Crossing the Line (For dablackstallion)

[Kaido]

Having the chalk poured onto his hand felt a little weird. He rubbed it in like he told him to, but it still felt weird. Being told what to do. He looks at the bar that he mention and had to grab to. He nods his head walking over to it. Staring at it for a moment. Taking another deep breath and leaps. First try...not so good. Second time....he was closer, but still couldn't quite reach it. By the third time he struggled, but he manages to grab the bar. He felt a little proud that he did it.

Then without Zehail's next instructions. He starts to swing his lower half. It was like the branches of the tree he climbs to go over the palace's walls. So in his mind he pictures the bar as one of the branches. Swinging his legs low. Then they went a little higher, then a little higher. His body swung a 90 degree angle. Before you know it he actually fully swing on the bar. "I have to say, this quite fun. I haven't had this much fun since I was a little prince." he said happily. With a smile on his face. Showing off his pearly whites.

Six months had passed since Zehail had started training the young Prince. He watched as his apprentice swung back and forth on the bars with ease. Marid had made excellent progress. He was able to do many things now with his new body. The boy had gotten buffer, maintaining a lean muscular look like Zehail, no longer looking like the lanky boy he once was. "Keep swinging while I share some good news with you." Zehail smiled as he wondered how his apprentice would react to the news.

"You've been making excellent progress and I think it's time for you to show the kingdom how much you've grown." Zehail had a huge smile on his face, something he did not wear very often. "Tonight, you will be joining me in my tight rope act." Zehail had talked it over with Jean-Pierre and had gotten his approval. "You will be covered in make-up, so the audience will not recognize you. So, what do you say my protege?" Zehail asked him.

[Kaido]

As the times passes on. The show stayed in the city, many people from all over the world would flock to the tent, not just the people of the kingdom. Home was okay, but it was getting a little chaotic. For the king had married yet another woman. There was a huge wedding and party. But there was also something else. For the young prince had broken the agreement to marry a neighboring princess. Now his father was not pleased to hear such news, but one of his older brother stood up and agreed to marry her. But that was not the only thing.

People were wondering as to how he was getting so much buffer. They asked the royal trainer if he was giving him private lesson behind the kings back. Of course he tells him no. But that was still not the biggest thing. For the pass six months. He was developing feeling for the tight rope walker. No matter how hard he tried. He couldn't get him out of his mind. He even had a few dreams with him on the tight rope itself. Of course loving someone not of royal blood was against law, but a non-royal that was a guy. He heard from other countries it could not end will. So he keeps it bottle up. No harm right?

So as he was training with his mentor once more. Hearing that he had good news for him, but doesn't want him to stop. He continued to swing. Hearing that he was making great progress since he been working with him. That it was time to show it off to the kingdom. While he swings. There was a puzzled looking on his face. "Show? What do you mean?" he asked.

When told that with the permission of Jean, he was going to join him on the tight rope. This was quite a shock to the young prince. Such a shock. The he let go of the bar and went flying. Luckily into a pile of hay. So it didn't hurt so much. "R-Really?! You want me to join you?!" he asked in a surprised tone. Walking up to him with pieces of hay in his hair. His heart was beating he had never felt this happy before. "It would be an honor."

Zehail watched as his apprentice flew through the air on accident, chuckling as he landed in the hay. The boy may have been built like him now, but he still had that boyish/amateurish charm to him. He liked that cocky attitude that he seemed to maintain. He always used to bite off more than he could chew when he started off, but nowadays the bark matched the bite. He admired that about him. Actually, Zehail more than admired the boy. He found himself attracted to him. At first, he remembered the awkwardness when they touched, and the foreign feelings he felt for him. At first he thought it was pride, but at the months passed by, Zehail knew what it was.

Zehail was a wise man. It didn't take him long to notice he had developed feelings for his apprentice. He had developed a perverse admiration for not only his skill and his attitude, but one for his body as well. Not even a few nights with rough and tough Boris (with Jacqueline's consent) could distract him from it. It had been only recently where he had come fully to terms with it. He knew better not to try and force his feelings upon his student. If he felt the same way, then he will show him.

"Yes, I would love if you joined me tonight. Consider it a test as well. You've watched my routine every night. Your job tonight will be to mimic it from memory." Zehail told the boy. He had confidence in him. He knew the Prince would be able to perform the task easily. "Do not worry my prodigy, I have nothing but the utmost confidence in you. You've traveled far in your studies, and I am very proud to say that out of everyone in the world, I am happy that you are my sole apprentice." Zehail told him. He actually felt himself getting choked up. "Now go on back to Jacqueline and let her get your make-up done." Zehail said.

[Kaido]

Marid couldn't believe that this was really happening to him. He's been dreaming about this for a long time. Only it's not going to end like most of his dream. Them coming down from the tight rope. Walking into the dressing room and lock their lips into a kiss. For he was going to make sure that it won't happen. For even if it was okay to fall in love with a non-royal blood male. Once they were clear to leave. Zehail will go along with the others. That meant he was going to end up heart broken. Since he had never had the feeling. He doesn't want to go through it.

When told that he was pround of him. His cheeks turned cherry red. Feeling a lump form in his throat. Then asfter his mentor told him that out of everyone in the world. He was glad that he was his student. Making his full face red. He couldn't help himself but to smile. He was about to say something to him. But didn't get the chance. Because the performer wanted him to get changed and put the make up on. He nods his head and goes to look for Jacqueline.

Zehail didn't want Marid to say anything. He knew how Marid admired him, and he knew if he heard those words, he'd easily distort them, thinking they were words of love and not admiration. Zehail let out a huge sigh. He really did dodge a big bullet. He walked off the main stage and joined Marid backstage. They were both in Jacqueline's room, but she wasn't there. "Hmmm...that's odd." Zehail told his apprentice. She usually spent her free time before each show taking a walk, sometimes accompanied by her lover Boris. "She must not be back yet." Zehail went to her make-up table, taking a few supplies. "Let's head back to my room, I'll do your face make-up there."

Zehail walked to his dressing room. He pulled out the stool in front of his make-up table, signaling Marid to sit down. He began mixing the make-up in his palette, dusting his brushes of the old, crusted make-up. "Now that you're performing with me, you're going to need your own name." Zehail picked out the shiny tanned foundation. "So, what will your stage name be?" Zehail asked.

[Kaido]

Entering the back room. He looks around. To see if he could find the girl that was going to help him into makeup. Yet it looks like she wasn't there. Wondering where she was. He thought that she was most likely with the big Russian that still didn't trust him. In a way he didn't trust him either. Mostly for the chance of him snapping his neck. Then he hears his mentor's voice. Looking over his shoulder to see that he was. Which made his head beat faster. When told to head for his room to put the makeup on. He nods his head and follows him.

Once he was in Zehail's dressing room. The young prince did as he was told and took a seat on the stool. As he sat still for his mentor. As he applies the makeup. He hears him tell him since that he was going to do a show with him. He was going to need a stage name. He had never thought about that. Since he never thought he was actually going to do a show with him. So as he was thinking. He spoke out a word that he thought that might be good as a stage name "Taboo."

"Taboo. Hmm...the Amazing Zehail and Taboo." Zehail repeated it a couple of times. "It's a bit of a mismatch, but I'm sure it will grow on." Zehail laughed in his head. Taboo. How ironic. It described his situation perfectly. He knew it was wrong to develop feelings for your students, but he couldn't help it. He also knew it was wrong to suppress emotions, but he knew he had too. He remained silent, hurrying as he continued to put the make up on his pupil's face. Finishing the last couple of touches on his face, he made sure that Marid was unrecognizable.

"There you go, you're ready for the show." It was just in time. Jean-Pierre had just given the signal that he had opened the doors. He bent down, placing a hand on his protege's shoulder. "You're going to do amazing tonight. Show the world just how much Marid, the weak baby Prince of this kingdom has flourished. In fact, forget about Marid. Tonight you are Taboo, my apprentice, not the Prince. You've always had the talent, I saw it in you from the moment you walked in. The only difference is now you have the skill. Blow everyone's mind tonight." Zehail leaned in and instinctively kissed Marid on the forehead as a sign of best wishes. He didn't even think about the action which he partially regretted afterwards.

He looked away from his student. "I must get ready." Zehail said as he picked up his make-up and headed into a different dressing room, escaping from the situation and letting Marid calm his nerves before his debut. As their time approached, Zehail flipped onto the stage, getting huge applause from the crowd like always. Standing in the center of the rope, he stood tall and proud. "Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight I have a special surprise for all of you. I would like you all to give a round of applause to my apprentice, Taboo!" Zehail yelled as he gave his prodigy the signal to make his entrance. He wanted Marid to make an amazing entrance. He wanted him to earn the applause he deserved.