Not Much Of A Prince

“I’ll definitely get that information. Hopefully, I can gain Pan’s trust quickly in order to obtain the needed knowledge and convince some Lost Boy defectors to join our cause.”

“I promise that I’ll be careful. The ring on the table will serve as a GPS and communication device, so I can track Pan as well as broadcast updates in the search.”

Dorian took one more sip of his coffee before setting it down. His brow crinkling in confusion, he peered at the jewelry. “Hmm… It’s a lovely specimen, Chance. Practically sparkles in the sun. Where did you get it? Was it a gift from the Ravenswoods? Or…” He grinned mischievously. “Are you saying good-bye to bachelorhood?” 

Chance’s glasz eyes immediately went wide at the last suggestion that Dorian offered up. Rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to find someway to avoid answering the question, the deceased Riverside hit a mental dead end. Faking an amazement with the ring as he calmed his nerves, Chance replied, “The last one. I fell for a mortal that I was friends with for quite a long time, then became more than friends with said mortal, and now...here we are today.”

“What brings you to our creepy casa?” After a moment’s thought, he suddenly grew concerned. Gripping the edge of the beam, he looked down at Jasper. “Has something happened at home? Are you all right?”

"Acrophobia is nothing to be ashamed of, though.” He smiled. “If you’d like, we can try some exercises, and gradually get you skyward. I know the perfect place to practice.”

“My apologies Liam. Anyway, trust me when I say that I don’t know how to do everything. Especially when it comes to my love life,” Jasper stated as he placed his phone into his jacket. The young ghost smiled brightly as he added, “There’s someone that I’m quite close with that is in this building with me right now. I’ve got a major crush on that someone.”

“Really? Well you should definitely go for it, mate. You’re a handsome bloke. Smart, talented, and you can literally fetch anything from anywhere in a matter of seconds. Who wouldn’t fancy someone like that?” He asked with a small smile.

“Funny you should tell me that, mon ami,” Jasper stated before leaning in to give Liam a quick kiss on the cheek. Afterwards, he offered up a small smirk and added, “Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to, so I will have to cut this meeting short. This business involves me at an IHop eating Belgian waffles while thinking of what I’m going to do next with all the time I have. Perhaps, I’ll start travelling the world again or maybe I’ll just mess with some celebrities.” With that, the young ghost gave a wink and disappeared to his friend.

Jasper offered up a smirk in return before his eyes gained a small glint. “Why thank you, mon ami,” the young ghost stated. Upon hearing the comment about possibly making Liam swoon, Jasper raised an eyebrow until the smirk took over again. His phone rang and he mouthed, ‘Sorry’ as he answered, speaking in rapid French with whoever was on the other end of the line.

He watched the other boy as he spoke away rapidly to whomever was on the other side of the line, annoyed at himself for finding it so hot the way he was rambling off French. There must really be something wrong with him.

“My apologies Liam. Anyway, trust me when I say that I don’t know how to do everything. Especially when it comes to my love life,” Jasper stated as he placed his phone into his jacket. The young ghost smiled brightly as he added, “There’s someone that I’m quite close with that is in this building with me right now. I’ve got a major crush on that someone.”

“Trust me, I once wrote a song for Chance that made him cry and it’s pretty difficult to make him cry. I can definitely write a song that will win the hearts of Directioners everywhere,” the young male ghost stated with a small smile. Within a few seconds, Jasper handed the papers and pen back to Liam while the small smile remained on his face.

“Oh – rubbish, y’can’t be good at everything mate, it’s just impossible really.” He said in a serious tone, before grabbing the paper from the taller boy and letting is eyes grow wide at the script. “This…is quite good actually.” He admitted reluctantly, his dark eyes locking on the lighter one across from him. “How is it that you know how to do literally everything? This song is so good, it might’ve just made me swoon.” He smiled, not sure if he was fully joking or not.

Jasper offered up a smirk in return before his eyes gained a small glint. “Why thank you, mon ami,” the young ghost stated. Upon hearing the comment about possibly making Liam swoon, Jasper raised an eyebrow until the smirk took over again. His phone rang and he mouthed, ‘Sorry’ as he answered, speaking in rapid French with whoever was on the other end of the line.

“Oh Liam, you never cease to amuse me,” Jasper stated then when the coffee nearly set his friend’s mouth on fire, the ghost placed a hand on the mug, cooling the beverage inside of it down to comfortable drinking temperature. This was followed by a ‘are you serious’ look before Jasper took the pen and notebook from Liam. For the next few moments, the young ghost set his mind to writing a song guaranteed to melt Directioner hearts.

“Yeah well, apparently I amuse everyone.” He said with a simple smirk, his dark eyes watching the ghost as he began to write down works – not actually expecting him to do such a thing. “You don’t have to actually do that y’know…” He said with some nervous laughter, interested in what the other male was actually coming up with.

“Trust me, I once wrote a song for Chance that made him cry and it’s pretty difficult to make him cry. I can definitely write a song that will win the hearts of Directioners everywhere,” the young male ghost stated with a small smile. Within a few seconds, Jasper handed the papers and pen back to Liam while the small smile remained on his face.

“I’ll handle that,” Jasper stated before he disappeared. After a few silent beats, he reappeared with his tea and some coffee for Liam. “Okay, so how about we start with the meaning of the song. What message do you want to send with this song?” the ghost questioned his friend as he handed over the caffeinated beverage. His eyes were now filled with curiosity as he read over the lyrics that Liam had so far.

“Well now the only message I can think of is how bloody handy you are. If you can bring me coffee that fast – I may just keep ya around.” He joked, taking a large sip of coffee without caring about the temperature. “Fucking hot, bloody hell.” He cursed before taking another drink of it anyway. “How about you jus’ be me for a day and write the whole album, sound good?” He joked, sitting back in his chair.

“Oh Liam, you never cease to amuse me,” Jasper stated then when the coffee nearly set his friend’s mouth on fire, the ghost placed a hand on the mug, cooling the beverage inside of it down to comfortable drinking temperature. This was followed by a ‘are you serious’ look before Jasper took the pen and notebook from Liam. For the next few moments, the young ghost set his mind to writing a song guaranteed to melt Directioner hearts.

Jasper’s eyes were bright and full of mirth as he chuckled ever so slightly. “Excusez-moi, mon ami. Now…if you really are serious about the whole whatever is on my mind thing, then how does a song about Starbucks sound? Please do tell me how the fans may react,” the ghost replied as he crossed his arms with a small smirk. Keeping his eyes on his friend, the seemingly 19 year old ghost was wondering if Liam truly was serious.

“Yes because what would the world do without a One Direction song about Starbucks!” He said sarcastically before scratching his head and sighing. “I’m starting to think I might actually need a coffee or tea or anything to help me get focused or we aren’t going to have shite for a fifth album.”.

“I’ll handle that,” Jasper stated before he disappeared. After a few silent beats, he reappeared with his tea and some coffee for Liam. “Okay, so how about we start with the meaning of the song. What message do you want to send with this song?” the ghost questioned his friend as he handed over the caffeinated beverage. His eyes were now filled with curiosity as he read over the lyrics that Liam had so far.

“Okay seriously, you promised you would help me with these lyrics and I feel like you haven’t been paying a bit of attention. Tell me what’s on your mind and I’ll make a song of it – m’serious. Try me.”

Jasper’s eyes were bright and full of mirth as he chuckled ever so slightly. “Excusez-moi, mon ami. Now...if you really are serious about the whole whatever is on my mind thing, then how does a song about Starbucks sound? Please do tell me how the fans may react,” the ghost replied as he crossed his arms with a small smirk. Keeping his eyes on his friend, the seemingly 19 year old ghost was wondering if Liam truly was serious.

“Only if you wish to tell me, mate. Y’know ya can tell me whatever ya want an’ I’ll support ya either way.” He grabbed the younger boy’s arm as they walked through the crowd of people around them to the car awaiting him. “You’re comin’ with me by the way. We need to catch up, hm?” He ushered Chance into the car before getting in himself after putting his luggage into the trunk.

Chance gave a nod as he replied, “As long as I’m not intruding.” After being ushered into the car, the 20 year old waited a few silent beats before he gave his good friend a mischievous smile as he stated, “Alright. Here’s a clue for you: this friend of mine was the one who helped Jasper prank me by making me a batch of caramel onions.” The answer was quite obvious, Jasper had practically begged the former member of One Direction to help him mess with Chance’s head a few months ago.

“Really now?” He shot towards the younger male, surprised by the twinge of jealousy he suddenly felt at that confession. “Who uh, who’s the lucky bloke then, aye?” He smiled as he watched the boy help him with his bags, for some reason feeling warm at the fact that he was helping.

“Do you wish to know with all of your heart? I honestly believe that just a touch of mystery is what has kept our friendship so strong over the years,” Chance playfully teased. As he and Zayn made their way out of the airport to wait for some form of transportation, the 20 year old fought off an urge to pinch his wrist for revealing the half truth. If only Jasper was around, he could have just given a small signal to his charge and the young ghost would have taken over the conversation, dragging Zayn’s attention away from Chance’s unintentional reveal. With any luck, the half French male would be able to change the subject before Zayn uncovered the unvarnished, full truth.

“Ah – sorry about tha’. Didn’t really check my phone much durin’ all tha’ mess.” He nodded gratefully at the other boy’s support and grabbed the ring, eyes glancing over it in interest. “Wow, thanks mate. Feel like you always know what ta say. Must be nice.” He joked with a smirk as he grabbed his stuff from the baggage claim.

“No need to worry, vieil ami,” Chance replied as he gave a kind smile. The 20 year old held his hand out in an offer to help Zayn with the bags. “Sometimes, I don’t know what to say. There’s this friend of mine that I’m quite close with and well, recently I’ve been thinking about this friend as possibly being something more in the future,” he semi-confessed, only revealing half of the truth. He knew Zayn was going through a lot at the moment and Chance didn’t want to pile onto those emotions that were already a mile high.