Be on the Stars. 2/3
Back to Masterpost // Back to Part One
--
“This is such a bad idea, Brendon.” Dallon glances around. “A really bad idea.”
The desert is dark except for the headlights of Dallon’s car. Brendon looks up at the sprawling blanket of stars and smiles to himself. “Your opinion is duly noted.”
“Brendon, as your aide, as your friend I’m telling you. This is stupid.”
Brendon sighs and rests his forehead against the window, letting the cold soothe his fledgling headache. “I have registered your opinion and I don’t agree.” Brendon’s voice drips with authority.
“This is danger--”
“That’s enough.” Brendon sits up straight and turns to look at Dallon. Speaking Aeternitatic feels foreign on his tongue but he needs to get his point across. “You are my friend but I am also your prince and you will do what I say. That’s final.”
Dallon nods. “Yes Your Highness.”
Brendon returns his nod and then smiles as a flash of light catches his eye. “He’s here.”
“Great.” Dallon looks anything but joyful, but he gets out of the car nonetheless, keeping close to Brendon.
Spencer walks towards them looking equal parts confused and annoyed; Brendon’s really into that look. It makes his stomach twist in a really awesome way.
“Alright, so I’m here. You better not be planning on killing me and burying me out here. I’m missing dessert.”
“Why would I want to kill you? You’re my friend.” Brendon’s confused. Why would Spencer meet him if he thought he was going to be killed?
Spencer raises an eyebrow. “Well, I don’t know. It could be the fact that visiting your house was like walking into The fucking Shining, and your cousin lied to me about you two being, destined or some shit. Which, by the way, is gross and also probably illegal. You know, we have a pretty good counsellor at school. You should consider seeing her. She was really awesome when Ryan was going through his--well when Ryan was being Ryan really.”
“Dallon.” Brendon sighs. “Will you please tell Spencer that I’m not going kill him.”
“Brendon’s not going to kill you.” Dallon gives Spencer a look. Brendon’s seen it enough times to know that Dallon thinks Brendon’s making an error in judgement. “Against my advice.”
Brendon nods. “Wow, yeah. Sarcasm is totally helpful dude, thanks for that.”
“Anytime.”
“No for real. You have a date with a Cetus.” Brendon mutters and shakes his head, stepping forward. He takes Spencer’s elbow guiding him away from Dallon. Dallon sighs, following behind them at a slower pace. “Ignore him. He’s just pissy that he missed his nap.”
“Yeah, well, this is all really touching, but what the fuck are we doing out here in the middle of the desert?”
“You know, this attitude you have? It’s not at all hot, I’m just throwing that out there.” Brendon tugs on his hand as he sits.
Spencer sighs and sits across from him. “Now I’m in the dirt.” Spencer glances at his shoes, making an agitated noise. “Let me get this straight. You brought me out here, all so I could sit in the freezing cold and get dirt all over me. Oh and so you could tell me that I’m not hot and that you’re not going to kill me?”
“I might have lied about you not being hot.” Brendon shrugs and takes Spencer’s hand. He turns it so it’s palm up and pushes the sleeve of his hoodie up.
“What are you doing?”
“Why? Is it turning you on?” Brendon wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“No, it’s vaguely annoying. Also creepy.” Spencer slaps at his hand, and Brendon slaps back, hissing for him to quit it as he pushes Spencer’s hoodie sleeve up further.
Spencer huffs. “This better be fucking worth it, Brendon. My ass is numb, and my new shoes are filthy.”
Brendon sighs. He’s about to show Spencer something really fucking important and all Spencer can do is bitch about his cold ass. Brendon can’t help but feel like Dallon’s probably right. Humans are fucking annoying sometimes. Especially this particular human who manages to be equal parts infuriating and hot at the same time. Brendon kinda wants to slap Spencer, only in a totally sexy kind of way. Brendon shakes his head a little, where did that thought even come from? He clears his head and runs his palm slowly over Spencer’s arm, from the bicep down until his palm sits on top of Spencer’s. He presses the tips of his fingers against the inside of Spencer’s wrist and closes his eyes, humming softly.
“Brendon what the--”
“Shh. Just--wait.” Brendon keeps his eyes shut and hums. He concentrates harder and taps into his core, a sphere made up of vine like strands that glows bright blue. He slowly extracts one of the strands, drawing it through his veins until it presses at the surface of the skin on his hand. He shudders and lets it push through, focusing on the warmth until the strand tangles into a tiny glowing ball between their palms.
When Brendon opens his eyes Spencer is staring down at their palms. Brendon smiles, raising his hand higher so the sphere floats. “Surprise.”
“What is it?”
“Me.”
The sphere emits a bright glow that lights up Spencer’s face. “What are you?” His voice is hushed and filled with awe.
Brendon moves his palm and the light goes with him, floating in lazy circles around his hand. “I’m a lot of things.”
“Yeah.” Spencer watches the sphere float around Brendon’s hand. “I’m starting to see that.” He pauses. “What else can you do?”
“All sorts of stuff.” Brendon holds his hand palm up and the sphere hovers above it in place. Brendon whispers something and blows softly, like he’s blowing dust off his hand. The sphere takes off, zooms through the air before it splits in two. The two new spheres glow purple and then split again, glowing bright green.
Spencer watches them fly around. “This is insane. This--how are you doing that?”
“I don’t know. It’s just who I am.” Brendon shrugs and whispers again. The sphere’s collide, glowing blue again and zoom back to his hand. “They’re who I am.”
“Are you--is this what you’re made of?”
Brendon hums. “Sort of. This is what sits in my core, where my magic lives.”
Spencer opens his mouth to speak, but his phone starts ringing. Brendon sighs and lets the light return to his core. He watches Spencer answer and have a quick argument with someone on the other end of the line.
“Sorry Brendon, I have to go.” Spencer says, snapping his phone shut. “My mom is throwing a fit.”
Brendon stands up and dusts the dirt of his pants, smiling to hide the disappointment. He doesn’t understand. Spencer’s not freaking out. He’s not reacting at all. Surely he should be asking questions or running for the hills or something. “That’s okay. I should head back too.”
Spencer nods distractedly. “Okay. I’ll see you at school?”
“Yep.”
“Okay, cool.” Spencer half waves to Dallon and then rushes for his car. He stops and then runs back over. “Hey. Just--I’m definitely going to see you tomorrow right?”
Brendon nods, “Yeah. Definitely.”
Spencer smiles. “Okay awesome. That’s. Awesome.”
Spencer runs back over to his car. He gets in and starts it, speeding off. Brendon watches him go and sighs when Dallon rests his hand on his shoulder.
“Ready to go home, Bren?”
“Yeah.” Brendon turns. “Let’s go.”
Brendon stares out the window the rest of the way home. He wanted more time to tell Spencer everything and make him understand. Now he doesn’t know if he’s going to get another chance. He knows he’ll see Spencer at school tomorrow, but it just felt like this was the right time and now it’s gone. He can sense Dallon watching him as they drive, but Brendon just presses his forehead against the cool glass and ignores him. He wants to go home.
--
Brendon gets home and goes straight up to his room. He kicks his shoes off and pushes his window open, throwing one leg over the sill, then the other until he can crawl out onto the roof. It’s cool out, but the roof tiles still have some warmth from being exposed to the hot sun all day. Brendon shifts until he’s comfortable and not likely to go tumbling off the roof to his death and pulls his knees up to his chest, resting his chin atop them.
He likes it out here, it’s quiet and they’re far enough away from the bright lights of the strip that he can see the stars. Brendon looks up at the sky, the moon shining big a bright and sighs. “Hey Mom. Dad.”
Brendon feels a little ridiculous sitting on the roof of his house talking to his parents. It’s comforting though, in a way that he really needs right now. He’s so fucking confused and Dallon seems to be doing everything in his power to be the polar opposite of helpful while Zack pretends to not notice what’s going on.
Brendon sighs again. “There’s this boy. Spencer? I just. I really like him you know? He’s smart and funny and. I think he might like me back. I don’t know though, I mean. He hasn’t said anything but he seemed disappointed when he thought Dallon and I were dating or whatever.”
“I feel so weird around him. It’s like I can’t control my magic and I feel--different. It’s hard to explain.” A cool breeze picks up and Brendon wraps his arms tighter around his knees. “I don’t know what to do. I’m--” he pauses. “I’m scared. He’s a human and I’m--well. I’m me. I just don’t know how this could work. I really want it to.”
Brendon feels like a total idiot. He’s talking to the sky for fucksake. “I wish you both were here right now. I miss you. ”
The moon disappears behind a cloud. Brendon rubs at his eyes and crawls back over to the window. He gets one leg over the window sill and then looks up. “I love you. I hope you’re okay.”
Brendon shuts the window behind when he gets back inside and flops down on his bed. He doesn’t feel any better, just more confused than ever.
--
Brendon wakes up with a jolt. The numbers on the clock next to him read three am, and he frowns. He never wakes up in the middle of the night, not unless-- it hits him. He's freezing cold. He's never cold. In fact, he's always on the other side of too warm for comfort, and it can only mean one thing. Something is wrong.
He slides out of bed, turning the lamp on and makes his way down the hall, knocking on Dallon's door. "Dallon? Dallon, wake up."
Brendon hears movement and disgruntled murmuring coming from the other side of the door; he can picture Dallon, cranky and throwing the blankets back, ready to tear into Brendon for waking him. The door is thrown open and Dallon glares. "What Brend--jesus, what's wrong?"
Dallon reaches out, his hands hot against Brendon's skin. "Fucking hell. You're so cold. What the shit?"
"Something's wrong. Something's very, very wrong, Dallon."
"Shit. Shit okay, go get into bed. I'll get Zack."
Brendon nods and makes his way back to bed. He pulls the covers tight around him and closes his eyes, concentrating. He tries to tap into his core but there's a shield, blocking it. Brendon shakes his head and tries again with no luck. The main light comes on and Brendon startles. “Fuck.”
“Brendon? Your Majesty, what is it?” Zack kneels next to his bed, reaching out and taking his hand.
“I don’t know, Zack.” Brendon bites back a sob. “I don’t know, I can’t--I can’t get to my core. I’m so cold. It’s like there’s a barrier there stopping me from getting to it.”
“I was afraid this would happen.”
“What? You were afraid what would happen?” Dallon steps away from the doorway. He walks into the room and moves closer to the bed. “What the fuck, Zack?”
“I was afraid that if--if something were to happen to one of the prince’s relatives he would feel it -- that it would affect him, like a warning.” Zack hovers his hands over Brendon’s body.
Brendon’s head snaps up. “Something’s happened?”
“You didn’t think you should tell us that?” Dallon stands right over Zack. “You didn’t think that the prince should know that?”
“It was need to know.” Zack glares at Dallon. “It might not have come to fruition.”
“He had the right to know. We both had the right to know.”
Zack looks back down at Brendon. “I did what I thought was best.”
“No.” Dallon holds his hand up. “That’s not good enough, Zack. This is the prince’s life and we both out rank you. At the very least he--”
“He is laying right here thank you very much. Now, instead of bickering with each other and playing my job is better than yours, how about you both come up with a way to fucking work out what the fuck is going on.” Brendon sits up and gives them both an exasperated look.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Zack nods and turns his attention back to his hands.
Brendon raises an eyebrow, clearing his throat. Dallon sighs.“Yes, Your Highness.”
Zack stands. “I think--I need to try and contact your parents.”
“What? No. No way, Zack. that’s way too dangerous.” If Brendon wasn’t too cold to move he’d be putting his foot down. At least he thinks that’s what that means.
“Brendon, if--”
Brendon raises his hand to silence Zack. “No. It’s not up for discussion. I’ll be fine. There’s no need to--it’s risking everyone’s safety.”
Zack sighs and nods. “Okay. But if it gets any worse--”
“It won’t.” Brendon tugs the covers up over him. He’s not going to let Zack put everyone in danger because he’s a little cold. “Go back to bed okay?”
Zack looks reluctant, but he nods and leaves. Dallon doesn’t though. He stands with his arms folded, and a look on his face that Brendon can’t doesn’t want to read.
“Go to bed, Dallon.”
“I know what you’re doing. Zack might give in to you because you flash your puppy dog eyes and go all Royal Family on his ass, but I know better.” Dallon gives him a knowing look. “This isn’t helping anyone. Endangering your life isn’t going to help anyone.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Brendon lays back against the pillows. “Go to bed, Dallon.”
“No. I’m sorry, Brendon. As dedicated as I am to you and your family, I am just as dedicated to my people; you are risking their lives as much as your own.”
“I said--”
“I don’t care what you said, okay? Jesus Christ, Brendon. You know how important you are. You can’t just decide that you don’t feel like--”
“Fuck you, Dallon. You think I don’t know? You think that I haven’t known since I was a child what I was born into -- what I was going to be expected to do? Trust me I know. Because while you were out playing with your friends? I was learning about the politics of our planet. I could speak seven different languages by the time I was eight. So don’t tell me because I fucking know.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean--”
“You meant.” Brendon can feel tears stinging the corners of his eyes, “You fucking meant so don’t say that you didn’t. It’s alright for you. This is just a job to you but it’s my fucking life. I’m seventeen years old. I haven’t seen my parents since I was thirteen, and now there is a very real possibility that I won’t ever see them again. Not to mention there is a war being fought in my name right now I don’t even agree with. I am going to be expected to go back and rule a kingdom that will forever mourn the loss of brave soldiers who gave their lives to save a kingdom that I don’t even want. Because I don’t want it. I fucking don’t.” The words are out of his mouth before he even realizes that he says them. He hadn’t realized he felt that way until just then, and now that it’s out there he can’t ignore it. He doesn’t want to rule. He just wants to be a teenager and do teenage things. He’s not ready for this, and the thought of being forced makes him want to cry.
“Brendon.” Dallon crosses the room quickly and wraps his arms around him. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want them to be dead. I want them to come back and I want--I want--”
“You want to be human.” Dallon says quietly.
“No. I don’t know. Maybe.” Brendon slumps against Dallon. He feels as though the wind has been knocked out of his sails. “I don’t want to be King.”
Dallon runs a hand over his back. “Is this about Spencer?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.” Dallon sighs and pets Brendon’s hair. “Brendon I know you think that Spencer--I know that you think that this is what you want, and maybe it is but--do you really want to give up everything for him?”
“I don’t know but is it such a bad thing that I’d like the opportunity to decide for myself?”
“No but--this is your life, Bren. I’m truly sorry, but this is your birthright.”
“But it’s not my choice. None of this is my--it’s not fucking fair.” It’s not fair, not at all, but Brendon knows that argument isn’t going to fly. He knows that it’s not about what’s fair. It’s about what’s right. Yeah, maybe it is partly about Spencer -- how he thinks he might actually be in love with Spencer -- but that’s not all of it. Not by a long shot.
“Brendon.”
“Go away please. I want to be alone.” Brendon lays down and pulls the covers tighter around himself trying to get some kind of warmth.
“Bre--”
“Dallon, go away. I don’t want to make it an order but I will.” Brendon’s tired and cold. He just wants to curl into a ball and cry until everything stops sucking.
Dallon stands and nods, shutting the door behind him, and Brendon starts to cry. He presses his face into his pillow and tries not to think about anything. It doesn’t work. His mind wanders to images of him and Spencer hanging around at Spencer’s place, the way Spencer hugs him hello and goodbye, the way Spencer insists that all disputes can be solved by wrestling for it, it usually being the remote or who gets to be Yoshi when they play Mario Kart. He can see a future here in Vegas, here on Earth, here with Spencer,and it scares him that home doesn’t factor into that. He doesn’t know what it means but he can guess and that’s the scariest thought of all.
--
Brendon waits until he’s sure Zack is asleep and Dallon has stopped moving around in his room before creeping over to the window. He closes his eyes, presses his hand to the glass and focuses on pushing his energy around the frame like a cushion and slides it open silently. It doesn’t take much effort for him to climb down the lattice that frames one side of the house and drop to the soft ground below. He waits a moment and then turns and heads down the street. He spent all day making plans, and he knows they’re dangerous and stupid. He knows if Zack and Dallon find out they will kill him but he has to do this. He has to go home.
It’s not a long walk to Spencer’s house, but it seems like forever. Brendon’s got his hoodie zipped up tight but he’s still shivering; he knows that it’s got nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with something that’s happening millions of miles away.
Spencer’s house is in darkness when Brendon gets there and it makes it easier for Brendon to creep around to the side of the house and throw a rock at Spencer’s window. He misses the first three times but the fourth hits with a barely audible clink as do the fifth and six. Brendon’s getting ready to throw another when the window opens, and Spencer looks down at him bleary-eyed with his hair sticking up in the air.
“Bren?”
Brendon waves a little, his stomach flip flopping with a sudden case of nerves. “Hey. Hey can you come down? I need to talk to you.”
“Bren, it’s one in the morning. Can’t it wait until later?”
“No.” Brendon’s voice comes out louder than he expected, and he flinches, lowering his voice, “No, it’s important. Please.” Brendon knows he sounds desperate but he is.
“Hey. Hey, okay.” Spencer seems to falter. “I’ll be right down.” He closes the window and disappears from view. Brendon hugs himself and fidgets, waiting amongst the shadows just in case one of Spencer’s sisters wake up and see him.
Spencer opens the back door and looks around; Brendon steps out of the shadows. “Over here.”
“Bren? What the hell is going on?”
Brendon doesn’t actually know what to say now that he’s gotten this far into his plan. “Um. I--”
Spencer frowns and steps closer. “Is something wrong?”
“Um, kinda yeah. Yeah, um. You know that stuff I showed you tonight?”
“Yeah? With the magic and stuff?”
“Yeah, with the magic and stuff. Well, um. I wasn’t--I haven’t--I’m not from this planet. I’m not a high school student and--I’m not human.” Brendon pauses, “I’m crowned Prince Brendon Urie from the planet Aeternitatis.”
Spencer is silent for the longest time. He raises his eyebrows so high that if Brendon wasn’t too busy freaking out he’d probably be worried they were going to disappear into his hair.
“Spence? Say--say something. Please.”
“You’re a prince?”
Brendon nods and fidgets even more. “I’m--yeah. I don’t want to be but--”
“Wow, that’s. Huh. That actually explains a lot.”
“I’m sorry I--wait, what?” Brendon shakes his head a little. “What?”
Spencer shrugs, his face smoothing out. “It explains a lot. The weird words and the vague threats about cutting off Dallon’s body parts, and I don’t know, you’re very--” he waves his hand around.
“Very what?”
“You’re very--strange. In a good way! Not a bad way, you’re just--different. Compared to like every other teenager ever.”
Brendon is confused that Spencer isn’t freaking out. He also seems to be ignoring the part where Brendon’s an alien. Brendon thought that would be the bit that would actually get a reaction. “Okay, well. This was easier than I expected.”
“Sorry, did you expect me to throw a fit or run away screaming or something? That’s not really my style you know?”
“No, hey, I totally get that. I mean some people find out that their--whatever I am to you, is Alien Royalty and freak out, but you just take it all in your stride. That’s totally normal.”
“Well, I mean. Alien. That's a bit of shock. Not so much the whole prince thing. You’re kind of a diva, dude.” Spencer shrugs but seems to be choosing his words carefully. “Did you think I’d cause a scene?”
“You didn’t speak to me for a week after you came over.” Brendon looks at the ground.“I’m just saying.”
“Hey.” Spencer moves closer to him, and Brendon looks up. “I’m sorry about that yeah? I was a dick and confused and a dick. Did I mention I was a dick?”
“Once or twice.” Brendon smiles a little and pauses. “I’m leaving.”
“Already? You woke me up and made me come down here so you can tell me your secret identity and now you’re going? That’s pretty uncool, bro.” Spencer nudges him with an elbow. “You could have at least made your big bombshell interesting.”
“Right.” Brendon nods.“Right no, you’re totally right.”
Brendon hesitates and then darts in and presses his mouth to Spencer’s. He holds onto the front of Spencer’s shirt and wills Spencer to kiss him back instead of punching him in the face, because if he doesn’t Brendon will probably die of embarrassment. Spencer makes a startled noise and then relaxes, opening his mouth just enough for Brendon to lick into it. Brendon’s been waiting to do this, thinking about this, since that day with the Doritos. He’s terrified that he’s doing it wrong though; the only kiss he’s ever had was from some schmuck son of a visiting delegate from Jupiter. He had taken Brendon’s forced cheer and friendliness as an invitation to kiss him, and Brendon hadn’t felt at all bad about sending a painful warning zap and leaving the guy with a slightly burnt stench. Come to think of it, he looked a lot like that douchey Keeper in Harry Potter. Brendon knew that character rubbed him the wrong way for a reason and not just because, as it turns out, Brendon has serious opinions about Ron and Hermione as a couple.
Spencer makes a soft noise, startling Brendon out of his thoughts and back to the task at hand -- the task of kissing Spencer, holy shit.Brendon tightens his grip in the soft cotton of Spencer’s well worn shirt, and that’s when he feels the first hint of warmth, deep inside. He deepens the kiss as Spencer curves a hand around the back of his neck. Slowly but surely warmth starts to spread throughout his entire body until he feels bursting with heat and magic. He can feel his nerve endings coming to life and heating up. Brendon pulls back the tiniest bit, their lips still brushing against each other. Sparks start to fly, literally, as magic passes between them in ribbons of colour and light, each sparkling as they ascend towards the heavens.
“Jesus.” Spencer mutters. He presses his forehead to Brendon’s as he sucks in a breath. His chest heaves under Brendon’s hand.
“No, Brendon.” Brendon laughs softly as he struggles to get his own breath back. “Interesting enough for you?”
“Mmm I might need further exploration.” Spencer ducks in for another kiss, but Brendon pulls back.
“I’m leaving.”
“Dude, no. Stay here with me. We can make out. It’ll be awesome.” Spencer leans in again, and Brendon sighs, resting a hand on his chest.
“I mean. I’m going home. Back to Aeternitatis. Tonight.”
Spencer’s eyes widen and he takes a step back. “Oh. Oh. That’s--oh.”
“It’s just--something is wrong. I can feel it and. There’s a war and my family -- we’re in hiding. I have to -- have to do something. I can’t just--I can’t--I need--” Brendon didn’t realize he had started crying, but there are bright green tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Hey. Hey don’t--holy shit, are you--what the hell is up with your tears?”
Brendon sniffs, wiping the tears from his face quickly. “It’s a thing, I don’t know.”
Spencer reaches out, letting a tear land on the tip of his finger. He watches in fascination as it glows and sparkles in the pale moonlight. “It looks like an emerald.”
“It is an emerald. Well it’s emerald dust at least. We all, everyone on Aeternitatis that is, our tears contain the dust of gemstones. My mom’s are Amethysts, my father’s Rubies. Dallon’s are Sapphires, not that he ever cries. I suspect he’s secretly a droid. It’d explain the tallness.”
“That’s incredible.” Spencer examines the tear where it glistens atop his fingertip. “Don’t go. Not tonight, please -- just stay here with me tonight.”
Brendon frowns. “I can’t. I need to go home.”
Spencer leans in and kisses him softly. It’s not much, just a brush of lips. “I want to know everything about your people -- about you. Please.”
“Come with me.” Brendon doesn’t know why the idea never occurred to him before. He knows it’s a fucking terrible idea. He knows Zack and Dallon will not approve and he knows that they’re probably right. Taking Spencer into a war is fucking dangerous but. Brendon just wants Spencer so badly and this is the only way he can see him being able to. “Spence, come with me.”
“What? I can’t. How would that even work?” Spencer sounds so confused and unsure that it makes Brendon’s heart skip.
“I don’t know just--come with me.” Brendon can’t help the desperation that colors his voice. “It’s a long trip, and I could do with company.”
Spencer frowns. “You’re going alone?”
Brendon nods. “Dallon and Zack, they--they wouldn’t understand. They can’t feel it. I won’t lie. It’s dangerous, and I can’t order them to come with me. That’s not the sort of prince I want to be.”
“But you’ll invite me along?” Spencer frowns, like it’s suddenly dawned on him how huge this really is. “How dangerous?”
“There--” Brendon glances around and tugs Spencer away from the house. He sits on the grass by the trees that line Spencer’s backyard. He mutters an incantation under his breath, shivering when the shield appears around them.
“What the hell is that?”
“A silencing shield. No one can hear us now.”
“Impressive. That’ll come in handy if we ever want to--never mind.” Spencer’s cheeks turn red, and Brendon rolls his eyes.
“Dude, focus.” Brendon snaps his fingers. “We’ll have plenty of time for that sort of thing later.”
“Really?”
“Oh my god.” Brendon rubs a hand over his face and seriously. “Can you not? I’m trying to be serious here, and you’re distracting me with your sexy talk.”
Spencer snorts. “Sexy talk? Really? That’s sexy talk? Man, what do they teach you on your planet?”
“How to decapitate someones head from their body because they won’t shut the hell up and let the prince talk.” Brendon glares and tries to look intimidating.
“Harsh.” Spencer flicks Brendon’s nose. “But ultimately not intimidating. However, I’ll let you continue.”
“Gee thanks.” Brendon rolls his eyes. “Anyway. Where was I?”
“You were telling me why this is going to be dangerous.”
“Oh right.” Brendon nods. “There were rumours of an uprising. At first it was laughed off because everyone loves the royal family right? I mean, they do. We’re awesome and wise and fair, except my Uncle Max who is a little bit nuts but we don’t really--”
“You’re rambling.” Spencer interjects. “It kinda makes me want to kiss you so if you want me to stay quiet you should probably knock it off.”
“Oh.” Brendon can feel his cheeks heat up and a burst of heat fires through his body, sending sparks of purple, green, blue out of his fingertips. “Oops.”
Spencer levels Brendon with a grin.“Man sex with you is going to be awesome. And colorful.”
“Oh my god can you not.” Brendon groans and more sparks fly. “Just stop talking okay?”
“You’ve got it.” Spencer leers at him anyway because he is a douche. He seems hell bent on forcing Brendon into making a total fool of himself.
Brendon gets himself together. “So there was rumor of rebels coming in from the west, but whenever it was investigated it always just seemed to be just that -- a rumour.”
Spencer nods and shifts so his knees are pressed to Brendon’s, and Brendon’s thankful for the contact. He hasn’t spoken about that night with anyone since they left Aeternitatis.
“One night I went to bed just like every other night. When I woke, I was being carried down one of the hidden tunnels that sweep under the Kingdom. It was Zack, the head of our security and he wouldn’t tell me anything. That’s when I heard the siren.”
“Siren?”
Brendon nods and plays with the end of Spencer’s shoelace. “The warning sirens of de fumo in flammam. They haven’t been heard in the kingdom in over ten thousand years.”
“Was it the rebels?” Spencer moves closer, taking Brendon’s hand and twinning their fingers together.
“Yeah. Yeah it was.” Brendon nods and sniffs. He can feel another tear slide down his cheek, the speck of emerald landing on his jeans leg. “My parents were at the end of the tunnel waiting for us, and there were two space ships.”
“Hey.” Spencer reaches out and brushes his thumb across Brendon’s cheek, wiping away more tears. “You don’t have to.”
“No, no I’m okay.” Brendon sniffs. “I was so scared you know? It was the middle of the night. I was only thirteen, and they--my mom and dad -- they said goodbye. I went one way, and they went the other. I haven’t seen or heard from them since.”
“They contacted you?”
Brendon shakes his head and look up at the sky. “Not exactly. I felt it -- that something is wrong. I have to go back.” He looks at Spencer. “I have to go back.”
“Bren.”
“You don’t have to come with me. I get it. It’s a fucking lot to ask. You barely know me and I’m asking--wow, yeah. For a lot.” Brendon shakes his head as he stands, his voice falling soft. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have--I’m sorry.”
“Hey, no, Bren.” Spencer stands as well and takes Brendon’s hand. “You should have, okay? I’m glad you told me, that you trust me.”
“Really?”
Spencer leans in and presses his lips to Brendon’s, and Brendon kisses back, curling an arm around Spencer’s waist. They pull away from each other, ribbons of colour floating above their head, still trapped by the shield surrounding them.
“I want to come with you.”
“Spence.”
“Stay here okay?” Spencer kisses him again, hard and quick. “Don’t leave without me.” He turns to leave and then turns back. “Um can you--I kinda can’t get out.”
“Oh, oh right.” Brendon smiles and then mutters under his breath, and the shield disappears. “There you go.”
Spencer grins and disappears back into the house. It’s the last thing that Brendon sees before everything goes black.
--
When Brendon comes to he feels like his head has been trampled by a herd of wild Cetus. He groans and opens his eyes just a crack, but it’s enough to see Zack looming over his bed and looking pissed.
“Nrgh.”
“Good Morning, your Majesty. Sleep well?” Dallon speaks somewhere to the side of him, and it slices through Brendon’s brain. Brendon groans again. He’s really not in the mood to be yelled at by Zack or be on the receiving end of one of Dallon’s sarcasm filled lectures. He just wants to die instead.
Suddenly the events from the night before come rushing back. Brendon sits upright, and his head really does not approve of that. Brendon doesn’t care. “Spencer. I have to--”
“You have to lay down. Spencer’s fine.” Zack presses a hand to his chest and pushes until he’s laying back against the pillows. “You, however, are lucky to be alive.”
“I don’t.” Brendon frowns. “What happened?”
“Oh you know the usual. The crowned prince ran away for a late night make out session and magic show with his boyfriend and almost got his ass kidnapped by a rebel. No big deal.” Dallon is pacing back and forth along the length of the bed. Brendon really hates it when Dallon paces.
“A rebel?”
“Yes, Brendon, a rebel. You remember them right? Those pesky little outsiders from the border town who are trying to overthrow the kingdom? You know, the ones we’re on the run from?”
Brendon feels a surge of anger push through him. “Don’t talk to me like that, Dallon. You might be pissed but I am still your prince.”
“Then why don’t you act like it.” Dallon snaps and then storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Zack looks amused by Dallon’s display when Brendon looks at him to speak. He opens his mouth and closes it again, sighing before he lies back against the pillows. “Okay, so how did I get here if a rebel found me?”
“Your boy knocked him out with a hockey stick. He carried you here and told us what happened.” Zack gives Brendon a look of disapproval. “I’m not going to yell at you, Brendon. You fucked up; I know that you know that. But I will say this. You put not only yourself, but your friend, us, and the whole kingdom in danger last night.”
“I’m sorry.”
Zack waves his apology away. “I’ve been alive many years. I was around before you were born, before your parents took the throne. I’ve never felt let down by any of the members of the royal family that I have served. Until now. I say this as your friend and as your servant. You need to grow up and realise that what you want to do and what you need to do are two very different things.” Zack stands. “You have the potential to be a great leader one day Brendon. You need to remember that.”
“Zack. I’m sorry, I am.”
Zack rests his hand on the door handle. “Get some sleep, Your Highness. You’re going to need your strength for the interrogation.”
Brendon frowns. “Interrogation?”
“Of the rebel.” Zack gives him a weird look. “He’s in the basement.”
“Oh.” Brendon nods and lays back against the pillows. “Right.”
Zack gives him one last look and leaves, shutting the door softly behind him.
--
Someone shakes Brendon awake lightly, whispering his name. Brendon groans a little and tries to roll away, but whoever it is is persistent and annoying.
“Go ‘way.” Brendon slaps at the annoying hand. He hears Spencer’s laugh, soft and teasing, then opens his eyes. Spencer is pale and looks exhausted, but Brendon can see the hint of relief in his eyes. “Spence.”
“Hey.” Spencer smiles down at him and pulls the covers back, sliding in next to Brendon. “How’re you feeling?”
“I’m okay. It only hurts when I move or think about moving. Or think in general. You? You didn’t get hurt did you?”
“Nah. I kicked that dudes ass though.” Spencer grins and brushes a piece of hair out of Brendon’s eyes.
“I heard. A hockey stick huh?”
Spencer shrugs. “Ryan and I used to play. I guess the twins must have been using it because it was by the door when I came out and saw you being attacked.”
“I’m sorry.” Brendon sighs. “I’m fucking everything up.”
“Hey, you don’t need to apologise to me. To Dallon maybe because the dude is kinda pissed and more than a little scary but not to me. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I am. Thanks to you and your mad hockey skills.” Brendon smiles a little. “Thank you, yeah?”
“Anytime.”
There’s a soft knock at the door before Dallon steps in. He doesn’t make eye contact as he stands stiffly in the door way. “Your Highness, your presence is required downstairs. Zack wishes to see you.”
“Oh, okay.” Brendon winces as he sits up. Dallon nods his head and then turns, closing the door behind him.
“Is he always so formal at home?”
Brendon sighs. “No. He’s pissed, so he’s saying all that shit to annoy me.”
“Does it annoy you?”
Brendon shrugs. “Sometimes. It’s not that I don’t think being a prince would be fun, It probably would, and I don’t know, I’ve been trained since birth. It’s not like I don’t know how to do the job. I just--want to be me you know? I want to have fun and see new places.” He looks down at their joined hands. “Meet someone and fall in love.”
Spencer squeezes his hand. “You want to have a life.”
“More than anything.” Brendon sighs. “But I’m the prince and princes don’t have lives. They have meetings and make decisions for the good of their people, and now this prince has to go downstairs before he gets in even more trouble.”
Brendon presses a quick kiss to Spencer’s lips and rolls off the bed, stretching and cracking his neck. “This might take awhile.”
“Can--I could come with you? I won’t get in the way.”
“It might not--you might not like what you see.” Brendon frowns. “Are you sure?”
Spencer nods. He reaches for Brendon’s hand as he stands. “I just want to be with you okay? All versions of you.”
Brendon nods. “Okay.”
He doesn’t let go of Spencer’s hand as they go downstairs. Zack is reading the paper in the dining room, but he looks uneasy, glancing occasionally out the window. It makes sense. They’ve been found by one rebel, and there’s no reason to believe that he hadn’t contacted others to give away their position.
“Zack.”
Zack looks up and folds his newspaper. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” Brendon aims for a reassuring smile. He knows he falls short by the way Spencer squeezes his hand, and Zack almost looks sympathetic.
The thing is, Brendon’s seen interrogations before. He knows what he has to do and say, and that’s okay. He can do that. He knows how to play prince when he has to but it’s the stuff the might have to do or say after or if there’s a lack of cooperation that terrifies him.
Zack leads them down to the basement. If Brendon holds Spencer’s hand a little tighter or pulls him in a little closer, neither of them comment on it. It’s dark, but Brendon can make out a shadowy figure in the corner and Dallon hovering not too far away.
Brendon takes a deep breath and steps forward, letting go of Spencer’s hand and pushing him closer to Zack in the same motion. He’s instantly cold again, but it’s worth it to know that Spencer will be safe. Dallon meets him halfway and bows his head formally, this time for show and not out of some need to annoy the crap out of Brendon. “He’s accurately restrained my prince.” He pauses. “What is Spencer doing down here?”
“Dallon, don’t.” Brendon really doesn’t want to deal with another fight with Dallon.
“It’s dangerous. You don’t know what’s going to happen, Brendon. He could get hurt.”
Brendon sighs. “That’s enough.”
He rests a hand on Dallon’s shoulder and moves forward again. He stops on the edge of the shadow that surrounds the rebel. “Show yourself.”
He can hear Spencer ask Zack what Brendon is saying when he speaks in his native tongue. Zack translates for him, his voice a soft hum in the peripheral of Brendon’s hearing, but all of Brendon’s focus is on the silent rebel.
“I gave you an order.”
The rebel stays silent. Brendon raises his hand, clicking his fingers, and with a crackle of lightning the whole room is illuminated. The rebel is hunched in the corner, surrounded by a bubble that shimmers in the now lit room. He’s dirty, and there is a bandage wrapped around his head. Brendon recognises the bandaging as Dallon’s work.
Brendon takes another step forward. “Do you know who I am?”
The rebels eyes flash. He lunges, but the wall of the bubble throws him back. Brendon doesn’t flinch, but he hears Spencer gasp behind him. He send a shot of soothing energy towards Spencer and keeps his eyes trained on the rebel. “I asked you a question, and you will answer. Do you know who I am?”
“You are the enemy.” The rebels voice is low and rough, like he’s been swallowing the fire stones that lay at the base of Mount Rizader back on Aeternitatis.
Brendon doesn’t break eye contact. “Who sent you to kidnap me?”
The rebel grins, evil and harsh, “Look at you little boy, playing at being grown up. Too bad your family ran away while you left your subjects to die.”
“I will ask you again. Who sent you?” Brendon concentrates on keeping calm and not giving away any emotion. He knows the rebel can sense it, and he needs to keep some kind of upper hand. The rebel doesn’t reply, and Brendon nods. He closes his eyes and focuses until he can feel his energy start to build, ebbing and flowing through his veins and extends it until it pushes through the protection of the bubble and reaches the rebel. Immediately Brendon is bombarded with images of children crying and people dying, screams ringing through his ears, echoing like church bells across a silent night. He doesn’t recoil, doesn’t let any emotion in, and when he feels the rebels defenses start to lower he pulls back, leaving the bubble securely in tact around him.
“Zack, get our guest some food and see that he is comfortable. He will die at dawn.” Brendon stays in his native tongue, he wants the rebel to hear him. Zack nods and disappears upstairs, taking Spencer with him
Brendon gives the rebel one last look and then turns, crossing the room quickly until he is at Dallon’s side. “Keep me updated, please.”
Dallon nods and then reaches out, touching Brendon’s arm. “Your Highness?”
“Yes?”
Dallon smiles, switching back to English. “You did good.”
“Thank you.” Brendon smiles a little and heads upstairs to the kitchen. By the time he gets to the top he’s shaking. Brendon all but collapses against Spencer when he pushes away from the counter and pulls him into a hug.
“Fuck.”
Spencer runs a hand over his back. “Zack said you did a good job. He said that you did really, really good Bren.”
“They’re torturing them. Men, Woman, Children, they’re--they’re.” Brendon pushes away from him and throws up in the sink.
“Hey.” A cool hand touches the back of Brendon’s neck. “Bren, hey.”
“I’m okay.” Brendon wipes his mouth on the back of his hand. “I’m--I’m okay. Are you okay?”
Spencer nods and hugs him again. “I’m okay.”
“Guys? Come and eat.” Zack sets two plates down on the table and loads another onto a tray. “I’ll take this down. You guys can talk.”
“Okay.” Brendon sits, tugging the chair next to him out for Spencer. Brendon’s hands shake as he takes a bite of his sandwich.
“Hey, are you cold?” Spencer frowns and reaches out. “Jesus, you’re freezing.”
“I’m okay. It’s because of the stuff at home.” Brendon shrugs a little. “I’ll survive.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Brendon hesitates and nods a little. “It’s um. Better. When we touch.”
“Well why didn’t you say something?” Spencer hauls him into his lap and wraps his arms tight around Brendon and instantly Brendon is warm again. He really hopes that Spencer doesn’t ask why it works the way it does because he honestly doesn’t have an answer for him. “It’s totally my sexy talk that does it for you isn’t it.”
Brendon snorts and presses his face against his neck. “Mmhm. I’m just using you for your body.”
“Awesome. Any chance that’ll be happening any time soon?”
“We haven’t even had a proper make out session and you already want in my pants? You move fast, Spencer Smith.”
Spencer laughs softly and drops a kiss to his shoulder. “Yeah well. I’m a teenage boy, and you’re hot.”
“Thought you said I was weird.”
“I apparently dig weird. Who knew.” He pauses. “Actually, wow. That explains a lot about me and Ryan to be honest.”
“Ryan’s a hot alien?”
“God no. Well. He could be alien, it would explain a lot but hot? Not so much. But that’s probably more because he’s like my brother and that would be creepy and wrong.”
“Back on my planet siblings get married all the time. In the out laying lands mostly. It keeps blood lines pure. Luckily it doesn’t happen too much where I live and definitely not in my family. I have no siblings and my cousin thinks he’s a goat.” Brendon smiles against Spencer’s skin. He doesn’t mention that his relief mostly stems from the fact that he’s pretty sure he’s in love with Spencer. He’s not even sure how he feels about falling so hard and fast. “Uncle Max’s son obviously.”
“Sounds like an interesting place.”
“It’s beautiful there. It’s like--there’s rivers and valleys and mountains that glitter and sparkle because of the gems and everyone is nice and helpful and there’s music and food and everyone is happy.” He sighs. “Well. I thought everyone was happy.”
“The rebels?”
“Yeah. It never made sense you know? That’s why it was always thought to be a rumour but then--this.”
Spencer kisses his shoulder again. “Are you really going to kill him?”
“Do you think I should?”
Spencer’s quiet for a moment and Brendon can practically hear him thinking. “No, I don’t think you should.”
“No?”
“No. I think--I think that sometimes compassion and understanding are better, in the long run than you know, beheadings. Where does it stop you know? It’s one this time but then it’s two or three. Then it’s groups, and eventually you’ll find that you just get rid of the problem for a while. You don’t fix the problem for the long term.”
Brendon nods. “I’m not going to kill him. I should, my dad would but I’m not going to.” He kisses Spencer’s neck. “You’re a smart guy, Spencer Smith. You’d make an awesome prince’s consort.”
Spencer laughs a little. “Let’s get all of this sorted out and go on a date before we worry about that ‘kay?”
“You’ve got it.” Brendon leans up to kiss him. “And thank you. I really--I appreciate you not freaking out or running away.”
“I never would.”
Brendon shrugs a little. “You kinda did remember?”
“Hey we talked about that, remember? I was freaked out but--I like you. I like you a lot, and I want to be with you. I want to help you. I won’t run away again.”
“Okay.” Brendon nods. “I like you too, you know.”
“I know.” Spencer grins. “Now eat. You might be showing compassion, but I wouldn’t put it past Zack to snap both of us in half for not eating our lunch.”
--
Zack comes back an hour later with Dallon in tow and pulls a chair out opposite Brendon.“The rebel refuses to speak.”
“It’s of no consequence. I am aware of what he has done, of what his kind are doing.” Brendon sets his glass down. “He will not die at my hand though.”
“When do we return home?”
Brendon turns to see Dallon standing in the doorway his arms folded. He looks tired, and his face is creased with worry. Brendon looks to Zack and then back to Dallon. “We leave at night fall.”
“Awesome, that gives me enough time to pack and spin some bullshit to my mom about visiting Ryan.” Spencer pipes up and everyone turns to look at him.
“No way.”
Zack shakes his head. “Absolutely not.”
“Do you think she’ll let you go?” Brendon tries not to sound hopeful. He ignores Dallon’s groan and Zack’s noise of frustration.
Spencer shrugs. “Probably not, but I am anyway. What can she do? I’m not even going to be on the same planet; it’s not like she can ground me.”
“Okay, well. We need to make preparations so you should go and do that. Meet us back here by five. I’ll need to run through some stuff with you.”
Spencer nods and stands, putting his empty plate and cup in the sink. He leans over to kiss Brendon lightly. Brendon ignores Dallon’s complaints about gross displays of PDA and kisses back. “I’ll see you this afternoon okay?”
Brendon nods and smiles. “Totally.”
The room is silent as Spencer leaves, and then the sound of the front door closing breaks through. Dallon starts pacing while Zack gets up to load the dishwasher. Brendon’s noticed that sometimes Zack just has to use his hands, especially when he’s stressed or worried. “I have to advise against taking him with us Brendon. He could get himself killed.”
“Or worse, kidnapped and tortured and then killed.” Dallon throws his hands in the air. “Are you actually insane? Zack, you checked for head injuries right?”
“He was hit in the head Dallon. It’s kinda implied in the name.”
Dallon glares. “You are giving in to him and I don’t appreciate it.”
“No I’m not, but he’s the fucking prince. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he really doesn’t have to do anything we tell him to.”
Brendon rolls his eyes. He hates when they act like he’s not sitting there. “You may not have noticed but I’m also in the room.”
Dallon gives him dirty look. “It’s not like we didn’t notice, what with making heart eyes at your boyfriend, being generally irresponsible and making horrible life decision.”
Brendon recoils like he’s been slapped and then raises himself up to full height, “How dare you. I don’t have to answer to you Dallon. You are not my father or my mother. The decisions I make in my personal life are of no consequence to you.”
“The hell they aren’t. Your decisions affect everything. Your family, your subjects, your kingdom. Do not sit there and tell me--”
“Silence.” Brendon glares at Dallon. “You will not speak another word to me unless I direct you to. Do you understand me?”
Dallon opens his mouth and shuts it. He nods and Brendon can see that it’s taking all of his effort not to talk back. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. Zack, I trust that the ship is ready for travel.”
“It is.”
Brendon nods. “I’m going upstairs to pack. I suggest you both do the same. I wish to leave as soon as night falls.”
Zack stands and nods, resting a hand on Dallon’s shoulder. “We’ll be ready.”
Brendon makes his way upstairs and tries to ignore the fear and guilt that’s settled like a lead weigh in the pit of his stomach. He has to focus. He knows he does. It’s time to be the prince he was raised to be, whether he likes it or not.
On To Part Three.
--
“This is such a bad idea, Brendon.” Dallon glances around. “A really bad idea.”
The desert is dark except for the headlights of Dallon’s car. Brendon looks up at the sprawling blanket of stars and smiles to himself. “Your opinion is duly noted.”
“Brendon, as your aide, as your friend I’m telling you. This is stupid.”
Brendon sighs and rests his forehead against the window, letting the cold soothe his fledgling headache. “I have registered your opinion and I don’t agree.” Brendon’s voice drips with authority.
“This is danger--”
“That’s enough.” Brendon sits up straight and turns to look at Dallon. Speaking Aeternitatic feels foreign on his tongue but he needs to get his point across. “You are my friend but I am also your prince and you will do what I say. That’s final.”
Dallon nods. “Yes Your Highness.”
Brendon returns his nod and then smiles as a flash of light catches his eye. “He’s here.”
“Great.” Dallon looks anything but joyful, but he gets out of the car nonetheless, keeping close to Brendon.
Spencer walks towards them looking equal parts confused and annoyed; Brendon’s really into that look. It makes his stomach twist in a really awesome way.
“Alright, so I’m here. You better not be planning on killing me and burying me out here. I’m missing dessert.”
“Why would I want to kill you? You’re my friend.” Brendon’s confused. Why would Spencer meet him if he thought he was going to be killed?
Spencer raises an eyebrow. “Well, I don’t know. It could be the fact that visiting your house was like walking into The fucking Shining, and your cousin lied to me about you two being, destined or some shit. Which, by the way, is gross and also probably illegal. You know, we have a pretty good counsellor at school. You should consider seeing her. She was really awesome when Ryan was going through his--well when Ryan was being Ryan really.”
“Dallon.” Brendon sighs. “Will you please tell Spencer that I’m not going kill him.”
“Brendon’s not going to kill you.” Dallon gives Spencer a look. Brendon’s seen it enough times to know that Dallon thinks Brendon’s making an error in judgement. “Against my advice.”
Brendon nods. “Wow, yeah. Sarcasm is totally helpful dude, thanks for that.”
“Anytime.”
“No for real. You have a date with a Cetus.” Brendon mutters and shakes his head, stepping forward. He takes Spencer’s elbow guiding him away from Dallon. Dallon sighs, following behind them at a slower pace. “Ignore him. He’s just pissy that he missed his nap.”
“Yeah, well, this is all really touching, but what the fuck are we doing out here in the middle of the desert?”
“You know, this attitude you have? It’s not at all hot, I’m just throwing that out there.” Brendon tugs on his hand as he sits.
Spencer sighs and sits across from him. “Now I’m in the dirt.” Spencer glances at his shoes, making an agitated noise. “Let me get this straight. You brought me out here, all so I could sit in the freezing cold and get dirt all over me. Oh and so you could tell me that I’m not hot and that you’re not going to kill me?”
“I might have lied about you not being hot.” Brendon shrugs and takes Spencer’s hand. He turns it so it’s palm up and pushes the sleeve of his hoodie up.
“What are you doing?”
“Why? Is it turning you on?” Brendon wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“No, it’s vaguely annoying. Also creepy.” Spencer slaps at his hand, and Brendon slaps back, hissing for him to quit it as he pushes Spencer’s hoodie sleeve up further.
Spencer huffs. “This better be fucking worth it, Brendon. My ass is numb, and my new shoes are filthy.”
Brendon sighs. He’s about to show Spencer something really fucking important and all Spencer can do is bitch about his cold ass. Brendon can’t help but feel like Dallon’s probably right. Humans are fucking annoying sometimes. Especially this particular human who manages to be equal parts infuriating and hot at the same time. Brendon kinda wants to slap Spencer, only in a totally sexy kind of way. Brendon shakes his head a little, where did that thought even come from? He clears his head and runs his palm slowly over Spencer’s arm, from the bicep down until his palm sits on top of Spencer’s. He presses the tips of his fingers against the inside of Spencer’s wrist and closes his eyes, humming softly.
“Brendon what the--”
“Shh. Just--wait.” Brendon keeps his eyes shut and hums. He concentrates harder and taps into his core, a sphere made up of vine like strands that glows bright blue. He slowly extracts one of the strands, drawing it through his veins until it presses at the surface of the skin on his hand. He shudders and lets it push through, focusing on the warmth until the strand tangles into a tiny glowing ball between their palms.
When Brendon opens his eyes Spencer is staring down at their palms. Brendon smiles, raising his hand higher so the sphere floats. “Surprise.”
“What is it?”
“Me.”
The sphere emits a bright glow that lights up Spencer’s face. “What are you?” His voice is hushed and filled with awe.
Brendon moves his palm and the light goes with him, floating in lazy circles around his hand. “I’m a lot of things.”
“Yeah.” Spencer watches the sphere float around Brendon’s hand. “I’m starting to see that.” He pauses. “What else can you do?”
“All sorts of stuff.” Brendon holds his hand palm up and the sphere hovers above it in place. Brendon whispers something and blows softly, like he’s blowing dust off his hand. The sphere takes off, zooms through the air before it splits in two. The two new spheres glow purple and then split again, glowing bright green.
Spencer watches them fly around. “This is insane. This--how are you doing that?”
“I don’t know. It’s just who I am.” Brendon shrugs and whispers again. The sphere’s collide, glowing blue again and zoom back to his hand. “They’re who I am.”
“Are you--is this what you’re made of?”
Brendon hums. “Sort of. This is what sits in my core, where my magic lives.”
Spencer opens his mouth to speak, but his phone starts ringing. Brendon sighs and lets the light return to his core. He watches Spencer answer and have a quick argument with someone on the other end of the line.
“Sorry Brendon, I have to go.” Spencer says, snapping his phone shut. “My mom is throwing a fit.”
Brendon stands up and dusts the dirt of his pants, smiling to hide the disappointment. He doesn’t understand. Spencer’s not freaking out. He’s not reacting at all. Surely he should be asking questions or running for the hills or something. “That’s okay. I should head back too.”
Spencer nods distractedly. “Okay. I’ll see you at school?”
“Yep.”
“Okay, cool.” Spencer half waves to Dallon and then rushes for his car. He stops and then runs back over. “Hey. Just--I’m definitely going to see you tomorrow right?”
Brendon nods, “Yeah. Definitely.”
Spencer smiles. “Okay awesome. That’s. Awesome.”
Spencer runs back over to his car. He gets in and starts it, speeding off. Brendon watches him go and sighs when Dallon rests his hand on his shoulder.
“Ready to go home, Bren?”
“Yeah.” Brendon turns. “Let’s go.”
Brendon stares out the window the rest of the way home. He wanted more time to tell Spencer everything and make him understand. Now he doesn’t know if he’s going to get another chance. He knows he’ll see Spencer at school tomorrow, but it just felt like this was the right time and now it’s gone. He can sense Dallon watching him as they drive, but Brendon just presses his forehead against the cool glass and ignores him. He wants to go home.
--
Brendon gets home and goes straight up to his room. He kicks his shoes off and pushes his window open, throwing one leg over the sill, then the other until he can crawl out onto the roof. It’s cool out, but the roof tiles still have some warmth from being exposed to the hot sun all day. Brendon shifts until he’s comfortable and not likely to go tumbling off the roof to his death and pulls his knees up to his chest, resting his chin atop them.
He likes it out here, it’s quiet and they’re far enough away from the bright lights of the strip that he can see the stars. Brendon looks up at the sky, the moon shining big a bright and sighs. “Hey Mom. Dad.”
Brendon feels a little ridiculous sitting on the roof of his house talking to his parents. It’s comforting though, in a way that he really needs right now. He’s so fucking confused and Dallon seems to be doing everything in his power to be the polar opposite of helpful while Zack pretends to not notice what’s going on.
Brendon sighs again. “There’s this boy. Spencer? I just. I really like him you know? He’s smart and funny and. I think he might like me back. I don’t know though, I mean. He hasn’t said anything but he seemed disappointed when he thought Dallon and I were dating or whatever.”
“I feel so weird around him. It’s like I can’t control my magic and I feel--different. It’s hard to explain.” A cool breeze picks up and Brendon wraps his arms tighter around his knees. “I don’t know what to do. I’m--” he pauses. “I’m scared. He’s a human and I’m--well. I’m me. I just don’t know how this could work. I really want it to.”
Brendon feels like a total idiot. He’s talking to the sky for fucksake. “I wish you both were here right now. I miss you. ”
The moon disappears behind a cloud. Brendon rubs at his eyes and crawls back over to the window. He gets one leg over the window sill and then looks up. “I love you. I hope you’re okay.”
Brendon shuts the window behind when he gets back inside and flops down on his bed. He doesn’t feel any better, just more confused than ever.
--
Brendon wakes up with a jolt. The numbers on the clock next to him read three am, and he frowns. He never wakes up in the middle of the night, not unless-- it hits him. He's freezing cold. He's never cold. In fact, he's always on the other side of too warm for comfort, and it can only mean one thing. Something is wrong.
He slides out of bed, turning the lamp on and makes his way down the hall, knocking on Dallon's door. "Dallon? Dallon, wake up."
Brendon hears movement and disgruntled murmuring coming from the other side of the door; he can picture Dallon, cranky and throwing the blankets back, ready to tear into Brendon for waking him. The door is thrown open and Dallon glares. "What Brend--jesus, what's wrong?"
Dallon reaches out, his hands hot against Brendon's skin. "Fucking hell. You're so cold. What the shit?"
"Something's wrong. Something's very, very wrong, Dallon."
"Shit. Shit okay, go get into bed. I'll get Zack."
Brendon nods and makes his way back to bed. He pulls the covers tight around him and closes his eyes, concentrating. He tries to tap into his core but there's a shield, blocking it. Brendon shakes his head and tries again with no luck. The main light comes on and Brendon startles. “Fuck.”
“Brendon? Your Majesty, what is it?” Zack kneels next to his bed, reaching out and taking his hand.
“I don’t know, Zack.” Brendon bites back a sob. “I don’t know, I can’t--I can’t get to my core. I’m so cold. It’s like there’s a barrier there stopping me from getting to it.”
“I was afraid this would happen.”
“What? You were afraid what would happen?” Dallon steps away from the doorway. He walks into the room and moves closer to the bed. “What the fuck, Zack?”
“I was afraid that if--if something were to happen to one of the prince’s relatives he would feel it -- that it would affect him, like a warning.” Zack hovers his hands over Brendon’s body.
Brendon’s head snaps up. “Something’s happened?”
“You didn’t think you should tell us that?” Dallon stands right over Zack. “You didn’t think that the prince should know that?”
“It was need to know.” Zack glares at Dallon. “It might not have come to fruition.”
“He had the right to know. We both had the right to know.”
Zack looks back down at Brendon. “I did what I thought was best.”
“No.” Dallon holds his hand up. “That’s not good enough, Zack. This is the prince’s life and we both out rank you. At the very least he--”
“He is laying right here thank you very much. Now, instead of bickering with each other and playing my job is better than yours, how about you both come up with a way to fucking work out what the fuck is going on.” Brendon sits up and gives them both an exasperated look.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Zack nods and turns his attention back to his hands.
Brendon raises an eyebrow, clearing his throat. Dallon sighs.“Yes, Your Highness.”
Zack stands. “I think--I need to try and contact your parents.”
“What? No. No way, Zack. that’s way too dangerous.” If Brendon wasn’t too cold to move he’d be putting his foot down. At least he thinks that’s what that means.
“Brendon, if--”
Brendon raises his hand to silence Zack. “No. It’s not up for discussion. I’ll be fine. There’s no need to--it’s risking everyone’s safety.”
Zack sighs and nods. “Okay. But if it gets any worse--”
“It won’t.” Brendon tugs the covers up over him. He’s not going to let Zack put everyone in danger because he’s a little cold. “Go back to bed okay?”
Zack looks reluctant, but he nods and leaves. Dallon doesn’t though. He stands with his arms folded, and a look on his face that Brendon can’t doesn’t want to read.
“Go to bed, Dallon.”
“I know what you’re doing. Zack might give in to you because you flash your puppy dog eyes and go all Royal Family on his ass, but I know better.” Dallon gives him a knowing look. “This isn’t helping anyone. Endangering your life isn’t going to help anyone.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Brendon lays back against the pillows. “Go to bed, Dallon.”
“No. I’m sorry, Brendon. As dedicated as I am to you and your family, I am just as dedicated to my people; you are risking their lives as much as your own.”
“I said--”
“I don’t care what you said, okay? Jesus Christ, Brendon. You know how important you are. You can’t just decide that you don’t feel like--”
“Fuck you, Dallon. You think I don’t know? You think that I haven’t known since I was a child what I was born into -- what I was going to be expected to do? Trust me I know. Because while you were out playing with your friends? I was learning about the politics of our planet. I could speak seven different languages by the time I was eight. So don’t tell me because I fucking know.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean--”
“You meant.” Brendon can feel tears stinging the corners of his eyes, “You fucking meant so don’t say that you didn’t. It’s alright for you. This is just a job to you but it’s my fucking life. I’m seventeen years old. I haven’t seen my parents since I was thirteen, and now there is a very real possibility that I won’t ever see them again. Not to mention there is a war being fought in my name right now I don’t even agree with. I am going to be expected to go back and rule a kingdom that will forever mourn the loss of brave soldiers who gave their lives to save a kingdom that I don’t even want. Because I don’t want it. I fucking don’t.” The words are out of his mouth before he even realizes that he says them. He hadn’t realized he felt that way until just then, and now that it’s out there he can’t ignore it. He doesn’t want to rule. He just wants to be a teenager and do teenage things. He’s not ready for this, and the thought of being forced makes him want to cry.
“Brendon.” Dallon crosses the room quickly and wraps his arms around him. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want them to be dead. I want them to come back and I want--I want--”
“You want to be human.” Dallon says quietly.
“No. I don’t know. Maybe.” Brendon slumps against Dallon. He feels as though the wind has been knocked out of his sails. “I don’t want to be King.”
Dallon runs a hand over his back. “Is this about Spencer?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.” Dallon sighs and pets Brendon’s hair. “Brendon I know you think that Spencer--I know that you think that this is what you want, and maybe it is but--do you really want to give up everything for him?”
“I don’t know but is it such a bad thing that I’d like the opportunity to decide for myself?”
“No but--this is your life, Bren. I’m truly sorry, but this is your birthright.”
“But it’s not my choice. None of this is my--it’s not fucking fair.” It’s not fair, not at all, but Brendon knows that argument isn’t going to fly. He knows that it’s not about what’s fair. It’s about what’s right. Yeah, maybe it is partly about Spencer -- how he thinks he might actually be in love with Spencer -- but that’s not all of it. Not by a long shot.
“Brendon.”
“Go away please. I want to be alone.” Brendon lays down and pulls the covers tighter around himself trying to get some kind of warmth.
“Bre--”
“Dallon, go away. I don’t want to make it an order but I will.” Brendon’s tired and cold. He just wants to curl into a ball and cry until everything stops sucking.
Dallon stands and nods, shutting the door behind him, and Brendon starts to cry. He presses his face into his pillow and tries not to think about anything. It doesn’t work. His mind wanders to images of him and Spencer hanging around at Spencer’s place, the way Spencer hugs him hello and goodbye, the way Spencer insists that all disputes can be solved by wrestling for it, it usually being the remote or who gets to be Yoshi when they play Mario Kart. He can see a future here in Vegas, here on Earth, here with Spencer,and it scares him that home doesn’t factor into that. He doesn’t know what it means but he can guess and that’s the scariest thought of all.
--
Brendon waits until he’s sure Zack is asleep and Dallon has stopped moving around in his room before creeping over to the window. He closes his eyes, presses his hand to the glass and focuses on pushing his energy around the frame like a cushion and slides it open silently. It doesn’t take much effort for him to climb down the lattice that frames one side of the house and drop to the soft ground below. He waits a moment and then turns and heads down the street. He spent all day making plans, and he knows they’re dangerous and stupid. He knows if Zack and Dallon find out they will kill him but he has to do this. He has to go home.
It’s not a long walk to Spencer’s house, but it seems like forever. Brendon’s got his hoodie zipped up tight but he’s still shivering; he knows that it’s got nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with something that’s happening millions of miles away.
Spencer’s house is in darkness when Brendon gets there and it makes it easier for Brendon to creep around to the side of the house and throw a rock at Spencer’s window. He misses the first three times but the fourth hits with a barely audible clink as do the fifth and six. Brendon’s getting ready to throw another when the window opens, and Spencer looks down at him bleary-eyed with his hair sticking up in the air.
“Bren?”
Brendon waves a little, his stomach flip flopping with a sudden case of nerves. “Hey. Hey can you come down? I need to talk to you.”
“Bren, it’s one in the morning. Can’t it wait until later?”
“No.” Brendon’s voice comes out louder than he expected, and he flinches, lowering his voice, “No, it’s important. Please.” Brendon knows he sounds desperate but he is.
“Hey. Hey, okay.” Spencer seems to falter. “I’ll be right down.” He closes the window and disappears from view. Brendon hugs himself and fidgets, waiting amongst the shadows just in case one of Spencer’s sisters wake up and see him.
Spencer opens the back door and looks around; Brendon steps out of the shadows. “Over here.”
“Bren? What the hell is going on?”
Brendon doesn’t actually know what to say now that he’s gotten this far into his plan. “Um. I--”
Spencer frowns and steps closer. “Is something wrong?”
“Um, kinda yeah. Yeah, um. You know that stuff I showed you tonight?”
“Yeah? With the magic and stuff?”
“Yeah, with the magic and stuff. Well, um. I wasn’t--I haven’t--I’m not from this planet. I’m not a high school student and--I’m not human.” Brendon pauses, “I’m crowned Prince Brendon Urie from the planet Aeternitatis.”
Spencer is silent for the longest time. He raises his eyebrows so high that if Brendon wasn’t too busy freaking out he’d probably be worried they were going to disappear into his hair.
“Spence? Say--say something. Please.”
“You’re a prince?”
Brendon nods and fidgets even more. “I’m--yeah. I don’t want to be but--”
“Wow, that’s. Huh. That actually explains a lot.”
“I’m sorry I--wait, what?” Brendon shakes his head a little. “What?”
Spencer shrugs, his face smoothing out. “It explains a lot. The weird words and the vague threats about cutting off Dallon’s body parts, and I don’t know, you’re very--” he waves his hand around.
“Very what?”
“You’re very--strange. In a good way! Not a bad way, you’re just--different. Compared to like every other teenager ever.”
Brendon is confused that Spencer isn’t freaking out. He also seems to be ignoring the part where Brendon’s an alien. Brendon thought that would be the bit that would actually get a reaction. “Okay, well. This was easier than I expected.”
“Sorry, did you expect me to throw a fit or run away screaming or something? That’s not really my style you know?”
“No, hey, I totally get that. I mean some people find out that their--whatever I am to you, is Alien Royalty and freak out, but you just take it all in your stride. That’s totally normal.”
“Well, I mean. Alien. That's a bit of shock. Not so much the whole prince thing. You’re kind of a diva, dude.” Spencer shrugs but seems to be choosing his words carefully. “Did you think I’d cause a scene?”
“You didn’t speak to me for a week after you came over.” Brendon looks at the ground.“I’m just saying.”
“Hey.” Spencer moves closer to him, and Brendon looks up. “I’m sorry about that yeah? I was a dick and confused and a dick. Did I mention I was a dick?”
“Once or twice.” Brendon smiles a little and pauses. “I’m leaving.”
“Already? You woke me up and made me come down here so you can tell me your secret identity and now you’re going? That’s pretty uncool, bro.” Spencer nudges him with an elbow. “You could have at least made your big bombshell interesting.”
“Right.” Brendon nods.“Right no, you’re totally right.”
Brendon hesitates and then darts in and presses his mouth to Spencer’s. He holds onto the front of Spencer’s shirt and wills Spencer to kiss him back instead of punching him in the face, because if he doesn’t Brendon will probably die of embarrassment. Spencer makes a startled noise and then relaxes, opening his mouth just enough for Brendon to lick into it. Brendon’s been waiting to do this, thinking about this, since that day with the Doritos. He’s terrified that he’s doing it wrong though; the only kiss he’s ever had was from some schmuck son of a visiting delegate from Jupiter. He had taken Brendon’s forced cheer and friendliness as an invitation to kiss him, and Brendon hadn’t felt at all bad about sending a painful warning zap and leaving the guy with a slightly burnt stench. Come to think of it, he looked a lot like that douchey Keeper in Harry Potter. Brendon knew that character rubbed him the wrong way for a reason and not just because, as it turns out, Brendon has serious opinions about Ron and Hermione as a couple.
Spencer makes a soft noise, startling Brendon out of his thoughts and back to the task at hand -- the task of kissing Spencer, holy shit.Brendon tightens his grip in the soft cotton of Spencer’s well worn shirt, and that’s when he feels the first hint of warmth, deep inside. He deepens the kiss as Spencer curves a hand around the back of his neck. Slowly but surely warmth starts to spread throughout his entire body until he feels bursting with heat and magic. He can feel his nerve endings coming to life and heating up. Brendon pulls back the tiniest bit, their lips still brushing against each other. Sparks start to fly, literally, as magic passes between them in ribbons of colour and light, each sparkling as they ascend towards the heavens.
“Jesus.” Spencer mutters. He presses his forehead to Brendon’s as he sucks in a breath. His chest heaves under Brendon’s hand.
“No, Brendon.” Brendon laughs softly as he struggles to get his own breath back. “Interesting enough for you?”
“Mmm I might need further exploration.” Spencer ducks in for another kiss, but Brendon pulls back.
“I’m leaving.”
“Dude, no. Stay here with me. We can make out. It’ll be awesome.” Spencer leans in again, and Brendon sighs, resting a hand on his chest.
“I mean. I’m going home. Back to Aeternitatis. Tonight.”
Spencer’s eyes widen and he takes a step back. “Oh. Oh. That’s--oh.”
“It’s just--something is wrong. I can feel it and. There’s a war and my family -- we’re in hiding. I have to -- have to do something. I can’t just--I can’t--I need--” Brendon didn’t realize he had started crying, but there are bright green tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Hey. Hey don’t--holy shit, are you--what the hell is up with your tears?”
Brendon sniffs, wiping the tears from his face quickly. “It’s a thing, I don’t know.”
Spencer reaches out, letting a tear land on the tip of his finger. He watches in fascination as it glows and sparkles in the pale moonlight. “It looks like an emerald.”
“It is an emerald. Well it’s emerald dust at least. We all, everyone on Aeternitatis that is, our tears contain the dust of gemstones. My mom’s are Amethysts, my father’s Rubies. Dallon’s are Sapphires, not that he ever cries. I suspect he’s secretly a droid. It’d explain the tallness.”
“That’s incredible.” Spencer examines the tear where it glistens atop his fingertip. “Don’t go. Not tonight, please -- just stay here with me tonight.”
Brendon frowns. “I can’t. I need to go home.”
Spencer leans in and kisses him softly. It’s not much, just a brush of lips. “I want to know everything about your people -- about you. Please.”
“Come with me.” Brendon doesn’t know why the idea never occurred to him before. He knows it’s a fucking terrible idea. He knows Zack and Dallon will not approve and he knows that they’re probably right. Taking Spencer into a war is fucking dangerous but. Brendon just wants Spencer so badly and this is the only way he can see him being able to. “Spence, come with me.”
“What? I can’t. How would that even work?” Spencer sounds so confused and unsure that it makes Brendon’s heart skip.
“I don’t know just--come with me.” Brendon can’t help the desperation that colors his voice. “It’s a long trip, and I could do with company.”
Spencer frowns. “You’re going alone?”
Brendon nods. “Dallon and Zack, they--they wouldn’t understand. They can’t feel it. I won’t lie. It’s dangerous, and I can’t order them to come with me. That’s not the sort of prince I want to be.”
“But you’ll invite me along?” Spencer frowns, like it’s suddenly dawned on him how huge this really is. “How dangerous?”
“There--” Brendon glances around and tugs Spencer away from the house. He sits on the grass by the trees that line Spencer’s backyard. He mutters an incantation under his breath, shivering when the shield appears around them.
“What the hell is that?”
“A silencing shield. No one can hear us now.”
“Impressive. That’ll come in handy if we ever want to--never mind.” Spencer’s cheeks turn red, and Brendon rolls his eyes.
“Dude, focus.” Brendon snaps his fingers. “We’ll have plenty of time for that sort of thing later.”
“Really?”
“Oh my god.” Brendon rubs a hand over his face and seriously. “Can you not? I’m trying to be serious here, and you’re distracting me with your sexy talk.”
Spencer snorts. “Sexy talk? Really? That’s sexy talk? Man, what do they teach you on your planet?”
“How to decapitate someones head from their body because they won’t shut the hell up and let the prince talk.” Brendon glares and tries to look intimidating.
“Harsh.” Spencer flicks Brendon’s nose. “But ultimately not intimidating. However, I’ll let you continue.”
“Gee thanks.” Brendon rolls his eyes. “Anyway. Where was I?”
“You were telling me why this is going to be dangerous.”
“Oh right.” Brendon nods. “There were rumours of an uprising. At first it was laughed off because everyone loves the royal family right? I mean, they do. We’re awesome and wise and fair, except my Uncle Max who is a little bit nuts but we don’t really--”
“You’re rambling.” Spencer interjects. “It kinda makes me want to kiss you so if you want me to stay quiet you should probably knock it off.”
“Oh.” Brendon can feel his cheeks heat up and a burst of heat fires through his body, sending sparks of purple, green, blue out of his fingertips. “Oops.”
Spencer levels Brendon with a grin.“Man sex with you is going to be awesome. And colorful.”
“Oh my god can you not.” Brendon groans and more sparks fly. “Just stop talking okay?”
“You’ve got it.” Spencer leers at him anyway because he is a douche. He seems hell bent on forcing Brendon into making a total fool of himself.
Brendon gets himself together. “So there was rumor of rebels coming in from the west, but whenever it was investigated it always just seemed to be just that -- a rumour.”
Spencer nods and shifts so his knees are pressed to Brendon’s, and Brendon’s thankful for the contact. He hasn’t spoken about that night with anyone since they left Aeternitatis.
“One night I went to bed just like every other night. When I woke, I was being carried down one of the hidden tunnels that sweep under the Kingdom. It was Zack, the head of our security and he wouldn’t tell me anything. That’s when I heard the siren.”
“Siren?”
Brendon nods and plays with the end of Spencer’s shoelace. “The warning sirens of de fumo in flammam. They haven’t been heard in the kingdom in over ten thousand years.”
“Was it the rebels?” Spencer moves closer, taking Brendon’s hand and twinning their fingers together.
“Yeah. Yeah it was.” Brendon nods and sniffs. He can feel another tear slide down his cheek, the speck of emerald landing on his jeans leg. “My parents were at the end of the tunnel waiting for us, and there were two space ships.”
“Hey.” Spencer reaches out and brushes his thumb across Brendon’s cheek, wiping away more tears. “You don’t have to.”
“No, no I’m okay.” Brendon sniffs. “I was so scared you know? It was the middle of the night. I was only thirteen, and they--my mom and dad -- they said goodbye. I went one way, and they went the other. I haven’t seen or heard from them since.”
“They contacted you?”
Brendon shakes his head and look up at the sky. “Not exactly. I felt it -- that something is wrong. I have to go back.” He looks at Spencer. “I have to go back.”
“Bren.”
“You don’t have to come with me. I get it. It’s a fucking lot to ask. You barely know me and I’m asking--wow, yeah. For a lot.” Brendon shakes his head as he stands, his voice falling soft. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have--I’m sorry.”
“Hey, no, Bren.” Spencer stands as well and takes Brendon’s hand. “You should have, okay? I’m glad you told me, that you trust me.”
“Really?”
Spencer leans in and presses his lips to Brendon’s, and Brendon kisses back, curling an arm around Spencer’s waist. They pull away from each other, ribbons of colour floating above their head, still trapped by the shield surrounding them.
“I want to come with you.”
“Spence.”
“Stay here okay?” Spencer kisses him again, hard and quick. “Don’t leave without me.” He turns to leave and then turns back. “Um can you--I kinda can’t get out.”
“Oh, oh right.” Brendon smiles and then mutters under his breath, and the shield disappears. “There you go.”
Spencer grins and disappears back into the house. It’s the last thing that Brendon sees before everything goes black.
--
When Brendon comes to he feels like his head has been trampled by a herd of wild Cetus. He groans and opens his eyes just a crack, but it’s enough to see Zack looming over his bed and looking pissed.
“Nrgh.”
“Good Morning, your Majesty. Sleep well?” Dallon speaks somewhere to the side of him, and it slices through Brendon’s brain. Brendon groans again. He’s really not in the mood to be yelled at by Zack or be on the receiving end of one of Dallon’s sarcasm filled lectures. He just wants to die instead.
Suddenly the events from the night before come rushing back. Brendon sits upright, and his head really does not approve of that. Brendon doesn’t care. “Spencer. I have to--”
“You have to lay down. Spencer’s fine.” Zack presses a hand to his chest and pushes until he’s laying back against the pillows. “You, however, are lucky to be alive.”
“I don’t.” Brendon frowns. “What happened?”
“Oh you know the usual. The crowned prince ran away for a late night make out session and magic show with his boyfriend and almost got his ass kidnapped by a rebel. No big deal.” Dallon is pacing back and forth along the length of the bed. Brendon really hates it when Dallon paces.
“A rebel?”
“Yes, Brendon, a rebel. You remember them right? Those pesky little outsiders from the border town who are trying to overthrow the kingdom? You know, the ones we’re on the run from?”
Brendon feels a surge of anger push through him. “Don’t talk to me like that, Dallon. You might be pissed but I am still your prince.”
“Then why don’t you act like it.” Dallon snaps and then storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Zack looks amused by Dallon’s display when Brendon looks at him to speak. He opens his mouth and closes it again, sighing before he lies back against the pillows. “Okay, so how did I get here if a rebel found me?”
“Your boy knocked him out with a hockey stick. He carried you here and told us what happened.” Zack gives Brendon a look of disapproval. “I’m not going to yell at you, Brendon. You fucked up; I know that you know that. But I will say this. You put not only yourself, but your friend, us, and the whole kingdom in danger last night.”
“I’m sorry.”
Zack waves his apology away. “I’ve been alive many years. I was around before you were born, before your parents took the throne. I’ve never felt let down by any of the members of the royal family that I have served. Until now. I say this as your friend and as your servant. You need to grow up and realise that what you want to do and what you need to do are two very different things.” Zack stands. “You have the potential to be a great leader one day Brendon. You need to remember that.”
“Zack. I’m sorry, I am.”
Zack rests his hand on the door handle. “Get some sleep, Your Highness. You’re going to need your strength for the interrogation.”
Brendon frowns. “Interrogation?”
“Of the rebel.” Zack gives him a weird look. “He’s in the basement.”
“Oh.” Brendon nods and lays back against the pillows. “Right.”
Zack gives him one last look and leaves, shutting the door softly behind him.
--
Someone shakes Brendon awake lightly, whispering his name. Brendon groans a little and tries to roll away, but whoever it is is persistent and annoying.
“Go ‘way.” Brendon slaps at the annoying hand. He hears Spencer’s laugh, soft and teasing, then opens his eyes. Spencer is pale and looks exhausted, but Brendon can see the hint of relief in his eyes. “Spence.”
“Hey.” Spencer smiles down at him and pulls the covers back, sliding in next to Brendon. “How’re you feeling?”
“I’m okay. It only hurts when I move or think about moving. Or think in general. You? You didn’t get hurt did you?”
“Nah. I kicked that dudes ass though.” Spencer grins and brushes a piece of hair out of Brendon’s eyes.
“I heard. A hockey stick huh?”
Spencer shrugs. “Ryan and I used to play. I guess the twins must have been using it because it was by the door when I came out and saw you being attacked.”
“I’m sorry.” Brendon sighs. “I’m fucking everything up.”
“Hey, you don’t need to apologise to me. To Dallon maybe because the dude is kinda pissed and more than a little scary but not to me. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I am. Thanks to you and your mad hockey skills.” Brendon smiles a little. “Thank you, yeah?”
“Anytime.”
There’s a soft knock at the door before Dallon steps in. He doesn’t make eye contact as he stands stiffly in the door way. “Your Highness, your presence is required downstairs. Zack wishes to see you.”
“Oh, okay.” Brendon winces as he sits up. Dallon nods his head and then turns, closing the door behind him.
“Is he always so formal at home?”
Brendon sighs. “No. He’s pissed, so he’s saying all that shit to annoy me.”
“Does it annoy you?”
Brendon shrugs. “Sometimes. It’s not that I don’t think being a prince would be fun, It probably would, and I don’t know, I’ve been trained since birth. It’s not like I don’t know how to do the job. I just--want to be me you know? I want to have fun and see new places.” He looks down at their joined hands. “Meet someone and fall in love.”
Spencer squeezes his hand. “You want to have a life.”
“More than anything.” Brendon sighs. “But I’m the prince and princes don’t have lives. They have meetings and make decisions for the good of their people, and now this prince has to go downstairs before he gets in even more trouble.”
Brendon presses a quick kiss to Spencer’s lips and rolls off the bed, stretching and cracking his neck. “This might take awhile.”
“Can--I could come with you? I won’t get in the way.”
“It might not--you might not like what you see.” Brendon frowns. “Are you sure?”
Spencer nods. He reaches for Brendon’s hand as he stands. “I just want to be with you okay? All versions of you.”
Brendon nods. “Okay.”
He doesn’t let go of Spencer’s hand as they go downstairs. Zack is reading the paper in the dining room, but he looks uneasy, glancing occasionally out the window. It makes sense. They’ve been found by one rebel, and there’s no reason to believe that he hadn’t contacted others to give away their position.
“Zack.”
Zack looks up and folds his newspaper. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” Brendon aims for a reassuring smile. He knows he falls short by the way Spencer squeezes his hand, and Zack almost looks sympathetic.
The thing is, Brendon’s seen interrogations before. He knows what he has to do and say, and that’s okay. He can do that. He knows how to play prince when he has to but it’s the stuff the might have to do or say after or if there’s a lack of cooperation that terrifies him.
Zack leads them down to the basement. If Brendon holds Spencer’s hand a little tighter or pulls him in a little closer, neither of them comment on it. It’s dark, but Brendon can make out a shadowy figure in the corner and Dallon hovering not too far away.
Brendon takes a deep breath and steps forward, letting go of Spencer’s hand and pushing him closer to Zack in the same motion. He’s instantly cold again, but it’s worth it to know that Spencer will be safe. Dallon meets him halfway and bows his head formally, this time for show and not out of some need to annoy the crap out of Brendon. “He’s accurately restrained my prince.” He pauses. “What is Spencer doing down here?”
“Dallon, don’t.” Brendon really doesn’t want to deal with another fight with Dallon.
“It’s dangerous. You don’t know what’s going to happen, Brendon. He could get hurt.”
Brendon sighs. “That’s enough.”
He rests a hand on Dallon’s shoulder and moves forward again. He stops on the edge of the shadow that surrounds the rebel. “Show yourself.”
He can hear Spencer ask Zack what Brendon is saying when he speaks in his native tongue. Zack translates for him, his voice a soft hum in the peripheral of Brendon’s hearing, but all of Brendon’s focus is on the silent rebel.
“I gave you an order.”
The rebel stays silent. Brendon raises his hand, clicking his fingers, and with a crackle of lightning the whole room is illuminated. The rebel is hunched in the corner, surrounded by a bubble that shimmers in the now lit room. He’s dirty, and there is a bandage wrapped around his head. Brendon recognises the bandaging as Dallon’s work.
Brendon takes another step forward. “Do you know who I am?”
The rebels eyes flash. He lunges, but the wall of the bubble throws him back. Brendon doesn’t flinch, but he hears Spencer gasp behind him. He send a shot of soothing energy towards Spencer and keeps his eyes trained on the rebel. “I asked you a question, and you will answer. Do you know who I am?”
“You are the enemy.” The rebels voice is low and rough, like he’s been swallowing the fire stones that lay at the base of Mount Rizader back on Aeternitatis.
Brendon doesn’t break eye contact. “Who sent you to kidnap me?”
The rebel grins, evil and harsh, “Look at you little boy, playing at being grown up. Too bad your family ran away while you left your subjects to die.”
“I will ask you again. Who sent you?” Brendon concentrates on keeping calm and not giving away any emotion. He knows the rebel can sense it, and he needs to keep some kind of upper hand. The rebel doesn’t reply, and Brendon nods. He closes his eyes and focuses until he can feel his energy start to build, ebbing and flowing through his veins and extends it until it pushes through the protection of the bubble and reaches the rebel. Immediately Brendon is bombarded with images of children crying and people dying, screams ringing through his ears, echoing like church bells across a silent night. He doesn’t recoil, doesn’t let any emotion in, and when he feels the rebels defenses start to lower he pulls back, leaving the bubble securely in tact around him.
“Zack, get our guest some food and see that he is comfortable. He will die at dawn.” Brendon stays in his native tongue, he wants the rebel to hear him. Zack nods and disappears upstairs, taking Spencer with him
Brendon gives the rebel one last look and then turns, crossing the room quickly until he is at Dallon’s side. “Keep me updated, please.”
Dallon nods and then reaches out, touching Brendon’s arm. “Your Highness?”
“Yes?”
Dallon smiles, switching back to English. “You did good.”
“Thank you.” Brendon smiles a little and heads upstairs to the kitchen. By the time he gets to the top he’s shaking. Brendon all but collapses against Spencer when he pushes away from the counter and pulls him into a hug.
“Fuck.”
Spencer runs a hand over his back. “Zack said you did a good job. He said that you did really, really good Bren.”
“They’re torturing them. Men, Woman, Children, they’re--they’re.” Brendon pushes away from him and throws up in the sink.
“Hey.” A cool hand touches the back of Brendon’s neck. “Bren, hey.”
“I’m okay.” Brendon wipes his mouth on the back of his hand. “I’m--I’m okay. Are you okay?”
Spencer nods and hugs him again. “I’m okay.”
“Guys? Come and eat.” Zack sets two plates down on the table and loads another onto a tray. “I’ll take this down. You guys can talk.”
“Okay.” Brendon sits, tugging the chair next to him out for Spencer. Brendon’s hands shake as he takes a bite of his sandwich.
“Hey, are you cold?” Spencer frowns and reaches out. “Jesus, you’re freezing.”
“I’m okay. It’s because of the stuff at home.” Brendon shrugs a little. “I’ll survive.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Brendon hesitates and nods a little. “It’s um. Better. When we touch.”
“Well why didn’t you say something?” Spencer hauls him into his lap and wraps his arms tight around Brendon and instantly Brendon is warm again. He really hopes that Spencer doesn’t ask why it works the way it does because he honestly doesn’t have an answer for him. “It’s totally my sexy talk that does it for you isn’t it.”
Brendon snorts and presses his face against his neck. “Mmhm. I’m just using you for your body.”
“Awesome. Any chance that’ll be happening any time soon?”
“We haven’t even had a proper make out session and you already want in my pants? You move fast, Spencer Smith.”
Spencer laughs softly and drops a kiss to his shoulder. “Yeah well. I’m a teenage boy, and you’re hot.”
“Thought you said I was weird.”
“I apparently dig weird. Who knew.” He pauses. “Actually, wow. That explains a lot about me and Ryan to be honest.”
“Ryan’s a hot alien?”
“God no. Well. He could be alien, it would explain a lot but hot? Not so much. But that’s probably more because he’s like my brother and that would be creepy and wrong.”
“Back on my planet siblings get married all the time. In the out laying lands mostly. It keeps blood lines pure. Luckily it doesn’t happen too much where I live and definitely not in my family. I have no siblings and my cousin thinks he’s a goat.” Brendon smiles against Spencer’s skin. He doesn’t mention that his relief mostly stems from the fact that he’s pretty sure he’s in love with Spencer. He’s not even sure how he feels about falling so hard and fast. “Uncle Max’s son obviously.”
“Sounds like an interesting place.”
“It’s beautiful there. It’s like--there’s rivers and valleys and mountains that glitter and sparkle because of the gems and everyone is nice and helpful and there’s music and food and everyone is happy.” He sighs. “Well. I thought everyone was happy.”
“The rebels?”
“Yeah. It never made sense you know? That’s why it was always thought to be a rumour but then--this.”
Spencer kisses his shoulder again. “Are you really going to kill him?”
“Do you think I should?”
Spencer’s quiet for a moment and Brendon can practically hear him thinking. “No, I don’t think you should.”
“No?”
“No. I think--I think that sometimes compassion and understanding are better, in the long run than you know, beheadings. Where does it stop you know? It’s one this time but then it’s two or three. Then it’s groups, and eventually you’ll find that you just get rid of the problem for a while. You don’t fix the problem for the long term.”
Brendon nods. “I’m not going to kill him. I should, my dad would but I’m not going to.” He kisses Spencer’s neck. “You’re a smart guy, Spencer Smith. You’d make an awesome prince’s consort.”
Spencer laughs a little. “Let’s get all of this sorted out and go on a date before we worry about that ‘kay?”
“You’ve got it.” Brendon leans up to kiss him. “And thank you. I really--I appreciate you not freaking out or running away.”
“I never would.”
Brendon shrugs a little. “You kinda did remember?”
“Hey we talked about that, remember? I was freaked out but--I like you. I like you a lot, and I want to be with you. I want to help you. I won’t run away again.”
“Okay.” Brendon nods. “I like you too, you know.”
“I know.” Spencer grins. “Now eat. You might be showing compassion, but I wouldn’t put it past Zack to snap both of us in half for not eating our lunch.”
--
Zack comes back an hour later with Dallon in tow and pulls a chair out opposite Brendon.“The rebel refuses to speak.”
“It’s of no consequence. I am aware of what he has done, of what his kind are doing.” Brendon sets his glass down. “He will not die at my hand though.”
“When do we return home?”
Brendon turns to see Dallon standing in the doorway his arms folded. He looks tired, and his face is creased with worry. Brendon looks to Zack and then back to Dallon. “We leave at night fall.”
“Awesome, that gives me enough time to pack and spin some bullshit to my mom about visiting Ryan.” Spencer pipes up and everyone turns to look at him.
“No way.”
Zack shakes his head. “Absolutely not.”
“Do you think she’ll let you go?” Brendon tries not to sound hopeful. He ignores Dallon’s groan and Zack’s noise of frustration.
Spencer shrugs. “Probably not, but I am anyway. What can she do? I’m not even going to be on the same planet; it’s not like she can ground me.”
“Okay, well. We need to make preparations so you should go and do that. Meet us back here by five. I’ll need to run through some stuff with you.”
Spencer nods and stands, putting his empty plate and cup in the sink. He leans over to kiss Brendon lightly. Brendon ignores Dallon’s complaints about gross displays of PDA and kisses back. “I’ll see you this afternoon okay?”
Brendon nods and smiles. “Totally.”
The room is silent as Spencer leaves, and then the sound of the front door closing breaks through. Dallon starts pacing while Zack gets up to load the dishwasher. Brendon’s noticed that sometimes Zack just has to use his hands, especially when he’s stressed or worried. “I have to advise against taking him with us Brendon. He could get himself killed.”
“Or worse, kidnapped and tortured and then killed.” Dallon throws his hands in the air. “Are you actually insane? Zack, you checked for head injuries right?”
“He was hit in the head Dallon. It’s kinda implied in the name.”
Dallon glares. “You are giving in to him and I don’t appreciate it.”
“No I’m not, but he’s the fucking prince. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he really doesn’t have to do anything we tell him to.”
Brendon rolls his eyes. He hates when they act like he’s not sitting there. “You may not have noticed but I’m also in the room.”
Dallon gives him dirty look. “It’s not like we didn’t notice, what with making heart eyes at your boyfriend, being generally irresponsible and making horrible life decision.”
Brendon recoils like he’s been slapped and then raises himself up to full height, “How dare you. I don’t have to answer to you Dallon. You are not my father or my mother. The decisions I make in my personal life are of no consequence to you.”
“The hell they aren’t. Your decisions affect everything. Your family, your subjects, your kingdom. Do not sit there and tell me--”
“Silence.” Brendon glares at Dallon. “You will not speak another word to me unless I direct you to. Do you understand me?”
Dallon opens his mouth and shuts it. He nods and Brendon can see that it’s taking all of his effort not to talk back. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. Zack, I trust that the ship is ready for travel.”
“It is.”
Brendon nods. “I’m going upstairs to pack. I suggest you both do the same. I wish to leave as soon as night falls.”
Zack stands and nods, resting a hand on Dallon’s shoulder. “We’ll be ready.”
Brendon makes his way upstairs and tries to ignore the fear and guilt that’s settled like a lead weigh in the pit of his stomach. He has to focus. He knows he does. It’s time to be the prince he was raised to be, whether he likes it or not.
On To Part Three.