A Game of Mouse and Wolf

Chapter Six: Meeting in the Garden(pt2)

Later that evening Iciro safely made his way to the Palace Garden without being caught by any suitors. This was his first time in the garden since being there so seeing all different colors of the many flowers that were there and touching all the bushes and small trees that grew there was really exciting for him.

"Wow..." He said to himself as he walked around the garden.

He had never seen anything so beautiful before in his life. As he continued to walk, he heard footsteps coming up behind him. In a panic he hid in the bushes, fearing that it might be one of the suitors. He did not want to be left alone with any of them.

"You don't have to hide Iciro. It's just me."

Iciro slowly rose from his hiding spot and saw that it was the person he was waiting for.

"Telemachus." Iciro said in a relieved tone. "I was worried for a second. I thought one of the suitors found me."

"Nope." Telemachus responded with a smile. "Just me."

Telemachus sat in front of the bush where Iciro was hiding and beckoned Iciro to join him. Iciro hesitated for a second, but then he sat next to him. The two sat in silence for a moment.

"Hey so, why did you want to meet me out here?" Iciro finally asked.

"Well one: I wanted to get away from the suitors and this is the only place they never go. I come here quite often because if it."

"And two?" Iciro asked

"I had a question for you." Telemachus responded.

"Oh well...what's the question?

"It's actually a question you never answered."

"What question?"

"Why did you almost fight Antinous?"

Iciro looked at the ground sadly...as he had done earlier that day. How was he to explain this to him? He honestly didn't want to talk about it, but he also knew that unlike Dimidius...Telemachus would continue to pry.

"He uh...told me what he said to you. About your mother."

"He did? Why?"

"I pretty much forced him too...and what he told me was so-...dreadful I couldn't help but to feel angry."

Telemachus was shocked by the statement. Iciro...angry? He had never even seen Iciro slightly annoyed...let alone angry.

"How...angry-"

"I threatened to kill him if he ever hurt you or talked about the queen in such ways ever again."

"You what!?! Iciro you could have died on the spot!!"

"I know...but I couldn't let those comments slide...."

Telemachus starred at Iciro for a moment...and saw how upset the comments were to him. He noticed that Iciro actually looked more upset than he did when he fought Antinous. Even though it didn't seem like it before those comments really got to him.

"Why...?"

"Huh?"

"I mean I understand why you got so defensive but...why threaten to kill for us?"

Iciro looked at Telemachus and smiled a little.

"I care about the two deeply. And I'll be damned if you two end up hurt because of him...or any of the other suitors. Of course, other than Dimidius. He's the only one that actually respects the queen and you."

Now Telemachus did hear everything Iciro said...but there was one thing that stuck with him.

"You care for me deeply?"

"Yes. That's why I'm trying so hard to get out of the acquaintance stage."

Telemachus paused for a moment then chuckled.

"Is that why you randomly started flirting with me?"

Iciro's face instantly started to turn a dark shade of red.

"I don't know what I was thinking when I did that. I am so sorry." He said as he covered his face with his hands.

Telemachus said nothing. All he did was smile...softly. Telemachus couldn't help but notice how adorable Iciro was at that very moment. Seeing him in such a flustered state was something he could definitely get used to.

"Hey Iciro?"

Iciro finally looked back up at him.

"Yes?"

"Do you have any nicknames?"

"Well, my father calls me Indigo. And Dimidius calls me Indi or Indigo. Why?"

Telemachus placed his hand on top of Iciro's.

"May I call you that?" Telemachus asked softly.

His soft voice plus feeling the warmth of Telemachus' hand on top of his made Iciro's heart skip a beat.

"W-why?" Iciro stuttered out

"Well, we can't move past the acquaintance stage without giving each other nicknames, can we?"

"I-I guess. Wait...does this mean we're friends?"

"Maybe."

Iciro smiled brightly.

"Then I must come up with a name for you too then."

Iciro thought for a moment.

"I got it! How does Mel sound to you?"

"Mel?"

"Yeah. I would have gone with Tel, but I really like the 'm' in your name."

Telemachus laughed.

"You know what? I'll take it."

Iciro laughed with him.

They two fell silent for a moment after the stopped laughing.

"So..." Iciro said. "What are we if we aren't friends?"

"Well, we aren't quite friends...yet but we are no longer acquaintances. So, let's go with buddies...for now."

Iciro smiled softly as he held Telemachus' hand.

"I'll take it."

Telemachus looked at his hand...that was now in Iciro's then looked up at him. They didn't say anything to each other but there was a mutual understanding that they were now becoming closer than they have ever been before. 

-End of Chapter-