Trigger Warning: Mentions Of Abuse

~~~~~~~~~Third Person POV~~~~~~~~~

About an hour passed by; Harley had taken Joel to their room, where the brunette stayed in bed as he went to take a shower.

Once finished and dressed, he went back to the bedroom, seeing the young prince's back facing him as they laid on the smaller bed. A feeling of guilt slowly rose inside, and he sat on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh. "You awake..?"

No reply. He wasn't surprised, he could assume that fear from earlier drained him.

There was a heavy pause after that as Harley thought carefully of his words. There was a lot that he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure of how to say it.

Eventually, he began.

"... I am jealous, Joel.. but not go the girl.. I'm jealous of you.. I have been for a very long time.. I just couldn't understand why someone who grew up having everything and more in their entire life would want to throw it all away..! I mean, I had close to nothing my entire life, and hearing about how you grew up in a palace as royalty, with food being served to you in a huge bed, able to go anywhere you wanna go and- and get anything you desire, it made me so angry..!!"

Much like many times, Harley could feel his anger rising up again as he thought about their contrasting lives. At that realization, he took a deep breath. "... but.. I'm sorry.. I always pictured you as a spoiled brat who ran away because you were bored, but seeing your reaction at seeing your mom, I- ... I'm really sorry..."

"It's okay.." The redhead instantly grew pale at Joel's voice, looking down as the brunette turned around to face him. "It's not like I ever told you why I left.."

"... to be fair, I never asked, nor care enough to.."

"Good point.." Joel sat up, sleepily rubbing his eyes. "And.. I'm sorry for freaking out earlier.."

"Don't apologize for that, it's not your fault.."

The two stayed in the silent room for a while, unsure of how to continue the conversation. That is, until with a shaky voice, Harley turned to the prince. "If you're comfortable explaining, I.. I'd like to know why you reacted like that, and.. why you ran away.."

Joel stared back without an answer, his gaze soon moving to the bed. "... my mother has never been a good person.. Not a good wife, nor a good queen, and most definitely not a good mother.."

Harley shifted a bit, getting into a more comfortable position as the other continued to explain.

"Everything has to be perfect around her, exactly how she says, and if things don't go her way, she gets angry.." The brunette gripped their own arms, "And usually that anger was taken out on 'prince training' for me.. It was just an excuse so she could beat me up whenever she had the chance.."

"Jesus, dude.."

"It's not that bad, at least, I know my father has it way worse.. I-if he's still alive.."

"What do you mean..?"

"He never talked when I was in the palace, never moved, he'd just move around whenever Mother told him to with the same blank stare.. I've always wondered if he's still in there, or if that's just a lifeless body on strings.."

"Mm.."

"I remember the last straw all too well.. Violet was already staying in our palace, and while she was getting things ready for our wedding, Mother forced me to go out to town for some last minute checkups.. Along the way, our carriage nearly ran over some kids playing, and we only stopped because I jumped out to stand in front of the it.. Once I got home, she took me to the dungeons a-and.." Joel looked at the redhead, his smile very obviously forced, "Well, that part's a bit foggy for me.."

"... I-I see.."

"Violet quickly noticed what happened, and without a second thought, we packed a few things, got my little brother, and left the kingdom for good.."

Harley was at a lost for words, a lump in his throat forbidding him from making any sounds, when he noticed the brunette's hands trembling in fear, carefully placing his own over theirs, "I.. I-I'm really sorry, Joel.."

"It's fine, i-it's-"

"It's not fine, I- ... I've been so horrible to you, and not once did I think things over and question that maybe your life hasn't been all riches and rainbows..!"

"To be fair, your life hasn't been nice to you either.."

"Not really.." He rubbed the back of his neck with a heavy sigh, "But it doesn't give me any excuse to be a dick to you.."

"Well, I appreciate your apology.." When Harley didn't reply, Joel then gave a shrug,  "And you listened to mine, I can listen to yours, if you're okay with it.."

"Meh, it's kinda cliche if you think about it.. My parents died when I was four so I moved in with some crazy lady that is actually my aunt who.. I guess was similar to your mom in a lot of ways.. After leaving that, I ended up at this building with runaway teens and no adults.. It was fun at first, but I quickly realized just how bad it was.. Eventually I reached our town, and.. well, here I am.."

Staring back at the redhead, a sad smile grew on his face, "I guess we're not so different, huh..?"

"... I guess not.." He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting back to the other, "Do you feel any better after talking about it..?"

"A little.."

"Mm.."

A few seconds of silence went by, when Joel let out a heavy sigh, "A-anyway, we should get some sleep.. We've no progress on our mission so far so we should get up a little early tomorrow.."

"Right.."

Once Joel began to get comfortable in the little bed, Harley bit his lower lip, feeling guilty over something else. "... hey, uh.. you can have the big bed.."

"Huh..?" Joel sat up, tilting his head a bit, "I already said I don't mind sleeping here.."

"Yeah, but I'm gonna feel like an asshole of I keep it, so.."

"Harley, I really don't mind.."

"Just take the fucking bed already, okay..?!"

A snicker escaped the brunette's lips, and they stood up before walking over to one of the sides, "The bed's big enough for the both of us.."

Harley's face matched his hair, "E-eh?"

Ignoring his red face, Joel lied down and snuggled against the pillow, "We can both sleep just fine here.."

"... r-right.." The other replied and crawled onto his side of the bed, feeling his heartbeat a little faster than normal.

Had this been good progress for them..?

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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