Regiphobia

The Love

Goda woke up to the sound of knocking on his door. Gabe was already gone. He forced himself up, walking to the door and pulling it open. A guard.

"Sir, your presence has been requested by Queen Arial in her room," the woman said. Goda nodded, mumbling something about needing a moment, then shut the door. He quickly pulled on a suit and tried to hide the bags under his eyes. Then, he made his way out of his room and across the hall, knocking on Arial's door.

Arial pulled it open, beaming at Goda. She stepped out of the way to let him in. As soon as he entered, she closed the door and walked to his side. They were completely alone.

"What did you want t-to talk to me about?" Goda asked.

'Have you been eating?' Arial signed.

Goda laughed nervously, "Of c-course I have, what kinda question-"

'Goda, you look stick thin,' Arial moved closer to him, resting her hand on his shoulder.

"I- I am, I j-just-" Goda's voice started shaking. Why was this question coming so early and so unexpected? He hadn't had time to make something up or put himself together properly.

When he met Arial's gaze, tears welled up in his eyes and he broke down, "I'm sorry- I just f-feel so- so disgusting-"

Arial's face fell and she pulled Goda into a hug. The latter was trembling and crying quietly into her shoulder, crutches falling to the floor as he wrapped his arms around her. She gently rubbed a hand over his shoulder, waiting for him to calm down slightly. When he managed to stop crying and steady his breathing, she pulled back, 'You need to start eating, got it? And I'm not taking no for an answer.'

Goda nodded weakly, wiping at his eyes and grabbing his crutches. He didn't have the energy to argue. Arial had been one of his only friends, along with her sister, since he got to the castle. Having her here, even if it was only for another day and a half, meant the world to him. They talked for a bit, though it was mostly about Goda's eating habits. After a while, Goda left, wiping at his eyes one last time. He made his way to the elevator, going down to the basement. When he got to the mailroom, another note fell into Juan's mailbox.

Juan was making his way downstairs a little while later. The basement was devoid of people when he arrived. He slipped into the mailroom and checked his box. A note from Goda was in his hand when he pulled it out. A smile spread over his lips as he started toward the destination on the paper. One of the storage rooms again.

When he got to the third floor, he double-checked that no one was following him. He walked to the right storage room and went inside, giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. He was careful not to knock anything over as he tried to find Goda. He saw him sitting against the wall in the far corner, just looking around a bit. When the smaller boy heard Juan approaching, his face lit up.

"Juan!" Goda whispered, starting to stand up.

Juan moved towards him a bit faster, saying, "You don't need to get up, it'd probably be better for your leg if you stayed sitting down."

Goda nodded, dropping back down. Juan sat beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as he leaned into the other's side. "Have you been crying?" Juan asked, looking over Goda's face. The latter nodded, closing his eyes.

Juan's face fell. His voice was soft as he asked, "What happened?"

"I j-just.. I haven't b-been eating, and Arial noticed, and..." Goda curled up against Juan, "I'm sorry..."

Juan felt like his heart was breaking for the smaller boy. Not eating? That had to be why he was so damn skinny. "You don't need to apologize, Goda, just- please eat. If not for you, then for me."

Goda nodded, not opening his eyes. Juan pulled him closer, wrapping his other arm around him as well. They sat together, Goda practically on Juan's lap, for quite a while. The former rested his head on Juan's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Juan ran a gentle hand through his red hair, and he realized something.

He felt happy. Actually, really, genuinely happy. He smiled lightly, focusing on Juan's hand moving through his hair and his arm, holding him close. He felt safe. Safe from his dad, from Gabe, from everything that scared him and everyone who hurt him and so much more.

But, of course, moments like this could never last. Juan looked down at him, "How much longer do you think we have?"

"At least another... t-ten minutes," Goda said, pulling back and looking into his emerald eyes. He placed his hand on Juan's cheek with a small smile. Pressed this close together, they felt like the rest of the world could fade into the background. They were just here, alone, safe. They could believe they weren't in the castle, they weren't in Monaco, they were in their own little universe of love and affection. Juan was the one to lean forward, catching Goda's lips in a soft, sweet kiss.

They stayed like that, pressed together, until they were both red from lack of oxygen and had to break apart. Goda laughed lightly, Juan joining in soon after.

Minutes slipped by, their hearts beating in sync. They may not have known much in the confusing worlds they lived in, but they knew one thing: They adored each other.