CHAPTER 46:
Now that we're being honest
"Like this?"
Jay leaned in and looked at Zane's handiwork. Strands of Lloyd's hair gracefully tied up and combed with a pin. The little jewels embedded in the accessory sparkling and mixing with Lloyd's natural golden color.
"Yes, that's perfect," Jay smiled.
"I wanna see! I wanna see!" The shorter boy bounced on the bed. They gave him a small mirror and Lloyd leaped off the bed, going to stand in front of the larger reflector. He gave his back to the bright surface while gesturing with the smaller one in his hands, trying to get a glimpse at his duplicate.
"Wow," Lloyd whispered. "It looks so pretty."
"You are pretty," Zane smiled.
Lloyd blushed and looked at both of them. "Thank you."
Jay couldn't help the warmth that spread around his chest every time Lloyd spoke to him like that. It seemed impossible that this adorable ball of nerves and him had almost felt like enemies once. The guys had been right; Lloyd was a very sweet and funny guy deep inside.
"Wanna impress the monks, green bean?" Cole chirped from his own bed. "You know they've taken chastity vows, right?" He giggled and Lloyd threw a pillow at him, the redness in his face intensified by Cole's comment.
"Shut up, you're just jealous of my cool hairstyle." Lloyd pretended not to be affected by Cole's teasing by smoothing the golden locks falling over his forehead.
"Me? Jealous? Of a cute and compactly adorable boy like you? Please," Cole joked, but his words made Lloyd's blush deepen, surely not expecting such comments for a comeback.
Jay chuckled low at their picking. Over the past days, he had observed a change in the diffident boy, who now seemed to share a stronger connection with Cole. He knew it had something to do with what had taken place in Kai's room a few nights ago. Jay, though, forced himself not to give many thoughts to that specific point in time —nor what he had been doing while these guys 'bonded'. The point was… the two spouses were getting along, and Jay was no one to judge the methods they chose to do that.
Someone knocked on the door to the spouses' chamber and Kai appeared a second later, all dressed up with a radiant crimson outfit and golden bits of makeup decorating his eyes.
"I hear you guys are having a good time." The grin on his face told everyone that the king was feeling rather happy that morning. Kai walked closer and admired Lloyd's hairdo. "Wow, baby, you look gorgeous."
Lloyd giggled and Kai teased him some more, tickling the small boy.
"Is everything ready?" Zane asked the king.
"Yeah, almost. They're preparing the carriage."
Lloyd bounced and commented on how excited he was to go out.
That day, Kai was expected to visit a temple that lay at the edges of the city. It was a regular thing he did every few months, to check on the status of the building and make a donation to the monks as well as paying his respects to the wise spiritual guides. It was a simple business trip, no need for anyone else to tag along. However, Kai had been working on a new routine and schedule lately. One that allowed him to spend more time with his lovers even when he was away for business matters.
For the past few days, Kai would invite any of his spouses to his audiences, take them out when going to meetings. Yesterday they had even snatched a few hours to pay Dareth a quick visit. Jay had been there with them at that time and blushed hard when the funny man insisted on taking his measurements again, seeing how much weight he'd gained since the last time.
Now though, Lloyd was to be the only one to accompany the king. Apparently, the temple was a beautiful construction and a place Lloyd enjoyed visiting a lot. Zane would stay in the palace and help Nya handle some other affairs. And Jay simply didn't feel like it, so Cole opted to remain with him.
It wasn't that Jay didn't feel 'safe' around Kai or any of the other guys —rather the opposite. With every new day, he felt himself craving these boys' attention more and more. They were awesome people; Cole and his 'adorable' bone-crushing hugs, Zane and his nurturing personality, Lloyd and his newly discovered joker nature, which worked way too well with Jay's own. Kai and…
Kai…
Jay's heart did something strange inside his chest. It pushed against his lungs, made him feel out of breath.
Kai lay right in the middle of that confusing sea that was Jay's mind, right on the darkest and deepest point, surrounded by a mystery that both scared Jay and pulled him closer, curious to discover more about it.
Whatever it was, it made Jay anxious. And the only way he had to cope with it, was to ignore such feelings for as long as he could. But it was getting harder every day —especially after Kai's nocturnal concerts, which might or might have not cornered Jay into another dose of self-gratification in the bathroom at midnights.
Jay blinked back to Earth right when Zane was asking Kai and Lloyd to send his greetings to the monks. Jay's eyes locked with Kai's, the monarch seemed a bit anxious all of a sudden. As Jay wondered what might have he done to cause that reaction while he was spacing off, the royal family exchanged a round of goodbyes, hugs, and kisses. As usual, Kai left Jay for the last. Their eyes met again when the brunet pulled slightly away from him after a hug, their hands still connected as Jay could sense the anxiety flowing out of the monarch's digits. Kai swallowed visibly and took another step back, the tips of his fingers brushing Jay's palms as if he didn't want to break the contact with the other boy.
"Jay…" He finally spoke with a trembling voice.
Jay almost flinched and it seemed that Kai sensed the weakness in his own voice too, for he coughed and took a deep breath, eyes nervously trying to stay fixed on Jay's face instead of avoiding the vibrant blues.
"Are you sure you… don't want to come too?"
"Uh?" The question caught him by surprise.
"The temple… it's very pretty. It has lots of plants, and trees, and water too," Kai explained. "It would be a shame if you… missed on it."
Jay stuttered dubiously. He hadn't been expecting Kai to ask him to come with them last-minute. Jay looked around. Surprise of varying levels written in the faces of the boys around.
"Uhm, I…" He mumbled.
"Cole can come too," Kai added, looking at the strong, young man. "I mean if he wants to."
"Of course, that place is lovely," the other boy replied and looked at Jay. Cole hadn't said it out loud, but when Jay had declined to take the trip the first time, his chocolate orbs had darkened with sadness, and now, that same dejection had come back, mixing with the last shred of hope that they could go out and have fun all together.
Jay turned towards Zane and the boy seemed to read his mind, for he immediately advised, "Please, don't turn down their offer because of me. I'll be busy helping Nya anyway, I won't have time to feel bored," Zane said with a genuine smile on his lips.
Jay considered his situation for a moment longer. Kai looked restless as he waited for Jay's answer. The king had most likely been thinking about asking Jay for hours and only gathered the confidence to do so when he realized the chance was about to slip between his fingers. Things were 'fine' between them now, but it seemed Kai was still scared to be rejected again by him, and that dampened Jay's spirits. He didn't wish to be the cause of anyone's distress, even less the almighty land ruler.
It's just a small trip, don't be a party-pooper, Jay told himself as his heart broke for the anxious boy in front of him.
"Okay," he nodded shyly.
••••••••••••
'Lovely' and 'pretty' were the understatements of the century. Jay stood before the temple's entrance. The place was a true work of art, not as majestuous as the royal palace but it followed close. The outer walls were of a sweet cream color, little cracks and dirt on some points, big steps leading to the huge open door.
Ah, but what waited inside was a tenfold time better.
The hallways were an explosion of color, golden pillars with intricated creatures engraved in them, statues of several Gods decorated some spots, it all looked grandiose in contrast to the minimalist attire the monks wore, but as a whole, it made the place have a somewhat serene feeling that immediately filled Jay's senses. Jay had never seen a place this beautiful —besides the royal residence— and he hadn't even seen it in its entirety yet!
After the proper formalities and presentations were over, Kai went to have a chat with the administrators of the temple, while Cole, Lloyd, and Jay were left to wander around the place as they pleased. Cole asked one of the monks to show them around so Jay could appreciate to the tiniest details of their home. They walked from one chamber to the other. Cole made a few comments about some of the painted walls and the monk explained to him about the restoration some of them had gone through over the past months. Jay was amazed when he lifted his gaze and found the whole ceiling of a specific chamber painted with a beautiful, exquisite flowery pattern. Giant pink and crimson water lilies lay over a virid background. How in the hell had anyone gone up there and drawn such symmetrical and precise shapes?
The uncultured junkyard boy was speechless by the time they reached the back garden. A huge pond lay in the center, with a rather impressive podium in the middle of the water that held yet another statue, glistening under rays of sun that filtered through the clouds.
As Kai had promised, the place was full of vegetation. Not the well-trimmed bushes type they had at the palace, but a wilder kind of nature. Lots of flowers grew around the pond, preferring a more humid ground than the others that were scattered around the land. There seemed to be no clear pattern, the little beings just grew wherever the wind had planted the seeds.
A hand pushed Jay's jaw up, closing his mouth. He blinked and looked at the boy by his side.
"Pretty, uh?" Cole commented with a smirk that made the ginger blush in return.
"Yeah," Jay muttered. It was no use trying to hide his amazement. This place was the very definition of beauty. Natural beauty. Growing up in a dry and ruined land, it was hard to believe this was still part of the same realm.
A dry and ruined land…
Jay's brow pinched as images of his hometown flooded his mind. Luckily, Cole snatched his arm and pulled him deeper into the garden, interrupting his pensiveness.
Seeing as this was one of the most beautiful places in the temple, the boys decided to stay there until Kai was done with his business. The monk that had accompanied the group of boys saw them off to work on his duties. Jay was impressed at the friendliness with which these people treated the royal family. As of now, anyone that came face to face with a member of the crown used to show them a lot of respect —sometimes a bit too much for Jay's taste, as if they were scared to piss off the wrong person and get their heads chopped off. With the most part of these monks though, there wasn't that type of tension, maybe it was their way to thank Kai and his family for the generous donations this sacred place seemed to receive from them.
Cole, Jay, and Lloyd sat at the edge of the pond. Jay got a little worried when Cole suggested they all took their shoes off and dipped their feet in the water, but went along with it in the end, hoping that the royal spouse knew better than him about what they were allowed to do or not do in this place. Jay at least had no idea what the monks could ever consider incorrect behavior, the ones that lived nearby his house rarely let anyone inside their crappy monastery.
There they were again, more depressing thoughts and memories about what had been his life just two months ago. Jay did his best to push them away from his mind. He couldn't have a breakdown right there.
Lloyd had brought with him his drawing tools and quickly started sketching the flowers that floated on the water, the statue, even a small frog they spotted resting on top of a lily pad. Cole making up random information about the plants and little amphibian, apparently based on things that had happened to him in the past, although Jay doubted the reliability of his words as Cole couldn't stop laughing while he told them his funny stories. Either way, Jay didn't mind, Cole was distracting him and doing his best to remind Jay that he'd come here to have fun, relax at the pond, breathe the soft air around them and listen to nature.
After a while, Cole and Jay heard footsteps and looked behind themselves. The monarch was approaching them, a finger pressed to his lips, demanding they remained silent. Cole and Jay did as they were told. Kai walked up to them slower with each step, quietly hovering over Lloyd's sitting figure and studying the contents of the papers on his lap while the boy remained unaware of the maharaja's presence, fully focused on the arts he was creating.
"You've improved a lot since last time," Kai said, getting Lloyd to flinch with surprise.
"Kai!" The boy yelped, his lips pursing into an amused angry pout. "You almost made me drop my drawing into the water!"
"Sorry, babe." Kai kneeled behind Lloyd, resting his chin on his husband's shoulder and looking again at the pictures. "But it's true, you just keep getting better and better." He snaked his arms under Lloyd's armpits, hugging the boy and pointing at the several sketches of the frog.
"You think so?"
"I know so." Kai placed a sonorous kiss on Lloyds cheek, making him giggle and completely forget about the little previous scare.
"How did it go?" Cole asked.
"Good." Kai settled more comfortably on the ground, still sitting behind Lloyd. "The school project has been a success, kids won't stop coming for more and more lessons." He smiled.
"Really? That's great." Cole grinned bright and his husband mimicked the action, giving another peck to the boy in front of him. "Aww, no kiss for me?" Cole pouted in fun.
"Not while you're near a source of water."
"Aw, come on, I wouldn't throw you, I have a reputation to uphold," Cole played with his voice, trying to make himself sound like an important businessman, Kai didn't look impressed. Cole tried to snatch Kai's arm but the monarch pulled away expertly —Jay wondered how many times Cole had probably tried to mess with Kai in this same spot. Lloyd was thrown into the mix and the boy quickly teamed up with Cole, standing up as he pretended to chase Kai to get him into the water. The Maharaja squealed and sprinted away, Lloyd hot on his heels as they ran through the garden, teasing each other.
"Get him, Lloyd! Show no mercy!" Cole cheered from his spot by the pond.
From the distance, they saw Lloyd trying to charge towards Kai. The brunet grabbing him and pulling him up into a constricting hug as they fell and rolled on top of the grass. Cole cackled, inspiring a peal of equally gleeful laughter on his companion. Admittedly, the way Kai always played with his spouses was one of the most tender sights, and definitely not what Jay would have ever expected on a king of his caliber.
It was strange to think that something as normal and mundane as this could have been robbed from Kai most of his life. Were all of the nobility people as fake and cold-hearted as Kai's parents had been? Jay couldn't know it for sure, but after being around Mr. Chumsworth and a few other businessmen, his gut told him such type of behavior wasn't all that unusual in these social strata. Maybe that was the reason Kai had only been able to fall in love with these guys that were the exact opposite point of what he'd been surrounded by for years.
To fall in love…
Jay hadn't missed the change in the words he'd been using to describe this family since they met. First, they were just 'a bunch of freaks' —and that was putting it mildly— fooled by Kai's nefarious charms. Now though, they were simple and normal guys in love. Jay felt so guilty for his initial, and totally inaccurate, misconceptions.
Cole and Jay watched as the two idiots on the other side of the garden kept teasing each other, then eventually they both seemed to calm down. Kai took Lloyd's hand in his and they strolled down the different bushes and plants, admiring their shapes, colors and, most likely, aromas too.
Cole sighed contently and Jay couldn't help but study his friend for a moment. The young man looked entranced in the vision before him, the smile on his face never fading as he watched Kai and Lloyd get all lovey-dovey.
A question that had been in Jay's mind since the day he'd come to live with these guys pushed up from the depths of his brain. Zane had somewhat answered it once, but Jay's mind hadn't been open enough at that time to grasp all the revelations in the guy's words.
"Cole, can I ask you something… a bit personal?"
The boy stared at him, eyebrows raised with a slight surprise, then his face relaxed again but a faint redness appeared on his cheeks as he smiled innocently. "Do you want me to finally tell you if I'm big everywhere?"
"No! Not that type of personal!" Jay squawked. The fierce blush that appeared out of nowhere on his face only deepened when Cole laughed again.
"Just kidding! Sorry, what's it about?"
Jay huffed, somewhat annoyed by the sexual joke —or more like, the reaction that joke had gotten out of him— but he didn't mind it that much. In fact, Cole's breezy attitude made him feel more relaxed, which Jay definitely needed if he was to ask what he wanted to ask.
"Do you…" he stuttered and stole a glance at the boy by his side, Cole was waiting patiently for his question. "Do you really not mind sharing your husband?" Jay breathed partially relieved. The question was finally out in the open, now remained to be seen whether Cole would be up for a reply and what would that be.
"Why do you… want to know that?"
"Dunno…" Jay shrugged while the annoying inner voice tried to tell him otherwise. "You've just been here for the longest, and… you went through all that crap together with Kai. I guess I was wondering how can you not feel jealous when seeing him act like that," Jay's eyes went back to Kai and Lloyd for a moment, both guys completely absorbed by their 'love bubble' as they talked and hugged every now and then. "After all you had to suffer to be together," Jay finished.
Cole's face had an unusually serious look, the young man had been very focused while listening to him. Now his eyes looked a bit lost. Was he having trouble to come up with a genuine reply? Jay hoped he hadn't struck a sensitive string in Cole or awakened an inner fear that could jeopardize the safety of the royal family once again. They didn't need any more drama over their heads. But Jay's worries started to vanish as Cole smiled tenderly.
"I used to feel jealous," Cole said, shifting in his spot. His gaze coming to rest on the extension of water before them. "Back in the days, when Zane came to our lives for the first time, Kai was my whole world. He was the one person that hadn't treat me like an animal, the only one who had seen beyond the surface of my unrefined manners. He was my best friend and the love of my life. We had become each other's rock without really meaning to, so of course I felt bad when I noticed he was having similar feelings for another man."
Jay listened to his friend intently. Besides what Cole had told them about that episode of the previous Maharaja's wrath, he didn't know much about Cole's life.
"I thought that Kai was interested in Zane because I wasn't good enough for him anymore. I mean, between a young, attractive doctor and a dumb slave, who would you pick?" A pitiful chuckle escaped his lips as memories came back. "Those were complicated times. Kai had just started 'recovering' and I didn't want to put him under more stress again, although he could tell I was struggling with my feelings and jealousy. He tried to reassure me that he still loved me just the same, but that he couldn't help but feel something for Zane as well."
"What happened?" Jay prompted when Cole made a way-too-long pause.
"I forced myself to push such shitty feelings aside and try to enjoy my husband while I still could. I mean, Kai was the king, he didn't need anyone's permission to get married again, nor did I have a right to stop him. I was just a slave dressed in expensive clothes at the end of the day. But then Zane started living with us and… I realized he wasn't such a bad guy. He didn't look like a gold-digger either and trust me, I can smell those from miles away. Soon I found myself bonding with him much more than I had anticipated and… well, you know things ended."
Cole's face rose up and he looked at Jay with a soft smile. The listener, though, was still a bit confused, so the noiret elaborated his reasoning.
"All my life I never thought I would be able to love someone. I hadn't been raised to do so. I guess that's why it took me a while to figure out that I could love more than one person at the same time. And you know what? It's one of the best things I've ever learned. Once you realize that, once you get over the 'I belong to you and you belong to me exclusively' phase, it all feels a lot more natural. Things like jealousy and possessiveness collapse under their own weight, and then the way is free. Free to feel with no limits, free to love without restraints and fears."
Jay was lost for words. He'd never expected such a heart-rending and deep speech from Cole. There was definitely more than met the eye with that boy.
Not been raised to love… That concept echoed in Jay's mind. Up to that point, he'd always assumed humans were made to love just one person, that it was a part of their nature. But what if, like logic, math, and music, love was something that was 'taught', too, from a very young age? Maybe even in a sub-conscious way. Jay didn't remember his parents specifically ever telling him he was to love only one person. But maybe the lack of other options had set him into that belief.
'When love comes from the heart it is never wrong' Jay remembered Zane's words from that first meditation session. His vibrant eyes moved to the couple some feet away. After all the genuine affection he'd witnessed going around between these guys, could Jay still consider his 'firm anti-gay believes' to be the absolute truth?
"Hey, now that we're being honest... can I tell you something else?" Cole asked.
Jay nodded and saw the boy growing restless as he shifted in his spot once anew. Cole wasn't saying anything so Jay pushed him a little.
"What's wrong?"
Cole swallowed. "It's just… I've never told this to anyone. Not even Nya or Kai."
Jay was starting to get worried. What could possibly be so hard to stomach that Cole didn't feel comfortable to share with the people he held closest to his heart?
Cole sighed and averted his eyes from Jay, fists clenching tight on the damp grass before his lips opened to let out the following words.
"If I've had the chance to… I would have killed Kai's father with my very own hands."
Jay froze, his face went blank with surprise. The confession had seemed to come out of nowhere, although, to Cole, it probably made all the sense. With remembering the start of his polyamorous relationship with Kai and Zane, it was inevitable that memories of the last Maharaja drifted back to him too, both things were closely tied.
Cole lifted his gaze and looked at Jay, his face as serious as the boy had ever seen him. Cole wasn't joking or exaggerating, much to Jay's dismay.
"I know it makes me a horrible person," Cole said. "But no matter how hard I try it, I can't find a single way to excuse that… fucking man." The cuss word had been hesitant at first, hinting that it was the first time ever Cole used it to refer to the old Maharaja, at least out loud. "And I'm happy he is dead, but I'm sorry I couldn't witness his final moments, to laugh at his stupid face."
They fell silent. Cole's eyes were set on the water again, avoiding Jay. He probably imagined the boy would be terrified after such a confession, but rather than that, Jay grabbed his hand.
"I don't think you're a bad person, Cole," Jay said and waited for the young man to look at him in the eyes before he resumed. "I think… I would probably feel the same way if I was you. Kai's dad… what he did to you both, it was monstrous. And even if you would have killed him... Honestly, I wouldn't hold it against you."
Jay squeezed Cole's hand and smiled softly at him. Cole's face lit up with reassurance.
"Thank you, Jay. I've been wanting to get that off my chest for years."
"Why haven't you told anyone before?"
"Lloyd and Zane didn't know about 'the real Maharaja' up until I told you, guys. And Kai and Nya… I know they're aware their father was fucking scum, but… he was their father after all. I've always been afraid I'd hurt their feelings if I did tell them. Maybe I'm just paranoid because I never had parents, but… I presume it can't be nice when the love of your life tells you that he would have liked to kill your dad."
Jay shivered. It did sound like a very cold-hearted statement that one would like to keep from their beloved. Jay's opinion remained the same, though; he didn't think less of Cole for feeling that way. It was actually the most logical outcome for Cole's pain.
"Why are you telling me now?" Jay had to ask.
"Because I trust you." Cole's fingers wrapped tightly around Jay's hand. His paler digits curled around their companion unconsciously, fingertips caressed the calloused knuckles of the ex-fighter. "I know that whatever it is that I tell you, you won't freak out on me. You're not that type of person, I can feel it." Cole looked intently into Jay's eyes and smiled. "Thank you for being an awesome friend."
Very slowly, Cole slipped an arm around Jay's shoulders and brought the boy closer to him. Jay didn't push him away, quite the contrary! He went along with Cole's motions until his head finally rested on the boy's thick chest. Cole's heart was beating somewhat fast, but then again, hadn't Jay's own rhythm quickened a bit, too, at being held like that by another man?
What does it matter? How many people have called you 'an awesome friend' before?
Instead of countering, Jay internally nodded to the voice and relaxed. Cole's bodily heat embraced him with the typical softness of a mother's hug, putting a part of his soul at ease. Making Jay feel at home, away from home.
••••••••••••
"I like this one a lot, the edges have a velvety texture-" Lloyd stopped himself when his eyes rose up from a specific flower and found Kai by his side, looking away from the focus of their conversation. The monarch's gaze had zeroed on the two boys by the pond, which were now merged in a tender hug. Lloyd studied his husband's face, a shadowed pain coated Kai's hazel eyes, and his jaws were pressed tight. He didn't look very pleased for some reason.
Lloyd pecked his cheek, bringing Kai's attention back to him. Kai kissed Lloyd in return after the initial shock.
"Sorry, I got distracted. What were you saying, baby?" The king smiled, but it was a weak, saddened type of smile. Lloyd wasn't blind and decided to confront Kai about his theories.
"Are you jealous of Cole?"
The Maharaja went speechless, pupils shrinking in surprise at his husband's words.
"No, of course not," Kai's words came out too fast, like a trained response. "I'm happy they're getting along and that Jay has someone he trusts. I was just…" His gaze fell to the ground, just like his words.
"Kai, I know I'm not smart like Zane or Nya, but I'm your spouse too. And I want to be there for you when you feel bad." Lloyd leaned onto Kai's chest, cupping his face as he sent a reassuring smile to the boy.
"Babe… you're as smart as anyone else in this family. Don't think less of yourself, please," Kai kissed him.
Lloyd cocked an eyebrow at his husband, as in telling Kai that he wasn't going to get away by turning this discussion into something about Lloyd. The Maharaja groaned low, having been caught in his evasiveness. Lloyd interlocked his arms behind Kai's neck and pecked his husband's lips.
"Tell me what's going on."
The royal spouse didn't get an immediate answer. Kai seemed to ponder about his next words, worrying his lower lip.
"I know Jay has forgiven me, but… I'm afraid I burned all bridges with him that stupid night and we can never..." Kai trailed off.
"You still intend on marrying him, right?" Lloyd helped him.
Kai seemed a little surprised at first, creases appearing over his furrowed brow. "I… know it's impossible."
"I don't think so. He's warming up to all of us again, including you."
"No, there's no way anyone in his place could really forget what I did… whatever it was." The breeze taking Kai's words with it like a death sentence, heavy and menacing.
Lloyd's hands lowered until they were back on Kai's chest, flat against the front of his outfit. "It's true that we don't forget, but we do forgive and move on," he said to his husband. The king, though, didn't seem to change his mind on the subject. Lloyd tried again, channeling his 'inner Zane'. "When I first came to live with all of you, I also thought I would never trust you. Even if you had saved me from hell, I was so used to being betrayed over and over that I thought every person was like that, that after a while you would just throw me away because you would realize that I wasn't worth your time, like I wasn't worth my parents'. But you showed me that that wasn't true. You taught me trust, and love, and respect. Good people don't hold grudges forever and... Jay is a good guy."
Kai's hands trembled as they moved up and took Lloyd's. Two pairs of mossy eyes locked together, the friendly smile on Lloyd's face eventually spread to Kai in the form of a weak grin.
"Is this your way of telling me you wouldn't mind having another spouse?"
Lloyd blushed. "He's kinda cute, I'll give you that," he said with a smirk. "Plus, he's got cool ideas when it comes to hairstyles." He shook his head to drive Kai's attention to the golden locks. Kai laughed and Lloyd's chest swelled with pride at being the instigator behind such beautiful sound. "I mean that even when everything looks lost, you can't really assume that the future will be as dark forever. You never know when a sweet king might come and save you from hell."
Another laugh, followed by a long kiss from the sovereign this time.
"Thank you, Lloyd," Kai hugged him hard, his arms like a vice around Lloyd's small body, hopelessly clinging to him for moral support. "I'll try to keep that in mind."
"Anytime, my handsome savior."
