Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  “Aaah.” Janus pops the lid off of a fresh bowl of greens and steamed rice. “Looks good.”

  “Really.” Micah reaches over to pluck a slice of lettuce from Janus’s plate, he pops it into his mouth. “Taste good as well.” Janus grins, reaching over to place a hand to Micah’s thigh. Although he did it naturally and without a thought at all, it caused Micah to become well aware of the circumstances of a relationship. He clears his throat, his gaze flicking to Janus’s hand on his thigh which was gradually sliding down to clasp his knee. “How are the men at training?” he asks and Micah stuffs in his mouth a spoonful of beef. “They’re getting better, still some work, but—“ He stops speaking when Janus’s hand is back at his thigh, this time squeezing it. “Yes?” Micah coughs again nearly choking on a spoonful of rice and green beans. He turns away, wiping his mouth with the back of his shirt sleeve. Janus pulls his hand away, awkwardly placing them in his lap. “Does it…make you uncomfortable when I touch you?” He asks, his eyes downcast. Micah tries to say something, but ends up coughing again, his broad shoulders bobbing up and down. “I haven’t been with someone in a while, so I’m a little rusty.” Janus jokes looking up to catch Micah as he’s furiously waving his hand back and forth and shaking his head. “I—“ he starts to say, but his words are over taken by a rough hack. Janus’s eyebrow’s furrow with worry as he reaches over to pat Micah’s back. After a moment of patting and coughing, Micah finally says “No, no, it’s just I am not used to being in a relationship…” he trails off, pushing his black bangs back, Janus thought he was extremely cute in that moment. With a soft laugh, he reaches over to take some beef from Micah’s plate. “You’re too cute sometimes, Micah.”

  “And so are you.” Micah replies smoothly as though the words hadn’t even registered in his mind before they left his lips. Janus’s fork clatters against the table as he looks to Micah in shock. “W-what?” Micah murmurs, pausing his eating to point his fork at Janus. “Does it shock you that much when someone calls you cute?”

  “Well…when you do.” Micah noticed that Janus’s cheeks were dusted lightly with pink. He was blushing and his round eyes made him appear younger than he actually was. This time Micah chuckles softly to himself, he wiggles his fork teasingly. “Aaw, Mr. Lee, you’re adora—“ But Micah’s cut off mid-sentence when Janus rises up from his seat and leans across the table to kiss him. His lips are soft, tinged with the salty-sweetness of beef and green beans. Micah’s black eyes widen and he stares at Janus; his eyes were closed and he could feel his breath fanning across his cheeks. Micah blinks because Janus was still kissing him, his tongue poking at his lips so that he could deepen the kiss. Micah’s heart was close to bursting from his chest. Yet Janus looked so calm and at ease like this was something he did daily. He pulls back to say softly, his voice low. “Micah,”

  “Y-yes?”

  “You should kiss me too.” Micah swallows, his adam’s apple bobbing as he awkwardly took the front of Janus’s t-shirt. Janus smiles, leaning in once more and claiming Micah’s lips as his own.

  ~*~

  Francis was still awake, his head facing away from the door as it rested on the fluffy, white pillow the hospital gave to him. “Good sleep, makes for a good body.” Dr. Yung had told him. Francis felt as though he could grow to like the doctor; he was both friendly and decisive with his actions. Nothing like…Kai.

  Kai was awkward

  Kai was kind and shy

  Kai was a smart ass

  Kai was a dancer

  Kai was beautiful

  Kai was…

  Francis closes his eyes so that he could imagine those teenage years; those free years of no secrets or worries and if there were secrets they were the kind high-school boys would carry around and laugh loudly over. Nothing like the secrets they kept from each other now. I didn’t know you worked for them. Why couldn’t you tell me? Were you afraid? Did you not want to hurt me?

  Did you know that I loved you?

  Francis’s eyes snap open at the sound of the door sliding open. He doesn’t turn when the door clicks shut and the sound of approaching footsteps trickle over to him. He keeps his eyes on the window, tracing the shape of the moon over and over again. “Francis,” he wills himself from flinching at the sound of the voice, his voice. It sounded as though his voice was old and dying with each passing day and suddenly Francis remembered the first words he said to Kai after being shot. “Don’t speak.”

  “Francis…” his voice wobbles over and there’s a thudding sound as Kai dropped to his knees. “I’m sorry.”—don’t apologize—“I—I, how could I hurt you?”—yes, how could you? Kai clasps his stale hair and hiccups, Francis listens. “I never talked after I saw you. I never said a word. I never talked to anyone.” Francis imagined that—a quiet Kai who kept his puns and laughter to himself…it was such an odd and distant image. “Gene thought I needed help,” Kai laughs bitterly. “But how can I get help when the help I need is lying in bed?” Francis’s heart lurched in his chest. “I don’t think you knew…but I wanted…” Kai sniffs wiping at his eyes and rising shakily up to his feet. “I wanted to tell you,” he reaches towards Francis, placing his trembling hand against the curve of Francis’s shoulder.

  Francis could see his reflection in the window and then the thought struck him—a soft blow to his conscious—was I looking out of the window waiting for you, Kai? “I wanted to tell you I love you, that’s what I wanted to say…” he gently squeezes Francis’s shoulder. “That’s always been what I’ve wanted to say.” His hand slides away from Francis’s shoulder and he lifts his head to look at the ceiling. “I hurt you…how can I face you like normal after that?” Kai questions and Francis’s eyes wavered—they began to water with tears. “I...” Kai heaves a heavy breath, looking towards the window as though he could see Francis staring back at him. “I’ll go now.” But Francis knew that he had wanted to say something else. Kai begins to turn away, his steps slow. Don’t go. Wait. You still have a lot of explaining to do you asshole! Francis bit his lip to keep from screaming those words out and watched as Kai’s reflection grew further and further away from him.

  “I’ll…see you around, Francis.” There was a hint of a smile in his voice and then the door was opening, closing and then he was gone.

  The next day…

  Aiden and Kael were standing in the castle hall; Aiden was holding tightly in his hands Skye’s notebook and all her personal grievances, wishes, aspirations she left behind within the pages. “Are we really doing this?”

  “We really are.” Aiden replies looking towards Kael who was chewing his lip nervously. Aiden smiles to himself, reaching down to take Kael’s hand. “You’re going to make me nervous.” He chides, nudging Kael in his side. “Sorry, but…I’m a little uneasy.”

  “Don’t worry about it. He’s your father.”

  “Yeah, a monster in disguise.” Kael grumbles and Aiden laughs taking the first step forward. “All you have to do is knock on the door.” He leads Kael gently, cocking his head towards the door. “We’re in this together.” Kael inhales slowly, letting his breath out in slow puffs. “Okay,” he leans over pulling the tie Aiden wore and yanking him towards his lips. He kisses him briefly before pulling away to announce. “Let’s do this!” Aiden’s eyes glitter and his heart soared for Kael. The year was almost over and Aiden felt as though everything in his life had been accomplished when he saw Kael smile like that. Just continue smiling and I’ll always be here.

  Kael reaches for the doorknob, turning it and pushing the door inwards. The room was basked in a grey light, strips of sunlight slipping in from the dark green curtains. His father was sitting at his desk with his legs crossed, his crown tilted on his head and Kael thought that all it needed was a single push and it would come toppling down. “Excuse me,” he calls and the King looks up; there was an expression of weariness he wore before it flickered away, replaced within a millisecond by his arrogance. “My son!” his voice booms and he rises up grandly
from his seat. “Father.” Kael says dryly and the King’s gaze slides over to Aiden. “I see you’ve brought your little boy toy.” Kael grimaces, his lips quirking up with disgust. “He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Boyfriend, boy toy, same deal.” Kael realized now how much of an asshole his father was. “If you feel the need to degrade my boyfriend so that it’ll make you feel…bigger.” Kael shrugs. “Then go ahead, by all means.”

  “I know what I am to Kael, your words will only humor me.” Aiden fires back and the King scoffs waving his hand in dismissal. “Go, go, I’m busy.”

  “We have something to talk to you about.” Kael says stepping forward, the King looks over his shoulder. “I told you as the King I will always be busy.” Aiden rolls his eyes raising up Skye’s notebook. “Do you remember the fire from a few years ago?” he asks and the King nods, his eyes resting on the pale pink notebook. “Of course, how could I forget such a tragedy?” Aiden looks to Kael, his eyes reading “really? This asshole is your father?” Kael shrugs and with a sigh Aiden returns his attention back to the King. “Weren’t you the reason for such a tragedy?” Aiden pronounces the word mockingly before shaking the journal in his hand. “You killed my sister.”

  “What are you talking about?” the King questions turning to fully face them. “Skye Kim, Aiden Kim’s older sister, my friend, the historian who visited here.” Kael recites and the King’s eyes squint. “She was kind and sweet, was interested in flowers and often played with me when you and mom were busy.” He runs on and the King falls back into his chair, the grandiose arms enveloping him like a coffin. “My memories returned in case you couldn’t tell.” Kael explains allowing himself to release Aiden’s hand. “You killed her. You were the pillow that smothered her flame.” Kael’s voice bubbles with emotions and he takes a step forward. Aiden glances toward Kael worriedly, but Kael shakes his head slowly as a signal to Aiden that he was alright. “She was pregnant when she died…” Aiden says focusing his gaze on the King. “Just tell me this…did you or did you not sleep with my sister?”

  “She’s dead now, what does a dead person matter to you?” Aiden’s entire body inflames with anger. “She was my sister!” He grits and the King laughs. “Yes, yes, as you’ve said many times.”

  “Cut the bullshit.” Kael deadpans, his slanted eyes solid and ice cold—he looked as though he was ready to kill. “You took my memory of her, you took her life and completely erased her from existence.”

  “Why are you accusing me?”

  “I know it was you!” Kael yells and Aiden reaches to take his wrist. “It’s okay.” He says with his eyes and Kael wills himself to calm down. “Just say what you did.”

  “That’s all we came here for.”

  “Closure.” They say finishing each-others sentences, the King looks between them as though he were amused by the entire situation. “What…I did?” he begins slowly and they both nod. The grey light now seemed to shift black, the sunlight nothing but a dim glow behind the curtains. “Yes…”

  “What made you two get these crazy ideas in your head?”

  “Ideas?” Aiden all but spat out, he takes a step forward, his eyes glinting in the darkness. “She wrote it in her journals; anyone who reads between the lines would be able to see the truth.” The King looks to the journal as though it were a piece of overdue garbage. “Fine, I admit I slept with her.” He finally professes and Aiden’s heart does something, it was a mix between rage and heartbreak. So this was the bastard who had used his sister. “Why?” Kael asks the question he knew Aiden wanted to ask. “Why?” the King echoes. “Did you not understand him the first time?” Aiden snaps and for the first time, the King seemed taken aback. “You want to know why, well…” the King looks towards the curtained window. “It was all for you.” Aiden’s body jerks forward. “She did it for her baby brother.” The King says in a baby voice, looking back so he could smirk at the two. “How do you feel now that you know?” Aiden’s teeth grate together. “Do you blame yourself? Have you always blamed yourself? Maybe you thought I shouldn’t exist, so your sister could live a happier life.” The King rambles and Aiden clutches Skye’s notebook tighter. “You probably hated the Prince, didn’t you?”

  “Father that’s enough.” Kael interrupts and the King looks to him as though he were a speck on his robe. “You’re a disgrace to me.” He says the words as though they had always been in the back of his mind and he finally got the chance to let them out. Kael doesn’t react because he doesn’t care, instead he walks up to Aiden placing his hands to his sturdy shoulders. “We came to find out the truth, we didn’t come for nonsensical bullying, but for facts.” He squeezes Aiden’s shoulders. “So tell us what we came for, before we tell the world.”

  White Chrysanthemum

  The air was cool with the onset of winter, it was drawing nearer and nearer and it could be felt by the way people acted and moved about. Slow and bundled together, the liveliness of summer chattering between their lips. And the beginning of winter could also be felt in the greenhouse as Aiden and Kael idled around, their eyes scanning the greenhouse and nodding with approval. “I think we did pretty well.” Aiden announces, his feet kicking up moist soil as he walks across the expanse of the greenhouse. Kael hums in agreement, his lips drawing together in a smile. “It does look nice.”

  “I imagine us having picnics together…” Aiden begins dreamily and Kael laughs to himself. “Do you always think of these romantic situations?” he cracks and Aiden looks towards him with a shrug. “I can’t help it, I always dreamed of having someone to love and doing beautiful things with them.” Kael walks over to him, toying around with a lily that had recently sprouted. “Simple, beautiful things,” he extends his hand towards Kael. “You know?” Kael nods taking Aiden’s hand in his and nodding. “I always thought of relationships as a distant dream,” he says and Aiden looks to him listening intently. “To…love someone and for that person to love me back and to do things with that person.” Kael heaves a sigh. “It flickered in my mind, like a candle, but quickly died out.” Kael was looking ahead, his eyes following after a dragonfly that was buzzing by—bugs were beginning to come to life beneath the soil and in the leaves and the pistil of the flowers. “But now you have me.” Aiden exclaims happily slipping a hand around Kael’s waist and pulling him into his side. “That’s right,” Kael turns to look at Aiden. “I have you.” Aiden smiles back, a curl of his lips that settled between a satisfied grin and a charming smirk.

  The King looks to them, his eyes dark and inquiring. “So you’re making threats now.” He deduces and Kael nods. “If that’s what it’s come to…” the King nods, rising up from his seat and walking towards the curtains to close them. Kael’s hands slide away from Aiden’s shoulders and rest at his side. The King clutches the curtains tightly in his hands before slowly relaxing his grip and turning towards the two. They both seemed like shadows of his past—Kael his locked away son who was heir to the throne and Aiden; a memory of his sister…their eyes were the same but other than that, the resemblance was hard to catch. There was a hidden hardness to Aiden or maybe that was the only side the King knew because of the circumstances. “Let’s all sit.” The king gestures to the chairs in front of his desk with a haughty smile. “Come, come, this discussion calls for a less…tense atmosphere.” Aiden and Kael look toward each other before walking towards the chairs and sitting beside each other. The King smiles thinly at them before sitting in his overlarge chair. “That’s better, I felt as though I would have to kill one of you if the mood continued like that.” He laughs but they didn’t. The thought of his father shooting him wasn’t disturbing to Kael, it was something he had thought about before. His father was capable of it; robbery, murder, terrorism, arson, you name it—Kael knew he’d be able to do it—he was the King before he was human. “So you want ‘truth’?” Aiden and Kael don’t waste their time nodding, instead they stare into his eyes and the King laughs again. “Well, it’s not that long of a story.”
>
  “Don’t leave out any details.” Aiden says, his hands folding together. The King smiles again. “No need to tell me, I like reminiscing about old times.” The thought snapped in Kael’s head; he wanted to reach for the gun Aiden always carried with him and shoot his father dead in his head. But he wouldn’t become that type of person. He wouldn’t become like his father with blood drenching his robe and dripping from his hands.

  “Skye was a lovely young woman, she was beautiful and when she came to me wanting help for her younger brother,” the King shrugs. “How could I resist her?” Aiden kept himself from lunging across the desk by clutching his hands tighter. “She was simply a historian here—writing about the on goings at the castle and what the Prince was up to, documenting his life but I knew what she really wanted.”

  “And what was that?” Kael questions and the King leans across his desk as he answer with a grin. “Assurance of her brother’s life.”

  Aiden slips out his phone and presses on the camera icon. “Have you ever heard of taking a selfie?” Aiden asks and Kael looks to him as though he had asked the dumbest question ever. “Aiden, I may have been locked away but I kept up with the times.” Aiden laughs sheepishly. “Fine, fine have you actually taken one before?” Kael shakes his head. “Never had a phone.”

  “A-hah!” Aiden raises his phone out in front of him. “Then your first selfie will be with me.” Kael eyes his boyfriend skeptically. “We’ve never taken pictures before, it never even crossed my mind.” He continues on and Kael sighs. “I don’t like taking pictures.” Aiden lowers his phone and looks to Kael with worry. “Want to tell me why?” Kael toys with the petal of an amaryllis. It was a beautiful flower that reminded Kael of how first loves would look if they bloomed. “There’s endless portraits of me hanging all around the castle and in everyone have you noticed the way I smile?” Aiden watches the way Kael’s fingers tug at the red and white tinged petals. “It’s fake and rehearsed and I hate the click click and flutter of the camera as it comes on.” Kael pulls harder at the petal. “Each portrait is like a freeze frame of who I was forced to be. I hate looking at them.” He bites his bottom lip and ever so softly, Aiden whispers. “But I love looking at you.” He turns his camera towards Kael, looking at his appearance on his phone screen. “I’ll tear those portraits down and replace them with whatever you want me to; pictures of flowers, the sky, of who you are now.” Aiden focuses the camera of his phone onto Kael’s face. “Just say the word and it’ll be done.” And his phone flashes capturing the look of surprise and shock that shuttered across Kael’s graceful features.