Subjugation

Roy frowned at himself in the mirror. The silver wig made his pale skin look even paler. The fitted costume made his small frame look even smaller. The Prince was a frail-looking thing all right. How did a guy like this manage to command such a rapidly growing alliance?


He examined himself a few moments longer, making faces, trying to find the perfect princely look. He was going to fool Lyon today. He still had yet to get her, and he was determined to trick her into believing that he was the Prince. He was better than that guy, anyway.


Once he was satisfactorily regal, Roy headed off to find Lyon. It wasn’t as hard as he’d thought it’d be. She was so shy around people, he’d expected her to be wandering all over the place trying to find a place to be alone. But there she was, standing in the sunlight, talking to Lorde Wilde.


Boz was as simple as anyone else. He threw up one hand to greet him and boomed out, “Good afternoon, Your Highness!”


Lyon smiled. “Good afternoon, Roy,” she said.


Roy put a hand on his hip, giving her his best impression of the Prince’s smile. He’d get her yet. “It’s me, Lyon. You’ve gotten awfully used to Roy sneaking around in disguise, haven’t you?”


Poor Boz looked very confused. But Lyon shook her head, still smiling. “Nice try, Roy. But I know it’s you.”


Roy gave up the charade…reluctantly. Disappointedly. He sighed. “I just can’t get past you, can I?”


“You shouldn’t be wearing that disguise around the castle, Roy!” Boz scolded. “You’ll confuse the hell out of people!”


Lyon laughed; and it was an irritatingly carefree one. “Don’t worry, Lord Wilde. There’s still only one Prince. Roy can’t replace him.”


Roy scoffed. “Ha! And why not? That guy has about as much personality and smarts as a stone wall. I barely understand why I follow him let alone why all of you follow him.”


“Watch your mouth, boy!”


Lyon put a hand on Boz’s arm, instantly calming him despite the heat in her own eyes. “Calm down, Lord Wilde. And Roy, that’s no way to talk about His Highness. You don’t even know him. He’s a great leader.”


“Yeah? How so?”


“Prince Sutake is the kind of man that commands attention without saying a word. He doesn’t speak very much because he doesn’t have to. Everyone can see his spirit just by looking into his eyes.”


Roy just stood there glaring once Lyon was done with her speech. He didn’t have a reply. He was just too disgusted. He whirled around in a temper, throwing his wig down on the ground. “Ch. Whatever.”


He paced around in his room later that afternoon. It was a little stuffy because of the heat outside, but he was too annoyed to go out. He didn’t want to run into Lyon or Lord Wilde again. He didn’t particularly want to run into the subject of the earlier argument either.


Damn pretty boy Prince.


When the room cooled down to a certain point, Roy knew it must have been nighttime. No chance for him to run into anyone now. Even Lyon would have left the Prince’s side and gone to bed for the night.


The Prince…alone…


It was a good opportunity to confront the source of all his frustrations. To take a second look at this so-called great leader. He could vent and maybe get some answers.


He ascended the stairs and walked along the halls of the castle quietly. He made sure that his footsteps wouldn’t make a sound. The powers that be obviously favored him tonight, because he made it all the way to the Prince’s bedroom door without being caught. Then he knocked.


The Prince answered immediately. He almost looked like he had been waiting for Roy to visit him. But his next words revealed that to be untrue, because he said, “Roy. What are you doing here at this hour?” Roy wasn’t sure what to make of this. Did he or did he not know that Roy was going to be there? He didn’t think. He just answered:


“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, Prince.”


The Prince smiled a smile that was almost a smirk. He stepped aside to let Roy enter, in his usual silent way saying he would listen. Roy went inside.


There was something about this room. The minute the Prince shut the door all things common were completely shut out. It made a guy like Roy feel somewhat inadequate.


Nonetheless, he steeled himself and fixed his eyes on the Prince, who had moved to sit on his bed, ready to listen.


Bastard. Why didn’t he speak?


“I don’t get you,” Roy said at last. “What’s so great about you?”


The Prince shifted slightly, his expression unchanged. “Is that what this is…you find something about me that you don’t like, Roy?”


“I just don’t get how people can listen to a guy like you.” Roy folded his arms over his chest. “You don’t seem all that smart. Everything you do, you do it because somebody around here told you to do it. Most of the time you take orders from Lucretia. I mean…don’t start nodding at me!”


The Prince stopped nodding. “Sorry. I was only showing you that I understand what you’re saying.” Roy’s eyes met the Prince’s for a second of silence, and Roy had to shake his head to break out of the trance they put him in.


“You don’t seem like a leader. How d’you expect me to follow you when you can’t even think for yourself?”


“You don’t have to follow me.”


“Oh, like I have a choice!”


“You always did. If you decide to leave, I won’t question it.”


Roy huffed audibly. “Why?”


“Because I prefer friends and allies to followers and lackeys.” The Prince stood up. “That is why I listen to the others here. I am a Prince, after all. Not a god.”


“Humble, aren’t you?” Roy muttered. “Well…well you won’t subjugate me. I don’t care what kind of tricks you play on me; I won’t be another of your brainwashed fans.”


Roy swallowed as the Prince stepped closer, until they were about a foot apart. At such proximity, Roy got the full brunt of Prince Sutake’s eyes.


The force within those blue eyes was incredible. Roy practically felt them lock onto him. His heart was racing. He had the sensation one would have after being swept off their feet by a giant wave, or while staring at an endless void of sky up in the heavens. There was so much power there.


Those powerful eyes swept concernedly over Roy’s dazed expression. “Roy?”


Roy looked down. “L-like I said…I won’t be…won’t be subjugated…”


“And like I said, I’m not interested in that,” the Prince countered. “Unless…” Roy’s eyes snapped up to meet the Prince’s. He regretted it. “…you’d like me to,” the Prince finished with confidence. Roy swallowed again. Hard.


He was the same height as the Prince. But his presence was so much less significant.


“I’d like to see you try,” he answered quietly. Not as confident as he would have liked his comeback to be.


“Hmm.” Prince Sutake’s elegant fingers reached out to touch Roy’s cheek. “Sounds like a proper challenge.”


That touch combined with those powerful eyes; damn it, Roy knew he was done for. He was so close to collapsing. He was forced to cling to the Prince’s shoulders to keep steady. He had to lean on him for support as he wrapped his arms around Roy’s waist. Roy blushed and gasped.


“Your…Highness…what are you…?”


“Sshh…call me Sutake…” He was so close now that his voice washed over the jelly-like mass of Roy in his arms, sweeping him off his feet just like that aforementioned wave. At that point the poor common boy’s senses had left him completely. He’d forgotten why he was there…he only could think that he was being held under some dizzying spell by Prince Sutake. And he wanted to experience more of it.


“I…Sutake…” Roy licked his lips. His mouth was dry. “I…uh…”


The Prince’s gaze burned into him. “Yes, Roy?”


“Your Highness…Sutake…please…t…take me…”


Suddenly Roy found himself on the Prince’s bed, the Prince himself leaning over him.


That night, Roy was thoroughly subjugated.