Blood for the Blood Gods: A Skepnoblade Fanfic (ON HIATUS)

Chapter Three

He walked up to the small boy as his parents strode past him and headed towards the visiting monarchs. "Hello. You must be Prince Zak. I'm Dave." He stuck out a hand, his nails as black as obsidian.

The smaller boy looked up, his pink tongue sticking slightly out of his mouth. "H-hi." He shook his hand, revealing a grip as hard as, well, diamonds. "So...are we supposed to be friends?"

Dave raised an eyebrow. "I would assume so. Isn't that what being allied means?"

The diamond boy shrugged. "I-I guess. It feels weird, though. I've never really been outside of the castle until now. It's mandatory, the eldest son of the two allying countries must be present."

"True." The pink-haired boy motioned towards a corridor. "Cmon, let's go explore."

The blue boy's eyes widened. "I don't think I'm really allowed-"

He was swept away by David, darting past the watchful gazes of the King and Queen of Adamantem. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, eventually opening up to a green clearing, with cherry trees and butterflies lazily flapping around.

"This is the least threatening place I could think of." He said, rubbing his neck. "Every other place here has at least one dangerous weapon."

The smaller boy's eyes widened with awe, mouth open with glee. "I-It's beautiful! All these colors and lights...a much different sight than castles made of jewels." He ran into the forest, the pig hybrid following closely behind. They stopped at a flowing river, where the visiting prince stared at his reflection, eyes saddened.

David crouched next to him, examining his own tusks in the clear, rushing water. "What's wrong?" He asked Zak.

Zak's lips trembled. "This is the first time I've actually seen my reflection. I guess it was to prevent this, me seeing how I actually looked." He dipped a hand into the water, staring at it as it trickled down his wrist. "D-Do yu think im uglee?" He asked, words slurring as his emotions jumbled.

The pig prince blinked, wrapping an arm around the smaller boy and running his hand through Zak's hair like his mother did with him. "No, Zak, you look fine." His cheeks warmed as he looked at the smaller boy, his heart pounding. "More than fine. You're an Adamas, known for their beauty and riches. Sometimes you need to be a bit under pressure to be beautiful."

"T-that was cheesy," Zak sniffled.

"I know." Dave said back.

He sat there with Zak, murmuring words of kindness. A long time passed before their parents finally found him, curled around Zak like he was a brother...or more. The royalty of Adamantem shrieked and pulled their son from his grasp, fussing over him and lecturing him on seeing his reflection. They immediately leaving their kingdom in a wagon drawn by snow-white horses clad in diamond armor.

Dave was dragged up by his father into his room and shoved onto the bed.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" He roared at his father. "You said to befriend him!"

"Befriend him, not caress him!" His father yelled back, slapping the youth in the face. Tears pricked Dave's eyes, from both pain and humiliation. "I didn't raise a bent boy! You're staying in this room until you learn to be normal!"

After the king had slammed the door and stormed out, the queen emerged from the shadows of the corner, sitting next to her son. "I'm sorry, Dave. Your father was being unreasonable."

The pig boy was curled into a ball, his cloak abandoned on the floor. He sniffled. "I-is it really bad to love a boy?"

She sighed. "Of course not, sweetie. We all love people in our own ways." Wails echoed throughout the hall, and his mother sat upright. "That's your siblings. I have to go take care of them. I'll leave Floof in here for tonight, and you can get some rest. Okay?"

Dave uncurled himself and flopped onto his bed, stroking his dog. "Okay." He mumbled.

The queen smiled sadly, then put out his candle. "Goodnight, Dave."

He didn't reply, already fast asleep. The queen left him alone with his rest and tended to his young sisters.

There Dave lay, with only his dreams and dog for company. And all he could dream about was Zak.