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Prince Neuvillette wasn't a very social person, at least in the public's eyes. He rarely attended balls unless forced to, and very rarely did he make appearances. Many simply thought he was a social recluse, or that he was perhaps ill, and couldn't go out much. All of these were untrue, in fact, it was simply because he was part dragon.
His parents knew of course, it was a gene that had been randomly passed down in their family for generations, but they made him hide it. But as he was simply young, and only a teen, in human standards, his dragon traits… were harder to control.
Which rendered him alone, ninety nine percent of the time. Because his parents did not trust him enough to keep his dragon form concealed for extended periods of time, he was often confined to his room, or the palace in general.
That was, until, a young teen, around Neuvillette's age arrived at the palace for community service. Apparently, he'd murdered his abusive foster parents and had been sent to the Fortress of Meropide, and was now being allowed out as long as he did community service.
And oh how Neuvillette was fascinated by him.
He carried himself with such a quiet yet intimidating confidence, and was so handsome that Neuvillette couldn't help but observe him whenever he could.
Some may have called it creepy, but Neuvi truly hadn't had a proper human interaction in years, and he wasn't really aware of societal norms.
Eventually, he made the choice to approach the young teen, curious. Plus, he needed to interact with somebody, or he was going to combust.
So, he harnessed all of the power he could to hide his dragon traits, and headed down to the courtyard where the gorgeous young man was working.
As he crossed the gardens, every servant stopped to bow and pay their respects to the young dragon prince, except for one, and that was the teen Neuvillette was eyeing
"Shall you not pay your respects to royalty?" asked Neuvillette, not unkindly.
The boy huffed out a laugh. "Now, why should I? You are human, just like I am, why should I hold you in any higher regard."
Human? Sure, thought Neuvi.
But the boy also made a good point. Why should he be held in such high regard when people like him were nearly the same, if not even more hardworking?
"Touché. I appreciate your honesty, and your…brashness? Shall I say. It's quite refreshing." the prince stated, placing his hands behind his back cordially.
"…You… you're Prince Neuvillette, correct? I'm Wriothesley." the bo—no, Wriothesley introduced himself.
"That I am. A pleasure to meet you, Wriothesley." Neuvillette said kindly, liking the way the former's name sounded on his lips. A fitting name, he decided. "I actually do agree with your views on royal status, surprisingly. I believe that it is stupid."
"First time I've heard a prince say that." laughed Wriothesley with a grin. "You're an interesting one, you know? Always cooped up in your tower, yet come down to see me."
The dragon laughed sharply. "Who said I came down to see you?"
"Your face, actions, and constant glances at me tell you that you did."
"Caught red-handed, I suppose." Neuvillette shrugged. "You interest me, is all. You got sent down to Meropide for a noble act to save your siblings, and still got punished. Seems cruel to me."
That gave the teen in front of him pause.
"Nobody's… ever put it in that light before. They always just say 'a murder's a murder' and go on with life. You're… seeing my reasoning. What… are you?"
"…inhuman." Neuvi admitted, unsure of why he was telling Wriothesley this after one day of speaking, but… well, there was something to be said about his level of trust already.
"Cool. So you're the dragon everyone mutters about around the palace. I thought I just wasn't special enough to be thrown in the loop." commented the black haired boy, shrugging.
How did he figure it out so quickly?
"That wouldn't be an incorrect assumption."
"Hmm. Cool. I kinda have to work, so do you wanna talk after dinner?"
An offer for more interaction? Yes please.
"Of course!" Neuvi blurted, perhaps too quickly. "It…was nice meeting you, Wriothesley."
"You too, weird prince Neuvillette."
He rather liked the sound of that; his name on Wriothesley's lips. It sounded perfect. He wanted to hear more.
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︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹ ︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹
Neuvillette and Wriothesley ended up becoming good friends, over the months they were able to hang out. Their time together was scarce, as Wriothesley's community service ramped up and got stricter, and Nevuillette had to hide more, due to his dragon traits (which wasn't something he had to hide from Wriothesley, mind you.)
But Neuvillette was fascinated by him. He carried himself with such a confidence, even when they were alone, that he could not help but admire him.
Eventually, the poor dragon caught feelings. Which was a problem.
Dragons couldn't fall in love with humans. That was simply wrong and unprofessional.
But he still invited Wriothesley to a mandatory ball with him anyways. The boy accepted. They were going to go together.
As dates, Neuvillette didn't dare say. But oh, how he wished. He wished that the other young man would see him the way that Neuvillette saw him, but he knew that that was wistful thinking.
Perhaps going to a ball together was enough.
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︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹ ︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹
"You want… me to go to a ball with you. Like a social event." Wriothesley said incredulously. "You have literally never gone to one of these."
The dragon sighed, tail curling around himself, as they were alone in the gardens. "I am being forced to go, to find a potential prince or princess to court me."
Neuvillette didn't see it, but Wriothesley's eyes darkened at that. "Oh yeah… huh. So why do you want me to come?"
The white-haired boy took a deep breath before continuing. "I would like to have a friend there."
"A friend…huh."
Neuvi nodded.
Wrio smiled.
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︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹
The ball was far too loud for Neuvi's liking. His hearing was better than most, as he was a dragon, and it irked him how much noise there was at the ball. And Wriothesley wasn't here yet.
Where the Archons could he be?
Neuvillette worried his bottom lip between his teeth, anxious that his date friend wouldn't arrive at all, and he'd be left to face the snooty princes and princesses alone.
But then the doors opened, revealing a young man dressed in a grey and black suit, and Neuvillette's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. There was Wriothesley, looking like the hottest teen in all of Fontaine.
And oh, did Neuvillette want to breathe him in.
So he waved him over, smoothing down his blue suit jacket, and watched as Wriothesley's jaw dropped as well.
"Damn… you uhm… clean up nicely."
Neuvillette blushed faintly, but smiled courteously. "You as well."
The black haired teen looked away for a moment, which confused the prince, but he simply ignored it and let the boy compose himself.
"…So… shall we get some drinks?" asked the prince.
"Aren't we underage?" Wriothesley asked suspiciously. "Aren't the drinks alcoholic?"
"At these balls, they are highly diluted and will not even get us close to intoxicated, so we are allowed to drink." Neuvillette explained, taking two glasses from a passing by server. "I rarely drink as well, as I… normally just consume water, so this will be a nice treat."
"Bottoms up, I guess?" Wrio shrugs, taking a swig of his drink, humming at the taste. "Not bad, not bad."
"…mm I agree. Slightly sweet. Tastes like the waters from Inazuma, in a way."
"You're so odd about your water."
"Are you disgracing my tastes?"
"Never, my dear prince. That would be a royal felony, after all."
Neuvillette covered his mouth to giggle, then nodded. "A felony! Of course. Do not disrespect the prince, or whatever the Archons they say."
It was of course, a jest. Neuvillette actually liked it, when Wriothesley defied the royal norms slightly, as it brought him some peace knowing that he wasn't always treated like a prince, and instead like a normal human. (Well, or dragon)
"Shall we…dance?" Wriothesley offered, holding out his hand.
Neuvillette flushed bright red at that, unsure as to how he was supposed to reply. As he knew it, dances were supposed to be shared between romantic partners, not between friends. Unless—
No, Neuvillette couldn't think like that.
Wriothesley was a friend. Nothing more. His personal feelings did not matter, as nothing would ever happen. They were too different, the two of them. And perhaps that was what drew Neuvillette in. He couldn't help himself.
But he would have to, as the boy in front of him was now gazing at him strangely, awaiting his answer.
"Oh—uhm… yes. Of course." Neuvillette stuttered out, blushing profusely. He took Wriothesley's hand and let the boy lead him onto the dance floor. At this very moment, he was glad that he'd been taught how to dance by his teachers, a skill he had originally thought to be useless.
And so, they danced.
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︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹ ︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶︶⊹
It was too much.
The feeling of Neuvillette against him was going to be the death of him. The prince was devilishly handsome like this, letting Wriothesley lead him in the dance, despite Wriothesley having minimal dancing experience.
He looked so beautiful.
And oh, how Wriothesley wanted him. He hadn't, of course, expected to fall for the prince, but he had, and he'd fell hard.
And when their dance ended, he had to resist the urge to lean down and place a kiss onto Neuvi's lips. He was so pretty.
And when they went down to the balcony, and Neuvillette leaned in, Wriothesley was quick to reciprocate and pull him into a kiss. It was sudden, yes, but he was sure that this was what they both wanted.
And Neuvi smiled.
So did Wriothesley.
And for once, Wriothesley believed that a prince could possibly love a prisoner like him.