Don't know why this was so hard to write...
I knew what I wanted to happen, but getting it written was like pulling teethe...
I must say I'm happy with the end result though.
I hope you Enjoy!
...
"There, now you don't look like an over iced cup cake." Lady Donna nodded as Toshiko flitted around making last minute changes.
"Yes, dear Owen was overly insistent, we not go there again." The seamstress laughed as she jotted some notes down. "Your grace, I will work through the night if I must. You will have this for tomorrow and we will rework your other gowns as well." Tosh promised.
Anika smiled; she liked Tosh. "That would be much appreciated. Now if I could figure out how to tell Daddy about the attack, without him imprisoning half of my maids." The High Princess grimaced.
"Bat those stormy eyes. Tell him they only wanted 'his' poppet to look her best." Theta offered with a snort.
"Might actually work." Lady Donna mused as she helped Anika into a day dress.
ACoWACoWACoWACoWACoWACoW
The next day found all the Princes congregated in a kind of rec room. Meant to let them mingle and introduce themselves to each other. They'd be living together for the near future after all.
Ianto was off in a corner with his nose in a book. The excited chatter and bragging of the other 'contenders', uninteresting to him. He turned the page and sighed as a shadow crossed the text.
"Pretty quick thinking yesterday." The man offered as a start.
"Thanks." Ianto nodded; not even looking up.
The man shifted and wondered how to proceed. The clear shut down, not what he was expecting.
Finally Ianto held his page and looked up. The other man hadn't moved. "Can I help you?"
The other Prince held out his hand, "John Hart, Prince of…"
"Highlands of Boeshane, yes, I know." Prince Jones drawled. Shaking the man's hand once and then going back to his book. Looking back up as the other Prince huffed. "Something else?" Ianto sighed.
"Gods and Goddesses and I thought she was just exaggerating." John scoffed; crossing his arms.
Prince Jones blinked and closed the book. He had a feeling who John was talking about. "I'm sorry, who?" Ianto asked just because.
"Duchess Hallett of course, said you were a stand offish bore. Eye candy aside." Prince Hart sneered. As he figured it got a reaction out of the handsome young man. However; instead of the squabble he was hoping for...
"What makes you think she even cared enough to find out who I really am?" Princes Jones hissed as he abruptly snapped the book shut, stood, and pushed past him. Hart gave a low whistle, scoping the Prince's arse as he marched past.
"I know he's 'competition', but there's no reason to be rude." Jack growled at John. Shoving the other Prince aside to rush after the obviously upset man.
Hart just scoffed and let them go. He had other concerns. Like getting the High Princess to keep him around after tomorrow.
~ACoW~
"Hey uh…!" Jack faltered. It was true, in the rec area, they didn't have their masks. But they hadn't exactly; introduced themselves to each other either. He knew a few of them by name, but certainly not all. He quickly thought of what stood out about the other man. "Hey blue eyes?!" Prince Harkness called out.
Ianto stopped mid-stride. He didn't turn, "Look, I really don't want to hear more about what Duchess Lisa thinks of me." Prince Jones gritted out. His fists clenching and un-clenching. Not recognizing the voice, but still hesitant to acknowledge the intrusion of another. Lest they had Prince Hart with them. Or were another of his former Betrothal's 'friends'.
Jack caught up in the meantime. "That simpering cow? Why should anyone care?" He asked, honestly. From what he knew of her, she was your typical royal. He wondered what she must have done to him to cause such a strong reaction.
Prince Jones actually turned at that. Faced with Jack's grinning features, he almost smiled himself.
Almost.
"Prince Jack of Golden Dunes... Can I help you?" Ianto asked calmly, trying to be polite.
"You know who I am?" Jack spluttered. Thrown off by those endless blues and the pale skin like porcelain.
"Eidetic memory, saw your name and picture at some point." Ianto shrugged as if it explained everything. "Anything else?"
"I uh, yeah. I wanted to say sorry for John, he can be a real twat." Jack laughed nervously. The other man, thanked him, nodded, and turned. "Hey wait!" He called as the prince began walking away. "Where are you going?!" Prince Harkness practically wailed, as he ran to catch up.
Ianto sighed and slowed his steps, but didn't stop. "If you're going to follow me at least be quiet about it." The other Prince griped before continuing down the hall.
ACoWACoWACoWACoWACoWACoW
A maid walked in with a lunch tray, the High Princess smiled and thanked the woman. Rose was confused however, when her cousin set the said tray aside. "Not hungry love?" The Duchess asked softly with a sad tsk.
"Dinner tonight; is going to be hard enough. My stomach is a wreck." Anika lamented moving out to the balcony. She looked up to the sun, a mask of spread and glimmering white angel wings, hiding her features.
"Just try. Or I'll get Owen to come yell at you about the importance of proper nutrition." Lady Donna warned her charge with a smirk. Looking up from her mending of a ladies maid's dress. Anika may be the High Princess, but that never stopped the red head. From treating her; much like she would. If Anika was truly; her own daughter.
"Oh fine." High Princess Saxon huffed, going back to the tray. "Rose will you join me?" Anika smiled as she brought the simple lunch out to the terrace. The Duchess said she'd be delighted, standing to join her cousin.
~ACoW~
"Where are we going?" Jack whispered, bumping into the other man when he'd stopped. He stepped back and pulled nervously at his loose shirt tails. Feeling like an unwanted tag-along; but still wanting to stay.
"Why are you following me?" Ianto snarked back. Honestly wondering why someone like Jack; would want to stick around him, of all people.
Prince Harkness shrugged. "I was bored, their all pompous gits back there. Good actors, but stick around them long enough..." Jack replied honestly and added. "You don't strike me as typical royalty. So once again. …where are we going?"
Prince Jones sighed and blushed. He mumbled something and Jack asked him to repeat it. "I know a way to spy on the High Princess ok…!" The younger man practically squirmed as he admitted the plan he'd had.
"Well why didn't you say so?!" Jack enthused. "Lead on, please." The older of the two grinned.
Ianto blinked, turned, and kept walking to the end of the hall. "We're in luck, she's in the private gardens." He informed pointing directly in front of them. Both of the Princes strained to see, hiding behind a pillar when she turned. He gave Jack a look when they bumped into each other as they moved from her view.
"Sorry." Prince Harkness stammered. "She's leaving…" He added a few moments later. When she actually walked towards the very pillar they were currently crouched behind. Her heals were already 'clacking' on the marble of the hallway and her perfume wafted in his nose. He needed to move! Jack scrambled for a better place to remain unseen. He shoved into Ianto as they once again; chose the same thing to hide behind. The younger man wasn't amused, clapping a hand over Prince Jack's mouth; as Anika walked by.
Prince Jones huffed and 'tsk'd', when the older man actually licked his hand. He wiped the hand on Jack's shoulder, making a face. Prince Harkness shrugged and crawled out after Ianto.
Everything was going fine till the younger man turned a corner and the older man didn't follow. "Blue Eyes…Hey?!" Jack hissed, stuck at a cross road.
"I do have a name you know." Ianto sighed, leaning out of a door in the right wall, just a head. Prince Jones knew he could do this easier on his own. It was kinda nice not to be though.
Prince Harkness yelped and almost literally jumped 3 feet, in fright. He saw the other Prince's eyebrow raise at his reaction. He must look like a loon. "Well you never told me so…" Jack shrugged with a grin; recovering quickly.
"Jones… Ianto Jones. Now hurry up."
Prince Harkness, rushed forward as the other Prince disappeared through the door. He took a steadying breath as the dark corridor seemed to sprawl out endlessly. He focused on the floor beneath his feet and the shine of his new friend's shoes. Well he'd like to think they were at least on the way to a friendship anyway…
~ACoW~
Ianto was confident as he slipped through the tight pass. Jack almost lost him, looking around wildly for a flash of a burgundy tunic. Something pressed against his arm as the room started to close in on him. "Hey!" Prince Jones called, thinking he was giving the older man a fun teasing.
Prince Harkness moaned weekly as he fell back against the wall. Ianto frowned, moving in front of the older man. "Prince Jack? You ok?" The younger man asked; his voice full of concern. "Come on you are really creeping me out. Worse than this corridor is." Ianto huffed. When Jack's breathing turned to rapid, shallow puffs; Prince Jones added. "Oh hell no; you pass out and I am not dragging you're dead weight arse out of here!"
"Claustro… phobic… Fell in… Mine… Kid… Stuck alone… Days… Please… Please don't… go." Jack stuttered; not wanting to, but showing true fear. Looking like a wounded animal as he struggled with his condition. His eyes wide and glassy with tears.
"I can't change the tight fit, but you're not alone. And I promise I won't leave you. Just look at me Jack, I'm right here." Ianto murmured; grabbing the older man's hand. Just wanting to help; not knowing that that one move.
Was really the beginning of everything.
...
HEART Y'ALL
