Chapter Text
The moonlight hitted two kids. Two kids who were running in the night, with the sea next to them.
Zam glanced at Pangi, looking at their joined hands. A smile formed on his face as his hair moved with the air. He looked foward again.
Their feet left footprints in the sand, running in the beach. Some water and foam hitted their feet sometimes.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Pangi murmured, his blue eyes searching for Zam's.
Zam letted out a small laugh. His grip on Pangi's hand tightened.
"Yeah! Our parents wouldn't mind... I think."
Zam looked at Pangi again. Suddenly, a strangled sound escaped him. He tripped and fell onto the sand.
Pangi gasped as Zam fell. Then fell with him. Beside him. The damp sand stained them. Zam looked at Pangi. Pangi opened his eyes, which he had closed for the impact. After, he looked back at Zam. They both started laughing. Their hands still joined.
. . .
Zam woke up.
He gasped as he abruptaly sat up. He looked around. Only a dim light from the moonlight outside slightly iluminated the room.
With a long, exhausted sigh, he buried his face in his hands. He murmured incoherent mubles. Then decided to sleep again. Hoping, to just maybe, don't have more dreams about past moments with Pangi.
...
..
.
And the rutine again! Guards came out to door of the royal chambers to wake up their prince. Zam strecthed. He hadn't sleep well, of course he hadn't. He had restless dreams recently. Stared at the ceiling when he woke up, then at the door, where the guards were waiting outside. After, groaned and started preparing himself for his royal duties. And... Prolly seeing Pangi. He hoped. He always saw that dude.
He went out from his room. His fancy tiara with gems glistening. Guards greeted him and bowed. He smiled politely to them. He glanced around, searching for Pangi. And there he was, the last one in the line of all the guards. Bowing with a slight grin on his face, sunglasses covering most of his eyes.
Pangi stopped bowing just to look at Zam.
"Well, how did you sleep today?" He said casually, as if he was talking more with a friend than with a prince.
Well, Pangi was Zam's personal guard anyways. They had known eachother since they were kids. So it wasn't disrespectful at all. Everyone in the kingdom knew they were close friends. And everyone is everyone. Seriously.
"... Slept as always, Pangi. Slept as always." Zam answered, rubbering his eyes. It always took a long while for him to wake up propely.
Soon, Pangi was already at Zam's side. Some guards, following and guarding from behind. The others, scattering to their positions or tasks. The group, the prince and the guards, marched throught the halls of the kingdom. Zam was still half asleep, yawning slightly in certain moments. Then, Pangi spoke again. More certainly whispering to Zam.
"Hey... I don't know if you'll like this, but there's a party tonight." Pangi leaned slightly closer and got a bit on his toes when he did that, as Zam was taller than him.
Zam glanced at Pangi, his expression talking for himself. Zam looked foward again, sighing loudly, causing to startle some guards and making them look more directly at him. Well, his back...
Pangi laughed slightly at his reaction. He nudged Zam gently yet playfully with his elbow.
"C'mon, don't be lazy. It's just a a party... I mean, I know you don't like them but..."
Zam just shot a glare that barely had irritation in it at Pangi. Shutting him up. He looked foward again.
After just some small minutes of the group walking, they reached Zam's office. Zam opened his door, slightly lingering. He glanced back at Pangi one last time.
Pangi caught the glance, smiling. A soft, geniune smile. Those that weren't polite. Those that weren't forced. Zam loved those. Those made him believe that he wasn't only a prince.
Zam's gaze lingered on Pangi's covered eyes. With a silent sigh, he entered his office and closed door.
Pangi watched him enter. Well, he always did. There wasn't many new things at all anymore. He watched some guards leave, others guarding nearby. Pangi adjusted his sunglasses, a habit he always had. He glanced at the door of Zam's office again, then positioned himself propely to guard.
It was exhausting, really. Who wouldn't get tired of having to guard for straight hours, barely moving in post? Pangi really didn't want to be a guard at all. It was mostly an inheritance from his father. His dad had been a great loyal guard to the royalty. It was obvious that Pangi was going to be a guard, whether he likes it or not. And Zam... He's dedicated to his inheritance. He seems very serious about his duty and the future of his kingdom. Well, in the end, he doesn't really want to be a prince at all. But what can he even do? What can they both even do about it?
The first hours of the morning stretched on as they always did. Zam stayed in his office around 2 to 4 hours everyday. Checking documents and things like that. Yeah, it sounds very boring. Indeed it is. Some newbie guards turned on the posts. But loyal experienced guards stayed put. Yeah, Pangi is one of those.
Finally, after hours (literally), the door handle of Zam's office jingled. He stepped out, seeming obviously more woken up than before. Some guards inmediatly bowed at his appareance. Pangi didn't. Normally, he doesn't follow the royal protocol in casual routines. Again, the group formed the same way it was before.
Pangi stayed by Zam's side again. He was a leech, always stuck to Zam. And Zam didn't even mind. They've always known eachother, how would they not be inseparable?
"You've might need to check the ballroom later. To see how the preparations are going and everything." Pangi spoke in a murmur, again, only for Zam.
Zam glanced at him, taking some seconds before murmuring back to Pangi.
"Need? I don't have a choice or...?"
Pangi shrugged with a weird smirk of his.
"I fear you don't."
Zam stared at him, after he sighed. Way more quietly than hours before. Pangi laughed slightly again.
The group of the guards and the royal walked now outside the palace. Some days, Zam had to do a small walk by the kingdom. Like today. People would want to see their prince, right? Right.
Well atleast the civilians were mostly not creeps. Most, because there have been quite the incidents. Though, those were a real time ago. Nowadays, nothing weird happens at all. There could be some lots of people but that's it. Nothing more.
The walk was calm. A lot of people greeted him and some even bowed politely. It was usually almost always like this.
Pangi glanced at Zam's face several times. How? He asked himself. Always asked himself, 'how'. How could Zam be so reserved and so in duty? How could be he always seem to be paying attention to everything the nobles talk about?
Zam could stay so stoic sometimes. It was infuriating. Well, only for Pangi. Zam could be easily every kingdom's perfect heir. But in the end, Pangi knew this wasn't the real Zam. This wasn't the Zam he had always known. Zam isn't really like this, all polite and reserved.
And Pangi knows that.
Before any of them realized, the walk had ended. They entered to the palace again. For the rest of the day, Zam would have free time until the party. Fortunaly. Each one of the guards that formed the group bowed at Zam and scattered. One by one. Zam just smiled politely and gave a small nod at every single one of them. But, of course Zam still needed a bit of guarding in his free time... And of course, the one that guarded him alone in those free times was no other that his loyal guard, Pangi! Of course it's him, who else.
When every guard had scattered to their respectives posts or breaks, Pangi was the one to speak first.
"So... You going to see if the preparations in the ballroom are doing well or...?" He wasn't smirking, but his voice tone was.
"Yes, I am. Stop being so annoying about it!" Zam answered quickly, not really annoyed. His arms crossed as, on purpose, stared walking at a quick pace toward the ballroom.
Pangi laughed, following right after at the same pace. A barely audible 'don't be a grouch' was heard coming from him has he reached Zam. By his side once again.
Eventually, their pace slowed down as they got closer to the ballroom. After finally reaching, they entered by the big, opened doors. Zam putted his hands behind his back, observing how the preparations were going. Some people in there inmediatly bowed at him. Others were too busy notice. Most of the people preparing were newbies or servants.
A female servant, clearly the one who was leading the preparations, aproached Zam. And well, Pangi too. The first thing she did was bowing at them. Then looked at Zam directly.
"Oh, Prince Zam! Is such an honor to have you witnessing how this is going!" Her tone was polite, educated. Not even forced at all.
Zam smiled politely at her, giving a nod.
"Everything's looking fabulous so far. I'm sure the party will be great."
The servant nodded twice.
"Yes, yes! We'll make sure everything will be perfect for today's party."
After saying that, she bowed at Zam and quickly hurried off. Returning with the rest of the helpers.
When she was fully away, Zam glanced to Pangi, who caught Zam's gaze instantly. Zam gestured backward with his eyes, signaling if they could leave now. Pangi had to hold back a smirk, even thought a small curve formed, then nodded. They both walked out of the ballroom.
When they were now fully in the hall, Zam sighed.
"This is exhausting..." He ran a hand throught his head, already brazing himself for the party.
"No way, Zam. I thought this was fun!" Pangi said sarcasticly as he leaned on Zam's side. His voice held no bite.
"Shut up, Pangi." Zam answered him, laughing a bit.
"Anyways, I'll... Go prepare myself for the party. You know I always take a lot to get myself ready for this type of things. Hehe..."
A small silence lingered between the prince and the guard for a moment.
"I'm sure you'll look beautiful." Pangi finally spoke, voice low. Echoing in the hall.
More silence. Way longer than before. Both of them seeming to get redder.
"... Thanks." Zam finally answered, seeming hesistant.
"I'll see you there then, Pangi."
He slowly started walking away. Toward his royal chamber. To get himself ready.
When Zam was halfway done, Pangi murmured almost to himself:
"We'll see eachother there, Prince Zam."