The Captive Prince (o/o) closed

Levi took a bite of his food, nodding along while his mouth was full. “Yes, it was difficult last night,” he agreed. There were some times when the words flew from the pen, and others when he struggled to find the right word. He had fought tears in some places, particularly the beginning.

The passage rehashed what Levi had already told him, but I’m more detail in the beginning: waking up to see his brother at the foot of the bed, coaxing him outside, then forcing a blindfold over his eyes and shoving him into the hands of at least two strange men. He was seized by a collar around his throat when they reached a carriage, and put inside. The written passage of during the carriage ride was less detailed, since that part was fuzzier in his memory. He did recall many demeaning comments, and being frequently pulled by his collar when he spoke out of turn. He described any unique details of the voices he heard, and then that led to being passed over to the captain of the guard, then to the bath, and then to Fiori.

Levi, who’s face has morphed from contentment to solemness at the memory, leaned into the back of the chair as he watched Fiori finish reading. He reached out to take the paper, murmuring a small you’re welcome in response to the first comment, putting the paper in the desk drawer He nodded slightly, and felt some closure at Fiori’s promise. “…Thank you,” he said a bit louder.

Levi’s chest warmed at the emotion, and a smile crept onto his lips. “It just means a lot to me,” he grinned. He wanted to see those slaver’s faces, to match their faces to the voices. To be able to stand in safety while justice was being served. He imagined it would be like a taste of the royalty in his own kingdom, watching from a safe distance behind the protection of the guards.

“I’m honored,” He hummed contest in an audible sigh, beginning to eat again. “What do you have in mind to do? If you have any idea yet.” He asked once his mouth was free of food. “For those slavers, I mean.”

“…Oh,” he perked up a little bit, straightening his posture interestedly. Not that he was excited to make such a difficult decision, but it was a concept that didn’t sound half bad. He was also curious. “I see.” He cocked his head, squinting while he thought. In his perspective, everything they did was inhumane and awful, but which laws was Fiori referring to? “What specific two laws did they break?”

“That’s good,” Levi rested his chin on the back of the chair. “It’s good we have a written testimony, then.” His expression was heavy again, but his thoughts were interrupted by his stomach reminding him to eat, so he took another bite.

Levi squinted thoughtfully, “They’re sentences, at least, weren’t unintelligent. I couldn’t tell otherwise.”

“They expected me to go to them if you wouldn’t have wanted me,” he recalled, looking off to the side while he unburied the memory. “So they would have to be in a higher class such as a soldier… right?”

“I see,” he nodded, setting his empty plate on the desk. He abandoned the chair and went to sit on the bed beside Fiori. “Then they would be ones to take a trip across the continent to my country?”

Levi briefly glanced down at the plate between them. Was it an offer for him to share the food? If it wasn’t, he didn’t want to be rude. Not that he was afraid of angering Fiori, it would just be a rude thing to do in any situation. He looked back up again. “That makes sense,” he agreed, nodding slowly. “I’m glad it was you who I might, or else I might have gone to them…” his expression became heavily again.

“Thank you, you’re a good person too,” Levi smiled. Relieved that Fiori really was offering him the food. He took another bite, “Mm…” It did make him feel better. Drinking alcohol and eating, the best ways to feel better, right?

Levi smiled warmly and the acceptance of his compliment, and when he finished his bite he replied, “You’re welcome. And thank you again.”

When giving compliments, Levi always loved watching the recipient’s reaction. Even if the emotion was limited to their eyes, the warmth and appreciation in them was gratification enough. He took yet another bite of food.

“Absolutely, I’m just appreciative and it’s polite to thank friends for their kindness,” he grinned, munching on his own fried meat. “Anyway, is there anything happening today, or is it just a normal day?”

“Oh!” Excitement spread across Levi’s face. “I didn’t realize that was so soon! Do you have anything to prepare?” He raised his eyebrows. If Fiori bested his Uncle, then all of this misfortune could take a quick turnaround for the better. He might even be able to be freed and left to go home.

“And then I can go home,” He added excitedly, until he realized that if he went home, Fiori likely wouldn’t be able to go with him. “There might even be a day when you could visit. I would put in a good word for you.”