Hidden Courtship

8. Ellington Is Embarrassing. What's New?

• Ellington Kendrick •

After watching Ellington stumble pretty miserably for about 30 yards, Leo offered a shoulder for the bruised boy to lean on as they walked.

A small, helpful gesture can't hurt, right? Plus, if Ellington's saver did actually have good intentions and really did bring him to the medicinal stall, he could get bandages and healing salves for entirely free! (well, they were always free... but this time he wouldn't have to steal them!) and once it was all done he could return home with a freshly wrapped leg and never see this mysterious rich man again.

That might seem slightly immoral, like he was taking advantage of Leo's generosity but, even now, Ellington was pretty sure the kind boy was hiding his true goals and was still looking to make a slave out of him. Why else would someone of such high status waste his day away, conversing with another from the most lowly of classes?

So, the two companions made their way through the busy hall, on the lookout for a stall selling natural remedies and supplies.

Of course, Ellington knew the town market like the lines on the palm of his hand. After all these years, he probably knew the market layout better than the shopkeepers themselves... and he could've just told his new acquaintance that they were going in the wrong direction and should have made a right turn after passing the wax making stall, about a hundred yards back; but, he wanted to see if he could trust this Leo guy to guide him—especially since he was hurt—and not steer him completely off path, like... into his secret lair or another dungeon of some kind—he certainly looked like the secret-lair-having type... Ellington also found it quite entertaining to watch the lad fail terribly at navigating the crowds—yeah, he definitely wasn't from here.

"So, why exactly are you doing this?"

"Doing what" Leo replied, tilting his head.

Ellington waved his arm through the air—the one that wasn't currently wrapped around his company's shoulders. "This. Helping me."

"Er... because I wanted to?"

"Like I'd believe that." No one ever goes out of their way help and show kindness without an ulterior motive. Ellington of all people, would know that.

Leo took a moment to answer. "I guess, I felt sorrowful to see someone of my age having to commit a crime just... just for the sake of getting a loaf of bread." He said those last three words as if he were speaking about oxygen or water, like bread was something of which everyone was born to have within reach.

In other words, a freakishly wealthy man might be taking pity on me. Ellington deduced. Certainly not the worst situation to be in...

Leo continued, "You're just like me—"

"That's debatable."

With a soft chuckle, he restarted his point once again. "What I mean, is that we're both citizens of the Scintilly Kingdom, both only adolescents, and I shouldn't deserve to live a more comfortable life just because I have a pinch more gold flowing through my veins." He took a breath before continuing, "While society will always class us into different parties, making us, fortunate ones only more and more fortunate—and I can't make any major changes to that custom, for now... I can at least use my riches to your advantage. Instead of carrying around the burden of knowing that others have to scavenge for things that I could get with the snap of my fingers, and that I didn't try my absolute hardest to provide them with my support."

Maybe the gold flowing in his blood had streamed all the way up into his eyes, since Ellington could've sworn his silver irises glimmered with more warmth than before. This man was damn well making Ellington's chore of disliking him very difficult...—and what did he mean by 'for now...'?

"But I digress, you needed help. I could give it to you. So I did."

"Wow. I don't know what to say." How was he meant to continue after monologue like that?

"You don't have to say anything. Just, please just trust that I mean well and that I don't plan to trap you in a secret lair of some sorts..." Leo ended his phrase with a sideways glance to the other boy that said 'Yeah, I knew you were thinking that.'

Ellington didn't realize he was staring until his new friend snapped him out of his bewilderment, "Now, pick your chin off the ground and show me where this medicinal stall is because I know you know where we have to go." He said with a small smirk.

How was he doing this? Was mind reading included in the born rich package? Ellington guessed.

The puzzled boy blinked himself out of his daze. "Huh?—oh yeah! Um, this way." His stammer earned him a muffled laugh from Leo. Gods, could he be any more humiliating?

832 words

This was really fun to write 😂

What do you guys think of the development of their friendship? Is it too fast, too slow or fine how it is? And if there was one thing you could change about their interaction, what would it be?