Prince and his Knight.

[longwinded]

As a young Prince, John was granted to have one Knight around him at all times. The top of the newest class, the strongest in the Kingdom. That was what John wanted, and he would have no less. That was how he met Dave, a stunning young man who....didn't say very much, but was certainly worthy of fighting by his Lord's side. The age difference wasn't too stunning. John a mere seventeen and Dave in his mid twenties, it wasn't long before they became friends. It wasn't like this was a shocker to John, he and Dave had many things in common and sometimes the line between being a Lord and a Knight and just being two regular best friends was extremely blurred.

"Dave!" John calls out to his Knight. It seems that something is deeply troubling him.

It's the start of a new chapter in young John's life. Rumors of him being married off to the Princess in the neighboring Kingdom were running high and it was something that was giving him quite a hard time. It was his loyal Knight Dave that got most of the whining about this. He was a quiet and patient fellow, one that would actually listen to him when he needed to speak.

He doesn't even wait for Dave to acknowledge that he's been called. "We are going out for a little while, could you prepare the horses?" Which usually meant a conversation in the woods was about to happen. John needed to blow off steam.

Comments

[rememberstime]

Dave isn't looking at John, but he traces a heart shape over his chest. He can't handle that kind of expression on John's face. It makes his heart ache.

[longwinded]

John does smile a little after that. Dave was a gentle man no matter how anyone looked at it. "Dave, come here."

[rememberstime]

Dave just approaches John dejectedly. He keeps his head bowed and his eyes on the ground as he stands in front of John.

[longwinded]

"Kneel down." His tone is very gentle. There were no ulterior motives, nothing.

[rememberstime]

Dave does as he's told and kneels down.

[longwinded]

John reaches forward, drawing a heart on Dave's chest and smiling.

[rememberstime]

Dave is just really red in the face right now. Thanks a lot, John. You're making this so hard for him.

[longwinded]

He kisses his fingers and then presses them to Dave's lips. He probably shouldn't have went all teenage hormonal on him.

[rememberstime]

Dave immediately tries to pull back, but he was still kneeling and only ends up on his butt instead. JOHN. Welp. That was bad. Now he has even less of a chance getting back to his feet.

[longwinded]

John just gives Dave this look, it's kind of pouty. Can Dave really handle John pouting at him like this? How much of it can he take?

[rememberstime]

Dave just sits there. He looks a bit like a deer in headlights and his face is bright red and its crept to his ears and oh boy.

Don't pout at him. Stop.

[longwinded]

He is though, he is pouting pretty hard. He just wants Dave to know that their statuses don't matter to him- and the he loves him all the same. He reaches out his hand to Dave. They could just sit here and hold hands?

[rememberstime]

Dave lets John hold his hand. He still looks really nervous though. Unsure if he should hold it back or what. He'll let John do as he pleases though. That's what he kind of always does.

[longwinded]

"You can grip my hand as well." John just suggests that very lightly. He knows Dave is still nervous. Was there anything he could even say to make Dave partially okay with this?

[rememberstime]

Dave shakes his head slowly. He honestly looks like he might just start crying right now. Dave doesn't know what to do. On one hand, John was a prince and this shouldn't be allowed. At the same time, he was human. He had a heart. It was go against his duty or go against his heart. He's never been in a situation so distressing.

[longwinded]

John rubs his thumb over Dave's knuckles. He was trying his best to reassure him. He didn't want Dave to go against his heart, he is human after all. Humans have basic needs, and to feel loved is one of those basic needs.

[rememberstime]

Dave pulls his hand away. He couldn't bring himself to be selfish. If it meant denying what his heart wants for the sake of being a good knight, he supposes that's just how the world turns. Even if his heart ache. He's sure that John can read him like a book now. He can't hide anything from him.

[longwinded]

"The world doesn't have to be as you are making it out to be, Dave." He knows, Dave is stuck in the old ways. Dave was very traditional and John could never blame him for that. That was just how knights were groomed to be.

[rememberstime]

Dave shakes his head. He can't. Sorry, John. You're way out of his league. He can't ever imagine being in a romantic relationship with his heir. That would be crazy talk. John was supposed to marry a princess.

[longwinded]

Dave Strider, you are stressing John way the hell out right now. He honestly doesn't know how to get his point across. He lets out a sigh and leans forward, pressing his lips to Dave's again. He really expects him to recoil. But if he does boy does he have a mouthful for him.

[rememberstime]

John is right. When John leans forward to try and kiss Dave again, Dave immediately leans back. Nope. Nope, can't let you do that.

[longwinded]

"You're lying to yourself right now Dave. And if you think I'm doing this sort of thing just to mess with you, then you surely don't know me at all." John would never mess with Dave's feelings. John means every single part of what he's told Dave. How could he really not get it across? Even after John repeating it over and over again.

He seriously doesn't want to use cruel force here, Dave is certainly precious to him.

[rememberstime]

John's words cut through him like a hot knife. Like a sword impaled through his chest. It hurt. The truth that Dave was avoiding his feelings. The accusation that John thinks that Dave thinks he's messing with him. The implication that he doesn't know John.

Dave doesn't know why but he feels a tear roll down his cheek. And another. And they keep coming. He hasn't cried since he was a child on the streets. A kid with no place to call home. His chest hurts and he wipes at his own face, confused. Was this situation so upsetting that he had to shed tears? In front of John no less.

[longwinded]

John realizes the ferocity of his words a little too late, and he has an upset knight on his hands. He was cruel. What he said was awful. Though it was the truth, and sometimes the truth is hard to come to terms with.

He isn't going to take no as an answer as he wraps his arms around Dave, squeezing him tight. "Dave. Please do not cry. Forgive me for the harsh things I have said. I just.." He stops there. He won't go on.

[rememberstime]

Dave doesn't wrap his arms around John. He doesn't push John away either. He just continues to rub at his eyes.

John's an idiot. He doesn't need to ask for forgiveness because he'll always forgive John. Even if the other asks. But now this situation is awkward because he's crying and upset and John is trying to comfort him.