Neo opened his eyes. His icy blue eyes reflected the sunlight, giving them a strange lavender-purple color. They gleamed and glistened in a way his twin’s eyes would never be able to achieve. He looked young, handsome and happy in the sun. He shook out his hair like a lion after grooming and turned to look at Braith with a slight smile.
Braith cleared his throat, looking away. Holy shit…. "Ummm so…so where to first?"
He focused his eyes anywhere but Neo. Anywhere. This was a rotten time to have his 'affliction', as his parents called it, rear its head. He doubted the King would appreciate a man being attracted to him. Where Braith came from, it's not an accepted trait. Families rejected offspring like him. He had only ever told his mother once and she had made him swear to never speak of it again. So he didn't.
Neo set a hand on his shoulder. “Anywhere you’d like, good chap!” Neo wasn’t necessarily the best at Mind Reading, or like his brother, anyway, but he did catch little tidbits of thought.
“I’d recommend the wonderful boardwalk.”
With a monstrous effort, Braith didn't blush at the contact. "That sounds wonderful. This way?" He asked most likely pointing in the wrong direction. Besides, he had no idea what a boardwalk was, He came from a mountain range city, not one that bordered the coastline.
Neo looked up, his eyes still glimmering with that whimsical purple color.
“Mmm…. indeed. It is this way. There are a lot of quaint little shops. The boardwalk fries are to die for.” He smiled down at Braith. “You lead the way. I will follow.”
Braith nodded. Fries. Fries he knew. I probably seem like a country boy to him. He took a gliding step forward, then another, then another. He smiled as he walked, despite his worries, he was indeed happy to be out and about with Neo at his side.
They approached an open area, the sea seen from the main street. Braith's mouth dropped open in a comical "o". He'd never seen anything so wide and glittering. "Wow." he said softly.
Neo smiled and laughed softly. He swept the curly black hair from his eyes, which were still shimmering. It seemed that they always did that when he was happy.
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Much less like the countryside.” He laughed again and continued walking.
Braith nodded numbly, he was still staring at the sea, which reminded him of the king's eyes. The way the simmered but were so deep and enthralling. He wanted to swim in them.
With a start, he noticed that Neo was several paces away already and jogged to keep up.
"That's a view I'd never be able to get used to. I hope I can see it from my apartment. Can you see it from your home?" Braith glanced at the King as he spoke, his own eyes dancing with that inner flame.
Neo looked at him and paused. “I sure can! In fact, the Palace is just up that way.” He pointed over a few apartment complexes to a white castle-office building mix. It was very tall and rectangular shaped, and it had many balconies on a few floors with a pointed top.
"You know," Braith said, pulling a hand through his fluffy hair, chuckling. "I almsot didn't believe you were the King, but now that I know you do actually live in a castle… There's no denying it!"
He eyed the impressive structure and then turned to where his own apartment was. The difference is glaring.
Neo crossed his arms, mocking offense. “Well, I am offended beyond belief.” He chuckled. “Nah. I get that a lot. Though, I don’t look like the average joe, so… a lot of people catch their mistake fairly quickly.”
"Maybe I just didn't want you to be the King." Braith muttered to himself before turning back to his companion. With a smile he feigned disbelief, "You don't look the the average Joe? I do not believe it for a second! Look at all these other giants!" He swept an arm gesturing to the area around them, where no one even came up to Braith's height.
Neo’s ears twitched and his eyes glimmered with the happy purple stardust-like substance again. He grinned a bit. It was most definite that this newcomer was attracted to him.
“Giants? Not to offend anyone, but they hardly raise to your shoulders.”
"A momentary lapse in giants." Braith chuckled, his cheeks going pink again. He waved his hand in a noncommittal gesture, a few flames dancing off his knuckles carelessly. "I'm sure that they will return."
He loved that purple color that was shining out of Neo's eyes. He wondered if he would be able to copy it with the paints that he brought along with him.
Neo chuckled too and nudged him. “Let us walk. Enjoy the scenery and get some more food.” Neo had been craving those goddamn fries the moment he woke up alone in his bed that morning.
"I remember you saying something about fries?" Braith asked with a mischievous smile up at Neo. He couldn't think of the last time he had felt so comfortable around another person, or had felt so much like himself.
Neo smiled sheepishly, keeping his dusted-with-lavender eyes forward as he walked.
“Perhaps I did,” He purred softly, smiling a bit wider for no reason.
Braith's heart galloped in his chest, but he remained passive on the outside. No need to trouble him with that. This is nothing more than a King showing his subject where fries are. But he couldn't deny how his gift of fire lept playfully in the presence of Neo. It was taking almost all of his concentration to not burst into flames.
Neo smiled a bit more, more and more, until he was beaming. Was it more than subject and King? Neo wanted to kick himself for thinking so. It was just his body’s attempt to get a warm body next to him in bed.
Besides Braith, he thought grumpily You haven't even reached your hundredth year yet! You're a child in his eyes.
"Would that happen to be where the fries are?" Braith asked Neo, pointing to a merry shop teeming with people.
Neo followed his pointing finger and smiled. “Indeed. Right over there.” He led the way over to the shop, waiting patiently in the line, humming happily.
A few people glanced over, and even said hello to Neo, who returned the greeting merrily.
Braith stood stiffly next to Neo in line. There were so many people looking at them. He could feel the blush burning on the high points of his cheeks as he reached up to awkwardly pass a hand through his fluffy curls again. A sure sign of his distress. Why must they stare? I'm not doing anything bad…not acting on my urges…Please. Look away. His hands felt hot and he tightened them into fists, dousing any flame that had sprung up within his palms.
Glancing up he saw that Neo just looked happy. Relaxed. Something about this calmed Braith, his strained shoulders relaxing the tiniest bit. Could it be that the people here don't think that it's strange for men to be…to be…together?
Neo nudged Braith and looked down, his eyes glimmering.
“Relax. You can be yourself in this town. There is very little discrimination here.” He stepped forward in the line and boldly ordered an Xtra-Large tub of fries for himself and Braith to enjoy.
Braith gaped at him. I'm in a dream.
He couldn't help the tear that made its way down his face, but he ducked his head so Neo wouldn't see. I can be myself here. Truly. Myself. He'd been hiding for so long he wasn't even sure who that was anymore. He had always been the littlest, clumsiest, shyest child of the Sotta family. Marginally ignored, just because his family had been so big.The only thing that had been noteworthy about him was that he had a particularly strong gift.
But here…here, he could be Braith. Braith as he was truly in his heart. Starting with befriending a gorgeous King.
He cleared his throat, stepping up beside Neo, his head held high. "Do you like ketchup?"
Neo smiled down at him and nodded. “I was thinking we could douse it in some vinegar and salt it, then get a cup of ketchup. Maybe go out and sit on the beach.” He glanced over his shoulder. The beach was busy but it was beautiful and clean. He smiled proudly.