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

[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."

[wearingthestars]

William smiles in turn, not quite realizing his own part in that agreement.

"Can I steal you away now, or do you have more work to do before you can stop?"

[helpdesk_hero]

“You’re a Prince of the Magnus line. You can do a lot of things. You probably should content yourself just with lunch, though,” David answers. “I’m days behind, and while my boss can’t SAY anything about it, it’s clear he’s regretting picking me for this internship. I have to prove myself if I want to have a good recommendation after the summer is over.”

What he’s going to do with himself after the summer is a giant question, though.

[wearingthestars]

The prince smiles a bit shyly, but nods. "Do you remember the way, or should I come collect you later, then?" he asks.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Come collect me. My boss will be more likely to let me go at my scheduled time," David answers, smiling briefly.

[wearingthestars]

"I'll be back for you then," he promises, and he even stoops to give a bow, complete with a teasing grin before he departs and leaves David to his work.

[helpdesk_hero]

A bow? The guy's bowing to him? David blushes as the Prince walks away. Wow, why does this guy make him feel so... tingly? Yeah. Tingly.

David smiles and heads back to work, feeling like he's got more energy. And when it's almost time for lunch he's definitely excited about the Prince coming to collect him.

[wearingthestars]

The Prince is maybe a little early, but he does his best to be respectful and wait. His presence in this part of the palace doesn't go unnoticed for long though, however inconspicuous he tries to be.

[helpdesk_hero]

Yeah, most eyes are on him. The youngest of the Maximoff royal that live in the palace, everyone is aware of the Prince. But David?

David smiles when he sees the guy.

"Your Highness, give me a moment," he says as he finishes working one last paper. Then he stands and waves to his direct supervisor, given his boss was out of the room. "I'm heading to lunch. I'll be back in an hour."

The supervisor sighs and waves him off and maybe looks at him in envy. Knowing a Magnus is definitely powerful connections, and here he was making that connection in the first week.

[wearingthestars]

William's face brightens when he earns his smile, straightening up and he offers a grateful look to David's supervisor for letting him go.

"Come on," he encourages, hooking his arm in David's as though he's a true escort. "How was work?"

[helpdesk_hero]

Hooking his... Oh man David's cheeks are hot.

"People are going to think we're dating if you do that," David says under his breath, pitched just for Billy. But he doesn't pull away.

"It's been okay today. The powers that be on high seem to know we talked earlier and I'm tried, because I was informed by my boss that I have a short day. He's making me work this weekend to make up for it. I guess it helps that we all know I can probably make up the main processes of what he wanted in only a few hours because I'm pretty efficient.

[wearingthestars]

"Should I stop?" he asks, putting on an innocent expression that he might not be so worthy of.

He hums thoughtfully. "How short a day?" It doesn't seem fair that his weekend might be stolen away, but apart from directly interfering there's little he can do to fix it for him.

[helpdesk_hero]

Should he? Yes. Does David want him to? A whole other answer entirely. But how do you really come to terms with wanting nothing more than to give a Prince a chance at your heart? Dammit, David was supposed to be the charming one. He had decided that as he’d grown up. That one day he’d be ready for a relationship and when he was he’d charm someone off their feet. he just... well, he hadn’t expected it to go this way.

Not that he’s complaining. Just he’s off balance.

“I don’t know. I won’t know until I see what he leaves me on Saturday. Of course unless there is an emergency or the King insists, the office will be empty except for me.”

[wearingthestars]

He doesn't say yes, and so the Prince stays as he is with a coy grin, one that speaks very much to the fact that he's very used to getting his way. Not that this confidence will extend too far beyond this playful teasing.

"Sounds lonely," he notes, wondering if he might be able to visit. But really, he ought stop ambushing the man while he's trying to work.