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Another pointless meeting he knew wouldn't go anywhere if he did anything but smile politely and nod gracefully. “So as I was saying you're father and I shall be away for a while, can I trust you to handle yourself while I'm gone” as she turned back to him she shot a sharp glare his way, daring his defiant streak. “I don’t see why not, it’s not like you would let me make a mistake” he knew this wouldn’t end well, “even with an entire ocean between us.”
“Hah- ….Atlas,” she said in a dangerous tone. He was on thin ice, how ironic. “I taught you better than to play the fool however foolish you might wish to act.” A chill prickled at his fingertips, he'd need to calm down if he wanted any chance of making it out of her office without a new “battle” scar. “I do not wish for you to have another episode, do I make myself clear?”
He thought carefully about his next move…his thought was that he's never been good at holding his tongue as he said the words before that inner sentence could cease, “Have you ever considered the possibility that our people might actually benefit from my oddities mother” he didn't mean to say mother with such vitriol, in other words, he is completely, utterly, royaly fucked now.
She raced around the desk, gripping his jaw so he could not escape her venom, “Do you know what they’d do to you if they knew of your… filth” her eyes narrowed to emphasise her disgust “you're delusional if you think they'd do anything less than cheer at your execution”. Despite his brave face he had always feared her outbursts. She knew how to make it hurt, who do you think taught him how to fight so well? “Has Cyrus been spewing his nonsense to you again? I have half a mind to relieve him of his duties given his constant insolent behavior. I hope you know the only reason I allow him lenience is because he seems to contradict himself by managing to keep you in line”
*smack* “FU-” a backhand with all the force of her hatred for him behind it sends him to the ground clutching his cheek. “Atlas, you should know I have no qualms about confining you to your room if you cannot control that detestable magic” she peered down at him as he tried to hide the cheek she struck. She grabs his arm, yanking him forward, “Oooh, dear” she started, with faux care in her voice “you still think I don't know all of your little tells. Look at that foul disease on your face. Brought on because you can’t simply keep your emotions in check. Disgusting”
He manages to stutter out a barely audible “it’s not disgusting” when she heaves him off the floor, “A week”. He shakes as if the room is an ice box, “w-what”. “Come now, you can’t be that stupid.” He stays quiet, hoping she’ll just continue so he can run back to his room sooner. “You shall stay confined to your bedroom for a week after our departure, AND I will of course have Cyrus and your guards maintain this punishment in my absence. Now, you are dismissed."
He scampers out of his mother’s study and makes a beeline for his room. ‘….a week, does she think I would not remember that’s the entire length of her trip, DAMNIT! By the sun how am I going to make it to that meeting now‽ Hmmm… Cyrus would allow me to sneak out but Dawn and Argus wouldn’t, especially under direct orders from mother…not that I blame them in the slightest’ *sigh*
Blowing through the long hallways lost in his thoughts Atlas nearly runs into the wall of a guard unfortunate enough to be very used to unintentionally blocking his highness’ pathway. “Argus!,” he says startled out of his stupor, “um, good afternoon. I apologize for nearly bumping into you… again” he really needed to save his internal deliberating for after he makes it back to his room safely. The guard lets out a soft chuckle and looks down at the prince, “you’re quite alright, this would hardly be the first time and by now I’d like to think I’ve gotten quite good at redirecting you when you come barreling through the castle”.
Normally Atlas would have laughed at that audacious remark but he was distracted again by the return of the stinging on his face now that he had come out of his dissociative state. “Atlas… is that,” Argus paused with a frown, “I should get Cyrus after I escort you to your room, or if you’d prefer not to be alone right now I can send for Cyrus and keep you company till he arrives?”
Atlas breathes ‘Right, of course he would notice.’
“Um, I really am fine to wait on my own, though I appreciate your concern,” he’s never been good at hiding his emotions but he knows Argus won’t push. “Very well your highness, I shall fetch Cyrus after we get you to your room”. They continue Atlas’ earlier trek down the hallways and eventually arrive at his bedroom where Argus bows and departs to go inform Cyrus that their reckless prince has yet again obtained a minor scratch that needs tending to. They never discussed in great detail the abuses Atlas suffered at the hands of their queen since there wasn't much they could do beyond dressing wounds and making sure they were either small enough to not be concerning or ensure they closed properly for the more troubling ones. Atlas had made it clear he didn’t want to dwell on it for long, and because he was their prince, they listened.
He let out a deep sigh as he faceplanted into the soft covers of his bed. “Finally a moment of respite before I figure out how I'm to sneak out of the kingdom before day break, the meeting is in two days but if I’m not to be seen I'll have to embark on foot first to mine and Cyrus’ old meeting spot where hopefully he’ll have a carriage waiting for me.” He didn’t find this particularly troubling seeing as he'd snuck off to the outskirts of the kingdom on many a night throughout his childhood when his grandmother couldn't simply bring him there herself.
He turned over to stare at the ceiling when a knock came from the door. “Your highness, it’s Cyrus. May I come in?” He looked at the door, “yes, I'm decent,” he jokingly called from the room. Cyrus opened the door with an exasperated sigh, “your highness, how are you feeling?” Atlas quickly shot him a look, “I'm fine Cyrus,” certainly not the response he wanted but Atlas was not in the mood for Cyrus’ prying. They might've agreed to let him be when it came to these things but that didn’t mean that when feeling… however he was feeling, Atlas hadn't quite figured out what drove his friend to pester him like this after all these years, Cyrus wouldn’t try to pry anyway. “Fine, I won’t inquire further,” Cyrus stepped to the bedside table where the basin of water was and lightly dampened the cloth he had brought after setting down the jar he had in his other hand, “Argus informed me it was only a scratch so I'll simply clean it and apply a soothing ointment to it, is that alright your highness”. Atlas made a vague sound of agreement at Cyrus, having long lost his patience with speaking at the moment.
Carefully Cyrus patted the scrape on his cheek with the damp cloth and soon enough patted it dry with the other end before gently applying the ointment. With his hand still firmly cradling Atlas’ face, thumb just below the scratch, Cyrus stared down into his eyes for a moment before speaking, “is that alright your highness, how’s the pain?” Atlas sighed again before responding, “ it’s fine Cyrus, I'm really not in the mood. I still have to figure out what to do about tonight,”
Cyrus looked at him surprised, “I see, she forbade you from leaving your room again… for how long this time?” This is precisely what he means by Cyrus just does not understand when to leave him alone, and again he had been looking at him with that look. It agitated Atlas that Cyrus always did this when he was too angry to think properly, otherwise he’s sure he'd have figured out what the hell he was looking at him like that for by now. He shoved Cyrus’ hand off him, “a week,” he spoke with a flat tone, “I don’t want to hear any if, ands, or buts this time though. You're staying here to give Dawn and Argus a reason to not enter my room so they don't get in trouble and so mother believes I haven’t snuck out till she receives the news of negotiations between us and winter frost on the issue with the border, do you understand.” It wasn't a question. Cyrus looked at him, still a bit startled. “I-i apologise your highness… um, yes I understand. Your carriage will be waiting for you when you depart.” Atlas gave a sigh of relief and flopped back onto the bed. As much as Cyrus could get on his nerves his irritation subsided, “may we cuddle for a while before I have to leave”. Cyrus chuckled, “of course we may your highness, would you like to get on the bed properly or are you content with dragging me into the sprawled out position that currently seems to have grabbed your attention”. That gave Atlas a wonderful idea to get back at Cyrus for his earlier pestering, “hmmm,” he feigned stretching as he carefully reached for the sleeve of Cyrus’ shirt, “I believe I would be quite content with dragging you to sprawl on the bed with me”. This brought a laugh out of Cyrus, “ whatever pleases you your HIGHNESS!” Atlas cackled as he wrapped his arms around Cyrus and rolled them over. As Atlas laid on Cyrus’ chest he missed the absolute mess he had turned Cyrus into, a pretty blush across his face, mouth agape, and fingers twitching at his sides. “You're always so warm,” Atlas commented. The breaking of the comfortable silence they had settled into brought Cyrus back to his senses, “Me! You're a veritable furnace your highness,” he chuckled as he finally returned Atlas' embrace. Atlas laughed along with him, “I suppose you are correct”. Finally feeling comfortable and the whirlwind of emotions settling down Atlas felt his eyelids begin to droop and he could tell by Cyrus' breathing slowing down that he too must be on the verge of sleep. 'A nap should be fine, I do have to go quite a ways before getting to the spot where my carriage will be waiting. As well, I'm sure Cyrus could use the rest and stars above know he never listens to me when I tell him to take regular breaks’