I woke up, bright and early, dressing myself to get ready for the day. I met up with my guard in my father's office where he was talking to my dad.

"Good morning, Prince Victor, what can I do for you?" Charles tipped his head with a smile.

"I was just wondering if I can help with Mykie," I said while rocking in the balls of my heels. Both my father and Charles looked at each other, staring like they were reading each other's minds.

"Are you sure you want to help, Victor? Charles is perfectly capable of doing it on his own. And if he needs extra assistance he can call a—"

"No, I'll help," I interrupted my father who began to fix his rings.

"If you truly don't mind, then you can help... to some extent," Charles said, gingerly.

"Great! When do we start?"

"Actually, Victor, I want to talk to you." My father smiled at me which concerned me.

"Okay," I said slowly, sitting across from my father's big plush chair. Charles left the room, then closed the door behind him. "What do you want to talk about?" I crossed my leg over the other, waiting for my dad to start.

"Mykie," He started. "Tell me about him." I furrowed my eyebrows for a second, a little confused on why he was asking me, but responded.

"Okay," I started. "He has—" I bit the insides of my cheeks with a grimace. "Had a younger sister and also his parents. They would dress up like commoners to hide the fact that they were Reds, but... umm, well, it might be best if Mykie tells you that." I said while looking around the room. "He moved here and stayed at a hotel before finding an apartment. Only old people live there. Mykie says he likes it, but I don't know if being surrounded by old people is all that fun. They are nice though, I've met some of them and they seem to really like Mykie." I looked at my dad to see if he was still paying attention to me, and he was.

"And you like this boy." My cheeks went red from embarrassment. My father and I were never really close, I was closer to my mom. So I never planned on gossiping to my dad on how much I like someone.

"Yeah, I guess I do," I said with a small smile. "Mykie isn't like most people. He definitely does not act like a Red. I mean, he is really different from one. I always imagined one to be mean and hostile, but he isn't like that. He's a nice person, like, he listens to the people that live with him even though he already knows all the stories. And I annoy him all the time, but he doesn't get upset with me. Mykie just makes me feel normal. I don't have to act like the prince around him. I don't need to talk a certain way or filter myself. I can just be me." I looked up at my dad who was smiling.

"He sounds like a good kid. I should have a chat with him when I can. " My dad stood up to walk me out of his office.

"Yeah, about that, I don't know how well that will go. Mykie doesn't like being around you, or Charles, or any servant here. He feels extremely... uncomfortable." I picked my words very carefully trying not to hurt my dad's feelings. "It's not you, it's every Blue and Purple, but I think you understand why." I looked up at my light-blue-haired father who simply nodded.

"Yeah, I can tell. But I still need to have a chat with him, regardless of how uncomfortable I make him. He's a Red in my kingdom, I kind of need to." Charles was standing across the dark brown wall with everything he needed for Mykie.

"Maybe don't say that when you are talking to him," I laughed.

"We can talk more later, just be careful with him."

"Yes, Dad, I know." I jogged to Charles who was smiling widely at me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I questioned with a playful tone.

"That was quite a long chat," Charles joked.

"Royal matter," I said with a smirk. "You wouldn't understand." Charles simply roughed up my hair then knocked on Mykie's door. He didn't wait for an answer, he walked in, then stopped and sighed.

"Still asleep."

"That's good, right?" I looked at Charles who simply shook his head.

"That's very good for him, but I guess we'll have to come back later." Charles looked at me with his bright green eyes then sighed. "I guess I'll have to come back later." I laughed as Charles left me alone with a sleeping Mykie. I debated on whether to wake him up or not, so I stood by his bed (creepily) while I tried to decide on what to do. It was quickly ruined as Mykie woke up and saw me, which freaked him out.

"Oh, Mykie, it's just me." I panicked trying to calm Mykie down. I gave him a second to process before I sat down on his bed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." I looked at the sleepy red-headed boy who looked like he had been crying. His pale cheeks were slightly red with the bottom of his lids showing the same red color. I wanted to ask him, but I didn't know if that was a good idea. Instead, I sat closer and gently wrapped an arm around him.

"I'm okay," Mykie softly laughed. "You just scared me, all of a sudden you were there and it was weird."

"I'm sorry," I whined to Mykie who reached up to pat me on the head. "I wasn't trying to scare you."

"I know you weren't." The boy spoke softly as he sat upon his knees and wrapped his arms around my neck. "I trust you." I displayed a smile in relief, then wrapped an arm around his torso.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Better, a lot better." I softly stroked Mykie's bright red hair as he slowly melted into my arms. "I don't hurt as much and I'm not as tired. Another day of rest really helped me."

"That's good. I'm happy you're feeling better." I nudged Mykie's cheek which in return he let out a small laugh.

"My leg is feeling much better, I might be able to walk." He told me while sitting straight on the bed, then kicked his feet while he sat.

"You better be careful, I don't want you falling on your face," I said while looking around the dark room. It felt like there were no lights on, yet all of the lights were on. "Hey, Mykie. You should stay with me for the night," I told the boy who looked at me with his head cocked.

"Why? What's wrong?" He questioned with curiosity in his tone.

"Nothing is wrong, I just feel like it would be best if we stay in the same room. For... precautionary measures, just in case." I smiled brightly at Mykie who stared at me with narrow eyes.

"What kind of tricks are up your sleeve," Mykie asked with a teasing tone.

"I don't have any, I just want to make sure you're okay during the night. You're halfway across the world from my room, and if something were to happen I wouldn't be close." I joked while inching closer to the smaller boy.

"Of course, I see." Mykie's small pale hand wrapped itself around my arm with a smile. "I'll stay with you if it calms your nerves." He began to pat my head like a child just as Charles walked in.

"Mykie," my friend visibly stiffened with his face turning pink. "You are finally awake."

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Mykie mumbled in a childish tone, then moved away from me.

"Nonsense, you need all of the rest you can get. Now, are you feeling any better? As soon as you are well enough, we can get you back to your apartment," I shot my eyes up at Charles, glaring at him. "Getting him back to his apartment so he can retrieve his belongings." My guard said, calming my nerves. "For now he just needs to recover as best as he can. We won't push you to do anything if you are not ready for it."

"Thank you." I smiled at Mykie's calm appearance. I felt like he was starting to loosen up when it came to Charles.

Charles was not the friendliest looking man, he was very far from that. Charles always looked upset, his eyebrows naturally rested as if they were angry and his eyes always looked like something was wrong. I was just glad that Mykie was starting to feel more comfortable with Charles.

"Prince Victor?" I looked at Charles who was holding out clothes to Mykie. "He is going to get dressed now." He said like he was trying to help me decide on what to do.

"Oh, yeah," I got up from the bed then dusted my pants. "It's okay, Charles, I'll take it from here." Charles eyed me suspiciously but ultimately knew he had to listen.

"Of course. Call me if you need anything," Charles bored and rolled his eyes while leaving.

"He can't stand you," Mykie mumbled while I grabbed his hands.

"He has put up with me my whole life, I agree, he can't stand me." I helped Mykie walk to the bathroom, but he didn't really need my assistance. He only leaned up against my shoulder when he started to feel weak in the legs. "There you go, Darling," I teased while I sat on one of the multiple chairs. Really, why do we need this many chairs in one bathroom?

"Victor, are you sure you want to stay? I don't want to make you uncomfortable." Mykie's silly demeanor turned sour and sad.

"I'm okay here, I promise I won't freak out." I reached out for Mykie's hand which he grabbed a hold of.

"You know, you can leave at any time, it won't hurt my feelings." With my thumb, I began to caress his small hand making sure he knew I wasn't leaving.

It wasn't like I imagined. I knew it was bad, I knew he was really hurt, but in my mind, I did not imagine what he looked like. From what you could see, he looked like he had small bruises and some scratches here and there. His clothes hid the majority of his wounds, but once he exposed himself it was much worse. The purple of his bruises outweighed his pale skin. There were more scratches and scrapes and big welts on his skin.

I tried not to stare so I wouldn't make him uncomfortable; I crossed my leg over the other and looked up at the white ceiling. He was done before I knew it dressed in a light blue long sleeve shirt with a matching pair of pants. His bright red waves were stuck in his eyes making him move them out of the way.

"I might need to cut it soon," Mykie said after he caught notice of my stares. "I haven't really gotten the chance to," he mumbled while twisting a small strand of hair.

"It's not too bad. Maybe a trim on the side and a little off of the top. Or maybe you just need a little bit of hair products, who knows."

"I think cutting it might be best. It's a lot of work needing to do my hair every morning."

"You're just lazy." I provided an arm for Mykie so I could guide him back to his bed.

"It's not that I'm lazy, I just don't want to do it." I sat behind Mykie, messing with his hair like I was going to do it.

"That's what being lazy is," I smiled. After a few minutes of sitting on the bed, exchanging laughs, Mykie grimaced with his eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong?" I looked over Mykie's shoulder where he displayed a pout.

"I'm hungry," I let out a loud, long laugh which only made Mykie pout more. "It's not funny, Victor."

"I know, I'm sorry," I smirked. "Okay, how about we go out and retrieve some food?" Mykie looked at me, sitting in deep thought like he was trying to think of the right answer.

"I think that will be okay." He spoke, slowly, his mind thinking of every possible scenario.

"Let's go." We got off the bed, I guided Mykie all the way to the kitchen. He would squeeze my wrist any time we ran into a Purple or an Orange. I had to assure him that he would be okay.

"Looks like someone is feeling a lot better." There stood Charles, my father, and a purple-haired lady all staring at Mykie.

"Yeah, I'm not in a lot of pain anymore," Mykie said while slowly walking behind me.

"We are just finding something to eat," I told my father who nodded his head.

"Ahh, yes. There should be something already prepared." My father rubbed his chin, then began to walk past us, the Purple smiling brightly at Mykie while he gave her a weak one.

"Do you know her?" I asked Mykie who sat down on a chair near the island.

"The Purple?" He said while looking around the kitchen in awe.

"Yeah, she smiled at you like you guys were friends."

"Oh, well, we ran into each other... I guess." I looked at Mykie who was displaying a small smile. "I know no one was supposed to come in, but she is very nice. And she also didn't treat me like a monster. I like her," I softly laughed while Mykie stared at me with his big hazel eyes.

"Looks like someone is starting to get more comfortable." I nudged Mykie before I started to look around the kitchen.

"It's only one person. And it's because she likes me." Mykie spoke while swinging his feet on the chair.

"What about Charles? You don't seem to mind his presence that much." He shrugged his small shoulders then twirled a strand of hair.

"He's not too bad," Mykie mumbled. "He's okay, I think I got used to him."

I found a silver lid and underneath were two plates of breakfast. One had a bright yellow omelet with sausage and an English muffin while the other was a strawberry and banana oatmeal with a cup of juice. I shrugged my shoulders and brought both plates with me to the cheery wood table where I always ate. Mykie followed along following at a close distance to me, being careful about how he walked. Once we got to the table, he sighed in relief.

"You could have waited for me to come back," I said with a shake of my head.

"I didn't want to wait all by myself." I ruffled Mykie's soft hair in response then gave him the omelet. "Wouldn't you rather have this?" He questioned while I took the oatmeal.

"No, it's okay," I reassured. "I really don't mind."

"Yeah, but that's the least princely thing to eat; you should just eat this." Mykie furrowed his brows, not having an intent to give up.

"What do you mean? Oatmeal is very princely." Mykie rolled his doe eyes then laughed. "Let's just share." The teen smiled then shrugged.

"Oh, Victor."