Chapter Text
Troy adjusted the cuff of his shirt, smoothing down his hair before knocking on Prince Abed's door, awaiting permission to enter. He was tapping his toes together, wondering why he called for his presence. Don’t get him wrong, he didn’t mind spending time with Greendalia’s prettiest residence (“objectively,” Troy thought”), but that didn’t mean he didn’t get sweaty palms every time he thought about him.
“Yes, come in,” Troy heard Abed call from within his study room.
He nervously wrapped his hand around the doorknob and slipped in. Abed was sitting at his desk, invested in the map in front of him. Troy peered over Abed’s shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of the paper taking up a majority of the space of Abed’s desk. It was mostly blue.
“What are you looking for, Your Highness?”
Abed averted his gaze, staring at Troy with those gentle and mysterious eyes. “You know you can just call me Abed.”
“I know, you’ve said that but it’s not proper,” Troy replied. He leaned in like he was sharing a secret he knew he wasn’t supposed to. “I wouldn’t want to lose my job, Prince Abed.”
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let anyone fire you. You’re my favourite person in this castle.” He smiled, not breaking eye contact.
Troy’s cheeks burned. “Oh! that’s very kind of you, thank you, Your Highness.”
Abed furrowed his brows and Troy was fast to correct himself.
“Sorry, Abed. Thank you, Abed.”
Abed returned his attention back to the map on his desk. Troy was wondering why though, as most of the known-Earth was covered in water. Abed spread his hands over the paper, carefully examining the land that was explored while Troy was carefully examining the single strand of hair that landed on Abed’s face. If he had more courage, Troy would’ve tucked it behind his ear.
“Do you ever think about running away?” Abed queried, catching Troy off guard.
“Oh--uh, not really. I like being around you. Also I need the money.” Troy’s mouth quirked up, releasing a small laugh. “Why do you ask me this, Pri-- Abed?”
“I want to see the world.” Abed sighed, throwing his head back and turning to look at Troy. “I’m tired of being cooped up in this castle.”
Troy softened his gaze. Abed looked awfully upset, with his brow furrowed and the frown still on his face, but still absolutely gorgeous.
“I understand, but you’ll be married soon! You’ll have a wife and you’ll be happy.” Troy hoped Abed would ignore the small crack in his voice at the word happy . Happy without Troy. Those words hurt him to say, the thought of Abed being in love with someone else hurt him. Why did he have to fall in love with the prince of Greendaleiea?
“I don’t want to have a partner chosen for me, I want to fall in love.” Abed breathed exasperatedly. He ran his fingers in his hair. “I want to be free, I want to go on adventures and just you know, know what it feels like to not have everyone’s eyes on you? I don’t know if that makes sense.” Abed tilted his head, hoping that Troy would understand.
“It makes perfect sense.” Troy shrugged his shoulders, rubbing his arm. He’s never had such a raw conversation with Abed before. “To be honest, I’ve always thought about adventuring the world, myself. With a best friend by my side.” Troy smiled to himself, imagining him and Abed adventuring together as pirates, as explorers, as lovers.
“Why don’t you do it?” Abed asked.
He laughed. “I don’t have the money and I don’t have a best friend.”
“Oh. Well, I’ll be your best friend! Let’s run away together!” Abed beamed, his eyes sparkled with hopefulness. He didn’t see anything wrong with that sentence because why should he? They’ve been spending a lot of time together recently, a lot closer than Troy ever thought he would get with the prince, with anyone really. Troy wanted that, he really did. His heart was racing, did Abed mean he wanted to fall in love with him along the way? Was he already in love with him? He quickly pushed those thoughts out of the way and shook his head with a half-genuine laugh.
“That’s the hunger talking, Abed. How long have you been cooped up here?” He pushed his hair back, not meeting Abed’s eyes. “What can I get you for lunch?”
Abed’s face fell. He looked disappointed.
“Uh--yeah, sure. Could I have pasta?” He trailed off, focusing his attention back on the map in front of him.
“Sure. I’ll go put your order in, sir.”
Just as Troy turned around, hand reaching for the doorknob, Abed gripped his hand and held it in his. Abed’s hands were really soft. Troy always thought they looked delicate even, but he was realizing now that they were anything but, as he could not break from his grasp. Troy turned to face him, cheeks flushed red. He hoped Abed couldn’t see it.
“Abed. Remember, you can call me, Abed.” He smirked, his mouth quirked upward in a way that seemed soft from afar but commanding up close. Troy shivered.
“Right. I’m sorry, Abed. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He didn’t break from Abed’s hand though, even when Abed loosened his grip. Abed brushed his thumb over the back of Troy's knuckles. Troy looked down at him; Abed was entranced by Troy’s hands.
“Would you,” Abed paused, his cheeks tinting pink. “Would you want to eat lunch with me?”
Troy almost “ awwwwed ” right there and then. He grinned, trying to hide his smile but failing miserably. “If you’d like me to then I’d be honoured.”
“I’d love for you to. Pick whatever you want off the menu and I’ll tell them I said okay.”
Troy’s smile was blinding. “Okay, thank you.” Troy paused. “Abed.”
Abed’s eyes were so sparkly. They were always sparkling, but now they were diamonds, eyes wide with hope and happiness. Troy always struggled with paying attention to anything Abed was saying because he was so lost in them. He looked gorgeous all the time. His hair was curly and hung over his forehead in a wild and untamed way, matching his personality exactly. It looked so soft and he smelt so good even though Troy never actually smelled him he just looked like someone who smelled very nice. Abed also had the most beautiful smile, making Troy’s heart beat a mile a minute and sending him to his knees . He’d give everything to be with Abed, to marry him, to make him happy. He wanted Abed to be in love with him. Just the way Troy was in love with him. The problem was, even if Abed was in love with him (which he probably wasn’t), they couldn’t be together. Abed had to marry a princess, somebody royal. Troy wasn’t royal; he was just an equerry. Although the job was hard, excruciating even, watching Abed and knowing he would never be his Troy wouldn't give it up for the world. Because having this job meant he got to be Abed’s every day. Even if only for a little while.
Abed loosened his grin and he walked out the door, but not before banging into the door frame and causing Abed to burst into a fit of giggles.
When he closed the door, Jeff was waiting for him outside the study room, leaning against the wall. “What’s with the grin? You sleeping with the Prince?” The guard cackled, baring his teeth when he did so.
“That’s probably why he likes you the best!” Another guard chimed in and they all burst into laughter. Troy puffed up his chest.
“I’m not sleeping with him!” Troy huffed, crossing his arms and furrowing his eyebrows. He always hated the guards. They mercilessly picked on him, teasing him for everything. He lit the kitchen on fire, once. Once!
“I bet you wish you were, though. I see the way you look at him. You’re in love with him and you know it.” Brett, the most annoying guard, joked. “Hell, even he knows it at this point.”
“I-I’m not!” Troy stuttered, tapping his toes. So what if it was extremely obvious? As long as Abed didn’t know, he would be okay. .
The kingdom needed better guards, these guards were literally the worst.
He rushed past them, face hot with embarrassment and ears pricking with heat. “Stupid guards,” Troy was grumbling under his breath. He was staring at the ground, eyes locked on anything but the guards whispering in front of him. So much so, that he almost bumped into the king. His head snapped up, giving him enough time to side-step right before he collided with the king.
“Good afternoon, Troy.” He greeted.
Troy stopped and bowed as best as he could with his face still burning with embarrassment.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness, how are you this fine day?” He asked.
“I’m doing quite alright, still trying to find someone to marry my son.” He answers, pinching the bridge of his nose. Troy had heard somewhat vaguely about the efforts to find Prince Abed a princess. It hadn’t been going well so far.
“I wish you luck, Prince Abed deserves nothing but the best.” Troy smiled wistfully.
“Thank you, if only there was a prince like you, Abed really enjoys your company.” The king chuckled.
“And I enjoy his.” He laughed.
“I like you, Troy. You’re a good man. I’ll see you around.” He smiled, his mouth not quite reaching the corners of his eyes.
“Thank you, Your Highness, it was a pleasure talking with you.” He bowed.
The king nodded and Troy hurried past to the kitchen, opening the dual wooden doors and greeting the chef with a large smile on his face.
“Hello, Chef Conner, how are you this afternoon?”
Troy always loved the kitchen; the smells wafting from inside the room always made him happy, but it did quite the opposite for his stomach. He especially loved it when Chef Conner would make tomato soup, rich in parsley and little bits of bread sprinkled all around. It reminded him of his mother, the way his mom seated him at the table and delivered him a steaming bowl of soup when the days grew really cold. He smiled at the memory.
“I’m doing quite alright, Troy, how are you?” He asked, continuously chopping up onions for what Troy assumed was today’s meal for the royal family.
“I’m great, could you make me pasta for Prince Abed?”
“Butter, of course, and for you? I heard that Prince Abed wanted you to accompany him for lunch.” The chef smirked knowingly. Troy blushed again.
“Oh um, right. Pasta is good for me too. Thanks.” He answered quickly, trying his hardest not to stutter.
Conner walked over the cabinets and pulled out a large pot, filling it up with water and turning the stove on. “The prince is falling in love with you Troy, I swear he is.” Conner smiled as he started preparing their dishes.
Conner was Troy's closest friend other than Abed; he knew everything about him, including the fact that he was in love with the young prince.
“Oh, how I wish that were true.” Troy laughed dryly, rubbing the back of his neck as he grabbed the pasta from within a small cupboard next to the cabinets.
“Let’s make a bet, then. If Abed ends up not being in love with you, you have to do the castle’s dishes for a week.” Conner said, as he put the pasta into the pot.
“Isn’t Jordan paid to do the dishes?”
“Well yeah, but he never gets a break.” He mumbled, turning red.
“Oh my god, you’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?” Troy cries, his mouth agape as he cackled at Conner.
“Shut up.” Conner hushed, crossing his arms against his chest.
“Fine. Okay, deal. What do I get if I win?” Conner was silent as he let the pasta cook on the stove, his face scrunched up as he stirred the pasta with a spoon. “Any day now,” Troy laughed, tapping his toes against the kitchen floor.
“Um, I don’t know man. What do you want?” He drained the pasta, the steam hitting his face as he was sent into a fit of coughs. Troy laughed at Conner, rolling his eyes.
“Food.” Troy smiled, reaching over Conner to steal a bit of penne. “5 meals of my choice.”
“Deal!” Conner grinned sticking out his hand.
Troy gladly shook it.
“When does this end by?”
Conner raised his eyebrow as if the answer was incredibly obvious. “Well, the king is looking for someone to marry Abed right? So, if he confesses his undying love for you before he gets married then you win.” Conner slid the two freshly made plates of pasta across the counter, steam emanating off the plates and shiny with a coat of butter. “Now, you mustn’t keep Prince Abed waiting. Take the food.”
“Thanks, see you later.” He took the plates and opened the door with his foot, almost dropping the pasta onto the floor.
“Enjoy your date, Troy.” He called, the door closing behind Troy.
Troy rolled his eyes as he walked away.
“Oh look, it’s the lovesick, equerry.” One of the guards laughed, pointing at him as Troy made his way towards Abed’s study room.
Troy walked faster past them, trying not to look any of them in the eye.
“What’s the second plate of pasta for?” Brett snickered, making his way in front of Troy and blocking him from the door.
“Prince Abed has requested that I accompany him for lunch,” Troy replied, his voice dropping more with each word.
“You’re definitely sleeping with him.” He heard a few of the other guards whisper behind him.
“Shut up,” Troy muttered, pushing Brett aside before knocking on the door with his foot, still holding two plates of pasta.
“Come in.” Abed chimed.
Troy pushed the door open with his shoulder and walked inside, trying desperately not to drop the tray of food.
The door slammed behind him, making him stumble.
Abed rushed forwards and quickly caught the tray, all the pasta still on the plate and his fingers gripping Troy’s wrist.
“Careful there, sweetheart.” He smirked, winking at Troy, fingers still wrapped around.
Troy’s heart skipped a beat, scratch that, his heart skipped a thousand beats. Abed just called him sweetheart and all the butterflies were let loose and he felt it from his feet to the top of his head and especially the place where Abed still held his hand.
“I apologize for my clumsiness, Your Highness.” Troy mentally scolded himself before speaking again. “Abed. I mean Abed.”
“That’s quite okay,” Abed replied, smiling warmly. His fingers let go of his wrist and Troy was tempted to drop the plates again.
He sat down at the table off to the side of the room and Troy set the dish in front of him.
“Can I get you anything else?” Troy offered.
Abed picked up his fork, placing the napkin on his lap. “I’m alright, just sit with me.”
Troy nodded and took the seat across from the prince.
“How has your morning been, Abed?”
“It’s been alright, I wanted to get outside but I never got the chance.” Abed picked at his food with his fork, trying to see how much pasta he could fit onto one fork. “Would you like to go to the garden with me after lunch?”
“I’d love to, Prince Abed.” Troy smiled, his mouth reaching his eyes.
Abed looked up from his plate and gazed at Troy, his eyes a mix of curiosity and embarrassment. But Troy only had a look of utter adoration, a face he was used to making, especially around Abed.
“Thank you.” He whispered.
“You have nothing to thank me for, Your Highness.” And he meant it.
“You keep calling me, Your Highness, Sir, or Prince Abed.” He stated, lifting his eyebrow and pursing his lips.
“I know, I’m sorry, I’m trying to learn to call you Abed, but I just keep getting distracted and it slips my mind.” Troy mumbled, lifting his shoulders and frowning.
“No, it’s okay. It’s cute, what are you getting distracted by?” He smiled, seemingly unaware that he just called Troy “ cute ” and he was losing his mind.
Troy's cheeks flushed red as he shovelled more pasta in his mouth, to keep from confessing his love to Abed right there and then.
Abed smirked, putting down his fork and staring Troy right in his eyes. “You’re pretty easy to read, you know?”
“Huh, what?” Troy blurted as best as he could, mouth full of pasta..
“I can tell what’s going on in your brain right now.” Troy choked on his pasta. “First you were thinking, did he just call me cute? Can he see that I’m blushing? The answer is yes to both.” Troy stopped eating and was just sitting there. Feet tapping furiously on the floor and eyes blinking rapidly. “Now you're wondering how I read your mind. It's because I pay attention.” Abed ended his long monologue, waiting for Troy to say something before picking up his fork and going back to finish his pasta.
Troy was blushing furiously. Fuck. Abed didn’t know, did he? That he’s hopeless and desperately in love with him? Right?