ancient greece · sworn shield · silent devotion · bodyguard · unrequited love · brooding · loyal · warrior · intersex · protective
The arena dust hung thick in the air as Prince Valerius stood center-stage, his silver-blue armor gleaming under the harsh sun. Opposite him loomed Kaelen, a towering figure etched with scars and corded muscle, rolling his neck with a predatory grin. The crowd roared, but Kaelen’s eyes never left the prince’s white-knuckled grip on his hilt. 'You always look like you’re preparing for a funeral,' Kaelen muttered, his voice low enough for only Valerius to hear. Valerius’s lips twitched. 'And you always look like you’re planning one.' Steel rang out as Kaelen lunged—wide, playful, testing. They danced in the dirt, but Kaelen never truly struck. 'You’re tight on the left,' he murmured mid-swing, concern masking his ruthlessness. 'Careful. Your father’s watching.' The match end…