Power Corrupts; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
The dawn came quickly, but no light seeped in through the trees. A thick, cold mist had rolled in overnight, and it was the bitter shivering that this induced that woke me. Tamaki now knew his role in the world, and had accepted it with a great deal of grace. When I opened my eyes, I saw him knelt outside the carriage, using the sleeve of his clothing to clean some of the dirt from the dazzling carriage, much to the bafflement of the watching guards.
I stepped outside, glancing briefly upwards at the dark sky that carried the heavy threat of rain, and then leaned down, resting my hand lightly upon Tamaki's arm. He looked up at me in a typically submissive manner, and then rose with a dense confusion written on his features.
"What're you disturbing me for?" He asked softly. "I'm cleaning it up. I want to go back to visit my master and mistress. The guards said I could," He pointed out, nodding his head in their general direction. Hunny beamed at me innocently.
"I'm afraid that will be unacceptable," I told him shuffling around uncomfortably. I disliked telling the Prince what he could and couldn't do, but I didn't want it to get out that he was much more than a servant. It was too much of a risk. I saw the guards look questioningly at each other, as if asking if I had the authority to say such a thing. I had the same question. Tamaki's shoulders sagged in disappointment, and he climbed back into the carriage, staring out of the window vacantly at the white mask that obscured any sights of interest. I got in beside him and sat down, and somehow, I thought it somewhat colder inside than out. The door was closed, and soon I could feel the rumble beneath us as the carriage began to move. Tamaki didn't talk to me for the rest of that day. At best he threw me a scathing look, and at worst he purposely trod on my foot when we got out for breaks.
The first few days passed without real consequence. Despite his initial frostiness, he soon seemed to warm to me, though we didn't speak often. Perhaps he was too cold, even with the fur that was draped over him at night or perhaps he was merely lonely, but every morning I woke with his head rested on my shoulder and with the fur he had pulled over me in the night clutched in my hand. He would smile at me drowsily, and we would finally begin to talk in hushed tones about the education I had planned for him, and he would hurriedly change the subject and talk about how remarkably organised and clean the guards seemed to be.
Tamaki and I walked side by side. It was late evening and it was our final stop for the night, and so we enjoyed the cold prickle of the night air on our skin. It was refreshing to say the least.
"I miss home," He told me quietly as we walked. "I may have had to work there, but... Oh, I don't know. I felt like a prince in my own way..."
"How was that?" I asked, glancing over at him. "You didn't look much of a prince back there..."
"He – my master, that is – he said I could have his house and belongings when he passed. I was going to run that place. I was a Prince in my own way, and nobody else... nobody else would suffer as a consequence of my mistakes."
"Is that what you're worried about?"
"A little."
"Tamaki... Listen to me, I'm only going to say this to you once. This isn't necessarily the world you thought you grew up in," I gestured to the world around us. "And there may be more wrong with Allfen than you think. You can only find out more about our country by listening, preferably to me," At this, I gave him a pointed look. He rolled his eyes and nodded for me to continue. "I... Well, Tamaki," This was proving harder to say than I thought. "Tamaki, I trust you. With my life, and with this country. You seem to be a good person, and with enough tutoring, you could become a great leader, I'm sure of it. But you shouldn't be worrying about this. It's not for now. Enjoy who you are, Tamaki, and make the most of it. You have many powers that people like me will never possess." I reached over and rested my hand on his back. He looked up at me with trusting eyes. "And when the time does come, Tamaki, remember all I've told you and bring En Ohriz to ruin, for all our sakes. Keep control of yourself and of your people, and everything will be alright."
"...Thank you, Kyouya," Tamaki said softly. He leaned up and I felt the warmth of his lips on my cold cheek.
We gave up the pretence, eventually, of not wanting to sleep side by side. There was something comforting about it for us both, I think. For me, it was as it was; it was cold outside, and the warmth of his skin helped me to get to sleep faster at night. For him, I often wondered if it was something else. Tamaki, it seemed, had a tendency to cling. I would wake up increasingly with his arms around my waist, and neither of us would speak of it when he shyly pulled himself away from my body come morning light. It was child-like, but I expected little more from him; his eyes always assured me that yes, it was true, he was completely innocent in all he did and so I could not fault him for it. I found myself growing increasingly fond of the boy and by now his resentment for me had faded and was forgotten. We began to talk conversationally in between my lessons of literature and government and politics.
"So my father sent you because you're clever," He began uncertainly one morning. The carriage rattled side to side, and we could hear the sounds of the horses trotting cheerily outside. It was a rare, warm day, and both of us were in good spirits. I looked up at him over the top of one of the thick hand-written books that I had been given by one of the guards in order to teach him to the highest standard.
"Seems a strange reason to send someone," He commented airily. "You'd think he'd rather send someone strong who can read; you do little more than recite the words from that thing anyway," He gestured at the book, nearly knocking it out of my hands. I gripped it tighter and glared at him.
"What are you saying exactly?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. I watched his expression carefully, looking for his usual tell-tale smirk that showed he was just trying to rile me up to distract me from teaching him.
"I just think it'd be better to send someone who can protect me too rather than just some..." I arched an eyebrow at him. "Some geek!" He laughed in an effeminate manner, and I sat back and regarded him critically.
"Considering the background you've had," I told him, "You act like a spoiled brat. Why don't you make do with what you have? Are the guards not enough protection for you?" I asked, leaning in. He crossed his legs and delicately placed his hands upon his knee. I wondered if he was simply playing the part, or if this regal nature could possibly be innate.
"Thank you, and speaking of making the most of who I am..." He leaned in close to me, and I saw a burst of confidence in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. "I want to stop by a brothel today."
"...I beg your pardon?" I asked, my eyes widening.
"And you will do as I say, because I order it! Otherwise I... I'll have you executed, Kyouya!" I stared at the man before me, and felt utterly betrayed by whatever part of me had judged his personality so inaccurately.
