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Jimmy took pride in his job as the court jester, he excelled through witt and timing. No expense or clever jab was passed up, even if the brunette had to admit it got risky more than a few times, comedy always came first in his world. But, throughout it all, he wasn’t quite so honest with himself. Bias seeped into his work whenever he stood on those polished marble floors before the king and queen, basking in the uproar of laughter from nobles and fellow servants alike, there was always one smile which lit up the jester’s world. It was in those perfect moments, which burned into Jimmy’s memories, that the world seemed to fall away leaving only the crowned prince. Jade eyes, and wild fiery hair kept back by his woven branch crown, his usual stoney expression lit up with uncontrolled laughter. These times never lasted long before the elven prince would regain his poise. In a second the magic was always gone. Just as quickly as it had come. Then, Jimmy was back, back to complimenting and insulting anyone he could for a laugh. Everyone but the prince, Kyle, Jimmy was never shy with comedy but something about the thin lipped smile shook him. The jester couldn’t bear to see that smile falter, to see it break like all the other flustered nobles. So, against his better judgement, Kyle was never an element in Jimmy’s comedy.
Eventually it was over and everyone's work resumed, Jimmy would return to his usual duties assigned to him between banquets and the occasional nights which the king and queen would call him in. However, his favourite task was to accompany dinner with the other minstrels, he would play the lute with some fellow servants. But, when all the work was done the jester would sneak out into the forest late at night to watch the world turn around him. Luckily the clearing was never silent, the river and crickets would always accompany him. Jimmy would sit and stargaze and think, his most common thought was always the prince. The fiery curls. Eyes akin to forests. Light freckles which framed his face like the starry sky. But his time in the grove often ended rather quickly with the brunette heading back into the servants quarters when the stars lose their charm.
It went on like this for a long time, Jimmy never really gave the lifestyle much thought. After all, besides the banquets no one but the servants thought of him. That was until he found an unfamiliar figure walk into his clearing just a few minutes after him. Thinking nothing of the stranger, Jimmy began getting up. He’d come back another night, he didn’t want trouble.
“Wait,”
A familiar voice called and for a moment the jester thought himself mad. That was until he looked up. Jimmy hid his surprise well, only taking a moment until he kneeled before the prince, resting his crutches on his knee.
“M-my liege”
“You're the jester, Jimmy, correct?” Kyle asked, a shred of anxiety in his tone.
Jimmy nodded, more than a little surprised.
A moment of hesitation “No need for formalities… just… call me Kyle?” He spoke with a small smile and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Of cou-our-ourse” Jimmy responded with a bright smile as Kyle made his way across the clearing, “So… K-kyle, what brings you out this l-l-late?” Now, Jimmy didn’t expect a real answer, but the huffy response from the prince only made the jester antsy.
Kyle was far too perceptive not to feel the unease in the silence. It was almost unbearable and the redhead had never seen Jimmy lose his confident air before this. It only served to worsen the growing pit in both men's stomachs. Finally, Kyle cleared his throat.
“Alright, I’ll just get to the point then… your jests… they’re never about me, why?” Kyle spoke more to himself than Jimmy, avoiding his gaze.
The brunette was definitely caught off guard by that, but his smile only faltered a moment, “Why Kyle, what is there to ins-s-suu-insult?”
The prince responded with an exasperated eye roll, “please, if you have enough courage to insult my mother you needn’t waste flattery on me”. He shot a particularly pointed glance, but fear flashed in it for the briefest of moments, “what’s the real reason”
“I-i-if you’re saying that you are as ba-ba-bad as your mother then you’re clearly doing my job for me”
“You know what I think?” Kyle finally responded after a long minute of silence. His shoulders raised, conviction faltered as a hint of anger took its place.
Not even Jimmy could find a smile seeing how quickly Kyle’s demeanour had changed. He shifted uncomfortably, feeling watched despite the prince's turned head.
“I think you’re scared” Kyle continued, “I think… you believe I can’t handle i-””
“N-n-no!” He cut Kyle off, “I j-j-just… think you're b-b-better than cheap jokes” He shrugged, giving a laugh of his own.
This however did not satisfy Kyle, who cracked a nervous smile. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Jimmy was quiet a minute, he couldn’t lie to the redhead. “It m-m-means this isn’t cheap fl-flattery…”
The brunette looked up at the sky with a sad smile, waiting with baited breath for Kyle to say, do, something. He knew this would end a couple ways, none of which included Kyle reciprocating. But, once Jimmy was sure the prince had already left the grove he found the redhead reach over and grab his hand. It was small and insignificant but the Jester dared not look over in fear this was truly a dream.
“…maybe I’ll join you again… it’s rather nice out here”
Despite the cold which began to settle over the land and the fallen leaves which covered the ground in the clearing the two met fairly often. It was always during the night both for privacy and lack of time. Their days consisted of work and on rare occasions a stolen glance. It was dreamy for the first two weeks, before reality began to seep through the cracks. Kyle appeared in the clearing one night, before Jimmy had arrived. He looked utterly distraught and Jimmy wasted no time in taking a seat beside the prince, resting his crutches beside them.
The brunette was quiet for a minute before he jumped into a joke, something which always lifted Kyle’s spirits. “Have you e-e-ever heard of th-”
“This can’t last forever” Kyle let his head rest against Jimmy's chest. The silence which followed was heavy, weighing on them both.
“Do you know who you’-ll-l be m-m-marrying?” The jester was unusually quiet.
Kyle shook his head “They’re discussing ceremonies… I fear th-”
Jimmy took hold of the redhead's hand and kissed it, trying to distract the other with a flashy smile. He was no idiot, he knew Kyle was to be married off soon, such was tradition. “We can alwa-wa-wa-ways runaway together?”
The prince gave a weak laugh at that, it was ridiculous and fitting, and he wanted to hold onto that fantasy. In those few moments both of them relinquished themselves to the moment and the stars, this was all that mattered to them. It was perfect in it’s own way.