The Runaway Prince

Chapter Three: Shopping

Mikhail wakes up to feel something warm next to him. It is a fairly pleasant, yet uncomfortable, feeling. A strange mixture of feelings he's been getting since Alexander reared his naïve little head. The warm smiles filled with nothing but admiration, the kind words, constant attempts at physical contact, it's extremely annoying and extremely confusing.

Sighing, Mikhail moves a little to escape Alexander, going slowly so the boy doesn't wake up and whine or something else equally stupid and possible.

"Mikhail…" Alexander mumbles, wrapping his arms around the man as he tries to run.

"God damnit, fuck nice." Mikhail groans, pushing the boy to the wall, making him hit his head and wake up.

"O-oww! Mikhail, what was that?" Alexander whines as the man gets out of bed.

"What the hell were you doing in my bed?" Mikhail counters and Alexander frowns.

"The couch was uncomfortable."

"You sleeping beside me was uncomfortable."

Alexander smiles a little. "You don't seem to mind while you are asleep!" He teases, gaining a pillow to the face. "Ow!"

"Don't be such a brat. I'm not a woman, I will rough you up." Mikhail warns as he crawls out of bed.

"I don't mind that." Alexander smiles. "I would very much like to be made more manly."

Mikhail scoffs. "I doubt that's possible. You're way too girly."

"I'm not girly!" Alexander whines. "I-I just don't have any male role models!"

"Well…" The platinum blonde begins, sliding his coat on. "You have one now. Don't fuck it up."

"I'll do my best!" Alexander says, smiling again.

"Yeah…that…stop that. It's girly. You say 'I won't fuck it up!' with no smile." Mikhail explains as he heads to the bathroom.

"I understand…" Alexander says, his face falling.

"That's better." Mikhail says, heading to the door. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." He orders before leaving.

Alexander sighs. "So I'm stuck here alone…?" He frowns and begins to wander around the house. "Surely there must be something interesting here…" Looking around, he sees absolutely nothing of interest. From the looks of it there are some books that he can read, which might amuse him for a little while, but not long enough. Sighing, Alexander looks out the window to the ground below him where people are running around. "I want to go out there. I left the kingdom to do things…maybe I can go get my own clothing."

Smiling to himself alexander finds some clothes of Mikhail's and heads out of the building. It's a little scary, he has to admit, going out there alone. Without Mikhail the street seems dirtier, the inhabitants angrier, and the sky even seems darker. He barely knows the man yet he feels a thousand times safer with him around. Is that normal? For his own sanity, he's going to assume it is.

"Now where to find clothes…" He mumbles, looking around. "Where would someone sell clothes around here…?"

"I can help you!" A boy with short, dark brown hair says, smiling at him.

"…Who are you?" Alexander asks, moving away.

"I am Liu! Daniel is my…" Liu blushes a little. "Roommate. He told me about you."

Alexander smiles. "Ah! You are the one Daniel is in love with! He told me about you as well!"

Liu laughs a little. "Yes, it's good to meet you! So would you like me to escort you around town?"

"Very much so!" Alexander says, following Liu out of their street and into town.

"Alright, so you know how the cost of colors works, right?" Liu asks and Alexander nods. "Well, out of the cheaper things…I think you would look awesome in brown!" He decides, bringing Alexander to a large vendor selling all kinds of brown articles of clothing.

"Hm…how about this?" Alexander asks, holding up a brown jacket with a black trim.

"Ah, yes, perfect! You will need three layers though, so find a shirt and vest as well." Liu says and the prince frowns.

"Three whole layers? That seems to be a bit much to wear on a daily basis…"

"Not around here it isn't. it's always best to wear three layers, the nights get cold and the buildings we all live in are not greatly insulated."

"I'm just fine at night with Mikhail beside me." Alexander says and Liu goes bright red.

"M-Mikhail shared the bed with you?"

"Well, not exactly willingly…but yes. Why, is it weird for guys to do that?" The blonde asks.

"Weird for guys to-?" Liu sighs and places a hand on his shoulder. "Alexander, men and women can behave as they please. Do not allow Mikhail to throw gender roles in your face to keep you from being yourself. Not all men like to be close to one another, and not all women like it either."

Alexander smiles at him. "I like you, Liu."

Liu smiles back. "I like you, too." The two boys gather some more clothes before paying and heading back to Mikhail's place. "So he's on a job, huh?"

"I suppose…he would not let me come." Alexander frowns and Liu nods.

"As he shouldn't. You would slow him down and someone as innocent as you should not see what he does."

"I could easily handle it! I'm not a fragile little kid. The truth is that Mikhail doesn't want me around…that's all." The boy mumbles dejectedly and Liu frowns.

"He's letting you stay, that's more than anyone else can say about him."

As the two boys make their way back Mikhail returns home. He walks up the stairs and looks around, seeing no sign of Alexander anywhere. "Damnit! I told that little brat to stay still!" Mikhail hisses, kicking his couch in anger. "Well forget him, he's probably dead now anyways." He grumbles, plopping down on the couch and picking up a book from the coffee table. Looking at it, he sees pieces of papers sticking out from pages Alexander has marked to ask him about. "He expected me to teach him about weapons? Stupid kid…"

Mikhail tries to settle down into reading, but it doesn't work. The kid left his mark all over his books. Instead he gets up and just paces, his mind wandering to what could have happened to Alexander until it suddenly hits him; Daniel. Quickly leaving the building he goes down the street to Daniel's house, practically kicking the door down. "YOU!" He hollers, making Daniel pop his head out of the other room.

"Yes?"

"You told someone about Alexander, didn't you?"

Daniel smiles lazily. "Ahhh, did your friend leave? Worried about him, are you? How cute."

Mikhail twitches. "He's not-I'm not worried about him. I'm simply going to kick your ass if you told anyone about him."

Daniel raises a brow. "Told them what? Are you afraid someone killed him? Really, of all the people here you should know better than anyone that all those on this side of town get killed eventually."

"He cannot be killed." Mikhail says firmly. "He's too…important to people." He adds, trying to stop himself from saying who Alexander really is. "The point is, I said I would keep him alive. If he was killed I have failed."

"Promising the impossible now, Mikhail? How bold." Daniel teases before coming up to him. "But I assure you I have said nothing. Liu went out to grab some groceries, when he returns we can ask if he saw Alexander anywhere."

Mikhail sighs. "Yeah…I guess. If that brat comes back I'm putting a bell on him."

"Mm, with 'property of Mikhail' written on it, I'm sure." Daniel mocks. "And if you want to find him I will even help you out."

"Shut up." The platinum blond grumbles. "So…why are you willing to help exactly? I will not be paying you for it."

"I like the kid…I also like that you fuss over him so much." Daniel says, smiling. "He is interesting. I might just even help keep him out of trouble from now on."

"If he returns." Mikhail points out, making Daniel frown.

"Yes…if he returns."

"Daniel! I'm back!" Liu exclaims, coming into the room Daniel and Mikhail are in. "Oh…Mikhail…I just sent Alexander back to your place. He bought some clothes when we went to-!" His voice cuts off when a small dagger lands in the wall beside his head. "…Eh…?"

"Do not take my stuff without asking first." Mikhail grumbles, grabbing the dagger on his way out.

"What was that all about?" Liu asks curiously and Daniel chuckles.

"That was Mikhail worried about someone."

"Weird…I don't think I like it."

Daniel laughs. "I love it!"

Mikhail stomps up to where Alexander is changing and slams open the door as the boy removes his shirt. "You-!"

"Mikhail! You're home!" Alexander smiles at him, watching as a hint of color comes to Mikhail's pale face. "I went out with Liu today."

"You could have left a fucking-"

"I was actually heading out myself, but he found me and offered me help. He and Daniel are really nice. You have great friends."

"They are NOT my-!"

"Anyways, I got a bunch of clothes! They actually fit! No oversized hand-me-downs!"

"Would you JUST-!"

"I bought you something too!" Alexander says and Mikhail falters.

"…Huh?"

"Yes! I got you this!" The prince reaches into his pocket and pulls out a badge with a beautiful cornflower on it surrounded by little patterns in black. "The blue reminded me of your eyes! Liu said you wouldn't take it, because it looks girly. I think it looks cool though!"

Mikhail lets out a frustrated groan before grabbing a shirt moving closer to the boy. "Put this on or you'll catch a cold, brat." He grumbles, tossing the article of clothing at him as he takes the badge. "It's really girly. What guy gets excited over flowers?" His eyes go back to the dejected looking Alexander. "…But…if you ensure that you won't go off without informing me somehow again, I will keep the stupid thing." He glares at Alexander. "And don't you dare tell Liu or Daniel that I kept it."

Alexander smiles. "You will? Really? Of course I'll make sure to tell you from now on! I promise!"

Mikhail nods and places the item in his coat pocket. "Alright then, get dressed and come out to the other room. I have brought home dinner."

"Okay! I'll be out soon!" Alexander calls out as Mikhail sits on the couch with a scowl.

"Why did I take him in? Of all the things to get me…he gets something with a flower."

A/N: The word 'girly' is thrown around quite a bit in this, huh? I'm not being sexist, that is just how genders are viewed. Liu (Nyo!Taiwan) is the voice of reason for gender XD Poor Mikhail...it's like watching over a little kid. Sorry this took...like...forever.