Scoundrel - Prinxiety [COMPLETED]

Chapter XX

They walked for another hour before the sky was covered in dark clouds and the sun had fallen so low the blackness of the storm wouldn't have mattered. Virgil had them stop at a clearing and set up a camp, complete with a sturdy tent for the two of them and even a couple of tables for their belongings. The pirate was also good at starting fires apparently because within ten minutes he was sitting in front of the warm flames. 

"That should last us until that storm breaks," he said as he sat at one of the tables. He was laying out the keys in a line; first the amber, then the topaz, then the emerald, and finally the sapphire. Roman felt the want to complete the line by adding his ruby to the beginning. "Hey, are you excited about almost being done with this mission?"

The prince looked up from the fire in surprise, thinking as he moved to sit next to the pirate. "I don't know... you heard Luis, the minute I'm no longer under your possession I've got to go to my wedding," he said, sighing. "You know, my wedding to a woman I've never met?"

"Yeah, I don't need reminding," Virgil said, frowning as he turned to face him. "Hey, it's gonna be okay, you know?"

He reached out, taking Roman's hand in his own. The captain offered him a smile as he rubbed the palm of his hand in a massaging manner. He was successfully making him relax, but as his eyes traveled down to the prince's wrist, his motions stopped. 

There was a black mark on his wrist. It was clearly inked into his skin, a tattoo of some kind; it was identical to the one on his own.

Virgil was frozen in place as he stared at the mark. "Um, Virgil? What's wrong?" he asked, looking worried between the pirate and the mark. He released the prince's hand and backed away from him shaking his head. "What it is? Is something wrong?!"

"R-Roman?" he stammered. Thunder rumbled above their heads as time seemed to slow down. It was his turn to freeze. He hadn't ever told him his name; he never asked. Virgil was staring at him as though he was looking at a ghost. It didn't make any sense. He looked hesitant and cautious, as though he'd disappear if he made any sudden moves. "Is- Is it really you? H-How? I thought- they- I thought you were dead." 

"How... How do you-" he breathed, standing up to look at the captain in shock and disbelief. "I didn't tell you my name when we first met." 

The captain shook his head, a shaky smile appearing on his lips. "You're wrong," he said quietly. "You didn't tell me your name when we met a few days ago... but that wasn't the first time we'd ever met, Roman. We met over ten years ago."

"What are you... what are you talking about, Virgil?" he questioned, shaking his head. "That makes no sense. I've never met you before in my life! I was born and raised by my father in a palace! That's it! That's all there is to it!"

The pirate shook his head again. "Wrong again," he murmured as more thunder echoed around them. "You were not born into royalty. That mark on your wrist just proves it. I have the same one on mine, but unlike you, I know how I got it."

"You're lying to me!" he cried, feeling like he couldn't breathe. Tears were starting to well up in his eyes. Nothing he was saying was making any sense. He and Virgil had met over ten years ago? Was he implying they knew each other as children? He thought he was dead? His father wasn't his real father? This was going to make him have a mental breakdown. "Y-You're lying to me! I don't know you! None of what you're saying is true! It can't be!"

Virgil approached him. "Roman, you told me last night that I felt familiar in a way you couldn't describe," he said, looking like he was desperately trying to get him to remember. "We knew each other long before we met on your royal ship. You know I would never lie to you. Why do you think you ended up with that key? I know this a lot to take in, but just breathe and let me help you-"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" he yelled, backing away from the pirate. Everything he knew about himself and his life was crumbling around him. He clutched his wrist as he continued to take shaky steps back. "G-Get away from me!! My life was simple before you came along, and now you've torn it apart!"

The captain looked wounded by his words but swallowed back his pain to keep approaching him. "Roman-"

"DON'T!! Don't call me that!" the prince practically screamed, tears starting to flow down his cheeks. The wind was picking up and there were flashes of lightning overhead. There was no time to think about how he'd seen the storm coming on the horizon over the past couple days, he was busy having a panic attack. "What gives you the right to call me by my name?! You're lying to me! You're trying to use my weaknesses against me! I know it! I-I was born in a palace! I am a natural born royal! I don't know who you are! You're just trying to- to manipulate me into staying your submissive little toy! Because you're a scoundrel! You're a filthy pirate that doesn't care about me or anyone aside from yourself!"

Virgil flinched, feeling a sharp pain in his chest; his words cut deep, especially coming from him. "R-Roman-"

"Shut up! Stay away from me!" he yelled, reaching into his shirt. He yanked hard on the cord from which the ruby key was hanging around his neck. Once it was broken, he hurled it at the pirate forcefully. "Take your stupid key! Go find your stupid treasure! I hope I never see you again!"

The prince whirled around and ran off as the gold and red key fell to the ground at the captain's feet. Virgil broke into a run as he tried to follow him, all thoughts of the keys gone as rain started to fall.