“Did you just…” his eyes follow after Aiden as he slides into the drivers seat of the car. He rolls the window down to call Kael. “Hurry! Otherwise I’ll slap that ass of yours again.” He winks, rolling the window up and buckling into his seat. Kael stares at Aiden as he steps out of the door and wipes his hands on the gardening apron he was wearing. He tosses them both aside, closing the door and jogging towards the car.
~*~
Aiden drapes his arms over the handle of the shopping basket and looks towards Kael as they step inside the neighborhood market. “We could have gone to the gas station.” Kael murmurs and Aiden looks to him from the corner of his eyes. “This is a neighborhood mart, nobody goes here and I thought that might be helpful.”
“Why?”
“You’re the Prince.” Kael blinks and then sighs. “You’re treating me like a celebrity.”
“Well, I am your boyfriend and your bodyguard.”
“My knight in shining armor!” Kael exclaims sarcastically and Aiden laughs with his nose scrunched up in mock amusement. He pushes the basket through the automatic doors, looking left and right for anything that caught his eye. “We came for drinks, Ai, not an entire meal.” Kael scolds and Aiden rolls his eyes. “I know, I know…wait…” it takes him a moment to catch the petname Kael had suddenly given him. “You called me, Ai.”
“Yeah? It’s short for Aiden.”
“Kind of like Stale Kael?” Kael nods. “Yeah.”
“Well aren’t we just the cutest gay couple out there.” Aiden jokes and Kael chuckles, reaching for a six pack of cola. It made him happy to see Aiden joke and poke fun at their relationship. It showed how he had grown comfortable to be a part of a same sex relationship and with no one other than Kael. “We should also get something to snack on, like a bag of chips or cookies…” Aiden trails off when he catches the look Kael was giving him. “…or not.” He finishes, clearing his throat and racing ahead. Kael watches after him, wondering where his child-like behavior had suddenly come from. It was probably always in him, but he never got the chance to show it as of late because of all the current events. Kael pushes his dark bangs out of his eyes, slowly following after Aiden with a tender look in his eyes. Gradually their basket begins to fill with things they didn’t need; extra packets of seeds, another pair of gardening gloves, several bags of chips and other items. Kael looks into the basket and then he looks to Aiden who was humming along to the music playing from the loudspeaker. “We really don’t need all this…” he mutters and Aiden grins. “I thought we could have a little picnic.”
“We’ll get distracted and we won’t finish clearing up the greenhouse.” Kael points out and Aiden scratches the back of his head. “Okay…I’ll just get the ice-cream then.”
“That’s what we came here for in the first place.” He mumbles and Aiden clears his throat, his cheeks flushing slightly. He rushes to put everything back and they end up fussing over the extra packets of seeds. “We don’t need those.” Kael says and Aiden shakes his head. “It’s a greenhouse, we have to fill it with as many plants as possible.”
“If there’s too many we won’t be able to walk through the door.”
“That would be fine,” Aiden shot back. “It’ll be like an oasis for Skye’s spirit.”
“Since when did you believe in spirits?” Kael questions with a raise of his scarred eyebrow. “Since I met you I started to believe in anything.” And that was the end of their fickle argument. But once they got to the register Kael mumbled. “I still don’t think we need it.” And Aiden thought it was the cutest thing the way he looked at the seedling packets in the shopping bag with his bottom lip rolled out.
Kael holds tightly onto the bags, his free hand clutching Aiden’s as they walk out of the market. “We’ll eat these on our way back.”
“You can’t drive like that.” Kael murmurs and Aiden looks to him with a grin. “Just watch me.”
“I rather not, I like my life.”
“I won’t get us in an accident.” Aiden squeezes Kael’s hand tighter, turning to say something else, but stopping short when he noticed a dark figure sneaking closer to them. “Hey…” he starts to say, his voice low. “Switch sides with me.” Kael blinks, following Aiden’s gaze and gasping to himself when he saw the man slinking towards them. “Where did he—“
“Just move. Casually.” Kael does as he’s told, moving from Aiden’s left to his right. He releases his hold on Kael, patting his back pocket and cursing when he realizes that his gun wasn’t on him. “You didn’t plan on shooting him if you had your gun…did you?” Kael questions and Aiden nods. “I can’t let him harm you. I won’t.”
“But he—“
“YOU’RE MURDERS! YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!” the man screams, before charging forward and baring the hand that was hidden behind his back. He was carrying a knife. Kael’s eyes widen and he drops the bag in his hands, Aiden pushes him back ready to fight the guy if need be, but it looked like he wouldn’t have to do any real fighting. “A bunch of stuck up royal bitches!” the man continues to yell and Aiden snorts, grabbing the man’s wrist, twisting it and grimacing slightly when the knife cut across his chest, tearing his shirt. Still holding onto the man, he yells calmly out to Kael. “Go ahead and get to the car, I’ll be there shortly.” His eyes flit to the bag of groceries on the ground. “Don’t forget to get those,” he looks back up at Kael with a smile. “We’ll need something sweet after this.”
“Son of a biiiitch!” the man squeals as Aiden twists his arm tighter, yanking him down and flipping him onto the concrete. The knife falls from his hands and clatters against the ground. Kael watches them his eyes flicking from Aiden to the man, to Aiden and to the man again. With a great sigh, he charges forward, scooping up the knife and pointing the tip against the man’s neck. “Royal bitches?” he snarls, his lips curling up devilishly. “We’ve been called a lot of names, but Royal bitches? That’s a new one.” He laughs jabbing the knife forward and causing the man to squirm, his face glistening with perspiration. “It has a nice ring to it, ya know, powerful somewhat bitchy.” Kael laughs again and still holding the man by his arm, Aiden looks to Kael with a new found sense of pride, admiration and respect. “Now, he’s going to let you go,” Kael glances at Aiden “And we’re going to continue on our way, I won’t report this.”
“But I will.” Aiden interjects. “Mmwhhhf—I w-won’t do it again.” The man whimpers and Aiden is two seconds away from punching him in the face. “That’s right, you won’t have a chance to do it again because you’ll be locked up. Get up.” Aiden yanks him off of the ground and Kael slips the knife into the back pocket of his jeans. “Why the fuck would you think that was okay?” He questions, his tone sharp and pissed. “I just—he’s—the people don’t like him nor his family, no one—“ Aiden couldn’t stop himself from knocking the man in his chest. “You don’t know shit, get lost.” He shoves the man off, a look of disgust on his face. After a moment of silence, watching the man hobble off, Aiden turns to Kael with a glare. “You should have left.”
“And let you get hurt?”
“I had it under control.” He reaches around Kael, his fingers searching for the knife. He pries it from Kael’s pockets and continues to glare at him. “It’s my job to protect you, you should listen to me and go.”
“I listen to no one.”
“It’s for your own safety.” Aiden snaps and Kael squints down at him. “I want to protect myself too, I don’t like being looked after.”
“Don’t think of it as being looked after like some damn baby, think of it as being loved and cared for by your boyfriend.” Aiden grimaces, his eyebrows furrowing in pain. “But I gotta admit, you were pretty hot handling that knife.” He smirks up at Kael and looks down at the tear on his chest. “I just bought this.” He mumbles and Kael reaches forward, toying with the tear in Aiden’s shirt and pulling on it until he saw the strip of blood running from the center of his chest to his left nipple. “Oh my god.”
“What?”
“He cut you.”
“Oh, yeah,” Aiden looks down. “He did.”
“That asshole cut you.”
“It’s just a little cut, Kael, Janus’s put me through worse.” Aiden laughs nervously, pearl drops of blood pooling from the cut. “Besides it’s not even that deep, it’s not like I’m gushing blood or anyt—” but Aiden stops talking, his eyes widening when he felt the warmth of Kael’s lips press against his skin. “Kael, what are you doing…” Kael steps closer to him, tilting his head so that he could kiss at his cut. “You’re right,” his breath was hot against Aiden’s chest. “It’s not that much blood, so it’s alright if I do this.” Kael peers up from the hood of his bangs, his brown eyes glittering mischievously. “Thank you.” He whispers and Aiden’s heart clenches in his chest. He brings a hand to Kael’s back and holds him from there. “People could see…”
“I don’t care.” Kael replies continuing to kiss at the cut on Aiden’s skin until blood stained his lips. He could feel Aiden’s heart beat thrumming against his lips—his nerves and excitement jittering throughout his body. He stands up straight looking Aiden in his eyes and saying softly. “Kiss me.” Aiden blinks, his eyes being drawn to the dark red on Kael’s lips. It was like lipstick. “He hurt you, so he hurt me too.” Kael murmurs, the wind rustling his hair. “So kiss me.” His voice was resolute matching the dark solidity of his eyes and so Aiden slides his hand up the side of Kael’s face. Feeling the curve of his jawline and the dip of his cheekbones before stepping forward and leaning in to connect their lips. He closes his eyes kissing Kael deeply and humming in the back of his throat when Kael returned the kiss. He could taste the bitter tang of iron on his tongue from his blood, but it quickly melted away as their tongues met.
That kiss conveyed comfort, trust, loyalty and love, friendship, pain, sorrows and joys. Aiden breaks away from Kael to admire his face before leaning in to kiss him again. Kael’s tongue was warm against his, his breath was moist and hot against Aiden’s nose and the heat exuding from both their bodies served as a blanket.
~*~
Kael squints at the cut on Aiden’s chest, shaking his head and clicking his tongue. “This stuff stings, just fyi.” He warns, dipping the hand towel into a pool of medicinal alcohol. Aiden nods, his hands clenching at his sides. “I can do this, a little alcohol hurts no one. When I was younger I had to get a stitch across my head.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m surprised it didn’t leave a scar.” Kael presses the towel into the cut and Aiden hisses, his stomach tightening. “How’d you get it?” Kael asks softly and Aiden looks down at him. “I ran into a table running away from my mom.” Kael bursts out laughing, using the back of his hand to hide his smile. “Seriously?”
“As serious as cereal.”
“What...what is that even?” Kael says between chuckles, dipping the towel in the alcohol again and pressing it to Aiden’s chest. He flinches again, but instead of clenching his fists, he takes Kael’s hand in his and squeezes. “I don’t think it’ll leave a scar.” Kael murmurs to himself. “I told you, it was just a little scrape, the crazy bastard.” Kael bounces from his crouching position, dusting off his jeans and staring Aiden down. “Looks like you’ll have to go around shirtless for today.” Aiden looks up at him with a raised brow. “That’s my excuse for wanting to see you half naked.” Kael tosses him a wink before turning away and swaying his hips rather dramatically. Aiden watches him, his chest puffing out with laughter and his cheeks straining with a bright smile. “Jesus, I love you.” He says as if realizing it himself how in love he was with Kael. The Prince glances over his shoulder, leaning against one of the tables and crossing his arms. He looks to Aiden as though words weren’t enough to convey how he felt, he keeps his gaze on him and smiles at him as though he were life itself. And maybe that’s what he was to Kael…life.
Aiden returns his gaze with an acknowledging tilt of his head; Let me be your shield. Your knight in shining armor. Let me protect all that you are—your body, your heart and your thoughts.
Even if I get hurt. Even if I die. My Prince, know that I still love you.
Everything Ends and Begins Again
Janus was sipping from a steaming cup of tea Jenna had prepared for him in the hospital kitchen. She was also standing beside him, her head resting on his arm. It had been a week, roughly two, since Francis had been shot now and slowly he was building up the strength to move his leg. “Easy, eeeeaaasy.” The male doctor chants as Francis begins to swing his legs from off of the bed. He does so slowly and methodically as though to not hit anything on the way. Janus watches taking a long sip from his tea and glancing at Jenna who was tugging at the sleeve of her knitted sweater. “Let’s put pressure on your good leg first.” The doctor—Samuel Yung—places a hand to Francis’s arm to help steady him. Francis does as he’s told, placing his good leg down on the cool tile and looking up towards Dr. Yung questioningly. “Go on.” He directs with a reassuring smile. Francis chews on his chapped lips before rising up on that leg only, the other one just dangling above the bed. “Good, good.”
“Is this…safe?” Jenna asks and Dr. Yung looks towards her with that same charming smile he had shown when they did introductions a few days ago. “We did a few xrays on his injured leg and saw that the stitches are still holding up. All the shrapnel and bone that had shattered when he was shot was removed during his surgery.”
“Okay, so why can’t he use that leg?” she asks and he continues to smile at her. “The bone of his knee was shattered, that bone can no longer be used—it can’t support the muscle surrounding his leg.”
“So each time he applies pressure to that leg…he’ll fall.” Janus murmurs, drawing the conclusion himself. “Yes, exactly.” Dr. Yung exclaims with a snap of his fingers. “But it’ll help for him to learn how to walk around without using that le—“
“Why not amputate it?” Janus suddenly questions, placing his tea down and walking over to his brother. “We’ve thought about that, but really it’s a good leg.”
“But he can’t use it, how is that beneficial to him?” Janus questions. “Well to amputate a leg…that’s a lot of mental strain on a patient.” Janus shoves a hand through his bangs. “But..”
“I don’t want to.” Francis mutters. “I’m already pretty crazy as it is knowing that I can’t use my leg, but seeing it gone…” he looks back at his brother. “You gotta understand just how messed up that’ll make me.” He says it jokingly, but the look on his face was close to hopeless. Jenna heaves a sigh, turning away so that she didn’t have to see Francis struggle on his good leg only. She thought about Aiden and how he had looked when they met again after so long. Truth be told she did miss him; those nights in bed with him, his laughter and jokes…the friendship they had. Was it time to move on? There’s a clattering sound as Francis tries to hold onto the bedside drawer instead of Dr. Yung’s arm. “Sorry.” He mumbles as the vase with a single flower shatters across the tile floor. “That’s quite alright, I think that’ll be enough for right now.” Francis nods, letting Dr. Yung help him back onto the hospital bed. Janus’s eyebrows furrow as he takes in his brother’s expression. “I can take you out later if you want to.” He says and Francis looks to him with a weak smile. “Yeah? That’d be nice.” Janus smiles back at him, glancing over his shoulder at Jenna who was eyeing them blankly, her thin arms crossed over her chest. “Would you want to join us?” he asks and she blinks as though she had just snapped out of a daze. “I…I think there’s something I should take care of.” She murmurs and Janus eyes her curiously. Dr. Yung looks towards her, his dark eyes peering intently at her as though he had something he wanted to say. “Is it…Aiden?” Janus asks and she nods, a sad smile playing across her lips. “It’s about time I grew up, right?” She flashes a peace sign before straightening her bangs and bowing towards Dr. Yung. “Thank you for watching over him.”
“Oh, no problem at all, it’s my job.” Dr. Yun
g smiles towards her, his eyes lingering across her frame and in that moment Janus could comprehend that the doctor was interested in Jenna. She bows once more before walking over to Francis and taking his hand. “Do you want me to get you anything?”
“…music…I want to listen to music right now.” He mumbles and she nods opening the room door and stepping out. They all watch as she goes and Francis sighs clutching the bedsheets. “Has….Kai…” he begins to say but trails off, his head hanging down. Janus lightly touches his thigh. “I haven’t been out much, I go to the castle and then come back here.”
“Have they…replaced you?”
“Yes, just the other day I went there and they told me to come back and pack my stuff.” Francis scoffs and Janus continues on to say, “They told me I should be out by the end of this week.”
“They don’t even give you time to find another job.”
“Well,” Janus scratches the back of his head. “I still train the other guys back at the building.”
“Do they pay you?”
“Of course, they say my skills are the best being that I’ve been in the business so long.” Francis looks up smiling proudly at his brother. “Of course you’re the best, brother.” Janus chuckles and Dr. Yung clears his throat. “I know this isn’t my place to be asking such questions…but who is this Aiden, Ms. Jenna was talking about earlier?” he asks and Janus’s expression brightens. “He’s her ex.” He says a grin playing along his full lips.
“Ah…so is she single?” Francis smirks looking towards the awkward Doctor and grinning. “And if she is?” he questions and Dr. Yung clears his throat, his cheeks flushing. “I’d try asking her out.” Francis’s cheeks puff with laughter and he looks towards the Doctor with bright eyes. “I’m sure she’d tell you no.” his eyes were sparkling. “Oh why?” It had been a while since Janus’s seen that sparkle. “She doesn’t like doctors.” He cracks and Dr. Yung stares at him blankly, Francis only laughs. Janus stares at his brother and his smile falls away—he wondered when he would see Francis smile like that again or laugh so purely and honestly. He knew that he wouldn’t see him dance like he used to and his eyes pricked with tears at the realization. I never went to see him dance. All those years and days and weeks were spent protecting and watching over the Prince. He never went to his recitals, he never went to his auditions. He couldn’t. He’s seen Francis practice and admired his finesse, grace and power when dancing. But he’s never seen him perform, never watched him dance up on stage with the crowd watching him. Who knows when I’ll have such a chance again. Janus squeezes Francis’s thigh and Francis looks to him worriedly. “Something wrong?” at the sound of his voice, the tears begin to roll down Janus’s cheek. He turns away, swallowing and sniffing. “Oh god…” he croaks out and the tears don’t stop, they hit him in slow waves. He clamps a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking. Francis looks towards his brother and he tilts his head with a faint smile. “Brother…” he calls softly, but Janus kept his back to Francis, his eye blurring over with tears and making him see double. Dr. Yung looks between them and bows seeing himself out so that they could be alone. Francis reaches over to his brother, placing a hand to his trembling shoulder. Janus hiccups and Francis squeezes his shoulder, saying two simple words. “It’s alright.” Janus hunches forward, a sob breaking from him and echoing around the quiet room. “It’s alright.” Francis repeats and the strength Janus had been holding himself up with vanished in that brief moment and was replaced with an unutterable guilt. “You’ve been strong for so long.” Francis whispers. “So it’s alright.”
Butterfly Prince Page 41
