Not What I Thought

Confrontation

Hello my lovely Lightning Bolts! I'm back with more Flower Husbands. I want to remind you that what happened in the last chapter was in 2021. The letter on here is from April 2023, and in the story, it was sitting unopened on Scott's desk.

Dear Scott,

I've sent you a lot of letters and you haven't responded. I need you right now. My mother just died and I know you probably have better things to do but can you please, just this once, be with me? I'm crying as I'm writing this because you probably won't answer. I don't even know if you read these letters. She's gone and now Lizzie is 20 and she knows how to rule the ocean but I'm only 18 and I don't know how I'm supposed to rule the swamps and rivers and streams. I can't do this alone. Please Scott, I can't survive without you, just come.

Love you forever, 

Jimmy

P.S. You might want to know: My mother was in good condition, just a little older. Your brother was seen in the village a few days before you passed. There is corruption and I don't know how to handle it as a ruler. Please help, the voices are back again. That's all.

I know, I'm pulling you into my angsty depressed world. But there's mo-ore! This next section is 2 years after Jimmy wrote the letter, so it's 2025. 

(Jimmy POV)

I knock on the large door, my teeth chattering from the cold and wind outside. Wilbur lets me in. I hang my cloak and elytra up on the hook, and Wilbur beckons for me to follow him. He's wearing his normal outfit, red beanie, large yellow sweatshirt, and black pants. "I'm not coming, if that's what you're thinking." He says, scaring me.

I look at him, startled. "This is between you, Scott, and your kingdom." He shrugs. "And Scott asked for me to stay here with his owls and make sure they don't tear apart his bedroom." We reach the end of the hall. There's a door partially open, light spilling out, illuminating the dark hall. The windows are dark from the snow, but the light from the room makes it lit perfectly.

Wilbur pushes the door open, gesturing for me to follow him inside. Scott sits at one end of the table, sorting through a large stack of paperwork. His glances up, and his eyes catch mine. My knees go weak, but we haven't spoken in 3 years, and he hates me, so I hurry to the opposite side of the table, facing him. 

I focus on the grains of wood of the table, and Scott keeps his eyes on the paperwork. Wilbur looks between us. "The ceremony's tonight, '' he says. I glare in his direction. Why does he think I came? To apologize for whatever happened between us? Like Scott would care. 

He seems even more distant than when he left me at the beach. "You're colder than Rivendell Falls in the winter. I have to go get some papers for you to sign before you leave. While I go get those, you two be more friendly. The hope of so many people rests on your shoulders." He walks out another door on the other side of the room. 

I stare at Scott, who refuses to meet my gaze and continues to read his papers. Now I'm annoyed. "Gods, Scott, can't you even pretend to like me?" He finally looks up. He pushes out of his chair and starts pacing the length of the table. He doesn't answer my question, only stares at the floor while putting one foot in front of the other. 

I stand up too, ready to leave. Coming here was a bad idea anyways. I should have known how it would go. I walk the long way around the table, so I'll pass him on my way out. Then he surprises me. He grabs my wrist. Then my other wrist, pushing me against the wall until I can't move. "What are you doing?" I say angrily, struggling. I'm cold, I'm upset, and I want to go home. 

"Pretending," he whispers. His lips start to trace a path from my neck to my lips. The heat immediately returns to my body. Then the kiss turns hard. He lets go of my wrists and wraps his arms around my waist. My hands get tangled in his long hair. When Wilbur walks in, we break apart. He smirks. "Not that friendly." "We were acting." Scott states flatly. 

My mind starts whirring. Was that an act? Sure didn't feel like it to me. "You're not a good actor." Wilbur shoots back. 

"Emperor Jimmy, go back to your kingdom. I'm sure they need help setting up, and you can always sign the papers when you drop off Scott tonight." Then he leans in and whispers in my ear. "He always gets drunk at things like this. Says it 'helps him forget.'" 

I nod and turn to leave, but Scott stops me. "Wait, since when did you stop being prince and start being emperor?" I glare at him. "2 years ago, my mother died. I was only 18, and I sent you a letter. I needed help and I don't even think you read it." 

He looks at me with shock and sympathy as my eyesight blurs. "Xornoth was spotted nearby before. Lizzie and I were the only ones at the real funeral. Everyone in the kingdom assumed she was on a trip. I invited you and Lizzie invited Joel. See, I thought you 2 were really similar."

"But the difference between you and him is that he showed up for Lizzie. He comforted her and stayed with her the whole day. And by the looks of it, you didn't even read my letter. I didn't even have your shadow to comfort me. You ignored me then and you pretty much still do. That's when I became an emperor. I rule the lakes, swamps, and rivers, and Lizzie rules the ocean." 

My voice wavers. "Look, I know when your dad died, you were upset. But instead of reaching out, you shoved me away even further. But at least you had Wilbur and your pets. You know who I had?" I pause. Scott doesn't move a muscle. "Not a single freaking person. No one to tell me it was okay to cry, no one to give me a hug, not even someone to make sure I woke up in the morning. Some days, I considered it." 

"Considered what?" he whispers. He knows the answer, but I say it anyway. "Not waking up." I storm out quickly before the tears come. And come they do, hot and quick down my face. I pull on my cloak and elytra and try to fly straight through the snow falling down in clumps. 

I'm so sorry my Lightning Bolts, but I really, really, had to. It's just in my blood and tattooed in my mind, I can't do anything about it! Ly!