I hate the way you talk to me,
And the way you cut your hair.
I hate the way you drive my car,
I hate it when you stare.
I hate your big dumb combat boots
And the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick,
It even makes me rhyme.
I hate the way you're always right,
I hate it when you lie.
I hate it when you make me laugh,
Even worse when you make me cry
I hate it when you're not around,
And the fact that you didn't call
But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you,
Not even close…
Not even a little bit…
Not even at all.
-10 things I hate about you.
"By the grace of God and all those who are gathered here-"
The crown upon her head seemed to almost weigh the world.
She supposed that was simply because of what it represented, that she was now a part of something bigger then herself. She was essentially governing the way people lived and behaved. Kal looked at her as he gently placed it upon her head and smiled reassuringly, or patronizingly she supposed it all depended upon his mood. The one thing Chloe had quickly learned was to adapt to Kal's mood, discover when he was aggravated and when he was calm. She knew she could annoy him by questioning his ethics and she could soothe him by asking him about his childhood.
"Your trust in me and my ability to govern-"
Chloe could hardly call him a friend yet she would happily admit he was far more kind then he had been at the start, this was because the two had sat down and had a long talk. Chloe had set down rules and Kal had objected. Yet in the end they had… Found a foothold in the middle ground. Kal and Chloe had to rule side by side and co-operate, Earth and Krypton relations had depended upon it. But this was getting harder and harder with the constant rumors of Kal's mistresses. Whispered among the people and maids and reaching Chloe's ears by mistake only, no one bar Ariadnne would tell her anything.
"As my wife and queen to the people in the future-"
In fact Ariadnne and Oliver were her only friends within the dark musky and depressing halls of the castle outside of the presence of her husband, her existence was a lonely one mirroring that of a ghost within the castle walls. Walking around with no one to talk to her, barely bow to her and keep their heads down, no one would stop and talk to her and her duties were avoided like those of a leper. The castle was worse then a prison.
"Your duty to this planet and it's people-"
Ariadnne and Oliver would occasionally take her out into the streets and markets of Krypton. Chloe had fallen in love with it within her first visit, the smells of exotic spices and the colours of the bright cloths as they fluttered by the wind or waved by the hands of the sellers. She was reminded of Aladdin and for a moment pictures Jasmine, the princess who had wanted to escape and met the love of her life as a result. The people on the streets had been friendly, alive and talkative and ready to shower their newest royal with exotic treasures of her most wild dreams and desires. Cinnamon and apple scents seemed to carry across the streets with a hint of pine, a bizarre combination that was so similar to Christmas on Earth she had heaved a sigh and smiled warily accepting the gifts.
"To know the bounds and your means of leading the people-"
But her she was being formally crowned, the crowds had gathered in hordes and Chloe almost had a panic attack when she had first seen them. They had roared their approval and until that moment Chloe hadn't realised how badly she had craved their acceptance. Kal's slow steady voice next to her ear had helped keep her grounded and his hand on hers had allowed her to space just enough that she hadn't had time to feel panic as he had placed the crown delicately upon her head.
"So with great honour and proclaim you-"
It was her 19th birthday in a month, she was going to be 19 and there would be no one in this world who knew that.
"Presenting your newest princess and my escort… Princess Chloe." Kal had grabbed her hand and slowly allowed her to stand and take a curtsy. The crowd once again roared as Chloe looked at them all and felt tears at the corner of her eyes, she hastily blinked and looked across at all of them vowing to try her hardest to be a perfect princess.
"Your majesties." Chloe and Kal turned to see Ariadnne and Oliver standing at the steps beaming, as they bowed and curtseyed at the couple. Oliver's jackets buttons and cords making him look every bit the military leader he was, while Ariadnne's bohemian skirt was flowing in the wind and her peasant top made her look every bit the teenager she was.
"Congrats Chloe, I'm so proud of you…" Arianne bounded up to the older girl and gave her a hug, her bracelets jingled and her hair was slightly longer then it had been the 2 months ago that Chloe had been introduced to the young teen. "And Kal, you actually managed to act like a decent human being."
"Thanks Ariadnne, have you put on weight?" Things between her and Kal could still be difficult, Oliver and Ariadnne had often come into the room with insults (and sometime blunt metal objects) were thrown about.
"Bite me Kal. I'm going to claim you have a small package in your next health exam, plus you're just jealous because I'm younger than you." Ariadnne showed her age by poking her tongue out at Kal and walking backwards, she wasn't looking and the next thing everyone knew she had hit the ground and another person was sprawled out behind her. She cursed and scrambled up, smoothing down her hair and skirt as she turned to the poor boy she had knocked over and started apologising profusely.
"I am so sorry, I should have looked at where I was going and… I am just so sorry."
"Hey don't worry about it. No harm no foul right?" Ariadnne finally looked at the boy as he grabbed a sack of whatever he had been carrying; it looked like the soldiers duffel bag, and loaded it back onto his back before winking and walking off. She stared after him in amazement and barely noticed when the other three came to see if she was okay.
He was beautiful. The most beautiful man she had ever seen on any of the planets she had visited in her reasonably short life.
She supposed that was why she wasn't chasing after him. That he was just so surprisingly handsome, she hadn't been able to even move.
But he was a soldier from what she could tell. One of Oliver's loyal men who became dirty with the blood of others and who fed off of dominance and power, she needed them and they needed her… It was a disgusting balance but one that was essential from Krypton to survive.
Soldiers have forever been and forever will be forged amidst chaos, in the heat of battle, and yet, his eyes had been captivating and his manner softer then the average soldier had been for a long time…
Ariadnne had sworn when she was younger that she would never fall in love, her father had done so and strayed outside of his marital bonds. Her mother in a fit of sadness killed herself by overdosing on pills when Ariadnne was barely 6 years old.
She couldn't say that she missed them. The absentee dad and the alcohol abusive mother, they simply aspired her to be not like them.
And she wasn't.
But her vow had been to never fall in love… It only ever ended badly and Ariadnne was not willing to become her parents.
No, not now… Not ever.
Hello All!
They are going to take longer to get together this time…
Yay!
I've tried to make this chapter as long as I can within a 3 hour time limit… And can I just say I am amazed at the response I got from everyone over this story… Your encouragement is amazing. I would like to thank…
Purpleant- I know you've been reviewing from the start and I have to say thank you so much for the support you have shown. It's been great to have you there and… Yeah… Please keep doing it?
Caitiri- The back up is still undecided but I'm thinking that I'll do a sequel and explain it all in that… Love to hear your thoughts…
Inu-fan20- You've updated nearly every chapter I have written.. I am impressed and humbled and hope you continue to do so…
DarkEris- You have been great bordering on amazing.. Thank you so much for your reviews they really are just what I need and funny to boot.
Jljcjj/Jaime- I know you've been on this story for a while and I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update… You gotta hate Christmas in some respects…. I'm going away but I will write this story every night I am away and will hopefully have a kick ass chappy by the time I come back… Thanks so much for the reviews….
murasaki no sora- I think I'm glad my story is different, better then being the same as every other on at any rate ;). Thanks for the support.
supergirl-776- Well, I updated and I'm glad you love my story, I'm rather affectionate to it too!
Katieishere- Thank you for your support in the… 3rd chapter and I went out and got myself a BETA for you! And me too I guess. Thanks so much for your detailed review it really meant the world to me at the time…
Kandykanemel- I am glad you like the pairing… I had my doubts but I'm glad it's panning out the way it is…
ChanningGirl21- Hey… I updated!
daydreamer22688- Hope I'm giving you enough info here…
aesthetic anomaly- For you lovely offer to BETA my story, I would still love you to but I don't have your email so I can't email it to you at the moment, do whatever you will and I made this chapter as long as I could for you…
Randoms- Thanks for the support (or flames) and I used the flames to cook marshmallows and the support to flame my ego ;)
So, with that bunch of people over and done with I'm going to be away for 2 weeks but I'll write the entire time and post the second I get back, I'm going to the beach and checking out the summertime guys! By the way it's 2 am on Christmas morning and I have to drag my sorry ass out of bed later today at about 7 to go driving… I'm going to fall asleep at the wheel!
Sorry… Night! And Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!