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]

Go back. David sighs.

"This... this is where power is. Where purpose is. Why would I leave?"

[wearingthestars]

"...your family...your people?" William suggests uncertainly, "You could help make your country a better place."

Maybe even better than Genosha.

[helpdesk_hero]

His people? David’s a mutant. Mutants ARE his people.

“Billy, you have to understand, what happens in Genosha, what Genosha decides, affects the rest of the world, more or less. If I wanted to help people, then I can do more here than I ever could there. And... My family doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

He gets that, and he hates it. He even cringes to acknowledge it.

“When I first came to Genosha for school, I wrote my family regularly. They’ve never replied.”

[wearingthestars]

He meant Americans more than mutants vs. humans, but he nods regardless, frowning as David explains further.

"...why?" He really can't begin to understand why they wouldn't want anything to do with their own son.

[helpdesk_hero]

Americans are just arrogant and self-centered assholes. Which David might be to a degree as well.

“I don’t know. It just... it’s like I stopped existing when I left.”

[wearingthestars]

The prince's brow twists, not liking that at all, and he offers a sympathetic look.

"...I'm sorry. I can't...imagine..."

[helpdesk_hero]

"You really don't have to. Your family is all there for you, always. Mine... Is a mess," he shrugs.

So Genosha had become his home, and his only option.

"I still miss them."

[wearingthestars]

It doesn't seem fair, though he's not naive enough to think all families are like his. Even his wasn't like this for a very long time.

"...Maybe you'll find each other again eventually," he offers. Whatever's torn them apart, time might change things.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I just... wish I understood why."

And there are no answers that he's going to find. So he has to deal with all of this. But hey, being on his own probably wasn't a bad thing. Something he should just learn to accept.

"You're lucky to have your family so close at hand.]

[wearingthestars]

The Prince wonders if that's not an answer he can find for him. He has contacts, people he could send to check in on the family. But he nods sympathetically.

"I think I'd be very lonely if I didn't, I'm not generally supposed to socialize on my own like this."

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, David would be happy to hear anything. It would be a great gift.

"They watch your socialization habits that closely? I'm sorry to hear it."

[wearingthestars]

"Mm. I'm only supposed to interact with family or approved persons. It's...safer." And dull. Well, Tommy's not dull, but he's old enough now that he can't be satisfied with just his twin forever.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Well, clearly I'm approved if I got as far as a second lunch," David smiles. He wants to reach out to touch Billy's hand. But he doesn't. Shouldn't.

[wearingthestars]

"Seems like," the Prince agrees, and David must telegraph some aspect of his want, because the edge of William's fingers graze David's instead, lips curling.

[helpdesk_hero]

Must have been the twitching fingers. And he wants it. Dammit he wants it. But doesn't dare.

"Your grandfather is so going to kill me."

[wearingthestars]

He laughs softly, and shakes his head.

"He wants me to be happy." After all, an unhappy reality warper could be a very dangerous thing. Though there's been plenty of rumors about the twins' real father having been disappeared.

[helpdesk_hero]

And there is nothing to say that David will provoke that happiness. But friends are good.

“Any tips for how to handle the dinner I’m having with him?”

[wearingthestars]

He considers a moment, and nods.

"He doesn't like 'Yes Men'. Don't be hostile, but if you try to mirror his thoughts just to make him happy he'll see right through you. He'll respect a difference of opinion more than someone kissing up to him."

[helpdesk_hero]

Seems easy enough. He is expecting traps though.

“And he isn’t going to hurt me for liking you?”

[wearingthestars]

Billy shakes his head hesitantly. "...I don't think so." He has less experience with this side of things. "I wouldn't let him."

[helpdesk_hero]

Allowance, huh? That's definitely a harder thing to put into words. But he doesn't know that he was good enough to warrant that.

"I'm not sure I'm a quality person for you."

[wearingthestars]

"What's a quality person?" the Prince pushes. Does it really have to matter where David was born, or who his parents were? Objectively, he knows his family will want to arrange a match of some political standing, but he wants the same freedom every other citizen has.

[helpdesk_hero]

Someone that is worthy of Billy. Someone that is worthy of a Magnus prince. And something that makes Genosha stronger. Which might not be easy, because of the whole mutant thing. Maybe Atlantian royalty? Or Inhuman?

David doesn't know, but he knows he doesn't fit the 'worthy' category.

"At best I'm suited to be an advisor. You deserve someone that can give you more than that. But I'll steal the time I can."