The Order of Huntsmen

Andrew Interlude

Andrew watched as Orion slammed his door shut. A few people close by glanced at the sound, but quickly returned to their conversations.

Andrew rubbed at the back of his neck. He didn't expect Orion to react like that.

He'd leaned down and smugly whispered, "Not what you expected of him, huh?" He wasn't lying, he'd half expected Daire to give him a "no" when he'd ask about the party. He had to admit he was a bit impressed with the man's alcohol tolerance. He was supposed to ask Orion as well, but even thinking about it annoyed him. 

He had expected to look at Orion and see him with that glare he got when he was mad. The one that made him look more like a toddler throwing a tantrum than an intimidating man. Instead, he saw fear. Wide eyed, sweating, fear. He let go then and took a few steps back.

When Orion flinched and hastily stepped away, he let the words slip out without thinking. "What is wrong with you?" In hindsight, he knew it was a terrible choice of words, he knew that as soon as he'd said it. But Andrew rarely thought ahead, only behind.

He'd expected Orion to shout. To scream. Maybe even to throw a punch. But he felt a pang of guilt as Orion looked down at the floor with a look of pain mixed with a tinge of shame. He thought to go after Orion when he stormed off, but he stopped as it occurred to him, he didn't know why he cared.

"Where's Orion?" Lukas asked over the music, shaking Andrew from his thoughts.

"In his room," Andrew replied, turning and forgetting.

Lukas sighed and shook his head in a way that reminded Andrew of his father. "Is he okay?"

Andrew tipped his head a fraction to the side. "Why wouldn't he be?"

Lukas looked at the door with a hint of emotion buried deep in his eyes, one Andrew couldn't put his finger on. "It's nothing."

Andrew nodded. He was bored of it all, so he flashed his best smile.  "Where's Ben? He owes me a shot."