Better Left Unsaid

8

He was mid-sentence when Bruno walked into the room. An odd look of confusion played on the prince's face.

"Prince Bruno, there you are." Heine said. "Might I ask where you were?"

"I was with-" Bruno abruptly stopped his sentence as if catching himself before he could reveal something. It raised yet another red flag in Heine's mind. "It doesn't matter."

"Alright." Heine desperately wanted to question the prince further but he had no choice but to stay patient. Now was not the right time nor the right place. The princes' studies came before any personal business. "Let's start the lesson, shall we?"

~

"Master?" Bruno started as he continued on fixing what Heine had pointed out was wrong on yet another essay he was put to write. Heine had stood, ready to leave but Bruno stopped him at the sudden question.

"I've told you many times not to call me that." Heine couldn't help himself in retaliating to that name. Master didn't quite fit him at all.

"Right..." Bruno sighed. "Professor, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"It's about you." Bruno stopped writing and looked up at his tutor. "And I want you to answer to truthfully.

"Alright."

"What is my father to you?"

Heine stayed silent for a moment. Not so much out of surprise but more to think on the response. He was quick to notice the loophole for the question in making his answer vague. The issue was how to word it. Bruno was amazingly intelligent and took time pick apart details. Though his understanding of nuance was his worst skill besides athletics.

This was a bit harder with the stare Bruno was giving. The prince's blue eyes bore into Heine, investigative, calculating. Eyes similar to Victor's. Different in how easy they were to look through. Heine could be subtle and Bruno wouldn't catch it.

He answered, "Someone quite special."

~

"His majesty requests you to his office."

Heine walked down the corridors of the palace. He couldn't help but feel a slight anxiety build deep in his stomach. It was late. Victor never called him in this late. So, of course, the slight panic was building steadily. It was mostly out of the fear that this was an emergency.

Not to mention that it was also slightly from the fact that he had gotten such an abrupt awakening at such a time. His instincts were kicking in as well.

He made it to the doors. He hesitated for a second. Unsure of what going in would bring. He breathed and let himself in. He saw Victor standing at the window watching the night sky. His posture was rigid. A clear tension in the air. The same anxiety that built in Heine's stomach came in waves from Victor.

"Your majesty?"

"Heine," Victor turned to look at Heine. His expression unreadable with the dim and limited lighting.

"Victor?"

"Heine, on some days don't you just wish it could be like the old days?"

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just a bit too reminiscent." A seemingly unintentional sigh irrupted from Victor. He turned back to look it the window. "It's odd, don't you think? Despite the responsibilities, we could be so careless back then...now there's so much weight on a shoulders, it's a miracle that we're able to hold it together."

"It's just a part of growing up." Heine tread lightly, curious as to where Victor was going with this. Also being cautious knowing that when Victor grew sentimental it meant something was terribly wrong.

"I've heard that so many times before." Victor chuckled. Sounding strained and worn. "I really thought I knew everything then. I guess I'm still the same kid as always."

"That's not necessarily a terrible thing."

"Of course," He turned around and sat, the lighting finally catching his expression. An expression of nothing but exhaustion and longing. This was the man at his most vulnerable. "It's both a blessing and a curse. I honestly find it to be more of a curse than anything."

"Why?" Victor answered Heine's question with silence. Just a frown. This was a topic not ready to be discussed. So be it. "What has you thinking so dully?"

"Bruno."

"What?"

"He came to ask me about you." Victor let his eyes fall closed. "Asked me if I knew about a secret...affair you possibly had. I damn near started laughing but he kept insisting. He pointed out all these things. To the point where he was reminding me of myself. He was so...naive. I seemed to have passed on my worst quality to my children."

"We're all naive in some way, Victor, it's just a part of being human." Victor's eyes flicked open and studied Heine. His eyes sharp and clear.

"What happened to your hands?" Heine's eyes widened not expecting for Victor to notice his bandaged hands. He'd forgotten about it actually.

"An old habit." Victor raised a brow in question, wanting more of an explanation. "I was frustrated so I went out and let it out on a tree." A sad look replaced Victor's questioning look.

"That was my fault, wasn't it?"

"Partially."

"I'm sorry." He stood up and made his way to Heine. He took the smaller man's hands in his own. "Even partially having the blame for you doing such a thing. I feel guilty. Your hands don't deserve the punishment." He brought them up to have a closer look. He studied to bandages, wrapped expertly around seeming almost like a glove. "Your hands have already been through enough." He brought them to his lips giving each one a kiss.

"Victor, you know that-"

"Yes, I know." Victor gave a weak smile. "I know..."

"You shouldn't let these things distract you so."

"I know." It was Heine's turn to give a weak smile. He pulled his hands back.

"Good night, Victor."