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Chapter Text

Half of you couldn't figure out how you even ended up here. You were currently trapped in the midsts of a desert's heat, stranded and alone. It felt as though only a moment ago you were being scolded by your parents. Now you were smack dab in the middle of a desert. You must've run farther than your brain could track.

"God..."  you whispered as your hand fumbled around in your backpack, searching for one of those snacks that you've packed. You kept looking and looking, but nothing came. You dumped the contents of your bag out in heated frustration, rummaging through the items one by one while clenching your teeth. God, this sucked. You were so mad.

Upon the realization that you'd eaten every last morsel of your food, you let out a loud, annoyed sigh. What now? You sat down in the sand and put your head in your hands. You were all alone. You should've seen this coming, shouldn't you have? It was stupid, oh so so stupid to run off.

Nonono. You couldn't be thinking like this now. Now was not the time. You had to be more optimistic! There won't be any giving up! Anything is better than living back home. You must be able to support yourself.

You collected the items from your bag, putting them all back from where they came from, and then zipping the bag shut. Maybe if you walked just a little longer, for just a little while more, something would happen. A miracle would occur, anything.

And your miracle was answered- somehow. In the distance, you spied a town. And It looked to be a very bustling town: people walking all about, traders, shops, markets. Your eyes lit up at the sight of the lively streets! There had to be something to be found there!

But it appeared you had no cash on you. You sighed, your mood dropping drastically as you put your hands in your pockets. You supposed that you hadn't even thought of taking cash with you on your way out. Back at home, money was never a worry. There was always money. You ARE a royal prince, after all. Money always just came to you.

So now what?

Pickpocket someone.

That is the solution that first came to mind.

But wait- you could never enter town looking like this! What if there were already forces sent to search for you?

In a hurry, you messed with your hair and put on a plain black t-shirt over your filthy princely attire. This should do.

Holding the straps of your backpack tightly, you head off for town.

And the first thing you felt was unbridled fear. There were so many people, so much crowding. There were shoulders, forearms, hands bumping against your body. The heat only felt hotter at this point. Why was it so crowded?

You eventually reached what you would deem an 'air bubble,' where you stopped to catch your breath. You found your body trembling and sweating after that mildly horrible experience.

After catching your breath, you rumbled back to the crowd. You began to inspect the backs of those who walked in front of you. There had to be something sticking out—a wallet in someone's pocket, a valuable, anything at all. Something you could easily snag away in the crowd.

And just at that moment, that's when you spotted it. Change in the back pocket of some guy's robe. You leaped forward and began to silently trail the man. You couldn't help but feel... closely watched.

You shoved your anxiety aside and reached forth, but right as your hand was hovering over the pocket, a cold hand wrapped itself around your wrist. You jumped back, squealing in fear and instinctively pulling your dagger from your back pocket to attack.

Yet the other seemed just as well prepared. Being yanked by your wrist, you were forced to face a stoic man wielding a chakram in his opposite hand. Fear began to trickle down your spine.

"Hands off Yogurt Cream."  spoke the man who pressed the chakram to your neck.

The man you had been trying to steal from turned around, an inquisitive look on his expression.  "Oh? What do we have here?"

When the man with the chakram turned to look at 'Yogurt Cream,' you felt a bit of relief wash over you at the loss of eye contact.

"They were trying to grab at your back pocket, my liege. Then they pulled out a dagger. Should I end them, Yogurt Cream?"

Your heart dropped, you began squirming, trying to pull away, but unfortunately, the man had much too tight of a grasp on you. It was dead near impossible.

"Oh, nono,"  said Yogurt.  "I want to listen to them first, Lilac. I'm a little interested. I just want to know what sort of fool tries to steal from a prince."  Yogurt chuckled, pushing Lilac away from you, thus, freeing you. Your mind was telling you to flee at that moment, run while you could. But alas, you remained frozen in place.

So he was a prince too? You just tried to steal from a prince?! God. Now you know why all these pedestrians had their eyes glued to you in shock.

"Tell me,"  Yogurt leaned down; you were much shorter than him.  "I'm not going to cause any harm. I just really want to know what you were up to."

Lilac was standing behind Yogurt, side-eyeing you and giving you a dirty look.

Your eyes were planted down, your face growing hot with embarrassment. You stared at those grains of sand below your feet as though they were going to help you.  "I... I just-"  You took a deep breath. C'mon, breathe.  "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were a prince. I- I needed money for food, and I saw the change in your pocket, so I... yeah. "

Yogurt nodded.  "Ohh. I see I see."  He stood still for a moment, mulling over something.  "Wanna come back to the palace for dinner? And um- a shower. Are you homeless?"

You just grew more embarrassed. Of course, you hadn't been able to shower since first running off a week ago. You hoped that it was merely your disheveled appearance and not that you smelled or anything.  "If... If you don't mind... I'm sorry..."

Yogurt put his hand on your right shoulder, and you jumped.  "No need for apologies! Please, come with me!"

Lilac shook his head.  "My liege, you shouldn't-"

Yogurt whipped his face around, staring at Lilac with sad and pleading puppy dog eyes.  "Buuut Lilac-"  he whined. What were you? The stray animal that the child was begging their mother to let them keep?

You saw Lilac grow tense at this. Lilac must have a strong bond with this prince Yogurt guy, huh?

"Fine."  Lilac finally said, taking a deep sigh.

Yogurt grabbed you by the hand, dragging you through the rough crowds. You could already hear the chatter going around about you. Yikes- you really did fuck with the wrong person. You sure hoped that nobody recognized you.

Upon reaching the palace, your nerves were starting to settle. When entering, you were hit with instant ecstasy as a wave of air blew over your shaking, sweaty body. Yogurt began to walk you through the halls, hanging on tightly to your hand, as Lilac trailed behind the two of you.

"I'll show you to the showers, alright? But I'll give you some clothes first. You must be real tired of those rags you have on."

You nodded, still feeling too shy to say anything. You always felt bad when other people did things for you. It was ironic, really. Back at your palace, your parents had plenty of servants who would always help with everything. You're a prince. You shouldn't have to do things for yourself. Or, at least that's what you were told.

Once you were in what appeared to be Yogurt's bedroom, you found yourself holding a stack of clean, folded clothing in your palms. Yogurt had handed you some clothing from his dresser drawer, and dear god, they looked comfy.

"You can use the shower in my room,"  he said, pointing towards an open door near the corner.  "And take your time,"

"T-thank you... really."  You stumbled off to the restroom, quickly locking the door and stripping of your clothes almost instantly. You were so eager to get out of this filth; you felt so disgusting. You took your dirty clothes and shoved them into your backpack before adjusting the temperature of your shower and getting cleaned up.

You found the clothes you put on to be quite big. The shirt was okay being oversized, but you found quite the trouble keeping your pants up. You dug around in your backpack, taking the belt from off your prince uniform and giving it a quick wipe down with a wet wipe before tucking your shirt into the pants and weaving the belt through the belt loops.

You stretched, then looked in the mirror. Not too bad. You dried your hair off, making sure to part it in the same way as before to not get recognized.

You collected whatever towels you'd used and tossed them in the hamper, and then exited the room. But there seemed to be a pleasant surprise waiting for you...

"AH! LILAC-!"  You jumped back, reaching to grab your dagger but realizing that you had put it elsewhere during your shower.

"Calm,"  the man spoke. He was looking at you with obvious disdain.

"My bad..."  you uttered.

"Yogurt Cream told me to come retrieve you. Dinner is being served shortly."

"Ah, okay. Thank you."

Lilac led you down to the dining hall. It was massive, to say the least. There was a huge dining table, a few servants running about wielding trays of food. Your eyes glossed over the room, searching for that particularly purple-haired prince.

Almost instantly, Lilac found Yogurt sitting in a cushiony chair at the end of the table. It was almost as though Lilac could always smell Yogurt from a mile away. You pondered why Lilac always seemed to be two steps behind Yogurt. Quite literally.

"Oh! There you two are!"  Yogurt was smiling, holding a fancy fork made of gold between his fingertips.  "I was waiting. My big brother should be around soon, and so should father."

"Have you informed father of our... guest?"  asked Lilac.

"Course! Of course!"  Yogurt answered.

A strange man entered the dining hall. He looked a lot like Yogurt Cream but was much taller and had a beard. That must be his brother.

His brother approached the three of you, giving Lilac a dirty look before eyeing you up and down.  "Who's this?"

Yogurt's eyes lit up in excitement.  "Oh! This is-"  but then he paused. He didn't know who you were, did he?

"(Y/n),"  you interrupted. Crap- you shouldn't have said your real name.

"(Y/n)..."  Yogurt let the name roll off his tongue.

"(Y/n)."  His brother repeated.

Yogurt giggled.  "So, (y/n)! This is my older brother Plain Yogurt!"  Yogurt smiled at Plain, and Plain returned that smile. You couldn't help but feel as though he was a nice big brother.

A servant then came rushing in, running to Yogurt Cream.  "Your royalness-"

"Yea?"  Yogurt wasn't even looking at the poor servant. He was distracted by something elsewhere.

"Your father won't be able to make it for dinner tonight."

"Awe,"  Yogurt frowned.  "I wonder what he's up to."

Eventually, dinner was served. It was far different from the sorts of things you ate back at home. You couldn't even tell what was meat and what was not. Not that it was terrible or gross, though. Simply different. A different culture. How far had you run?

You hadn't even noticed how fast you were digging into your food until Yogurt gently tapped you on the shoulder.

"Slow down,"  he whispered.  "You wouldn't want a stomach ache, would you?"

You shook your head, thoroughly appalled at your ghoulish behavior. You're a prince. You need to behave in a better manner. You should know this, yet you always messed up.  "Right... thanks."

You kept eating, much slower this round, while listening to the excited chatter of Yogurt filling up the table. Yogurt seemed to be most vocal, having Plain and Lilac only chime in every couple sentences of his or so. Yogurt rambled about treasures, some shows that happened a few weeks ago, and other various things. He chat on and on to the other two, and well, you supposed you as well, yet nobody seemed to return such enthusiasm. Yogurt didn't seem to care much, though.

When dinner was over, a servant snatched your plate away before you could even think to quire what to do with the dirty dish.

You waddled up behind Yogurt Cream, tugging on his sleeve like a lost child to get his attention.

"Oh! (Y/n)! What is it?"

"I just w-wanted to say thanks again before I go."

"Awwe, you're leaving so soon?"

You didn't get it. Didn't Yogurt want you to leave after violating his home?  "Well, I- I can't just loiter here, no? You're too kind for me to do that to you."

Yogurt paused for a moment.  "Well, you can't just go back to being homeless, can't you now?"

"But- you-"

"Oh! I have an idea!"

"An... idea?"

"Yeah! What if you worked for me? That way, you have a home and get paid!"

Yogurt... wanted you here? I mean, could you really deny it? This could be a great start to a new life, a better one. Despite your status going from royalty to some peasant servant, it would undoubtedly be better than back home.  "I mean, if you want me t-"

"Perfect!"  Yogurt clapped his hands together, and you jumped back.  "Oh? You okay?"

"Yeah,"  you replied.  "But are you so sure?"

"Of course!"  Yogurt was absolutely giddy. He was like an excited toddler. You can't pinpoint why he was so excited, as though he completely forgot that you'd tried to rob him earlier.

You stood still, tense. Why was this prince being so nice to you?

"I have an extra bedroom set up already that you can use."  Yogurt grabbed your hand and began to drag you off just like last time. The room he led you to was absolutely stunning for being an 'extra bedroom.' There was a king-sized bed with a canopy in the middle and a door that opened up to a balcony. There was also a soft brown rug that tickled your skin, a desk in the corner, and a random house plant. It even included its own bathroom.  "You like?"  Yogurt asked.

"Yeah- yeah."  You smiled, and Yogurt smiled back.

"Oh, that's good! I'm glad it's to your liking."

Letting go of Yogurt's hand, you walked over to the bed, setting your backpack down on the pillows. Your body was so much smaller compared to the mass of the bed. It was so comfortable, so soft, you were already sinking into the mattress.

You watched Lilac's head pop up behind Yogurt near the doorframe. Yogurt turned around and began talking to Lilac for a moment, what sounded like a silent argument before Yogurt turned back around to you.  "Don't worry about what my bodyguard says."

A bodyguard? That's one thing you never had back in your own kingdom. You were awfully lonely.

"It's getting late though, you should rest up, alright?"

You nodded.  "Thanks again... uh-"

"Just call me Yogurt, alrighty?"

With one last affirmative nod, Yogurt had shut the door on you.

Chapter Text

You awoke feeling as though you had not a single bone in your body. With warmth surrounding you and the serene quiet that filled the chamber, you felt undoubtedly at ease.

The only problem was your sudden urge to piss.

You turned over, looking at the bedside table. There was a digital clock sitting there, and it was already 1:30 in the afternoon! Gah- you really messed up, didn't you? Were you supposed to be awake earlier? Yogurt never exactly told you what being his servant entails quite yet.

You threw the sheets off yourself, hopping off the bed and planting your bare feet to the carpeted floor. You rubbed your eyes, somehow still feeling quite tired. You quickly did your bathroom routine, brushing your hair and splashing cold water on your face. You didn't have any new clothes to change into, but you supposed yesterdays should be adequate.

You then dragged your half-asleep body to the door and cracked it open. The hallway was narrow, cold, and long. You shivered, stepping out and shutting the door behind yourself. You would surely get lost here- but you needed to find Yogurt Cream. You just had an overwhelming sense of not wanting to let him down.

You walked down the quiet hall, not knowing which doors to open. Should you even risk opening one? What if something unpleasant was behind one of these doors? Or you walked into a place you were forbidden from going? It was like Russian roulette.

"Hey-" A large figure bumped into your back, causing you to scream. "Jeez... calm down." You turned around. It was just Plain.

"Ah! Morning, Plain. Um- do you have any idea where your brother is at?"

"Yeah. He's in his room."

"Thank you," you said, about to run off before you remembered that you had no idea where that was. "Um. Can you take me there?"

Plain agreed, and you were soon inside Yogurt's room. Yogurt had a few items scattered on the floor while Lilac sat on the bed behind him, watching him.

Yogurt gasped upon seeing you. "(Y/n)! Hey! Hi! Hiii!" Yogurt waved to you excitedly, and you couldn't help but feel a little jovial at the warm welcome. "Hey! You wanna see my new treasures? Lilac and I went out earlier, and I haggled some off some merchant for a low price!"

"Treasures?" you asked, approaching Yogurt and sitting across from him on the ground. "Shouldn't I be doing servant duties? That's what I came here to ask about."

"Hmph. You have no time for me and my treasures?" Yogurt pouted.

"Well- ah-" you panicked, thinking you'd messed up. "Sorry- I'm just-"

"Hey, hey! Don't take it so harshly, now! It's alright, I'm just razzing you!" Yogurt smiled before setting down some golden artifact in front of you. "Isn't it pretty? I have more, too! Please let me show you!"

You nodded. Gosh, Yogurt was being such a dork. Yogurt proceeded to pull out more treasures, a lot of them appearing to be rocks or crystals. You listened carefully as he described the crystals one by one, beaming joyfully about how shiny one was or how the color of another made him happy. It was such an adorable little display.

You were then caught off guard by the prince himself placing something in your palm. "Oh?"

Yogurt giggled. "I want you to have one! You're such a good listener! Though I'm not one willing to give away my treasures so easily, so don't expect much else."

The praise sent a chill up your spine. Was this the validation you lacked back home overwhelming you? All with one measly compliment?

The item Yogurt had placed in your grasp was a rock necklace. The stone was a pretty shade of pink, a light pink, and it was carefully bound to the string with an intricately crafted silver lining. This stone... was rose quartz. Your face flushed red. Did Yogurt Cream know what this crystal meant? "Thank you," you said, placing the stone around your neck.

"You look stunning!" Yogurt cheered. "Oh, but onto your servant duties-!" Yogurt quickly piled up his valuables, putting them in a small box. "Explaining servant duties is boring, though. Mmph. Hmm. I don't know. Just clean around the palace for today, okay? There's always something to be swept up or dusted. Lilac, would you take them to the cleaning closet for me?"

"My liege, you know I'm really not supposed to be leaving your side."

"I know, I know Lilac! I'll be fine for two seconds. You worry too much about me! Even father said I'm relatively safe in the palace!"

"I'm-" Lilac looked like he wanted to say something but quickly closed his mouth. "Yes, my liege."

Lilac stood from the bed, walking towards the exit without a word. You ran up behind him, trailing behind as he made his way down the halls. He took you to a dull-looking closet full of cleaning supplies. You felt as though today was going to be a long, long day.

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You were relieved when you were called from your cleaning around dinnertime. Your arms were aching, and you'd been too scared to ask for breakfast or lunch, so you were starving. Entering the dining hall, you sat next to Yogurt at the end of the table.

"(Y/n)!" chimed Yogurt, pulling you in for a hug. This man was real touchy, wasn't he?

"Hey... Yogurt."

"Don't be so shy!"

Lilac was eyeing you from the other side of Yogurt. Chills were sent down your spine. Why was it that Lilac hated you? Or at least- it seemed like he hated you. You supposed he did have good reason to feel cautious.

Yogurt's father wasn't at dinner today either. It was the same crowd as yesterday: Yogurt, Lilac, Plain, and you. You couldn't help but feel special. None of the other servants were allowed to eat here, so why you?

When you asked the prince why his answer was quite simple: "Because we're friends!"

He plucked a homeless freak off the streets and claimed you as his friend. Interesting.

Yogurt's family was weirdly small. Despite being a prince yourself, you always saw royal families as being really big. Though, you hadn't known why you were judging, as your family at home wasn't that large actually. Perhaps it's the feeling of seeing such a huge home only to learn how few people inhabit it. Or maybe how this was such a ridiculously large table for such little people.

But now that you squinted harder, there was a new face. You could only guess they were related to Yogurt, as they had the same skin tone. On top of that, they had ridiculously long, puffy, orange hair which covered one of their pink eyes, a darker orange t-shirt with an image of a white flower on it, and a beanie that matched their shirt color. They seemed to be minding their own business, staring off into the distance while their food sat uneaten in front of them.

"Hey! Orange!" Yogurt called to the one in question.

"Huuh?" they replied.

"I forgot to introduce you to (y/n)!"

"Huh? Oh. Cool."

"No! Look! Please?"

Orange looked over, rubbing their eyes tiredly. "Oh? The little one?"

You shook your head. You couldn't be THAT small?

Yogurt sighed, looking at you. "(Y/n), this is my half-sibling, Orange Cream Yogurt."

You smiled, giving Orange a nervous wave. "H-hey..."

Orange didn't seem to notice, already spaced out again.

"They're so amusing sometimes," said Yogurt. "Let's eat, shall we?"

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After dinner, just as you were about to exit the room to head back to work, you felt a hand on your shoulder.

"(Y/n)!" There was Yogurt's voice.

You jumped back, hugging your body tightly. "Yo- Yogurt?"

"Oooh. My bad." Yogurt crouched down to your height. "You alright?"

"Y-yeah..."

"Good then!" Yogurt smiled. "I just came to ask you if you wanted to go to the night market with me! And, well, Lilac too."

How often did this man go to the goddamn market? "Oh! Yeah, I would like that."

Yogurt did a little excited jump into the air. "Oh! Yay! C'mon, Lilac is waiting outside!"

When Yogurt brought you out, Lilac was sweating. "My liege, you can't just run off like that. What if you got hurt?"

"Mm. Sorry, Lilac. I just wanted to ask (y/n) if they wanted to go!"

Lilac glared at you with those piercing eyes, which were full of silent threat. Though it were only for a moment, as he turned to face Yogurt again. "Don't run off again."

"Hmph. Okay, Lilac."

Lilac looked away from the both of you, his eyes now guided towards the city. "Let us go."

The three of you walked forth into the night, a new adventure now commencing. This wasn't something you did back home, as you spent most of your time in the forest, away from your parents, hiding from society.

But you didn't need to hide away anymore. Something about being next to Yogurt felt safer.

After walking for a few minutes and listening to Yogurt's chatter, you arrived. The night market was absolutely stunning, perfection, even. The stars illuminated the sky just right, the temperature was cool, and the crowd was small.

You watched as Yogurt lit up in joy.

"How do you never get tired of this routine?" asked Lilac.

"Because!" Yogurt shouted. "There's always new treasures! And new people! There's so much here!"

You could see all the shiny artifacts from miles away and could understand why this was so appealing to Yogurt. There was just so much glistening in one area.

Yogurt grabbed you by the hand and sprinted. You could hear a disgruntled Lilac from behind the both of you.

The first booth you stopped at was full of items unknown to your eye, but it seemed Yogurt was immediately immersed. He was already touching, picking up, and examining all the things up for offer. Yogurt did this for a few booths, rambling to you about each and every item.

You stood close to Yogurt as the two of you walked about, with Lilac trailing behind. Yogurt just walked too goddamn close to you—it made you a little nervous.

"Are you doing alright?" asked Yogurt. "You're real quiet. Actually, now that I think about it, you're always so awfully quiet and shy. Why is that?"

Yogurt had just asked you quite the intimate question, and it happened to bring up a few unsettling memories. You stopped walking, dead in your tracks, your brain hitting a malfunction.

Yogurt walked a few steps forth before noticing your absence. "(Y/n)?! Oh- hey! Why are you back there now?"

It took a few moments before you realized you had been frozen in place. "Sorry..." You noticed Lilac standing beside Yogurt. Was he hoping Yogurt would forget you there?

Yogurt came back, putting a comforting hand on your back. "You alright?" he asked, rubbing your upper back.

"Yeah..."

"Was that a bad question?"

"Nono, just overthought about it. I've had a lot of people in my past tell me to keep quiet and that I'm annoying or embarrassing, so I guess it's just stuck that way." Ironically, that was probably the longest sentence you've spoken in a while.

Yogurt stood there and listened, and you were afraid he was going to say the same.

"Well, I think you're fun!"

A smile crept up upon your lips as you tilted your head to look at Yogurt Cream. "You- you really think so?"

Yogurt giggled. "Why, of course!"

"Thank you..."

Though that happy moment shortly fell to ruin as a tall, reasonably large man stumbled over to the both of you holding a flask of whisky.

Yogurt took a glance over at the guest. "Oh, hi!"

The drunken man stared at Yogurt for a moment, and then his eyes moved and settled on you, where he locked his gaze at your chest. "Prince Yogurt Cream... What's with the cute little bitch thing you have here?"

Both of your smiles dropped as his words hit your ears.

Yogurt wrapped a hand around you, pulling you back. "Ex- excuse me?" Yogurt spat in confusion.

Your eyes drifted over to Lilac, who already had his eyes dead set on the drunkard with his hands reaching back for his chakrams.

The man hiccuped, reaching his hand out. "I was just wondering if your little thing here would give me that necklace of theirs... looks mighty expensive."

Yogurt had opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, the man was grabbing at you. He'd grabbed the necklace Yogurt had given you earlier and pulled you forward, choking you.

That's when Lilac finally made a move, kicking the man in the stomach and watching as he stumbled backward and dropped his flask.

The man coughed a few times before clenching his fists and grinding his teeth. This couldn't be good. "YOU stupid PURPLE BITCH-!" he spat at Lilac, pulling his fist back to strike. Just as the man's fist was about to hit Lilac's face, Lilac calmly caught it in his palm.

"You have no place to be fighting us," said Lilac.

You looked away, your stomach growing unsettled at the loudness and the violence. Yogurt pulled you close, pressing your face against his chest as he caressed the back of your head comfortingly.

You heard some loud grunting from behind you and possibly the cracking of bones snapping in two, and you felt yourself shiver a little. But Yogurt kept holding onto you, making sure you were safe until that little ordeal had ended.

"The man is gone now," Yogurt whispered to you, taking a deep sigh. He then repositioned his head to look at Lilac. "Thank you, Li. Ergh. What a pitiful display that peasant was. What a way to spoil my good mood. Sorry about that too, (y/n). This usually doesn't happen. You alright?"

You nodded, pushing yourself away from Yogurt. Though part of you wished that you hadn't. "I'm fine. Just a little shocked."

"Hmm. Let's not let this ruin our trip, shall we?" Yogurt reached his hand out to you, like one of those scenes in the movies. You grabbed it, and he continued to guide you through the market while attempting to cheer you up along the way.

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Eventually, after haggling a few things from some merchants, you three made it to the end. Yogurt had spent hours looking, and Lilac seemed tired. You were pretty content, though. It was fun going on an outing with someone so energetic and excited—someone who was so full of overwhelmingly positive vibes.

The three of you now sat by the fountain, Yogurt admiring his new treasures and Lilac sitting and swinging his legs.

You leaned over, putting your head on Yogurt's shoulder. Oh, god. Maybe you were tired too. You hadn't even realized it until laying your head upon his shoulder. You let out a loud yawn.

"Are you tired?" the prince asked.

"A little. It feels so late..."

"It's midnight!" chimed Yogurt.

"Midnight?!" you gasped.

Lilac suddenly grew an expression of worry. "Midnight? Oh. My liege, it's a bit past curfew. We must get going."

"Oh, crumbs." Yogurt huffed, pouting like a child being told they must now leave the playground. Then, out of nowhere, Yogurt picked you up bridal style in his arms. "Let us go then!"

You squeaked, confused by the sudden actions but soon settled in his arms, tired.

Lilac stood up, and Yogurt followed suit, who clutched you close as your eyes began to flutter shut.

Though your eyes remained closed, you could identify the moment you entered the mansion by the sudden wave of cool.

Yogurt had taken you to your room, setting you down on the bed ever so gently.

You opened your eyes again, watching as Yogurt tucked you in. "Yogurt..."

"Hm? Oh yes! Hi!"

You reached around your neck, taking off your necklace and putting it on the nightstand. "Thank you for everything today."

He smiled at you. "It's all my pleasure."

You clenched the blanket close to you, nuzzling your face into it as the relieving feeling of warmth and softness ran over every bit of your skin. It was a massage to your body that ached after walking for so long.

"If you need me, my room is down the hall, alrighty?"

You nodded tiredly.

"Good, good." Yogurt went over to the blinds on your window, adjusting them adequately. Gosh, it started to feel like HE was YOUR servant or something at this point. He's done so much for you already.

Yogurt walked to the door, flipping off the light switch and leaving you in the dark with the chirps of crickets.

This wasn't so bad at all. You caught yourself smiling uncontrollably. You've never felt so safe around anyone before ever up until now. It was so validating having your existence appreciated and your emotions consoled. It felt so, so lovely.

This night was more peaceful than the first.

Chapter Text

You found yourself awake at a decent time this morning, feeling quite energized too. You wondered why. It was nine o'clock, and you were already on your feet. You noticed a pile of clothes sitting on your nightstand and assumed it could only be Yogurt's doing. He probably realized that you've been wearing the same clothes for a few days now.

You put the new clothes on after taking a shower and realized something was off.

These clothes were your size.

How could he possibly find clothes in your size? How did he know your size?

But the clothes weren't just regular clothes. They were actually quite pretty. You felt like you were preparing to go to the ball or something.

You had brown thigh-high socks on as well as a brown long-sleeved turtleneck of the same shade. Around your waist was a cloth akin to the one Lilac wore, though yours was a deeper shade of brown than your shirt. To top it all off, you wore a transparent green cape with your quartz rose necklace.

When you'd walked downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast, the sharp scent of burning hit your nostrils. You saw Yogurt hunched over the counter, making... something.

"Morning," you said, getting on your tip-toes and trying to peek over the taller man's shoulders. You really wished you hadn't because you saw something absolutely horrifying.

What in fucks name did he do to the toast?

"Yogurt? Wh- what happened? Is- is everything okay?"

"I burnt them." he pouted.

"How? I mean- it's just toast."

"(Y/n) this is my first time cooking! It's quite hard!"

You smiled and let out a sigh. "Where's Lilac?"

"Oh! He's sleeping. I'll be fine without him right now. He seemed really tired. I hope he gets some rest. I miss him. But you're here now, so it's okay! Oh-" Yogurt turned around and paused, examining you up and down. "You've found the clothes I've given you."

Yogurt's scrutiny almost made you blush. "Yeah- thank you for them. They're comfy."

Yogurt then stared for a moment longer, making you shuffle awkwardly in place.

"Oh! My apologies! You're just- pretty."

And NOW your face flushed uncontrollably red. You couldn't help but feel good at genuine praise. "Ah- thank you."

"If you're wondering how I got your size, it was fairly easy. I found some of your dirty clothes on the floor in your room the other day. I was gonna go give them to a servant so they could wash them, but then I got an idea."

You fell silent. Did your clothes fall from your bag at any point? Yogurt has seen your prince uniform but did he realize? "That was awful kind of you. These clothes are beautifully tailored."

"I thought they would suit you well."

You looked away. "If it's alright, can I show you how to make the toast?"

"Yeah!"

You took three pieces of bread from the bag, two for Yogurt and one for you, and popped them into the toaster. "You have the setting set to nine minutes..." you said, reaching your hand out and readjusting the little dial on the toaster to two minutes before pressing down on the lever.

"Oh, thank you! You're my savior!" Yogurt gave you a gentle head pat.

You chuckled softly.

"Nooo! Don't be quiet again!" Yogurt groaned. "I liiiike it when you taaalk." Gosh, he's so whiny. It's cute.

"Sorry. Guess I'll have to get more used to it."

The two minutes went by, and Yogurt laughed at how you jumped at the sound of the toast popping. "You're startled by the toaster?" he teased.

"Your toaster is just stupid," you said, removing the slices from the machine. "THAT is how you properly cook toast."

Yogurt paused for a moment, and you wondered if he really had to take that long to contemplate the making of toast. He might as well start taking notes and studying at this point.

You grabbed your slice of toast from the counter. "Do you mind if I uh- take a walk before beginning my duties?"

Yogurt shook his head. "Not at all! Can I come with you?"

"Uh- w-well-" gosh, you were growing all shy again. "Wouldn't we have to get your bodyguard? I can't really protect you..."

"It's fine! I'll be fine!"

"Won't Lilac be worried if you return harmed? As well as probably being pissed at me?"

"Well, I guess that's true... I wouldn't want Lilac to be angry! He can be scary!"

CAN be? Lilac was scary to you from the very moment you met him. Hell, he was HORRIFYING. Something about his aurora, the way he stared at you...

"Mhm. I'll be back soon, though."

"Of course! Have a fun walk!"

You left the mansion with your toast in hand. You felt gorgeous with your cape flowing in the light winds of the desert—Yogurt's compliment really got to your head.

The streets of Yogurca weren't crowded today. You were glad, as you wanted to do a bit of exploring around what was your new home. It was a nice place, really. Just a little hot sometimes, but it was okay. Your clothes were relatively thin and breezy.

You were having a nice walk when all of a sudden, you saw something from the corner of your eye. A poster? A flyer?

Your heart dropped. Oh no- it couldn't be.

You quickly grabbed the flyer and crumpled it to pieces before you could even fully comprehend it. Of course, they were looking for you, that's for sure. But to have missing person posters this far out? You hadn't expected it. You didn't want to be found; you wanted to stay with Yogurt.

You turned around to head home after having your morning ruined when you spotted another poster in the distance. "What in hell's name..." you mumbled, walking over as you ripped that poster down too.

But that wasn't the end. There were more. You kept running, poster after poster, dozens, thousands you swore, it went on forever.

Eventually, you found yourself in an unfamiliar space with a line of crumpled paper trailing behind you.

And as you stood, staring off into the empty Yogurca desert, you thought that this day couldn't get any worse.

Yogurt Cream found your prince uniform, and now the word of your absence was spreading to the Yogurca. You would keep your cool, though. You just needed a better disguise—that would surely make you feel more secure.

A sudden idea sprang into your mind, an idea which sent you sprinting all the way back home in excitement with a complete change of mood.

When you had arrived back at the mansion, you found Yogurt almost immediately. You could tell he noticed the glint of excitement in your eyes as he perked up curiously at your arrival. "What's up, (y/n)?"

"Hey, um, I was just wondering when my um- paycheck? Yeah. I was-" Before you could finish your sentence, Yogurt Cream handed you a quite copious sum of money. "WOAH- WELL- Alright then. Um. Thank you."

Yogurt smiled at you, cupping your cheek in his hand and giggling. "You're quite welcome. I'll start putting your pay in your room at the end of the day then, alright?"

"Mhm..." You nodded, staring at the man in stunned silence. "Oh- What should I do for you today..."

"Hmmm. Just do whatever your little heart desires."

You blushed at the teasing comment. "N-no... seriously..."

Yogurt chuckled. "You wanna help out with the yard work? Do you enjoy tending to plants, perchance?" Hell, if you knew. You'd hardly done an ounce of hard work in your life.

"I'm sure it can't be too bad."

Yogurt only hummed before retracting his hand, walking away with nothing else to say.

You felt saddened by the lack of warmth on your cheek. Though, it would be no matter. You had chores to be done before your bright idea would take place.

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After-dinner seemed to have become the call that signaled the end of your duties for the day. You've had a lunch break, of course, but after dinner was essentially go-time.

You ate quickly before waving goodbye to a confused Yogurt Cream before dashing out of the mansion. You trotted down the pathways of Yogurca for the purpose of only one desire: a complete makeover.

Using the signs, you guided yourself to a small store just a little away from where the street merchants resided. It wasn't anything like you had back home, though. It was just a tiny building with four wooden walls and a roof, small but cozy. It wasn't cold inside like a supermarket would be, but it was of decent temperature. Though, you still could really go for a cold breeze right about now.

"Hello!" there was a friendly-looking man behind the counter, waving to you with a friendly smile.

"Hey," you greeted, giving the man a side glance. You hoped he didn't already recognize you from the posters. "I'm looking for hair dye."

"Oh! We have some in the very back," he said, pointing his finger to the back right corner.

You thanked him, mindlessly guiding yourself to your destination. You spent a long while there before finally deciding. You grabbed your preferred color(s) before wandering off to look at other things in the shop, other things to help better disguise you. A mask? No, that's too obvious. Maybe some new clothes? Yeah, certainly.

After successfully buying your new dye and fancy clothes, you walked back to the mansion with a few bags full.

"You go on a shopping spree or somethin'?"

You whipped your head around to face the direction of the voice. Orange Cream Yogurt was standing there with a pencil in their left hand and a sketchbook in their right. They were positioned as though they were in the middle of drawing something, but their dominant hand was frozen overtop the paper. You must have distracted them from their drawing.

"Yeah, I g-guess something like that," you uttered nervously. "What are you doing?"

"Um," they paused for a moment. It seemed they couldn't quite remember. "Drawing, I think."

"Can I see?" you set your bags down, making your way over to the taller one. Orange nodded, lowering his paper to where your gaze could meet it. The drawing was a simple sketch of their half-brother Yogurt Cream. Yogurt Cream had a huge smile on his face and was holding what was obviously the thing that made Yogurt his happiest: treasures. "You're good at drawing."

"Thanks," they replied. "You want it?"

"I- you're giving it to me?"

"Sure," the ginger said nonchalantly as they ripped the artwork from their sketchpad. "I was done with it anyhow."

You accepted the gift from Orange's hands and stared for a moment. You were going to frame this in your room. "Thank you-" you said, but upon looking back up, the red-head was already gone. What a peculiar human being.

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You don't know what happened in the midsts of your hair dye session, but the bathroom was suddenly a colorful mess and smelled of bleach. You looked in the mirror, admiring how utterly ridiculous your appearance was. There was color drizzling all over you, down your scalp, arms, cheek, and all over the bathroom floor. You sighed in defeat, wrapping a towel around your head and taking a quick shower.

Upon another glance in the mirror, you were relieved to see a noticeable difference. But don't think it was pretty, no. You were still quite stained in various places. In the middle of your self-examination, there was a gentle knocking at the bathroom door that caused you to jump back. "H-hello?"

"Hey- (y/n)? You alright in there? It's been uh, a while."

You rolled your eyes, quickly throwing on a shirt and opening the bathroom door. Yogurt was standing there, and upon meeting your gaze, raised a questioning eyebrow. "What happened?"

"Oh, I just wanted to change my looks up a bit, is all."

"Why is that?" chimed Yogurt. "Did you not like your looks before?"

"Oh, n-no. Not that it's that. I just... wanted a change, is all. Especially after moving into a new place n' everything."

Yogurt smiled. "I see. Say, where DID you live before this? Like- where are you from?"

"Um-" You fumbled with your fingers. "I'm going to clean up the bathroom before everything stains. I'll talk later."

Yogurt Cream nodded. "Come to me when your hair is done, alright? I want to see how it turns out."

It was an hour or so later when you found yourself knocking on Yogurt's door, hair brushed and fluffed out, newly colored to perfection. You were excited yet somewhat nervous.

Yogurt opened the door with a cordial smile before pulling you into an excited hug. "Ahh! You're so stunning!"

You squeaked, your feet far from the floor now. "Eheh- ahah- thank you..."

Yogurt released you, plopping you back down on the ground gently. "Wanna come in?"

Gosh, why was Yogurt so friendly with you? It didn't make any sense. Why were you treated so nicely? Was it just him trying to welcome you, or did he actually take you as a friend? Deep down, you really hoped so. "Oh... s-sure."

Yogurt frowned. "Heeey, don't be so tense, alright?" He guided you to his bed, where you both sat next to one another like two kids at a sleepover. "You don't have to worry, I promise."

"Thank you," you said.

"I just wanted to talk," Yogurt said that, and the phrase instantaneously boiled fear in your stomach. You felt like you were in trouble.

"Oh? Really? I mean-"

"Oh! Not like that! I mean like- like friends do!"

"Friends...?" You stared down at your palms.

Friends.

You hardly had friends back home.

Most were just fans. Fans of the gorgeous prince pictured in the magazines. The talented prince who would only do everything with the utmost skill and precision.

All of which felt like a lie to you.

Nobody knew the real you.

Nobody knew the real you until now, that someone boring holes into your soul from how long he was staring at the back of your head. Yogurt knows not one ounce of your past and yet still wants to stay by your side.

Yogurt Cream was your friend. A real friend.

"Yeah, (y/n)! Haven't I told you before? We're friends!"

"I know, I know, it just feels unusual to me, is all."

Yogurt frowned. "Y'know, it's unusual to me too, so I guess we're in the same boat. None of the other servants except Lilac have accepted me trying to be their friend, so I'm happy you're my friend!"

You widened your eyes. You had no idea Yogurt and you were so similar.

"I'm... glad we're friends too," you replied.

"Oh- (y/n)? Can I ask you a question?"

"Huh? Oh! Of course!"

"It's the same question as earlier. I'm just really curious about where you're from and everything. And how you ended up here."

Ah shit. You forgot about that. You couldn't tell Yogurt the truth yet. "Oh um, I'm from- er-" you couldn't think of an actual place quick enough, and what came out of your mouth was something you could not even personally keep track of. "A place where... there is grass... and... tree's... and also..." you eventually grew frustrated, putting your hands over your head in defeat. "I don't know."

"Do you not remember?" Yogurt frowned.

"No. Not at all."

"Have you lost your memory, mayhaps? Do you remember anything? At all?"

You felt guilt pulling at your insides. You were about to actively and consciously lie to Yogurt Cream to cover yourself up. It was sickening, but you didn't want to risk being found out. You didn't want to be sent back or possibly have Yogurt's opinion on you change. Hell, you didn't even want to remember the past. You liked it better here. You felt safer than ever here and didn't want to go anywhere else. "I have... no memories," you fibbed.

"Oh, no!"

"Don't worry about it, though! I'll be fine."

"I wish I could help..."

"Yogurt, I'll be fine. I swear. I... I like my life right now, and I don't want it to change, okay?"

"I see. Very well then! I'll continue to protect you here in the palace!"

You smiled softly, pulling Yogurt in for a hug. "Thank you, really. I know I've said it a million times but thank you for letting me stay."

Yogurt put his hands on your back and pat you gently. "Of course! It's no issue at all!"

You soon pulled away from the hug, leaving your arms to rest loosely around Yogurt.

That's when Lilac walked into the room, holding what you assumed to be Yogurt's nightgown. Upon catching Lilac's half-second repulsed glare, you both locked eyes for a moment. What did this man hate so much about you? Did he still not trust you?

"My liege." Lilac approached the two of you. "Do you wish to be dressed now?"

"Oh, yes!" Yogurt said excitedly. "Oh, suppose I'll see you tomorrow, (y/n). Okay? We can hang out tomorrow too!"

You smiled at the prince before uttering your goodbyes and exiting the room.

You weren't sleepy quite yet.

You made your way outside, taking a seat on one of the benches in the garden. You wondered how this garden even worked—was the desert not too hot for these flowers?

It was no matter, though. The night was cool, and the garden was serene. The stars were nice too, you supposed.

You couldn't help but feel the lack of tiredness was due to your worry. Sure, you'd changed your appearance. But people were still after you. You knew your family would put up a monetary reward to bring you back home.

But that wasn't your home now.

It never even felt like home.

What would Yogurt do if he found out about you and your past life? If he found out you'd been lying and leeching off him this whole time when you were perfectly sheltered back in your kingdom?

Yogurt wouldn't look down upon you, right?

No. He would never.

Friends don't do that, right?

Chapter Text

You'd fallen asleep.

You awoke feeling mass discomfort. Your head hurt, your throat was dry, the most prominent thing being your sweltering body.

You sat up, putting your hand against your forehead.

Was this hell?

Your vision soon cleared up, and you dragged yourself back into the mansion. Though the cool ventilation of the manor was just not enough this time.

You found yourself falling to your knees on the floor, clutching your stomach. Everything and anything hurt. How were you ever going to work in this condition?

You supposed you simply must push through. You couldn't just sit in bed and freeload all day, could you? Unlike in your kingdom, you must actually do something.

But when Yogurt found you, shriveled up and breathing heavily on the grass (seriously, how did they manage to grow grass in the desert?), he insisted quite the opposite.  "( y/n)!"  he yelled out, running over to you and kneeling down next to you.  "What's wrong?"

"Ngh..."  you groaned, lifting your head up and trying to move.  "Sorry, just feeling a little ill. Nothing I can't work with, though."

Yogurt used his arm to stop you from trying to stand up.  "Nuh-uh. I can't have a sickly servant, now can I?"

Guilt twinged at your gut. You didn't wish to become a burden on Yogurt. It was your fault for drifting off outside after all.  "Sorry."

Yogurt raised an eyebrow.  "Huh- oh! Don't apologize!"  He picked you up, bridal style, and carried you to your bedroom. Once there, he sat you upon the bed, pressing the back of his hand to your forehead.  "You're very warm. Say, where were you last night?"

"Mmph... outside."

"Outside? Oh dear, no wonder you've fallen ill!"  Yogurt retracted his hand before turning the fan on.  "I'll run you a cool bath, kay?"

You could only nod. Why was Yogurt doing all this for you when he could just order another servant to do so? Why was he pampering you like this? It made your stomach feel funny. As you listened to the water running in the next room over, you couldn't help but contemplate how undeserving you were.

Yogurt came back a few minutes after, picking you up again to bring you to the bathroom. He plopped you down on one of the steps leading up to the tub.  "Do you mind if I undress you?"

"Huh- WHAT?"

"Oh! My bad. Not like that. I was just gonna help you bathe, is all. I just want you to take it easy."

"You're gonna see me naked..."

"It's okay! Lilac sees me naked all the time!"

You wondered how many times the prince has carelessly stripped in front of his servants at this point...

You allowed Yogurt to undress you before you weakly climbed into the water. Your body was hit with a mid-second ecstasy upon being relieved of your hypothermia. Yogurt had also poured bubbles in the bath, so at least your nudeness wasn't on display anymore.

You sniffled, sinking deeper into the water. Your body may have been relieved, but your head still hurt like a bitch.

Yogurt grinned fondly, using his hands to scoop up water and knead it into your hair. He then used some shampoo, massaging it delicately through your scalp. You practically purred, closing your eyes as you felt Yogurt's fingers relax your head. God, it felt like bliss. 

"Feeling any better?"  queried Yogurt.

"Mm. A lil bit,"  you replied.

"Good, good."  Yogurt's gentle words sent warmth down your spine. Yogurt was always so nice and overly caring towards you. You wondered again why he did all this when he could simply go back to lazing about as per usual?

You noticed the water changing colors, presumably from your newly dyed hair coloring still adjusting. It felt weird sitting in a tub of coloring.

"Oh, my. I entirely forgot about the coloring. Quickly, let's get you out before your body is stained with color."

Yogurt helped you out, dried you off, and got you get into comfortable clothing.

You soon laid in your bed, snuggled beneath your blanket with Yogurt watching overhead.

"I'll bring you medicine, so sit tight, okay?"

Yogurt quickly left then returned, holding both liquid medicine and a pill bottle. You chose the one you were more comfortable with, taking it quickly. You then began to feel woozy, so you leaned back against the headboard and closed your eyes.

"Rest,"  Yogurt cooed.  "Lay down. I'll take care of you."

With butterflies in your stomach, you obeyed. Eyes still shut, you felt Yogurt run his hands through your hair. You whimpered and turned your body, the touch  making you feel fuzzy.

"Do you want me to go or stay?"

You thought for a moment, rolling back over and squinting your eyes open to see Yogurt.  "Please stay..."

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It had been a few hours when you awoke in a confused haze, Yogurt still by your side, though now asleep. He was on his knees, his head slung over the bedside so that it rested neatly on the space next to you. His arms drooped lifelessly at his sides, and there was a slight drool from his agape mouth.

You put one hand on his head, petting him. You don't think you've seen the prince asleep before this moment, and you had to admit he was pretty cute. You didn't wish to wake him, though you felt quite needy for attention.

You sat up, and you really wished you hadn't. You were hit with a heatwave and dizziness. You pushed the blanket off yourself, your body now cooler but still weak.

You got to your feet, walking to the bathroom. You turned the sink on, letting the water run and cool for a moment, before splashing it on your face.

Now that your face was cold and wet, the next problem was your throat. It hurt. Badly. You were so lethargic you thought you could choke on air.

"(Y/n)?"  There was a sleepy voice behind you, and you already knew who it was.

"Yogurt?"  you replied without turning around.

"Why are you up? Are you alright?"  Yogurt reached his hand out towards you, but you swatted it away.

"I'm-"  You coughed, feeling your throat tighten.  "-just a little lethargic."

"You want something to drink?"

"You don't have to-"

"No, no, don't worry. It's fine. Do you want water? Maybe tea?"

You could really go for something warm right now. You knew hot drinks weren't good for a sore throat, but it always felt so good to ease your throat with heated liquids.  "Tea would be nice."

"Mhm! Of course!"

It was ironic that you felt more like Yogurt was one of your servants at this point. It reminded you of back home, when you would have sick days and your servants would vex you with constant tending.

But Yogurt caring for you didn't irritate you.

In fact, you were flattered.

Yogurt was so sweet towards you.

When Yogurt left, you sat back down in the bed. Your heart was beating fast, and you felt as though your brain was running in circles. You wondered if you were going to die here in this bed ill with some mysterious condition.

You couldn't die yet. There was so much left to do! You're sure it would be fine, though.

Yogurt returned, and you instantly took to drinking the refreshment, the heat relaxing your throat. When you set the mug down, Yogurt was looking right at you.

"Thank you,"  you mumbled.

"You're welcome. Don't move too much, kay?"

"I won't."  You laid back down, this time without a blanket to cover you. You didn't want to risk waking up with another heatstroke.  "I'm sorry."

"Wha- I've told you! Don't be sorry!"

"I just feel bad, y'know? I just- you- I don't wanna just freeload here, and I'm probably troubling you so much and you probably-"

"Shh."  Yogurt pressed a finger to your lips.  "It is OKAY. I've told you. You are no trouble to me, I swear. I LIKE having you here."

You felt your face grow red.  "You- real- really?"

"Mhm. What reason would I have to not? You always apologize for existing when you don't need to. You're okay."

You couldn't pinpoint why, but you began to tear up.

"Hey? Are you- (y/n)?"

"Sorry. You're just so nice to me."

Yogurt got on the bed, pulling you into a light hug after a moment of silence.  "Is that not something you're used to?"

You sighed, burying your face in your hands.  "Not really..."

Yogurt hummed, pulling you closer.  "That explains quite a bit. Well, you're gonna have to get used to it now, okay! Me and Lilac and Orange have got your back!"

You internally cringed. Did Yogurt really not see how badly Lilac hated you?  "Thank you,"  you said.  "Aren't you going to get sick too being this close to me?"  You quickly blinked the tears away, not wanting your friend to spy them.

"Naaah,"  he said with a pshaw.  "It'll be okay, really!"

"Mmph. Whatever you say,"  you said, relaxing into Yogurt Cream as he held.  "You're comfy..."

Yogurt smirked.  "Am I, now?"

Part of you wanted to reach out and kiss that cocky little face of his.

What?

Fear boiled in your gut. You didn't like Yogurt, no! You couldn't, you shouldn't. He's simply looking after you. He's out of your league; he's prettier, smarter, kinder... You didn't deserve Yogurt's love. Especially not after lying to him. A mixture of guilt and pleasure began to arise from Yogurt's presence.

Yogurt nuzzled into the back of your neck.  "You're waaaarm-"

You squeaked, your fists balling up in your lap as you tried to contain yourself.  "Of course I am. I feel like a burnt piece of bread."  You'd cracked much of a dumb joke, but in reality, it was to hide your embarrassed, flustered state. Thankfully Yogurt didn't seem to notice.

Yogurt chuckled at you.  "You're silly and amusing."

"Am I...?"  You felt a weight on your eyelids. You were consoled in Yogurt's arms, safe even, despite how your body ached. You sniffled quietly, throwing your head back against Yogurt's collarbone.

Yogurt tightened his hold around you, humming softly. You listened to the song he hummed, unable to identify the lyrics, and were lulled into sleep again.

Everything was okay.

Right now, there was no need to worry.

No missing person posters.

No rivalry between you and Lilac.

Nobody searching for you.

No worries, not one. Everything was okay right now. Yogurt's touch seemed to make the bad thoughts fade away.

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The third time you awoke, it was dark.

"Huh...?"  You felt empty. You found yourself laying with your limbs sprawled out all over the sheets, cold with the absence of a blanket.

Wait, cold?

You sat up straight, stretching and yawning. Your pain was gone. Your head no longer ached, your stomach was no longer twisted into knots, and your body at last felt free from the chains of suffocating heat.

Your illness was quite quick passing, huh?

You were lonely.

Yogurt Cream was gone.

What time was it?

Your eyes focused on the digital bedside clock. It was five in the morning. 5:46.

How long had you been out?

It had to be a long while, as you certainly felt well energized, more than typically so.

You wandered through the halls in your pajamas, trying to remember where the kitchen was. The house was cool, but not too cool. Only to your uncovered ears was it a bit much.

You'd tripped down the stairs, falling flat on your face at the bottom.  "Ow..."  You could've sworn you'd broken your nose. What a great start to the morning!

You moved your head up, warm blood now trickling from your right nostril.

You'd found a horrifying sight upon the clearing of your vision.

"AH-!"  You jumped back onto the stairs.

Lilac towered over you, though his chakrams were nowhere in sight. He was wearing a plain black button-up, ruffled and messy from supposedly sleeping. He also wore shorts, exposing his slender legs. He had nowhere to hide his weaponry.

Oh, wait. It appears you were wrong. You quickly realized he had his hand in the back pocket of his shorts, grasping something.

Why would a bodyguard be so unprepared anyway?

"Good morning... (y/n)."  Lilac slowly took his hand out of his pocket.

"Morning..."  you replied, getting up and dusting yourself off as Lilac backed away.

Lilac was staring at you, but you pretended not to notice. He looked like he wanted to say something but stayed silent instead. You wondered why. Why was Lilac so quiet? Was he simply not interested in talking, or did he just have nothing to say?

You began to walk off, but Lilac grabbed you by the wrist. You shuddered at the contact. Lilac's palm was cold, and his grip was tight.  "Your face."

"What?"

"You're getting blood all over yourself."

"It's- it's fine!"

You were afraid. This felt like prime time to be killed if you were being honest. The dark of the room, the cool air, the way you couldn't escape Lilac's grip even if you were to try.

Murder before sunrise.

But Lilac let you go, humming softly.

You didn't walk away quite yet.  "Li?"  you called out with your back still turned to him.

"Lilac,"  he rejoined.

"Lilac,"  his name rolled off your tongue.  "Do you hate me?"

There was silence. An uncomfortable silence. You felt the sweat drip down your spine; maybe you should've kept it to yourself. You felt the strong urge that Lilac was going to sneak up behind you and start choking you.

And thus, you turned around, finding not a soul in sight.

Why did he leave?

With your eyebrows knit in worry, you continued your way to the kitchen. That was certainly an odd encounter. You'd always been shaky around Lilac since that appalling first encounter, but you really just wanted to be on good terms with him! You wished that everyone could get along with you all the time. But you supposed it was your fault Lilac hates you in the first place—it was the consequences of your owm actions.

But on the other hand, pickpocketing the prince had landed you here as well. So maybe it wasn't that bad. Lilac would warm up to you eventually, right?

You found yourself an apple to eat, a light morning snack that shouldn't upset your stomach too much. It felt quite odd being up before sunrise. The world outside the windows was dark: no blazing desert sun to be seen for miles around.

You knew there were many servants in this house, as well as Yogurt's family, yet hardly saw any one of them. This mansion was just too big. One day you'd got to explore it all, mayhaps on a day off or after dinner. Maybe you'd make some new friends along the way. Anybody here was someone Yogurt Cream could trust, right?

You sure hoped so.

...

......

"I know who you are,"  spoke a threatening whisper.

You jumped, dropping your apple core to the floor. You fell backward and would've hit your head on the counter if you hadn't caught yourself, fingers desperately clinging to those countertop edges.

"Prince (y/n)..."

"What are you talking about?! Le- leave me alone!"  you cried, afraid. You've been caught. You were done for. You were being taken back. You had to go back there. You didn't want to. You couldn't, you can't, you shouldn't.

Lilac came into view.  "You might want to wipe your face off."

You breathed heavily, hands threatening to lose their hold any second now and send you clattering against the floor. Were you being threatened? Questioned? Insulted???

"Do not fear me, as I have no intention of spreading word,"  said the taller man.  "It is of no concern nor benefit to me. I simply made an astute observation."

You took a deep breath, repositioning yourself to your feet.  "O-okay... just. Don't tell Yogurt Cream either... I..."

"I have no intentions."

It was slightly comforting. You couldn't help but feel as though Lilac's statement was honest. You felt the man had no reason to lie. But did you really know him that well?

"Thank you."

The kitchen grew a few degrees hotter, and you found yourself glancing out the window.

Sunrise already.

You turned back around. Lilac was gone again.

You hoped Lilac kept your secrets safe.

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You were sitting at the table in the dining hall, swinging your legs back and forth, when Yogurt Cream had found you. You weren't doing anything in particular, just musing about the event which took place that morning.

"(Y/n)! There you are!"

"Huh? Oh, h-hi."

"You're usually awake after me. What's got you up so early?"

"I guess just sleeping all day yesterday."

"Ah! That makes sense! Are you feeling better?"

"Mhm."

"Good, good!"  Yogurt sat next to you.  "Now, don't go sleeping outside again, 'kay?"

"I won't, I promise!"  you said, giggling.

You looked over at Yogurt Cream. He had a dorky smile on his face, a tint of red dotting his cheeks; he was adorable. His visage was perfection.

You wanted to feel his touch again but felt as though it would be weird to ask. Yogurt's touch was comforting, consoling, soft, as a blanket was to a baby.

You weren't a baby, though. You were just deeply in love.

What?

Chapter Text

Every time you passed him, your heart began to flutter. Whether you'd been cleaning, gardening, or cooking, your heart would always skip a beat when the long-haired prince passed by.

You couldn't help but love him, and you hadn't come to accept it. You needed to deny it. Why would he want to get with you anyway? Yogurt Cream did not need a lover; he already had everything. Riches, servants, treasures, anything could become his at the snap of a finger. You were sure he wouldn't want you when he could simply send out applications to find the perfect partner. 

Yogurt had noticed you staring from afar this afternoon and came forth to confront you. "(Y/n)? Are you alright?" 

A week ago, you were taken to the Yogurt residence, and already so much had happened. Good stuff, bad stuff, and so many mysteries and pleasantries.

"Ah-! Oh, I'm alright." You jumped a little, your watering can almost slipping from your grasp. You had been watering the garden, and you still could not comprehend how it blossomed so well in this desert. You supposed the roofing covered it, or the fans, which would occasionally turn on and blow at the greens. Though it was no matter. Why get into the specifics, anyway?

"Good! I just wanted to inform you of the banquet going on tonight! You'll be there, right?"

A banquet? A gathering? A gathering of strangers? Parties weren't quite your thing, but it was even worse throwing a party while you were actively being hunted after. You hadn't been outside since you ripped down all those posters and pondered if any more had been put up in their place. You certainly hoped not. 

You noticed you had been annoyingly pausing between each sentence you spoke. C'mon, focus. "Of course!"

You didn't wish to let Yogurt down.

"Oh, good! This will be so much fun!" Yogurt clapped his hands together and entwined his fingers. You stared longingly, wishing your hand could take his other hand's place. 

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You watched your body in the mirror, donning the prettiest outfit in your wardrobe. It was ornate and a little extra, sure. But wasn't that the point? Everyone would be dressed up, right?

What was the banquet even for? Just for fun? Knowing Yogurt, it probably was. 

Yogurt entered your room, not even shutting the door behind himself. "(Y/n)?"

"Yes?"

"Tonight is important, and, uh," Yogurt Cream fiddled with his fingers. "Wow. You look stunning."

"Oh! Why, thank you!" You then twirled around, displaying your outfit wholly. "I bought it the other day, and I'm glad it's coming to good use."

Said outfit was a golden color ( suit/dress ) with matching shoes that raised your height by a few inches. It was simple but enthralling. (And you were honestly thrilled about being taller). 

"Indeed so! Er, by the way, the reason for the banquet is that my father is returning."

"Returning?" You raised an eyebrow. 

"Yes! Turns out the reason he wasn't here last week is because he had to leave for a sudden business trip."

"Oh! Well- glad he's back, right?"

"Indeed so!" Yogurt said happily. "I can't wait! Oh, this will be much fun!"

So much fun, you thought. You'd only used the outfit as a distraction, which had worked for quite a while. But your mind still wandered back to its initial thoughts. You feared you may need more of a disguise than just hair dye.

"It shall be," you replied, covering your worry. "Say, Yogurt. Do you have any er- makeup, perchance?"

Yogurt tapped his finger to his chin. "Perhaps. Why so? Do you feel a need to cover your pretty face?"

You looked away, blushing. "N-no... I just wanted to look extra fancy."

Yogurt strode towards you, slowly, beautifully; he was like a model walking down the runway. He stood before you, placing a thin, manicured hand on your cheek. "I believe you're fancy as is, are you not?"

It was like all the blood had left your body and resided in your face. Why was he so touchy? 

"I just-" Oh, what were you to say? "Let's just say- let's just say I have to conceal my beauty as it's too much for them."

Yogurt chuckled. "Good answer. I see it fit." He retracted his hand, allowing his arm to fall limp to his side. Your cheek felt cold. "Lilac keeps makeup in his room."

"Lilac uses makeup?"

"On occasion. As do I. Though, Lilac is a bit of a makeup freak in his spare time. It's not like he gets a lot of time with it with being my bodyguard n' everything. I feel a little bad."

"Where is Lilac's room?" you asked.

"Right next to mine. Don't be shy knocking! He's nice!"

He's really not–

"Alright… er– thanks." In truth, you were a little afraid. Lilac was hard to read. You couldn't tell if he liked or despised you. All you knew was that he had no reason to out you. Maybe he simply didn't care? Was that it?

You left your bedroom, heading down the corridor to the entrance of Yogurt's room. You looked to your left, then to your right. There were two doors. Yogurt could have been more specific. Though, you didn't want to mess up. You needed to get this right. This was one simple task, no? You couldn't even do that without practically having a panic attack, could you? You were sweaty and shaky, and what if you knocked on the wrong one and the person inside got mad? Ooooh– choices. Worries. You were overthinking.

You heard a door open behind you.

Your attention diverted; you turned around and were greeted with an eyesore of orange. 

Of course, it was Orange Cream Yogurt. Orange appeared a bit tired. Maybe he'd just woken. It was afternoon, wasn't it? Well, now that you began to think, you'd never seen Orange out during the mornings. 

"Sup," greeted Orange, messing with tufts of their unbrushed hair. "What're ya up to?"

"I… I'm trying to get makeup from Lilac's room. The banquet is today, and I wanted to wear some."

"Ah fuck. That's today? Shit, man– Um, well, it's the door on your left. Ergh– my head hurts."

"Thanks. Um. Are you okay?"

"Not really. I'm back in the part of the loop where I get absolutely no sleep at night, and I don't feel like getting up in the morning, so I sleep all day. Agony, I tell you, holmes. 'It's fine, though."

"Ah… I see. Sorry about that," you said, eyeing Lilac's door.

"Are you scared of Lilac too?" Orange asked.

You snapped back to Orange. "Huh? Oh, yeah. A little. Wait, you too?"

"Yeah. It's got to be that blank stare. Or how he speaks so monotone…" 

"I think the fact that he's always carrying a weapon makes me most anxious…"

"Yeh, that too."

"Can you watch over me while I knock on his door?"

"Sure, man. I don't mind."

"Thank you," you sighed in relief, knowing now that you at least had some support. You turned to the door and knocked gently, cautiously, as though knocking too loud would cause the whole mansion to collapse. Upon getting no response, you knocked louder.

Within seconds, Lilac was at the doorway. You retracted, a little taken aback. Lilac wore a more casual outfit: a loose button-up and black pants. Were you the only one already in your attire for tonight? Was that weird? 

"Hi," you greeted, somewhat awkwardly. 

Lilac eyed you and then the person behind you before his eyes landed back on you again. "You need something?"

"Yogurt Cream said… that, um… the makeup was in your room."

"You are correct in that. In fact, I have it out already. I was just about to begin doing my makeup for tonight's banquet. I suppose you can come in and join me."

Doing your makeup with… Lilac? What?! All you were supposed to do was get the makeup off him to do in your own room! You can't just take it while he's in the middle of using it now! You had no choice. Doing the perfect disguise makeup would take a while, after all.

You turned to Orange, giving them a worried look before stepping inside Lilac's room. You took one last look at the other; they seemed to be mouthing something to you, but you couldn't quite make it out.

Lilac closed the door, leaving him and you alone together. It wasn't like this was the first time, but it terrified you anyhow.

Lilac eyed you before walking over to his dresser. It was one of those huge dressers with a big mirror on top. He had all sorts of makeup supplies scattered atop there– you didn't even know where to start.

You walked over, looking into the dresser mirror. You didn't really get to look at yourself too often. You already looked so much different.

You picked up a brush. Eyeshadow. Back in your kingdom, your servants often did makeup for you. You couldn't just show them an image of what you wanted anymore and have it magically done. You actually had to figure it out yourself now. 

"Just so you know, I don't hate you. I just don't like you."

You stared at Lilac's reflection as he worked at his eyelashes. "Oh. Why… why don't you like me?"

Things were quiet for a moment.

"If you didn't bring Yogurt Cream so much happiness, I would've already planned to rid you. You do nothing but get in the way of me and my liege."

Get in the way? "Are you jealous of me?" It was a bold assumption, sure, but it was the only thing that came to mind.

Lilac set his utensil down. "I am not jealous." He turned to you. "I know something that will help disguise you. You know, you're priced quite high for a missing person."

"What?!" you gasped. "High price? Wha…" Unbelievable. Are they really trying that hard to get you back? They have mistreated you your entire life, yet they want you back!? They act like they don't want you around, just to hunt you down like a missing pet?! You're infuriated! Pissed! Maybe if they had treated you right in the first place–

"45,000 coins."

"45,000?! Are you kidding me?!"

Lilac chuckled. He actually laughed a little bit. What was he laughing at? Your struggle? Your paranoia? 

"I've never heard you raise your voice before," said Lilac.

"And I've never seen you laugh before, mister emotionless."

"Suppose that's fair. Don't expect any more of it. Just come here and let me do your makeup."

You didn't know what to expect, but… you stepped towards him and allowed it.

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You looked… so different.

Staring in the mirror, it was hard to recognize yourself unless you squinted. You had a generous amount of eyeliner and mascara, fake eyelashes that made your irises dazzle and stand out, and your face was clear and clean of acne or scars. You looked like one of those fashion models in the magazines back from your homeland. 

"Wow… Lilac. You really know your stuff."

"Yeah."

"Thank you. Um–"

"I would appreciate it if you left now. I have to get ready myself."

"Ah, of course."

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The next time you saw Lilac, he was dressed head to toe in what could be the most gorgeous outfit in Yogurca. Thin fabrics around his waist formed a purple and white skirt, golden anklets and earrings, a beautiful face veil lined with gold, and a golden headpiece with a red gem in the middle. He even had golden chakrams to match.

You, Lilac, Orange, and Plain now stood in the courtyard waiting for Yogurt Cream. The lazy man had taken what he had referred to as 'a quick nap,' which in actuality lasted a few hours. Yogurt had woken up in a panic to get ready at the last minute, and you began to accept the fact that he'd probably be late.

However, as soon as that thought came, it dissipated. Yogurt Cream came running towards the courtyard, slamming his palms against the glass door and rushing outside. 

"I'm here!" Yogurt yelled, running and almost tripping over the hem of his robe.

"Finally," Lilac said, annoyed.

"I'm just glad you're alright," you sighed.

"Surprised you made it," Plain commented.

It was only after the rush of the moment you fully noticed Yogurt's outfit. He donned a purple, black, and gold robe with a gold belt hugging his waist. He had on gold bracelets and an even bigger gold headpiece than Lilac's, with a veil in the back. The outfit was overall quite sparkly and could be described as eye candy. 

Yogurt must've noticed you staring because he smiled at you while directly making eye contact. You felt embarrassed being caught, so you smiled quickly in return before turning your head elsewhere.

You could hear Yogurt's voice behind you: "Now, (Y/n), I do warn you our banquets do get quite full here. Stay careful, alright? If anybody threatens harm to you, come get Lilac."

You nodded. Was Yogurt not going to stay with you? Well, it would probably get too overwhelming either way. You'll likely find some corner to sit in or hide in the bathrooms. It's not like it was anything unusual or sad, though. You just tended to draw away from crowds.

"Oh, well, it seems like the first batch of guests are arriving!" Yogurt spoke enthusiastically, though you had a more apprehensive feeling going on. You looked at the other three, searching for any expression on them. They all seemed neutral: quiet and keeping to themselves. 

Yogurt rushed towards the front gates with Lilac in tow.

Soon, crowds began to congregate. 

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You'd taken an idle stance near the snacks area, eating whatever interested you. Your nerves had settled here, feeling like you've got your own space. You took a deep breath and sighed, leaning against the table and using your elbows to prop yourself up.

The music was constant, though not incessant. Though the chatter was quite loud. You found yourself more bored than agitated. Nothing interesting had happened, really. Yogurt's father had yet to arrive back for his own party. Shouldn't a party start when the guest of honor gets there? It's like a birthday party without the birthday girl. 

Light purple hair peeked through the crowd. Yogurt Cream? Was he coming towards you? You hadn't seen him in like an hour.

"(Y/n)!" he called out, rushing towards you. His outfit seemed slightly askew, and his hair was tousled. He was evidently entirely caught up in the reveling.

"Yogurt," you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips.

"(Y/n)! Would you care to dance with me?"

"What?"

"Exactly as I said!" Yogurt snuck up behind you. "Please, (Y/n)? Lilac is a lame party pooper and won't dance with me!"

You sighed, forcing yourself to stand. Sometimes, it felt like Yogurt was more of a child than a royal prince. "Fine, I'll dance with you." You turned around and smiled, outstretching your hand.

Yogurt stared back at you, his eyes full of glee. He grabbed you by the hands and pulled you into him. You shrieked at the roughness as he pulled you to the dance floor. A much slower, emotional song began to play.

You couldn't look Yogurt in the eyes as he slow danced with you. You were too… hot. Was it the heat of the packed courtyard or just you? You certainly hadn't felt that sweat dripping down your face before. Looking down, you could feel Yogurt's eyes on you, staring you down, examining you. Hell, it was embarrassing. Your mind and body wanted you to leave, but your heart told you to stay– gah.

"What's the matter, (y/n)?" Yogurt cooed, his voice unusually formal and… alluring. 

"No– it's nothing," you uttered, stumbling over your feet.

Yogurt kept you steady, making sure you weren't to fall. "You seem uneasy," said Yogurt, leaning into you so his lips were at your ear. "Do I make you nervous?"

Yogurt's whispers sent shivers up your body. It made you feel like puking candy. You grasped onto Yogurt tighter, quiet. You didn't want to stay silent. What you really wanted to say was something along the lines of 'shut the fuck up' but in a loving manner. Yet you were too shy. Always too shy, you were. What a curse. He was clearly teasing you for his sick entertainment, knowing you could not speak against him.

You took a deep breath. "You– you're–" 

A sudden loud voice came booming over the music. "ATTENTION PARTY-GOERS. THE KING HAS NOW ARRIVED. DIVERT YOUR ATTENTION TO HIM IMMEDIATELY!" 

You looked up, seeing Plain standing on one of the mansion's balconies with a microphone. You felt Yogurt let go of you, and you suddenly felt cold.

Guests began to shuffle away from the doorway, making way for the king.

Your heart dropped.

This… this was no king. These were cops. 

The party hadn't cheered. They'd dropped dead silent in confusion.

One of the cops stepped forth, clearing his throat loudly and obnoxiously– to the point where he sounded kind of sick. "It has come to my attention that the missing prince is with us in this room. Reveal yourself at once, or you will be forcibly found."

You looked at Yogurt, and Yogurt looked back at you.

This is exactly what you'd been fearing all day. 

You clenched your teeth, frozen. If you just stood here, nobody would realize, right?

You glanced back up at the balcony, and Plain Yogurt was glaring daggers directly at you. Looking back towards the cops, they were now headed right towards you.

Shit.

Pushing Yogurt out of the way, you quickly ran into the mansion with newfound adrenaline coursing through your blood.