The Missing Piece

Chapter 13

It's been long past 7 days since the knight started his journey to find the prince he fell in love with, but he didn't feel anything in his heart, even though he was still alive. Was he truly alive? Did he make it through the pain that he was suffering from the very beginning? Apparently.

Their journey wasn't over just yet though. He still had to get his prince home. It took them awhile to gather themselves but they were slowly on their way towards the kingdom of Cardiff. It's been so long since Jake remembered his home, his real home, not a caged area where he slept. He should be thrilled to go home, to go back to where peace lived but his emotions were all depressed, ever since the last battle.

As soon as he felt shivers through his body, Jake embraced closer towards his knight. Standing right next to him, the tall figure glanced down to the smaller one and gave him a sympathetic look before leaning in closer to touch his lips with his own. The warmth of his body made Jake slightly calmer as he held onto his knight to deepen the kiss. Jake was terrified of losing everyone in his life, but thankfully his love was still with him, hopefully for the rest of eternity.

Still, on foot, the two made great progress through the mountains and plains towards their final destination. As they stopped to rest by a cliff, the prince looked out to see what was afar. Everything seemed calm, but that wasn't how he felt inside. Walking up to him, Nick gently placed his hand on his... boyfriend's shoulder. He still wasn't used to calling that title for Jake but that's what he was to him, a person he loved.

"You alright?" Nick asked quietly, trying not to scare Jake since he was already emotionally strained by the previous events.

Taking a slow deep breath, Jake glanced over at Nick before looking out at the afar kingdom.

"It's just... been so long, what if they don't recognize me? What if they won't accept me at all?" Jake wondered, worried about the outcome of his return home.

Comforting him, Nick gently stroked his cheek.

"They've been waiting for you ever since this mess started. I'm sure they are thrilled to see you come back, no matter how much you've changed. No one else volunteered to start the quest because they thought it was all a hoax. But we're going to prove them wrong, that there truly is a Prince of Cardiff." the knight reassured his majesty.

Lightening up the mood, Jake couldn't hide his smile anymore. Gradually reaching down to his side, he grabbed onto his lover's hand. The prince felt so much safer than he was stuck in the lonesome tower ever since he held onto his knight, swinging out of that window.

"It'll be okay, I promise." were the words that never broke. Nick was his knight in shining armor, just like in his dream.

A smile also formed on the knight's face as he saw his prince go back to his old joyful self, that he had to admit he'd missed dearly. Yeah, he was irritating at the beginning, but the stubborn knight slowly warmed up to him to even fall in love with the little troublemaker.

"Let's get you home," Nick told Jake, who's eyes brightened up.

"As long as you're there." the prince replied and with one more kiss they shared, they were off to go back to finish this quest.

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They gradually made their way down to the small valley that was surrounding the castle, Jake's home. Even though he should be relieved to go back to his kingdom, his nerves were starting to get to him. Luckily Nick, his boyfriend that he felt comfortable enough to call him, was right by him the whole time as they slowly walked through the grassy plains before spitting a couple of villagers.