“Harry.” Kris spoke softly, moderating his tone. “Hal. You’re hurting me. This isn’t supposed to be about pain. Why are you afraid?”
He shook his head, keeping Kris’ hands in his, lowering his head in confusion. “I do not know, I have told you this. I am lost, I am sure you can see that clearly enough..” Henry frowned, gritting his teeth at the annoyance of not being able just to make one decision of his own without thinking of something proper.
Harry’s tangled emotions were driving Kris mad. If this was the twelfth century, he wanted none of it — save this one piece, for just a tiny slice of time. Losing patience, he locked his own fingers in with Harry’s and pulled until they were practically nose-to-nose. “Your worries were fewer amongst the tavern folk, who are lower by far to you than I ever could be. So just shut up.”
Just to make sure Harry did, Kris kissed him.
Henry looked forward onto Kris, in mind he knew that he was perhaps just stalling himself from making any decision at all. One night, this century; he was sure Kris had hated it. He felt the other’s lips crash forward to meet his own, wanting to move back though he pressed slightly forward against it, but only breaking it for air that he stopped.
“Please, highness,” Kris whispered, closing his eyes. “You’re the only sweet thing I’ve found here, the only thing worth remembering when I leave.” Compelled, he kissed Harry again, trying to plead with it.
Had Henry been not so sudden before, though the changes that started to accumulate as well as problems had hindered him from anything else for him to think differently from responsibility. “Why must you leave?” The prince asked, moving away slightly so he may talk a bit over than just whispering.
“I live very far from here, very far indeed, and I must set out tomorrow for home. There is no escaping it. I’ve only this one night. Even if a way to stay were found, I’d not be able to see you again. Not ever. You of all people must understand inescapable rules.” Kris pulled at his hair, frustrated. If only he could tell Harry the truth!
Henry frowned slightly, averting himself as he thought. One night, just to leave so abruptly? ‘Twas strange, he had thought, having a person to be with for one day simply leave at the next moment..”This is not to be about my reputation..” He replied, turning back to Kris.
“Oh? Then what is it about? Because I was certain sure that was what you said before. Say what you mean, Harry, say it clear, don’t dress it up in pretty words.” Kris’ frustration came through clearly.
“I do not know. Simply, and there. I know not.” He had a hold of Kris’ hands tightly in his grip, though not meaning to hurt him and had no intention of it. He was not sure whom he had to listen to; there were standards to live by, if not, he was not so sure of it. Uncertainty and disowning had frightened the prince, he looked to the other carefully.
“Harry.” Kris spoke softly, moderating his tone. “Hal. You’re hurting me. This isn’t supposed to be about pain. Why are you afraid?”
He shook his head, keeping Kris’ hands in his, lowering his head in confusion. “I do not know, I have told you this. I am lost, I am sure you can see that clearly enough..” Henry frowned, gritting his teeth at the annoyance of not being able just to make one decision of his own without thinking of something proper.
Harry’s tangled emotions were driving Kris mad. If this was the twelfth century, he wanted none of it — save this one piece, for just a tiny slice of time. Losing patience, he locked his own fingers in with Harry’s and pulled until they were practically nose-to-nose. “Your worries were fewer amongst the tavern folk, who are lower by far to you than I ever could be. So just shut up.”
Just to make sure Harry did, Kris kissed him.
Henry looked forward onto Kris, in mind he knew that he was perhaps just stalling himself from making any decision at all. One night, this century; he was sure Kris had hated it. He felt the other’s lips crash forward to meet his own, wanting to move back though he pressed slightly forward against it, but only breaking it for air that he stopped.
“Please, highness,” Kris whispered, closing his eyes. “You’re the only sweet thing I’ve found here, the only thing worth remembering when I leave.” Compelled, he kissed Harry again, trying to plead with it.
“I’ll still be gone. Your acquiescence to this makes no difference to that.” Kris shrugged, green eyes flicking downward. “I’ve got this one night, this one day, here. When my time is up, it’s up, and I’ll not be here ever again. ‘Tis nothing to do with you, my leaving.” He looked back up at Hal, face bleak. “I thought perhaps it would be easier, knowing there’d be no one around to … ruin your reputation.”
Henry frowned slightly, averting himself as he thought. One night, just to leave so abruptly? ‘Twas strange, he had thought, having a person to be with for one day simply leave at the next moment..”This is not to be about my reputation..” He replied, turning back to Kris.
“Oh? Then what is it about? Because I was certain sure that was what you said before. Say what you mean, Harry, say it clear, don’t dress it up in pretty words.” Kris’ frustration came through clearly.
“I do not know. Simply, and there. I know not.” He had a hold of Kris’ hands tightly in his grip, though not meaning to hurt him and had no intention of it. He was not sure whom he had to listen to; there were standards to live by, if not, he was not so sure of it. Uncertainty and disowning had frightened the prince, he looked to the other carefully.
“Harry.” Kris spoke softly, moderating his tone. “Hal. You’re hurting me. This isn’t supposed to be about pain. Why are you afraid?”
He shook his head, keeping Kris’ hands in his, lowering his head in confusion. “I do not know, I have told you this. I am lost, I am sure you can see that clearly enough..” Henry frowned, gritting his teeth at the annoyance of not being able just to make one decision of his own without thinking of something proper.
Harry’s tangled emotions were driving Kris mad. If this was the twelfth century, he wanted none of it — save this one piece, for just a tiny slice of time. Losing patience, he locked his own fingers in with Harry’s and pulled until they were practically nose-to-nose. “Your worries were fewer amongst the tavern folk, who are lower by far to you than I ever could be. So just shut up.”
Hal paused, listening to Kris carefully. “Now, why would I want to do something such as that? What is it that you want?” He muttered, looking to him for a mere moment.
Kris smirked. “I want you,” he murmured, “I thought I’d said that before. One night, Harry, and I’ll be gone forever.” He traced a finger down the bone behind Hal’s ear. “I want to kiss you and bring you and leave you yearning. Please?” His voice slid to pleading.
Henry moved back a few inches from Kris, turning to face him. He took the other’s hand away from his own person, exhaling. “Gone forevermore? A bit drastic, is it not?” He laughed to himself, looking down before giving Kris a glance. “And if I refuse it?”
“I’ll still be gone. Your acquiescence to this makes no difference to that.” Kris shrugged, green eyes flicking downward. “I’ve got this one night, this one day, here. When my time is up, it’s up, and I’ll not be here ever again. ‘Tis nothing to do with you, my leaving.” He looked back up at Hal, face bleak. “I thought perhaps it would be easier, knowing there’d be no one around to … ruin your reputation.”
Henry frowned slightly, averting himself as he thought. One night, just to leave so abruptly? ‘Twas strange, he had thought, having a person to be with for one day simply leave at the next moment..”This is not to be about my reputation..” He replied, turning back to Kris.
“Oh? Then what is it about? Because I was certain sure that was what you said before. Say what you mean, Harry, say it clear, don’t dress it up in pretty words.” Kris’ frustration came through clearly.
“I do not know. Simply, and there. I know not.” He had a hold of Kris’ hands tightly in his grip, though not meaning to hurt him and had no intention of it. He was not sure whom he had to listen to; there were standards to live by, if not, he was not so sure of it. Uncertainty and disowning had frightened the prince, he looked to the other carefully.
“Harry.” Kris spoke softly, moderating his tone. “Hal. You’re hurting me. This isn’t supposed to be about pain. Why are you afraid?”
“You’re too damned charming, Harry.” Kris clenched his fingers around Harry’s ankle. ”Hard to hate what you like so much.” A drawl filtered into his words as he spoke. “You’ve got it all. Loving father, brothers, girls at your feet, a kingdom to inherit … “
“May it seem that my life is rich and well done, that is only good things you see. Yea, most people would see that much more than consequences.” He sighed, “A kingdom I have to protect, and..they trust this to a prince whom drinks with the thieves, welcoming them as an old friend?” Hal scoffed, frowning. “Better off to leave it to my brothers, if I do not change.”
“Better by far than the nothing that is my lot, I assure you, Harry.” A thought occurred to Kris, and he hitched himself up to whisper in Hal’s ear, “You’re not going to see me again after tonight anyway. Give me what I want.”
Hal paused, listening to Kris carefully. “Now, why would I want to do something such as that? What is it that you want?” He muttered, looking to him for a mere moment.
Kris smirked. “I want you,” he murmured, “I thought I’d said that before. One night, Harry, and I’ll be gone forever.” He traced a finger down the bone behind Hal’s ear. “I want to kiss you and bring you and leave you yearning. Please?” His voice slid to pleading.
Henry moved back a few inches from Kris, turning to face him. He took the other’s hand away from his own person, exhaling. “Gone forevermore? A bit drastic, is it not?” He laughed to himself, looking down before giving Kris a glance. “And if I refuse it?”
“I’ll still be gone. Your acquiescence to this makes no difference to that.” Kris shrugged, green eyes flicking downward. “I’ve got this one night, this one day, here. When my time is up, it’s up, and I’ll not be here ever again. ‘Tis nothing to do with you, my leaving.” He looked back up at Hal, face bleak. “I thought perhaps it would be easier, knowing there’d be no one around to … ruin your reputation.”
Henry frowned slightly, averting himself as he thought. One night, just to leave so abruptly? ‘Twas strange, he had thought, having a person to be with for one day simply leave at the next moment..”This is not to be about my reputation..” He replied, turning back to Kris.
“Oh? Then what is it about? Because I was certain sure that was what you said before. Say what you mean, Harry, say it clear, don’t dress it up in pretty words.” Kris’ frustration came through clearly.
“You’re too damned charming, Harry.” Kris clenched his fingers around Harry’s ankle. ”Hard to hate what you like so much.” A drawl filtered into his words as he spoke. “You’ve got it all. Loving father, brothers, girls at your feet, a kingdom to inherit … “
“May it seem that my life is rich and well done, that is only good things you see. Yea, most people would see that much more than consequences.” He sighed, “A kingdom I have to protect, and..they trust this to a prince whom drinks with the thieves, welcoming them as an old friend?” Hal scoffed, frowning. “Better off to leave it to my brothers, if I do not change.”
“Better by far than the nothing that is my lot, I assure you, Harry.” A thought occurred to Kris, and he hitched himself up to whisper in Hal’s ear, “You’re not going to see me again after tonight anyway. Give me what I want.”
Hal paused, listening to Kris carefully. “Now, why would I want to do something such as that? What is it that you want?” He muttered, looking to him for a mere moment.
Kris smirked. “I want you,” he murmured, “I thought I’d said that before. One night, Harry, and I’ll be gone forever.” He traced a finger down the bone behind Hal’s ear. “I want to kiss you and bring you and leave you yearning. Please?” His voice slid to pleading.
Henry moved back a few inches from Kris, turning to face him. He took the other’s hand away from his own person, exhaling. “Gone forevermore? A bit drastic, is it not?” He laughed to himself, looking down before giving Kris a glance. “And if I refuse it?”
“I’ll still be gone. Your acquiescence to this makes no difference to that.” Kris shrugged, green eyes flicking downward. “I’ve got this one night, this one day, here. When my time is up, it’s up, and I’ll not be here ever again. ‘Tis nothing to do with you, my leaving.” He looked back up at Hal, face bleak. “I thought perhaps it would be easier, knowing there’d be no one around to … ruin your reputation.”
“You’re too damned charming, Harry.” Kris clenched his fingers around Harry’s ankle. ”Hard to hate what you like so much.” A drawl filtered into his words as he spoke. “You’ve got it all. Loving father, brothers, girls at your feet, a kingdom to inherit … “
“May it seem that my life is rich and well done, that is only good things you see. Yea, most people would see that much more than consequences.” He sighed, “A kingdom I have to protect, and..they trust this to a prince whom drinks with the thieves, welcoming them as an old friend?” Hal scoffed, frowning. “Better off to leave it to my brothers, if I do not change.”
“Better by far than the nothing that is my lot, I assure you, Harry.” A thought occurred to Kris, and he hitched himself up to whisper in Hal’s ear, “You’re not going to see me again after tonight anyway. Give me what I want.”
Hal paused, listening to Kris carefully. “Now, why would I want to do something such as that? What is it that you want?” He muttered, looking to him for a mere moment.
Kris smirked. “I want you,” he murmured, “I thought I’d said that before. One night, Harry, and I’ll be gone forever.” He traced a finger down the bone behind Hal’s ear. “I want to kiss you and bring you and leave you yearning. Please?” His voice slid to pleading.
“You’re too damned charming, Harry.” Kris clenched his fingers around Harry’s ankle. ”Hard to hate what you like so much.” A drawl filtered into his words as he spoke. “You’ve got it all. Loving father, brothers, girls at your feet, a kingdom to inherit … “
“May it seem that my life is rich and well done, that is only good things you see. Yea, most people would see that much more than consequences.” He sighed, “A kingdom I have to protect, and..they trust this to a prince whom drinks with the thieves, welcoming them as an old friend?” Hal scoffed, frowning. “Better off to leave it to my brothers, if I do not change.”
“Better by far than the nothing that is my lot, I assure you, Harry.” A thought occurred to Kris, and he hitched himself up to whisper in Hal’s ear, “You’re not going to see me again after tonight anyway. Give me what I want.”
Kris couldn’t resist the temptation to run a hand along Harry’s ankle, enjoying the feel of the leather against his skin. “What changes aren’t acceptable?” he coaxed.
Henry tensed along the touch, watching his hand cautiously. “I know not of what…
“Though hiding a goat from a family of wolves will have the elders starve. I cannot simply hide; I do not want to lie to him. He is to be the person to put the crown on my head—there, I will stand differently.” He muttered, trying not to move away, the young prince sighed, averting himself. “I cannot simply forget the person I had known for longest. I am my own, though I am also his flesh and blood, a first born, heir and a brother.”
“Oh, aye, shape yourself to his desire alone, and lose track of who you are in the process,” Kris half-sneered. “The pitiable life of a prince of the realm, lauded by whores and thieves and half-drunken, Henry’s golden son. I could hate you for this.”
“I am to set a good example, I know who I am.” He frowned, looking elsewhere as he moved to lean back a bit more. “But not a prince of this ‘realm’ alone. Just a Prince of Wales. This whole realm, I do not think it needs a single kingdom of these persons. Then, what makes keep you from hating me?”
“You’re too damned charming, Harry.” Kris clenched his fingers around Harry’s ankle. “Hard to hate what you like so much.” A drawl filtered into his words as he spoke. “You’ve got it all. Loving father, brothers, girls at your feet, a kingdom to inherit … “
Kris couldn’t resist the temptation to run a hand along Harry’s ankle, enjoying the feel of the leather against his skin. “What changes aren’t acceptable?” he coaxed.
Henry tensed along the touch, watching his hand cautiously. “I know not of what…
“Though hiding a goat from a family of wolves will have the elders starve. I cannot simply hide; I do not want to lie to him. He is to be the person to put the crown on my head—there, I will stand differently.” He muttered, trying not to move away, the young prince sighed, averting himself. “I cannot simply forget the person I had known for longest. I am my own, though I am also his flesh and blood, a first born, heir and a brother.”
“Oh, aye, shape yourself to his desire alone, and lose track of who you are in the process,” Kris half-sneered. “The pitiable life of a prince of the realm, lauded by whores and thieves and half-drunken, Henry’s golden son. I could hate you for this.”