Moving On - A Kris X Ralsei Story

Chapter Five

Ralsei woke up, hearing a creak in the floor. He felt refreshed from the sleep, but he felt  uneasy. Instead of doing something drastic, like bailing out the window, as Kris would do, instead, he decided to wake up Kris.

But Kris was not there. Ralsei realized the door opened. He was the one making the noise outside the door.

"Oh... You're awake." Kris said, looking at Ralsei.

"You scared me."

"Sorry... I had to use the bathroom." Kris said.

Ralsei realized something. "Kris... I forgot my vials at home."

"What do you need them for?" Kris asked, as he had a lot of potions for various purposes, and couldn't have possibly known of which he was referring to.

"I need them to be clean." Ralsei said, locking his fingers.

"We have a shower here... If you don't drop anything on the floor, you could probably take one." Kris said.

"Shower..?"

"Oh, right sorry..." Kris thought for a moment. "It's a place in the restroom to clean yourself off using water."

"..."

"Of course, you'd have to use the pet shampoo, since you have a lot of fur. You wouldn't want it to get tangled or..." Kris looked at Ralsei. "Do you use a brush?"

Ralsei looked confused. "I own several, though I haven't had to use them. I don't ever get dirty, and I don't think my... 'fur' has never been tangled before."

"Sorry. Apparently I have a lot more to learn about magic." Kris said, sitting next to Ralsei.

"Thanks for the offer, but I would rather not get wet if it can be helped. I don't mind getting wet, it's the nightmare of drying off that's the problem. Last time I tried to use magic to solve it I ended up catching myself on fire-"

Kris looked concerned.

"Which is why my 'fur' is a little shorter in the dark world." Ralsei said shyly. "I should have known better."

Kris pet Ralsei's head, avoiding the horns so he wouldn't be cut. "Everyone makes mistakes. Besides, you look adorable with shorter fur."

Ralsei's cheeks turned red. "Thanks..." He said, before looking a little sad.

"What's up?" Kris asked, removing his hand.

"Kris, do you like me better with or without the hat on?" Ralsei asked. "I wont be offended-"

"I like you better without the hat, Ralsei. It lets me see you... The real you..." Kris said.

"Kris... You aren't just saying that, are you?"

"Of course not... However, I do miss the ribbon... It was pretty."

"Nonsense. The ribbon is exclusive to the hat, I wouldn't have been able to pull off a bow tie"

"What about that butler outfit the queen put you in?"

"That... Well..." Ralsei realized what Kris just said. "I- I liked wearing the tuxedo. It made me feel important." He said. "Besides, then I would have to lose the scarf."

Kris tilted his head at Ralsei. "That makes me wonder... How do you look without the scarf?"

"C'mon you've seen me without it." Ralsei said.

"Your neck was covered with the butler outfit. Doesn't count."

"You want to see my neck..?" Ralsei asked.