To Be King (CleverFox)

[LadyLoki]

“Perhaps…but guards exist…and I wouldn’t mind keeping you around while I do work.” Victor smiled broadly. “Might as well have my prisoner keep me company.” He smirked, the swats falling mercilessly and turning the bright red little bottom even sorer. “Do you think it matters?” The young nobleman demanded shortly, his temper flaring as the little redhead continued mouthing off to him.

Victor put more force behind the swats, aiming directly onto Killian’s sitspots. “Your mother, your father, no one cares. You share blood with the king, you’re a prince.” He rolled his eyes, before dropping the brush and hauling the smaller male upward roughly. Victor’s eyes were dark, and he gave Killian a little shake in his irritation. “You are a threat. To me, to them, to everyone except yourself.” He snarled out, standing up and towering over Killian. “Your mouth is going to get you in trouble…I suggest you watch it.”

With that, Victor shoved Killian back onto the bed with a low growl. “I don’t think you need to know what I plan to do with you.” He said, putting the brush back on the wardrobe.

“Because you’re a prisoner. You don’t have rights. You belong to me…and until I say otherwise, you stay quiet.” Victor said, brushing himself off. “I’ll send clothes for you. The window is bolted shut with guards posted under it and outside the door. “Try and escape, and they are ordered to kill you.” Victor said, striding out and slamming the door shut, locking it. He needed to calm himself down first.

[CleverFox]

Perhaps pushing buttons was what Killian was aiming to do but he hadn't expected quite the reaction that he got from his blunt explanation of the way that lineage worked. The little redhead was startled when he was forcibly pulled up to meet the angry eyes of his captor. "YOU brought ME here, I didn't ask for this!" Killian said when he was warned to watch his mouth, his own vivid blue eyes flashing slightly despite the fact that Victor was towering over him.

His voice was a bit hoarse because of the effects of that brush but Killian was managing to hold it together rather impressively even so.

The little redhead was startled when he was roughly shoved onto the bed, his captor growling at him in a tone that was ominous to say the least. "I don't belong to anyone, least of all you," Killian growled in a low voice, the redhead shaking his head even as he said that. He knew it probably wasn't wise to say such things but he was not property and would not just keep quiet while he was referred to as such.

The bit about the guards being ordered to kill him just gained another head shake from him.

"I don't believe it...If he was willing to just let me die then I'd be dead already," Killian muttered to himself once he was left alone in the room. Of course his mind did go immediately to escape but he knew that he was going to have to think this out rather than just rushing into things.

[LadyLoki]

The bright blue eyes met his dark ones with a fire that matched his own, and Victor rolled his eyes. “You asked for this the moment you ran off without guards or letting anyone accompany you! I might be holding you prisoner, but you brought yourself to this point by running off. Not me.” He snarled back, temper flashing immediately at being challenged. Victor’s hand twitched, tempted to backhand the smaller male, but he held himself in check. It would be unseemly after all.

Victor eventually shoved the little redhead back onto the bed, more to stop himself from hurting his captive more than the bright red little backside he was currently sporting.

Killian it seemed didn’t plan on taking his advice on watching his mouth. “The moment I captured you, you belonged to me. The only reason you aren’t dead, is because of me. So shut your mouth and be thankful that you’re still breathing.” Victor snapped, ignoring the growl in the redhead’s tone. He straightened up and pressed out of the room, since he needed to think. Victor grabbed a bottle of brandy during his little walk, pouring himself a glass.

He couldn’t tell his father or his siblings…they’d kill the Killian without any remorse. Even if the redhead’s father wasn’t royal, Killian presented an obstacle to the throne.

“Fuck.” Victor muttered, rubbing his temples. He heaved himself back up, pausing to grab some clothing of his own to bring to the smaller male. Victor brought some paper work along with him, to pass the time. Roughly twenty minutes later, Victor pushed back into the door and tossed Killian the clothing. “Here.” He said sharply, before sitting down at the desk.

[CleverFox]

Killian was many things but a coward wasn't one of them so he refused to back down even though his captor was clearly angry with him. The redhead was no fool, he realized that one word from this man could put an end to his life but that did not mean that he was willing to just bow down to him and do whatever he wished.

Killian still had his pride after all.

So he just countered everything that Victor said before watching as the other man stormed out of the room, clearly pissed off.

Which Killian was thinking that he could use to his advantage.

"Get your opponent angry, throw them off their game," he murmured to himself, recalling something that his instructors had taught him. Once you managed to make your enemy lose their temper they had as good as lost the battle. This wasn't technically speaking the same thing but Killian was still thinking that if he kept Victor off his game he could come out of this in one piece.

So that was his game plan.

Killian was still thinking about this when Victor returned to the room where he had been left. The little redhead looked to the clothes that he was tossed but more or less ignored them. He had managed to somewhat fix his own, they were at least serving the purpose of protecting his modesty.

The fact that he wore a long shirt helped the matter.

The little redhead didn't say so much as a single word to his captor as Victor came in and sat down at the desk.

He basically just ignored his existence.

[LadyLoki]

Victor didn’t care one way or another which clothing Killian wanted to wear, since it was of no purpose to argue about something like that. His temper was slowly coming back down to manageable levels, as Victor scratched out what shipments needed to go where and doing small sums in silence. After almost two hours, Victor heard voices coming from outside the window.

He stood up and glanced outside, and his face paled slightly when he saw his father and younger brother getting out of their carriage.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Victor ran a hand through his hair, glancing to Killian while his mind raced with what to do. He strode over to Killian and picked the little redhead up and over his shoulder.

Victor pushed the closet door open and placed Killian down, doing his best to hide the small figure.

“Do not make a sound, do you understand? Or both of us are going to die a very miserable death. If my father finds you…” Victor didn’t even finish the thought. The voices drew closer, and Victor could hear the footsteps growing even closer. He quickly shot the closet door, before straightening himself up as the door slammed open. Victor glanced over to his sudden guests, his heart absolutely pounding.

“Father, Andrew. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Victor drawled, impressed with the evenness to his tone.

“We’re here to see if any of the men returned with a prisoner…I sent a raiding party out hours ago.” His father said, voice low as he considered his oldest son.

“They did.” Victor said, rolling his eyes. “But they reported back saying they had accidently killed the target. Some little lord’s son…not important.” He lied through his teeth. His father let out a bark of a laugh, while his brother remained silent.

“I see…useless. I’d have liked to have had a name to note down.” The older Moran drawled out, and Andrew nodded oblingly.

“Why the change of clothes, Victor?” Andrew asked, pointing to the discarded clothing Victor had tossed to Killian.

“I was working late…I planned on changing momentarily. I hadn’t expected you until next week.

“We’re just stopping through.” Lord Moran said, nodding to the window. “The court nobles are meeting…to discuss terms of negotiation.” He explained to his older son. “We should be off…I meant to just check on your progress.”

“Nice seeing you Father. Andrew.” Victor said, as they headed back out. He waited until they were gone to open the closet doors, before sinking onto the bed. His heart was still beating incredibly fast…thank god he paid better than his father did or he’d be dead right now.

[CleverFox]

Killian was lost in thought when he heard Victor suddenly start to curse, his blue eyes shifting to the man as he watched what his captor was doing. He was confused as to what was going on since he knew that he couldn't possibly have done anything new to gain the other's ire, he had been silent this entire time.

He was even more confused when he was unceremoniously picked up and then deposited in the closet.

The little redhead started to protest rather vehemently but those words died in his throat when he heard the warning that Victor had to issue. For whatever reason those words had the ring of truth to them and because of that the little prince remained silent once he was locked in the closet. He did however keep his ears peeled, taking in the conversation that was taking place just outside his little makeshift cell.

When the door to the closet was opened Killian got to his feet, stepping out and then shifting his gaze to Victor.

"Do you honestly think that's going to work?" the little redhead asked. "How long do you think you can keep this up? They're going to find out I'm here... they almost did just then..."

Killian actually wasn't saying this to be an asshole, he genuinely wanted to know just what the other's plan was. Because he didn't particularly want to die, as much as his mouth earlier might belie that thought, and he was curious as to just what Victor was going to do.

"Why are you doing this?"

[LadyLoki]

For several long moments, Victor was silent. He didn’t even really acknowledge that he head heard what Killian had to say, lost in thought for a moment. Finally the dark-haired man straightened up, and his gaze met Killian’s for a moment. Victor sighed, and he let out a long breath before he started speaking again.

“Unfortunately for you, it’s going to have to work. I don’t want to die, so I can’t afford to let you go.” He said quietly, rubbing his temples.

Victor stood up after a moment, pacing back and forth. Staying here was too risky…he needed to leave, and take his little prisoner with him. Or maybe let the redhead escape and then run? They’d kill his family then. “Lying I can keep up forever…unfortunately I am only accountable for the words coming out of my own mouth. If someone here betrays me then it’s over for both of us. Even if I let you go, chances are it would only be a matter of time before you send forces to kill my family or I plead to my father for mercy and sell you out.”

The next question was harder. He truly didn’t know why he was doing this. What did this mouthy little brat offer anyway?

“I don’t know why.” Victor said honestly, leaning against the doorframe. “It would have made my life much easier if I had killed you and been done with it.” He muttered under his breath, as an afterthought.

“Maybe it’s because I liked your mother. I’d only met her a few times, when she’d attend court with your uncle.” He said after a moment, shrugging. “She was older than me, by quite a few years…she was kind though, even surrounded by the snakes that filled her court.” Victor mused, even though he was indeed one of the snakes. “And here I thought you were ready to die, Prince Killian.”

[CleverFox]

"You could...no one knows who you captured aside from yourself," Killian said when Victor said that he couldn't let him go. "And I wouldn't have any reason to send anyone after anyone else... if you release me it could just be like none of this happened..."

No harm, no foul kind of deal.

Even as he said those words the little redhead didn't expect for Victor to actually go for it. There was still something that he wanted to know and so he asked his captor why it was that he was doing this. He had to fight against the urge to wince when he heard Victor's muttered comments but he somehow managed to do that.

His blue eyes met with Victor's when the man spoke about liking his mother and then made his comment about him being ready to die.

"Being ready to die and wanting to die are two entirely different things Your Lordship," Killian said in a voice that was surprisingly calm given the situation that he found himself in.

[LadyLoki]

“Do you think I believe you?” Victor asked with an almost amused smile on his face. “I have no reason to trust your words, especially considering that people will want to know where you were. Eventually, you might tell them. And that could be the end of my family, and I can’t let that happen, your Highness.”

He had no reason to trust Killian. If anything, backstabbing someone was exactly what Victor would expect.

“True, they are indeed very different things.” Victor agreed, considering the little redhead for a moment. “How old are you? Eighteen? Nineteen?” He asked suddenly, his eyes slipping closed for a moment. “You aren’t that old anyway. When your uncle died, you must have fled from court with your entourage.” Victor said, dark gaze moving to meet Killian’s blue one.

“When did you accept death, Prince Killian? Because from where I stand, you seem to invite it to your door. Surely you knew better then to ride alone. I know better, and I am nigh twice your size.” Victor asked after a moment, moving to sit at the desk he’d been at earlier.

The massacre at the court would be enough to make anyone want to accept death. Entire families were extinguished, members of Victor’s own family had died when things turned violent. “I don’t know if you were there that day.” Victor murmured quietly. “You likely weren’t, since you’re still alive.”

[CleverFox]

"Some of us actually still have this thing called honor," Killian said quietly when Victor made a big deal about saying how untrustworthy he was. There was a fire in his blue eyes that seemed to spark as he said this because really he took offense to the insinuation that he would lie. "And if I was going to lie to you, don't you think it would have been more prudent to give you a false name?" he questioned.

When he was asked his age he shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Old enough," was the answer that he gave since he didn't see it as that important. "And I was taken away from court..." A shadow passed over his eyes as he thought about that particular day before shaking his head slightly and once again focusing his gaze on Victor. "Size isn't everything, skill counts for something as well...your men can attest to that," the little redheaded prince said since he had held his own against them. "If that had been an honorable fight, I would have won."

Which was actually true, the men that had captured him had fought dirty once they realized that their little victim wasn't helpless.

When the topic once again turned to the massacre Killian turned away and didn't answer, the youth instead reaching up to run his fingers through his long, red hair.