sora ignored any of noctis’ attempts at changing the subject, eyes still downcast to the pages in front of him. in the back of his mind, he decided that this book would be one that he took with him when he went back home. “no one’s life is truly how they want it to be, princey,” he said in a bit of a flat tone. “that’s why people work, that’s why people date, that’s why people get married, retire, whatever…to try and create what they want out of life.” glancing up at him, he cracked a small smile. 

“you lied to your father to get out for a day?” he asked, though he wasn’t entirely sure why he felt so surprised by the fact. he’d lied to get out of the house more times than he could count when he was still living at home—and even more so to get back in. “so did you really need that book, or were you just doing all of this so you’d have something to show that you were really out for a book this whole time?” had sora been in middle school or the earlier years of high school, he’d have been extremely impressed at the prince’s devious behaviour. hell, he was impressed now. 

the brunette nodded in understanding nonetheless, pinching a finger between the two pages he was on. “at least your father didn’t kick you out,” he said, trying one of those look-on-the-bright-side approaches. “if he wants you to reproduce for the throne, then just do it. doesn’t mean that who you pick has to be for love—you just need a successor. it sounds really heartless, but it’s also pretty heartless of your father to ignore what you feel.”

rising an eyebrow, sora chuckled a little. “what about you is there to fear?” he asked. “i mean i come from somewhere that knows nothing of you, your kingdom, or the kind of powers you possess—i got to see it first-hand and i’m not afraid of you. even if you did teleport, aggressively shove me against a wall, and have red eyes while you did it…” he shifted his weight and wrapped the arm without the book around his mid section. “but tell me, what kind of rumours are there about you?”

“I know, I know, maybe I should be more grateful, right? There are many people, I’m sure, who would kill to be in this position. Always in the public eye and that” he brought a  clenched fist to his face, his mouth leaning against it, resting his arm on the other that was crossed against his chest. “Believe it or not, I used to have friends.. I used to date.. Then since father decided being twenty one is the year I need to ‘grow up’ I’ve barely been out. I don’t even know what I want from life.. I used to..” he looked away from Sora, going into thought, speaking aloud to himself. 

“I used to want to travel with my father, explore all the worlds, just get a back pack and go.. that was when I was 8, I planned it all years in advance, but ever since mum died” he groaned slightly and leaned his hand against the window pane.

“Ever since mum died father changed, still blames me for her death to this day, so that’s never easy. That’s why he’s so over protective and judgemental over everything I do..” He felt himself getting upset and changed the conversation, turning back to Sora once his face was fairly emotionless.

“Yes.. I lied to my father, I needed to get out, so sue me?” he said with a half shrug, half laugh. I did kind of need that book, but I could’ve ordered it. I lied and said all the retailers were sold out" a small laugh escaped his mouth, biting his lip softly in thought. “What’s it like.. living by yourself? No one to worry about other than yourself?”

The prince often wondered how people like Sora lived. He wasn’t sure if he wished for that life or not, intrigued more than anything else.. His thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he brought up the throne situation. “Do you know how much trouble that could cause? Say I get a female willing to carry my child. They child is born, they expect income for looking after the child. If i refuse they’ll sell a story, or abandon the child. There are people like that out there, Maybe I’ll just have to find a friend I could really trust.. heh, if I had any.”

“People fear me because of the heroic stories they hear, How I took down a whole arm in two minutes. The worlds and fiends I’ve killed. The low tolerance I have for people that piss me off. I think they assume I’d kill them, but they fail to see I’m just hear to protect them” He paused for a moment, his words hanging in the air before continuing.

“Stories.. like my red eyes, when they turn red I turn into a monster and kill whatever is in my path..” he debated telling him the story that hurt him most. “.. That I.. abused my butler, beat him, raped him, left him for dead” he could feel himself rage thinking of the lies. “They fail to see it was the other way around. Even father believes them” he walked away from the boy to a near water dispenser, collecting a plastic cup and crushing it in his hand just as he was about to pour himself some water and punched a wall near the bookcase. 

“Fuck..”