Tainted (nonbinary mc x man)

Chapter 5

A/N: Edits were made to this chapter on 5/30/2024. These edits do not affect the plot of the story.

The next morning as they made their way into the center of the village to find the doctor, Toma couldn't help but get lost in his thoughts. To say he hadn't been thinking about what Monrie said the night before about the world caving in, about him falling apart, would be a complete and utter lie.

Had he deflected at the time and focused on the only part of Monrie's statement he was willing to listen to objectively? Yes. Did that mean he didn't agree with the rest of it? No. It definitely did not. Because the reason Toma decided to pointedly ignore that statement— at least out loud— was because it was true.

The world itself wasn't caving in, but Toma's own personal world was. And despite the letters from his friends and the visits from his employee Parim, Toma's world was going to fall apart. Because he had a deadline. A deadline no one could alter. His 21st birthday would be his downfall and no one could stop it.

Before, he had been willfully ignoring it, turning down Parim's reports, pretending to not notice the way Thomsyn carefully worded his letters, acting like Toma was just on a little 12 year vacation away from life's troubles before the inevitable.

"Monrie," Toma called out suddenly. They had been walking through the little village silently – though Monrie was doing most of the walking for them, as he had an arm wrapped around Toma's waist to support him. But Toma could no longer deal with the direction his thoughts were going, so he turned to Monrie for a distraction.

"I heard the border between Ilia and Earnal was recently opened. How long ago did you enter the country?" Toma asked, though he was still a bit absentminded.

Monrie hummed thoughtfully. "A few weeks ago. We entered very soon after the restrictions were eased. Though, truthfully, we've been meaning to travel to Ilia for some time. It was just that there was no legal way in and the risk of being caught outweighed the reward of seeing your beautiful country." Monrie paused, then continued guiltily, "Sorry, I didn't mean anything bad by that."

"Yes, you did," Toma responded, not at all fazed. "And I understand. Ilia cut itself off from the world. Of course you'd be wary."

Monrie opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, someone walked by Toma, ramming into his shoulder and sending him careening to the side. Monrie grabbed onto Toma effortlessly, taking a moment to check if he was ok before turning on the man who'd bumped Toma.

"Be careful!" Monrie said angrily. "He's injured. You could have made it worse."

The man who had bumped into Toma looked up. He had long blond hair and eyes that were clouded over. Toma wanted to step away from him. He was obviously drunk. The man slurred, "Heeey! You watch it! I'm walkin-"

The man paused, his hazy eyes finally focusing on Toma's face. He squinted a bit before taking a step forward, moving to place a hand on Toma's shoulder. "Wow, aren't you pretty!"

Toma felt ice running through his veins as the man looked over him with interest, but it didn't escape his attention that Monrie's hand had tightened on his arm.

"Such pretty, shiny blue eyes," the man continued as he leaned in even closer. "Or green?" He stuck his face right in Toma's, making Toma tense and reel back, running right into Monrie. The man's breath fanned over his face, making him scrunch his nose at the stench of alcohol. "Pretty thing, are your eyes blue or green? I can't tell."

A wave of nausea hit Toma head on and he gasped loudly, turning away and hiding his face in Monrie's chest. He barely realized what he was doing, too panic-stricken by the situation. Toma also hadn't noticed how Monrie's face had been steadily growing darker throughout this entire scene.