Dark set the water to boil and handed Alexander a mug with the slogan 'Please stop talking, the dragon does not approve.' "Do you care what kind of tea, Alexander? Because I probably have every type under the sky." Daark got new ones every holiday and never used any of them, prefering coffee.

he did not know there were different types of tea "orange pecos and pecos cut black tea" he rested his head on his hand. he was content to watch this morning's domesticity as he was last night. though he did not like all of the interruptions like the one from early this morning or from the day before yesterday.

"Okay." Dark said and grabbed it from his self of tea. Pulling on teabag out he tossed it to Alexander when the kettle started to whistle. Dark poured the water in his own mug then Alexander's. Dark then put doewn the kettle and grabbed the milk from the fridge. "Sugar is in the back still, so if you want some let me know."

he knew he wanted it with three spoonfuls but he did not want to get up and he rather liked watching the other pad about the kitchen. shaking his head he watched the other pour a bit in and accepted the milk as it was offered to him in turn. he took a sip and nearly spat it back out, it was bitter and had a poor after-taste. he snatched up the other mug before his lord could take a single drop "no" he poured out both mugs and rummaged through the cupboard looking for the one he saw the other pull out before. he pulled four out instead of two and put them and the water on the table he poured only half a cup for each and put in the bags. he went down stairs to find the sugar, after a few minutes he found it and lugged it back up he fetched a clean spoon fron the drawer and ladled out three spoonfuls of sugar for each then swirled it in, lastly he looked around for half and half in the fridge he could not find any so he went back to the cupboard for a dry substitution, he found creamer and poured some in the tea then filled the last of the space with milk. he sat down in his chair and took a sip, the drink was vastly improved. he looked over to the other "what is it?"

Dark blinked as the other filled his mug with tea. "I normally drink my coffee black." And have never touched tea, he did not say the last part out loud but it was true. "I have mostly grown used to the bitter taste."

"if you do not like it you may throw it out though i must confess i do not know how to make coffee, though" he smiled sheepishly "i do not know how to make tea either"

"It is okay, Alexander." Dark said placing the mug back on the table. "You just did not know, not your fault." He went back to the stove and just poured more water of his coffee beans. "Most people would not care, all my fault for being paticular about my food."

he made a face and stood up "teach me how to make coffee"

"Coffee is rather easy to make." Dark said. "We have coffee beans," Dark held up a bag of ground coffee beans for Alexander to see, "And most people use a filter but I like eating my coffe beans once I'm done with my coffee." He knew it was wied but he liked the taste of the beans once they had been soaking for a while. "You pour boiling water over the beans untill the cup is full, then you can add whatever you like into the coffee."

he nodded along pantomiming into another cup. when the other went to sit down he followed. he tried not to throw up as he tasted the coffee. he decided he would only make it one cup at a time

Dark saw the look Alexander had once he taste the coffee and allowed himself a little grin, "Coffe is an equired taste, some people would prefer to add huge amounts of sugar and milk."

he looked at the cup. an entire cow and a brick of cane could not improve the taste. he pushed it away. "i love you. i feel exactly the opposite of that for coffee"

Dark laughed, "Okay, I completly understand, so you keep you tea and I'll keep my cofffee." The way Alexander had said he hated the coffee was funny.

he nodded and offered a smile though he did not know why the other was laughing. he took a swallow of his tea to kill the taste then scooched his chair over to dark.

Dark took a sip if his coffee as Alexander scooched closer. "So now you know how to make coffee, anything else you would like to do?"

"many things i am sure" he scooched closer still with no worry for the wood or the chair

"Any specific ideas," Dark asked, "Or will anything do?" There were many things to do now that he was more awake thanks to coffee.

he felt a little strange but it was a good strange. "either/or is fine, though..."

"Okay," Dark stood up and grabbed Alexander's hand. "Let us go for a walk to town." Going to town was not exactly high on his list of things to do, but he could use the walk.

he nodded. he was feeling a little antsy as was. he followed the other as the body went through the task of washing dishes packing lunch getting dressed and all the other things it took to get ready for the world. by the time they were done with all of that he no longer felt giddy or strange but he was feeling excited now and that was nearly as buoying.

Dark hurried though all preperation impatient to be out side once more. Dark and ALexander finished in record time and were out the door sandwhichs and thermos for each. "We can go the long an senic route or the short one, which on would you prefer?" Dark asked Alexander.

he did not even have to think about the answer "long"

"Okay," Dark said, "And watch you step." Dark went first careful only to step in places that would hold his weight. The route was rather twisty with several boulders and fallen trees all thoughout it. Today the forest was mostly silent except for the occasion bird call.

he followed gingerly behind the other shifting his borrowed backpack uncomfortably. he liked the idea of being away from all of those distractions from before but it was shameful to act so weak in front of the other.

"Carefull, Alexander," Dark warned as he almost slipped from a mossy rock, "that spot is quite slippery." Dark was minutly surprised at how well a beginner like Alexander was handleing the walk. Most people would have given up or called a rescue helocopter by now.

he grunted a reluctant affirmation. he had already forgotten the last two times he had shamed himself in front of the other. he wanted to prove he was strong and dependable and worth being loved but it was so hard when he could not even keep up with the shorter boy.

"I hope you like giant trees over large revines." Dark said seriously. "The bridge washed out some time ago but I built an almost bridge as an replacemnet." It had been hard but worth it, taking him almost three eniter months to build.

he nodded his approval and then realized the other could not see it. "of course" he did not mention his relief at the thought of something familiar. he tried to pick up his pace and slid into the other nearly knocking them both over

Dark caught himself and Alexaner before they fell. "A bit too slippery?" He asked softly. "No matter," Dark said standing back up, "We'll be soon out of places where on can easily slip."

he blushed hotly. he felt angry like he did in the caves only this time he knew exactly what he was doing wrong. he half crawled over a large log and leaped over a small sheaf of rocks he put up his hands and pushed the other into the dirt "stop it!" he yelled. "you are not the prince you are the hero! i am the prince i am supposed to be perfect for you!" he stared angrily at the ground for several seconds while dark rolled over and looked at him in shock "i am the prince, you have to love me...." he kneeled down by his lord tears welling in his eyes. "only a prince is good enough for the hero"

Dark was confused by Alexamder's outburst. "Prince and hero?" He was no hero and Alexander ocasionaly said he was the prince but Dark though he had cleared up that misconception. Dark wrapped his arms around Alexander, "I do love you and I never claimed to be a prince." He had never claimed to be a hero either but that was a dicussion for a different time. "If you really want you can be my prince." He did not see the point but maybe it was important to Alexander though he would definately inform Alexander that throwing people to the ground was not a good way to inform someone of anything.

"you can't want to be something you have to live it and you right now are the prince, you are knowing and beautiful, you are clever and perfect. i let you down so much. i am no prince if i cannot be perfect for you." he leaned into the hug wrapping his own arms around the other "i don't know how to be anything else"

"One does not truelly have to be perfected to be loved. I can love you without you being perfect." Dark said and it was true. "You don't have to try you are."

"i am not. i can't even break your curse." he tilted his head and kissed the other's neck "or make you happy" he sighed. "the book says you love me, you say you love me but noone says you will continue to love me" he began fiddling with dark's hair. "noone leaves a real prince"

"Not everyone get a fairy tale ending even a real and true prince." Dark said with a sad smile. "I have no curse that needs removed." He wished he could promise his eternal love, but he knew of no love that transended the mortal realm, he did not even know if there was another realm!

he interupted not understanding "they do. that is why it is called a fairy-tale ending" he wondered how little the other read to come to such a ridiculous conclusion "that is why i was made" the other smiled at him sadly and he pressed his fingers to his head "and you do, it is here and needs to be broken. that is my job"

"Fairy tale ends rarely, if ever, happen here." Fairrytale endings were for fantasy books. "No magic here, remember." As far as anyone was sure that was. "So I doubt I have a curse placed on me."

"but they do happen. and even if they did not i have seen it with my own eyes, that thing that plagues you"

"Plagues me?" Was Alexander talking baout his nightmares? "The dreams I have, is that what your talking about?" If so that was hardly a curse.

he nodded. "it must be fixed if you are to be happy i am sure"