When Kita arrives at the palace, Alexis is in the training yard. He appears to be sparring with somebody Kita vaguely recognizes, and there are a few other people in the room doing the same thing. Kita doesn't want to get in anyone's way, so he just goes and takes a seat on a bench on the far side of the room, leaned against the wall.

It doesn't take Alexis much longer to finish training, something Kita is thankful for. He hates it when Alexis sends for him and then makes him wait. Luckily, Kita is only there a couple minutes before everyone is finishing up and leaving. Alexis rinses off in the showers, which takes another couple minutes, and then he's coming back out to retrieve Kita.

Kita stands up as Alexis approaches. Once the guy is right in front of him, he gives Kita a once over. Expression turning to one of disapproval, the way he greets Kita is;

"Why are you wearing that?"

Kita just blinks at him, before looking down at his attire. That's right, he's still in his pajamas. He didn't feel the need to change, due to being at the house all day.

"Didn't think I'd be going anywhere," Kita responds simply. Alexis frowns, probably concerned about the weather. It is pretty cold out, so Kita can understand. He just didn't really think about changing before he left. He doesn't like to keep Alexis waiting.

This is because he never knows the reason for his summoning. It could be anything from Alexis getting critically injured in his line of work to the prince just simply being bored. Kita doesn't want to risk anything.

He's pretty sure this time Alexis was just bored, though.

"You'll get sick." Alexis states, already beginning to take off his coat. Kita rolls his eyes, looking away when Alexis drapes the piece of clothing over his shoulders. It stays on easily, due to being far too big for him.

"Okay," Kita says, keeping his eyes averted. "Why did you need me?"

Alexis shrugs. His answer is as predicted. "Bored."

Usually when they hang out, they stay at the castle. There are a lot of things to do here. They can hang out in the garden, the library, go on walks, swim, among other things. In town they can walk around at the markets, Kita always liked the variety of the different stalls. They can also go to the theater as well, though they don't go out in public that much. Alexis doesn't appreciate the staring.

Kita glances back up, and this time when he makes eye contact, he notices something. His eyebrows pinch together, and he reaches up, taking hold of Alexis' jaw. He leans up a bit, examining the prince's face. It doesn't take him long to solidify the fact that his imagination was not playing tricks on him.

Alexis hasn't been sleeping.

"Alexis," Kita says, tone dropping to one more of disapproval. He lets go of Alexis' face and leans away, vaguely noticing how tense the guy suddenly is. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Alexis always looks quite presentable, and his skin is already pretty dark—much darker than Kita's own. Still, Kita can tell when something's off. Alexis has the slightest hint of dark circles around his eyes, so faint most people wouldn't notice. Unluckily for him, Kita isn't most people.

Alexis automatically starts to look closed off. Yeah, he doesn't like being scolded, which is absolutely about to happen. Kita is generally pretty easygoing, doesn't care about much and doesn't let things get to him. However, he doesn't mess around when it comes to the health of his best friend.

This is due to the fact that he cares very much about the guy. However, it also has to do with his job. Alexis kills things with almost every biological advantage over him for a living. Sure, he's big and strong and exceptional at what he does. He hasn't lost yet.

However, Kita still worries. It doesn't matter how good Alexis is, he cannot afford to get sloppy. Vampires, werewolves, mermaids, ogres, goblins, none are anything to be taken lightly. Alexis needs to be on his A-game every time, because none of his skill and experience will matter if one of those things gets lucky once.

In case it isn't obvious, Kita has never really approved of his dangerous job. There's nothing he can do, since slaying monsters is as necessary to the Sinclair family as breathing, but still. That won't keep him from disliking it. The least Kita can do is make sure he takes care of himself, though.

"I am," Alexis lies. Kita gives him a deadpanned, unimpressed look. Alexis knows how well Kita can read him, and he still thinks it's a good idea to lie so obviously?

"Then why do you look like shit?" Kita asks, watching as Alexis narrows his eyes at him. Yeah, he doesn't like it when Kita gives him attitude. Whatever, he can suck it up, Kita cares about so little, Alexis might as well deliver on the things that actually do bother him.

"I don't," he disagrees. "You, on the other hand."

Kita rolls his eyes. Alexis is just being mean, he doesn't actually think that. He's made it very clear how he feels about the way Kita looks. The amount of times Kita has been complimented by this guy cancel out just about any insult the prince could throw at him.

Kita's not going to get into that, right now, though. It's... distracting.

"I always look like shit," Kita says, because he does. He never puts effort into his appearance. The pub closes late, and he spends his evenings there more often than not, so he doesn't usually get much sleep. He also generally just doesn't get out much. Hell, today he came to the Sinclair Palace of Amarath in his pajamas.

His clothing situation isn't too bad, despite that. This is primarily because the majority of his clothes were either purchased by Alexis or technically belong to Alexis himself. "You don't. You will get that vampire eventually. Are you actually risking your health for this?"

Alexis doesn't appreciate Kita agreeing with him, scrunching his face up a bit in distaste. Sorry, but Kita knows this guy well. The easiest way to make Alexis give up when he starts getting defensively mean like that, is to agree with him. He loses his heat every time.

"Every night I don't find them, more die." Alexis says, voice a bit quieter yet rich with its same, ever present conviction. "I can't rest until I know my people are safe."

"If you want your people safe," Kita says, "you need to take care of yourself first."

"I can't," Alexis insists, growing impatient, a guilty frown on his face. God, Kita really wishes he wouldn't always blame these things on himself. "I can't sleep, even if I try."

Kita is willing to bet that his version of trying, is laying in bed for about fifteen minutes before finally giving up and going hunting. He doesn't buy it for a second. Alexis has never been all that good at sleeping anyway, but still. He should at least put some effort in. If he won't do it for himself, he should at least do it for the empire. For Kita and his family and everyone else who cares about him.

"You're probably not trying," Kita says honestly. "If you were, you'd be able to."

Alexis purses his lips, staring down at Kita with a look of irritation. His expression makes it clear that he disproves of this conversation, and probably didn't appreciate Kita calling him out like that. Alexis can be as mad as he wants, though, Kita just wants him safe.

"Fine," he says finally. He's giving in a bit easily, and it's clear why when he continues. "Then stay."

Kita frowns. "Stay?"

Alexis nods, taking a step closer. They're already pretty close, so now Kita has to look almost straight up at him. His heart starts to beat a little faster.

"Stay with me tonight," Alexis says, "I sleep better with you there."

Wow, Kita hasn't stayed the night here in awhile. He and Alexis still do, occasionally, but Kita always felt like they were getting a bit old for that. Once Alexis got really into his hunting, especially with his newest obsession, their sleepovers have been few and far between.

Is that actually part of why he can't sleep? Because Kita hasn't been there? It would make sense, he supposes. Alexis was always pretty reliant on him for the most basic things.

Kita gives in easily, "fine."

-

The rest of the day is uneventful. They don't do much, basically going to bed immediately. Kita is happy Alexis is finally taking a bit of a break, since he's constantly pushing himself so hard.

Kita is pretty tired. Alexis isn't, he's full of nervous energy, fidgeting nonstop as Kita relaxes, curled up in the prince's bed with a book in hand. Alexis is next to him, sharpening a knife. It is after 8 PM.

"You should go to sleep," Kita says after a while, having a difficult time focusing with Alexis moving around so much.

Alexis gives in far easier than anticipated. "Okay."

Kita can't help but to raise an eyebrow at him as he gets up, setting the weapon on his nightstand and shutting off the lantern. After that, they're in almost complete darkness. Due to it being dark now, and Kita unable to see the book, he decides to just go to bed as well.

"Goodnight, Kita," Alexis says, though he doesn't sound anywhere close to sleeping. Kita brushes it off, sure that Alexis will get sleepy pretty soon. He settles in under the covers, feeling Alexis' body heat emanating from beside him.

"Goodnight." Kita replies, already starting to doze off. Kita doesn't get much sleep, due to his parents relying on him for so much. So, when he does get a real opportunity, his body takes full advantage of it. He dozes off almost immediately after exchanging goodnights, the warmth and comfort of Alexis' company aiding the process quite a bit.

Kita is expecting to wake up in the morning, fully rested, with a passed out prince next to him. He almost never wakes up during the night, once again, because of his lack of opportunities for rest.

This is why he can't help his surprise when, the next time he wakes, he finds that it's still dark outside. Not only that, but the warmth that lulled him to sleep—the warmth of Alexis—has disappeared.

It must be in Kita's head, though. No way would Alexis break his word like that. He's always listened to Kita! No way he's that obsessed with this whole thing.

Kita sits up, glancing around the room. The moonlight doesn't offer much aid to his vision, so he feels on the table beside him for a match. It doesn't take him long to find it, and when he's able to navigate his way to grabbing the candle as well, he feels his stomach drop upon lighting it.

Alexis, as well as his gear, are gone.

Kita's let down, his feelings are hurt, he feels almost betrayed by his friend, though that's a bit dramatic. He's not sure what he expected—he knew Alexis wasn't exactly thrilled to be forced into relaxation like this—but he sure didn't think the guy would abandon him.

Kita purses his lips, contemplating what to do. Should he just go back to sleep? He is pretty tired, but he's far too upset for rest to come as easily as it did before. He also doesn't really want to see Alexis right now, and there's not a doubt in his mind that the guy will be back in the early hours of the morning.

This is when Kita makes the fateful decision of going home. In the middle of the night. By foot.

Kita throws his legs over the side of the bed and slips his shoes on. He didn't bring any belongings with him, so that's all he really needs to do before he's ready to go. He does bring the candle with him, as well as the matches, so he will be able to see.

Kita doesn't waste any more time before making his escape. He doesn't want to risk Alexis coming back beforehand and convincing him to stay. No, Kita is mad, which is a rare occurrence. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it doesn't take much to make him feel better. Especially Alexis, that guy is very grounding for him.

Kita doesn't want that. He's too mad to want it to go away. So, he leaves.

He doesn't confront many guards, mostly just the ones at the entrances. They all know him, though, so he's hardly questioned. It takes almost no time before he's off the palace grounds and walking along the worn pavement of the surrounding roads. He's done this walk many times, though never in the dark. Still, he thinks he can still find his way.

The citizens were advised to not go out at night. Especially with the recent attacks, anybody with half a brain is staying indoors, unless they're a hunter. Obviously people still go out, mostly drunks, since the attacks are still happening. However, the majority of people have better common sense than that.

Kita normally would, too. However, unfortunately, he is running purely on three hours of sleep and anger.

If he was in a normal emotional state, he'd have realized that walking through the dark, haunted streets of Amarath with a candle broadcasting his every move, was not the smartest thing to do.

He realizes, a little too late, that no. He does not in fact know how to get home in the dark. He walks through the winding streets and cuts through many alleyways before he finds a local pawn shop. This wouldn't be concerning in a normal situation. However, he gets a spark of worry when he realizes that he's already passed it twice.

Uh oh.

Kita freezes when this realization hits him. Okay, he may be in trouble.

It occurs to him that perhaps he could turn around and head to the castle, but then he realizes he doesn't know his way there from here either. He starts to panic a bit, looking around the empty street. His steps become more hurried when he starts walking again, this time going a different direction.

He rushes through alleyways and down several vaguely familiar roads until he's almost out of breath. Eventually, he stops, deciding he should get his bearings and try to clear his head before proceeding. He stops in an alleyway, winded, and catches his breath.

Once he starts to feel a bit better, he straightens himself up and looks ahead.

This is when his mistake becomes crystal clear.

There is a dark, tall, looming figure at the end of the alleyway. Kita's eyes widen, entire body freezing as a burst of fear shoots through him. He only tenses further when his candle blows out from seemingly no source.

Surrounded by darkness, it finally hits Kita that he may have fucked up.