There's a certain desperation in Kid's expression that has him wanting to punch him.
As the music dies down around them and they stand there in silence, Kid's hands slowly retracting from his shoulders, Soul feels a wave of emotion hitting him like a tsunami. Confusion, happiness, fear and anger hit him all at once. Kid was supposed to be dead. It wasnt like he wanted him to actually be dead- no, no he was happy he was alive- ecstatic, actually. But four years of guilt, four years of running, four years of keeping himself distant from people- all for what?
Kid never died.
He was standing in front of him once again, asking too much of him- like he always did when they were kids.
It was all too much to take in.
Kid was here. Wes was here.
They were here for him- just when things were finally looking up for him.
Where was he supposed to go from here, now?
"Kid," He says warningly, taking a step back from him, his feet hitting the supporting pillar behind him. "I don't get what you're asking of me- I…. Why now?"
Everything he worked for was going to go out the window- his well crafted persona- his friendships- his newly blossoming romance- it was all about to be ripped from his fingertips, wasn't it?
"You need to talk to Wes," He answers simply. "He'll explain everything to you. I promise you, I wanted to search for you sooner- I did- but I meant it when I told you I'd be happy for you, wherever you ended up. I wanted you to leave, but I knew my better judgment was clouded by selfish thoughts."
"I didn't want anyone coming to find me." Soul counters, his hands balling into fists at his sides, "What could you possibly need from me now, when I'm on Cinder's assassination list. There's nothing I can help you with now."
Kids eyes darken.
"Soul?"
Behind Kid, Maka emerges.
Her hands are folded in front of her, a look of confusion plastered across her face as she steps beside Kid. Souls heart shatters at the sight.
"Hey, is everything okay?"
Two worlds clash at once, Soul bitterly thinks, as Maka reaches out for his hand.
"I went looking for you but I saw you slip away off the dance floor," She speaks, holding his hand a little firmer, "are you okay?"
"Uh- yeah, yeah no I'm fine," he lies, his eyes flickering to Kid one last time before he looks down to Maka. He wouldn't let his past be spilled like this- not on Maka's birthday- not in front of a crowd like this. "I started feeling a bit sick, that's all."
Instantly, the back of Maka's hand is pressed against his forehead worriedly. He doesn't flinch away from the touch and instead invites it, leaning in a little as Maka hums.
"Let's get you some water?" She suggests, tugging on his hand. She turns to Kid for a moment, sending him a cheesy smile. "Thank you for looking after him for me."
A look of confusion wipes over Kid's face. "Oh, of course," he replies stiffly.
And then he's gone from his sight, disappearing into the crowd like he was never there in the first place as Maka tugs him back to where the other guards had been standing waiting patiently for them.
Soul's heart clambers to his throat as he finds himself standing at Blackstar's side, everything around him happening so fast and yet so slow at the same time.
His brain couldn't keep up with what was happening. Everything was about to fall apart in front of his eyes.
Hadn't Kid mentioned Medusa would be here soon?
They knew he was here-
Crona- Ragnarok- he must have known he'd been here the whole time, he must have told them.
So why did Kid say Ragnarok was the one holding medusa back? What the hell was going on?
"Can you keep an eye on him real quick? I'm going to grab some water," Maka speaks, sounding distant, like she was a planet away.
"Sure, your highness," Blackstar replies without missing a beat.
Maka is lost to the crowd next, and suddenly, there's a cold hand at his neck.
"Soul, you okay buddy?" Blackstar questioned carefully, just loud enough for him to hear. "You look like you just saw a ghost."
Because I did," he replies with all seriousness as he turns his attention to Blackstar.
Blackstar's joking smile falters as he sees how serious Soul was. "What?"
Soul turns quickly, catching Liz and Patty out of the corner of his eyes- they're far away, too far for them to overhear their conversation.
In an instant, he's making a decision he knows he'd regret. A decision he'd never be able to back out on.
Ut santa decision he wanted to make. He thought he could outrun his past, but he knew he couldn't now. Not with Wes here looking for him, not with Kid alive- not with Medusa on her way to this kingdom.
He had to not be selfish for once.
This wasn't just about him anymore.
"The other night, before the dinner party," Soul recalls, turning back to Blackstar fast enough to give himself whiplash, " You said I always struck you as a runaway thief."
Something clicks, he sees it in Blackstar's expression. "Soul, where are you going with this? What happened?"
"My past, it's finally caught up to me," He says warningly, "You said you'd fight on my behalf, did you mean it?"
"Soul-"
"Did you mean it?" He questions with more urgency.
"Soul," Blackstar bites out, grabbing Soul by the shoulder. "I meant it, now spill. What's going on?"
"Promise me that after whatever happens tonight, you'll protect Maka."
"What the fuck arent you telling me?" Blackstar questions, his voice raising. "This isn't funny, whatever is going on- I meant it, okay Soul? I trust you, I've always trusted you. I will do whatever you need me to do but you need to be honest with me or I wont do anything."
Soul licks the bottom of his lip, his hands shaking, his eyes falling to the ground.
He rips the bandage off fast.
"I hated it when you kept comparing my situation with Maka to the one that happened in Cinder," he mumbles, taking in a deep breath, "Because I swear to God, it was never the same thing-"
"Soul."
Soul picks his head up, squeezing his fingernails harshly into his palms.
"I never tried manipulating Kid," he answers, "I never tried using him. We were friends, even if he wanted more. I never wanted him to get involved in my escape, okay? I never meant to hurt him the way I did."
Blackstar doesn't say anything as his jaw drops.
"I've had an assassin after my head for the past four years for treason, and she's on her way here tonight. Prince Wes of Cinder and Kid are here for me," he explains, stumbling over his words, and I fear my time here is coming to an end."
"So- you're the runaway Prince," Blackstar clarifies, to which he nods. "Prince Solomon, of Cinder?"
"I'm sorry," he mutters under his breath, "I hated lying, I hated hiding who I was- I know that they made the story seem much worse than it was, I know how bad it looks from the outside but I promise there was a reason I did everything I did."
"I believe you," Blackstar insists, despite the long look on his face. "I- I trust you. So, what's happening?"
"I don't know," Soul answers nervously, "Kid found me and pulled me from the dance floor, said I needed to speak with my brother-"
"You should do that, then. They wouldn't be here without a reason, right?"
"I'm scared of what that reason will be," Soul replies, "I dont- I dont want to have to leave."
"I don't think anyone would want that, but you need to hear them out," Blackstar supplies shakily. "Does Maka know?"
"No- I don't want her to know, not yet." Soul insists, "you can't tell her, okay? Just please promise me that if something happens, you'll look after her for me?"
Something unreadable plays across the guards face.
"I promise," he finally answers, grabbing Soul's hand as he spoke. "Is there anyone else that knows?"
"Stein knows. He knows everything," Soul answers quickly, his eyes catching Maka already on her way back, two glasses of water held in her hands. "If something goes wrong and we can't speak again- ask him whatever you need to. I don't care. Just keep her safe for me."
Blackstar doesn't give him a verbal response. He simply nods, dropping his friend's hand as Maka approaches them, extending the glass toward Soul with a timid smile.
Graciously, Soul took the cold drink in between his hands and brought it to his lips shakily.
"Are you going to be okay?" Maka questioned. "Do you need to sit down or go lay down somewhere? You seem really shaky."
"I'm fine, seriously," Soul pushed, "Just tired. Dont worry about it."
"Are you sure- the party will be over in a few hours, you really don't have to stay for the whole thing if you're not feeling good."
"I'm sure," Soul insisted as he passed the now empty glass to Blackstar.
Maka is saying something to him- he's sure of it- but his eyes catch him and he can't even focus.
He's hiking up his sleeves of his black dress shirt as he makes it toward him confidently. If he had to be honest- he barely looked different from when he last saw him. His hair had grown quite aloof like his own since the last time he saw him, but it was the same distinctive ash blonde it always had been. His cheeks were still littered with freckles, similar to his own, and his deep brown eyes were locking with his.
Wes- Soul was basically a younger spitting image of him- was making his way to him after all these years. With a bright smile on his face, he was gathering everyone's attention around them, bowing slightly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," He spoke, his voice dainty, "But i was wondering If I could steal Soul for a moment?"
Blackstar and Maka turned to him with confused expressions, but before either of them could speak, Soul was stepping toward him.
Wes didn't give him bad memories. Wes was the one person who made him happy in his previous life- excluding Kid- because that whole situation had way too many tainted memories associated with it.
He was the one family member he really ever had.
"Of course," He found himself speaking. With a smile, he raised his hand to him. He took it generously, bidding a quick goodbye to Maka and Blackstar who looked rather hurt as he walked toward the dance floor again.
As they made it back to the hard aluminum floor, Wes took no time in speaking.
"Soul is an awful alias,"
"I've heard worse," he responded, finding both his brother's hands in his. "What are you doing here?"
They blended into the crowd, dancing with the masses as Wes laughed.
"What do you think I'm doing here? You spoke with Kid."
"He wasn't very keen on why you were here, all he said was I should speak to you.''
"Oh," he sighs, his eyes dropping to the floor, watching their feet move as they dance. "Who were those two you were with? We've been trying to find a good time to approach you all night, but you were always around them."
Soul sighed this time. "You attend her party and don't even know her? That was Princess Maka, the guard was my friend Blackstar." he answers easily.
Wes shrugs. "In all fairness, I came here searching for you. Ragnarok said he knew you'd be here, either at the party or in the town square, so here we are." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Why are you in this ballroom, dressed so fancily, Soul?"
Soul doesn't answer for a moment as he trips over his own feet.
"What does that matter?" he finds himself asking. "What are you doing here? You wanted to talk, right?"
Wes just rolled his eyes. "You're still the same impatient boy I remember," he points out, "they still talk about you sometimes. It's weird to think I'm supposed to have a brother."
"Okay- what does that have to do with-"
"Last I checked, mother and father told me you were dead." Wes cuts him off curtly.
His heart stops in his chest.
"They told our kingdom that after you ran away, you perished in the snow. I believed them for a while. All hope for our kingdom was lost that day, and every single person blamed the king and queen." He explains, being quick with his words. "After Kid recovered, he insisted I speak with him. He told me about how Medusa and Ragnarok were sent to find you and that you weren't actually dead. For years, I held hope they'd find you- I didn't want to do this all on my own."
There was a sorrowful tone in his voice- one that had Soul feeling more guilty as the seconds passed.
"When Ragnarok showed up last month, he told Kid instead of Medusa that he was sure he found you- but she overheard."
Taking another deep breath, Wes tilted his head up.
"We've been working all this time to find a way to keep you safe from their wrath. The kingdom has been in uproars and rebellions have been happening. Everyday for weeks now, there have been demonstrations on the streets, saying that the people will no longer take to the King and Queen's words. The kingdom, they're planning to overthrow them, and any day now, they will be killed."
Wes's words hung heavy in the air.
"I need you to come back to Cinder with me. We can get there before Medusa finds us- her and her little scoundrel gang- they want these uproars to stop. I don't want them to stop us. I want the kingdom to overthrow the pathetic excuse for parents we have- and I want you to be there to help me pick up the shambles of our kingdom."
Soul doesn't know when or how it happens- but for the second time, he's pulled off the dancefloor, brought right back to Kids side.
Feeling both surrounded, and a little pathetic, Soul tore his hands away from his brother.
"No- no, I am not the person you people think I am anymore," he states, feeling a little more stable than he did earlier. "I have a life here- responsibilities- I can't just uproot everything again-"
"You had no problems leaving bigger responsibilities." Wes points out as he crosses his arms over his chest. "So what, you're a guard, right? You belong as a Prince- as a king somewhere else."
"Actually, I'm a royal guard for her highness, Maka," Sou corrects, feeling both pairs of eyes bore down on him like the scorching sun, "I can't just leave again. I don't belong in Cinder, that is not my home nor my people anymore-"
Kid's eyes are watching him with anger as he grabs onto his hands. "I know the last thing you ever want to do is return to Cinder, but Soul, you have no idea how hard we have worked to get to where we are. We need you to come back with us."
He sounds so desperate, it shatters his heart. Looking from his former guard to his brother, he sees that he is sporting a similar expression, his jaw locked.
"We don't have time for games anymore, Soul." He informed him, running a hand through his hair, "the assassination will take place any day and i need you to be there with me to pick up our kingdom, do you understand? We need to be the ones to set things straight, with Kid by your side. I don't care what you do after that, for God's sake. I'll make sure to take over the throne when it's time, but right now, our people need us." He paused, biting his lip. "My people need us. I need you, Soul."
He felt tears prickle at the back of his own eyes as shame washed over him. He knew what he'd be doing if he declined. He knew he'd be making the wrong decision.
But he couldn't just leave another life- especially this one- especially one he was so happy with-
"I'm not the ruler you're looking for," he speaks with all seriousness, "I have spent these past four years training to take a life, not to save them."
Wes takes a confident step forward, pulling his hands into fists. "You're a royal guard, are you not?" He throws an arm behind him, motioning to the room around them. "That damned Princess is under your care, don't give me that bull shit that youre not here to save lives. I know you're a good person, Soul. I know what you're capable of."
"I'm not the same person I was then- why don't you get that?" He raises his voice, moving his hands frantically. "I have spent years running from my past, I'm not ready to just waltz back into a kingdom that thinks I killed my own guard. I'd be seen as a fool-"
An ear-piercing shriek breaks their conversation. Around them, people are moving, yelling as the music comes to a halt.
In a moment flat, the guards around them are turning their attention to the doors of the ballroom. With a fast racing heart, Soul was pushing his brother away from him, staring at the door with wide eyes.
Standing there, dripping in sweat and blood was her- his fucking assassin.
In one hand, she held a sword above her head, in the other, she held a man's arm bruisingly, tugging him closer to her side.
"Fuck," Kid whispered beside him, "Thats Ragnarok!"
Soul's eyes were frozen on her as she took a step into the room, pushing the man in front of her before bringing the sword to his throat. The guards around them falter- clearly recognizing the awol guard.
"Well, I've got everyone's attention, huh?" Medusa cackled into the room, pulling Ragnarok by the shoulder as she pressed the blade of her sword to his jugular. "I suggest everyone keeps reall fucking still, or this piece of shit dies."
The room is silent, only filled with Medusa's laughter.
"Funny, you all can party as one of the worst people to ever exist mingles with you like he's one of you?" She pulls her sword from Ragnarok's throat and lifts it triumphantly into the air. "Oh God, this is going to be so fun! Am I going to have to sit here and pull teeth, or are you people going to hand over your harbored piece of shit willingly?"
No one moves. With his heart in his throat, Soul turns to look toward the center of the room where he remembered last seeing Maka. Surely, she is still there, Blackstar now at her side protectively.
His throat goes dry at the sight- Maka, standing there, her eyes wide as she grips onto Blackstar. Her lip caught between her teeth, her eyes jumping around the room- probably looking for him.
God, he didn't want things to go down like this. Never like this.
Suddenly, something cold and slick is being pushed into his hands. Looking down, he catches the glint of a knife as Kid pushes it into his grip.
"Take one of us hostage, right now," Wes whispers, eyeing the knife. "It's the only way we're getting out, do it!" he raises his voice, dragging the ballroom's attention to them.
Acting on instinct, he grabbed Kid's hand and turned him around, pushing him a good two feet away from the pillar they'd been standing in front of. Not wasting a second, he pushed his body against him and raised the knife to his throat, feeling Wes settle at his side.
Everyone's eyes were on him now as gasps rang around the room.
"I swear to God Medusa," he croaked out, his grip on Kid tightening. "Don't do anything you're going to regret."
Something in Medusa's eyes shifts as she points her sword to the floor.
"Oh, here we go again, murderous Prince Solomon looking to finish the jobon his deranged lover? Should I have delivered him to your doorstep, Soul?" She draws out his name with a laugh as she pushes Ragnarok to the floor in front of her. The entire room erupts around them into chaos as people scream and yell, and Soul can't help the way his eyes begin to tingle as tears well in his eyes.
This was not how this night was supposed to go.
This was not how people were supposed to find out.
