Chapter Text
He could still hear the sounds of pounding feet and harsh breathing behind him. The adrenaline rushing through him as he turns the corner of a shambled building to try to get away from the guards. His heart pounding in his ears, his fingers shaking as he holds on to the measly loaves of bread that he swiped not too long ago.
Finally, out of the view of the soldiers gaining on him, Lance ducks behind a few barrels soaked in the oils of fish and seasonings. Doing his best to hold in his own heavy breathing, he could hear the grunts of the guards passing his hiding spot.
Knowing he has once again lost his pursuers, such an easy task for a master of stealth, he lets out a hearty chuckle. He ends up making his way back the way he came, picking up the pace in case they decide to turn around, but still as leisurely and confident as ever, he starts looking for his faithful companion.
He notices a familiar blue and white tabby playing around with a couple of kids. As he makes his way closer, he notices the kids, pulling something away from Blue. It looked like meat. Blue, also a seasoned thief, pretends to sniff around the area before lunging in between the two kids yanking the meat out of their hands and running down the alley.
Lance tries his best not to feel guilty, but the way they look at where the cat was last standing made his heart tug a little bit. Without giving away his best friend and best companion, he took one of the loaves that he had in his hands and halved it between the two kids. He gave him a quick little pat on the head before continuing on.
He made his way back into the busy streets, Cloaking himself with the rush of the afternoon market.
There he is!" A loud man yelled over the crowd of people. Lance quickly glanced behind him, seeing the man he stole the bread from copping his mouth with one hand and pointing very obviously at him with the other. With a quiet cuss under his breath and another swipe of his eyes, he can see more guards pooling into a huge circle around him.
With the crowd now quiet around him and everyone’s eyes on him. He finally speaks.
“ heya fellas,” his back is crowded against one of the walls next to a street vender “ You know, I was thinking this color purple would really compliment your shiny sword!” He pulls one of the merchants, long fabrics and wraps it tightly around the throat of the closest guard. “ oh yeah that looks marvelous, how much did you say it was, sir?”
He asked the question, but he wasn’t really looking for the answer. Instead, as he was getting the attention put on the merchant he ends up using one of the merchant stools to jump up onto the nearest ledge and into the building above them. When he pulls the drapes over his shoulders he notices he's not alone. A room full of half dressed women some he knows some he doesn’t. A few holding fine fabrics and accessories others cupping their breasts to hide their most sensitive area.
That didn't stop lance though, he gave his signature smirk and pulled the closest woman into his arms.
"Well hello there," he purrs when she pulls away. He inconspicuously slides the gold bracelet off of her wrist. Of course she didn't notice, but his fiasco was cut short when violent knocks unfroze the room.
As the women ran about trying to get clothed, he snuck right back out the window after making sure the coast was clear and onto the roof of the building. Yet another close call with fate. If Lance keeps it up he'll be starving and in jail.
He wasn’t surprised when he was met with his companion Blue on the roof. Due to how late it got, they decided to take the roofs back home. Watching the busy streets below them, Blue taking a few side streets and nabbing a few more different types of meats and fish to take home with them.
Lance ended up making light conversation with his little cat. Bragging about the beautiful women he met. Scolding him for taking the kids' meat in the alley. To no avail The cat couldn’t really understand him. But it was better than talking to the wall and it was better than being quiet.
When they finally made it to the place they called home, Lance gathered all their findings and started freshening it up for dinner. As luck would have it, their home was an abandoned bell tower. Fabrics that he stole years earlier, covered the windows to keep it warmer, pallets of pillows from leftover vendors taken right after their day ended was used as bedding. He’s been there since he was a young little scoundrel roaming the streets. So with a few makeshift trinkets and a couple of stolen now personal items this is the home that they know and love.
"Aw Blue~" Lance cooed, catching the cat's attention. He waved a slice of cut meat and set them on the table he made from broken wood pieces he found near construction sites.
"After you eat, we're going to get some rest." Lance announced to unhearing ears. But in the end he knows the moment he lays down Blue will be on his chest in a heartbeat.
He takes a bite of his little loaf as a precursor to dinner, taking a lot of willpower not to hack the dry stale bread out. The only sort of soothing is the juice from the over ripe fruit he took at the last minute. But hey... beggars can't be choosers.
Lance scarfs down the meat he portioned for himself and gets ready for bed. He pushes around a few loose pillows fixed up by dresses and shirts he borrowed from the bystanders of their plaza. He collected a few common men's wear but he only uses those when he needs to exchange gold and silver jewelry into the local pawn shop.
Lance stares up at the dimming sky and watches over the city. When he catches sight of the palace his heart flutters. Ever since he made his home here his eyes were always drawn to the palace. a beautiful skyline behind it. Oh, he wishes he could step foot even for a second onto those sacred grounds. He would give anything to just experience what it’s like to be a prince.
Wouldn't he?
*****
"Did you hear? The Prince has another princess coming to see him," a maid whispers to one of the gardeners on break. They put their heads together, trying to keep their voices down.
"Never in my 50 years of working for this palace has an heir to the throne had so much trouble accepting a husband or wife." The gardener shook his head, "If the prince keeps it up, he will never find a queen."
The maid shook her head, "Remember his grandfather didn't want a queen." The gardener gave her a surprised looked. He watched her shrug. “And you know this how? Last time I checked which was the beginning of my career here he and his wife were in love."
The maid gave him a small smile and opened her mouth to explain, but the dining room door was pushed open.
Prince Keith was still wearing his sleeping garments. He pointed lazily at the maid, "Have a small breakfast brought into my room," and walked out again. The maid bowed as the door closed and turned back around to the gardener.
"I have to talk to the chef about the prince's breakfast, we can converse about his grandfather's courting habits later."
Kieth strolled back to his room and threw open his cabinet. Listening closely. He made sure the coast was clear before preparing his outfit. It was something his closest confidant brought him just last night. A set of red commoners clothes, purposely dirtied And a darkened shaw. He put on a gray cloak making sure his outfit was covered as the maid brought in the food. It’s custom for servants to keep their eyes to the ground when in the private rooms of royalty so he had No reason to worry about his father finding out. But still, his heart pounded knowing even the slightest hint of anticipation and nervousness could alert someone and they end up telling his father. He gives the female servant a short dismissal and picks at the food that she delivered. Giving the kitchen staff something to clean up without making it seem disrespectful that he wasn’t really that hungry. The anxiety pulling in his stomach as his departure gets closer causes lack of appetite. After quietly setting the food outside of his bedroom door he waits approximately 10 minutes before making his way out through the secret entrance to the palace Gardens. He stealthily evades the gardeners And hides behind the fountain tucked into a corner of the garden waiting for the perfect moment.
“My Dear Keith!”
Keith straightened his back. It was his father.
"King Shiro, how was your morning?" Keith asked, pulling the hood off of his head as his father came into view. He bows his head slightly. Honoring the king and his presence. He could tell by how stiff his father was that he is also nervous.
"It's gone well," Shiro nodded, his voice stiff, the inevitable conversion they were both avoiding looming over both of their heads. After a few beats of silence, his father clears his throat once more. "Princess Allura will be here around noon," Shiro wrung his fingers, "I am asking you to be polite, I don't want to cause any more trouble with neighboring kings because you made a fool of their daughter."
Keith looked down a hint of anger tinting his eyebrows, When was his father gonna let him be?
"I can't make promises I can't keep, father. You know that." Keith said, boredom laced with the harshness made his father scowl.
“Okay then no promises. Just listen to me and be polite to her, her father's a good man." Shiro nodded at the palace. “ I understand that this is just as hard for you as it is for anyone in your position. It is my duty and my honor to make sure that you are well suited for the throne when it is your time.” Shiro huffs. He rubs the back of his neck, wanting to say more, but noticing his son’s attention was elsewhere.
“I have to go get ready, don't wander too far for too long."
“I don't plan on it."
When his father was out of sight he whistled into the air. Through the underbrush his pet lioness padded slowly into view. Her beautiful pelt an ashen red. She stalks up to him and rubs her huge head against his palm. “Goodmorning Ruby. Dad‘s leaving me be for a while. Help me up.”
Keith led the lioness to the edge and used her strong shoulders to pull himself over the palace walls. As is about to jump back down, he hears a bemoaned chuff behind him. he looks into his pets, beautiful brown eyes and gives his own sigh.
"Don't worry Ruby, everything will be fine. I'll be back soon. "
He smiled at the big cat below him after hearing her purr finally. Keith turned and faced the city once again breathing in the freedom he longs for daily and steps off the ledge.