Deroki
As Deroki stepped out of the Council Chamber, his mind filled with dark thoughts. He barely had time to collect his thoughts when a sharp, familiar voice cut through the corridor.
"Deroki."
He turned to find Maricel standing in the dimly lit hallway, her arms crossed, her fiery eyes locked onto him with unspoken fury.
"Maricel, great to see you here," he greeted smoothly, a smirk curling at his lips.
She didn't return the pleasantries. "You were meeting with Marcella King's representative," she said as a statement rather than a question.
Deroki tilted his head in feigned confusion. "Was I?" His voice dripped with condescension, fully aware that his games only irritated her further.
Maricel exhaled sharply, as if her patience had already worn thin. "Don't act coy, Deroki. It's obnoxious. I had a word with Alther, he told me what you're planning."
His smirk didn't waver, but his brow arched slightly. "How does Alther know my plans when I've never discussed them with him?"
Maricel let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through her hair. "There's no point in talking you out of it, is there?"
Deroki shook his head, like a stubborn child refusing to share his favorite toy. The gesture only made Maricel's scowl deepen.
She took a step back, her voice lowering to something almost resigned. "Fine. Just know that anything you've ever done in anger has always backfired."
With that, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the corridor, leaving her words hanging in the air like an omen.
Deroki wanted to believe he didn't care, that her warnings meant nothing. But they did.
He had simply learned to live with it. Leave with the constant family disaapoinment, rejection, hate and threats. He clenched his jaw before brushing off the unease settling in his chest, he strode towards the infirmary, a familiar face pulling his thoughts away from the storm in his mind.
Gabe.
A distraction.
A much-needed one.
As Deroki stepped into the infirmary ward, his sharp golden eyes immediately landed on Gabe, who was sitting up in bed, utterly engrossed in a book. His brows were furrowed, his lips slightly parted, and his fingers clutched the edges of the worn pages as if the words had ensnared him completely.
The sight was almost endearing.
Deroki tilted his head, curiosity piqued. He strode closer, silent as a shadow, and caught a glimpse of the book's title. 'In The Assasin's Bed'
A slow smirk curled his lips. "I wasn't aware you had such tastes, sweet."
Gabe startled, his fingers fumbling as he attempted to shut the book too quickly. His face turning red. And the abrupt motion made him wince, his injured shoulder no doubt punishing him for the reckless movement.
"Your Majesty," Gabe said, eyes darting up to meet his, a deep blush spreading down his neck.
Deroki slid onto the edge of the bed, taking the book right from his hands before he could hide it. He flipped through the pages lazily, golden eyes skimming the words before a knowing smile tugged at his lips. "A forbidden lovestory about a princess and an assasin. How fitting."
Gabe looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. "It's just... something to pass the time. They didn't have much options at the infirmary library."
Deroki hummed in amusement, setting the book aside. " It's good that you are keeping yourself busy. But I have something far more productive in mind."
Gabe blinked, wary. "More productive?"
"I'm going to teach you mathematics today."
Gabe's expression went from embarrassment to outright confusion. "Mathematics?"
"Yes. It would be a shame if you didn't use so much free time in learning something useful." Deroki stood and gestured for him to follow. "Come. We'll do this in the garden. The ward smells of disinfectants."
Gabe hesitated before pushing the blanket off his legs, his movements careful. Deroki extended a hand, and though Gabe hesitated briefly, he eventually accepted the help.
Deroki relished the moment their palms met, Gabe's skin cold against his own. Long thing fingers that wrapped around Deroki's much larger hand. He fingers instinctively tightened their grip and a low exhale escaped Gabe's lips at the gesture.
As they walked out of the infirmary and into the gardens.
They reached a stone bench, he gestured Gabe to sit down and he did with pose like Enclave vaisas were taught to do. Deroki sat beside him, stretching his long legs comfortably.
"Tell me, how much do you know?" Deroki asked.
Gabe hesitated. "I learned basic mathematics at the monastery."
At the mention of the monastery, Deroki scoffed. "Ah, yes. The place where vaisas are taught just enough to serve but never to think. They probably only taught you how to count the gold of your masters."
Gabe's lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing.
Deroki ignored the tension and pulled out the notebook his brought with him. "Let's see if you can keep up."
He explained the concepts smoothly, the numbers and formulas flowing effortlessly from his lips. Determine to teach him complex equation so he could passs a middle grade exam if he ever chose to give one. But despite his best efforts, Gabe seemed utterly distracted.
At first, Deroki thought it was the difficulty of the lesson, but then he noticed it, the way Gabe's eyes flickered to his mouth when he spoke, the way it gaped at his hands, his own fingers twitching slightly, as if resisting the urge to fidget. Deroki knew exactly what was going on in his mind.
A slow, wicked grin spread across Deroki's lips.
"What's going on, love. You're distracted," he pointed out.
Gabe's head snapped up. "I am not," he said, his face growing hot, his eyes looking everywhere but at him.
"Oh, but you are," Deroki leaned in slightly, lowering his voice intensionally. "Tell me, what is it that has your mind so preoccupied?"
Gabe swallowed, gulping. "N-nothing."
Deroki chuckled. "You really are a terrible liar."
He let the moment hang, enjoying how utterly flustered Gabe had become. The way his breath quickened, the way his fingers clenched at the fabric of his robe as if grounding himself.
Deroki wanted to tease him more, to see just how much he could affect him, but he knew it was a dangerous game. He didn't trust himself not to cross the line, to go beyond what Gabe was ready for right now.
Deroki pulled away, smirking. "Focus, sweet. I won't go easy on you just because you're distracted."
Gabe, still red-faced, muttered something under his breath and tried but still failed to look unaffected.
Deroki simply chuckled and continued his lesson, all the while acutely aware of how he affected Gabe. he chose not to act on it. Atleast not now.