake it, till you make it,’ he repeats over and over in his head as he extends his hand to the older man. “Hello, Mr. Reynholm. My name is Richmond Avenal.” “I know, boy,” Denholm says with a smile. Richmond notices a twinkle in the other man’s eyes, the genuine smile. Something deep inside himself relaxes, this is not the Reynholm he’d expected. Richmond sits back and begins to relate his resume and accomplishments, but after a time the conversation veers off. What is supposed to be a half hour interview turns into a two hour conversation. Denholm has even brought out a large crystal bottle of scotch that they both have several glasses of. Needless to say, Richmond Avenal gets the job. *** Rising up the corporate ladder is surprisingly easy for a young and energetic Richmond. With Denholm by his side they take the company to new heights. The friendship between the two men grows as more and more money is made. Both of them spending many a late night to get an edge on the competition. Burning the midnight oil one evening, they are both listening to their favorite Huey Lewis and the News CD as they work feverishly to finish a certain project by deadline. The only other sound besides ‘Hip to be Square’ blaring through the speakers is the soft ‘ticka ticka tick’, of their keyboards. A loud bang and then a growl breaks the stream of normal noise, startling Richmond. Looking up from his computer he sees Denholm stand and rub his tired eyes and then his lower back. “What’s the matter?” Richmond asks his friend softly. “It’s nothing,” Denholm replies in a tired voice. “These figures just aren’t adding up.” “Here, have a drink and a rest. Maybe I can take a look. Sometimes fresh eyes help.” Richmond says kindly as he pours Denholm some scotch, handing him his glass as he moves in front of the older man’s computer. He leans down and looks through the figures as Denholm drinks and almost immediately spots the error. With a crow of happiness, Richmond types away and fixes the minor mistake. “What would I do without you?” Denholm asks, as he clasps Richmond’s shoulder and squeezes lightly, letting his hand linger. “You’d lose your own head if I wasn’t around.” he smiles as he straightens up, turning to face the older man and reaching out to grasp Denholm’s wrist. They stand like that for some time, staring into each others eyes. Denholm’s grip tightens suddenly and Richmond realizes he’s being pulled forward. The feel of the older mans lips against his own is unexpected, but not unwanted. As ‘The Power of Love’ rises in the background, so do other things. Denholm pushes Richmond up against the desk they have been using for work; hands start to roam, kisses become more fierce, groans become louder. Richmond and Denholm’s “friendship” becomes much more by the cover of darkness. *** Cradle of Filth is the downfall of their love affair, though Richmond won’t ever admit it. Coming across the band whilst doing research on prams for one of his more unusual clients, Richmond decides to download one of their songs. ‘Cradle of Filth?’ he thinks to himself, ‘sounds disgusting’. He couldn’t have been more wrong. As ‘Tonight in Flames’ flows through his head phones, things seem to click together for Richmond, like a light is being switched on -or rather, off- in his brain. Richmond starts growing his hair out and wearing eyeliner to work. Most of his work mates take little notice to this change but for a few whispers here and there. He’s still blond and thus unassuming. Even Denholm is oblivious. One evening, Richmond stops by a hair care supply shop and purchases some black hair dye. He no longer wishes to have his blond tresses. He wants his hair to match how black he ‘thinks’ his heart is. He follows the instructions on the box to the letter. He wears the gloves, applies the colour-making sure not to get it on his forehead or neck, waits thirty minutes, then showers. Richmond steps from the shower, towel dries his hair, and the uses the same towel to wipe the steam from the mirror. A crooked smile spreads across Richmond’s face as he takes in his reflection, long black locks falling to either side. His skin looks paler and his eyes look a brighter shade of blue due to the colour change. He likes it. He likes it a lot. His work colleagues decidedly do not. Richmond is ignorant of the other employees distaste, of their snide remarks and the rumors being spread. He does notice, however, that work isn’t the same as it once was. People aren’t as keen on his ideas as they had once been. Even in an important board meetings it seems as though people aren’t paying attention to his presentation. He’d applied his make-up exquisitely that day, and it vexes him that no one seems to take note of it, or even the topic at hand. The death of Denholm’s father and Richmond’s subsequent remarks to his mother at the funeral are the last straw and the breaking point of the relationship between the two men. Denholm, in a furious rage, breaks up with Richmond that evening and demotes him to the basement the following day. Tears in his eyes, Richmond watches the flashing lights and wonders why life has dealt him such a cruel blow. *** Time passes as it often does and Richmond becomes more and more morose. He spends many nights at goth clubs, at home lighting candles and listening to sullen music or at work, watching the lights and reading ‘Heat’. Whilst laying on the floor in the fetal position, purposefully blurring his eyes as he watches the lights flash, Richmond over hears Roy, Maurice and Jen talking. There is apparently a party this evening as a ‘Thank You’ to the employees for a job well done. He wants to go, so he does. The party is in full swing later that evening as Richmond enters the club through a side door, so as not to be noticed. He slips to the corner of the bar and orders round after round of Carlsburg, watching the revelers get more and more inebriated. The main person he keeps his deep blue eyes on his Denholm. As Richmond drinks more, he can think of nothing else. He misses the older man so very much. It’s around 3am when Denholm comes to sit next to Richmond to catch his breath from the dancing and order another drink. He turns his head to look at the goth and his eye brows rise. “Richmond?” he says at just above a whisper, placing a hand onto the other man’s shoulder and squeezing gently. Nodding, Richmond reaches out a hand to clasp Denholm’s wrist, a mirror of times past. “I... I’ve missed you.” he whispers back, staring deep into the older man’s eyes. Within seconds, Denholm drags Richmond to the back of the bar, into a hall and towards the bathrooms. He slams him up against the hallway wall and kisses the younger man with force, teeth clacking together with the fierceness of it. Richmond breaks the kiss long enough to speak. “Back to mine,” he stammers out, grabbing Denholm by the collar and leading him to the fire exit in the back. They arrive at Richmond’s tiny apartment after taking a rather long and uncomfortable cab ride, unable to touch one another in the presence of the cabbie. Richmond fumbles with his keys to unlock the door. Denholm is not making this process easy, pressing up against his back, grinding his clothed cock up against him while his arms wrap around the younger mans hips, palming him through his trousers. Finally the lock gives way and they both almost fall through the door. Denholm pushes Richmond towards the bedroom of the still familiar apartment, both pulling off their garments as they move clumsily through. Once in through the door, both men separate, undressing at opposite ends of the room, taking in each others long missed form. Denholm, naked first, crosses the divide and takes Richmond’s face in his hands, kissing him hard. He grabs at the younger man’s pants to help him undress. Once that is accomplished, he grasps Richmond’s hips and turns him towards the bed, pushing him hard onto it. Richmond gasps at being manhandled but had always rather enjoyed Denholm’s rough play. “Yesss...” he hisses through his teeth as the older man crawls over his body, jumping slightly as Denholm’s hand wraps around the base of his large cock. Stroking the other man’s stiff rod, Denholm’s mouth works it’s way up Richmond’s body, licking and biting as he travels. Arriving at his lips, he kisses the man below him, slower than before, savoring the feel and taste. “Turn over for me,” he whispers as he breaks the kiss. “Condoms and lube still where you kept them?” Nodding mutely, Richmond turns over onto hands and knees, reaching up to brace himself against the headboard. He remembers how Denholm is when he gets started, so latching onto the wood of the bed is a wise move. Denholm quickly retrieves the items needed and returns to kneel behind Richmond. He opens the bottle of lube and coats his fingers. Throwing the bottle on the bed, he quickly moves two digits to the puckered entrance and slides the tips inside. Throwing his head back, Richmond cries out a little at the sudden intrusion, long dark hair fanning across his back as he moves. “Denholm,” he moans softly as he feels the other man’s fingers slip deeper inside. Rocking slightly, he meets the probing fingers, thrusting back to quicken the preparation. Denholm growls at Richmond’s movements, excited by his eagerness. He spreads his fingers inside the tight hole to stretch him further, savoring in the sound of hitched breath at the change. “Richmond,” he breaths out as he grasps the younger man’s hip in a vice grip, “I want you.” “You have me,” Richmond moans back, lowering his head back down between his arms, still grasping the headboard, the tips of his locks brushing the bed. “Please... hurry.” Pulling his fingers free, Denholm reaches for the condom; quickly he unwraps it, slipping the rubber onto his cock and letting the package fall to the floor. Taking the lube once more, he pours a rather large amount onto his member and coats himself thoroughly. Lining up the head of his dick at Richmond’s waiting entrance, Denholm thrusts inside in one swift movement, the sensation causing both men to moan. The younger man immediately begins to rock back onto the man above him, urging him to move. “Please,” Richmond whines as he fucks himself on Denholm’s cock. He lets go of the headboard with one hand and swiftly brings it to his own member, stroking to the rhythm of their moving bodies. Denholm comes back to himself at hearing Richmond’s needy plea, grasping the younger man’s hips tight. He starts to thrust fast and hard, knowing that that is what the man below him wants. Pushing in as deep as he can, then pulling out til he’s almost removed himself, over and over again. Richmond sobs as Denholm continues to move above him, reveling in the feel of the other man’s fingers digging painfully hard into his hips as well as the cock inside his arse, driving into his prostate over and over. His hand around his own member speeds it’s movements, rubbing his thumb over the tip to collect the pre-come, increasing the slick slide. Leaning down, Denholm starts kissing Richmond’s shoulders and the nape of his neck. He releases one hip and wraps it around the younger man’s waist, pulling their bodies closer together. “So close,” he whispers in between kisses, thrusts becoming less and less rhythmic. “Come for me,” Richmond breaths out as he raises his head, turning to look at the man behind him. At Richmond’s soft words and sudden eye contact, Denholm comes undone. He thrusts into the younger man a few more times, until he finally lets go, screaming Richmond’s name as his body tingles and twitches with pleasure. Feeling the pulse of Denholm’s orgasm deep inside himself, Richmond loses control as well. Biting down onto his own forearm, still raised and grasping the headboard, eyes rolling back. He comes over his swiftly moving fist as well as the sheets below, the waves of his climax streaking through his body as he rocks back and forth. They both collapse as their bodies calm, Denholm wrapping his arms around Richmond’s thin waist as they fall to their sides. “I’ve missed this,” Denholm says softly as he pulls himself free, removing and disposing of the johnny in the bin beside the bed. “I’ve missed this as well. You have no idea.” Richmond replies, turning to face Denholm and burying his face into the older man’s chest. Breathing in the other man’s scent, Richmond nuzzles close and sighs at the feel of the Denholm’s fingers carding through his long hair. His eyes flutter closed, succumbing to slumber in a matter of moments. *** The morning light shines through the curtains as Richmond’s eyes slowly open, flashes of the previous nights events play through his mind as he stares up at the ceiling. Both Denholm and he have drifted apart in the night and he can hear the other man’s breathing next to him. Richmond realizes that the speed of breath means Denholm is awake. He furrows his brow and turns his head to look at the other man. Denholm turns his own head at the same time and they both look into each others eyes. A scream breaks forth from Denholm’s mouth causing Richmond to return the shout, both yelling at the top of their lungs. “What am I doing here?” Denholm cries as he jumps from the bed. “You don’t remember?” Richmond says with fear and sadness in his voice. “I certainly do not.” Denholm lies, “I’ve got to get out of here” is all he says as he gathers up his clothes and makes a hasty exit from Richmond’s apartment. With a sad sigh, tears prickling his eyes, Richmond turns and curls into a ball, crying himself back to sleep. *** Richmond is at work when he gets the news. Denholm has jumped to his death from atop the Reynholm Industries tower window. Something in regards to ‘irregularities in the pension fund’ had driven Denholm to take his own life. Staying to within the tree line, Richmond comes to Denholm’s burial. He weeps softly as he watches the procession of friends and family, waiting for everyone to leave so he can have time with Denholm alone. Dusk is falling when he finally gets the chance. Richmond steps gingerly towards the fresh mound of dirt and falls to his knees, fresh tears and loud sobs escaping his mouth as he grasps two large handfuls of earth and holds them to his eyeliner streaked face. “I’ll always love you,” he whispers. After a time, he stands, still grasping the two large handfuls of dirt in tight fists. Richmond slips the soil into his pockets and leaves the cemetery. *** The following day, Richmond calls upon one of his goth friends who happens to be a jewelry designer. He tells his friend what he wants and the designer sets to work, the only thing Richmond leaves are the two handfuls of earth. *** Within the week, Richmond returns to his friends shop. The artist produces a long, red tear drop shaped pendant with Denholm’s grave dirt embedded in the center, attached to a black metal chain. He also brings out a jar he had placed the remaining dirt in for Richmond to take home. Richmond thanks his friend and pays for the jewelry. Placing the chain around his neck and tucking the pendant under his shirt, Richmond heads home with his own private memento mori.

[yellowroseanddreamstorm]

Chapter 2: Gossip 

It was an off day at the manufactory. Well, one of the not so rare off days as it were. Edmond was all too familiar with them. It was a Friday, and not just any Friday either. It was the Friday before a big event that was going on in town the following day.

The event in question was the Fall Charity Festival the upper class was holding. Free food and all the like for the working class to enjoy. It was a kind gesture and was one of the few times that even the snobbiest of the upper class were willing to interact with the commoners such as Edmond and his co-workers.

However, Edmond didn’t give much care to events like this. He enjoyed socializing with others and free food wasn’t something he would turn down but he had plenty of other things to worry about at the moment. Mainly, making up the work his co-workers would leave in the wake of calling in on the day before the event.

It was stressful to say the least for Edmond and anyone else who decided to stick to their shifts. It would be double the amount of work and barely any time to rest at all.

Edmond wiped his brow as he finished putting the final touches on a set of gears, packaging them in to a canister and sending them on their way through an air tube. He sighed as another set of metals came in along with blueprints. He gave the blue prints a quick glance, holding back the urge to groan.

More gears. Guess they’re in high demand this week.

Edmond shook his head, pulling his goggles over his eyes, getting straight to work.

It will be over soon. Just keep working and the time will go by quicker.

He glanced at the clock above his station, seeing he still had about another two hours to go before he was off the hook. Two more hours before he could go home and make a meal to fill his growling stomach. Two more hours before he could run like a mad man to the post office to send his reply to Bridget.

He glanced over to his work bag, eyeing the letter canister sticking out of it, Bridget’s name barely visible. He would have gone this morning but the post office was packed to the brim with customers and getting to work on time unfortunately took top priority over sending a letter.

And I have an appointment with Dr. Carter too right after work.

Edmond sighed.

He turned his attention back to his task, working carefully as he formed the metal into gears. Gears that would wind up in some intricate machine at some point in time. Edmond smiled a bit, thinking what kind of purpose they would serve once they left the manufactory.

Maybe it would assist in powering a machine that would help with water flow for a canal system or maybe even be responsible in controlling the flow of said canal system. It was also possible they could be part of some inventor’s next great idea that could help tons of people with certain tasks or maybe even be part of the smallest little thing like a toy for a child to play with.

Who knows, maybe they’ll be part of one of my creations one day.

He chuckled at the thought, bouncing on his heels a little. He could see it now. Working his days away in his own private workshop, creating all manner of inventions that people could use to help with tasks and fun little toys and gadgets children could play with. His workspace would be so much better than the one he was in now. It would be a nicely sized table with all the room he would need for tools and parts. He would have a radio too, playing all the classical music he could enjoy, especially piano music. On top of that, it would be much cleaner, not musty and smokey like his current workstation. Also, there would be more light. He would be determined to have a window right above his workspace so he could get as much natural light as possible during the day before having to use any form of lamps to light his workspace once night rolled in. Most important of all, he would have an actual chair that he could sit in that would be just right for work, not having to stand for hours on end like he was now.

Then, once the day was over, he would retire to his home for rest and there waiting for him would be Bridget. A warm smile on her face and sparkle in her golden brown eyes, welcoming him home from a long day of work.

He sighed wistfully at the thought before straightening up as he heard the break whistle blow.

Oh, sweet mercy! Thank you, Mr. Roberts!

He set down the gear he was working on, quickly grabbing his lunch and hurrying out to the benches in the area. He sat down with a sigh of relief, digging right into his food, not even caring he still had his work gloves on.

He focused mainly on his food, listening here and there to the chatter of other co-workers that were sitting around the area.

“I swear I oughta have a word about this with Mr. Roberts about these lazy bums who basically ditch work for these events. He’s got to have noticed this is causing a problem production wise.” said a co-worker with a frustrated tone.

“Oh, I’m sure he has but not much he can do. Let’s remember, we may be part of a big manufactory but he can’t go firing people willy nilly. We’re all he’s got and well, he can’t really say much to the upper class about those parties. They could easily get him into trouble.” Another said in reply.

“True… Ah well, guess it’s just what we’re going to have to deal with. Hey, you hear about all the weird stuff going on in Central City State or just Lumen Solum in general?”

“Define weird. We always got weird stuff going on in all of Lumen Solum. The good and bad kinds of weird.”

Edmond’s ears perked up at this, raising an eyebrow.

Something abnormal in Central City State?

Worry washed over him as Bridget crossed his mind.

“The weird disappearances. You know, all those missing people cases that have been popping up as of late?”

“Oh yeah, been hearing about that. No one has been able to make any connections either. Every victim has been from all parts of the class scale and well… they basically have nothing in common. It’s just random. It’s one the most bizarre things the forces have seen according to the papers.”

“Yeah, though gotta say, whoever is behind it is quite the mastermind. Not saying I want them to get off scot free, I just find it interesting they’ve gotten this far without being caught. It’s been going on for months now.”

“Well, I’m sure they’ll catch whoever it is eventually.”

Edmond hummed in thought at this but quickly shook his mind of it.

Gossip will be gossip and I know for fact many around here just LOVE exaggerating the truth about stories they hear.

He decided to tune out the conversation, not wanting to think about it anymore. Though he couldn’t help but glance over to his work bag, flickers of worry crossing his mind as he eyed the canister sticking out of it.

oooooo

“Have you been doing the stretches I recommended to you for your hands, Edmond?”

“Yes.”

“Been remembering to take time off at the manufactory?”

“Yes.”

“Been eating enough?”

“... Mostly?”

Edmond cowered a bit as the doctor before him leaned in closer, giving a glare that could freeze anyone’s soul.

“Edmond, you’re scrawny enough as it is. Let’s not make that worse.”

“I-It’s not intentional, Jack! I swear!”

Jack raised an eyebrow.

“Ahuh.”

“No, really! I barely get enough food in while I’m at work sometimes because the breaks are so short or I just get caught up in socializing.”

“What about the beginning meal of the day? Do you at least get that in?”

“Most of the time if I don’t fall out of bed when I realize my alarm clock didn’t go off properly.”

Jack shook his head, walking away from Edmond, picking up a clipboard and jotting some notes down.

“What am I going to do with you?”

“I don’t know. Chop me into bits and sell my parts on the black market?”

Jack looked back to him, giving both a disgusted and amused look.

“Very funny.” Jack turned his attention back to his clipboard. “Well, seems everything checks out and I’m glad you didn’t miss your monthly check up this time.” Jack glanced to him again. “I hope you have an excuse for last time?”

Edmond tilted his head.

“Did my letter not get to you? Work went over time so I had to miss.”

Jack shook his head.

“The mail system can be finicky. I swear we need more phones like they do in Central City State. It would make communication so much easier.”

“Well, maybe I could fix that.”

Jack smiled, seeing the glint in Edmond’s eyes.

“I’m sure you could but you’ve got a lot to worry about right now, like your current job.”

“Not for much longer.” Edmond gave a determined look. “Once this month is over I’ll have enough to open my shop.”

“If you say so.” Jack went back over to him, handing him a piece of paper. “Just some notes and my bill for the month. Also, please be careful when walking out after dark. I know we’re a small little town but things can still happen.”

“Of course.” Edmond gave a confused look. “Though everyone knows that. Did something happen?”

“Eh, don’t know if you read the papers much or if you listen to gossip but there has been a lot of weird disappearances going on around the country. Central City State has been getting hit the hardest but it’s not limited to that area. I just worry about it possibly coming here.”

“I’ve heard about it but I just figured it was blown out of proportion by gossip like every other piece of news.”

“Well, it is real. I can tell you that much.” Jack turned away, hiding the frown on his face as he started looking over the medical supplies in his cabinets.

Edmond’s brow furrowed a little as he got off the exam table, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Jack… Did you lose someone?”

Jack was silent for a moment before he let out a sigh.

“I have a brother who lives in Central City State or I should say lived there. He was filed missing quite a few months ago when this whole thing started. I don’t want to believe he’s linked to the disappearances but… something in my gut tells me otherwise.”

Edmond’s eyes widened before a frown crossed his face.

“Jack I… I’m so sorry.”

“I’ll live.” Jack cringed a bit. “I’m sure he’s somewhere, I know it. I just need to find him. For all I know he probably got lost because he wandered off somewhere.” Jack forced a smile. “He always had a bad habit of wandering off and getting into some kind of trouble. Typical Dante.”

“Is that his name?”

“Yep. Dante Carter.”

“Heh… I wonder why I haven’t heard of him until now.”

“Well, didn’t really have a reason to bring him up.” Jack shrugged. “I’ve only known you for a few months after all. Sure, I don’t mind you calling me Jack but hey, gotta keep some secrets to keep you on your toes.”

“True, very true.” Edmond gave a gentle look. “Tell you what? If I see him, I’ll drag him right back to this medical office or your home ASAP.”

Jack looked to Edmond, smiling a little.

“Heh… Thank you, Edmond. Though, just so you know…” Jack dug into his pocket, pulling out a pocket watch, opening it to show a photo on the inside of the cover. “This is what he looks like.”

Edmond looked, seeing the photo showed Jack next to a man who was a little younger than him that had dark hair and specs, a gentle smile on his face.

“Noted. I’ll do my best to remember that.”

Jack nodded, staring at the photo of him and his brother fondly before pulling away from Edmond, closing the watch. He picked up his clipboard, taking the papers off it and putting them into a file.

“Thank you again, Edmond. Now, get out of here before the post office closes.” Jack eyed canister sticking out of Edmond’s work bag that was sitting on a table off to the side. “It’s rude to keep a lady waiting.”

Edmond looked at the clock, eyes widening before scrambling towards his bag, quickly slipping on his coat and hat.

“Will do! See you next month, Jack!”

Jack shook his head as he watched the man leave before opening his pocket watch again, staring at the photo inside.

I swear, sometimes, Edmond reminds me of you.

[elizabethhollowswriting-blog]

Courting Me Softly, LGBT Romance - Prologue

Welcome one and all to a free homosexual romance I’m going to be uploading online to my tumblr for you all to read and enjoy! Below are the details as well as the prologue! It’s been a fun story to write and I really hope you enjoy it!  🧡

Title: Courting Me Softly

Rating: Majority T, but eventual M with NSFW scenes in certain chapters

Genre/s: Homosexual Romance, Developing Romance, Friends to Lovers, Historical Romance, Courtship, Demi-Sexual Character

Setting: 1920’s

Wordcount: 37k

Chapters: Prologue + 7 chapters

Update Schedule: Once every two weeks. Chance of updating every week.

Status: Complete

When James Farwell arrived in New York from England in the 1920’s, it was with an eye for opportunity.

His family already had a profitable exporting business and James had used that to his advantage; within a year he was one of the main suppliers of good quality liquor for the city. James mostly stayed out of the day-to-day running of his importing, but he did still visit some of his more influential patrons.

The one he visited the most was Charles Smith.

Charles wasn’t strictly part of the Mafia, but he did have old ties; an uncle and a cousin here or there on his mother’s side. It allowed Charles to run a handful of illicit upscale jazz bars without complaint. It also allowed him to purchase liquor from James.

When James had first visited New York it was for the sole purpose of taking advantage of America’s ridiculous attempt to control crime via alcohol. He had profited immensely and had the protection of not only the Mafia but many of the corrupt officials who would turn a blind eye to his smuggling as long as he kept them in stock. James had only intended to set up a network before returning to England. He hadn’t expected to remain. He hadn’t expected to like Charles Smith.

Charles had bright blue eyes, brighter than James’ own; his hair was a light brown and falling in soft, almost innocent waves and curls that made him look younger when in fact, he was a year older than James. They had met in the first month of James’ arrival on American shores. They had bartered over counters, smirked over cigarettes and played cards together in shadowed corners. They made one another laugh and spent hours talking in one of Charles’ bars about everything and nothing. Charles took to inviting him to stop by and have a drink every Friday and James started staying long into the night for no reason other than to listen to jazz, sip his scotch and chat with the other man. Charles had considered them good business partners for the first few months and then fond companions and friends by the end of the year. James however, had taken a much more avid interest in the other man from the earliest weeks of their acquaintance and had made certain to keep it from being known.

James had known all his life that he was attracted to men. He’d also known from a young age that there were few things more dangerous than to be caught and charged with sodomy. It was why James did nothing about his interest; he played cards with Charles, he smiled and he leant close to light the other man’s cigarette. He also watched Charles, searching for any possible hint of an inclination towards men - towards him; but Charles didn’t seem interested in anyone; man or woman. He was all business at his bars with his only choice for socialisation being James himself, and while James enjoyed the exclusivity, it still didn’t help him. Charles was also prone to expressing himself through touch, but Charles’ hand never lingered nor touched him in any way other than platonically. It left James trying not to lean into the other man’s warmth. It left him trying to ignore his attraction to focus on their friendship and the true reasons he was in New York.

James had come for business, and while it was thriving, he still didn’t wish to leave until he knew it would be sustained without him. James had bought himself an extravagant house under the alias Luke Harrison and used it as a means for throwing parties to both socialise and distract. He needed a place to live while he was in New York and the prestige of his house impressed his patrons while equally allowing him to gain sway over politicians not yet in the Mafia’s pocket. James was rarely seen at his own parties, not because he was never there, but because very few knew who he was and James preferred to keep it that way. Luke Harrison was a persona that could be adopted by himself or by anyone who came after him when he returned to England.

It was with the assistance of that persona and the money he lavished that allowed James to secure himself as both supplier and friend to the right families and politicians in a little less than a year. James knew there was little left for him to do that couldn’t be done by his replacement. He knew he could return home within a few months, and yet, James found himself hesitating. He found himself returning more frequently to Charles’ bars, feeling disappointment when the man was absent and delight when he was present. 

They even started to meet twice a week; to sit together in Charles’ office where they wouldn’t be interrupted and could talk without fear of people listening in. They started to talk more openly in those rooms; their opinions on politics, the mafia, what they read in the papers and personal prejudices. They were similar in more ways than James would have expected, and when he casually slipped in asking about Charles’ thoughts on homosexuality, the older man gave little more than a shrug. He knew a few, Charles admitted, and saw no reason to condemn or report them for being themselves. James had let out a surreptitious breath, and despite it being the perfect time to admit it, he hadn’t been game enough to dare, and James had merely taken a sip of his drink and let the conversation change subjects.

When James had been in New York for almost two years--when he was ignoring his family’s letters asking when he would return home--the most unexpected occurred. James had been visiting one of Charles bars; sitting in the back room with their half-full glasses on Charles’ desk, thick smoke in the air above them and the relaxed, laughing atmosphere of their card game fading to something uncertain. Charles had stood up to rifle through his desk, claiming he had something to give James before he handed him an envelope. James’ cigarette was hanging from his lips and his expression puzzled as he opened it; pulling out an invitation to a party Charles was throwing, but what held James’ attention was the name of the host: Charlie Keaton.

Charlie Keaton was a born and bred New Yorker, the son of a rich philanthropist; he’d been the talk of the town for as long as anyone could remember. Luke Harrison had been the new cat in town, someone who made Charlie Keaton’s coveted spot in the social scene take its first serious hit. It had become something of a battle as each man competed with the other by trying to throw the more lavish party week after glittering week. In the beginning, James had attempted to find Charlie Keaton to try and minimise their rivalry, but the Keaton family mansion with its large grounds, numerous rooms and hundreds of guests had found him giving up his mission and half-heartedly continuing their competition.

But now it seemed, Charles Smith was Charlie Keaton

When James had explained to Charles that he was Luke Harrison the other man had blinked for a long moment before he’d laughed long and hard. The sight of him so entertained had found James trying to repress a fond smile as Charles moved to refill their drinks. Charles had further insisted that James must attend his party especially after the revelation, and unable to deny the other man, James had agreed. Their parties, they quickly discovered, were thrown for similar political reasons and it took less than a week for Charles to suggest that they co-host. James had then been pestered about it for the better part of a week until he had agreed.

And for the six months that followed, they might have changed houses and they might have switched hosting duties, but they still remained firmly at each other’s sides; if they weren’t conspiring, chuckling and sipping their drinks in the corner, they were retiring early to drink in the library. They became closer, their friendship deepening until they were almost completely inseparable. Charles had become determined that there was never an event, a moment, a day where they didn’t see one another, while James found himself unable to deny a man he had come to... love.

It was a helpless, encompassing thing that his heart couldn’t be swayed from; no matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise. It was why he had attempted to dismiss it, ignore it, push it from his mind- but the summer season was coming to an end and James’ younger brother was calling him home. James knew he couldn’t put off his return to England any longer. He also knew that his trip could either be brief or extended - and it all depended on one man. James knew the laws of his country as well as Charles’. He knew the prejudice that ran rife in all social classes if one had the inclinations that he did - but he also knew that Charles was one of the few men he had met who had not openly condemned homosexuality.

James also knew himself, and he knew the risk he ran of doing something foolish when full off too many drinks and with Charles’ smile too close.

So James made a decision. He had to take a chance; he had to know, because for better or worse and at his party tonight, James would let Charles know how he felt.

Next Part

And that ends the prologue! The next part will be uploaded in two weeks, or, if the story is well received, I might be persuaded to update it in a week. So please reply, reblog and like this post! The more people are keen to hear more, the sooner I’ll be uploading more prose!

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[haledamage]

An Attempted Surprise

(AO3)

for @pillarspromptsweekly 0006 and for @rannadylin who had a birthday this week

As the New Year passed and Caed Nua became buried under layer after layer of snow, Bella couldn't help but notice a few things. First, that there was nothing worse in all the world than snow except for people that enjoy snow. Second, that New Year in the Dyrwood involved a lot more hot brandy and mistletoe and a lot less passive-aggressive judgments than it did back home. And third, that Kai, her dear little sister who loved an excuse to throw a good party, was making absolutely no plans for her own birthday.

Now, Bella wasn't entirely sure Kai deserved a birthday, since she was one of the aforementioned snow-lovers, but… well, Kiki had always been her favorite and it was her first birthday since they reunited. Kai was going to have a birthday party, dammit.

The problem was, Bella was terrible at parties. Moire still teased her about their engagement party, disaster that it was. She didn't even want to think about it. She definitely wouldn't get any help there.

She thought about asking Edér for assistance. The ex-soldier was close to Kai and amiable in a straightforward kind of way. He also couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. If Bella so much as mentioned the word 'party' to him, Kai would know immediately.

The Devil of Caroc was much better at sneaking about, but she scared the shit out of Bella. She knew that Kai was friends with Devil and trusted her completely, but Bella would rather just stay out of her way.

She wished Kana was still at Caed Nua. He must be great at surprise parties, or at least at obfuscating said surprise. He could talk his way around a topic so deftly you'd forget what you asked him in the first place. He was back in Rauatai, though, doing whatever loud and cheerful thing he did there. Bella should write him a letter. She knew he'd want to be at Kai's party if he could.

In the end, Bella decided to go to Kai's boyfriend for help. She still wasn't quite sure what to make of Aloth; he was a quiet, secretive, tight-lipped bastard sometimes, while others he could be clever and witty and even playful. She hadn't been able to learn shit about him since she'd arrived at Caed Nua, had exhausted every avenue and informant she had back in Aedyr and found nothing. A product of him being a former Leaden Key agent, if she had to guess. Still, Kai trusted him and he clearly cared a lot about her. And if anyone could help Bella keep this secret, it was him.

He fidgeted with his sleeve in the silence after Bella was done speaking. "Kai and I have very few secrets between us," he said eventually. "I can't help but believe that she has a reason for not mentioning her birthday. Perhaps it's as simple as my never having asked about it."

"Maybe," Bella shrugged. "I think she hasn't celebrated a birthday since she stormed out of her fiftieth and I can't say I blame her for it. But we can do better than Mother did. Let Kiki have some fucking fun and relax for once in her damn life."

"In that," Aloth said snidely, "you and I are in complete agreement."

So they got to work. Aloth wrote letters to Kai's former traveling companions and a few friends she'd made in her travels and then worked on keeping Kai subtly but constantly too busy to notice as Bella ordered food and flowers and other necessities for a small feast.

A week before the party, the first guests arrived, and then Kai was too busy catching up with old friends to worry about what her sister was up to.

Bella loved when everything went according to plan.

-------

Bella and Aloth were up to something. Kai wasn't stupid; she noticed the increase in food budget for this month, the way Aloth kept finding one urgent matter or another that needed her attention, the way Bella would cover whatever she was writing or conversations would stop as soon as Kai entered a room.

Considering what time of year it was, it didn't take much to figure out what they were doing.

"Ye know what they're plannin', dontcha." Moire said one day as they walked the grounds together.

"I do," Kai replied, "but I think it's important to Bella. I don't mind pretending to be surprised."

Moire laughed. "Yer too nice to them, Kiki."

A week before her birthday, Hiravias and Kana both arrived within an hour of each other. "I was just passing by," Ravi said. Kana said "what a coincidence!" Kai wondered if any of them really expected her to believe them.

Over the next few days, more familiar faces arrived--Pallegina, Maneha, Aufra and her baby and at least a dozen familiar faces from Defiance Bay and Stalwart and Dyrford. Kai grew more and more amused at their attempts to explain their presence in Caed Nua all at the same time, but it was so good to see so many friends again.

Two days before her birthday, two unfamiliar folk arrived claiming they were here for the party. Kai saw Aloth tense out of the corner of her eye, but she just smiled cordially and said "I'm afraid I've not heard of any party. Who might you gentlemen be?"

"No one important," the taller one said. He kept touching his sleeve, as if checking it was still there. Curious.

"Oh come now, you must have names. Don't be shy," Kai said with a casual wave of her hand. She saw a glint of bronze from behind a pillar and bit back a smile.

"State your name and purpose," Aloth said coldly and Kai did smile then. He was clearly thinking the same as she was.

Once it was clear their ruse had failed the strangers sprang into motion, but too late. The taller one reached up his sleeve for a knife but caught a lightning bolt in the chest; the other pulled a pistol but never got the chance to fire it before one of Devil's daggers hit him in the back of the skull and he slumped to the floor.

Devil stood over the bodies, giving them a quick search for identification and making sure they were dead. She offered the knife to Kai without a word, and she wished she was surprised to find a key engraved into the blade.

"Assassins. How charming," Kai sneered. "Just want I wanted."

"What else do you get the girl who has everything?" Devil said dryly. "I can put a bow on 'em if you like."

Kai let herself grin for a second before recomposing herself. "Let's get these cleaned up before my sister finds out, shall we?"

The morning of Tarivèrno 4, Kai awoke to a tapping at her bedroom window. She slipped quietly out of bed and opened the window. A gust of freezing air and a bird as white as fresh snow slipped through the gap and she quickly re-latched it.

The bird studied Kai. Kai studied the bird. It seemed unfazed by her proximity, which implied a familiarity with kith, so she shrugged and approached it.

"Hey there, little bird," she cooed to what appeared to be a bird of prey as long as her arm. Kai reached a hand out and it nuzzled its soft feathered head into her palm. "Such a beautiful bird, yes you are. What brings you to my home, little bird?"

"Who are you talking to?" Aloth's voice rose from somewhere under their pile of blankets.

"A new friend came in through the window."

"Hoo," said the bird.

"I think it's a messenger bird, like pigeons or ravens can be trained to do. I've never seen a bird like this before." She scratched at its head again and added, "You're just magnificent, aren't you, darling. King of birds."

"Hoo," said the bird happily.

Sure enough, it had a little bundle wrapped around one leg. Kai pulled it free to find two pieces of paper and a small pendant.

She held the pendant up to the light. It was a piece of adra ban the length of her thumb, exquisitely carved into the shape of a white fox. Its eyes were painted a bright, cheerful blue. Kai smiled and ran her fingers across the lines of its fur, then turned her attention to the papers.

One was a child's drawing, done in bold, simple lines in bright paints. In it, a family of dwarves and two white foxes smiled and waved at Kai. The figure that must be Sagani held a bow and arrow and had a thick line of black paint across her eyes, and she looked happy.

The final piece of paper was a short letter:

Hope this arrives in time. Wish I could be there in person, but I don't think I'll be traveling again anytime soon. I hope you're well. Happy birthday, Kai. Love, Sagani. PS if the bird wants to stay, he's yours. He keeps biting Itumaak and I'm tired of dealing with it. His name is Mauja.

"Mauja?" Kai said.

"Hoo," said Mauja.

"Aloth?" When the blankets didn't answer, Kai returned to the bed and pulled back layers until she found the top of his head. "Good morning, darling. I need to go fetch Edér. You might want to put some clothes on."

"So I didn't imagine the bird, then," he grumbled.

"Nope! Sagani sent me a birthday gift and it came with a new friend!" Kai kissed his hair and slipped out of the bed again to find something to wear for the day. Something that would look presentable at a party but didn't look like she expected a party.

"Is it your birthday? You never told me that." Aloth sat up and wrapped the blankets around himself.

"I was going to, but I planned to wait until today so no one could make a big deal about it. I hated the parties my mother threw, so I stopped celebrating after I left. Last year, I think we were at Ionni Brathr, so I had bigger things to worry about. Besides," Kai said as she sat back down on the bed to pull her boots on, "59 isn't even an interesting age. Nothing worth sneaking around and trying to throw me a surprise party. In my keep. That I'm psychically linked to."

"Ah," Aloth blushed and Kai grinned, "I didn't consider that angle."

"It's sweet. Really. Now get up! I need Edér to help me figure out what to feed Mauja."

The great hall was covered in garlands of snowdrops and camellias, and filled with smiling and familiar faces. They ate, they danced, they drank fine Vailian wines and rum from the Deadfire Archipelago that Pallegina and Maneha brought, and Kana brought pies and cookies and tiny little cakes made of rich Rauatan chocolate.

The Devil of Caroc unceremoniously gave Kai a set of unadorned but well-made daggers, two for her belt and one to hide in her boot. She acted like she didn't care what Kai thought of them, but her pleasure was obvious when Kai gave her a hug and asked if she'd teach her how to use them properly.

Hiravias gave Kai a potted plant, a vine with tiny orange flowers that she'd never seen before. He said he'd found it in the Living Lands. Stubborn as a weed, he said it was, and the dried flowers made an excellent tea that helped induce sleep. He'd named them akaia flowers.

Edér gave Kai a new friend, a tiny lavender garden snake. She was one of a clutch he'd been raising in his room, a mother and four newly hatched eggs he'd found just before the snows hit. The snake blinked golden eyes at Kai curiously, then wrapped happily around her wrist like a piece of living jewelry. Edér promised to help find her a name.

Bella and Moire presented her with an envelope bearing two tickets to a spa in Defiance Bay. They said Kai needed to take some time off and that she and Aloth should spend some time together. They could run things at Caed Nua for a few days without her.

Aloth gave her a book. It was very old, but in good condition, with a faded red linen cover and rough, hand-cut pages. It was filled with rubbings and sketches of Engwithan engravings, translated poorly into Eld Aedyran and then to modern Aedyran.

Kai ran her fingers over the blank cover. "This must be worth a fortune. Where did you get this?"

He shrugged casually. "I stole it. I finally hunted down the acolyte we met under the temple in Defiance Bay. She had a very impressive library. Pity she won't have any use for it anymore."

Kai was at a loss. "You… you broke into the home of a Leaden Key agent and stole a book for my birthday."

Aloth smirked and said, "I stole several books, actually, but I'm saving the rest for other occasions. Birthdays, New Year, anniversaries…"

All in all, it was a perfect day. Kai couldn't even find it in herself to be bitter that she'd have to tell Bella she had a good idea. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, after all.

-------

Bella sat next to her sister on the front steps of the keep, watching the sunset.

"Thank you, Bella," said Kai, eyes on the horizon. "This was… amazing."

"It was, wasn't it." Bella grinned and threw an arm around Kai. "How long ago did you figure it out."

"A month and a half. I love you, Sister, but you are the least subtle person I've ever known." Kai leaned her head on Bella's shoulder. "Of course you know this means war. There is no way I'm letting you throw a better party than me."

Their laughter carried across the yard. "I wouldn't have it any other way."