To Have a Safe Space

"You're just a kid from a minor kingdom," a taller boy with glowing porcelain skin and pale peach irises said, glaring at a smaller boy with black hair stained with platinum blonde strands.

"I... My mother said I am to be your betrothed," the smaller boy said. His voice was shaky, clearly afraid of the older boy's presence.

It was his first time seeing the Golden Souls, the people with glowing skin said to be direct descendants of gods. It was noted that each Golden Soul was dozens of times more powerful than a human. Their features, powers, and intellect were clearly superior.

"Why would I marry a human? I am to marry a woman of my kin," the older boy said, his face scrunching in disgust. He knew his status compared to the younger boy. He was the youngest son of the king who governed the world, while this boy was a mere prince of an unknown kingdom.

"Marry?" the young boy asked. "What is 'marry'?"

"You don't even know what marriage is." The older boy could only sigh in frustration. He growled and stomped his feet, his patience exhausted by the other child. "Whatever. You can play or do anything. I'm going to find my nanny. She has my phone."

"Don't leave—"

Out of nowhere, a powerful presence appeared behind them. The older boy ducked and pulled the younger boy closer to him, rolling several times to dodge the simultaneous attacks that landed on the ground.

A large man appeared before them. His skin was glowing like that of a Golden Soul, but it was a tainted glow, as if darkness itself was shining before them. He had long chains all over his body, and his face was covered with a cloth adorned with symbols and letters unfamiliar to both boys.

The man stood still for a couple of seconds before snapping his head in their direction. He raised his left arm to the level of his shoulder, and with a whistling wind, a black hammer appeared in his hand.

"Driven by the God of Light, pulled by the horses of the heavens," the older boy stood, opening his palm and pointing it at the man. "Blessed by the Holy Lamp. I summon third-class magic, Igniting Stream!"

On his palm appeared a faint spark before it erupted into a surge of bright red energy. The older boy glared at the man and fired his attack, putting all his power into one strike. "Take this, intruder!"

The flames burst out of his palm, traveling through the air and into the man. The impact created a hole in the man's chest, instantly killing him. As his life faded, the cloth wrapped around his head slowly vanished, revealing his face.

"Good work, Joseph."

A dark form of horror painted itself on the older boy's face. The man who attacked them, corrupted with darkness and sin, was a man familiar to him.

"Brother!" Joseph yelled, his body jolting as he realized it was all a dream. He placed his hand on his chest, trying to calm himself as an endless flood of sweat dribbled from his forehead. "What... Where am I?"

The boy looked around, remembering everything that had happened. Panting, he pushed the blankets from his body and ran to the door. The knob twisted before he could even put his hand on it, causing the door to open.

With a matching wide grin, a pair of dark blue eyes met his pale purple ones. He gasped, nearly falling back from the shock.

Regal stretched his arms behind Joseph before the latter could fall. He sighed in relief when the smaller boy was wrapped tightly in his arms. Joseph could only place his hands on Regal's chest, trying to create as much space between them as possible.

"Oh, good light," Regal blurted, instantly pulling his arms back and raising them on either side of him. "I did not intend for myself to do that. It was clearly an accident."

Joseph looked down. "Are you the one who bought me?"

There was a faint anger in Regal's eyes before he forced it back with a smile. "Why would I buy you? Even with all the treasures that I have, all the regions I conquered, even with all the money in the world, no amount can buy you. You're invaluable."

It felt as though the stone-cold heart of Joseph flinched slightly. He continued to look down at his feet, just realizing how he was wearing the most comfortable clothes he had worn in a long time. The soft silk fabric draping on his skin felt as though he was wrapped in heaven's light.

"If you didn't buy me, why am I here? I can't remember anything," Joseph confessed. "Did you... save me?"

"I did," Regal said proudly. "I made arrangements with the lord present at the auction. They have no rights over you or anything in that auction. I punished them accordingly, and you're now safe. With me."

Even though Joseph was only hearing Regal while looking down, he knew that the man was smiling while speaking. There was an inexplicable happiness that danced around the man, something that Joseph was having trouble figuring out.

"The last man who visited me wanted to use my body for his own pleasure," Joseph muttered. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Like I'm some kind of common whore. I felt helpless."

Regal offered his arms for Joseph to cry on. The latter looked up, seeing the man with nothing but intense rage burning in his eyes, masked by the smile plastered on his lips. "You can come to me if you want. My arms are open only if you want—"

Before he could even finish, Joseph launched himself towards him. Tears rolled down his eyes, endlessly flowing to try and relieve himself of what he was feeling.

"Can I place my hands around you?" Regal whispered, clear of any ulterior motives. He genuinely wanted to be there for Joseph, even when the temptations were strong. "I want to pat your back too. Can I do that?"

With a slight nod from the smaller boy, Regal grinned and wrapped his large arms around him. He made sure that his hands wouldn't wander to the lower regions of Joseph's back but instead patted his upper back gently.

"I'm here, my..." Regal held his words. He had to make sure that he wouldn't get ahead of himself. Joseph might not see him as he saw the other boy. Calling him the names he used at the auction would only scare the Golden Child. "I'm here by your side, my prince."

Regal was proud of himself for being able to hold himself together. After all, for all the years he trained to impress a certain snotty prince, it was all worth it. He knew that Joseph was worth everything.

But now, he was scared that the prince didn't feel the same way he did.