Prince Among Men

[helpdesk_hero]

Frankly, he hadn't expected to get this chance. At all. Didn't matter that he was the top of his class. That he learned things mostly instantly. Sure there was a lot of reasons that this shouldn't have happened. Yet here he was, two days in to an internship at the Genoshan royal palace. And David's been moving through things carefully, juggling a large pile of folders and binders. A lot of stuff went on behind the scenes he'd learned, working as he did under a minister of commerce and trade.

And as an intern his main jobs seemed, at least for these first few days, carrying things back and forth and fetching coffee. He'd networked with someone who did the internship the year before and learned that yeah, it sucked the first few days, but then you started doing cool stuff, so he had his fingers crossed.

Okay, not actually, he was too busy moving quickly through the halls, trying not to trip and drop a massive pile of reports that he was certain had only been given to him because hazing the new guy who had already turned out to be smarter than half of the undersecretaries. Oops.

The big problem, of course, is taking a corner too quick. It wasn't that he meant to run into someone, but there it was happening anyway.

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

David blushes lightly and nods at Billy. "You're... sure you don't mind me imposing?"

[wearingthestars]

"Mmm" William nods easily, "It's no trouble. There's always some one on call. And Tommy's busy. Ah...Thomas." He gives an apologetic sort of smile. The family doesn't tend to call one another by their less formal names in public. "I don't like eating alone."

[helpdesk_hero]

Tommy? Oh god the twin princes have nicknames for them. Is this Will then? Bill? Billy? Oh that last one would be so cute.

"So it would be better for you if I were to join you for a meal?"

[wearingthestars]

If only David knew how right he was.

He smiles and nods a bit sheepishly. "I've been enjoying your company."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I haven't said all that much to you since I got to working," David points out.

[wearingthestars]

"...Apparently it's that easy," the Prince teases with a laugh and a small shrug, "Come on, we'll get some food, and maybe that will make up for being saddled with me all morning."

[helpdesk_hero]

If he didn't know any better, he might assume he was, you know, being asked out. He follows the prince, thoughtful.

"You weren't really in my way. You were... nice."

[wearingthestars]

"I think you might be obligated to say that whether it was true or not," William teases with a pointed look, but he smiles. "You were nice too. And you clearly work very hard for Genosha. I'm sure you're going to do great things."

[helpdesk_hero]

"If I ever get over coffee delivery service?" David counters.

[wearingthestars]

"Well, you do have an impressive character reference now," William reminds, gesturing to himself with a small smirk. "I think you'll do all right for yourself."

[helpdesk_hero]

"And by tomorrow you'll forget I'm even here."

It's just like that. Royals won't have that much of a memory for random people.

[wearingthestars]

"How many cute interns do you think I run into in a day?" Oh. No, that's much too forward. Too obvious. William looks immediately embarrassed.

"Through here," he instructs, bringing David along into a part of the palace that's meant to be off limits.

[helpdesk_hero]

Did he just...? Oh wow, a Prince was hitting on him? David doesn't know what to do with that. So he's silent for a moment while he followed Billy. And then he cleared his throat to consider him.

"More than I meet of handsome princes."

[wearingthestars]

That silence seems to stretch on far too long, and he's sure he's ruined this. David's not interested. Maybe not even into men. The tabloids will find out. He really is being far too reckless.

And then he finally speaks.

William laughs a bit bashfully before offering- "I think Pietro's known as the handsome one."

[helpdesk_hero]

"He doesn't have anything on the dark-haired Magnus," David dismisses, his voice soft. Maybe he's a touch partial to Billy. "And he lacks the grace of the honey-eyed prince."

[wearingthestars]

"Honey-eyed p-?" Oh wow. He's gone full pink, and can't help but laugh again, "Is that something the media made up, or is that all your own?" he asks.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I... may have absorbed the knowledge of a poet," David admits nervously. So yeah, it's all him. But Billy has to admit, his particular shade of hazel is just the most beautiful thing.

[wearingthestars]

He smiles, and glances away, cheeks hot. He's always felt a bit out of place not having the same shade as the rest of his family, but to hear them described like that? Maybe they aren't so bad after all.

"Another career option for you."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I'd rather not. There's nothing of value in being a poet. I want to help people. I want to be a leader."

And there is only so much he can do.

[wearingthestars]

"I mean...it made me feel pretty damn good, that's got value," he teases, but he nods in understanding, "You'll be a fine leader, I'm sure of it."

He brings them into a kitchen, and the staff seems surprised to see an outsider with him, though William doesn't address it, smiling and giving a small wave.

"If we could get something quick for now, my friend only has a short while for his lunch."

[helpdesk_hero]

The chefs look at the Prince quietly, and then at David.

"I... have no allergies," David offers quickly, and he looks very nervous now. Highly uncomfortable. He doesn't belong here and all those eyes tell him that.

[wearingthestars]

"...He's with me, don't worry about it," William assures, and he leads David to a table set up that is almost homey, one that normally is only used by the royal family themselves.

[helpdesk_hero]

This is definitely an invasion. Enough of one that, even in spite of the Prince's reassurances, David still looks nervous. But he does sit down when the Prince directs it. And tries not to think about how totally fired this could get him. Don't, he reminds himself, flirt with the prince near where anyone could hear it. Don't even think it because the cooking staff could be telepathic.

"So it is just that you don't have any classes today? Or meetings to sit in on?" David asks. He still doesn't get why the Prince attached to him of all people.

[wearingthestars]

He flushes and shrugs a little, relaxing as he sits, a little less worried about appearance back here.

"I suppose that's how it started," he agrees. But begin as this all may seem to David, this is the closest he's ever gotten a date that wasn't some prearranged and chaperoned excursion. This is someone he's chosen to spend his time with, and it's thrilling in it's own way.

[helpdesk_hero]

"How it started?" David prompts. Starting means that it is something else now.