Chapter Text
The prince loved the events, the excitement that came along with balls. He loved the lights, the dancing, the laughter; he was always swept up in the feelings that carried the room. He danced with pretty woman after pretty woman as he danced down the aisles in the same predestined movements every man on the floor was taught from childhood. He like to throw out little flirty lines, like your hair smells amazing or I have yet to see eyes as stunning as yours , leaving the ladies of the court giggling as he laughed and switched partners once again, moving down the line and making every single one blush.
By the time the dance was over, Matt was flushed himself. Laughing, he joined the man standing on the edge of the room with a military posture, arm held behind his back and feet should width apart. He wore a fond smile on his scarred face.
"Have fun, my prince?" He asked.
Matt smiled right back. "Significantly less fun without you."
Matt spent a few moments with his bodyguard before spinning back into the crowd.
He leaned on Shiro after the party, walking through the dark courtyard. It was a familiar feeling to both of them. Drunk Matt and put upon Shiro carrying the entire weight of the useless prince.
"Di’ you see her dress, Shiro?" Matt slurred.
"I did, my prince." Shiro sighed.
"It was so sparkly. It should be illegal to make it so sparkly," he continued, "when I'm the king, I'm 'onna make it illegal to be so sparkly."
Shiro laughed. "I can't wait."
Matt looked up at his savior through the dark of his lashes as they made it back to his room through the warm night.
"You'll still be with me then, right?" He spoke with a moment of lucidity.
Shiro looked down at the man, starlight caught in his golden eyes.
"Always."
The rest of their travel was spent in companionable silence. They were almost there, to the other side of the empty courtyard to the other wing of the palace, where they would go up four flights of stairs and blessfully sleep.
A figure stepped out of the shadows. He was tall, taller than even Shiro was. His face was covered in the shadow of his hood.
Shiro tensed, pushing the prince behind him as he drew his own sword with his clumsy left hand. He held it out in front of him as his right foot slid back. The figure did not move.
Shiro growled. "Who are you?"
The man laughed and pushed back the hood.
Shiro's heart leapt in his chest as his body started shaking with the tension.
Sendak .
Matt, standing behind his lifelong guard, noticed the change. He held the taller man's shoulder in a silent show of support.
Sendak smiled.
"Long time, Champion. How's the arm?"
The stump of Shiro's right arm hung uselessly at his side. He sneered.
Sendak cackled. "Look at the crippled little puppy, trying to intimidate me."
"You need to leave," Shiro's voice was low in his throat, strained and tense.
Sendak took a step forward and Shiro responded by taking a step back, pushing Matt with him.
"Give me the prince and you can keep your other arm."
Matt's eyes widened as he realized who they were facing, Shiro shivering under his touch.
"I will protect my prince until the day I die." Shiro swallowed, determination etched into his face.
Sendak's smirk only grew as he pulled his own sword. "If you want that day to be today, I'm all for it."
Shiro's eyes widened, then squinted imperceptibly as he whispered to Matt, " Run. "
That was all that Matt could take.
"Wait!" he shouted into the tense air, his turn to protect Shiro. Both men straightened from their battle positions in surprise.
Matt breathed, calming his racing heart, before meeting Sendak's frigid eyes.
"You only want me, right?"
"Matt, no ." Shiro whispered.
Sendak nodded and brought his sword to rest by his side.
"Take me and leave him alone."
"Matt, you can't do thi—"
"Let the prince make his own decisions." Sendak interrupted, leering at Matt.
Matt stepped away from his lifelong friend, guard, and probably soulmate, turning around to meet gray eyes with golden. Shiro's face was stuck in shock. Matt's smile was forced as he turned back to Sendak, revealing his wrists to the man.
They were tied tightly with rough rope, burning into Matt's skin. Shiro could only watch as the man he was sworn to protect, who he would happily die for, who was probably soulmate, was led away.
Matt wasn't there to see Shiro grip his sword until his knuckles turned white. He wasn't there as Shiro broke down, wailing into the night with everything he had. He wasn't there to see Shiro stand up, tears streaming down his face, and whisper, " I promise I will find you," to ears that were already too far away to hear.