| CW: blood, abuse implied
| Characters: Killian, Rafael, Edward
| @flowersarefreetherapy (I know you’ve already read it but still:)
Killian
I watched the noble men walk down the hall, my eyes scanning for his head of dark curls. I didn’t see it, so I stood from the bench and went to the room. He was still seated at the round table, his head in his hands.
“My prince?” My voice echoed through the empty room.
His head shot up, his eyes meeting mine, “Killian, what are you doing?”
“Waiting for you.” I approached him. “How was it?” I motioned to the table.
“The usual.” He fidgeted with his hands, looking anywhere but my face. “Lots of demands and men who think they know what’s best.”
“As always.” I laughed. He didn’t. “Rafael… what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Rafael…”
“NOTHING!” He slammed his hands on the table, and pain flashed through his face.
I was unfazed by his outburst, I was more concerned about the cause of this. I knelt next to him, facing him.
“Raf…”
He sighed, dropping his head into his hands.
“What happened?”
“Killian, stop asking.” He pushed the chair back from the table, and stood. Pain crossed his face again, but he walked to the door. I noticed he had a slight limp, but I didn’t say anything. I followed him out and down the hall, and followed him around a corner. I stopped suddenly as I almost ran into him. He leaned against the wall with one hand, the other wrapped around his lower abdomen. I came around to his front, and braced his shoulders. His face was contorted in pain.
“My price, what is wrong?”
“Killian…” his legs gave out and I managed to catch him, lowering him to the floor.
“You need a doctor.” I stood to go get one, but he grabbed my hand.
“Stay, please.” He shook his head. “Don’t leave me.”
“Okay, I won’t.” I brushed hair from his forehead. “Please, what happened? You were alright yesterday.”
“Don’t make me say it.” He looked away.
A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I remembered our past conversations. Suddenly I connected it all. The pain. The defensiveness. The limping.
His father did this.
I ran a hand down my face. “You need a doctor.”
“Edward.” He was sinking further down the wall, now in a more slumped position. “Only Edward.”
“I know.” I stood. “I’m going to get him.” I jogged down the hall, heading toward the living chambers. I had gone down a few hallways when I heard my name faintly called out. I’d recognize that voice even in a crowd of hundreds. I ran like I’d never run before, going back to my prince.
“Rafael!” I skidded to a stop next to him, dropping to my knees. He was on his side, arms curled around himself.
“Killian, something’s wrong.” He gritted his teeth.
“Come on.” I went to pick him up, and as my hand slid across his back I felt liquid. I pulled it back to see blood.
“Stars above,” I cursed.
“What?” he was shaking.
“You’re bleeding.” I picked him up, carrying him like I’d seen Joseph carry Fern. One arm below the knees, the other across the back. I felt blood trail down his leg to my arm.
“May the ocean forever curse your father.” I muttered as I had a full understanding of the situation. How long had he been bleeding and in pain? When did this happen? Why didn’t he tell me?
“Rafael, when did this happen?” My arms shook from the weight, but I didn’t care as I made my way with him through the hallways. I immediately went to his room, telling a maid to get Edward quickly. I set him on the bed, and grabbed a rag to clean my hands of blood. I then grabbed the extra towels from the wash bowl. What all will Edward need?
I rush over to where he was curled on the bed.
“Were you in this much pain for the whole meeting?” His curls were damp with sweat.
“No. It comes and goes.”
“Edward is coming.” I took his hand. “He’ll help.”
“Killian…”
“My prince?”
His dark eyes met mine, his hand reaching up to my face. He cupped my cheek as he whispered “why do you stay?”
“What do you mean?”
“With me.”
I paused, our eyes holding the space. “I…” my mouth was dry. “I care about you.”
His eyes drifted down my face, then back to my eyes. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Don’t say that.” I could barely get the words out. He suddenly cried out in pain, lifting his head up to look at his body. I gently grabbed his face and directed it to me to keep him from looking at his broken body.
“Don’t.” I shook my head.
“I hate him.” He whimpered, pressing a kiss into my palm.
“I hate him too.” I looked at my prince’s broken, bleeding body. A body broken by someone who’s supposed to protect you.
The door behind me opened, and Edward came rushing in.
“Rafael!” He stopped, his bag in hand, his eyes wide staring at the blood on the bed.
“Stars above, Rafael.” He set his bag down on the table next to the bed, and glanced at me.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Edward asked, opening his bag and rummaging around.
Rafael hesitated, “my…my lower back.”
Edward nodded. “Do you want Killian to stay or go?”
I would do whatever the prince wanted me to. But my heart hurt because I knew they’d been through this before.
“Stay.”
I locked eyes with the prince, and silently promised to never leave him in his pain.