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Hendrix glanced up as the Prince came around the corner, his face cringing in disgust. Did-did he really think he and the maid- Ew. Hendrix internally cringed too. He would have to rectify the Princes idea around that. He watched the other guard enter and whisper something to Cade. He tensed as Cades reaction, adrenaline flooding his muscles. He took off closely behind Cade and almost bumped into him as the Prince stopped and stepped back. Hendrix felt the horror emanating off Cade and stood closely behind him, eyes flicking between the crowd everywhere. He scanned the crowd of paparazzi for threats. His eyes narrowed on a single man on his own but nothing about him screamed danger, he heard what Cade had said though. Hendrix rested a hand gently on the Princes shoulder. "Do you want me to bring him in?" He said quietly in the Prince's ear. "What do you need Prince?" He needed to get Cade out of the paparazzis view. (Can't believe you left me hanging there XD Gimme more, I need more) |
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Darkseeker
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Cade shuddered, pushing his hand away, and took a few steps forward. His gaze was locked on the young man, who was far enough away that he couldn’t have heard the conversation, but was close enough that every detail of his face was painfully obvious. Cade’s whole body was tense, his shoulder muscles taut and his jaw clenched. He ignored the press, who were calling out questions, and taking pictures. He didn’t care if his face was on the cover of the next big scandal, or anything. All he cared about was finding out who that man was. When the guy had seen Cade walking towards him he also started walking, and Cade closed his eyes. They even walked the same way. Then he realised that the security personale all around him would probably not be thrilled to have a stranger getting so close to the Prince, and he gave the guy a tiny shake of his head. Beau’s lookalike stopped, and waited for the prince to give any more sort of directions, but Cade just couldn’t. It was too overwhelming, and he turned away slightly, gathering his emotions, and locking them away. Once he’d fixed his face, he walked the rest of the way to the guy, offering the man his hand, and politely introducing himself. The guy seemed fine to go with him, and listening as the Prince explained that he didn’t want to be standing there much longer, due to the paparazzi, and the stress of having to explain everything. Beau-no. Not Beau. The stranger nodded his head, and walked next to him, as easily as walking next to any old person, rather than royalty. The two men made it back to the security guards still spread out on the lawn, and Cade simply nodded at them, his eyes fixed fully on the man’s face. He went into the palace, and they headed to his rooms, Cade pausing in the parlour. “Do you want a shower or something?” He wasn’t sure what the man would need, but his suggestion was well received. “Yeah, I’d love that.” Cade felt his heart knocking against his ribs. The voice was so similar, the speech patterns nearly exact. What was going on here? |
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Hendrix sighed, watching Cade and the other man, Beau's lookalike. His eyes were narrowed and intense on them. He would not allow his charge to be hurt, especially while they were still in view of the paparazzi. He tagged along behind, watching the body language of the newcomer very closely. He caught the eye of another security personnel and tapped the eye piece and mouthed a number. They both switched to the specific channel frequency and Hendrix asked about the newcomer. There wasn't much info, just what he'd already assumed. Beau's lookalike. He grumbled lowly to himself, hating not knowing more information. Once they reached the parlours and the newcomer went to shower, he grabbed his tablet. Pulling up security feeds and started running checks on the guy, looking for more information. He kept one eye on the room Not-Beau was in and the other on Cade from the corner of the room. He wouldn't intervene, not after the cold shoulder he'd been experiencing from Cade all day. Fuck. He was agitated as fuck, too many things were not under his control right now. (sorry it's short, the floor is all yours right now XD) |
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Cade pulled his knees up, wrapping his arms around his legs. His mind was reeling, and he felt like the whole world was spinning out of control, and he couldn't do anything about it. He glanced at the bathroom door, heading the water softly running inside, and he shuddered. How many times had he let Beau use that shower? How many times had he wished his friend would be there, stepping out with a cheeseball grin and a devil may care attitude. Cade stood up. This just wasn't going to work. He picked up his phone, opening it to a number he hadn't used in a long time, texting Martin, the only person he really truly trusted, begging him to come to the palace and see the man. Cade took slow deep breaths, and called for a maid. One arrived moments later, and he asked her to prepare the room next to his for the guy, and asking her to tell the cook to prepare for one more.
Once he'd finished with details, he turned to Hendrix, not looking the man in the eyes. He'd found it too awkward to keep eye contact after him and the maid had-well, you know.
"Please leave," he said softly. "I don't want you to be here when he comes out. I don't think he's dangerous, so you won't have to be worried about anything. But you weren't here for Beau, and I don't think you deserve to be here for him either."
Cade knew his words were harsh and hurtful, but to him, it was the truth. Hendrix would never understand how he felt about this whole incident, and would make all interactions with the young man incredibly uncomfortable. |
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Hendrix mentally cursed a thousand words. He kept a blank face, his lips rolling in irritation. He gave a single nod of acknowledgement. He went in to his room and grabbed some immediate items, he'd move back to the security quarters for the time being. "I hear your request. The best I can do is be outside the room." He nodded to the door of the parlour. He'd guard from the hall until Cade said otherwise. He'd already pushed too many boundaries and it would not be good if he was asked to be replaced by his employer though. He might look into finding a replacement if he couldn't reconcile with Cade again. Hendrix dropped his items off in a spare room, grabbing his tablet on his way out. He stood guard outside the room, silent and still, a few steps from the door. He pulled out his tablet and started watching security feeds, flicking through all the cameras. He wasn't sure how to feel about the Prince's words. He'd thought they'd become - well, not friends - but acquaintances at the very least. Amicable. But he tried to see reason that this was painful for him. To see a supposedly passed loved one. Another security guard texted him to inform him that Martin, his predecessor was coming to the palace to see Cade at his request. Hendrix breathed deep, he might leave his post to go rest for a while if Martin was okay with that. He pulled up his coworkers records from the firm, searching for a possible replacement for him. He wasn't sure why he was doing this but he wanted to prepare for the worst scenario so that the Prince could still have adequate protection if he was asked to leave. |
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Cade felt only the tiniest bit bad. This wasn't something he needed a bodyguard with him for, especially after that morning. He heard the shower shut off, and all his stress came rushing back. He closed his eyes for only a second, and glanced up. He'd given the guy some of his clothes so that he'd be more comfortable, trying to figure out who the guy could be. The door opened, and the handsome young man stepped out, looking fresh, and not at all nervous. His stature was easy going, and a small smile graced his lips. "Hey," he said softly. "So. I'm guessing we need to talk." Cade swallowed and nodded. "Yes, please. I don't understand what's going on." The prince's voice was gentle and pleading, and he held the younger man's gaze. They sat down across from each other, and the guy explained. First, he introduced himself as Christopher Michael Benedict Jackson, the younger brother of Beau, Cade's best friend. At this, Cade had nearly lost it. "He had a brother?! And he never told me?!" Cade had calmed down, and listened to the rest of the story. As it turned out, the man was 19. He was a lord, like his brother, and had only just learned of the connection between Beau and the prince. He'd been so lonely after the loss of his brother, and had come to the palace, hoping to find someone who understood what it was like, even though many long years had passed. He understood that he looked very similar to the elder of the Jackson brothers, and hadn't meant to startle him like that. Cade nodded as he finished, taking a deep breath, and trying to figure out what to say. "I'm going to tell my security people all this, ok?" Christopher, who'd begged Cade to call him Kit, nodded. "Alright. I can stay here." Cade stepped outside, quietly passing the information to Hendrix. "Also, will you let me know when Martin gets here?" |
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Hendrix stilled when Cade opened the door. He stood stiffly, ready to be told to take more of a hike. Beau's little Lord brother had come to grieve with the Prince. Fitting, he supposed. He gave a single nod of acknowledgement, keep his eyes on the hallway walls. Hendrix touched his earpiece and spoke a number to a similar version of Siri. The head of security answered and he relayed Cades information regarding the stranger the Prince waltzed into the mansion. He leaned against the wall, eyes shutting while he listened intently to nearby sounds. Hearing footsteps approach, Hendrix blinked open and immediately recognised Martin from his file picture. He knocked on the Prince's door, waiting his response. He nodded at Martin in greeting, reaching his hand out to shake it. "Hendrix Sawyer, Klaus Industries." |
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Cade quickly pulled the door open, falling into the arms of his former bodyguard, a grin dancing across his face. "I've missed you so much! You can come in," the prince said, pulling the door open.
He watched the pain in his retired friends face at seeing Kit, and he bowed his head. "I know, they look super similar. He has a story to tell," Cade said softly.
The two men walked in, and Cade pushed the door closed behind him, heading to the couch where Kit sat. The three guys sat around the table, and Cade called for tea, realizing that the maid that would bring it was the one that his bodyguard had screwed. He winced, but didn't care that much. At least the two lovers could see each other, he thought sarcastically. Turning back to the men, he listened as Kit reexplained his story. |
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Hendrix let the head of security know that Martin had arrived and he was going to get some rest. He knocked on the door to the Prince's quarters, opening without waiting. "Prince, I will be taking a couple hours to go and get some sleep. Security is aware and watching the halls." After saying that, he really did feel the exhaustion from almost sleepless nights keeping the Prince company. He hesitated at the door, looking at Cade. He released a emotion filled breath and nodded once to Martin and eyed the kid before shutting the door. He made his way down to the security quarters he'd moved back into. Pulling his clothes off, he slipped on a pair of thin sweats, flicked the lights off and pulled the blockout curtains shut. He flopped down on top of the blankets and sighed heavily. He set an alarm on his phone to wake up in 3 hours and set the feeds on his tablet to alert him to any openings of the doors to the Prince's quarters. With that all done, he shut his eyes in a light sleep, still stressing over the Prince and his new predicament. |
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The three men chatted for a while, but none of them really had anything to just talk about. In time, the conversation shifted to Beau, the boy who'd started it all. Kit was thrilled to share his few memories of his older brother, and Cade was more than happy to fill him in on the times he'd missed. It took a while, but Kit was exhausted pretty quickly, and retired to his brother's old room. Cade and Martin stayed in the parlor, talking in quieter tones so as not to disturb him. Martin glanced at the young prince, and his face fell. "Cade," he said gently, reaching out. "It's not Beau. It's not going to be the same." Cade slapped the old bodyguard's hand away with a scowl. "Says who? They're so similar. I can be happy again. This is what I want. This is what I've been waiting for, and you aren't gonna mess it up because you want me to think that he isn't Beau!" Martin pursed his lips. "Calm down, you're being ridiculous. You need to understand, you don't have your best friend back. Beau is gone. He's not coming back."
Cade argued back, his voice raising to a much louder volume, and Martin matched it, the two men yelling at each other, letting the stress they were both feeling be channeled into the fleeting anger. |
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Spring 
Day Weather: 
Flood
