Can't this be 'happily ever after'?

1

I stare down at the photo in my hand. The corners have started to wear, creating an old look. The boy in the photo is smiling back at me, his chocolate eyes staring into my soul. I brush my thumb over his face. Virgil, Virgil, Virgil. God, I wish I could touch him again.

I sigh, tossing the photo into my bedside table. Mother thought that was the last of him, she thought it was a phase, she thought banishing him from the kingdom would make him disappear from my mind!

Father wanted to kill him, he wanted to kill us both in front of the kingdom. My boy's a homosexual?! God forbids! Good riddance, both of them, hang them!

I lay back onto my bed, pulling the covers over my face. Tears stream down, making puddles in the fabric. Throwing back the covers in frustration I stand up, thinking. Maybe I could find him. There's another kingdom through the forest. I could run away. He was way better then anything here.

I hear a knock on my door. Pushing the tears from my eyes I shout, "Who is it?" and take a deep breath. I swear to God if it's father-
"It's just me, Ro." A recognisable voice says from the other side. I sigh, thank God, it's only Patton.

"Hello brother," I say, opening the door. He looks shaken, his strawberry blonde hair falling into his eyes. I pull him in and close the door. "What's wrong?" He crashes onto my bed, pulling his knees into his chest. His crown is crooked on his head.
"Mum and dad- th-they..."
"Shh, it's okay." I say, putting an arm around him.
"War, we have to fight."
--

It takes a while, but I finally get Patton to calm down and he explains about the war. We're going back into war with the Dark Kingdom.

Apparently, we must fight this time too. Patton and I. We are the best swordsmen in the country but I'm surprised Mother and Father are letting us... I let Patton sleep in my room and while he's sleeping, I pace across the floor.

Why is our kingdom going into battle? With the Dark sides? That makes absolutely no sense! We made peace three years ago! My minds drifts to Virgil again. He lives in the Dark Kingdom... what if he has to go into battle too? I can't contact him, I can't stop the battle, I can't do anything! And for the first time in my history I feel helpless. I'm a prince for God's sake! I should be able to stop this!

I charge down to my parents' room but then remember it's three am. I charge back to my room, anger rising from my heart. My parents are horrible. They take away the best thing in my life and then send us back into war? Why? I slide down the door and sink into the memories of Virgil.

--

I'm running through the streets at 5am again, a morning jog before anyone else is up. It's dark but the sun has started to create a beautiful effect of everything waking up. The ground has started to glow a pinkish sort of colour and I stop to take it in. I smile for the first time in a while, things are looking up, today is going to be a good day. I hear someone curse and I jump, turning around to face a boy who's fallen onto the concrete.

"Oh, are you alright?" I ask, helping him up. My heart skips a beat, this man is beautiful. He's wearing a purple hoodie and black jeans. He brushes himself off, not looking at me.
"Haha yeah, I fell." He groans, "I hate these damn shoes." He looks up at me and his face changes into a shocked looked. "Uhh, sorry... your highness." He goes to kneel down.
"Ugh, don't. I hate it." I say, he looks at me with those big brown eyes and his face goes red.

"S-sorry." I smile, shaking my head.
"I'm Roman." I say, sticking out my hand.
"I know," he rolls his eyes, "Virgil, nice to meet you Princey. I- I should probably go. I mean you should probably go since you have to do all of those like princely things that prince's do and..." he rambles on. I laugh, stopping him.
"I don't have to be anywhere, stop talking so much."
"Make me." he smirks. I double take, oh shit. "You alright, princey? Your face looks a little red to me."
"Just-just the running uh..."
"Oh, there's another thing to add to my list of things I know about Prince Roman, he's gay." Virgil snorts.

"Wha- you have a list?"
"Mentally. People here love you; I keep tabs of what they say. I know a lot of theories; you would be surprised at some of them. They're quite amusing."
"Oh, well, for a fact, I am not gay so don't bother adding that to your list."
"Oh really? There's no part of you right now that wants to kiss me?"
"N-no?" Yes.

"I'm just kidding, Princey. Calm down." He laughs. I grab him and press my lips against his. Oh- Oh God. He breaks it, looking concerned. "I was kidding but, uh, that was, uh..."
"Wrong... Oh shit." I run a hand through my hair, my body still tingling from the feeling of his lips. "I can't do that- I'll, uh, see you around Virgil." I say, running off.
---