The Prince and His Pauper

Chapter 10: The Pauper Under His Wing

"Cassiel...... Up..... Cass..... Wak.... P...." A voice whispers but I don't recognize it. I don't even remember what happened to me. Why do I feel my cheek hurting?

"Look what you've done! He knocked him....." The voice from before yells at someone but I don't see anyone. Only darkness. Did I faint? Was I cutting again? No, that can't be right..... I stopped months ago. Months?

"Why do you care so much about this fucking nerd, Antonio?!" Another voice shouts furiously. Antonio? I don't know anyone named- Wait!

"Cassiel! His name is Cassiel Fairbairn!" Antonio snaps. "Not nerd and the reason I care so much for him is because you have this infernal obsession to physically abuse him when he has done absolutely nothing to you or anyone else!" He's defending me..... Against that jock..... Just like him.....

"Does it matter?!" Thomas shouts. Typical, jocks. Always thinking nothing but themselves.

"Does. It. Matter?!" Antonio growls. I never heard Antonio mad before until now and I don't think I want to.

I have to get up..... I thought to myself and tried to bring myself up from the ground. Except, my arms are so weak and my entire torso is practically screaming in pain. I don't think I'll be getting up soon.

"Antonio? Dude, relax! It's just one kid you barely even know!" Thomas points out.

I don't know if Antonio refused to answer Thomas because everything went black and when I finally "woke up" again, I felt my body being weightless. Almost as if I was floating in midair..... Except why would the air feel warm and hurt my arms? Oh, wait..... I know. I'm being carried. I thought to myself. That explains why I had that floating feeling.

"Cassiel...." A voice whispers from far away. 

I'm so tired..... I'm starting to hear voices in my head.... But I don't remember who's voice is that.

"Cassiel, no! Don't!" That voice shouts. Although, it does sound familiar. But where did I heard it?

"Why did you do it? Come on, please! Stay with me!" It yells, sounding desperate. I know that voice.... Wait! Is it?!

"Cassiel?!" A different voice shouts.

"What happened to him? Did that Dummkopf hurt him?! Tell me and I'll go give him a piece of my martial arts!" Another angry voice snarls. That's Leo. Weird how I can recognize him when I haven't known him long. Actually, I just met him about ten minutes but hearing a weird word in that sentence kind of gave it away.

"If he did, I'm going to handle him. You stay away from this." Antonio states. "I know you can take care of yourself, Leonardo, but they're not worth it. Don't forget who we are."

"Spoken like a true king, my prince." A third voice comments. I think that's Sebastian. Wait a minute! Did he just call Antonio a prince?!

"Why did Sebastian call Antonio a prince?" I mumble, though I wanted to shout. Curse my weak body.

My eye lids flutter open and the first thing I see is Antonio's handsome face frozen in shock. Did I say something bad? "What?" I ask, blinking away my sleepiness.

"It's just something Sebastian calls me ever since we were kids. He hasn't seem to grown out of it." Antonio explains, his posture returning back to its usual calm self. "But how are you feeling, Cassiel? Does anything hurt? Is there something broken?"

"No, I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy, you know? Um, that jock gave me a punch on the face...... Right?" I ask, feeling a small pain on my right cheek.

"Sadly, you did." Leo growls and I visibly see his jaw clench.