I'm baaaack~!
Chapter 3: Lilies and Lotuses
Carol fidgeted on the edge of the large bed in the Westerner's dorm, glancing periodically over her shoulder at the sleeping white man. Harker had been dead on his feet by the time they had made it back to the palace, the only thing keeping him straight being his own pride. So, when he stumbled into the room and dropped onto the bed, the American girl was in no place to request him to vacate it. After all, he was the reason she was as well rested as she was.
The white skinned female gave her companion one last look before sighing, pulling back the thin sheet draped over the bed as she laid herself down, staying dangerously close to the edge. Getting comfortable, Carol tried to force herself to sleep, closing her eyes and clearing her mind.
Father is dead. I'm lost in time.
A wave of heat touched the girl's eyes as they snapped open, her breath hitching as she fought to hold back tears. The feeling of hands grabbing her all over made her shiver, blankets drawing closer as she tried to banish the thought, only to make way for another.
You said you'd stay up the next night, instead, you made Harker lose sleep for three days.
Biting her bottom lip, the American girl looked over her shoulder at the sleeping man, completely drained, too exhausted to even dream. Carefully, she reached out her pale hand and let it hover over his head of gold, unsure if she should continue, before the older male shifted, rousing despite his state.
"What's wrong, Carol?" He rumbled, English rough from sleep.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, it's my fault you are so tired. It's my fault we were able to get caught. It's my fault Sechi is alone in that cell getting beat all day! I'm so sorry!"
By the time she had finished, the stricken girl had begun crying, salted tears dripping down her face and soaking the pillow. Days of almost nonstop events had suddenly descended on her, the mistakes that she had made weighing on her until finally, when there was a moment of peace, she broke.
A sigh sounded across from Carol, before a strong arm was wrapped around her and used to pull her closer to the other occupant of the bed. The Westerner wasted no time in wrapping thin arms around her friend, face finding a hollow in his shoulder to press against as she babbled pathetically, apologies spilling out of her in muddled messes.
"I'm sorry you're here. It's all my fault."
"It's fine. Carol, it's fine." Harker hummed, repeating the words after every plea for forgiveness.
The white man tucked the girl's head beneath his chin, hand gently petting golden hair as his collar became saturated with tears. Reaching around his companion, Harker carefully pulled the blankets higher on their forms, the cries of the other Westerner degrading to sniffles and wet breaths.
"All better?" He asked, letting the girl hide her face in his shoulder.
"...Yes. Thank you."
"It's alright. I was expecting this, sooner or later. You've been through a lot."
"Hark...How are you?"
The Westerners separated slightly to look at one another, confusion clear on the tired man's face.
"You've gone through just as much." She reasoned, her eyes falling as guilt touched her again.
"...I'll be fine. Everyone has different ways of coping." Harker hummed, rubbing her back as her breath became calm again.
"If you say so...We have to look after each other, Hark. I can't do much, but if there is something I can do, I will do it."
The two Westerners watched the other for a few moments, candle lights flickering in the background of each other, causing shadows to move across pale skin. Slowly, Harker began to nod, understanding reflecting in blue orbs.
"Yeah, we've gotta watch out for each other. We're all we have out here."
Carol gave a watery smile, causing the other to give a tired one in return, before she buried her face in her friend's shoulder, a laugh leaving her airily.
"I must look terrible."
"Oh please, I've seen worse."
Harker felt her smile against his skin as he gave a loud yawn, arms busied by the body clinging to him, causing the sound to be undeterred.
"I woke you up, I'm sorry. You can sleep, I won't disrupt you again." The American breathed, settling against her companion.
"Sounds good to me. G'night, Carol." The elder grumbled, curling around the smaller form slightly.
"Good night, Hark."
()()()
"Release me!"
Menfuisu gritted his teeth as he shook off his guards, his pride forcing his body to move without aid.
The sun had long since risen, and yet there was no sign of the golden set coming out of their chamber. The two pale folk were causing the Pharaoh an unrest that he despised but had no desire to cease, wanting them closer.
"My Pharaoh, let us go and get them for you, you are still unwell!" Minue tried, only to get brushed off as the teen king turned the corner and barged towards the room.
The young king waved his hands at the guards posted before the door of the pale folk's room, the men letting him past before slamming them behind him, cutting off the calls of slaves and advisors, leaving him alone in the chamber with two still forms. Menfuisu stalked up to the pair, a scowl contorting his face when he noticed them still under the veil of sleep, a distasteful emotion bubbling in his stomach when he saw how they were entwined. The bubble came to a boil, a cocktail taking place as a spectrum of emotion came, his anger slowly melting away to be replaced by a kind of awe as he took in the sight.
Within a sunlit room, draped in fine clothes, gold and jewels hanging off sculptured bodies. Pale skin blending, golden strands intermingled across the white cotton of their sheets. The two exotic people slept peacefully before the Pharaoh, gifting him a view he believed to be of the rarest kind. Black eyes scanned the display carefully, fully intent on memorising the scene until he could get a skilled craftsman to recreate it in an immortalised form, forever there for him to gaze upon.
The sight was so picturesque, that the teen king's hand couldn't help but reach out, tanned fingers coming to graze the strong shoulder of the male, a low noise escaping the white man. Menfuisu withdrew his hand as Harker shifted, arms coiling around his companion further, causing her to give her own noise of comfort. The Pharaoh let out a breath of relief, eyes closing as he calmed himself, assured that he had not destroyed the perfect scene, only to open them and freeze under the sleep-heavy blue of the Western man.
Harker groaned as he blinked at the light, the form of Menfuisu becoming clear to him after a few piercing moments. He shifted carefully, wary of the girl curled up beside him, before raising himself on his arm, jewellery leaving indented patterns across his bare abdomen.
"Hey, Pharaoh." He rumbled, voice rough from sleep.
"..." Menfuisu blinked in stunned silence as the other reached out, rough, pale hand resting on his forehead to feel his temperature.
Black eyes remained fixated on the Western man's face as the hand slipped down his own to rest on his neck, feeling out the pulse as the sleepy mind counted the beats. Harker eventually smiled, small and soft, head tilting slightly.
"You're getting better. That's good."
"Y...Yes." The king managed out, scalding hand leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.
"No...Not quite there yet," The golden haired man sighed suddenly, feeling the pulse under his fingers speed up. "You need more time. Not quite well enough. Go back to bed, Menfuisu."
"...Okay."
"I'll come check on you later...I'm just...really tired." Harker breathed, blinks becoming more sluggish.
"...Okay." Menfuisu repeated, finding himself unable to go against the requests of the warm man.
"Tell the General to clear any appointments you have today, and that you need rest. If he finds it displeasing, he can come to me about it." He continued, fading off as he talked at the king, hand slipping further down tanned skin.
The Pharaoh lifted his hand and caught the pale fingers, blinking when he found their hands of equal size.
"I'm...I'm gonna go back to sleep..." The white man muttered, lowering himself back to the sheets, small arms finding him easily in their sleep.
Menfuisu let the palm slip from his grasp, rough skin leaving behind a warm sensation on his own and making him give an unwitting noise of distress.
"My Pharaoh, please!"
The teen king's trance broke at the call, the General's voice slipping into the room, guards still separating them from the slumbering Westerners. Menfuisu gritted his teeth when he realised the warmth in his gut, spinning on his heel and storming from the chamber, shoving past his advisors as he exited. A grunt left him as he flopped down on his lush bedding, crossing his arms and closing his eyes as he ignored the questions of the people around him.
"Minue, I am not going anywhere today, I want to sleep. Everyone, leave!" The Pharaoh commanded, making the servants scramble, advisors following and leaving the General alone with his king.
"Harker said that I am still unwell, and that I should rest longer. All engagements are off today, inform them."
"Very well, your majesty."
Menfuisu reclined further into this cushions, a sigh of content leaving him as he allowed his mind to wander to warm and cool hands, pale skins, sapphire eyes and gold hair.
()()()
"How dare you disobey me! Slit off her wrists!"
Carol whipped her head around to the call, the sounds of impacts making her flinch. The Westerner girl bit her lip before moving to flee back to the room where Harker was still sleeping, only to be stopped by the spears of guards, the rightmost speaking first.
"Lady Carol, you cannot leave the Pharaoh's side!"
"Please, return to his Majesty!"
The American gave a yelp as she was pushed back into the bustling room, a quiet gasp escaping as she looked up to lock eyes with the standing king.
"Where are you going? You're not allowed to take a single step outside of the palace!" Menfuisu bellowed, making the teen flinch, her eyes closing on reflex.
"I'm thirsty, bring me water."
Carol winced as a responsive servant was struck, the order turned on the American, making her scramble to the far side of the room, where a young girl had already prepared a tray with a goblet, handing it off to the white skinned female. She took the tray and moved back over to the lounging Pharaoh, her tongue held between her teeth as she tried to hold her hands steady.
'Oh, why did we save such a terrible man? I don't think I could ever grow to like him.'
The small Westerner hesitated by the side of the teen king's bed, waiting for him to reach for the tyrant to make a move for the cup, only for the boy to snap at her again.
"Bring it closer!"
Blue eyes widened as her wrist was grabbed roughly, the cup in her grasp brought to the Pharaoh's lips as he looked deliberately at his captive. Carol made a noise of surprise before she was dragged forwards, the tray falling as she was pulled to the bed, both arms now claimed by the Egyptian.
"Sit down beside me!" Menfuisu ordered, drawing the pale girl into his lap, practically.
"No!" Was her immediate response, the grip on her wrists tightening at the rebellion.
"Why do you keep disobeying me?! I told you to sit, so you must!"
"I don't want to sit! That hurts, let me go!"
"Menfuisu, brother!" Came the voice of Arisu, the Pharaoh halting his assault on the Westerner to look over his shoulder and acknowledge his Priestess and sister.
"I have something to talk to you about." She continued, sending the girl in his hold a glance.
The Egyptian tyrant frowned slightly, before releasing Carol, turning her to face the grounds beyond the alabaster stairs.
"Go to the courtyard. Now!"
The white skinned girl wasted no time in fleeing the room containing the royals, a breath of relief leaving her as she stepped out into the sunlight.
"Thank goodness that Arisu came when she did...otherwise I don't know what would have happened to me next." Carol breathed, a hand on her racing heart.
"Boo!"
A shriek escaped the Western woman at the sudden noise, servants freezing and snapping their attention to the wail, only to relax as laughter followed.
Carol attempted to protect her sides as Harker ran his fingers against the sensitive nerve ends, making high-pitched cries leave his friend, a malicious grin stretching across his cheeks when she pleaded for mercy. Eventually, the Australian decided that she had had enough and pulled back, the American gasping for breath as she leant heavily against him.
"H-how are you feeling? Better?" The white girl gasped, holding the boy's biceps both for support and to keep a watch on them.
"After the sleep? Much better, thanks." Harker answered, smiling down at his companion, before stepping back and looking to the water lilies.
"You wanna grab some more lilies? You seem to like them in our room."
The young girl smiled widely before nodding, the two of them moving to the edge of the man-made reservoir. The Australian crossed his arms as he shifted his weight, watching his companion kneel and begin to gather up the flowers delicately, sunlight making the gold of their hair radiant and their pale skin luminescent.
"That Pharaoh is always so angry," Carol breathed, making Harker hum. "He must like the feeling, the terrible man."
"Well, he was raised to be a tyrant. Carol," The Western man called, making blue eyes look up at him. "I know you don't like him, and I don't blame you, but while we're here, try to make peace with him. The Pharaoh Menfuisu, while he is rather volatile, he provides us with a steady flow of food, water, shelter and safety."
"But Harker, we don't plan on staying here!"
"Maybe not, but while we are, let's not get our benefactor to turn against us before we're ready. Okay?" He reasoned, placing his hand on her drapes of gold, simple headset stinging his fingers.
His American companion frowned slightly, turning back to the floating lotuses. Harker continued to softly pet her hair, the girl making no move to stop him, instead tilting her head to encourage it. Harker paused, before looking over his shoulder, a faint frown coming to his face when he saw a crowd of Egyptian nobles watching them from the steps. He raised his hand and waved lazily at the General Minue, the man blinking in surprise, before responding with a smile.
"What do you think is going on over with Menfuisu and Arisu?"
The two Westerners turned to the raised voices of the royal siblings, the elder man raising an eyebrow when the teen Pharaoh pushed off his to-be wife.
"I dunno. Arisu seems pretty distressed, though."
()()()
"What is this? You want to cancel our marriage?" Arisu asked, showing her betrothed brother the papyrus of hieroglyphics.
"That is correct, sister, I have decided not to marry you." Menfuisu answered bluntly, no remorse in his voice.
In a moment of flustered panic, the royal priestess grasped her other before pressing a kiss to his lips, a muffled sound of surprise leaving him at the contact. Arisu gasped as she was harshly ripped off her brother, the younger teen recoiling before sending his gaze over to the side with an expression of distress.
"Please, sister, don't do this. They're watching!" Menfuisu pleaded, taking brisk steps away from his royal sibling.
"'They're'?" She repeated, following his line of sight to spy alabaster skin and precious hair.
Black eyes flew wide as the woman turned back to the king, a desperate pitch coming to her voice.
"Carol!? Is that Carol the reason you decided to cancel our marriage!?"
Menfuisu didn't turn his attention away from the two otherworldly people, a gentle, enraptured smile coming to his lips as he released a breath.
"Not only Carol..."
What!?
"The man?! You wish to love the man!?" Arisu raged, finally drawing her brother's attention.
"Yes." He answered, pure and simple, catching her off guard for less than a moment.
"But he is a man! And Carol a slave!" She cried, grasping hold of him desperately. "If you must, then take him as an attendant and her as a mistress!"
"No!" Menfuisu shouted, removing himself from her grasp and thumping a pillar with the side of his fist.
"No, I want them! I only want Carol and Harker! I've already fallen for them!"
Arisu watched in a muted stupor as her brother coiled in on himself, her heart squeezing as her mind became tainted with a hideous, blackened hate.
"Oi!" Came a harshly accented call.
The priestess held back a choke as she witnessed her love all but jump to his feet at the shout, an expression of barely hidden glee coming to his face as the male of the pale folk stepped up to them.
"Hey, Pharaoh, you feeling any better?" Harker asked, his voice grating over her fine ears.
Menfuisu blinked at the question before nodding, his heart stumbling over itself when a large, warm hand came to press against his forehead.
"Hm..." The larger man hummed, before dropping the limb and replacing it with his own brow.
The Pharaoh froze in place, his eyes wide and focusing on the blurry image of pale person before him, a wave of heat flooding his system and pooling in his face. He felt the furrow come to the other man's expression against his own, a shaky breath leaving him as the Westerner straightened.
"Are you sure? You feel pretty warm, still." Harker asked, grasping the king's hand and feeling the erratic pulse.
Arisu suddenly released a harsh sound of frustrated anger, her dress and cape billowing dramatically as she stormed from the room, servants scrambling to clear her path. The two men looked after the woman, an expression of confusion coming to the white man's face.
"Can I ask what happened?" He questioned, releasing the tanned hand in his grasp.
"...I cancelled our marriage." Menfuisu answered, his limb lingering slightly in hopes of being reclaimed.
"Jesus! Isn't that two in less than a fortnight!?"
"Oh yeah," The teen king breathed, looking off to the side. "I did have another marriage before, didn't I?"
"Dude!" Harker snapped in English, making the royal youth blink.
A long and heavy sigh escaped the Australian, his hand coming to card through golden strands as he closed his eyes, unbelieving. He shook his head before gently pushing the royal towards his lush bed, the smaller male looking up at him once he fell into a sit.
"Fine, whatever. Rest more, you're still unwell."
Menfuisu made to talk, but became quiet when the pale man sat himself down beside him, a hand firmly guiding him to lay across the sheets. The exasperated smile that painted the pale face made him malleable and pathetically obedient, completely accepting as the Westerner leant back on his hands.
"Um..."
Menfuisu head snapped to the quiet voice, eyes widening when he took in the image of the other piece of the pair, arm full of lotus and lilies. He watched in a daze as she gnawed her lower lip, before picking a lotus from her batch and holding it out to him. Slowly, as if to not scare her off, the tyrant reached and took it from her pale hands, too in bliss to notice the quick retraction afterwards.
Harker is being so gentle and smiling at him. Carol is offering him gifts.
"I see you're trying."
"Well, you said it would be best and..." The Western girl muttered, glancing off.
Harker graced her softly with a twitch of the lips, before turning back to the dazed monarch.
"Go to sleep, little Pharaoh." He hummed.
The youth nodded dumbly, before relaxing into the bedding, flower clutched close. He gave a heavy breath, eyes sliding shut upon the white man's command.
Figures of alabaster and sunshine danced against the blackness of his mind, voices whispering in a hushed, celestial language as warm and cool touched his skin.
"What a lovely little Pharaoh." Echoed a man's voice.
"Our lovely Pharaoh." Cooed a woman's.
