『Chapter Fifty-Two』
『the wakening』

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Kain hadn't left Jace's side at all. Even when night fell and everything was calm, Kain never once left Jace's side. He couldn't, plus he had said that he'd keep an eye on Jace for Peter and the others. Peter—despite wanting to be by Jace's side—said to Kain that it reminded him too much of another incident which he didn't want to relive if he did lose his brother, which Kain understood.

The others said that they'd be popping in and out to check up on Jace, though they were also going to question Adrian to make sure that he was telling the truth. A part of Kain was just glad that Adrian would be out of his sight and far away from him. Knowing that the others were away brought left Kain to be by Jace's side no matter what, and Kain was fine with that. He felt as if it was right for him to be by Jace's side.

Kain was awkwardly laying across the chair beside Jace's bed with their hands intertwined with one another. Their hands stayed like that ever since the day before, Kain didn't want to let go, Jace's warm hand was all that Kain had to know that Jace was somewhat okay. He knew that there was little to no movement within Jace's hand, but it still felt nice to feel Jace's hand in his. Though he wasn't sure if holding Jace's hand was to comfort himself or Jace, there was a part of Kain which wanted to pull his hand away, yet he couldn't.

He didn't know how much time he had with Jace like this, he didn't know whether Jace would wake up despite the healer saying that Jace's wounds were healing. There was still a part of him that thought that Jace might not wake up for some reason. Kain knew that he was overthinking all of this, but it was something that he couldn't help all that much, the thought of Jace like this was something that stressed him out, knowing that it's his fault.

His eyes lazily stared at Jace though threatened to close. Kain was tired, his sleep during the night had been broken when he assumed that he felt Jace wake up. That and the fact that throughout the night some healers would come in to check whether everything was okay. No matter how many times he tried to fall back asleep, he could only last about half an hour to an hour before feeling himself jolt awake.

If Kain had to be honest, he was exhausted, yet no matter how much he tried to go to sleep, he couldn't. Kain wanted to be awake when Jace woke up, yet his eyes dropped shut. He wasn't sure as to what time it was, outside the small window it looked dark, yet the sound of birds tweeting made the prince confused.

His thumb ran circles over Jace's hand, his head reasting against the back of the chair. Kain's hair got in his eyes, though he couldn't be bothered to move it, all he could focus on was the slight rise and fall of Jace's chest. A familiar warm feeling filled Kain to know that Jace was okay.

He sat like that for a few moments before his eyes then fell shut. His hand never moved from Jace's as his mind went to all their little moments on Xopheila—how they'd steal a few kisses, how they used to run around to try and hide their relationship, the small moments where it was just the two of them. Despite the fact that they were hiding their relationship from Kain's father—Aegon—Kain loved the fact that they made it work. It felt right.

A small smile made its way onto Kain's lips at the thought. Though what had brought him out was the slight grumble of his stomach and the dryness in his throat. Kain let out a small groan, he didn't want to move, in a way he was comfy with how he was. The slight pain which was in his back was something he was trying to ignore, though the need for food was something which was calling out to him.

With slight hesitation, Kain moved out of Jace's room to find anywhere to eat. Despite the fact that there was a part of Kain which didn't want to leave Jace, he couldn't help but feel the need to eat. There was a small part of him that felt bad for wanting to eat and leaving Jace behind, though he shook his head slightly. He walked down the corridors of the small hospital in hopes that there was some sort of cafeteria within the lower levels of the hospital.

Kain's hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jacket—which was still covered in Jace's blood. He couldn't be bothered to change it even with all the odd looks he received by those he walked by. There was this small part of him which forgot that he had Jace's blood on him, though either way he tried to shrug it off, he'll change out of it when he could be bothered to. And now wasn't the time he could be bothered—all which he wanted was food.

As much as he was hungry, there was a part of him that wondered whether or not he should've changed his jacket. He knew that it was something little for him to worry about but at the same time there was a small part of him that didn't care, he could feel the looks that he was getting though he tried to shrug it off. In some weird and twisted way, there was a part of him that didn't want to change, it was like a reminder of what happened to Jace.

Kain tried to put those thoughts aside. After what seemed like forever, he found the cafeteria where he noticed how healers, visitors, and whoever else were dotted around the open area. Some sat around tables, eating what they had bought and talking to those who they were with. Others were standing with their friends or family talking over whatever was of interest. There were some healers who looked exhausted as sat alone while they ate, others sat in small groups and had small conversations.

Kain wasn't fully interested in what any of them had to say, all that Kain wanted was something to eat. Though as he waited in line, he couldn't help but pick up on the conversation that was happening in front of him, he tried to ignore it, but he couldn't help it.

"Did you hear? There's a half-breed Asgardian who came in yesterday after the Kree attack," one healer spoke to another. "The one with brownish-black hair from the Guardians of the Galaxy."

Both were in front of Kain in the line for food, though Kain could have sworn he recognised one who had treated Jace when he came in. Kain didn't know, he wasn't really paying attention to the healer's appearance when Jace was on his mind.

"What was his name again?" The other healer asked. "And I didn't expect Asgard to allow a halfling to wander the galaxy." The healer shrugged. Kain just caught glimpse of the name tag—Glorith. The one who brought Jace up was apparently called 'Joh.' "Do you think he's a god or something? You know, given that he's Asgardian?"

"Hm, I think I remember one of them saying that his name was Jace." Joh spoke, tilting his head. "Though who knows. There was someone who stayed with him throughout the night, couldn't work out what they looked like—they looked as if they were from Xopheila. You know one of the Emperors' kids. Anyway, I wouldn't put it past this one to be a god, he's healing quicker than I'd like to admit."

Kain somewhat shivered as he then turned his attention back over towards the options for food. There was a part of him that didn't like the conversation he was listening to, but he shook his head. He'd already grabbed a bottle of water, though his eyes scanned over the options of food he could have. Kain ended up grabbing a sandwich and ordered chips as a side.

"Didn't one of those kids run away?" Glorith asked. "Cause I swear hearing about it. Though I'm not sure as to why."

Before Kain could even think, he found himself speaking before he could stop himself. "He ran away because the Emperor was threatening to split him and his boyfriend up. That and the fact that the Emperor is sending assassins after his son."

The pair then turned their attention to Kain—who was in the process of paying for what he had gotten. Kain internally cussed at himself for getting involved—but they mentioned him, so of course he was going to get involved in the conversation. Though now that their attention was on him, Kain wished that he never did. One would think that he'd be used to attention similar to this, he grew up with eyes being on him at all times, but it was still something which made him more uncomfortable then he'd like to admit.

"How do you know?" Joh questioned, raising a brow.

Kain looked up at the pair, a small smile placed on his lips. "I know because I am him. The eldest son of Aegon Barblen ran away because he is gay." Kain then shrugged. "Nothing more to add, I ran away because I was ran out of my planet because my father was trying to force me into something that I wasn't comfortable with."

"Why?" Glorith questioned. Kain shot him an odd look. "Why bother going through all the trouble of being gay if you knew that you that your father would act the way that he did? Your father doesn't seem like the type of person to do such a thing. How is anyone meant to believe that Emperor Aegon ran you out of Xopheila for being gay?"

Kain stood there staring at Glorith with complete confusion, he wasn't sure how to answer that. In some ways he was taken aback by the comment. He knew better than anyone that his family—his father—wanted nothing more than for the public to believe a completely different story and perception when it came to the doings of the family. Hell, Kain knew that it was difficult to even get a photo of the Royal Family of Xopheila because all of the emperors including Aegon never wanted anyone to fully learn the doings of each member.

Kain knew that his father would've twisted the story the second that he left his planet, his home, but at the same time, Kain didn't expect for the story to include this warped version. Kain tried to wrap his mind around this entire idea that his father made the public believe that Kain ran for no reason, that the reason didn't include him being gay and the fact that his father was trying to force Kain into a marriage that he didn't want. He knew that his father hated him for being what he is and the relationship that both him and Jace have.

On top of that, knowing that people believe that his father isn't the kind of person to do what he did was something that Kain hated more than anything else. All that Kain wanted to do within that moment is to yell or say something that proves his point though he knew that no matter what he said or how he said it, no one would ever believe him. His father painted a perfect disguise knowing that no matter who Kain told about any of this, none would believe him. It wasn't like he could go back home and confront his father, knowing that his father would want him killed for humiliating him in such a way.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Kain wanted nothing more than to stab his father, or to yell at him. He knew that these thoughts were only temporary, though that was something that Kain didn't care much about. Kain hated the fact that his father could make himself look innocent in all of this, knowing that he was sending assassin after assassin after Kain. All of it made Kain feel like he wanted to scream into the void about all of it.

"I think you'd find," a voice spoke, "that Aegon Barblen is nothing more than a lying piece of shit who chose to throw his own son out of the only home Kain ever knew. Aegon has everyone wrapped around his vile finger making everyone believe that he's the most innocent person to have ever exist but he's nothing more than a disgraceful piece of shit known to the universe. The way that he's treated his own son for liking a guy is something that everyone should feel disgusted by, especially knowing that Aegon sends assassins after his son as if he's afraid of what Kain would say."

Beside the three was Jace. His jaw was clenched though his eyes were mainly on Glorith who seemed to almost shrink under Jace's harsh stare. His presence alone seemed to make most of the healers pause what they were doing to stare at him, all interested in the half-Asgardian. Yet there was something which Kain noticed, it was the that his hand shook despite Jace desperately trying to hide it.

Though, there was a part of Kain that felt relief, Jace was awake and that was something that mattered the most to Kain. As much as he loved that Jace was defending him, there was still a part of him that just didn't care, Jace was awake, he was okay. If Kain wasn't holding his tray of food, he would've ran towards Jace and hugged him, but he held himself back, staring at Jace with wise eyes.

He could feel the way that the breath caught in his throat as he stared at Jace. His eyes looked Jace up and down to see if this was real and to see if Jace was okay despite the way that Jace's hand shook. There was a small part of Kain that wanted to cry at knowing that Jace was okay and that he was walking around. He'd thought that he'd have to say goodbye to Jace if he hadn't of woken up.

"You're meant to be asleep," Joh spoke, clearly shocked.

"Funny that," Jace shrugged, "you'd think I would. Yet here I am, awake and healed." Jace went to take a step towards Kain, though he felt his knee's buck slightly.

Kain was at Jace's side before he could stop himself and think. "Jace, it's okay, put your arm around me and put most of your weight on me." Kain saw the slight hesitation in Jace before the prince then scoffed. "Just do it, Jace. Do you want a chip?"

Jace flung his arm around Kain, forgetting the two healers who watched the pair with slight confusion. Jace ended up taking a chip or two as the pair then left, heading back to the room which Jace was meant to stay in. The walk back was silence as the pair ate the chips, Jace was leaning against Kain for most of the way which Kain didn't mind.

Kain would occasionally look up at Jace only to be greeted with pain which wrote itself across his face. Kain bit down on his lip, looking away, there was a part of Kain which wanted to ask Jace if he was okay—but it was clear that he wasn't, it was clear in the slight limp in his walk and the look written across his face.

There was a part of Kain that wondered whether or not they should talk about what happened, though there was a part of his brain that argued against the idea, telling him that they'd only get into another argument when and if they were to talk about what happened. The last thing that Kain wanted was for them to get into an argument just as Kain got Jace back awake. He didn't want whatever mood Jace to be in to be soured over Kain's need to talk everything through.