T W O

It may have been sweat glistening his skin, but it mirrored sunlight dripping down his jaw and striking the well-tended green grass.

Iris took the hem of his shirt and wiped his nose while wheezing.

"Perhaps I worked you too hard?"

Falling on the grass with a heavy sigh, Iris sprawled like a starfish and refused to meet his innocent-looking guard's eyes.

"My father agreed to exceed the training by two hours. So tell me, Kai, why did we train for six!" Iris's voice gradually grew until he was yelling at the unfazed vampire.

"I'd call it..getting lost in the moment. But, uh, sir-" Kai stepped over the prince and poked his exposed abdomen with the end of a wooden sword, making him groan shortly. "-You didn't complain until you realized you were loosing."

Iris smacked the sword away, "That's not true."

"No? Then tell me why we trained for six hours?"

"Because you distracted me! You're fairly good at that."

Kai shrugged, "It's a given. Anyway, we are done here, I'm sure your body is already feeling the effects." He innocently scanned Iris's figure from his eyes to his dirtied boots, and Iris didn't bat an eye, even when the vampire did it slowly.

"Never thought you'd say that. Can you help me?" Iris extended his arms out for Kai to pull him up, which he did quite easily. Though their hands remained connected due to Iris being numb on his legs. "Ugh. Good thing I only have desk work to do."

"Mmm..actually your schedule has been changed, Iris."

"What?"

"Miss Rose is coming over for lunch. You need to attend."

"But..but I have work."

"Despite your father's words this morning, I will do the organizing for you, but I cannot sign your own consent."

"You'll do that for me?" Iris widened his eyes so optimistically it hurt Kai like the glaring sun did when he stayed in it too long. But this pain he liked.

Kai sighed, "I'm just following orders."

"Oh."

"It's a joke," Kai smirked, "I offered before he could order."

Iris exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Kai. For an undead man, you have a warm heart." The young prince patted Kai's chest where his organ would be and mimicked his smirk.

"You'd be an awful jester."

Iris broke into laughter as he wobbled past Kai, who shook his head.

After Kai put up their equipment and secured the training center they made their way down the echoing, chaotic corridors scurrying with maids and servants trying to tend the already spotless floors and walls. As though they could see micro-sized dust particles, they frequently cleaned till their fingers ached.

Kai watched in amusement as Iris had to walk like an old man up the stairs, gripping the railing and taking one step at a time as they made their way up the twirling grand staircase.

"Perhaps you have met the "elder" stage, in which sir is appropriate now?"

Iris stopped mid-step. If he had a cane or any weapon, the vampire's face would have been the perfect target.

"Shut up, Kai."

"Yes, sir." He smirked as he walked past him.

Screw it, Iris thought.

Iris raised his throbbing leg to kick the back of Kai's knee, making it bend and cause the vampire to fall against the railing.

Conjuring up all his energy and will power, the prince booked it up the stairs. He winced at the soreness already prickling his muscles, but it was worth it.

Although he did make it to his room before the vampire could catch him, he didn't shut the door on time.

As soon as he turned around the door flew open, almost smacking his face, but Kai's chest did the honors.

The two collided against each other with a loud thud, then kissed the floor with upcoming pain.

Iris groaned under Kai, rolling his head like it weighed more than the two combined. He couldn't complain however, he did ask for it. But Kai's mass on top of his didn't help.

"Get off!"

"You're the one who kicked me."

"What? Am I supposed to apologize?" Iris was well aware he wasn't strong enough to completely shove Kai off him, but he didn't spend three years training with vampires to not know weak points.

And as cute as it was, Kai's ears are the main nerve to pick on.

"Get off!" Iris growled again, this time gripping onto the vampire's left ear and tugging. Kai fulminated in pain as he began leaning in the direction his ear was being pulled on, which left Iris the opportunity to shift their positions.

They rolled until Iris was on top of Kai and they eventually were pullings at each other's hair and skin, while thundering curse words and unconsented sentences at each other. Though, it was all fun and games.

"Stupid vampire!" Iris shouted as he was once again smashed under Kai's weight.

"Arrogant brat!"

"Take that back!"

"God, you are a five-year-old chil-" Iris slapped his hand over his mouth, muffling his words. He quickly lunged forward, his heart destined to gain the upper hand; but was he too eager? Did they both overdose with a hyper playfulness?

Forcing himself up and the vampire back until he hit the floor, Iris had finally trapped and crawled on top of him. Only to be shocked when his fingers grazed Kai's collar.

They both gasped in surprise and froze like deer in bright light. Iris widened his eyes as he flung his hands off Kai, afraid he invoked something that was supposed to be dormant.

"Are you okay?" He asked with concern as their heavy breathing died down to soft murmurs of air.

After feeling around the cold metal, Kai nodded. He didn't mention nor did he show the pure fear he felt when the zap happened in a blink. But a snap of a finger is enough time to heed the feeling of unfathomable pain.

"I'm sorry I didn't-"

"It's okay, it's not your fault. Not the first time our rough play made the malfunction resurface."

Iris relaxed on top of him. "Forget about the work, we need Ray to fix it...again."

Kai let out a long breath as he looked up at the high ceiling painted in gold imagery.

"You're getting good at defense."

Iris tilted his head in surprise but smiled with a scoff. "Or you just losing your touch."

"No. Not possible."

"You sound confident."

"Is it wrong to be?" Kai looked down to smirk at Iris, who looked unimpressed.

"Those are my words."

"And thy words are easy to quote...sir."

Iris chuckled instead of rolling his eyes before climbing off Kai. He offered a hand and pulled the vampire to his feet.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Iris watched Kai shift and tug at his collar uncomfortably. The vampire glanced at him in the corner of his eye.

"Are you okay?" Ignoring his question, Kai took Iris's hand that had been shocked and inspected it.

"I'm fine. It was just a quick zap."

"As it was to me. So I'm fine, too."

"Okay." But Iris was still hesitant there and going down the stairs. He paid more attention to Kai then where his feet went.

In the lower halls of the mansion, close to visiting the basement was a blacksmith. A family blacksmith named Ray. Iris and he had a good history together which was beneficial because the prince disliked almost anyone who walked.

"Ray!" Iris banged on the metal door, bellowing over the sound of iron moaning and electricity rattling.

"Who?!" A husky voice yelled back over the rummaging.

"Iris!"

All noise silenced, as though the world had frozen. There was a hoarse cough before bolts on the door began to unlock. Seconds later the door creaked open.

A man in his early forties poked his head out with curiosity. His cheeks and well-cut beard were dirtied with dust and from what clothes Iris and Kai could see, he wasn't playing clean with his work.

"Nice to see you, boys. What do you need?"

"It's his collar." Iris pointed up at it and the man followed his finger.

"Oh, again?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Let me uh-mind if I clean up real quick?"

"Sure-"

Ray slammed the door shut before Iris could finish.

They heard metal clinking together and several loud bangs while waiting.

Iris glanced up at Kai for the hundredth time and it took Kai that long to break.

"I'm fine okay?! Can you stop looking at me like that?"

"Don't get mad at me for being worried."

"Worried," Kai exhaled an exasperated breath, "more like paranoid."

"I know you're fine, I'm just making sure."

"Sure of want? I'm alive aren't I?"

Iris pursed his lips. "But you're not."

Kai never wanted to strangle Iris and himself this bad. "Good point. But-" He took a deep breath, "-it was nothing. Please refrain from worrying anymore, okay?"

Iris nodded his head and looked away with woe, making Kai mentally groan.

"Hey."

Iris looked back to watch Kai rub his shirt-conveniently being a conductivity textile fabric, then reach out and poke him.

Iris jumped when a quick light-speed shock made his skin crawl. "What the hell was that for?"

"Did it hurt?"

"Just a flinch-"

"See it didn't hurt. It didn't stop your heart. You're fine. As am I. So please drop your concern; it's more than mildly annoying."

The metal door reopened before words could leave Iris's parted lips.

"Sorry for the wait. Come in." Ray was dusting off his hands as he let the two in.

The room was the size of a King's room, abundantly large but with a smaller roof. There were no windows but a tunnel leading up and at the top, glass, right in the middle of the room. There were tables littered with tools and equipment the guards use. The lights were hallowed and dim, making empty shadows crawl across the cold brick walls.

Aside from the mini hurricane mess happening on the left side of Ray's room, the right was purged for their usage.

"Just take a seat, Kai." Ray pointed at an empty table with a screwdriver and turned back to disorganize another.

Kai sat down at the edge of the table with a sour look directed at Iris's worried one. The prince quickly looked away and pretended to be interested in a flickering light.

"So what happened this time?"

"We-"

"Wait don't tell me, you were messing around like the imbeciles you two are?"

Kai and Iris glanced at each other. Iris chuckled as he leaned on another table.

"You got us."

Ray sighed as he stood on a stool to observe the collar. He nodded his head like he was answering himself. He was known for talking to himself.

"Hm, I see the problem."

"What?" Iris perked anxiously, earning a scowl from Kai.

"The problem is...you guys are too reckless!" Ray jumped off the stool and shook his finger at the boys. "Iris, eighteen." Ray ranted as he searched through the mess at his table. "And Kai," He turned around with disappointment, "You're two hundred!"

"But he attacked first."

Iris laughed, "You make it sound like I was trying to kill you."

"On shut your traps! What are you two, infants? You're lucky I'm not as serious as your parents, Iris, or else you two wouldn't even be glaring at each other right now. I'd have you in shackles."

"Whatever," Iris back off and crossed his arms, "just fix his collar."

Ray grumbled to himself as he stepped back onto the stool and engaged in rewiring Kai's collar without taking it apart. He made sure to pinch Kai with every opportunity he had.

He told them to get the hell out of his room(his exact words)after he was done. Iris didn't try to get back on his good side and followed his orders. Kai, on the other hand, stopped him from putting his tools away to show his gratitude.

"Don't change, Kai...don't change." Ray patted the vampire's shoulder with a smile. "Now get the hell out."

Kai returned his smile with a smirk, then left with his relieved prince.