The Runaway Prince

Chapter Six: An Argument

The sun shines into Mikhail's bedroom, where he is once again joined by Alexander. He hated it at first, the crowded feeling of another person in his room, yet recently his focus has been on the warmth coming from the sleeping boy beside him. Things he hated like Alexander moving closer in his sleep, making noises right in his ear, are now things he can sleep better to. The boy is making him more…agreeable, and he doesn't like it.

"Mikhail, good morning!" Alexander says, smiling over at him.

"Hmm? Yeah…morning…" Mikhail mumbles, turning away.

An almost wistful look comes to the small blonde's face. "Ranier has sent the letter today, right?"

"That is right, your sister will get the letter tonight." Mikhail answers, sitting up. "She will no doubt come to find you."

"Maybe she will let me stay!" Alexander says, smiling at Mikhail. "Maybe we can tell her of the rotten things the soldiers have been doing and fix the corruption!"

"Oh yes, and maybe after that Liu, Daniel, Ranier, Marceau, and I can come to the palace for tea." Mikhail grumbles, his sarcasm being lost on Alexander.

"That would be wonderful!" Alexander exclaims. "You could meet Julchen and the others as well! That would be so fantastic!"

Mikhail narrows his eyes as he looks to the boy. "You're a fucking idiot."

Alexander immediately deflates, frowning at the man beside him. "What do you mean…?"

"I'm not going to associate with those people, the corruption will not be put to an end, and you won't be able to stay here." Mikhail explains bitterly. "The royal court does not work that way, Alexander. You will be taken away from m-from here and there's nothing anyone can do to get you back."

The blonde tenses up, actually glaring at Mikhail. "What do you know? My sister will help me! She is the next to the throne and even more just and interested in equality than my parents!" He yells, standing up on the bed to look down at Mikhail. "Do not talk of people you don't know!"

"Then you don't talk of things you clearly do not understand you sheltered little idiot!" Mikhail shouts back. "Damnit! Can't you tell from the time you have spent here just how little your family actually tells you? You cannot be this stupid, Alexander!"

"I'm not stupid you presumptuous jerk!" Alexander hollers, chucking his pillow at Mikhail's face. "Unlike you I can embrace and believe in good things! You are the type who would greatest thing you could imagine and just drive it away because you refuse to feel happy!" He screams at the top of his lungs before running off the bed and changing, quickly leaving the building after.

"God damnit!" Mikhail hisses, looking out the window to see Alexander running off. "Refuse to feel happy, huh…?" He mumbles, burying his face in his hand. "Maybe that's true…"

Without giving much thought to it, Alexander runs to Ranier's place and bangs on the door. "Ranier! Ranier, please let me in!" He pleads, tears now streaming down his face.

"Alexander, what are you-?" Ranier falls silent when he opens the door and looks at the boy. "Oh my…please come in." He says, ushering the boy inside and to the couch. "What did Mikhail do?"

A sad smile comes to Alexander's face. "You immediately assume he did something, huh?"

"Well, it's Mikhail…so it's a safe bed, isn't it?" Ranier asks, smiling at Alexander. The boy doesn't return it, focused on wiping the tears that won't stop. "Alexander…" He begins, a frown settling on his features. "What happened?"

Alexander remains silent for a moment, staring at the ground, before finally mumbling. "Do you hate the royalty?"

"As in the royal family? Not at all." Ranier says, smiling at Alexander again as he places a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'm quite fond of one member."

Alexander looks at him confused. "Have you met one before?"

"Haha!" The man laughs. "I have the prince on my couch as we speak!" He watches in amusement as the blonde pales. "Do not worry; I like you so I won't say anything. Not to mention…" Ranier sits down beside him, tilting his head to look the boy in the eyes. "Mikhail would kill anyone who took you from him, no doubt."

Alexander blushes and looks away bitterly. "That is not true. He is looking forward to my sister getting me out of here." He mumbles. "He just wants me gone…"

"Are you sure he's looking forward to it?" Ranier asks. "Are you sure it is not dread?" He sighs and leans back on the couch. "He said some harsh things that hurt, right? That's because he is hurting and rather than discuss it, being Mikhail, he decided to let his frustration out on you."

"That…can't be…" Alexander mumbles and Ranier laughs a little.

"I would bet you anything that Mikhail is panicking right now. No doubt I will soon get a knock at the door or a phone call!" Ranier says, patting him on the back. "Patience is needed with that idiot. A lot of it."

Alexander frowns. "He doesn't like me. He takes care of me out of moral obligation…"

"I've known Mikhail since before he was able to walk on his own. In that time he has not once been the type to do something out of moral obligation. Or morals period." Ranier points out. "Really, you should go talk to him."

"But I...I lashed out on him…" Alexander mumbles. "He's going to be mad at me."

"No he won't. Really, Alexander, go home and talk to him." Ranier insists.

"Ranier…" Alexander begins, an amused smile coming to his face. "Are you insisting I return home to talk to him because you want to help…? Or because you want some more alone time with the very naked Marceau in the other room?" He asks, watching Ranier go bright red.

"Wh-wha-? When did you-?"

"When I first came in." Alexander explains, standing up. "I did not bring it up because I was too upset." He looks at Ranier. "You know…everyone thinks I'm completely naïve about these things…but just because I'm unsure of the mechanics doesn't mean I do not recognize it when I see it."

Ranier awkwardly clears his throat. "S-sex…?"

"Well that too, but I was talking about love!" Alexander teases before waving to Marceau and leaving.

"He is pretty observant, isn't he?" Marceau asks, coming out to sit next to Ranier.

"Y-yeah…" He admits before looking at the man beside him. "As hot as you are naked, would you mind putting some clothes on?"

Marceau laughs and kisses Ranier on the cheek. "Anything for my dear landlord."

Alexander leaves Ranier's house, his smile fading once he closes the door. The whole reason he chose Ranier rather than Liu and Daniel was to hide somewhere Mikhail wouldn't think of at first. However, he would never want to interrupt a couple while they are enjoying their time alone together, so he swallows his apprehension and walks back to Mikhail's. Once there he goes to open the door before a hand grabs him from behind. "Ah!"

Twirling around, Alexander comes face to face with a very frustrated…or is it flustered…Mikhail looking down at him. "You. Inside. Now." Mikhail orders, pulling him into the house and locking the door behind him.

Alexander looks up at him shyly. "Mikhail…I-!"

"I'm sorry." Mikhail mumbles under his breath, his words too quick and barely audible.

"Ah…what?" Alexander asks, receiving a glare from Mikhail. "O-okay, you don't need to say it again, I heard it…" He smiles at Mikhail, feeling his face heat up under the man's uncomfortable gaze. "I'm sorry too…" The blonde apologizes as he reaches out to grab Mikhail's sleeve. "I promise I won't leave though…not until you want me to."

Mikhail stares down at Alexander, unmoving under the boy's touch. "You won't have a choice."

"I'll hide."

"They'll find you."

"I'll run."

"They are your family, don't you want to return to them at some point."

Alexander looks up at him helplessly. "I just want to be with you, Mikhail…" He chokes out before burying his face in his arm to hide his tears.

"Crying isn't very manly, Alexander." Mikhail points out, his tone gentler than Alexander has ever heard from him. "Telling another man you want to be with them probably isn't either." He adds, the blonde's face heating up at the implications of his own words and the warmth of Mikhail's hand that now wraps around his.

"I-I can't help it…" Alexander sniffles. "I'm not manly, I guess."

Mikhail places his free hand on Alexander's head, gently petting his hair before pulling him into a hug. "No, you're actually pretty manly." He admits, resting his chin on top of the boy's head and allowing his arm to wrap around Alexander's shoulders. "I'm in awe of your bravery. To say such embarrassing things."

The blonde's face goes a deeper red and his heart is pounding in his ears. It feels nice to be touched by Mikhail. Too nice. "S-stop being so nice, it's strange!" He stutters out and Mikhail let's go, moving back.

"Daniel told me to be nicer so you don't run away again." Mikhail explains. "Should I not?" He asks, his voice going cold again.

"No, I...I want you to be you…" Alexander mumbles. "I'm sorry I didn't understand. Ranier explained to me…why you were being so mean." He frowns at Mikhail. "I'll be more understanding from now on, I promise."

Mikhail stares at the boy surprised for a moment before nodding. "I will attempt to be a bit less of an ass…" He squeezes the hand he's still holding a little. "And I won't let them take you."

Alexander smiles widely. "You will fight to keep me?"

"If I must, I will kill." Mikhail says, a dark smirk on his face that sends a shiver down the boy's spine.

"P-please refrain from killing them…the female soldiers are my friends…"

"Then only the males will fall."

"Maybe…no one falls?" Alexander offers, receiving an unamused look from Mikhail. "I really hope they don't find us…" He mumbles before his eyes go to the hand Mikhail is still holding and he smiles. "I suppose if it becomes necessary to ensure I can stay, a few deaths won't be that bad…"

"What a very manly res…" Mikhail trails off, looking to where the boy's blissful gaze is. His face goes a bright red before he quickly pulls his hand away. "A-anyways, don't go running to Ranier anymore. That man knows way too much about me and I'd rather you not hear it."

"No way!" Alexander grins. "I plan on getting all kinds of information on baby Mikhail! Oohh I wonder if he has baby pictures of you…"

"Don't make me have to kill you before your family's soldiers can even begin to search." Mikhail threatens, his dark look ignored by the boy.

A/N: God boys just kiss already! ...I'm really sorry this took so long. To be honest, a lot of the time I forget about it...lD I'll try to do better with that...