White Lies

Part 1: Chapter 10

Thomas's POV:

   I am NOT small.

   Though I knew he was kidding, I still wasn't having it, sitting in a constant pout with my arms tightly crossed. That only made him laugh his ass off more.

   He choked, "I-I'm sorry it's just- Ahaha, you look so mad, and- Hahaha". Marco continued, rolling onto his side.

   I whined, "It's really not that hilarious! In fact, it's as lame as your board game joke!"

   He immediately gasped, stopping his laughter, looking to me, "You said that was funny!"

   "Well, I lied", I looked away, but still didn't want to hurt his feelings, "T-To make you feel better".

   Marco paused, sighing. It wasn't his tired sigh though, more like, "you're-an-idiot" sigh. He actually seemed quite content, more comfortable from when he first entered. I stuck my tongue out to him, setting the block aside, I yawned.

   I wasn't necessarily sleepy, just a bit dazed. Marco went to say something when the door opened. A woman walked in. She was clearly in her forties or so, yet even for her age, she was beautiful. Her skin was a caramel tan, beauty marks here and there, with gentle, deep brown eyes. Her dark brown, almost black locks were tucked back behind her ears with a green handkerchief tied into a headband. She was a little shorter and rounder, with a black shirt tucked into a white, flowy skirt. Her feet had been slipped into black flats. She gave off sunshine.

   Marco glanced to me, suddenly seeming to beam with happiness, "This is Esmeralda, Rudolph's wife. Her cooking is-". He brought his hand to his lips, kissing, "Mwah. Delicious".

   The older woman seemed to blush, smacking his arm, "Oh Mars, so sweet!" She had a little bit of an accent to her, Jamaican maybe? I noticed her headband, smiling, "The color matches your name. Emerald. A-And you're as pretty as a gem too, miss!" She was soon a bright red mess, "Boys, boys!", only to wink, "Just don't let Rudy hear".

   She was mega cute. Already confirmed. Nope, no denying it.

   She set down a selection of food to decide from. It was like a huge feast.. And I definitely wasn't complaining after my dinner was rudely interrupted. I shot Marco a look.

   He tilted his head, bothered, "What?"

   I only looked away. He didn't deserve my stare, my presence for that matter, "Lowly being!"

   "Pardon?..", yet I could tell he knew I was joking, a small smile flickering at his lips. Come on, just a bit more. Unless he was truly cracking up, he never had a full on smile. I wanted to see what it'd look like. I suppose he'd look nice.

   His voice snapped me out of my zone, already with a full plate, one of everything, "Go on, eat". I glanced to mine, having not put anything on it yet, I expected it to be empty but.. It wasn't. He casually popped a piece of pasta into his mouth, "What? You were taking too long".

   Esmeralda chuckled, patting his head, "Don't be too blunt with the boy, Mars. I'll be on my way then. Just leave your dishes outside the door on the cart! Sleep well!" She kissed the top of his head, and by the way I looked, she probably knew I wanted one too, giving me the same. My whole body warmed.

   She shuffled outside. My eyes averted to Marco, "So.. Mars. You like head kisses? Never could imagine.."

   Marco then.. Seemed to burn up? He looked away, a slight tint to his cheeks, starting, "Yeah, so? Be qui-".

   "MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

   The unfamiliar voice didn't sound like an adult, but the suddenness of it definitely spooked me. Marco frowned at that, shouting, "Shut the fuck up Axel! You're not supposed to be here!"

   There was a pause, "You're supposed to say Polo".

   "I, um..", I decided to speak up, "I don't mind if you let him in or peek out to talk to him.."

   He blinked, "It.. It'll just be a moment. Just focus on eating and relaxing. You need it. Also, for your own well being.." Marco immediately turned serious, "Don't look at, touch, or even breath the same air as this thing. No contact whatsoever, whether it be physically, verbally, visually, fuck it, even spiritually, with what I'm about to release".

   "W-Wha-?".

   He opened the door and in came stumbling another boy, landing flat on his side next to me. His deep red eyes fell on me, "Ooh, cute boy. He your..", he rolled onto his back, gripping his chest dramatically, "Lover?".

   Marco then made the executive decision to stomp a foot onto his crotch.

   That caused him to curse out, curling up, crying, "Marco, so mean.."

   The other boy sighed, "Don't mind him Thomas. This is Axel. Axel, this is Thomas".

   I went to hold out a hand to shake his, but Marco grabbed my wrist and pulled it away, "Don't touch him. You may have radioactive monster blood, but trust me. He's even more dangerous than you".

   The Axel kid grinned, only to put a hand on my head and ruffle my hair. Marco swatted at him, and I suddenly felt arms around me. He had hugged me, now yanking me away from Axel, and I knew it was all part of the "oh don't touch him" joke, but.. I couldn't help but to notice how cold he was. It was refreshing almost.

   It ended all too soon though when he lay me down, rolling me under my bed, "Hide Thomas, save yours-!" There was a thud as Axel laughed, jumping on Marco, the two wrestling around. I peeked out from under the bed, smiling a little at the sight. It soon made the laugh though when I realized..

   Axel was enjoying it. And Marco..

   Was not.