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“You do know what this means for you, don't you?”
Jeno has no hesitation in his eyes as he turns to look back at the prince sitting behind him.
“I know.” He is so confident, so sure that this is what he's always wanted, what Renjun has always wanted, that he is truly willing to risk it all. “What kind of knight would I be if not one in shining armour?”
Renjun chokes down a giggle, doing his best to stay quiet. The horse’s feet echo slightly on the cobbles, but Jeno leads her gently down the alley, preparing to make their run. For a moment they sit in silence together, the only noise being Renjun checking through the few belongings he’s managed to bring with him. Jeno can only focus on the sound of his own heartbeat clattering against his rib cage.
“Have I ever told you that I love you?” Renjun holds his cloak closed with one hand and places the other on Jeno’s shoulder. Jeno stills for just a moment.
“Not yet, but are you just saying that in case we fail and your father tries to kill me for stealing his son?” Saying what they've both been thinking out loud finally bears weight to what the consequences of this action might be, but Jeno thinks that if Renjun truly means it, then he isn't sure he really cares.
“Not at all.”
“Then I love you too.” Jeno flashes a smile, leaning forward just slightly before realising that right now he doesn't have the luxury of time to kiss his lover silly. They had been planning their escape, their adventure, for weeks now and it all came down to these next few minutes. If Jeno could get them past the guards at the front gate, then they were free to run as far away from this kingdom as they could get.
Jeno watches closely, his eyes never leaving the route he plans to take, as he is reminded of one of the first times he and the prince had been left on their own, many moons ago.
“Being a prince seems so boring.”
“Aren’t you just supposed to stand there and protect me? That sounds even worse.”
“Worse? What would you like to do instead?”
“Hmm. If I had the choice, I think I’d like to be a florist. Maybe then I’d be able to bring you flowers to pick apart rather than the ones in the royal garden, Jeno.”
Jeno’s cheeks burn just a little at the memory, realising that while he thought no one had ever been watching, Renjun’s eyes were always on him.
“Will you still bring me a rose if we make it out of here?” Jeno reaches behind him with one hand, searching for Renjun’s to hold for just a moment of comfort.
“Get us out of here and I'll grow you a whole garden of roses, my love.”
Suddenly Jeno feels a lot like crying, hit by the sudden realisation that he is truly loved by someone he would deem as quite simply perfect. This person who gave him a life, gave him something to protect. Gave him hope.
Someone willing to leave everything they know and everything they have behind all for him.
The night shift guards would already have noticed Renjun’s absence by now and voices could be heard throughout the castle, calling the prince's name. They didn't have much time left.
It was Jeno and Renjun against the world now, but when Jeno realises the world he wants is sat right behind him, legs swinging on either side of the silver steed and gentle hand placed over his hip, he is no longer afraid of being against it. One world against another, and he only had one he wanted to protect.
In a split second, he makes the decision. A guard a couple hundred metres behind calls out at them, breaking into a sprint. The guards at the gate turn, but Jeno doesn't give them enough time to draw their swords.
The horse leaps, sprinting towards their freedom.
“It’s now or never, baby.”
“All or nothing.”
“All for you.”