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-3-

Human

Prince's POV

"Prince, come over here for a second." Mother Herlinda called out to me once she entered the dining room. I placed down the silverware I was organizing and walked over to her and bowed my head politely.

"Yes Mother Herlinda?" I asked, giving her a warm smile.

"I need you to head to town and buy some flour, eggs, and sugar. We will be baking a cake." She handed me a beautifully woven brown basket. Inside there was some coins which were enough to afford the ingredients. I put them safely in the front pockets of my pants.

"Ahhhh..." I looked around, making sure Snap wasn't around. "...Is it for Snap?" I asked with an excited grin.

"Of course." She smiled back at me. I gripped the basket in my hands tightly. "I'm assuming you would like him to accompany me?"

"It would make me feel much better knowing you are safer." She nodded her head.

"Very well! We shall go right now!" I bowed a bit once more and ran off to go get Snap. I checked the kitchen but he wasn't in there, so I headed outside to see if he was brought to be on babysitting duty.

Nope! He wasn't there.

"Lindy? Have you seen Snap?" I asked her once I spotted her.

"Snap? He's with Hacker. They should probably be in the garden. Hacker has gardening duties so..." She tossed her hair behind her back and went back to playing with the younger kids.

"Thank you!" I smiled and headed over to the vibrant green garden. Just as I expected, Snap was next to Hacker, helping him out with watering the tomatoes.

"Snap! Hacker!" I called their names and waved once they turned to look at me. Hacker had a warm and welcoming smile as always.

Everyone in the orphanage, EVERY single person here, loves Hacker. He is so wholesome and super sweet! He can just instantly make your day once he shows up.

I walked to them with the basket swinging lightly in my grip.

"Prince. You seem like you're in a good mood." Hacker pointed out. I nodded extra enthusiastically, with a grin still plastered on my face.

"Yes! I'm going to town for some ingredients, and uh... Snap, Mother Herlinda would like for you to accompany me." I moved a few strands of hair out of my face.

"What?! B-but... I was hanging out with Hacker..." Snap gave me almost a whiny tone.

"Come onnnn you can hang out with him once we're done! The sooner we finish the more time you will have!" I yanked him up to his feet and started dragging him out the door.

"We'll be back Hacker! You're doing amazing!" I gave him a thumbs up with my hand that was holding the basket.

"Thank you Prince." He smiled with his teeth, which made me wanna run back and give him a hug.

"We must vow that we will protect Hacker from all impure things in this world." I gave Snap a serious look.

"Uh- I already did that mentally long ago." He shrugged and walked beside me, heading down the opposite road from the river.

"Ugh- look at my nails. I so totally need a manicure." I looked down at my long nails and shook my head in disapproval.

He snorted. "Like if you could afford one-"

I swung my basket at his head which he nonchalantly avoided by ducking down. "Oh you- just wait! I'll get you back." I said sassily and pretended to flip my hair as I walked faster  than him.

He noticed this, and began to walk even quicker than me. I glared playfully in his direction and started a light jog.

Then he started jogging.

Then I started speed jogging.

Then he was slow running.

Then I started RUNNING.

He slowed down to a walk. "You got me fucked up if you think I'm running."

I groaned and waited for him to catch up to me. "That's no funnn- I wanted to make this trip as fast as possible so we could go back to Hacker and be with him.

Once those words were out of my mouth, Snap SPRINTED past me, down the road, leaving a trail of dust behind. "Uh... okay wow- didn't think that would work... WAIT FOR ME SNAP!" I shouted and ran to catch up to him.

Not even a minute later, I saw the entrance gate to the town, which so happened to have a bored Snap leaning against it.

"What took you so long?" He teased once he spotted me.

"Shut up. That was unexpected." I pouted and made my way through the entrance gate, with Snap following right next to me.

"Little town.... it's a quiet village..." I started to sing.

"Oh please god no- don't start fucking singing!!" Snap looked over at me horrified.

"Everydayyy as the one... beforeee..." I continued to sing, sending Snap a playful grin. He sighed out loud and plugged his ears with his hands.

"Little town full of... little people... waking up to sayyy..." I waited for the townspeople to give their usual words.

"Bitch are you SCAMMING me?! There's no way bread costs this much!"

"What kind of fuckery is this-"

"WHO STOLE MY KID?!"

"Yeahhh, I'm marrying a vegetarian-"

I sighed. "If only these people watched Beauty and the Beast, they would know the lyrics to the song!"

"I watched the movie- gotta say not THAT impressed." Snap removed his hands from his ears and pushed his way through the masses of townsfolk. I was right behind him, holding onto his arm because it was easy to lose each other in a crowd like this. Especially since it was so busy today.

"What did you need to get?" He raised his voice so I could hear him over the sounds of all the people around us.

"Just flour... eggs... and sugar!" I yelled back, trying my best to remember the ingredients and somehow actually getting them right.

"Alright! You get the flour and sugar! I'll get the eggs." Snap told me and I nodded in response, handing him the amount of money necessary to afford the eggs.

I split up from him and made my way over to the usual lady who sells the flour and sugar we regularly purchase from her. "Excuse me! Coming through!"

Some rude ass dude literally shoved me out of the way, and I was about to fall over onto the floor. That is... until a pair of strong arms caught me.

I gasped and immediately turned around to apologize. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't..." I trailed off from my sentence when I realized who my knight in shining armor was.

It was the mysterious guy from the river.