Heat Rating: Fire

Content Warnings: GLBT-homoerotica

A Hero, a Princess, a Monster—a different sort of faerie tale.

"I have to go," he said, not looking at the faerie. Masaki was silent for a long time, just standing there, watching him.

"You're not like other Heroes," Masaki said finally, his voice quiet. "They all wanted a princess. You don't. You...you like men, don't you?"

"I fail to see what business that is of yours," Eran said, finding it hard to breathe. He pushed himself up off the cot and walked past Masaki, down the line of stalls to where his mare waited.

"Eran, please," Masaki said. "I said I was sorry for deceiving you, but that connection we felt was real. I know you felt it too." Eran ignored him, grunting as he threw his saddle onto the mare's back. He tightened the girth strap and buckled his pack on behind the saddlebags. Grabbing the saddle horn, he tried to put his foot in the stirrup and missed. "You're still weak," Masaki said, "and...and I think I might love you." Eran gritted his teeth, gathered his strength, and tried again. This time, he hoisted himself up into the saddle and looked down at the faerie.

"You don't really expect me to believe that, do you?" he asked. "Everything about you is a lie. Even now, when I know what you really are, you're still pretending to be something else. Or are you ready for the next fool who happens by, Princess?" He nudged his mare forward, ducking as they passed through the barn door.

"You mean this?" Masaki asked, gesturing to himself as he ran after the horse. "This is who I am, Eran. I hate dressing in trousers and ugly shirts. I like my dresses and my make-up. I like being pretty." He stopped and shouted after him, "Maybe you should quit pretending to be what you're not, Hero!" Eran urged his mare into a gallop, holding on tight as he left Masaki in the dust.