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"Well, isn't this a sight?"

Wilbur stared at the man for a while longer, unable to comprehend those 5 simple words. What does he mean? The brunette hesitated but quickly looked away again. He looked over at Dream, only to find the barstool abandoned. When did he leave? Wilbur felt a shiver go down his spine.

"I asked you a question, niño bonito." The man spoke in a low tone as he leaned against the bar on the other side of him.

"Uhm- well-" he cleared his throat and tried again. "What do...what do you mean?"

"Well, it's not often you see Prince in a bar at night, let alone the Prince who's never even mentioned. But I know who you are, Wilbur Soot Craft." His tone was almost...threatening?

Wilbur's eyes trailed to those golden wings once more, then he realised. "You're the Prince of Las Nevadas..." He gasped in disbelief, causing the man to hurriedly shush him.

"Yes, yes, okay?" He said in a lower voice, trying to make sure no one overheard them.

"What're you doing here? You could get killed or worse, held captive and tortured! You don't know my parents and—"

"Do they hit you?" The ravenette cut his words off, reaching out to touch the bruise on his jaw.

"Wh-what?" He stuttered, flinching back as the other Prince's hand got close to his face. Instinct. Damnit.

"They do, don't they?" Anger hardened his gaze, his other hand curling into a fist.

"Why does it matter to you? You're our enemy right now, you should want me dead." Wilbur shot back, feeling his hands tremble at the anger that clouded the other's eyes.

"Why? Your kingdom started this war, but that doesn't mean I have to wish anyone dead."

"How did my kingdom start it? You're the one who pulled back the trade agreements!"

"Don't raise your voice at me, Craft! Your Father has insulted our ways for way too many years, I won't stand for that anymore!" The man snarled, getting close to Wilbur's face.

Wilbur shrunk under his gaze, his eyes widening as he waited for a physical reprimand. But it never came. "I didn't...I didn't know..." His voice sounded small and weak. Not something fit for a Prince. Especially not one from the feared L'Manburg.

"Look, Wilbur, my kingdom would never start a war. Haven't you learned anything about our ways there?" He questioned, his voice a lot softer than before.

"Hardly, I've never had someone teach me anything except mannerisms and how to be a Prince." He internally winced at how pathetic he sounded in that moment, but he couldn't help it.

The winged man stared at him for a long moment, as if studying him and picking him apart. "I'm Alex Quackity Nevadas, but you can call me Quackity." He held a hand out to Wilbur.

The brunette stared at the man—Quackity—for a long moment, then he took his hand. He expected a handshake, but he let out a small yelp as Quackity hauled him up off of the stool and dragged him out of the bar. "Wha—"

"Too many people." He explained, pulling him through the small crowd of people that were standing just outside of the building. Some gave scowls, others ignored them.

Wilbur felt his heart racing, but he didn't question the ravenette. He knew better than to ask too many questions. Better to listen than to risk being unnecessarily harmed.

Harmed?

Quackity wouldnt hurt him...right?

Right?

Wilbur hadn't noticed that they left the town until he felt the tall grass brush against his hand. "What are we doing out..." He trailed off, gazing around in awe. Fireflies flew around them, their warm glow giving the field an enchanted look. The brunette quietly reached out to touch one, a ghost of a smile gracing across his lips as the little bug landed on his finger.

"You don't get out much, do you?" Quackity asked in a soft tone.

"No...no, I don't." The Prince admitted, watching as the firefly flew off his finger to join the others again.

In only a few minutes, the two of them were sitting in the grass together. Their hands were just barely brushing together, and Wilbur felt tempted to lean his head on the shorter's shoulder, but he refrained from it. He shouldn't. But he wanted to so badly. But what if he scared Quackity off? He could lose the only other friend he's ever had.

As soon as Quackity's pinkie finger wrapped around his, he gave in. He quietly leaned over and rested his head on the other Prince's shoulder, relaxing as he got comfortable. Surprisingly...Quackity didn't seem to mind. In fact, the ravenette's hand moved to rest on top of his, their fingers intertwining. Wilbur didn't know how to feel, this was...wrong according to his Father and family traditions. But what was truly wrong about it?

Because Quackity was a guy?

Because he was from a different kingdom?

Because he was taught that a guy can only love a woman?

But what were these feelings?

If it was truly wrong...then he shouldn't feel the way he did. Right?

His heart shouldn't flutter, he shouldn't feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

What was happening to him?

Wilbur shifted slightly "What am I even doing here...?" He asked himself, shifting to sit up. A warm hand around his waist made him freeze.

"Stay, you need some time to relax." Quackity mumbled softly. "You don't always have to please everyone."

"But that's my job, I'm the Prince...what I want doesn't matter. The only thing that is of importance is what my family wants." Wilbur sighed.

"And if they wanted you dead?" The words struck an unknown feeling inside of him.

"They...they wouldn't—"

"Then explain the bandage on your neck. If someone didn't try to kill you, or at least scare you, then it wouldn't be there." Quackity's free hand moved to lift his head up slightly, making the brunette meet his eyes. "Trust me, I know toxicity when I see it. Just listen to me, okay?"

Quackity's gentle tone soothed Wilbur, making him relax once more. He knew Quackity was right, he really didn't need to please anyone. So why did it take him so long to understand that...? Was he really too far into his family's words that he couldn't see what was right in front of him?

"You're thinking too hard, what's wrong?" Quackity's hand tightened around his waist, pulling him closer.

"My family...they...what can you tell me about them?" He whispered, his voice muffled a bit.

"Well, what do you want to know about them?" The ravenette wrapped one of his wings around Wilbur's back, surrounding his own black feathered wings.

"Anything.... everything..." His murmured in a small voice. "Please?" He added.

Quackity gave a small laugh and shifted slightly, gazing up at the sky. The stars were bright and beautiful, so much more now than before. Maybe because he allowed himself to admire them. Or maybe it was because he was finally relaxed for the first time in a long time.

"Your family, they're cruel rulers. They are prejudice, manipulative, and cold-hearted. Especially your Father." Quackity said in a light tone. "I can tell he hits you too, or else you wouldn't have that bruise. And I assume that the cut on your throat is from a sword, yes?"

Wilbur sucked in a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Yeah, it...it was..." His voice sounded weak still, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Because he couldn't. He didn't want to believe that his family was truly that cruel. But the truth was...they were. Goddammit, they were horrible people and Wilbur was too blind to ever fucking see it.

How could he be so stupid?

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