Chapter Text
Kamui had a thought one day, an irksome thought that turned into curiosity, dug under his skin and made him itch as Felicia toiled over him after a long battle. A long battle filled with hardships, crushing expectations, and nigh unattainable goals, yet, as always, ever diligent Kamui and his loyal army of misfits pulled through. They always came out on top, victorious if not drained, and Kamui realized he would do anything just to escape, even if only for a day. Xander was built to shoulder the massive responsibilities of commanding an army, and though Laslow and Peri swore up and down their master would join his efforts soon, it didn't change the fact that Kamui was inexperienced, fearful for the lives of those both on their side and otherwise, and so, so tired.
He managed to sit up from his defeated position on the bed to allow Felicia to help shrug him out of his armor, sleep deprived eyes observing her fumbling hands as they worked the clasps. His gaze shifted to her cotton and lace uniform; truly it was a beautiful garment, and he found himself envying her. She most likely didn't need the assistance of others to get out of it, and it looked quite easy to move around and maneuver in. Kamui's armor certainly wasn't the clunkiest in their humble army, but armor was armor and it felt like shackles at times. For once, he wished he could be in Felicia's place. That envy hung heavy within him as she giggled about her time in the baths after the fight, the new acquaintances and friends she'd made as time passed, and even accidentally spilled a secret or two to the person she trusted most in front of her. Felicia didn't have to make decisions that could cost the lives of hundreds, of her friends and family if one thing went wrong. Even if she was his friend, and he wanted her to view him as an equal, her only responsibility was to serve him and to carry out orders.
"-and Lady Elise is so kind, Lord Kamui, er, but you already knew that," Felicia laughed, and Kamui's eyes snapped to attention when he heard his name.
"R-right," he muttered back.
"Forgive me if I sound, um, rude, Lord Kamui, but are you feeling alright? Do you need some night time tea?" Red eyes widened at countless memories of accidents and spills at the hands of a tired Felicia, and Kamui laughed her off with a wave of his hand.
"There's nothing to worry about. I'll be okay." Felicia's face twisted in a frown, thoroughly unconvinced despite the reassuring smile he offered. "I'm beat, I'll have no trouble getting to sleep. Promise."
They were close, they had known each other for a very long time, so of course she didn't fully believe Kamui's words. Felicia stood up with a soft sigh and he groggily got up onto his feet as well to follow her to the door. He found himself inspecting the back of her uniform, with its cute, oversize bow and high, feathered collar. Felicia turned to meet his gaze at the doorway and cocked her head.
"Milord?"
"Yes?"
"There isn't anything I can do for you? I could bring you some leftovers from the mess hall, I hear Peri was on shift today and her sweets are delicious!"
Felicia was too kind. Now that they were gone from the castle he'd been confined to his whole life, Kamui yearned to serve himself, and for her to gain independence as well.
"I'll go check it out myself. Thank you for all your help, Felicia. Really."
She smiled and bowed to him.
"I-I guess I'll be off then. Good night, lord Kamui! Get some rest!"
"And you as well. We won't be marching toward our next objective for at least another week, so feel free to take it easy tomorrow, okay?"
Felicia's blue eyes twinkled at the prospect of a much needed rest period. She nodded enthusiastically with a giddy "yes, milord!" and headed out the door.
Finally left alone to his thoughts, Kamui slid out of his torn black bodysuit and into the more comfortable leggings and loose black hand-me-down shirt from Xander he wore during his down time. The nagging thoughts were still heavy in his mind, and biting away at his concentration.
Kamui wanted to escape his responsibilities. Just for a day. No being a prince, or a traitor to his blood relatives, or a commander to an army with the constant deadly threat of failure to comply to his father's impossible whims hanging over his head.
What he would give to be in Felicia's position.
_____
A few days later, in the dead of the night when he was positive most of his comrades were asleep, Kamui snuck off towards the armory.
As he had hoped, it appeared the shop was unmanned and he could sneak off to the large closet where surplus uniforms, boots, and armor were held without being noticed by a soul.
The prince cursed his oversight when he found that closet door locked. He jiggled the handle two more times for good measure before heading back toward the counter where he could only hope the key could be found. Despite his best efforts, Kamui came up empty. Perhaps the last person to work there had walked off with it?
He sat back on his heels, heaving a sigh and groping around one last time. Nothing. No key, just papers, things people had left behind, and the safe that money was locked away in.
"You know, milord, I never suspected you'd be the type to sneak around in the shadows," came a sly voice right into his ear. Kamui gave a startled yelp, jumped up, and whirled around. "That's more my thing, don't you think?"
Kamui relaxed once he recognized the voice and face of Niles, Leo's faithful retainer, and one of his closest allies.
"Niles! You shouldn't startle me like that!"
"Oh, but that would be no fun. I wanted to see what you were up to at this hour." The outlaw wore his usual grin, arms folded as he eyed the smaller man. "Plus, it's always fun getting a rise out of you." Kamui rolled his eyes at the innuendo, and felt his cheeks heat up as they usually did when Niles teased him. "Well?"
"I was... Getting a new under suit for my armor. Mine tore during our last skirmish."
"You know you're a terrible liar, right?" The prince scowled, more out of embarrassment than any real upset. Of course Niles would catch on to his lie, though the truth wasn't something he would readily admit. By now he and Niles had gotten to know each other very well, and the older man had entrusted details of his heart wrenching past to Kamui, something he seemed reluctant to do with just about anybody. Still, despite the trust they had in each other, Kamui didn't feel comfortable telling anyone what he had come there to find.
"What were you doing here anyway?" Kamui questioned instead. Niles snorted at his pathetic attempt at diverting attention from himself.
"Im working tonight. You happened to creep in while I was outside taking a break." That would explain the missing keys. Kamui averted his eyes, cheeks reddening even more at being caught by the person on shift without even realizing he was working. "So, do tell, what evil deed did you come here for in the middle of the night? This all seems mighty naughty of our noble prince," Niles teased.
"I-I'm not being suspicious! Please, would you just let me borrow the keys to the surplus closet?" Kamui pleaded, earning a smirk in response.
"Which one?"
He blinked, incredulous.
"Which one?"
"Yes. Which one? There are several."
"I... Didn't know that."
Niles chuckled. "I'm afraid, Lord Kamui, that you're just going to need to let me know exactly what it is you're looking for." Niles shrugged, feigning sympathy. "Otherwise I just won't be able to help you find it. Don't worry, little ol' Niles won't tell a soul."
He was back to wearing his grin. Oh how he was enjoying this. Kamui's pointed ears were red at this point as he seriously debated running away and pretending Niles hadn't caught him snooping around for that, of all things. Red eyes boldly met Niles' blue one.
"I... Trust you Niles. Promise me you won't tell anyone."
"My lips are sealed."
The Prince sighed.
"I came here to take one of the maid uniforms."
Niles' eyebrow quirked. For once he looked a bit dumbfounded, before realization dawned.
"You wouldn't be skulking around in secret if it was for that clumsy maid of yours. In fact, she'd have grabbed herself one, wouldn't she?" Kamui panicked. Surely Niles had caught on.
"Actually, forget what I said. It isn't important." Kamui's words tumbled out at lightning speed and he turned on his heel to flee, but Niles was quick to turn him back around and trap him against the counter.
"I already know what you came for. We've come this far, hm? Tell me why and these keys are all yours, milord."
Kamui closed his eyes, both embarrassed by the proximity between he and Niles and irritated at the other man's persistence.
"It's... Embarrassing," he admitted. Niles said nothing, urging him to continue with his grin. It wasn't hard to see that Niles was enjoying every second of his discomfort. "I'm curious."
"About?"
"What it feels like to wear it. And..." Kamui bit his lip. He sighed, sounding frustrated. "Never mind."
"And?" Niles persisted.
"You will laugh."
The outlaw sighed and rolled his eye. "Lord Kamui, please. Out with it."
Kamui sighed, still apprehensive, but nonetheless, Niles was one of his closest allies. If he could tell anyone of the odd desire that had been causing him such anxiety, it was the white haired man leaning over him. Niles would certainly be the first to tease him for it, but something in Kamui insisted it wouldn't be the strangest thing the ex-thief had ever heard.
"I'm also curious... How it feels to be a servant. Not a prince with everyone counting on me," he added, defeat apparent in his tone. "I'm always so afraid of the consequences of my decisions, Niles. I just... Want to escape for a little bit. That's all."
Niles continued to stare down at him, no hint of his usual smug grin on his face. Kamui had averted his eyes while he made his confession, and refused to meet his gaze again. His heart pounded and Niles' silence hung heavier over him than any teasing words he could have said. Anxiety swelled within him when he finally looked up and saw the unusual look on Niles' face.
"I'm sorry. That must be disappointing to hear from your army's leader," he blurted. Niles cocked his head ever so slightly, leaning back and allowing Kamui some space to breathe.
"Not at all."
"What?"
"You heard me. You're only human. Well, mostly," Niles snickered. "Hell, if I were in your place Gods only know what I would be doing to 'escape'." Unhooking the key ring from his belt, the outlaw made his way back through the hallway and turned to motion for Kamui to follow.
The other man gaped, shocked that Niles accepted his plight so easily, but nonetheless followed him.
The walk was silent. Kamui could sense that Niles had questions he was waiting to ask and his fingers trembled with the anxiety it caused. As Niles rifled through the surplus closet housing the maids' uniforms he looked back to Kamui with a sly grin.
"You know, if you need someone to help slide you into this, I'm all yours. The undergarments seem especially fun."
The prince pressed his lips into a thin line, urging his embarrassment at the statement not to show while Niles plucked a uniform from its spot. The outlaw shut the door and grinned down at him, the dress slung over his shoulder and the matching stockings and apron in his hands. Kamui found himself wondering just what some of the things Niles was holding were, especially the aforementioned undergarments. The straps and ribbons seemed overwhelming when not tied into place on someone's body.
"Will you be needing my services tonight, Lord Kamui? You're making such a delectable face," Niles chuckled. "Could it be you've never seen a woman's undergarments before?" Kamui flushed, groaning in embarrassment. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"Niles..."
"Hmm... Not that I'm surprised. Nonetheless, I am being serious, you know."
Red eyes flicked away from Niles as he locked the closet back up and headed back toward the front of the building. Kamui's heart raced, whether out of embarrassment or excitement he couldn't tell.
Soon he followed Niles, and found him inspecting the uniform at the counter with an amused look on his face.
"Do you know what this is?" The archer questioned, holding up an unfamiliar garment. When Kamui shook his head no, he smirked. "This is a corset. Women wear these to take in their waists. These," he gestured at the straps dangling from the bottom, "hold up the stockings." There was an absolutely devious look in Niles' eye when he continued. "You can't put this on without help."
"I- do I need it?"
"You may be small, but you'll still need it. Especially to keep the stockings up. Unless you'd like to be a sloppy maid, that is." The prince bit his lip as he eyed the corset. "My offer to dress you still stands." Niles hummed and cocked his head. "I'd love to help you undress as well."
"Niles!"
"I love it when you scream my name," he sighed wistfully.
The uniform was swept up into Kamui's arms in an instant, as the embarrassed prince prepared for his grand escape. He huffed when Niles held the corset and stockings just out of reach.
"Well?"
"I can... Try to put it on by myself," Kamui murmured. "Please."
"Ah ah- this is a two person job." The corners of Niles' mouth twitched as he tried to contain his mirth. "I don't want you hurting yourself, Little Prince."
Kamui's brow furrowed. Victory seemed close for Niles, and finally, the prince consented.
"You can't tell a soul."
"Didn't I already swear my secrecy? As I said, these lips are sealed. Unless you wish for them to do something more pleasura-"
"Meet me in my room in an hour. Your shift will be over by then, right?" Kamui quickly interrupted. Niles grinned and handed him the corset, and reached under the counter for a long bag meant to keep the garment in good shape.
"As you wish, milord."
"Good. Thank you."
The smaller man's ears and cheeks had remained tinted pink. Niles had honestly expected for him to turn him down and foolishly attempt to dress himself in the unfamiliar garment, and he found himself excited at the thought of dressing his powerful commander. He leaned his chin on his hand and watched as Kamui haphazardly stuffed the uniform into the bag he'd provided and quickly shot the outlaw a look. The mixture of uncertainty and eager anticipation on his face made something swirl within Niles.
A secret rendezvous with the prince under the moonlight? How devious.