Atracho was always a bit unreasonable but sometimes his ideas are a bit ridiculous. Not the best candidate to get on the throne of the naga kingdom. (446 words)
Keron had been leaning against a tree for some time now, throwing an apple into the air and catching it again while he was watching the other one splashing around in the water, the red tail appearing and disappearing from the surface repeatedly. There wasn’t much else here beside the lake but somehow he always found his way back here, into the shadows of the trees and somehow he was always there too. Well, almost always. Had he that much free time?
When he was noticed the other one shot him a smile and waved before swimming over to him.
“You are here again!” he was greeted loudly as Atracho was pulling himself out of the water just to fall onto the ground and roll around.
“And you have no sense of danger,” he answered him, knowing quite well that the prince probably didn’t have a single dagger with him. Not that that little thing would help much if he was really attacked.
“But it’s only you who comes here… ever.” Atracho shrugged his shoulders and got a sigh in response.
“I can’t believe the prince is an unreasonable brat,” he mumbled quietly enough for Atracho to not understand him. If he had to be honest he would probably suffocate in that golden cage too, not being able to go where he wanted to go. The others always coming after him, wanting his attention or berating him. Even his sister was like that but he still had the whole city to explore while the prince only had the palace. Only. Keron almost laughed at that thought. The palace was big enough to have some secret corners nobody knew about too. Instead of saying anything else he just bit into his apple. It wasn’t like he had to talk with the prince since he would probably fall asleep soon anyway.
“If you’re so concerned you could be my guard,” Atracho suddenly said causing Keron to choke on the apple he was about to swallow. It took him some time to get himself together while Atracho just stared at him with big eyes.
“I would only guard that gold on your arms,” he stated, still coughing. He didn’t know what the prince was thinking. Being the petty thief he was… guarding someone just didn’t suit him. If it did he probably wouldn’t be here. Before he could sink deeper into depressing thoughts he was distracted by Atrachos laugh.
“That means I just have to wear all that accessory for you to stay by my side,” he stated, turning around to lie on his back and stare at the sky. “It would be nice if it were that easy.”
The prince also has times when he just can’t sneak out for some time. Atracho/Keron (530 words)
They hadn’t met for some time already when Keron got to the oasis again to relax and found Atracho sleeping in the shadows of the trees. As he got closer he slowed down, not wanting to disturb the prince. Who knows why he hadn’t been here for weeks and if he was sleeping than he probably needed it.
Instead Keron placed his sash on the ground as well as his weapons and vest and silently slipped into the water. It was cool and made a shiver run down his spine when he first entered it but it didn’t take long that he got accustomed to the temperature and started splashing in the water more than swimming around. Of course he could have gone stealing today but he was happy that he had changed his mind. With Atracho here he could ask him for the reason behind the shutdown and the rise in guards lately. After all, those guards made Kerons life harder in the last few days.
It didn’t take as long as Keron had thought for Atracho to wake up and Keron was trying to catch some fish when the prince slipped into the water too and swam up to him.
“You know, you just drove the fish away,” Keron said when Atracho reached him. Even without looking he had sensed him coming nearer, thanks to his senses being trained by avoiding the guards or overly wary shopkeepers. On top of that Atrachos body felt warm against his own when he came closer, a difference to the water, and he turned around just when Atracho reached out to hug him.
“How long have you been here?” Atracho asked, ignoring what Keron said completely while rubbing his cheek against Kerons shoulder.
“Long enough to harm you if I were someone who’s against you.” It was a simple answer but telling the harsh truth. He couldn’t believe how careless Atracho sometimes was regarding his status. He should be glad that not many people come here.
“Then I’m lucky that you love me,” Atracho said, laughing. He raised his head to take a look at Keron, surprised when the thief cupped his head with his hands and kissed him.
“Damn lucky I would say,” he whispered after letting go of Atracho who in response stole a short peck before laughing again. Then Atracho leaned against him which made the smaller one pat Atrachos arm. “Wait, I’m gonna fall…”
The water splashed when they both fell into it but Atracho had Keron in his arms and out from under the water again before Keron could even think about trying to get up again. He was more sluggish than the prince after all, the water had been cooling his body down for longer. He gasped for air, surprised at first and then playfully hitting Atrachos arm.
“Idiot,” he muttered, while wriggling around. “Can you let me down… please?”
“No can do,” was the answer Keron got and instead Atracho turned to the shore. “I hadn’t seen you for weeks so there’s no way I will just let you go now,” he continued, his grip tighten around Keron, “I missed your body warmth so much.”
Needless to say that Keron forgot to ask Atracho about the guards.
