Work Text:
It was certainly hard to sneak his way back to his home, he even had to jump in bushes a few times to hide, but it was all worth it when he had finally gotten back to his castle, it was clear all the work had left, no maid to be seen, no knight waiting for their prince to come back, there was no one.
Charming didn't care much in the moment, he was just glad he could be back and sleep in his bed instead of on the dirty ground, he's certain he's going to have a back problem now, not to mention how terribly dirty his clothes had gotten.
The maids leaving wouldn't matter, after a good, long, long rest he would clean his own clothes, he detested the thought but it's not like he could hire anyone, everyone in Far Far Away thought he was dead. He would just have to learn to take care of himself.
And he did, he's managed to survive by himself for months, it took quite the getting used to but he's gotten the hang of it, he's found out he enjoys cooking the most, though obviously his first few dishes were...edible, at least.
He was getting used to this, he felt like he was going to be okay.
That is of course, until one day the doors to his castle were slammed open, he felt his heart stop in his chest. Had people realized he wasn't dead? Were they going to change that? Was it a group of thieves thinking they could make a quick buck out of whatever was left here?
But no, it was a short man, a man that seemed familiar to Charming, even though he swears he's never met him.
A short man with long, dark purple hair, and a dark purple lipstick to match.
A man with such anger in his eyes that Charming thinks he could be killed by the glare alone.
He would have been more intimidated if not for the fact Charming practically towered over the man.
Charming was about to ask who he was, who he thinks he is to just barge into his castle, when he was interrupted almost immediately by the stranger, as if he was waiting for the chance.
"Prince Charming, I've spent many days trying to track you down, many people I've had laugh in my face when I asked for your whereabouts, many times I've let my anger get the best of me when I had been given a false lead," the man walked closer towards Charming, not daring to break eye contact as he went on.
"Your little stunt you tried to pull months ago, the one that went so horribly wrong you were thought to be dead, it caused quite the trouble for me, for my family." Charming could feel the hatred in how the stranger spat out those last words, he started to remember where he knew the man in front of him from, the man reaching his hand towards his side as he walked closer and closer,
"You, you are the reason my life has been ruined, the reason my mother's life has been ruined, you are why she left, you are why she left to open a spa in France." Ah, now Charming remembers.
"You, Prince Charming, are the reason I, Prince Grimm, son of the once Evil Queen-" Charming let out a laugh he had been trying to suppress once he realized who was in front of him, which had obviously made him angrier than he already was.
"You- you're Grimm?! The way she had talked about you, your mother made me think her son was some terrifying beast! You look like you'd be one of your sister's dwarfs, not the man she told me about-" Charming couldn't hold in his laughter, he truly did need the cheering up after being alone for so long, but his laughter was cut short as he felt himself get pushed to the ground,
"Ow! What the hell do you think you're-"
"You- you dare laugh at me?! You dare mock the son of the Evil Queen?! Even bringing up that damn woman I'm forced to call my sister, do you have a death wish, Charming?" Charming looked at the man now on him, he was about to yell at him to get off, when he felt the cold steel of a dagger, he gulped and tried to calm Grimm down, noticing the bright blush he had, how angry did he make him?
"Listen I- I didn't know all that would have happened when I tried to take over Far Far Away, I wasn't even the one who did it! Shouldn't you- shouldn't you be trying to kill the new King? Arthur?" Grimm nudged his dagger closer, barely enough to cut Charming, he obviously didn't like that answer.
"No, he isn't the one that put that plan together, he isn't the one that recruited my mother and made her be there when she was fooled into being good! You are the one that did all that." Charming had to think of a way to get out of this, he didn't survive by himself for months just to be killed by some furious son of a woman he barely knew.
So, he decided to do what he knew best, to try and charm his way out of this.
"Nothing to say, Charming? No last words before I end your miserable little life-"
"You're very handsome, you know." That did the trick, he could see the confusion that quickly turned into Grimm getting flustered, he saw the blush on Grimm's face get brighter.
"Y-y-you-! You shut your damn mouth! Don't try and trick me, you can't seduce your way out of death, you stupid prince!" Charming could feel the hand that held the dagger near his throat start to tremble, how easily flustered could this man get?
"Oh, you think this is seducing? You sweet little prince, you have no idea what I say when I'm trying to seduce someone, though, if you let me go I would be thrilled to show you." Grimm seemed like he wasn't able to think for a solid few minutes, Charming almost thought it was cute, the dagger at his neck stopped him from thinking that, though.
"You're- you're terrible! You can't just- you-" Charming saw the opportunity while Grimm was distracted and grabbed the dagger out of his hand, quickly switching their positions, Grimm now on his back as Charming held his dagger.
"You're lucky you're too cute to kill, I wasn't lying when I said I'd be thrilled to show you how I seduce someone, if you'll give up on trying to kill me." Charming looked down at Grimm, the blush on his face hasn't gone away, now that he didn't have to fear for his life he could admit the man was cute, seeing someone so easily flustered while trying to stay in control was always fun.
"D-don't think you've won this, Charming! I swear, I'll kill you! I'll k-kill you and bring my mother back to her senses! You stupid little-" Charming sighed, Grimm obviously wasn't going to give up on his plan.
"Oh just give it up already, you know you're not going to be able to kill me, I'll just have to make you fall for me and you won't be able to bring yourself to harm me." Grimm stuttered and struggled to find what to say, Charming found it amusing.
"J-just- just let me up, and give me back my dagger! You've ruined it all, I can't kill you today, the atmosphere is all wrong, it wouldn't work.." Grimm looked up at Charming, the anger in his eyes from earlier was replaced with just mere annoyance.
"Hmm, I'm not sure, maybe if you said please I'd let you up- hey! Okay okay, you don't need to try and punch me come on-" Charming helped Grimm up, he wasn't stupid enough to give him his dagger back, though.
"You'll get this back after you promise you won't try and kill me, and I don't mean just for today, if I have to I will make you fall in love with me so you won't try anything." Charming held the dagger away from Grimm, his blush had stopped a bit ago and he was less flustered and more annoyed now, he let out a sigh before talking,
"Fine- if you can try and convince me, I won't try to kill you. You will give me that dagger back, though. It was one my mother gave to me." Charming smiled at that, it was certainly a...unique, gift for your child.
"I'll give it back at the end of the day, how about that? I can go ahead and start working my charms on you, if you'll stay for dinner." The blush that left Grimm's face had come back, almost stronger than before.
"You- you truly are the worst, but fine. I'll stay for at least the rest of today, Charming."