Chapter 2
Blood was ready to burst under Andy's teeth as he chewed mercilessly upon his bottom lip. Yet the burn of pain that throbbed beneath the flesh was nothing compared to the icy glare pinning him to the concrete slab in the cell. Andy's lips swerved between a frown and a smirk at the guard just in front of his cell, wrinkling his nose at him with each furrow of the elder's brows.
"Yes." He heard a voice say. "I understand…no, it won't happen again…"
As the two voices negotiate, the guard sighed and stomped over to the boy's cell. The bars squeaked, scratching its rust against one another, as the man swung the cell door open. Andy blinked up at the guard scratching the coarse hair clinging to his chin. He grunted, "You're free to go."
Andy sighed inwardly, stumbling over his boots as he felt blood run through his legs once more. Kicking through the thick piles of straw on the floor, Andy staggered out of the cell. As soon as he set one foot outside of the prison, a gloved hand wrapped around his elbow, causing him to flinch as he was dragged him down the hall.
The boy bit his tongue, holding down a sharp retort for the touch and heaved a sigh. Don't make another fool of yourself than you've already have. He murmured in the back of his head, jerking his arm out of the guard's grasp.
"I can walk on my own." He snipped, tugging the wool hat over his head down further, while the guard's eyes narrowed as he reached for the boy again. Andy's teeth dug deeper into his tongue at the man's fingers wrapping around his arm again.
Not here Andy, he breathed quietly. Not here.
The front of the holding cell came to view around the corner as the two stepped out of the cell block where the owners of the voices stood. The head guard nodded to the man holding Andy who let go of the boy with a snarl twisting the scars on his cheeks into miniature glares. Andy shook his arm free, glaring back at the man until large arms engulfed him.
"Thank goodness you're okay!" Georg sighed. He turned back to the head guard and bowed his head. "I assure you, my nephew won't be of any trouble to you again."
The guard who brought Andy out growled under his breath, "He better not."
Before Andy could growl out a remark of his own, Georg gently patted him out of the temporary containment building all the while nodding his thanks with quick bows. As they stepped out of the building, the brisk autumn air brushed over Andy's nose, flooding out the musk rate feces that polluted the containment cell. The two walked in silence down the street until Georg shot a soft glare at him.
"Nephew?" Andy gawked, arching an eyebrow at the man. "That was the best relation to me you could conjure?"
"Don't start your majesty." Georg snapped, controlling the bark behind his voice. "The young prince being arrested for attacking a common jeweler wouldn't have rested well with the public if they discovered who you were. In fact, I'm almost tempted to let my King know what the country's prince has been up to, but enough about that." Georg heatedly glared at the boy as he asked, "What was that?"
"What?"
"That!" Georg waved his hand back at the market square, ducking under a group of villagers stringing dark orange banners across the lampposts. "What on earth got into you to attack that poor man?"
"Poor?" Andy snorted. "Poor wouldn't rip you off when you made a deal." He paused as a frown creased over Georg's brows. Andy sighed, slumping his shoulders as he kicked at the ground. "I don't know, Georg. I…I just couldn't help myself."
Georg shook his head, the squeaks of wheelbarrows and cackling bars filling the silence between them. "Your highness, these…tempers of yours have been growing out of control lately. Is there something you want to talk about? Maybe something for me to mention to—"
"No!" Andy wrapped a hand around Georg's shoulder, yanking him off his footing before he immediately let go of him. The boy lowered his gaze onto the cobblestones. "I…I'm sorry. I…I'm sorry."
Georg's gaze flickered over the crumbled expression of his master shaking his head, murmuring to his self. He sighed, absentmindedly dusting off the stray straws snagged onto Andy's cloak.
"Well," Georg shrugged, plucking the last strand of straw from Andy's shoulder. "I suppose every prince has his bad days, just as long as he learns from them. Right?"
"Right," Andy grumbled, sending an empty glare towards the lampposts glittering a dim gold flame against the cape of dusk settling over the village.
Georg followed his gaze as their eyes landed on the night beginning to suckle at the moon's pearly crest. Georg clucked his tongue, snatching the pocket watch from his breast pocket.
"It's this late already?" he mumbled to his self, gazing back up at the pale sliver of the moon once more. "Shame. I would've liked to see the autumn moon tonight."
Andy glanced down at glimmering orbs drinking in the oncoming night with a frown. "You can always go to the festival, you know." He shrugged. "I wouldn't tell anyone."
Georg shook his self out of his reverie with a sad smile. "No. My duty is to you, your majesty." He patted the boy's shoulder as they began walking once more. "Now, let's get you ready for the meeting, hmm?"
Andy ran his hands over his face, groaning heatedly, "Screw the meeting!" He felt a hand swat his arm and he sheepishly added, "Sorry."
Fingers fumbled over the ties of his trousers as Andy batted Georg's hands away. His lips swerved into a pout, jerking his shoulders away from the shorter man and closer behind the changing screen.
"I can dress myself, Georg," Andy bantered, clasping his hands over his self as he slithered behind the screen.
"Of course you can," Georg rolled his eyes, "that's why you suit was inside out at the last banquet meeting with Princess Catherine."
Andy's eyes narrowed at the man, snapping, "That was one time!"
Georg sighed, throwing his hands to his sides in defeat as he shuffled to the door.
"Fine." As the door swung open, Georg casted a glance over his shoulder with a smirk. "Just remember to keep your small clothes on you unlike yesterday."
The older man chuckled out of the room as a pile of clothes were thrown at his heels. Andy's cheeks puffed out, sliding his shirt over his shoulders while buttoning up the dark green vest.
Stupid Georg, he mumbled to his self. Nearly a grown man, and he still treats me like a child. Andy stepped out from behind the screen, grunting silently at the strings of his vest that slipped through his fingers. A tongue poked out of the corner of his mouth as he narrowed his eyes on the golden thread before him, yet loose ends continued to falter.
"Come on." He groaned. A squeak met his ears in the middle of another failing tie, causing his eye to twitch. As he heard quiet footsteps enter the room, his brows furrowed into a frown. Without looking up he snapped, "Get out Georg! I can do this myself!"
"Really?" Andy flinched at the soft chuckle flitting by his ears. He whipped his gaze around his shoulder, finding Elias leaning against the edge of his bed. The elder brought his hand from his mouth after stifling another chuckle, taking a hesitant step towards the boy. He nodded towards his vest. "May I?"
Andy blinked, his question slowly seeping through his conscious before shaking his head. "Uh, sure. Go ahead."
Elias's cape swept across the floor as he towered over the other, his fingers briskly tying the strings across Andy's vest automatically. Andy watched his thin fingers tie and bind his vest together as if in a waltz while his eyes darted everywhere in the room aside from his brother. Andy's glued his gaze upon the thin, blue fabric that dusted over his floor.
"A cape," Andy snorted, "really?"
Elias rolled his eyes as he moved to straighten the sash around the vest. The crimson fabric slid across Andy's chest while Elias shook his head.
"Appearances have a strong impact on others," he said. "You know that." Elias's fingers moved to the cloth flung around Andy's neck, carefully tucking it into his collar until he finally asked, "So, how was your errand?"
Andy repressed a flinch, forcing his eyes to analyze every stitch among the cape. "I was…okay, I guess."
"Well what did you do?" Elias pressed gently. "It must have been pretty important for you to get up on time for."
Andy fiddled with the end of his jacket, counting off the intricate stitches, Fifty-one stitches, fifty-two stitches… He shrugged his shoulders.
"It wasn't that important," he murmured. "Just a few rounds is all."
The corners of Elias's lips twitched, bordering on a frown until the trained smile he learned smoothed over. He carefully puffed out the cloth around Andy's neck, stepping back to give him a once over.
"There," he forced out with a plastered smile. "Perfect."
Andy crossed his arms, glancing at the full sized mirror next to the screen and back at Elias. The elder's hair was ruffled back to tickle the back of his neck while the dark blue suit, with the tiniest hint of snowflakes sparkling in the candle light, hugged his muscular frame.
"Sure," Andy fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Perfect."
Elias let the frown he was concealing slant over his lips. "Not with that attitude." His glance over brought his attention to the mop of hair tangled upon the boy's head. "Or that hair. Haven't you ever heard of a comb?" Elias leaned forward with his fingers combing through strawberry-blonde locks as he plucked and pulled the strands. Andy yelped, batting at the other's arms as he shrunk away.
"Elias, stop!" Andy whined, only to be hushed by Elias as he fixed his hair. Finally, the elder brushed the remaining strands back from Andy's eyes.
"Now you almost look presentable." Elias nodded.
"Almost?" Andy gasped mockingly. "I thought you said I was 'perfect?'"
Elias shrugged, a slight grin teasing his lips at the chuckle behind Andy's mock hurt, then let it fall as he stared at the boy.
"Andy?" Andy looked up at Elias. "Are you nervous?"
Andy blinked, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "A little. It's not like you're not nervous either."
"I had my first meeting when I was 13."
Andy's shoulders slouched slightly and brought his gaze down on the floor, kicking at the imaginary dirt that lingered there. "Oh. Right."
Unbeknownst to Andy however, Elias flinched at the younger's inner retreat. Smooth, Elias. Smooth. He chastised his self. Way to ease your brother's nerves by rubbing in what he never did! Elias sucked in a breath, blowing an ivory bang from his eyes as his fingers twitched towards Andy's shoulder. Just as his fingers were about to brush over the thick fabric the door squeaked open again with a cool breeze flooding the heated air. The frown swerving across Elias's mouth fell along with his hand as boots tapped at the doorway.
"So this is where you two have been hiding."
The smooth, soft voice sent a shudder down Andy's spine while Elias's back straightened instantly. Their eyes pried themselves from each other and roamed over towards the man leaning against the door frame, a stark white against the dark cherry wood frame.
"I thought you weren't the gossiping type." He mused.
Elias forced a half smile at the man. "You know we aren't Ingvar. We were just…" He casted a glance over at Andy, who kept his eyes trained on the floor, and sighed, "talking."
"Well," Ingvar said, walking over to the two. "Perhaps you could 'talk' your way back to your notes."
"I already went over what I wanted to say," Elias laughed, "several times thanks to you."
"You can never be too prepared." Ingvar tapped Elias's shoulder. "Now shoo. You're probably making Anders a nervous wreck."
"Whatever Ingvar," Elias rolled his eyes as he took his leave. He paused, looking back at Andy. "I'll see you in the hall Andy."
"Y-yeah," Andy stuttered, shifting from foot to foot as he rubbed his arm. "See you there."
Elias opened his mouth and closed it again, his cape fluttering at his heels behind him down the hall. Ingvar shook his head, smirking about the king's overconfidence, and turned towards Andy. A smile crawled across his thin lips as he nodded to him.
"You look handsome." He said.
Andy shrugged his shoulders, mumbling, "T-thanks."
Ingvar clucked his tongue, bringing his hand below the boy's chin and tilted his head up. "Don't mumble your thanks boy. It's unbecoming."
Andy couldn't help the wince at the man's icy touch as he forced his gaze upon the silver eyes peering down on him. The corners of Ingvar's smile twitched ever so slightly, yet the pools of silver only narrowed on him. Ingvar's fingers tightened around Andy's chin.
"Now, what did you say?"
The eerie calm tingeing his voice made the tentative venom in his words made Andy's skin crawl. Andy gulped heavily, his breath hitching at the back of his throat as he said, "Thank you Uncle."
The stormy, silver irises were quelled by the response. Ingvar let go of the boy's chin, patting the top of his head warmly. "Good boy." Andy forced his limbs to stay still as he felt Ingvar's eyes roam over his suit, practically stripping him bare.
"Are you nervous?" he asked, finally bringing his gaze back to Andy's with a soft smile.
"Y-yes, Uncle." Andy replied, cursing at the way his tongue tangled up with his words.
"There's no need to be, child." Ingvar swept his hand in the air while a minuscule froth of snowflakes pool at his fingertips. "It's more of a ball than a meeting anyway." Andy bit back a yelp as the man tapped the sides of his cheeks with arctic fingers, causing a dash of red to bloom upon his cheeks.
"That should hide those pasty freckles of yours." Ingvar hummed to his self, tapping the tip of Andy's nose. He swayed his hand in the air again and the snowflakes dissolved in the air. Ingvar placed his hands upon Andy's golden epaulettes and squeezed his shoulders. "You'll do fine, I'm sure."
"Thank you Uncle." Andy nodded. "I just hope I can do my part."
Ingvar tilted his head at him, tapping his nose again. "We all have our parts, child, that serve bigger portions in life than others. Where even your role is very important in these matters. After all, you do want to help strengthen your brother's rule. Don't you?"
Andy flinched, the metal of the epaulettes gnawing its cold through the jacket. "O-of course I do!"
The thin smile returned to Ingvar's lips as he patted the side of Andy's cheek. "Good. Just look out for one itty bitty, nit-picky thing while you're at the meeting." Andy arched an eyebrow before the smile withered from the man's lips and a deadpan frown possessed his eyes. "Don't slouch. Knees straight. Glide when you walk. Don't slurp. Don't chew with your mouth open as you always do—" Andy winced at the merciless flurry of rules thrown at him while Ingvar's hands assaulted his posture into proper position. Andy's heart shuddered in his chest as the list droned on and on. "—always smile. Stay behind your king…and one last thing, child."
Andy gulped, nodding hesitantly. Ingvar raised his hand, letting his fingers idly tap the combed back locks upon Andy's head before letting his index finger pull down a mop of hair down over his eyes.
"Do keep that temper of yours in check."
Andy's nails dug into his palm, feeling the sickly smirk twisting over the elder's lips as he slammed the door behind him. Andy blinked back the warmth plucking at the corner of his eyes before heaving a sigh. He carefully brushed hair from his eyes about to comb it back into place until he glanced at the mirror. Aqua orbs winced at the slight, bony shoulders struggling to hold the epaulettes in place while the suit seemed to devour his frame in bulky arms and legs. Andy bit down on his lip, dropping the mop of hair back over his eye, just above his eyebrow.
Turning away from the mirror, Andy straightened his shoulders while Ingvar's words echoed in his conscience.
We all have our parts, child, that serve bigger portions of life than others.
"Yours is just smaller than the rest." Andy finished with a sigh.
A/N: Hi! Just a quick note that in this AU of Frozen, Elias is crowned king at 18 instead of 21. Also, dun dun dun! Meet genderbend Aunt Ingrid from Once Upon a Time: Ingvar! Thank you for reading and warm hugs for all!
