Zene Oneshots

(Mis)Trust (Pt 2)

"Did you find him?"

Gene huffed as the innkeeper placed a bottle of mead in front of him, handing him a cup of fresh water as well.

"I did, and I took care of some bandits. I think he'll be safer now, maybe.." Gene nodded, taking a sip of the mead.

"Well that's good. I'd hate for something to happen to him." She smiled, cleaning out a tankard.

"Does he always react so frostily?" He asked, but wasn't expecting an answer.

"I believe so. But he doesn't even talk to me, just gets his food and leaves." She shrugged, a frown tugging at her face.

"Thank you for your time." Gene said, finishing off the mead and downing the fresh water.

"Of course Gene." She nodded with a smile, grabbing the now empty containers. "You take care of yourself out there, yeah?"

As Gene opened this door to the inn and stepped out, he saw a mage approaching him with two mercenaries behind. Great, just great. Exactly what he needed after the first one. Worse, this mage was wearing the exact same attire as the first.

"You there, I'm looking for an unusual homeless male." The mage started, approaching him. "Have you seen him?"

"An unusual homeless male?" Gene asked, acting surprised. "That could be any homeless male in all of Ru'an. They tend to be... off."

"Don't get smart with me." The mage glared. "You wouldn't be able to mistake this one, wears fancy robes. Now be a good boy and tell me everything you know."

"No, I haven't seen any homeless males that wear fancy robes." He lied, shrugging.

"I can't say I'm surprised." The mage grumbled, his facial expression relaxing. "He's quite slippery for someone so new to homeless life. Very well, you may go."

Gene nodded as they went their separate ways, with the mage and his mercenaries going further into the town, while he went towards the gates. He heard footsteps behind him, and turned around.

It was Zane.

"I saw what you did.. you didn't turn me in.." Zane began, tilting his head. "Why?"

"It's against my policy to turn in runaways until I know their side of the story. Are you hurt?" Gene asked,

"I am fine!" He snapped, rolling his eye. "I don't need your bandages or silly potions!"

"Alright, alright, calm down. I was just asking."

"I want to know why you are so concerned with me. Why help a homeless person, one who you don't even know?"

"Surely you're not suggesting that I pass by a cute boy in trouble and do nothing."

"Cute? Flattery will get you nowhere with me! So don't even try it!"

"For the last time, settle down! I'm not trying anything. I just want to hear your story."

"My story? I... I don't know! Not even my own family! Why can't I remember anything?"

"Hey take it easy, okay? No need to start panicking. Just tell me what you do know."

"There was a kind Meif'wa who helped me, but with what? After that, I was running. Bushes and dogs. Loud dogs barking and trying to bite me.."

"I see.. you were probably running away from someone."

"Maybe... I don't remember all that well... it hurts to try.."

"Tell you what, I'll let you travel around with me for a bit until we can find you some help, alright?"

"I... I would like that, a lot really.. but I don't know how to swing a sword or fire an arrow.."

"Now that's a problem.. do you have any Magicks?"

"Magicks? Oh yes, I have lots of Magicks! Destruction, healing, all sorts!"

"Well then, looks like you're my little mage sidekick."

"Hey! I am not little!"

~~~~

"So Zane, how do you like them?"

Gene looked Zane over again as he walked around, trying to get used to his new clothes. He was wearing white robes with a black belt and satchel, filled with potion and poison ingredients. In it was also a white phial filled with a healing potion, that would refill itself as it emptied. His boots were made of leather, and so were his gloves.

"Mm... I kinda liked my other clothes better..." Zane pouted, giving his tattered clothes a sad look. "Although I was always cold in them whenever I slept on the dirt.."

"And they wouldn't protect you very well from hits." Gene pointed out. "These, however, are enchanted to protect you more."

"Oh... okay then.." He nodded, smiling slightly.

"Now let's go and see if we can find someone to help you.." He trailed off, going into a thinking mode.

"Any ideas?" He asked, tapping his foot.

"Well... I have a friend or two at the College of Magicks & Witchcraft." He answered, grabbing his hand and leading him along.

"Why did you grab my hand?" He asked, shuddering a bit at the touch.

"People need to know that you're no toy for their fantasies." He answered.

"O-Oh..." He trailed off, looking to the side. "Soo.... this College... what is it like?"

"A lot of people don't like it very much, claiming it caused the entire town to blow up. But I don't see what's so bad about it, it's actually helped with so much." Gene explained, shrugging.

"Are you a student there?" Zane asked, his eye going back to their hands together.

"Yeah, but I've only enrolled there just recently." He admitted, smiling back at him. "I haven't had my first lesson yet!"

"That's... worrisome." He sighed, shaking his head. "My parents told me that education is always the most important thing."

"Your parents are milk drinkers." He snickered, before sneezing.

"Irene bless you." He said.

"Thanks." Gene grinned at him.

The two walked in silence, exiting the small town and heading for the College. It would be a few days before they reached it, so they would have to stop at some inns every now and then to rest up for the night. Normally Gene didn't sleep, but he didn't know how Zane would react to not sleeping.

Zane was getting nervous. He still didn't trust Gene. He kept glancing back at him, as if he was afraid he would disappear. At least he had been given some privacy when he had changed, but other than that Gene was watching his every move.

~~~~

Finally they had reached an inn.

Zane sat on one of the benches at the tables with a sigh, no doubt his feet aching from all the walking. Gene paid the innkeeper for a room that they would share, and bought a sweet roll for himself, along with a bottle of cold mead.

Gene turned away from the counter, taking a bit out of the sweet roll as he walked back to Zane. He saw a woman sitting next to Zane, talking to him with a big smile and relaxed eyes. Zane, however, looked uncomfortable. When Gene got closer, Zane looked thankful to see the warrior. The woman looked up as well, looking between the two.

"Do you two know each other?" She asked, mostly directing it at Zane.

"Y-Yes... he hired me as a companion..." Zane stuttered, stretching the truth a bit.

"Mm.. so how much to take him off your hands?" She asked Gene, grabbing her coin purse.

"Take him off my hands? Whatever for?" Gene asked, nearly spitting out some of his mead.

"Well, to toy with his body, of course."