Chapter Text
The tip of the crowned prince’s blade clashed against his guard’s sword. The crowned prince backed up to go in for the final hit, jabbing the knight in the center of his chest. “You’re dead.” The prince declared. He smiled widely behind his helmet.
“Another fine kill, sir,” Kozume’s voice ran from the sidelines, and Hinata’s attention was diverted for a moment. The knight bowed to the prince and went to stand next to the other knights.
“Perhap you’ll be my next challenger?” The prince removed his helmet and smiled in the direction of Kozume.
“My skills could never compare to yours, your highness.” Kozume looked up from behind his hair at the prince, smiling slightly.
“I believe you could take me on.” The prince put his helmet back on, he swung his sword beside him. “Who’s next?” The prince asked as another knight stepped up the plate.
All afternoon Kozume watched the prince train, taking down knight after knight, only really injuring a few. Each time the prince dismissed them and the number of guards that the prince could use as target practice dwindled down. Kozume didn’t think that the prince’s energy could last this long. The sun was setting by the time that the last knight was dismissed. Kozume was cleaning up around the training ground, collecting scraps of cloth, or bundles of chain mail. Hinata removed his helmet and he set it on the stand beside Kozume.
“Kenma,” The prince said under his breath. Kozume dropped his satchel on the floor and turned to the prince. He wore a smile, and he held a sword out to Kozume.
“One battle, like when we were kids, wooden swords.” The prince said those words with such joy and nostalgia, Kozume was weak against it. There was no way he could refuse. But even as he accepted the prince’s challenge, he felt the real weight of the metal sword. It was most definitely not a wooden sword, and this battle will not be like the ones they had with children. The sword that Kozume held in his hands held power and weight. A weight that Kozume wasn’t sure he wanted to be responsible for. Yet here they were.
Kozume lowered himself to the ground slightly, assuming a battle position.
“Sir, I recommend your helmet to prevent damage to your face,” Kozume suggested, tucked his hair behind his ears so that he could see. He needed the largest field of vision he could create with the setting sun.
“You won’t hit my face Kenma, I’m too pretty,” The prince scoffed and Kozume felt he was at an impasse. The prince wasn’t wrong.
“Are you prepared, your highness?” Kozume asked, and the prince chuckled.
“As I'll ever be.” The prince said, and then his face dropped. He was concentrating, the prince considered Kozume like any other foe he’s faced today. Kozume couldn’t decide if he would leave the training grounds alive today, or here at the hands of the crowned prince, he would be killed.
The prince made his approach, holding his sword straight at his side, the sharp end facing Kozume. The servant gulped as the prince approached him, the only real way to survive this attack was to dodge. Kozume jumped to the left and swung his sword behind him to hit the prince on his back.
“I’m sorry your majesty,” Kozume said, returning to his stance.
“Don’t apologize when you start to win during a fight, Kenma,” The crowned prince lowered to the floor, his feet matched his shoulder wide and apart. The crowned prince approached Kenma again, this time feigning an attack on his left when really he planned to attack his right. His blade sliced through Kozume’s clothes but it was too dark now, to see if he had nicked him. He hoped that he hadn’t hurt him badly. Kozume pressed a hand to his side, and when he lifted his hand he could feel the warm liquid of his blood flow from him. It wasn’t a deep cut so he didn’t bother telling the prince.
“Good one your majesty, you definitely got me that time,” Kozume said with a soft smile.
“Don’t patronize me Kenma,” The prince said, lowering himself to the ground, his chin aligned with his blade.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, my lord,” Kozume was mocking him now, but the prince didn’t really seem to mind it. There was a smile on his face that would make anyone blush, Kozume was thankful that the sun had fallen past the horizon. He wasn’t sure he could explain the rush of heat to his face, nor would he be able to blame it on the cut.
“One more to decide the winner.” The orangelike tufts at the top of the prince’s head shifted slightly in the breeze, and like a leaf in the wind the prince danced in the air and he was beside Kozume in an instant. The blade nicked the side of Kozume’s cheek gently. The prince held Kozume at his side. “I win,” The prince whispered, his stance loosened and he plunged Kozume’s sword into the ground. “Until next time, Kenma, we have to go in for dinner.”
Kozume's breath was stuck in his throat. He had been watching the prince grow up and train but he had never expected that his skill would be like this. Kenma never stood a chance against him, he was glad that the prince only saw it as practice. You’d think after taking care of the family or royalty that Kozume would be well trained. But Kozume’s family was a family of servants and workers, ones that stayed with the family for generations, and Kozume wasn’t going to be the one to ruin that.
The prince sheathed his sword at his side. “Of course your majesty, we must return to your quarters to bathe and dress you for supper.” Kozume began the walk back to the castle quarters, the prince close to his side. Kozume dropped a couple of steps back behind him. He knew it was the proper way.
“Awww, come on Ken, walk beside me for a while!” The prince begged.
“I shouldn’t be seen walking beside you, I am not royalty.” Kozume reasoned.
“I mean in some ways you are, you’re not the king’s guardsman, you’re not a servant in the kitchen, you weren’t just taken in off the street. You were born into this position, and it’s not just any position Ken, it’s the manservant of the Crowned Prince. If anyone asks why you were standing beside me, tell them that I told you to, and you would never disobey a direct order from me.” The prince grabbed his manservant by his arm to pull him to his side. “Got it?”
Kozume nodded as they walked inside. Kozume tucked his hair that had fallen into his hand and tied up his hair before walking inside. He couldn’t be seen with his hair done and tousled around the prince. However, he never cared how Kozume looked.
“What do you think we’re having for supper?” The prince asked as they turned down the corridor that would take them to the staircase up to the prince’s quarters.
“Kuroo told me that we’re having the fresh pig that was caught during your fathers hunt this afternoon.” Kozume shared, the prince looked over at him at that announcement.
“And when did Kuroo get the chance to tell you this? You were with me all afternoon?” The prince asked, quzzled.
“While we were on the training grounds; you were in the middle of showing off to the guards was it that Kuroo came to deliver me a few messages.” Only in the private staircase that ascended to the prince’s quarters did Kozume feel safe enough to tease the prince. There shouldn’t be anyone able to hear them mid staircase as long as they’re talking at a reasonable volume. The flight up the stairs always winded him, and each time the prince offered to carry him the way, and he always refused.
“Kenmaaaa, I wasn’t showing off. I’ve worked really hard to get where I’m at.” The prince whined, Kozume laughed softly and the prince straightened up as the came around the staircase. The guards were as still as always and Kozume only spared them a glance before the prince and Kozume walked into his quarters.
Once the doors were closed behind them; Kozume released his hair from it’s tie. He sighed a breath of relief and the prince laid down on his large bed.
“My lord, we must prepare you for supper, you cannot lay down now.”
“Kenma, I’ve been training, I’m sleepy.”
Kozume shuffled across the room and bent down to his knees between the prince’s legs. “Shoyou,” Kozume said, only using his first name in the chambers. “You’ll be able to rest after.” Kozume removed his shoes, and the cloth over his feet to protect them.
“Stand up.” Kozume said, the prince groaned but he stood up and Kozume removed his pants. Slinking the prince’s legs through the pants, he folded them and placed them at the edge of the bed. He removed Shouyou’s belt that held his sword, and placed it beside the pants. Shoyou lifted his arms and Kozume pulled off his shirt. Folding it neatly like the others and placing it over his pants.
“Wait while I heat the water.” Kozume said.
“We don’t have time for a full bath, just give me a cloth.” The prince said and Kozume reluctantly threw him a towel. He dipped the cloth into a bucket of water and rubbed himself down. Kozume watched the process. It wasn’t willingly but his eyes followed each inch that the cloth covered. He found himself breathless when the prince rubbed at the hem of his undergarments. He looked away, catching himself before he could be caught. He shook his hair in front of his face, to cover the heat that had risen to his face.
“You okay Ken?” Kozume looked up at him, clearing his throat.
“Yes, my lord.” Kozume said before he walked off to fetch the prince's clothes for supper.
The walk down the staircase was a quiet one. Neither Kozume or Hinata had much to say. The royal family was already waiting for them. This was one of Hinata's and Kozume’s least favorite parts of the day.
Kozume stopped a couple of feet from the dining hall door, Hinata walked into the dining hall without looking back. When Hinata’s back disappeared from behind the door frame Kozume walked in after him. The collar of Kozume’s evening wear was itchy at his neck and he had to resist the urge to scratch it. Hinata must have noticed that Kozume was itchy because when Kozume pulled out his seat the prince adjusted his collar before sitting down. Kozume pretended not to notice the affection in the gesture and thanked the prince. Kozume made himself forget that it even happened for the rest of the evening. He refilled Hinata’s cup whenever it emptied. He avoided making eye contact with anyone at the table. He listened to all of the orders and demands of the royal family, including princess Natsu, whose manservant was Kuroo and not Kozume. The King never asked Kozume for anything, and sometimes the Queen allowed him to serve her. But it’s rare. Kozume will never understand why.
Not once are Kozume and Hinata allowed to speak, look, or acknowledge each other, and they both hated it. It goes without saying that the two of them are best friends. And although it may not be forbidden, it is deeply frowned upon to have a close relationship with one's servant. Not that Hinata cares much anyway, otherwise he would take to using Kozume’s family name in public.
Like the way that Kenma only takes to calling Shouyou his given name in his bed chambers.
“Ken! How was your day?” Kuroo asked as he threw his arm around Kozume’s shoulders.
“It was fine. You know that, you saw me earlier.”
“Yeah yeah, how's the old princey prince~?”
"Why would you call him that? It's not even funny." Kozume sipped on his hot soup. It was warm and comforting, much more than Kuroo's arm around him.
"Why are you being so sour?" Kuroo asked, throwing his hands behind his head.
"I'm not being sour. This is how I always am." Kozume said.
"Exactly!" Kuroo chuckled softly.
"Quit bullying your brother and get back to your meal." Kozume's mother spoke to them, she cut Kozume a slice of the King's pork. It was the leftovers, but still, it was meat. Kozume ate his pork quietly, and Kuroo and his father spoke to themselves.
"How is the prince today Kenma?" His mother asked.
"He's doing rather well. I was able to watch his technique on the training grounds, he even asked me to battle him." Kozume shared a lightness in his voice.
"I know, you reek of blood. The King mustn't know. Tell your prince, no one else." His mother whispered, she pressed a kiss to his head before getting up and sitting beside his father.
"He's not my prince." Kozume mumbled into his pork.
Later that night after the servants supper, Kozume returned to the prince's bed chambers. He opened the door quietly and closed it slowly behind him. Everything was quiet until Hinata came crashing in.
"Kenmaa!! You're back, did you eat well?" Hinata asked, his chest bare and his pants rolled up to his calves.
"I did, your majesty. Thanks for asking. Should we prepare you for bed-?" Kozume was caught off guard when the prince's hand touched his side suddenly.
"Kenma, you're bleeding!" Hinata said, stress in his voice.
"It's not a big deal, my lord. It's just a small cut from our earlier battle." Kozume said. But Hinata didn't listen. In several, quick, fluid movements Kozume's shirt was off and he was sitting in a chair beside the ongoing fire. "Your majesty-Shouyou-it's fine" Kozume tried to argue. But the prince already had water at his side, dabbing and cleaning the blood off with a cloth. He had a tiny pinprick needle and some string. He moved the string between his teeth and pinched Kozume's skin together before threading it through. Kozume was not as strong as the prince, he couldn't help but groan in pain at the feeling of steel piercing his skin. He tried to remain still, knowing that the prince wasn't trying to hurt him.
Once Kozume was stitched up and wrapped around the waist Shouyou finally let Kozume take care of him . Kozume heated the water before filling Hinata's bath. He slowly and strategically washed the prince's body, the way he learned to do many years ago. When he done with the parts Hinata allowed him to clean he handed the cloth over to the prince and took his leave to his bedchamber until he was called back.
Normally, the manservants would usually wait until their royal was cleaned and dressed before dressing for bed, but Kozume was allowed to get comfort. Per Hinata's rules. And Kozume wouldn't refuse an order from the prince.
As he dressed he wondered him Kuroo and Princess Natsu had any secret rules.
"Kenma!" Hinata called from his bedchamber. Kozume opened the doors to the room hurrying inside. The prince stood out from the bath and Kozume helped pat and dry him down. Once he was dry, Kozume followed him to the bed where he dressed him carefully and seated him by the bed. "Ken~ Can I have a kiss goodnight? I mean- just on the forehead?"
"Your majesty, I am your servant, not your mother." Kozume said. He tucked the blanket into comfortable corners for Hinata, he leaned over him to tuck him in. He could feel Hinata's eyes following him. Kozume snuck a quick kiss to the prince's head before taking off. The prince rolled over, giggling as Kozume left to his chamber with a red face.
"Good night, my lord."
"Haha, goodnight Ken!" The prince chuckled.