The Compendium of Short Stories II

Two figures walked slowly down the street, one silver haired and the other red. Both, though they seemed as confident as can be they were about to bounce out of their skin with nerves. This was a brand new thing for them both. The silver haired man looked over at his companion and gave him a small smile. Smiling back the red head turned and lead his companion further down the street. After only a few minutes they arrived at a bustling square.

“Anubis, I'm not too sure about this,” The silver haired man said, curling his fingers a little tighter around his companion, Anubis, hand.

“Relax Khonsu it will be fine. Just trust me ok? It won't be that bad,” Anubis replied giving Khonsu's hand a little squeeze.

The silver haired man nodded and tucked a few strand of hair behind a finally pointed ear, smiling as he did, “I’ll always trust you.”

“Good,” Anubis smiled as he tugged the still nervous male after him.

As they walked into the square some people stopped and stared. Of course they would stare. Khonsu was the crown prince and Anubis was both one of his guardians and a human mage. It was more than a little different to see the two of them together. Especially without Ganymede tailing them clo9sely. Little did they know Khonsu had given the large Ravari the night off so that he could spend it relatively alone with his lover. Anubis had proposed the idea of them spending a night out almost a month ago and they finally, finally, got the change to actually act on it.

Ever since the fall of his father Khonsu had been rather busy dealing with the politics of the world and trying to repair relations with all of the neighboring lords. He had even sent down some emissaries to the human people, but things weren't looking to terribly good on that front. Anubis was almost to the point of suggestion that he make an appearance to the human governments to say that Khonsu was nothing like his father and only desired peace. Khonsu wasn't aware of this simply because the redhead didn't want to burden his love with anything like that. Especially tonight. Tonight was all about them and simply spending time together for the first time as a true couple.

Speaking of the prince Anubis looked over at the slightly taller man. Emerald green eyes were looking around almost wildly, but there didn't seem to be any fear in those green depths. There was only a great sense of curiosity. Honestly the only thing keeping his at his lover's side was the fact that he wasn't sure just how people would react to him totally dropping the royal persona and acting like a total child. Everything he was seeing was all new to him. After being practically confined to the castle and then on the run without much time to do any sight-seeing simply wandering the town was a very different experience for him.

Anubis tried to talk to him several times during their little outing but every time be opened his mouth the price would find something new to focus on and start talking about. There was almost no way for the redhead to get even a word in edge wise. He smiled through and just let his love have his fun. He knew just how rare these visits to the town were for the silver haired half dragon. This may have started out as an attempt at a proper date but it had slowly devolved into a bit of sight-seeing trip for the prince, soon to be king. At the thought Anubis frowned slightly. Once Khonsu was king things were more than likely going to change between them.

All of the advisors, though the currently kept their opinions to themselves, were soon going to be clamoring for Khonsu to actually pick a woman to be his queen. There was no way they were going to allow a simple, low-born, human mage be their king's consort. Nope, no way in hell. With that thought in mind Anubis planned on making this one of the best dates he could manage, if only so that Khonsu would actually remember him once they were forced apart by politics.

Eventually though Khonsu seemed to put a bit of a leash on his enthusiasm. Anubis was more than a little distracted by his rather dark thoughts and didn't notice. By the time he did the prince was looking at him oddly.

“Is something wrong Khonsu?” He asked voice soft

“I was going to ask you the same question. You’ve been more than a little distant here in the last few minutes and I was getting a little worried that I'd done something wrong,” Khonsu replied his brow knitting together in concern

“No, it's nothing that you did,” Anubis was quick to reply with a smile that didn't really reach his eyes, “I was just thinking king about a few things and got distracted.”

“I see...” Khonsu could tell that was only part of the story, but let it slide, knowing that he would find out later just what was bothering his redheaded lover.

After a few more minutes of walking Khonsu was more than a little surprised to find his stomach growling at him. When he said as much to Anubis the other laughed and said he was hungry. Smiling at that the prince suggested that they go get some food. Anubis nodded and led the way over to a small restaurant. The owner was more than surprised to see them there, but was more than willing to seat them immediately. When he tried to lead them to a very open table Khonsu refused and asked for something a little more private. Anubis mentally cringed at that. He knew what the prince was doing. He wanted to have a private spot so that he could practically interrogate him to find out what was wrong. This was not going to end well.

The owner quickly back pedaled and showed them to a private table in the back, well away from prying eyes and ears. Once the two were seated the owner told them not to worry about ordering or paying. Both men tried to protest but the balding man insisted, saying that it wasn't every day that royalty decided to visit his humble restaurant. At that both relented, but with quite a bit of grumbling on Anubis' part. Once he walked away Khonsu turned to look at his lover. There was a determined look on his face and Anubis sighed, knowing exactly what he was going to ask and decided to just get it over with before they caused some kind of scene.

“I was just thinking about what's going to happen to me once you become king. There is absolutely no way that your advisors are actually going to let us stay together. They are totally going to insist on you finding some woman to have an heir with and that won’t actually just seem to make you not really seem like the king you need to be. I was wondering exactly what would happen to be simply because I am a human and a mage. are you going to insist on sending me back home or are they going to keep me around because I'm a mage or...!” Anubis was cut off rather suddenly when Khonsu reached across the table and pulled him into a hard kiss.

The redhead melted into the kiss and let the other lead for a few minutes. He still found it rather hard to believe that the prince was as good as he was without having any prior experience. Maybe he was just a really fast learner. When the silver haired man pulled away Anubis let out a soft, albeit involuntary, whine at the loss. The soft sound brought a smile to the prince's lips and his thumb rubbed small circles into the other's cheek. Anubis leaned into the touch and found himself smiling softly at the other man. Eventually though Khonsu pulled his hand back and started to mess with the top of his shirt. Anubis sat up a little straighter as the prince untied the laces at the top of his tunic and pulled the fabric away from his skin. As the fabric moved a strange mark was slowly revealed on his chest, just over his heart.

“What...?” Anubis began but was stopped by the soft smile on the prince’s face.

“There is no way that they are going to send you anywhere or insist that I find a "proper queen". Do you want to know why?” Khonsu said softly.

Anubis nodded slowly, "Yes"

“It’s simple,” emerald eyes met his glowing softly with love and adoration. “This mark means that you and I are bound. Forever and for always. You are my first and only love, my Ture Love. Nothing can stand in the way or that. Not even a bunch of age old traditions and old fuddy-duddies.”

Anubis just stared at him for a few seconds before a large, happy smile split his face. This time it was he who leaned over to table to capture the prince in a heartfelt, passionate kiss. Breaking way he pressed their foreheads together and smiled at the other. This was more than he could have ever hoped for in a million years. More than he had ever dreamed he could have. Finally something in his rather odd and slightly messed up life was going just as he had hoped and there was nothing that could stand in the way of his being happy with the man of his dreams. Not even a bunch of old fuddy-duddies.

Pulling all the way back he got up and moved over to sit next to the silver haired prince. No words were said, none were needed, even when the owner came by to place a rather fancy dessert on the table, a small smile on his face. Everything was perfect and nothing was going to change that.