Chapter Text
Jay knew that she shouldn’t be spending her days in the training room watching Kira train for hours on end. She knew that there were better things to do. More important things to do.
But did that stop her? No. It didn’t.
She enjoyed spending time with Kira. She always had. The two had spent so much time together when they were young, but it was much rarer now that Kira was a knight of the castle that had actual duties. The two still took the time when they could, and, well, Jay would be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy watching Kira train.
“Jay, I can feel your eyes on me. You’re staring,” Kira said, swinging her sword against the wooden dummy in the center of the room.
“Am not,” Jay countered, a smile growing on her face as she looked down, eyes ghosting over the sketches of Kira in her sketchbook.
“I can feel your eyes on me,” Kira glanced over with a grin, sheathing her sword. “You know, princess, I’m really starting to think you like sitting in on my training sessions.”
“What makes you say that?” Jay asked innocently.
“Mm, just a hunch. I mean, the fact that you’ve accompanied me to nearly every single one for a couple of years now certainly indicates the idea.” Kira wiped the sweat from her brow, leaning against the wall by the window seat. “Or maybe I’m reading too far into it and it really means nothing at all.”
“Must be the latter. It’s not my fault this training room has one of the best views of the capital city.”
Kira chuckled, trying to peer over at Jay’s sketchbook. “Oh, yeah? What might that view be?”
Jay shut the sketchbook, looking up at Kira with a grin. “That’s confidential information. And the sketchbook is princess’s eyes only. No knights.”
“Oh, of course. Of course. My deepest apologies, princess. Can you ever forgive me?” Kira sank to a knee dramatically, clasping her hands in front of Jay. “Can the oh–so–kind–and–gracious princess Jay find it in her heart to forgive my mistake?”
Jay cupped Kira’s chin, pulling her into a kiss. “I think I can find it in me somewhere to do such a thing. If only for my favorite knight.”
“So gracious of you,” Kira laced a hand through Jay’s free hand. “Though, I expect nothing less from a princess like yourself.”
Jay chuckled softly, pulling Kira to sit on the bench. “Do you really want to see what I’ve been doing?”
“You’ve been furiously sketching for an hour, of course I do. I’m surprised you even have to ask, at this point. You know I always want to see what you’re up to.” Kira hummed, leaning her head on Jay’s shoulder.
“I may have gotten a little distracted.” Jay admitted, opening her sketchbook back up to the page she’d been on, revealing the sketches of Kira. “It may or may not have turned into a study. They’re not, you know, perfect, but…”
“They’re incredible, Bluejay. As always.” Kira laughed, staring down at the sketches of herself. “Hey, you got my good side.”
“Every side is your good side,” Jay countered. “I’m convinced you don’t have a bad side. I really am.”
“You’re incredible at this, you know that?”
“You’re just saying that because I’m your princess and you’re obligated to be nice to me.” Jay teased
“No, I’m saying that because it’s true.” Kira nudged Jay. “The fact that you’re my princess just makes it even better.”
“You’re so cheesy,”
“Yeah, but you love me for it.”
“I never said I didn’t.” Jay looked up at her knight, smile fading. “Ki, do you think other people have noticed us sneaking away? Me sneaking away, I mean?”
“Sneaking away? What part of this is sneaking away?”
“Well… I have, you know… Princess things. Princess duties. And you have your knight things other than training, and we spend so much time together in here.” Jay said slowly. “And I’m worried that if someone finds out that this is where I sneak off to, it’ll get you in trouble.”
Kira chuckled softly. “You don’t need to worry about me, Bluejay. I can handle myself if it comes down to it. I’ll be okay.”
“Against my dad, though?” Jay frowned. “I don’t know what he would do if he found out.”
Was it likely that he’d actually do anything? No. Kira was among the best in the guard, and Jay knew that her father knew that. And he knew the two were close friends, at the very least.
Jay still couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was about to change.
“I’m sure your father knows that I became a knight because of you. That’s always been the reason. To protect you.” Kira’s eyes sparkled. “I mean, that’s what I promised when we were kids, isn’t it? I said I’d protect you.”
“You’re really sticking with that promise, are you?”
“Of course, I am. What, did you think I wouldn’t?” Kira teased. “Did you think I didn’t have the ability to stick it out this far?”
“I know what you’re capable of, I always have. I’m just surprised that it wasn’t just an excuse to not be stuck working in the kitchen or something for the rest of our lives.” Jay laughed. “I have to say, I like you in your armor better than in a kitchen uniform.”
“You and me both. That was a disaster for the two whole hours that it lasted.” Kira glanced down at herself, at the light armor she’d donned for training. It wasn’t her typical armor, but Jay still loved to see her in it. “Speaking of, I should go change. The guard captain asked to speak with me this afternoon after training. I’ll try to come find you after that, though.”
Jay nodded, suddenly remembering a message from her father she’d received earlier in the morning. “Oh. Oh my gods. My father wanted to talk to me when I had the chance. Maybe I should go do that while you change. I completely forgot.”
“Okay,” Kira kissed Jay’s cheek, smiling softly. “I’ll see you later. Maybe I’ll even see you in the hallways. Maybe I’ll pass you.”
Jay chuckled, leaning into Kira’s touch. “If not, will you meet me in the garden after you’re done?”
“Well, that’s an offer I just can’t pass up. I’ll be there.”