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]

"Here," David says, punching his number in and passing the phone back over. "Now he can contact me only if it meets the approval of his family. And I won't have his information at all."

Yep, so totally dead.

[wearingthestars]

No one seems especially pleased with either of them just now, but despite being on a first name basis with the prince none of them seem prepared to go much further than that in terms of admonishing or disciplining themselves.

"You'll be hearing from me," he promises.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Don't," David insists. "They're right to worry. I'm an unknown quanta that wasn't supposed to meet you."

[wearingthestars]

"Maybe you were though," he counters with a grin, and bites at his lip. "Thank you for letting me see something different today, David. I appreciate it."

[helpdesk_hero]

Really? Don't make him worry that he only got his internship because Magneto was putting him in place to be met by his gay grandson.

"I don't mind the company. You made today different. And..."

Amusement flashes across his eyes. "I learned a lot about comics."

[wearingthestars]

Gosh no, nothing like that. The King might support his grandson privately, but he's no where near the point of setting him up. And certainly not with someone lacking any political connections.

He snorts, a very undignified noise, and he hides his laugh, cheeks hot. "Oh no...my nerd secret's out."

[helpdesk_hero]

You sure, Billy? Your grandfather is Jewish. He might be doing a thing. Being a matchmaker.

"I promise I won't tell," David agrees as he gets to his feet.

[wearingthestars]

Maybe, but no offence to David, if Magneto were playing matchmaker, he'd probably pick someone a little higher up in the chain than the office intern.

"I'm sorry if you get in trouble because of me. I appreciate you taking the risk."

[helpdesk_hero]

Wow, rude. But fair. Definitely fair.

"I could have asked you not to," David shrugs before offering a very proper bow to Billy. It was definitely time for him to get going.

[wearingthestars]

The prince clearly think's David's well worth his time, he just doubts his grandfather would feel the same.

He flushes and gives a smaller bow in turn, smirking a little.
"You're very good at that. Have you be practicing?" he teases lightly, "Do you know the way back or do you need an escort?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"I, uh..." David frowns, looking around. "I think I should be able to make it back. If you don't mind me picking up layout details from your mind."

Which is probably a bad idea because then he will know places that he shouldn't.

[wearingthestars]

"Mm," he nods easily, glad to be asked rather than David just reaching in and taking it without him knowing. He's not especially good at guarding his mind.

"I don't mind. You can take whatever you need."

[helpdesk_hero]

Really?

"Perhaps you shouldn't trust strangers so much, Your Highness," he says, frowning. Don't trust so easily.

[wearingthestars]

"You're not a stranger any more," William counters. True, he's known him like...a few hours, but he trusts him.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh really? He definitely is a stranger. But he smiles softly and closes his eyes for a moment. Just does so and lets his mind open and once he has what he needs, he shuts his powers down.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I should get going."

[wearingthestars]

He can't feel it, at least not the same as when the telepaths push into his mind to try and train him, and even if he was better at it, he's not sure he could have shut David out.

"Keep out of trouble, David."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I've never been in trouble in my life," David dismisses before smiling and walking away.

But he really hopes that Billy does actually message him later.

[wearingthestars]

Apart from the bombard of messages from the palace, David will receive a message from the Prince himself.

Was your boss mad?

[helpdesk_hero]

Very. Also, what did you do? I've been on and off the phone all night. My PARENTS even called.

[wearingthestars]

Sorry. I just did what I said. I made it clear it was very important to me that they hire you. There's a lot of vetting involved, I'm sorry if it gets to be too invasive.

[helpdesk_hero]

Dude, they called my PARENTS. I haven't spoken to my parents in three years.

[wearingthestars]

They are very thorough. Your relatives, friends, employers. Anyone you may have had contact with in the last 5 years or so.

[helpdesk_hero]

This could go badly. I wasn't liked much at the Institute. And I used to date someone that is training for the Red Guard.

[wearingthestars]

You were cleared to work here, I'm sure you'll be cleared to work with me.

[helpdesk_hero]

You're a prince. That's different. A lot different. Here I'm only working with the government.