Returned to Jack's arms

Marcus woke slowly, his eyes fluttering open. He was resting on a soft, warm body, her arm settled over his back to hold him close against her side. Reaching up to rub his bleary eyes, the young prince's gaze settled on Lyra's sleeping face just above his. She was breathing softly, warm air from her lips tickling across his forehead. Staring up at her, he was surprised at just how peaceful she looked. Even with her unburned cheek still wet with tears, and the other side covered in scars, this was the first time he'd ever seen her look so calm. Even when she was celebrating her victory, there had always been a strained look to her that had frightened him, like she was an abused animal about to fly into a rage at any moment. Now though, she was sleeping peacefully. If she was having any dreams, it seemed like they weren't troubled by the awful memories she'd told him about last night. Despite everything, Marcus found himself smiling.

He still wasn't sure if what he was doing here was right, helping her like he had, getting close like this to her and Jack. He knew it was stupid...and naive, and everything else his father and mother might scream at him if they could see him now. To go by everything he'd been taught growing up in this castle, Lyra and her band of rebels should have been his enemy. He'd been so scared when they'd broken into his room and **** him naked out in front of that awful, baying crowd. And yet, over the past few days he'd learned more about Lyra and Jack then anyone he'd ever met before. Even Juliet had been teasing him playfully since their night together, and had helped him get some time alone with Jack. As a prince, he'd been treated so...distantly by the servants, his fathers courtiers, everyone he met, with all their expectations on how he should behave or act which had felt almost suffocating at times. He hadn't had anyone he could call a friend or companion since he was young.

These rough rebels didn't believe in princes of course, or crowns. So, they'd been the first people he'd met in years who'd bothered to see the boy he was beneath the one he'd always had to wear. It had been terrifying at first, when they just hated him and his family so much, but…somehow they’d been able to see beyond that, see…just Marcus. Now, he'd...had sex with all three of them, even if two of those hadn’t been exactly by choice. His time in bed with Lyra might have brought him to tears of fright, but he still wouldn't change what had happened between them. If it meant getting through to her as he had anyway, learning why she was so angry and hurt...and even helping her a little by showing his father wasn't to blame. That was worth a bit of a sore butt this morning, Marcus giggled softly to himself at that thought, shifting on her body.

She stirred, letting out a soft breath. Her eyes fluttered open, the good one, a rather pretty shade of green glancing down at him. She stared at him a moment, hardly seeming to believe what she was seeing. Marcus felt a shiver run down her body, her muscles stiffening underneath him. Though at least she didn't shrink away or try to push him off her, which he knew was a good sign.

"Marcus..." She murmured softly. "You're still here?"

"I told you already, I'd be here the whole night" The young prince replied, still resting his head in the crook of her muscled shoulder. Scary she might be when she was angry, but she made a rather nice pillow when she wasn't. "I guess it's...morning now though." His gaze flickered past her to the window against the far wall, where sunlight was streaming through the curtains.

"So it is." Lyra nodded, a **** stiffness to her jaw. Her hand moved, slowly brushing down the pale skin of his naked back. Marcus lay still, enjoying the warm caresses. Rough and calloused her fingers might be against his soft, pampered skin, but it felt rather nice anyway, especially when she squeezed his soft waist gently. "Never imagined I'd wake up like this someday, with such a sweet, pretty boy under one arm. It still feels like a dream almost.”

“Um….thanks.” The young prince breathed in reply, his cheeks flushing a little. She’d called him pretty last night as well, snarled it at him when she had him kneeling between her legs, and yet this time the word made him feel warm and tingly.

“Well…we’d best get you dressed and back to Jack now, shouldn’t we?” She murmured, her voice wavering slightly. “He’ll be worried sick about you, the big, romantic idiot.” The young prince smiled eagerly at the thought of his lover and being back in the strong, handsome older man’s arms. He really wanted that…wanted Jack to kiss and hold him tight until his chest got all warm and he felt like he was floating…but, what about Lyra?

“If you…still need me, I can stay.” Marcus began uncertainly, but she shook her head.

“No, Marcus.” She said firmly. “I have work to do, a country to save.” She paused a moment as he stared back, her lip trembling slightly. When she continued, her voice was soft and sad. “I don’t…deserve this, any of it, not after what I did to you. You should go back to Jack, he'll look after you. He had the right of it from the start and he really cares about you. He’s…a good man, not a burned…twisted mess like me who hurt you the first chance I had over something that never even happened. I don’t mean to let…this happen ever again.” The young prince bit his lip, knowing he should say something to soothe her, but unable to find the words. In the end, all he could do was stare at her sadly as her arm slipped away and she eased herself out from under him to kneel up on the bed beside his naked body. His large blue eyes moved slowly up her body, from pale creamy flesh of her belly to the livid red of the scar running up her side. He’d…thought how beautiful she might have been last night, were it not for the burns. Now, as she leaned over him and smiled sadly, he felt that last part slip away from his mind. She was beautiful even with the scars and he wished she’d believe him if he told her that. “Come, get your clothes on.” She urged him. “Jack will be furious if I make him wait much longer.”

“Yes, Lyra.” Marcus nodded. He slipped off the end of the bed, feeling rather helpless. If he was smarter maybe, he might know what he should say to her that wouldn’t sound stupid. Bending over, the naked young prince hurriedly gathered up his little tunic from last night, waiting in a heap on the floor where he’d torn it off in his hurry to strip at her command. He pulled it on over his body, smoothing down the wrinkled fabric. Across the room, Lyra was getting dressed as well, her gaze on the floor. Even after she'd pulled on her own trousers and shirt, she still didn't look at him, just waved her hand towards the door. Hoping Jack might know what to do, Marcus decided to do as she said for now. Maybe he could tell his lover all about this and...maybe together they could help Lyra feel better!

He shuffled out of her room and into the corridor, with her following a little way behind him. The young prince turned left, already meaning to make his way to the guest room where Jack was sleeping, only to find himself staring right at the handsome older man he was **** to get back to. Jack was leaning against the wall a little further down the passage, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. He was tense, his lips pursed into a worried frown, yet as Marcus took a single, halting step forward, shocked by the sight of his lover, his head snapped up and he saw the young prince standing there. His dark eyes widened in shock.

"Marcus!" He gasped, leaning off the wall.

"Jack!" Squealing his lover's name in shrill delight, the young prince dashed forward before he could even stop and think. He threw himself forward, jumping into the older man's body and wrapping his arms as tight as he could around Jack's muscled waist. They'd barely spent one night apart, but with how much had happened it had seemed so much longer. He'd been longing for this moment when they'd see each other again, and with Jack holding him tight everything else just seemed to melt away.

"Easy there..." Jack murmured. His big, strong hands took Marcus gently by the shoulders and eased the young prince back to stand in front of him. "Are you alright?" He asked, his worried gaze flickering over Marcus.

"Yes, I'm fine." The young prince nodded hurriedly.

"That's good...I was worried." Jack breathed, his voice trembling with relief. Marcus reached up and rubbed his hand over the older man's stubbly cheek. It was kind of different for him to be the one comforting his lover like this...but it felt good anyway. "Lyra?" Jack glanced up suddenly, staring down the corridor. Marcus turned his head slightly, and saw the scarred woman standing there, a blank look on her face as she watched the two of them.

"You were waiting here the whole night for him?" She asked uncertainly. Jack nodded once, his grip on Marcus tightening slightly. "You were right, Jack, about everything." Lyra murmured, sounding defeated. "He doesn't...deserve any of this. I'm getting rid of his debt. It was wrong of me...to do what I did, to **** him into this when he's an innocent boy. He's free, you can look after him. Take him away from all of this, go live together somewhere, if that's you want. A woman like me...doesn't deserve you either." She turned to leave before Jack could say anything more, her back stiff. As she stepped away, another figure slipped out in front of her, wearing leather armor, with sleek red hair flowing down her back. Juliet...Marcus realized with a gasp. What was she doing here? "You were skulking around as well?" Lyra sighed, giving her mute companion a tired look. "Why am i not surprised?" Juliet just shrugged, her lips pursed. "Well, both of you should stick with him for now at least." Lyra nodded back towards Marcus. "I expect when I tell the others I'm not going to let them have a turn with our former prince after all there might be a few who take issue with it. I'll make sure to explain myself, but he'll need protection if things get ugly."

With that, she slipped around Juliet, leaving the mute redhead standing there in the middle of the corridor. Marcus watched the scarred woman disappear around a corner sadly, wishing he'd done more. Of course he was happy she'd believed him about his father, and that seemed to have cooled her anger towards him, but...she was still so upset. Maybe it was strange after how she'd frightened and humiliated him, but he wanted her to feel better. She'd had such a sad life, and she clearly felt awful about it all, but he felt like he hadn't managed at all to convince her that he...didn't blame her for what she'd done.

"Come...let's go back to my room." Jack murmured, one of his large warm hands slipping down to take Marcus' smaller one in a gentle grip. "We should talk about what happened...and I think...she needs to be alone for now." The young prince nodded, guessing his lover knew best. He padded meekly after Jack as the older man turned and stepped away down the corridor, letting himself be led by the hand. After a moment's pause, Juliet moved to follow them, her light steps almost silent on the stone of the castle floors.