"Okay, are you sure we're able to do this?" Paula asked in a panicked tone. "I don't think we're allowed to be here!"
"Pretty sure, uh. Yeah, pretty sure." Ness looked at her, smiling and nodding.
"We're gonna get in trouble, ya know…" she warned. She backed away for just a moment when she felt she was going to topple over. "QUIT THAT, NESS!"
Ness laughed as he jumped repeatedly. "Oh c'mon, you gotta admit it's fun!"
They were in the theatre, on the audience chairs at the topmost balcony, staring down. This was one balcony that was always on the roster of repairment, but for some reason, Duster never got to it, and nobody cared, either. Who used the top balcony anyway? It was always too high, and a person had to stare down painfully to watch the people upon the stage. And Ness knew this, too.
"Besides, no one uses this anyway, might as well, right?" Ness encouraged. Paula looked at him in disagreement. "Oh, pleeasseee, Paula? I've done this before! Nothing to worry about!"
"OH, FINE!" Paula gave in and started jumping upon the riggity balcony. After a few jumps, the two felt the shaking of the aftermath, which brought intense adrenaline into their bodies. They couldn't help but laugh at the excitement.
Rumble…. rumble…
"Uh… Ness?" Paula asked, shakily. "Has it ever done that?"
"...N-Not when I'm the only one on it…" Ness told her.
They looked upon the ground they were on, and small little cracks started to form. This alarmed the two, as they bounded for a safe spot to get on before it was too late.
However, it was. Almost.
A strong shriek came out of Paula's mouth as the floor beneath her collapsed altogether. Her legs sprawled out and her hands instinctively grabbed for the edge of the stone that still remained connected to the balcony. She managed to catch herself momentarily with one hand, but due to the fear she couldn't suppress, the grip she had on the rest of the balcony faded.
"PAULA!" Ness cried out, holding out a hand from impulse. His pupils constricted as he quickly ran toward her and caught her wrist. The grip pained Paula a little, but she couldn't feel it, knowing that she was that close to death.
For Ness, sweat built up fast on his forehead, as he used all his strength into one pull that would bring Paula up in no time. He did so with a hardworking grunt, and it worked!
Once on land again, Paula let out a relieved breath; and looked over at Ness, who was holding her in his arms. Despite she was near death, she looked up at him into his eyes. He looked at her with such a worried look, like he was almost about to cry. However, they finally snapped back into reality when they heard a distant voice.
"What was that?!" a nearby guard asked another while running toward the source of the sound.
Another voice replied. "It sounds like something crashed!"
Ness and Paula separated from each other, and looked around, not knowing what to do.
"WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Ness shouted, taking a hold of Paula's wrist.
With that, they dashed out of the scene of the incident, and took another pathway out of the theatre area.
Their gasps could not be contained. They ran so far as to the lounge area of the castle. They were pretty sure by that time, anyone and everyone who needed to know of the crash were already there, excavating the whole chunk of the balcony that fell all the way to the ground of the theatre. The whole thought of that ran a cold shiver down their spines as they were being eaten alive in their guilt, but at the same time, were being relieved of getting away with it.
Ness looked over at Paula, who was a bit dirtied by the dust of the balcony breaking. "Paula…"
Paula lifted her eyes toward him. "Y-Yeah, Ness?" She was still out of breath.
"I-I'm so sorry.."
"It's oka-"
"IT'S NOT OKAY PAULA!" Ness shouted. "You're always so nice to me, and that's fine, but that was not okay! ...I'M SORRY!" he got that off his chest. "I shouldn't have brought you up there to play on top- I mean, I don't know what was going through my head that made me do that… It was so stupid!" He covered his hands over his face in pure disappointment in himself.
"I get it, Ness- just please don't worry!" she tried to sedate him. "I'm fine! You saved me, and that's all that matters.."
"You don't understand- I've been playing on there recently- I could've died sooner or later if I was on there by myself! Now… comparing to that, having you die… Now that's…" His face looked sickened and his eyes started to water. "I just can't have you ever doing that, I won't ever put you in danger, anymore. I forgot how important you were- to me. You're… you're a friend!"
Paula's eyes widened. She slowly neared him, and then hugged him with care. "Thanks, Ness…" Afterwards, she let go of him and got his attention. She brightened a smile at him. "But you know, life isn't life unless you do stupid things. Just think about it. We have something stupid we did to reflect back on, now, huh?" She giggled midway through. "I haven't gotten anything good to talk about until I've met you. Things finally started to happen. I know I'm probably rambling by now, but my point is… thanks."
Ness finally stopped breaking down, and calmed down. He let out a huge sigh, as he perked up just a little. He was about to say something back, but a messenger showed up to them before he could.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Duster requires you at the theatre at once!" After saying that, the man just ran off in urgency.
"...Oh crap…" Ness facepalmed in stress. Paula just looked confused.
(What was happening while Ness and Paula were in the lounge, talking)
"What, the, WHAT?" Duster looked flabbergasted. "How could this have fallen?! This was on the repair roster for months!" he yelled. He was genuinely steaming, and that rarely happens. "YOU IDIOTS!"
His under workers cringed at the sight of him. Claus kind of cringed, too, but remained apathetic throughout the whole thing. He looked around and spaced out, then he looked up at the broken stone balcony, then down at a huge, heavy, debris covered chunk that broke off. He made a weird mouth movement to signal his, 'yeah, that looks really bad', look. However, his look turned into one of interest. He saw something…
After he saw it, his voice cracked, even though he wasn't making a sound.
"NOW GO MAKE A LIST, AND START TO REMEMBER THINGS! It's not MY job to keep reminding you guys how to keep track of your jobs! God, you people have the memory of 5 year olds-"
Claus nudged Duster, and he stopped in the middle of his sentence.
"Not now, Claudius!" he said quietly.
"Sir, there's something over there," he whispered cautiously. He gave him a look of importance and urgency. Duster looked at him, and then nodded.
"Go get your cleaning supplies," Duster commanded for his workers to do. They did so, and left. Afterwards, he went to the big chunk lying on the ground, with Claus.
Duster examined the block, and then finally realized. "...Is that…"
"Yes."
"The princess'?"
Claus nodded again and then pulled out a piece of a rich, ripped off piece of dress. Duster looked confusingly at it, then his face started turned into rage. He knew what happened, now. He knew this was no accident that happened by itself.
"Claudius, send for a messenger and tell them to get the princess… and His Highness." Duster told him. "...And bring a first aid kit, for God's sake."
"Why?" Claus is kind of catching on, but didn't understand the 'first aid kit' part.
"I just know. Just get it." He sighed.
"Yes, sir. Consider it done." Claus saluted Duster respectively, and ran off. He called over someone to look for, and find the two he was requested to find. Then, ever so slightly, he smirked, looking at the messenger running off. He then, himself, went to get a first aid.
Now here we are.
Arriving at the theatre, Ness and Paula shakily walk into the destroyed area. Paula strayed behind Ness, as Ness approached Duster, who was tapping his foot, staring him down. The cleaners around Duster were busy picking up bits and pieces, and were busy trying to figure out how to remove the chunk out of here.
"So?" Duster asked, when Ness was close enough.
The prince laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "...So?"
"You did this." Duster immediately knew and accused. "You did this."
"..." Ness looked at him, a sweatdrop inching down his face. "O-Oh! What makes you think that? Ehehe?"
"Your clothes. The dust on both of your faces!" Duster blamed, a little louder.
Ness pulled the smile off his face. "Okay, it was me…" He frowned. "I'm sorry, Duster. I really am."
"How could you do this? This ought to be the stupidest thing you've done, yet! If your parents knew-"
"NO! Please!" Ness begged, but that didn't phase him.
"You both could've gotten hurt, you both could've gotten killed!" he argued back.
However, at that moment, Paula came from behind Ness. "Oh, please Duster!" she asked kindly in a sweet, sweet voice. "He was just trying to help me cheer up! I… I… was sad just recently, and.." she lied. Along with that, she tossed in a few fake tears.
Duster's expression softened at the princess' "despair". "Oh…" he trailed off. He looked from her, to Ness. His eyebrow twinged a little. "Oh, OKAY FINE!"
"Thank you, Duster!" the princess gave him a hug, which buttered him up even more. On the inside, both Ness and Paula were relieved. Paula saved Ness… again.
"Sir!" a voice called over, rushing into the theatre. "I've gotten the first aid."
The two teens turned around and looked at the oncoming figure. Ness' eyes fixed onto that figure once he saw who it was. However, that figure just passed by him, knowing he was staring, but not acknowledging him back.
"Claudius!" Duster smiled. "Thank you!"
The boy smiled, "Need anything else, sir?"
"Everything will heal in a moment's time. You have nothing to worry about." Duster said. He looked over at the prince and princess. "Oh! Your Highnesses, this is my new assistant, Claudius. Introduce yourself," he tells Claus.
Finally, Claus turns around, and slowly approaches the two. His eyes were fixed on the ground for a moment, but were brought up to look at the two in the eyes. It seemed as if the light lit up Claus' emerald eyes as he did so. Dressed in rich clothing, alike to Duster's, Claus' suit fixed his slim body perfectly. His fine figure that stood magnificently in front of his superiors, bent over in a respectful bow. The clothing on him wrinkled freshly, and Ness did not miss a moment of it.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses." he said finely as he bowed. Afterwards, he rose up. "My name is Claudius, Duster's new apprentice. It is an honor to work under, and acquaint my future rulers." His sayings sounded so rehearsed, yet, buyable.
"Nice to meet you, too." Paula replies kindly. Ness just stood there, looking at Claus in awe. He was too surprised and in shock to calculate what's in front of him. The more he looks, the more imaginary the world was becoming around him. His heart started to race from excitement.
"U-Uh." That's all that comes out of Ness' mouth. From impulse, Claus lets a smile pull through, and suppresses a laugh at his reaction. Ness blushes in embarrassment and cups a hand over his mouth, looking away.
"Ness? Something wrong?" the princess asks. She puts a hand on his back.
"It's nothing!" He laughs nervously. "N-Nice to meet you, Claus-ius- I mean Claudius!"
Duster, Paula, and even Claus looks at him, building the pressure.
"...Anyways," Claus broke the silence, "what was the first aid for, sir?"
A quick reaction to that, Duster gestures towards Paula and Ness' minor cuts and scratches. "We cannot have them appearing like that in front of others. Please get them situated."
"Right." Claus followed his order, and led the prince and princess out of the theatre to a small dressing room. When the three were alone, Ness had finally gotten a hold of himself.
Before entering the room, Ness asked Paula, "Hey, Paula, can you wait out here in the hallway? I need to talk to Claudius for a moment."
"Oh, uh, sure!" She looked down on the floor and planted her feet there. "Go on ahead."
"Thanks." Ness smiled to her. Then he offered Claus to go in first, which he did, then he went in after.
"I'll be sure the scratches on your fine skin will be treated right after, my dear princess," said Claus, smiling. That made Paula look away in embarrassment and flattery; she nodded. Then Ness closed the door and locked it.
…
"...It's a bit dark in here…" Claus trailed off. He could barely see Ness, and when he was able to, it was only his shiny violet eyes that reflected off the dim lighting from the outside. It went vice-versa to Ness, as well. Claus' emerald eyes were visible to him.
"Yeah, the sun doesn't quite enter this room so nicely- but anyways…" Ness' eyes narrowed at Claus. "Claus. What… What're you doing here?!" Ness freaked.
"Working here." Claus answered casually, smirking underneath the darkness. Ness could see him doing so with the way his eyes were moving.
"You idiot! You had me scared to death back there! Why did you come here?!"
"Well, you got my letter, didn't you? You were taking awhile to come see me again…" Claus said that in a lower voice.
"My agenda was full!"
"Why do you sound so angry?"
"I'm not! This is just dangerous for you, and for us!"
"But you do know.. Heh. I work here, now. I'm legal. It's not like I sneaked in here. We're safe, you're safe. I'm not stupid, Princey."
Ness' violet eyes looked away from Claus'. "This could get you killed, you know. You're a kid, and if you're found in here for the wrong reason then it's not going to go well." He looked back at Claus, and when he did, Claus was the one to look away. "You do have a family that can support you, right? Right?"
Claus stuttered. He blinked a few times, then answered unsteadily. "Yes, I.. I do."
"Then you shouldn't be her-"
Ness was interrupted by a sudden hug from Claus. He wrapped his arms around the prince, and steadily tightened it around the bottom half of his torso. He could feel the silk clothing rubbing onto his rather rough suit. He then let his head slowly fall to Ness' shoulder.
"I just wanted to see you," admitted Claus, in an inferior tone.
Ness gasped silently, then went soft in both feeling and body. He gently rose his arms to him and hugged him back. They both felt warmth in their hearts.
"I wanted to see you, Ness. And I soon found that seeing you gave me more opportunities. They gave me doors to something I've never thought of," Claus said. Just about when Claus' arms gave up on the hug, Ness tightened his own arms around him.
"What do you mean?" asked Ness.
Claus took awhile to answer, as if he was hiding something. "I mean what I mean."
Ness didn't catch it. "...Ah."
After awhile, the hug faded, and Ness finally bothered to light up the room. He went and lit up a lamp, and could see Claus in his whole form. His tilted his head, and smiled giddily.
"Huh, wassup?" asked Claus.
"Nothing, your face is just red-ish. Kinda pink." He snickered.
"Heh, well yours is, too, Princey." Claus smirked.
"I blame the heat," the prince answered quickly.
"Can't blame something that ain't there," Claus countered, smiling.
"..." Ness stood speechless. "Well, what's your excuse for your face?"
"That's easy," scoffed Claus. "I don't have one."
Ness blushed even harder than he was, after Claus said that. Even Claus blushed from his own words.
Knock knock!
The boys' heads turned to the door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you two, but my scratches just started to sting…!" called Paula, painfully.
"OH!" said Claus, snapping out of whatever Ness and him were doing just a few seconds before. He ran up to the door and unlocked it for Paula to get in. Paula went in, and lifted her dress to show her knees. He looked down at her knees, which were both scraped up in one form or another; it looked painful to have. Claus sat Paula down and immediately opened the first aid kit to begin treating it.
"I'm sorry…" he apologized. "I was starting to forget about my job."
"Oh, it's alright," said Paula. It really didn't bother her at all. "Ow!" she grimaced just a little bit when Claus added the antibiotics. Claus mouthed the words, 'sorry', but it was still alright between the two. He carefully finished up the job and wrapped a bandage around the wounds to situate Paula.
"Thank you, Claudius." Paula smiled, lifting her dress to him respectively. She then put her attention on Ness. "Hm? What about his wounds?"
"O-Oh!" Claus forgot that, too.
"OH!" Ness cut in. "Nah, I don't need anything. I'm a man, I can handle it. Probably just need to take a bath." Ness smiled convincingly.
Paula giggled. "Okay, big man!" she promoted. "So, what now?" She looked a bit brighter, seeing Claus as a potential friend.
"I got some other things to do around. Duster seems a bit overwhelmed by the huge crash," he replied professionally. "I should probably get going."
"Oh... " Paula's voice went down a bit upsettingly.
"Must you really go?" asked Ness. His eyebrows went up for a moment.
That caused Claus to pause, and look back at them. His eyes went to Ness, then to Paula, then back to Ness. They certainly looked like quite the couple. "Yeah, I got to go." He then continued on to his job.
Ness and Paula looked at each other. Paula had a disappointed face, while Ness watched Claus walk off. When the orange haired boy turned a corner, Ness let out a sigh.
I know he's not doing his job because he has to... Ness thought to himself.
Paula put a hand on Ness' shoulder. "All well, it's almost time for me to go anyway." She looked over at a wall clock. "I wouldn't have had time anyways!" She brightened a bit. She bounced up on her tippy toes, and went back down. "Don't worry, let's ask him again on a later date! For now, I must run!" She gave Ness a friendly hug, and went off on her own.
Ness waved back, making a small smile. "See you!"