Royals and Rule-breakers

Arguments and Assertions

"And what is to happen when she is done?" 

"That is none of your business your Highness- that is between me, the parliament, and Miss L/N." Poe smiled in a smug way that made Klaus sick to his stomach, and he frowned; but Poe continued on anyways. "Now, since L/N is in perfectly good shape to begin work, she and D'Angelo will be purchasing supplies today, and will start your portrait as soon as you say the word. I shall leave them in your hands now, seeing as this was your idea- oh, and," he tightly gripped Klaus' shoulder and added, "You'd find it in your best interest to interact with Miss L/N as little as possible."

Klaus was left stuttering for words, and Poe simply patted his back with another smile before leaving the room. While Klaus continued to stand still in mild shock, Y/N and D'Angelo turned to each other with the fiercest of glares as soon as the door closed behind the royal adviser. 

"Why, you little bitch-" D'Angelo started, but Y/N would not stand for his insults. 

"We wouldn't be in this goddamn position if your ego wasn't bigger than your fortune." She retorted, and her employer's face glowed redder with rage.

"Oh! So it's my fault! No, no-" 

Klaus, the shouting bringing him from his thoughts, timidly cleared his throat as he stepped closer to the arguing pair. Y/N's turned to him, face softening, and stepped away from D'Angelo. 

"Klaus, could you step out for a moment? Please?" 

"What?" He raised his eyebrows, but Y/N was already ushering him out of the room with a forced grin that did not do much for Klaus' nerves.

"I've got everything under control, alright? Just wait outside clever boy." She kissed his cheek and closed the door after him, and Klaus was once again rendered speechless. After coming to his senses once again, he pressed his ear to the door, hoping to hear the rest of the argument; but the two were plenty loud for him to hear just fine.

"- and now I'm stuck playing the baby sitter while you two little lovebirds gaze at each other for hours on end-"

"You don't have to stay! You never have! You can just leave like you always do!" Y/N furiously pointed out. "Off to town- go get drunk and waste away with the poor town courtesans- I won't tell, for I don't want you here either."

Klaus stiffened as he heard a slight whimper follow the painter's outburst, heavy footsteps walking towards the door. 

"Fine. I don't need you- after this, you're done. I'll find another just like you."

Klaus stumbled out of the way of the door as it was thrown open, D'Angelo striding out with his fists clenched. 

"Won't be hard to do, replace the lamb." He huffed, heading down the hallway. Klaus quickly ran back into the room, shutting the door and making his way to Y/N.  

"Y/N! Oh, dear lord..." he gently pried her hand from her ear, which was red and already bruising. Her eyes drifted around, unfocused, and unresponsive to Klaus' words. "Y/N? Y/N... okay, just sit down..." he sat down and tugged at her hand, and she sat beside him, resting her head against his arm. 

"You sound fuzzy," she whispered, shutting her eyes and burying her face into the crook of his neck. "And the room is spinning."

"Did he hit your ear?" Klaus guessed, and Y/N nodded slightly. "Alright, well that... that can cause some severe damage to your eardrum-"

"I'll be fine." Y/N mumbled, keeping her eyes closed. "Just give me a moment." 

"Okay, but I'll have someone look at it later, just to be sure."

Y/N was too discombobulated to protest further, and Klaus just sighed and continued.

"You just cannot catch a break, can you." 

"Mm, says the person who got shot." Y/N retorted with a slight slur. 

"At least it was only once. You just seem to keep getting bruised and battered every other day, it seems."

"All by my own fault." Y/N pointed out.

"Y/N! Absolutely not- you should not be hurt the way you are because you disagree with a completely corrupt-" he stopped when Y/N pressed her hand to his mouth with a slight groan of discomfort.

"You get loud when you get passionate about things," she whispered, chuckling slightly, then wincing.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Klaus lowered his voice and tenderly stroked her head. 

"It's okay. It's usually nice, when my ears are not ringing." Y/N sighed. "And I know it is not really my fault, but I suppose it just seemed that way for a long time."

Klaus nodded, hesitating a bit before softly asking, "Does he hit you often? D'Angelo?"

"Mm..." Y/N shrugged a little. "He is temperamental. I do not think he meant to hurt me this much- I doubt he knows a thing about... rupturing eardrums, and whatnot. That is just where his hand happened to strike this time."

Klaus struggled with a response, and in his silence, Y/N opened her eyes and lifted her head from his chest. 

"I should hand off a list of supplies to someone who can go to town and collect them for me." She said, voice a bit clearer, and began to stand.

"Wait, Y/N," Klaus quickly got to his feet, taking her arm to guide her. "Are you sure? Remember, you don't have to start until-"

"Yes, yes, I know." Y/N dismissively waved her hand. "But it would be best if I at least gathered my materials." She smiled lopsidedly, adding, "I shall have nothing but the finest of canvases and most vibrant of colors for you." 

Klaus smiled a little back, brushing his fingers through her hair. "You needn't do that, Angel; simply having you paint it would be enough for me."

But Y/N stubbornly shook her head. "Do not interfere with my creative vision." She joked, and Klaus laughed and shook his own head a bit.

"Alright." But his smile faded as his fingers lingered over the painter's ear. "Are you feeling a bit better?"

"Nothing I can't just brush off." Y/N assured him. "Still a bit of ringing but... I want to begin work."

"Okay, but I will find a way to have you looked at- your face is still all swollen from last week..." Klaus insisted, and Y/N rolled her eyes, smiling again. 

"I need some more sketches of you." She decided, changing the subject; she dragged a stool to the center of the room and rummaged around a few tin containers on a desk for some charcoal.

"I would think you could paint me from memory, with the number of sketches you have already done of me." Klaus chuckled, and Y/N only smiled wider and shook her head. 

"Perhaps. But one could not have enough references of your pretty face, hm your Highness?" The painter affectionately patted the prince's blushing cheek before sitting on a stool across from him. "Now sit still." 

Klaus watched her with a faint smile of his own as she worked, eyes focused and mouth gaping open slightly in concentration as she glanced from her sketchbook to his face; it felt just like old times, their walks in the garden, and Y/N's lunch breaks when she would draw him over and over again- and Y/N seemed once more at peace, forgetting the world that beat her down while she made her art. 

"What's so funny?" Y/N asked suddenly, and Klaus realized his slight smile was more of a foolish grin at that point. 

"Nothing, Angel." He shook his head, face going pink once again. "I just like watching you work." 

In that moment, it seemed as though he would give anything just to see her be this content for the rest of her life.