Velvet had found that lately, walking through the garden was a wonderful coping skill. He would smell the flowers, count the petals, see what he could name, etc.

It was so soothing.

This was the royal garden after all, so when he heard footsteps behind him he wasn’t too shocked. He assumed it was a gardener or a guard. He spread his wings out and gently used them as a basket for some flowers he began to pick.

“Mind telling me where you’ve been?” A voice called from behind him. He turned around. It was Firefly, looking much more stressed than usual. And grumpy.

Velvet tilted his head to the side, dropping the flowers onto the grass below as his wings involuntarily drooped down in confusion.

“You…what? I was in the hospital. I was medically required to be there, Firefly.”

Firefly huffed. “Thanks for giving me another thing to worry about.”

Velvet raised his eyebrows and looked around for a moment. Usually he would have gotten emotional and angry at this point. However, he remembered what he was working on and simply smirked. He turned back around to his task and used his magic to pick up the petals again.

“I’m sure someone else’s emotional problems are so hard for you. Considering that you didn’t even visit me.”

“Excuse me for running a goddamn country!” She snapped. “We’re in the middle of a fucking war. With my brother. My mother’s been missing for weeks and I don’t even know if she’s still alive. I’ve got that, and all this other shit going on, so I’m sorry I didn’t have time to comfort you because you were sad.”

Velvet’s ear twitched, and that was about the height of the reaction he gave her. He just moved on down the line and started on a new bush. When he did speak, his voice was almost sing song, like he was sharing a recipe for lemonade with her.

“That’s what we have royal advisors and committees for, cousin. Excuuusee me for you not knowing how to delegate. You couldn’t have a secretary do paperwork for an hour so you could see your family. I wasn’t just sad, but then again, you aren’t just stressed either.”

He chuckled to himself under his breath in disbelief.

“Hey, at least I’m handling it better than you!” Firefly’s wings flared in anger. “You don’t even have half of the shit I do and you’re pussying out and trying to fucking kill yourself! You think I wanted this job? Auntie said I had to do it because poor Velvie couldn’t handle the pressure,” She pouted mockingly.

“But since you know so much more than I do, why don’t you go ahead and take my job? Stallion up!”

Velvet turned his head and gave her a fuck you smile.

“Bless your heart. You think with all the complaint bragging you’re doing, you’d have a little more of an education. I’m good though. Go ahead and do your thing, co-Queen Firefly.”

And with that he walked off towards the entrance.

“Fine! Let me do all the work while you-“

But she couldn’t finish her sentence before the garden gates slammed shut. Velvet was already long gone.