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]

Really? I didn't think you would.

[wearingthestars]

From you at least.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Oh, well that's something that has David blushing. And then he sighs.]

GTG. Someone is knocking at my door. If you don't hear from me again the Red Guard has disappeared me.

[wearingthestars]

Be safe. I expect to be seeing you soon.

[helpdesk_hero]

I don't even know if that's true. They might, like, keep me all of tomorrow with this. I'll talk later. It's... Holy fuck that's Darkholme at the door.

[wearingthestars]

Try not to piss her off.

[helpdesk_hero]

There isn't a response that night. In fact, it's not even the next day, and David isn't at work if Billy goes looking for him. There isn't a bit of response from him for the full of the next day. There is total silence even the day after that. Enjoy that. At least there's Tommy around to harass his brother, asking why he seems so anxious. Not that the twin even cares TOO much about it.

It's not until the dawn of the third day that there is finally a David back in the building, looking very tired as he moves through his work. Tired and clearly worn out. At least then he can be found. Though he still doesn't have his phone while people go through all of his electronic records.

[wearingthestars]

At first the Prince writes it off as David being understandably busy, but the more time that passes, the more worried he becomes that that teasing might have been more serious than he though.

He tries stalking the halls where he'd first met David, but it's not until his third day of trying that he actually spots him. There's clear relief on his features, and then something like guilt at just how tired he looks.

"...I was worried you really had been disappeared."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I was. For two days," David says, but he moves to meet Billy. His boss can bite him, to be honest. But he offers the man a soft smile. "The interviews were... very thorough. Including telepaths, empaths, and one prophetess. The last one is that I'm apparently supposed to see one last person. A dinner interview. With your grandfather."

David looks half sick at even saying the words. Erik Magnus, the most powerful man in the world. And he's got to sit down and talk to him.

"I was just supposed to be an intern."

[wearingthestars]

William's brow twists apologetically, and he worries then that this has been a truly selfish exercise to put David through this. He was happy enough as he had been, there was no need for him to come turn his life upsidedown.

"I'm sorry. I...I didn't think it would be so- mm...It's not too late to call it off."

[helpdesk_hero]

There's this brief moment of David nearly glaring at the prince. After all he's gone through, you are NOT taking this from him now.

"You're important to this country, my Prince. And I don't doubt that his Majesty knows exactly what you're up to. While they may see me as useful in the way that you're putting forward, it's very clear that no one is fooled by your request. I'm certain that any man you approached that your people were aware of would be treated the same way."

[wearingthestars]

Even that small moment is more than enough to shame the Prince about as skillfully as his mother, and he looks apologetic, cheeks flushing as David continues.

He wasn't aware how transparent his intentions were.

"He's...not as terrifying as he seems," he offers, speaking of his grandfather then, "So long as you don't cross him. He might try to intimidate you, but he won't do more than that."

[helpdesk_hero]

Yeah, Billy. Not terrifying. David's just an African-American first generation mutant from an atheist family who made his advantages in life by copying the knowledge of others. He's not inherently at crossed purposes with Magnus at all.

But he nods and tilts his head as he considers the prince.

"Listen, make it up to me with lunch?"

[wearingthestars]

That at least lightens the concerned look from his face, features brightening, and the prince nods easily.

"Like before?" he asks, leaving it open for David to propose a different venue if he preferred.

[helpdesk_hero]

Like he could afford another venue right now. He didn't get paid for the last two days.

"Yes, that works for me," David agrees. "Don't be surprised if one of the chefs wasn't good because it turns out to be Darkholme."

[wearingthestars]

It speaks to David's pure intentions that he doesn't think the Prince may easily be able to arrange for payment for them.

He smiles though, giving a hushed laugh. "It's a date then."

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, David never said his intentions were fully pure. Which... he had definitely gotten a bit laid into for that. He doesn't even know that there may be a minor telepathic compulsion in his head to NOT think of Billy in any less than pure ways. Fun.

"I guess it is. Get some food in me to fortify me for dinner tonight? I might be too nervous to eat."

[wearingthestars]

"I don't doubt it," he agrees with a teasing grin, "We'll get you well fed and relaxed so my grandfather can see you at your best." As daunting as it might be, he feels sure that if David has gotten this far he's as good as cleared.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I'm not sure my best will ever hold up to meeting King Erik Magnus himself," David admits.

[wearingthestars]

"He's just a man," William reminds gently. A terrifying man at times, but a man just the same. "I can help prepare you, try not to worry before you're even there."

[helpdesk_hero]

He's not just a man. He's King Magnus. Who changed the world. Who made a safe place for mutantkind.

"I think preparing myself is probably something I'm supposed to manage."

[wearingthestars]

"Well I got you into all of this, I think I owe you that much. Or maybe just a safe place to nap. Have you slept at all these past few days?"

[helpdesk_hero]

There is no way there is somewhere safe to sleep here.

"I am supposed to be working, my prince. Well, after lunch. But no, not much."

[wearingthestars]

No where he's meant to be, certainly.

He frowns softly, not happy with that, but he can't force David away from his responsibilities. "...You will try to take it easy, won't you?" There may be a hint of unconscious magic edged in those words.

[helpdesk_hero]

Like he has an option. But he smiles and nods. Because that touch of magic is enough to drive him to agreement.

"OF course."