he hadn’t meant to lash out, only realizing what he had done as alec stared back at him with blood on his lips and a red bruise forming on his cheek. he must have accidentally bit down on the soft flesh of the inside of his mouth when jonathan had backhanded him. the blood couldn’t be his fault, he hadn’t meant to do such a thing. it was alec who had startled him, alec who had placed a hand on him without telling him first. servants had no right to touch the upper class without permission anyway.
“come here.” he spoke firmly, beckoning the lightwood boy back to him despite the fact he had just caused the other male pain. as the dark haired male returned to stand in front of him he placed a hand gently over the male’s cheek, running his thumb over alec’s bottom lip thoughtfully. “i didn’t mean anything by it, you know.” if there was something that jonathan christopher morgenstern was terrible at, it was apologies. he didn’t usually feel as if he had to justify his actions, or as if anyone deserved an apology from him. he was the heir to the throne- he didn’t need to explain himself.
he didn’t think too much before rising a tad onto the balls of his feet to gently press his lips against the other’s, red staining his own and tasting of metal. he felt electricity coursing through his body at the contact though forced himself to separate their lips for even one more moment. “ you’re quite strong, i’m sure you’ll be alright.” he murmured against the rather surprisingly soft lips. he pulled away from the attendant to stand on flat feet once again, holding himself back from climbing alec like a tree. “will you be alright?”
the slap had come like a deafening crack, echoing through the chamber like thunder rolling through Alicante. it had bounced off the stone & he had the sense to turn his head with it just enough the force of it hadn’t twisted his neck harder than it had. the blood drips down his chin but he makes absolutely no move to do anything about it. in fact, he barely dares to breathe. he had laid hands on the prince - that it had been in concern, that it had been from a place of gentleness & kindness didn’t matter. he had laid hands on the prince & this was exactly what he SHOULD have expected. especially one as mistreated as Jonathan. the other, he knows, has never felt a gentle touch, has never known that hands can be kind. why he’d thought the gesture was welcome escapes him now. but none of it is important. none of it is worth focusing on. what he needs to focus on his is duty, & that’s serving his Prince.
except in this instant he finds himself rendered entirely still, completely paralyzed by the hand laid on him in harshness. the power imbalance between them is vast, & the dynamic has always been exceedingly clear, but Alec had always felt that perhaps, given they’d spent their entire lives beside each other, if Jonathan trusted anyone, it would be him. this had proved otherwise. this had made it clear that all of his perceptions had been WRONG. the agony tears through him in a dull roar. even so, when he’s summoned forward, he goes obediently, lifting his chin for the other’s inquiring gaze. he’s not expecting the probative, gentle fingers that follow, moving over his chin & cheek, tracing his lip. nor does he expected the words the other murmurs to him. his prince never apologizes, never explains, but here he is. and then--
the kiss takes him entirely off guard & he almost reaches for him - strong hands on his waist to steady the other. at the last moment he thinks the better of it & lets them drop to his sides. you’re quite strong, I’m sure you’ll be alright. Alec feels a vague wave of defeat wash over him. Jonathan sometimes doesn’t give what Alec believes to be much thought to others. it’s not something Valentine ever encouraged, & despite the fact Alec’s tried, it’s never seem to take. at least, not in moments like this. he’s about to nod when the question does come, dropping on him like an anvil & driving the breathe from his body in a surprised exhale. the hand on his cheek grounds him & he’s careful not to nod, not to dislodge it. ‘ I’m fine, your grace, ’ he murmurs softly. ‘ I shouldn’t have laid hands on you. my apologies. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. ’
