Chapter 16-A Place To Escape
A loud knock came outside of the door to the bathroom. Peter and Caspian, who were mid-kiss, froze. Peter was panicked now. He had been so enveloped in the kiss that he had completely forgotten where they were and why they were both in the W.C.
"Just a minute." Peter called, putting a hand to Caspian's lips.
He heard an impatient sigh from the other side and knew immediately who it was. Edmund.
Peter swore in his head as he tried to think of what to do and how to get both him and Caspian out without making it look suspicious in front of his brother. Peter then said, "Look, Ed, if you're that impatient, why don't you do something to pass the time?" Like going in our room and leaving Caspian and I alone.
"I am passing the time…by waiting on you." Edmund said.
Peter bit his lip hard as he tried to think. Caspian was obviously trying to figure out what to do as well. Then, Peter suddenly grabbed a towel off the bar by the sink and before Caspian could protest, wrapped it around his neck. Caspian regarded Peter oddly, but then it dawned on him what Peter was doing. The eldest Pevensie turned on the faucet and pushed Caspian's head down in the sink. The prince reacted by yelping at the temperature.
Peter turned quickly to the door as Edmund asked, "Pete? You okay?"
Then, Peter thought of a great idea. "I'm fine. Ed, would you come in and give me a hand?"
"What?" He heard Edmund cry from outside.
Peter rolled his eyes and elaborated, "Could you come in and give me a hand with Caspian."
The door opened slightly as Edmund questioned, "Caspian's in there with you?"
"I'm showing him how to wash his hair." Peter explained, ignoring Caspian's attempts at getting out from under the faucet. "And I need you to find me some shampoo."
The door opened up farther and Peter saw Edmund come in slowly at first until both of them came into view. He then asked, "Why are you washing his hair?"
Peter sighed as he said, avoiding the question, "Will you just get me the shampoo?"
Edmund walked past them and grabbed a bottle from the windowsill and handed it to Peter.
"Thank you." Peter said sincerely, applying some liquid from the bottle to Caspian's wet head. Peter wasn't surprised that Caspian didn't protest because he knew why Peter had to do this, but at the same time, he wished he would a little. He guessed Edmund would be a bit shocked that Caspian was taking it so well. Then again, he was civilized and he was the King of Narnia (a fact that was still hard for Peter to accept). Surely he wouldn't protest under normal circumstances.
After Peter was done washing Caspian's hair, Edmund stole their "hiding" place and kicked the two lovers out. That didn't stop Peter though. With Edmund out of the room, they could go in the room. After all, a room with a few beds was a lot more comfortable than a small W.C.
Once in the room, Peter closed and locked the door while Caspian rounded on him.
"What did you put in my hair?" He asked, holding up a wet strand of his dark hair.
"It's called shampoo. It's a hair product designed to keep hair healthy-looking. No offense, Caspian, but you looked ragged when you came here."
Caspian shrugged. "I suppose the time difference between you and me is sometimes more than we think. After all, I am not familiar with much in your room, like that, for example."
He indicated a photo of Peter's father in a cracked frame that Edmund had gotten from their old house. At the thought of his dad, still in the war, Peter paused. Earlier, he would have given anything to go to war to fight next to his father and he knew he had experience in fighting, but the idea of him never coming back always halted his thoughts. Peter had a family to take care of. His father was already at war and Peter didn't want to cause any unnecessary worry. He would surely apply when he was ready, but leaving Caspian was already a challenge in itself.
"Oh." Peter finally said, "That's our dad. He's fighting in the war now."
Caspian nodded, probably remembering how during their time in Narnia, Peter had explained to him that there was a war going on where he was from.
"Do you miss him?" Caspian asked.
Peter nodded, keeping a straight face. He never cried when he talked about his father because he had faith that he would return, but he also never smiled for fear of what could happen.
Caspian sat on Peter's bed. "I miss mine as well. Sometimes when I pray, I ask him for guidance, especially when you're ruling a country." He let out a small laugh, "It's odd, but after I first got here, to England that is, I seemed lost. I had no idea what to do or how to go about doing it. But then, you found me and then I couldn't help but feel safe and secure. I'm not sure how to easily say this, but…"
Caspian cut off and regarded Peter hesitantly. Peter sank down on the bed next to him, waiting.
"When I saw you in that classroom, I could think of nothing else but you. It was odd. It was like I was going through each memory we've ever had together and I couldn't be any more overjoyed to see you. Of course, in truth, I was a little nervous because of how I kept thinking about you. So, I brought up Susan. Immediately, I thought the thoughts would fade, but they still came, even when I was trying to take Susan back. It was plain that she didn't want me back. But you…I wasn't sure what it is you were so upset about until I realized that you didn't like seeing me and Susan together."
Peter swallowed at hearing the prince's confession. He had no idea that Caspian, too, was expressing similar thoughts the entire time. While Peter tried to admit his, Caspian was trying to repress his, but in the end, it didn't matter because he admitted them anyhow.
"So, you're saying that you wanted to be with me but was afraid on how to approach the subject?" Peter asked.
Caspian blushed and said, "I didn't know how you would react, so I just tried not thinking about it. But as time went on, I realized that you were acting differently. At first I just assumed it was part of the English culture, but then I found that only you were doing it. Only you were being extremely nice to me and I wanted to know why."
Peter smiled as he said, "It was because I missed you…a lot. And because I love you, Caspian. It feels weird when it comes out of my mouth, but the thought of it feels right."
"I feel the same." Caspian told him, smiling. "I had no idea I would ever grow to love another man."
"I know!" Peter said, "It seems wrong to do so. It is socially unacceptable, but then again, nobody else knows. As long as we keep it between us, we'll be fine."
"Yes…" Caspian said, placing a tan hand on top of Peter's. Peter didn't flinch because he knew it felt right. The warm hand of the prince's caressed the top of his hand and a chill exceeded from his spinal cord. Caspian's touch felt so good to him.
"Oh!" Peter said suddenly, startling Caspian slightly. "I remember why I dragged you into the washing closet in the first place."
Caspian gave a confused look. "In the first place?"
"Yes," Surprisingly enough, Caspian, I did not initially drag you in there to kiss you fervently. "I was thinking of a place that we could go to be alone together, somewhere isolated or sacred. I really want you to stay here, Caspian. I couldn't bear the thought of you leaving, but I know it's inevitable. So, why not spend the time we have together somewhere special?"
"Where?" Caspian asked.
Peter smiled. "Hyde Park."
A/N: It took a while, but I managed to get the next chapter up. Hope it's okay.