Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia...or the castle
There's a Thief In The Palace
Chapter One: …And he's made a contract
In the beautiful country of Sweden a young prince by the name of Týr Oxenstierna is walking through the grounds of Hjularöds Slott, unattended. That may seem weird, seeing as how he is a prince, but for him it isn't. He's the third, THIRD, in line which makes him semi-unimportant. His oldest brother, Berwald, is who matters. He is even already married to the Finnish soldier Tino and is therefore always gone to his 'wife's' country. Berwald met Tino when the two fought in the Swedish war against Denmark-Norway. It was a bonding experience, obviously, since when they returned Berwald immediately started calling Tino his wife. They have already been married for two years and are now considering adopting children.
His second eldest brother, however, has far different plans. Like Týr, Tore avoids any unnecessary work. He did, however, go to battle with Berwald. Unlike Berwald, though, Tore ended up with weaker men in his group and was easily captured. For two months he was a captive of the enemy. He was never hurt, though. Not because of his status, for no one from the other side knew he was a prince. His saving grace was a man from Denmark. The man took an interest in him and kept him safe from everyone else, staying in the room with him the entire time. Once the war was over, Berwald found his brother and saved him. He even went to kill Tore's savior, only to be stopped by his younger brother's sword.
After that day Tore has not seen the man, but Týr knows he thinks of him all the time. It makes sense, someone so kind to a prisoner would be hard to forget. But setting his brothers aside, there is really nothing extraordinary about Týr. Berwald is known for his status and strength, Tore is known for his cunning and ability to rid himself of emotions when making decisions, but Týr…he is only known for one thing; his innocence. In all his years the only place he has seen is inside the castle walls, the only people he speaks to are his brothers, mostly Tore, his servants and on occasion his parents. During celebrations he is too nervous and awkward to meet new people, and even when he does he never sees them again, for they are from visiting lands. Týr is virtually isolated, the only things that give him a glimpse into another world being the strange animals he receives from other countries.
He's growing tired of this, honestly. Being fifteen it's only natural to want to see and do more. Which is why he is sneaking off the castle grounds tonight. It is simple enough, really. Since he has no constant guards he is able to go out to the farthest gardens on their land with ease. Once there he looks around at the giant walls. For some reason he hadn't really planned this far. He scans the wall, the area luckily illuminated by a bright full moon tonight, for a door. Running a hand over the wall he finds something that feels like it could be a door when it suddenly opens from the other side.
Instinctively backing away, his frightened lavender eyes locking with stoic brown ones. "Ah, it is a door…" Týr says to himself, ignoring the man in front of him. "I wouldn't recommend using it." The man says in a strange sort of British accent, yet incorrect English. "And why not?" Týr asks before the man gently grabs his shoulders, pushing him back without much protest. "Because another is coming, and he will hurt you." The prince scowls. "I will merely wait for him to leave." He watches as a strange glint comes to the other man's eyes, perhaps his lips have moved as well but those are currently covered with his nose. "Really? You're quite eager to get out, aren't you?" Týr nods and the man shrugs.
"Then I guess I can, like, help you…" He pushes Týr backwards and behind a nearby small tower. "Why are we…?" Týr trails off, his eyes now focused on the brunette moving in closer to him. He considers moving away, but decides if the man is going to help him he won't be doing anything bad. Stupid thinking. As soon as he resigns himself to standing still the man is hovering inches from his face and then lowers the mask before closing the gap between them. Too stunned to react in any sort of way, Týr stands there wide-eyed and tightly clutching to the brick wall behind him.
The contact is weird, Týr has never kissed nor been kissed. Anywhere. And contrary to his initial belief, lips are amazingly soft. They also feel nice and cause a chemical reaction in the body that make your head spin and heart race and creates seconds into hours. But that's all it is, a few seconds. Amazing how much you can think of in a few seconds. Another amazing thing; how none of those thoughts were 'oh my god a strange man is kissing me in a hidden area'. Although that thought has obviously arrived now.
"What was THAT?" Týr asks indignantly and the man smirks. "A contract. I promise to help you; you have my word and a pact. However…I don't do things for free. I'm here to steal from this palace, and if you keep quiet our contract will stay, but if you talk I will kill you myself. Understand?" The prince pales a little. "Y-you're a thief? I got…my first kiss…from a thief…? Who is trying to steal from me…Herregud! Maybe I should have stayed inside." He groans and leans back against the wall in defeat. "Ah, you're one of the princes? Which one? Tore or Berwald?" Týr finds himself twitching a little. "Týr. I'm the youngest." The man frowns a little. "Hm…so you aren't worth much money to them…shame. Kidnapping you could have been fun." "…So you are stealing from us…? Could you make another deal with me?" Týr asks, ignoring the man's comment.
"What would you like, your highness?" The brunette asks and Týr frowns. "There's a puffin in there…made of gold and covered in jewels. It was given to me by someone important." He looks up at the man pleadingly. "Please don't take it." Týr knows he has won when he sees a feint blush come to the man's cheeks before quickly disappearing again. "I won't take it…" He smirks a little and taps his lips with his finger. "If we make a pact." Týr blushes and backs up more against the wall. "I don't go around kissing people." "Neither do I, prince." He says calmly, leaning forward. "I just like playing with you." Týr glares before the brunette closes the gap again. Rather than pushing him away or standing there frozen, Týr decides to shyly kiss back.
As if not expecting such an action, which he probably wasn't now that Týr thinks about it, the thief pulls back and stares at him. "You…kissed back, hm?" Týr looks at him in determination. "I want that puffin." "He's yours." "I also want your name." The prince says and the thief stares at him. "My name…?" He smirks at Týr, which the teen finds annoying. "Fallen for me already, over a few kisses? Nonetheless, my name is Li Xiao Chun." Li Xiao says and Týr looks at him confused. "Those are…really weird names…" "It's one name, prince." The brunette says and Týr shrugs. "Technically one of those sounds has to be a last name, right?" Li Xiao stares at him for a minute before flicking his nose. "That could be strewn as offensive."
Týr rubs his nose and glares at him. "Says the man who plans on stealing my families jewels…and already stole my first kiss." "And second." Li Xiao reminds him and Týr rolls his eyes. "Where is your friend? Shouldn't you be breaking in now?" The brunette shrugs. "I will eventually. He has not arrived yet." Týr looks around suspiciously. "I should leave and return to my room….if they do suddenly start to care and look for me they will arrest you." Li Xiao smirks. "Oh? Going so soon? But I was so enjoying your company." Týr blushes and heads off. "Don't care."
He reaches a door he can sneak in through and quickly looks back, seeing Li Xiao walking back towards the secret door they met at. "…Hm…oh well, he'll be gone in the morning." Týr mumbles to himself before closing the door.
Later:
Getting restless again, Týr decides to get out of his bed, he wasn't sleeping anyways, and goes to make sure Li Xiao kept his promise. Once he gets to the room he accidentally bumps something in the dark and immediately feels a blade up against his throat. "Don't move." The culprit whispers, their hot breath ghosting over Týr's ear. "L-Li Xiao…" He whispers and hears another voice, Li Xiao's voice, from the other side of the room. "Týr…?" "You know him…?" The other man asks, pulling him closer. "No." Týr says and the man drags him around the room as he lights candles. "You're lying to me. I don't like liars."
"Let him go Bao. Give him to me." Li Xiao says and the man, Bao, glares. "You want him, do you? Then I shall give you his corpse, traitor!" Bao lifts his blade and Týr closes his eyes, waiting for the blade. Only, it never comes. Instead there is a strange mixture of grunts and thuds and finally metal cutting through skin. But he's unharmed. Once the room falls silent he opens his eyes again, looking back and seeing Li Xiao hovering over the man Bao with his sword, now covered in blood. "What…did you do…?" Týr asks and Li Xiao looks over at him.
"He's not dead, just unconscious." He moves away from Bao and back to Týr, who stares at him shocked. "Why would…you…?" Li Xiao brings a hand up to Týr's neck, tracing the small red imprint left by Bao's blade. "To keep my promise." Týr gulps nervously and backs away. "Y-you should go…before the noise you made attracts attention." Li Xiao nods and goes to the bag before he and Týr are surrounded by guards. "Who is this harassing our prince?" One of the men hollers and Týr tries to wave them off. "He was saving me from the robber." He points to the unconscious Bao.
"He is lying to you, prince! He is a thief as well! Get them both and send them to the dungeon!" The man orders. "No! Did you not hear me? Let that one go!" Týr commands and the man glares at him, grabbing his shoulder tightly. "Do not get attached to a criminal, prince. You must associate yourself with good people." "I am! He saved me! Why are you not listening?" The prince hisses as the guards lead Li Xiao out, others carrying Bao behind them. "You are safe now, prince." The man says and Týr looks at him darkly. "So the one time you men take interest and 'save me', although we all know it was only the jewels you were concerned about, is when I don't need saving? Useless fools. Even you, Ake. " Týr says bitterly and Ake frowns. "Not everyone in uninterested in you, prince."
"I care not what words you have for me!" The prince says and stomps off. "…Prince Týr…"
Dungeon:
Týr quietly sneaks down the stairs and into the dungeon. Peaking past a column and into the long hall lit by only a few torches hanging high on the wall. He looks over to the guard and sees him sound asleep, a tall glass of beer beside him. Rolling his eyes in disgust, he walks over to the man and gently picks up the keys before heading down the hall, trying to hide his trembling. "L-Li Xiao…?" He whispers and a man in a cell he's passing slams his body up against the bars, looking at him with a twisted smile. "I'll be your Li Xiao." Týr jumps back and quickly walks down the hall before finally spotting Li Xiao on the floor, his torso bound by chains and his nose and mouth covered with another mask.
"Why…did they do that to you?" The teen asks, fumbling to find the right key with his hands shaking even more. "I must have done something extra to anger that main guard." Li Xiao says, watching the boy fumbling in amusement. "I-I'm sorry…" Týr mumbles, finally finding the key and opening the door. "I shouldn't have come in to check until the next morning…I should have trusted you, I guess." He mumbles and walks up to Li Xiao. "I guess you should have." The brunette says and watches Týr stand as close to him as possible, as if seeking protecting from the dark dungeon. "Scared?" Li Xiao asks amused and Týr glares up at him before unlocking his chains. "Of what?"
The brunette unties the mask he is in before leaning forward and whispering in his ear. "Of the deadly criminals in this dark, small, dungeon." He smirks to himself victoriously when Týr's hands shoot out and grab onto this shirt. "I-I-I-I-I'm fine!" Týr stutters out, his body trembling as the other men begin to call out with curses and praises, all of their voices hoarse from tortures the prince would rather not think of. "P-please…can we go…?" Li Xiao looks down at the boy with what appears to be sympathy before taking his hand and leading him out. "So what is your new plan?" The brunette asks and Týr looks at him for a minute before tugging on his arm.
"You're coming to my bed chambers." Týr commands and Li Xiao smirks. "I like where this is heading."
A/N: I was told the AWESOME CASTLE THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK UP by Prickert (Queen Happo on FF ). And also given other facts from her.(Also, talking to a fellow HongIce lover has put me in a major HongIce kick...lD) YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND PICTURES OF A REAL DUNGEON'S LAYOUT! A LOT FUCKING HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE! IT'S ALL ZELDA AND DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS! I WANTED REAL DUNGEONS! Thank god for dA and random photographers...and Bao...was the first chinese name my friend thought of and i was like 'OMG HILARIOUS! YES' Anyways...yeah...this was strangely enough inspired by an episode of How I Met Your Mother. Haven't watched it? You should. Don't like it? Keep it to yourself.(I Thank you in advance~)