Similitude of Ashes and Feathers

Chapter 4: The Royal Guard

"Alex, where have you been? Do you have any idea how awkward it is to have your mom come up to me and ask where you are? I had to stand there and say, 'I have no clue'--it was very uncomfortable, you should've seen the way she looked at me!" Hercules huffed, his wings were ruffled and he looked very upset. Reasonably so, he was Alex's personal guard and lost him. Hercules' wings really were full, a very slight red hue to the white feathers, typically those attributes made him a more intimidating guy regardless of his height being under 5'10"

Except this was Alex and Hercules was his friend, nothing intimidating about that.

The prince smiled, "I went for a walk and I wanted to be alone. You wouldn't let me go by myself if I told you where I was going." He shrugged, "so I just didn't tell you where I was going. Simple as that."

Hercules was very unamused and unimpressed with that answer, the reasons being obvious. "If the queen didn't like people so much and know how you are, she probably would've been really far more upset. You should at least tell someone where you're going-... Unless you were going somewhere you shouldn't be going," he folded his arms across his chest. "Did you go to human's land?"

He tapped his chin in thought before pointing a finger in disapproval, "I'm not obligated to answer that question. And I'm a prince, I can go wherever I please. It's not like humans know. I used what we normally do so they don't see us." Alexander shrugged, "I see no problem with what I did."

"You wouldn't," he scoffed. "Alex you're a prince and that means you need to be more cautious. The castle has so many guards for a reason. I'm not saying you have to stay cooped up, but take someone with you. Seriously, one of these times you're going to die. Whether by traitor or demon, you're practically asking for it. Why don't you go out wearing a target one of these times? It'll be perfect for you, quite frankly at this point you deserve it."

Alex sighed dramatically, "did you only come here to nag me? Well you've done it, did you need anything actually important? If not, you're dismissed."

"Don't you dare dismiss me, you're in trouble. But I'll have you know that I did actually come here with more than 'nagging' you. It's time for dinner, prince. The king and queen ask for you to attend every meal, you know that. If you're determined to miss almost every lunch you should at least attend breakfast and dinner... You're mom always misses you, you know that. Regardless of your title, she's still your queen too. Try to respect your parents' wishes."

"Is it really that time already?" Alex looked down the hall to the tall window, it was getting a bit later. "Oh... Well give me a few minutes and I'll be in, promise." He nodded, "I need to grab a few things. Go tell them I'm coming. Won't even keep them waiting that long. Plus you can say you found me and brought me back, lie and say I was... In the town or something," he waved his hand dismissively.

Hercules blinked for a moment before sighing, "fine. You better back up that lie later," he poked Alex's shoulder, "and I'll deny it all if you don't. You know the king will faster believe me, you lie too often."

Alex pouted, "rude. But whatever, sure. I gave you that anyway, why wouldn't I back it up? We could even work in Laf if we needed to. More believable with more people, and he'd immediately agree. Always has our backs if we need it." He clicked his tongue as he turned to walk back to his bedroom door, "favorite thing about you guys. You're my boys," Alex chuckled.

"Yeah, this is one of the reasons you have us as your only friends-"

"Hey, I have more friends... I-... Shut up, go on. Talk sh*t about me behind my back but don't say it to my face, gee. I'm your prince, Hercules."

"Yes, yes you are, and you're my friend. If you weren't, then I'd talk sh*t behind your back. Also you should watch your language, if your dad hears you talk like that he'd scold you. You know he would." Alex only chuckled and Hercules couldn't help but smirk, "hurry up. For real, prince."

The prince stopped and looked at his guard over his shoulder, "you should hurry too. They might think you lost me again." He mimicked the other's smirk, only more snarky like Alex always was. "Don't want you to lose your position, the next guard might be more obnoxious than you. That's the last thing I'd want."

Fluttering his wings in a soft laugh, Hercules turned and walked back to the door out of Alex's part of the castle. Alexander hadn't hesitated to go back to his room. "Okay, so something has come up." As he spoke he closed the door behind him, making sure to whisper the best that Alex could, not like he was good at it but at least he tried. Before the demon could even comment, Alexander continued. "It's time for dinner. Have you eaten recently? I can probably try and sneak you something to eat-" When Alex looked over at Aaron he had pulled Alex's blanket off of the bed and wrapped himself in it.

He chose not to comment on that, regardless of how obviously bewildered the expression he wore was.

"You don't think it's going to be even the tiniest bit suspicious that you're bringing food back to your room after you've eaten?" Aaron frowned only to shake his head, "that sounds ridiculous. Also you said I could wander around your area but if your guard comes into your area casually I can't say I'd be very comfortable doing that. That was a terrible suggestion."

"Okay so what if I forgot he just comes in? Oh well," Alex shrugged, "he'll find out eventually so I'll probably just tell him at some point... You know, so he doesn't just automatically try to kill you, assuming you're like a really young assassin or something. He would, but he's a good guard so that isn't exactly surprising." Alex looked around the room for a second before speaking once more, "just hide in the closet for now. I'll be back and I'll take care of everything-"

"You want me to hide in the closet? Seriously?" It was freezing and he didn't want to leave the blanket. "Why would he come back here while you aren't here? Can't I just wait here?"

Alex pursed his lips in thought. "Fine, but don't make a sound." He walked over to the window and closed the curtain. "I have to go. I'll be back in-... I'll be back," he pointed at Aaron, "and don't mess with my things while I'm gone."

Aaron raised his hands in surrender to satisfy Alex's request in just pretending like he was harmless, the prince already thought he was anyway. That was all it took before Alex went out of his room. Leaving Aaron alone to glance around the room and debate where he might find more blankets at.