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[...Tw...?]

When Jeremy opened his eyes he was greeted by a starry night sky.

So much for grabbing the princess and go. Jeremy paused before memories crashed down on him like a horse, "Michael!" He shrieked, beginning to scrambled to get up but getting pushed down.

"Geez, you're going to wake up some demons dude! Chill your ass down!" A voice hissed from a few feet away.

Jeremy smiled as he recognized the voice, turning his head to see Michael poking a stick into a fire, most likely made by him, "You're still here!" He squeaked with joy.

"Yeah, and you can thank me for saving your life- you'd have been monster chow by now if I hadn't stayed and given a light resource." Michael stopped poking at the fire and leaned back with a frown.

Jeremy shared the same expression, "I-It was the love-potion speaking, I swear!" He didn't know why he felt so hurt over Michael being upset, but he did too also know why at the same time- but he truthfully didn't really want to admit it, at least, not at the moment.

"So? Doesn't change how you treated me." Michael shrugged, "It's fine though, I'll get out of your way and wait for another knight to rescue me some other time. It only took eighteen years for this one to come, maybe when I'm Thirty-Six it'll be a prince." He shrugged.

"...You want a guy to rescue you?" Jeremy raised an eyebrow.

"I kissed you on the lips. Of course I'm straight." Michael rolled his eyes sarcastically.

Jeremy was quiet for a moment, but only for a moment, before speaking, "What did you mean by...everyone was using you...?"

Michael flinched, "N-nothing, now shut up and go to sleep knight-dude, you're still recovering from that potion crap." He looked away from Jeremy.

"It's...Jeremy...or...Knight-Knight was fine..." Jeremy felt the awkwardness thicken between them.

"You seemed pretty fond of that name..." Michael meant to say this in a jeering way, but it came out with a small giggle.

"It's from a cute guy so..." Jeremy tried his best to flirt naturally.

"...I..." Michael sighed, shifting a bit, "Well, ignoring isn't going to do me any good." He muttered, looking up to study the stars, "I wasn't always a...er...how do you put this...? ...Guy...?"

Jeremy's eyes widened, "I didn't think that was possible..."

"Neither did I..." Michael shuttered, "I didn't want it at first but...it was...it was forced  upon me."

"I-If you don't mind me asking- how so...?"

"Of course I mind, I just met you..." Michael shook his head, "But it won't hurt I guess." He murmured, "Well, I didn't always live in this realm...I lived in another realm, the Western Realms of the Wastelands, yeah well, I was the daughter of the king there, of course, making me a princess, but uh...my...my dad he..." Michael shook his head, "He didn't want a daughter...but...he and my mother well...my mother was one of the few healthy people in the town, the plague had recently hit and my father was a nervous wreck. He needed someone to watch over the kingdom when he died. However, no matter how many times he...tried...with my mother, well, I was the only healthy baby. But of course, a girl can't lead a kingdom so..." Michael's voice trembled, "He...cut off everything he could and..." Michael squinted his eyes shut, shaking his head, then lifting up part of his dress to reveal multiple chest scars.

Jeremy's eyes widened in horror, "Th-that's horrible..." His voice was layered with sadness.

"And," Michael moved his hands to his neck, tilting his chin up to show multiple scars and everlasting bruises on the front of it, "I still have a partially pitched voice but...the wounds make it lower and-"

Jeremy put a hand on Michael's shoulder, "...I'm sorry..."

Michael wiped a few tears from his eyes, shrugging, "I-It's life- a-anyway, so uh...for awhile I was going fine, I did indeed rule my kingdom when my father passed away, the whole kingdom believing a was indeed a natural born boy, leading a kingdom as a nine-year old...then when I reached the age of twelve...it was my turn to pick a queen and...well, I couldn't refuse, it was my duty..." Michael smiled, "I fell in love with this wonderful woman named Richel..." He chuckled softly, "She was brilliant...but..." Michael frowned, "Well, I trusted her, I thought I could at least but...when the time came for us to have a child, so he too could one day rule over the kingdom...she just..." Michael choked on his words, "I-It's not like I could give that to her- even if I wanted to I-I had to tell her and sh-she locked me away here a-and said it was for the b-best." Warm tears ran down Michael's face, "So here I am..."

Jeremy could feel himself on the verge of tears as well now, "M-Micha I-I'm really sorry..." He murmured.

Michael shook his head with a sigh, "It...it's not your fault...I'm safe now." He smiled over at Jeremy.

Jeremy returned the smile, a genuine one, full of genuine love for the other, "C-Can I still be your Knight-Knight?" He squeaked out.

Michael grinned fondly at the boy, "Of course, you can be my knight-knight."

Jeremy giggled softly, "Thanks...but...on a serious note...what now...?" He scooted closer to Michael.

"Don't you have a village to go back to?"

Jeremy shook his head, "I think...no matter what I do...they'll never see me as more than a fool, a mistake..." He glanced over at Michael, "You see me as our knight in shining armor. I say, wherever you are, that's where I want to be."

Michael felt himself choking back tears, "Fairytales do come true..."