Chapter Three: The One With The Couple

"He's so beautiful!"

"He is a prince!"

"Is that really Desmond Flame?"

"He's hot!"

Everyone whispered―more like shouted though―something as we passed the main hallway.

Desmond either didn't hear or just simply ignored them. The second one perhaps. He was a prince after all and this is what the Royal family does a lot, ignoring. But I don't think that Desmond has it in him to do such a thing for bad intentions.

"Can you please take me to Petrichor Richard?" Desmond asked elegantly. His steps have been more elegant and he stood kind of taller ever since we got out of his room. It was like he wanted to show his worth.

Petrichors were people who prayed. To who, no one knows but they always got the answers for their problems with things. No one could ever forget the shock that people went through―even the Sick City's people―when Richard said that he was in love with a man. A Petrichor was in love with the same gender.

I was around fourteen that time and probably didn't care enough with the youth's problems always in the way but that was the biggest sent away that Sick City has ever witnessed. Until Desmond of course.

"Of course," I finally answered when I realized that I was zoning out again. Desmond smiled and turned to watch the hallway again and I smirked at Julian Christopher who was staring at me with jealous eyes.

I know exactly what went on that mind of his. The prince is a prize. People want him. Boys all want him, at least those who are not committed to someone.

The castle looked edgier than usual. People were walking around trying to keep their heads up and leave a first good impression on the somehow former prince. Only if they knew the prince was trying to do the same thing.

Desmond was trying to calculate his surrounding without making eye contact with anyone. Only a few times that people managed to make eye contact with him, Desmond gave a small polite smile. He probably didn't even know how he made most of these people's day.

"Do you think I can ever fit in?" Desmond said as he walked through the door that would lead straight to Richard's massive house.

"Are you gay?" I asked even though I knew the answer but to answer his question, Desmond needs to hear himself again.

"I am." He stated rather proudly. Prouder than anyone has ever said. To be honest, that shocked me. I didn't think he would be proud but I guess I shouldn't judge someone like that ever again.

"You see Desmond―" I stopped and he did too. I pointed to our surroundings and to the people who were looking at us with curious eyes. "―no one here is like one another. We have artists, musicians, healers, brats, nobles―" I pointed at him. "―here and yet, no one is like the other one but we all have one thing in common and that is, we're gay." I smiled and continued. "So, if someone is gay, then they will fit in perfectly."

Desmond hummed and gestured for us to continue as I took the lead again. I wish I could read Desmond's mind. The only thing that I think Desmond could think about right now is Sick City, the Royals, and all in between.

I wonder if he would think about me too but that will be selfish of me to think about and selfish is the last thing that I think I am. Keyword: think.

I looked at Desmond as we got close to Richard's house. I wonder what happens when he meets other boys and girls in the castle. Will he meet someone? The someone? Will we still talk?

I felt bad for thinking that though. I don't know Desmond that much but I know too much of him at the same time too. It's confusing but not complicated enough for me to not know that he will indeed still talk to me. he won't just abandon people. I am very much sure of that, at least.

"You zone out quite a lot, Elijah," Desmond said. As much as he didn't show any emotions, I knew deep down he was, too, curious about what's going on in my head.

"I do indeed." I chuckled and Desmond simply smiled like always. Not that I know him for too long. "though I don't think of important stuff. It's just some random things that come to my mind and keep me occupied. Never had I ever zoned out for something important or worrying as many people do."

"What do you think about usually?" Desmond said. His eyes were still the same emotionless sky-blue eyes but somehow, I could see the emotions behind them.

"I have weird thoughts," I said and looked at him playfully. I thought that maybe I should try to brush off the subject because as Mary always says, I tend to overshare a lot but I decided otherwise. It will be very weird. "I'm warning you."

"I take your warning to heart and still want to hear about that." Desmond chuckled. "Whatever happens to my poor mind, I am to blame."

"Uh-huh," I said and laughed. "The weirdest thoughts I always have goes like this―I'm thinking that I'm thinking that I'm thinking that I'm thinking―and it always goes like this for a while and I look at the clock and half minutes have already passed with me thinking like this."

I looked at Desmond again when he didn't say anything only to find him laughing quietly. It was a heartwarming sight to see and I could feel my heart beating faster than usual.

His laugh was Royal too. Calm and quiet with the back of his hands hovering in front of his lips to hide his teeth as the queen always does. His eyes were closed and all in all, he was the definition of elegant.

"I do that too!" Desmond finally said. "My best record is forty and half minutes." It was good to see Desmond without his usual walls up.

Every time I think like that, it made me feel weird. I don't know Desmond long enough to say such a thing about him. I don't know him enough to say how he usually is. He doesn't know me long enough to be the usual him.

"Your royal highness?" We both turned to see Richard standing in the middle of his house's doorframe. "It was such a shock to see you yesterday. I think our beloved King didn't even make a change for his son, right?"

"Richard. Please call me Desmond" Desmond acknowledged and smiled. "I was a big shock too when you came out. I can't say I'm not happy to have someone I know in the Sick City because I am. And glad too. Father didn't make a change for his closest friend, Richard, so why would anyone ever think that he'll make a change for his son?"

"I guess you're right." Richard smiled politely and he turned to look at me. "How are you, Elijah? Any new masterpiece?"

"I'm fine." I smiled back as always. Good to know at least I can say 'as always' for someone. "And don't overrate me, please. It's just a simple painting." I shrugged off the compliment as always.

"You paint?" Desmond looked at me with raised eyebrows as if he was asking me why I didn't tell him.

"Yes, and he is wonderful. Everyone wants a piece of his paintings, himself as well." Richard winked and I laughed but Desmond just stayed silent. I turned and looked at him only to find him look at Richard with a weird expression that I couldn't figure out.

"Oh heaven! How rude of me. Please do come in!" Richard went in and we followed. "We have guests, Raymond!"

"Who is Raymond?" Desmond whispered so only I could hear him.

"Richard's husband," I said. "They have been together for a long time."

"Oh," Desmond said and chuckled to himself. "I thought he liked you." I stopped and looked at him. "What?" He said with a smile that I couldn't figure the reason behind it.

"Trust me," I said. "Living in this City makes everyone flirting with each other. It's just so hard not to when all our life we had to suppress ourselves."

"That's understandable." Desmond nodded slowly that gave me the impression that he still didn't understand why we do it. One or maybe two weeks in the Sick City and he will get the hang of it. I'm willing to bet my life on that.

"Elijah!" Raymond's voice rang through the house. "We haven't talked in a while. How are you doing?" He was one of the guys who Sick City didn't affect that much. Or if it did, he hid it very well.

"I'm fine," I answered with a smile. "How is Julia doing?" Julia was Raymond's lesbian sixteen-year-old sister who has been sick for a couple of months and even though the healers said that she's stable and probably won't get worse than the state she's already in, we were all worried about her.

"I think she's getting better," Raymond said with a hopeful smile. "At least now she doesn't cough as much as she used to. We have an appointment with Michael just this evening."

"That's very good to hear." I nodded. And then, my eyes caught Desmond who was standing beside me in this nearly awkward position as if he didn't know if he should say something or not.

"Desmond," I called him softly and for a moment, my voice shocked even me. "This is Raymond. Richard's husband."

"Your royal highness." Raymond gave this little tiny bow and smiled a genuine smile. He was always good at getting along with others and making people feel at home. Something about this man was really heartwarming.

"Call me Desmond please." Desmond's smile returned to his face and I guess by now and all the things I saw him do, I can say that the polite smile is part of his personality.

"Desmond then." Raymond nodded in acknowledgment and turned to shout at the other hallway. "What are you doing Richard? Nothing inappropriate, right?" He smirked as he said that.

"Oh, shut up Raymond! I'm coming!" Richard's voice came from somewhere in the house as I chuckled, Raymond laughed, and Desmond cracked a genuine smile.

"Let's find a place to sit." Raymond looked around and pointed to a corner of the room that indeed looked comfortable with all the blankets and pillows.

"So," Raymond started the conversation once again. "What do you guys need?" he sounded only curious, not bothered.

"I know that Richard has some things that are going to help me in so many ways," Desmond said and his eyes looked scarily determined. The type that makes you sure he's is up to no good but also the type that makes you wonder about who the plan is going to hurt. The one that makes you unable to guess if it is an evil plan or angelic.

I'm pretty sure Raymond was going to ask what when Richard burst into the room with the same look as Desmond. He knows what Desmond wants to do.

"You have them?" Desmond's eyes shined but it wasn't with the usual tears that he always had in his eyes, it was excitement. It was the kind of excitement that you get when you finally get what you want. The good type for the person. But for others? No one can know.

"What is it?" Raymond asked as Desmond got up to take the average box from Richard. His hands were slightly shaking as he finally took it. My eyes traveled between Desmond, Richard, and the box. They both looked determined and as for the box, well… it looked like a normal box that ladies put their jewelry into it.

"Oh, it's nothing special," Desmond smirked. It was the first time that I saw him do it. "Just the proof that my father, King Arthur, is very much…" He paused for a second. I guess he wanted to be dramatic and it was kind of cute. The next moments were the slowest.

Desmond smiled.

My breath hitched.

"That King Arthur is very much gay."

Oh. My. Lord.