Chapter 7

Tommy drifted slowly through the palaces rose gardens letting his feet drag haphazardly as he gazed into the deep red gleam of the pedals, each staining his silver eyes with their Crimson reflection. Tommy could not remember a time that he had ever gone this slow, ever let himself soak up the garden in its full beauty.
As children, Magnus had always taken the twins to the gardens, touring the grounds as he droned on with his daily kingly speech that was meant to inspire the boys to become something more. to become true rulers. Billy had always listened attentively, eager to please their abusive oppressor. He never ceased to yearn for the man's attention. Tommy had always seen the faults in his brother. Billy's problem was not that he was weak or cold or a martyr. His problem was that he loved. Loved so much in a world that had screwed both of them to the wall. Billy never gave up hope that things could get better, that he could save everyone.
Tommy had never abandoned these ideals. He had never possessed them to begin with. During Magnus's countless speeches and failed attempts at inspiration for the two, Tommy had sunken away, burying himself in a world of his own making, a world where he could never be hurt, where no one would ever expect anything from him. He thought that by doing this, he was protecting himself, that by sinking away from his family, his training, his responsibility, that he was somehow making it where he could never be harmed. When faced with an uncomfortable situation he always did the same thing, the thing he was best at, Tommy ran.
Doing all of this was to ensure his survival. To make sure he spent every day of his life in happiness and euphoria. So why now did he feel more hurt then he ever had? Maybe after all of those years of running, of trying to life in this false construct, Tommy finally got tired. His feet finally couldn't take him any farther. He had exhausted his last bit of energy. He had given up on his dream. He finally let the world he had avoided for so long catch up with him. A world where he was alone, not even his twin brother there to hold him in his arms and coddle him, to tell him this would all be alright someday.
Now all Tommy had was status. Prince of nothing. Tommy stood, regretting every choice he had ever made. Every time he had left Billy to suffer, every time he had tuned out his grandfather, every time he had denied his mothers love. Even now as Tommy stared deeply into the red glimmer produced by the dew on the pedals, he could not recount a single word Magnus had proclaimed to them. Not one lesson or even a misplaced syllable of his king's words. He felt ashamed. Not only for all the times he had let his family down but for his childish behavior. He had wasted so much time hiding, so much time running, that he had forgotten the only person that he ever cared about, the only person that had ever paid him any attention. Billy had protected him his entire life, literally throwing himself in front of bullets to save Tommy and he repaid that unwavering love with... With words of anger and hostility.
Tommy took the blossomed rose in his hands. The untrimmed thorns pricked into the illegitimate princes hand and ligaments, tearing his flesh, soaking the pure green stem with Crimson drops of iron enriched blood. The thorns stung but Tommy did not pay them any mind. It was a small price to pay for all of punishment and pain he had slipped through over the years. Besides, in some sick, depraved way Tommy took solace in the feeling. He felt as if through this pain he had ties to his brother who had suffered so much to protect him. Tommy ripped the Rose out, stem and all, clutching it tightly in his fist. The thorns dug into his palm causing blood to pour out of every possible crevice, engulfing t

Tommy's hand in bright red streams. Slowly the boy unclenched his hand, letting the fauna, now limp and squished, fall to the cobblestone ground of the garden. The Rose landed in the center of a few drops of Tommy's blood that had been let out by the display. He found it fitting and symbolic in a way. Billy had always been the one to endure Magnus's wrath and the pain of disobedience for Tommy but in the end, Tommy was the one left beaten and broken.
Prince Dorrek stood in the corner of the imperial garden, leaning on a pillar behind Tommy undetected. After the young princes irrational display back in Williams quarters, Dorrek thought to follow the boy in fear that he may do something he would regret. The alien prince had observed the mutant for some time now. His behavior was odd and something that the price had not yet observed out of him. He was in pain. Not only pain but regret. He could almost feel it radiating off of Tommy. Negative energy surrounded the boy, it always had, but never had it been so present. It was only when Dorrek witnessed the self harm that he thought to step in on the boys solitude before something even more dangerous were to arise.
"Does it make you happy? To simulate your own pain like that? As if inflicting it on yourself will dissolve that which you have inflicted on others." Dorrek stated, coming to the light behind Tommy. The boy did not turn to face his company as a mature prince would. Rather he kept his back to the visitor, closed off to his input. In every kingdom Dorrek had visited this was a sign of rudeness and would never be exhibited by true royalty, by disciplined princes such as he and William. Tommy may have been a prince on title but he lacked the basic communication skills it took to rule. He world never be ruler of this kingdom his grandfather had built. Deep down they all knew and always had known. Billy was destined for the throne and the only thing hold him from it was his virginity and Magnus's livelihood, which wavered with each passing day.
Dorrek wondered if it frightened the boy that he would never rule, that this kingdom would never truly be his. Dorrek had never once worried about loosing his kingdom. He was a chosen prince of the cosmos. His birth had brought peace to the Galaxy. Two kingdoms had been promised to his service that day and a third once he was to marry. He never lived a life of one of those promises being able to be taken away. It was his life. But Tommy and Billy were equal at birth. Both mutant, both twins, both sons of the princess. One would believe that they would constantly be at each other's throats for the throne. But they were not. It was as if Billy had always been destined for the throne and Tommy was destined to be nothing. A life without purpose was frightening Dorrek supposed. It was a life without responsibility and adventure. It was a life of laziness. One he would never willingly be forced into.
"What do you want," Tommy growled through gritted teeth. Another sign of hostility and disrespect. If Thomas had not been the brother of Dorreks self chosen mate, he would have taught the boy respect. But that was out of the question if he was to win Billy over. No, if he were to do that he would have to take a much more stern but gentle approach.
"What do I want?" The prince retorted. "I want you to grow up. I want you to straighten up and take that stupid garment off. It's unfitting of royalty. If a prince is to be taken seriously he must dress for the occasion. You are dressed for battle or a very interesting mating ritual. Neither of which this is. Second I want you to go and apologize to William. Your words upset him... Dearly."
"What are you? His boyfriend? Oh wait I forgot, you are."
"As much as William would protest... I believe that he and I are destined for each other. We are... Attracted to each other and both of royal descent. We both have something interesting that I would like to explore. Something that I think he, if it were not for your judging words of cruelty, would also like to explore."
"Don't blame me because you got cock blocked dude. I seriously put the guy in bed with you. If that doesn't work i don't know what will. Not my problem."
Dorreks teeth gritted together in anger. Not only had Tommy once again intentionally disrespected his title with his borderline illiterate use of words but he insulted the aliens to be mate. That was something he could not take. His arm extending to inhuman lengths, Dorrek grabbed the boy firmly by the neck, pulling him back and turning him to face him. Dorrek then grabbed onto the boy's emerald colored spandex suit with both hands and with one foul yank, torn the suit to shreds, leaving Tommy in his briefs.
For Twins the boys were so... Different when it came to their body. Billy's chest was covered with thick brown hair and had no abstractions in his skin. No blemishes. To Dorrek, every crevice of William Maximoff was perfect. Tommy's body was much different. It was completely devoid of hair. Teddy could not discern whether this was due to genetics or if the boy had shaved it in some immature fashion. Another more prominent feature about Tommy's body stood out to the alien. His arms were covered in artwork. Vibrant colors gleamed off of the boys skin each taking shape in some grand design.
Dorrek had expected the boy to dissolve as he had when threatened by his brother about the suit but Tommy did nothing. His cheeks reddened slightly but other than that he stood tall and firm, fighting back the urge to throw a tantrum.
After a moment of intense eye contact, Tommy let out a huff, his gazed wavering slightly as to not look the prince directly in the eyes.
"What can I say teddy? You're right. I'm an awful brother. Always have been. I'm no prince. No royalty. I can't even fight. All I do is run. All I do is defend, avoid, maneuver. I don't fight like Billy. I don't rule like Billy. I don't love like Billy. I'm not a king like Billy is meant to be. I've known this since the first day Billy saved me from grandfather's wrath. I knew this every time Billy let me win in training so that I would not have to endure torture and I didn't care. I let it happen cause I believed it was ok as long as it wasn't me. I'm sick and now I've hurt him. You don't think I know you two are meant to be? I could see it in the way he looked at you. He's never looked at someone with that much admiration, that much embarrassment. He cares what you think. He cares about you. I got jealous... If you two... If you two consecrate a marriage then by our law... He's going to rule and you along with him. I got jealous, scared. Once that happens there is no me. No more reason for me to even be here. I'm just a prince of nothing. No purpose. He'd leave and be enthralled with you and I'd have no one... I'm so so sorry." Tears began to fall from the boy's eyes as he cringed, his masculinity desperately struggling to hold them back. Dorrek took his hand under the boys chin and lifted it to look him once again in the eye.
"That admission... It was what a king would do. There is hope for you yet Thomas."
"Ya well..." Tommy said whipping away his tears with a sniffle. "... Don't expect an encore for his majesty."
"Oh I don't need one," a voice rank out from behind. Dorrek looked up and Tommy back to see where the voice had originated. There stepping towards them was Billy with a smirk of pleasure on his face. Immediately Tommy sank in embarrassment. His pride would have never willingly let him profess his wrong doings to his brother. Even now he felt faint and light headed but he knew it was all for the best.
The twins met in an embrace, holding each other tightly. "I'm sorry too. To both of you," Billy continued as his grasped his brother tightly in his arms.
"My prince there is no reason to Apollo..."
"No teddy there is. I've been letting my responsibilities go for too long. It's time I make things right with the kingdom, with the family... With us."
"Well what do you propose we do?"
"Well..." Billy said with a raised eyebrow. "Anyone up for that rave we were promised?"