“Shut-up, I have someone who gives me all that and then some.” He winks, turning his back to Janus and waving. “I’ll see you.”
“See you.” Aiden pushes the door open and steps out into the cool morning air.
~*~
Kael was splayed across his bed as he pondered about the gunshot and Francis and why it had all happened. He also wondered where his father was and why he wasn’t comforting his mother who was obviously distraught. Kael rolls onto his stomach fiddling with the skin of his wrist. One of these days he was to appear in front of the public again, he wasn’t ready for that. To be seen as a murderer or as a celebrity. He also wanted Aiden to appear alongside him and to tell the world that this man was his boyfriend. There’s a light rasping at his door, he sits up wondering who it could be at such an early hour. “Come in.” the door creaks open and Kael blinks at the figure standing in his doorway. “Kael?” his heart soars at the sound of the voice. “Aiden.” He keeps his voice low and Aiden closes the door behind him, stepping over to Kael slowly. “Why…did you come?” Kael asks once Aiden reaches him. “Because I was worried.”
“I was fine; did you go see Francis?” Aiden sits beside Kael on the bed and nods. “I didn’t get to see him, but I did go to the hospital.”
“So?”
“He’s alright, Janus’s a little bit out of it, but he’ll bounce back.”
“Good and what about Jenna?” Aiden was surprised to hear Kael ask about her, but he was a caring guy and they were once friends. “She rushed in at the last moment, she didn’t want to see me.” He laughs nervously and Kael lightly touches his hand. “I kind of miss her….” Kael murmurs and Aiden swallows because those were his thoughts exactly. “You miss her too don’t you, Aiden?” Kael looks to him with his beautiful and implicating eyes. Aiden nods slowly. “But it’s different now, she was always a good friend to me, so I miss having her around.”
“Mmm, I understand.” Kael replies, tugging the blanket up and over their bodies. Kael moves so that he can rest his head on Aiden’s chest. “Later…let’s continue looking around.”
“About your father?”
“Yes, I feel like we’re getting closer and then I can confront him…” Aiden looks down at Kael’s head. “On your own?”
“Yeah…it’s a family matter.” He replies teasingly and Aiden scoffs. “Skye was my sister, her baby would have been my nephew so I can approach him about it too.” Kael remains silent since that was the truth. “It’s a thing we do together, since we are together.” He places his fingers in Kael’s hair and strokes his scalp. Kael closes his eyes listening to the steady rhythm of Aiden’s beating heart, he snuggles up closer to him inhaling his scent and sighing. “You know what I want to do right now?” he asks. “Hmm?” Aiden continues to caress his hair, running his fingers through the dark strands. “I want…” Kael places a hand to Aiden’s thigh. “To thank you…”
“Thank me?” Kael’s hand moves up and down against Aiden’s thigh. “Yes…”
“Haha, there’s no need for that.” Aiden smiles. “Thanking me? You do it every day by existing.” Aiden says cheekily and Kael rolls his eyes. “Hush, that was my excuse for wanting to have be with you so early.” Kael mumbles and Aiden chokes on air, his eyes widening. He jerks upright and looks down at Kael, his heart racing. “Are you serious?” He asks and Kael nods, slinking beneath the blankets. “Yes…I always feel at ease hearing your voice and also when you touch me.” Kael whispers. “Lightly, gently…sweetly…” Aiden listens to the sound of Kael’s voice, his eyes following Kael’s head as it disappeared beneath the blanket. “And whenever I touch you…” Kael unzips Aiden’s jeans. “I feel connected—a very strong connection with you…”
“We’re bonded.” Aiden murmurs and Kael smiles. “Right…a bond.”
Birds tweet outside of the bedroom window and the sun slips higher into the sky, but neither seemed to notice as the morning grew brighter. Aiden flips Kael beneath him, his eyes flicking across every naked feature of Kael’s body. From his glistening forehead to his quivering lips and then to his heaving chest.
After a moment of silence filled with only their panting and hammering hearts. Aiden removes himself from Kael’s body and lays on the other side of the bed. He stares up at the ceiling. “I wonder what your parents would think…” he murmurs aloud and Kael shrugs rolling onto his back. “They wouldn’t care as long as it doesn’t get out to the media.”
“True…” Aiden turns to look at Kael, he smiles at the youngers messy appearance. “You look cute with your hair like that.” He reaches towards Kael, brushing aside a loose strand of hair. “Thanks, I guess.”
“I always thought you were cute.” Aiden continues on, placing the palm of his hand against Kael’s cheek. Kael smiles. “I thought you were cute too.” Aiden beams at the compliment, sliding over so that he could kiss Kael’s nose.
Tranquil and sweet moments like this was what Aiden was always waiting for. It helped him sleep at night, it replaced the haunting memories of his sister and the pain in his heart and it and helped him to forget all the chaos that they were in the midst of.
Later that morning, after showering together and changing into a new set of clothes, they made their way out to the bridge in front of the castle. Aiden was trailing behind Kael watching as he walked ahead with a skip in his step. God, he’s too cute for this world. He thought with a slight smile as Kael took off towards the bridge, leaning over the railing to look out towards the water. Aiden jogs to catch up to him and stands behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist and holding him tightly. “I’m not gonna fall.” Kael mumbles as Aiden rests his chin in the crook of Kael’s neck and shoulder. “I know. I just wanna hold you.” He snuggles closer to him. “And it’s cold.”
“So am I your personal heating pad now?”
“Yeah, you could say that.” Aiden hums and Kael rolls his eyes, the light catching in his gaze as he stares out into the water. It was still and calm and would move with the light breeze that would come every now and then. Kael’s shoulders relax and he sighs. Aiden tilts his head to look up at him and smiles thinking to himself that he was so blessed to have this person in his arms and he would do whatever it would take to keep him safe. “What are you thinking about?” Aiden asks, his voice sounding groggy. Kael shrugs. “What do you want me to tell you that I’m thinking about?” Kael replies and Aiden chuckles. “Just be honest.”
“Well….” There’s a long pause before he continues. “There’s so much on my mind, I don’t know where to begin.” He sighs again and Aiden hated hearing him sigh like that. He pushes away from Kael and stands beside him. “Your sighs are so depressing.” He says in a pout, but Kael says nothing, he continues to stare out at the water as though something or someone would appear. Aiden stares at him for a moment before following his gaze out to the lake. He was trying so hard to see what it was that Kael was seeing. He glances at the Prince and his heart skips a beat. There were times where he would forget that Kael was an actual Prince and was sometimes taken away by his natural beauty. There was a grace about him, a freeness about him and Aiden felt so lucky to be loved by him. He rests his chin in the palm of his hand and stares intently at Kael who seemed to be oblivious to his gaze. “Aiden,” he says his name suddenly and Aiden only blinks, his lips raised in a content smile. “Where do you think we’ll go from here?” he asks finally turning to look at Aiden. Their eyes meet and Aiden’s expression brightens. “I can’t answer that question because we’re still travelling on that road.” He takes Kael’s hand in his own. “But I do know for a fact, that wherever you go I’ll go too.” Kael squeezes his hand. “Not only as your boyfriend but as your friend and your bodyguard.” Aiden smiles brightly leaning over to kiss Kael on his cheek. Kael blinks and then laughs loudly. “You’re such a romanticist.”
“It comes naturally.” He replies and Kael shakes his head and then he’s taking off across the bridge, dragging Aiden along with him. They run togethe
r across the bridge and then the grass—hand in hand—never letting each other go.
Aiden was laughing, not sure why he was, but his happiness and love came out in his laughter and the late morning no longer seemed as cold and gray. He stares at the back of Kael’s head watching the way his dark hair bounced with each step he took. Suddenly he reaches forward to rest his hand in his hair. Kael doesn’t notice his touch and stops running to catch his breath. He turns to look back at Aiden with glistening eyes and a big smile. “I’m….so…tired now.” He pants, his cheeks flushed and Aiden’s cheeks puff with laughter. “I take it you need to work out some more.” He murmurs and Kael swats his arm. “Shut-up it’s because you train.”
“I could train you sometime.” Aiden says flirtatiously and Kael raises a skeptical brow. “Don’t take it the wrong way.” Aiden hurries to say and Kael laughs to himself. It’s the subtle laugh that bubbles up from his throat and breaks from his lips in a soft and light “hah.”
Aiden loves that laugh—loves him and without thinking—as the wind picks up and flutters their shirts and their hair. Aiden leans up cupping Kael’s face in his hands and kisses him. He kisses him deeply, his eyes closing and his lips moving on their own. Kael blinks in shock and then melts against his touch.
So warm. You’re so warm, Aiden. Kael wants to say but instead he wraps his arms around Aiden’s back and holds him even closer. After a moment they pull away to catch their breath. Aiden’s eyes were glittering with silent laughter and Kael’s lips were quirked into a breathless grin. “You could have warned me.” He murmurs softly and Aiden with his hands still on Kael’s face shakes his head. “Nope, I like surpri—” Aiden stops talking midsentence as Kael lifts him from the ground, his back straining the higher he raised Aiden. “Woah! Kael!”
“I am…pretty fit, huh?” he huffs as he begins to spin Aiden in his arms. “It’s because you’re short.” He adds and Aiden glares down at him, but his heart was fluttering so fast he thought it would take off into the sky. Kael continues to spin them together and then he begins to stumble as the muscles in his arms began to give way. “Oops.” Is all he says as they go falling back into the grass. Kael hits the ground with a “floomp” and Aiden rests on top of him, his eyes wide and his heart racing. After a moment of silence he stares down at Kael and breaks out into a fit of laughter. “Crazy.” He huffs and Kael nods in agreement, his hands sliding down to rest against the mid of Aiden’s back. They lay together in the grass, their laughter rising up to the sky and adding a light to the gray clouds. Kael stares up at Aiden and he’s so glad to have him so close.
“…love you.” He hums, the beginning of his sentence drowned out as Aiden lightly kissed the corner of his lips.
In some ways they were still left wondering the thought of how they got here. Wondering how long such a sweet dream would last.
In the Midst of Hell Pt.3
Two days have passed since Francis was shot and within those two days things went from bad to worse to somewhat alright. It was called change and it was becoming something Francis was now familiar with.
~*~
Kai was sitting in the hospital waiting room, his eyes glazed and unfocused as he stared down the hallway. He had to talk himself into it countless time, building up the courage to finally see Francis. He didn’t know what he would say, he didn’t think that he’d be able to say anything at all. Janus hadn’t called him, Janus didn’t even want to see him. He got updates from Micah who told him that Francis had woken up from his short coma and that he was alright. But Micah didn’t tell him about his leg that was something he would have to uncover and face on his own. He wasn’t able to sleep after that, he stayed awake in his bed replaying the sound of the gunshot and the shattering sound of bone. He recalled Francis’s face and the ghostly tremor of his voice and his limp body. It was my job. It was my job. My job, my job, my fault. It was my fault .He kept thinking about it, there was no way he’d be able to forget it. It’d be his punishment, his curse for shooting his bestfriend. Why had he done it in the first place? The reason itself was becoming a blur. Because it was his job? Because he had to protect the Queen? Because what?
He runs a hand down his face and looks up at the sound of approaching footsteps. He knew that no one was coming to get him, but he came anyways. Because he had to, even if he Francis didn’t want to see him, he had to come. Even if he couldn’t see him, he had to come just to be within the same space as him. To know if he was okay, to find out all that had gone wrong. He jumps up and clutches the arm of a young nurse that had come by. “Excuse me.” He says, clutching her arm desperately. “Do you know a patient by the name of Francis Lee?” she blinks at him, fear flicking in her eyes. “Y-yes.”
“Is he alright? How is his leg?”
“Sorry, sir, I can’t release information to anyone other than the patient’s family.”
“But I…” he releases her arm and slumps back into the chair. She stares down at him, worry creasing her gentle features. “What are you to him?”
“Huh?” he looks up at her. “Me…I’m…his friend…” he sounded hesitant, unsure. “Well, maybe you could get in contact with his brother.”
“…impossible…” he mutters and she raises an eyebrow. “Are you perhaps…on bad terms with them…?” his eyes meet with hers and in them she saw a lost and wandering soul. “It’s worse.” He stands up abruptly and pushes her aside. “Sir!”
“I’ll just peep my head inside.”
“But sir, you can’t do that!” she grips his arm, but he brushes her off taking off down the hall. He had asked Micah before what Francis’s room number was. “They probably won’t let you in.” he had said, but that hadn’t stopped Kai from getting it. He let his feet take him and he ran; he’d burst through the door, drop to his knees and apologize. He knew it wouldn’t change what had happened, but it would at least put the memories to ease. The memories, but not the pain and guilt. “Someone stop him!” the nurse yells, her voice growing farther and farther as the room neared. The door was cracked open and there was a thin strip of light coming from the crack. Kai skids to a stop, his heart racing. He gently pushes the door open, preparing himself to drop to the floor and say “I’m sorry, Francis!” but none of that happened. Instead he gasped, his heart falling from his chest and bile rising up in his throat. There Francis was sitting up in the hospital bed, the white gown a thin strip on his translucent looking body. “Fran….cis.” Kai begins, taking a shaky step forward. Francis turns slowly, his black eyes landing on Kai. But what had caused Kai to feel sick was the bandages and brace around his leg. And something told Kai what had happened—a ticklish, devilish whisper. “You shot him and he can no longer dance.”
“What are you doing here?” Kai turns towards the voice and saw Janus standing on the other side of the room. “I just…” his words fade off and his gaze is drawn back to Francis. He was still staring at Kai, his black eyes cold and metallic. “I wanted to…”
“Just get out.” Kai thought he heard the voice in his head, but Francis had spoken, his lips barely moving. “I don’t want to see you.”
“Francis.”
“Don’t say my name.”
“But—“
“Just don’t speak at all, Kai.” Kai shrinks back into himself, staggering into the wall, his eyes shaking. Janus continues to stand where he was, staring Kai down and waiting. Kai opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. They were caught in his throat. He tries again, his tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth. It was like a curse had been put on him. Since Francis had spoken the words “Don’t speak.” He couldn’t talk. He closes his mouth, dazedly touching his lips. Francis turns away from him. Don’t say my name. Kai stumbles out of the room door, his eyes shaking. I don’t want to see you. And without so much as a tingle, a prickle of pain, the tears come flowing down and even though he wants to sob, to scream and cry, he does so in his mind—not a sound leaving his lips.
Hush
Don’
t speak
You are to remain silent
Don’t say a word. Kai stumbles against the wall and places a hand out in front of him to hold himself up.
He doesn’t want to see you, he could feel people looking at him, but their eyes didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.
Janus goes to close the door, his gaze sliding over to his brother who was staring at the room window. “They say you’ll have to start your rehab soon.” He says, Francis keeps his gaze on the distant sun. “It’s best to start early.”
“I can’t dance.” His voice drifts chillingly into the air. Janus bites his bottom lip because what was he to say to that. Francis looks over to his brother and smiles darkly. “I was so close to achieving my dream.”
“Francis.”
“But now my leg’s done for.” Janus steps towards him, but Francis holds up a hand. “Don’t come near me.” His voice had changed—everything about him had changed. “I can’t dance. I can’t dance because he shot me!” Francis claws at the bedsheets. “My own friend shot me!” he flings the blankets aside and then claws at his hair. “When he pointed the gun at me, when he fired the bullet, everything shattered.” He begins to pull at the dark strands. “He shot me, he shot me, he shot me!”
“Francis, don’t do that to yourself.”
“He fucking shot me and now I can’t dance! I can’t dance, Janus! What am I supposed to do now!?” his voice was high, panicked and his eyes were chaotic. “That was the only thing I was good at!”
“No, no it’s not.”
“But now…now…” he huffs, his heart rate spiking, that wasn’t good. “And while I was sleeping I had these dreams, endless dreams, countless times—over and over and over! I saw him shoot me. In slow-mo, sped up, on rewind and HE SHOT ME!”
“FRANCIS CALM DOWN!” Francis stills and Janus blinks in shock, his hands trembling. He hadn’t meant to yell, but seeing him like that—self destructing—he couldn’t handle it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you…” he apologizes, stepping towards his brother, Francis looks away from him and says quietly. “I’m sorry too…but…the other night while you were sleeping I saw my leg.” He inhales a raspy breath. “I saw it, lying limp and dead—it didn’t look as though I could use it. Just lying there with blood and pus and bone.” His eyes had that wild look in it again and Janus reaches for his hand clenching it tightly. “And I knew—without you or anyone else telling me—I knew that it was gone. I tried walking and shit it hurt just to bend it in the slightest of ways.” Janus could feel Francis’s hand trembling in his. “My legs…I thought I’d have them forever, that I’d dance forever—you know, like one of those music box ballerinas.” He laughs sadly and Janus’s heart clenches. “But then unexpected shit happens and I admit I fucked up, big time, like cooked the rice to long and that was all you had bought for the month. That fucked up.” Janus looks to Francis’s face. “But I wasn’t in my right mind, I just wanted someone to hurt.”
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