His Majesty (Slide Away)

39.

The streets of the main towns no longer seemed so vibrant and colourful, they seemed terribly dull and empty. The sky was white with clouds, and though it was not raining, Paul figured it was only a matter of time until it did so. Few people were out, and those who were wore waterproof coats, clutching umbrellas and anticipating the rain.

Paul thought it was rather humorous how the weather could reflect someone's mood.

In all honesty, he hadn't felt this horrible in months, not since he was back in his old room in Rotherham castle. He figured it was the thought of going back there that gave him this dreadful feeling once again, the thought of having to reface his dark past, along with the person who made it so colourless. Whether he was dead or alive, Paul would be seeing the man once again...

The car neared the gate, which people surrounded. Ringo, who John was following, slowed down as he approached the gates, causing John to do so too. Paul wasn't looking, he couldn't. He knew that if he looked too close at the people on the outside, he would be able to tell the condition of his father just by seeing their expressions.

Paul could hear the sound of people throwing and placing flowers on the bonnet, but he tried his best to block it out. Flowers, in this scenario, would be a sign of remorse, and he wasn't so sure he could handle that knowledge any further until he had to. In two minutes, when they reached the palace, that would be when Paul would have his answer. No earlier.

He would rather wait two minutes.

The car picked up speed, and a comforting hand was placed on top of Paul's own. It was John's, of course, the hand of his that was not rested on the gearstick that was caressing his own. But Paul still chose to believe it was not a sign of bad news. He wouldn't believe it, not just yet. He still was set on finding out in a few, short minutes.

"Paulie, we are here, my love..." John spoke, but Paul didn't acknowledge his somber tone.

"No."

"Yeah..." John countered. "We are at the palace... Let's get you inside, yes?"

Paul just hummed, weakly, in response. His eyes were still tightly closed.

John slid out of the car, making his way over to Paul's side and helping him out. He practically carried Paul, linking him under his shoulder so that the Omega could use as little of his own weight as possible and still continue to move. Paul was too weak to hold his own figure up.

He finally opened his eyes as the Palace doors opened for him, revealing the grand entrance to him, now for practically the hundredth time. He could remember the first day he had set foot in the palace, and Mimi had made him kneel. Back then he had been so naive towards her ways, entirely fearful of the woman.

If he could go back in time and tell the unmarried Paul that three months later he would be standing up to her as he did the previous day, past him would indefinitely faint. That Omega was weak and fragile, still only really knowing the ways of isolation.

Even though that dreadful feeling of being alone was still there sometimes, John had helped most of it leave Paul's system. He took him on walks around the gardens with Pyramus every day, took him out to dinner as often as he could. He would encourage Paul to write letters to his brother, too.

His brother... Mike.

If Jim was dead, he wouldn't just be writing letters to his brother, he would be writing them to a king...

As soon as Paul looked up, he would have his answer. He would know if he was now fatherless, and if his brother was no longer just a Prince. He would know the answer, if his father was dead or not.