A story of 28 chickens - One Shot
Title: A story of 28 chickens
Fandom(s): U-KISS
Pairing(s): EliXander, Kemaru
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fluff, RatherFail!Crack
Word Count: 3,677 words
Warnings: Awful!English
Author's Notes: This is a very late birthday present for samanitajayne! Happy (belated) birthday! Hope you like this :) Sorry for the wait!
Alexander was the prince of Xanderland, if that wasn’t obvious enough. He was Alexander the…29th? The royal secretary lost count.
As the traditions go, he would tour the kingdom for a suitable person to marry. It can be a lady or a gentleman, as long as the person is human. In Xanderland, no one ostracises against same gender marriage, or well, different gender marriage.
Want a baby? Simple, get a concubine.
It was the perfect chance for Eli, the ordinary citizen, to try his luck. In fact, he was madly in love with the prince, and he knows Alexander’s habits better than 99% of the citizens. Which is, well, the ninety-nine other citizens. (Yes, the pathetic population of Xanderland.)
The kingdom tour would last a month, each week spent in a different region. Since the kingdom was right in the centre, the seven days in every week would then be spent in North, South, East and West.
And Eli already planned to follow the whole tour.
-
Day 1.
“What are you busy with?” Kevin frowned at his older brother busying himself in the kitchen. “You’re cooking lunch so early? We just had breakfast.”
“Go feed the chickens and shut up.” Eli replied curtly, concentrating on perfecting his dish.
Kevin grumbled a little, but listened nevertheless. As he walked to the kitchen to get some sunflower seeds for the chickens, he saw at least ten chicken wings being fried inside the wok.
“I want!”
“Go away!” Eli growled, quickly shoving Kevin out of the way. His younger brother can be such a nuisance sometimes.
“…” Kevin pouted, sadly leaving the house through the backyard to feed the many chickens they kept. “Eli never feeds me good food. He’s such a mean brother, humpfh. Unlike me, I give you guys nice sunflower seeds!”
The chickens gathered around Kevin quickly, alert when they see the familiar bag containing their meal.
Kevin giggled, walking around the area while dropping seeds here and there, just so every single chicken has access to food.
“Kevin, I’m leaving the house. Cook your own lunch, but I’ll be back before dinner.”
Kevin widened his eyes, pouring many seeds onto the floor without a thought of overfeeding the forever hungry chicken. He wasn’t going to let Eli let him starve!
“I’M COMING WITH YOU!”
-
“Stay at home!” Eli frowned, trying to push his stubborn little brother back into where he supposedly belongs. “And feed the chickens!”
“I fed them all.” Kevin stuck out his tongue childishly. “You know I can’t cook, I’m just going to die from hunger if you left me at home alone.”
“I’m not eating either.” Eli replied with a deadpanned look, locking the door and leaving. He was going to be late if he continued quarrelling with Kevin!
“Then give me money!” Kevin grinned cutely, skipping at the thought of eating something that was actually bought. “Give me money~!”
“…” Eli sighed, giving Kevin some coins that was probably just enough.
“Stingy.” Kevin mumbled, but was happy with that much anyhow.
-
“No one prepared lunch for me?” Alexander muttered under his breath, a little unpleased with having to eat in a modest roadside store and not someone’s house.
Kibum, the royal guard, apologetically shook his head. “The store owner is willing to let you eat free of charge though, and his daughter is the one coming over with the food.”
“…” Alexander sighed, before quickly wearing his best smile when the food arrived. “Thank you.”
“Good day, Prince Alexander.” The girl fumbled a little with her words, nervously setting the dishes on the table. “Enjoy your meal.”
The girl then quickly disappeared, blush creeping up her oily face.
“Would she be good enough?” Kibum asked, having his own share of food to eat. “Of course, you can take your time, but-”
“Shut up, Kibum. Just eat.” Alexander rolled his eyes, more interested in food than the marriage.
Kibum took in a deep breath. Sometimes, it was just so difficult to please an unconventional prince.
-
“Kevin. Eat.” Eli ordered, glaring at Kevin and giving him immense pressure to finish his food within a minute. “Five, four, three, two, one.”
Kevin coughed, tears in his eyes from the uncomfortable feeling of food stuck in his throat. “Why do I have to eat so quickly?!”
“Bring these fried chicken to the prince.” Eli smiled brightly, unwrapping the cloth he had put his many fried chicken wings in. “And please say they’re from me.”
Kevin’s jaw dropped at those words. His brother is even abusing his stomach for the sake of the prince?!
“Or you will never get money to eat, ever.” Eli shrugged, folding his arms in the oh-so-mighty manner.
Kevin cursed his luck for being the younger one.
-
“Um, hello.” Kevin awkwardly said, setting the plate of fried chicken wings on Alexander’s table. “These are from my brother, I hope you like them.”
Alexander looked at the chicken that looked really appetising. Smiling brightly, he nodded. “Thank you!”
“My brother.” Kevin quickly corrected, running off back to where Eli was.
Kibum’s eyes followed Kevin, who cutely blew air into his mouth when he got back to his seat.
“Eat, what are you looking at?” Alexander bit his lower lip, picking the food with his hands and eating almost immediately. Who cares about who made it?
-
Day 4.
Kevin grumbled slightly, once more made to send something he would gladly eat to the prince instead. “But it’s your little brother’s favourite! Chicken kebabs!”
“No.” Eli looked sternly at Kevin, as if daring him to steal even one bite from the dish made especially for Prince Alexander.
“And you make me do the errands every single day.” Kevin rolled his eyes, stomping forward when Eli gave him a little shove from the back, the older of the two noting that Prince Alexander and his royal bodyguard just exited another house probably in search for a place to eat lunch.
“You’re here again.” Kibum smiled softly, finding Kevin’s expression really cute every time he walks to the front of them two. Kevin would be slightly pouting, but at the same time trying to fix his expression before the royal prince. “What’s your name?”
“Kevin.” Kevin returned a shy smile. The past three days, well, minus the first day, this royal bodyguard has been pretty nice. He doesn’t say rude things nor stop Kevin from presenting the food to the prince, and also has a really, really, really, really attractive smile. “Y-Yours?”
“He’s Kibum.” Alexander cut in, immensely interested in the food Kevin brought today. “I loved yesterday’s chicken empanadas, what’s today’s?”
“Ah, kebabs.” Kevin said, really wanting just one bite. Not even a full stick, just one bite…
Alexander beamed, quickly getting hold of one stick and taking a big bite, ignoring that he was eating too casually in front of Kevin, a normal citizen. He nudged Kibum to do the same, and the bodyguard did the same thing, only a lot calmer.
“Have you eaten?” Kibum slipped in another question, right before Kevin was about to turn around and leave.
“N-No…” Kevin blushed, eyes widening when Kibum gave him a stick. “Ah…it’s for the prince…”
“I’m not the prince and I’m eating it.” Kibum shrugged. “Come on, just take a bite.”
Kevin figured he shouldn’t reject what he really wants, taking a really big bite just in case Kibum regretted offering. Only that his actions made Kibum chuckle, and Alexander rub his chin in interest while watching them two.
-
“It wasn’t for you!” Eli scowled.
“Kibum gave it to me! The bodyguard, you see! It’s not nice to reject.” Kevin giggled happily, skipping home with a stomach full of chicken kebabs. Kibum had offered his share to Kevin seeing the younger (they chatted) eat so contentedly, while Alexander just ate his share while sending cheeky glances towards Kibum.
“…” Eli shook his head, a little uncomfortable with the thought that there are actually people that would treat his annoying little brother so nicely. “He doesn’t like you, does he?”
“Eh?” Kevin looked away, trying to will away the blush creeping up his face. “How would I know?”
“You…don’t like him, do you?”
Kevin kept silent, suddenly really amused by the path they were walking along.
-
Day 8.
“Kevin!” Kibum spotted the said boy, waving slightly.
“Hello!” Kevin smiled a lot brighter, biting his lower lip as if trying to restrain himself. “Today is simpler, chicken salad. My brother said there were too much oily food before, so this should help the prince’s digestive system and all those funny things. Here!”
Kibum chuckled, ruffling Kevin’s hair and nudging Alexander. “Aren’t you interested in what Kevin’s brother looks like? Or at least, his name?”
“Eh?” Alexander frowned, deciding he was rather interested in the maker of all these delicious food. “What’s his name?”
“Eli!” Kevin bit his lower lip as If hiding his smile, subtly giving Kibum’s arm a small squeeze as thanks.
“Eli?” Alexander nodded, then taking a bit. “Ah, this is nice too!”
Kevin rubbed his hands in delight, pecking Kibum’s cheek in his happiness and then running off to tell his brother the (two) good news.
-
Day 13.
“Kevin!” Alexander exclaimed, used to the name he heard Kibum call every day. “What’s today’s menu?”
Kibum raised an eyebrow, amused at the way Alexander’s smile turned brighter, brighter, and even brighter than the sun when Kevin brought the basket he had hidden behind him.
“Chicken Carbonara! Er, there’s no tables around so my brother said I should help hold the bowl while the prince eats.” Kevin frowned slightly, putting the basket on the floor and then wondering how he should go about doing it. Literally hold the bowl and stare as the prince eats? That’s not very polite.
“He’s used to eating with one hand and holding the bowl with another, in front of a television. Leave him to eat alone.” Kibum waved his hand dismissively, taking out a bowl from the basket and shoving it towards Alexander. “Oh? There’s three servings today?”
“My brother wants me to stop stealing food from you.” Kevin sheepishly scratched the back of his head, grinning when the prince helped himself with the food without needing Kevin to hold the bowl for him.
Which means he could eat too!
It didn’t matter that they were standing in the middle of a street, eating.
-
“Why don’t you ever do anything right?” Eli chided Kevin on their way home, though comforted by the way Alexander ate his food so happily. “You were supposed to help the prince!”
Kevin pouted, kicking the little stones as he walked.
“I even cooked your lunch for you and you couldn’t even do that.” Eli sighed, carrying the empty basket and checking the empty bowls inside.
“Kibum-hyung said the prince is used to eating that way himself, in front of the television.” Kevin grumbled, always getting scolded for this and that.
Humpfh, why don’t Eli do it himself?!
“He does?” Eli blinked, nudging his sulky little brother with some kind of goofy grin. “Does he have any other habits?”
-
Day 17.
“You know, is it just me or are we eating chicken every day? Why does Kevin only bring us dishes with chicken?” Alexander rubbed his chin, rather curious.
“Eli’s the one that is cooking. Kevin’s the one who brings you the food.” Kibum helpfully corrected, knowing Kevin’s intentions already. They were both trying to match make the two together, especially since his older brother seems to be a little more than just interested in the prince.
And the prince (or the anxious king and queen) was finding someone, so why not?
“Ah, same difference, I’m talking about the food anyway.” Alexander shrugged, smiling when Kevin approached them. “Hey, delivery boy!”
“Hey!” Kibum scrunched up his nose disapprovingly, elbowing the prince despite his status.
“I was just kidding.” Alexander rolled his eyes at the very “polite” bodyguard of his, before poking his head closer to the basket Kevin brought. “What’s today’s special?”
“Chicken pie! My brother did everything from scratch! And the crust is super crispy!” Kevin enthusiastically promoted, bringing out a plate of three pies from the basket, and Alexander noticed there were two more plates of it. “There’s drinks too, because it might be a little dry. Let me find it…”
“Kevin.” Alexander called, stuffing his mouth full of the delicious chicken pie. “Why ish ev- mm, fing chick-umn?”
“He meant why is everything chicken.” Kibum kindly translated, smiling affectionately at the blur expression Kevin wore. He frowned when Kevin started fidgeting.
“Ah, uh, ah…” Kevin drew a big circle on the ground with his feet, eyes averting both Alexander’s and Kibum’s. “The drinks!”
-
“You seemed really nervous. Did that Kibum guy confess or something?” Eli looked curiously at his younger brother, shaking his shoulders to wake him from his temporary daze. “Kevin!”
“Huh!” Kevin jumped, hand instinctively moving to his heart as if to calm down the frantic beats. “No! Kibum-hyung d-didn’t! I was just thinking…you know, they were asking why every dish was some sort of chicken. I’m not sure if they don’t like it anymore or if they are just asking…but…well…I’m not ashamed of how poor we are, but it’s not the best thing to say because we’re poor, we can only offer chicken, right?”
Eli bit his lower lip, ruffling Kevin’s hair. “Don’t worry about that. It’s for me to worry.”
“It was going well though.” Kevin pouted, playing with his fingers. “And you cook nice dishes! I’m not sure what’s wrong…”
“Thank you.” Eli hooked his arm around Kevin’s neck, grinning. “Whatever that you had done for the past weeks, thank you. For thinking for your older brother like this, thank you.”
“Psh, that’s only because you fed me when no one else would.” Kevin giggled, trying to act a little cooler than he usually was.
The two laughed, both understanding each other only too well.
-
Day 22.
Kibum had been waiting for this day. He remembered Kevin saying something about him and his brother living in the West region, so in the last week, the prince and him could go visit their house!
“If someone else was looking, they would think you’re the prince looking for partner to marry.” Alexander raised his eyebrows, sensitive nose sniffing around for hints of Kevin and his delivery.
“Shut up.” Kibum coughed, eyes continuously surveying everywhere for hints of the cute boy.
-
“We can’t let them know where we live.” Kevin suggested, pulling Eli towards a longer road. Taking a detour to the city and walking back to the West region would make the prince and his bodyguard confused as to where they live.
Then maybe they wouldn’t find out Eli and Kevin lived at the border of Xanderland, where only the poorest lived there.
Eli agreed, checking the time and then quickening his steps.
“What are you rushing for!” Kevin pouted, unable to keep up.
“The prince stomach would be growling in fifteen minutes, hurry!”
-
“Today’s special is eggs!” Kevin called from behind Alexander and Kibum, the two spinning around at the same moment. “Omelette, to be exact.”
“Where did you come from?” Alexander beat Kibum to the question, having search for shadows of Kevin and his brother (whom the two haven’t met) since the morning.
Although they did stop by five houses for toilet breaks and some food.
“Aha, uh, we went to the city to get some things so I just came from the city!” Kevin nervously lied, quickly settling the basket down and taking out plates of omelettes. “Eat it while it’s hot!”
Eli had suggested they make use of the eggs to tentatively distract the prince and the bodyguard from the idea of eating chicken every day. Only the sharpest person would know an egg is just a chick that hasn’t hatched.
Kevin decided that would be a good idea.
Kibum saw the fidgety behaviour of Kevin’s and the happily eating Alexander. He shall not say a word about today’s dish.
-
Day 25.
“So, where do you live?”
The three of them sat on the streets once more, munching on the different parts of a whole roasted chicken. Kevin had been offering the best parts to Alexander, the second best to Kibum and eating all the tough meat, deciding his hungry state would go well with any part of a chicken.
Alexander repeated the question when Kibum nudged Kevin, and the boy froze for a moment.
“Aha, I live in the West!” Kevin laughed nervously.
Alexander and Kibum exchanged glances, agreeing to let this matter go for now.
-
Day 28.
“For the last day, we should make the most nutritious food, right?” Kevin grinned, urging Eli to cook his favourite dish. “Chicken soup, please?”
“All right.” Eli checked the clock, deciding he still had sufficient time to boil the chicken so the taste of the chicken would fill the soup. It usually took a lot of time and effort, so they ate it only on special occasion even if Kevin would bug him to death to cook it more.
“Rather sad that they couldn’t come to our house, but our house isn’t much for them to see anyway.” Kevin sighed, before telling Eli he wanted to go catch the sunrise and then running off.
-
“I don’t get it, we’ve been to every house.” Kibum frowned, walking further into the West region. A few more miles and they would be out of Xanderland’s border.
“I feel like they are hiding something from us.” Alexander nodded, deciding he wanted to see who was the chef of the food he had been eating for the past month too.
It was the last day, and he needed to choose someone already. If Eli wasn’t that bad of a catch, then choosing such a loyal admirer wouldn’t be that horrible a decision.
“Shh.” Kibum’s eyes narrowed on a figure. “Let’s follow Kevin, without him knowing.”
Alexander understood what Kibum meant. Kevin had been avoiding this for the last six days, questions on where he lived. If they followed him, then maybe they could finally find out where the two brothers lived.
-
Kevin had entered the house without realising there were two people following his tracks. The two left outside blinked at the state of the house built with raw uneven wood, leaving holes between each log. There weren’t windows probably because their skills weren’t that good, only a big hole here and there to act as some sort of ventilation.
In the backyard of sort were countless of roosters and hens, and realisation dawned them both.
“Time for breakfast!” Kevin chirped, bouncing out of the house to the fenced area, dropping a handful of sunflower seeds here and there. As he was skipping around, he felt intent eyes watch his every move and instinctively checked the area for strangers.
His mouth dropped open when his eyes met with those two pairs he had gotten so used to.
-
“So.” Alexander awkwardly coughed, watching the two brothers drop their heads as if guilty of something. He and Kibum were made to sit on the only two chairs in the house, while the two brothers stood and stared at nothing but the floor. “What’s today’s lunch?”
Kevin nudged Eli, while Eli nudged Kevin back.
“You’re the chef!”
“You’re the one who had been talking to them!”
“But I don’t dare!”
“Why would I?!”
“Smells like chicken soup.” Kibum cut in with an inaudible sigh.
Kevin and Eli nervously nodded. There seemed to be a secret signal between them both, before the two fell on their knees.
“We’re sorry!”
“Whatever for?” Alexander raised a curious eyebrow.
“I didn’t mean to lie to you…” Kevin sadly replied, playing with his fingers to ease the uneasiness in him. “Although I didn’t lie, but I didn’t want to say, so maybe I did lie, and-”
“Stop blabbering.” Eli whispered, nudging his younger brother.
“Sorry.” Kevin ended, deflating.
Alexander glanced at Kibum, and the bodyguard nodded, opening his mouth to speak. “Why didn’t you dare tell us?”
“We’re so poor.” Kevin pouted, and the two lowered their head if it was even humanly possible, ashamed. “We just can’t match up to your statuses.”
“My mother was as poor as you guys.” Alexander folded his arms, about to sit back when Kibum quickly supported him in case he fell. He was too used to palace chairs, as embarrassing as it was for him to state so. “Are you saying that my mother should always be a slave to my father?”
“NONONONO!” Kevin and Eli frantically denied. “She’s the best Queen ever!”
“Well then…” Alexander awkwardly look to Kibum for help.
Kibum snickered, helping the brothers up to their feet. “Today’s the last day of the tour and the Prince has decided to get a 2-in-1 offer of a partner in life and a personal chef.”
Alexander scowled, kicking Kibum from behind.
“I mean, a partner in life.” Kibum chuckled, pushing Eli towards Alexander. “Say your greetings~!”
“Good morning, Your Highness.” Eli fumbled, nervously not daring to look at the other.
Kevin giggled, forgetting his previous anxiousness and happily clinging onto Kibum’s arms. His brother would be getting his own fairytale happy ending!
-
“And that’s the story of our current King and Queen~!” Kevin sang, cuddling his party of teddy bears.
“Are you telling the story again?” Kibum yawned, leaning against the door frame. “Aren’t you tired of talking to inanimate objects the same thing over and over again?”
“Wait, I haven’t got to their marriage and how Alexander became the Queen because-”
“Bed.” Kibum calmly replied, scooping Kevin in his arms with a smirk. “No more bedtime stories.”
Kevin blushed, shyly pecking Kibum’s cheeks with a nod.
-
“Kids, go to bed.” Alexander shook his head with a stern frown, but his two sons and little princess wouldn’t listen to him, continuing in their run around. “I’ll tell your father!”
“AHHHH!”
Fandom(s): U-KISS
Pairing(s): EliXander, Kemaru
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fluff, RatherFail!Crack
Word Count: 3,677 words
Warnings: Awful!English
Author's Notes: This is a very late birthday present for samanitajayne! Happy (belated) birthday! Hope you like this :) Sorry for the wait!
Alexander was the prince of Xanderland, if that wasn’t obvious enough. He was Alexander the…29th? The royal secretary lost count.
As the traditions go, he would tour the kingdom for a suitable person to marry. It can be a lady or a gentleman, as long as the person is human. In Xanderland, no one ostracises against same gender marriage, or well, different gender marriage.
Want a baby? Simple, get a concubine.
It was the perfect chance for Eli, the ordinary citizen, to try his luck. In fact, he was madly in love with the prince, and he knows Alexander’s habits better than 99% of the citizens. Which is, well, the ninety-nine other citizens. (Yes, the pathetic population of Xanderland.)
The kingdom tour would last a month, each week spent in a different region. Since the kingdom was right in the centre, the seven days in every week would then be spent in North, South, East and West.
And Eli already planned to follow the whole tour.
-
Day 1.
“What are you busy with?” Kevin frowned at his older brother busying himself in the kitchen. “You’re cooking lunch so early? We just had breakfast.”
“Go feed the chickens and shut up.” Eli replied curtly, concentrating on perfecting his dish.
Kevin grumbled a little, but listened nevertheless. As he walked to the kitchen to get some sunflower seeds for the chickens, he saw at least ten chicken wings being fried inside the wok.
“I want!”
“Go away!” Eli growled, quickly shoving Kevin out of the way. His younger brother can be such a nuisance sometimes.
“…” Kevin pouted, sadly leaving the house through the backyard to feed the many chickens they kept. “Eli never feeds me good food. He’s such a mean brother, humpfh. Unlike me, I give you guys nice sunflower seeds!”
The chickens gathered around Kevin quickly, alert when they see the familiar bag containing their meal.
Kevin giggled, walking around the area while dropping seeds here and there, just so every single chicken has access to food.
“Kevin, I’m leaving the house. Cook your own lunch, but I’ll be back before dinner.”
Kevin widened his eyes, pouring many seeds onto the floor without a thought of overfeeding the forever hungry chicken. He wasn’t going to let Eli let him starve!
“I’M COMING WITH YOU!”
-
“Stay at home!” Eli frowned, trying to push his stubborn little brother back into where he supposedly belongs. “And feed the chickens!”
“I fed them all.” Kevin stuck out his tongue childishly. “You know I can’t cook, I’m just going to die from hunger if you left me at home alone.”
“I’m not eating either.” Eli replied with a deadpanned look, locking the door and leaving. He was going to be late if he continued quarrelling with Kevin!
“Then give me money!” Kevin grinned cutely, skipping at the thought of eating something that was actually bought. “Give me money~!”
“…” Eli sighed, giving Kevin some coins that was probably just enough.
“Stingy.” Kevin mumbled, but was happy with that much anyhow.
-
“No one prepared lunch for me?” Alexander muttered under his breath, a little unpleased with having to eat in a modest roadside store and not someone’s house.
Kibum, the royal guard, apologetically shook his head. “The store owner is willing to let you eat free of charge though, and his daughter is the one coming over with the food.”
“…” Alexander sighed, before quickly wearing his best smile when the food arrived. “Thank you.”
“Good day, Prince Alexander.” The girl fumbled a little with her words, nervously setting the dishes on the table. “Enjoy your meal.”
The girl then quickly disappeared, blush creeping up her oily face.
“Would she be good enough?” Kibum asked, having his own share of food to eat. “Of course, you can take your time, but-”
“Shut up, Kibum. Just eat.” Alexander rolled his eyes, more interested in food than the marriage.
Kibum took in a deep breath. Sometimes, it was just so difficult to please an unconventional prince.
-
“Kevin. Eat.” Eli ordered, glaring at Kevin and giving him immense pressure to finish his food within a minute. “Five, four, three, two, one.”
Kevin coughed, tears in his eyes from the uncomfortable feeling of food stuck in his throat. “Why do I have to eat so quickly?!”
“Bring these fried chicken to the prince.” Eli smiled brightly, unwrapping the cloth he had put his many fried chicken wings in. “And please say they’re from me.”
Kevin’s jaw dropped at those words. His brother is even abusing his stomach for the sake of the prince?!
“Or you will never get money to eat, ever.” Eli shrugged, folding his arms in the oh-so-mighty manner.
Kevin cursed his luck for being the younger one.
-
“Um, hello.” Kevin awkwardly said, setting the plate of fried chicken wings on Alexander’s table. “These are from my brother, I hope you like them.”
Alexander looked at the chicken that looked really appetising. Smiling brightly, he nodded. “Thank you!”
“My brother.” Kevin quickly corrected, running off back to where Eli was.
Kibum’s eyes followed Kevin, who cutely blew air into his mouth when he got back to his seat.
“Eat, what are you looking at?” Alexander bit his lower lip, picking the food with his hands and eating almost immediately. Who cares about who made it?
-
Day 4.
Kevin grumbled slightly, once more made to send something he would gladly eat to the prince instead. “But it’s your little brother’s favourite! Chicken kebabs!”
“No.” Eli looked sternly at Kevin, as if daring him to steal even one bite from the dish made especially for Prince Alexander.
“And you make me do the errands every single day.” Kevin rolled his eyes, stomping forward when Eli gave him a little shove from the back, the older of the two noting that Prince Alexander and his royal bodyguard just exited another house probably in search for a place to eat lunch.
“You’re here again.” Kibum smiled softly, finding Kevin’s expression really cute every time he walks to the front of them two. Kevin would be slightly pouting, but at the same time trying to fix his expression before the royal prince. “What’s your name?”
“Kevin.” Kevin returned a shy smile. The past three days, well, minus the first day, this royal bodyguard has been pretty nice. He doesn’t say rude things nor stop Kevin from presenting the food to the prince, and also has a really, really, really, really attractive smile. “Y-Yours?”
“He’s Kibum.” Alexander cut in, immensely interested in the food Kevin brought today. “I loved yesterday’s chicken empanadas, what’s today’s?”
“Ah, kebabs.” Kevin said, really wanting just one bite. Not even a full stick, just one bite…
Alexander beamed, quickly getting hold of one stick and taking a big bite, ignoring that he was eating too casually in front of Kevin, a normal citizen. He nudged Kibum to do the same, and the bodyguard did the same thing, only a lot calmer.
“Have you eaten?” Kibum slipped in another question, right before Kevin was about to turn around and leave.
“N-No…” Kevin blushed, eyes widening when Kibum gave him a stick. “Ah…it’s for the prince…”
“I’m not the prince and I’m eating it.” Kibum shrugged. “Come on, just take a bite.”
Kevin figured he shouldn’t reject what he really wants, taking a really big bite just in case Kibum regretted offering. Only that his actions made Kibum chuckle, and Alexander rub his chin in interest while watching them two.
-
“It wasn’t for you!” Eli scowled.
“Kibum gave it to me! The bodyguard, you see! It’s not nice to reject.” Kevin giggled happily, skipping home with a stomach full of chicken kebabs. Kibum had offered his share to Kevin seeing the younger (they chatted) eat so contentedly, while Alexander just ate his share while sending cheeky glances towards Kibum.
“…” Eli shook his head, a little uncomfortable with the thought that there are actually people that would treat his annoying little brother so nicely. “He doesn’t like you, does he?”
“Eh?” Kevin looked away, trying to will away the blush creeping up his face. “How would I know?”
“You…don’t like him, do you?”
Kevin kept silent, suddenly really amused by the path they were walking along.
-
Day 8.
“Kevin!” Kibum spotted the said boy, waving slightly.
“Hello!” Kevin smiled a lot brighter, biting his lower lip as if trying to restrain himself. “Today is simpler, chicken salad. My brother said there were too much oily food before, so this should help the prince’s digestive system and all those funny things. Here!”
Kibum chuckled, ruffling Kevin’s hair and nudging Alexander. “Aren’t you interested in what Kevin’s brother looks like? Or at least, his name?”
“Eh?” Alexander frowned, deciding he was rather interested in the maker of all these delicious food. “What’s his name?”
“Eli!” Kevin bit his lower lip as If hiding his smile, subtly giving Kibum’s arm a small squeeze as thanks.
“Eli?” Alexander nodded, then taking a bit. “Ah, this is nice too!”
Kevin rubbed his hands in delight, pecking Kibum’s cheek in his happiness and then running off to tell his brother the (two) good news.
-
Day 13.
“Kevin!” Alexander exclaimed, used to the name he heard Kibum call every day. “What’s today’s menu?”
Kibum raised an eyebrow, amused at the way Alexander’s smile turned brighter, brighter, and even brighter than the sun when Kevin brought the basket he had hidden behind him.
“Chicken Carbonara! Er, there’s no tables around so my brother said I should help hold the bowl while the prince eats.” Kevin frowned slightly, putting the basket on the floor and then wondering how he should go about doing it. Literally hold the bowl and stare as the prince eats? That’s not very polite.
“He’s used to eating with one hand and holding the bowl with another, in front of a television. Leave him to eat alone.” Kibum waved his hand dismissively, taking out a bowl from the basket and shoving it towards Alexander. “Oh? There’s three servings today?”
“My brother wants me to stop stealing food from you.” Kevin sheepishly scratched the back of his head, grinning when the prince helped himself with the food without needing Kevin to hold the bowl for him.
Which means he could eat too!
It didn’t matter that they were standing in the middle of a street, eating.
-
“Why don’t you ever do anything right?” Eli chided Kevin on their way home, though comforted by the way Alexander ate his food so happily. “You were supposed to help the prince!”
Kevin pouted, kicking the little stones as he walked.
“I even cooked your lunch for you and you couldn’t even do that.” Eli sighed, carrying the empty basket and checking the empty bowls inside.
“Kibum-hyung said the prince is used to eating that way himself, in front of the television.” Kevin grumbled, always getting scolded for this and that.
Humpfh, why don’t Eli do it himself?!
“He does?” Eli blinked, nudging his sulky little brother with some kind of goofy grin. “Does he have any other habits?”
-
Day 17.
“You know, is it just me or are we eating chicken every day? Why does Kevin only bring us dishes with chicken?” Alexander rubbed his chin, rather curious.
“Eli’s the one that is cooking. Kevin’s the one who brings you the food.” Kibum helpfully corrected, knowing Kevin’s intentions already. They were both trying to match make the two together, especially since his older brother seems to be a little more than just interested in the prince.
And the prince (or the anxious king and queen) was finding someone, so why not?
“Ah, same difference, I’m talking about the food anyway.” Alexander shrugged, smiling when Kevin approached them. “Hey, delivery boy!”
“Hey!” Kibum scrunched up his nose disapprovingly, elbowing the prince despite his status.
“I was just kidding.” Alexander rolled his eyes at the very “polite” bodyguard of his, before poking his head closer to the basket Kevin brought. “What’s today’s special?”
“Chicken pie! My brother did everything from scratch! And the crust is super crispy!” Kevin enthusiastically promoted, bringing out a plate of three pies from the basket, and Alexander noticed there were two more plates of it. “There’s drinks too, because it might be a little dry. Let me find it…”
“Kevin.” Alexander called, stuffing his mouth full of the delicious chicken pie. “Why ish ev- mm, fing chick-umn?”
“He meant why is everything chicken.” Kibum kindly translated, smiling affectionately at the blur expression Kevin wore. He frowned when Kevin started fidgeting.
“Ah, uh, ah…” Kevin drew a big circle on the ground with his feet, eyes averting both Alexander’s and Kibum’s. “The drinks!”
-
“You seemed really nervous. Did that Kibum guy confess or something?” Eli looked curiously at his younger brother, shaking his shoulders to wake him from his temporary daze. “Kevin!”
“Huh!” Kevin jumped, hand instinctively moving to his heart as if to calm down the frantic beats. “No! Kibum-hyung d-didn’t! I was just thinking…you know, they were asking why every dish was some sort of chicken. I’m not sure if they don’t like it anymore or if they are just asking…but…well…I’m not ashamed of how poor we are, but it’s not the best thing to say because we’re poor, we can only offer chicken, right?”
Eli bit his lower lip, ruffling Kevin’s hair. “Don’t worry about that. It’s for me to worry.”
“It was going well though.” Kevin pouted, playing with his fingers. “And you cook nice dishes! I’m not sure what’s wrong…”
“Thank you.” Eli hooked his arm around Kevin’s neck, grinning. “Whatever that you had done for the past weeks, thank you. For thinking for your older brother like this, thank you.”
“Psh, that’s only because you fed me when no one else would.” Kevin giggled, trying to act a little cooler than he usually was.
The two laughed, both understanding each other only too well.
-
Day 22.
Kibum had been waiting for this day. He remembered Kevin saying something about him and his brother living in the West region, so in the last week, the prince and him could go visit their house!
“If someone else was looking, they would think you’re the prince looking for partner to marry.” Alexander raised his eyebrows, sensitive nose sniffing around for hints of Kevin and his delivery.
“Shut up.” Kibum coughed, eyes continuously surveying everywhere for hints of the cute boy.
-
“We can’t let them know where we live.” Kevin suggested, pulling Eli towards a longer road. Taking a detour to the city and walking back to the West region would make the prince and his bodyguard confused as to where they live.
Then maybe they wouldn’t find out Eli and Kevin lived at the border of Xanderland, where only the poorest lived there.
Eli agreed, checking the time and then quickening his steps.
“What are you rushing for!” Kevin pouted, unable to keep up.
“The prince stomach would be growling in fifteen minutes, hurry!”
-
“Today’s special is eggs!” Kevin called from behind Alexander and Kibum, the two spinning around at the same moment. “Omelette, to be exact.”
“Where did you come from?” Alexander beat Kibum to the question, having search for shadows of Kevin and his brother (whom the two haven’t met) since the morning.
Although they did stop by five houses for toilet breaks and some food.
“Aha, uh, we went to the city to get some things so I just came from the city!” Kevin nervously lied, quickly settling the basket down and taking out plates of omelettes. “Eat it while it’s hot!”
Eli had suggested they make use of the eggs to tentatively distract the prince and the bodyguard from the idea of eating chicken every day. Only the sharpest person would know an egg is just a chick that hasn’t hatched.
Kevin decided that would be a good idea.
Kibum saw the fidgety behaviour of Kevin’s and the happily eating Alexander. He shall not say a word about today’s dish.
-
Day 25.
“So, where do you live?”
The three of them sat on the streets once more, munching on the different parts of a whole roasted chicken. Kevin had been offering the best parts to Alexander, the second best to Kibum and eating all the tough meat, deciding his hungry state would go well with any part of a chicken.
Alexander repeated the question when Kibum nudged Kevin, and the boy froze for a moment.
“Aha, I live in the West!” Kevin laughed nervously.
Alexander and Kibum exchanged glances, agreeing to let this matter go for now.
-
Day 28.
“For the last day, we should make the most nutritious food, right?” Kevin grinned, urging Eli to cook his favourite dish. “Chicken soup, please?”
“All right.” Eli checked the clock, deciding he still had sufficient time to boil the chicken so the taste of the chicken would fill the soup. It usually took a lot of time and effort, so they ate it only on special occasion even if Kevin would bug him to death to cook it more.
“Rather sad that they couldn’t come to our house, but our house isn’t much for them to see anyway.” Kevin sighed, before telling Eli he wanted to go catch the sunrise and then running off.
-
“I don’t get it, we’ve been to every house.” Kibum frowned, walking further into the West region. A few more miles and they would be out of Xanderland’s border.
“I feel like they are hiding something from us.” Alexander nodded, deciding he wanted to see who was the chef of the food he had been eating for the past month too.
It was the last day, and he needed to choose someone already. If Eli wasn’t that bad of a catch, then choosing such a loyal admirer wouldn’t be that horrible a decision.
“Shh.” Kibum’s eyes narrowed on a figure. “Let’s follow Kevin, without him knowing.”
Alexander understood what Kibum meant. Kevin had been avoiding this for the last six days, questions on where he lived. If they followed him, then maybe they could finally find out where the two brothers lived.
-
Kevin had entered the house without realising there were two people following his tracks. The two left outside blinked at the state of the house built with raw uneven wood, leaving holes between each log. There weren’t windows probably because their skills weren’t that good, only a big hole here and there to act as some sort of ventilation.
In the backyard of sort were countless of roosters and hens, and realisation dawned them both.
“Time for breakfast!” Kevin chirped, bouncing out of the house to the fenced area, dropping a handful of sunflower seeds here and there. As he was skipping around, he felt intent eyes watch his every move and instinctively checked the area for strangers.
His mouth dropped open when his eyes met with those two pairs he had gotten so used to.
-
“So.” Alexander awkwardly coughed, watching the two brothers drop their heads as if guilty of something. He and Kibum were made to sit on the only two chairs in the house, while the two brothers stood and stared at nothing but the floor. “What’s today’s lunch?”
Kevin nudged Eli, while Eli nudged Kevin back.
“You’re the chef!”
“You’re the one who had been talking to them!”
“But I don’t dare!”
“Why would I?!”
“Smells like chicken soup.” Kibum cut in with an inaudible sigh.
Kevin and Eli nervously nodded. There seemed to be a secret signal between them both, before the two fell on their knees.
“We’re sorry!”
“Whatever for?” Alexander raised a curious eyebrow.
“I didn’t mean to lie to you…” Kevin sadly replied, playing with his fingers to ease the uneasiness in him. “Although I didn’t lie, but I didn’t want to say, so maybe I did lie, and-”
“Stop blabbering.” Eli whispered, nudging his younger brother.
“Sorry.” Kevin ended, deflating.
Alexander glanced at Kibum, and the bodyguard nodded, opening his mouth to speak. “Why didn’t you dare tell us?”
“We’re so poor.” Kevin pouted, and the two lowered their head if it was even humanly possible, ashamed. “We just can’t match up to your statuses.”
“My mother was as poor as you guys.” Alexander folded his arms, about to sit back when Kibum quickly supported him in case he fell. He was too used to palace chairs, as embarrassing as it was for him to state so. “Are you saying that my mother should always be a slave to my father?”
“NONONONO!” Kevin and Eli frantically denied. “She’s the best Queen ever!”
“Well then…” Alexander awkwardly look to Kibum for help.
Kibum snickered, helping the brothers up to their feet. “Today’s the last day of the tour and the Prince has decided to get a 2-in-1 offer of a partner in life and a personal chef.”
Alexander scowled, kicking Kibum from behind.
“I mean, a partner in life.” Kibum chuckled, pushing Eli towards Alexander. “Say your greetings~!”
“Good morning, Your Highness.” Eli fumbled, nervously not daring to look at the other.
Kevin giggled, forgetting his previous anxiousness and happily clinging onto Kibum’s arms. His brother would be getting his own fairytale happy ending!
-
“And that’s the story of our current King and Queen~!” Kevin sang, cuddling his party of teddy bears.
“Are you telling the story again?” Kibum yawned, leaning against the door frame. “Aren’t you tired of talking to inanimate objects the same thing over and over again?”
“Wait, I haven’t got to their marriage and how Alexander became the Queen because-”
“Bed.” Kibum calmly replied, scooping Kevin in his arms with a smirk. “No more bedtime stories.”
Kevin blushed, shyly pecking Kibum’s cheeks with a nod.
-
“Kids, go to bed.” Alexander shook his head with a stern frown, but his two sons and little princess wouldn’t listen to him, continuing in their run around. “I’ll tell your father!”
“AHHHH!”