He was pacing. Why was he pacing? Xan couldn't figure it out. He just watched from the small amount the door was cracked open and tried not to laugh. He looked so funny! Then Xan felt bad because he was probably really stressed out over something. Xan idly wondered if it was him, but doubted so. Why would he get someone this worked up? He wasn't worth this much time or thought.
Slowly, he opened the door a little further and entered as quietly as possible. His bare feet were cold against the stone floors, but they were silent as mice because of that. Warm feet would stick to the floor and make small noises. However, it was so unbearably cold that it felt like his toes were blue and about to fall off.
Phaulkin suddenly plopped down in a red crushed velvet camel-back chair and buried his face in his hands with his elbows propped up on his knees. He groaned like an angry elephant, a sound that was muffled by his hands, and ran his hands through his hair. He looked pale and fragile, like he would shatter into a thousand pieces if a butterfly were to land him.
Xan swallowed silently and spoke hesitantly, "Phaulkin?"
Said prince stood up and whipped his head to stare at him. He stumbled for a second and nearly fell over. When he caught his balance, he stared at Xan, gaping slightly.
"Is everythin' alright?" asked Xan. He licked his lips and cleared his throat, trying to hide the underlying trace of his accent.
Phaulkin said nothing and just stared. His eyes roamed over his slave's black clad form and attempted to swallow the large lump that had lodged itself in his throat, but found his mouth devoid of any trace of moisture.
It took a moment to realize what it was that had stolen Phaulkin's voice and he hugged his torso when the moment had passed. He looked down at the ground and blushed furiously. He should have taken a blanket from Phaulkin's bed and used it to cover his body, but he hadn't thought that Phaulkin would be so… transfixed.
"You're." He looked up to see Phaulkin licking his lips and talking quietly, "Absolutely stunning."
"'s a bit… tighter th'n I like," Xan managed to force out through his embarrassment.
"You look amazing."
He felt like running away. He didn't like Phaulkin staring at him. He didn't want anyone stare at him in the manner Phaulkin was. The fact that Phaulkin's imagination could have been running wild in those moments terrified Xan and he wanted nothing more than to hide in a small dark corner until he died of starvation. He knew that he never, ever wanted to see what it was that Phaulkin was thinking.
After a few more minutes of odd silence, Xan hissed, "Stop i'."
Phaulkin frowned and took a tentative step closer, "Stop what?"
Xan took a step back, "Stop thinkin' 'bout m' tha' way."
"What way?" Phaulkin asked somewhat agitatedly. He took another step toward his slave, but the Fayelian took another step back.
"Ya know wha' thoughts I m'n," Xan said angrily, turning around to hide the fact that there were tears in his eyes and tried to continue the façade of rage.
Phaulkin walked over to his slave and grabbed his shoulder, whirling his body around so he was forced to face the prince. The small Fayelian backed away quickly, but Phaulkin took a step forward for every step the other took back until the redhead's back was pressed against the door.
"Are you afraid of me taking advantage of you?" Phaulkin asked quietly, sounding astounded.
Xan nodded and tried to hold his tears back, but they came forth. He hated seeming so weak, but he was completely filled with fright. This was it. Phaulkin was angry with him and would probably force him and throw him away. Or if the servant girl was right, he would refuse him and he would be executed, never to see his family ever again.
"Why are you so afraid of me? Why do you think that I would... imagine you in such a manner?"
"Tha's what 'm good for, is'n i'?" Shouted Xan, "'m yer whore! That's m’ purpose 'ere!" With that he dropped down to the floor and pulled his knees up to his chest, burying his face in them.
A look of complete remorse painted Phaulkin's face. He bent down and brushed the strands of red-gold hair away from his slave's eyes and sighed, "I am so sorry." The Fayelian slowly looked up at him, "I did not mean to make it seem that way. Was it the bed clothes? I was not the one to pick them out. It was one of the servants."
"'f 'm not a whore, wha' am I?" Xan asked softly.
Phaulkin sighed heavily and carefully planned out his answer, "You're… a person. You were forced to come here against your will and I understand that. I was just kind of hoping that even though this isn't the most ideal situation that you would be my friend and if you would like... maybe something more."
Slowly raising his head, Xan stared up at him and cleared his throat, looking away for a moment while swallowing and looking back up at him, "I was so scared."
"There was no need to be," Phaulkin said softly, soothingly, "I won't let anything happen to you."
Xan nodded and said, "I've never even kissed anybody before so I was... mortified."
"That's understandable," said Phaulkin, hiding his surprise at the redhead's confession. It seemed a crime that one with lips so rich and full had never kissed anyone.
Xan closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. Phaulkin wouldn't hurt him. Phaulkin was going to watch out for him. He could trust Phaulkin. Phaulkin was probably the only one he could trust in the entire kingdom.
"Would you kiss me?" Xan asked without opening his eyes.
Phaulkin was taken aback by the strange and sudden request and stepped away from the redhead.
"What?' he asked as calmly as possible, but his alarm showed through.
Xan opened his slightly red eyes and stared up at Phaulkin, "It's going to happen sooner or later," he said evenly, softly, "I would rather it be sooner with me having a choice in the matter than later and having no choice whatsoever."
"That makes sense," Phaulkin said in a scholarly manner as though the Fayelian was talking about some sort of scientific dilemma.
Rolling his eyes at this, Xan just put his hands on Phaulkin's shoulders and stood up on his tip-toes. The soft pressure of Xan's lips against Phaulkin's was over as soon as it started. There was nothing very special about it. It was just a basic flesh meeting flesh and nothing more.
Yet, for some odd reason, Phaulkin was frozen by this kiss and had a very, very shocked expression on his face while Xan just stared at him at him for a second and asked, "Was that it? I really don't see why everyone makes a big deal over that. It didn't really seem that great."
Phaulkin blinked, shook his head as if to get something out of it and the Fayelian was suddenly pressed against the door behind him. Phaulkin cupped his cheeks with his hands and pressed his lips against the other's, nipping at the lower lip and pressing his tongue between them. It was an explosion of sudden sensations.
Xan gasped at this and Phaulkin's tongue entered his mouth and tickled the roof. He closed his eyes and balanced himself by grabbing Phaulkin's hips, but pulled him closer. He got it now. This was what everyone always talked about. There was something about the way it felt to have Phaulkin's mouth against his own, Phaulkin's hands on his face and moving to the back of his head to run his fingers through the red hair found there and Phaulkin's tongue inside of him, inside his mouth and licking at his own tongue as though he was trying to taunt it into entering his own mouth. Xan was at a complete loss for what to do. He grabbed the back of Phaulkin's head with his right hand and pulled him closer, wanting more of whatever it was he was getting as Phaulkin suckled his tongue. It was the largest disappointment of Xan's life when Phaulkin pulled away from him.
Both panted for a minute, unsure of what they were supposed to do next. Xan found he was unable to balance so he wrapped his arms around Phaulkin's neck and rested his head on his shoulder, keeping his eyes closed the whole time. He whispered breathlessly, "I think I get it now."
"Good," murmured Phaulkin against the black fabric pressed near his mouth. He'd forgotten how it felt to have a soft, warm person pressed against him. He didn't want to let go.
Xan continued whispering, "I don't think I can walk back to the room." He giggled at his own statement deliriously. Phaulkin's hands were suddenly on his thighs and hoisting him up. He got the idea and wrapped his legs around Phaulkin's waist. They exited the library and Xan was lulled to sleep by the steady rocking as Phaulkin made his way through the stone corridors.