Part Ten

"What do you think you were doing?!" Robert yelled as he slammed the door to Michael's room closed. "I hope you have an extra room at your place, because if my uncle figures out what you meant back there, I will not be welcome here any more."
"I'm sorry!" Michael shouted back, just as agitated as his company by the sudden attack.
"Sorry does not reinstate my honour!"

"Your honour..." The All Star repeated, so tired of the nobleman hiding behind the loathsome word. "You know what, Robert? Fuck you - and your honour. I'm sorry I let Johnny get to me. And I'm sorry I ever fell in love with you!"

"Oliver, don't run so fast!"
"Leave me alone!"

The commotion in the hallway outside could not have come at a worse time. The last thing Robert needed was his relatives to witness chaos in his household - especially since his uncle had all but said outright that he was too young and inexperienced to run the entire castle on his own.

"Look, I don't know what Johnny's problem is, but I'm sure he didn't mean to upset you."
"Let go of me!"
"Not until you agree to come back downstairs. We haven't even had gelato yet... and you know how much trouble we went through to get it imported."

How could he choose between settling Oliver and Enrique down before the Duke labelled him a good-for-nothing insult to the family... and Michael, who had just admitted to loving him?

"I don't feel like gelato. I'd rather just be by myself."
"Then what about the, you know - surprise? They've been outside for hours... they're probably wondering what happened to us."
"I'm not kidding, Enrique. If you don't let me go right now, I'll scream!"

Robert stared at the boy dumbly for a moment. There were so many things he wanted to say to him, but with the threat of Oliver screaming bloody murder hanging over him, he said none of them.

"I... I must go."
"Robert, wait." Michael grabbed the knight's arm. "All you ever do is run away from me... am I that bad?"
"My god, no." He assured him passionately, smoothing a rogue magenta strand back into his guest's ponytail. "Your language aside, you are so very perfect."

He ran his fingertips down the side of Michael's face, letting them linger on his chin as he backed away. "Stay here. I will return for you in a moment."

The sweet sound of soft violin music carried through the air, and Robert was reminded that he had been away from his dinner party for too long as was considered polite.

His team mates were nowhere to be seen - and suspiciously quiet, despite their yelling at one another not a moment before. Whether Oliver was still intending to scream or whether Enrique had let him go, were things Robert intended to investigate before returning downstairs and apologising profusely to his relatives for the terrible evening.

Looking out over the terrace as he passed by a window, a string quartet played under the moonlight. He couldn't stay angry at the pair, despite their questionable behaviour, when they had arranged something like this. It had to have been them, for he could not remember doing such a thing himself - although he was sure his aunt and uncle would adore the gesture and thank him for it.

Heads of gold and green caught his eye as they made their way out to the musicians, and Robert breathed a sigh of relief upon noticing whatever had happened between them was finished with. Oliver's giggle rose above the music as Enrique bowed and offered his hand to him, obviously inviting him to dance.

Watching Enrique whisk the shorter boy into his arms, Robert felt a pang of jealousy. They could get away with public follies like that - and no one would question their motives. Just two friends having fun. If he were to do the same, there would be outrage. If it was right for him to dance, his partner would be chosen first upon her pedigree, and then upon her bank balance. Whatever breed of repulsion Robert felt toward her was not a concern when courtly appearance in the eyes of his peers was all that mattered.

Fuck me - and my honour...

Johnny looked up from his bowl of gelato as Robert entered the dining hall.
"You're missing out on all the fun." He said sarcastically, taking another mouthful of his dessert. "This stuff sucks...you'd think by now Enrique would know I like chocolate, not whatever the hell this is."

There was silence from his company as he surveyed the room.
"Is Oliver still crying like a girl?"
"Oliver is fine." Robert snapped, answering purely to stop Johnny's rambling. "It is the absence of my Lord and Lady that I am concerned about."
"Oh, they left while you were upstairs."

His captain pulled up the chair opposite him, all but collapsing into it. "Did they say anything?"
Johnny pondered the possibility of lying; of saying that they had disliked Michael so much, they couldn't stand being in the same castle as him. But the fear of his family's disapproval etched into Robert's face softened his hard heart for just a moment to give his friend some comfort.
"No. They just didn't want to disturb you any longer than necessary."

He'd never seen Robert with so little composure before, as the nobleman gave a heavy sigh and bowed his head into his folded arms on the table. "Thank you."
"Robert?"
"Mmm?" He answered, not moving.
"I'm not sorry for what I did tonight, and I'll do it again if I have to."
"Good." He sat up straight and looked Johnny directly in the eye, ready for an argument. "My catering bill should not be as expensive if I have one less guest."
"It's not me you should be getting rid of!" The redhead slammed his fist down on the table, making his bowl rattle in front of him.

"Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?"
"I'm your best friend, Robert - that's who. I don't want to hurt you, but if you choose him over me, then I won't be as subtle next time."
"Go ahead. See if I care." The knight rose to his feet, just angry enough to call Johnny's bluff and regret the consequences later. "I will not be made the victim of a childish ultimatum by someone calling himself my best friend."

And with that, the dinner party was officially over. Robert would have Gustav tell him everything that transpired during his time upstairs with Michael later. Johnny could eat all the gelato he wanted - alone; and Enrique and Oliver could dance the night away with their string quartet. He was going back up to be with his other guest, and everyone else could go to hell.

Casting another envious glance out the window as he passed it, Oliver's coat flared out in blue ripples as he twirled from his partner's outstretched arm. So similar to each other, the pair moved as one - in perfect rhythm... in perfect understanding.

Sadness filled his heart, so much like the romantic song filling and echoing through the corridor where he walked toward Michael's room. As much as he might wish, a perfect understanding between him and anyone else was completely out of the question. He didn't know how to let someone get that close to him.

Michael had thrown his coat on the floor, and was beginning to untie his hair when Robert returned.
"Leave it up. Would you, please?" He requested. "You have such a beautiful face... I would like to be able to see it without your hair in the way, if only for tonight."

"Sure..." Michael warily complied. Judy had often referred to him as 'the pretty boy' when planning her strategies for the All Starz' promotional appearances, and of course there was Oliver's casual comments about his looks, but he had never received a compliment with the sincerity of Robert's before.

As his thoughts touched briefly on the little French boy, he was reminded of his recent outburst in the hallway. "Oh, is Oliver okay?"
Robert nodded. He was more than okay - he had a friend who cared deeply for him...

"Would you... would you dance with me?"
"What?" Michael looked confused.
"Dance with me. Right here."
He shook his head. "I don't know how to."
Robert pulled him close with one arm wrapped around his waist, and taking his hand with the other. "Follow my lead."

Michael pushed himself closer, taking advantage of the situation to give Robert a taste of those things he shouldn't take. He'd never been any good at dancing, but he knew how to kiss - and do it very well. His hand curled around the back of his partner's neck, and it barely took a gentle touch to guide Robert down to receive a hungry kiss.

The waltz he had envisioned was barely a sway as tongues curled around and lapped at each other. Michael's hands sought the hem of the older boy's tunic, sliding under it and over his hips - daring to brush across his groin for one delicious moment. Robert's breath caught in his throat. How could a single touch render him so completely helpless to his most primal wants?

He broke from the kiss to gasp. His honour wanted him to stop... his humanity hoped that he wouldn't.

Hooking his thumbs inside the back of Robert's pants, Michael splayed his fingers across the knight's muscular buttocks, squeezing playfully and pulling him closer. The young sports star then began to grind his hips against him - hard flesh against equally hard flesh, with but a few layers of fabric between them.

"Michael... no!" He finally managed to moan, scared of his new feelings; scared of satisfying his growing desires.
"You don't mean that." Michael teased, slowing his movements down to long, intense grinds - proving to Robert by his very own gasps that it was true.

He was so close to expressing himself physically... possibly even sexually. Michael gritted his teeth and buried his face in the crook of the knight's neck as he was suddenly consumed by a searing pain running through his leg. It hurt so much, he wanted to collapse on the floor and scream.

He couldn't ruin the moment... everything had been so right. If he could just cling to Robert's shoulders until his agony subsided, the rest of the night could continue just as perfectly.

The Majestic felt the smaller boy tense up in his arms. His breathing was heavy - but more pained than impassioned; and his body, which had writhed so intensely against him, suddenly fell still.

"Michael? Are you all right?"
He nodded against his shoulder, not daring to speak. Not now... He begged himself, Please don't do this to me now.