Pein set his things down on his new bed and looked around. He felt uncomfortable with Konan watching him, but he couldn't be rude and ask her to leave.
"Do you want anything to drink?" she asked casually. "We have water, tea, milk, and soda."
The auburn cast a glance her way. "Tea, please," he said.
She seemed surprised by his choice and wondered if he should have said something else. But Konan smiled. "Sugar lumps?" she offered.
"Just one, thanks," Pein told her. She left, and he sat down. He needed to assess his situation. He was a kid now, with no Rennegan, and no idea how to get around in this world. He had to rely on Konan until he had a better grip on things. He needed a job to buy himself essentials, to get his own home. He couldn't burden Konan like this for long. His pride wouldn't stand for it.
Konan returned with two cups of steaming tea and handed on to Pein. She took a seat beside him. "So, Pein," she said hesitantly, "where are your parents?"
Pein took a sip of his tea before he answered. "I do not have any," he said plainly. "They died at war when I was little."
She touched his leg tenderly. "Mine, too," she said, "I feel your pain."
He smiled his thanks, but she was wrong. He didn't feel the pain. Only she felt the pain of losing her parents. His sorrow had been buried with hate and drowned in the rain, leaving him numb inside. Today was the first time he had shed tears in many years.
"Well, feel free to shower and have some time to yourself," Konan suddenly said. She stood up, turned to him, and gave his hair a ruffle before fleeing the room and quietly closing the door behind her. Pein only let his mind ponder it for a second before he removed his fishnet shirt and set it beside him. He left it there while he exited the room and headed for a shower.
The water stung. And for the second time that day, Pein found himself gagging on sobs and tears. These emotions were becoming a bother, and he would have to deal with them immediately. But now, he couldn't control it; tears slid freely down his cheeks, even after he had tried to bite them back; sobs still made his chest rattle.
He washed himself properly and waited until he had gathered his composure before he turned the water off. He dried his hair and wrapped his waist in a towel, and silently made the trip back to his new bedroom, his dirty laundry tucked under his arm.
There was a fresh pair of clothes on his bed, consisting of long sweats and a raggedy tank top. Konan must have put them there while he was washing. Pein slipped into them and found that they almost fit; they were only a little too big.
Pein sat on his bed and took hold of his solid shirt that he had ripped for a headband. He carefully tore off another strip, trying his best to keep the tear in a straight line. He measured it around his forehead and tore off the extra length. He would ask Konan tomorrow for a needle and thread to hem the edges. He was too tired now. His eyes were throbbing from his pathetic crying, and his body still needed time to repair itself.
He checked a small clock that sat on the stand beside his bed. It was getting late in the evening, but not late enough for most people to come inside. He hadn't fallen asleep this early in a long time, but today seemed to be the day of trying new things.
Clicking off the bedroom light, Pein walked back to his bed in the dark and slithered under the blankets. The bed was soft, much nicer than what he was used to. Thinking about what was customary to him made him think of his village. He wondered how they would be managing without their lord there to protect them, and he prayed that it wouldn't rain this Sunday, just to keep the villagers from becoming distressed.
Pein turned fitfully in his sleep all night, tangling his blankets around his legs as he tried to run away from some threat he couldn't see. He was looking for something, someone.
Konan cracked open his door and peeked in. She could hear him crying out from down the hall, and now she could tell that he would whimper and thrash between his callings. He looked so helpless, so vulnerable, despite the countless piercings that littered his body. He kept calling out a name.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, Konan placed a hand over his. It was shaking.
"Take it easy," she whispered. She stroked his hand lightly, but not enough to wake him. "It's a dream, Pein; nothing to worry about."
Pein tossed his head to one side, facing her, and Konan could see the strain in his face. Sweat gleamed off his brow and slid down his face, and his breath came in laborious pants. He was just whispering that name now instead of screaming it, and the whimpers stopped. After several minutes, he even seemed to grow comfortable. He rolled onto his side, facing Konan, and she stroked his hair back with a gentle smile.
"There you go," she whispered. Standing slowly, she carefully untangled the blankets from around his legs and pulled them over his body properly. She sat back down at his side and stayed there for about an hour, touching his hand and stroking his back gently. The name-calling stopped, and she took that as her cue to leave.
"Goodnight, Pein," she told him sweetly.
