Chapter Text
The Queen sat down in the leather chair, her blue eyes following her only son as he fidgeted nervously in his seat. At five years old, he looked more like his father everyday. Although, he had Jenna's eyes.
She knew why he was nervous. He had been told he was the man of their house practically since he was born, the man of their country. It was true, at least in the literal sense, though Jenna hated to see so much weight on his shoulders from such a young age.
That was why she chose to introduce him to the other young prince. He was a little older, though in a similar position to Liam. Being a crown prince so young, having so much pressure and expectation on their little shoulders every time they left their own home. When Queen Caroline Raeken suggested they bring the two boys together, Jenna thought it was a smart idea. She knew they could frame it as foreign diplomacy, but the truth was that they each worried about their sons, and they each thought a friend could help. It wouldn't hurt that if they were, in fact, friends, their Kingdoms would be naturally aligned.
"It's going to be alright, Liam." Jenna said softly, leaning forward to fix the little three-piece suit that he wore. She'd sooner see him in something softer and more comfortable, but at least for the first day of their visit, for their arrival and the crowds that would come with it, he should be dressed correctly.
"What if Prince Theo doesn't like me?" Liam asked, and Jenna watched with pride as his face scrunched up into a little pout. He was adorable and rather bright, he would be great at this one day. When he was old enough to understand it all in more depth. For now, Jenna just wanted him to enjoy. To be happy.
"What's not to like, sweetheart?" Jenna asked, resting a hand on his cheek tenderly. "I'm sure he'll be happy to have a friend like him."
Liam settled a little, though not much, and not enough for Jenna to settle with him. He was clearly nervous, and she could understand why. He rarely had any friends around him, at least besides the other children who wandered in the castle.
By the time they arrived and departed the plane, Liam's little cheeks were red, and he bounced awkwardly from one foot to another. Clearly, he was afraid, and though Jenna understood why, she was eager to get behind closed doors so he could relax a little easier. He waved as they walked in, and Jenna kept a hand on his shoulder to make sure he was never pulled away, that he knew he wasn't alone in all of this.
By the time they were welcomed inside the house, Liam's face was a tomato, and his hands were folded nervously behind his back. He stood straight, the very picture of the royal he was being raised into. Jenna sometimes wished he would get to be a normal kid, running around in a playground and going to a normal school. He was so limited in what he was allowed to do, but that was the way it was for them.
She caught sight of Caroline first, the blonde woman the picture of grace. She had a hand on her son's shoulder, and young Prince Theo looked a lot like her. Green eyes, hands folded neatly in front of himself. He was just like her, and Jenna offered him a smile instinctively.
His floppy hair covered most of his forehead, and he looked distinctly like he was trying to hide behind it, awkwardly bouncing on his heels, avoiding the eyes of either Liam or Jenna herself. He was a little taller than her own son, and she was sure that he and Liam would be friends.
Caroline nudged him and he took a step forward, sighing heavily in his higher pitched, childish voice. "Hello, Liam." He grumbled begrudgingly.
Jenna looked down at Liam, who stared up at the high ceilings, as if he hadn't heard a word. She cleared her throat and he stepped forward too, a little pout puffing his cheeks out.
"I'm Liam." He mumbled back.
Jenna took a few quick steps forward, holding a hand out to Caroline in greeting. Caroline took it and after a moment, the two of them hugged. They had been friends themselves, each growing up in the same castles they raised their kids in.
Though Caroline was still married, Jenna had lost her husband a few years back. Still, the two of them of them had known each other so long that their friendship was essentially guaranteed. And because of that, Jenna thought that the two boys were relatively destined to be friends as well.
"Go show Prince Liam your room, Theo." Caroline said warmly, and Theo frowned at Liam, but ran off, Liam followed along after him, with only a minimal prompt by his mother.
The two Queens made their way out to a garden, where they sat, dressed in their niceties, pretending to be the ladies they were supposed to be. It was only day one of their visit, and people were watching. By tomorrow, Jenna had no doubt they’d be back to their real selves. Watching movies in their pyjamas while their sons played.
They had weeks to spend here, weeks of time for Theo and Liam to get to know each other, to become the friends they were always supposed to be. It would only ever help their kingdoms’s good relationships with each other, and help their sons too.
Liam didn’t want to be here, actually. He’d tried to tell his mom every day for a month, but she didn’t care. She told him it was good for him, that his father would want him to have friends. Friends sounded good, but being forced to spend the summer here when he had perfectly good friends back home...
He sat across from the older Prince, watching the other boy playing with a little handheld game. Liam didn’t recognise it immediately, but he liked games. Still, he was too shy to get too much closer, blue eyes scanning the other boy, a little afraid to make a sound or a move.
"Well?" Theo asked, and Liam stared at him, awkwardly fiddling with the sleeve of his suit. "Aren't you going to come over?" His tone wasn't friendly, and Liam immediately got the sense that Theo didn't like him. He didn't particularly want to be there either, but he wasn't being rude about it.
Liam swallowed and scooted closer across the floor. He pulled on the edges of his sleeves, watching as Theo discarded his own suit jacket, legs folded, playing the game. Liam leaned closer so that he could see what Theo was doing, and he watched as Theo played the game. He wasn't familiar with it, but in a matter of minutes, he was getting the hang of it.
"Can I try?" Liam asked, a hopeful smile on his face as he looked up at the other boy.
"No." Theo answered, sneering at Liam over the top of his game. "It's mine, why would I let you play?" He rolled his eyes. "I'm being nice already by letting you watch. Mum said I had to include you, she didn't say I had to let you play."
Liam blinked at the older boy, who barely spared him a sidelong glance.
It didn't take more than a few moments of contemplation for Liam to decide he didn't like Prince Theo, and he wanted to go home as soon as he possibly could.
"It's hot." Liam said slowly, trying to start a conversation with Theo, because it was awkward enough as it was. He knew his mom would want him to try, and though he was trying already, he didn't want to give up. Especially not when he was going to be there for weeks, like it or not.
Theo glanced up, glaring at Liam like he'd said something offensive. "So?" He asked, brows raising, "What's wrong with our sun?"
Liam blinked, looking offended, "We have the same sun." He said slowly, swaying awkwardly where he sat, "But it's... not as hot where I'm from."
Theo rolled his eyes dramatically, getting to his feet and walking over to the window, opening it. "Maybe you should go outside. You can sit with our Mums while they drink tea or whatever." He suggested coldly, nodding his head out the window.
Liam frowned, still sitting in his place on the floor, eyes wide and obviously concerned. "But... but I thought we were meant to play together. They want us to be friends."
Theo stared him down again, like there was something embarrassing about what he had said.
"So? She invited you here, not me." He said, turning back the game in his hands.
Liam sat a moment longer, looking up at him, totally unsure of what he was meant to say. He was only trying to do the right thing, trying to do what his mother had wanted. She'd promised that Theo would like him, but Theo didn't like him, and Liam didn't like him much either. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to sit and wait for something to happen or if he should go find his Mom.
He stared at Theo for a moment, like he was trying to figure him out. Or maybe just unsure of what he was meant to say. After a moment, Theo glanced back up at him, glaring at him. Liam decided that he hated Theo's stupid freckles and his stupid suit. He hated his stupid floppy hair too, and the stupid way his mouth twisted when he glared at Liam. May as well be the prince of stupid, Liam decided.
"What?" Theo snapped, glancing up, "You just going to stare at me all day? Gross."
Liam frowned at him a moment longer, then got to his feet and walked out of the room, with absolutely no idea where he was going.
His house -- castle? -- was big and Liam really had no concept of how to get back down to their garden, or even to the front of the place. He could probably call out for help, someone must work around here, but he didn't want to. He was annoyed with Theo, annoyed with his mother for bringing him here, annoyed with Theo's mother for not making Theo nicer.
He walked uselessly around the place, looking for something familiar. He opened about ten different doors that led to nothing useful before he opened one to a big library.
Liam's eyes widened, and he walked into the place, looking around. He'd never been much of a reader, he always got too distracted and wound up doing something entirely useless instead. He'd been trying to read a book his mother had given him about the history of their country when he first figured out that he could whistle really loud if he used his thumb and pointed fingers.
Still, he liked the idea of reading, and maybe if he had a place like this in his own home, he might be more likely to concentrate. Probably not, but he would be more likely to try. It was like some kind of maze, and the deeper he walked in, the more he realised he should've found a light switch or something. But the lines of books went all the way to the ceiling, and Liam was transfixed. Some of them seemed not even to be in English, and Liam wondered if every book ever written was in here. Not that he had any clue how many books had ever been written.
He wondered if there was a section of books he could read, and he figured that there must be, since Theo had to read too, right?
"Who let you in here?"
The voice nearly made Liam jump out of his skin, he'd thought he was alone, but when he looked around, he found a desk in the far corner of the huge library, only a small lamp lighting it up, the shadow of a person sitting in the chair. He couldn't see who it was, but he immediately backed up, wondering if he was about to get eaten, or trapped in a cage like in Beauty and the Beast.
"I-- I'm sorry," Liam said quickly, stepping backwards until he hit a wall of books, only just realising he was walking sideways when it was too late. "I didn't know anyone was in here, please don't lock me in a tower."
The shadowy figure got up slowly and turned towards Liam, who cowered away, until he heard a laugh. It sounded sort of evil, but not like he was expecting. He blinked his confusion at the shadow monster, until he heard it speak again. "Are you Queen Jenna's son?" He asked, stepping close enough to Liam that he could make out his face in the light. He had dark hair and eyes, and he was tall. He looked like a giant to Liam, who was small even for his age.
"Yes... Please don't eat me."
He laughed again, "You have a big imagination, kid." He patted him on the head casually, and Liam winced. "My name's Jonathan. I'm Theo's father." He explained, "And I'm not going to eat you. You look sort of stringy to me."
Liam's brows furrowed, confused as to whether or not the man was going to eat him or not. Confused as to whether he was joking at all. Could a King eat people? Maybe he lured people here to eat them. Maybe that was why he had invited Liam and his Mom over in the first place.
Liam's brows furrowed, confused as to whether or not the man was going to eat him or not. Confused as to whether he was joking at all. Could a King eat people? Maybe he lured people here to eat them. Maybe that was why he had invited Liam and his Mom over in the first place.
"Come with me, I'll take you back to Theo." He said with a smile, and Liam immediately shook his head, worried.
"No, not Theo, please. Can you take me back to my Mom?"
He looked mildly concerned, for a moment, glancing over his shoulder, before nodding. "I'll find Jenna. Is Theo being a little brat?" He asked as he walked, his hand on Liam's shoulder.
Liam glanced up at Theo's dad, still mildly concerned he might be about to get locked in a tower or eaten or something. "Yeah. Is he normally a brat?" Liam asked, surprised that Theo's Dad would call him that, even though it made total sense to Liam. He was a little brat. Liam would have to remember that one for later.
"Oh, yes. I suspect that's why your mother has to make friends for him from other countries." He suggested with a little smile. "His own friends are just like him. Maybe you'll be a good influence on him. He could use that."
They walked in quiet for a moment, Liam having no idea how to answer the comment. He didn't think he was going to be any kind of influence on Theo, considering Theo had been mean to him right off the bat, but at least Theo's dad agreed with him. He decided he liked the King now. Even if he was planning to eat him one day. At least maybe he'd eat Theo too.
"So. Do you like it here so far?" He asked politely.
Liam shrugged, looking around. "It's hot." He grumbled, "And your son's mean. I like... the Queen though." He said slowly, unable to think of the Queen's name. He couldn't remember Theo's Dad's either, but that was fine, because in his head, he just kept thinking of him as that one furry guy from Beauty and the Beast.
“Yes, well... I’ll be sure to talk to Theo about that.” He pushed a door open and the sun hit Liam in the face. He hated these stupid suits. But at least he could see his Mom, and he had to tell her about the giant library and Theo being mean and how the King hadn’t eaten him yet but Liam still wasn’t convinced he wouldn’t.
“Mama!” He called, taking off running down the lawn towards her. Liam nearly never called her that anymore. At nearly six years old, he tried to be more adult and serious, because he was a crown prince and the man of the house, but he still wasn’t good at it. Particularly when tall men had nearly locked him in towers.
She got to her feet, grabbing him and swinging him up into her arms. “Hey, bear. What’s’a’matter?”
“Theo’s mean.” He whined, dropping his head into her shoulder.
*
“You’re a snitch.” Theo grumbled, kicking his feet aggressively, it was the only way to show his anger.
“Stop it.” Liam told him, shoving his side. “The blankets are all bunching up. I’ll snitch on you again.”
“It’s your fault we’re sharing a bed at all.” Theo groaned. “It wasn’t meant to be a sleepover, we have so many rooms you could sleep, but you tattled and now I have to have a sleepover with you to bond.”
“No, it’s your fault we’re sharing a bed.” Liam argued, shoving him again. “If you hadn’t been mean to me, I wouldn’t have gone into the big Beauty and the Beast library and I wouldn’t have met the scary King. If you hadn’t been mean, I wouldn’t have had to tell my Mom. But my Mom always says we don’t let other kids bully us. And you were bullying me.”
“Ugh.” Theo kicked him in the shin and Liam yelped. “How long is a summer anyway?”
“Six weeks.” Liam grumbled back, immediately kicking him back.
“I don’t want to have to look at your dumb face for six weeks.”
“I don’t want to hear your dumb voice for six weeks either. Stop being a bully and we can be friends.”
“Pfft. No. My friend Josh is going to be home soon and then I’ll play with him. You can play tea parties with the Mums.”
“I hate you.” Liam mumbled into the dark.
“I hate you too. Go to bed.”
*
Liam had already read seven books by the time Josh arrived. Sure, they were small books, but for a five year old who got distracted all the time, Liam thought that was pretty good.
As it happened, Josh was okay. At least, when Theo wasn’t around, Josh was okay. But he also helped Theo keep Liam out. Liam knew it was because they were best friends, but he wondered if his Mom would let him bring Mason or Corey next time. If, god forbid, he ever had to come back here.
“I don’t get why you like this place.” Theo grumbled.
He looked less like a villain from a cartoon now that they were all allowed to dress normal. Josh was the tallest, and Liam thought his face was less stupid than Theo’s.
“It’s quiet and it smells good.” Liam answered. His voice echoed in the library, and Liam sat up on the little balcony near the window. It was weird, having a balcony inside, but it was like it’s own little reading nook, and Liam loved it. He even loved how he had to climb up the slidey ladder to get into it.
“You’re loud and you smell bad.” Theo said back, looking at Josh expectantly until he laughed along, though he didn’t look like he thought it was particularly funny.
Liam just rolled his eyes. “Do you like reading Josh?” He asked.
The slight taller six year old glanced up, seeming surprised that Liam was talking to him directly. “Yeah. Mum says I’m a really good reader. She says it’s important for me to be, since we’re technically in the royal bloodline and—“
“Stop distracting my friend, Liam.” He said with a scoff, “We’re playing a game.”
They were playing uno, and Liam had tried to tell them it’d be much more fun with three people, but Theo wouldn’t let him join in.
“Your dad says you’re a little brat.” Liam said casually, swinging his legs off the little balcony.
“My dad doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Theo grumbled, though he couldn’t meet Liam or Josh’s eyes. “He spends all his time reading, like you, Dumbar.”
“It’s Dunbar.”
“I know what I said.”
“Okay, little brat.” Liam said back, feeling a weird sense of pride. It wasn’t a great insult, but it had seemed to bother Theo before.
*
“Theo, you have to sing properly.”
“I don’t want to sing properly, I don’t like Prince Liam.” He said his name like the name was garbage, and Liam stared back at him, glaring so hard his cheeks turned pink.
“You have to sing properly.” The scary King said flatly, and Liam decided he liked him and should come up with a better nickname. He was nice to Liam and he hadn’t eaten him yet.
Theo let out a big dramatic sigh and started singing, him and Josh standing just back enough that Liam felt uncomfortable. He was six now, and Theo was nearly seven, but Liam still felt like a kid next to them, mostly because they left him out of everything.
“Mom, when can we go home?” He asked as soon as the song was over.
She sighed, “Two more weeks, baby. Just enjoy your birthday, yeah? King Jonathan has graciously agreed to give you some more of their books to read. He even said you can use the library balcony whenever you want.”
“Thank you, Mr King.” Liam said brightly, shooting him a holey grin.
“You’re welcome, kid.” He said warmly, and pat Liam on the shoulder. “You know, you could be more like him Theo. He’s polite and respectful.”
Theo rolled his eyes and turned to walk off, so Liam sat with King Jonathan and Queen Caroline and his Mom to eat cake while the other two ran away.
It made Liam kind of sad, but he liked the adults at least, and maybe he was just better with adults than with kids. King Jonathan liked his jokes. He even helped Liam learn how to pay more attention to his books rather than getting too distracted.
Theo said his Dad wasn’t around enough to know, but Liam saw his Dad a lot. He would sit with him in the study and talk about books. The King would work and Liam would ask him how words were spelled or what they meant. He made Liam feel smarter, and Liam wished his own teacher was good like this.
“Do you want more cake, little prince?” Caroline asked Liam warmly, and he frowned.
“Am I allowed? What if there isn’t enough for Theo and Josh?”
“They ran away, and you’re the birthday boy.”
Liam nodded eagerly, and nearly an hour later, he was asleep at the dinner table, snoring softly. Liam had a knack for sleeping absolutely anywhere at anytime, especially when he was pleasantly full and his little tummy poked out just a tad more.
Jenna watched him fondly, glancing up at the other two royals at the table.
“Does he miss Matthew terribly?” Caroline asked softly, sympathy in her eyes. Jenna knew why she was asking. The notion of a boy this young, who already had so much pressure, growing up without a father was hardly a good one. Especially when his interactions with Jonathan seemed to suggest he missed a father figure.
“No.” Jenna said softly, listening to his soft snorts. “He was barely a year old when Matthew passed. Doesn’t remember him at all. But Matthew wasn’t much for fatherhood anyway, I doubt they’d have been close regardless.”
“He’s a good kid.” Jonathan said softly, “I’ve been trying to spend time with him to make up for how Theo is being...”
Jenna shook her head, “It’s just childhood rivalry. I’m sure in a few more years they’ll be the best of friends. But I appreciate the time you spend with him. It’s the most interest he’s ever shown in reading. Maybe you ought to have been a teacher.”
“I wanted to be.” He admitted, “But then I met my wife and well... Now I just read too much for my own good. But Liam is welcome to whatever he wants from the library. No matter how old he gets and how many of my favourites he steals.”
Jenna smiled, “I’m sure we’ll be here every year. You mark my words, one day, they’ll be thick as thieves. No one else will ever understand what they’ve been through like each other.”
“Like you and Caroline?” Jonathan asked, and Jenna smiled magnanimously.
“Exactly like Caroline and I.”
“How many years you think it’ll take?”
Jenna exchanged a look with Caroline.
“We were fourteen before we stopped competing with each other.” Caroline told him, letting a laugh slip.
“So we’re in for a long few years?” Jonathan asked tiredly, and the other two laughed along with him.
*
“Ugh. Why? This is stupid!” Liam grumbled, pulling at this stupid suit. “It’s too hot!”
“Because we want everyone to know we’re all friends here.” Jenna told him, fixing his tie with a smile. “And you look so handsome in this suit.”
“But we’re not friends.” Liam grumbled, “I hate him. He has stupid hair.”
“I know, honey, but the kingdoms don’t need to know that. You’re going to pretend to be the best of friends for the good of your people.”
“How does this help them?” Liam whined, “Shouldn’t I warn them their prince is a mean bully?”
“No, honey. He’ll grow out of it. He’s just not used to making new friends.”
“Probably because he’s a disney villain.” Liam grumbled again, pouting up at his Mom.
“That’s a fancy word you got there.”
“King Jon taught it to me.”
She smiled softly, “King Jon is very good to you.”
An hour later, Liam and Theo were sat side by side in a carriage, waving at the little parade of people with smiles on their faces. Liam just kept telling himself he got to leave soon. He could go home and sit in his room and invite Mason over or Brett, maybe. He could go home and forget he ever met the stupid prince.
Still, he couldn’t resist jabbing at him. “You look stupid today.” Liam mumbled, still smiling, waving his hand.
“You look ugly today.” Theo answered back just as quickly, and the two shot each other momentary glares. “Go home already.”
“I’m trying.”
By the time they got back to the plane, by the time they were ready to leave, Liam decided he’d never met anyone more than he hated Prince Theo. Prince Theo was mean and had dumb hair. Liam should be allowed to play with him and Josh too.
“Ready to go home?” Jenna asked him as they affixed their seatbelts.
“I don’t wanna come here again.” Liam told her seriously, before promptly falling right to sleep for the entire flight home.