Truffles: Not sure if I had this story posted on here before, alongside Whispering Wings, but this is another Prince of Egypt story I started ages ago. I'm hoping to continue this one as well. This started off as a small collection of random prompts I got off tumblr or a similar site (maybe even pinterest?) but now it turned into a small collection of one shots that tell the story of Aaron and Layla, an Oc of mine I came up with just for him because Aaron deserves more love. I dont anything relating to Prince of Egypt. I only own the story idea and the ocs not related to Prince of Egypt.
Chapter 1: Do You Remember?
They laid there in the warmth of the rushes and the grass. It was a cool night, compared to the sweltering heat of day. But even though he had been working in the hot desert all day, the night felt alarmingly cold to him, making him shiver involuntarily. Her head rested under his chin, her ear laying directly over where his heart was beating from his ribcage. Long black hair that was as soft as silk and skin the color of bronze, it was no wonder she sweet talked him into sneaking out all the way to the Nile despite all the risks they were taking. Sneaking out at night when the slaves were supposed to be resting up for the long day tomorrow and avoiding the occasional Egyptian guards that would be on patrol.
It was the warmth of her body that reminded him that everything would be fine. His messy brown hair which she would often call a permanent bed head hung about his face. He was just glad his hair didn't obscure his view of the starry sky. It was her who got him into staring at the sky and silently believing the promise his God - his people's God would keep his promise and set them all free. So far, Aaron felt he had been blessed to have met the woman he held in his arms.
Feeling her shifting beside him, he glanced down. Aaron saw her eyes open. Her lips curled up in a soft smile.
"Did I drift off for a bit?" She asked quietly. All he could do was smile weakly.
"For a bit." The man replied. Gods, her smile! Why did she have to be so damned charming and beautiful? He bit back that last word surfacing in his mind. He was stubborn about admitting this girl in his arms was beautiful. He allowed himself to admit she has a strange charisma to her. The way she could soothe his fears of being caught by the guards with a soft touch to his shoulder or speak to him so freely, her words lifting his spirits. She was just a bit like his sister in being comforting and kind, but unlike Miriam, Layla knew when to take risks and when not to.
She giggled lightly and closed her eyes, her arms going tighter around his waist. "If only we could stay right here in this moment forever."
Aaron finally allowed himself to smile and nodded in agreement, letting his arms go around her small frame and draw her closer to his body. They laid in a peaceful silence, enjoying each other's company until...
"Aaron." Her voice was soft, barely a whisper.
"Layla." Aaron responded by shifting his lower body a bit for a more comfortable position.
"Your heart's beating fast." Layla murmured. The palace girl lifted her head to look at him and smiled. He nearly shivered at feeling her small hand touching his bare chest.
Of all the days not to wear a shirt under his vest!
She giggled at feeling him squirm from her hand. That simple touch wasn't exactly intimate, but was enough to anyone who could have been watching (if it were day) to speak ill of such a young couple touching each other in this manner without being married. It wouldn't be blasphemous, but his Faith called for a couple to be married before any acts of intimacy can be carried out.
Aaron merely smiled at hearing her chuckle. When she went to touch his chest again with the palm of her hand, he grabbed her wrist to stop her. Usually he would get annoyed by her flirting with him and they would have a little disagreement but by this time tomorrow night, he would need her call and everything would be forgotten. But tonight, tonight felt different. He felt different.
Instead of releasing her hand and walking off, Aaron brought Layla's hand to his lips, planting a kiss on the palm with a smile. It was his turn to make her heart race. And it did. From where his thumb touched her wrist, he felt the soft throbbing of her pulse. It made his own heart flutter a bit but he accomplished what he wanted to do.
Her smile grew and she sat up. Leaning over him now, Layla leaned in closer. Their lips met in a gentle kiss. At first it was just her mouth barely touching his s in the promise of one, but when their gazes locked, she pressed her lips into his.
Aaron felt his heart stopping, his body tensing slightly. Since when did Layla plan this out? Or was it God's will? He didn't know. All the slave knew was that his heart felt lighter all of a sudden and he felt... Happy? Joy? He didn't know the words to describe his feelings. Happiness was just one word of many.
She finally pulled out of the kiss, but remained in his embrace. Her smile remained on her lips. "I bet you'll remember that." Her teasing tone made him chuckle out loud, but not too loud. There could be guards around.
He just shrugged a bit. "M-maybe."
Of course he'll remember that. It was one of many kisses that she's been stealing since they were teenagers. Layla raised an eyebrow at his words, but she still smiled. Her hand reached out and touched the side of his face, her fingers gently fingering the scruffy beard around his chin.
"You need a trim." She teased him about trimming his beard constantly. But it was just a playful gesture. He knew better. A long time ago, he would get mad over her playful joke but now he's grown accustomed to it. Her smile suddenly disappeared as she stared at him.
Her stare was a bit unnerving, as if something was troubling her.
"Layla?" Aaron said in question. The palace servant looked at him.
"Mmm?" She sighed in response.
"Is there something wrong?" Concern laced his soft voice as he studied her face. She didn't seem bothered by any thing, but when her eyes narrowed slightly and her small nose scrunched a bit, he could tell something was wrong.
"Remember when we met?" She asked, her tone a bit sorrowful.
He nodded. Of course he did.
"Mm, yes. It was about 20 years ago." Aaron said softly after a few minutes of silence.
Layla nodded as well, her smile returning a bit. "You remember how we met, don't you? It was here in this exact spot..."
Just as she said that, Aaron felt the memories returning to him, what felt like an entire lifetime they spent together rose to the surface. He could remember it like it was yesterday...