Now that was certainly one way to start the morning, and oh Axel wouldn’t change it. Well... perhaps they could have had that scene continue on… But! Patience was a virtue...one Axel knew all too much.

Chuckling, the knight lifted himself off the ground and followed behind the hurried prince.

Rather than leaving through the front door which would have most definitely ended in them being caught, they both headed towards one of the workers' entries that led straight out to the courtyard. The servants all knew very well that if the two ever went on an escapade, that was where they headed and kept two pairs of robes folded by the entrance for their use. Ah, how they spoiled them.

Speeding up, Axel went ahead, grabbed each of the robes, handed one to Fayt and gracefully slipped into his own. However, Fayt wasn’t quite as graceful, fumbling with the two strings to tie the front together.

“You only need to ask, and I’ll help you.” Axel reached out, took a piece of string in each hand and tied them together with ease.

Huffing, Fayt turned away and crossed his arms. “I didn’t need your help. I could have done it myself...eventually.”

“I’m sure you could have.”

Axel then took the other by the hand. Hastily, he led him away, out of the castle, through the courtyard and on their way towards the town.

***

“Wow, I thought it would be empty this early...but people are already out and about.” Amazed, Fayt spoke in awe as they entered the town. Axel made sure to pull his companion by the arm closer whenever he threatened to get distracted and drift away.

Amazingly, he had to do so at least 5 times.

But Axel couldn’t blame him. They hadn’t been there since they were both nine-year-olds who snuck out for curiosity at first. Though not much had changed since then, it brought a rush of nostalgia. “Remember when you tried to walk away with some of the baker's bread before he noticed you and yelled at you to pay first?” the knight hummed in amusement at the memory.

“In my defense...I was so used to being able to take things whenever I pleased, or if I asked for it. I didn’t understand the concept of money very well. And I knew you would save me, so it's okay now.”

At that small confession, Axel felt his heart skip a beat, and a grin threatened to take over his face. “But of course. I will always be there to save you, my prince.” The last part of his sentence, the taller male purred into the smaller one’s ears, to tease him as well as to be sure no one heard him say ‘prince.’

Fayt’s cheeks brightened up immediately and he pulled away to gain another head start, heading straight for their destination they both knew by heart.

Ahh, if only Axel could tease his prince some more before they were there. However, he knew that the closer they got, the more Fayt’s thoughts would fill with the thought of seeing their friend.

Chewing on his bottom lip, Axel sent a soft prayer out that their friend grew up to be an average male and nothing special to stir up any unwanted emotions in his prince.

Even eight years later, the last words spoken between Axel and Kai weren’t those of friendship, but ones that sparked a rivalry he hoped would never grow into reality.

‘You may be the closest to him now...but be careful no one snatches him up later on.’