Work Text:
You are very aware that you are riding on Cosimo a Targ horse on Targ property. But Cos, as you call him is pretty much a perfect horse. Big enough so that you don't feel self conscious about getting on him. He's got a good temperament, and goes at a slow speed that you like. You were given permission from a lovely Royal guard called Lancelot to ride him. And it's always a quick ride through a pathway. Then back again.
You need this little ride, especially after a bad day at work at Kira Koffee. You got an order wrong, and had Kira and Malia freaking out over Banana flavoured Croissants that they're going to have to sell for the next week. They called you all kinds of names, and even though it was high school nonsense, you still felt like shit. But you could forget all of that, with a calm breeze stroking your skin and Cosimo listening to your work problems...….
"Hey you! Get off that horse!" A tall blonde man comes stomping down the pathway. "You're not a royal!"
"I could be" You turn to face him. "Calm your tits. It's just a quick ride"
"No-one dares talk to me that way!" He grabs the reigns. "Piss off. Up you get!"
Reluctantly you get off the horse. Surprisingly, he delicately helps you off. Holding your hand. A cautious pale hand wavers against your hip. The gestures are surprisingly gentle for a Prince that appears to hate your guts.
"Exit's that way" he snarled.
He watches you stifle a sob as you try to stroke Cosimo, but think better off it.
And it's that devastated look of defeat on your face that replays in Maekar's mind for days.
With his son Daeron's help. The Prince can glide through social media anonymously. It's not that hard to find you. You work in the area, you like to horse-ride and Kira doesn't hire that many black girls at the coffee shop. At first, he doesn't do much, a Twitter like here and there for you. Maekar prefers Instagram though, where he can look at you without judgement, and likes the photos of you that stand out. When you're posing or unaware that a phone is being pointed on you. He likes pictures with you in the centre.
A few weeks later, Lancelot, invites you back to the grounds with Cosimo. "Y/N it's all good. There was some type of misunderstanding"
"Being told to piss off is not a misunderstanding Lance" You give him a half smile as he helps you up.
Everytime you go back to Targ grounds, Maekar is alerted first. He'll change, and watch you in the daytime shadows with Cosimo a few feet away. Glancing at you trotting on the pathway before he quickly goes inside.
You knew something was up, when Kira Coffee starting getting random rave reviews about you service. When your Instagram page was getting way more likes than usual. When good looking Royal guards would show up at bars that you went to, and volunteered to dance, and always paid for your friends tabs. When King Baelor shows up during a charity Tour, though the meeting you have with Lucienne has nothing to do with charity.
"My Lord!" Lucienne quickly gets up.
"Luce don't you dare get up for me!" He hugs her warmly.
He pulls back and acknowledges you with a stifled smile.
"My Liege. Could you please pass on to your younger brother that that an apology card will do?" You have no idea if The King knows what you're talking about. You just hope that you don't get escorted out by security.
But King Baelor's mouth twitches before he crafts on a plastic smile. "Ah. Y/N. You're the lady that joy rides Cosimo" He remembers. "My brother's quite old fashioned. He doesn't deliver apologies when they're due"
"Old fashioned my Lord? Your brother is a social media menace!" You chuckle. "Please could you pass on to him, that there's no need to like my posts"
The King's jaw goes slack. Keeping his eyes on you, he twiddles the ring on his middle finger. "My brother Aerys is hosting a suit and tie charity event, at Maekar's palace. Attend with Lucienne and feel free to ask him yourself" He invites you. He doesn't have to ask you twice.
With Lucienne and Clown as your dates, you decide to nip the awkwardness in the bud when you see Prince Maekar near a bowl of fruit punch. You took out a page of Lucienne's book and wore a burgundy and black Tuxedo. You feel like it compliments your dark skin and you leave the Jacket open so that you don't feel so stuffy.
"Afternoon My Lord" You bow. "Those Twitter finger of yours finally at rest I see" You politely nod.
"Hmmm" He grunts, picking up the serving spoon.
"Sir, positive reviews in my favour? Your royal guard asking me of all girls to dance? That's not a coincidence My Lord. Thank you" You tenderly pat him on his jacket cuff.
You watch him stay still and clear his throat.
"Okay, now this is the part, where you apologise for being a complete arsehole about the horse?" You smile, eagerly waiting.
The Prince jerks his arm away from you, like you're infected with some kind of plague.
"Princes don't have to apologize to anyone. Least of all a jumped up arrogant barista!" He snorts. "Y/N, Girls like you need to know your station!"
You sharply turn towards him and rub the front of your neck.
"My Lord, I know that you're an entitled, obnoxious prick! I know that you treated me terribly on your land and you've been haunted by your own shitty behaviour ever since!" You scold him. "One Direct message saying "Sorry" wouldn't have killed you!"
Maekar takes a large gulp of punch. "You know what kills me? Your shitty tuxedo. But then again your flabby thighs would have ruined any dress!" His eyes slice over your comfortable tailored trousers.
Your mouth falls open, before you button up your tuxedo.
"Aren't flabby thighs your type? Dyanna was never a stick thin socialite was she? But I guess her thighs got a crossfit workout after the divorce, running away from you!" You give him a triumphant smirk, before you text your girlfriends and tell them that you're going home.
You exit the palace, walking out of the gate. You're searching for your phone, when you feel something tug on your Tuxedo cuff. You look to your right, to see the blonde self centred Prince, trying to control his breathing after running to catch up with you.
"Are....are you here to have me beheaded after the cardinal sin of trashing your wife?" You ask.
"Y/N, I'm sorry" Prince Maekar grits his teeth painfully, like the words are acid spilling out through his teeth.
"I'm the one that should....I never should have spoken ill of your wife" Your tone softens.
"Ex wife, fuck her" He shrugs. "You were right! I treated you like shit. Concerning the horse. You had every right to be there and I ripped you off and attacked you for no bloody reason. Other than because I'm royalty and at that moment I had the power to control you. I abhor myself sometimes. I'm sorry" The Prince braces himself up against the wall.
His long blonde hair becoming clammy with sweat.
"That's two apologies in less than a minute" You say.
Maekar grins slash grimaces. You reach out for him, your shaking black fingers graze his palm and rest there for a moment.
"It's still early. Can I tempt the Prince with a coffee?" You move your hand away.
"You look a vision in that Tuxedo" Maekar nods appreciatively. "You can tempt me with whatever you want" He slowly links arms with you. "My brother owns a few cafés up here. I owe you a thick Sultana Scone!"