When the Universe Began [A Blackmadhi Fantasy AU]

Chapter Ten

The morning was surprisingly quiet for someone who had Simon Blackquill as a guard. Nahyuta had halfway been expecting him to wake him up by smacking his face again this morning. Although, he supposed he might not have gotten back to sleep after we talked last night. He'd screamed rather loudly and Nahyuta couldn't help but wonder what kind nightmare would make him scream like that. He walked over to the door, opening it so he could poke his head outside. As he started to ask him about the previous night, he noticed he was yawning and decided that it might not be the right time to bother him about it. Nahyuta went back into his room before Simon could notice him, tracing the mark on his right hand.He''d leave him alone about his nightmares for now, everyone had their secrets. Nahyuta grabbed his glove from the nightstand, pulling it on over the mark and left his room again.

"Come Panda, we're leaving this dusty old palace today. There's somewhere I want to take you." Nahyuta said, accidentally smacking Simon in the face with his braid this time as he led the way down the hall and out of the palace. He really hadn't meant to do it, but he was sure it helped Simon wake up a little bit.

~~~

Nahyuta dragged him to a temple that was barely a kilometer away, but he knew for a fact that this temple had special healing properties. Maybe it could help Simon with his sleep issues. As they stopped by the prayer box, he forced him to bow his head and pray with him.

"This temple supposedly has special healing properties that can relieve stress and anxiety, but you have to pray. Just listen to me, Simon." Nahyuta said as he complained, showing him the proper position for his hands. This man had clearly never prayed seriously in his life. He laughed, shaking his head as Nahyuta began his prayer.

"While I am a Khura'inist, I am almost certain that praying at this stupid temple won't be able to relieve my stress." He gestured at the building, still laughing as Nahyuta lifted his head again.

"Actually-" He started to correct Simon, but before he could finish, he was bowled to the ground by a small boy slamming into him. Simon's hand tensed on his sword but Nahyuta gestured for him to stand down as the boy sat on his chest.

"Please get off Ahlbi." Nahyuta said, trying to shove the kid off of him. He flushed, bowing his head in apology. What a sweet kid.

"Simon, this Ahlbi Ur'gaid. He's an orphan that lives at this temple." he explained to Simon as he patted Ahlbi's head and handed him a piece of bread that he'd brought along for him. Ahlbi went at the bread like it was the best thing he'd eaten in the past week... and honestly it probably was. Nahyuta sometimes wished that he could just take Ahlbi back with him to the palace, the little boy would be so much happier there. If he could allow him to take his place as prince, Nahyuta would happily go back to his father's side and help him start a revolution. But life wasn't that simple.

"Thanks for bringing bread again Mister Sahdmadhi!" he said happily, bread crumbs littering the edges of his mouth.

"No problem kiddo." Nahyuta said, patting his head with one hand and wiping off the crumbs with the other. Simon was staring at him... surely this was a strange side of him to see, but he didn't have to stare so hard. Nahyuta blushed, turning his head away so there wouldn't be the threat of making eye contact with him. Ahlbi ran off from under his hand while Nahyuta was distracted, going to the steps to play with a small dog that was sitting there.

"We can play later! Okay Mister Sahdmadhi?!" he shouted, waving at him from where he stood. He smiled and nodded, waving back at the little boy. As he got distracted playing with the dog, Nahyuta led Simon back down the stairs, heading into the city. There was somewhere he wanted to go. It was the rare occasion that he got out and he'd been meaning to go to this place for a while.

~~~

The bell on the door jinglied as Nahyuta opened it. A flour covered Phoenix Wright stood at the counter, writing something down on a notepad that was, rather unfortunately, covered in flour as well. He lifted his head at the sound of the bell, his eyes widening in shock as he saw the prince. In a, futile, effort to look more presentable, he dusted some flour off his hands before smiling in greeting to him. Apollo always did the exact same thing, Nahyuta guessed he picked it up from his mentor.

"What can I do you for, Your Royal Highness?" he asked, leaning over the counter to get a better look at my face.

"Please, just call me Nahyuta."

"Ah, okay then. Go ahead and order anything you want, it's on me." He gestured to the display cabinet, accidentally smacking a cup of pencils off as he did this. Nahyuta caught them and placed them back where they belonged. He wondered how it could be on him if he owned the place.

"Daddy, if you keep giving customers free food just because you know them, we'll be out of money before the end of the month again." his daughter said from the back room, poking her head out for a quick second to wave hello to Nahyuta.

"I know, I know. This is the last time, I swear." he promised before turning back to the prince.

"So, what do you recommend Mr Wright? Just put it in a bag, I've got to get back to the palace." Nahyuta said, glancing in the glass display. Apollo had clearly also inherited the ability to make an impeccable display. The bakers themselves were an absolute mess, but their displays were always neat and tidy. He'd give them that much. As he puzzled over how this could be the case, Wright poked his arm with a bag. Nahyuta grabbed it, bowing his head halfway in thanks. He then left the bakery, heading back to the palace. He thought he'd spend the afternoon reading and eating whatever was in the bag.

~~~

Simon tapped his shoulder as they reached his room, almost startling Nahyuta into dropping the bag he was carrying.

"Will you be staying in your room the rest of the day Nahyuta?" he asked. Since when had he been so casual with him? Not that he minded, but still...

"Of course, there was no need for you to even ask." He opened the door for Nahyuta and agreed to stay outside like he always did.

~~~

He read outside on my balcony for most of the afternoon. It was finally getting nice enough out that he could move the table and chairs out there to enjoy the fresh air. Apollo joined him in the late afternoon, around three o'clock.

"I might just need to resign." he said, pretending to get jealous when he walked in and saw the Wright Anything bag sitting on the table.

"Don't worry Apollo, I don't believe you have any competition. No one knows my tastes better than you." Nahyuta said, laughing at his joke as he sat down across from him.

"That's very true, I guess I'll have to stay then. You'd be helpless without me." They chatted for a while in this fashion, eating as they talked. Apollo stood up after about thirty minutes, dusting flour off his apron.

"Hey, hey! Don't get flour on my floor!" Nahyuta scolded, waving his hand in his direction.

"It's not going to cause any damage. I've gotten plenty of it on the floor before." he said, sighing and pretending to clean it up. In reality, the colourless powder blended into the carpet, so trying to clean it up would be a hopeless fight.

"Do you have to go now?" Nahyuta asked as he started to pace around a little bit in a nervous way.

"Yeah, sorry Yuty. I forgot that I promised someone I'd go out with them tonight. I'll see you tomorrow?" he said, heading for the door. He nodded. As Nahyuta watched Apollo leave, he couldn't help but wonder if he could ever be like that someday. Not afraid to do or say anything. Like how he'd been as a child. He didn't want to be this poor socially distant prince anymore. He wanted to be someone worth looking at and up to.