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Tsukasa sighed, sitting atop his throne. He was slouched, leaning against his right hand which was propped up by said throne. His crown was starting to get annoying and the cape he made sure to always wear as it made him look very kingly, was starting to make him hot. The room was practically empty, seeing as no one other than his most devoted servant was in the room with him. He was taught from a young age that a king must always be diligent, and ahead of his work, and when he's not working he shouldn’t be off duty either. Anything could happen at a moment's notice after all. It would look bad if his country's diligent king was strolling the garden while an emergency was occurring. At least he supposes that was the truth.
It’s what he’s been told all his life afterall, and who was he to believe any different? Even still, he couldn’t help but want someone else to switch spots with him, so he could live a normal life.
Well it was boring just sitting around waiting after he finished all his work. Tsukasa was starting to feel exhausted from how many late nights spent on work had piled up lately, and the seat he was sitting on was not comfortable whatsoever, and the silence of the room was starting to get on his nerves. He sighed again, and with it he saw his aforementioned servant look over to him.
“Tsukasa-kun, that’s now the 10th sigh in the last 5 minutes. Are you sure you don’t want to go for a stroll?” The purple and teal haired man to his left had said.
Tsukasa looked over at him, glaring. “How many times have I told you now?” Tsukasa sat up straight, looking over at Rui properly. “I am to be addressed as King Tsukasa, sire, or any other formal titles. You’re just a servant, you can’t call me by only my name. And for the record I don’t want to go on a stroll!”
He saw the other smile, that cat-like smile he always wore when he was about to tease Tsukasa. Why did he keep Rui around in the first place! He was nothing but a nuisance to Tsukasa's perfect regal life! “Well then, my king~!” Tsukasa ignored the way his face heated up at the title. “If you insist that you’re perfectly satisfied sitting there doing nothing, I suppose that means I can call off the nice lunch I worked so hard to prepare for you..” The other’s face fell, going from a smirk to a sad, disappointed look, as he turned away from the king.
“W-wait! Uggggh! You are so insufferable!” the blonde whined, slouching. “Fine, I want lunch!” When he didn’t see Rui turn around, Tsukasa grew irritated, his face growing hotter. “Rui!”
“No, no. I suppose my lunch is only accepted out of pity from our dearest sire, his majesty Tsukasa..” Rui sighed. "You're so cruel sire..~"
“I want your lunch because I want your lunch, stop acting sappy for no reason!”
“Is that so, my lord~?” Rui turned around to face Tsukasa.
“Yes! Now stop it with your ridiculousness already! I should just lock you up already.”
“Fufufu~ now now Tsukasa-kun, if you did that then who would ever help you get to bed all tucked in and wake you up and prepare your meals and schedule?”
“Oh you think you’re sooo clever don’t you! I can do that all by myself! I don’t need you!”
Rui shook his head, a small frown on his face. “Tsukasa-kun really doesn’t need me then? I guess I should just pack my bags now then, shouldn’t I...”
“Oh my- Ruiiiii”
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Tsukasa was peacefully enjoying his lunch, Rui placing another dish on the table. It was nice, having someone with him that he could count on. No surprises, just the nice comforting usual.
“Tsukasa-kun?”
Nevermind.
Tsukasa sighed, placing his utensils down. “Yes, Rui?”
“Have you ever wondered about what other people's wishes are?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Well, you see.. I was reading a book earlier, and it had mentioned something about wishing on stars. Have you ever done that before?” Of course Tsukasa had.
As a kid he loved fairy tales,
they would help fill the long, empty halls with imaginative people and animals
especially the ones about princes saving princesses and getting married. Since he himself was a prince, he had always anticipated going on an adventure. But that was back when he was young and stupid, and wishing on stars was a nightly occurrence.
He decided to ignore the times recently where he would look out his window and wish, but of course, magic is not real, so his wishes did nothing.
“No, what childish thoughts. I’ve never once wished on a star. And I don’t care for anyone’s stupid wishes.”
Rui hummed, looking up at the ceiling, while Tsukasa had been staring at his own plate of food. “Well that’s just silly isn’t it? I for one enjoy wishing on stars. It gives this feeling of hope.”
Rui smiled, looking down at Tsukasa. Tsukasa however, was frowning. “Wishes are just stupid. No amount of wishing will make your dreams come true. If you get hope from wishing on a star, then you’re delusional and need to grow up.” The other frowned.
“Now, now, it’s okay to believe in childish things, Tsukasa-kun.”
“Wishing on stars doesn’t change anything , Rui. And don’t call me that.” Tsukasa was frustrated. He didn’t know where this stupid conversation came from, but at this point silence would be better than talking. “Let’s just drop this topic.”
“But Tsu-”
“I said to drop it!” Rui took a step back, looking at Tsukasa. “Right. Apologies, your majesty.”
Tsukasa could hear Rui shuffling to stand behind his chair.
Shoot, he messed up, didn’t he?
His anxieties grew as he realized Rui was probably mad at him now, and upon further realization, Tsukasa realized he’d much prefer childish talk over silence. Tsukasa’s heart was pounding as he looked down at his lap, the food on his plate becoming unappetizing.
He felt like it was getting harder to breathe by the second, and he was trying to calm his shaking hands.
…
Wait, when did they start shaking.? His head felt fuzzy and his heart wouldn’t stop pounding , and Tsukasa couldn’t help but feel like he messed up, like he was that little kid again, sitting at that dumb empty table, wishing for a decent conversation with the man he was supposed to think of as a father.
“Father, today I was reading this book, and I was wondering, how did you and mother meet? In all the stories I read the prince meets the princess from rescuing her from some danger like a dragon or an evil witch! Was it the same for you?” Tsukasa’s legs were swinging, as he took a bite of his pork. He looked over at his father with a smile. “Father?”
The man in question glared at the young boy, Tsukasa’s smile immediately falling. “Stop with this childish nonsense already! You’re already 8, when will you stop believing in these stupid fairy tales?”
Tsukasa set his utensils down, looking down at his plate. “I-I’m sorry.. I-I..-”
He was cut off.
“When will you just grow up already? I figured by now you’d be a little more mature! And look at me when I’m talking to you, boy!” Tsukasa’s head snapped up to look at his.. Father.. “You need to stop with these childish actions. Expect your classes to be much longer from now on. I’ll have the maids throw out all the childish things in your room as well.” “
B-but Saki-” He was once again given no room to talk. It was always like this with his father.
“Don’t bring her into this! You should be ashamed! Don’t use your sick sister as an excuse to continue with your childish thoughts! You’re a Tenma, the next king of this kingdom. Start acting like it.”
And with that, his father got up and left the room.
“-un.?”
Tsukasa stared at the seat the man had sat in with a blank expression on his face.
Just as he was told, when he had made his way back to his room, there were a few maids in there, taking out the last of his stuffed animals and story books.
All that remained was a boring room.
Childish thoughts didn’t bring him any happiness after all, he supposed.
The boy had laid in bed that night, curled up in his blankets, trying to silence the sound of his sobs. He wished again to the stars, to the world, wanting his things back and a better father.
He was still being childish, despite his fathers words. That's not how a Tenma should act.. He needed to grow up.
Nothing comes from wishing on stars anyways.
“-sa-kun?”
Tsukasa felt a hand on his shoulder, another one attempting to softly pull one of his hands out of his hair from the spot it had been tangled in.
Tsukasa flinched, not even noticing he had ended up in the position.
“Tsukasa-kun?”
“H-huh.?”
Tsukasa just sat there, frozen in place as Rui placed his head on top of the blondes, the hand that had guided Tsukasa’s out of his hair now intertwining their fingers together. “Are you alright Tsukasa-Kun?”
Tsukasa gulped, staying silent. He didn’t know how he should answer, hell he didn’t even know if he wanted to respond. Rui sighed. “Tsukasa-kun.. What ever could you be thinking about this time..” The taller had said under his breath, the blonde of course having heard him. He spoke louder this time. “Tsukasa-kun, you’re okay, it’s just the two of us here.”
Tsukasa blinked, seemingly getting out of his daze and looking up at Rui. “S-sorry.. I’m okay.”
Rui sighed, looking at Tsukasa with a knowing look. “Tsukasa-kun, someone who’s ‘okay’ isn’t someone who just got out of a panic attack.”
Tsukasa looked down again, holding his free hand to his chest, biting down on his lip hard. “I’m okay, really.”
“Tsukasa..” Rui came to Tsukasa’s side, kneeling down next to the king and using one of his hands to make the other look at him. And the look he gave Tsukasa made him want to cry right there and then. He held back tears, looking the other in the eye. “Tsukasa. As your most loyal servant, my duty is to help you with all your needs, I can’t help if you don’t tell me what’s wrong. What’s making my king so upset?”
And at that moment, Tsukasa couldn’t stop his tears from falling.
“S-sorry, I’m okay, really.. It- it was dumb, don’t worry about it..”
Tsukasa expected Rui to just walk away, to give up.
Deep down he of course knew Rui wasn’t the type to do that. This wasn’t the first time this had happened after all.
Rui had instead wrapped Tsukasa up in a hug, holding the blond tight. Tsukasa melted into the touch, grabbing onto Rui’s back as he bathed in the warmth of the embrace.
“I-I’m sorry..”
“What ever could you be apologizing for?”
“I-I... I’m sorry for y-yelling at you.. You just- seemed so angry afterwards and I-” Tsukasa's voice cracked at the end, and the boy stopped in hopes of stopping his tears. He'd have to apologize to Rui about his shirt later.
“Tsukasa..” Tsukasa felt as Rui started gently running his fingers through Tsukasa’s hair. “Don’t apologize for that my king.. I’m sorry for making you feel that way. I’m not mad at you, okay?”
Tsukasa nodded, curling up in Rui’s arms. “I know.. I know you’re not mad.” Tsukasa didn't notice when Rui's face of worry changed into one of determination. He didn't notice when Rui held onto the king tighter.
“Come on. Tsukasa-kun.. I think you’re long past due for a nice break.”
“But-” Tsukasa tried to separate himself from the hug, but Rui held on tight, not allowing the blonde to escape.
“No ‘buts’ Tsukasa. You need a break.” Tsukasa sighed, going limp in Rui’s arms.
Tsukasa may be king, but for some reason Rui had a hold over the blonde that made him want to just follow whatever he said. Was it trust? He was usually right anyways..
“Alright..”
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Tsukasa had changed into comfortable clothes, climbing in bed and curling up in the blankets. He watched as Rui set a tray with tea down beside Tsukasa’s bedside table, and closed the curtains, the only thing illuminating the room being some candles. Tsukasa could already feel his eyelids droop.
“I should be going now, Tsukasa-kun. I’ll be back before dinner to wake you up.” Rui had been standing beside Tsukasa’s bed at this point. “I don’t think there’s anything that needs your undivided attention for the rest of the day..”
Tsukasa nodded, not really taking in the words. Rui, upon realizing this had chuckled. “Get some rest Tsukasa-kun~”
The tall man had turned and started to walk away.
Tsukasa didn’t want him to leave yet. He didn’t want to be left alone.
”W-wait.!” Tsukasa had reached out, grabbing Rui’s wrist. Rui paused in surprise, looking back to Tsukasa.
“Huh?”
“Stay.. please...”
“A-as in like- sit beside you?” Tsukasa pouted at that.
“I guess..”
“Fufu~ Tsukasa-kun do you perhaps want me to cuddle with you?”
Despite the more awake side of his brain wanting to scream out in annoyance, Tsukasa was just too tired to try and hide what he really wanted.
He scooted back in his bed, opening his blanket up for Rui. “Yes.”
“Alright, darling.” Rui smiled, climbing into the bed with Tsukasa. The blonde in question, snuggled up close to Rui, the purple haired man hugging the blonde close.
Tsukasa felt his eyes droop close, and as his consciousness faded, he heard the words of his most beloved and loyal servant.
“Goodnight Tsukasa-kun, I’ll be right here when you awake.”