Okumura Syndicate

Chapter 77: The fae's stance

Aster looked up longingly at the figure emerging from the bathroom in utter disarray. "Now what are you doing up here young soldier?", said a familiar voice. The figure emerged from the dark lavatory, it was Vox. With a confused stance, he looked Aster up and down, the black haired boy was clearly full of emotion.

"Are you looking for someone? I can't help you if you don't speak now can I? Vox was fully aware where Aster had been, his boyfriend would have been absolutely mad to think about the so called intruder in his private room, but Vox had his reasons to make conversation with the boy.

"Oh my god, I can't believe you're here!" Aster cried out in exclamation, "I need to tell you something, and fast!". Aster's breathing was uncontrollable, with pools of tears flushing out of his eyes. "Woah there! Hold it young man! Why are you crying?", Vox declared as Aster blubbered in front of him.

Aster couldn't speak, having finally realised why he was in this state. He was a mangled mess, who had just had the worst discovery of his life. "You're not okay, I could excuse you of your duties if you like, I'm sure Rou wouldn't mind...", suggested the fae. Aster forced himself to speak, "N-no that's not necessary!", he yelled, still overwhelmed. He shook his head vehemently, "Look I need your help". He took a deep breath, "I was in your room, looking for Edward because I needed to ask him something.".

"Wait, you were in our room?!", Vox would've punished him if the auction wasn't two days away, but he let Aster continue. "The boss wasn't there, but then I got curious, tried looking for a reason he didn't like me that much, and then I found something in his drawer...", Aster took a deep breath after venting everything out, the tears were calmer, but still they fell.

"So what did you find?", asked Vox consideratly. Aster calmed himself as much as he could and let it out, "There was a book, at first I thought it was a diary, your boyfriend's way of keeping track of what he does in the syndicate. But then I read the cover, it said 'Study of the Tiliac clan', and I could only assume the worst considering how much that guy hates me...".

"Walk with me.", states Vox as he signalled Aster to follow along with him. "I think you might need another opinion, but I too think that book has meaning.", he elaborates. Aster glanced in disillusion, "What other meaning could there be other than torture? It's clear I was sent here so the higher ups in my old world could torture me more without doing any work...", he grumbled.

"Don't think about it that way.", enthused Vox. "I'd like you to look at the positives, as long as I'm around, the boss's opinion doesn't mean shit if I oppose him; it's what a consigliere is meant to do. Sure he could've picked me because he thought I'd agree with him with us being together and all, but the bias in a relationship works both ways. If he decides he wants to kill you, I can sway his opinion otherwise, it's just how the bond functions.".

Aster seemed less anxious, the thought of protection from a higher up seemed more than ideal. With an open mind, he began to think of ways to address his concerns to others freely. Of course he'd only go to the extremes if he really needed to, so a low profile was preferable in a situation where he'd tell someone of the book and the presumed situation with Edward, but he was set. Maybe at the right moment, he could announce it at the auction, that's something he'd just have to gauge for himself.