The Knights and the Princess

Chapter 17

"Isolation and hatred is-it's... it's a sure-fire way to make a psychopath! You-You should just be glad that Blue's that one percent who came out a really kind person!" How easy it would be to hate, to despise, to go after those who hurt him emotionally for so long... "He's done nothing wrong!" Why am I getting so worked up? Then again, I guess after spending all day every day for a month with someone can make you really attached and protective-especially if you get attached easily to people in the first place. Not to mention that Blue's my friend... I won't tolerate these jerks being mean to him! I'm sick of bullies! Heck, these can't even be considered bullies-they're worse!

Unfortunately, I can't think of a name that suits them. They're just downright jerks.

I was breathing heavily by the time I got done with the speech, having used too much emotional and mental energy during that. Sarcasm was my way to go about with bullies, to deal with them and get them to leave me alone. But at the same time that just caused them to attack me from the sidelines. No one ever stood up for me, no one ever stood beside me. I even remember a time when Eliza had been watching a girl attack me with cruel words, and another time on a field trip a different girl was getting on me and saying that my friends were just being "nice" and weren't really my friends. I was hurt, and I stood up to her, too, but the worst part was that my friends were sitting at the table next to me (there was no more room and I had to sit by myself) and seemed to not even notice the whole thing take place.

Heck, even after I stood up to the jerks I was left so emotionally damaged I just didn't talk to anyone after, and when I got home I just cried in my room. I despised people and the world, despite how I know that there's always a reason. Despite how I know that people have some good in them, no matter how small or how deep it's buried. At least, that's what I like to believe...

But this? This was just unacceptable.

I moved in front of Blue, giving the two men the darkest glare I could muster. I was furious-something of which was shown when my face went completely blank and I went silent. But they had just kept going and going-urging me to explode. "Blue. Is. My. Friend. If you want to kill me that's fine, but I refuse to leave him here alone." How old did they say he was when he killed a whole army? Four? My stomach twisted and churned uncomfortably. "Now go, before I steal your pitchfork and whack you upside the head with it." I wouldn't really, but it didn't mean it wasn't an entertaining thought.

"D-Demon!" The man on the left, the one holding the torch, cried out before dashing out of the room, passed Blue and I. "You're both demons!"

My eyebrows raised and I turned my head, watching him run out. "Okay, now that was just rude." Jerk. Talk about ill-mannered. I turned my attention back to the other guy, who eyes were cold but scared. I blinked at him. "Aren't you going to leave?"

"We're not done..." He threatened, pointing a finger at me as he slowly backed away, heading out of the room. "We'll-We'll be back for you! I don't care what kind of monster you are-you can't be worse than him! We won't let you leek out his existence!" It was safe to say I was left standing in confusion when he ran out. Shaking my head in complete bewilderment I said,

"Welp, that just happened. You okay, Blue?" I turned around and lifted my head to look at him, only to freeze. My eyes went wide. I outstretched a hand towards him, only to hesitate. His teeth were ground together, revealing a pair of relatively sharp canines, and from what I could see in this darkened room tears were streaming down his face.

I don't know how to comfort people. I barely even know the right things to say. Do I hug him? Do I tell him everything's alright? Why is he crying? Did those guys' words get to him?

"H-Hey, it's-it's okay." I awkwardly reached a hand out and placed it on his arm. The pitchfork he was holding suddenly dropped to ground and I yelped when hegrabbed me, pulling me forward and pressing me against his chest, my face buried in his shoulder as he hugged me tightly. "I-It's okay." I awkwardly wrapped my arms around him, one of my arms trapped beneath his and my other awkwardly above his other. He had one arm around my waist and the other around my shoulders, leaving me to awkwardly pat his shoulder-blade and lower back.

This was the most emotion I had ever seen him show, and it just happened to be the emotion I'm most uncomfortable with. I really lacked people skills, if you couldn't tell.

Realizing just how badly he was trembling my gaze softened and I hugged him as tightly as I could, saying much more softly, yet still in a firm voice, "It's okay." I was wondering how awkward or uncomfortable it was for him to bend down like he was, when the mask he was wearing was pushed up, the male having tried to bury his face in my shoulder. He froze, hearing it clatter to the floor, and made to pull away. But without a second thought or even a realization of my actions I reached out and grabbed him by the face, cupping his cheeks with my hands. It was none of my business, but I found it hard to stop myself. I wanted to know. I wanted to know who my friend is-what he looks like.

He was not who I was expecting. The man in the mask looked far different than anything I imagined. "It's okay!" I exclaimed quickly, seeing how he squeezed his eyes shut, desperate not to look at me. Was he ashamed to be crying or- Oh. "I'm not scared! Jeez, crying with a mask on is the least comfortable thing and you're still wanting to put it on. Just calm down, dude." I tried to remain casual and stood on my toes, pulling my kimono sleeve over the palm of my hand and holding it there with my fingers. Reaching up I wiped the tears staining his cheeks as best as I could. "Relax. I'm not gonna hurt ya-couldn't even if I wanted to." He's way prettier than I thought-heck, I didn't even think he'd look pretty!

I wasn't even sure what to think he'd look like, really. All I knew about his appearance was that his hair was blue and that his skin was even paler than mine. That was it. Anything I thought of looked ridiculous and I gave up guessing after the first couple of weeks. But this...

Dude. Blue was beautiful. His eyes were closed, so I didn't know what they looked like, but he had long eyelashes and sharp, delicate features. I'd accuse him of having a strong jawline, but in this darkness who could tell for sure? "Are you really that scared of me looking at you?" I asked, feeling slightly hurt. The villagers really did get to him after all... I wondered if I should pull away, but seeing him clench his jaw as more tears began to fall made me to do other wise.

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