Clash of Kings

Chapter 9: Life in Greece

(I tried to make it look like Mandara's feathers were fluffed up as a reaction, I think it turned out good)

It took the princes a few weeks to adjust to living in Greece, and during that time, Greece updated them about the situation in Mandoria, it wasn't good. 

Prussia had all of Mandoria's nobles and members of his court executed as his first act as king, and he made sure to purge the kingdom of any human who was still loyal to him.  When he discovered the village that helped the princes he burnt it to the ground and slaughtered its inhabitants.  Next, he had anything related to Mandoria destroyed, the only exceptions were the stuff Mandoria was buried with, but nothing else survived.  The brothers and Deutsche were horrified to hear what Prussia had been doing to those innocent people, and all that happened in the span of a few months, Mandoria was defeated six years ago.

After the three were up to date with the Mandorian situation, they focused on finding work as per their agreement with Greece.  Mandara found a job as a deliveryman for a mail company, Derogan decided to join Athens law enforcement, and Deutsche was working for a local clinic.  The humans found it odd that these princes were working average jobs for average pay, but they got used to it and treated them like they would anyone else.  The three didn't mind working too much, Mandara became the fastest deliverer because of his high-speed wings, Derogan was putting criminals behind bars, and Deutsche was helping injured people, so everyone was pretty content with their new lives, for the most part. 

Deutsche still wanted to stand up to his father and finally rid the world of the winged devil, but he promised the Mandorian brothers that he would stay, and he kind of wanted to.  For the first time in his life, Deutsche was happy, he had two people who cared about him and that he cared about too, he had a new life where he didn't have to live in fear of being beaten or going hungry, and he had a home that for once in his life he felt safe, did he really want to throw all that away to go on a suicide mission to fight his father who defeated the most powerful winged kingdom in the world?

One night, Mandara was flying around enjoying the cool evening breeze when he spotted Deutsche sitting on a bench on one of Greece's palace's balconies.  Even from the air Mandara could tell the German looked troubled, so he flew down and landed behind him.

"Davher Deutsche, what are you doing out here so late?" Mandara asked, but Deutsche gave no response.

"Are ... you ok buddy?" He asked with a worried tone in his voice, he walked up to the bench and Deutsche jerked his head to him, clearly startled.

"Oh, hey Mandara, I didn't know you were here, did you say something?"  Deutsche said.

"Yeah, I asked if you were ok, you looked pretty down from up there and I wanted to check on you."

"Oh I'm fine," The German said a little too quickly. 

Mandara raised a brow and sat down next to him, "you can tell me about it, what's going on?"

Deutsche stared at him for a moment, then he sighed and looked away, "do you ever get the feeling that you have unfinished business?"

Mandara tilted his head in confusion, so Deutsche reiterated, "I mean, like, you have a good life and everything you could ever ask for, but you feel like you have to leave all that behind to do something dangerous."

Mandara continued to stare in confusion, but eventually, a light bulb clicked and he nodded in understanding before responding, "well, not really, but I remember the time my brother risked his life to save father from Prussia when he was thirteen.  He left me in the safety of the castle and went to make sure Prussia didn't try anything, which he did.  He could have died, but he still tried to protect father."

Deutsche hummed, "so what should I do, should I stay here and live a peaceful life, or should I go fight my father and make him pay for what he has done?"

Mandara opened and closed his mouth, at a loss for words.  After a long moment of silence, he said, "Father used to say that you have to fight for what you care about, that there will always be horrible people out there that want to harm the ones you care about, and if you stand on the sideline they will succeed.  You have to fight for what you know is right, but what you must never do is stoop down to your enemy's level, or else you will be just a horrible as they are."

"Woah," Deutsche breathed, "Mandoria must have been very wise."

Mandara let a sad smile grace his lips, "he was, I have never met anyone wiser," he turned his head to Deutsche, "and from that wisdom I can tell you that you have to fight, because if you don't, Prussia will continue to harm the things you care about until you have nothing left."

Deutsch's brows furrowed and he took hold of Mandara's hand, "I would never let him harm you."

Mandara's eyes widened in surprise and a small blush spread across his face, "D-Deutsche?"

The German smiled, "Mandara, we have known each other for almost seven years now, and after the river incident, I could tell that you have been feeling strongly towards me in a way that Derogan does not."

Mandara's blush grew brighter in embarrassment and he tried to deny these accusations, but Deutsche wouldn't let him, "don't bother denying Mandara, your not very good at hiding your feelings."

Mandara looked away shamefully, "I'm sorry Deutsche, I-I know Germans don't like gays so I shouldn't have-"

Before he could finish, Deutsche grabbed him by both sides of his head, forced him to look at him, and smashed the Mandorian's lips with his own.

Mandara was shocked and completely caught off guard, he wasn't expecting someone from a homophobic country to be kissing him, but he didn't try to move away, he stayed and kissed back.

When Deutsche pulled away and let go of his head, Mandara blinked at him with confusion and a hint of love in his eyes, "I-I didn't think you felt that way towards me, I thought that you would ..." he murmured, trailing away towards the end.

Deutsche smiled again, "I may be my father's son, but that doesn't mean I'm like him.  I love you Mandara, and I haven't felt this way towards someone before in all my life."

Mandara smiled, then the German continued, "Danke for talking with me, I'm so glad to have you and your brother in my life, and now I know that I have to fight for you both."

Mandara's smile faltered for a split second, Deutsche just confessed his love for him and now he was going to fight Prussia for him and Derogan, the last person who did that died and the Mandorian didn't want to lose another.  Despite his fear, he put on a supportive smile and the two just sat on the bench and hugged, but in the back of his mind, Mandara was wondering if he just led Deutsche to his death.