Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prince Roman stood on his balcony, staring out at the busy city that was the capital. The bright neon lights, and the constant chatter of the crowd almost gave him a head ache. Roman sighed, and took a seat on one of the many chairs that were provided. As he watched the capital going through it's normal activities, Roman thought about the news that was given to him not to long ago.
The prince had been sitting in the same chair, staring out at the same view. He was content with all he had, and he couldn't have asked for more. The royal family had a stunning castle built in the heart of the kingdom of Panem, and the twelve districts provided them with whatever they needed. The prince had nothing to worry about. That was untill his cousin Prince Jey came out.
"Rome, it's good to see you again! It's been a while! How have you been?" Roman smiled. "I see you still haven't learned the proper way to speak." Jey frowned. "I'm quite aware how to speak in the dull manner of the royal family." He said. Roman laughed. "So, what brings you out here. I'm sure it's more then just a casual visit." Jey sighed, and sat on the arm of Roman's chair. "I'm afraid there is more. The king and queen want you to go see them in the throne room. They said they had something important to talk to you about." Roman groaned. "Do you have a clue on what it could be?" "No, they wouldn't tell me, so I guess it's important."
Prince Roman stood, and made his way to the door. "Will you wait for me?" "Of course Uce! I did want to spend time with you after all." Roman had waved before making his way inside.
When the prince reached the throne room, his parents were waiting for him. No one else had been in the room, which only made the prince worry even more. The king and queen would normally have a least one guard with them at all times, but now it was just the three of them.
"Roman, come join us. We have something to discuss with you." The king motioned to a smaller throne beside them. Roman obediently went and sat beside his father. "Mother, father, is there something wrong?" "No no, nothing's wrong. Me and your father have made a decision. We decided you need to find someone to marry." The prince had frowned. "Someone to marry. I just turned eighteen! Aren't I to young?" The queen had smiled. "No, you are the perfect age my son." "So, how do I find this person?" "Well you see Roman, we all know you don't deserve just anyone. We have a specific way to find your husband or wife." "Am I going to like this idea?" Roman asked. The king and queen shook their heads. "We really doubt it. However, it is the best way to know you get the right person."
The prince frowned. He wasn't sure what his parents were planning. If he wasn't going to like it, then surely it was violent.
"Very well, what do I have to do?" "Oh, you don't have to do much." The queen said. "We're going to get two of the best people from each district. They will be brought to the castle. We will condition them. Then, they will be sent to an arena, where they will fight each other. The person that remains will be chosen to be the person you marry."
Roman had felt very dizzy. They couldn't be serious, right? Twenty four people would fight to the death for his hand? Roman could already picture it. All the blood, the bodies, and the traumatised or crazed look in the winner's eyes. He felt sick. He grabbed on to the sides of his throne, but it wasn't enough.
"Roman!" The queen cried out. "Someone come get him!" Her voice sounded far away, drowned out by the ringing in his ears. The last thing he remembered was someone picking him up, and taking him back to his room before he passed out.

Now the prince was once again on the balcony, thinking about what was going to happen in a few days. The news of the games would be announced to the rest of the kingdom that night. Representatives from the royal family would go to the districts and select two of the best fighters from each. Then, they would be brought to the castle. They would be trained in some fighting styles, and Roman would spend about half an hour with each of them. That was one thing the prince was not looking forward to. The day after that, they would be put in the arena, and they would fight to the death.
Roman took a deep breath, and stood again. He had to go hang out with his cousins. Perhaps that would make him forget about the death games that would happen in a few days.

Chapter Text

I glared across the field at twelve other teens, all holding weapons. They were in a fighting stance, as was I. A few yards away, one of the trainers stood watching us. I took a deep breath. "Calm down Orton. You've done this before. Go in, and attack."
I let out an angry yell, and charged. I ducked a swing from someones sword, and punched them in the jaw. My other hand shut out and cought a knife before it stabbed me in the back. "That's not aloud!" I yelled. A second later, the person who had thrown the knife was on the ground with it in their shoulder. I grabbed my first attacker and flipped them in to someone else. I felt someone grab my wrist, and I immediately threw them in to another group of people. I dove behind a rock as someone leapt at me with two knifes in their hands. I flinched as I heard them hit the rock and get knocked out. I looked out from behind the rock, and immediately blocked a punched that would have probably knocked me out. Instead, I twisted the person's wrist as hard as I could, smirking as I hear the satisfying crack of broken bone. Then, I kicked them to the ground and began to run.
Adrenalin coursed through my body as I ran across the field. I was so close. For the first time, I would get passed the advanced fighters. Just as I was about to reach the edge of the field, I felt a sharp pain in my head. I let out a cry and fell to the ground. I felt someone pinning me down, and I immediately knew who it was.
"Not so fast Randy." Shayna said, pressing the blade of her knife against the back of my neck. I growled and pushed her off. "Yeah yeah, you win again." I said, glaring at the ground. She laughed. "Looks like someone was thinking ahead again." She said. "Shut up!" I snapped and stood up.
"Okay, that's the end of today's training." The trainer, Drew said, walking over to us. "You all did good, but you still need practice. Randy, you almost made it through everyone. Remember what I told you before. You can't think about winning untill you actually win. That's distracting! That's why you couldn't sense Shayna behind you." I just nodded. I was angry. I had been so fucking close! How was I supposed to be a guard if I couldn't get through everyone here?"
"Okay, before you all leave I have something important to tell you all." Drew said. We all gathered around him, the guy who's wrist I broke glared at me. I just sent him a sweet smile. "Suck it up." I mouthed. I've gotten worse during these trainings. A broken wrist was nothing.
"I just received a letter from the capital. It's from the royal family. They said that our district, along with districts one and four are getting this information sooner then the others." "What is it Drew?" I demanded. I was getting bored already. "Let me speak Orton, unless you want extra training." I immediately shut up. As nice as training is, I don't like to do it more then I have to.
"Anyway, the letter says that the king and queen have decided to find their son someone to marry." We all just stared at Drew. "Okay, what about it?" Shayna asked. Drew frowned. "The king and queen came up with a new way of finding prince Roman's husband or wife." "Drew, get on with it." Someone else snapped. "Will you all shut up!" Drew yelled. "You're taking to long." I said.
A second later, a knife came flying at me. My hand immediately shot out and grabbed it. Unfortunately for me, my palm got sliced open. I bit my lip to stop a hiss of pain from escaping. "Fuck you!" I said instead.
"Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is because they plan on sending people tomorrow that come. They will pick two of the best fighters from each district and take them to the capital." Drew paused. "They... they want you guys to fight to the death in an arena. They said that the winner would be the one who marys the prince."
We were all silent for a minute. We had to fight to the death in order to marry the prince?
"Did prince Roman come up with this idea?" Shayna asked with a glare. I sighed. "Shayna, you know just as well as I do that the prince hates violence!" "Yeah well, you can't be sure." She shot back. "No, Mr. Orton is quite correct about our dear prince." Drew said. "Yes he is trained in hand to hand combat and with weapons, but he doesn't like to use them unless it's really necessary." "Yeah, but he won't have to hurt anyone. He'll just have to watch." Broken wrist dude said. Drew frowned. "Have you not seen the prince? He hates anything to do with violence!" I remembered. Our district held training for all the guards once, and prince Roman had been made to come. I remembered how pale his face got. That was the first time I spoke to him. I had gone up to him, and asked him if he needed anything because his body guard wasn't paying attention to him. He had replied with, "No, it's quite alright. I'm just not a big fan of fighting." He had smiled at me, but I could see the fear in his eyes as he realised I came from the district. I had tried to look as friendly as possible so I wouldn't scare him more. I sat with him, and tried to keep his mind away from the fighting that was going on in front of him. I realized then, that he wasn't as spoiled as others say he is. In fact, he was great to talk to. I think that was when I started having feelings for him.
"Orton, are you listening?" I looked up and saw everyone looking at me. "No, sorry." I said, not meaning it at all. Drew glared at me. "I doubt you'll get selected." He said. "Clearly you can't pay attention." I glared back at him. "This is about fighting and surviving. I don't have to pay attention." I replied coldly. Another knife flew at me, this time coming from Shayna. I grabbed it again, this time not cutting myself. "Stop that." I said.
"Just do your best, all of you." Drew said. To the two of you that will be chosen, make sure you win. Not only will you be married to the prince, but you will bring great honor to this district." "Yay." I thought sarcastically. Part of me didn't want to be selected, just for spite, but of course I would try. Not only would I get the chance to marry the prince but if I wasn't chosen and still did well, I would be one step closer to becoming a guard.
"Can we go now." I asked. "Just leave before I kill you." Drew said. I turned and began jogging to my secret training spot.
My training spot was a small field just out side of my village. It was surrounded with large rocks, creating a small cave. At the far end of this field, two rocks stood close together. They almost looked like one big rock, but a small crack was between them. This was where I kept a box containing twelve knifes. These knifes were ones that my father made, but were not used by the royal guards. Instead of throwing them out, he had given them to me. Now, I come here almost every day in order to practice my knife throwing skills.
After putting another rock in front of the entrance, I got the box out, and took out the knifes. I had to practice more now. Especially if I was chosen to fight in the arena.
Sure people would normally be scared to death when they heard the news. I was sure most of the other districts would be, but in district two, we were pretty much born for this.
I spent the rest of the afternoon throwing knifes at the rocks, and at the many practice targets I had made before. My arms were hurting, and I was drenched in sweat when I finally decided to stop.
I quickly put the knifes back in their box, and hid it back in the rocks. Then, I pushed aside the rock and walked out. The air was cooler now, and it was getting dark. I had to hurry home. Just because we're liked by the royal family, doesn't mean they'll let us stay out late.
As I was running back home, I heard someone calling my name. I didn't stop, knowing she'd catch up. "Where were you Orton?" Shayna demanded. "That's none of your business." I said. "Really, we were supposed to train together!" "I never agreed to it. I just said I'd think about it." She glared at me. "Really Orton? How the hell do you expect to be made a guard if you're not at all reliable?" "Like I said Shayna, I never said I'd train with you. It's not like I was committed to our training sessions." Shayna's face darkened. "Yeah, like you aren't committed to our relationship?" I frowned. "What are you talking about now?" I demanded. She punched me, hard. "We've been dating for like six months, and we've only hung out like three times! What kind of boyfriend are you?" I sighed. "I'm not." I said, and kept running. "Did you just..." I nodded. "Yes, I just broke up with you. Deal with it." She got angrier. "What makes you think you'll be a better boyfriend for the prince?" She demanded. I turned to look at her. "What did you just say?" I asked through clenched teeth. She smirked. "You think I don't know about your little crush on him? I've always known. I tried to make you get over him. I knew you didn't have a chance with him. Now, back to my question. What makes you think you would treat him any better?" I smirked. "That's easy." I said. "I'm actually interested in him, so I wouldn't have a problem spending time with him."
She let out an angry scream and dove towards me. I laughed and stepped aside, watching as she slammed in to a rock. A few seconds later, she raised her head and sent me another glare.
"I want you to listen to me very carefully. Tomorrow, if you and I get chosen, I will make sure I'll be the one to kill you. Then, I'll win the games and marry your precious prince!" I picked up a rock, ready to throw it right at her stupid face, when I heard the horn blow. "Shit!" I said under my breath. I had only five minutes to get home. I glared at Shayna as she tried to stand. "You won't get anywhere near him!" I growled. Then I threw the rock down, and ran home.
The horn sounded again just as I opened the door to my house. Mother immediately came to me, a stern look on her face. "Randy, you were almost late!" She said, glaring at me. "I'm sorry mother, I just did some last minute training." At the word training, her face lit up. "I'm guessing you've heard the news from the royal family?" I nodded. "Trainer Drew told us." She nodded. "The king and queen are announcing it right now. Because you already know about it, you can go eat dinner." I nodded. "Did the prince speak?" I asked. She shook her head. "The prince isn't feeling to well. I think he passed out or something." I sighed. Of course he did. He probably hated this idea more then the people of the districts did.
When I reached the kitchen my two younger sisters were already eating. "Randy!" My thirteen year old sister Scarlett said, walking over and hugging me. "You're to strong for a thirteen year old." I grumbled. She laughed, and went back to her food. My fifteen year old sister Aaliyah watched me carefully. "Are you going to compete tomorrow?"" She asked. I nodded as I heated up some of the chicken. "Why? You already have a girlfriend." Scarlett said. I shook my head. "Shayna and I broke up." Aaliyah sighed. "So now you're going to try to marry the prince?" "He's not going to try, he is going to marry the prince." Scarlett snapped, glaring at her sister. "Also Randy, I'm jealous. He's hot!"
"That's right." Mom said, walking in to the kitchen. "Well, not about the prince being hot. I mean he is but..." Anyway, not only that, but he will bring honor to our district, right Randy?" I nodded and put a fork full of food in my mouth. I was getting tired of this conversation already. I understand how important this is, but I don't want to get reminded of it every second. I just want to eat my food in peace. Is that to much to ask?
Just then, my father walked in. "Yes, yes it is." I thought. "You better not let that girl beat you again. I know she'll be chosen already. She's one of the best fighters in district two. When you get chosen as well, you better not let her win. This is much more serious then your training. If you lose, you die! Do you understand?" "Yes father, I do. I'll do my best, I promise. "Good! Now let's eat." Mother said.

Chapter Text

I woke to Scarlett ruffly shaking my shoulder. "Come on Randy! Get your ass up!" I groaned and sat up, rubbing my eyes. "What time is it?" I asked. "Time for you to get ready!" She replied, grabbing the blanket from me. "It's cold!" I complained. "Well if you don't get up, I'll make you get even colder." She said, filling a cup with freezing cold water.
I immediately got out of bed. "That's not necessary!" I said, taking the cup from her. "Good, now hurry up! You have an hour to get to the training area. The people from the capital are already here." I sighed. "I'm guessing he's not here?" She shook her head. "That's a dumb question. You know he's probably hiding in his room or something. I mean, he does have to see your ugly face later." "Very funny." I said, glaring at her. She just laughed.
"Hey Scarlett, aren't you worried that either I won't make it, or I might die?" She frowned. "I'm sure you'll make it in, but I'm kind of scared about you winning. No offense, but the odds aren't exactly in your favor."
I nodded and smiled. "At least someone's honest with me." I said. "I'm just tired of everyone telling me how sure they are I'll win. I mean, I'm sure I can get in, but winning is a whole different thing." Scarlett sighed. "While that may be true, it's no good to think you won't win. It will just scare you even more." "Yeah, I guess you're right." I said, taking the bundle of clothes from her. "So, what happened yesterday? You looked angry when you came home." I took a deep breath. I guess it's one of the reasons why this might be hard for me to win. It's also how I lost my girlfriend." I told her all about my conversation with Shayna. Scarlett just stood there listening, a small frown on her face.
"So, what you're telling me is that she got mad at you for not showing up to a training with her? Then you broke up with her, and she said that she'd kill you and marry the prince, who you have a crush on already." I sighed. "Yup, that's pretty much what happened." "Okay, first, Shayna's an idiot. Second, why the hell didn't you tell me you liked prince Roman? Or that you liked dudes in general? God, you suck!" I shrugged. "I didn't tell anyone I liked him. She somehow found out. Plus, it's not like I have a chance to do anything about my feelings."
Her hand shot out and slapped me in the face. "Didn't I tell you not to doubt yourself? You do have a chance now. You can win the games and marry hm. Then, you'll buy me some of those expensive jewels that district one makes." I smiled. "Thanks for your painful motivation." I said, making my way into the bathroom. "Yeah, no problem. Now hurry up so you have enough time to eat." "God, you sound like our mom." "Shut up before I kill you!" I laughed and quickly closed the door
Half an hour later I was showered and dressed in black jeans, a black shirt, and my black lever jacket. I had a small but very sharp pocket knife in one of the pockets. Hopefully before we leave they'll let me get my knifes from my little cave. I'd feel a lot better if I had them with me.
"Good morning dear." Mom said. "Come eat real quick. You don't have much time before we need to go." I nodded and sat down, putting a few pancakes on my plate. "Are you nervous?" Aaliyah asked. I shrugged. "I'm not scared about my try out. I'm sure I'll make it. I guess I'm scared about going in the arena." "I'm sure you'll do fine." Father said, taking a sip of coffee. "You've been trained for a moment like this sense you were five. Just remember what you learned, and I'm sure you'll do fine." "Alright, let's just let him eat." Scarlett said. "I'm sure he needs all the energy he can get." I sent her a thankful smile, and began eating.
Fifteen minutes later, I was on my way towards the training area. It was a cool and cloudy morning. The sun was just starting to appear, and I took a deep breath of the fresh air. I felt a little nervous. It wasn't a scared kind of nervousness. It was more like an excited one. My father was right. We did train our whole lives for a moment like this. To prove to everyone that we are the better district, and I was determined to make people see that. But also, I had something else to fight for. No, someone else. The face of the gentle prince appeared in my head, and I smiled. There was no way I'd let Shayna get close to him. He deserved way better then that. Even if it wasn't me, I'd still make sure it would be someone better. “I'll see you soon." I said quietly. I wondered if he would remember me. It has been a year sense I saw him. I'm sure he probably wouldn't remember someone from a district he feared so much.
"Hey, you okay?" I turned to see Scarlett standing beside me. I shrugged. "I... I guess so. I'm just thinking about stuff." She grinned. "You thinking about your prince?" She asked. I shoved her. "No, of course not!" I lied. Scarlett noticed and she giggled. "Hey, I think the prince will be made to watch the auditions of the two that got picked. You better give him a good show." I frowned. "I'm not trying to scare him." "I know. But you do realize you'll have to put on a good fight in order to be able to go right?" I sighed. "Yeah, I know. I just don't want him to have to see it." "Aww, angry Randy Orton has a soft spot for the prince." Scarlett said. "Go away!" I growled. She just laughed and skipped off to find a seat.
"Ready to lose again?" I sighed, not even bothering to look at her. "Whatever you say." I said. "I heard your little prince is watching. I wonder how impressed he'll be with my skill. He'll probably not even pay attention to you." I kept ignoring her. "She's just trying to make you mad." I thought.
"He'll find you a lot of things, but impressive isn't one of them." I said. Before she could try to hit me, Drew came over. "Hey guys. I hope you two are rested. Today's a very important day." "I'm ready to win!" Shayna said, glaring at me. Drew smiled. "Glad to here it. Randy, how are you?" I shrugged. "I'm fine." I said. He nodded. "Good, let's go then."
"So, how is this going to go?" I asked. "It's basically going to be what we normally do, but the capital people will be watching. So I expect all of you to do better then normally. Oh and Randy, remember what I told you about winning." I nodded. "Yeah, I got it." "Perfect! I'm sure you'll be fine then."
We reached the rest of the group, and Drew quickly made his way to the front. I looked around the large field and saw two chairs placed at the edge. A small table was placed in front of them. Two fancy looking people sat watching us. They each had a pease of paper, probably to write down the names of who would make it. One of them met my gaze, and I recognized him as prince Roman's personal guard. The same one who was to busy talking to his friends to notice the prince. I wasn't surprised to see him no longer with him. Hopefully he has someone better now. I was sure he remembered me as well because he glared at me. I might have been the one who got him removed from being the prince's body guard. Clearly, he wasn't the forgiving type.
"Maybe you should have done better." I mouthed. The other person looked at me then, a small smile on her face. I realized she was one of the guards that were also here last year. She was the one who watched the prince as they were leaving, because the first stupid idiot had already gone on the plain. I smiled back and quickly turned back to Drew who had started talking.
"Okay, we're just going to do our normal training today. Yes, we're ,being watched, but that's what you're trained for. I expect all of you to put in your complete best. So, let's start with our usual run. Three miles, once around this village. I won't be joining you this time though. I'm not aloud to compete. I'll be here to see who shows up first. Now, go!"
I smiled. Running was something I was good at. I smirked at the others, then I took off.
When I first started my training with Drew, he told us there were two paths. One would take us the long way while the second he says are for the weak because it it cuts through a lot of the village. I remembered the first few times I took the path. Drew had yelled at me for hours about how I was never going to become a guard because I was lazy, and weak. Then, he'd make me run the long path twice. I nearly passed out.
Now, I tried not to laugh as I watched a few of the other people taking that path. As I watched, I realized that Shayna was one of them. Drew was going to kill her. "This will be fun." I thought, then started running.
The sun was just coming out, and I started running faster. I hated running in the heat. It slowed me down, and it made me almost pass out. Those were the times where I wished I could take the shorter path, but then I would remember what happened the first time. Better once then twice.
I smiled as I heard Drew's voice. "What the bloody hell is this? You all know better! I suppose you are lazy. Why even try any more? Clearly you don't care enough. Shayna, I'm especially disappointed in you. What happened to you being the best here? Doesn't look like it! I want all of you to run the long path three times! I'm tired of weaklings!"
"Oh wow." I thought. Drew was being especially harsh today. He really does want only the best to go to the capital. I have no idea why Shayna decided to do it. Maybe she was hoping Drew wouldn't notice? God she's an idiot.
A minute later, I ran the last few yards and shook Drew's hand. "Well done Mate." He said. "You were the first one that made it back on the long trail. Thanks for not being a lazy bastard." I just nodded and walked to Scarlett who held my water bottle. "She really is an idiot." She said. I nodded, currently in the proses of Draining my bottle. "Be careful Orton." Drew said, taking it from me. "We can't have you throwing it back up." I nodded. "Are they all done?" I asked. "No, but the Representatives won't want to wait, so we're going to go ahead and start with the weapon training. The others will just have to catch up."

A few hours later, we all stood around Drew, waiting for him to deliver the final announcement. After finishing training, he had spoken with the capital Representatives who had told him their picks. everyone was visibly nervous, except for Shayna. She stood at the front, her arms crossed, and a bored expression on her face. She looked as though she already knew she'd get picked, which I suppose was true. A few others looked confident as well, but I doubted they'd get picked. Most of them had tried to do as little training as possible, thinking Drew or the two guards wouldn't notice.
While I tried to look impassive on the outside, I couldn't help but feel nervous. What if I didn't get chosen? What if, for some reason, the guard who hated me had more power then Drew and his companion and he'd picked someone else? Deep down I knew that such bias would be punished if discovered, but still... I didn't know what that guy was capable of.
Drew seemed to know what I was thinking because he gave me a small, almost unnoticeable smile. Somehow, that calmed me. Despite his strictness, he and I got along quite well. I was sure he wouldn't let the guard get away with anything. That thought relaxed me a bit.
"Before I announce who's going to the capital, I'd like to say how proud I am of all of you. I know I've only trained you guys for a short while, but I know how good you all are. I'm sure that even if you're not selected, it would only motivate you to train harder. I of course will continue to train those who remain, and I will make sure to teach you every thing I know, and prepare you for whatever it is you decide to do in a few years."
"Just get on with it!" Shayna snapped, glaring at Drew. Drew ignored her. "Anyway, to those who are chosen, I wish you all the best of luck, and I'm sure that no matter what happens out there, you will make our district proud. Remember what I taught you, and the things you've learned before me."
"Drew!" Shayna said, taking a step towards him. "Very well then." Drew said, not flinching from her angry stare. "Let us start with the female that will go to the capital." Drew stared at all of the girls, who stared back, with cocky smiles. "This girl is someone who from a very young age, has proven her skill and confidence. With her no nonsense attitude, I'm sure she'll make a very big impact in the capital. The girl who was chosen is Shayna Baszler."
"Why am I not surprised." One of the girls said, glaring at Shayna who strutted over to Drew. "I won't be back here. Instead in a matter of weeks, I will be getting married to the prince, and I will participate in the capital's guard force." "She already thinks she'll win, that arrogant prat." Another girl, Piper I think said. "Already got her position chosen as well. I hope she gets knocked down a bit in the arena." Her friend said. I tried not to laugh. "Of course she'd already have every thing picked. That just made me even more determined to win.
"And now, it's time to select the male participant." Drew said, trying not to laugh at Shayna's confidence. "This person is one of the few people that actually train after my classes, and he has no problem with asking me for extra help. He takes what I say to heart, and improves every time I see him. I'm proud to say that Randy Orton will be joining Shayna to the capital."

Chapter Text

Once I heard my name get called, I slowly released the breath I didn't know I was holding. I had done it! I was going to the capital. I was going to see him. That last thought made me smile. For the first time in almost a year, I'd be face to face with the prince.
Distantly, I could hear my friends and family cheering, but I didn't pay attention to them. Instead, my mind was on Roman Reigns. While I was excited to see him again, I was worried that he wouldn't remember me. I mean, it's not like I made a big impact on him. We only spoke for a few hours. The prince meets hundreds of people each year. I'm sure I wasn't anything important to him. Still, it didn't hurt any less thinking about it.
"You alright mate?"
I turned and smiled at Drew.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Drew frowned, taking a small joint from his pocket and lighting it.
"You just don't seem to be as excited as I thought you'd be. Especially now that you have your chance with the prince." I blushed.
"You knew?" I asked. Surely if Drew realized it, then the whole of district two did as well. Drew's not really into relationships, and he doesn't care about people's love lives, which makes this much worse. Drew laughed.
"What? That you have a major crush on Roman? Yeah, I knew. It was quite obvious to be honest." I sighed.
"Yeah, well, I guess I'm just scared." I replied. Drew blew a puff at smoke at me.
"What are you scared of? I'm sure you'll do fine." I shrugged.
"It's not that I'm worried about. Well, sort of. I'm mostly worried that he'd be scared of me." I waved away another puff of smoke. "Stop that." I said.
Drew sighed. "I understand where you're coming from, Orton. The prince has always feared this district the most. After all, it's where the guards come from. I won't lie, he'll be quite wary of you at first. But he'll get over it. After all, he knows you a little."
"That's the thing, Drew. What if he doesn't recognize me? According to you, I'm not exactly very approachable."
"Oh, you're not, but you didn't hurt him. In fact, you were the only one that bothered to make sure he was alright last year. He told me to thank you by the way." I glared at him.
"And you just now tell me this?" Drew shrugged. "Slipped my mind, I guess." He said, starting to walk away. I watched him as he made his way towards the mountains, a small smile on my face. Maybe this wasn't hopeless after all. Maybe I was afraid for nothing.
Before I could go home, I heard Drew call out to me. Turning back to face him, I saw him smile a little. "Just so you know, I'm going to be going with you two as well." "Wait, you are? But why?" Drew put out his joint before putting it back in his pocket. "They want me to be your mentor. Each district has one. Lucky you two got the best." I smiled. "Yeah, it is a good thing."
Then, a sudden thought came to me. "Drew, you came from the capital right? Did you know the prince? You talk about him like you two are close." Either that, or Drew has no respect for the royal family. Drew's face lit up. "He's like a brother to me." He said. "You see, I wasn't originally from the capital. I came from another country named Scotland. Mother moved us to the capital when I was nine. She had somehow gotten a job as the queen's personal stylist. So I guess you could say Prince Roman and I grew up together. Even now after I left the capital on my eighteenth birthday, only six months ago, we still stay in touch."
My mouth hung open in surprise. I kept my eyes on Drew, hoping that he'd say more about him and the prince's relationship. Drew laughed. "Don't be to surprised. Many of your fellow training mates think I would marry him." I couldn't help but glare at him, which only made him laugh again. "Like I said Orton, he's like a brother to me. I think you're more his type anyway. He has asked about you in his letters. He really is grateful. Which brings me to my point here. He's not going to be afraid of you. Can't say the same about Shayna though." "She won't be getting anywhere near him." I growled. Drew just smiled. "Good luck mate. I'll see you at the plane." With that, he was gone. I stood there for a few more seconds, then made a mental promise to myself and the prince. I was going to be the one that makes it out of the arena. No matter what.

As soon as I stepped into my house, I was immediately hugged by my mother. "Oh, Randy, we knew you'd make it! I'm so proud of you!" I smiled and hugged her back. My parents aren't exactly the affectionate type. So any form of love was greatly welcomed. Behind my mom, father stood with one hand around each of my sisters. He had one of his rare smiles on his face, and I almost started crying. "I'm also proud of you. I'm sure you'll do your best son." My sisters walked over and hugged me as well. "You get your man, brother." Aliyah said with a smile. "Kick some ass while you're at it." Scarlett agreed. I just laughed. "I'll try."
"Well, let's eat. I made your favorite, darling." Mother said, and I had to bite my lip to keep from sobbing. I would miss my family while I was gone. "Better enjoy it. You might not even return." A voice in my head said. "Shut up. I'll be back." I told it. "One way or another." The voice said.
Before I could listen more to the voices in my head, Scarlett grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the table. "Relax Orton. It will all be okay." I sent her a grateful smile and started eating.
"You ready to see your prince?" Aliyah asked, leaning towards me. I smiled. "Yeah, I am. Drew said that it was very obvious that I like him. Could you tell?" Aliyah laughed. "I'm sure the whole district knows." She said. I looked around the table. Mother and father were smirking at me. "Not you two as well." I said, putting my head in my hands. "Don't worry about it son. At least now you actually have a chance to tell him." Father said. I let out a sigh. "Yeah, if I can even get the courage to talk to him." "Well, you kind of have to." Mother said. "I've heard that each of you will spend at least an hour or so with him." "Fuck!" I said, putting my head on the table. "Don't worry brother. At least you'll be able to get to know more about him." Scarlett said. "Yeah, try not to embarrass yourself in front of him." Aliyah said with a laugh. "Shut up!" I snapped. "I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me up when we have to go." After putting my dishes in the sink, I walked into my room, and fell on to the bed. Now that the decision's been made, the events of the morning hit me, and I was immediately asleep. The last thing on my mind of the prince's face.

"It is time, my prince." Roman looked up and nodded at the young maid. "Yes of course. Thank you Aurora." With a quick bow, The young woman was gone. Roman fell back against his bed, and let out a long sigh. He had tried to get out of watching the selections the night before. Unfortunately, his parents had said that he had to watch in order to get to know his suitors. Prince Roman would honestly rather pass out once again, rather then watch. He knew that in some districts, such as one and two, it was an honor to be chosen for such an event. However, in the rest who didn't have fighting or surviving experience, marrying him wouldn't be all that great. Sure who wins would be rich and somewhat happy, but they also didn't have the best chances. That was no secrete.
The prince's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door. "Enter." He called out. He immediately sat up strait, and tried not to show his fear.
"Hey Rome, are you alright?" Roman immediately relaxed at the sight of his cousins. "No, not really." He said. "I tried to get out of watching this, but mother and father wouldn't allow it. The whole kingdom knows how I feel about this event. Some people from district seven had sent me death threats. That doesn't exactly endear me to the idea." The twins pulled him up, and the three of them made their way to the prince's private parlor. "We've heard about that. We're sorry that happened. Anyway, we're gonna watch this with you. We know you don't want to be by yourself throughout this whole thing." Jimmy said. Roman smiled. "Thank you, dear cousins. I can't thank you enough for this." "We're family, Roman. We'd help you out with whatever you ask." Jey said, wrapping an arm around him. "Yeah, we even would have helped you select someone to marry. But alas, your parents ruined that for us." Jimmy added. Roman laughed.
"Perhaps that was a good thing. I worry about who you would have chosen." "That hurts us cousin. We always have your best interests in mind. We can't believe you doubt us!" Jey said with a mock hurt expression. The three then laugh before Roman turned on the television that was provided. "Let's just get this over with. We can't miss anything." Both of the twins moved closer to the prince, who was happy to have them. He didn't know what he'd do with out them.
"Are they going to go in order?" Jimmy asked. Roman nodded. ;Yes, district one first. My personal guard is from that district. They're pretty good at fighting, however they don't prioritize it as much as district two." "They're still very much favored by the royal family because of their crafting." Jey added. "They're almost as posh as you are Roman." Jimmy said, which earned him a playful glare. "I am not posh." He said, his accent getting stronger, only making the twins laugh harder. A few minutes later, the three watched as the video started.
"Well, it's not bad looking." Jey said. "Not at all." Roman replied. "It's like a minny capital." They all watched as the large crowd gathered in the city center. At the top of some marble stairs stood a tall woman with light blond hair and emerald green eyes. She was dressed in a long black dress, and black heels. She had several pearl necklaces on, along with diamond earrings. "Who's she?" Jey asked. "Yeah, and why does she have to show off how rich they are?" Jimmy added. Roman sighed. "She's like their mayor. Also, that's just how rich people act. I mean, we here at the capital do the same. It's basically showing how much better we are from others, which I find totally ridiculous. Not everyone's lucky."
"Well, today is a very special day for our district." The woman said. Two of our very own will be selected to go to the capital in order to fight for the prince's hand. Now it's pretty obvious that our district is superior to the rest, so it's safe to say that one of our own will in fact be getting married to the prince in a matter of months. Which means that our district will be recognized as the best."
"Oh god! Are they all this arrogant?" Jey asked, his head falling on Roman's shoulder. "Oh yes, it's quite normal in districts one, two and four. Sometimes seven, but not as much. In their opinion, they are the better districts because they make the most useful materials for us." "So they think that you favor them?" Jimmy asked. "Well, mother and father might. To be completely honest, I'm not as involved with the affairs of the kingdom as I should be. I'll have to really start if I want to be prepared for when I take over the throne." The twins nodded. "We can help you." Jey said. "Yeah, we might learn some things as well." Jimmy agreed before they turned their attentions back to the television.
"Now, while the rest of the districts might chews their people based off of different skills such as fighting, farming, or other dull stuff, here in district one, we will prioritise the important stuff, which is beauty, grace, and good manners of course. The prince needs someone well ejecated, and not all of the districts can provide that. So, we will do it. We are after all the second best in education. Second only to the capital of course. With our knowledge, I'm sure we'll have the advantage. The people I have chosen are not only great fighters, but they also have enough beauty and manners to sweep the prince right off his feet."
"Fucking hell." Jimmy and Jey quickly turned towards their cousin, surprised that he had cursed. For never has the prince spoken with out some form of formality.
"What's the problem?" Jey asked. "Can't you tell? They're pretty much worse then here in the capital. Meeting them will be absolutely horrid!"
"Well, you been taught well. You're one of the best behaved people in the kingdom. You'll be fine when talking to them. Sure the conversations will be dreadful, but it will be alright." Jimmy said. "Well, unless you get stuck with one of them." Jey said, making Roman put his head in his hands.
"Now don't get me wrong, I hate the thought of anyone dying. However, I really don't want to marry someone from this district. I'd rather you pick my husband or wife."
"Glad to hear you would have let us. unfortunately, it must be one of those people. So let's see who you're suitors are." Jey said, just as the woman said, "Charlotte Flair and Angel Garza, please come forward. I'm sure you'll do our district proud."
"Well, she's not lying. They are good looking." Jey said, as a boy and girl walked up to the building. They were both dressed in expensive outfits which showed off how athletic they were, especially the girl, who looked like she worked out almost every day. The guy looked like a model from a magazine that the royal family had in the archives.
"Not bad." Jimmy said. "What do you think Rome?" The prince Mearly shrugged. "They'd be respectable choices I suppose." "So they're not your type." Jey said. "No, not exactly." "No problem. They're's got to be someone you might like."
"It doesn't really matter Jey. If they win the trials, I can't exactly refuse to marry them."
"Well, I guess we'll just have to see what happens. Whoever wins is out of our control." Jimmy said.
After the very long speech from the district one mayor, the seen switched to district two. A large group of people were fighting. Some with weapons, others were in hand to hand combat. Despite not liking it, Roman had to admit that they were all very skilled. One of the girls in particular was very skilled at knife throwing. From what he could tell, she never missed her target. He knew that he'd be seeing her quite soon. The district would be stupid not to select her.
Then his eyes landed on a tall boy who was locked in an intense hand to hand fight with someone else. The prince couldn't look away. The boy's movements were very graceful and ppecise, and it was nearly hypnotising. Then the guy turned his head slightly, and Roman's breath caught in his throat. He knew exactly who that was. He could recall those ice blue eyes anywhere. It was Randy Orton. As soon as he saw his face, the memory of their first meeting began playing itself in his head.

Roman had been sitting at a small table, trying not to look at the fighting that was around him. He hated coming to these types of things. He hated having to watch the guards train. He wasn't even sure why he had to come in the first place. He wouldn't exactly be doing anything but sit and watch. This was the first time he was here. Normally, his parents didn't make him go. This year however, they had told him that he had to go, because he had to know every thing about what happens in the kingdom. He had reluctantly agreed to go, but now he definitely regretted it.
His eyes moved from the fighting guards to the groups of children sitting and watching. They looked so comfortable with this, which he supposed made sense, But he knew that he should have been like them. He should have been perfectly relaxed in these types of situations, but he just wasn't, which even now made him feel like a disappointment. What kind of prince is terrified of fighting? It's just a part of ruling a country. He wished Drew would have come with him. He would have distracted him with random small talk. Then he'd make fun of the guards that kept making mistakes.
Roman had smiled at the thought of his best friend. He would make a great gard one day. The smile soon left his face however, as he watched one of the guards fall to the ground, a large cut on his shoulder. He felt sick. He wanted to go home, immediately. He could feel the start of a panic attack, and he hated himself for it.
“Grow up you fucking idiot!" He told himself, which didn't help. He took a slow, deep breath, but not even that relaxed him.

"Hey, are you okay? You don't look so good." The deep voice had made Roman jump slightly, and he wrapped his hand around the handle of his dagger. He couldn't trust anyone in this district. Who knew what they wanted.
"Hey, relax, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise. Who are you?" Roman could sense that whoever it was wasn't lying, about not hurting him, so he very slowly looked up at the person, who's eyes widened.
"Prince Roman." He said with a slight bow. "I'm so sorry for not recognizing you. I wasn't expecting you to be here." Roman had smiled. "It wasn't exactly my choice. Mother and father said I had to come." "But why? It's not exactly a secret how much you hate this. No offence of course." "None taken. You're right about me not enjoying being here, but I couldn't exactly refuse to show up." "Yes, I guess that's true. Come with me. I might be able to distract you." "How exactly?" He asked. "Let's take a walk. I know a place that's quiet. We can just sit and talk. If you'd like of course." The prince had immediately agreed. This had led to the two boys having a very enjoyable conversation about random things. They got to know each other very well, and both hoped to see each other again. When the prince was about to leave, it had been Randy who had taken him to the plane. He had looked angry when Roman's personal gard had left him.
"You need someone better." He had said. Roman had marely shrugged. "I wish I could. However, mother and father probably wouldn't allow it." "It's like they want you to get hurt! That stupid guard can't do anything!" Roman had been rather amused by his new friend's words. Randy had immediately blushed and apologized, which only made the prince laugh.
"Oh, you're right. You have nothing to apologize for. Thank you for talking with me today. I really appreciate it." "Of course! I'm sorry you had to come in the first place." "It's not a problem. Neither of us could help it. But thank you for making it more enjoyable." "It was my pleasure, Prince Roman. I hope to see you soon." Roman had smiled. "So do I. Perhaps you can become my gard in a few years." "I'd love to. Guess I have to work harder then." "You'll be alright. I'll see you in the capital soon. Farewell." Randy had waved and walked back towards the villages, Roman already missing him. He hadn't been able to think of anything else on the whole plane ride home. Whenever he asked Drew about him, his friend would tease him before giving him his answer. But now, maybe he'd bee seeing him soon.

"Are you alright, Rome?" Roman jumped, looking towards his cousins. "Yes, I'm fine. Why?" Jey shrugged. "You wouldn't look away from one of the guys. You see someone you like?" Roman blushed, not looking at either of them. "Oh you do!" Jimmy said, clapping his hands with excitement. "I think he'll be chosen. You might have a chance after all! He's great at fighting. I'm sure that he'd make a great impression to the kingdom." Jey said. Roman's heart stopped. He hadn't thought about the possibility of Randy actually being chosen. He had been to busy being happy to see him, that he didn't realize that he could be on soon. The twins seemed to sense his fear because they immediately wrapped their arms around him.
"Do tell us what's bothering you?" Jey said. "Is it something to do with the guy you saw? Have you two met before?" Jimmy asked. Roman didn't trust himself to speak, so he just nodded. "How?" Jimmy asked. "Was it when you had to go watch the guards practice last year?" Another nod. "Yeah, he distracted me from the fighting." "Oh, did he now?" Jey asked with a smirk. Roman blushed. "Not like that!" He said quickly. "We just talked. He was the nicest person in the whole district. You know Drew's training him now." "Good old Drew." Jimmy said. "Yes, I quite miss him. Is he coming?" "I believe so."
"That's great and everything, but Roman might have just found his husband. Look!" The prince once again felt his heart stop. Drew had just called out Randy's name. He grabbed a pillow, hugging it to his chest. "Not him!" He said, eyes never leaving his face. "Calm down uce." Jey said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "He's good. He'll be alright." Roman's grip tightened on the pillow. "Good isn't enough! There's 23 others he'll have to go through!" Both of the twins looked down at the ground. "Yeah... about that, uce..." Jey said, not meeting his eyes. Roman immediately sat up, his furious gaze on him.
"What are you not telling me cousin?" He said, voice quiet. To his credit, Jey didn't even flinch, but his eyes widened a little. "Well... the kingdom kind of made the king and queen add two people from the capital as well?"

Chapter Text

I found myself standing in a large area of hard dirt. To my left, I saw a large glittering lake. To my back and right, I could see a dense forest. Then I realized that I wasn't alone in this place. About twenty or more other teens were also here; all standing perfectly still. The first thing I noticed were there expressions, which ranged from evil looking, and blood thirsty, to terrified and helpless. Well, maybe not helpless, but still scared to death.
A few yards away was a giant pile of stuff. They ranged from weapons of all kinds, to food, water bottles, and camping stuff. I could see several of the others eyeing the pile, each with a gleam in their eyes. One guy in particular looked very tense, as if ready to charge for the pile at any moment. Beside him, a smaller guy was looking nervous; shooting scared looks toward the first guy, who didn't pay attention to him. Instead, his eyes were on a couple of knifes that rested on a pile of backpacks.
I was just about to ask what was going on, when a loud horn sounded. A very familiar horn too. It was the sound used when important events were about to begin in the kingdom. For a moment, everything was quiet. No one moved. It was as though everyone was holding their breath. But that didn't last long. After a few seconds, everything went into chaos.
The guy I'd been staring at the whole time grabbed the smaller guy's wrist, ignoring his flinch. "I need you to get two backpacks." He said. The guy frowned. "But what will you do? Please don't let it be dangerous." The guy sighed. "Look kid, at this point, everything is dangerous. We're literally fighting to the death." He just sighed. "I'm guessing that means you're gonna do something stupid?" A small smile tugged at the corner of the guy's mouth. "Does trying to go after those knifes considered dangerous?"
"Bro, you can't!"
"I've got no other choice. We're going to need them. It's the one weapon you know how to use well. You might need it if..." The guy held up a hand, his eyes full of anger. "No way bro! Don't even bring that up. You're going to win this. You're going to go back home."
The careful mask that the first guy had made his face into cracked a little, and I could see a hint of sadness in his eyes. "You know only one of us will win. Even if it's me who gets out, I won't be able to go home. I'd have to marry him."
"You'll at least be alive bro! That's all I want!" With that, he pushed past the first guy and ran to the pile of supplies. That was when I noticed what was going on with everyone else. People were fighting all over the place; and I don't just mean screaming and punching each other either. As I watched, one girl threw a sharp-looking knife which landed in another girl's back. She immediately fell to the ground, blood pooling around her. Around me, similar things were happening. One person had there throat slit, another was literally beaten to death. It was a total bloodshed.
From beside me a voice said, "I didn't want this." I didn't have to look to know that it was prince Roman. I'd recognize that voice anywhere. Even so, I turned to look at him. His eyes were fixed on the ground, and he looked miserable. "I'm really sorry you're here, Randy," He said, voice barely heard above the screams of the people. I moved closer to him, wanting to comfort him. "I know. This isn't you're fault. You'd never want something like this." Roman just frowned. "That doesn't matter," He said. "You're still in this, and there's nothing I can do about it."
"I'll do my best to win," I said. "I'll try not to kill anyone, I promise." The prince just gives me this sad smile making my heart break. "I wish you could do that," He said, starting to fade away. "But it's the only way you can win. You'll have to kill eventually. That's just how this works."

Now I was standing in a small clearing. It was almost dark, and I felt cold. In each of my hands, I saw two sharp curved blades, each covered with blood. When I looked down at myself, I realized with horror that I too was covered in blood. "It's not mine," I thought numbly. "This isn't my blood. Does that mean..." Sure enough, when I looked down, I saw two people lying at my feet, clearly dead. They were the same two guys I saw before. There arms were around each other, and they looked... peaceful like that. It was like they were sleeping; except for the pool of blood around them, and the fact that they weren't breathing.
"I told you," A sad voice said. "I told you you'd have to kill to win." When I turned my head, I saw the prince leaning against a tree, his head down. His long black hair covered his face, but I already knew what his expression was like. He was sad, scared, and a little disgusted of me. Clearly, I had broken my promise. I'd killed.
"This was all for you," I said, taking a step toward him. "I did all of this for you. We're going to get married." As I took a step forward, Roman flinched, moving behind the tree. "You know I didn't want this," He said softly. "You know this is the last thing I ever wanted." I laughed darkly, slowly walking toward him. I had no idea what was going on. I felt angry; very angry, something I'd never really felt before. It was like I was a totally different person. I didn't feel bad at all that I just killed two people. In fact, it was as though I was happy about it. But not only that, I wanted to hurt Roman, which was just awful.
"It's a little to late for that, darling. It's already been done. Don't tell me you're going to back down now. Are you going to refuse to marry me, even though I clearly won?" The prince shook his head, his eyes not meeting mine. "I can't do that," He whispered. "I can't do that to the other districts. If I refuse to marry you, they'd think this whole thing was just to kill one of their own. I'll... I'll have to." I laughed again. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Now, let's go. I'm sure the whole kingdom wants to see you're new... husband."

"Randy? Randy, are you okay?" My eyes flew open and I sat straight up, nearly hitting my sister in the jaw with my sudden movement. She quickly moved out of the way, a concerned frown on her face. "Nightmare?" She asked, sitting on the edge of my bed. I took a shuttering breath and dropped my head in my hands. "It was awful Aliyah," I said, fighting back tears. "I basically dreamed about what it's going to be like there. I... I saw so much blood. The people who were there. They didn't seem like just teens. They were all so vicious. I don't think I can do this any more." Aliyah gave me a stern glare. "Don't be ridiculous, Randy," She said. "You know you have to. It's not even about making our district proud any more. You're also doing this for yourself. You can't let one of those vicious people get to Prince Roman. You know he won't be able to handle them."
At the mention of the prince's name, I let out a long sigh. "That's the thing Aliyah, I don't think I can face him." My sister frowned, placing a hand on my shoulder. "What else was in your dream? Did it have to do with Roman?" I bit my lip, my mind thinking back to the way his beautiful brown eyes were full of fear. Fear of me. I'd caused it.
"The games changed me," I finally said. "They changed me so much, that I scared him away. I never want to see that expression on his face. He was scared that I'd hurt him too." Aliyah sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I understand where you're dream is coming from," She said. "You're about to go into an arena with a bunch of other teens, and your goal is to kill them all. I'd honestly be worried if you didn't have any dreams about it. It would mean you're basically heartless." I let out a quiet sigh, and stood. "Thank you," I said. "You're talk really helped. I'm guessing it's time to go?" She just nodded, a sad look in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Randy." I reached out, pulling her into a hug. "I'm going to miss you too. I promise I'll do my best to come back." My sister's expression darkened. "You better do your best," She said, rubbing her eyes. "I wanna see you by the prince's side, and not in a wooden box." I just gave her a sad smile. I couldn't exactly promise her that I'd come back. I can't do that to her and my family. "I do my best Aliyah. That's all I can promise you." She just gave me a sad smile. "That's all I can ask of you, Randy. Now, let's get you ready."

The next few hours went by in a blur. I had showered and got dressed in my best outfit. Then I had to suffer through my mom and sisters fussing over me, making sure I looked presentable enough, according to Scarlett. I was also able to eat a peaceful lunch with my family, before it was time to go.
Now though, the five of us were outside, staring at the sleek plane that would take me away from home, possibly for the last time. I frowned, trying not to think about that. I had to do this. Aliyah was right. It wasn't just for me now. I had to also do it for the prince. Most importantly, I had to make sure that I didn't live through my dream. I had to make sure that I wouldn't change and scare away the person I loved the most.
Aliyah could tell where my head was at, because she pulled me into a warm hug, making me relax immediately. "You'll be fine," She said. "Make sure to invite us to your weding. If you don't, I'll go to the capital myself, just to give you a piece of my mind. You here me?" I laughed, grateful for Aliyah making me feel better. "Trust me, you guys will be the first people I invite." Mom, dad, and Scarlett joined the hug as well, and we all just stood there, none of us wanting to pull away first.
Unfortunately, Drew had now arrived, the two capital representatives behind him. "Alright guys," He said. "I'm afraid the time has come. We must leave now if we want to make it to the capital before night. There will be a feast for all of the participants. There, you will meet the king and queen, and perhaps the prince as well. There, you will make your first impressions."
I bit my lip, my body going tense. I definitely wasn't expecting to meet the family so soon. I didn't know how to feel any more.
"For the last time Randy, you'll be fine," Scarlett said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. "You're going to make a great first impression. At least, you won't fuck up as much as Shayna." Turning, I saw Shayna clenching her fists, a determined look in her eyes. I frowned. "She'll definitely freak him out." I said, feeling bad for the prince. Maybe I can find a way to distract him, like I did when we first met.
Mom wrapped her arms around me, pulling me against her. "We're all rooting on you to win dear," She said. "We all believe in you." I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder. "I'll do my best." I said for what seemed like the hundredth time. She just nodded, a soft smile on her face. "I love you, Randy," She said. "I'm sorry me and your father haven't shown it lately." I held up a hand. "It's fine mom. I already know. I'll try to come back home, I promise."
After a few more tearful goodbyes, it was time to go. I slowly walked up to the plane, my body filled with nerves. There was no turning back now. I was really doing this. Standing by the doors of the plane, Drew gave me a warm smile. "You're going to be okay mate," He said. "I'm sure the prince will be ecstatic to see you." I couldn't fight back the blush that took over my face, and I rushed on to the plane, taking the seat at the very back. That was when I noticed a few camera people standing outside, probably filming the whole thing. I bit my lip, staring out at my family, who were all smiling sadly at me. "Would prince Roman be seeing this? Would he see who will be his potential partners? How was he feeling about everything?
Those questions kept repeating themselves in my head as everyone else got on the plane. I was lost in my head, only slightly startled by the plane shooting up into the sky. I watched, hardly noticing as district two slowly grew smaller and smaller, until finally disappearing completely. I hardly noticed as Drew sat down beside me, placing an arm around me. "I know you've heard this before, but you'll be alright. I'm sure that you have enough inspiration to win this." All I could do was nod, my eyes still fixed to the seen outside the window. "Trust me, I do," I said. "I just hope it will be enough."
The two of us were quiet for a while, both lost in our own thoughts. Drew was probably excited to be seeing his friends and family again, and I couldn't help but be happy for him. Me on the other hand, I couldn't get those images out of my hand. The blood, the bodies on the ground, and most importantly, Roman's look of horror. With a sigh, I leaned back against my plane seat. I could tell those thoughts weren't leaving any time soon. "This is gonna be a long ride." I thought, closing my eyes.

Chapter Text

Prince Roman paced around his chambers, the words of his cousin repeating themselves in his head. Was he telling the truth? Were his parents really being forced to add two members of the capital to the trials? As much as he hated to admit it, the prince could understand where the people were coming from. It was only fair that someone from the capital also had a chance. Roman bit his lip, still hating the thought that people would fight to marry him. He doubted he'd ever get over it.
Taking a seat on his bed, he placed his head in his hands, a certain dark haired boy appearing in his head. After a whole year, he'd be seeing him again. Obviously the prince wished it was under different circumstances, but he'd at least get to talk to him again. A small smile tugged at the corner of the prince's mouth, and he laid back, once again thinking about their first meeting. Even though they've only met once, Roman couldn't stop thinking about Randy Orton. He had no idea what exactly drew him to the other teen, but he didn't fight it.
"He wanted to be my guard," He whispered, the smile slipping from his face. "He told me he was training to work at the castle. And now..." Roman refused to think about the fact that Randy could die in a few days. He didn't want to picture him bleeding out on the ground, some sort of weapon buried in his body, a nameless figure standing above him. Or worse, he didn't want to think about Randy actually being that person, standing above a dying body, a sadistic smirk on his pretty face.
Thankfully, their was a knock on the door, shaking the prince from his unpleasant thoughts. "Enter." He called out, schooling his expression into something calm. He didn't want anyone to know about how he was feeling. Although, he guessed everyone knew by now. His fear of violence was very well known throughout the kingdom.
The door slowly opened, and his maid Aurora poked her head in. "Is everything alright my prince?" She asked. The prince sighed, motioning for her to come in. "Not exactly," He admitted, feeling relaxed in her presents. Like with Drew, he and Aurora had grown up together, and she chose to work with him. Closing the door behind her, Aurora took a seat beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Tell me what you're thinking," She said. "You know I'll listen."
Roman frowned slightly, laying his head on her shoulder. "A lot of things are in my head right now," He said. "First, I'm sure you know how much I hate what's going on right now. This is completely unnecessary. I could very well find someone on my own." Aurora only nodded, wrapping an arm around the prince. "I agree with you," She said. "But something else is also bothering you. What's wrong?"
"I can't hide anything from you, can I?" He asked, a small smile on his face. She shrugged. "I've known you for a long time Rome. You can't really hide things from me." The prince sighed. "What if I told you that I've met one of the people that got chosen?" He finally asked. "What if I tell you that he's from district two, and that I don't want him to get hurt?"
Aurora was quiet for a few seconds. Finally she said, "I'm guessing you already like this person?" Roman only nodded. "I know it's ridiculous. I only met him once. I shouldn't feel like this." Aurora shook her head. "It's not a bad thing Rome," She assured him. "You'll get to see him tonight. Besides, you said he's from district two right? Then I'm sure he'll be fine in their."
The prince sighed, shaking his head. "We both know his chances are very slim," He said. "It doesn't matter what district he's from. He has twenty five others to get through." Aurora nodded, a small frown on her face. "I'm not going to lie to you," She said. "I'm not going to promise you that he'll win, but I can assure you that he will be well prepared. That's the best I can tell you." The prince only nodded, his head falling back against his pillow. "Thank you for checking up on me, Aurora. I really appreciate it. But I'm guessing that's not the only reason you're here." Aurora stood, a small smile on her face. "Perceptive," She said. "You're right of course. I'm here to let you know that the king and queen have planned a feast tonight to celebrate the arrival of the Souters." Roman frowned. "I'm guessing I have to come this time?" Aurora nodded. "I'm afraid so. Hey, at least you can see Drew again. Not to mention that boy you're interested in." The prince couldn't help but smile at the mention of Randy. "Yeah," He said. "You're right."

The first time I saw the capital, I thought I was dreaming. The beautiful city was made up of large buildings with large glass windows. Everyone I could see was dressed in expensive looking clothes and jewels. They were all looking at our little group as we walked through the city. Drew was walking beside me, a rare smile on his face. His eyes were full of joy, and I couldn't help but ask why he hadn't come back sooner. "It's clear you miss it," I said. "So why not visit?"
Drew looked at me, his smile fading a little. "I'm only aloud to visit during the holidays, and that's in about three months. I hadn't been here since I went to district two to start working." I frowned. "Who told you you couldn't come visit?"
"It was my mother. She said I need to focus on my work. I of course am not happy about it, but I understand where she's coming from. Anyway, we're here now."
Even though I was expecting the castle to be huge, I still found myself surprised. The royal castle was tall, about twelve stories high, with sparkling windows, giant marble columns, and a beautiful stone arch leading up to the huge oak doors.
The grounds were equally impressive. I could see several gardens full of all different types of flowers and trees. Several marble statues and fountains were scattered throughout them. I could picture the prince walking through those gardens, a soft smile on his face, probably a book in hand. It made me smile just thinking about it.
Drew seemed to notice because he gave me a smirk. "You'll see him in just a few hours," He said. "You must be prepared first."
"What exactly do you mean?" Shayna demanded from behind us. I rolled my eyes. "You didn't really think you'd go to the feast dressed like that did you?" I asked. "This is a first impression we're talking about. Although... I guess no matter what you look like, you'll always be seen as a demon." Shayna let out an angry cry and charged toward me, only stopping when Drew stepped in between us. "Stop it, Shayna," He said. "We're about to enter the home of the royal family. Please attempt to show some respect."
"What respect?" I muttered, taking a step back from Drew's glare. "Zip it, Orton!" He said, walking up to the front doors. "You two better be on your best behavior when you walk in to the castle. You will be taken to your stylists who will prepare you for tonight. After that, I will come to collect you and take you to the royal dining room."
Drew's face darkened then, and he sent both of us a stern glare. "If you two do anything to disrespect the royal family, you will be sent back home. You're reputations will be ruined, and you will be unable to become a guard. This is how serious this is. I hope you understand."
Even Shayna seemed to shrink back from the look Drew was giving us, and she nodded. "Fine then," She said. "I'll behave." I highly doubted that, but I kept my mouth shut. There is no way I'm getting sent back. I was so close to seeing the prince, that the thought of me leaving made me feel a little sick. Drew seemed to be satisfied that he'd warned us enough, because he turned back to the doors and knocked.
About a minute later, the doors were opened by a Woman who looked like she was in her late thirties, with long black hair, pale skin, and dark blue eyes. Taking a closer look at her, I thought she looked a little familiar. My thoughts were confirmed when Drew broke into a wide smile. "Mother!" He exclaimed, rushing forward to embrace her. Drew's mother smiled as well, her arms wrapping around her son. "It's so good to see you again," She said. "I missed you." Drew pulled back slightly, the smile only getting bigger. "I missed you too," He said. "How have you been?"
"The same as always," She replied. "I've just finished making the prince's outfit for tonight. Trust me Drew, he looks very handsome."
"I'm sure he does. You always made the best outfits. I heard you were tasked with fitting district one." Drew's mother sighed. "I have," She said. "Don't get me wrong. I'm happy that I get to help out, but those two are just to much. Why can't they be as polite as Roman?"
Drew shrugged. "Perhaps it's just that they're not raised well," He said. "Anyway, these are the two that I brought with me. Randy Orton, and Shayna Bazler. Do you have any idea who's going to be their stylists?" Drew's mother looked at both of us for a moment, her eyes lingering on me. She almost seemed to smile. "I do," She finally said. "They work with me. I'm sure they'll do a wonderful job. To be honest, they're quite lucky to have them." Drew smiled. "Perfect," He said. "Who's going to take them?"
Before she could answer, two small bodies threw themselves at Drew, hugging him tightly. "Drew! It's so good to see you again! How have you been? How's work? Do they give you a hard time there? Are you happy there?" Drew laughed, wrapping his arms around who I now realized were the younger princes, and Roman's cousins. They are just as energetic as they seen on the television.
Suddenly, one of the twins, prince Jey I believe looked up, his dark eyes locked on my face. A slow smile began to spread on his face and he tapped his brother, motioning to me. "So it's you," Prince Jimmy said. "You're the one our cousin was talking about."
"My eyes widen at the prince's words. "I... I don't understand," I managed to say. "He remembers me?" Drew shoved me slightly. "I told you so," He said. "Jimmy, Jey, do you mind taking these two to their stylists?" The twins exchanged a look before nodding. "Of course," Jey said, grabbing my wrist. "We'll be happy to." With that, I was pulled to a grand staircase, followed by several long halls. To be honest, I was a bit scared. "Prince Jey didn't look dangerous, but I knew that he could use almost any weapon. Most importantly, he wasn't afraid to use them.
"You know," The prince started. "Rome has been looking forward to seeing you. He obviously doesn't like the fact that you're here in this situation, but he's still happy to see you again." His face turned serious then, and I was a little nervous. It was the first time I'd ever seen the prince look like that. "You know, he told me about how you first met him," He said. "I just want to thank you for keeping him company. You obviously didn't have to, but you still did, and for that, I'm sure a lot of people are grateful."
I didn't know what to say. Had prince Roman really mentioned me to his cousins? His cousins who were the closest people to him? My whole body was warm at the thought, and I couldn't help but smile, which was caught by the perceptive prince. Thankfully, he didn't say anything, but he did smile.
Finally, we stopped in front of a door, and the prince knocked. "Tyler," He called out. "Stop kissing Fandango and open up. I have the person you're in charge of preparing." Immediately the door flew open, and a young man glared at us. "Really Jey?" He said, sounding slightly annoyed. "You didn't have to yell that. Besides, he's not even here. He's next door preparing for his person."
Prince Jey only shrugged. "Whatever. Randy, this is Tyler Breeze. Tyler, this is Randy Orton from district two. Please, make him look his best. I heard prince Roman has an interest in him already." I tried to hide my furiously blushing face, but I'm pretty sure I failed. Tyler's face lit up, and he smiled. "Well then. Looks like I have to make sure you look perfect. Come in, come in. I have so much to do." He sent Jey a stern look. "You should get ready as well," He said. "The feast is only in two hours. You need to be ready." Before Jey could answer, Tyler had pulled me inside, immediately closing the door afterward.
I frowned. "Won't you get in trouble for talking to a prince like that?" I wondered. Tyler only shook his head, leading me into a giant bathroom. "Not exactly," He said, handing me a towel. "A lot of us grew up around the three princes. Our parents already worked for them, so we all became close. We don't really have to be formal with them. Even the king and queen treat us like their own children sometimes. Now, take a shower or a bath, I don't really care. Just don't take to long. I will be waiting for you when you're done. Oh, and please make sure to shave as well. Their are some razers on the counter. If you don't do it properly, I will do it myself using wax strips, and that's very unpleasant." Giving me one last look, Tyler was gone, closing the door behind him.
Now that I was left to myself, I once again thought of the prince. I was shocked that he'd ever remember me, let alone tell his cousins about me. Most importantly, his cousins didn't seem to hate me. In fact, it was as though they were hoping it would be me that married him. I thought back to the promise I made. The promise that I would try my best to be the winner. It seems as though now, I had more inspiration to go through with it.
Once I cleaned myself up, I wrapped the towel around me and stepped into the room. Tyler was sitting in a chair, his eyes fixed on a pile of clothes in his lap. He didn't seem to notice I was there, so I cleared my throat to get his attention. "Umm, what exactly do I do now?"
Tyler looked up, studying me carefully. After seeming to be satisfied, he motioned for me to sit in a chair in front of him. "I'm trying to pick out your outfit," He said, returning his attention back to the pile of clothes. Jey tells me that you're already being noticed by the prince, so you need to look perfect. I already had your outfit chosen, but due to these new developments, I fear they're not enough. You need to be memorable in your first impression."
I sighed, leaning back against the chair. "Technically I've met the prince before," I said. "It was about a year ago." Tyler nodded. "Yes, I was told. However, it's not only the prince you're going to have to impress, but the rest of the royals as well. I'm sure you know that we only want what's best for him." I only sighed. "I know," I said. "I'm not sure if I'm the right person for him though."
"Don't be ridiculous," Tyler said, pushing a bundle of clothes into my arms. "If the prince likes you, then you can't be that bad. Now, change into that, and I'll see what I can do with your hair... I'm lucky you're already very good looking. Some of the other stylists I know aren't so lucky."
It felt like hours to me before Tyler was finally done. I stood in front of a mirror, unable to believe what I saw. I was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark blue suit, the clothing feeling as though it was made spasifically for me. When I asked Tyler how it fit this well, he smiled and told me that he'd made it himself. "They gave me your measurements," He said. "I made a few things for you to wear, all depending on what you're going to do. This is the best one I made." My hair was smooth and shiny, thanks to Tyler's many hair care products. My skin looked soft and moisturized, and for the first time in a while, I felt perfectly refreshed.
Turning, I sent Tyler a small smile. "Thank you," I said. "You did a great job. I don't know how to repay you." Tyler only shook his head, a small smile on his face. "You don't have to thank me," He said. "Just win your prince. That's all I want from you. You seem to be the best one out of the group. Well, not everyone is angry and blood thirsty, but the few that aren't... I'm afraid they won't last long. They're way to pure for something like this." I could tell he was talking about a certain person, and I felt bad for whoever it was. This was definitely no place for someone not used to fighting.
A knock at the door made me jump. Tyler quickly stood, making his way over and pulling it open. "Dango!" He said, his voice full of excitement. I walked a little closer to the door to get a better look. The guy who Tyler had called out to was tall and muscular, but still managed to look graceful as well. His features were gentle and quite handsome. At the moment, he was smiling at Tyler. Even his smile was gentle.
"Hey Breezy. Are you done?" His voice was soft and quiet, a slight accent present as well. Tyler smiled, motioning me over. "He's perfect," He said, wrapping an arm around me. "The prince will love him." Fandango gave me a small smile. "I'm sure you're right. He'll at least be more liked then who I had to prepare. She's dreadful." He turned back to me. "How exactly do you deal with her? She's a nightmare." I sighed. "It's difficult," I admitted. "I used to date her. I'm not even sure why. I already liked someone else then." Tyler smirked. "Oh I'm sure you did," He said with a wink. "I'm sure those feelings are still there." I looked down to hide my blush. "Is it really that obvious?" I groaned. "Tyler, stop messing with him." Came Drew's annoyed voice. Tyler only pouted. "You're no fun Drew," He said. "I'm just teasing him. Don't pretend as though you don't do it too." I glared at Drew. "He does," I said. "All the time."
"Just as I thought," Tyler said. "Now, is it time for the feast? I can't wait for these two to see each other again. It will be amazing." Drew looks over at me then, a small smile of approval on his face. "You're talent has improved Tyler. I'm proud of you." Tyler preens under Drew's praise. "Thank you," He said. "It took a while for me to get fully confident in my skills."
Just then the royal horn sounded, and Drew smiled. "It's time," He said, wrapping an arm around me and starting to walk. "Now, let's go meet your prince."

Chapter Text

The five of us stood in front of a set of oak doors, the main dining hall on the other side. My little group wasn't the only ones that were waiting though. In the five minutes we were out here, the rest of the districts had shown up, and I couldn't help but study them. One of these people would win the trials. They would marry the prince, and help rule the kingdom. A dark thought came into my head. One of these might be the one that kills me in the arena.
I shook my head, not wanting my thoughts to go that way, at least not here. Instead, I went back to studying the other teens. Almost immediately, I saw the person Tyler was worried about. He definitely didn't belong in a fight to the death. He was small. Well, smaller then me, with light brown hair, pale skin, and wide, innocent blue eyes. He was looking around, taking in the people around him. He didn't seem to be scared at all. At that moment, I couldn't help but take a step toward him. I'm not sure why, but I felt a strong urge to protect that kid. He shouldn't be here, and I didn't want him to get hurt.
As if hearing my thoughts, the guy's eyes met mine, and he smiled. His smile was bright and adorable, and my heart sank. This guy could die soon. My lips turned up in a small smile as well, and his eyes lit up, and he made his way over.
"Hey bro," He said, his voice sounded as excited as he looked. "My name is Matt Riddle from district eleven. Who are you?" I smiled despite myself, reaching out and placing an arm around the kid. "Randy Orton," I said. "I'm from district two." Matt tilted his head slightly, making him look like a puppy. "I can see that," He finally said. "You're all scarry looking. I'm sure everyone's gonna love you." I shrugged. "Not sure about that. I don't really seem approachable to people. I doubt they'll think much of me. You on the other hand. I'm sure you'll be pretty loved." I didn't bother to say that he might not make it out of the games. I didn't want to ruin his mood.
Matt smiled, leaning into my arm which was still around his shoulders. "You're not that unapproachable," He said. "I mean... I'm talking to you right now." I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, but I doubt you care about who's safe to talk to or not."
"True. I mean... I tried to talk to the guy from district four, but he ignored me. He's really cute though." He pointed to a guy that I knew Roman would be scared of. He was a little small then Matt, but he was quite muscular. He had blond hair, slightly tan skin, and dark blue eyes. His mouth was set in a scowl, and his hands were clenched into fists.
Turning back to Matt, I raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you'd be interested in someone like him," I said. "He doesn't seem like your type." Matt smiled softly, his eyes on the guy. "Well, he won't really talk to me, so I don't know what to do. He'd probably be more into Roman than me."
A sudden image comes to my head. It was the seen back in my dream. Matt fit the description of one of the guys there. Well, I couldn't really see the guy, but he kind of sounded and acted like him. The thought that I could've killed him made my grip on him tighten slightly. "I'm sure he'll come around." I said, which seemed to make him happy again. "You think so? I really hope you're right bro. I can't help it that I find him hot."
"Matt!" A voice called out. We both turned to see a girl making her way over to us, a small worried frown on her face. "Matt, don't just wander off like that. You could get hurt." Matt gives the girl a soft smile. "I'll be alright Caden. I'm just saying hi to people." Caden's gaze went to me, and she quickly pulled Matt away. "Let's go back," She said. "They're about to start announcing us." Sending me one last look, Matt followed her back to the other side of the room. I noticed his eyes move to the guy from district four, who was already watching him. Matt's eyes lit up and he gave him a wide smile. The guy tilted his head slightly, giving Matt a small smile in return. It was hardly there, but Matt still looked very happy.
"You see what I mean?" Tyler asked from beside me, his eyes following Matt. "He shouldn't be here. He's way to pure for this. Besides, he's hopelessly in love with Pete Dunne." So that was the guy's name. It kind of fit him.
"I'm not exactly pleased with the royal family for this choice," Drew said. "They could've chosen any other method to get Roman a husband/ bride, but they had to choose the worst one."
"I believe they're trying to find the person that will be the best at protecting the prince." Fandango said quietly, gently taking Tyler's hand. Drew shook his head. "Not exactly the best way to do that. Whoever wins will more then likely end up scarring him." I frowned slightly. "You didn't have to bring that up," I said, my eyes on the ground. "That's what I've been most afraid of." Drew sent me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Randy, but you have to admit it's a big possibility. The winner of these trials would have killed people. They would've seen a lot of blood and death, and that would change anyone. Even if you end up winning, you won't exactly be the same person you are now."
I tried not to flinch at his words. I didn't exactly want to think of myself as a blood thirsty monster. I'd already had a dream about that. Thankfully, Tyler seemed to since my mood change because he wrapped an arm around me. "Don't worry him so much Drew. Randy will be perfectly fine." Drew opened his mouth to say something but Tyler held up his hand. "It's no use in worrying him Drew. I'm sure he already thinks about that a lot. Now, it's about time that the feast starts. Let's just focus on that."
As soon as Tyler stopped talking, the royal horn sounded again, and everyone went silent. Any moment now, the royal family would show up, and I'd see my prince.

"Roman, will you stay still? I'm trying to make sure you're presentable enough!" Prince Roman rolled his eyes at his cousin's annoyed tone, but listened none the less, holding perfectly still as he was closely inspected. "Well then, how do I look? Am I decent enough for you?" Jey only rolled his eyes, continuing to circle him. "You better be grateful I'm helping you. I'm trying to make sure you look perfect for you're future husband. In fact, he can't wait to see you again."
Roman turned his head sharply to face his cousin, staring into Jey's grinning face. "You saw him?" He demanded. "You saw him and only tell me about it now? I never expected you to be so cruel." Jey merely shrugged. "Relax Uce. I was going to tell you on our way down to the dining hall. I figured it wasn't a good idea to get you all worked up. I suppose I was right to keep it hidden. You look worried now, and that's not helping you're image."
"My image isn't exactly at the top of my list of priorities at the moment, cousin." Roman said dryly, turning to stare unhappily into the mirror. He was picking himself apart, trying to see anything that needed to be fixed before going downstairs. He knew it wasn't good for his mental state, which was already pretty messed up due to the events that were about to take place in a few days, but he really couldn't help it. For some reason, Randy Orton made him double check that he was as perfect as he could get. But as he stared into the mirror, his mind filled with thoughts of the upcoming trials. What would happen to Randy during those trials? Roman knew that if he were to survive, Randy wouldn't be the same person, but how much would he be changed? Would he still be that sweet person that provided a perfect distraction when he needed it? Or would he turn into a blood thirsty monster? Roman tried not to think about that option. He already knew that if that were to happen, it would destroy Roman. Somehow, despite only seeing him once, he had already fallen for that beautiful boy from district two.
As if sensing the direction his thoughts had been going, Jey wrapped an arm around Roman's shoulders, pulling him against him. "It's going to be okay Uce. Everything will work out for you two." Roman looked down, noting that Jey didn't promise like he usually did. He was glad for that. He wasn't sure he'd be able to handle an empty promise. After a minute, Roman turned to face his cousin, trusting him to tell him the honest truth, even if he didn't want to hear it. "Jey, do you think I've fallen for him to quickly? I have only seen him in person once, and that only lasted a few hours. Do you think I'm getting ahead of myself? And please, don't lie to me."
For a moment, Jey was quiet, which worried Roman more. No doubt his cousin was about to confirm his fears. He was being stupid. He shouldn't feel this way. But before he could spiral farther, Jey placed a hand on his shoulder, a soft smile on his face. "If I'm being completely honest with you Rome, I don't think it's to soon. It doesn't matter that you've only met him once. If you really feel that way about him, then hold on to that feeling. There's nothing wrong with being in love with someone, even if it's at first sight. That might actually make it better."
Though he didn't want to admit it, Jey's words had really comforted the prince. He thought that loving someone so quickly was a sign of weakness, but maybe Jey was right. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing. Still though, their were so many things that were preventing the prince from feeling happy about the revelation. For one thing, their was that fact that Randy might not feel the same. Or even worse, he was only there as an honor for his district; which was something he couldn't blame him for. Perhaps if he were braver, he'd be happy to fight for the capital. "And that's not even considering the fact that he might not make it out." He thought, gaze falling. He didn't want to think about that, but it also wasn't something he could avoid. Their was a possibility, a strong one too, that Randy might not even make it.
"Okay, that's enough thinking for you Rome." Jey said, linking his arm through Roman's. "You look perfect, and we're going to go down now. I'm sure everyone's waiting for us." Roman frowned. "I don't think.." Jey held up a hand. "Sorry Uce, but we're going now. You're going to be fine. I'll be here for you, and so will Jimmy." Before the prince could make any more protests, Jey had already opened the door, pushing him outside. Jimmy was waiting for them, his eyes filling with concern when he saw Roman's face. "Jey, what did you say to him?" He demanded. Jey rolled his eyes. "I did nothing. I just told him that Orton can't wait to see him." Jimmy sighed, wrapping an arm around Roman. "Well, he is right about that Rome. I can just tell by the look in his eyes, that he can't wait to see you." Roman sighed, hoping that they were telling the truth. Randy Orton hadn't left his mind since he saw him a few hours ago. Hell, he didn't know how he'd react when he saw him in person. What if he acted like a complete idiot? He really couldn't go down there. He wasn't ready. But before he could make a dignified run back into his room, their was the sound of the royal horn, and Roman realized he couldn't hide any longer. It was time to go down there and face everyone. It was time to see him again.
A few minutes later, the entire royal family stood in front of the double doors of the dining hall, waiting to be announced. Roman knew that he would be the last one announced, which would give his brain more time to think of the worst ways this meeting could play out. On the other hand, this also meant he'd have more time to look for him with out being rushed. Roman supposed that not everything could go right for him tonight. He just hoped that seeing Randy would be one of those times where luck would be on his side.
As Roman was lost in his thoughts, his cousins had already gone through, as well as his aunts and uncles. Soon after, the king and queen were called in, and it was only him left. The prince's heart felt like it would beat out of his chest, and he clenched his hands into fists, trying to ground himself. It was only a matter of time. His name was coming up, and he could already hear the anticipation of the crowd. Sure enough, it wasn't long when Aurora's voice rang out. "And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for. I'm proud to announce.. Prince Roman Reigns!"

Oh god, he was beautiful. The prince walked in, his head held high, his signature soft smile on his face. His dark brown eyes moved from table to table, carefully studying everyone who would compete for him. Although he looked confident, I could see how his eyes flickered with fear, especially when he saw Pete Dunne, and a couple of the others. I also noticed how he saddened when he saw Matt, clearly unhappy that someone like him was there.
I didn't have enough time to prepare myself, because his eyes finally landed on me. My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn't do anything but stare back at him. At first, he showed no reaction, which worried me. Was jey lying about him remembering me? Had he just been humoring me? But before my thoughts could get the best of me, a breathtaking smile lit up his face, and he began walking toward me. My eyes widened, and I shot a look at Drew, who was smiling at me. "I told you so." He mouthed. Before I could reply, I saw the prince stop right beside me. I slowly turned my head, my eyes locking with his. He was still smiling, and he gently took my hand, placing a light kiss on the back. "You don't know how happy I am to see you again." He whispered, his warm breath ghosting across my skin, making me shiver slightly. I couldn't help the smile that slowly appeared on my face. "I must admit, I kind of missed you." The prince's smile only widened, and his hand lightly brushed my cheek. "I missed you as well."
Just then, a hand was placed on Roman's shoulder, Jey looking slightly apologetic. "Sorry for interrupting you're reunion, but Rome's needed at the head table. I promise you two will have more time together."
Prince Roman sighed, giving me another soft smile. "I'm looking forward to catching up with you." He said. "As am I, my prince." I replied, loving how a light blush dusted his cheeks. Jey winked at me as he lead Roman away. I was unable to look away from his retreating form, sure that this moment would be stuck in my head for hours. I didn't pay attention to anything else happening around me, my eyes darting to the head table every minute or so, almost always meeting my prince's eyes. He'd always smile at me, which always made my heart speed up. Before I came here, I was sure that he wouldn't remember me. Now though, staring into those eyes, it seemed as though he truly was happy to see me, and if that wasn't a reason to do my best during these trials, I wasn't sure what was.

Chapter Text

For the rest of the night, I couldn't stop smiling. Tonight has been a lot more than I expected. Not only did he recognize me, but he'd actually walked over to talk to me. Even now, the fact that the prince actually did that made the small smile I've been trying to hide become that more noticeable. To make things better, the expression on Shayna's face was perfect. I seriously thought she would kill me in my sleep. If she did, at least I'd die with Roman's soft smile in my mind. Okay, I am becoming way to emotional; something I never let happen. I suppose when it comes to the prince, anything could happen to me.
Tyler lead us to the set of rooms we'd be using, then gave us a hard look, his hands on his hips. "I know you're tired, and want nothing more than to get in bed and sleep. But if you mess up the clothes Dango and I spent time making, I, will, cut, you!" His look then turned on me, and his face softened slightly. "I like you Orton, but don't think that means I'll spare you if you even slightly ruin that suit." With that statement, he hugged Drew, then darted back down the hall, tugging a very amused Fandango behind him.
Once they were gone, Drew and I shared a look, then grinned. "He's quite terrifying." Drew said, and I nodded. Shayna huffed, then disappeared into her room, no doubt about to do the opposite of what Tyler said. Once she was gone, it was only me and Drew left in the hallway; which meant I could fully let my guard down. So with a sigh, I leaned against the wall, my hands going up to cover my face. Drew walked over, leaning beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "What's going through your head mate?" He asked, thankfully keeping his voice quiet. The last thing I needed was for Shayna to overhear my problems. Who knew what she could do with that information.
"He remembered me." I said, my voice hardly above a whisper. Drew nodded, a soft smile at the corner of his mouth. "I know he did. It was pretty clear. Didn't I tell you he didn't forget you?" I merely shrugged, staring down at the polished marble floor. "I just didn't think it was possible. I didn't think I made that much of an impact on him. I mean, he sees so many people a day. How did I stand out?"
"The answer to that is simple." Both Drew and I jumped when Prince Roman appeared down the hall, steadily walking toward us. He was still dressed in the outfit from earlier, but his expression was much more open; the careful mask that had been in place throughout dinner was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the prince was smiling brightly, his dark eyes full of warmth. Once I saw him, my face immediately felt warm. How much of my speech did he hear? What does he think of me now? He didn't look annoyed or anything, but perhaps he was merely acting. Before I could try to escape, he had reached us, and his eyes flashed with a gentle order. "Stay." And who was I to defy him? My feet remained frozen to the ground as he finally stopped in front of us.
Drew smiled, pulling the prince into his arms. "It's good to see you mate. I must admit, working in the districts wasn't as fun with out you there." The prince laughed, a sound that sounded quite soothing to me, and I felt my body relax. "We both know I wouldn't be much help to you Drew. I can't seem to even get near a weapon with out freaking out." Drew rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh please my dear prince. Don't pretend as though you aren't one of the best fighters in the capital." Prince Roman merely smirked, his hand resting on a small dagger I only then noticed was there. "Trust me Drew. I wouldn't have learned if I wasn't forced to."
"That's something we can agree on." Drew conceded, then motioned toward me with a small smirk. "Anyway, I'm guessing you've met one of my trainees?"
I mentally cursed out Drew, because as soon as he mentioned me, those eyes were once again on me; trapping me in their gaze. I took a slow breath, forcing myself to keep eye contact with him. I didn't know if I should say something, but for that moment, I chose to keep quiet. I had no idea why he was here, and I thought it was best to find out before I did anything. A slow smile crept on his face, and without looking away from me he said, "Oh yes. I do remember Randy Orton."
My breath caught in my throat when I heard my name on his lips. He said it slowly, as though testing it out. Once again, my face flushed, and I was confused. Where was the confident district two fighter I normally was? Where was the apparent coldness that my training partners claimed I had? Why do I feel like a fucking teenage girl being acknowledged by her crush? I was really glad that Shayna had left before the prince had shown up. No matter what, I knew I wasn't going to live it down if she found out how I was acting because of him.
Drew smiled, sending me a slight wink. "Glad to hear. You seemed quite happy to see him Rome. How well do you know him?" I watched as the Prince's own face flushed slightly, and he lowered his gaze. "Well... He made quite the impression on me last time. It's actually quite hard to forget someone like him. Of course I'd want to greet him as soon as possible."
My mind had gone completely blank at this point, and I could only listen as Drew and the prince continued talking. I only payed attention again when Drew's arm moved from around me, and he was stepping toward what I guessed was his room. "Have fun you two," He said, flashing us a smug smile. "Don't keep him out to late Rome. We don't want anyone to get the wrong idea now do we?" With that last !remark, Drew's door closed, and it was just me and prince Roman left in the hall. My eyes widened slightly, and I tried not to panic. What exactly did Drew and Roman have planned? I supposed I really should've payed attention to their conversation.

Roman watched in amusement as Randy Orton stared after Drew, his eyes wide, lips parted slightly in surprise. He figured Randy had zoned out during the conversation, and his theory was confirmed with Randy's reaction just now. Slowly, as if not to startle him, Roman placed a hand on his shoulder. Randy jumped slightly, turning his head to meet Roman's eyes, who smiled slightly. "I figured you weren't listening to us." He said, earning a sheepish smile from him. "I mean, would you have liked it if someone listened into your conversations?" He said defensively. Roman merely laughed with a slight shrug. "I mean, I have nothing to hide really, but I suppose I'd be slightly annoyed if someone were to listen in to private conversations." Randy smirked slightly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Exactly, and I didn't want to annoy you. After all, this is your domain after all, meaning you could easily kick me out." Roman smiled slightly, offering his hand. "I doubt you can do much to anger me that much my dear. I'm quite good at controlling my temper. It's rather necessary while ruling an entire kingdom. Anyway, how would you like to accompany me on a walk? It's quite lovely out, and I'd like to catch up with you if you don't mind." Although the prince sounded quite calm and relaxed, inside he was nervous. What if Randy declined him? What if he turned away in disgust, leaving him alone in the hall? But before he could start to fully worry, a hand closed around his own, lacing their fingers together. "I'd love that." Randy said quietly, and Roman couldn't help but smile fully then, tightening his grip and starting to walk down the hall.
The first few minutes past in a comfortable silence, which was kind of surprising. This was only the second time they've been alone together, and it already felt as though they've known each other for years. Roman knew that if it were anyone else, the silence would be anything but comfortable. They were now outside, the warm breeze and starry sky making the walk more romantic than he'd intended, but it wasn't like he minded, and judging by Randy's relaxed stance, he didn't mind this either.
Looking over at Randy, Roman was caught off guard when he saw that he was already looking at him, his eyes soft. Both of them stopped walking, their gazes remaining locked on each other, neither one wanting to look away first. Slowly, hesitantly, Roman stepped forward, allowing Randy to move away if he wanted to. But Randy didn't move, allowing him to take another step closer, leaving only a few inches between them. For a moment, neither spoke, merely enjoying each other's company. It was Roman who spoke first, his voice hardly above a whisper. "May I have this dance?"
A slow smile crept on Randy's face, and he nodded. "You may." Slowly, Roman wrapped an arm around Randy's waist, the other tightening slightly on the hand he already held. They slowly moved closer, and started to dance, swaying to a song that only they could hear. The whole world seemed to fade away around them, leaving them surrounded in a small, quiet bubble of their own. They moved together as if they've been doing it for ever, their eyes never looking away from each other, wanting to memorise each other for when they were inevitably separated.
A few minutes later, they slowly came to a stop, but still neither moved away. Instead, they just stood together in the middle of the royal gardens, not wanting the night to end. Unfortunately however, they knew they couldn't be out for long. Who knew how much longer they'd have by themselves before people come looking for them. "I should get you back inside." Roman said at last, slightly stepping away. A flash of disappointment flashed through Randy's eyes before it vanished, and a small smile took it's place. "I suppose you're right. Shall we?"
Unlike the walk outside, the walk back to Randy's room was filled with quiet conversation. It was the type of conversation that wouldn't really be remembered past the fact that they had it. It was full of pointless topics that seemed important at the time. Time seemed to fly by as they spoke, and in no time, they were standing in front of Randy's door. For a few moments, neither spoke, wishing that they didn't have to part, even if it was for the night. What worried them the most was just this would be the last time they could spend time with each other like this. No doubt their next interaction would be watched by the whole kingdom, which only took away some of the enjoyment. And perhaps, deep down, they were both fearing the worst. That Randy wouldn't make it out, and this was the only alone time they would have.
Finally, it was Roman that moved first, gently lifting Randy hand, and brushing a soft kiss against the back, making sure to maintain eye contact the whole time. There was a soft gasp from him, but he didn't pull away, which made the prince happy. Carefully, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around him, resting his head against his shoulder.
"I wasn't lying to you, Randy Orton," He said quietly, feeling arms wrap around him in return. "I really am glad to see you. I just wish..."
"Don't say it." Randy whispered, placing a finger against Roman's lips. "Please don't mention how I'm here. I don't want it to ruin tonight." The prince smiled, giving Randy's hand a light squeeze. "I can do that," He said. "But I never thanked you for agreeing to this. I hope you know you were not being forced to. I wouldn't do that." Randy held up a hand, his expression firm. "You didn't force me to do anything. I wanted to spend time with you. Don't you dare forget that." Roman smiled slightly, reluctantly pulling out of Randy's arms. "I'm glad to hear it. I was a little worried that you'd only excepted due to my title." Randy sighed softly, his eyes flashing. "The fact that you've had to deal with that sort of thing is quite upsetting. Just know that I choose to spend time with you. You intrigue me, my prince. You have since the day I first met you in district two."
Roman released a shaky breath, his eyes locked on the ground. "Thank you," He whispered. "That means a lot to me."
"I don't say things unless I mean them. That's one of the most important thing you should know about me. Whatever I say to you, is exactly what I think." A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he leaned in slightly, his blue eyes burning straight into his soul. "So when I say that you're absolutely breathtaking. You best believe I mean it." The prince was frozen to the spot, his eyes wide. Randy smiled softly, his hand gently brushing his cheek. "Thank you for this amazing night my prince. I really hope we can do this again some time." With that, he turned, disappearing into his room, and leaving Roman staring after him, his face burning bright red.

Chapter Text

The next morning was bright and sunny, which matched the Prince's mood very well. Slowly opening his eyes, a small smile pulled at his mouth as he remembered the events from last night. From first laying eyes on him after so long, to going on that walk with him later on, prince Roman could truly say that he had never had a better night in his life. For the first time in years, he didn't have to put on his royal mask, and he felt... free; a feeling he loved, and desperately wanted to feel again.
"Or maybe you just want to see him again." He thought, and he could tell he was blushing. He'd spent one night with him, and it seemed as though he'd already gotten attached. It wasn't like he could do anything to prevent it. There was just something about Randy Orton that just... called to him. Perhaps the fact that his cold and uncaring mask he had around everyone was nowhere to be seen when they were together. Maybe it was his smile, kind of suddle, and perfect, and just... real; very unlike the ones he saw in the royal court; which were all practiced and fake. "He'd be a perfect addition to the court." He thought, immediately pushing that thought away. He couldn't think like that. He couldn't get his hopes up, only to have them crushed if Randy dies. No, he wouldn't be able to go through losing him. That also meant distancing himself from Orton, which was another thing he couldn't bring himself to do. So basically, prince Roman was completely screwed. The thing was, he wasn't sure he really minded either.
Before he could get even more lost in his thoughts, the door to his sweet was thrown open, and his twin cousins walked in, their faces set in identical grins. Already, Roman could feel the headache building. Whenever the twins looked as happy as they do now, it's not good for his sanity at all. With a sigh, he rolled over, staring at the wall and doing his best to ignore them.
"So Rome," Jey said, throwing himself on the bed beside him. "Jimmy and I have a funny story to tell you." Roman didn't answer, so Jey continued speaking. "So about an hour after dinner, we decided to go to your room to talk."
"We wanted to talk to you about what you think of everyone, and how you were dealing with seeing your boyfriend again." Jimmy said, also dropping down beside his feet. "Imagine our surprise when we walked in and you weren't here. We were obviously worried, and we didn't know if you'd gotten kidnapped, so we decided to go out and look for you."
Roman groaned, sending his cousins his darkest scowl. "Get to the point please. I'm tired." His words only caused them to smirk even more. "Don't worry, we're getting there," Jey said. "Anyway, we decided to go out and look for you. So we thought about what your favorite places in the castle are, and we eventually came up with the gardens, and so that's where we went."
"I'm sure you can imagine our surprise when we found our beloved cousin walking through the gardens, Randy Orton right beside him." They were both staring at him now, and Roman merely shrugged. "Your point?" He asked, raising an eyebrow, which he could tell infuriated his cousins. "Well?" Jey finally said, his face set in an annoyed scowl. "Tell us the details!"
"Maybe I would've if you didn't wake me up so early. Now though, I think I'll keep the details to myself."
"You see, that would work, but we both know you want to tell someone about it. I can tell how happy you are, and I highly doubt you can keep it to yourself for long." Roman sighed, lifting his head slightly. "What do you two want from me?" Jey leaned forward, his hands folding in his lap, his eyes pleading. "Tell us what happened between you two Uce? We want to know how your walk went." The prince raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you two see for yourselves? Surely you already know the answer to that."
"Uce, we didn't stay." Jimmy gasped, as if it was a ridiculous idea, instead of something the twins were known for. As if sensing Roman's disbelieving look, he continued talking. "We're serious Rome. We didn't stay once we found you. We figured you'd want that time to yourselves. Giving you your privacy was the least we could do."
Roman smiled then, grateful that he'd been allowed the time with him. After all, that might've been their last night together. He clenched his fists, refusing to entertain that idea. In fact, he wasn't going to acknowledge the trials what so ever. Maybe if he didn't, they would just be some awful dream, and he could go back to how things were just a few days ago. Except for Randy of course. Perhaps he could find a way to take him out of the dream...
"So, did you kiss him?" Jey asked, seeming to lose all patience with Roman's silence. His eyes widened, and he turned his head into the pillow, refusing to meet either of his cousin's eyes. He could already tell he was blushing, and he was not about to let his cousins see that. What he seemed to have forgotten however, was the fact that they've known him their whole lives, and hiding was pretty much useless. By that simple action, they already knew everything they wanted, and Roman was preparing for the teasing that was sure to come.
"So... you we went on a nice romantic walk, and you didn't even kiss him?" Jimmy demanded, the surprise in his voice pretty clear. "Why would I have kissed him?" Roman said with a tired sigh. "Don't get me wrong Uce, I wanted to do nothing but kiss him, but I just... couldn't. I don't want to kiss him, to completely fall in love with him, and then lose him a few days later. It's best that I don't. For both of us."
"Actually Uce, I don't completely agree with that," Jey said, his expression thoughtful. "Sure falling for him is a huge risk, but aren't you already a little in love with him? If you are, then why prevent it? Don't distance yourself because you're afraid to lose him Uce. It's better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all. Don't you think so?"
Roman slowly turned to face them, a small feeling of hope in his chest. "So what are you telling me? You think I should just... except what I'm feeling? Even if..." He couldn't even finish that thought. Both of the twins nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying Uce," Jimmy said, his voice soft. "And if he doesn't make it out, then you'll have the memories of what you two had before. It doesn't matter that it's only for a week or so. That's enough time, especially for you two, who already are completely infatuated with each other. Don't let him slip through your hands like that. Now, go kiss him or something. He's in one of the private parlors at the moment." With that parting statement, the two got up, making their way to the door. "Be sure to prepare to tell us the details Uce." Jey called back before closing the door, leaving the prince alone with his thoughts.

I was rudely awoken by a knock on my door. With a groan, I turned my head farther into my pillow, making sure to keep my eyes closed so that I wouldn't have to be faced with the reality that it was morning. Despite my walk with Prince Roman only taking an hour at most, I still felt exhausted; no doubt due to the fact that I wasn't able to sleep until very late. Before I could drift back to sleep, the knock came again, sounding a little more insistent. I cursed under my breath, forcing myself to sit up. "There goes my sleep." I muttered, then made my way to the door.
What I wasn't expecting to see when I yanked the door open were the younger princes Jimmy and Jey smirking at me, their eyes bright. They didn't seem to mind the glare I was aiming at them. In fact, I was pretty sure it only made them happier.
"Good morning Orton." Jey said brightly, sounding as if it weren't six in the morning. I only glared harder, my sleep-filled brain not caring for that moment who I was with. "Anyway," Jimmy continued, taking a step forward. "My brother and I were just curious about how your night was." I frowned, leaning against the doorway, hoping that I wouldn't fall asleep right there. "It was fine. Can I go back to sleep now?" The twins exchanged looks, and I forced myself not to growl at them. I'd already been rude enough. No need to add more to it.
"If I'm being honest Orton," Jey said finally. "I'd expected you to have a more... enthusiastic response. You know, because you were on a moonlight stroll with the guy you're hopelessly in love with." I was definitely more awake now. I pushed away from the doorframe, and I looked between each twin, looking for some kind of sign that they disapproved of what we did. It wasn't that it was against whatever rules had been created by the royal family, it was... actually, that was exactly what the problem was. Prince Roman wasn't aloud to show favoritism, at least not so openly, and I'm pretty sure that's what he'd done last night. An involuntary smile pulled at the corner of my mouth at the thought that he'd broken the rules to spent time with me.
"Ah, so there's more?" Jimmy said, bringing me out of my thoughts. I sighed, my mask slipping back on my face. "We went for a rather enjoyable walk. That is all that happened. I do not understand why you are so interested, or how you even know about it."
"Oh, that's easy to answer," Jimmy said. "You see, we were going to talk to our cousin after dinner. You know, see how he's doing after everything, but we didn't find him in his room. When we we to look for him, we checked his favorite places first, and we happened to find you two."
"We didn't stay though, don't worry about that," Jimmy said quickly, no doubt seeing my unhappy expression at the thought that someone had been watching us. "We left as soon as we saw you. Figured you could use the time alone. As for why we're asking about how it went, I suppose we're just curious. It's pretty obvious that our cousin favors you."
I let out a sigh, my shoulders slumping, my cold polite mask slipping slightly, and I once again leaned against the doorway. "Well, it really was a perfect night," I started, unsure as to how much I should say. How much I wanted to say. I settled for a brief summary, not wanting to go into detail. It just felt to much of a private moment to just tell them everything.
"Nothing really happened. We just talked about stuff. We didn't stay out for long. We were worried that they'd come looking for him. He walked me back here."
The twins shared another look, and I thought they seemed disappointed. I wasn't exactly sure why though. I pretty much told them everything. I of course left out our moonlight dance, and the sort of flirting that happened before the prince left. But there was no way they would've known I was keeping something from them. I was pretty good at hiding stuff when I wanted to, and this was one of those times.
"So you're telling me, that you two didn't have this big confession thing?" Jey finally asked. "I honestly would've expected you two to like... declare your love for each other and make out under the stars or something." I frowned slightly. "Um... I'm sorry? You do realize it's not the right time at all to do that? I'm literally being made to fight to the death against 25 other people. The chances of me coming back are very fucking slim. Why would I tell him that I fucking love him, if there's a pretty big chance I'm not coming back? I can't do that to him."
"That's very considerate Orton." Jimmy said. "However, don't you think it's time for you to be selfish for once? Sure you might not come back. Isn't that reason enough to tell him? Last night was your chance to get want you want, even if it's only for a few days."
"I think we need to fix that." Jey said, his eyes lighting up. "And I think I have the perfect idea. Orton, get ready. You're having breakfast with the prince."

Chapter Text

The next few minutes went by in a blur. As soon as the twins had left, my door had been flung open by Tyler, who immediately started going through the pile of clothes he'd made for my stay here. His blond hair was all over the place, and it was the first time I'd ever seen him less than perfect. I didn't know what to do, so I merely sat on the bed and watched as he darted around frantically.

"Why didn't those infernal twins give me more of a heads up? How the hell do they expect me to put together a possible outfit for you in less than twenty minutes? This is going to be a fucking disaster!"

Before I could try to wrap my mind around what he was saying, the door opened again, and thankfully it was Tyler's boyfriend who walked in. He immediately put his arms around Breeze, forcing him to stay still. "Love, you need to relax." He said, his musical voice effectively calming down the frantic teen.

After a few moments of them standing together, Tyler pulled out of his boyfriend's arms, immediately going back to sorting through my clothes, though at a less frantic pace. I could still tell that he was a little tense, but I felt more comfortable with him picking out what I'd wear with my upcoming meeting with my prince.

"I'm sorry about him," Came Fandango's quiet voice from beside me, nearly making me jump. "The young princes had woken him up a few minutes ago, and informed him that you were to share a meal with his royal highness. As you can tell, Tyler did not take the news well. He requires at least a few hours to prepare."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'd probably be as freaked out as he is if I were in his place. I don't blame him at all." I said, watching in fond amusement now as Tyler scowled at the pile of clothes.
"While you may not be as concerned on your appearance, I'm sure you're nervous for your little... date?" I flushed, looking down. "Oh I'm not saying I'm not nervous. I'm just trying to hide it. I don't see it necessary to show my emotions in front of most people. After all, I don't wish to show how I feel in front of my opponents."

"Yes yes. You'd rather be an emotionless statue. That's great! Anyway, I need you to try on these outfits, and don't you dare mess them up, or mix them up! If you do, I'll cut you! Please don't make me explain to Roman why his boyfriend was killed before your date." Tyler flicked his wrist, and I noticed a silver dagger resting in his palm. After sending me a sharp look, he thrusted a armful of neatly folding cloths at me. "Well? What are you waiting for? I'm not about to dress you!" Not wanting to get yelled at by the tiny yet dangerous fashionista, I quickly made my way into the bathroom, and starting to try on the many outfits that had been given to me.

Most of them were suits, which I personally thought was too extravagant for something as simple as a shared meal. Though, it was with the prince, so maybe that made it twice as important? I didn't know the first thing when it came to proper etiquette, so I supposed I had to except Tyler's advice.

After three failed tries, Tyler let out a growl, standing from where he was sitting on my bed, and stormed up to me. "I don't fucking get it!" He muttered, starting to circle me. "Last night you looked fine with a suit, so I figured... But I suppose this is a different occasion so maybe..."

I had no idea what Breeze was up to, so I wisely kept my mouth shut. Eventually, a bright smile lit up his face, and he darted to my closet, his body seeming to vibrate with excitement, and I was left with nothing to do but wait. I allowed myself to slide down the wall, already exhausted by this morning's flurry of activities.

From beside me, Fandango sighed, running a hand through his dark curls. "I'm really sorry about him, Orton. Ty's hardly ever like this. I suppose this is just a special occasion to him." I merely shrugged. "As I said before, it's not a problem. Hell, his energy is quite distracting from my own worries. I just hope he finds something for me. I'm scared to find out how he'd react if nothing was up to his standards."

Before Fandango could respond, Tyler returned, practically skipping to my side and shoved another bundle of clothes into my arms. "This isn't one of the pieces I had in mind for you, but perhaps it'll work. It was one of my first creations, and it belonged to young prince Sikoa. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you borrowed it."

I could only stare at the stylist. "You want me, a mere commoner from district two to where something belonging to a prince? Are you quite alright?" Tyler, to my frustration only laughed. "You are also a commoner from district two who has the attention of the crowned prince. Face it Orton, your situation is unique. Now, go change. I'm sure this is the one." With a long sigh, I took the clothes, once again heading into the bathroom. After all, there was no saying no to Tyler Breeze.

Roman stared into the full-length mirror, trying to find any flaws in his appearance. He had been standing there for almost half an hour, and he fully expected the twins to come breaking down his door. After all, they had insisted that he should be ready and at the parlor as soon as possible.

Just as he feared, he heard a knock at his door. However, instead of the frantic knocking he'd grown to associate with the twins, this one was softer, yet firm. "Come in," He called out, and was surprised when his younger cousin walked in. Roman smiled slightly, pleased to see Sikoa. It had been a while since he'd seen his baby cousin, due to his guard training in district one.

"Tama-a-'aiga Roman, Talofa lava." Sikoa said, bowing his head slightly. Roman huffed, stepping forward and pulling his stoic cousin into a tight hug. "You mustn't be so former with me baby cousin. You are family after all." Slowly, Sikoa relaxed in Roman's arms, returning the embrace. "I apologize Roman. It is merely that, it has been engraved in me during my training." The prince huffed, stepping back from Sikoa. "Well you're home now, so please drop the formality. Where are your brothers? I'm surprised they aren't harassing me for being late."

Sikoa sighed, taking a seat on his bed. "I'm afraid that job is up to me this time. Both Jimmy and Jey found themselves quite occupied for a while." Roman huffed out a laugh, continuing to study himself in the mirror. "I'm sure you had nothing to do with that, cousin."
"I have no idea of what you speak of." Came the deadpan reply, though Roman could see the younger prince's lips twitch.

After a moment, Sikoa stood and walked over to Roman. "You look fine Rome," He said, his voice devoid of any teasing. "I assure you that standing in front of that mirror isn't going to suddenly show a flaw in your appearance."

Roman sighed, finally looking away from his reflection. "I know, but..." Sikoa sighed, pulling the prince away from the mirror. "My brothers weren't wrong," He muttered. "You really do love this Orton guy." Roman couldn't help but laugh at his cousin's disgruntled face. "It's alright Uce, you'll find someone to fall for soon enough." Sikoa scowled, beginning to drag the crowned prince from his room. "I will leave the falling in love thing to you, cousin. I see no need for such emotions." Roman could only laugh, distracted for the moment from his own fears upon seeing Randy again.

"Is that so?" He asked as they walked through the castle. "That's quite a shame. Did I mention how Drew's back?" The reaction was immediate. Sikoa came to an abrupt halt, and his usual stoic mask cracked, a faint dusting of pink coloring the young prince's cheeks. This made Roman smirk. "What was that about leaving falling in love to me?" Sikoa looked away, refusing to respond for a moment. Finally, when Roman thought he wouldn't get a response, a quiet voice spoke up, sounding nothing like his baby cousin. "There is nothing to be done about it. Drew has chosen his path, and there is nothing I can do about it." Roman frowned. "Something had happened between you two?" He asked, and Sikoa shook his head. "Of course not. He had left before... it does not matter any more. We are here."

Sikoa had lead him to a set of oak doors that lead to one of the families smaller parlor. It was one of the rooms where no one but the royal family were permitted to enter. Roman wondered how exactly his cousins had managed to get Randy inside without his parents or their advisers noticing. Oh god, he'd be seeing Randy again.

Before he could start to panic again, Roman felt a warm hand on his shoulder, grounding him. "Ta feno," Sikoa said. "It'll be okay, trust me. "You both have feelings for one another, you just need to acknowledge them. I know you are worried about the future, but do not focus on that. The person you want is beyond the door. Take advantage of that."

Roman smiled, relaxing under his cousin's calming touch. "I suppose if the most level headed one of us agrees with the twins, it must be somewhat decent advice," He said. "Although, perhaps you should take your own advice Sikoa. You don't know what will happen unless you try." The young prince merely shrugged, gently shoving Roman towards the door. "Good luck Uce." He said, and before Roman could say anything, he was gone, disappearing back down the hallway. Prince Roman turned to the door, biting his lip in worry. Despite the many assurances that this was the right thing to do, that he should take advantage of the happiness that was right in front of him, he still couldn't help but have some doubts. He supposed he could go in, see how Randy would react to them being alone after last night, and go from there. He seemed like the more confident of the two. So with a sigh, Roman gently pushed open the double doors and walked inside.

I wasn't sure how I expected the morning to go. As soon as I was dressed to Tyler's standards, I was escorted by Drew to an elegant, yet simple parlor. Seeing Drew, I was worried as to how many people the twins had gotten involved in this. Drew seemed to have noticed my growing distress because he quick assure me that only a select few knew about our "date." I didn't even bother to correct him. It seemed as though everyone was set on calling whatever this was a date. If I was being honest though, I didn't really mind it.

So, here I am now, sitting on a plush leather sofa, waiting for my prince to show up. For the first few moments, I was left alone to stare around the room, taking in the beautiful decor and wondering how exactly I'd fit into all of this. I was a guard in training, and Roman was a damn prince! I was starting to freak out a little bit, but thankfully no one was with me to notice. Or so I thought.

"You're being stupid." Turning my head quickly, I stared in surprise as young prince Sikoa stepped into the room. Then his words fully registered in my mind, and despite being near a prince, I felt myself become defensive.

"Excuse me? I hope you're not calling me stupid You don't even know what I’m fucking thinking your highness!" Of course I regretted my outburst immediately, and I looked away, not wanting to see his reaction.

"Don't look away from me Orton. Not after your little outburst. I must say, I'm impressed." My head shot back in his direction, and I stared at the prince, who was smirking at me. "You're impressed that I snapped at you?" Prince Sikoa shrugged. "My older cousin likes you," He said with a shrug. "It would really suck if the person who could join our court were a foolish pushover. I had to see you for myself."

I scowled, but didn't say anything. "Prince Roman trusts your judgment," I said. "So tell me. What's your verdict on me?" Instead of answering, the stoic prince turned towards the door. "I shall fetch the crowned prince." He said, and was gone. With a sigh, I sank back against the sofa, already feeling drained from the day so far, and it had only been morning. He knew that in an hour or so, I'd have to start my training with the others.
"Fuck!" I groaned, but before I could get up and start pacing, the doors opened again. When I looked to the door, my eyes met the soft warmth of my prince's dark eyes. Almost immediately, my worries were calmed, settled by his presence alone.

We stared at one another for a minute or two, neither daring to move, afraid to break the moment between us. Finally though, I couldn't take any more, and slowly got to my feet. The prince tracked my movements closely as I walked towards him, though he did not back up like I feared he would. Instead, he too began to move closer. Our eyes never broke contact, and in no time, we were only a few steps from each other, and I could feel the warmth radiating off of him.

"Randy." Roman said, his voice soft and filled with warmth.
"Your Highness," I replied, the title rolling off my tongue. The formality, even thou not required, felt right given the setting. His lips curled up into a small smile.
"Just Roman, please my dear." I nodded, with a small smile of my own. "Roman."

Another silence stretched between us, neither of us knowing what exactly to say. We could only watch one another, waiting to see who made the first move.

Finally, Roman extended his hand towards me. "Come sit with me." He said, leading me to the sofa where I'd previously sat. We both sat down, the space between us was minimal, our fingers occasionally brushing against each other.

"I apologize for making you wait," He said, breaking the silence. "I'm sure this was a surprise to me just as much as it was to you. And I... I wanted to be sure that everything was good enough for our... meeting."

I smiled, deciding to take a chance. I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "Our date you mean?" I asked. Roman blushed, looking both flustered and pleased. Too fucking cute. I thought,, giving his hand a light squeeze. "Yes, a date." He finally agreed, and the tension I hadn't realized I had left my body, and I sank down into the sofa, my head falling on to my prince's shoulder. "Glad you agree." I muttered, closing my eyes for a moment.

Roman huffed out a laugh, and I felt a hand gently cup the side of my face, lifting my head up so I was once again face-to-face with those stunning eyes. Our faces were only a few inches apart, and I wanted to lean in, to close the distance and finally kiss the one I've loved for two years. My eyes darted down to those full lips, and I slowly leaned in.

My prince's breath hitched, and I stopped. We were so close now. I could feel his breath ghosting over my lips. "I'm not going to do anything unless you tell me to." I whispered, and Roman's hold tightened around me. "Kiss me." He breathed, and I did.

The first time our lips met, it felt as though a missing part of me returned, clicking into place, and making me feel complete for the first time in my life. Roman's lips were just as I imagined, soft, warm, and so perfect that it was unfair. As soon as our lips met, one of his arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer. One of my hands moved to the back of his neck, threading through that beautiful black hair.

A few seconds later, we pulled back, our eyes meeting almost immediately. Something passed between us, a heavy desperate thing, and we leaned back in, our lips meeting in another, more frantic kiss.

His lips parted slightly, deepening the kiss, and it was my turn to pull him closer. I found myself on my back on the sofa, my beautiful prince leaning over me, his kiss leaving me breathless. We kissed as if it were our last time, which was the one thing we were both scared of. Although it was something I already knew to be true, it was confirmed in this moment. Roman's arms around me, kissing him like it was the last thing I'd do, it hit me then. I loved him. I loved him with everything I had, and I'd do whatever it took to marry him, even if it meant going through 25 other people.