Archive of Our Own ^beta

One living in this village would think it was a blessing to have the blood of royalty. But for one particular prince, found that this role was a curse… Wasting away in the lonely palace 24/7, the red-haired prince always dressed in green wallowed away all of the time, hoping that one day things would soon take a turn for him. He always thought to himself while wandering the empty, silent hallways, was this life for every prince like him? Forced to be shut away from the world until he’s been proven to be helpful and offers his parents what they’ve been waiting for. Children. Oh, the struggle.. for his body to be built so drastically different than the rest. Laying with a woman? Out of the question, so many of them were too frightened to... “How can I ever be of help here..? I feel utterly useless at this point, this is the 7th woman this month to run away,” Kakyoin ranted in an almost whisper tone to his knight, sitting upon a window sill in his room and twirling a finger through his hair. The orange rays of sunlight shining through the glass made each strand of hair almost sparkle.

At a young age, Jotaro was seemingly cursed with misfortune. His father left early on followed shortly by the death of his mother. With nowhere else to go, the young boy relied on the streets. He became a street rat, snatching any crumb he could clutch and snagging anything of value. By age 14, Jotaro visually was no longer a scrawny child. The streets taught him many things, but they also chiseled his form. However, it was a blessing and a curse. His older much bulkier appearance made him a target for fellow low lives to prey on due to him being a threat. After landing himself in the stocks a few dozen times, the kingdom practically knew him front and back. He was nothing more than a pesky kid causing trouble wherever he went. After seeing a strange man preying upon a young girl, that would however change. He became a hero of sorts, bashing in the head of a creep snatching young girls. This still landed him in the stocks once again though. To his surprise, he was bailed out almost instantly by a dapper-looking man. You would have thought he wiped his ass with gold. His name was Muhammad Avdol, a foreign man who worked as the top knight in the kingdom. He offered a proposal to Jotaro. He could be trained as a knight and work for the royal family, or he could die out in the streets. His duty was to guard and protect the prince at all costs. Wherever the redhead went, Jotaro followed not far behind. Standing in the prince’s room, he listened to his somber rant of Kakyoin. Jotaro shook his head in reply, “I, unfortunately, have no prior experiences of this nature, my Prince”. His eyes shifted downward, “You’ll surely find the one”.

“It has been three years. Though, you’ve only been here for one. But I can only assume you’ve paid attention to the cycle around here..” Kakyoin traced his finger down the window, a small frown appearing on his face. “If I’m no good to anyone, I won’t be able to continue the family name. I ‘am’ the only child, after all.” The male’s head turned to glance at his knight, who was almost always dressed in some kind of blue-tinted armor. It was appealing to the eyes of Kakyoin- well he didn’t wish to admit it, but Jotaro as a whole was appealing to him. “I could very well be disowned. They’re mighty tired of me failing. And then.. I’ll no longer have you if I lose my role here. This can be a problem for both of us, you know.”

Jotaro shifted his weight, armor clinking together in the process. His calloused hands gripped at the base of the holster holding his sword located at his right hip. “Although your family’s tolerance is limited, it’s ultimately their fault. They should have had multiple children if they truly cared about the bloodline.” He takes a deep breath and sighs, “Please do not tell anyone I said that. I shouldn’t have entertained such conversation.” Jotaro’s eyes followed the nimble fingers tracing the windowsill.

Kakyoin secretly felt very supported by Jotaro’s words, even though if anyone else in the castle had caught wind of what he was saying, off to the dungeon or something.. Turning his body forward, he slid off of the windowsill and let his green train of fabric behind him flow off as well, it now dragging on the ground as he made his way to the knight. He put a finger to his lips, eyeing his bedroom door. “You must be more careful saying such things. you know how often the other guards eavesdrop.” He spoke in a more serious tone as if he seemed maddened from what Jotaro said- but then, a small smile appeared on his face. “But you’re more than right about that.” Kakyoin was one of those princes who forgot how much power he had- and when he remembered, it was fun to sort of test his intimidation on people. Sometimes, poor Jotaro would deal with that- though Kakyoin was sure he’s caught up by now on the fact that the prince was solely messing around with him for fun~

Jotaro continued to stand while the prince stood up. The redhead had a good point, nosey knights and butlers were rampant among the palace walls. Even the maids could spout out quite the drama. His poker face however didn’t change even at the lighthearted smirk Kakyoin gave, “Speaking bluntly is the least scandalous thing I"ve done in my life.” He walked two steps to the right to the dresser and grabbed a silver studded crown. Jotaro reached forward and handed the crown to Kakyoin, “Your father needs you soon. There’s a young woman here to meet you, and she’s quite pretty too.” The jet-black-haired man combed his hair back with his fingers, “You’re also due for another fertility test down in the medical ward.”

“Ugh..” Kakyoin groaned in dismay, taking the crown and laying it upon his head with a frown. “Another woman.. part of me wants it over with and another part of me wishes to have nothing to do with it. These women..” Kakyojn left Jotaro’s side to look into the large body mirror beside his bed, carefully fixing his hair noodle with a small comb. “Being forced into marriage… forced into humiliation in front of so many people in the span of a few weeks- sometimes I wish I weren’t part of this family. I’m aware that I should be grateful, and I am. however I just..” The male quit ranting and turned back to Jotaro with a hint of red on his face. “I apologize for ranting so much. It’s not exactly like me to do such a thing. You must be bothered by it.”

Jotaro shook his head and bowed, “Once again, I’m here to serve you. Such frivolous pursuits regarding the opinions of your knight are useless. “ The cold glare Jotaro gave the redhead reflected off the mirror. He truly was nothing more than an object used to serve and protect. His beliefs and opinions were mere obstructions from his duty. Jotaro takes a few strides over to the large intricate door before opening it and gesturing outside, “We will make our way to the medical ward before meeting your father.”

“Hmph..” It was obvious from the start that Kakyoin didn’t like how proper Jotaro was as his knight. He wished to see his true colors, not have them hidden away behind a curtain. If he stayed like a robot forever, it would feel.. awkward. Polnareff was never like that. He was silly, light-hearted, yet confident in his job to protect him. Their bond was strong.. this present one was not as strong as he wished for. Anyhow. Kakyoin made his way over to the open doorway. “Thank you,” he said opening the door, before heading down the hallway swiftly. He always had good manners, unlike some people who never said such simple things as ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ Now, time for the stupid fertility test which he dreaded every time he did it.

Walking down the hallway following after the redhead prince was something they did often. The numerous staff would give Kakyoin a warm cheery greeting followed by a wave to Jotaro. He always responded with a nod. It was simple, yet it did its job. The long corridors took forever for the young knight to memorize. Each hallway looked almost the same except for the occasional painting or tapestry. The two walked down the main staircase and took a sharp left. Jotaro knocked at the ward’s door briskly before opening it. He checked to make sure everything was okay before opening the door wider to let Kakyoin through. “I’ll stand right outside this door, and the staff will take care of you. If you need anything, holler. Otherwise, good luck.”

“Right back at you.” Kakyoin joked with a grin- he hoped to eventually make Jotaro chuckle at least once in his presence.. if he weren’t the prince in this kingdom, he’d be the jester. He was quite the funny man to be in a room with. The little jokes that could make little to no sense sometimes would go on and on~ But for now, the jokes would have to subside, this fertility test was in the way of his free time with Jotaro.. he’d get it over with in a jiffy. And that’s what he did. Once the doors opened back up, Kakyoin left the room and headed straight down the hall. Being the silly man he was, one would think he had sexual jokes too to make light out of the situation he was in. But he was quite serious about that... “So, onwards to my father now, I guess,” he called to Jotaro from a distance down the lengthy hallway, huffing in frustration. He didn’t like having talks with his father. There was never anything to bond about with him, it was always just simply about Kakyoin’s role in this kingdom and blah blah blah if he didn’t find a woman- ugh.

Jotaro shoved his hands in his leather pockets and huffed before following the prince. Every stroke he took would be accompanied by the clinking of armor. The tall man scanned the spacious hallways and nodded at all the servants and maids. After what seemed like an endless walk, they made it to the main dining room where the King sat eating his late breakfast. As the prince and his knight approached, Jotaro kneeled on one knee at the older man dressed in jewels.

Stopping in his tracks once he reached the dining room, he stood across from his father behind the table. “I was informed about the woman, father,” He simply said to his father, staying put where he was. He was not amused one bit about it.. he used to be warned about the women coming to the castle, but now it’s all been happening without him even having the chance to refuse. The prince didn’t have a choice anymore, the plans were all set up for him in advance. Oh, how he wished to talk back. For once, he wanted to tell his father how he felt about the whole problem. Anyone else would most likely love to be in his position, having woman after woman come in for him. But Kakyoin would rather be some sort of custodian or some shit than being forced to humiliate himself one more time.

Jotaro stood in the kneeling position waiting for the King to dismiss him. Never in his life would he think he would submissively put his life in the hands of another, but here he was. It’s not like scampering on the streets benefited himself or others. The king prodded at a sausage link before putting it in his mouth. He always perfected extravagant breakfasts even if most of the time it was only him in the dining room. Jotaro remembered hearing whispers from the cook and servants regarding how many dirty dishes piled up after a meal. The queen preferred to sleep on most days and spend her time in the garden. Just like the prince, she’s unable to leave the castle walls. The king finished chewing and dismissively flicked his wrist at the knight. Jotaro stood back up and held one hand on the base of his sword, and the other by his side. His raspy voice echoed in the spacious room decorated in silk and velvet tapestries, “Ah yes, the woman. She comes from the north, a very rich kingdom indeed. It will benefit us greatly to have economic ties with them laid in your marriage.” The king coughed into his fist before taking a large drink from his flask, “She’s been updated on our…. current situation regarding lack of testosterone in your body. Hopefully, the tests will come back soon so we can decide fertility.”

The prince couldn’t help but frown just a bit after being informed that this woman already ‘knew’ about his problem that he was already so heavily self-conscious about. Being reminded in the general day in and day out about how his body was never ‘good’ enough was definitely enough to make him want to break down. He hasn’t done that in front of his knight, yet. Clearing his throat, Kakyoin avoided eye contact as he began to speak. “Father.. don’t you think it’s.. impossible, at this point..?” He just couldn’t help himself, he needed to express his thoughts on this if no one else would. It was so brutally obvious that there wouldn’t be any chance of his body ‘changing’ its fertility levels out of nowhere. It’s always been the same. “I’ve been forced to try for years now. I can’t count the number of women I’ve laid with anymore! I just- I’m sick of it father, I am..” shit.. he was in deep water now.

Jotaro knew at that moment he was utterly useless in defending the young prince. Anyone who outwardly spoke differing opinions from the king would sure to face his wrath. He’s seen it first hand. Jotaro knew if any words came out of his mouth, he’d be severely punished. Between bites of a muffin, the king stiffened and sat up straight, “This is how you speak to your father, hm?” He twirled a heeled ring in his left hand before shaking his head back and forth, “I might as well tell you this now since you think your behavior is okay. If these fertility tests regarding your….other reproductive organs come back positive, we’ve made arrangements with a wealthy kingdom where you’ll marry a prince there. They’ve had their problems regarding a homosexual son in charge of offspring, so it was pure luck we came into contact with them. You will follow in your mother"s footsteps and do as she did years ago.”

Arranged marriage, of course.. so he was doomed either way. If his testosterone wasn’t enough, his other reproductive organs must’ve been a well-functioning system. This made him want to snap. Any direction he took in his path, would always end up with him being unhappy, wouldn’t it? Being forced to reproduce with another man he didn’t even know, and with one who was most likely another snotty prince in town that didn’t have any respect for anyone, was tortuous to think about even for a second. Let alone being with a woman he didn’t even have feelings for. This just wasn’t for him. “..I- see.” That was all he could manage to reply with. Kakyoin folded his hands behind his back, and an almost emotionless expression formed on his face. “I’m. going to excuse myself now.” He left the dining room in a hurry, not quite running but just walking a bit too fast.

Jotaro despite the situation bowed once again at the king’s feet before quickly shuffling down the hallway and to the distressed prince. His thoughts on the matter frankly could do more harm than good.
Although the rigorous training all knights go through is long, they never end up talking about the mental health of the person they may serve. It wasn’t the responsibility of a knight to comfort, but it was their responsibility to protect. He knew Kakyoin only for a meet years, but he knew what he would do in times of distress. The redhead would take a long bath before staying in bed for hours at a time. Jotaro stood his guard the entire time despite the situation. However, this time the taller man knew the one thing the prince needed was comfort. After making their way down the winding corridors and to the prince’s chambers, Jotaro opened the door and made his way over to the lavish conjoined bathroom so he could start a warm bath. This typically was a servant’s job, but he didn’t mind one bit.

The prince had already found his way to the bed draped in emerald-colored silk to sulk into. The pressure of being a good prince was hard enough, so being told right off the bat that he was already being set to mate with another prince and conceive a child he didn’t even want- just broke him. “I don’t want this... I never asked to be a prince. And I never asked to be born with a body like this!” He wept into his pillows. Everyone in this castle seemed so brainwashed by the ideas of arranged marriages like this. Even his parents didn’t seem to care about his feelings about any of this, was he the only one who was upset? Why was he so different..? Oh, how he dreamt of mercy.

Jotaro walked out of the bathroom after fluffing the towels and drawing the bath. He made his way over to the prince’s bed and tapped his shoulder, “Sulking in bed won’t do you any good. I have a bath ready for you.” Jotaro stepped back to give Kakyoin room. Since the main servant who usually tended to the prince’s room was absent, he might as well fill in the role.

“..so I can at least sulk in the bath instead,” Kakyoin sniffled, standing up and wiping away the remaining tears on his face. He began undressing from top to bottom, revealing his snow-white skin underneath the green cloth. Laying his clothes on the bed, the now nude male then went into the bathroom to bathe. The prince sunk into the warm steaming water until only his head, eyes, and nose were visible. Usually, he’d stay like this for 2 to 3 hours, maybe 4 on a really bad day. and being alone felt nice in here, but he hated leaving Jotaro outside the bathroom. It seemed uneventful just standing around.

Jotaro knew not to look. He wasn’t a creep like others his age. He modestly made sure to look at his shoulders and above, nothing more, nothing less. However, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t like to see it. After the prince walked into the bathroom, he sat in a chair located near Kakyoin’s vanity. It was frowned upon for a guard to sit while on the job, but he could use a small break. Normally when the redhead sulks, the maid-servant waved him off. He’d go take a nap in the Knight’s quarters or tend to the horses located in the stables. He had his stallion, but he never seemed to take him out often. Normal guard duty involves patrolling the kingdom on horseback, but he’s been a one-on-one knight for almost a year now. His prince never left the palace, therefore neither would he.

Kakyoin would usually never have anyone help clean him in the bath, he liked his privacy and he considered other people’s comfort-zone levels. But this time, he just felt too mentally drained to move. For once, he wished to be comforted just a little.. and he didn’t like taking baths if he wasn’t going to be clean afterward. It always felt much more refreshing to be clean and smell pleasant when entering his bed. “Jotaro..? Are you still there?” The prince asked in a softer voice, though it was clear enough since the bathroom had echoed his words. “Would you mind being in here with me..?” He knew Jotaro would oblige, but as told before, he was considerate nonetheless.

Though spaced out, Jotaro blinked back to reality after hearing his name. He walked over and entered the bathroom. “I don’t mind. Do you need assistance, my prince?” Jotaro however secretly did mind. Knowing the redhead was naked behind the door itself was difficult, let alone being in the same room as him. But if that’s what the prince wants, he will oblige. He moved a stool to the corner of the room to sit on. His blush dusting his cheeks didn’t help the situation either. It might just be from the steam coming off of the warm bath. “Are you feeling any better?” Jotaro asked in a soft voice.

Kakyoin sat up, the water dripping off his hair which was now flat from how damp it was. “Not quite. I just don’t know what to do Jotaro. And I know, everyone says this and that about the benefits of wealth and all.. but if I’m going to marry, I’d at least wish to marry somebody I truly love.” The male helplessly sighed and laid back in the water again, though keeping his face dry. “Anyone I’ve ever told that to only laughed. Is it that bad to hope for something like that to come true..?”

Jotaro sighed and eyed at the door, making sure the prince’s quarters were completely closed, “I cannot say why they think that’s expectable, because I cannot see how that’s okay myself.” The taller man shifted his weight on the stool and loosened some of the tighter buckles on his armor. “Using your body as a method of income isn’t uncommon, unfortunately.” Jotaro huffed and threaded his fingers through his short curly locks, “I grew up on the streets, and you would see underground brothels full of drug lords and women paid almost nothing to do disgusting acts to please these men. I once saw a young woman selling her 3-year-old girl for profit, sex trafficking is a huge issue down in the slums.” “I wish I could give you an answer, but I can’t. If it were up to me, anyone should be allowed to marry who they want. As a knight, I am forbidden to have a romantic relationship of any kind since it can distract me from protecting the throne. Jotaro slumped forward and stared blankly at the wall, “Once in a while the higher-ups would hire a prostitute to frolic around the Knight’s quarters, but I’ve never taken part in it. I’d just go on a walk or tell them to go the fuck away and plug my ears with cotton.”

“I’m not surprised hearing all of this.. despite me having not been able to live life freely outside of the castle, I’ve seen and heard enough through windows and gossip to know that this world has been made very cruel by us people. And frankly I. I want out.” He cupped his hands, pouring the water over his head with his eyes closed. “You are the only one who I can communicate these things with, Jotaro.. and because of that, sometimes I just wish we could run off from this castle and live better lives. But it can never, ever happen as far as I’m concerned..” Kakyoin then laid his head atop the edge of the tub, looking up at his knight with a solemn look on his face. “I do like you Jotaro. You are a strong gentleman in and out. You don’t care what other people think when you give out your opinions. you know what’s right and wrong.”

Jotaro looked away, swooping his hair out of his face while attempting to conceal his blush, “It’s not like I had a choice to guard the throne. Either I died on the street, or I served. He reached down and unbuttoned the rest of his armor and set it aside, revealing a navy blue long-sleeve shirt underneath. If he’s going to let down his guard, he might as well get comfortable. As far as he knew, the prince wasn’t wanted anywhere at this time. Jotaro huffed and stood up, walking over to a small window for ventilation. He leaned against the bathroom wall and cracked the window a bit. The taller man pulled out a small cloth sack full of hand-rolled cigarettes and put one into his mouth, lighting it with a match. He took a long draw before exhaling out the window.

While Kakyoin knew his knight was right, hearing that whole ‘I didn’t have a choice part somewhat made him upset. He knew that.. but just- the fact that he said it like that made him believe that he didn’t like him in any way. And he was just doing his job. Though perhaps that was normal that he didn’t like the prince.. did he sound spoiled for trying to push away what he was being offered..? Slowly standing from the water, he watched Jotaro smoke through the open window. “..you know, smoking ruins your body.”

Jotaro looks over to the prince and quickly whips his head in the other direction, blush turning more vibrant in the process. He reaches over to one of the sinks and turns the tap on, flicking the cigarette ash into the pooling water before turning it off. He retreats to the window and takes another long draw, allowing the nicotine to pool in his stomach. After exhaling, he twirls the cigarette in between his middle and pointer finger, “Yea, it’s the last thing I gotta worry about.”

“Last thing? It’s the first thing you should worry about!” Kakyoin chuckled and stepped out of the bath, running his hands through his hair. A long mat underneath him caught all the excess water dripping down his pale body. “I’d prefer a knight that won’t die out so quickly, I already lost my last one. ‘Last thing I’d like is for you to drop dead one day. Then who will I have-“ Kakyoin frowned and stopped. He realized how strange he was sounding now.. he ‘had’ his parents and other people. What did he mean by ‘who will I have.’ Well- he had to have meant.. who would he have left that agreed with his opinions for once..?

“Good grief.” Jotaro grabbed ahold of one of the fluffy towels hung delicately on the bathroom’s walls and threw it blindly at the nude prince. “They’re enough tar in my lungs to fuel the entire kingdom, yet here I am.”, chuckledJotaro. He took one last hit of the cigarette before turning the faucet on and fully submerging the lit flame. Once the Cherry bud was out, he threw it out the window and closed the opening’s latch. He grabbed his disrobed armor and walked out of the bathroom, smirking over his shoulder at the redhead.

The male jumped a bit as the towel landed on his head- he huffed and removed it, wrapping it around his hips. “Did I tell you to leave yet~?” Kakyoin playfully asked Jotaro with a similar smirk on his face. Here he was testing his powers with his knight again~ silly. Looking around the counter for his brush, he then helplessly sighed. “May you retrieve my hair brush..? I think I left it on the bedside table,” he didn’t want to soak his bedroom floor when he was still dripping wet from his bath.

Jotaro playfully rolled his eyes but obeyed the order nonetheless. He retrieved the brush and inspected it while walking back to the bathroom. The bristles were stiff yet soft, almost like the mane of his stallion. Once he made his way back to the prince, he placed the brush on the bathroom counter, “Do you need anything else?” His blush was still prevalent yet muted due to the contour of his tan skin. Most of the lamps in the castle were oil and had copper-colored bases, yet the bathrooms used natural sunlight and candlesticks. The scent of warm olive oil while bathing was never a pleasant experience. Jotaro grabbed another match out of his pocket sack and used it to help the smoldering flame of one of the candles. He flicked his wrist to get rid of the match’s flame and threw the discarded stick into the trashbin

“No, I don’t think so,” Kakyoin replied in a more airy voice as he smiled over at Jotaro. Picking up the brush, he began to brush out his longer side of hair until it was the way he wanted it to hold. Laying the brush down on the counter when he finished styling his dampened hair, he made his way into the bedroom to change into something different. He figured he shouldn’t wear the clothes from earlier since he wasn’t as clean as he was now. Taking a look at what was in his closet, he glanced back at Jotaro with a frown. “What do you think I should wear today..?- hm. I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s not like anyone outside of this castle is going to see me, I might as well just wander the halls in undergarments,” Kakyoin joked with a grin,

Jotaro shook his head and let out a small laugh, “I’m not one to pick out outfits. My knowledge of clothing is almost limited.” Even though the taller man was being unruly, he knew the prince wouldn’t mind. He picked up his armor and grudgingly put it back on, fastening the buckles snugly and sighing, “I have to go tend to something your father needs, you’re welcome to come.”

“I will. Hang on a moment,” Kakyoin spoke while trying to pick out something more comfortable, but not casual- he didn’t have any casual clothing.. just all pajamas or the highest quality outfits neatly presented on each hanger. Finally choosing one to wear, he then laid it on the bed. “..hm, now that I thought about it, I’ve never had you dress me before.” Oh my god, he was such a teaser. Always making his knight blush till his face was cherry-red, just the way he liked it~.

Jotaro coughed and slicked his hair back, “My prince, I was trained to kill, not to dress royalty”. He smirked and looked in the opposite direction to not make Kakyoin uncomfortable. “Can I help you with anything else? Hopefully I’m not a sitting duck.”

“Hmm, you’re right.” Kakyoin then unraveled the towel off of himself, dressing into another green outfit that somewhat matched the last one he wore. And after finishing up, he walked over to Jotaro with his hands folded behind his back. “Alrighty, let us get a move on then~.” And so, he followed the knight to the door with a grin plastered upon his face. He never really outwardly admitted this to Jotaro, but his knight was the only reason why he was still alive. After the loss of his old knight in shining armor, he grew oh so depressed and near suicidal. No one understood him like his Pol did.. and then came Jotaro. A mysterious, but pleasant man to be around. Such a strange man.. he needed to know more about him. He technically knew almost everything about his new knight, but the lack of Jotaro’s emotion made him all the more mysterious.

Jotaro nodded in thanks as he opened the prince’s chambers and stepped into the hallway, glancing behind him to make sure the redhead was in view. It’s not that Jotaro didn’t trust the King’s strict ideologies on how he should treat his son, but it was the bigger picture that bothered him. From what he’s heard from the older knights double his age, Kakyoin’s mother, the queen, had no more rights than Kakyoin did. She was married to the king to branch economic growth from her kingdom to his. She had no say in it though. She’d been only 16 when she was married off and gave birth to the prince barely a year later. Kakyoin’s fate was the same. He’ll be married off to some rich nobleman. It’s even worse than an intersex male having “higher value”. When he’s married off and sent to his husband’s palace, Jotaro will follow. Being sworn in as his Knight, he will go wherever the prince goes. Even if he follows him to another kingdom, Jotaro will have to adapt to the new rules and regulations.

The one spark of hope he had in life was that someday, Jotaro would just take his hand and have them run away from all of this. Would that ever happen? He didn’t think so.. Jotaro wasn’t the passionate type. He wouldn’t go out of his way to do such things, he was only his knight and nothing more. Not even his ‘friend,’ even though Kakyoin liked to think of him as his best friend. If he were to marry another man, how could he be able to give his knight he cared about so dearly the attention he wanted to give..? He’d hate to be less close just because of some idiot prince coming into his life. Maybe he’d be strong like earlier, and try to refuse the arranged marriage. What could they do, force him to say his vows?? Well- he didn’t quite know that it can very well be a forced process if it had to. All of that thinking happened whilst beside Jotaro, who was completing whatever task he was given by the king. He spaced out so often thinking about all that, that the day would always pass so quickly.. and it did.

Jotaro mindlessly wandered down the hallway to the king’s study. Few personnel was allowed in the room. One-on-one knights and the king"s hand-selected guards were the only ones allowed to step foot inside. Of course, Kakyoin could go in, but his father was often busy boasting to noblemen and charming the economic ties. Jotaro had been in the room a few times, but Kakyoin never tended to visit his father often, and for good reason. He had to talk to the king about the Prince’s well-being, even if he might be reprehended for doing so. Seeing Kakyoin being a sitting duck shattered his heart. Once the two arrived at the large oak door, Jotaro shook his head signaling to the redhead not to follow. He knocked on the door before entering and shutting it behind him. He took long strides up to the king who was lounging on a luxurious armchair, drinking red wine. Jotaro’s kneeled and waited for the older man to give him the signal allowing him to rise. The king nodded and plucked a grape off a vine seated on beautiful porcelain, “You’re here to report about Kakyoin, are you not?” Jotaro stood up straight and nodded in agreement “Indeed.”

When Jotaro shook his head at Kakyoin, he had a feeling this little ‘task’ the knight needed to complete was more than a task. Watching as the door was closed in his face, he clenched his fists with a maddened look on his face. “..talking about me.. again..?” Damn it!! He hated being talked about to his father, just who could he trust in this castle?? If his knight wouldn’t keep the prince’s opinions a secret, then what kind of friend- Kakyoin relaxed his hands and exhaled sadly. Right.. he wasn’t supposed to be his friend. This ‘friendship’ was nothing more than forced because of the role Jotaro had for him. There was no trust, no secrets, no nothing, was there..?

Jotaro cleared his throat and slicked his hair back, “As the knight assigned to the prince, I’m responsible not only for his safety physically but also mentally. I do not think it’s in Kakyoin’s best interest to be married off right now. I understand you can benefit greatly from this, but from the bottom of my heart, please don"t.”

“..oh.” The prince said aloud as he eavesdropped. So.. he wasn’t just simply dropping all of the things he said that would get him in trouble? Even though this would most likely get him in big trouble. Jotaro was standing up for the prince… and it felt relieving. He just prayed that his father wouldn’t try anything stupid after his knight told the truth. That man had more power than Kakyoin could ever hold… what was going to happen at this point?

The king let out a raspy cough in response, twirling his wine glass while reaching over to fiddle with a cigar, “His well-being will only benefit me so far. Kakyoin has to realize he’s no longer a child. This is a sacrifice he must make, even if it’s not favorable for him.” Jotaro nodded a furrowed his eyebrows, “Your son once raised to be an heir is nothing but a transaction since the realization of his anatomy. His womb should not decide his fate. Who would want to send off their son to a man double, almost triple his age like he’s a fat lamb off to slaughter?” The room in a matter of seconds filled with a bang as the king bashed the wine glass against his desk, shattering it in the process. All the documents laid in front of him soon became crimson red with the liquid, “That’s enough I say! You’re lucky I haven’t taken that blade fastened to your hip and slit your throat yet. You either comply with your duty or you’ll me know in the gallows by dawn.” Jotaro bowed submissively and made his way out the door, walking past the redhead and down the hall.

“Wh-“ Kakyoin was startled enough by the yelling, but seeing Jotaro rush right past him after the poor knight was only trying to protect his blood boil. Stepping into the doorway, he gave his father the nastiest glare. “That was anything but necessary..! He was simply considering my feelings since my father obviously won’t!” then slammed the doors, and rushed down the hallway to follow his knight from behind. “Jotaro..” his voice grew quieter. He didn’t want to upset the knight any greater, since he knew damn well how secretly sensitive he tended to be on occasions. “I’m- sorry, I guess you were right. I shouldn’t be saying every little thing that goes through my head to you, I don’t want to have you worrying and- then conversations ending up crashing down like just now..”

Jotaro growled in annoyance and turned around to briskly grab the wrist of the Prince before dragging him down the corridors. Once they reached Kakyoin’s quarters, Jotaro burst through the door and walked around the room, checking every nook and cranny for a possible maid or servant who may overhear the knight’s disgust. Once he made sure everything was clear, Jotaro looked straight at Kakyoin, “Either you suck up the punches thrown at you and marry a man with a pretty penny, or I’m going to get gutted like livestock.” Jotaro paced back and forth, brows knit in concentration, “Don’t think I’m doing all of this for you either. My bloodline is tainted and specific people would rip the entire world apart to find someone with my family’s name. If you were to get married off to someone, they will get the records of my bloodline. If they so choose, they’ll make even more money off of me than your womb could ever imagine.” He pressed his fingers to his temples and exhaled.

Kakyoin didn’t quite realize the weight of Jotaro’s situation until now. Shit.. he had a point. But.. something about Jotaro saying ‘don’t think I’m doing all of this for you somewhat stabbed him right in the heart. Despite knowing it was selfish, he wished just a small part of Jotaro, or literally, anyone cared about how pressured he felt about the whole ordeal ahead of him. He hated the idea of being stuck with somebody he didn’t even like. Someone who most likely won’t pay any attention to him. But then again. Jotaro’s life was on the line here. And the idea of Jotaro being killed off because of him made him already drown in guilt. What would he do… he’d either think for himself or suck it up for Jotaro. Hesitantly reaching up, he laid a hand on Jotaro’s shoulder. “….if it saves you, then fine.. fine. I’ll.. marry.” Just like that, his life of freedom ahead of him just.. crumbled deep down in his heart. But at least Jotaro would be alright. That was what truly mattered to him.

Jotaro shrugged Kakyoin’s hand off and went to his dresser, pulling out a medium-sized burlap sack.
“Change into something not so fancy, keep jewelry in the bag. If you have any other small things of value, give them to me. My saddlebag can carry most of our essentials. I’ll rub the castle’s marking off my tack to avoid being easily tracked down.” Jotaro sighed and grabbed a few white linen blankets and stuffed them in the bag with extra clothes for the prince. “I don’t have many belongings myself, but we’ll run to the port and get supplies. You’ll be dressed in a hood fully covered. No one should notice you, but I don’t need nosey guards up my ass. Lastly”, Jotaro pulled a pocketknife out of his satchel and placed it on the redhead’s palm. “You’ll find this useful. The hard part will be getting out of the kingdom undetected. Once we hit the countryside, it will be easy sailing.”

“..wait.. pardon??” Kakyoin was quite overwhelmed hearing all of this, being told to wear different clothes, keep valuable items in a bag, and have a pocket knife- disguising themselves. What..? He said he’d marry, so he didn’t understand.. “Why- did you not listen Jotaro..? I said I’d marry a man.. just what are you going on about?-“ and all of a sudden he realized what was happening. He’d be free. His knight was helping him run away from this place.. this was what he wanted. Snapping out of the realization and slight state of shock, the prince forced the sack on without much hesitancy. This was happening.. wow.. his heart was racing. He’s never felt so much adrenaline rush into his body before until now. He did everything Jotaro told him to do, grabbing the most valuable small objects that caught his eye and handing them to the knight.

Once Jotaro felt like they packed enough such as Jewelry, clothing, soaps, and blankets, he tied the bag closed and flung it over his shoulder. Even though Kakyoin was not aware, almost all the rooms in the castle had some form of the secret passage. They were made as emergency edits and were strictly off limits unless in the event of a raid. Only Knights were told about how to locate them. Jotaro went to the room’s corner and pushed in an unassuming brick, opening a small, dusty passage. The exit was dark and smelled of still water. He wouldn’t be surprised if an entire ecosystem lived inside the walls. Jotaro pushed Kakyoin inside and flicked his oil-fueled light as a method of sight. The knight pushed back on a lever, closing the secret door and leaving them in absolute darkness. “I’m not risking being seen and questioned. You’ll stay in the secret passage while I get my horse tacked up, and I’ll come back for you.” Jotaro squeezed passed Kakyoin and started walking down the seemingly endless hallway of concrete.

Kakyoin was speechless the second that secret passageway was revealed. He held part of his sleeve up to his nose to protect himself from the strong, rather unpleasant scents in the air that had been closed up for who knows how long. “..well then. Are there any other secret passages I should know about,” Kakyoin replied flatly as he watched his knight leave from his side, the sight of his figure being gone within seconds after being enveloped into the darkness ahead of him? Damn, he thought he knew the whole layout of the castle!! But it seems he‘s been mistaken. Taking a deep breath, the male tensed up the more he looked around.. it all hit the prince, just like that. Running away from home- was it the right thing to do..? Was it going to be better than being a prince..? And more importantly.. what about Jotaro? Would he stay by him, and help him through this journey? Has he even considered his ‘knight’ anymore once their roles would be considered gone once running away?

Jotaro shook his head and turned around, checking if Kakyoin was following him, “There won’t be any more passages. Only knights are informed about these tunnels for privacy reasons. Your father probably forgot they exist.” Jotaro kept walking, slightly ducking down because of the low ceiling. He’s happy he remembered to have Kakyoin wear boots. Simple sandals or clogs he often wore around the castle would not be appropriate for the journey. The closest thing to combat boots that the prince wore were gardening boots.

“Huh. Good to know then. But where exactly are we going to go..? Just- away, from here?..” Kakyoin wanted to see the world.. more than anything. He’s felt far too depressed being cooped up in this castle ever since he was born. Hardly leaving it ever, it was as if he were a prisoner to these walls, separating him from the world that he wished to explore freely. Whether it be having conversations with strangers, traveling around the world and discovering things he’s never seen before, or just simply being a part of the world for once.. he wanted out of here. And from this day forth, he’s no longer be a ‘prisoner’ to royalty. “..I’ll be... free,” Kakyoin whispered to himself, as he followed behind the knight. It’s true, he would be.. but it would take quite some time to be considered free. This was going to be a risky plan.

After walking for a few minutes, the end of the tunnel came into view. The door was brick, and the lock consisted of a chain/pully system. Jotaro turned around and looked Kakyoin straight in the eye, "I"m going to grab my horse and pick up the supplies. It shouldn"t take too long since this door opens up near the entrance of the kingdom walls. The door will automatically shut once I step out, and I"ll lend you my lighter to help you see. Once I return, I"ll knock on the door 3 times. You can let yourself out, and we"ll be on our way."Without warning, Jotaro pulled the chain causing the bricks to separate open and sunlight to filter in. He stepped out and made sure the door shut fully behind him.
Navigating the stables was easy. Once he arrived, Jotaro approached his horse and pet its mane before entering the stall and setting the saddle on the steed"s back. The stallion"s name was Star Platinum, but Jotaro just called him to star. He was a flea-bitten grey as loyal as an ox, he"d been broken by Jotaro after all. After putting the bridle and large, spacious (and full of supplies pre-packed by Jotaro), he led him out of the stable and into the grass, mounting the horse in a fluid motion. He was lucky the royal stables were mostly empty due to most of the knights having rounds during this time of day. Jotaro trotted a few blocks away to the secret entrance and knocked on the door four times.

While Kakyoin was waiting, he constantly scanned his eyes around the long, dark abyss of a hallway with a slightly worried expression plastered to his face. He certainly wasn’t one for standing alone in a dark, abandoned tunnel, let alone any place dark and cold like this. But at least it would only be a few minutes before his knight would return to retrieve him. A bit startled by the knocks, the male quickly turned his head towards the chain, and he began pulling at it. Boy was he weak compared to Jotaro. He could hardly get it open! Even though the prince was generally strong, comparing his strength to the knight would make him look like a fool. Just as he was finally managing to get the bricks somewhat separated, a few footsteps echoing through the distance kept the redhead at a standstill. The absolute worst timing possible for another knight to be traveling through this exact tunnel. The man stopped in his tracks the second he spotted Kakyoin. “What in the…” oh, that red hair peeking out of the cloak, unfortunately, gave the prince’s identity away. “Wha- Hey!!-“ Eyes widening, Kakyoin gripped tighter at the chains and yanked as hard as he could, the sunlight almost blinding the male’s eyes. “We’ve been spotted..! Hurry help me up!!” Kakyoin shakily yelled to his knight, desperately trying to climb up onto the back of the horse.

Jotaro grabbed ahold of Kakyoin and swung him onto the horse, urging the redhead to wrap his arms around his waist. He dug his spurs into the side of Star and rode down the streets, hoofbeats making a beautiful rhythm. No one should have been in those tunnels. They were strictly prohibited and if used unless of emergency, the maximum punishment would ensue. Jotaro silently prayed the guard would pull a selfish move and report nothing. If he were to say that he was in the tunnels, his head will be off by sunset. The two rode fast down the streets, Jotaro’s hair blowing in the wind. He knew they had to book it till they reach the countryside. 25 miles west was a quaint little town mostly made up of farmers. They weren’t a part of the kingdom, therefore non of the rules applied to them. However, the town is known to dislike the Kingdom due to the king trying to tax their goods and crops. He chose this town as a brief resting spot. Enough for a few hours at least. Maybe a nap, or a bite to eat. Jotaro is glad he’s rubbed any trace of the royal status off of all of his belongings. Once they arrive at the town, he planned on changing into commoners" clothing. Heavy armor sticks out like a sore thumb and no longer serves a purpose.

Things would have been a lot easier if Kakyoin hadn’t been spotted by whoever was down there. Regardless, he’d have to change his clothes once they made it into town. There was no way he was keeping the burlap sack on for long when the guard had already seen him with that on.. he had to disguise himself as best as he could. Holding onto Jotaro tight from behind to assure he wouldn’t fall off the running horse, the prince laid his head against the other’s upper back. It was funny how the two haven’t said a word yet, and it’s already been quite some time since they escaped from the kingdom. What was there to say though..? ‘Thank you for helping me get out of there?’ For all he knew Jotaro could just be doing this for himself, perhaps Kakyoin would just end up being a burden during the entirety of their journey. Hell, guilt was already weighing on his shoulders after managing to get caught in the tunnel, most likely causing an uproar in the kingdom. They would come looking for them.. “..this battle against my father isn’t over yet.. they’ll come looking for us. We can’t let that happen Jotaro..” his grip on Jotaro tightened more, as if he were trying to hug rather than just hold onto him. “I can’t let you die, I won’t allow it.” His voice had become fragile as he spoke those last few words.

Jotaro tightened his grip on the reins and looked back for a split second, locking eyes with Kakyoin, “….In the case we do get caught, nothing will happen to you. Even though you consented to come, they will charge me with kidnapping you. I will be public ally executed, and you’ll be married off.” The windy breeze was chilly yet not uncomfortable due to the warmth Kakyoin was providing. Jotaro deep down inside knew the possibility of being caught was slim after leaving the confines of the kingdom, but it wasn’t impossible. Flea-bitten-gray horses weren’t uncommon in the area, so he wasn’t worried about being spotted by his horse. It’s risky for kingdom officials or guards to go out of their kingdom because laws protecting them no longer apply. The guards would be equal to a commoner.

“No..” Kakyoin quickly replied with a shaken tone, slowly shaking his head. “You are the only one that has kept me sane ever since Polnareff died.. don’t say things like that anymore. I won’t lose you too..” If Jotaro were to be executed, Kakyoin would rather die than live without him. What was the point of being alive if the only person that’s ever showed him any bit of care was gone..? This world was so, so cold. Nobody was like Jotaro, not to him. The male lowered his head, hiding his face away in the hood that fell lower to partly shield it from the colder winds. “We’ll eventually travel far, far away.. where absolutely nobody from that hellish kingdom can find us. And we’ll be alright.”

Jotaro nodded and shifted his weight in the saddle. By now they were only five miles from the town. Although they’ve been galloping for almost 2 hours, it’s felt much longer. His lower back ached from the long strides. Star was a large stallion to fit Jotaro’s body type, but it also made riding him bouncy. They were in an open field surrounded by rows and rows of grape vines. Jotaro was sure they were grapes made for wine, but he wasn’t entirely sure. Jotaro slowed Star to a walk and the horse’s neck in praise, “Good boy, let’s get you water. Only a little more to go.” He had Star walk over to a water trough made for watering the grapes and dismounted, taking the reins in hand and leading him to drink. Jotaro stretched for a few minutes as he took a flask out of the saddlebag and took a few sips of water before offering it to Kakyoin, “We’re almost there, but it’s pretty hot out. You’re probably cooking underneath that cloak.”

Kakyoin thanked Jotaro with a small nod, picking up the flask and taking a single swig. That felt nice after a whole 2 hours of grasping onto Jotaro so he wouldn’t bounce off of the horse and break his neck or something. That would have been quite inconvenient. “It’s like a sauna in this thing..” Kakyoin softly mumbled while looking around, a bit paranoid that guards might have followed them the whole way. Though in the back of his mind he knew that wouldn’t have happened. If he couldn’t see them, then they couldn’t see him. Pulling his leg up and over the horse, he slid off and landed on his feet, barely. “We better retrieve different disguises as soon as we reach town.. your armor looks far too flashy compared to other commoners.”

Jotaro nodded and walked over to star who was still drinking and opened up his saddle bag, grabbing a simple navy blue cotton tank top and black baggy pants. He eyed Kakyoin before walking into one of the rows of vines to conceal himself, “I’m going to change now. It’s better to do it sooner than later. You however can wait to change till we arrive if you please.” Jotaro took his time before walking out behind the vines, holding his discarded armor. He put it in the saddle bag (it was a tight fit), and grabbed ahold of the reins once Star finished. He hopped onto the saddle and extended his hand, hauling Kakyoin onto the horse and behind him. Jotaro’s felt much better now that he didn’t have a layer of armor on. Once everything was situated, the former night clicked his tongue and squeezed his heels, bringing Star to a gallop.

Kakyoin dreaded being in layers and layers of dark cloth like this on such a hot day, but it would have to suffice for now. Besides, it’s not like he had much of a choice.. taking off this robe would make him quite the visible target to any guards searching around for him. This would not only lead to Kakyoin being taken away, but Jotaro being as good as dead. At this point, for some unknown reason, the prince was starting to care for only Jotaro’s safety. As silly as it may sound considering the man was supposed to protect ‘him,’ this strong urge to keep him safe and away from that castle just wouldn’t go away. Because Kakyoin is so deep in thought, he’s almost forgotten to hold onto Jotaro when the horse began galloping. Holding on tight at Jotaro’s waist, he pulled himself close to prevent himself from falling backward. “..you know, you’re one hell of a knight, Jotaro.” It was true.. no knight would’ve ever helped him get away from that stupid castle, they’d all think the prince has gone mad wishing to run away from his life.

Jotaro shifted to hold the reins in his right hand while threading his fingers through his hair with his left, “….I’ve done nothing more than committing a crime.” The breeze felt nice while the sun glowed against his tan skin. “You often disregard the fact I’ve murdered people and stole things during my youth.” Jotaro placed his palm over Kakyoin’s arm which was wrapped around his waist, “You don’t have to hold on so hard, I promise you won’t fall off. Your knuckles are turning white.”

Kakyoin quietly scoffed, slightly loosening his hold on Jotaro. “It’s a crime to ‘society,’ but we both know it feels right this way. And even though you’ve committed those other crimes, we all make mistakes as humans. Being unforgiving won’t do any good for anyone. You know that. ‘I’ don’t disregard anything,” Kakyoin replied with a firm voice, turning his head away from Jotaro’s back so he could catch a glimpse of the sky. Such a clear sky today.. no clouds. He took that as a sign that his life would be much clearer looking from here on out. Kakyoin leaned the side of his head onto Jotaro’s back, feeling the warm rays of sunshine against his now-closed eyelids. ”You’re the bravest man I know. I feel safe being here with you.”

Jotaro made sure to look straight as possible to conceal his face from Kakyoin. He wouldn’t admit it, but his cheeks were dusted with a rosy hue. The sun began to set and dusk filled the skyline by the time they arrived at the town. Commoners were seen wrapping up a day"s work and retreating into their homes. Jotaro brought Star down to a walk before stopping and dismounting, grabbing onto his bridle and walking him into a small barn full of hay and tools. Jotaro extended his hand to help Kakyoin down from the stallion before closing and locking the barn shut, “This place is owned by a family friend. He’s currently out of town, but he’s aware of our arrival. He should be back in around two weeks.” Jotaro allowed Star to graze the bales of hay as he pulled out a blanket from the saddle bag and placed it over a bed of hay, creating a makeshift mattress. He laid down and let out a sigh of relief, staring at the barn’s ceiling.

As soon as Kakyoin was helped off the horse, he slowly settled down beside Jotaro on his knees. “How did he know of our arrival..? Have you been planning this?” Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised if he did. Kakyoin expressed his desire of running away a few times in the past. Jotaro was much more on top of things than the prince anticipated. Good.. he needed someone like that. Realizing the two were alone and away from people right now, Kakyoin squirmed himself out of the burlap and sighed with relief, feeling much less heated up now that the thick bag was finally off. He had gotten so sweaty over the past few hours, both from the nervousness and adrenaline of running away, and the god-awful sun beating down on them while traveling.

Jotaro nodded and placed his arms under his head, closing his eyes in the process. His entire body was sore, and he was convinced he was sunburnt. He cursed under his breath when he realized he had forgotten to bring sun-tan lotion. Unlike Jotaro’s tan complexion, Kakyoin had fair, pale skin. The sun could easily burn his smooth skin. For the first time all day, Jotaro felt at ease. The make-shift straw bed wasn’t ideal, but it would make do. He lifted his head and pointed at one of the saddle bags, “Kakyoin, there is another blanket for you to make a bed with.” Dusk turned to night as the sound of crickets chirping and occasional owl hoots filled the otherwise silent air. Jotaro almost fell asleep until he jerked awake at the sound of his stomach growing. He’s completely forgot to eat. The last meal he had had was brunch in the knight’s quarters.

By nightfall, Kakyoin had made his little bed from the hay and extra blanket, and was attempting to sleep now. Though it wasn’t really working out. With the loud sounds of crickets chirping and small swarms of bugs buzzing around the farm, Kakyoin was wide awake at this point just when he thought he’d be tired from such a long trip. “Right, we’ve forgotten to pack anything to eat..” Kakyoin mumbled shortly after hearing how hungry Jotaro seemingly was. Slowly sitting up, he felt at his face with a frown. The sun really burned his skin out there, it looked like a permanent blush laid upon his cheeks and nose.

Jotaro groaned and rolled over, facing away from Kakyoin. He could really use a cigarette right now. Surely the buzz of nicotine on his tongue would help. He grudgingly sat up and brushed all the stray hay pieces off of his clothing and hair. They would have to wait till morning to eat since no place to access food would be open at this time. The only chance they had of getting a bite to eat would be at a tavern. However, Jotaro doubted such a small town would have a pub. Defeated, he plopped back none and groaned in annoyance.

“.. I spotted a small market nearby that might still be open. Though I can’t be too sure..” Kakyoin pushed himself off the stack of hay, walking to the exit of the barn. Opening the doors, the breeze of cool, fresh air made him feel much better, considering it was a bit stuffy where they were sleeping. The moonlight was also quite bright, it lit up the majority of the large space. “If not, no big deal. I can go without for tonight, it’s not like I haven’t skipped meals before,” Kakyoin spoke up, leaning his body against the frame of the fence/doors. He decided he’d stay out in the cooler weather for a while longer, it relaxed him.

Jotaro knew sleep wouldn’t come without a fight. It was a daily struggle to get rest. It’s not his fault that growing up he had to sleep with one eye open. The hay bed wasn’t exactly unpleasant, but it still wasn’t a plush mattress stuffed with goose feathers. If they are still stuck with this living arrangement going into the colder months, it might mean wise to get more blankets. Jotaro rolled over and stared at the redhead who sat in the doorway, “I can go first thing Tomorrow and hunt us a quail. Speedwagon won’t mind if I steal some of his spices and pick some things from the garden”

Taking just a few more seconds to admire the night sky and fresh air outside, Kakyoin simply nodded in response. Perhaps he should watch Jotaro in the morning, he could learn a thing or two from his knight’s survival skills. After all, he technically wasn’t a prince anymore.. nothing would just magically appear for him anymore. He’s acknowledged the second they arrived to town that he needed to work hard for himself, and his friend, starting today. The male pulled at the wooden door, shutting it and tiredly walking back to the stack of hay he laid upon earlier. “..I wonder if my mother will miss me.” He couldn’t help but express his feelings about that now. It had just occurred to him that he had left behind the only other person in this world that has treated him with love and care.. he had little to no memory of being with his father when he was a youngling. It had always been his mother. And even though they’ve become distant over the years, the prince’s heart was still ever so soft for his mother’s love.

Jotaro picked at his cuticles awkwardly, huffing in exhaustion. It wasn’t that he was selfish, but rather the young man didn’t know how to reply. He never had a mother figure. Jotaro leaned over to Kakyoin, and snatched his sleeve. The night would grow chilly, and he couldn’t imagine the redhead grow cold. After all, he always seemed cold. He maneuvered Kakyoin to lay beside him, and then laid on his side, facing away from the other man.

A bit confused from the tugging at his sleeve, Kakyoin tilted his head and simply replied with a ‘hm?’ Seemed his knight was attempting to pull him into his bed. He wasn’t sure why he wished for him to lay beside him, it wasn’t too cold. Well at least for right now.. perhaps he should just go with it. Kakyoin tried to make himself partially comfortable, he didn’t want to accidentally make physical contact with Jotaro when he’d fall asleep. The last thing he wanted was for him to become annoyed by the prince.. though maybe he was just overthinking. He needed sleep. So he didn’t speak and turned to lay on his side, his body facing Jotaro’s back.

Sleep came easily for Jotaro. He fell asleep almost instantly after letting his head rest. However, not all sleep can remain peaceful.
He woke up a mess. His hair was disheveled, he was sweaty, and he was gasping for air. It was still the middle of the night, and he could tell from the sound of crickets. He tried to center his breathing and come and slow his rapid heart rate.

“Jotaro??” A soft, but slightly stunned voice spoke to Jotaro’s right side. Kakyoin still seemed to be awake all this time. Concerned about the male’s exhausted and disturbing appearance, the prince attempted to help calm Jotaro by rubbing at his shoulder for a brief moment. “Are you alright..? You look frightened..” he’s never seen Jotaro all stiff like this before... perhaps it was a bad dream he suffered from?

Jotaro shook his head and jerked away at Kakyoin’s touch before letting out a strangled grunt. He whipped his head around, fist clenched as he looked at Kakyoin like a deer in the headlights. Jotaro’s expression softened and his features relaxed. He situated himself up, sitting so he had his legs crossed, “I- I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were there and…..I- my reflexes kind of kicked in.” He rubbed his temples and tried focusing on calming down, “I’ve gotten really bad night terrors since I was a child, but then only seem to happen when I sleep in an unfamiliar place”. Jotaro felt ashamed. Telling the person he was head-over-heels that he has nightmares like a paranoid kid wasn’t something he was fond of.

Kakyoin didn’t seem too phased by Jotaro’s reaction, especially after what he was hearing now. Pushing himself to sit up, he gave Jotaro a warm smile in return for opening up about such a sensitive topic. “..you know, there isn’t one thing to be ashamed about when it comes to nightmares. I hope you understand that Jotaro..” he rose his hand again, and gently cupped his cheek, brushing his thumb across the skin. “My knight or not, you’re my ‘friend’ as well. It’s alright to open up.. what’s not alright is to keep all the bad things brewing inside for far too long until you burn out. I’d like you to be honest with me.”

Jotaro unconsciously nuzzled into the warmth of Kakyoin’s hand. His hard interior was nowhere to be seen. All that was left was barred submissive and vulnerable. There was never really a time in his life where he could generally feel vulnerable, and not in a state of danger 24/7. Yes, a kingdom is currently missing their prince and would do anything to spear Jotaro’s stomach with a dagger, but those thoughts were in the back of his mind. It was a bliss he very felt before. He hummed in response to Kakyoin, closing his eyes in the process. Maybe it was the redhead’s beautiful eyes or the warmth radiating off of him. Jotaro could specifically pin down why he was feeling this way. Whatever he was feeling, it was safe. He battered his eyes open sleepily and yawned, “My sob story would suffice for another day.”

Slowly lowering his hand, Kakyoin shrugged in response to the knight. “Perhaps it could, right now we need to finish up our sleeping.” He laid back down, making sure his hair curled sort of drooping down and covering part of his face. Silly, sometimes his hair helped express his emotions. It managed to fling up more when excited, or on a bad day, it would be less curl and more droop. “I’ll be right beside you, so you mustn’t worry about your surroundings, as it’ll only cost you another night of terror.. sleep well okay..?”

Jotaro nodded and shifted an inch or two closer to Kakyoin before laying down his side facing the redhead. Ocean-blue eyes struggled to stay open as sleep threatened to take over. He was sure if he had been a cat, purring would fill the night air. Jotaro was content and in bliss. At first, he felt like a kicked puppy when he woke suddenly, but the redhead’s reaction swiftly calmed him. Kakyoin could beat the shit out of him, and he would sit there preening and thanking the prince. He was lulled by the prince’s presence, taken aback by the beauty of said man. It wasn’t that Jotaro never realized how pretty his companion was, but he strictly pushed all thoughts of attraction down the drain in fear or scaring the prince, or worse, alerting the King. Now he was free, he couldn’t help but let go of some restrictions. Jotaro stretched out his back and whined at the muscle contracting and tightening, “I appreciate your hospitality.”

“It’s not hospitality. It’s just me simply caring about my best, and only friend. Besides, you deserve more,” Kakyoin said as he rested his lavender eyes. “You’ve been treating me with hospitality for quite some time now. I think it’s only right for me to do the same.” Kakyoin had such a soft, caring side to him mostly because he was raised by his mother, who was the same. Soft, sweet, loving, anything a child would need in a parental figure. He was a lucky man to have been raised by her more than his father.. a cold-hearted, self centered man who was far too straight forward and unforgiving with everything he’s ever done. A cruel person like the king would have made Kakyoin just as bad of a monster as him.

//Time skip//

Jotaro battered his eyes open and stretched, yawning in the process. Other than abruptly waking up in the middle of the night, he slept like a rock. He rolled over and glanced at Kakyoin who was still fast asleep. The redhead had his curly bang wrapped in his delicate fingers and his gentle breathing.

Shortly after Jotaro had been watching Kakyoin sleep, his eyes finally fluttered open, adjusting to the sunlight peaking through the barn wood. The prince wasn’t one for having bad dreams or night terrors, so the whole night was a breeze. The male sat up, moving his fingers down and through his long curl to comb as he took in his surroundings. He had forgotten they were here.. it all felt far too surreal to be ‘real.’ They had managed to escape.. and here they were. Turning his gaze towards Jotaro, he couldn’t help but chuckle just a little at the sight before him. Messy hair.. very messy~ “pardon me, but let me just..” Kakyoin’s words trailed off while he gently brushed his fingers through the knight’s almost jet-black hair, making it as neat as he could.

Jotaro looked to the side, trying to conceal the present blush dusting his cheeks to no avail. He finally flicked his eyes back to Kakyoin only to lean over and thread his fingers through the strawberry strands and purposely make it messy, “I must insist that I fix your hair too.” Jotaro said with a smile. He stood up and stretched, cracking his back and muscles with a sigh of relief. Although he felt content, his stomach didn’t. They still hadn’t eaten since their departure. Jotaro remembered Speedwagon kept a musket and hunting sniper rifle in the barn’s storage. Guns weren’t his first choice of weaponry, but they would make the task much easier. He preferred a reflective heavy blade compared to being constantly smeared in gunpowder. Jotaro of course knew how to operate a gun, as his past required it. Jotaro walked over to a safe and entered it with a key he was provided, taking the sniper into hand and closing the case shut. He opened the barn door before making eye contact with Kakyoin and smiling before exiting the building. Almost instantly he spotted a pheasant perched up in a dead tree. He cocked the hun upwards pointing the nozzle toward the birds" direction and shot. The bird toppled to the ground limp, and Jotaro jogged over to retrieve it. He plucked the feathers and removed the head and feet before filling a cast-iron pot in the nearby well with water. Speedwagon had a good fire pit for roasting, but the older man used it more as a social tool rather than for cooking. He would sit by the fire telling stories with a bottle of brandy to his friends. Jotaro flicked a match into the pit and watched it rumble to life, placing the pot of water on one side and the roasting bird on the other. Wagon’s’ garden provided potatoes that sat bobbing in the boiling water. After everything was cooked, Jotaro skinned and peeled the potatoes then cut them up into slices, and placed the Pheasant meat next to it. Thank god he thought far enough to bring tin plates. After quenching the fire, Jotaro walked back inside and sat back down next to Kakyoin, handing him a plate of food.

“Wh- Heyy!” Kakyoin huffed and pulled down his hair noodle, trying to fix it up and untangle what was messed up though only a few seconds passed before he decided to laugh to himself about it. He kept forgetting how silly Jotaro could be sometimes. Now talking a little walk around in the barn while Jotaro was out and about, the prince was having a bit of fun exploring. Even though it was just a little barn, it was nice to be out of that castle and into a simpler place~ Turning his head as he heard the door creak open, Kakyoin noticed Jotaro coming back inside with a plate. Ooh, the scent of something cooked came in with him.. yummy, he’s forgotten how hungry he was until now. “Ahh thank you!” the redhead beamed as he picked up the plate from Jotaro’s hands. “You managed to make it so fast too, wow..”

Jotaro’s nodded and sat cross-legged on the floor, “It’s nothing fancy, but it will do.” He picked at his food, and once finished he set his plate off to the side. His stomach felt so much better and he felt warm and full. Jotaro crawled over back to the makeshift bed and plopped down and sighed, “I"m surprised you didn’t hear my shot! Not many people in the kingdom use guns as a weapon since everyone there is old-fashioned. I thought you would be startled honestly.”

“Well, perhaps I’m good at blocking noise out. You know how many fights and arguments happen in the castle,” Kakyoin said with a little grin, putting his now empty plate down as well. His statement was true. His parents would fight all too often in any hallway they pleased, whether it be about something small or big it was always intense; it pissed him off that their chamber just so happened to be next to their son’s.. but now he didn’t have to worry about any of that anymore.

At least he had his knight during those harder times~ he’s always helped him feel comforted even if he was just standing around in the room. And now he was with him on this journey. “Hey. Now that you’re free you can finally find a girlfriend~” the prince teased.

Jotaro went from lightly laughing to baffled. The prince never talked about romantic relationships regarding his former knight. I mean, up until they fled the kingdom, Kakyoin had no other choice but to marry a man. However, it did make Jotaro think. The redhead was feminine, but was he only this way? Or was he pushed into a feminine roll by his father. A rosy blush dusted his cheeks as he purposely avoided eye contact. It was true all the women of the castle swooned over him, but his knightly duties would keep him from pursuing a relationship. But the truth is, he was surrounded by men his entire youth. There was never females living on the streets. The only ones were either there against there will, or dying. Therefore, it was very hard to find women attractive. It comforted Jotaro knowing he wasn’t the only one interested in the same gender, but he still doubted Kakyoin’s sexuality. What is he was forced to like men against his will? Jotaro threaded his fingers through obsidian colored locks and sighed, “You see, thats the problem. I don’t find women attractive.”

“…pardon?-“ Kakyoin looked just as baffled. For real?! He thought Jotaro was.. one of the straightest guys ever. “H- Haha.. really huh.. I had no idea. All this time I simply assumed you were as straight as a line. Well, in that case, let me rephrase that-“ Kakyoin pointed his index finger up as he smirked. “Now that you’re free, you can finally find a ‘boy’friend~.” And then he started wondering how that would work out around him.. would he and Jotaro be able to continue this journey if he had a boyfriend? It’s not like one could just leave the location their loved one was in.. how was traveling going to work out? Would they simply just part ways eventually? For some reason, the idea of that made him sad.

Jotaro awkwardly shifted and stood up, gathering the cast-iron plates and putting them near the barn door so he can wash them in the well whenever he runs outside. He highly doubted Speedwagon had any soaps to wash the grime off of. That also meant they were restricted on what they had bathing-wise. He"d snatched some of the fancy soaps located in Kakyoin"s previously lavish bathroom, but he intended on selling them. It"s way too early to go into the town"s marketplace due to the high risk of being detected. However, an unused water trough sat in the corner of the barn. It looked decently clean other than its dusty coating. Jotaro was sure he could easily heat some water and use it as a makeshift tub. There"s no way either of them could bathe in the cold well water. Kakyoin could go first, and then he"d go. There"s no use in replacing the water if it"s clean, to begin with. Jotaro sat back down next to the redhead and sighed, "I don"t have the opportunity for a romantic relationship right now. You"re my number one priority, and I won"t allow something to break my focus from you. However, you"re more than welcome to pursue a relationship."

“Well, you know at the end of the day, you’re a free man. Sure I might not be experienced survival-wise, but it’s your choice..” Kakyoin wasn’t trying to sound like he wanted Jotaro to leave, of course, he didn’t want that. He’d enjoy his company and would learn quite a lot from him. However, now that they were runaways, Jotaro technically wasn’t his knight anymore. He had the right to leave. Playfully scoffing, he brought his knees up to his chest and hugged them, thinking for a moment. Relationships.. why did people do it? Money? That was probably the reason for most. But not Kakyoin. If he was going to be in a relationship, he’d want it to feel like true love. Kakyoin played with his curl, braiding it as he stared forward towards the barn doors and began speaking again. “I have to be careful if I end up finding someone. I know my father.. he’s probably planning to pay a huge sum of money to whoever finds me and you once word gets out in town that I’m missing. People will have their eyes out, I just know it..” he seemed rather gloomy talking about this. If they were caught, Jotaro was as good as dead. Lifting his hand, he cupped Jotaro’s cheek and gazed at him in a saddened way. “Jotaro. If they find me soon, run as far as you possibly can from me. Don’t bother getting caught with me in this mess… I..” there was something about Jotaro that made his heart have this wrenching feeling deep inside whenever he looked him in the eyes. It was oh so painful.. he wondered what it may be. Was it an urge to cry? No, he felt many things. but he’d best brush it off.

Jotaro shifted and leaned into the warmth radiating off of Kakyoin"s palm, but he ultimately shifted his gaze to stare into his lap. The former prince had a valid concern regarding his possible capture in the future. However, Jotaro"s exterior may be cold and prickly, but that doesn"t mean he"s a cruel man. Fleeing had no purpose. Why would he run away from the one thing he had sworn to protect? Living on the run for the rest of your life knowing the man you love is far away and used as a broodmare to tighten economic ties? He"d rather beg for capital punishment compared to sulking till the end of his days. "Thanks for the offer, but I"m perfectly content with my neck in the grasp of a noose in the event of us getting caught.", Jotaro sighed and combed his fingers through his hair. "Let"s not focus on that now though. We"re far enough in the county side where the Kingdom would have to sacrifice plenty of funding to start a search party. Why would that Geezer king spend probably the equivalent to what he"d sell you for to fund a search party with no guarantee of finding you?". Jotaro lifted his gaze, locking into the beautiful eyes of the redhead. His hand automatically without thought reaches forward and tucks Kakyoin"s cherry-red, curly bang behind his ear, giving him an unobscured view of the man"s eyes.

Kakyoin chuckled under his breath, his gaze averting downwards as well momentarily as he gathered his next few words to say. A red tint dusted upon his cheeks while the knight moved his bangs away from his lavender eyes. “..you don’t know my father too well if you think he’s good with money saving. But don’t say such things Jotaro.. please, I’d rather you and I be alive. If you were executed, I certainly wouldn’t know what to do with myself.. if you run away, there could be a chance to see you again if I escape. But even if I don’t, I’d find comfort in knowing you’re still around.” The redhead wrapped his arms around Jotaro’s shoulders, pulling him into a warm, gentle hug. “And that’s why I would want you to run. It’s all ‘what ifs’ I know. But you know me, it’s better to plan and plot these sorts of situations out instead of being unprepared the moment it happens.” It was true. Jotaro being gone from this world would most likely drive the prince mad and perhaps take his own life. No man could ever be compared to Jotaro, his knight in shining armor.

Jotaro froze in the unexpected embrace. He was sure that his cheeks were the shade of a tomato at this point. Even though his head suddenly went on overdrive regarding the person he longs for who is currently hugging him, his mind still focuses on the unpredictable future. "Speedwagon, the man who provided the barn for the time being and will house us till who knows when will shelter us perfectly without a doubt. You know it"s hard for me to trust people, but I trust this man more than I trust myself. He knows people... a lot of people actually who actively fight against the very kingdom you were born to." Jotaro melts further into the embrace, tucking his face into the crook of Kakyoin"s neck, drinking in his floral scent still present from the day before. Moments later, the former knight"s eyes snap open as he breaks out of the redhead"s arms, crawling backward with a panicked expression, "I-... I"m so sorry please forgive me. I didn"t mean...I- I-".

Kakyoin felt a bit more comforted by the fact that this man who was offering them shelter was against the kingdom as much as they were. They were in good hands.. finally, the feeling of being free began to sink in as the chance of them getting snatched away and separated was starting to fade into the back of his mind. Safe and sound in each other’s arms, finally. Until that changed when he felt the body warmth disappear and the desperate apology coming from the shaken male. It surprised Kakyoin, to see Jotaro apologetic for such a simple thing- well no, he didn’t do anything wrong at all, so why was he apologizing..? The prince slowly reached over with a concerned, but gentle look in his eyes. “Jotaro, you’re fine.. why are you apologizing?” Hm.. now that he thought about it, he hasn’t received such physical affection like that from the knight until now. The male put on a little smile and held his arms out. “You and I are friends now right? You don’t need to be afraid to hug me; it’s a simple comfort for all people after all. It just looked like you needed one.. and. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t need one either.”

Jotaro shook his head and leaned most of his weight on his arms which supported his upper body. Did the former prince not realize the fairly intimate act he’d just pulled off? Either way, his actions surprised Jotaro. He had no intention of being so lewd, yet here they were. Y-you’re neck is a fairly scandalous place right? I mean, you weren’t even allowed to leave your room without it covered. Regardless, I nearly kissed it”, Jotaro stated, brows knotted in deep thought. Kakyoin was right, the hug was comforting. It’s not that he had no idea how to handle intimate moments, it just was extremely expected and hit him like a brick wall. He’s fairly certain if he could have prepared for it, he wouldn’t be fazed whatsoever.

“Oh, my neck?” Kakyoin repeated with a slightly surprised face. He lightly blushed at the fact that Jotaro mentioned that he almost ‘kissed’ it. Nervously clearing his throat, the male shrugged in response. “So what..? I’ve honestly never cared about such rules, I think the whole neck-covering obsession is rather silly don’t you think??” The male slowly unraveled his white scarf that was already revealing the part of his neck Jotaro became so close to, that it fell off his shoulders. “There. I feel less hot now..” Wow, Kakyoin was careless about society’s expectations. Though that was to be expected eventually, as he as a prince had no choice but to abide by society’s strictest rules since the day he was born into that hell-house of a castle. Stand up straight, shoulders back, cover your neck, don’t smile, don’t frown, and the list went on and on. Time to break those rules.

Jotaro sighed and stood back up, then plopped down where he previously sat next to the former prince. The rose dust of a blush was still noticeable, but he tried ignoring that fact. All he had to do was avoid eye contact with Kakyoin, and he’ll be all right. He slumped down into a half-laying half-sitting position, holding his weight with his upper arms. A hay bale propped his back up. Jotaro groaned while popping the joints in his neck followed by his knuckles. After avoiding the subject and the other man’s presence for long enough, he finally turned his head and looked at Kakyoin with heavy-lidded eyes. “Whatever makes you comfortable. But still, I’m a dick for doing what I just did”, growled Jotaro.

Those half-open eyes of Jotaro were still mesmerizing to gaze at, Kakyojn didn’t realize he was staring the whole time until now. Letting his bangs and hair curl cover the view of his own eyes, he glanced away, forming a shyer smile on his face. “If you’re a dick for just getting close to my neck, then I must be one for doing this..” Kakyoin leaned down to Jotaro’s head, pecking the side of his cheek with his lips. He rose back up again with an amused grin, before standing himself up and dusting off his clothing, making his way towards a window. Ah, the prince was always such a tease.. but, in all honestly, he wasn’t so sure what he did that for. Perhaps it was instinct to make his knight feel better about what he just supposedly did to himself.

Jotaro’s jaw went slack as the previous light blush turned into a bright red covering over his cheeks. He touched where Kakyoin’s lips kissed with his fingertips, basking in the feeling. Although it lasted less than a second, he desperately tried holding onto its feeling. Jotaro was almost thankful that the prince got up because he’d been even more embarrassed if he saw his current from the intimate gesture. Any words that left his lips turned into slurred mumbles, English not transitioning into his tongue well. He had no idea what to do. Instead, Jotaro stretched his body out on the makeshift bed, burrowing under the blankets. Maybe a nap would help clear his mind.

//Time Skip//

Those few hours of napping would pass for Jotaro quickly, as the loud sound of the barn doors cracking open echoed through the large room. The silhouette who stood in the doorway was Kakyoin, just in his burlap. “Jotaro, I brought us something to cook,” the redhead announced with a small smile, holding up what looked to be a few birds and a rabbit. Blood stained the male’s frail hands- anyone would find it hard to believe that this small prince could hunt that many animals, let alone a single one. Glancing down at his hands, he nervously laughed and wiped the blood onto the fabric over his legs. “Hands got a bit dirty in the process, but I figured you’d get hungry soon.”

Jotaro sat up and rubbed his eyes awake, yawning in the process. It took a moment to notice the crimson staining the other’s hands, but he instantly jolted awake in fear. Only once did he see the knife and prey did his heart rate drop and adrenaline simmer. He was more then surprised to see the kill, as catching such small creatures can prove to be quite difficult. Kakyoin had the advantage of dexterity and speed due to his lean and small frame, but he hadn’t been trained throughout his childhood, unlike Jotaro. The redhead needed to wash himself badly, blood stained his hands and arms, as well as a few droplets on his face. Perhaps he could set up the make shift tub while Kakyoin prepares the food. They both need the fire, so might as well kill two birds with one stone. Jotaro stands up and pulls out the metal water trough, putting one end under the indoor water spout. Although the water wasn’t made for drinking, it’s fine to bathe in. He turns the rusty tap on and fills the trough about half way before turning it off. “You’re filthy, and I smell rancid. If you want to cook your catch yourself, I’ll use the fire to heat up some water for the bath. We’ll eat first, and then by the time we’re done, the water should be cool enough for you.”

“Ah did I really get that much on me..?” Kakyoin wiped his face with his arm, which kinda make the blood smear even more- blinked and shrugged to himself. “I’ll go start the fire up and cook these then.” And so the prince covered in blood left the barn doorway, starting up the fire again. It took a bit to get a flame going, but he managed. It was to be expected that he’d be a tad slower learning these survival skills, he wasn’t the one who grew up being trained to hunt all his life. Despite that though, Kakyoin had always been eager to learn those kinds of things. Finally, he could put what he already knew to good use, like making a simple meal for him and Jotaro. He also managed to find some safe fruits to eat deeper in the forest earlier~

Jotaro sat vacantly in the barn lost in his own thoughts until he picked up a metal pail and filled it with water before walking outside and propping it above the fire. He stared at the fire, getting lost in the red/orange glow. Once the water in the pail began to boil, he wrapped the container’s handle in cloth and walked it inside the barn and poured it in the trough. The hot water released a hiss while mixing with the lukewarm water, creating a hot steam to rise. Once Jotaro was content with how the bath turned out, he sat down in his usual spot waiting for Kakyoin.

Pretty soon their meals were finished. Kakyoin gently kicked open the barn door with two plates in his hand that filled the room with a nice smell. “I see you’ve got the bath ready,” he said while sitting beside Jotaro, handing him one of the plates that contained meat, fruit, and chives. Kakyoin’s grown a bit tired after that hunt earlier today. Those animals he was after were somewhat small, so he needed to find as many as he could. Running and jumping for hours and hours was something he wasn’t too used to, he almost made himself sick at one point from overheating and exhaustion. So this food would surely help him regain some energy he lost.

Jotaro nodded and took the plate, ducking his head in thanks. The food was surprisingly good and warmed his belly. He still felt extremely flustered from earlier. He’d busy himself with picking his cuticles once he finished the meal. He set the plate aside and patiently waited for the other to finish. “I’ll sit outside while you bathe, the soaps are still located in the saddlebag.”

“Alright,” Kakyoin set his now empty plate down and stood up from the haystack, looking through the saddlebag for the soap. He pulled out one of the bars wrapped in cloth, setting it beside the bath. He looked forward to getting cleaned up. He wasn’t a germaphobe, but he did hate being dirty. He always felt the need to bathe as much as he could back at the castle, which was why he always had such a strong, but pleasant scent of lavender or cherry blossoms. Even now he still had that scent lingering, though it was fading from being outside, and staying in a barn for a while. The prince slid off each layer of clothing until completely nude, and finally, he stepped into the warm, comforting water. “Hah..” sighing happily, he closed his eyes and sank, letting the water relax his sore limbs and muscles. Damn, a bath never felt this good.

Jotaro sat slumped up against the barn"s exterior. He watched star graze mindlessly in the small paddock, tail swooshing back and forth to ward away the annoying flies. Wagon" clearly hasn"t had any livestock in the fenced area due to the tall grass that would otherwise be trampled down by sheep or other animals. Thank god his stallion didn"t have any tell-tale markings. He had a brand on the right side of his hindquarters, but Jotaro made sure to lather the horse in mud to cover it. It may be a pain to wash out, but he"d rather have a dirty horse compared to be hanged. Jotaro"s daydream was cut short when he spotted a guardsman jogging down the tree line on a mare. He remembered the specific knight. He was one of the men that spent most of his time inside the castle, so his experience in the open was futile. Jotaro ducked down and crawled through the tall grass in the field. He took his time to attempt to camouflage the rustling in the grass as just the wind flowing through it. Once he got close enough, he jumped out of the moor and grabbed onto the man"s leg, hauling him off the saddle and straddled on the ground with a blade to his neck. Jotaro kicked the haunches of the horse, sending him bolting off. He killed the man swiftly and pulled his body into an uninhabited area of land where the wolves will make work of his flesh. While walking back, he grabbed the decomposing body of a deer and put it into a puddle of blood, disguising it as the work of animals. Jotaro rolled up his sleeves (his arms were covered in blood) and walked back to the barn, opening up the door and walking in.

Kakyoin had just finished cleaning himself up in the bath, his blazer now wrapped around his body to cover and somewhat dry it. Hearing the barn door open, kakyoin’s gaze fell towards it. “Oh hey, what have you been u-“ the blood on Jotaro’s arms made him question what he had been up to. The redhead rose a brow. “Did.. you get hungry again?” What else could it be? He wasn’t sure.. but he was quite taken aback by how much blood that was. And how.. it didn’t smell or look much like the blood of the animals.

Jotaro ignored the redhead’s questions and walked right past him to the trough, shedding his close in the process. He was dripping with sweat as he peeled each garment off, throwing them mindlessly on the ground. The only thing he left on was his boxers that clinged tightly to his skin from sweat. Finally, when he got to the trough, he kicked off his shoes and stepped into the bath, sinking deep into the water until his entire body was submerged minus his head. He closed his eyes and hissed as the hot water burned his tanned sun-kissed skin.

Taken aback by Jotaro’s quickness and desperation to dunk into the bath, Kakyoin slowly sat in the pile of hay as he watched him sink. “…” he had opened his mouth to speak once more, but not a thing came out this time. He wondered, what could’ve possibly shaken up the knight like this..? And for his arms to be covered in that red substance as if he committed a murder.. the male tensed up as a certain vision appeared before his eyes. Right.. He immediately stood up and ran to the barn doors, pushing them open. “..did you..-“ just from afar, he could see flies already swarming in the area the crime took place in. His eyes averted away followed by a gasp. “..a guard came.. they’ve found us. How?!”

Jotaro huffed and stretched his muscles, basking in the feeling of the warm water tenderizing them, “They didn’t find us. I found him first. Something in my mind snapped and before I knew it, I was covered in blood.” His mind had already set Kakyoin as something he needs to protect no matter what. It was an animalistic urge that finally came loose. Once he felt clean enough (even thought he used no soap), he stepped out of the trough and waddled over to the saddlebag that held a small cloth towel. He dried himself and put in a clean pair of close, and slumped down onto the hay bed.

Kakyoin immediately looked at Jotaro, almost- glaring. That familiar red in his cheeks and nose appeared, as whenever the prince was upset, the blood rushed to his head pretty quickly. “If any other guard passes by and sees that body, even with that deer, you know they’ll find out we’re near. We could have hidden away in here until he left instead to not draw any attention towards this location!!” This was the first time he had risen his voice at Jotaro. But he couldn’t help it.. deep inside he was panicking, praying other guards wouldn’t see that body. Or else their journey was as good as over.

Jotaro knew the mistake he made. He did something he shouldn’t have done. However, the rise in Kakyoin’s voice held his attention more than anything. He’d never been angry at Jotaro before. The knight bowed his head in submission and sighed, I’m aware. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

Kakyoin turned around and took one more glance at the field with a frown before he shut the barn doors. “As soon as the sun rises. We can’t afford to stay any longer than that.” His voice was just a bit stern now, but the anger had vanished for the most part. The prince walked towards his friend and kneeled, then just looked at him for a moment. That frown from earlier turned into quite the worried look on his face. Oh if only Jotaro knew how much Kakyoin truly cared about him.. he felt he hadn’t expressed it enough. So wrapped his arms around Jotaro and pulled him close into a warm embrace. “…I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again. You’re all I’ve got Jotaro..” he whispered, dropping his head and resting it against the male’s shoulder. He’s sort of forgotten that all he was wearing was his long-ish blazer, which he used as a towel, that only somewhat covered his still slightly damp body. So needless to say, his body was pretty much exposed against the other male’s clothed body.

Jotaro’s breath hitched as the other held him in an embrace. It’s not that he wasn’t listening to the redhead, it’s just that he had other much more important things to focus on. Such things being the warmth of his skin and how smooth it was. His expression softened as he pulled Kakyoin into his lap and wrapped his arms around his middle, toned chest pressed flush against the other’s back. There was no point in pretending anymore. Jotaro was never good with words, so he used his actions to express how he felt.

Kakyoin let his eyes water and drip with tears as he blankly stared forward. His life was always like this. Just as he was starting to feel at peace for once, reality came along and gave him one big slap across the face. If he couldn’t have peace, could he at least have Jotaro? “I don’t think you understand how much I feel for you,” Kakyoin admitted as his thumb swiped away the tears on his reddened cheeks. “To me, I’m not your prince. If anything, I see you as the leader.” He carefully turned himself around on Jotaro’s lap so he was face to face, the thin, velvety jacket sliding off his bare shoulders. “You have done more for me than anyone else in this world.”

Jotaro nodded his head and wiped a stray tear falling down the redhead’s cheek. He moved the jacket just enough so it covered the other’s nether regions. After all, he’d like to have a heart-to-heart without being distracted, Jotaro opened his mouth to form words, but nothing came out. It’s like his pallet forgot how to form words together. He shifted his weight and kept his hands gently on his hips of Kakyoin.

Kakyoin couldn’t help but smile when Jotaro struggled to reply. With a soft sigh, the prince slowly laid his head against Jotaro’s chest with closed eyes, his hand resting in that area as well. “You saved me..” he thought aloud. It seemed the male was attempting to distract himself from their current situation, with affection. He sweetly smiled. “..my knight in shining armor.”

Jotaro stuttered and lifted one of his hands on Kakyoin’s hips to cup the nape of his neck protectively, pulling him in a little closer. It’s not that Jotaro hated affection. It’s just that he never was given affection as a child and growing up. The sudden closeness of their bodies itched a certain part of his brain. He pulled Kakyoin just a bit back and held into each of his shoulders, “I enjoy this and all, you’re just kinda…uh.” He flicked his eyes down, then up again, rosy fingertips gently touching the redhead.

“Hm?” Kakyoin felt a little cold. Oh- now he remembered why the second Jotaro’s eyes looked down. The male quickly wrapped the button-down around his body as much as he could to cover everything he had just exposed, all while nervously laughing. “So sorry about that, I’ve completely forgotten..” he mumbled, reaching for their bag of things to change into the rest of his outfit.

Jotaro cracked a smile and regained his grip on the redhead’s waist. He had no idea if they were on the same page, but that all didn’t matter. He’d alerted Kakyoin that his weight was being distributed in some… delicate areas. The prince however had the impression it was his lack of clothes Jotaro was bothered about, and that made him preen. “No silly, it has nothing to do with your clothing or lack thereof. You just were putting pressure on my crotch”, he chimed.

Kakyoin looked away with wide eyes, attempting to hide the vibrant red in his cheeks. Ohh.. damn it, he should’ve known better than to sit on somebody’s lap like that! “S- Sorry,” was all the prince could manage to stutter out. Though it surprised him when his waist was still being held like that- he thought he had made things too awkward to continue their little moment of affection. Perhaps he was wrong, maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Now with pants on, Kakyoin settled back down upon Jotaro’s legs, though was sure to keep his distance from the other’s lap.

Jotaro gave a toothy grin. The redhead’s reaction was adorable. Even so, he was getting quite tired. It was late afternoon, yet he felt drained. It’s probably from the adrenaline rush post-crash. He laid down with Kakyoin still perched up on his lap, but opted to grab ahold of him and lay the prince on his side. Jotaro laid one arm under the redhead’s neck/head and the other wrapped around his waist, spinning him in turn. He tucked his face into the crook of Kakyoin’s neck and sighed.

Kakyoin voiced a small ‘whoa’ in surprise when spun so effortlessly- well it was not supposed to be much of a surprise, he knew of Jotaro’s strengths. Though what also surprised him was the fact that the two were going to rest like this. Closer than the night before.. he wasn’t so sure he’d be able to fall asleep with this fucking beautiful man laying against him from the side like this- but he’d try. Staying still and eyeing the crack of the door, it was still pretty bright outside. But the sun had lowered quite a bit. Perhaps they should sleep this early, so they could wake up at a reasonable time to get going just as the sun is about to rise. Hesitantly closing his eyes, the prince lightly adjusted his body against Jotaro’s until it felt comfortable enough to stay in one position. The feeling of the other male’s gentle breathing against his neck was making his face burn a bright pink shade. He was feeling fine like this, but he had a feeling if he didn’t return the physical affection somehow, Jotaro would think he didn’t like this. So, the redhead slid one arm underneath the other’s, around his waist until his hand was pressed against his backside, while his eyes were still shut.