Chapter Text
Nick paces the empty ballroom of the palace. He places his hand's behind his back as his thumbs seem to chase each other in circles. His thoughts are static, mindless white noise he uses to fill his brain so the impactful once stay in the back of his head. He listens and memorizes the sounds of his footsteps and the creak of the exhaling wood furniture.
"Is everything alright, my liege? You seem troubled." Asks Autumn, His personal jester. He ceases his pace and looks to his side where he sees a hidden figure in the shadow of the stairwell. Perfect timing as usual. I needed a lovely distraction. And, especially in the eyes of Nick, oh he was such a lovely distraction. Whether it was his eyes of molten emerald, his hazelnut skin that is softer than silk and cashmere combined, or how he can be simply described as human poetry.
"I'm just thinking is all." He mumbles in a sigh. Autumn walks over to him, the bells on his shoes and hat jingling with every step he takes. he takes Nick's hand and gives it a light kiss.
"you look lovely as usual." Autumn says as a small smirk creeps onto his face. he looks up at his face, natures own cunning hand laid on.
"I could say the same about you, my twitterpated charmer." Nick muttered. Autumn lets out a small giggle as he runs a small hand through Nicks hair with his other hand rested on the side of his face. His thumb traces the side of his jaw. As this banter progresses, Autumn hears subtle footsteps approaching the ballroom.
"And just as our dalliance continues. Well, I suppose I will see you in the morning!" Autumn says softly as he exits the ballroom, bumping into the prime minister, AL.
"bantering with the clown, I presume? You know, you shouldn't be wasting your time with such fruitless activities." AL comments. Nick stands at attention. his face stone stuck with discipline.
"Yes sir. it won't happen again." Nick states bluntly. AL raises an eyebrow but overall shrugs it off. He leaves. Once AL exits the ballroom, nick lets out a sigh of relief. As much as he loves Autumn, His kingdom means everything to him.
...
Autumn rushes through the halls of the castle under the shine of the bare moonlight and down the stairs towards the cellar. once underground, he moves a large picture frame that reveals a tunnel just large enough to fit him. He crawls through the dusty catacomb till he reaches a sewer tunnel. He hops out (barely landing on his feet) and runs toward the darkest part of the sewer. It smelled of mold but he was used to it at this point. Once at the end he knocks on the wall three times and whistles a melody: G – F – B – E – D – G – C – B – E – A – D and the door opens to a crack. Arlo peers slowly from behind the door and fiddles with a series of locks. Finally he opens the door and lets him in.
"Finally! you took an awful long time." He states. Digi and Vanessa were playing cards together. Digi was losing (as usual). She knows she's not going to win but continues nonetheless to spend time with her. Vanessa noticed this a while ago and continues to lengthen her decisions to keep playing. Digi did not notice this. Autumn collapses on the couch as Arlo passes him a cold Mista Peppy. He downs it immedeatly. "Hard day a work?"
"I'm in love. It's killing me." He sighs taking another sip. How can someone so perfect be so forbidden. Arlo pats him on the back
"I hear you man. That's the worst." Arlo says empathetically (he has never been in love. He is simply trying his best). He yawns and heads to his room. "Well, time to train. i hope you feel better, Autumn." He walks into his room. Digi sits on the couch sideways taking up quite a bit of space.
"Hey dig, can you move over a bit?" he asks.
"Oh yeah." she replies. Vanessa, as usual observes their conversations as they talk over the news. She always noticed the small things about them that she couldn't understand. The fact that they could ask each other to move blatantly. That they just could talk to each other without thinking carefully. No overthinking details. No silence over comfort. it was odd. "Here's the report on us!" AL appears on the screen and begins to talk.
"Terror filled the streets of Konslad as radicals continue to strike our beloved cit-!" He is cut off by Digi turning off the tv.
"Tch. Same script as yesterday. He can't do anything original. I'm going to bed." She says as she walks into her room. Autumn stands up with a stretch and yawns.
"Well its pretty late. Bedtime for Bonzo. See you in the morning, Nessy!" He says as they both enter their separate rooms. Autumn collapses on his twin size bed. looking up at the patchy, wooden ceiling before falling asleep in the pitch black of his home. What a normal day for the patron saint of lovestruck fools.