(Eltaro belongs to @clockworkgalaxies / @clockworknightmares)
He knew he had to find love again eventually. He couldn’t be alone like this forever. He had his children but they were busy with their own lives. He was an old man cooped up in the castle.
So he tried.
But every person wanted something from him. His wealth, his status, or a new and better life. No one wanted Keid for him.
But one day he met someone. They talked and laughed and eventually started dating. Keid started to love her. She was sweet and kind. Even his children enjoyed being around her. But… things turned for the worse when she asked about Eltaro.
It would have been fine if she had simply been interested or even asked if Keid still had love for Eltaro. But instead, she asked questions that made his insides turn.
“Why him?”
“He was a Centaur, right? You knew you were going to outlive him but you still married him.”
“Did he contribute a lot to your work? He’s not Celestial so I’m sure you were always swamped with work.”
“His Celestial must have been horrible. I can’t imagine how much work it took to teach him our language.”
Keid didn’t want to hear any more. He could not bear hearing her, someone he had begun to love, criticize El.
The next day, Keid broke up with her. He didn’t watch when she left with tears in her eyes and El’s name on her lips as she cursed him for still having the King’s heart.
A little AU collab with @starr-lights for our ocs Keid and Eltaro.
Art by yours truly and drabble by none other than the talented writer mentioned above
“Your Highness?” Keid slowly turned to see his personal guard walking over to him. He looked back over the balcony railing where people milled in the garden below. Their paths were only lit by torches and the moonlight that shined down on them.
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself, Prince Keid.” Eltaro spoke, stopping a step behind Keid.
The Prince straightened, the presence of El sending a warmth through him. “It’s alright, El. I’m just out here watching the stars.” He nodded up to the sky where the stars seem to glimmer in response. El stepped around Keid, now standing beside his Prince.
“They certainly are beautiful,” The guard mused, his hand relaxing on the hilt of his sword as he looked up at the sky.
“Are you enjoying the ball?” Keid asked, tilting his head to glance over at the guard.
El turned to look down at Keid and small smile on his face. “I am, Your Highness.”
Keid couldn’t help but return the smile, his blue eyes seemingly lighting up behind his red and silver mask. “I’m glad.” El’s mask didn’t hide the joy in his eyes and it was then when Keid realized how close he was standing to his guard. It had become second nature for Keid to move closer to El when it was just them two. It made him feel safer and he enjoyed being so close to his guard.
A comfortable silence fell over the two as they watched the stars twinkle in the night sky. The sound of music flowed through the open doors, weaving past them and into the air. The light from within the ballroom casted their shadows in strange angles and if someone was to look at just their shadow they would think El and Keid were embracing.
Keid would have laughed at that a year ago when El was first assigned to Keid. He thought El would be like all the rest, leaving when Keid’s flirting became too much for them. But El was as stubborn as he was. And whenever he questioned the guard he always got the same answer that it was his duty as a royal guard.
Keid felt El shift beside him, resting his hands on the railing of the balcony and it wasn’t long before he felt their fingers brush. Keid felt a shiver run down his spine, quickly blaming it on the cold night air. He took the next step, intertwining their pinkies.
“Your Highness-” El started, suddenly stiffening.
“El please… You know you can call me Keid.” The Prince turned to look up at El, realizing his mistake when he could feel how close El was when his breath ghosted over Keid’s lips.
He watched as El’s eyes widened and was ready to step back. Before he could, Keid moved his hand so it was on top of El’s and squeezed gently.“You can call me Keid…”
“I-...” El’s eyes moved around under the mask, searching Keid’s face. He pulled his hand away from Keid’s and the Prince felt his heart drop slightly. He must have made a mistake thinking that their relationship had become more than just Prince and guard.
Keid was about to turn and go back to the ball when he felt a rough hand on his cheek. He looked up at El, his red cheeks from the cold turning even redder.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. But I can’t resist anymore…” El whispered, his other hand reaching up to push Keid’s hair behind his ear.
The time between when El whispered those words and Keid felt El’s lips against his own felt like an eternity. The kiss was soft and slow causing Keid to simply melt. Keid gripped El’s uniform, pulling himself closer. El turned them around, not breaking the kiss once, and pressed Keid against the balcony railing. If anyone was to look into the balcony, they would only see the back of El.
Who knew how long they would have stayed like this, pressed up against each other with only the others lips on their mind if another guard hadn’t interrupted.
“Your Highness- Oh…”
El quickly pulled away, standing in position beside Keid and pretending his hair and uniform weren’t a mess.
Keid quickly fixed his hair and smiled. “Yes?”
“...Her Majesty is looking for you.” The guard said, looking between El and Keid.
“Right, yes. Tell her I’ll be there in a minute.”
The guard bowed and quickly hurried off. Keid suddenly broke the silence between them when he started laughing. El placed a hand a over his mouth, trying to hide his reddening cheeks.
Keid stepped in front of El and looked up at him. “So El… why did you choose to stay as my guard?” He asked.
El dropped his hand from his face, showing the small smile on his face. His hand rested on Keid’s hip, rubbing circles into the cloth with his thumb.“Because it is my duty.” He said, leaning down to pressed his forehead against Keid’s. “And it is because I love you, Keid.”
You already know where this is going lol. Also no editing done so lots of mistakes maybe and also bad writing??
The Prince was sitting up in bed, hands resting in his lap and necklace pulsing against his skin. His heart thumped along with the necklace in the quiet of the bedroom. Nothing stirred except for the rustle of the bed sheets as his boyfriend shifted on the bed. Keid looked down at him, a sad smile on his face. He pushed his hair behind his ear and leaned down to press a gentle kiss to Eltaro’s forehead.
His fingers danced lightly over El’s cheek bone, careful not to wake him. But he failed as usual.“Keid?” El’s voice, clouded with sleep, was rough amongst the early morning silence.
“Hey babe…” Keid whispered. “I have to go. Duty calls.”
Keid watched as El’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion and then his face relaxed in understanding. But Keid would see they way El’s chin tilted slightly inwards in sadness.
“I’ll try to come back as quickly as possible. I promise.” Keid gave El one more kiss before pulling away from him. El sat up and watched Keid walk into their closet to change.
There were so many times when El wanted to tell him two simple words but he knew Keid was busy. He was a Prince with princely duties.
But as he watched Keid leave their room, those two words stayed stuck in his throat.
The crowd cheered and cried as it was joyous day in Andromeda. Etoile clung onto Keid, laughing and wiping at her eyes. Keid would have drawn her close and wiped those tears away but this time they were tears of joy. Kiran had his arm around Etoile’s shoulder, now much taller than his sister.
Raha, Damien and Jasper stood on his other side, their own laughter filling the air. Keid looked around, everything seeming to slow down.
The wedding will be huge, El. We’ll have a three- no five layered cake.
Keid’s hand searched for something- someone. It flailed in the space beside him and he turned, finding nothing but air. His chest tightened and he looked down at his hand. It was so…. Empty.
Is there going to be dancing?
Of course there is going to be dancing El.
Keid turned to look back in front of him. Quinn and Celeste. They looked so happy. Celeste looked absolutely stunning while Quinn looked handsome, just like his dad.
I can’t wait to walk down the aisle with you Eltaro. You’re going to look amazing.
He couldn’t help but see his own wedding. The same place, the same crowd of people. Everything was the same. Except for Eltaro. He was gone. Keid looked down at his feet, eyes blurring as tears threatened to spill down his cheeks.
“Asteri…”
Keid’s head snapped up and he looked around frantically, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He looked to the empty space beside him and felt his knees shake. El- His Eltaro stood there with a smile on his face. At least it was a ghost of who he was all those years ago.
“Smile. It’s our sons wedding day.” El leaned in and pressed a kiss on Keid’s forehead. Keid closed his eyes, letting the tears fall. A small breeze brushed past, leaving a kiss on his lips. He opened his eyes and turned to see Quinn standing in front of him with a smile on his face.
“I love you Papa.” He said, pulling Keid in for a hug. He felt Etoile and Kiran join in. Keid laughed through the tears.
Eltaro was still here. In their childrens smiles and laughs. In the walls of the castle and the observatory. In the familiar weight of his rings.
“I love all of you.” Keid whispered, pulling his children in closer. “Your father would be so happy.”
(Eltaro belongs to @clockworkgalaxies / @clockworknightmares)
“Kiran!”
Keid was already diving off the edge, heart racing and ears pounding. He fell, the drop from the edge of the cliff to the water below much larger than he thought. He felt something almost lick at his ankle and stars it burned.
There was a loud screeched and then Keid heard nothing more. He fell into the water, screwing his eyes shut and trying not to scream at the freezing cold water. He kicked, legs already telling him to give up. He broke the surface, turning this way and that to search for his son.
But there was nothing other than the sound of waves crashing against rocks.
Keid took a deep breath and dived under, tearing open his eyes to look and search.
-
“-addy! Daddy!”
Eltaro breathed in, his throat closing in on itself. Kiran and Keid. They had both gone over. He-
“Daddy you have to do something!” Etoile cried out.
El looked over, his heart stuttering in fear and guilt when he saw the scared looks on Quinn and Etoile faces.
“Daddy-”
Etoile grit her teeth. If her Daddy wasn’t going to do anything. She would. She ran, ready to jump off into the cold water but was pulled back by a hard which sent her crashing to the ground.
“Are you crazy?!” Quinn yelled.
“Papa and Kiran are down there! What if they drown!?” Etoile bit back, tears streaming down her face.
“And are you going to drown with them?!”
El watched the exchange with horror. His husband and his son were down there. He just needed to jump and- and he could save them.
