Race against Treason

The beginning of the end.

Warnings: None

On the other side of the palace where the guard's dormitory stood high upon one of the many hills, a man with eyes that were similar to the kings but had much longer blonde hair made his way up the spiral stairs that lead to the dining hall.

It was noon and as usual around this time most of the other guards had gone to training in the yard,

Perfect.

The fair blonde pushed open the wooden door to the mess hall and hummed in approval seeing two other men standing inside of the room already and also one smaller man sitting at the round table.

"Well you sure know how to be punctual," he said softly shutting the door firmly behind him "I'm glad, I would have hated to wait too long"

A silver haired guard clad in his armor let out a low laugh raising an eyebrow at the other "Come now Francis we're always on time when it comes down to. Business."

Francis walked to the small round table with a smile and sat down with a chuckle "Yes yes you are right my friend, and I see you gathered Toris for me as well" Francis asked looking at the only sitting person in the room

"Ah yes!" the second man smiled, his brown curly hair and tanned skin a bit unnoticeable in the dark room "though he tried to hide, very poorly I might add"

"You found him hiding Antonio? That's no good Toris" Francis scolded softly, his eyes focusing on Toris

"Where... Where is he?" Toris asked softly eyes on his lap

"Now Toris," Francis warned gazing at the man across from him "I know you have not forgotten our deal?"

"o-of course not Francis..." Toris finally replied letting his eyes fall to his lap "but please…I beg you to tell me why you want to do this. And where Feliks is..."

There was a small silence before a musical laugh filled the hall causing the other standing men to chuckle themselves

"Now Toris! Questions were NOT a part of the deal either!" Francis smiled, his eyes slowly growing crueler "now were they?"

"No but I just don't-"

"It doesn't matter if you understand or not mi amigo" Antonio laughed kindly, his eyes closed in content "you just have to make sure to do as we discussed. Else you want your amour hurt?"

Toris's winced, eyes shooting open wide at the mention of his fiancé's name

"No! No I don't want that at all!" he exclaimed digging in his side pocket and shoved a parchment on the table surface "This is where the horses are for the trip. The Kings horse is at the very end. So please do not hurt Feliks!"

"So stop asking so many damn questions!" The red eyed guard growled slamming his hands on the table causing the long haired brunette to flinch and look away "do you have the right horse ready for the king's trip?"

"Y-yes I do Gilbert..."

"And-?" Francis quirked an eyebrow

"t-the horse is older and has about three days. Four max in him before he passes on..."

Toris worked in the stables of the kingdom alongside his partner and love of his life Feliks. The two were brought into the palace by the king direct request and Alfred trusted him entirely when it came to anything Calvary related or otherwise.

"I know a good man when I see one!" The King had said as he showed Toris and Feliks around personally when they first arrived "and when I saw how you cared for your horses I knew you would be the perfect stable manager!"

"I am honored. But I can be a bit shy…"

"Ah don't be silly! Just work hard and smile and everything will be fine!"

Though he was beyond honored that his king had noticed them out of hundreds of his subjects, at this moment he had wished that they had stayed in the farm lands and out of the spotlight and away from the kings trust

It had only taken Francis one action to get the loyal Toris to bend to his whim. On a regular day, the guard had approached him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Give the king a sick horse on his three week trip or they'd kidnap and kill Feliks in cold blood.

How could he decline?

"Alfred trusts you," Francis began standing from his seat "if you tell him a sick and ailing horse if fine for a trip he will not doubt one word!" he smiled and turned his gaze to Gilbert "I have you to thank for your perfect suggestion Gilbert"

"You'd be a fool to think otherwise, I never disappoint!"

Once we start our trip it should be no less than 3 days then we can properly dispose of his highness" Antonio smiled "This is your best plan yet Francis"

The men shared another round of laughter as Toris felt more dread creep into his chest. Unlike these men, he loved his king and the thought of betraying him made him physically ill but what could a man do when his soul mate was being held against him?

"The king trusts you...all of you" Toris said softly his hands shaking even harder in his lap "he speaks so highly of you three-"

"Than he is even more of a fool then I thought" Francis spat his eyes narrowing as he thought back to long ago "He knows what he has done, and now is the perfect time to make him pay for his crimes he was a fool to allow me to come into his armed guards and now his mistake will cost him his life, his crown and his queen"

"And we shall assist our friend to the end" Antonio smiled "we are bound by a seal stronger then blood you see, though my heart will always belong to my Lovi~"

"We are not talking about your weird taste in men right now Antonio" Gilbert rolled his eyes at his friend with a laugh

"You wound me Gilbert! Francis do you think Lovino is 'weird?'

"He is interesting mon ami"

"Francis!"

"HA! I told you so Antonio!"

"You two are so mean!"

"You'll be fine I-"

"…you three won't win"

The friendly banter stopped suddenly, all eyes focusing down on the smallest man in the room.

"What did you say Toris..?" Gilbert glowered down at him

"I said you...You may think you've planned well...you may think you will win but you won't" Toris quivering voice grew louder as he looked up to face them "You shouldn't take his highness lightly!

"The nerve-!"

"You should watch your mouth mi amigo..."

"Do not worry boys..." Francis smiled as his eyes looked down at the suddenly brave stable manager "we will deal with this. Loyal subject"

Another silence followed before Toris felt an extricating pain in his temple, hit the oak table and fell to the ground, world turning dark.

"He may be trouble..." Gilbert muttered darkly looking at the bruised man on the ground "we should be careful"

"there is no need" Francis assured, shaking his fist to relive the throbbing pain "Everything is all set up, we will not fail."

I feel bad because I love the Bad Touch Trio but they are the best Villans for this story and I didn't want to use Ivan like EVERYONE does, I love me some Ivan.

Please Review and thanks for all the followers and all! You guys are wondrous!