Cyrus groaned, "Soren, stop that." He slowly began to wake up but was still half asleep.
"It's not Soren," a voice said, "it's Ray."
At that Cyrus fully opened his eyes, "why are you straddling my waist?" Cyrus asked, genuinely confused.
Ray shrugged.
Then he noticed Ray's hands were pressed against his chest. He looked up at the white head kid again, "are you trying to electrocute me, you little brat?!" Cyrus huffed, annoyed as he sat up causing Ray to fall backwards.
"Hey!" Ray whined.
Cyrus ignored the little brat's whine and looked around, the side of his bed was empty. He tried to remember what happened last night and as he did rage filled his vision. Soren almost kicked him off of the bed. He gritted his teeth but where is that guy now?
"Hey idiot?" Cyrus said to Ray who was sulking on the bed, "where is Soren?"
"Hmph!" Ray crossed his arms and looked away from Cyrus with puffed up cheeks, "I'm not gonna tell you, Grunckle."
A vein popped in Cyrus's temple, "you little shit!" He almost yelled, "What did you just call me?!"
Seeing Cyrus's irritation, Ray giggled, "I called you Grunkle!" He stuck out his tongue.
"You little-" He was about to grab Ray by the collar when Soren walked in.
"Sunshine!" Soren was carrying a tray of food, "I told you not to pick fights with kids half your size."
Cyrus grumbled and stopped as Ray ran and hid behind Soren. Ray stuck out a tongue at Cyrus again. Soren looked at the white head kid and gestured to him to get out. Ray understood the gesture and left.
Soren walked over and sat beside Cyrus, "Why do you keep picking fights with kids half your size?" Soren sighed, genuinely disappointed, "I expected better from you, Cyrus."
Cyrus flinched slightly. He isn't used to hearing his name from Soren. Soren normally calls him 'Sunshine' or most infuriating one yet 'Pup.'
Cyrus sighed, "he called me 'Grunkle.'" Cyrus looked away for a bit. "Where were you…?"
Soren smiled and beamed, "I was getting breakfast for you, can't have the trip back to the orphanage while you are hungry."
"Whatever…" Cyrus's heart fluttered at Soren's smile. He still is clueless what that smile does to Cyrus.
After Cyrus was done eating. Soren got out of the room and Cyrus laid on his back. When are they gonna make the journey back? He then sat up and stretched. He went downstairs after locking the room. He had seen a tiny mint tree somewhere. He found it.
He tore off a leaf and put it in his mouth and started chewing on it. He had done this every morning except when he was sick in Elias's hut. The bitter taste makes him gag but he still chews. It's one of the habits he picked up from Soren.
He went inside a restroom and rinsed his face, splashing water and washing his hands thoroughly. Suddenly he felt someone's hands on his waist.
He flinched, "What the hell?!" He looked at the mirror. A seemingly attractive man was behind him.
"Hey beautiful." The man said, "What's your name, pretty?"
"Don't touch me." Cyrus sneered as if the very existence of that man burned his soul.
"Why so mean?" The man pouted, "all I want is a little time of yours." he winked.
Cyrus felt like vomiting.
"I can make your time in this inn very special." The man even got closer. "You and me in my bed."
Cyrus felt like dying. Because this man is creeping him out. "I don't want anything to do with you. Leave me be." Cyrus turned to leave.
The man grabbed Cyrus's wrist, "give me a chan-"
Cyrus's palm firmly connected to the man's cheek, leaving a red print behind on the man's cheek. Cyrus's palm hurt but he scoffed and felt a hint of satisfaction as he saw the man's face get redder than the bruise on his cheek. Cyrus held himself back from smiling.
"Did you just slap me?!" the man shouted.
"Yes," Cyrus said as he slapped the man again at the same spot making the red print look more prominent, "and I will do it again!"
The man growled with anger, "you think you can go around and slap me!" The man raised his hand, "don't you know who I am!!!!" Cyrus wasn't scared, he was just disturbed. The man brought down his hand with force. Cyrus was ready to take the blow. But suddenly a hand shot out and firmly held the man's hand.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Cyrus looked at the voice. It was Soren. Did this guy have to be there every time Cyrus was vulnerable? He gritted his teeth and looked away from Soren.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" The man spouted angrily, trying to free his hand from Soren's grasp.
"I am his older brother!" Soren jerked off the man's hand as it had burned him.
The man's eyes widened as looked at Soren. Really looked at him. The man bit his lip, "nevermind that" it's like the anger in his voice has disappeared but Soren had the uncharacteristic blank expression on his face, "you are quite beautiful as well," he leaned closer as Soren leaned backward as if trying to get away from the man, "you can be in my bed for a night or two," the man winked and that made Soren shivered a little.
Soren smiled slightly, "no." He said calmly.
The man's smile dropped as his eyes darkened, "what?" He said as he felt the anger rising again.
"I said 'no.'" Soren's smile didn't reach his eyes and Cyrus had never seen Siren force a smile before.
"Do you know who I am?!" The man almost shouted.
Cyrus was about to answer but Soren spoke first "No," he looked the man dead in the eyes, "but do YOU know who WE are?"
The man seemed confused as he shook his head, "no I don't." He was a little confused because he had never been answered with a question.
"Good," Soren grabbed Cyrus's hand and marched out of the restroom, leaving the man confused.
After getting out, Cyrus mumbled grumpily, "I could have handled it on my own."
Soren didn't answer that, he still had the unusual blank–unreadable expression. "Go change quickly," Soren said, coldly, "we will be leaving now. The kids are already in the carriage."
Cyrus was stunned by Soren's coldness. Soren had gotten angry at him but he was never cold to him. He didn't answer because he didn't feel like fighting. He nodded his head. Ignoring the fact that Soren was gripping his wrist protectively.
Soren waited outside as Cyrus changed in the room. Soren had already worn his cloak. Cyrus came out after dressing up.
Soren looked at Cyrus, "let's go." Soren started walking again with Cyrus following behind.
As Soren and Cyrus were about to exit the hallway. Soren abruptly stopped and Cyrus almost ran into Soren's back, "why the fuck did you stop???" Cyrus was getting some of his old fire back.
Soren suddenly turned towards Cyrus. That made Cyrus flinch again, "turn around." He commanded.
"Why-"
"Turn around, Cyrus." There was a hint of a growl in his voice as he said the words more firmly.
Cyrus wanted to argue but he was a bit taken aback since this is a new side of Soren he is seeing. He turned around. He should call this side 'Stoic Soren.'
Soren came close from behind, wrapping his hands around Cyrus's waist. Cyrus blushed and sputtered, "what are you doing, Crowface???"
Soren didn't answer, just lifted Cyrus's shirt and up a bit, "hold it." Soren made sure that Cyrus would comply with his command. Cyrus held it. Soren stared at Cyrus's bare skin for a while. Then he sighed with relief. Then his usual smile returned, "okay put that shirt back down."
Cyrus who was thinking that he was gonna get laid, "..." he let the shirt cover him up again. He blushed out of embarrassment.
"What did you do?!"
Soren just smiled. "I just checked if that bastard had hurt you elsewhere."
"Huh?"
"That guy in the restroom." Soren pointed out, "I was anxious that he could have hurt you somewhere I can't see."
"Oh…" Cyrus sighed a sigh of relief as he whispered under his breath, "and I thought that you were mad at me."
"What was that?" Soren was back to his smiley self, "didn't catch that."
Cyrus blushed, "n- nothing," he walked past Soren gaining speed, "keep walking."
Soren's smile softened as he saw little red bits on Cyrus's ears. He shook his head side to side,
"hopeless…"
Soren almost lovingly said under his breath as they both walked towards the carriage that will go to the orphanage.