admiral - a dnf fanfic [old]

1 - bygone

george could remember the last day he saw him like it was last thursday. they had played in the back garden and planted some new flowers. he remembers what the boy had said to him.

"we should plant cornflowers, george. i know they're your favorite." this made the young prince go a bit red. such a small detail, so unimportant and minuscule, yet his friend managed to remember it. he could've sworn it was forever ago when he had said that, how had it been remembered?

"that'd be nice. they were my mother's favorite too, she made sure she always had a vase of them on her nightstand." he smiled, remembering the beautiful bunches of blue he could make out even miles away. being colorblind made it hard for george to enjoy fashion and flowers the same way his mother had when she was alive, but because he shared that bond with her it helped him realize he didn't need to see the colors of the flowers to enjoy them. because of those times he had spent with her, he could enjoy them because of the memories and sentiment they held, and not their outside beauty. 

"clay, you're so messy, you've got dirt all over your trousers! look at you!" he snapped at the younger boy, who looked up and smiled, flicking some dirt at george in retaliation.

"loosen up, georgie! what's a little dirt going to do?" he smiled that smile that george knew and loved all too well, that smile that could brighten up even his darkest days. that smile that had reminded him that, even though his only good parent was gone, he still had one of the best friends on the planet to fight against the world with.

just as he was about to say something back, he heard one of his nannies call for him from one of the balconies of the castle. before he could get a word out, clay was gone to go hide, so george cleaned up a little and brushed himself off before going back inside.

"oh, there you are, your highness, your father was very worried about you! remember not to run off without telling one of us where you are, okay?"

"yes, miss, i know.." 

he was sent back to his room, where he flopped onto his bed and groaned. he wondered why it seemed eerily quiet, but he quickly realized it was because clay wasn't there. usually, he could get there in no time, and george had even been stalled when his nanny stopped to talk with him. so where is he? did he get lost somehow? no, that's impossible, he knew the castle and the village and all the in-betweens better than anybody else, even better than george who had been raised there. so why was he late? had he finally been caught by one of the guards or gardeners? oh no. had he? no way, he had never been seen, why would he have now?

these questions had kept george up that night. and they still kept him up some nights to this day. where had his friend gone, all those years ago? when was he going to come back? why did he leave him?

"come back soon, clay...i miss you."

--

okay!!! 544 words ain't bad for a first chapter, yeah?