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Chapter Text

‧₊˚✧[ POV: Third person]✧˚₊‧

Summary: John clearly wasn't in the mood for his brother's birthday to invite his enemy, but little did he know that was for good intentions, as he and Robin explained some things before the banquet could start at night.

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John approached the throne room as his brother intended on saying, since there's something that Richard wanted to say to him, his little brother of sorts like his brother affectionally calls him. And John scoffed when he hears his brother talk and talk about random king duties like either his acquaintances with Lord Gutfried and many kings in general, or something that Richard is set on agreeing with and wanted to speak with.

When he entered the room, hoping for yet another report about how the kingdom of Nottingham is doing. Instead Richard appeared to be smiling, what's got him so happy now?

Prince John: "Uhhhh, my brother. Why are so abdomen about? Like you seem to look like you've won or something?" he asked, raising a brow or two.

King Richard: "Today's my birthday, brother. I am officially turning 25," he smiled with a calmer look. As he moved closer to John, "I am inviting royals in the kingdom, all around the counties, to come to my birthday. There's gonna be a ball of sorts and a banquet, gift-giving and a feasts. Aren't you excited to see your brother grow up?" he puts his hands on his hips.

Prince John *Rolled his eyes, as he sighs*: "Woah, it's been a long way since then, I am glad you're getting older and able to control an entire kingdom beneath finger tips. But why are this excited over a birthday party? Especially a birthday party made by a king which 100% is going to be all LAVISH banquets, feasts and gift-giving, that's the point of being a ruler of Nottingham." he bit his lip, "Anyway. What's next on your to-do list?"

King Richard *The corners of his mouth turned up*: "Well, my dear little brother, it seems delightful to hear but I am already planning on inviting Robin since I could tell you two have such in common, since he is happy to celebrate my birthday. I also intended on inviting his friends as well, and have some preparations."

Prince John *Gasped*: "Robin what?" his eyes twitched. "Did you just invited him? I am not mad but you clearly making fun of me just because I used to act not the nicest alive but seriously why ROBIN?!"

King Richard: "But c'mon brother, don't you want Robin to come here, you've been non-stop talking about him, maybe is the time to also invite him so you could spend time with him." he pinched his cheek, "Like you've grown up like 18 years old and you've redeemed ever since you've turned 18, maybe is time to sort your hatred with someone and start becoming friends."

Prince John *Clenched his fists*: "Seems like you're playing a cruel prank on me, Brother. Just because of my negative experiences with him and how much I met him around here. I know that you could just bring Robin and expect me to think I'll get used to him, I might've been redeemed but my hatred of him never changes and yeah. I get he climbs into the window to see me, but are you sure that bringing someone I hated before could clear up my mind and in hopes of being with Robin." he said, with an upset tone.

King Richard: "You'll get used to it, John. For all I know, you wouldn't be this upset to seeing him and you'll have great time with him. I promise," he gently pats his shoulder. "And before I leave, try to behave I don't want people to look at me with stern for having you cause a scene." the king stepped out of the throne room, leaving the prince to close his eyes out of anger.

Prince John: "..."

John storms inside his room, with folded arms as he slams the door shut, ever since the banquet had been planned for tonight, that includes having his worst enemy attend the ball, the prince couldn't believe that he has to be next to someone he hated for 8 years now. Ever since they were 10 years olds and chasing each other around, one trying to steal his gold to return to those commoners, his words. And he tries to steal it for himself. But how? After 8 years and now they are 18 years olds and are adults, the prince kind of started to have feelings for the ginger, like it's blossoming like a flower on spring day.

While outside he hated it, but the inside certainly wanted to see him. He may react negatively due to past experiences with him, but that's not change the fact he genuinely want to see him. Even if he's redeemed himself, the prince couldn't stop but to either hate or love the archer.

Either way, the ball concept in itself. Since John's older brother, Richard is celebrating his birthday and since kings' birthdays are lavish banquets, feasts, and gift-giving. The prince got an invitation received by Richard with a rather particular day by coming to his throne room so he decided to attend it out of love for his brother, and not wanting to disappoint him. But he couldn't stop but feel disappointment inside because Robin is attending the birthday party and he knows that if Robin is invited, in the past, his plans could get foiled by him. And now, having him there makes him kind of resent his own brother, but he couldn't tell him so that he wouldn't upset or anger Richard. And the prince is screwed if he ever angers his own brother just because he invited his enemy in his party, or even upsets him. It reminded him from the time he invited Robin to his birthday, because they are "friends" or something.

Prince John: "I asked to many questions, of course. He'll invite him, what did I expect? I love my brother but this is such a cruel joke to play around with, is as if he wanted me to react angrily when I've wanted to change for the better." he sighs, knowing full well that Richard planned this a lot even with his birthdays. This is something very common of him to do, so that he could have Robin next to him but only to lead him to believe his own brother thinks he's still on the verge on locking Robin. He rested a hand on his hip, but his thoughts came in. "But why am I feeling like he did the right thing, to invite him? Like I wanted to see him, and all. Like he enjoyed seeing me around him, and he wanted to give me the time to see him." he whispered to himself, "Crap."

A knock on the door was heard, and John drew nearer to it. A voice was heard, but not so clearly.

Prince John: "Who is it?" he asked, suspiciously.

Maid Marian: "It's me, cousin." she said.

Prince John: "Oh, okay." he opened it, "What brought you here, my dear cousin?" he questioned.

Maid Marian *Her brows knitted into a frown*: "When me and my lady-in-waiting are talking excitingly about the banquet and all of the things about it, we've seen you angrily walk to your room so I decided to check up on him." she asked, worriedly as her lips pursed. "What's got you upset?' she waited for her cousin to answer.

Prince John: "I am fine, just I felt the need to go on about this tangent, my brother's birthday is today and he invited people but he also invited Robin."

Maid Marian: "Isn't that a good thing? Robin being there." she reassured him. "It's not like he is ruining it, I know that he "ruined" your birthday before and that's why you had this hatred all along, but Robin since grown up." she puts a hand on his shoulder, "You are just being confused and worried. Which you shouldn't be, like Robin isn't going to hurt you, don't worry."

Prince John: "Yeah, trapping me in one of his traps with his buffoons as his friends is "not hurting" me. Totally, I get your point." he rolled his eyes, "Marian, there's a difference between teasing and doing what the idiot was doing. I understand your point of view but you got to understand that he is trapping me all the damn time, it's not the same."

Maid Marian: "You still cannot get over the past, cousin." she slapped her forehead, "You were like what, 10, 13 or 17 years. Like back then we used to be kids and of course, we've had our times where we throw traps on each other but Robin wanted to prove that he had grown since then."

Prince John: "Fine, if you think that archer just poof into someone else, so be it." he clasped his hands behind his back, "But don't you expect me to react negatively when his shenanigans gets in the way of all of this. OKAY!"

Maid Marian: "Okay, okay." she held up her hands in defense, taking a step back. "I now get it, you don't have to be this angry over me telling you about Robin."

Prince John: "I tried to at least be patient while being angry just so my brother isn't upset or angered him for the 10th time." he crossed his arms, sighing huffily. "Like you know me, you know that if I ever anger or upset him whatsoever, I'll either be send back to the shepherds or even worse be sent to my room."

Maid Marian *Gave a half shrug*: "I mean he did he's best to punish you for what is worth, like karma is karma. You can't just ease your way from the consequences, what you did was bad and he did what he did."

Prince John *His teeth grinded*: "Is she taking his side again? Like always." he closes his eyes out of anger again, as he muttered under his breath, he snapped out of it. "Yeah yeah, cousin. I get it. But I am trying to redeem myself and clear my name! Literally maturing and trying my best to appear way more older for the love of God."

Maid Marian *Sighs*: "Redeeming is not what you think it is, redeeming means you have to earn someone's trust or try your best to not do the same things or act the same way as before but the closest you redeemed yourself is when you tried to show that you aren't the same as before but that's not further of the truth and couldn't be the case since you still hate Robin even after you've shown slight improvements after the punishment."

Prince John: "..." he frowns. "Stop," he was shaking slightly. "Just stop talking," he muttered under his breath.

Maid Marian *Removed her hand from his shoulder*: "Until you prove yourself you redeemed, then we'll say that you redeemed yourself fully." she left his room, which resulted to the prince having hard time focusing.

The prince knows that Marian's right, that his redemption is incomplete due to his burning hatred of Robin. And he slightly improved from the punishment and his brother, but he still need time to turn to a new leaf and make a name for himself that isn't out of hatred or fear. But only time could tell, only when his hatred of Robin could fade away overtime. While inside, he wants to drastically change for the better in hopes of becoming better and not viewed like a tyrant like before.

Meanwhile in the lair, the ginger cleans the den for a bit and organized things until Robin noticed Tuck approaching him. With a letter of sorts, with Little John accompanying him.

Robin Hood: "Uhh, what just happened?" he puts down the broom. "What is Tuck holding?"

Tuck: "A invitation from the king, his birthday is today."

Robin Hood: "Are we invited?"

Little John: "Why yes, we are. That's why the invitation was for," he smiled. "Like the royals and so many people are coming in the castle, and it would be outside or something."

Robin Hood *Nodded*: "That's amazing, wonderful to hear the king of Nottingham himself approach an idea for three of us to come to his birthday. That's not that unusual since the last time," he gave them a thumbs up, "..."

Tuck: "What's wrong?"

Robin Hood: "..." the archer crept in silence, he should've stayed happy but that moment kicked in when he realized that he'll have to see the prince's face again. Little John noticed and rolled his eyes, he knew his friends had never liked the prince due to past experiences with him and the last time had been this angry with him when John had accidentally endangered Tuck in one of his plans to get rid of Richard. Not anything life-threatening, Tuck had just almost gotten a scratch on his arm.

Tuck: "What's up with Robin? He isn't acting like his usual self." he raised a brow.

Little John: "It's that annoying prince John again? Like always him and his guards or even the sheriff, augh, it's always him when it starts with even the slightest of changes, which literally made Robin act so off than before." he smacked his forehead. "Can we catch a break without him being in our heads all of the sudden?"

Robin Hood *Nodded solemnly*: "Yeah, it's him alright. He's always in my head like I cannot even think straight without him being in the picture, in my mind or something...Like this isn't like Marian, where I could think of her and go on with life, this is the brother of Richard. The one who got us locked in the dungeons and resulted to one of friends accidently getting endangered. What if he gets us again in trouble or even worse get us arrested?"

Tuck: "That's the thing, he ALWAYS gets in the way of things and has us get arrested or thrown away in the dungeons, this got to be the 100th time."

Little John: "And now, his "redemption" is like excusing the fact he improved but clearly he still has a vendetta towards us."

Robin Hood: "..."

Little John: "No seriously, like hasn't he not been punished enough? Has the punishment of him working as a shepherd didn't change his attitude towards us? Like he kinda improved but not entirely since he still acts the same old way as he did before."

Robin Hood *His head drooped*: "Yeah, he might still be spoiled as hell or annoying to be around with and even selfish or dishonest but-" he abruptly stopped when his friends left him alone. "But maybe when we attend the party Richard throws in maybe just maybe the prince could change into someone that wouldn't be mistakenly him from before."

The ginger clearly has feelings for the blonde-haired prince but admitting them to his friends is like a conflict waiting to be happened and occurred, his friends had long since never wanted to hear Prince John be spoken or mentioned in any context whatsoever due to negative experiences with him. And Robin could see why his friends have a distant on him, the prince had been nothing but an annoying presence to be around with.

But something lingered within him, a flicker in his mind or a blossomed love that he could confess with, the archer knows that all he ever wanted to do was to express something and reciprocate his feelings to someone that used to be his worst enemy of all times but little did he know that him having a crush on his worst enemy or frenemy in some instances is not the worst thing, it's how to confess his love to him? Ain't easy knowing their past instances and encounterings, likely due to the times Robin and his friends had tried to stop him from robbing the village, arresting innocent people for not "paying" the taxes even if he raised so much that it's borderline unpayable and breaking the kingdoms' rules as a prince. So how come he ever confess to someone that acts like the world revolves around them, simple. He takes an interest to the prince's babbling and his hobbies, him spending with him and talking about things. And meeting each other without fighting, this clearly how Robin comes to realization that they've started to grow up and understand each other's perspective and view. That it isn't a simple childish rivalry and rather a key to finally getting to know each other without resorting to childish nonsense. If only when the prince acts his age, then they could set aside their hatred and become friends or even more.

Robin Hood *Sets aside the broom as he takes his weapon with him*: "I am prepared to see the prince, I just hope his temper tantrums aren't gonna ruin it." he thought, "And I could be able to confess my feelings to him, without him getting in the way of all of the things. Oh wait, maybe I could visit him, and check up on him so that we could talk it out." he exited the lair to go to the castle to pay a visit, hoping to talk with the prince.

While at John's chamber, the prince quietly sat in the bed as he grips the bedframes of the mattress with his head lowered to stare at the floor, his cousin's words are in his head, and stick inside his mind, the concept of redemption alone could take time to earn, improve and become a better version of oneself, likely since John's redemption is still incomplete and still needs time to fully became someone that could make the villagers see him less of a tyrant. He improved but still acts immature, still thinks he's better, still hates Robin and still gets angry over minor changes.

The prince's childhood wasn't the happiest thing, his father abused him both verbally and physically but he abused his older brother the most due to him being 7 years apart from the prince, his mother did little but spoil the prince with gold to show love to him, and Mom was nothing but neglectful and only acted like "parent" when it comes to spoiling the hell out of him. The abuse lingered, as they were traumatized, the prince had many instances of being sexually abused by others and even his father. Things turn into fucked up territory where his brother got slapped by his own father for disobeying him and calling him out on his behalf.

Shortly after Richard and he escaped to Nottingham to avoid seeing their parents, as they originally lived in Oxford, Richard tried to make the prince's life better, with minimal results. As the king was as traumatized as the prince was, at 17 while the prince was 10. The older brother has to leave for war due to complications with kingdoms and the war co-related to it, so the older one granted the prince power and gold as well as 300 guards while he is gone as well as a sheriff to patrol with this amount of gold, the prince was money-hungry and power-hungry combined. This was his venting and coping mechanism, to avoid his trauma, he used up all his anger on the villagers, raised their taxes to unpayable territory and acted like a tyrant. Marian was taken to custody before the king left for war, she had her parents abandoning her at such a young age and have some kind of abandonment issues afterwards so her seeking support from both of them while relying on them is her way of feeling belonged.

The prince's only source of comfort was the sheriff, viewing him like a surrogate father, and receiving comfort from him. The sheriff was his support beacon, his need of aid and cherishment. The sheriff cared for him deeply, and comforted him a lot. But then something happened that changed the prince's life forever and altered a lot of things, a ginger-haired male which is his age that came to Nottingham with his relatives, his aunt, Matilda and his cousin, Scarlett. The reason being is that Robin's father send him there likely out of support and wanting to see his baby boy in Nottingham and spend time there, Robin is from Yorkshire, England, and the son of the Earl of Locksley. Robin was welcomed to Nottingham but felt unwelcomed to the castle, his relatives, had been given jobs like Matilda as a palace cook who often helps them get into the castle and his cousin, into a lady-in-waiting-esque servant, being unwelcomed by him. After seeing the way the prince treats his aunt and the villagers, Robin is horrified and attempts to stand up to the prince. As a result, he is banished to Sherwood forest and branded an outlaw and remained that way since the start. While roaming the Sherwood Forest because he had no choice, he met up with the two males who are orphaned, two fellow outlaws, Little John and Tuck, who agree with his disapproval of the prince. The three agree to form together and bring justice to Nottingham with the help of Scarlett and her friend, Maid Marian. Throughout his time as an outlaw, Robin foils many of Johns various attempts to tax the villagers and exposes the Princes cruel nature to the rest of Nottingham. As a result, John is determined to catch Robin and have him imprisoned for treason. Robin manages to evade all of Johns attempts to capture him, mostly by the help of the Princes cousin, Maid Marian.

John was never the same, he had been way less nice to the outlawed archer, has time gone by. Resulting to him becoming whiner and a lot aggressive than before and using his anger into the one person he hated a lot and desperately despised, he in one instances often resorting to petty tantrums for someone his age, someone that is a 10-year-old and running to the sheriff to seek comfort, and that's because he craved for comfort and wanted someone to hold him.

When his brother arrived back to Nottingham, he relinquished the throne and gold, this in turns made the already angered Prince John extremely jealous of Richards power and gives John a new goal of trying to oust his big brother from the throne. His desire to gain power leads to many failed attempts of trying to get rid of Richard and stealing his crown. Johns plans are largely unsuccessful due to Robins close friendship with Richard, which formed after Robin saved him from a run away horse. Richard often invites Robin to the castle and has asked him to be sheriff for a period of time and replacing the sheriff with the enemy of his and as a result losing the one that made him feel comfortable to be around with and even one of the Sheriff's children that helped him moved with their father, as a result allowing more control from Robin and the 13 year old to keep a closer eye on Prince John and make sure that none of his plans to get rid of his bother succeed. Which made prince a lot more stressed than before, in the past he can snap his fingers to alert the guards or scream for them to catch him now this could lead to failure each time he does that. Weeks gone by, and he missing the sheriff is an understatement, the sheriff made him feel like a person or the prince showed his vulnerable side to the sheriff, knowing full well he'll receive comfort from him, viewing him like a surrogate father or a father-figure he never had. So losing him, is losing himself in the shallow waters of the sea. Life crumbled under him, like a broken puzzle that's unable to be solved. He pretended to act like everything normal and act like he usually does, but fails to understand that he lost part of him and his coping mechanism of yelling at villagers due to his trauma led to him feeling stares around him.

An year had passed after this, where John is punished by King Richard after taxing the villagers and tricking Richard into giving up the throne by being forced to work as a village Shepard. During his time as a Shepard, Vikings invade Nottingham and raid the village and castle. John attempts to bargain with them, but is told by the chieftain that he doesn't "negotiate with Shepherds". Infuriated, John reclaims himself prince again and re-joins his brother at the castle, most of John's time is spent raising taxes, attempting to get rid of the Vikings, and trying to capture that pesky Robin as well as finally having to see the sheriff after 1 year of absent. But, John was kidnapped and held for ransom by the brigands and was thrown in jail by his own soldiers after a misunderstanding with blueberry pie and a vengeful Barron. John was temporarily regressed into a five year old after being sent through Marians evolution mist. Likely the result, had led the prince to have a temporary short memory loss and acting like a 5 year old, while it angered him a lot, this regression, felt like comfort, it felt like the time where he was 5 years old and seeking comfort from his brother, after the weeks that followed, he returned back to normal but something changed, he felt more comfortable to be around his brother while still seeking revenge for the relinquishment, he was far more comfortable than ever before. It was like reverting back to things were at the time, he was finally able to vent his frustrations and craves for comfort by not just his surrogate father, Sheriff but his birth brother that usually made him feel like a comfort place to be around with.

Now at 18 years old, he could still feel the side affects of the regression but he used it as a coping mechanism, a way to cope with his trauma from 18 years ago. His older brother cared for him and comforted him when he had nightmares, flashbacks and all the bad things that occurred to him, he hugs his older brother and he loved him dearly because of it. John kinda redeemed himself as he starts to realize his faults and wanting to improve but due to his hatred of the ginger and all the things that happened, it's hard to handle a redemption and become someone better, let alone be able to change into a better person. If he continues to hate the hero, he wouldn't know what the future be for him, if he continues to became a tyrant, no one would like him and if he raises taxes and arrests innocent villagers and Robin in general, the entire kingdom...will...view...him...as a the conniving younger brother of the king...A messed up in the head and a crude prince, and an annoying, spoiled to rot, dishonest and selfish person.

As he grips the bedframe from his bed, a knock on the window could be heard and he turned around, it's his worst nightmare, the hero of Nottingham, Robin himself. He sighed huffily, getting him and moving closer to the window to open it up. The archer stared at him, noticing something had changed, the somber mood of the selfish prince, usually John could still get angry or rather hides his anger and pretends to appear calmer than he seems as well as act like his usual self but he seems a lot moodier than ever before.

Prince John: "Oh look, it's you again, why are you here for?" he asked with narrowed brows with his hand resting on his hip. "So, what is it this time? Since having you in my brother's birthday isn't enough yet." his other hand facepalmed.

Robin Hood *Laughs a little*: "Well, long story short, a visit is recommended to put aside something. And for someone with a bad mood, it's likely more recommended than needed." he told him, with a smug look. The prince rolled his eyes, he already known what attitude Robin gives. "You seem to be on a bad mood after hearing this," his face softens. "But this a good call by him actually cannot agree more on this topic alone, having him bring me to his birthday allows me to be next to you. And can't blame him, he wanted me to try and make your life less lonely if he is busy with duties."

Prince John: "Yeah, and I am totally grateful of having you in his birthday, as much as I am grateful when you were in my birthday." he said, with sarcasm.

Robin Hood *Narrows his brows*: "That's the issue, John. You cannot be ungrateful if people are trying their hardest to give you something and you couldn't just deny help from others, that's being selfish and I am not looking for someone that acts like this on daily basis. John, you can't just push others away like that. Regardless if the person is a chore to you, unless that person is bad enough to warrant you avoid, it's best to not act like a prick if people are helping you. You are old enough to make decisions like these ones where you could either be nice and have others treat you like less of a tyrant or the complete opposite route." he crossed his arms, he shook his head. "You need to understand that you have to change and redeem, even in a simple things like to stop hating on me for stupidest of things like I couldn't take you seriously even Richard thinks you're a little not so serious and start using his anger in a productive way not in a way you're doing it for the longest of time."

Prince John: "Oh, here's the obligatory reminder that I am a dumbass for acting the way I am. In what world do you think I, me. Using my anger for productive purposes, you cannot make this shit up. HOW?" he raised a brow.

Robin Hood *Sighs huffily*: "How, you clearly need to calm down and realize no one wants an angry person to be their prince of all people. Richard, the king of Nottingham has justified reasons to get angry, you don't. You expect people to treat you like a ruler when you, yourself cannot handle basic critism."

Prince John: "..."

Robin Hood *His face softens*: "John, I have to tell you something. This is important, when I first meet you. You've been something of a conniving and rather tyrant of a prince to be around, likely since your personality could be explainable enough to be considered bad, but John. I think you're a passionate person, when you talk about gold, which is your bread and butter of conversation, I rarely get bored of it. Like, I am never yawned unless it's the same thing being repeated over and over again. You...You're the prettiest than most girls in Nottingham, even Marian, you come across as prettier than her, and I don't know how it's possible. That's for sure, you're smart, even if your countless failed plans to capture me or to get rid of Richard have failed, they were good."

Prince John: "Uhhhh, you managed to make some kind of love poetry over a enemy of yours." he smirked.

Robin Hood *Winking at him*: "Well, you know me. John! I've been in loved with you ever since we've started to get to know each other as people, like at first it was childish bickering as per usual and teasing cause we were a lot younger around 10, which we teased each other quite a lot. But something seemed to have blossomed, how we interact now? We don't seem to have hatred brewing inside or burning within us like before, but a weird and rather confusing feeling of each other in a romantic sense."

Prince John: "But isn't it weird that we are the same gender?" he asked, he knows that romance comes from opposite genders falling inlove. "I mean, it's a lot taboo than it seems."

Robin Hood: "It's not, love cannot just be a man and a woman falling inlove, it could be platonic and romantic, regardless of gender, love is love. And it cannot possibly replace it, love isn't replaceable but rather sticks around when you grow up." he told, "Even if we are both the same genders, what's the big deal? It's not so bad," he adds.

Prince John: "But Dad told me, I cannot date someone that is my own gender..." he sighs.

Robin Hood: "..." the archer crept in silence, he had already since known the prince's childhood has nothing more than him going through trauma. "John, you shouldn't listen to him."

Prince John: "Yeah yeah, if that's gonna change the fact I've been listening to him, like how a child should always listen to their parents or a trusted adul-"

Robin Hood: "If the trusted adult is literally someone that makes you live life like this, I don't think so, trusted adults should not be those you blindly trust just because they are adults, trusted adults are like your older brother, Matilda and possibly villagers. Adults are adults for a reason, you trust them in hopes of getting advice or something!"

Prince John *Mutters beneath his breath*: "You're right...I mean, genuinely right, saying that makes me slightly puke a little but I am not that mad about it, I am mad that the person giving me the advice and telling me this was you not anyone. My brother told me this, yet you explained to me the most simplest of terms."

Robin Hood: "I've known of your parents because him explaining it to me, and many of the people he trusted, thus why I know your story." he smirked, he kisses his cheek. Which made him blushed, "Anyway. What will you wear for the banquet?"

Prince John: "Uhh, something suitable for a banquet from someone's birthday to be their brother...You?"

Robin Hood: "You'll see." he winks, before he exited the window. Leaving the prince to be weirdly prepared for this, well. He'll have to wait what it would be actually!

Chapter Text

‧₊˚✧[ POV: Third person]✧˚₊‧

Summary: The prince's nightmares are consuming him at night, night after night. The prince couldn't handle them, so he got out of his room to his brother's room to comfort him, which results to the prince ended up sleeping in his brothers' arms.

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John sleeps peacefully in his room after a dreary day; he comes to his senses to fall asleep. The moon was abnormally large and it bathed the earth with its luminous glow, a bolt of lightning tore across the sky, and a peal of thunder followed and rain began to fall through the skies, but suddenly the prince's peaceful slumber was ruined by the nightmare he was experiencing right now.

He woke up in a black void with black figures emerging from the void. The prince's clothes aren't his homewear but his casual ones. Upon closer look that the prince has a hard time figuring out, he couldn't clearly tell who is and what he is looking at. But then he hears whispers that he couldn't hear, he turns around and sees faceless people that, from the looks of it, are the villagers he could often rob from and possibly the ones he targeted the most, he approaches them, and they disappear each time he tries to place a hand on them. Until three people clear the path for the villagers, it's Robin and his friends.

Richard stands there with folded arms, disappointedly, as the king's brows narrowed and looked clearly angry. John could see the burning hatred in his own brother's eyes, the king's gaze burning into his soul like fire.

They snickered as John moved closer to them, with tremble and fear in his eyes. While John could only see their mouths and noses, as their eyes were nowhere to be seen, he would tell them that they were indeed them. When the three outlaws disappeared as well, and then the prince felt a hand on his shoulder, it was his father.

King Henry *Clears his voice*: "Couldn't possibly believe of you, you're as useless as your own brother, Richard, how come we had you two as our children, you are nothing but mistakes..." he points his index finger at him, "How dare you be born?" he yells at him, "You are way more intoleranable than your brother yet your brother is way more like you in terms of disappointment."

Prince John: "...But father, please...Please, my brother and I aren't trying to cause harm, we've tried to please you to our advantage but you cannot see us as way more than mistakes." he abruptly stopped when Henry slapped him, the same way he slapped his brother. The prince places his hand on his cheek, wincing as his cheek reddens.

King Henry: "That's the problem, THAT'S THE DAMN ISSUE RIGHT THERE," he shouted at the prince. "You are the worst son I could ever have; you clearly like your older brother, a burden."

Prince John *His fists clenched*: "WHY CAN'T YOU LOVE US? WHY ARE WE BURDENS TO YOU? WHY?" he cried, his fists shaking, yelling at his father. He bites his lip as a tear threatens to spill down his cheek. "DADS' SUPPOSED TO LOVE THEIR DAMN CHILDREN, NOT VIEW THEM AS LESS WORTHY AND LIKE WALL TO YELL AT THEM, LOVE US LIKE HOW THE REST OF THE PARENTS IN THIS GOD FORSAKEN WORLD WOU-!" he whined, interrupted by his father's grabbing his arm and gripping it tightly. His hand starts to hurt as it begins to bruise. John tries to flinch, but his father's tight grip becomes hardened.

King Henry: "...LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING, YOU CANNOT DISOBEY YOUR OWN PARENTS LIKE THAT. YOU HAVE TO BE OBEDIENT, WHICH INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING YOU AND YOUR BROTHER ARE JUST WORTHLESS BEINGS." the father roughly releases his grip, as John falls into the void as he screams.

Till the prince awoke and gasped for air as he thrashed his own bed to get up, his heart hammering against his ribs. He places a hand over his chest, breathing rapidly. As the rain began to fall from the skies and thunder could be heard outside, he rushed to his brother's room with tears in his eyes.

Prince John: "..." his teeth gritted, the emotional stress and pain inside grow within his body. "Where's Richard?" he asked quietly until he found his chamber. He burst in with a pained look; he cannot speak because of it.

King Richard: "Uh," he woke up to see his brother in this state. "What's wrong, brother? You should be sle-" he asked gently, but stopped when the prince drew near him. The prince looked stressed; it's something bothering him.

Prince John *Bit his lip*: "I had a nightmare, where everyone looked at me angrily and with fear, as well as you looking angrier, as well as the snickering of Robin and his friends, as well as our father's wrath," he explained, with a pained expression. "Sorry, I am sorry for all of this," he apologised. "For coming to your room!"

King Richard: "Brother..." his eyes furrowed, "You know. That there's nothing wrong with going to my room, you have all the time and need if you ever feel like the nightmares are eating you up, and besides, nightmares aren't actually real; they're just figments of our fears. Besides, I've experienced the nightmare of our father calling us burdens and mistakes." he patted his mattress for him to sit on, which he did.

Prince John: "But how come we have the same nightmare of our father?" he asked, worriedly. He wipes his tears away from his face, "..."

His brother places a hand on his shoulder, and the prince never flinches as the touch is warmer from his brother's. The prince could feel the comfort squeeze from his brother, and the prince pressed a hand over his brother's.

King Richard: "Because we've experienced the abuse from his wrath, all of the pain, the stress and the suffering was from him targeting us, when we were younger, I protected you with my whole life, little brother. And the nightmare of you suffering your father's wrath is a mere replica of mine; no matter what, we're always gonna face the pain of him in some form, and that's nightmares," he told, "But we'll stick together, through thick and thin." he embraces him, his voice shaked but tries to at least appear calm. He held him tightly, but not that tightly to break his bones or make him wince, but enough to hug him, his arms tightening around his shoulders.

Prince John: "Yeah," he nods, his brother could also experience the nightmare, and he, too, is as traumatised as he is. He hesitated for a bit. "I just wanna be loved, instead, I received hatred from the ones that could've loved me, our mother could be neglectful yet she spoils me as a way to show she "loves" me, which ended up becoming the one flaw of mine, greed." he hesitated, "She hated you due to how similar you are to our father, yet our father hates you as well, and so did he hated me. Likely from me being similar to her, she and our father argued a lot, yet they could use their anger on us," he explained.

King Richard *Nodded solemly*: "...Yeah, this is how we've become so close, we've experienced it." he said, "But the abuse I was affected made me turn to a good person, and not wanting to end up like them, whereas you experiencing it as well made you worse and you using your anger against others who are innocent because, you were afraid you'll face the same wrath from them like our father."

Prince John: "...Can I sleep here?" he asked, sadly. He wraps his arms around his brother, "If not. That's okay, I could return back to my room as always."

King Richard: "Sure," he nodded sympathetically. "You are allowed to sleep here if you ever feel like it," he adds.

Prince John: "Okay..." he nods as he lies there with his brother, in his brother's warmth.