The Captive Prince (o/o) closed

Th carving on the door was the same as Johan’s, likely a motif for the highest ranking princes or princesses. Whoever happened to be staying in them.

“Yes, lets go in,” Levi let out his breath and turned the doorknob. The setup of the room was very similar to Johan’s, only larger. The bed with curtains was positioned facing the middle of the room, facing the door. More bookshelves lining the walls, a screen in front of the wardrobe, and a couple living chairs scattered around the room for comfortable reading. There were also a couple portraits here and there of the previous king and queen, along with the entire royal family hanging in the walls. The fireplace was cold and lifeless, and the room smelled more like candle wax than burned wood. Some unused dog beds sat in the corner.

“Thank you. I like it comfortable,” Levi’s cheeks rose in a smile. Now, more than anywhere else it felt like home. He moved farther inside, with Mordecai close behind. He turned on of the candles, which had fallen on its side sometime since he’d left. It was little things like toppled candles and ripples in the rugs that made it evident people had been in his room without him. He opened the wardrobe to pick out a few things to wear.

Levi stood in one place while he relished the feeling of being back home and the warmth of the young fire. His clothes would be cold from being closed in a stuffy wardrobe for so long. After a short while he disappeared behind the screen to change. “Would you like your Usigen clothes and bracers back, Fiori? I won’t ever wear them again.”

“Alright,” Levi answered as he carefully unlaced the bracers, and set them aside on a small table.

Mordecai followed Levi behind the screen, taking advantage of the small amount of privacy they had to kiss him. It lasted only a matter of a few moments, Levi having to gently pull away to finish dressing. He stayed quite close to him, though, and murmured quiet conversation about all they had to catch up on.

Levi set the discarded shirt and pants folded on the floor, and quickly replaced them with his own clothing. Despite the musty smell and chill, the navy gray undershirt and pants were a thousand times more comfortable to Levi than the lighter fabric of the Usigens.

Levi emerged from behind the screen, tying the front of his shirt closed while he walked. “No, I don’t mind at all. Just keep an eye out for Johan. He doesn’t seem to particularly like you,” he chuckled in reply. He knew Fiori could defend himself perfectly well, but Johan might have the upper hand in his own palace.

Mordecai stayed close to Levi, putting his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the wall.

“I’ll meet you there,” Levi agreed with a nod of his head. “If you get there before I do, you can start planning what you’ll need to make any changes in that room.” He went stride over towards one of the armchairs and sank down into the cushion. “And if nothing else changed since I’ve been gone, there should be some servants around the halls too. You can ask them any questions.”

“Well, then I suppose you have a few more people to avoid?” Levi followed Mordecai with his gaze as he came to sit down beside him. “I’ll brief everyone on the new situation as soon as I can. And as soon as Johan in out of the way.”

“Enjoy your walk,” Mordecai added. His curt tone certainly didn’t reflect the kindness of his words. Just as Levi had described, Mordecai didn’t seem very friendly towards people he didn’t know well. Not cruel like Johan, just standoffish.

Mordecai opened his mouth to answer, but closed it when Fiori disappeared. He turned his head back to Levi again, “I don’t know if I like him,” he confessed. A smile gradually grew on his face the longer he gazed on his beloved’s face.

“You’ll get used to him,” Levi wrapped his arm around Mordecai’s shoulders. “I did.”

A very flustered guard, who Fiori might recognize as the defensive one from the entrance gates to the palace, turned the corner into the hallway. He eyed Fiori warily, but seemed more interested in hurrying towards Levi’s quarters.

“Prince Leviticus,” the guard braved his halt with the frame of Levi’s door. He sucked in a few breaths before speaking. “You’re needed in the baths—“

“Why?” Levi, who had just leaned back on his mattress beside Mordecai, sat up again. He’d just gotten home, and every muscle in his body ached. Even his hair was unkempt, oily and yet to be tended to. What was the rush now?

The guard caught his breath. “A group of guards. Some nobles. Ganged up on your brother in the royal baths. They’re…they’re demanding his retribution for treason.”

“Treason?” Levi pushed his eyebrows together. He hadn’t spoken a word of what Johan had done to anyone. He’d only just started telling Mordecai his side of the story. “Who told them about anything?”

The guard wordlessly shrugged as Levi stood up from his bed, and pushed past him into the hallway. He silently decided that if he saw Fiori on the way to the baths he would ask for assistance. If he didn’t, well, he didn’t want to bother his friend when they already had an agreement to meet in Johan’s room.

Levi’s walk soon turned into a jog through the castle, through the hallways and eventually to the doors he knew were closest. He wanted Johan to pay his retribution, even more than the guards did. But he didn’t want Johan to die. If not an unjust punishment, it was an all too easy way out. Perhaps conveniently the closest doors the the baths were the doors Fiori sat near. He slowed down only slightly at the sight of his friend, and brief thought of concern flashed through his mind. There was no time for that now; he ask later. “I-I might need your help, Fi,” he breathed. A part of him felt bad for asking, but Levi knew he couldn’t take on a gang of skilled guards—and his brother— alone. He chose one of the doors and pushed it open.

Levi shifted to hand Fiori his sword, silently thanking himself for bringing it. “The guards, and whoever else is battering Johan—just don’t, critically hurt them, just enough to get Johan away from them and detain him,” he stammered. His mind was reeling already, wondering how he was going to explain this to everyone else, what he was going to do with Johan. He dragged a hand through his hair and advanced towards the brawl, and it seemed Johan had little chance against multiple men. Not when he was nearly naked and without any weapons or warming. No matter how skilled he was. “Everyone get away! Break it up!” Levi raised his voice, but he doubted he could be heard above the fighting anyway.

Levi witnessed the scene wide eyed and silent, attempting to regain his composure and rational mind. Noticing Johan slowing down, Levi shook his head free of distracting thoughts. He didn’t want his brother to die—especially not like this. He crouched down low in an attempt not to be caught in the crossfire of swords and any other punches that might’ve been being thrown. He reached for Johan’s arm to yank him out of the water, struggling against any other soldiers that might still be holding onto him.

Johan gasped upon his head emerging from the surface of the water. He dug both sets of fingers into Levi’s arm in a pure, primal instinct to survive. “Save—help m-!” He croaked.

Levi dragged the rest of Johan completely out of the water and onto the tiles floor. He looked wearily up to the remaining soldiers, while Johan lay collapsed beside him and descended into a coughing fit. His eyes darted from the soldier’s wrists and back up to his face. “I want justice, but not like this.” he vaguely gestured to the sodden, trembling form beside him. “Didn’t you stop to think I had some sort of plan?” He pushed himself up to stand and brush himself off. As much as he could; it didn’t change the fact that the front of his shirt and pants were dripping wet.

Johan parted his lips to let out a wavering groan. He placed his palms flat on the floor, tried to push himself up, but ultimately failed the first attempt.

Levi’s nose started to wrinkle. Johan did deserve death, but nothing about this distortion seemed right. He wondered how this guard even knew about how he was sent to be a slave. “No.” He finally answered, as firm as he could make his tone. “I have his accomplices executed. He deserves worse than death. And what better punishment is there to become nothing? Not a prince or even a common citizen. His hair will be cut tonight, and he’ll become a slave.”

Johan’s eyes flickered open wider at that. To the Nord Widonians, hair was their symbol of status, of respect, to be washed and carefully conditioned, to be ornamented with jewels and gold rings. If his hair was cut…he would look no different from a peasant. Worse than a peasant if his brother truly wanted to make him a slave. “N-no…” He pushed himself up enough to sit.

Levi watched the guard leave, and when he was gone turned his attention back to Fiori. “Yes. I didn’t mean for this to happen so quickly, but I don’t think I have a choice.” His gaze fell to Johan, whose shoulders were hunched. It seemed nearly every ounce of energy had been drained from his muscles. “He’ll need cleaned up before anything else,” Levi added.