TW: Thomas teases Roman about what happened in the previous chapter, so that's alluded to. Not entirely sure if it's a trigger, but you can never be too careful.

Needless to say, that day had been incredibly amusing for everyone but the Fire and Water King. Thomas had often whispered suggestive things in Roman's' ear which made the other start and answer back defensively. Logan had sometimes started a conversation with Virgil but the moment the conversation hinted at what had happened that morning, Virgil would shut up quickly, flushing violet, and would pick up his pace, leaving the group a good distance behind. Patton just giggled non-stop.

Thomas elbowed Roman in the side as they walked at the back of the group and hissed, "So, are you looking for Virgil to quench your flame or fuel it?"

"Thomas, shut up!" Roman yelped. "You know this morning was an accident!"

"Yeah, but he's been sticking his tongue out at you since you met, he's constantly flirting with you and he did try to sleep with you..."

Roman raised an eyebrow with a deadpan face. "He was going to eat me."

"Still might've slept with you."

The Fire King flushed and elbowed the laughing 'human'. "Oh, shut up! He's the Water King, I'm the Fire King. It wouldn't work out anyway!"

Thomas shrugged. "Neither did me working in the kitchen but, hey, it happened anyway!"

Roman was about to answer back then frowned. "What was that about working in a kitchen? Aren't you a prince?"

The boy stiffened slightly. "I'd... sometimes pretend to be a servant to get out of responsibilities. My longest time hiding was when someone actually mistook me for a kitchen boy and tried to get me to work. I stuck my hands in boiling water."

"Woah," Roman blinked. "You stuck your hands in boiling water? Why?"

Thomas shrugged, faking confidence. "I needed to get out of there, they said I couldn't go to the toilet when I asked." He lied swiftly. "So, burning myself was the only way to get out."

Roman snorted, obviously not suspicious at all. "Wow, I might try that. Although I'd stick out like a sore thumb, I wouldn't be as inconspicuous as you."

"Ha, yeah!" Thomas forced a snort of laughter and he turned around to glare behind him when he felt eyes on him. Nothing. He stopped walking, staring around hesitantly. Thomas bit his lip.

"Thomas," Sighed Roman. "You do this every five minutes. There's nothing there." Roman didn't sound impatient. He sounded sympathetic and apologetic. Virgil was the only one who got annoyed or impatient when Thomas turned to look at nothing. He'd snap and complain that Thomas is just being paranoid and he'd pull him away but stare into the bushes himself. Then he'd get defensive and hostile if Thomas tried to bring it up. Weird. Thomas allowed Roman to gently pull him away.

"I'm sorry, Ro, I just," He hesitated. "I swear something's watching me."

Roman smiled sadly. "It's fine, kid. It'll go away, you just need time."

The kitchen boy nodded, trying to firmly convince himself that Roman was right. "Yeah. Anyway," He said loudly, to change the subject, "Virgil is now under the impression you want to have sex with him, how does that make you feel?" Thomas quickly held one hand out like a notebook, the other pretending to hold a quill, reporter style.

Roman flushed. "Shut up! I don't want to have sex with him!"

"Do you though?" Smirked Thomas.

The Fire King's' blush grew. "You little-!" Thomas quickly sprinted ahead. "Get back here, I swear!"

The two knocked past Logan, Thomas yelling an apology to the disgruntled Earth King. Thomas grabbed Patton by the shoulders from behind, swinging him around as a shield, making Roman stumble, the two twisting around a very confused and rather dizzy Patton as they waited to bolt for it. Then Thomas glanced up to the unsuspecting Water King and grinned evilly.

Roman paled. "Thomas, don't you dare-"

The 'human' was already bolting, shoving the Air King to the side as he ran up in front of Virgil. He grabbed the other by the shoulders, beaming breathlessly.

"Thomas?" Asked Virgil.

"Hey, sorry about this," Thomas quickly apologised and then shoved Virgil backwards. Virgil was still very unsteady on his feet, he sometimes struggled to stand still without his legs quaking. When he walked it was a little better, because he'd almost be hopping, resting on one leg before switching quickly to the next. However, he didn't have enough experience to stop himself from stumbling backwards in surprise, falling into Romans' arms. The Fire King hurriedly caught him, glaring at Thomas as his hair set alight furiously. Thomas cackled as Virgil practically glowed with his brilliant, violent blush and Roman scowled furiously.

"I'm going to kill you," He threatened.

Thomas grinned. "At least put your boyfriend down first!" He taunted, watching the two Kings flush grow deeper. Roman sat Virgil on the ground, side-stepping him to chase the 'human', screaming insults at him.

Virgil blinked slowly as Logan helped him to his feet. "Well, today has been very peculiar and it's only lunch..." Mumbled the Water King.

Logan nodded apologetically. "I'm afraid so."

.:*:.

Patton whistled as he walked along. He was exceptionally good at whistling because you were only really manipulating air to make a noise and he could manipulate air whenever he wanted. The Air King looked around absently, feeling watched by someone. Now he must know how it feels to be Thomas.

Something was off about Thomas, ever since he met Virgil. Probably because he thought Virgil had seen those 'eyes' and was lying about. Patton understood, even if not completely. The young Prince had been through a lot and probably wasn't in the best state of mind, considering what he'd been through. No wonder he thought something was following him and Virgil wouldn't be too sympathetic. The young Water King had hidden away in his dark, underwater world for so long he barely cared for the races beyond his own. He was probably only helping to... to... Well, there wasn't much reason for any of them to help. 

Their own homes hadn't been attacked, they weren't being threatened. There weren't any personal reasons for any of them to help. They just were because it was the right thing to do.

Nevermind that, though, something was off with Thomas. He'd been off, actually, since Patton had met him. He acted like he was below the four Kings but Patton had been told that he was royalty by the spectres after he questioned them with his suspicions about Thomas not being who he said he was. It was crazy to think all this had happened in one day.

Logan was suddenly in his field of vision, making the Air King jump.

"Patton, are you alright?" He asked. "You slowed in your walking, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine!" Assured Patton quickly. "Just, it's been a long few days. The entire human race was gone in a night, I'm walking around with three Kings and a prince and I feel like I'm being watched-"

He quickly covered his mouth. He hadn't meant to say that.

However, Logan didn't look too concerned. "Yes, I feel it too. It's rather odd, to sense some sort of presence around me all the time."

"Maybe it's just animals," Patton said, more to comfort himself than the Earth King. "I mean, Virgil found that cow the other night, so..."

"That's a valid point, but I have to disagree. I've talked to Roman about it, he told me that he felt someone watching him yesterday too, and he saw green eyes." Logan's' face hardened, the stone solidifying a little more. "He tried to play it off, saying it was just the light on the leaves, but I'm not entirely sure whether to take that as evidence or not."

Patton hesitated. "So, only Virgil hasn't seen the eyes?"

"On the contrary, Patton," Logan's' voice had a dark undertone. "I think he might've. And I have suspicions to why he's not alarmed. We just need to catch one of the people watching us. Then we can find out why."

"Do you really think we can?" Patton asked with a frown.

Logan's' rocky face tensed with an unusual smile. "We can. We just have to be ready."