Fallen Pollen
It became clear to Kei why slavers would so openly go after the boy. The light blond color, white in some lights, of the boy’s short hair was unusual for Allegetra. It was messy and uneven in areas, like someone had taken a knife and sliced sections at whim. Even with a closer look, it was difficult to ascertain the boy’s height from the current position. Up close, the paleness of his skin seemed translucent in comparison to Kei’s skin – the fairness a shade of which Kei had never seen before.
Foreigner, perhaps? Too polite. Mmm, prepubescent. His voice hasn’t broken in yet.
Kid. Twelve, maybe, possibly thirteen.
Kei observed the kid with a raised eyebrow. The strangest thing about him was the white square eye patch that covered his right eye. His visible eye was a light, crystal grey blue. It confirmed one thing: the boy couldn’t be from the area. But why was he alone? Where were his parents or caravan? It was dangerous to wander around alone.
Kei pushed himself up, resting a moment on his elbows. Well, he couldn’t spend all afternoon debating the origins of a weird kid. He stared at the boy, who was still on his stomach. “Oi, d’you mind getting off me?” he drawled, when there was no movement.
“Ah! Of course! I’m so sorry,” cried the boy. He scrambled to get off, standing up afterward. Ah, relief to the stomach. Kei groaned, pressing a hand to his chest for a moment. The boy held out a hand. Ignoring him, Kei got to his feet and brushed off the sand from his brown, baggy pants. He noticed the boy was a few inches shorter and his frame was on the wiry side. The kid must’ve gone through a recent growth spurt.
The boy began to brush at Kei’s tan half shirt. Kei pulled away, but the boy rushed forward, appearing determined to help.
“I’m so sorry, really I am,” rambled the young boy. “I made such a mess of your clothing, too.”
Oi, too close! The brat wouldn’t stop with the blasted brushing. Kei took another step backwards and put his hands up in protest.
“Ah, invasion of personal space, part two,” said Kei dryly, with a hint of annoyance. The boy continued to bat at dust. “—look, stop,” he demanded, when the boy wouldn’t catch the hint. “Would you stop it already?”
“Oh… I’m sorry, really,” said the boy again, dropping his hands to his sides. His shoulders hunched slightly and his entire face fell into a pout.
Four times.
That was how many apologies Kei received in the past two minutes. A vein throbbed in his temple as the irritation swelled in his chest. What was up with this kid? Why all the apologizing? Once was plenty, if not one too many.
“Is that the only phrase you know?” asked Kei, his eyebrow twitching upwards. The boy’s visible eye widened as he glanced up.
“What?”
“‘I’m sorry’ – is that all you can manage?”
“Eh?”
Kei chuckled at the puzzled look on the boy’s face. No doubt about it: airhead. The boy’s head was even tilted to the side, giving off the full effect. It was rare meeting one of these clueless types in a harsh city such as Allegetra. The boy’s visible eye blinked once, the light dancing in the grey blue color.
Wow, just wow. Extreme airhead alert.
“Never mind, then,” said Kei with a sigh, putting up a hand in defeat, while shaking his head. “I’m Kei. And you are?”
“Oh! I’m Skylar,” said the boy with a bright smile, his head tilting to the side again – giving off an endearing appearance. The single visible eye blinked again a few times, that blithe smile lifting those pale features.
Kei couldn’t help it.
“Pfff—” snorted Kei, quickly putting a hand to his mouth and trying to hold back the oncoming chuckles. His shoulders shook from the restrained effort. Geez, it was too much. The kid looked like a curious, overeager puppy. Kei couldn’t stop the chuckles from escaping.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“I—that’s—”
“You’re being rather rude, you know,” said Skylar, his eyebrows furrowing. He frowned. It was another moment before Kei could respond.
“Heh, forgive me,” said Kei through one final chuckle. “It’s just…” He paused briefly to think of a good excuse. He couldn’t tell the kid he looked cute. Most kids didn’t like that and Kei wasn’t about to say it out loud, anyway. He settled for, “I never thought I’d meet someone named Skylar. Not really a name you hear around these parts.”
“Oh… Is it really that funny?” The boy pouted somewhat. “It’s my name. Is there something wrong with it?”
“Mmm, I wouldn’t say there’s something wrong with it,” said Kei with a shrug. “Perhaps, you should go with a nickname or people will make fun of you. Hm, if it were me…” Kei smiled as the suggestion rose inside his mind. “I’d call you Sky. Simple and even a tad cool, if you’re into that.”
Skylar thought for a moment and, with a blinding smile, said, “Sky… I don’t mind being called that. Yeah, that’ll work.”
“Then, Sky it is,” said Kei with a smile of his own. He looked over the boy’s appearance, before he snorted. “It might help your lacking masculinity… Pray puberty will be kind to you, kid. Or bulk up…”
“Excuse me?” said Sky, sounding offended. His chest puffed up in annoyance and he folded his arms. The kid looked even younger.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t do that either.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
Kei’s mouth twitched in amusement. He placed a hand onto the boy’s head and ruffled his hair. The boy flushed with embarrassment.
“I’m sure you’ll understand someday, kid,” said Kei, trying to hold back a smile. The boy looked even more embarrassed, with a mixture of huffy indignation. He tried to pull away from Kei’s hand.
“Hey, quit treating me like a kid—”
“There he is!” cried a harsh voice.
Kei’s arm dropped to his side as he glanced down the alleyway. The two slavers he’d been tailing were hurrying towards them. Kei’s jaw clenched; he glared. “Oh, wonderful…” Kei commented; his chest heaved once in a silent breath. Sky’s visible eye widened. The boy scooted behind Kei, clutching onto his arm with thin fingers and timid trepidation. Kei glanced over at him.
“Please, don’t let them take me away,” whispered Sky; his voice wavered. “Please…”
Kei placed his hand over Sky’s hand. He squeezed it gently. The kid didn’t know it, but Kei wasn’t about to allow slavers to take him away. Kei would fight to his dying breath before he’d let that happen. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know anything about the boy.
No one should be subjected to the life the slavers had to offer.
“Hey, you there! That boy belongs to us!” shouted one of the men, as the two of them confronted Kei and Sky. The hands on Kei’s arm tightened and Sky peeked out from behind.
“No, I don’t!” cried Sky, his hands trembling. “I’ve never met you people before in my life! Leave me alone!”
His hunch had been right. These slavers had been after Sky. It was no surprise – after all, the kid’s fair features were a high selling point to upper class nobles. He’d probably fetch a fortune. It’d be well worth a fight to any slaver to get their grubby hands on him.
Kei narrowed his eyes.
Well, he’d give them a fight, if they wanted one.
“That boy belongs to us. Are you gonna hand him over or are we gonna have to get rough here?”
Now it begins…
Kei gave an elaborate, outward shrug. “I don’t understand what ya’re talkin’ about,” he said, letting his voice run thick with the accent of the lower working class. “My little brother don’t belong to you. I’ve been lookin’ for him all aft’noon. Mama’s been worried sick ‘cause of him.” Kei casually slid his arm around Sky’s neck and patted his cheek. “Since he’s got such a pretty face, he sure gets into loads of trouble.”
Sky’s eye darted to the side, looking nervously at Kei. Come on, kid, play along.
“He’s your brother…?”
The slaver looked stupidly at Kei and Sky, flitting his eyes back and forth as he took in their contrasting appearances.
Kei nodded amiably. “That’s right.”
“He don’t look like your brother. Standing next to each other, you two look like night and day. You with that black hair and dark skin, and him with that blond hair and light skin. No way you can be brothers.”
“We’ve got different fathers,” said Kei with another dismissive shrug, waving his free hand. “Don’t judge our family.”
The two slavers glanced at each other, as if unsure what to make of this statement. The one looked stumped – definitely not the brains of the operation – while the other began to eye Kei carefully. Kei continued to play his part well, letting his entire being ooze self confidence and assurance. However, any intelligent being could tell something was off by the way Sky was stiffly trying to not look suspicious. Ah, well. Acting of this level took practice.
“Oi, boy,” said the other slaver softly. Kei glanced at the man’s bare chest, catching sight of another creepy tattoo. That dark voice sent a chill down Kei’s spine in spite of himself; he stiffened in preparation. The silky words lifted into the air like a deadly poison. “You wanna make a little money?”
“Oh?” answered Kei, dropping his tone and letting a low purr flow through it. He drew his arm away from Sky. A sinister smirk lifted his mouth; he prolonged a moment to play the game. “And just how’d you suggest I go about doing that?”
“A simple exchange. I’m sure your pretty little brother there gives you a lot of trouble. Why not unload him? We’ll take him off your hands and give you a fair price for him.”
The boy shivered, slender fingers clutching deeper into Kei’s arm.
“Ya’re suggestin’ I sell out my little brother to slavers?” asked Kei calmly with a hint of teasing interest; however, the internal whirlwind of his emotions were anything but calm.
“Well, now, that’s putting it poorly,” said the slaver, shrugging with a nasty grin. Kei noticed the yellow teeth and the pierced tongue. “I like to say we’re merely giving your brother a better life. We’ll make sure he finds a good home.”
Kei clenched his fist, his hand trembling. Nausea flooded through his throat and he was forced to swallow it down. His jaw locked as pure rage tore through his entire soul. His self control was screaming at him as he tried to voice his next sentence calmly. It came out stiff and slow.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, yes. So, why don—”
A fist shoved into the man’s face as he spoke, breaking his words midstride. Kei felt the cartilage crush beneath his knuckles as it made impact, his hand flaring with pain from the force of the blow. Sky gave a small cry of shock, his hands flitting to his mouth. The man stumbled backwards and collapsed to the ground, lifting a hand to his streaming nose, the blood rushing over his lips. Kei darted forward and grabbed the other man by the collar of his shirt, dragging him so close the man could, no doubt, feel the furious exhale of breath over his skin.
“Get out of my face, you scum of the earth!” shouted Kei, the accent gone. He shook the man in his rage, before he shoved him away. The force was so powerful the man toppled backwards onto the sandy ground, dust fluttering from his fall. Kei tore a hand through the long strands of his hair, pushing them out of his face; a second later, a scream nearly ripped his throat, “Get out of here, before I smash you two into the dirt!”
The men scrambled to their feet like frightened dogs. “We—we’ll remember this,” said the man in a fluster, as he held his bleeding nose.
“I’ll be waiting anytime you wanna take me on,” whispered Kei, confidence seeping through his tone. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze darkening, and his deep blue eyes narrowed. His icy tone flowed over the men like a menacing shadow, “I’ll take you guys on anytime.”
The two men shivered openly, prevalent fear towards a mere seventeen year old, when they were so much older. Quickly, they clambered away down the alleyway in the direction they had come, never once looking back.
The anger inside of Kei slowly burned to a low simmer. He watched the end of the alleyway, his hateful glare never wavering.
Scum.
The slavers didn’t care about the horrors they put people through. They were heartless, soulless shells of what true human beings were meant to be. How dare they think they had the right to take someone off the street and sell them like a common animal. That thought brought the nausea soaring back through Kei’s throat. He had to take a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He unclenched his fist, his arm relaxing. He would not let them win.
A gentle exhale breathed from Sky, causing Kei to turn towards its source. “Oh, my, th–thank you so much for your help,” the boy cried sincerely, clasping his hands in front of himself and bowing.
Kei grimaced, staring at the kid’s bowed head. “Why are you bowing?” he asked, perturbed. First the apologizing, now bowing? What next?
The boy blinked in confusion, straightening. “I’m being polite.”
Kei stared, an incredulous feeling rising up through his chest. Being polite? This kid had a dangerous, naive view of the world. Being polite didn’t work in this world. Being polite wouldn’t have deterred those slavers from coming after the boy.
“No, sorry, could you please not take him? He doesn’t really belong to you anyway and I’d appreciate it. Thank you.”
Ha! That’s a right joke.
The real world didn’t work in niceties. He’d had his own personal lesson, after all. Life never went the way one expected, that much had been smashed into Kei’s soul with a ferocity that could crush mountains. But he had survived. If this kid wanted to live and to survive, then he’d better learn quickly: nothing good came from being polite.
“I’d really stop that, you know,” said Kei, his expression darkening. “Nothing good’ll come from it.”
Sky’s eye widened, a mixture of surprise and dismay flashing over his young face. “You’re not serious, are you?”
There was a raised eyebrow. “Of course, I am.”
Sky’s mouth dropped slightly. A strange, strangled sound broke his voice as he spoke, “Just what has this world come to? ‘Nothing good comes from being polite?’ I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Kei twitched. Stubborn…
“Stop being dramatic,” snapped Kei, unnerved by the lofty attitude. “I’m saying you’re way over polite. Saying sorry endlessly, bowing weirdly – someone will take advantage of you if you keep that up. Slavers will be the least of your problems at this rate.”
“I–I see…”
Kei continued to look at the boy, who was shifting his feet somewhat dejectedly. A pout protruded his lower lips. The overall effect made the boy look very young. The kid was just a child, even with his height. He probably didn’t understand the way things went in life. It didn’t excuse him, however. Kei knew children younger than this boy who understood the dangers that resided within the city. They were careful and they protected themselves. Inexperience and ignorance weren’t justification for stupidity.
As Kei watched the gentle expression of hurt flash over the boy’s face, something softened inside his chest. Well, he supposed he could be a little nicer to the kid.
“Anyway, it seems the slavers are out for you,” said Kei, trying to keep his tone light. “You best be careful. Are you visiting Allegetra or something? Where’re your parents? Your caravan?”
“Ah, no… I kind of… ran away from home.”
Sky seemed hesitant as he spoke. His eye slid nervously to the side, before making eye contact again. The boy’s hands clasped and unclasped in front of himself.
A smirk lifted Kei’s mouth. “Ooh, is that so?” he drawled. “Why’s that?”
“Uh, well…” Sky turned his face downward. “There are a number of reasons why I left. Life wasn’t really… my own, to say. So… so, I left.”
“Hmm, so, it’s safe to say you’re all alone and have no place to stay, right?”
“Y–yes…”
“A stray, huh,” said Kei in an undertone, mostly to himself.
Wonderful.
Well, he had done it again. Nolst wouldn’t be pleased. His place was already busting at the seams, but Kei couldn’t let this kid off on his own. Sky would attract every slaver like an alluring fragrance. He’d be caught within the hour if Kei didn’t help him.
Hopefully Nolst wouldn’t kill him for bringing home another…
“Well, then. I know a guy who can take you in,” said Kei. Nolst would flip out for a bit, but what was one more stray, anyway? Only another mouth to feed, after all. Nothing big. Mmm, sure. He folded his arms and gave Sky a firm expression. “You’ll have to work to earn your keep, but all my strays are willing. You’re the oldest I’ve picked up so far, though.”
“Strays?” asked Sky.
Kei shrugged. “Yeah, I tend to pull the hero bit and save a bunch of kids like yourself from slavers every now and then. They stay with a guy I know and help sell his goods by traveling to the market street sometimes.”
A chuckle rose inside Kei’s mind. Poor Nolst. He’d been doing this to the guy for years now.
“Wow, really?” Sky’s visible eye grew bigger as he took a step closer; his arms tightened to his sides and his hands flared out at his hips while he looked up at Kei excitedly. Kei raised an eyebrow, taking a step back, unsettled by the near sparkling effect inside the kid’s gaze. “That’s so amazing you do that!”
“Whoa, oi,” started Kei, taking another step back and feeling claustrophobic. “Have you ever heard of such a thing as personal space? Learn it, use it, stay out of mine.”
“Oh, what’s wrong?” asked Sky with a tilt of his head. Kei raised his eyebrow yet again at the perplexed look on the boy’s face.
“You seriously are the clueless type, aren’t you?”
“Eh? You think so?”
He fought the desire to pull back his head. Well, it was official now – Kei would probably go insane before the day ran out if he stuck around this boy for too long.
“Ah, come on,” said Kei in exasperation, running a hand through his hair. “I better get you a place to stay before you attract every slaver in the city.”
And with that, Kei turned away briskly and began to walk out of the alleyway towards the main street. The faster he brought the kid to Nolst’s place, the faster the kid was out of his hair – at least for now.
“Ah, o–okay,” cried Sky, hurrying after him.
Kei walked with ease and assurance through the crowd. Only a few times did he glance back to make sure Sky was keeping up with him. He didn’t want to babysit the kid; the boy needed to learn to keep up anyway if he was going to live with the other strays. However, it seemed Sky was having trouble. He could hear Sky’s cries of “Ah,” and “I’m sorry,” as he tried to keep up with Kei, while bumping into every human possible during the process. Honestly, couldn’t the kid watch where he was going, not to mention keep his mouth shut?
After the fifth “I’m sorry,” and Sky bowing to a disgruntled old man, Kei was fed up.
“Would you please stop that?” demanded Kei, grabbing Sky by the wrist and jerking him through an exceptionally crowded group of gaggling women.
“St–stop what? Ah!—” Sky cried out as he bumped into a woman. “I’m—I’m sorry!” he called back awkwardly. The woman paid him no attention, still squawking with her friends.
“Enough already!” growled Kei, his limit reaching its peak. He dragged Sky through the crowd to stop at the sideline of the large street. A few people gave them weird looks. Kei grabbed the kid’s shirt, pulling him close. With his other hand, Kei pushed a finger onto Sky’s mouth. “Listen up! One more ‘I’m sorry’ to a complete stranger, and I’ll rip that tongue out of yours and feed it to the crows. Got it?”
Sky’s eye widened and he nodded timidly, his protruding lip trembling. At the frightened look on the boy’s face, Kei felt a pang in his chest. Blast, he was being too harsh with him – but the kid was like a bumbling babe! He was going to get himself killed. He needed to learn a little self preservation before it was too late.
With a sigh in his throat, Kei gave the boy a curt nod. “Good.”
“I’m sorry, Kei…”
Oh, look, the flash of irritation was back. Never mind!
Kei threw his hands up in the air, his fingers curling stiffly. “Did you not just hear what I just said?”
“Eh? But—but you aren’t a stranger.”
Kei groaned at the confused, questioning look on Sky’s face, putting a hand to his forehead and feeling thoroughly exasperated at this point. This child… “Just…” There was a low sigh. “Here—” Kei grabbed Sky by the hand and began to pull him through the street. “Now you won’t get lost.”
“Ah, thank you!”
How many times has that been now?
Kei quickened his steps, all the while pulling Sky along. Slipping through the crowd of people was a skill Kei had learned long ago, weaving in between people without one knowing he had passed by. He didn’t hear any more protests or ‘I’m sorry’ – but he still heard Sky’s little cries of being jostled by the crowd.
Kei turned off the main street and down another alleyway. This alleyway was less traveled and he continued down it until they reached the end. He didn’t let go of Sky, though. The last thing he needed was to lose the kid now, but he did glance back briefly to make sure the kid was all right. Sky was looking up through the shadowed alleyway, his mouth open in small wonder at the large buildings. There was a gentle smile of delight on his young face. Kei looked forward, a tiny smile of his own tugging at his mouth. Clueless or not, the kid did have something endearing about him. Tightening his hold on the hand, Kei continued onto another street. These backstreets were less crowded than the main street and it was easier to make quick distance.
A few more streets, down a few staircases, and a few more alleyways, Kei reached a large ranch house. It was long in the front with an open porch and a tent roofing on the right. To the left, in between two open windows, was a wooden door. Underneath the tent roof was a food stall with different kinds of vegetables overflowing in numerous baskets. Out in front, a large group of children played and laughed, their ages ranging from three to ten.
A secret smile rose in Kei’s heart as he watched the children play. They were ragamuffins with dirt smudged on their faces, but they were happy, healthy children – something not often found in the city.
His strays.
“You can go meet the others over there,” said Kei, pulling Sky forward before releasing his hand. He gave him a gentle push on the back and waved at the children with his other hand. “You’ll be staying with them.”
An overpowering smile brightened Sky’s entire expression, putting the sun to shame. It was almost dazzling – Kei had never seen someone smile that brightly in his entire life.
“All right!” said Sky with a nod. “Thank you again!”
“Mhm…”
Kei couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the boy’s oddity. Sky gave him a final wave before walking up to the children. The strays were used to new additions, so when Sky smiled and waved at them, they flooded the boy excitedly. Soon, Sky was laughing with that blithe voice as the strays began tugging on him and overwhelming him with their endless chatters. Kei couldn’t hold back the smile that spread over his face. It looked like Sky was an instant hit. Well, that goofy expression of his finally has some use. With a light shrug on his shoulders, he walked up to the entrance of the food stall, avoiding any spontaneous hugs that tried to launch themselves at his person from wandering strays – although he had to physically shoo one in the direction of Sky.
“Oi, Nolst,” called Kei, rapping a hand on the side of the front door. “I brought you another stray.”
“What? Not another one,” complained a voice with a tenor waver, from deep within the hallway of the house.
A moment later, a young man came into sight and walked out of the shop. He was a tall man, only five years older than Kei and about four inches taller. He had long, black hair that was pulled up into a slim ponytail, with thick bangs covering his forehead. He wore an open dark brown vest, revealing part of his chest, and light tan, baggy pants. Nolst readjusted his thin, black rimmed oval glasses over his green eyes and stared down at Kei.
“I’m full up as it is with all the strays you keep bringing in.”
Kei shrugged with a light, smug expression as he flicked a silver rune towards Nolst, who caught the rune effortlessly in his hand. No matter the amount of complaining Nolst did, Kei knew he could always count on the young man.
“Not my fault the slavers are working overtime. There’s only nine of them, anyway.”
“Only nine, he says,” muttered Nolst, eyeing the silver rune as if checking to see if it were counterfeit. When it obviously wasn’t, he sighed and rolled his eyes at Kei’s unmoving stance. “Fine, fine. You’ll eat me out of house and home, but I can’t ever say ‘no’ to you.”
“Oi, I help pay around here!”
Nolst ignored him and continued, “So, where is this new stray?”
Kei pointed behind himself with a thumb towards Sky, who was surrounded by the children. They were still tugging on him – no doubt bombarding him with endless, useless questions – making Sky laugh.
“Him.”
There was a long moment as Nolst observed Sky’s interaction with the other strays. His green eyes widened behind his glasses.
“That? You’re telling me you brought that?” asked Nolst incredulously, readjusting his glasses again as he stared at the boy. Kei raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, what of it?”
“I can’t keep that here!”
“And why not?” asked Kei, his tone turning serious as he folded his arms. “He’s a kid, not a that. Come on, money shouldn’t be a problem here.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” said Nolst, with a shake of his head. “He’s asking for trouble.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’m serious, he’s got two things going against him that’ll cause me trouble I don’t want.” Nolst raised a finger. “First, he’s got a pretty face – and don’t get me started on that skin color. No matter what, the slavers will be after him. And second,” Nolst held up the second finger and leaned in closer with a serious expression, “he reeks of pollen.”
Kei blinked. “Huh?”
“Pollen!” cried Nolst dramatically, waving his hands for effect. Kei put a hand to his forehead. It was hard to believe this guy was older than him. Most of the time, he didn’t act like it – but even Nolst had his moments.
Even though they’re rare…
“Repeating it doesn’t make any more sense than the first time, Nolst. What the heck is pollen supposed to mean?”
“I’m saying that boy is all flowers and sunshine. I can’t have that—” Nolst pointed a sharp finger at Sky. “—around here. It’s like he’s trying to attract the slavers’ attention. He’s puffing pollen all over the place with that smile and laughter. That won’t just get him caught, but he’ll drag the rest of the strays down with him as well. It’s like he needs an hourly babysitter.”
“My alarm invention should protect him, like it protects the others.”
“The slavers don’t care enough to put effort into a bunch of dirty kids. But with a face like his, even with that eye patch, they’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on him. You know full well he’s a rare type. Your little alarm thingy won’t stop them.”
“I deterred two slavers easily,” said Kei, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“That’s because it’s you,” said Nolst in exasperation, with a shake of his head. “You can convince anybody of anything with that sly way of yours, whether it be with your mouth or your fists.”
“Then, let him stick around with you. Either way, I’m leaving him here.”
Kei gave a dismissive wave and turned to walk away, hoping to escape before Nolst could protest any further. He didn’t get far. A hand grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back. Kei bumped into a chest and glanced up into Nolst’s face; a raised, slightly irritated expression flowed over the young man.
“I’m telling you, Kei. I’m not keeping him.”
“What am I supposed to do with him?” demanded Kei, pulling his cloak out of Nolst’s grasp and turning around. Nolst pointed with a finger, pushing hard on Kei’s nose.
“You take him, waif.”
“What?”
“You heard me. You take pollen boy home.”
“I don’t have any room at my place,” protested Kei.
Nolst snorted. “That’s bull if ever I heard it.” He shook his head derisively. “I gave you that pullout couch, didn’t I? Remember when some of the strays stayed over when I had to quarantine this whole place due to the flu? Have him sleep on that.”
“It’ll be too crowded!”
“Oh, quit your complaining,” said Nolst, his tone scolding. “You picked up a difficult one, so take some responsibility for him.”
“I’m telling you, I brought him here to stay,” said Kei, emphasizing his point by jabbing a finger towards the ground. “I haven’t got time to babysit a kid.”
“And I’m telling you that unless you want the rest of your strays getting captured, you better take flower boy and all his pollen home with you. If you’re not willing, then it’s just better for the strays if you unload him to a slaver yourself.”
Kei’s blood went cold, the edges of his stomach chilling; his heart thumped. A wave of sickness flushed over his entire body before he could hold it back. His Adam’s apple contracted as he swallowed the bile back down.
“You know I won’t ever do that,” whispered Kei in a low hiss, furious at Nolst for even saying it.
“I know that. It was just an example. What I’m saying—”
“Then, don’t suggest such a vulgar thing!” snapped Kei icily. His eyes darkened and he lowered his gaze to the ground, his breathing intensifying. “You know that—don’t ever mention it again.”
The physical reaction to that single suggestion was overwhelming. His heart rate shot up, his entire body coiling with a twisted, sickening feeling – it all flooded through his stomach. He gritted his teeth, trying to push back the fury he felt at Nolst’s insensitivity.
How dare he! How dare Nolst bring up something like this, especially when he knew how Kei felt about it. How cruel of him. How many times a day did Kei push those horrible things away from his mind? Too many. How many times a day did Kei have that wave of nausea bite back with terrible force? He didn’t need stupid, careless reminders. He had plenty of normal ones.
After five years, Nolst should’ve figured how to keep his mouth shut.
The turmoil flooded through Kei’s face – he couldn’t control it. He wasn’t even aware he had clenched his fists at his sides, the force so hard he was trembling and digging his fingernails into his skin. Nolst’s expression softened. He placed a hand on Kei’s shoulder, ignoring the flinch it received, and let out a tired sigh.
“I’m sorry.”
Kei didn’t look up, his breathing deep and quick, causing his chest to rise up and down. The palms of his hands hurt from the pressure in his fists.
This wasn’t supposed to be happening. Even though Nolst had been insensitive, it shouldn’t have been affecting him this much. But no matter how much Kei’s brain tried to reason with himself, his body automatically reacted. He couldn’t stop the trembling, nor the nausea, nor the emotions from raging inside his chest.
A gentle hand touched his chin, forcing his head to lift up. Kei caught Nolst’s expression before flicking his eyes to the side.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Nolst. There was a softness to his tenor voice; light, gentle, knowing – and most of all, remorseful. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Kei gave him a rough, jerky nod, before pulling his head to the side to remove his chin out of Nolst’s grasp. He unclenched his fists, flexing them to relieve the tenseness. There was a pat on his cheek before the hand on his shoulder withdrew.
“You still have to take pollen boy with you.”
A soft exhale of breath in the form of a hidden chuckle left Kei’s mouth, the tension in his body fading with it. All raging emotions fled his soul as quickly as they came. He glanced over at Nolst, who was smiling at him with a soft, yet mischievous expression. Kei gave out a long, resigned sigh.
“Ah, man. What did I get myself into?”
“Heh, well, you might get some use outta him,” said Nolst, turning his gaze back to Sky. “Charm all those shopkeepers with that pretty face of his.”
Kei waved dismissively. “I can do that myself.”
Nolst let out a snorting chuckle. “Of course, you can,” he said with a grin. “Anyway, you gonna need anything? Extra blankets or clothing?”
“Naw, naw,” said Kei with a shake of his head. He appreciated the turn in conversation. Lingering on unpleasant things wouldn’t put food into hungry mouths. “Not today. I can manage all that. Thanks anyway.”
“Aah, you know I won’t deny any stray you bring. My house will always be open for you. It’s just that one…”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Kei rubbed his forehead. “It’s dealing with him daily that’ll be the troublesome part.”
“I’m sorry, I wish I could take him,” said Nolst, his smile softening to be more apologetic. “But you brought the other strays here and I know you don’t want to jeopardize their safety.”
“It’s fine, Nolst. It’s like you said. He’s a garden full of trouble that I picked up. Might as well get used to him freeloading on me until I can get him settled on his own.” Kei finished with a shrug.
“Well, then. See you tomorrow?” asked Nolst with a knowing smile.
“Mhm.”
Kei waved goodbye to Nolst and walked over to Sky, who was sitting in the midst of the children. He grabbed Sky by the underarm.
“Oi, we’re going now,” said Kei, pulling Sky to his feet and releasing him.
“Eeehh? Why’re you going so soon, Kei?” complained one of the younger boys. The others looked unhappy at this prospect and began to meld together in their voices of complaint.
“Yeah, stay with us longer!”
“Stay, stay!”
“C’mon, Kei!”
Trying to keep track of the strays was like trying to contain a moonbeam in one’s hands. Kei did his best to keep them all straight, but even on good days, he had his troubles. He knew their names; however, when the little monkeys were shorter, it was easier to call them collectively. As the strays clustered around Kei, he was overwhelmed with that old, familiar feeling – there were too many.
Kei lightly thumped the first complaining boy on the head. “Just because your workday is over doesn’t mean ours is,” he scolded. He turned to Sky and jerked his head to the side. “Come on, Sky. You’re coming with me.”
“Eh? But I thought—”
“Yeah, yeah,” interrupted Kei, not wanting to rehash this again. “Nolst hasn’t got the time to deal with you. So, I’m stuck with you.”
At this, a chorus of protesting little voices lifted into the air at greater volume. The strays surrounded the two of them, tugging at whatever body part or article of clothing they could grab at.
“Awwww, we want Sky to stay with us.”
“Yeah!”
“Too bad, he’s staying with me—”
“Eh? I am?” said Sky, blinking.
“You can’t take him—!”
“—watch me – and anyway, if he stayed with you, he’d get snatched up by the slavers in no time,” said Kei. Mornings were best when dealing with the ankle biters. They were sleepy, hungry, and far more quiet than this, especially since Kei was the one who fed them; they had to obey – overall, the best combination for strays.
“We’ll protect him!”
“Yeah!”
“We’re strong!”
“We’ll keep ‘im safe!”
“Awe, so sweet,” cooed Sky, smiling down at the encircling children.
“It ain’t sweet!” snapped Kei. He grabbed Sky by the wrist and began to drag him away. The strays still clustered around them like ants around a lost piece of food. It was a miracle neither of them tripped with so many underfoot.
“Besides, Kei. If Sky stays with you, your bad attitude might rub off on him,” said the oldest child – a boy – as he walked with the group, his arms folded. He shifted his gaze over to Sky and jerked his chin at Kei. “He’s a real jerk for sure.”
“Would you shut up already?” said Kei with a growl, heat entering his cheeks in spite of himself. He wasn’t a jerk – who did that little punk think he was, anyway? Kei was the one who had pulled him off the street. Feed the brat and this was the thanks he got in return. “Besides, you’ll be able to see him every day, so no use griping about it. Come on, Sky, quit lagging your feet, will ya?”
“Ah, uh—o–okay. Bye-bye!” cried Sky, giving a happy wave to the children. He was pulled down the nearest alleyway. “A–ah, you’re hurting me.”
“Well, best get used to it. You’re gonna be living with me and like that little brat said, I’ve got a bad attitude,” said Kei, growling under his breath. I don’t have a bad attitude…
Sky giggled, his voice airy light as it flowed into laughter. Finally, the boy was too overcome and Kei had to stop. He watched the boy, an eyebrow slowly rising at the oddity before him.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just… you’re so funny,” said Sky through his laughter, putting up an apologetic hand and wiping away a tear.
“Huh?”
“Well, it’s just, it doesn’t seem like you have a bad attitude in general, perhaps a little crabby at times. I found it funny that you took what that boy said to heart so much.”
Kei flinched, feeling his face grow warm in embarrassment. “I didn’t take it to heart. What the heck is that?” Sky began to giggle again, his laughter soft and gentle. “This is just great. Nolst was right. You really are pollinating happiness everywhere. If anything, that has got to stop.”
“Eh?” Sky tilted his head to the side as he spoke, his visible eye blinking rapidly a few times. “Pollinating… Huh?”
Kei couldn’t believe it. Clueless, he thought, incredulity flooding his body. Absolutely clueless, this kid is. He doesn’t get it. Where’s his brain? Is it even up there?
And yet… He knew…
“Never you mind,” said Kei, shaking his head. He had picked up a whopper. This boy was going to be all sorts of trouble from here on out, wasn’t he? “Come on, you hungry?”
“Ah, well… Maybe a little,” said Sky, looking a little guilty. He curled an arm around his waist, shifting his weight nervously. On perfect cue, there was a small growl of the stomach. Kei grinned.
“Aha, yeah, ‘a little’ my butt. I can hear that stomach of yours complaining.”
Sky’s cheeks reddened.
“We need to get some fresh supplies to make a nice meal. Stew sound good?” asked Kei, resuming his walk down the alleyway.
Sky brightened at this. He quickened his steps to walk beside Kei, his hands clasped behind his back. “That sounds yummy,” he said.
“Good,” said Kei with a nod. “But keep your mouth shut during this and only smile if I’m smiling.”
That clueless eye blinked again in curiosity. “Eh, but why?”
“Each shopkeeper has their own needs when it comes to charming and buying,” said Kei. His lips curled into a sly grin. “And I know exactly what to do to get a good deal on everything.”
“Charming… But isn’t that cheating a little?” asked Sky with a frown.
“Don’t be stupid. I’m not cheating them out of anything,” said Kei, with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“But—”
“Oi, just keep your mouth shut and we’ll get a good dinner yet.”