The Rightful King

Robbie | 026

            Robbie's head feels a little funny as he sits on the lounge. It's like his unease is an afterthought, the absolutely wrong feeling of being away from his nest just a little thought in the back of his mind, something unimportant. Allen is warm beside him, arm curled around him, and he wants to sink into the feeling. He almost does, almost lays his head on Allen's shoulder so that he can rest his eyes like his body is urging him to do so.

He tries to shake the feeling off though, the tea must be making him drowsy.

The King had made him drink another cup of the tea this morning when he'd gotten nervous about leaving the room. It was a silly fear, no one was going to jump out behind the curtains and attack them, not so soon after the initial one, not now that they were on high alert. Still, he didn't feel safe, and the screams and gunshots were still fresh in his memory, Angel's pale face had haunted his dreams the night before.

"Are you okay?" Allen's lips brushed against his hair as he leaned down, voice lowered so as not to interrupt the two brothers talking across from them.

They were in one of the Palace's many parlors, sitting on two lounges with a table of tea and cookies between them. The King seemed like an entirely different person, his eyes alight with amusement and bright smile on his face. He's laughing at something Vincent had said, and Robbie feels his heart squeeze with fondness. He hadn't known Scott for very long, but he imagined this is what he might've been liked before becoming King, when he was just crowned prince and unburdened with the full weight of the kingdom on his shoulders.

The two brothers don't look much alike. Their mannerisms are the same, the way that sit, how they move their hands when they speak. Their eyes are the same also, the same sort of green that Robbie was a little envious of. The similarities stop there. Where the King was short, with dark hair and angular features, Vincent was almost the exact opposite. His hair was much lighter, nearly blond and he practically towered over his elder brother when they stood next to each other. Still, it was easy to see how close the two were, with how Vincent freely teased his older brother for some recent pictures that'd been posted of him while he was in Guitia.

"Baby?" Allen asks nose bumping against his temple, probably trying to detect in his scent. He blinks, trying to collect his thoughts. What had he asked?

"I'm fine." He finally whispers back, hoping that would suffice for now. There's a frown on the Alpha's lips and he opens his mouth like he's about to speak again, but then there's a knock on the door and it doesn't really matter.

One of the King's councilmen steps into the room, bowing politely in greeting. Scott doesn't look pleased. "James," He acknowledges, and the man straightens, "I hope you have a good reason for interrupting me."

The older man's lip twitches, like perhaps he was going to scowl at the monarch. "The Council insists that we hold a meeting. I've held them off for as long as I could, but they're rather displeased with your absence, Your Majesty."

"The decision was unanimous, I presume?" James nods and Scott heaves a sigh, like everything was an annoyance to him. "Very well then, I will be in the Council room within the half hour."

"The Council is demanding Mr. Perez's presence as well."

Robbie's stomach drops, because there was no way he was going to be anywhere without either Allen or Scott, and Allen's arm tightened just a bit around him. His change in scent was noticeable even to himself.

"Mr. Perez and I will be there. You're dismissed, James." Scott orders with a small flick of his wrist, sending Robbie a small, concerned glance. He turns to his brother then, "I'm sure you're rather tired from traveling, Vince. Any of the maids here will be happy to show you to your rooms, though I'm sure you know where they are."