Better Left Unsaid

3

"We need to be more careful."

"You need to go get rest."

"Victor-"

"Heine, you're letting your fear get the best of you."

"Because they're legitimate." He furrowed his eyebrows. An anger starting to boil in him. "It's as if you forget the consequences."

"I can assure you that I have not forgotten. Heine, I'm a king. I can't let fear get the best of me or else the kingdom becomes weak. You know this." Victor stretched in his chair, cracking his back. "Besides, it's just the princes." He relaxed in his chair now feeling less tension from the long day's work. 

"That's actually what has me so fearful."

"Why?" He raised a brow, confused. 

"Those boys will dig for more until they uncover the truth." Heine found Victor's eyes. "And they will find what they want."

Victor chuckled, "With what evidence?"

"They will watch us when they can and they will search." In another unexpected turn, Victor smiled and leaned his head on his hand in response. He was amused. Which only made Heine's blood boil. 

"Heine would you mind coming over here." The phrase like a question but entirely a command. Heine had no choice but to do as told. He made his way around the desk. While he wasn't entirely sure what Victor was up to, he could guess it was one of two things. Just think of either had him quietly swallowing in anticipation. He stopped about have a foot away from the man. Victor stood and pulled Heine's arm to pull him closer. He leaned down to Heine's ear, cupping his cheek for stability. "To tell you the truth, I am as fearful as you are and I have no idea what to do. Help me out and stay calm over this, I'll be able to think better if you did." Heine's eyes widened. "Do me a favor and go get some rest." He leaned back, his hand still lingering. 

Their gazes locked for what seemed the millionth time that day. This gaze though, held a bit more. A sincere plead. Heine broke the gaze, closing his eyes and bringing his hand to Victor's that lie on his cheek. He indulged in the touch for a brief moment before pulling the hand off and stepping back. 

"Good night, Victor."

~

"Bruno, why did you tell us all to sneak over to your room this late at night?" Leo yawned. Nothing but candles lit up the room not really helping him. 

"Yeah can't this wait until morning or something?" Licht added. 

"It must be important." Kai reassured the two. 

"Kai is right, it's important." Bruno started. "It's about Heine. There was something odd about what we saw and his behavior when we asked him about it." 

"Haven't you guys thought that maybe it was because they're old friends?" Leo asked. "Maybe they were just trying to have fun, it's not like it's fun to be a royal tutor and a king." 

"That's what I thought until I really thought about it. When we asked him, he had this expression I had never seen before."

"That's true, he was off today during the lesson." Licht agreed. 

"What do you suppose it could be?"

"Maybe we should respect his privacy." Kai suggested. All eyes were immediately on him. "We all have our own things to hide so why can't he?" 

"You're right." The other three simultaneously agreed. 

"Something doesn't add up though." Bruno interrupted the brief moment of agreement. "Why would he be scared of what we said?" 

"I guess we'll have to search for an answer." Licht shrugged. "It's not like he's going to tell us anything."

~

Heine found that doing his work at the cafe was a big help to ease his mind. The warm atmosphere was calming. Though, he noticed something odd about the working prince that kept him on edge. Licht kept watching him as if searching for something. It didn't take him long to understand why. 

He simply sighed. He knew something like this was to happen but it doesn't change how utterly nerve-wracking and annoying it was. So much was at stake but to hell with that the princes have to be curious. 

He really only had two options by this point. Either address the issue or let it fester. Either one held a risk. Either one also led to the other. Avoiding matters was not Heine was to do. He never liked it, really. 

God, if only Victor could help him out with this. Together they would at least think of an alternative. Unfortunately, for Heine, luck, time, nor his thoughts are on his side. And frankly, neither are the princes. He supposed a coin flip would help decide but that was simply ridiculous. Weighing something a little coin was not a good idea in any way. 

Another sigh. 

It was best to address the issue. Though, he was curious just as the boys were. He wanted to see how ridiculous their antics would get. How far would they go?