telling all the rich folks anything they want to hear (keefex royals au)

-chapter five-

Keefe's insides felt like they were trying to crawl their way out of his body. He wanted to scream, but there was no air in his lungs to expel. His eyes were glued shut and so was his jaw. Every part of him was stiff when all he wanted was to move, to thrash, to run away from this feeling. Smoke began to fill his lungs and he would've given anything to cough.

Fuck, he would've given anything to breathe.

Outside of his control, he felt his jaw open and the smoke leave his lungs. Suddenly, the pain departed him, and he would've wept for joy.

A sound came from somewhere inside him. A rattling noise akin to a coin in a can, and it seemed to be making discernible words.

"Your precious boy is gonnne," it rattled,"He broke someone's heart, and he must payyyy. But if you trulyy want him back then one thing shall do: true love's kiss." The noise rattled violently as if it were jeering everyone for even considering the idea of "true love" and then promptly cut off.

Keefe felt himself slipping into a deep sleep.

                                                             ——————————————————-

Keefe woke up and launched himself out of his bed. After checking to make sure his hair looked good, he raced out of his room, pajamas and all. It was his birthday after all. He darted down several flights of stairs until he reached the kitchen level, and promptly collided with someone smaller than him. They both fell onto their backside.

"Owww," they both said.

"Sorry! Sorry," Keefe said, scrambling up to help the smaller boy to his feet.

"You ran into me," the small boy pouted, crossing his arms.

"I'm Keefe! What's your name?" He asked, excitedly.

"I'm Dex! I just moved here!" Dex brightened up.

"Hi! It's my birthday! I'm seven!"

"My birthday is in a few months! I'm only six though." He looked down, as if being six was unbecoming.

"I'm getting a snack," Keefe said, happily, as he started to walk into the kitchen.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Out of the kitchen," a large woman said, bustling over.

"But I'm hungryyyy," Keefe whined, flopping his body.

"Here, take this." She plucked an apple fritter from a nearby shelf and shoved it towards him.

He took the fritter and eyed it. She picked him up and took him out of the kitchen.

"Go up to breakfast, boy," she said, setting him down.

"Okayy, byeeee," he said, waving to Dex while crumbs sprayed everywhere.

                                         ———————————————————

Keefe somehow still felt stuffed full of cake even the day after his birthday.

Or maybe that was because he kept sneaking some, but some mysteries are better left unsolved.

Throwing his head back, he sighed. His tutor shot him with an unimpressed look, and Keefe looked back down at his worksheet.

The door made a creaking noise as someone entered. Turning his head, Keefe saw his mom marching in with what's his name? Ah yes, Dex.

"This is your new classmate," she said, gesturing for Dex to come forward. "His name is Dex and you will be studying together. Okay?"

"Okay, mommy," Keefe said, grinning. He waved to Dex, and Dex waved back, suddenly shy in the presence of an adult.

"Hiii," Keefe said, when Dex sat at the desk the tutor brought out.

"Shush," the tutor said, roughly.

Dex looked down at his paper and began writing quickly.

After a while, Keefe finished his worksheet. "Hey," he whispered, leaning over towards Dex. He had a prank idea he wanted to share.

The tutor came over swiftly and brought a ruler down on Dex's hand. Dex gasped and yanked his hand to his chest.

"No talking," the tutor said, glaring at Dex.

A single tear rolled down Dex's cheek, and Keefe felt himself grow hot with shame. Sorry, he mouthed to Dex before he returned to staring at his papers.