Well, I'm finally posting another chapter of this fic. Sorry that it took me a little while to get to it. I follow where my muse goes. Also, having the time goes into that, as well. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this fic and I hope it was worth the wait.
Against Nature Chapter 29
Prince Adam had just arrived back to Eternos with Man-at-Arms, and almost immediately he had been summoned to the throne room. His parents wished to speak with him. Thinking he was in trouble for leaving his room, he had shot Man-at-Arms a pleading look and the elder nodded.
"I'll go with you, Adam. I'll explain that I'm the one who asked you to come along," he had stated.
So now, they stood before the throne room doors and Adam tried to look like his normal self. He didn't know why he was so nervous. He had done worse things recently and survived his parents' lectures and punishments. Of course, the last time he had been to the throne room after disobeying, Teela had lost her job as his bodyguard. It was one of the worst moments in his life, and he didn't want to live through another.
Despite his fears, he pushed the doors open and walked inside with Duncan following closely behind. "You wished to see me, Father?" he questioned calmly.
King Randor nodded and said merrily, "Yes, I wanted to introduce you to someone."
At first, he was surprised his father didn't seem to be annoyed, so it took him a second to realize what his father had actually said. It was then that he noticed that they weren't alone. Off to the right stood King Stefen and another young man around his age. The man stepped forward and King Randor announced, "This is my son, Prince Adam, Jesse. Adam, this is Jesse, your new bodyguard."
Adam tried his best to hold back his reaction. Inside, he was cringing. He hadn't expected his father to find a replacement so soon. His thoughts immediately drifted to Teela. He wondered if she knew, yet, and if she did, how was it affecting her.
Realizing that he couldn't be rude, he turned to Jesse and extended his hand as he walked to him. "Hello, it's nice to meet you," he greeted.
"Likewise," Jesse replied.
Both men turned back to the king as he stated, "That's really all I wanted. I know you were with Man-at-Arms earlier, helping with an issue in the kingdom. I assume all is well now."
When both Duncan and Adam nodded, the king smiled and replied, "Good. Well, you two can run along and get acquainted with one another."
Adam raised his brow. "You mean, I'm not confined to my room any longer?" he asked.
His father nodded. "We found you a bodyguard, one that I believe will be able to keep up with you, so we'll see how this works."
Adam couldn't help but react to his father's words. He felt as though he should defend Teela. "My old bodyguard kept up with me just fine," he stated obstinately.
"Adam," Randor said reproachfully. His voice held a warning in it.
The prince sighed and turned to Jesse to say, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I just…"
Jesse fanned his hand out as if it were no big deal. "Don't apologize. I understand. Teela has been your bodyguard for a long time. You're used to her and that's where your loyalties lie. I don't blame you for that, but perhaps we could be friends. Maybe you'll find that you won't mind having me around so much either."
Knowing that he didn't have much choice in the matter, he nodded. He did wonder, though, if Jesse would continue to be his "friend" after he ditched him to become He-Man for the first time. And, that's when it hit him: he had made things a lot harder for himself than he had realized. His secret was going to be difficult to protect now, more so than before.
=)=)=)
King Stefen, Jesse, and Adam walked into the courtyard together. All three were quiet up until that point. Adam was quiet because he didn't know what to say. He suspected the same might be said for Jesse. As for King Stefen, who knew? He was usually quite the chatterbox.
When they got to a picnic table, Adam sat down and Jesse sat across from him. King Stefen stood at the head of the table and said, "I suppose I'll leave you two to get acquainted. I have to set up my new living quarters."
Adam raised his brow. "New living quarters? My parents moved you out of the Royal Wing?"
Stefen shrugged. "No, they moved me out of the palace all together."
"What? Why?" he cried, standing up. "Please don't tell me that they also blame you for my behavior. I'll go to them and try to talk them out of it, Uncle. I'm so sorry."
Before he could walk off, Stefen said, "Adam." When the prince continued to walk away, he called his name again. When Adam finally turned around, he said, "It didn't really have anything to do with you, not really."
"Then, why? You haven't done anything…"
The king shook his head. "I have done something, Adam, and I know this probably makes me a coward, but I don't want to confess it to you. I enjoy our relationship and I don't want you to look at me any differently."
Adam furrowed his brow. "People are allowed to make mistakes. It would be foolish to hold that against someone."
"If you knew, you might have a different opinion."
"Try me," the prince demanded confidently.
Stefen shook his head. "No, I don't think so, Adam. I just hope that you forgive me for not telling you. In any case, I'll still be around. I may visit the palace anytime I wish. I just have to announce my presence to your father right away."
Adam opened his mouth to speak again, but Stefen held his hand up and cried, "Adam, please! Just drop it, okay?"
He nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I suppose," he mumbled. "I'm just going to miss you being so close. It's been nice having you around to talk to."
Stefen smiled. "I've enjoyed that, as well. Perhaps it is time to settle things with your man-at-arms. And, of course, Jesse is a great confidant, I promise you that, Adam. And, besides, like I said, I'll be around." The king walked away, but not before he gave Jesse a wink and Adam a wave. Adam witnessed this and looked confused when Jesse simply grinned in response.
Once Stefen had walked back inside the palace presumably to get his things or to find someone to take him to his new residence, Adam faced Jesse and scrutinized him for a moment. He knew he was blatantly staring, but fortunately, Jesse was looking down at the table. After what seemed like several minutes, Jesse finally looked up and asked, "Do I pass inspection, Your Highness?"
"What?" he asked.
Jesse laughed. "You were staring, so I gave you as much time as you needed. I figured you were trying to figure out if I have what it takes to be your bodyguard. I assure you that I do."
Adam sighed and replied, "I wasn't thinking that at all. The truth is I don't need a bodyguard. I can take care of myself. Father just has this notion that I can't fight. I suppose I haven't really done anything to show him any differently, but I'm telling you now that you don't have to watch me like a hawk or worry that you'll have to fight for me constantly. You're probably going to get rather bored with this assignment." At least that's what Adam was hoping for.
"I doubt that seriously," Jesse laughed. When Adam raised an eyebrow inquiringly, he admitted, "King Stefen told me about your recent adventures and that there was a girl somewhere in the city that you might like to see from time to time."
Adam widened his eyes a little. "Those…adventures don't usually happen. I suppose I was rebelling to a certain extent. They won't be happening again."
Jesse smirked a little and whispered, "Well, if you change your mind, I'm willing to go along with you. And, I won't rat you out like your last bodyguard. That was a pretty shitty thing to do."
Adam gaped at the man. "S-She was just doing her job," he stammered.
"No, her job is to PROTECT YOU. In my opinion, that doesn't mean just physically. It means she should have protected your secrets, as well. If she had gone by that code, I'm sure you wouldn't have run off from her in the first place."
He didn't know how to respond to that. He supposed in a way Jesse was right. If Teela hadn't yelled at him and told him that he couldn't talk to Ashlyn, it would have never happened. But he wasn't going to blame Teela. She was doing her job. "She's very by the book," he said aloud; "No one can fault her for that."
Jesse shrugged. "I can." He met the prince's gaze and whispered, "Look, Prince Adam, we're both grown men here. We've both lived in palaces run by monarchs. We both know how stale and dry it can be within those walls, especially when everyone is watching your every move and expecting you to be perfect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to take a break from it every once in a while!"
Adam tapped his fingers on the table before him nervously. "You do realize you'd be risking your position as my bodyguard. If the king and queen found out…"
"They won't," Jesse stated confidently. "Besides, we won't be going to Madelia and the only other thing you did wrong was run off from your bodyguard. If we're together, going out into Eternos isn't going to be a problem. When the king asks where you were, I will know. It's as simple as that. And, of course, I'll make the decision whether to be truthful or not when the king asks, but rest assured, Prince Adam, it will always go in your favor."
Adam honestly didn't know how to feel about Jesse. Part of him wanted to sigh in relief, but the other part that had learned his lessons recently was shocked that Jesse could actually be this lax. It seemed like his parents had bought him a rebellious friend rather than a bodyguard. "Jesse did say he wanted to be my friend. I suppose he really meant that." Shrugging, he said, "Well, I suppose since you're here, we might as well go do something." He stood and Jesse quickly followed suit.
"Where to?" he questioned, excitedly.
Adam looked around. If he was with Teela, they might have gone into the Evergreen Forest to have a picnic. Or, she might have dragged him off to have another combat lesson. The thought made him pause. Who would be giving him those now? Jesse or Teela? He was really confused on what to expect now. Had the combat lessons come from the Captain of the Guard or his bodyguard? He was sure his father never made that distinction either since they were the same person. He hoped he could work it out where Teela would still give him his lessons. That way, he'd be able to speak to her again and hopefully find a way to make her forgive him.
Jesse interrupted his thoughts. "Why don't you introduce me to that girl of yours?"
"What?" he asked, unthinkingly. "Oh, I thought you would have already met Teela."
Jesse lifted a brow and then laughed. "I was referring to your commoner, but I'm intrigued. Do you have a thing for Teela, as well?"
Adam stuttered a lot at that point. He didn't even know what he was trying to stay.
Jesse laughed again loudly. He then gestured for Adam to follow him, but unfortunately for him, because he was laughing so intensely, he hit the side of the picnic table with his foot and it sent him flying forward into some bushes. "OH, FOR THE LOVE OF THE ANCIENTS!" he exclaimed.
He tried to hold it in—he really did, but soon Adam found himself laughing just as loudly as Jesse had been laughing at him.
Jesse looked rather annoyed for a moment, but then he joined in on the laughter. "Come on, Prince Adam," he said with a smile as they both caught their breaths. "Introduce me to your commoner. After all, I need to know who my charge associates with."
Adam looked back at the palace, debating with himself. Would this be an inappropriate act? He suddenly realized it would be. His father had forbidden him from seeing Ashlyn again. That's what Teela had been screaming at him about, after all. "I'm afraid I can't," he replied. "Father doesn't want me seeing her right now."
Jesse rolled his eyes and said, "He won't find out, Adam, I promise!" He grabbed his shoulder and shook it a little. He laughed and said, "Come on. You're not going to let me get lost in Eternos, asking everyone to take me to the prince's girlfriend, are you?"
He gasped, not sure if Jesse meant his words or not. He wasn't able to read him, yet, like he could Teela. He hated the thought of already having to use his rank as prince to order his bodyguard not to do something. He quickly ran over to Jesse, though, prepared to do exactly that, when the man laughed merrily. "I knew that would make you follow," he announced happily with a smile.
Adam couldn't help but smile, too. Part of it was from relief; the other was from amusement.
=)=)=)
Teela stood at a railing on a tower high above the courtyard. She had watched Adam and Jesse interact far below her, and she couldn't help but grimace when she had heard their laughter.
"That used to be me down there with him," she thought sadly. Her own stupidity had caused their separation. At first she had wanted to blame Adam, but she knew the truth. For a long time now, she had taken liberties that she really shouldn't have: she should have never gotten into the habit of yelling at him; she shouldn't have acted annoyed with him all the time; and she should have actually shown everyone that she loved being his bodyguard. More importantly, she should have shown Adam that she liked being his friend, that it wasn't just the job. She hoped he knew that, but now, she wasn't sure.
Watching Adam and Jesse leave out of the side palace gate into the city, she wondered where they were going. Were they going shopping? Were they going to the forest just to relax? Probably not the latter, because Adam would have found Cringer if they were going to go do that.
In the end, it didn't really matter. All she knew was that it hurt not knowing. It should have been her going with him right now. It should have been her that he had laughed with.
Not knowing how else to feel or what else to say, she said into the wind, "I miss you, Adam, already."
