Author's Notes; Implied ZeroX, Actual towards the end. Desert city human AU. Fluffy. Some Drama. Some Tensions start. Now we're fucking talking here..As we can see, there's an unclear source of conflict here..I'll figure out something..I can probably use the increase in drama as a start..Please enjoy..The number of chapters this will span is also unclear..I'd say 3 bare minimum at this stage..
X lit a lantern along the way to the palace to light their path. He was still holding Zero's hand as they walked. Zero was keen enough to notice that his own hands were bigger than those of the prince. Somehow, he didn't mind that X had decided to keep his hand tight as he was lead to the front doors of the palace. Two guards at the doors were suspicious of Zero at first, but lowered their spears and allowed both of them into the palace.
Inside was a long red rug that led straight to the throne. X turned the lantern off as they reached the throne room. An older man with white hair, mustache, and beard and blue eyes sat on the throne ahead of the boys. "There you are, son. Were you on your evening walk again?" The Sultan asked. "Yes, father. It was cut short this time. I found a very unfortunate soul who needs a place to stay." X told his father as he and Zero stopped in the throne room. Light looked at Zero closely for a minute. "Why, this boy is a desert nomad. There was an attack in one of those villages recently." Zero nodded deeply. "Yes, your highness. That was my village. Its been annihilated. I'm the only one left of that area." Light nodded back. "A very unfortunate soul indeed. Here is my proposition to you; You are free to spend the night here. X can find a room for you or you can share his. Afterwards, you will have the option of being put up for adoption or working for me in some fashion. Does this sound fair to you?" Zero nodded again. "Yes, sire. This sounds very fair. Thank you very much." Light smiled. "Very good. I will ask you for your decision in the morning. For now, you should rest. I'm certain you've had a long day." Zero nodded as X lead him further into the palace.
X led Zero down a hallway with several doors and opened the last one on the right, allowing Zero in first. X's room was humble, small with a large bed and along the walls were several bookshelves filled with books and scrolls. "Its modest, but make yourself at home." X told him as he walked in with Zero, keeping Zero's hand tight. "You and your father seem to be very kind rulers. Our sheikh was just the opposite. Pompous, arrogant, and uncaring of his subjects. I'm convinced he organized the attack. I overheard him talking the day before it all happened." Zero said as he looked around X's bedroom. "Why would a sheikh attack his own people? Its the stupidest move in the book, especially for a leader." X asked confused. "Your guess is as good as mine, though he was killed in the attack too. He at least went down with his village, but I don't think he saw it coming." The blond chuckled slightly, looking down at their hands. X looked at their hands too and quickly let go. "I'm so sorry...These things should never have to happen...Though I want to ask you something." Zero tilted his head a little. "What is it, your highness?" "Well, c-could we be..friends?" X asked shyly. "I owe you and your father for allowing me to stay. I don't see why not." Zero grinned slightly, closing X's bedroom door. "Thank you, Zero. And, you can just call me X." X grinned back, walking to the bed. The blond watched X make room for him on the bed before coming closer. "I hope this isn't uncomfortable for you." X said shyly. Zero shook his head as he got comfortable. "No, not at all." As soon as Zero closed his eyes, he fell asleep almost immediately. X moved closer to him and slowly snuggled Zero's chest, letting the sound of Zero's heartbeat lull him to sleep.
Light came to wake X up the next morning. X had a suitor waiting for him. The sultan smiled when he came into X's room. X had pulled Zero close in his sleep. Zero's right arm had wrapped around X's back. Light almost hated to wake them, but gently pushed X's shoulder. "Son? Wake up. You have a suitor waiting for you." X groaned a little as he opened his jade eyes slowly. He gasped a little when he realized he had been so close against Zero, carefully sitting up. "A suitor this early, father?" He whispered, watching Zero sleep. "Yes, she's rather excited to meet you." Light whispered. "Father, what if I wanted another boy at my side?" X asked quietly. The sultan grinned. "Are you saying you're interested in our orphaned nomad here?" "Something about him makes me feel at peace. He's sweet and intelligent." X tried to explain. "I don't have any problems with your choice of suitor. Though if he is adopted, you may never see him again." Light told him. "If he isn't adopted, please adopt him." X lowered his head a little. "I was thinking to do just that, so no matter what happens, he'll have a home. Go see your suitor. I'll have a word with him." Light agreed.
His father closed the door behind him as X left the bedroom. Zero's eyes had opened a little and he was stretching his arms gently. "Good morning. How did you sleep?" The sultan asked. "Rather well, thanks, sire." Zero answered with a yawn as he sat up. "Have you come to a decision?" Light asked. "Yes, sir. I want to see how being put up for adoption goes before I work for you." Zero answered. "As you wish. I will put you up for adoption for the rest of this week, three days, starting today." Light nodded. "If I'm not adopted, I'll agree to work for you as a servant." Zero told him.
Several days passed. X's suitor was a blonde with blue eyes that was very pushy. She nearly threw herself onto him. The guards had to get her out quickly. When X went outside, she tried to catch him by surprise, landing one or two kisses before the guards showed up and drove her off. Zero had his own share of problems too. Not many of the townsfolk seemed interested in him. Something about him seemed to intimidate them. One girl with brown hair and green eyes didn't want to adopt him, she wanted to get married immediately and have his children. Zero refused immediately, but when she started trying to force herself on him, Light called guards on her to protect him. In the evenings, Zero would join X for his evening walk and share their troubles with each other. Zero had learned of X's snuggling against him, not particularly bothered by it, and let X do so until he fell asleep. He would often rub X's back gently as he watched X sleep before falling asleep too.
On the final evening of his adoption days, Light came to see him. X was already sound asleep. "I'm sorry none adopted you and that one woman harasses you, Zero." Zero nodded at Light. "We tried, I suppose. No fault of yours, sire." Light nodded back. "X never wanted you to go. He told me to adopt you if no one else did. I could tell from the start that you mean no harm so from now on, you live with us. This is your home now." Zero blushed slightly and looked at X, sleeping soundly against his chest. "This is rather unexpected news. Thank you, your highness, I truly appreciate it." "There's more. I've seen how you behave together, how well you get along. If you're agreeable, X would be very happy if you were his suitor." Light continued. Zero blushed brighter. "His suitor? What would I have to do?" Light chuckled a little before starting to leave the room. "The same as you have been. Be yourself." He closed the door behind him. Zero watched X sleep in thought for a minute before holding X gently against him and going to sleep with him.