"Anyways, where was I..." Hanji said her voice trailing off as she racked her brain. "Ah got it."

"The two men talked for hours as the party went on inside. Nicholas was sure he wasn't missing much by sitting out talking to his new friend. He had noticed that Alex had shoulder length black hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. "So where did you come from?" Alex asked after a while of chatting. Nicholas had froze knowing his father would disapprove of him sharing that information. "Um, you see, uh." Nicholas stumbled over his words before letting out a sigh putting his head down. He knew if he couldn't come up with an excuse that he would have to leave.

After a few minutes of silence Nicholas was about to dismiss himself, but Alex spoke up. "Hey it's okay if you don't want to share. I get it, it's a party you just want to forget all about that stuff right now huh." Alex said giving him an excuse. He knew something was fishy but he was sure there was an reasonable explanation. Nicholas nodded with a smile. "I'm glad you get it." He said in a tone that sounded sad and anxious. Alex smiled back giving Nicholas a gentle pat on his back.

Before their conversation could continue a guard had walked up to the two startling Nicholas. "Your Highness, Ms.Gabriella is causing a scene." The guard said with urgency. Nicholas started to put two and two together. "Highness?" He whispered enough to capture Alex's attention. "King Alexander." He whispered fearing what his father would say if he found out, or more like when he found out. Alex asked Nick to wait for him before politely excusing himself walking into the room. Nicholas looked in the room and watched as his friend walked up to the woman.

He couldn't hear what he was saying but he could read their lips. "Gabby, this party was your idea and you get drunk." He said before helping her up the stairs into the nearby bedroom. Nicholas's nerves took over and he wanted to run away fearing that he was going to get in trouble but his feet wouldn't move. He managed to take a few steps when Alex returned. "Thank you for waiting for me, I was sure you would have left after figuring out who I was." Alex said with his head lowered.

Nicholas knew he couldn't lie and told him the truth. "It freaked me out at first knowing I was talking to the king, but I don't think I'm scared anymore." He said shrugging. Alex smiled, "Well that's good, I wouldn't want my friend being afraid of me." Alexander laughed. "Also I know my name is Alexander but I really do prefer Alex." He said rubbing the back of his neck. "I know what you mean." Nicholas whispered not even realizing he said it out loud.

When he saw the look on Alex's face he realized he had to have said that outloud. "Um, I mean, I..." Nicholas voice trailed off. "I'm sorry" He said at last lowering his head. "Hey stop that." Alex said grabbing Nick's arm noticing that he was scratching his arm to the point it was bleeding slightly. Nicholas looked down realizing what he had been doing and he wanted to cry. 'Why do I do this, he's going to think I'm stupid, he's going to hate me.' Nicholas thought as tears came to his eyes. He had a bad habit of scratching his arms when he was a nervous. He had always tried to break the habit but it never seemed to work.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happen." He said realizing how much he had worried Alex. "Are you alright, here." Alex said gently pulling Nick over to a bench sitting him down. Nicholas followed and did what Alex wanted him to. Alex took of his mask revealing his face as he got the barrier out of the way. Nick studied his face, his long black hair that was tied up in the ponytail had the moonlight shining on it. His hazel eyes shined like gold. And his lips were thin yet soft looking.

" Let me take a look I want to make sure it's not that bad." Alex said rolling up Nick's sleeve. Nick didn't have time to protest when he realized what Alex was doing. Alex paused for a moment noticing the bruises on his friend's arm. He glanced up before noticing that Nick was on the verge of tears. He continued pretending not to notice the bruises for Nick's sake. He wrapped a bandage, that he had kept in his jacket for emergencies, around his friend's arm. " There we go, all better." He said giving Nick a smile. " You are very kind." Nick said rolling his sleeve back down.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked him trying to bring up the subject of the bruises. "Look I know you don't really know me very well, but you can trust me I just want to help." Alex said trying to be as comforting as possible. "Where did those bruises come from?" He asked carefully knowing the subject would be a touchy one. "I um, fell down the stairs at my house, I'm a very klutzy person. Nick said laughing it off with a pained laugh.

"Look, If you need anything I'm here I can help." Alex said sitting next to his friend on the bench. "Thank you." Nick said before thinking his offer over. "Actually, I do need help with something." Nick said in a whisper. "My father-" Nicholas was caught off by another guard, but this one was one of his. "Excuse me, but your father wants you to head home now." His guard spoke to him. Nicholas nodded and said goodbye to Alex his eyes screamed help me and his smile was silencing his scream knowing what he was coming home to. He could tell by the guards voice it was nothing good.

Alex watched as his friend was escorted away. He ran up to him before he could leave, "Wait up for a moment." He handed him an envelope and told him to open it when he got home. Nicholas nodded and gave him a smile. "Alright it seems I have to let you return, I hope we meet again Nick." He said before discouragingly turning back to the party.

It was a long ride home and Nicholas felt anxious confronting his father, he knew his guard would report everything he had heard to him. When they arrived he was informed that his father wanted him to wait in his room until his father was ready to see him. The guard was ordered to go to the king immediately. He must have waited in his room for over an hour. He decided to open the letter from Alex.

After opening it he realized their was another invitation inside, the party was scheduled for a month later. Upon further inspection he had noticed there was a short letter inside that he must have written before giving him the letter. He was about to read the letter when he heard a knock at the door. He hid the letter in his pillowcase before permitting them to enter. The guard entered and told him the King would see him now.

Nicholas walked into the room with his heart pounding he bowed down and prepared to face the consequences for his actions. "My guard told me that you broke a rule." The king said with a disapproving voice. "You told him your name. I trusted you but I see that I was wrong to do so." His father said standing from his thrown and grabbing his son by his hair. Nicholas winced as his eyes meet his father's. "But sir, I did no such thing." Nicholas said as a desperate attempt not to anger his father.

His father stood up straight yanking harder on his hair, "My guard hear him call you by your name." He said almost as if he was questioning Nicholas asking him if he thought he was stupid. "No sir, he called me Nick, I told him my name was Nick Garroway, I lied when he asked." Nick said one last attempt to save himself. His father looked at the guard who was still standing off to the side. The guard nodded approving that is what he heard the man call him.

The king released the hold on his son's hair and seemed a bit skeptical but nodded. "Next time, chose a name father from yours." He said before remembering his guard told him about the envelope. "What did he give you?" He asked with a unsure frown. "Oh, this." Nicholas said pulling the envelope out of his pocket. "It's an invitation." His father looked it over before looking back up at his son. "Was this all that was in here?" He asked glancing up from the invitation. Nicholas nodded and his father believed him. "I'll let you go to this if you earn it." His father sad meaning he expects Nicholas to work more around the castle."

"His father is actually going to let him go." Eren quickly wrote with enthusiasm. "You'll have to see." Hanji said laughing. "This is like a fanfiction" Eren Wrote before silently laughing to himself. Hanji laughed and shrugged, "I guess it is. Now lets see where was I, oh got it." She said before continuing.