Le Bien Qui Fait Mal

[princenopants]

Characters: Mytho
Open? Semi
Where: The castle
When: Early morning
What: Mytho does wandering and finds a book...


It was quiet that morning, as it often was as Mytho's eyes opened. He lay there a moment, listening to the muted sound of the birds, the soft sound of Rue's even, deep, sleeping breaths before slipping out of bed with silent grace.

Without so much as even bothering with anything more to cover him than the half open button down white shirt he slept in, he drifted down the closed doorways, expression distant, yet thoughtful as if he was listening for something. He paused at a patch of light streaming in through a high window's curtains, head turning slightly to blink at the room past the open door.

A single chair next to a small round table, a single book resting next to it, dark burgundy binding and golden lettering almost glowing in the morning light.

This was...

Slowly, Mytho walked over, fingers tracing over the familiar cover before he opened it, eyes seeming to glaze over as a silvery light wafted out from the illustration with in.

There was silence for a long moment before he closed the book firmly, posture shifting so slightly as he turned and walked away, door closing behind him.

Comments

[ex_apaintingdarkly917]

Dark was in the hall when the little guy walked past, and he watched him go with some curiosity.

"What's the hurry, kid?

[me_and_only_me]

The boy paused, turning slightly to smile oh so slightly. "There's no hurry...."

[ex_apaintingdarkly917]

"Where ya headed?" He asked, showing no real interest whatsoever.

[me_and_only_me]

"Nowhere in particular."

[ex_apaintingdarkly917]

Dark just blinked at the boy.

"You're somewhere. You'll have to go pretty far if you want to go nowhere."

[schrien_die_raben]

Rue woke up earlier than usual, only to find Mytho gone, his spot next to her still betraying the faintest of warmth. She lay there a moment considering the pros and cons of moving her stiff limbs, before sliding out of bed, cursing Fakir for giving her these worrying habits.

After hurriedly dressing herself, she slipped out to look for him, searching each nearby corridor until she finally she came by him walking in the hallway, not dressed properly as usual. With a sigh, she reached out to stop him, her voice scolding as she took his hand.

"Haven't I told you to get dressed before coming out?"

[me_and_only_me]

There was a hint of something almost like a smile on the prince's lips as he turned. "Come to scold me for it?" he asked, tone light and airy.

[schrien_die_raben]

Were Rue more awake, she would have noticed the smile, or the hint of mocking in her prince's voice. As it was, all she could see was the embarrassing bareness of his legs, and the fact that they were no longer in their own wing of the castle.

"Of course I am!" she said. "You do this every morning. Haven't I explained why you don't go out like this where people can see you?"

[me_and_only_me]

"Because it'll make you look bad?" he asked, eyes narrowing just a touch in a reserved, yet perverse amusement. "Is that what you're worried about, Rue? Your own reflection in your precious prince?"

[schrien_die_raben]

"I..." Rue paused for a moment, searching his face. Something was wrong. There was unmistakable mocking in his tone, and in the cruel touch to his words. She took a step back.

"What's wrong with you?"

[me_and_only_me]

His chest shook slightly from barely held back laughter. "What is wrong with me, I wonder... Can you tell me, Rue? This feeling... do you know what it is?"

[schrien_die_raben]

"No..."

He couldn't be like this, not now. Not when she had just gotten used to his heart being gone...

[me_and_only_me]

"You gave it to me, Rue, why don't you know what it is?" His voice was smooth and subtly mocking, all traces of the wispy ethereal nothingness that marked his heartless self gone.

[schrien_die_raben]

Rue took a deep breath, willing the heart in her throat back down. This was not his true self, she told herself. Just a corrupted image of him, twisted by the Raven's blood in the same way she had been.

"Your love, my prince," she said, only the slightest of tremors in her calm voice. "It's been poisoned. But it doesn't have to stay that way..."

[me_and_only_me]

"Poisoned?" He seemed to think on this just a moment before giving a smile. "From when you had your hands all over it..."

[schrien_die_raben]

"...Yes," she said, for there was no use denying it. He was this way because of her, and only she could help him become himself again. "I bathed it in the Raven's blood. But you don't have to let it control you, prince. You can fight it, I've seen you do it."

[me_and_only_me]

"So quick to change your mind again... If you did this, isn't this the way you wanted me?"

[schrien_die_raben]

"I thought I did... But then I saw what pain it caused you," Rue said. "I don't want you to suffer anymore..."

[me_and_only_me]

There was no reply but a barely held back laugh.

[schrien_die_raben]

"Don't laugh at me!" she snapped, her pent up fear and guilt getting the better of her. She hated how easy it was for him to get under her skin, how simple to make her hate herself all over again. She took another breath.

"I want to help you. Let me, please..."

[me_and_only_me]

"You, help me?" The laugh was more open now, a soft chuckle that was just a touch unstable. "You've already done enough."

[schrien_die_raben]

"No," she said sternly, though there was a touch of shakiness in her voice. She grabbed his wrists, pulling them towards her with a sharp tug. "If you won't let me help you, then I'll make sure you don't hurt anyone else."

[me_and_only_me]

He frowned before moving to pull his wrist free with a deft jerk. "As if you were ever capable of doing anything...."

[schrien_die_raben]

"I may not be able to overpower you, but there are people here who can and will," Rue said coldly. "If you try anything I'll know about it, and I'll make sure someone is there to stop you."

[me_and_only_me]

"You talk as if I'm some sort of monster you need to keep on a leash..." the prince smirked cattily.

[schrien_die_raben]

"You've hurt people before," she said, her cold expression softening, just a bit. "And you're not in your right mind besides. It's for your safety as well."

[me_and_only_me]

"My safety..." Again, that soft, malicious chuckle. "When have you ever done anything with my safety in mind?"

[schrien_die_raben]

"That's a lie and you know it," Rue snapped, her fingers curling into fists. "All those years that you were without your heart, we kept you safe. Even now I was staying with you to make sure you were alright..."

[me_and_only_me]

"Taking credit for Fakir's hard work, now?"

[schrien_die_raben]

"I'm the one who's staying with you now!" she said, feeling her anger rise up once more. Oh, how she hated this feeling. "I'm the one who kept you safe from the crows, I'm the one who makes sure you get dressed every morning, and don't go wondering the halls looking like this!"

[me_and_only_me]

"Such a good job you're doing of it to," the prince mocked, spreading out the edge of his shirt like it were a dress.

[schrien_die_raben]

"And that's why you're coming with me," she said, grabbing his wrist and dragging him in the direction of her room. "Even you have to have a sense of dignity."

[me_and_only_me]

Again the faint chuckle, but without protest this time. He'd follow her for now...

[schrien_die_raben]

Relieved he wasn't struggling, she pulled him closer, her grip becoming a little more gentle as she pulled him along. Perhaps, he could still be reasoned with.

"Just go back to bed when we get back there, okay? Some rest will surely clear your head."

[me_and_only_me]

"All right..." In all appearances, he'd reverted back to the gentle prince as he followed behind Rue.

[schrien_die_raben]

Rue hesitated, then turned around, clasping his hand to her chest as she gently touched his cheek.

"You'll be fine," she said, her face determined. "No matter what it takes, I'll save you."

[me_and_only_me]

His eyes stayed closed a long moment before opening, almost glowing with the sickly purple-red light, lips twisting into a smirk. "There's no way someone like you could do anything like that..."

There was a sudden rush of wind around them before he vanished, a single black feather left behind in his wake.

[schrien_die_raben]

Her hands curling into fists, Rue looked on at the spot where he had been, mouth agape. Then, all the tension melted off her at once, and she began making her way back to her room, but not before picking up the feather her prince left behind.