Falling Apart to Have Time Part Five
May. 20th, 2016 05:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyslinkybutterflyslinky omorka and Joe for betaing and to aunt_zelda and ladydiskette for their wonderful fanmixes!“So,” Lupa said, leaning over. “What’s up with you and Sergeant Snob?”
Film Brain blushed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you spend every day in the library with him, and you were sitting way too close to just be friends,” she answered. “So? Will we hear wedding bells soon?”
“The King wouldn’t approve,” Film Brain said evasively. “I mean…he’s a guard. I’m a prince. It wouldn’t happen.”
Lupa looked disappointed. “But…do you like him?”
“Well…he’s nice,” Film Brain said. “If a little grumpy…and he’s pretty good-looking…and he does have a voice that could make angels blush…I could see us being together, just…we can’t.”
“Why not?” Lupa asked. “I mean…” She looked down and Film Brain could see the desperation in her eyes. “It might be the best shot we have. And Harvey sent him…that means he’s a good man, right?”
“Yes,” Film Brain said. “But the King…”
“Try,” Lupa said. “Please, at least try.”
*
It had been a whole month since Snob had begun his work at the castle, a month of quiet days and boring nights, followed by an hour of rushing about to each of the young royals in the mornings. They continued to talk to him, and Snob was feeling more at ease than he had since before the war.
Film Brain had taken to joining him in the library every day. They didn’t talk much, only sat together reading separate books, occasionally reading the good bits aloud to each other. Snob found that he quite liked the young prince, who was smart and funny and pretty cute, not that Snob would ever admit it. Admitting to thinking a prince was cute would probably have very dire consequences.
But it was very hard not to think about in the mornings when Snob was kneeling at Film Brain’s feet and thinking about much better things they could be doing beyond bandaging. There was so much temptation in that slender figure, so much desire in those blue eyes. Snob wanted to hold him, at least. Run fingers through his golden hair. Find out just how soft those lips really were…
It was even just lust. Lust he could ignore, or take out on someone back at the inn for a pretty low price. But it was more than that with Film Brain. When they sat in the library, Snob found his mind drifting away from his books, imagining the two of them in a home somewhere—not a castle, castles were too big, too drafty, too crowded. A cottage, maybe, or a little flat over a shop, with a fire and comfortable chairs, with their books around them. Talking now and then, about anything. Reading together. Cooking simple meals, working honest jobs. He wasn’t sure if that was a life Film Brain would like, but he could imagine it, dream about it, a normal life, like he hadn’t had since the war.
Still, Snob kept those feelings as far to the back of his mind as he could. He wasn’t going to risk his job, or worse, his life, over a pretty face. Or so he kept telling himself.
And if Film Brain’s hand brushed his too often to be accidental, or if the prince had a light in his eyes when Snob came into his room that was never there otherwise, well, that was another issue entirely.
*
It was mid-December and the snow was falling fast, and Snob’s bad leg was paining him more than usual. He was a bit slower getting down the hall to each of the young royals that morning, and was much grumpier than he had been in weeks. The young royals must have noticed, because they didn’t try to engage him in conversation, merely thanked him for his work.
Film Brain was last on the roster that day, and he could see the moment Snob came in that it was a bad day. Snob had just reached him and was about to kneel down when Film Brain reached out to stop him.
“Sit up here,” he said, moving up the bed.
“Your Highness…”
“You’re hurting.” Film Brain shifted, leaving a space. “Please…it’s better for you.”
Snob sighed and sat down on the bed. “Swing your feet up,” he ordered. Film Brain did so, lying back with his feet in Snob’s lap, leaning up on his elbows.
Snob did his bandaging slower than usual, his hands roving a bit higher up Film Brain’s legs than was strictly necessary. Film Brain’s breath hitched, his eyes shining more than ever. Snob finished his bandaging, but didn’t move to leave. He kept rubbing at Film Brain’s swollen ankles gently. Film Brain moaned a bit.
Snob stopped. “I should get back to my post,” he said.
“Don’t go,” Film Brain said. “Please…I want you to stay.” He reached out and ran a hand down Snob’s chest. “I like you...I want you.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Snob’s cheek.
Snob hesitated. “I shouldn’t…I won’t do anything you don’t really want…” Film Brain’s hands were moving more insistently now, and he was mouthing at Snob’s neck, making it very hard to think.
Film Brain looked at him with half-lidded eyes. “I really want you to stay,” he said. “And I really want you to kiss me.”
Snob stared at him for a long moment before he leaned over and pressed his lips to Film Brain’s. He meant to keep it chaste, meant for it to be simple, but then Film Brain opened his mouth to him and Snob couldn’t help but deepen the kiss, moving his hands up to run through Film Brain’s hair.
They broke apart a minute later and Snob stared at Film Brain, wide-eyed before jerking away. “I shouldn’t…they could kill me for that.”
“They won’t,” Film Brain said. His hands hadn’t moved away from Snob’s chest “Now do it again.”
They kissed again, deeper this time. Snob ran his hand down Film Brain’s back and gently lay him down on the bed, leaning over him. Film Brain moaned and pressed himself close, pulling Snob down. Snob moved his hand down to Film Brain’s hip.
“Touch me,” Film Brain commanded.
And Snob was very good at following orders. His hand moved between Film Brain’s legs, rubbing him through his clothes. He tried to stay gentle, but the prince was insistent, pushing his hips up and dragging Snob down to bite at his neck. Snob groaned. It really had been too long for him.
He tugged at Film Brain’s pants, pulling them down and taking the prince in hand, stroking fast. Film Brain cried out, but Snob muffled the sound with another kiss, wrapping his other arm around the prince’s slim shoulders. Their eyes met, steel grey boring into sky blue, and Snob couldn’t help but start whispering, his voice low. “You want me to fuck you, don’t you, Your Highness?” he growled. “Want me to make you dirty…you want someone low to take you, don’t you, little prince? Want to be used…want to be commanded.”
Film Brain screamed, too loud but Snob couldn’t stop him, and arched, cumming hard. Snob growled and pushed him down, thrusting his hips against him, and it didn’t take long after that for him to go over the edge, kissing Film Brain hard as he did.
They lay there for a minute, breathing hard. Film Brain smiled softly, his hands running through Snob’s short black hair.
Snob shifted. “I really need to get back to my post,” he said.
“Just a few more minutes,” Film Brain muttered sleepily.
Snob sighed and rolled over. Film Brain curled into him and kissed him again. They stayed that way for several minutes, kissing lazily, before the door suddenly burst open with a bang.
They broke apart hastily as several guards rushed into the room. Hands grasped Snob’s arms and dragged him away from Film Brain.
“No!” the prince cried out.
“Treason!” one of the guards snarled, striking Snob across the face. “Seducing a prince…lord only knows what you’ve been doing all this time!”
“He didn’t!” Film Brain protested. He started to get to his feet, but then was painfully reminded of his injuries and fell. “It was me…he didn’t do anything I didn’t want…”
The guards ignored him. Snob didn’t fight them as they pulled him out of the room. He couldn’t overcome all of them even if he tried.
Film Brain managed to get up and followed, still protesting. The doors along the hallway started to open as the rest of the princes and princesses looked out to see what the commotion was.
“Please!” Film Brain cried. “Please, you can’t! I command you to let him go!”
Critic moved down the hall and caught Film Brain’s arm, holding him back. Snob looked back desperately at his young prince as he was dragged from the hall and down to the dungeon, where he was thrown into a cell.
“The King will deal with you later!” the head guard snapped, and then the door slammed.
Snob sighed and slid down the wall, resigned to his fate. He knew this would happen, but he’d been carried away by a pretty face and a few well-placed pleas. He never should have let himself get so close, never should have let the little prince command him like that. Snob leaned back against the wall and fell into an uneasy sleep.
*
The pain in his leg was too intense. He couldn’t get up, couldn’t see, could only listen.
“Get up, Sergeant, we have them!”
He tried, screaming his war cry as he forced himself to stand on unsteady feet. A hand found his arm, pulling him along.
“Gonna be a good fight!” Captain Finevoice sounded far too cheerful. “It’s a fine foxhunt, boys!” He was dragging Snob along. “Can you reload?” he asked.
“I…I don’t know…” The pain was worse.
“Gotta stay awake, soldier,” Captain Finevoice said. “Gotta be awake…you can’t sleep, you can’t fall here…stay with me…”
There was another shot and the pain flared worse…
“Snob! Snob, stay with me!”
The door opened with a bang, but to Snob’s surprise, it wasn’t the guards coming in to drag him before the king, but Captain Finevoice, looking extremely angry.
“Ten minutes, as you requested,” the guard said.
“Thank you,” Captain Finevoice said and the door closed.
Snob stood up, the pain in his leg worse than ever. Captain Finevoice glared at him for a good minute before he swung his fist and hit Snob across the jaw, knocking him back down.
Snob groaned and sat up. “Probably deserved that,” he muttered.
“Damn right you do,” Captain Finevoice snapped. “You know what Spoony came to tell me this morning?”
“That I seduced Film Brain and am now on trial for treason?” Snob guessed. “Because truth be told, Film Brain really seduced me.”
Captain Finevoice sighed and the fire seemed to go out of his eyes. “I know,” he said. “I spoke to him before I came down to see you. Doesn’t mean I’m not angry, though.” Captain Finevoice sat down on the straw bed. “So what’s your plea gonna be?”
“No contest,” Snob said. “Whoever seduced whom, I still went through with it…though I don’t know how the guards knew to burst in right at that moment.”
Captain Finevoice snorted. “Spoony said you were making a lot of noise,” he said. “Those walls aren’t nearly as thick as you might think. The other guard probably heard you and raised the alarm quickly.” He sobered. “But if you’re pleading no contest, you’re going to lose your head.”
“I know,” Snob said. “I mean…I don’t want to die, but…I don’t see any way out of it.” He shook his head. “I’ve cheated death one time too many…think it’s just catching up to me.”
Captain Finevoice rolled a cigarette and lit it. He took a few drags off it before he looked to Snob. “I saved your life once before,” he said. “And I think I can do it again, if you answer a few questions.” He took another drag. “Do you love him?” he asked.
Snob hesitated, then nodded. “I do,” he said. “Not…not very deeply, yet, but I could come to love him more.”
“Would you marry him?”
“I would,” Snob said. “If I could. But…”
“Do you want to save them?”
“Yes,” Snob said. “But…”
Captain Finevoice nodded. “There’s a way out of this,” he said. “You get a last request before they take your head off, and there’s a little proclamation that gives a way for any man to marry a prince of his choice.”
Snob stared at Captain Finevoice, who raised an eyebrow. Snob smiled slightly. “Any tips?” he asked.
Captain Finevoice grinned. “Take this.” He pulled a ring out of his pocket and passed it to Snob. “Friend of mine gave it to me for the man who could save them…it will make you invisible. I think you’ll be able to figure out what to do after that.”
*
It wasn’t until late that evening that the guards returned. Snob was pulled to his feet and dragged to the throne room, the guards hitting him every few feet in spite of the fact that he didn’t struggle. By the time he was thrown down in front of the throne, Snob was aching as much as he had been in the days after he had been discharged from the army.
It seemed that the entire court had turned out to watch the proceedings, the princes and princesses standing near the throne, the other lords and ladies of the court forming a ring around the floor, peering curiously at the man who had dared to touch a prince.
The King sat on his throne, looking murderous, with Ask That Guy standing just behind him, smiling unpleasantly. Snob glanced at the crowd, hoping to find a friendly face, and spotted Captain Finevoice, standing near the back. The captain smiled encouragingly at him. Snob then glanced at where the princes and princesses stood and found Film Brain, standing between Critic and Lupa, his face streaked with tears. Snob tried to look reassuring, but he doubted he managed.
“Sergeant Cinema Snob,” the King said. “You have been brought before this court under the charge of treason. You are accused of seducing the Prince Film Brain and defiling him. How do you plead?”
Snob looked up at the King. “Guilty as charged,” he said calmly.
There were murmurs amongst the assembly, but Snob met the King’s eye unwaveringly.
“Guilty,” the King said. “And what defense do you offer?”
“None,” Snob said. “It is exactly as you have been told and my actions were inexcusable.”
“Rob.” Film Brain’s voice cracked as he spoke. “Rob, please, it wasn’t like that!” He made to move out of the crowd, but Critic held him back. “It was my fault, I asked him, please!”
The King glared at Film Brain, who fell silent. The King stood up and walked down the steps to where Snob knelt, drawing his sword.
“NO!” Film Brain screamed, struggling against Critic’s grip. “NO, PLEASE! I LOVE HIM! PLEASE!”
The King ignored him. He raised his sword. Snob didn’t lower his head. “I believe I’m entitled to a last request,” Snob said.
The King paused. “You are,” he said, lowering his sword. “Name it.”
“I’d like to take the Challenge.”
The hall erupted into noise, lords and ladies protesting. Surely a traitor to the crown wouldn’t be allowed to follow the young royals about unchecked, to rule half the kingdom?
The King stared at him. “And why should I let you take it?” he asked.
Snob didn’t waver. “You want to avoid a scandal,” he said. “So here’s what I propose. I take the Challenge, I find out how the young royals are ruining their shoes, and that entitles me to marry the one of my choice. I think you know which that is.” His eyes moved to Film Brain. “If I succeed, you give me a full pardon and I marry Prince Film Brain…I don’t want half a kingdom, enough money for us to live on would suffice.”
“And if you fail?” the King asked.
“Then you cut my head off,” Snob said. “All that you lose is a few days of waiting.”
“Your Majesty,” Ask That Guy cut in. “With all due respect, this man has been guarding the young royals for a month and has not managed to learn what they’re up to.” His smile became even more unpleasant. “What makes him think he can figure it out now?”
Snob raised his eyebrows. “Well, then, there’s nothing really for you to lose,” he said coolly. “Since I’m apparently so incompetent.”
The King was quiet for a long moment before he nodded. “You will be given three days,” he said. “Three days to learn how they ruin their shoes, and if you do not, you will be executed before this court.” He nodded to the guards, who released Snob. “You will be given free rein to follow them as you will. But be warned—if I hear that you have seduced any of them in that time, you will be executed immediately. Court dismissed.” With that, the King turned and strode out of the room. Most of the lords and ladies followed.
Critic released Film Brain, who rushed into Snob’s arms. “I’m sorry,” the prince whispered and he and Snob embraced. “I didn’t mean for this to happen to you.”
“It’s all right,” Snob said. “I know…and maybe…maybe I can succeed…” He looked at Film Brain. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Film Brain sobbed. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I wish…but I can’t say…” He took several gasping breaths before he steadied. He pulled back and looked at Snob seriously. “Follow Critic,” he said. “That’s all I can tell you to do.”
Snob nodded. “I will,” he said. He hesitated. “Did you mean it?”
Film Brain nodded. “I do,” he whispered. He leaned very close and spoke so quietly Snob could barely hear him. “I love you. And I want to marry you.”
Snob’s heart pounded in his chest. They hadn’t known each other nearly long enough…what made a prince like Film Brain fall for a common soldier? Was he telling the truth, or did the prince just feel guilty that Snob was in trouble? But…but Snob had meant what he said. He did love the prince.
He nodded mutely and let go, and Film Brain turned and left the room.
Snob didn’t linger any longer. He headed back to the east wing, where he could usually find Critic at this time of day.
As he approached the room where Critic usually hid, he heard voices behind it. He stopped, hesitating, then pulled out the ring Captain Finevoice had given him. It was probably worth a test run before night came. He took a breath and put it on. He didn’t feel any different, but then he moved his hand in front of his face and saw nothing.
Perfect.
Snob approached the door and leaned towards it, listening intently. Soon enough, he caught the Lord Chamberlain’s voice.
“My patience runs thin, Critic,” Ask That Guy said.
“I won’t give in,” Critic said, though Snob could hear his voice break. “He can still save us.”
“He won’t,” Ask That Guy said. “You know he won’t. So why not do this the easy way? I’ll even let the soldier live…banish him, yes, but he’ll live.”
“No,” Critic said. “I won’t…you can’t make me!”
Ask That Guy made an angry noise. “I’m tired of this game, Critic,” he growled. “You have until midwinter’s eve to change your mind. And if you haven’t accepted me by then, I will kill them, one by one…starting with little Film Brain.”
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