Chapter Text
“Please say it” Hamlet whispers his voice barely audible over the sound of laughter and chatter from outside. Claudius leaned into his armchair. Martini in one hand and chicken leg in the other.
“ All I ask of you is to join the party for a bit instead of moping around in here” Claudius sipped his martini slowly before setting it down on the table.
“Hamlet do this for your mother it's Christmas for Christ's sake”
Hamlet clenched his jaw.
“my father used to love Christmas”
Claudius stood up from his armchair taking one step forward. He Reaches out his hand and places it on Hamlet's shoulder, his grip soft.
“ you're not the only one who's suffering Hamlet,”
Hamlet bushes Claudius' hand off his shoulder looking away.
“ do thou not knoweth my pain”
“ Do thou not knoweth mine?” Claudius responds quickly, his voice horse.
Hamlet shakes his head “ I know you did it, Claudius”
Claudius chuckled “Did what? I've done a lot of things boy”
Hamlet met Claudiuses eyes once more
“ My father's death was no accident,” he says, his stare intense. Claudius's eyes didn't meet his, instead they were aimed at the martini that he previously had rested on the table.
“ who said that”
Hamlet shook his head “Poison, garden, ring a bell”
“ the only bells I hear are the Christmas Bells,” he says, picking up the martini and taking a sip.
“Don't change the topic Claudius tell me the truth” Hamlet begs, snatching the drink from Claudius' hands Claudius attempts to pull the drink back but misses and the drink shatters painting the once white carpet red.
“Hamlet this has gone too far. I've been lenient because I know these past few months have been hard on you but this… this is drawing the line,” he says, voice low and dangerous. Hamlet doesn't say anything as he leans down and picks up the scattered shards of glass. As he picks up the shard that lies closest to his feet it cuts his thumb.
“Damn it”
He drops the glass, The cut starts to drip onto the carpet blending into the red stain from the drink. Claudius kneels down, taking Hamlet's hand. Hamlet tries to pull away but Claidius is stronger
“ you need to be more careful” he says
He watches as Claudius repeatedly dabs his thumb fighting the urge to pull away when Claudius sees that he's not going to say anything he says “Me and your mother are worried Hamlet… I don't want you to get hurt”
“ I'm not going to”
Claudius raises a brow, holding up Hamlet's hand reminding him of what just happened.
“ I know you are angry with me but for Christmas lets get along thou don't be a grinch”
Sure” he says, crossing his fingers secretly behind his back.
Hamlet leaves the room after his finger stops bleeding, picking at the band-aid on his finger. When he lays in bed he thinks of his father, his real father. Not the serpent that slithered his way into his place not the man he greets each morning with a smile (fake one of course)