Mairi Prompts

The Prince's night

Mattia let out a puff of air as he stared at the night sky. The balcony he stood out on allowed him to overlook their castle's garden. The starry night twinkled back at him as the owl's sung their tune; the atmosphere was kind to him. The wind brushed against him, chilly, yet just the perfect amount. He watched as the fireflies danced in the garden.

Thud.

"My prince," a voice purred into his ear, a body leaning into his shoulder, "shouldn't you be inside at this hour?"

Mattia narrowed his eyes at the garden barely sparing a glance at the new presence by his side.

"Oh? Shouldn't you be robbing some rich folk at this hour?" Mattia responded, his voice monotone as he let out another puff of air.

"You wound me! I wouldn't ever forget to spare my dear Prince a visit!"

"Sometimes, I wish you would." Mattia grumbled, rolling his eyes, he finally looked over at the hooded figure who merely smirked.

The infamous thief knew the Prince didn't mean it. Hell, Mattia knew the thief knew he didn't mean it. After all, Kairi was the only source of entertainment to his mundane life.

"Now, I thought they taught royals not to lie? Hm, Prince Mattia, wanna try that sentence again?"

Mattia scoffed and shoved Kairi away from him. Kairi squawked as his balance was taken from him but Mattia knew it was for show. Kairi could gain his balance as if he never lost it to begin with; it pulled a smile to his face and Kairi's eyes flickered to the Prince's smile.

"Hah! I got it, I got you to smile!"

"Man, shut up."

"Now, prince! Aren't you supposed to watch your language!" Kairi mockingly chided, wagging his finger in the Prince's direction.

The image was so bizarre that Mattia guffawed before quickly smothering his laughter with his hand. If anyone heard him and came to check the noise, well, Kairi would leave and Mattia didn't want Kairi to leave.

"Now, what's got my Prince in such a foul mood?"

A beat of silence.

My Prince.

Mattia felt so many emotions before he quickly shook out of his daze, "Ah, the usual," he muttered, taking his eyes off the thief for a second to stare at the garden before meeting brown eyes again, "Father."

"Ooh, yeah, that prick."

"We got into a fight. Per usual. He can't believe he gave birth to such an incompetent Prince. It's like everything I've done or tried to do wasn't shot down by him the second he heard it. He's just so—" Mattia threw his hands in the air, "aggravating."

"Hmm, don't I know it."

"Now, now, don't go comparing our situations now," Mattia snorted, "they're nothing alike at all."

"Huh! How not? I'm being just as hassled as you are. Knights on my tail , searching for me, it's funny how they don't even bother checking next to the heir of the throne and you being nagged by your old man."

"My father."

"Your old man."

The two stared at one another.

"Must you use such dialect?"

"Not all of us grew up with vocabulary like yours."

Another beat of silence. Sighing, Mattia looked back towards the garden.

"You're not incompetent."

Mattia's head whipped upwards towards Kairi, eyes wide in surprise, a shaky exhale left the Prince's lips.

"What?" Kairi grumbled, side eyeing the younger boy, "You aren't. You've helped more people than your old man ever did and when you do manage to leave with my help, of course, you're helping your people. You bring them comfort, buy them food, you splurge your money on helping them. So, fuck the King, you'll be on the throne soon. Okay?"

Mattia gnawed on his bottom lip and nodded his head at Kairi.

"Yeah, okay." He muttered.

"Now, my Prince, I do believe I have to go rob a royal and give back to the poor." Kairi smirked, "Goodnight, Mattia," he nodded towards the younger boy before he perched himself on the balcony's ledge and jumped down.

Mattia watched as the thief disappeared into the night with grace he couldn't fathom.

"Goodnight, my thief." He whispered, turning his back and disappearing behind balcony doors.