Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  “Wait…what?” Kai nods, dipping Francis back like they were doing the salsa. “So lets just make-out and start dating afterwards.” He adds before pushing Francis against the couch and crawling on top of him until he sat on his lap in a straddle. “Okay, wow.” Francis murmurs, his hands finding their way to Kai’s hips where they settle. Kai looks down at him and smiles shakily. “Uhm, I guess we kiss now?” Francis grins, a chuckle escaping his lips. “Being the gay one, I’ll lead you the rest of the way.” He leans up and takes Kais lips between his—things had of course changed between them. It was a good change and in some way they had started dating. But to Francis it was just like any other day with Kai; they’d hang out at the gas station and then they’d practice at Francis’s house, on their way there they’d joke about something or talk about a popular comedy, but now Kai would surprise Francis with a kiss to his cheek or a hand around his waist. It gave Francis butterflies.

  He walks down the stairs looking over the railing and into the living room. Janus was out again—he had to work—Jenna was busy with her exams and getting over Aiden, so now Francis was alone. The silence of the house reminded him of how it was after their parents died. Janus was of course the strong, older brother, but late in the night Francis could hear him crying. He hated hearing Janus cry—it was a hollow, broken sound. He comes to a stop at the last step, his brown eyes glazing over as he stares down at his feet. “I never knew anything.” He mutters before stepping forward and over that last step, his words hang in the air like a memory of who he used to be as a child and they shift with the silence waiting to be disturbed by some unknown force.

  ~*~

  Kael sits up in his bed and there’s a sharp pain that goes shooting up from his hips to his shoulders. “What the…” he grunts in pain, moving slowly so as to not get another agonizing shock. His head felt heavy and so did his body, but his mind was light and with a bright sigh he bounces to his feet. But the moment he stands up he crumples to the ground—his legs felt like complete jello. “What the hell…” He grumbles forcing himself to get up and as he rose he remembered what had happened the other day—“There?”

  “Yes, hurry, again, harder.”

  “Damn, do you know what you’re doing to me?” Aiden grumbles in frustration, “I want to hear you, this is our first,”—thrust—“Time, I want to clearly hear you.”—his cheeks flush red the color going all the way up to his ears. “Oh my god,” He covers his face with his hands. “Oh my god.” He repeats looking down his shirt and gasping when he saw the red marks peppered across his pale chest. He didn’t regret doing that with Aiden nor did he feel any sort of shame, in some way it amazed him—fascinated him—that two men could come together in such a way and at such a place. Slowly he wraps his arms around himself and laughs softly. “Wow…” He recalled the way in which Aiden had said his name and that filled him with a warm reassurance and then he remembered how Aiden had said he loved him. Kael had never experienced so much feeling in a single day—it made him feel alive, like he was real and not just an apparition or a drifting memory. The door to Kael’s room creaks open and Aiden pokes his head through the crack looking around and spotting Kael’s figure hunched on the floor. He’s struck with worry, but it quickly dissipates when he notices how Kael’s laughing to himself. He leans his shoulder against the door frame and his eyes settle onto the smile on Kael’s lips. “My Prince is absolutely stunning.” He blurts and Kael jolts, his head whipping around. He stares at Aiden with an agape mouth. “You’re really like a shadow.” He murmurs, rising to his feet and dusting off his bottoms. Aiden grins pushing himself off of the doorframe and gliding over to Kael with a grin. “If I were a shadow,” he leans forward and Kael catches a whiff of his fresh cologne. “I wouldn’t be able to do this.” Saying this he wraps an arm around Kael’s waist and pulls him close. “What were you laughing about?” Aiden asks in a low voice. Kael crosses his arms over his chest deciding that he’d enjoy teasing Aiden. “Hmm, something.”

  “Like what?” Aiden leans up, his tongue slipping out to play along Kael’s bottom lip. Kael’s lashes flutter and a deep chuckle bubbles up from him. “Hearing you laugh like that makes me want to make love to you all over again.” Aiden says softly, his lips parting to envelope Kael’s mouth with his own. They kiss slowly, their heads titling every which way so the kiss could last longer, be sweeter. Aiden realized that once he got a taste of Kael, he couldn’t get enough. Afterwards, once he returned home that night, he mused over the details, thinking back to how Kael’s back arched and even the faintest of details. Such as the way his lips trembled when Aiden entered him. Aiden doesn’t want to pull back, but Kael does so he can catch his breath. Their noses were touching and their eyes were glistening, Aiden laughs first and then Kael laughs after him, his head drooping down to rest against Aiden’s shoulder. “Lets go out today…” He says in a quiet voice. “Oh? Is his majesty asking me out on a date?” Aiden teases, Kael straightens up looking Aiden in the eye and biting his bottom lip. “There’s no lessons today.” Aiden’s entire expression brightens. “Really?”

  “Mm, well, I might be skipping, but—“ Aiden’s eyes squint. “Kael…”

  “It doesn’t matter, I have all my life to become this “ideal” Prince.” He tries to pull away from Aiden, but he holds onto Kael’s waist. “Are you saying that you don’t have all your life to be with me?” Aiden questions seriously. Kael looks away from his gaze. “I wasn’t saying that…” Aiden’s silent, his gaze sliding over to the crumpled sheets sprawled across the bed. Kael follows his gaze and gasps faintly when he feels Aiden’s palm sliding down from his waist to the curve of his butt. “Aiden.”

  “Kael,” Aiden tests with a smirk. “If you’re going to tell me not to, I’m still going to.” Kael looks over Aiden’s shoulder and juts his chin forward. “No,” Aiden turns around. “I was just going to say that you should lock the door.” Kael says, leaning up and kissing the side of Aiden’s jaw. With a playful growl, Aiden squeezes Kael’s buttocks and together they descend onto the bed.

  ~*~

  Janus walks up and down the castle, his hands clasped behind his back, he was looking around at the many portraits, his thoughts running a mile a minute. He was thinking about Skye and Aiden, Micah and their developing relationship; he was also thinking about the dark past of his childhood. Those days of feeling lonely even when Francis was around. There was never anyone in which he could profess all his worries—he couldn’t scream or throw a fit like Francis had, he couldn’t deny everything because it was easier, he couldn’t do any of that because he was the older brother. He stops suddenly when a thumping sound invades the silence. He tilts his head trying to configure where the sound was coming from. He turns around, his gaze settling on Kael’s room door, which was tightly shut. As he steps closer, the sound grows louder and something in his heart is telling him not to listen, to just leave it as it is, but he leans towards the door, pressing his ear against the wood.

  “A-Aiden, slower,”

  “Sssh, we don’t want to get caught.”

  “I’ll just say we were fighting.” Aiden laughs deeply and Janus could hear the sound of a bed creaking. His eyes widen in realization and his head snaps away from the door as though it had caught on fire and he hurries down the hall trying his best to erase the sound of Kael’s voice. With a shake of his head Janus mutters something about cutting off both their little “friends.” He turns the corner and bumps into Micah catching the guard off guard and causing him to stumble back. Janus grips his wrist to keep him from falling to the ground. “That was close.” He mutters and Micah laughs nervously. He adjusts himself, pulling his wrist out of Janus’s grip and staring into his eyes. “What?” Janus asks, his tone playful, Micah looks away. “Nothing…”

  “Are you doing your rounds?” Micah nods, tugging down his black suit jacket and glancing behind him. “I was just about to go check on the Prince, but seeing how you rushed out of there…” Janus places a hand to the bac
k of his head. “It seems they’ve discovered the bed.”

  “Excuse me?” Micah questions with a tilt of his head, Janus doesn’t continue instead he takes Micah hand. “Walk with me.”

  “But I have to—“ Janus looks back at him. “Please.” He says almost pleadingly and Micah’s eyes widen before he allows himself to be dragged away. Micah looks down at their hands and sighs softly. “If you really like me—“

  “I do.” Janus replies instantly, Micah goes quiet again, his big eyes drooping and looking almost sleepy. “What about—there must have been someone else.” He continues on as they pass one of the many dining rooms. “Of course there was, but that’s the past.”

  “But aren’t you looking for that person in me?” Janus pauses and looks back at Micah, he drops his hand and takes a step closer to him. “Why would I do that?”

  “You just…seem like the type of person to do that.” Janus’s eyes widen in offense. “Not purposely, but you do it unknowingly.” Micah hurries to say noticing the defensive expression Janus had taken. “What makes you…” Janus pauses retracing his words. “Maybe I do, do that.” He murmurs halfheartedly. “Do you…” Micah runs a hand through his hair and groans as though what he was about to ask, was a bother. “If I ask you ‘do you want to talk?’ You’ll probably politely decline.” Janus looks to him confused. “So instead I’m forcing you to tell me what’s on your mind.” Janus blinks and then he laughs. “Forcing me?”

  “Yeah, you’re the boss over us and so,” Micah rubs the back of his neck and looks to the ground shyly. “I thought since everyone goes to you, you may need someone to go to.”

  “I have a younger brother.” Micah’s eyes widen and his cheeks flush. “Yeah, well, he may not always listen.” He snaps causing Janus to laugh loudly, the bright sound bouncing down the hall and causing others to stop and stare at them. “Fine then,” Janus takes Micah’s hand in his again. “I’ll take you up on that offer, Mr. Shay.”

  ~*~

  Francis walks down the sidewalk, his hoodie covering his head and casting a shadow over his eyes. His thoughts were focused on a single subject—Kael Lennon—and finding a way to make him pay for Jenna’s broken heart. In the back of his mind he knew that it was ridiculous, that he didn’t need revenge for something so trivial, but it was deeper than that. This revenge was for Janus, for taking away all their time. He’s my brother, not yours—all that time he’s spent with you, I’ve been worrying about him. Francis kicks a rock and it skids across the concrete. Or maybe I’m seeking revenge because I’m bored. Francis thought for a moment—should it even be called revenge? “Oh?” A deep voice pipes from in front of Francis. “Is that a little shit I see?” Francis’s head snaps up and his gaze settles on Kai, who lifts his hand in a wave. “What are you doing?” Francis asks. “Just walking, I was bored and didn’t feel like dancing.” Francis’s eyes widen. “You?” Kai nods. “It’s just one of those days, ya know.” Francis nods because he actually did know. They walk side by side, passing the Lily Bridge that would always be lit up at night in a rainbow waterfall. Francis recalls a memory that seems like it was ages ago. “We came here when I was fifteen,” He begins dreamily. “It was freezing cold, but you insisted we go see the lights.” Kai adds and Francis nods with a bittersweet smile. “It was the anniversary of my parent’s death.”

  “You pity-partied me into it.” Francis laughs, slipping his hands into the back pocket of his jeans. “I just really wanted to see how it looked at night.”

  “I didn’t mind it…” Kai murmurs softly, stepping closer to Francis and pulling his hand out of his pocket and enclosing Francis’s hand in his. “I remember the day of their funeral so vividly.” Francis says, his voice so quiet and soft, Kai had to lean towards him to hear. “These men in all black walked down the church aisle, their expressions stark.” They pass a group of young women who eye their clutched hands suspiciously. “I thought that my mother and father were resting in their beds—that they were sleeping.”

  “Francis…”

  “The innocence I had back then has completely vanished.”

  “It’s still there Francis.” They stop walking, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, obstructing peoples paths; they walk around them. “It’s gone, Kai, I knew it was gone the moment Aiden lost Skye in the fire. In that moment I came to face the facts that my parents weren’t taking a long nap, but that they had died, their bodies rotting in those bleak coffins.” Kai cups Francis’s face with his hands, forcing their eyes to meet. “You don’t have to be so grim about it.”

  “Grim? Just grim?” Francis laughs a sick and twisted laugh, which made Kai uneasy. “Your hands are cold.” Francis mutters, his eyes devoid of any flicker, of any glimmer or shard of light. Kai stares down into those black, cold eyes and pulls Francis up into a deep kiss. He kisses him hoping to create a spark in those once burning eyes.

  “It’s freezing cold, Francis!” Kai snaps at his bestfriend, his arms wrapped tightly around his body. Francis glances back at his friend and sticks out his tongue. “You’re a wuss.”

  “No, I just don’t want to get sick.” Francis flips Kai off before taking off downhill to get nearer to the bridge. Kai stares after him, his teeth chattering together. “Oh my goooood.” With an annoyed groan, he chases after Francis, almost slipping on the icy grass. Once he reaches Francis, he shoves him in his back and he goes stumbling forward. “What the hell!?” he snaps at Kai who was staring down at Francis with amusement. “Payback for bringing your bestfriend out in these conditions.”

  “Whatever.” Francis turns his back on Kai and gasps at what he saw. The waterfall was beginning to trickle to life from the side of the Lily Bridge. Kai breaks his gaze away from Francis, taking a few steps forward to see it like Francis was seeing it. The colors ribboned along the waves of water, curving in and out in vibrant rays. “Amazing…” Francis sighs and Kai looks towards him. In those deep brown eyes, Kai saw the reflection of those bright lights and then he saw a single tear roll down Francis’s cheek and glimmer a sad shade of blue.

  “What was that for?” Francis asks, once they pull apart. Kai stares into his eyes and replies in a faint voice. “Because….” His breath fans against Francis’s lips. “That look in your eyes was scaring me and I just wanted it to go away.” He caresses Francis’s cheek with his thumb. “I just want it to all go away…” He pushes Francis into him, his arms slowly wrapping around Francis’s body. “It doesn’t all just go away unless you make it, Kai.” He murmurs, but Kai acts as though he hadn’t heard and he continues holding him.

  ~*~

  Aiden’s nails dig into Kael’s hair as the last of his high dies away and his forehead glistens with sweat. He pulls out with a tremble, admiring the sheen of his sweat on Kael’s body. Kael lets out an exasperated moan, his legs closing as Aiden settles beside him on the bed. He drapes an arm across his face, both their chests were heaving up and down, trying to regain the breath they lost during the height of their intercourse. “The…blankets…” Kael huffs, squirming, trying to adjust to the feel of Aiden lingering inside him. “Should I clean them?” Aiden suggests. Kael shakes his head. “I don’t want you to do that.”

  “I’m alright, I’d rather do it than have poor Janus come and take care of this mess.” Aiden’s cheeks were flushed red, either from exhaustion or future embarrassment. Kael laughs, nodding in agreement. Neither move from their position, basking in the afterglow of just having made love together. “After today,” Kael begins. “I was thinking about going back and finding more about what happened to Skye.” They turn to face each other, their faces smushed against the pillows. “What more do you want to know?” Aiden asks, Kael shrugs, his broad shoulders shimmering with sweat. “Was she in a relationship? Was there someone she loved?”

  “There was one thing that I know…”

  “What is it?” Kael lowers his voice as though he and Aiden were conspiring a secret boycott of the castle. “She was pregnant.” Aiden replies and
he watches every detail on Kael’s face as he takes in what he had just said. “Preg….nant…”

  “Yes,” He reaches over, brushing his thumb along Kael’s moist bottom lip. “But by who…?”

  “I don’t know, I always had my speculations, but that just seems crazy now.” Kael leans forward. “No tell me, I want all of this to be cleared up.” Aiden shakes his head. “I can’t.”

  “Why? Tell me Aiden.” Aiden moves his thumb to Kael’s jaw and looks into his eyes. “I always thought that it had to be the King.” Kael’s eyes widen. “My father….”

  “Yes, my sister was always talking late in the night with my mom about how she’d get me out of this position.”

  “So you think she slept with my father to save you?”

  “Yes, but Kael, this is only—“

  “No, it makes sense though…” He sits up and Aiden watches as he rises. “I was never allowed to do any research about the fire or to watch any old news broadcasts on it, so tell me all that you know Aiden.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Skye was a friend and a sister to me too.” He looks down at Aiden. “I want to know everything; speculations, theories, facts…I don’t want her death to be covered up.”

  “But I don’t want to hurt you.” Kael scoffs, reaching over and pinching the skin of Aiden’s cheeks. “Shut-up, you’re my bodyguard, how can you hurt me?” Aiden’s eyes sparkle and he wraps his arms around Kael’s waist, pulling forward and burying his head in the youngers warm stomach. Kael runs his fingers through Aiden’s ashen locks and smiles softly. “I feel like through all those years of not remembering who Skye was…I lost her along the way.”