The Rightful King

Robbie | 023

   ***CW: Depictions of violence/blood***

         Robbie wondered just how many guards there were in the Palace.

It seemed like when they weren't stationed in random places or patrolling the hallways throughout the Palace that they were in the courtyard, training. They were always running laps, or off in pairs sparring against one another. Surely, the Palace didn't need as many as they had. It just seemed like a lot.

He was passing by the courtyard now, Angel trailing behind him as usual. Allen was off doing whatever the King had tasked him, he hadn't actually seen much of the Alpha in the past week. He was glad King Scott would be arriving in the evening, it was lonely here, especially with Angel as his guard. It seemed that most of the other servants in the Palace were scared of them, and he still hadn't managed to coax a real conversation out of the Alpha.

He was getting much better at reading them though. Despite their lack of words, their body language was surprisingly expressive. Their face probably was also- but Robbie hadn't quite gained the confidence to look them in the eye.

The training guards called to them as they passed, mostly to Angel. The words were friendly, if a little teasing, and one glance at his bodyguard proved the tips of their ears were red from the attention. He fought back a smile.

Robbie was planning on heading back to his room for the afternoon, maybe he could convince Casey to play a card game with him, but the second his shoes crossed the threshold inside the Palace, a loud bang filled his ears.

He didn't quite recognize the sound as first, instinctively turning towards the source, but then he was being pushed to the ground by Angel's rough hands. He hit the floor unceremoniously, too shocked to try and break his fall, head hitting the carpet hard as he went. His vision went dim for a moment, pain blossoming from the area, brain struggling to catch up with the last thirty seconds.

Angel's eyes were purple. A strange violet color that didn't quite seem real, and they were close, their face hovering just above his, expression twisted in pain and breath fanning over his face in labored puffs. Their arms caged him in on either side of his head, body completely covering his own. Something warm and wet was seeping into his shirt.

"Are you okay, ma'am?"

There was screaming outside.

"Ma'am."

Were those gunshots?

"Ms. Quarrels."

He blinked slowly, finally registering that Angel was speaking to him. Robbie's eyes flickered down then, hand reaching to the space where their stomachs brushed together. When he pulled his hand back, it was red.

"You're bleeding." He said dumbly.

"I'm fine, ma'am. Are you hurt?"

"A human shield." He sucked in a breath, but there was no oxygen in his lungs, "That's so fucked up."

The screaming became muffled suddenly, the side doors from the courtyard were closed now with metal slats covering them. Angel was pulling him up then, leading him to a pathway that had previously been wall. "Come, we need to get you to the royal safe room."

Robbie followed numbly, stumbling as he tried to keep up with Angel's long legs. They were moving surprisingly quickly for someone who'd just been shot. The panel of wall slid shut behind them once they crossed the threshold, but he hardly noticed, eyes trying to adjust to the dimly lit hallway. The screams from outside quickly fell away, leaving nothing but the sound of the buzzing lights above them and their heavy footsteps.