Chapter 398: Mama Is Proud.

Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Mama Is Proud.

Ever since she was a little girl, Princess Xena has wanted to fall in love.

How could she not? All of the best and most beautiful songs were about the power of love –a magical force in an unmagical world that could defy empires and outlast death itself; that could heal the broken and give strength to the weak.

In all the stories Auntie had told her when she was a little girl it was something pure, and as all-consuming as it was uplight. It was a grace that could bring light to even the bleakest of worlds, and give wings to even the heaviest of hearts.

​Father had scoffed –and Mama along with him –but as Xena has long suspected, Auntie was right all along.

​It’s a lot softer than she thought it would be, but no less wonderful.

​She daren’t skip. Not because princesses don’t skip, but because she’s worried that if she were to leave the ground she might just never come back down.

​"What’re you making that face for?" Loac complains from a pace behind, finally unable to bear the brilliance radiating off her a moment longer.

​"This is my face, Loac," Xena chimes simply, and he grimaces as she dials her smile up to positively blinding.

​"...Well it’s gross."

​Once upon a time a comment like that from her cousin would have made her pout, but today it just glances right off.

"I’m in a good mood so I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that~" she chides, looping an arm through his and giving it a light squeeze.

​"...What’s got you in such a good mood?" he inquires after a beat, tucking his hands in his pockets but making no attempt to throw her off. It’s nice, walking through the halls with him like this, when there had been a time where Xena had worried that that they never would.

​"Am I not allowed to be in a good mood~"

she hums cryptically. The deliberate coyness makes Loac let out a dry snort.

​"That good of a ride, huh?" he hazards, and unable to contain herself for a single moment longer, Xena lets out a dramatic, contended sigh.

​" It really, really was ."

Xena’s often wondered what her first kiss would be like.

If it would sweep her off her feet into the sky or make her melt into the ground. She’d never imagined it could be both at once.

​Even though he was the one who asked, Loac pulls a face. "Gross."

​(Have any of the people her cousin has kissed made him feel like this?)

​"Oh, this coming from you ?"

​Xena personally thinks that that’s ever so rich coming from someone who spent hours making eyes at someone himself, but she’s feel generous today so she doesn’t offer any clarification when Loac looks at her like she’s just started speaking another language.

She’s sure he wouldn’t want Auntie hearing anything of the sort.

​It’s nice not coming to visit them alone anymore.

​Xena greets their mothers like usual; asks them how they are, and tells them that they’ve been good.

Mama asks if she’s been staying out of trouble, and Loac the scoundrel immediately drops her right in it by tattling about how she’d run away from her chaperones.

It’s not very ladylike to hit, but a subtle pinch does the same job without any of the fuss.

At least on her end. Loac jumps and glares obstinately at her. Unbelievable; Xena’s seen him take a punch to the face and not blink, but a little pinch gets him squawking?

​Mama tuts. Xena, you didn’t .

She sounds like she’s trying to sound a lot more disappointed in her than she actually is.

​Auntie laughs. Oh, let her live a little. Auntie always had the most wonderful laugh.

​It’s a boy, isn’t it ? It’s always a boy .

​Xena gets the strangest sense those words aren’t just for her. Loac doesn’t seem to notice.

​"It might be..." she tells them; coy because princesses were meant to play coy. Jokes on both of them; she’s already told Mama all about the other day –about the lovely spring day, and the race (although she’d left out the part about running away from her chaperones), and of course about her first kiss.

How something so gentle had left her giddy and her heart all a flutter, and how her face had felt red for hours after.

​She hasn’t told Father. It feels wonderful, having a little secret from him that’s all her own.

​"What do you mean it might be ?" Loac scoffs, and Xena feels a pang of disappointment as he shrugs out of her grip. But no, he must just be trying to avoid getting pinched again because he makes a beeline for the bench across from the painting and drops down into it.

"They already know you like Montrel, right? So just say so."

​" Loac !" Xena splutters, because even though he’s right that’s hardly fair for him to dump her in it like that.

​Not to mention:

​Rich, Loac, rich !

​"What," Loac drawls, sticking a finger in his ear like he’s finding her too noisy, "You do, don’t you?" He yawns obnoxiously, and then lets out a short snort, "...And here I thought princesses weren’t meant to be so obvious ."

The tone he puts on is far too good of an impression of her father, and Xena has to resist the urge to put her hands on her hips and stomp .

That’s not fair –he’s never paid any attention to what princes and princesses are meant to do; how come he chooses now of all times to remember?

​Trent, be nice to your cousin, she can hear her Auntie chiding, voice full of reproach but also laughter.

It’ll happen to you too.

​Oh Auntie , Xena can’t help but giggle to herself.

She doesn’t say it out loud but she gets the sense that her aunt hears it all the same. If only you knew .

​...

​They stay a while today; there is a lot that Xena has been wanting to catch Mama up on.

She hasn’t been by this place in a little while –hasn’t been able to find as much time as she would like what with being courted, and preparing for all their guests come end of spring, on top of her regular princessly duties.

Mama doesn’t mind though; she knows how it is –how things can get, especially when father is being father.

She does most of the talking today –she usually does, and she knows Auntie doesn’t mind –swinging her legs even though it’s not very ladylike, with Loac slouched down next to her with his arms folded like he doesn’t want to be there.

But he could leave whenever he wants, and the fact that he doesn’t gives him away entirely.

He’s been staying longer these days; listening patiently but pretending he’s not, and even though he’s still late without fail every time that she invites him for tea, he always comes.

​That’s where Bongo finds them.

​"Your Highnesses," he greets, dipping his head to both Xena and Loac before turning to offer their mothers the same courtesy.

​"Captain," Xena greets in return, and hopes it’s okay that she doesn’t get up to curtsey.

Bongo doesn’t seem too bothered.

​"Pardon the intrusion, but the Second would like a word with the Captain."

​Ooh , if he’s calling him Captain then it must be official business. Xena wonders what it could be; from what she’d gathered the last meeting Drogger had called was regarding Rogard Spidra’s induction into the castle guard.

They were the kingdom’s elite and most trusted soldiers, after all; their Captains needed to be able to rely on them.

Over the years Drogger has attempted to involve her cousin in the things he’s supposed to be involved in on account of his position, but it’s only very recently that Loac’s been answering the summons.

​That’s not to say he doesn’t try and get out of it. Duty has never been particularly high on his list of priorities.

​"What, another one ?" Loac complains, but the wrinkle in his nose does little to hide how much he obviously likes being referred to by his official capacity.

​"It’s a busy castle." Xena has no idea how Bongo can still be so patient after having served her father for so many years.

Or maybe his patience is why he has.

​" Ugh , can it wait?" her cousin grumbles, sounding a lot more like a cranky child than a Captain of any kind, "I got...stuff to do."

​"What stuff ?" Xena scoffs lightly.

​" Stuff ," he repeats more insistently, jaw set as he sinks down into his shoulders. It’s becoming a bit of tell.

​"...Stuff... with Khobi ?" she ventures, and knows she’s hit the nail on the head when he glares at her and shoots his mother a furtive look.

In this light, she really looks like she’s smirking.

​"I’m sure Khobi will understand," Bongo says, and while his tone is placating, Xena catches a glimpse of a little twinkle in his eye, and now Loac is looking ganged up on.

​"Who said anything about Khobi?" he huffs, and Xena finds herself exchanging a look with Bongo.

There’s a small smile twitching behind his lips and she has to hurriedly hide one of her own.

Oh, he’s definitely poking fun at him.

​For a moment there it looks as if he’s going to refuse, but after a long moment he sighs and unfolds from his spot on the bench.

​" Fine ," he sighs reluctantly, rolling a crick out of his neck and dragging himself to his feet, "This better not take long."

​"It shouldn’t," Bongo assures him.

​Loac shoots him a withering look. "You said that last time."

​"It didn’t take long last time." That seems more for Xena’s benefit than her cousin’s.

She’s inclined to believe Bongo on this one.

​"Tsk, sure felt like it ," he drawls, stretching out then tucking his hands in his pockets as he jerks his chin to get Bongo to hurry up and follow him, "Let’s get this over with."

Bongo dips his head to the princess as he passes by, and Loac waves a hand back over his shoulder.

"Later, Xena. See ya, ma."

​Smiling fondly to herself, Xena watches them go.

​Captain .

​She’s been hearing that a lot recently and every time she does it fills her heart with warmth, and she can tell it fills Loac’s, too.

​"...He’s different, isn’t he?" Xena sighs affectionately, and she means it only as a good thing.

​Trent seems happy .

Trust Mama to notice; she was perceptive like that and always noticed that sort of thing.

​"I think he is, Mama. I really think he is."