"You are taking things well?"
Soren said, his hands were under his pillow as he looked at Cyrus through.
Cyrus from the other bed had his hand under his head as he looked back at Soren, "taking what well?"
Soren sighed, "the burning of the temple, the matron's death, the cook's disappearance… that incident in the cave."
Cyrus flinched as that memory from the cave flashed back to Cyrus. Elias had attempted to break him just to make Soren suffer. But before Elias could violate Cyrus further. Soren had killed him. It was by accident but at least he killed him.
"And now…" Soren sighed, "we found out that I'm some kind of prince and that im born to look like this… then past eighteen years feels like a big lie to me."
Cyrus hummed.
"Do you really believe that elf and dragon?" Cyrus sighed, looking away from Soren and staring at the wooden ceiling.
Soren chuckled slightly, "I don't know who to trust or believe anymore…" he looked at Cyrus again, with those same loving eyes that made Cyrus feel flutter in his stomach, "you, Fallon and Aaron are exceptions."
Cyrus just peaked at Soren. His cheeks felt hot as it crept down his neck.
"damn it…" Cyrus muttered under his breath.
"Sunshine?" Soren grinned.
"What is it?" Cyrus looked at him.
"you have changed." Soren smiled as he looked back at Cyrus.
Cyrus was taken aback, "changed?" Cyrus tilted his head, "how so?"
"You used to be more of an angry chihuahua." Soren chuckled, "now you seem less angry…" the last words that fell from Soren's mouth sounded a bit too seductive to Cyrus even though Soren did not mean anything like that.
Cyrus scoffed, "shut up…" he murmured.
"Come lay down beside me." Soren scooted to the right a little bit to make room for Cyrus.
Cyrus blinked, "I'm already lying down."
Soren huffed, "but not beside me."
Cyrus blushed, "why do you want me beside you?" He looked away.
In the darkness, Soren couldn't see his face but if he had to guess then he would guess that Cyrus's face is red.
"Why won't I want you to be beside me?" Soren smiled, "besides we already got intimate… still being shy about sharing a bed is funny… when you have already gone through the shy part."
Cyrus still did not look at Soren. That's the exact reason. He was nervous to sleep next to Soren. When he was just a child, he would have climbed on Soren's bed without shame during a thunderstorm. Then the trip back from Ella's village, the inn they had stayed in. He was nervous about sharing a bed because his feelings towards Soren had changed… but now sleeping next to Soren after a day or two of intimacy makes Cyrus's heart beat faster.
"If you don't want to," Soren stated back at the ceiling, "then, that's fine too."
A flap of a sheet was heard just after Soren finished his sentence. Cyrus got next to Soren, "happy?" Cyrus had settled under the covers next to Soren.
Soren smiled and nodded, "very…" he gently kissed Cyrus's forehead, "now lets go to sleep."
Cyrus didn't talk, he just clenched the blanket. He, now, wouldn't even be surprised if he woke up curled and tangled up in Soren's arms. Cyrus blushed at the thought. How would he handle that? Soren would give him a heart attack even before reaching twenty.
Cyrus let out a breath, "Soren…" he muttered so silently. It was inaudible. He is grateful that Soren did not hear it.
He could hear the quiet breathing of Soren. Which made Cyrus know that Soren had fallen asleep.
Cyrus grumbled as he turned the other way
changed?
No, he is still the same!
He would not change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Soren…" Cyrus approached Soren, "when did you wake up?"
The patter of feet and sound of laughter floated into the kitchen. This morning seemed more chaotic than the previous ones.
Probably, because of the chaos caused by the stoic elf and his cheerful dragon friend. From what Soren had noticed, they do not seem dangerous…
Arzel seemed to be friendly with the younger kids even Fallon and Aaron fell for the dragonkin's cheeriness.
Sirius seemed like a calm and less grumpy version of Cyrus. Soren did not find him suspicious but he seems like the one who hides secrets.
But… this was also what he had thought about Elias. Elias hid his true colours a bit too well.
Soren had been looking for any signs that they might be dangerous even observing their habit. He does not want to take risks. But the biggest risk was letting the two strangers stay here… in a place filled with kids.
Soren sighed as he kept stirring the pot.
Cyrus sighed, "what're you even stirring?" He peaked into the pot, "the food is done… you are gonna burn it."
Soren noticed, "oh," he was lost in his thoughts so much that he forgot to check on the food, "Call Fallon… to help us with distributing the food."
Cyrus rolled his eyes, "fine." He turned to walk away.
"Wait, Sunshine…" Soren called but did not turn to look at Cyrus.
Cyrus turned to look at him, "what is it?"
Soren was quiet for some time, then asked, "do you really not care what I'm turning into?"
Cyrus huffed, "no… what you are does not matter… What matters is that you are Soren…"
Soren grinned, "the same one you fell in love with?"
Cyrus's face turned red as he said, "yes." He could not hide this from Soren. Somehow this blue—eyed "perfect bastard sees everything through him. He hates that he cares too much about him.
Soren smiled, "good…" Soren looked behind him, just peaked without fully turning, "Call Fallon…"
Cyrus nodded and left.
Soren turned off the fire underneath the pot. Something did not sit well with him. One thing he did not tell Cyrus is that he had been feeling back pains and headaches. But today he feels worse.
Something bubbled up in his throat. It felt like vomit. He turned to the sink and bent down. He squeezed his eyes shut and let the disgusting things inside him flow out. He breathed heavily metallic taste filled mouth. He opened his eyes. His eyes widened.
It was not vomit.
It was blood!
He did not have time to think. He backed away from the sink. The ache hasn't gone away. His head spun. He fell to the ground.
He doesn't know when he lost consciousness.