You follow Jake into the tower and almost trip up the stairs. More then once.
It gets to the point were Jake is holding onto you so that you don't trip again.
It's embarrassing, really.
"So..." you start to ask him to continue the story, when you finally reach the top.
Man, this guy lives in a pig sty.
Not that you even know what a pig sty is, much less what one looks like.
"Sorry it's such a mess, I wasn't really expecting any guests." he mumbles the apology and you laugh a bit.
He's adorable.
You think the stairs are not the only think that are making you fall.
You think you are falling for Jake.
Maybe?
"Jake, the story?" you try to convey that he should continue it, and he seems to understand.
"Sure sure, take a seat." he motions to a big puffy and old looking chair next to a couch.
Being the immature little fuck you are, you flop down on the couch.
You hear him giggle, and you think you really are falling for this dorky asshole.
"So...the story. Where was I?" he asks. Just as you are about to tell him, though, he seems to remember his place. "Right, right. When Dave said goodbye."
The whole kingdom is in a tisy over the fact that you met someone at the party.
You aren't very sure how anyone found out, but you have a sneaking feeling that it might have something to do with your sister and that blackmail you were sure you were going to have to deal with.
This, happens to be ten times worse then blackmail, however.
Rose is hungover from the party last night, and you are really tired from having to carry her all the way back.
Which is ridiculous, because you shouldn't have to carry your stupid older sister just because she's drunk and can't walk by herself. It's her own fault she was drunk to begin with.
"So, Prince David, I heard that you met someone. Who's the lucky lady?" your eldest sister, Queen Roxy, smiles slyly down at you.
You hate her sometimes. Almost as much as you hate Rose.
You just wave her off and start walking towards your room.
The only place in the castle where you find solitude.
You walk into the room, breathing in the scent of your Fortress of Dave.
Something's off.
Something has been moved.
Where the fuck are your swords.
SHIT CAL WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU COME FROM.
Your older bro's favorite puppet sits atop your headboard, staring at you.
You walk over and give Cal a fist bump for being so chill and then realize something.
If Cal's here...
"BRO!"
You look around the room for your older brother, and you can't find him anywhere.
You decide to search around the castle for him.
Flash-stepping from room to room, you look everywhere for him, and still can't find him anywhere.
You learned how to flash-step from Bro, and you think he even taught Roxy how to do it, but you think she probably forgot.
Speaking of Roxy.
"David!" she shouts your name from across the hall, and you almost flash-step away when you see her crying.
"Where's bro? I saw he was back."
You are starting to get a headache. A really fucking bad headache.
"You alright, Strider?" Jake stops mid-sentence and look at you worriedly.
You don't remember telling him your last name was Strider.
"How do you know that's my name?" you ask him, holding your pounding head in your hands. He looks at you confused and that makes your head hurt more.
"You look an awful like one Dave Strider I know." he explains, holding out an ice pack. You take it from him greatfully and hold it to your head.
It hurts to think, but you are really fucking confused right now.
"Wait, the same Dave from the story?"
"The one and only."
"I thought this story was supposed to be about how your dad met his soul mate?"
"The story is, silly. Did you think Dave was my dad?" he says it like the idea it'self is ridiculous and you know that Dave couldn't be his father.
You shrug, not really sure at all and he smiles at you.
"Then how was I made?"
"Wait, so then how...?" you gesture around him vaguely and hopes he get it without you having to explain it.
"Golly, I know the two guys fell in love but, that doesn't mean that's who John ended up with."
Now you are even more confused, and your head is still pounding.
"Just, let me continue." he puts a hand on your shoulder and your headache is almost forgotten.
"Not important, Dave. Your sister's getting married!" Roxy shouts to you, like it's some big fucking deal.
"Wait, you?"
"No stupid. Rose!" her smile is off, just a little bit, and she's stumbling. It takes you a moment to realize that she's drunk again.
"It's true, Dave. I have been spoken for. Turns out, Bro had everything planned out for us. He's even got someone for Roxy and you. Mine was just closer." Rose explains, shrugging her shoulders, as if it's not some big fucking deal.
So that's what your oldest sibling has been doing all this time.
Going off and finding you all spouses?
That's a little bit harsh, you think.
"Where's bro?" you ask again, this time the question being directed at Rose. She shrugs again and walks away.
You hate your family.
...
You spend most of the day in your chambers, pacing back and forth. You wonder why Bro never told you, and why Rose is getting married before Roxy.
Little Cal is gone by the time you get back, and you have no reason to believe that it wasn't Bro that came and got him.
He does weird shit like that to you all the time.
You watch the sun go down and suddenly realize there was somewhere you were supposed to be around midnight.
John wanted you to go meet him in Pikes Grove.
You can feel your heart flutter at just the mere thoug-
NO! Stop doing this to yourself!
You knew a long time ago that you weren't like everyone else. You knew the first time you went to a ball and all you could think about was how stupid all those girls looked in dresses, and how the suits the men wore only accented the curves of their bodies.
You also learned long ago that most guys don't notice things like that.
Ever since, you've stopped looking for a partner, knowing it's not worth the effort if no one you choose will love you back.
"Oh dear, Strider, are you quite alright?" Jake stands over you, looking down worriedly. You don't know what's happening, but you are very light-headed and your headache is getting worse.
"You have really pretty eyes." you mumble, not even aware the words slip out before you can stop them.
"When is the last time you ate?" he asks, and as soon as the words finally register, your eyes snap open and you stare at him.
"I don't remember."
"Well! That settles it! We take a break for dinner, and off to sleep!" he lifts you up by hooking his arms under yours and you silently wonder how heavy you must be and how strong he must be in order to be able to lift you like that.
He walks off into a different room, that you didn't notice before, and clattering can be heard.
He reappears with a tray full of food and you hear your stomach growl in anticipation.
Huh, so that's what that feeling is.
...
Okay, so this is chapter two!
Sorry it took so long, I had a couple requests I needed to get written and I'm working on another one.
Ticci Tabbi keeps asking for shit.
Eh, not that I mind.
NO ONE ELSE EVER ASKS!
THE ONLY ONES THAT EVER REQUEST SOMETHING ARE EITHER MY MOIRAIL OR MY MATESPRIT!
I'm not mad or anything.
Kinda miffed, but not mad.
