Come To The Light

The Soldier

Walking alone in a hallway couldn't have been better than ever in my life. Alaric just won't say anything to me and if he does, it always ends in the shortest response ever. Normally I'd think the other person in the situation is being somewhat of a brat, but the way that Alaric suddenly turned off this side of "fun" he had is really scaring me now.

I stop by the kitchen, looking up at the grand sign on top of the door. "So, what kind of food do you like? Anything on your mind?" I turn to him with a smile, hoping it'll coax him out of his sudden change in mood.

He stares at the door in silence before turning to me with a very faint smile, answering almost monotonically, "I'm not really hungry anymore. Thank you for asking though." His eyes now remain glued on me.

This is really, really awkward now. I lead him into the dining hall, past many strangers getting exquisite desserts. Honestly, if he wasn't here right now I'd be running off to grab whatever I can, I haven't eaten a good meal in weeks that isn't just the bare minimum. I look over to him almost hiding a smile on my face, pointing a thumb at the food. "You sure you don't want some of the food? It looks really good."

He seems to realize I'm hungry anyways, and it's like whatever was plaguing his mind disappears. He nods and waves his hand almost as if to call me over, and I follow him through the crowd to a counter.

We walk up, and one of the waiters instantly recognizes Alaric. He puts on a smile, guessing that's a thing they do to appeal to royals here, and motions to a table. "Good morning Sir Gray, you're a bit late compared to usual but your usual table is over here. And..." He pauses for a moment before staring at me in confusion, clearly not recognizing me. "Who is this.." He looks me up and down, the second time that's happened here, "...well, obviously not a big name in any of the kingdoms. Wait... you're not even a royal at all."

Oh shit.

He waves over a guard, some brute with a scar over their eye. I should've just gone home instead of waking up and having a fight instead of a breakfast. I clench my fist for a moment as the waiter whispers to the guard, the guard takes a step forward while placing their hand on the hilt of their sword.

Suddenly though, Alaric raises up a hand to the waiter. "Hey, it's a bit rude to attack someone as handsome as him, don't you think?" He smirks a bit, looking at me with the same stupidly flirtatious look he gave me last night. I'd rather get my ass beat by the guard than have him look at me like that. He then looks back at the guard, "He's with me."

Good lord, if he wasn't standing up for me I'd punch him right now.

The guard backs off, and the waiter looks at the two of us like we're aliens. He shrugs and waves a hand, "To each their own I suppose." He beckons us to follow him to a table, and we follow him as if I wasn't just threatened by the same scumbag. He seats us at the table, and now I'm staring at my "boyfriend". This idiot, who keeps flirting with me in not-so-subtle ways, but I can't say anything anyways since he's really been the only person who has looked out for me in a while.

He leans back into his chair, all relaxed, and raises an eyebrow. "You look like you're a bit... tense. Loosen up big guy, you're safe." He stops again to look at my posture, inspecting me closely. "You sit like a folded lawn chair. Maybe that's why you had back issues this morning." He calls over a waiter, holding his hand out and the waiter places two menus atop his palm. He hands one to me, and smiles a bit.

I open the menu, and honestly, I'm jealous of all these rich assholes. Pictures of pancakes, waffles, crepes, all sorts of foods, that I can't even read, they make just for breakfast. Just for breakfast! Honestly, I've probably caught the same fish that one of these stuffy elites ate as part of their five course meal. I turn around a bit, watching the people sitting at tables near us. I don't care if I'm staring anymore, they probably were doing the same to me since I clearly don't belong.

I turn back to my menu and Alaric in front of me. Alaric's nose in the menu for a few moments before he makes up his mind, and he shuts it closed. "I already know my order. Do you know yet?" He pauses and wears another sly smile on his face. "Or do you need me, your sweet 'boyfriend', to order for you? Are you big enough to do that yet?" He leans in, putting on a pitiful look and pouting his lip.

I stretch out my hand and push his face back, I need a break from this moron. "Okay 'boyfriend', you can order me whatever the hell you want. I just want to eat so I can get out of here and away from you."

Alaric perks up a bit and stares at me blankly, "Get out of here? Like... leave? You aren't staying?"

I scoff and laugh, leaning my head onto a hand that's only prompted up by my elbow on the table. "Yeah, I crashed a party and got free drinks and some good food. Now I have to go crawl back to whatever sewers this 'filthy' trash came from. If you're lucky, I'll crash your party again for another drink."

He seems to sigh ever so slightly and then leans back in the chair, his hands resting on his lap, "Ah.. well, for the record, I don't think you're filthy. If that helps any." He lifts his eyes up to mine, and for a moment it feels like I can put my guard down again. Just like when I sat down next to him that night.

I thought for a moment, and then smiled a bit. "I'll tell you what." I bring my hand out and it hovers in the air. "If you can beat me in an arm wrestle, I'll stay a bit longer."

He looks at me confused at first, but then raises an eyebrow at me smugly. "Are you sure you want to do that? I don't want to break your arm..." He flexes his arm, barely able to show off any muscle. He's clearly bluffing, but it's funny to me anyways. I like guys who amuse me in stupid ways like this. I keep my hand outstretched, nodding my head to him as a sort of challenge. He takes it slowly, smiling nervously like he knows he's going down easily.

"On three... one, two, three." I just hold my hand in place, trying to gauge his strength. He seems to be pushing with all his might, but I'm still not budging. He concentrates deeply on my hand, as if staring at it will make it budge anymore or make it explode. He ends up holding his hand with his other arm, laughing nervously.

"I just..." He struggles in-between words, almost like he's jogging, "...needed a warm-up!" He laughs nervously and pushes with all his strength. I chuckle a bit and slowly pull my own hand down to fake his win. He seems shocked at the sight of my hand falling closer and closer to the table, his jaw drops for a moment.

My hand taps the table gently, and I let go, pulling it back and massaging it in the most fake, exaggerated way like when a kid fakes being hurt. "God, your grip is just so strong. I guess I have to stay for a bit." Alaric stays staring at me, jaw wide-open still from his victory, before he smirks. He then calls over the waiter to order for the both of us, and I guess I have to stick around for a bit longer after all.