Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  “Are you…having sex? Are you into,” Francis leans forward and whispers. “BDSM?” Gene bursts out laughing, the dimples in his cheeks showing.

  “I’ve never heard that one before.” Francis leans back and clears his throat. “Sorry.” He takes his hat off and fans himself, it suddenly felt hot. “He and I are just close, we…” Gene pauses and looks into Francis’s eyes with a far-away-gaze. “We learn from each other.”

  “Uh-huh.” Francis nods as though he understood, when in actuality he knew nothing. Kai reappears with two containers of ice-cream.

  “I’m buying.” He says squeezing under Gene’s arm. “I call this little guy, ‘Green-Gene because he’ll eat everything and anything that’s a fruit.” Francis laughs lightly. “And he’s cute like one.” Kai ruffles Gene’s hair, he glares at Kai, but it was a playful glare. Francis wondered if they were dating, but then remembered that Kai wasn’t gay…well he never clarified it anyways.

  “Blegh, you guys are making me sick.” Francis mumbles ringing up what Kai had bought. Kai reaches over and pinches Francis’s cheeks. “But my best-friend will always be the cutest, oh my.” He teases, Francis knocks his hand away. “Asshole.” He snaps.

  “Little shit.” Kai fires back with a wink. Gene looks between them and smiles. “You both have a nice friendship.” He comments. They look to him with shocked expressions. “Nice?!” They both say, Gene nods. “Being able to degrade one another and yet still care…that’s friendship.” Kai rolls his eyes, Francis shoves Kai’s bag of ice-cream into his hands. “Get lost.”

  “I’m going anyways.” Kai snaps, draping an arm around Gene and together they walk out of the gas station. Francis stares after them and shakes his head with a small smile. His phone vibrates in his pocket, it was a text from his cousin. Jen-Jen: When your shift is over, let’s meet for drinks. Francis’s smile broadens, it had been a while since they last hung out. Maybe Janus would be able to join them. A few hours pass; Francis greets customers, he sets up the gas prices and exchanges new items for old until his shift is over at exactly 4:25PM. He clocks out and hurries to the bus stop. Where do you want to meet? He had texted Jenna. She had replied: the noodle restaurant we used to go to when we were younger. Francis knew exactly where she was talking about.

  …..

  Aiden was holding onto Jenna’s hand as they burst through the doors of the restaurant, Francis hot on their heels. Janus was treating them to a meal, it was Aiden’s 15th birthday and he would celebrate with his parents later. Right now he wanted to be with his friends. “Wow, look at you!” Janus slaps Aiden on his back as they settle into their booth. Aiden laughs shyly, scratching the tip of his nose. Jenna looks to him and places a kiss to his cheek. “Happy birthday.” She congratulates, Aiden blushes, his heart warming. Francis was looking between them, his arms crossed over his chest. He was still warming up to Jenna’s boyfriend. They ate and ate until their stomachs were swollen; Janus told them jokes about the King and Queen and mentioned Skye in passing and how much she hung out with the Prince. Aiden didn’t want to hear that part, so he groaned loudly. Janus took the hint and started talking about something else. He told stories about Jenna when she was ten and how much she talked about the boy at her school that was an idiot—that boy was Aiden. “Hey! I am pretty smart!” Janus rolls his eyes and Francis hits the back of Aiden’s head. “You’re stupid.” Aiden glares and then he laughs and he doesn’t stop laughing until Jenna kisses him. That was one of his happiest memories, but that’s all it was now…a memory. “Son…are you saying that you and Jenna…”

  “Yes, no, I don’t know.” His parents look to one another. “I don’t want it to be over.” He shoves a hand through his hair. “….but it is.” Instead of asking why it had ended or how, they left him alone. Aiden lies on his bed, his hands behind his head as he stares up at the ceiling. Aiden thinks about what Jenna had said and swallows. She was right (when was she ever wrong) a mental connection would establish the need for a physical one. And Aiden had been doing it subconsciously. Sometimes he’d see Kael and the one time he couldn’t get it up for Jenna was because he was thinking about Kael. Kael with the pretty eyes and full lips. Kael with the broad shoulders, narrow waist and big yet gentle hands that were soft to the touch. Aiden shifts on the bed shoving his bangs out of his eyes and letting out a slow breath. Kael with no clothes on…Kael lying beside him and placing kisses along his neck. Aiden sits up, his heart racing. “No, no, no, no.” He shakes his head, pulling the blankets up and forcing himself to sleep the thoughts away. His eyes close and he drifts into a dream.

  ~

  Janus was called aside by the King; Kael had gone off to make up a few tests he had failed the week previous. “Your majesty.” Janus bows his head and keeps it down until the King orders him to lift his head. “How’s the training?” He asks. “It’s going well.” Janus assures. “I expect them to be ready by next week.” Janus bows his head. “I understand, they’re working hard.”

  “Mmm.” The King turns away from Janus and poises a question. “How about…Aiden…”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Aiden Kim, the one who’s sister died several years ago.”

  “Oh…” Janus wanted to sneer and shoot the King right where he stood. “The Prince knows his identity.”

  “Is that so…”

  “Yes, I can pull Aiden out of training if you wa—”

  “No need.” The King faces Janus once again, this time he wore a smile. “As long as he’s protecting my son, there’s no need to interfere.”

  “But don’t you know that he blames the Prince—your son—for his sister’s death?” Janus’s tone rises in pitch. “Really? That’s just foolish.” The King turns away to hide his grin. Janus stares at him and under his breath he grits, “Son of a bitch.”

  “Mr. Lee.”

  “Yes?”

  “I expect your cooperation in anything that I do.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “My authority comes before that of my son’s, got it?” Janus hesitates in replying, his teeth clamped together. “Mr. Lee?”

  “Yes, your majesty, I understand.” The King dismisses him with a wave of his staff. Janus steps out of the room and stands in front of the door. The countdown was beginning, feelings were coming to light and pieces were falling into place.

  ~*~

  Kael looks out of the classroom window; the sky was clear, not a cloud in sight and a butterfly passes by the glass. Kael follows after it with his eyes and watches as it lands on a vibrant pink flower. He thinks about Aiden and smiles softly to himself as his eyes follow the open and close of the butterfly’s wings.

  When we close our Eyes Pt. 1

  Aiden didn’t know where he was, it was kind of like he was floating in an ocean, the waves weighing his body down and cooling his skin. In this water he could breathe, he looks around and sees nothing but a navy blue. A voice calls to him from behind, he turns around and there he saw Kael, he was smiling, coaxing Aiden over to him. Aiden stares at him and slowly he walks towards Kael. The ocean started swirling away, its blue blurring in Aiden’s vision. Kael reaches forward and takes his hand. “Hold onto me.” His voice was soft and he wore a gentle smile. Their fingers intertwine and Aiden leans up to kiss Kael’s lips. They mold together; Aiden’s hands drop down to Kael’s waist where he grips his hips and pushes himself harder against Kael. When he opens his eyes, Kael was wearing nothing, he stood nude, his brown eyes glistening. “Kael, what—” Kael locks lips with Aiden’s placing his hands to the others chest.

  “Don’t question it, Aiden.” Kael whispers, tilting his head and kissing the side of Aiden’s neck. He blinks several times, his body suddenly hot. Kael drops to his knees and the white that surrounded them becomes a red hue and Aiden’s cheeks warm as Kael kisses his thighs. His lips part and Aiden shudders violently when a warmth envelopes him. He breathes heavily, struggling to make sense of things. His hands find their way into Kael’s dark locks, he tugs an
d tugs, the strands running through his fingers like silk. Aiden would say Kael’s name, but it would gurgle out of his mouth and bubbles would float up as though they were still under water. And then Kael was peppering kisses along Aiden’s abdomen and telling him to touch him. “Hold me close to you.” Kael says, his eyes shining desperately and Aiden couldn’t deny him, not when he was like that. So he touched him and once he started he couldn’t stop. He clawed into Kael’s skin as though he would slip away. His lips found every part of Kael’s body and he bit and sucked, licked and caressed.

  He willed himself to stop, but stopping was foolish. In the back of his mind there was always the thought of touching Kael like this. “Haah, haaah.” Aiden’s voice hitches when the palm of his hands squeezed around the bare flesh on Kael’s hips. He had no idea how to do it, but it all sort of fell together and the world around them exploded into fireworks as they began to move together. Kael was panting next to his ear, moist puffs of air coming from his swollen lips. “A-Aiden…” Kael calls, Aiden wanted to call him some more, to hold onto him tighter. “Don’t let me go.” Aiden says, cupping Kael’s cheeks and staring into his eyes. “Kael, I—” Aiden’s words faded into a muffled scream as white blinded his vision and Kael’s voice pierced not only his ears but his heart. “Yes, yes…” Aiden began to call Kael’s name, his nails clawing into the skin on Kael’s back, holding onto him as the younger let out a slow sigh, the muscles in his body relaxing as Aiden’s very being filled him.

  A pair of round eyes snap open, Aiden glances around his room and checks the time. It was six o’clock. He slowly begins to sit up, but stops short when he feels something sticky and wet between his legs. His body goes cold and his thoughts come to an abrupt halt. He begins to lift the blankets telling himself that, that couldn’t have happened. He dips his head down under the sheets and gasps at the darkened spot between his legs. “Oh, hell no.” He curses hurrying out of his boxers, into a fresh pair and then ripping the sheets off of his bed. He tosses them aside and sits on the edge of his bed, recalling the dream he had just dreamt. That was definitely Kael—the eyes, the voice, he even said his name. “Oh my god.” Aiden runs a hand down his face and groans. It hadn’t even been a day since he and Jenna ended things and he was already dreaming of Kael and in such a way. He bites his bottom lip hard, the skin brightening to red. He had yet to reply to the text that Kael had sent him last night. He fumbles around for his phone and stares at Kael’s number. He takes a deep breath and then decides to call him, but then he quickly hangs up realizing that Kael could be in his classes. He just really wanted to talk to him and apologize about last night and hear his voice. Suddenly he remembers the dream he just had and decides other-wise. He wouldn’t be able to face Kael in person until he gathered his thoughts and his hormones. He jumps to his feet, does several jumping jacks and jogs in place for five minutes before swiping up his duffle bag and hurrying out of the front door. His parents look after him and then they look to each other.

  “Do you think he’s getting better?” His mother asks her husband, he shrugs. “I don’t know, we can only hope.” Aiden tugs his hoodie over his head and shoves his hands in his pockets. He was headed towards the RPA building to practice a little bit more, but if he caught a few detours on the way, it wouldn’t matter. His feet kick out in front of him and he sighs deeply; everything in his mind was telling him to go see Kael. But he didn’t know where he lived or if he even lived in the city. Maybe he imagined Kael into existence and this was all just some wonderfully messed up dream. With a crooked smile he raises his head to the sky and pauses in his steps. A car whirs past him and flutters the edges of his jacket. He begins to walk again and then he breaks out into a full jog, his bangs whipping past his eyes. I really want to see him—he thought, his feet taking him to the university.

  ~*~

  Kael checks his phone as he’s walking down the hall, there was one missed call from Aiden. Kael swallows nervously, his hand clenching and unclenching by his side. He presses the dial back button and waits for Aiden to answer. He was expecting to get yelled at or maybe even cussed out if things hadn’t gone down well with Jenna. Maybe Aiden even recalled the kiss from last night. “Shit.” He curses shoving his dark bangs out of his eyes, he looks up and hurries down the hall to his next class and as he’s walking, Aiden answers. “Hello?” Kael stops. “Aiden…”

  “Kael, hey…” Aiden’s voice sounded muffled and worn out. “I uhm, I wanted to check in on you.” Kael says. “Ah, thanks.” There’s silence, Kael glances into the classroom door and checks his watch. The class would be starting soon. “Aiden, I—”

  “I called because I wanted to apologize about last night.”

  “No, it’s alright.”

  “I got drunk and probably said some stupid things.” Kael shakes his head even though Aiden couldn’t see him. “But mostly...I want to see you.” Aiden says, Kael stops breathing, his heart constricting. He clears his throat, taking a moment so that his feelings wouldn’t get in the way of his thoughts. “Why?”

  “I just do, I need to talk to you.” Kael walks into his classroom and says in a whisper. “I’ll come to you, just wait.” Kael hangs up, Aiden stares at his phone before putting it away in his back pocket. He was now standing in front of the university campus. “I’ll come to you.” Aiden smiles with amusement because he had come to Kael. Kael slides into his desk chair and ruffles through his bag until he finds his notebook. Throughout the entire lesson, Kael couldn’t help but wonder what Aiden wanted to talk about. He listed off several different things and came to the conclusion that Aiden had remembered the kiss. Kael touches his lips. “Kael, do you know the differences between Romania and the Republic of Georgia?” Kael blinks at the sudden question, awkwardly placing his hands on the desk in front of him. “Uhm,” He pauses to gather his thoughts and finally answers.

  Fifteen minutes pass away with the whir of the wind and Aiden was still standing in front of the campus, pacing up and down as he waited for Kael to appear. Students file in and out of the campus doors, their chatter filling Aiden’s ears as he waited. He wanted to see Kael; he would just have to bury that dream deep down in the back of his mind. Don’t think about it, it was just a dream, a silly, hormonal dream. “Aiden?” Kael’s voice appears behind him, Aiden snaps around, his heart beating wildly. “K-Kael!” Kael smiles, gesturing to the bench under an awning so that they could sit. Once seated the two say nothing, their legs crossed, hands folded together. Aiden glances at Kael from the corner of his eyes. The brunette was staring straight ahead, his jawline sharp and firm. Aiden swallows as he remembers the dream and how he had kissed that same jawline. “Aiden…” He jumps at Kael’s voice. “Yes?”

  “You…wanted to see me?”

  “Oh, right.” Aiden clears his throat and starts slowly. He begins to explain—leaving out a few details—on how he and Jenna broke up. Kael remained placid, his expression blank. “So…we’re not really seeing each other right now.” Kael nods and says softly.

  “It sucks, I’m sorry, I didn’t think you guys would break up.” Aiden shakes his head. “It’s not your fault, how can it be your fault I mean…you’re just a guy….” Aiden’s voice fades away over the last few words, his hands squeezing together. “Yeah…only a guy.” Silence falls between them once again, Kael leans back against the bench and sighs. “You said something’s last night.”

  “Like what?” Aiden asks panicked, Kael shrugs. “You mumbled about this guy you hated…”

  “Oh yeah…”

  “Yeah.”

  …..

  “He’s royalty.” Aiden says. “I know.”

  …..

  “I really don’t like him.”

  “I know that too.” Aiden unfolds his hands and rests them by his side. “He’s the Prince.”

  “Mmm.” Kael closes his eyes and listens as Aiden talks, his heart aching. Aiden talked about Skye and the pictures he kept of her in his room. “I even wrote letters to her after she
died thinking that maybe she took a trip to America or something.” He laughs bitterly. “It’s sad, I know.”

  “Not sad,” Kael turns to look at him. “It’s just being human, coping.”

  “Ah,” Aiden hums. “So that’s what it is.” Kael nods; laughter floats past them and other students come and go on their phones, nodding and smiling at Aiden and Kael. “This Prince…” Kael starts quietly. “Would you,” The silence weighs. “Kill him?” Aiden’s reply is instantaneous and Kael immediately regrets having asked. “Yes, in a heartbeat.” Kael stares straight ahead, continuously swallowing because he felt sick. He wanted to retch, his heart tightening and tightening until it felt like bursting. “But…” Aiden starts to speak again. “I would want to ask him,” Kael sits up. “I would want to know how he felt about my sister. Were you close to her? Did you love her like I did?” Kael’s eyes droop to the ground. “If so…” Aiden’s voice had tightened, as though he were forcing the words through. “Why did you let her die…?”

  “I didn’t, I tried so hard.” Kael says quietly, his eyes stinging. Aiden turns to face him confused as to why he was saying these things. “Kael?”

  “I’m sure…the Prince regrets his choices, I’m sure he blames himself daily and if you were to kill him…” Kael takes Aiden’s hand. “I’m sure he’d close his eyes and welcome himself to your blade.” Kael brings Aiden’s hand to his chest and stares into his eyes. They look to each other, their breaths even, Aiden feels as though he’s being pulled towards Kael, his eyes closing. Kael blinks, noticing what he’s doing, he leans away and breaks his hand out from Aiden’s. “Do you want to find a place to eat?” he asks, Aiden opens his eyes and sits up straight. He clears his throat and runs a hand through his hair, embarrassed. “Yeah, sure.” Neither rise to their feet, Aiden looks to Kael and reaches over dazedly to touch the side of his face. Kael’s eyes widen and slowly he turns to look at Aiden. “Aiden, what are yo—”