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Chapter Text

His father was dead.  Langa shouldn’t be surprised—his father had been ill for several years, growing worse with each turn of the seasons—but he couldn’t mask his initial shock, despair, and his mounting fear of the future before him. 

Even as his mother sobbed to his left, having collapsed against the bed, Langa felt… numb.  He’d been preparing for this moment for a while, since he was fifteen, to take over the throne; he’d worked closely with his father every step of the way, studying under him diligently ever since.  He already knew what he must do because his father taught him well, raised him for this, for the past five years.

King at twenty.  That is what he was.

“Adam,” Langa uttered, his voice coming out thick and uneven.  He cleared his throat to sound more put together, like the man his father had raised him to be.  Raising his eyes to their royal advisor, he told him, “Prepare the courts for my crowning.  Gather the council for the transfer of power for tomorrow evening.”  He clenched his jaw before continuing, “Afterwards we will send father off on the pyre.”

“I will get started right away,” Adam returned, exiting the room and leaving the body of his father in their wake. 

Langa had prepared for running a kingdom, for war, for peace, for negotiations… but left alone with his mother, he realized that his father had not prepared him for his actual death.  He didn’t know how to comfort his mother as she continued grieving loudly.

It was all he could do to lay a gentle hand to her shoulder and there was something chilling about touching her skin as she shivered under the strain of tears and deep bone-wrenching gasps for air.  He stared at her blankly, struck by how much nothing he felt.

Why couldn’t he feel it?

Adam placed the crown on his head, the cold metal pricking at his temple, and adoring cheers erupted amongst the onlookers.  Langa lifted his chin further, depicting strength and resilience before his people.  He was distantly struck with the thought that it should be his father placing the crown to his head, just as he planned if he made it that far.  His 21^st birthday was supposed to be his crowning. 

This was too early.  Oliver had told him year over year how much he’d looked forward to seeing his son crowned, wanting to live just long enough to see it. 

It was that thought alone that made Langa waver before his throne, turning to look at as he approached it.  He swallowed thickly and let the train of thought die and pushed forward, turning back towards the gathered crowd, letting his cloak swirl around him as he did so.

“I accept my duties,” he forced the practiced words, projecting his voice as he was taught, watching as the onlookers quieted.  “I will serve you as valiantly as my father had and try live up to his name.  I will put my kingdom first, put all of you first.  We will have peace and prosperity for years to come.”

He hadn’t even finished what he was trying to say, what he practiced.  He cut himself off as the crowd began to chant his name, growing louder as more joined in.  “King Langa Hasegawa!” they cried. 

Langa had only heard his name associated with prince and he was stunned by the words.  He felt his world thaw slightly as it all became suddenly real.  His father was dead and he was king now; he needed to live up to their praise and loyalty.  These were his people and they depended on him.

How would he ever do it?

Adam stepped forward from his side and raised his hands, effortlessly quieting the crowd.  He glanced at Langa with a thin smile before telling them, “Langa will now take the throne.”

They all turned their eyes back on Langa.  Langa stepped back towards the golden thrown, sweeping his eyes over the people, young and old, healthy and ill, rich and poor.  He needed to serve them all.

He sat onto the throne to finish the ritual and the crowd cried out, chanting his name once again. 

Langa couldn’t pay attention to that, though, because directly out across the crowd and into the river, a man lit his father’s pyre, setting his lifeless body ablaze.

Finished.

The sunset behind the fire was just as orange and blinding as the burning grave, so much so that Langa had to tear his eyes from it.  He gave his best smile to his people as the music began and they dispersed to enjoy the festivities. 

A celebration.

The idea made Langa’s stomach churn.  The people loved his father as king, but it was a celebration regardless to have Langa on the throne.  This was meant to be a happy day.

“Shall I prepare your place at the head table?” Adam asked, leaning in a bit too closely as he always did. 

“No,” Langa said, resisting the urge to drag a hand across his drained face.  “I will go see my mother and retire for the evening.  I will join tomorrow.”   The celebration, after all, was three days long.

“I will distract them, my prince—ah, my king,” Adam said, correcting himself.

Langa waved it away and stood, not even casting him a glance.  “I can find my way,” he said, pacing away before Adam could ask more of him.  Adam could sometimes get a bit overbearing.

“Rest well,” Adam called after him.

Langa hardly heard him, pacing away with thoughts racing.   The guards opened the grand doors for him and they clunked shut shortly after, and he let out a soft breath as he walked swiftly through the halls, relieved to finally be alone.

He made his way to his mother’s room as he had initially planned, the guards letting him in easily.  The fire was going inside, despite it being a warm day, and Langa stopped in the middle of the room to look at her in bed.  She looked on the verge of death, not unlike Oliver, but this wasn’t a normal illness—this was heartbreak.

May this type of love never find him, he thought as he looked over her pallid color and her vacant eyes.  He would rather marry for political strategy than to feel the pain of losing someone again, even if he still hasn’t fully felt this one.

“Mother,” he murmured softly, leaning in to sweep the hair away from her sweaty brow.  “You missed my coronation.”

Something shifted in her eyes and she finally turned her attention on him, recognition sparking.  “Langa,” she gasped, struggling to sit and running her clammy palm across Langa’s cheek.  Her eyes flicked up at his crown, this same one father had worn for years until it had grown too heavy for him. 

“You missed his pyre, too,” he told her.

She smiled wistfully; pain achingly vivid in her expression.  “I’ll remember him as he was.”  Her smile waned.  “But I do regret not going to see you.  I bet you were wonderful up there.”

“If not, I am sure Adam will tell you all about it,” Langa sighed, pressing his hands into hers.

She laughed lightly, tears watering at the edge of her eyes.  “You’ll be amazing, I know it.”

“Thank you.  I was taught well.”

“That you were,” she agreed, squeezing his hands back tightly.  She sniffed a little and she took one hand away to push at the tears.  “Oh, you don’t need to see me cry.  Why don’t you go out to enjoy yourself?”

“You can cry around me, Mom,” he said quietly.

She looked at him then, her expression softening.  Langa did not often call her anything other than Mother these days, but in the quiet of their grief, it felt appropriate to call her as he did as a kid.  Mom.

“My sweet son,” she said, again taking her free cold hand to press his cheek solemnly.  “You truly will do this kingdom well.  Maybe more so than Oliver.   You are much more prepared, anyway.”

“That’s a tall order to live up to.”

“I will help you,” she assured him but her hand fell away, and her gaze turned towards the fire, her eyes turning distant again.  “Just give me some time.”

“Of course,” Langa agreed.  He slipped from her grasp and stood, watching her liveliness disappear in front of his eyes.  “I’ll send a maid in to bring you your meal.”

She scooted back to sit against her pillow.  “No need to bother them with me.”

“Nothing you say will change my mind,” he told her.  He strode across the room, opening it and murmured directions to one of the guards out of Mom’s earshot.  Then he turned back and called, “Good night!”

“Good night, love,” she called back.

He meant to go back to his room, but he found himself pacing the halls until he found the door of his old study.  It was a room he shared with his father going over strategy and politics and history.  It was a place that Oliver had laughed often, passing him a goblet of wine at a young age just to chortle at the faces Langa would make.  It was a place full of life and excitement.

Now, as Langa pressed into the room, he found the fire out.  He couldn’t remember a time he hadn’t been greeted by the rolling warmth and his father bent over a book.  Today it felt chilled and gray and dark. 

Langa left the door open behind him and went to the desk closest to the window, the setting sun shining a ribbon of light on stacked books.  There was even a piece of parchment with his father’s scrawl, halfway written.

He caught the blaze of the pyre in the distance and looked again at the desk, abandoned.  Just then, it felt as the numb wall was crumbling, crashing and quaking.  He leaned over the desk, pressing his palms and clawed fingers into the wood to try to stop the rush of emotions, but then he caught sight of his father’s writing again and he gasped.  He let himself feel it—the rushing waves of horror and grief and anger.

Crying out, he swiped at the desk, throwing everything with a rattle and slam across the floor.  His vision blurred after as he stilled, trembling against the now empty desk.

He breathed heavily for several moments, letting himself slowly pull back together, stitch by stitch.  But then, he heard something.

It was the softest flutter of paper and binding as a stack of the things he’d thrown was placed down beside him.  Langa turned his gaze on the person who had picked up his mess and frowned.

“Sorry,” the stranger said with dip of his head in a light bow.  “I didn’t mean to intrude but I just thought I could help.”

Langa continued to stare, dumbfounded.

“Oh,” the stranger stammered.  “So dumb.  Not you!  Never you!  Me.  I shouldn’t have interrupted.  Sorry, ignore me.”  The man stepped back, crossing the ribbon of sunlight, and his red hair shown in the sun.   

His amber eyes flicked back to Langa as he paced away, backing into the far wall and he stood straight up against it, chin raised stiffly, like a… a guard.

Come to think of it, this mystery person wore the attire of one of his guards—royal blues to signify his status amongst their personal staff with the brown tunic of one that wasn’t sent into battle.  He wore armor, ready to protect, and there was a short sword at his waist.  He was young, younger than Langa remembered seeing on his personal staff, but when was the last time he’d looked at any of them?

He eased off his braced arms and turned fully in the man’s direction.  “Who are you?”

“Me?” the other squeaked, looking more than a little freaked out by having Langa’s eyes on him.

“Who else?”

The other bowed again quickly, as if not knowing what else to do.  “Reki Kyan, at your service; 1^st infantry.”

First?  Those were the closest to Langa and his family.  How had he not seen this person?

“How long have you been with us?”

“Three years,” Reki said, head still bowed. 

“I’ve never seen you before.”

Reki’s eyes flicked up to him then and Langa was lost for words.  He couldn’t have missed those shade of eyes, or hair!  Reki straightened, grinning.  “That means I did my job well!  You aren’t supposed to notice me.”  His smile slipped.  “Well, until…  Just pretend that never happened, okay?  Go back to ignoring me.”

“I don’t ignore you,” Langa protested indignantly.  “I’ve just never noticed you before.”  He stepped towards him and Reki took a step back.

Reki seemed to jolt at whatever look Langa was giving him.  “I am not supposed to be close to you.”  He stood a little straighter.  “Sorry.”

Langa was bewildered.  How had he never noticed someone so unique?

He shook his head.  “Whatever.  I’m going.”  He turned away from Reki and made his way out the door and down the hallway when he dared to look back.  Reki was right behind him, a few feet back, and he stopped when Langa stopped.  “You’re following me?”

Reki ruffled his hair.  “Um, my job is to follow you around.  I’m your personal guard.”

Langa took a step back towards him and Reki automatically moved backwards too.  

“Three paces away,” Reki said, watching him warily.  “At all times.”

“Yet you broke that rule to pick up my books.”

“After three years, I did pretty good,” Reki deflected.  But he looked unnerved, maybe even a little scared.  “Look, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to—”  He cut himself off and breathed out.  “Just don’t tell Kaoru.  Or Joe.  Or Adam.”  Langa only recognized his advisor’s name and suddenly he wondered how much he truly didn’t notice.

“Alright,” Langa said, turning and headed back towards his room.  Reki walked behind him, silent like a ghost.  Not a sound.  The other man was well practiced with this.

Langa stopped at his door and looked back.  Reki was already pressed against the wall, looking resolutely away.  “Are you going to follow me inside?”

Reki glanced at him then.  “I never go inside.” 

“Never?”

“Not unless you will ever need me,” Reki said.  His expression turned determined.  “It’s my job to protect you.”

It felt intimate, those words.  Langa had never thought about his guards or staff this closely before and suddenly he wanted to know more.  Who was this boy who guarded him so solemnly since they were 17?  Where did he come from?  Why was he here?

“Well, goodnight, I guess,” Langa said, pulling his door open.  He looked back at Reki expectantly.

Reki jolted again when he noticed Langa’s eyes on him.  “Goodnight!” he stammered.

Only then did Langa start through the door.

“You shouldn’t talk to me,” Reki told him before he could close the door.  When Langa waited for him to elaborate, Reki went on, turning away and standing straighter, “I am meant to guard silently and unseen.”

Langa nodded, understanding duty, but he couldn’t help a smile.  “And who are you to tell the king what to do?”

Reki swung towards him, eyes wide and he was tripping over his words again, “I didn’t mean—!”

Langa waved him away.  “Relax, Reki.  I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow but you shouldn’t see me—Actually I mean—”

“Good night,” Langa said firmly, closing the door on him, smile still miraculously on his lips.  He could hear the other man cursing through the door.

Huh.  This was interesting.

Chapter Text

Langa was not looking forward to being forced to celebrate shortly after his father’s death but he needed to make an appearance in front of the people waiting to see him.  It didn’t mean he had to right away, so he stayed in bed longer than normal and the maids came in to start the fire, bring him a tray, and escaped with their eyes averted.

Eventually he dressed because curiosity was getting the better of him.  He needed to see Reki again.

His hair was tussled and not fully groomed in his haste.  He pulled on a shirt haphazardly and only started to button it up when he threw the door open, sweeping the hallway in search of the other.

It took a moment for Langa to notice him there, tucked to the side of the hall, the shadowy edge, but close enough to be in earshot of the door.  “Reki,” he greeted, finishing his buttoning and approaching him.

Reki’s head turned, eyes going to Langa’s fingers on his shirt buttons and then to his eyes.  He once again looked surprised and flustered.  When Langa got close enough, Reki took a step back and then another.  Langa then remembered his rule, three paces, and stopped, pressing a hand to the cool stone wall for support. 

“Do you stay out here all night?” Langa asked.

Reki gave him an odd look.  “It’s concerning that you don’t know the rotation of your own personal staff,” Reki began but then seemed to remember who he was speaking to and quickly backpedaled.  “Uh, I mean, I take from 11 to midnight and Kaoru takes midnight to 11.”

“Kaoru,” Langa repeated blankly.  He had another person to watch him?

“He was your father’s personal guard,” Reki told him, tucking his hands behind his back in a polite gesture.  “It’s honestly a miracle I was able to retain my position.”

“And why is that?  You’ve been doing your job well.”

His compliment caused a healthy flush to Reki’s face.  “Thank you,” Reki said.  “It was only because Joe decided to retire his watch duties to join your staff as a cook.”

“Really?” Langa asked, turning to lean companionably against the wall to keep his casual gaze on his guard.  “He didn’t want the responsibility anymore?”

“No, that’s not it,” Reki rushed to correct him, turning to Langa fully.  Langa counted it as a win.  “He’s the best cook you will ever have.  I think you get your first meal with him at lunch today.  He makes these amazing meat pies…”  He trailed off, seemingly remembering himself.

“You’ve tried them?”

“Only once,” Reki said with a smile, looking up at the ceiling as he remembered.  Langa wish he could see him better in the dim hallway light but his silhouette was still striking regardless.  “It’s to die for.”  He glanced back at Langa.  “So, I guess you’re stuck with me but you’ll have some killer meals.”  He turned away to stand at attention again, but he muttered quieter, more to himself than Langa, “Plus I think Joe just wants to see Kaoru more often.”

“You seem like the type to know a lot about everyone,” Langa observed, intrigued.

“Not really,” Reki said, shrugging.  But then his eyes went to Langa and then over his shoulder and he jolted, standing straighter and his face going blank.  It was as if they’d never even started a conversation.

Langa looked behind him, wondering what spooked him, and he immediately understood.  Adam was making his way down the hallway, trailed by his own set of guards.  He carried a book his arm, but his attention was elsewhere, narrowing on Reki.  “Is this guard bothering you?” Adam asked, slowing by Langa.  His expression looked subtly venomous.

“Oh no,” Langa said, shaking his head.  “I was just asking him some questions.”

“Like?” Adam prompted, ever the nosey but well-meaning advisor. 

“Nothing much, just about the staff and things.  Now that my father is gone, I wanted to know more.”

“And what did he tell you?”  There was something about the way Adam said it, like a viper gearing to strike. 

Based on the way Reki had been acting, Langa played into some vague cluelessness, “Not much.  He only informed me his duties are to guard me and he gave me his hours.  Adam, would you put together a schedule of all of my personal staff so I can know more about the safety for me and my mother?” Deflect and move on.

Adam nodded, effectively distracted.  “Very well, I will get right to it.  Coming down for the celebrations?”

Langa nodded.  “I will.  I’ll just go to see my mother first.”

“Alright.  I’ll see you in a few hours.”  Adam moved on past Langa and Reki, his own guards trailing behind like Reki had the night before and when they rounded the corner, Langa let out a breath.  Adam was so exhausting.

Reki hadn’t relaxed, though.  He was still wound up tight in an attentive stance, as if waiting for orders.

To lighten the mood, Langa ventured to say, “Adam’s a bit of a pain in the ass, isn’t he?”

Reki barked out a laugh in surprise, clapping a hand over his mouth in shock at his own reaction, but his eyes were still mirthful and carefree.  Langa was stricken by how much he liked this guard.  He daresay he may become obsessed with trying to get Reki to crack. 

Reki cleared his throat, more at ease, and told Langa, “Thank you, for not ratting me out there.  You could’ve gotten me totally fired if you wanted to.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

There was something vulnerable in the sideways glance that Reki casted his direction.  “No reason.  I just know many would love to have my position.”

“So, you can’t show any weakness,” Langa guessed.

“Right,” Reki and then his voice turned wary, “So if you could stop talking to me all the time…”

“For someone worried about losing their position, you speak to me so casually.”

Reki looked horrified again, his body locking up again.  “Oh my gods—”

“Relax,” Langa said with a placating wave of his hand.  “I’m teasing.  I actually like you, Reki.”

“You like…?”  He seemed awed and disturbed by Langa’s declaration and Reki’s bewilderment made Langa grin.

He turned in the direction of his mother’s room.  “I can’t imagine I can convince you to walk with me, not behind me?”  He looked back in time to see Reki’s horrified expression.

“Never.”  He said it like a promise and it made Langa want to break the vow all the more. 

 It awkward, for the first time ever, for Langa to eat his meal at the long table in the dining hall.  He sat now in his father’s place, mother was nowhere to be seen, and they had no guests to entertain, so it was just Langa.  Well, Langa and several guards posted around the edge of the room, including Reki in a dark corner.  He could now start to understand how he’d never noticed Reki before.  He stood so out of the way.

The kitchen staff finished setting out the filled plates around him and he waved them away, dismissing them.  It felt awkward to have all the guards watch him eat as well, so he said to the room, “Everyone out.”

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Reki starting to slip away with the others, so he added, “My personal guard may stay.”

The others didn’t seem to think anything of it and exited, but Reki stood stiffly halfway across the room, watching the doors shut and leave the two of them alone. 

“Reki,” he said, pushing a chair out beside him with his foot.  “Sit with me.”

The other turned towards him, his expression incredulous.  “You are set on torturing me, aren’t you?”

“Not at all.  I just want someone to eat with.”

Something softened in Reki’s expression then; Langa must’ve struck some chord with him.  He crossed the long room and came to stand nearby, still those cursed three paces away.  Reki placed a hand on a chair two down, not the one Langa had pushed out for him.  It was a more respectable distance from a king, Langa could guess was Reki’s reasoning.  “I shouldn’t sit,” Reki said nervously, glancing back at the doors.  “Shouldn’t eat.”

Langa frowned, taking in Reki’s skinny form.  “You don’t eat while on duty?”

“No?”

“Now you have to eat with me.  I’ll change the schedule so you have more breaks later.”

Reki sputtered.  “Don’t change things for me.”

Langa feigned ignorance, picking up his cup to take a sip of the wine.  “I don’t like the thought that none of my staff get proper breaks.  How else will they be up to top performance?”

“Oh,” Reki sighed, clearly relieved at his reasoning.   Reki’s fingers twitched on the chair and his eyes had turned hungrily on the food in front of Langa.  Oh.  How long has it actually been since Reki properly ate?

“Sit,” Langa said, and he pushed the meat pie in Reki’s direction, along with his salad fork, not caring for etiquette. 

Reki swallowed thickly before relenting, wincing as the chair scraped the floor to sit.  “If anyone finds me at the table—”

“They won’t.  I sent them out.  And if they need to come in, they will knock first.”  Langa gestured at the meat pie for him to start eating. 

Langa looked across the items in front of him, deciding what he should try first.  He had to admit that it looked even more incredible than normal.  Perhaps he would need to meet this Joe person who was now his cook. 

“The ham,” Reki said, interrupting his train of thought.  “You’ll like it best.”

Langa wasted no time in picking up the tray of meat and pulling a thick slice onto his plate.  He tore into it a beat later, savoring the deep smoky flavor, practically falling a part in his mouth.  It was incredible.  “That’s delicious,” Langa confessed, his mouth still very full.

“Ham’s always been your favorite,” Reki said, finally dipping his fork into the meat pie.  He lit up at the flavor.  “It’s as good as I remember it.”

“You know my favorite food?” Langa asked, pausing midchew.

Reki rolled his eyes at him.  “I’ve spent years following you around.  I started to notice a few things.”  He took a few more desperate bites.  It was as if Reki never got fed.

“What are your favorites?”

Reki glared at him.  “I shouldn’t even be sitting at this table.  Stop asking me questions.”

“And why are you sitting there, then?”

“Because Joe’s pie is that good.”  He pushed the rest of it in Langa’s direction, even though he’d only had a few bites.  “Try it.”

Langa crunched through the flaky top crust with his fork and pulled out dark meat with a gravy.  He popped it onto his tongue and knew immediately want Reki meant; it was savory in the best way possible.  “It’s good.”

“I told you,” Reki said, slipping from the chair and standing, tilting his chin over his shoulder at the door.  He silently moved the chair back into place and then stepped back against the wall, like he’d never been there at the table in the first place.

A knock on the door interrupted them and Langa glanced at Reki.  He had to have known that they would check on them somehow.  “Come in,” Langa called, continuing eat in the meantime.

“Do you need anything else, your majesty?”  It was a kitchen maid.

“Can you send the cook in?  I want to pay my compliments.”

“Of course!” she said excitedly, curtsying and disappearing without another word.

Langa ate in silence in the following minutes after.  Reki wasn’t much for conversation on his station at the wall, so he just ate and occasionally glanced at his companion.  Reki didn’t even twitch as he stood at attention, like a ghost. 

Then a man—a huge, tall man—ambled into the dining room.  His shaggy green hair was tucked behind his ears in a non-threatening kind of way, but Langa could tell this man was dangerous and well trained just by the way his muscles rippled beneath his loose kitchen staff clothes.  Joe grinned at Langa as he entered the room, so much less stuck on the rules than Reki clearly.  “I hear you like the grub, your majesty,” Joe said proudly.  “Should I call you ‘your majesty?’”

Langa smiled.  “It’s the best food I’ve had.  I’m surprised because you were my father’s guard before.  What did he have you call him?”

“Honestly, your old man was pretty casual with me.  He let me call him Oliver.”  His expression turned sheepish and wistful.  “But I don’t need to be that way with you if you would like otherwise.”

“You can call me Langa when it’s just us.  But really, I wanted to compliment you on your food and thank you for deciding on this path for yourself.”

Joe gestured at the spread.  “What is your favorite?”

“The ham,” Langa said, gesturing where most of it was gone.

“Then I will make it more often.”

“And the meat pie, too,” Langa said.  It was only halfway eaten but Reki had liked it. 

Joe glanced at it, his eyes flickered to the abandoned fork out of Langa’s reach, and then something changed in his expression; it was more serious, more resolute.  “I can absolutely make it more often.  I would be glad to.”  Joe’s gaze went to Reki only once but Langa followed the split second it happened.  There was something like concern or fondness there; Langa couldn’t quite understand it.  Whatever it was, Joe had understood the pie was for the redhead that stared straight ahead, ignoring both of them.

“Great, thank you, Joe.”

Joe bowed shallowly.  “I better get back to the kitchens.”

Langa let him go, but then remembered something and stopped him with a, “Joe.”  The man halted before the door and tilted his head back.  “What happens to the leftovers the kitchen receives back?”

“We feed the pigs.”

Langa nodded.  “And the staff?  Do they get a meal as well?”

“Whatever is cheap.”

“Let the staff have any untouched food and the half-eaten to the pigs… and maybe make a little too much?”

Joe looked at him like his father did, fond and gentle.  “You are like your father.”  He left before Langa could work out what he truly meant by that. 

Langa continued to eat, glancing at Reki a few bites later.  The other was already looking at him, seemingly lost in thought with a complicated expression there.  But when he was caught, he looked away.

Chapter Text

Langa went to see his mother again after his meal.  Although Reki was right behind him as usual on this walk, Langa was silent because there was something sobering about seeing his mother in full mourning.  He’d felt the pain and rage of his father’s absence in the study that night but he’d left the pain neatly buttoned up and tucked away.  Visiting his mother reminded him of what he repressed.

“Mother,” Langa called, opening the door with a soft tap of his knuckles to the wood.  He did not notice Reki fading into the shadows. 

He stepped in, closing the door behind him, and surveyed the room.  A maid must’ve built a fire, the curtains were drawn, and a meal sat waiting by the bedside, untouched.  His mother laid in the bed, her hair sweaty and messy.  She was listless.

He let his weight pressing into the bed rouse her.  The shift had her finding his face and something softened.  “Langa,” she said and reached up to touch his cheek.

“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked, and he touched her hair, meaning to soothe her.

She rolled over a bit more to look at him.  “The same,” she said but she quickly followed it up with, “but don’t you worry.  I’ll be back up and running in no time.  Just a bit longer.”

Langa nodded.  It had hardly been any time at all since Oliver’s death, even though they had all seen it long coming; he could understand that she needed time.  “It’s alright but you should eat.”  He took the tray and put it between them.  “Sit up.”  He wasn’t going to lose another parent, especially not to starvation. 

His mother did as she was told, sitting back against the pillow, watching as he scooped some of the meat pie onto a fork.  “Where’s your crown?”

Langa glanced at her.  He hadn’t even thought to wear the crown this morning, but he supposed it should be part of his routine now.  “Left it behind.  I’ll put it on before the celebrations tonight.”  He moved the fork towards her.  “Will you be attending at all?  It still goes until tomorrow.”

“If I feel well tomorrow,” she said.  She took the fork from him and ate it.  Surprisingly, she looked delighted.  “What is this?”

“We have a new cook,” Langa said.  “Father’s previous royal guard, Joe.”

She gasped.  “Oh, that’s wonderful.  Oliver used to talk about his guard’s ambitions but I never thought he could cook this well or else we would have restationed him sooner.”

Langa took her fork and scooped her another bite.  “My own personal guard was worried about losing his position until Joe switched to the kitchens.”

“Surely not Kaoru?  He knows he is our finest commander.”

Langa paused while she took the fork for the next bite.  How is it that his mother knew of Kaoru but Langa didn’t remember seeing him once.  He could not even come up with a face to match the name.  It was like he’d been asleep for so long, so tunnel-visioned on prepping for this role and pleasing his father while he still lived, that he’d blinded to all other surroundings.  He felt unsteadied.  “No, not Kaoru.  My other guard, Reki.”

“Oh,” she said, chewing.  “How is he these days?  It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken to him.”

“You’ve spoken to him before?” Langa said, shocked. 

“Of course,” she said, this time taking the initiative to scoop her own food.  Langa was grateful.  “I was the one who helped select him for you.”

Langa watched her eat, mulling that over.  “And why him?”

She looked surprised by his question.  “Is he not suitable?”

“No, I like him.  He’s fine, but I am just curious.  He’s so young.”

She smiled a little for the first time since Oliver’s death.  “He’s a sweet thing.”  Langa nodded, sure that was true.  “I wanted someone your age, someone to grow up with you and build that bond early.  Although you have Kaoru as another guard, we needed someone who would grow into your primary guard and dedicate their life to you.  There were many contenders, maybe many more who would be stronger or more unrelenting, but I saw the determination in him, the dedication.  He had it there in his eyes.  It shone more brightly through him than the others, that he would die for his prince if it came to it.”

Something twisted inside him.  “Does he fight well?”

“He joined the infantry at 15 and has been one of our most dedicated learners.  You should go watch him in the training yard on one of his off days.  I think you would be impressed.”

Langa studied his mother.  She seemed so fond of someone that Langa hadn’t even known existed until yesterday.  “You seem to really like him, know a lot about him.”

“I’ve taken a special interest in him,” she explained.  “His story spoke to me.”  Langa raised a questioning brow but she shook her head.  “I will not reveal his secrets.  He told me in confidence.”

How is it that Reki had built this kind of relationship with his mother?  What had compelled him to join the royal army at 15?  What was his story?  Langa was dumbfounded at how little he knew and how much he desperately wanted unveiled.

“He’s outside.  Do you want to see him?”

She finished the last scoop of the meat pie but shook her head.  “I will not have him see me like this.  It’s bad enough my maids are attending to me in this state.”

“You are in mourning,” Langa emphasized.

“And so are you,” she reminded.  “But you’ve always been stronger than me.”

Langa said nothing.  He would not reveal to her that he’d already had his moment of weakness.  “I should prepare for the festivities.”

“Don’t forget your crown,” she said, putting the lunch tray into his hands.

Langa stood and put it back in its place for the maids to retrieve.  “I won’t forget.”  Not this time.

He slipped out into the hall, pulling the door with him, and he glanced at Reki.  The other man was just to the side of the door and Langa would have blind to it, hadn’t he started to notice him.  He wondered if Reki had heard any of their conversation through the door, but if he did, he gave no indication.

“We need to go back to my room,” Langa informed him.

Reki’s eyes slid to his, questioning. 

“Before we go to the celebration, I need to retrieve something.  I assume you will be with me there tonight?”

“I will go wherever you go,” Reki said, as if it should be obvious by now.  Langa supposed maybe it should be.

He walked towards Reki and in the direction of his chambers and Reki carefully slid past him, keeping his distance, and taking up his place behind Langa.  Langa could feel Reki’s presence behind him, like a warm sun.  How in the world had he not noticed before?

Stepping into his room upon arriving, he approached the pedestal on which his crown had been laid from the night before.  He examined the glittering jewels, musing at the sparkle that seemed to steal the sunlight.  It was beautiful.  He placed it on his head, grimacing at the unfamiliar weight, and glanced at himself in the mirror, wondering if it looked unnatural on him.  Did it look as out of place as it felt?

“Reki,” Langa called, still frowning at himself in the mirror.

“Yes?” the other’s quiet response came.  Langa turned and found Reki standing in the doorway, not even a toe over the threshold. 

He thought to comment it but instead said, “The crown, does it look ridiculous?”

Reki’s eyes widened, flicked to Langa’s temple and back to his face.  “Of course not,” Reki said, sounding actually offended on his behalf.

Langa glanced into the mirror again, unconvinced.  “Truly?”

“You look born to wear it,” Reki said.  There was something in the other man’s voice, a breathless reverence, that had Langa turning back.  Reki’s face was the picture of seriousness, his eyes determined.

Langa found he believed him.  “Alright.  If you say so.  Shall we go?”

“You don’t need to ask my permission to go places,” Reki scolded as he backed away to allow Langa a wide berth.

Langa hummed, taking the lead down towards the castle entrance.  “It feels like I should now.”

“Why?” Reki asked, his voice echoing slightly in the empty hall.

“Because,” Langa stopped suddenly, turning just in time to catch Reki just a step too close.  The other jumped back immediately.  “For the same reason you question me or scold me.  We talk now, we’re cordial.”  Langa continued walking, biting back a smile at having caught Reki unaware.

A few steps down the hall he heard Reki grumble to himself, “I don’t scold you.”

The celebration was a drag.  Langa frankly wished he was anywhere else, but his people were happy, so he must stay.  He sat at the throne at the beginning, like he’d done the night before, while Adam announced the start.  Food was spread across on a table for all to partake in from the village, there was upbeat music played, and people began to dance. 

Langa lingered at his throne long after Adam slipped away and he greeted those who approached.  Some were those he knew well, from shadowing his father, and some were villagers he’d never seen before.  It actually turned into a long line that Langa suddenly could not escape, but he let the people come and talk to him.

Every once and a while, he glanced at Reki who stood slightly off to the side of the throne, out of the main focus.  Reki watched each and every person closely as they approached Langa, his expression graver and more serious than Langa had ever seen him.  As expected, Reki took his job seriously.  

There was only once that Langa caught Reki looking elsewhere, his eyes on something in the distance; maybe it was the dancing, maybe it was the spread of food.  Langa wondered if he would partake after midnight when his shift ended.

A long while later, a woman approached.  She seemed a similar age to Langa’s own mother, but her clothes were a litter more tattered and her forming wrinkles were more pronounced.  She didn’t seem to be starving but she resembled the other poor who had already approached to thank Langa for his generosity.  Though, the current policies for the poor were still the doing of his father…

This woman, unlike all the others, glanced at Reki first before bowing her head to Langa.  “Thank, your majesty, for your generosity.”  It was practiced, like all the others.

Langa gave her his own practiced wave of his hand.  “Not at all.  Rise.”

She glanced at Reki again under brown bangs and then at Langa.  “I thank you for taking care of all of our people, even those in the guard.”

Langa followed her gaze to Reki then and found the other man extremely tense.  He looked like he was going to explode for some reason.

“Sure,” Langa said, glancing back at her curiously.  “My guards are a great credit to the kingdom.  This one in particular is my favorite,” Langa mused with a casual gesture at Reki, just to see their reaction.

Oh, was it a sight.  Reki’s face flamed red and he actually looked at Langa in bewilderment.  The woman laughed, pressing a hand to her mouth, and her eyes were glowing with delight.  “Thank you for treating him well.  It is a comfort to see such a friendship.”

“Friendship?” Reki squeaked in protest.

The woman curtsied and left with a grin. 

Reki glared at Langa.  “Maybe we should cease the meet and greet.”

“Alright,” Langa said, gesturing to another guard to end the procession.  He was getting exhausted from the social interaction anyway.  He stood, giving the crowd a gracious wave before exiting to the right.  He couldn’t slip away entirely yet, but he could hide out until he had to go down for dinner.  Langa rounded on Reki as soon as they were out of sight from everyone else.  “So, who was that?”

Reki leaned back, his expression stormy.  “No one.”

Langa wished he could get closer, tease the man and observe each micro-expression, but he knew Reki would only move further away.  “You obviously knew her.”

“Yes, but she’s still no one.”

Langa thought about the woman’s doting and he could only think of one person in his own life.  “Your mother?” he asked.

There it was, another subtle grit to Reki’s teeth, something flashing in his eyes.  Was this subject sore?  “She’s no one.”

“Okay, don’t tell me,” Langa said, putting his hands up in defeat.  He wondered why Reki would not say but he wouldn’t push further.  As much as he liked teasing his guard, this truly upset but subtle expression made Langa take pause.  “I won’t push.”

Reki deflated a little.  “Thank you,” he exhaled, his expression shifting from Langa and to their surroundings.  He instantly froze, his eyes widening.

“Langa, get down!” he cried suddenly.

Langa didn’t even have time to process it before Reki was pushing him to the ground, his crown clanging to the concrete while Reki shielded him with his body.  Langa winced from the impact to the floor and he looked up to see Reki curled over him, his red hair hanging into Langa’s face, and there, just above them and to the right was an arrow clinging to the wall.

“Shit,” Reki cursed, moving away from him, turning his head towards the direction the arrow had come.  Other guards, ones with their own bows and arrows had posted in front of Langa and had their arrows ready, waiting to shoot the culprit.   “We need to get you out of here,” Reki said, tugging Langa by the arm. 

Reki wore gloves but his grip was warm from where he held him.  Langa followed his lead immediately, glancing back at the arrow as Reki pushed him into the nearest doorway, shutting the doorway and plunging them into darkness.

Reki’s hand was still on him in the dark but the grip had lessened.  Langa watched as Reki peered through the crack in the door, registering distantly that Reki was slightly shorter than him.  “We’re going to have to wait here for a bit,” Reki said, turning to him after a beat.

They were close, both breathing heavily, and Langa imagined Reki’s heart was hammering as hard as his.  “Thank you,” he told Reki.  “You saved me.”

Reki watched him back, still holding his arm.  “It’s my job.”  He blinked and looked back through the crack.  The light illuminated his tense features.  “And it’s not the first time.”

“It’s not?”

“Nothing as dramatic as this,” Reki said with a shrug that tugged a little on Langa’s arm.  “But smaller threats, nothing any of us can’t handle.”

“Well, you did amazing.  I wouldn’t have seen it coming,” Langa said, his voice quiet.

Reki glanced at him and didn’t say anything.  He seemed to be studying Langa; for what, he did not know.

The door opened then.  A pink haired man stood in the doorway, holding Langa’s crown.

Reki dropped Langa’s arm and stood stiffly at attention.  “Commander,” Reki said.

Oh, so this is Kaoru.

Reki continued, “What are you doing here—”

“At ease,” Kaoru said cooly to Reki.  “I always attend a longer shift during festivities for the royal family.”  He looked at Langa then.  “Your majesty, your crown.”

“Thank you,” Langa said, taking it and placing it back above his brows. 

“We’ve swept the area and found the culprit,” Kaoru reported.  “Just an unhappy villager it seems.  We’ll take him to the dungeons and interrogate him to see if there was any other motive.”

Langa nodded, smoothing his clothes.  “Alright.”

Kaoru looked satisfied with his one-word answer.  “You should go out and make your reappearance.  The crowd was rightfully spooked.”

“Right,” Langa said.  He hesitated, glancing at Reki to try to catch his eyes but Reki only looked resolutely away from both him and Kaoru, ever the picture of perfect guard.  So Langa moved past both men, Reki falling behind him.

When he rounded the corner, the crowd cheered, as if he had himself slain the enemy.  He peeked at Reki, standing off in the shadows and imagined they cheered for him instead.

Chapter Text

Langa was surprised when he exited his chambers to find someone other than Reki standing in his place.  Joe, the cook.  Langa stopped short.

Joe immediately chuckled, uncrossing his arms and pushing off the wall.  He was much more obvious than how Reki blended into the wall.  “Not who you were expecting, highness?” Joe asked.  He was wearing the same uniform as Reki, making the man look completely different.  If Langa didn’t know better, he would have mistaken him for another person.

“No,” Langa said haltingly, glancing down the hall and back.  “Where is Reki?”

“He was awarded an extra day off today, for his good work with saving your life yesterday, so I’m filling in.  You’re likely to see me time to time when either Kaoru or Reki have a day off.  Haven’t fully given up my crowns guard duties completely, you know.”

Langa nodded in acknowledgement, turning to head towards the kitchens for a late breakfast.  “And who gives you a day off in the kitchen?”

“Eh,” Joe said dismissively with a wave of his hand.  He walked behind Langa just as Reki did—three paces back. “The kitchen staff have been managing without me for ages.  It all works out in the end.”

Langa found as he walked that he liked Joe’s company.  He was talkative and relaxed, very unlike Kaoru’s silent and cold watch and unlike Reki’s nervous but invisible nature.  Langa did miss Reki though.

They made a stop at his mother’s room first to check on her.  He’d hoped she’d come to the final day of his celebration, but when he came inside, he found her listless, staring at the fire, refusing to eat.  After a few moments of fruitless coaxing, he gave up, setting his mother’s tray back on the table. 

A maid curtseyed and took it over.  “Don’t worry, I’ll get her to eat today,” she told him.

“Thank you,” he said, leaving before he got more frustrated.

He made his way towards the dining hall, his mood soured, but then he realized he was no longer hungry.  Seeing his mother like that… it felt like sinking into sand, unable to do anything to stop it.  It had been the same overbearing thumping that overwhelmed him when Adam had relayed his father’s death.  An angry, battling, dark feeling creeping and clawing its way down his throat—

“Perhaps we should go see Reki,” Joe’s voice interrupted his spiral.

Langa blinked.  He hadn’t even realized he had halted in the walkway until now.  He shook his head, trying to process what his guard had said.  “Reki?  Isn’t it his day off?  What does he do on his days off?”

Joe hummed, crossing his arms in contemplation.  “My best guess is the training yard.  Some days off he goes down to the village for entertainment.  On rare occasions, he heads out to the seaside—”

“What for?” Langa asked, frowning.  The sea was a long journey from the Kingdom’s capital, a full day’s worth of travel. And there wasn’t much out there except some ports and farm land. 

“Well, his family lives out there.”

Family.  Why hadn’t it occurred to him that Reki, of course, had a family out there somewhere?  “What town do they live in?”

Joe shrugged.  “He doesn’t talk about them much.  Besides, it’s not often he gets more than a day off at once, so it’s pretty rare.  I’d say it’s more likely he’s training now and will go out for the festivities later.”

Langa straightened a little at that.  Reki wasn’t going to be on duty all day.  He would have no excuse to adhere to his silly guard rules and it spurred excitement where Langa had felt dullness before.  “Perhaps we should check in the training grounds?” Langa tried to ask causally.  “I just realized I haven’t watched the men in action.”

Joe smiled knowingly.  “You can follow me this time if you like.”

“Lead the way.”

The clanging of swords was a breath of nostalgia for Langa as he followed Joe down into the training yard.  He and his teacher never practiced here, in front of the staff and in the open, but the sound itself reminded him of those simpler days, where his father often came to watch.

Langa took a breath to steady himself, adjusting his crown as he treaded down the stone steps.  He could see many men from over Joe’s shoulder, some gathered to watch, a few in pairs in the center in the middle of a dual. 

Joe stopped his descent, leaning back and covering him from view with his broad figure.  “If we go all the way in now, they will all become distracted and stop their fights.”  Joe nodded into one of the center rings.  “Look, there’s Reki.”

Langa followed his gaze and was instantly hooked.  His personal guard grinned as he dodged the other man’s blows, his amber eyes shining as he swung back, their swords slicing the air with a metal clash.  His red hair was wild as his eyes as he swung out of the way of a quick jab, and then hurtling back to counter. 

Wow.

Joe leaned in.  “The kid’s only been training since 15.”

Langa frowned.  How was Reki so good?  “Did he have any prior training?”

“Nah,” Joe said with a fond smile.  “Just a farmer’s kid.  He could hardly lift the damn things when he started.”

“So, he’s a prodigy?” Langa asked, leveling his gaze with Joe’s.

Joe shook his head.  “Believe it or not, not all men can learn as quickly as you did.  No, Reki is just the type to get good through pure determination.  His fingers used to bleed after.  A couple of us wrapped him up in bandages every few days.”

“I would call that talent,” Langa said.  He’d been trained since he was seven, himself, so the fact that Reki was as good as this was impressive.  Fascinating, even.

Oblivious to them, Reki continued his fight, swinging his leg out under the other man, causing his opponent to fall backwards.  Reki was on him in an instant, sword tilted at his neck.  The other man yielded with bursting applause from the audience.

Joe snorted.  “That’s his signature move.  He’s small so people underestimate him.  They don’t take into consideration that he’s got a lot of muscle on that skinny body, so he can topple their weight if he gets you when you aren’t expecting it.”

“Interesting,” Langa murmured, following Reki’s proud walk around the circle, taking in the praise from his comrades.

Langa walked past Joe and down the remainder of the steps, revealing himself to the clearing.  Gasps hushed the audience as they instantly recognized their king.  Reki noticed the crowd’s diverted attention and he turned, taking in Langa as he strolled over.

Reki looked like he was going to immediately scold Langa but something shifted in his gaze, like he caught himself, and he quickly dipped into a shallow bow.  The others around him followed suit.

“King Hasegawa,” Reki addressed formally, his tone even as he came out of the bow.  “What brings you here?”

Joe joined Langa’s side, arms crossed again as he surveyed Reki.  “He wanted to watch his guard in action.”

Reki’s face pinkened.  “Whatever for?”  He looked as bewildered as he sounded.

“Why not?” Langa said finally.  “You did well.”

“He’s one of our best!” someone from the crowd called out gleefully.

“Really?” Langa asked.  Was Reki really one of the best?  He could see the talent, sure, but the best?  “I would like to see that for myself.”

Reki tilted his chin, glaring at Langa, recognizing the challenge.  “You want me to prove myself?”

“You’ve already proved yourself to me,” Langa said truthfully, not just because of the fight he’d just witnessed, but because Reki had saved him the day before.  Langa had hardly had any time to react while Reki moved with grace.  “I just want to see the best in action.”

Reki nodded, a faint smile on his lips.  “Who would you like to see me fight?”

Langa tilted his crown forward and removed its heavy weight.  “Me.”  It had been a while since he’d fought with anyone other than his royal trainers.  Now was the time for something new and, gods, Langa was exhilarated.

He gave the crown to Joe and a sword was placed into Langa’s open hand before he could even call for one.  The crowd backed away from them, buzzing with excitement, but Langa only looked at Reki.  His opponent’s expression was of disbelief.  “You cannot be serious.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to break your three-pace rule today,” Langa said.  He turned the sword slowly, feeling its weight, gaging the best way to fight with this particular weapon.

Reki finally lifted his sword, his eyes narrowing.  “It doesn’t count on my day off.”

“Interesting,” Langa noted, getting into position.

Reki mirrored him, his expression immediately regretful he’d even said it.  “Don’t get any ideas.”

Langa said nothing, just nodding to the man who had stepped forward to start their dual.  The man laid an outstretched hand to hover over their blades and then, “Fight!”  The man threw his hand in the air, bounding backwards to clear them.

Reki met Langa’s blade first, his strength brutal in his swing.  Langa grimaced as he blocked it and returned it backwards in Reki’s direction, throwing Reki momentarily off balance.

Reki recovered quickly but Langa could see the surprise for a flash in Reki’s expression.  Did he not expect Langa to be able to defend himself or to be well trained?  Surely if he’d been with him this long, he would have seen him fight on occasion?  But then again, Langa usually had very private lessons, so perhaps Reki had never seen him in action.

Langa caught his returning blade in his own and they started exchanging parries, taking turns blocking and defending as they circled each other.  Reki followed him blow for blow, matching his pace.

Reki aimed a swing lower than Langa expected and he was forced to jump backwards to avoid it.  He saw it coming, Reki aimed a kick out after him, aiming to end it quickly by taking Langa’s balance.  But Langa spun away before he could complete it, making the other stumble by hitting nothing. 

Langa raised his sword at Reki, grinning.  “You can’t use that old trick on me.”

Reki didn’t smile back, his eyes narrowed and he scanned over Langa’s body as if looking for a weakness.  Langa wondered if he found what he was looking for.

This time Langa advanced, throwing his weight into his thrust.  Reki met his blade in earnest, returning his attack back at him.  Langa feinted to the right but Reki saw through the blow and met his blade on the left. 

It was… incredible. 

Langa caught Reki’s blade again, forcing it backwards and up and Langa caught Reki’s hand in his other free one, holding Reki prisoner in his grasp.  Their twin breathing was heavy as Reki glared at him from behind the shining blade for the nanosecond that they halted.

Reki’s eyes narrowed further and Langa twisted away just as Reki moved his sword, swinging it from below and hitting the air where Langa had just stood.  Reki lowered his blade, panting, but his lips quirked up.  “Getting tired?”

Langa hadn’t even noticed his own labored breath.  “Are you?”

Reki moved so fast that Langa couldn’t tear away from this blow.  He met Reki’s sword in the middle where their blades rang with the impact.  Reki grit his teeth and scraped his blade upwards.

Langa breathed in sharply as somehow the move ripped the sword from Langa’s fingers.  It hurtled upwards and landed into training ground with a plume of dust.

The tip of Reki’s sword graced Langa’s neck then and Langa was forced to freeze.  He was caught. 

Reki’s deadly eyes glared at him over his blade, his expression stormy and triumphant, glittering in the afternoon sun.  It was magnificent.

“Reki wins!” the director of their fight cried.

Langa relaxed out of his fighting stance, smiling at Reki who had not yet moved.  “Well done.”

The other let his sword fall, sheathing it, and finally let a feral smirk grow as he offered his hand.  “I guess I am the best.”

Taking Reki’s hand, shaking on Reki’s win, Langa told him, “Wouldn’t expect less from my guard.”

The crowd was whooping with excitement, some clapping Langa on the back, some doing the same to Reki.  But Langa clasped Reki’s gloved hand, entranced in Reki’s gaze as if caught by a siren’s call.  And Reki didn’t look away.

He only broke their handshake when his comrades jostled him too much to hold on longer.

Chapter Text

Langa sat down at the royal table at the final crowning celebration, withholding a sigh at the whole event.  He glanced at Joe, grateful to have him at his side, but he wished Reki could be there with him.  He longed for it, even.

After sparring with his guard earlier that day, he found that the other man was starting to plague his thoughts.  He resisted the urge to press a hand to his chest.  He didn’t understand the twisting of his heart; he’d only known Reki for a mere 3 days, but the thought of his amber eyes on Langa built an exhilaration that he’d never experienced before.  What was this feeling?

He frowned at his plate as it was set before him, not even really seeing what is, too busy puzzling through his emotions.  Langa hadn’t thought of anything but his family, the crown, and his kingdom in so many years that he found himself absolutely defeated by a mere sense of excitement?  Had he really been so unfeeling in the past few years?  Drifting like an abandoned ship in the harbor?

Was this what it was to feel friendship?

He glanced at Joe, puzzling some more.  In this man he could imagine a friendship with as well, but it did not make his heart swoop at odd intervals…

“Is something the matter with the feast?” A server asked, bowing to his right.  When the person straightened, Langa could see the concern on his face.

“Not at all,” Langa said, waving him away and remembering where he was.  He needed to be present and promote good feelings to his kingdom.  “This is wonderful.”  He made sure his face was impeccably neutral and regal, the picture of perfect royalty. 

The server bowed again before hurrying off.  Langa surveyed the people around him.  He sat at the head table at the top of the stairs, the place empty aside him for his absent mother.  Adam sat at his right and a few relatives and other nobles filled his table.  The youngest at his table was his cousin, Miya.  The one who would become royalty if something were to happen to Langa and he were without an heir.

Joe leaned into his left, murmuring so the others could not hear him.  “Perhaps you should try a bite.  The people are waiting.”

“Waiting?” he questioned.  He looked down the steps at the rows of village people at their own tables.  So many were watching him, not eating yet.  Oh.

“It is customary to wait for the king to eat first,” Adam told him, evidently hearing Joe.

“Of course,” Langa nodded, feeling slight embarrassment.  How many times had he waited for his father to take the first bite at the feast?  He used to get frustrated by it, in fact.

Langa took a scoop of the first thing he could reach on his plate and planted into his mouth.  He glanced up in time to see hearty chatter begin all around and for the band to pick up their song more merrily as the feast officially began.

So much attention and Langa felt quite unworthy of it.

Joe had stepped back, watching their surroundings, but Langa wanted to talk to him more.  “Will you eat something?” Langa asked him.

Joe nodded, scanning the crowd dutifully.  “After my shift in the kitchens.”

“Do you all really not take breaks during your shift?”

The guard looked down at him in amusement.  “You don’t need to worry about us.  We’ve trained for this after all.”

“There’s no reason to starve,” Langa told him.

“We don’t.  The castle provides us with one good meal a day and we use our wages for whatever else we want.”

Langa thought of Reki, of how longingly he’d eaten that meat pie.  He wondered why Reki had seemed so ravenous when they provided for their people at least daily.  Surely, they paid him enough?

He turned to Adam who was midbite into a potato.  “Adam, would you please provide me a list of the wages for the guards tomorrow?  We should go over the budget.”

Adam cast him an unreadable look.  “Whatever you request.”

Langa was going to see what he could do to provide more for his own guards.  He wondered if they were content with purchasing their other meals or if more could be incorporated for them.  Would it burden the kitchen staff?  He had a lot to consider.

His gaze flicked back to the village tables.  There were many of the infantry in attendance of the feast.  He hoped Reki was among them, having his fill.

“What are the rest of the festivities tonight?” Langa asked, glancing at Joe.

It was Adam who answered.  “A carnival and fireworks.  We procured a trove for this night.”

Langa let his eyes wander over his people.  “I’ll make an appearance.”

Joe was smiling from his post.  “Just don’t make my job harder, my king.”  His tone was teasing.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Langa’s walk through the carnival was pleasant, if not a little tedious.  The music was wonderful, the candlelight lit up the streets, but his people knew him and they flocked to him.  It was hard to enjoy himself, but this was more about them than him.  Besides, he was on a mission.

He scanned over the stalls, glancing at games to play and trinkets to buy.  It brought back memories of partaking as a child in the solstice celebration.

Joe was close behind him, much closer than Reki’s three paces were normally, but this was with good reason, as the crowd was much closer here in the public and dark.

“What are we setting out to do?” Joe questioned as he looked at all of the stalls with Langa, picking up the stray objects in quick observation whenever Langa stopped. 

Langa glanced at his companion and wondered how much he could trust to Joe.  Would he be willing to help him?

“Hypothetically,” Langa started, pinning his guard with his serious gaze, “If I wanted to play the part of civilian and disappear into the crowd casually, would you help me?”

Joe’s smile grew into a full grin.  “Ah, you have a fun streak, little king.  Of course.  I know just the place, if you would like.”

Langa nodded.  “Lead away.”

Joe steered Langa into the crowd again and down the main street.  They crossed over into the streets not currently in use for the festivities and then down an alleyway to lose some of the straggling civilians who dared to follow from a distance.

Around a corner and back onto a road, Joe quickly pushed Langa through a door which chimed at they entered.  It was a clothing shop.

Langa let his fingers trail the few display coats and tunics, feeling the quality under his touch.  The craftmanship was impressive. 

“Hello?” a man called from the backroom. 

Joe called out, “I knew you would be here and not at the festivities.”

The shop owner grumbled as he came around the corner.  “Not all of us like games, Joe—” he cut off as he glimpsed his king, standing unceremoniously in his shop.  “Your grace!” he gasped, dipping into a bow.

“Please, it’s fine,” Langa told him with a dismissive gesture.

“Langa, this Hiromi.  Hiromi, Langa,” Joe introduced them.  Hiromi was a tall, bulky man with light orange hair who looked like he could be any of Langa’s guards, but he held a garment in his hands with practiced delicacy. 

“It’s an honor,” Hiromi said, his eyes flicking from Langa to Joe.  “But what do you want in my shop at this hour?”

“Langa here is looking for a disguise.  Think you could help?”

“Of course—” He stopped himself, realization dawning on him and his expression turned appreciatively sly.  “Don’t tell me you’re planning to slip into the crowd as a townsperson.”

“Our Langa is adventurous like Oliver was.”

“My father?” Langa questioned.

Joe leaned back against a counter, arms crossing.  “Oh yeah, totally.  I loved going with him.  Kaoru was practically scandalized when he found out and was forced to participate.”

Langa found a ghost of a memory at the edge of his mind.  “My father brought me here once, didn’t he?”

“Yes,” Hiromi said, “when you were very young and I was a mere apprentice.  How time flies!”

Langa could practically picture the scratchy coat he was made to wear.  It had been itchy, but it had been worth it in order to experience the village as he did with his father.

“I remember it,” Langa murmured, catching more familiarity as he glanced around.

“Perhaps I’ll set you up with the same disguise his highness used to wear,” Hiromi said, turning to rummage into a wardrobe against the far wall.

“When was the last time he was here?”

Hiromi hesitated and glanced at him.  “Maybe 6 months ago.  He was much more…” he paused, measuring his words, “ill than I recalled before.  I suppose he just wanted a drink at the tavern.  He wasn’t gone for long.”

Langa nodded, taking the items Hiromi passed him. 

Hiromi told him, “These clothes will disguise you, and this hat will cover that hair of yours.  You’d be found out immediately if you let that stay loose.  You can leave your other clothes and crown here with me, but you must come back before 1 in the morning.”

Joe pushed off the counter, laughing, “Hiromi likes to get his sleep.”

“It’s late enough,” he told them.  He retrieved more garments and passed them to Joe.

“I’ll pay you,” Langa told him, taking out several gold coins. 

Hiromi’s eyes widened at that.  “Nothing as much as that.”

Langa glanced at the coins in his hand, not really knowing what was fair, and he didn’t have much smaller on him.

Joe took the coins from Langa’s hands and dumped them into Hiromi’s.  “Just call it pre-payment for the future, then.”

Hiromi nodded, still looking stunned.  “Alright.”

Langa and Joe headed into the streets looking utterly unlike themselves and, in Langa’s case, looking absolutely ridiculous.

“Stop touching your hat,” Joe scolded him as they walked.  “Your hair will fall out.”

The hat was unflattering, made of nice material, but Langa was not used to wearing other than a crown and it itched relentlessly.  He ripped his hand away and tucked it into the bulking overcoat as they rounded towards the main street.  “Yes, fine,” Langa sighed.  He, after all, didn’t want to get caught either.

“What is our agenda tonight?” Joe asked as they approached the stalls.

Langa hesitated, feeling vulnerable.

Joe tilted his head.  “Oh, come on now.  We’re sneaking out together.  You can trust me with your secrets.”

“We are going to find Reki.”

The other man quirked an eyebrow.  “Really?  Have a rendezvous, do you?”

“No,” Langa said, glancing around them as they stepped into the crowd  “But I want to see him as he is in public.”

Joe was looking at him with a knowing grin.  “I’m sure we will find him around.  But first, let’s see if these get-ups work.”

They disappeared further into the crowd and no one parted the way as Langa was used to.  In fact, he had to push his way through, getting elbowed a few times.  “Are people always this rude?” Langa asked Joe incredulously as he righted himself from being pushed aside.

“You get used to it,” Joe said with a snort. 

They made their way through the carnival, looking through the people, but not seeing the red hair that would make Reki stand out.  Some people were already sitting up on the hill to get a good spot for the fireworks but he wasn’t there either.

They rounded to where the feast tables were, where people danced to the band.  Langa caught a glimpse of Reki immediately.  He was sitting at a table with a woman.

Langa narrowed his eyes but then realized it was the same one who had approached Langa the day before, and in Reki’s lap were two young girls, pulling at his tunic and trying to get his attention.  Another slightly older girl stood over the table, chatting dramatically.  They all wore shabby clothing other than Reki but they looked happy.

Langa stopped in his tracks, regretting his decision to approach.  “Maybe we should go back.”

“Don’t chicken out now.”

“He’s busy,” Langa protested, but Joe pressed on and Langa was forced to follow.

Joe got to the group first, slapping Reki on the shoulder, startling Reki.  “Reki!” Joe greeted boisterously.  “It’s great to see you out.”

“Oh,” Reki said, looking up at Joe.  His brows twitched at Joe’s get up but he didn’t say anything about it.  “Mother, this is Joe.  He used to be second in command.”

Joe shook her hand, laughing.  “He makes it sound as if I got kicked out.  I’m just pursuing other interests.”

Reki was still watching Joe.  “Aren’t you supposed to be with—?”

“And this is my good friend,” Joe interrupted suddenly, gesturing to Langa.

Reki followed his hands to Langa, meeting his eyes.  His gaze lanced through Langa and he had to resist touching his chest. 

Langa nodded to him in greeting.  “I’m, uh, Azriel,” Langa said, plucking a name from his historical studies.

“Azriel?” Reki said in disbelief.  Reki glanced at the girls around him and straightened.  “Nice to meet you, I’m Reki.”  His statement sounded false and forced.

Joe leaned over the table.  “Do you ladies mind if we steal Reki for a drink or two?”

“Not at all,” Reki’s mother said.  “I was just going to take his sisters to play some games.”  Her eyes were on Langa but they didn’t show a spark of recognition like Reki did.  She turned her question to Reki.  “Will you stop by in the morning before we leave?”

“Of course,” Reki said, putting the two girls on the ground.  “I’ll see you all off like always.”

“You’ll miss the games,” one of the girls told him.

“Then you’ll have to tell me all about them in the morning,” Reki told them.

The three of them watched the mother gather the girls and disappear down the street, but not without hugs exchanged each with Reki.  When they were gone, Reki turned on them, his eyes dangerous.  “What the hell are you two doing?”  His voice was low but sharp, not to be overheard.  He turned on Joe.  “Langa should not out here like this.”

“Don’t get so upset,” Joe said, rolling his eyes.  “Langa wanted to do this.  Would you have told him no?”

“Yes,” Reki said, glancing at Langa then but his sharpened look seemed to soften a little for Langa.

“You wouldn’t,” Joe laughed.  “Are you going to say no now to a drink with us?”

“No,” Reki growled.  “I’m can’t him to you now anyway.  This is serious.”

“Great, rounds are on Langa, so you best take advantage!”

Langa moved closer then, into Reki’s three pace radius and he could see the instinctive reflex for Reki to take a step back.  He wasn’t on duty though and he stopped himself.  “Reki,” he addressed his guard.  “I didn’t mean to interrupt you with your family.  If you want to go back to them now, I won’t hold it against you.”

Reki stared at him a beat longer and then sighed.  “Don’t worry about that,” Reki told him.  He looked like he wanted to ask more, but he glanced at Joe and shifted his weight on his heels.  “Do you really want to get a drink with me?”

“Joe and I wanted to invite you,” he said, not brave enough to just say how much he alone wanted this drink with Reki.

Reki nodded.  “Okay.  I’ll have one drink with the two of you and then we will never speak of it again, got it?” he said, pointing to one and then the other.

“Our lips are sealed,” Joe told him.  Langa nodded in agreement.

Reki nodded.  “Alright, follow me.  I know a place.”

Chapter Text

The pub was bustling when they entered the creaking front door, filled with laughter and chatter.  The candlelight amongst all the tables and the bars created a cozy aura, despite the liveliness of the crowd.

“Good pick,” Joe said, standing behind Reki at Langa’s side.  “This is one of my favorites, too.”

Langa, having never been to a pub, stared around in awe.  The place had an energy he’d never experience in the castle or even when they’d walked disguised on the way.  He could see why Joe and Reki liked it.

“It’s busier than usual,” Reki said, scanning the crowd.  The individual tables were full but there was some room along the bar on the far side of the room.  He glanced at Langa.  “Stay between us.”

“I’m sure it’s fine—” 

Langa was cut off by Joe, “It’s for the best.  Stay between us.”

Langa was capable of protecting himself and he was well disguised, but he could even see the way Joe roamed the crowd with his own scanning gaze.  Joe was taking his job seriously, even with the casual evening they’ve had tonight.

They made their way through the crowd and found their seats on stools at the bar.  It was a darker corner, more shaded, which was maybe for the best, so that no one would recognize Langa’s features.

Reki sat near the wall, Langa next to him, and Joe on his right.  Joe’s large form covered Langa from view from most of the pub at this angle.  Langa found himself appreciating his guard’s discreteness.

“Reki!” one of the women at the bar proclaimed, coming over immediately with a fond look on her face.  “It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen you here.”

“Yeah, well,” Reki said noncommittedly.  “Have the night off.”

“And here with friends,” she said, her eyes flicking at Joe.  “What are you wearing, Joe?”  She made a face at him. 

Joe chuckled.  “Eh, just something new I’m trying.  Does it suit me?”

“No way in hell,” she said with a grin.  “You’re covering your hair.  I hate it.”

“Well, next time I’ll wear a little less for you,” he laughed suggestively.

She scoffed and started to pour drinks.  “I know what all men from the guard want, but what’ll you have, stranger?”  Her eyes were on Langa but there was no evidence of recognition.

“Same as they’re having,” Langa said softly. 

“Who are ya, anyway?  New recruit?” she asked as she passed Reki a glass first and then Joe.

Joe clapped Langa on the shoulder.  “Oh, not at all.  This here is my cousin from by the sea.  It’s his first time in the capital, believe it or not!”

“Wow,” she said, sliding Langa’s drink across the wood bar top to his waiting hand.  “Well, we are glad to have ya.  Hope you have a good time tonight and be sure see the fireworks at midnight!”

“Will do,” Langa said, bringing his glass to his lips, tasting the beer.  It was different from what he was used to in the castle; that beer was usually smooth, but this was more powerful with an earthy taste.  It was unusual.  As he contemplated this, he watched the barmaid almost turn away but hesitated with her eyes on Reki.  Meanwhile, Reki was too busy looking into his glass.

She said, “Are you getting more days off, Reki?  We would love to see you around more.”

He shook his head, finally looking up and catching her eyes.  Langa couldn’t look away at this interaction, relating too much to the fond expression the girl was casting Reki.  “No,” he told her, “Just a special night.”

“Reki saved the king yesterday,” Joe said nonchalantly over his drink, watching the pair with a glint in his eyes.

She gasped.  “You’re incredible, Reki!”  Reki looked uncomfortable with the praise.  “The king should let you have more time off than one night for that.”

Reki shook his head.  “No, not at all.”

“You’re too noble,” she said.  Sensing that the conversation was over, she told them, “Call when you need another.” And she turned to attend to more customers, but not without a lingering glance in Reki’s direction.

 “Someone’s got a crush,” Joe sang quietly, taking another sip.

Langa took a long drink himself, watching as Reki’s face turned annoyed.  “You don’t know what you’re talked about.”

Langa put his drink down and leveled his gaze with Reki.  “She’s smitten.”  Reki seemed like he believed it more out of Langa’s mouth and glanced back at the girl with a frown.  Langa continued, “Is she your type?”

Reki grimaced and there was something shadowed in his eyes but he quickly looked down into his drink, tilting it back and forth.  “I don’t have time for romance.”

For some reason, Langa’s heart twisted and turned, his stomach sour and clenching.  “I could give you more time off.”  It was sincere and he held back the sad tone that threatened to leak into his voice.  He would help Reki chase that girl if he wanted.

Reki shook his head.  “No,” he laughed shortly.  “It’s not like that.  I wouldn’t pursue her.”

Joe chuckled with a shake of his head.  “How could you not be into her?  Look at her.”  He tipped his drink back, taking a long gulp.

“Don’t try to pretend.  We all know about you and Kaoru,” Reki taunted.

Joe spat out his beer in surprise, getting a varying laugh or complaint from the rest of the bar.  “Low blow, Reki.  For that, you’re buying the next round.”

“No, I got it,” Langa said.  “All the rounds are on me.  I’m the one who roped you all into this.”

Joe patted Langa on the shoulder.  “You’re a good guy.”  He pointed at Reki.  “You, not so much.”  He stood.  “Watch Langa, will ya?  I’m gonna take a whiz.”  Joe left his drink behind and shouldered his way through the crowd without another word.

Reki watched him.  “Always avoidant.”

“About Kaoru?” Langa asked, to which Reki nodded.  “What is going on with them?”

Reki glanced around them, looking for eavesdroppers before leaning in conspiratorially.  “They have a thing for each other, but they’ll never admit it.  Too married to their jobs.”

Langa nodded, moving his glass back and forth thoughtfully.  “What about you?  She’s really not your type?”  He eyed the woman again and he could see that she was beautiful.  He was one to never really notice these things, though.  He’d always been focused on preparing for the crown and now that his father had passed, and seeing the state of his mother, love just seemed so trivial and exhausting.

“No, she’s not,” Reki told him.  “And I guess you could say I have other things to worry about.”  He glanced at Langa; his expression curious.  “Do you have anyone in mind?”

“You’ve been following me around for three years, Reki.  You should know there’s no one,” Langa said, tilting back the rest of his drink. 

Reki did the same.  “Well, yeah, but now that you’re king, they must be plotting your inevitable marriage.”

Langa hadn’t thought of that and he found himself overcome with an impending dread.  “Oh no, Adam is going to spring something on me.”

“Yeah, you’ll need to be ready for that,” Reki said, waving the girl back down, asking her to pour them another round.

They waited in comfortable silence as Langa mulled that over.  He imagined himself with some faceless person but he couldn’t picture it.  It didn’t feel right.  He always knew he would marry for one political reason or another, but he felt a little suffocated at the idea.

He pushed the thoughts aside when they got into their second drink and Joe returned.  Their conversations were idle chatter with Joe doing most of the talking.  He talked about the festival, about the about the internal drama amongst the royal guard, and his cooking.  Langa listened, content to have his mind off of duty, politics and his father’s death.  It was freeing.

They moved on to their third drink and fourth.  Joe had stopped at two, still on duty to watch and protect Langa, but Langa and Reki didn’t have that obligation and they pushed onwards.  Reki started to laugh more easily and didn’t sit as rigidly.  Langa had a hazy edge to his vision and his brain felt like cotton.  It had been a long time since he indulged like this.

The good feelings had him turning his attention on Reki more openly, tilting his body in Reki’s direction.  Joe laughed uncontrollably at Reki’s bad joke and even more so at Langa’s lack of punch line on his turn.

Reki paused in his carefree laughter to look directly into Langa’s eyes, studying him for a few heartbeats.  His eyes were faraway but they didn’t pull away from him, not this time.  “Why do you look at me like that?” Reki asked.

“What do you mean?” Langa asked, leaning on the bar.  He smiled at his guard, feeling a bit weightless.

“You never looked at me before,” Reki told him, finishing his fourth drink.

Langa wasn’t far behind him, taking another sip.  “It’s your job to be hidden,” Langa said, just parroting what Reki had said several times before.

“Yeah, but now you look at me and it’s overwhelming.”

“Really?” Langa asked.  Their voices had lowered, something private between them.  Langa swallowed the last of his fourth and took the fifth already waiting from the bar top.  “I’ve been consumed by my father dying for so long,” he confessed to Reki and Joe.  “It feels like I’m finally waking up.”  And it was painful.  The drinks tonight helped and spending his time bothering Reki… that helped too.  “I’m noticing things I haven’t before.”

Joe and Reki just sat quietly with him, a silent understanding settling between the three, even though Langa couldn’t sort through his thoughts well enough right now to know what that was.

They continued to drink silently.  Langa focused on the other people at the bar for several minutes, needing distraction from his confession.  He tuned into a random conversation, catching a hushed, “I’m serious, I heard whispers of magic.”

The man’s companion scoffed at him.  “Doesn’t exist.”

“There’s stories—”

“You’re drunk.”

“I’m telling you, there’s a war coming or something.”

Langa frowned.  There has been peace with their neighboring countries for years.  These were the ramblings of a drunk.

Joe interrupted his musings, pushing their empty glasses towards the center of the table.  “Shall we go see those fireworks?”

Langa stood, feeling unsteady on his feet, and Reki didn’t look much better, but they managed to amble out of the pub.  Outside, Joe fixed Langa’s hat, telling him it was starting to turn crooked, but luckily, he hadn’t pulled it off in his inebriated state.

Joe led them through the crowds, keeping a hand on both of their shoulders as they went, not trusting them to walk on their own.  They headed towards the hill on which the castle sat, but they didn’t go on the palace steps or the grassy hill where most people perched.  Instead, Joe took them on a hidden path into the woods.

“Where are we going?” Langa asked, stumbling on a tree root.  The trees were moving funny to him, waving in stilted motions.

“What time is it?” Reki complained, rubbing at his eyes.  It was dark in the woods, even with the glow from the city filtering through the trees and the full moon overhead.

“I should have stopped the both of you way sooner,” Joe murmured to himself more so than to them. 

He led them further up and they found themselves on a woodsy cliffside.  It didn’t have the perfect angle for the fireworks, and some of the sky was cut off by the thick trees, but as Joe guided them to sit near the edge of the cliff but safely away from its risk, Langa found that he could see the river and half the village below.  “Wow,” Langa breathed.  “How did you find this place?”

“Hiking in the woods,” Joe said, putting his feet over the edge and gazing upwards at the stars.  “Reki, you okay?”

Beside him, Reki had laid back in grass, pressing fingers into his temples.  “Headache,” Reki said shortly.

“That’s not gonna be good for going back on guard duty tomorrow,” Joe said, glancing at Langa and then back to the sky.

“You should take the day off,” Langa said.

“I already took today off.  I’m not missing tomorrow,” Reki told him.

Langa laid back in the grass, too, watching the swaying branches above them for a moment before glancing at Reki’s silhouette. “I’ve never known someone so duty driven.”

“Besides yourself?” Reki shot back.

He had him there.  “That’s different.  I have to do the things I do.  You don’t.”  It didn’t make sense to Langa why Reki worked so hard, kept so strictly to the rules.

“Yeah, I do.  I have to,” Reki said.  He was still rubbing his temples, seemingly unaware that even Joe had turned to look at Reki.  “Those people earlier, those girls.  Those are my sisters.  That’s why.”

Langa frowned.  “You—”

“I’m their only support.  Our father is gone, so I am their only source of income.  And since I only get paid by the day, I can’t miss a day ever, unless I receive an awarded paid day like today.  If I stop, they starve.”

“Oh,” Langa said, surprised.

A loud boom had Langa flinching upwards just in time to see a spectacular rain of red over the city.  Another flash of orange and then green.  It was beautiful and Langa had never seen such vivid fireworks before.

“Adam outdid himself this time with this,” Joe said, his voice raised over the sounds.

Langa murmured his agreement, remembering how much his advisor had done for him over these months leading up to now.  He wasn’t sure where he’d be without him.

Another boom and Langa dared to look at Reki.  Reki looked enthralled, hypnotized even, and the worry had been wiped from his face.  He looked carefree and so different, with no duty or armor to weigh him down.

Langa adverted his gaze and went back to the lit skies.