Drawn Together, chapter 7.…echo …echo …echo …echo …echo …echo


"Mary Weather's going to Aunt Katina's until we get the hole in the wall fixed. We have to stay around to make sure everything's going right, plus we have guests. Of course, one of them is the reason we're in this mess." Cain grumbled, looking down at his hands as he scrawled, in his messy handwriting, on a piece of loose paper. "Riff, you know why I don't want her here with a bunch of men working on our house, right?"

Riff nodded, setting down a cup of warm tea in front of the young Earl. "Of course, Sir. I understand. …Quite well, actually." he paused. "She will be angry with you, though."

"Yeah, I noticed that when she threw a rock at me." Cain chuckled and folded up the paper into a small square before handing it to Riff. Then he picked up the china cup, warming his pale hands against it. "Will you take this to the post office later? I would do it myself but…arrangements must be made…and I can't have you doing everything, now can I?"

"I will do whatever you wish, Lord Cain." Riff stated. "I have said this many times, Sir. You are never asking too much of me." He watched the brunette lift the cup to his lips and let the warm brown liquid flow past them.

"Hmm…" Cain spun around in his chair, set the cup back on the desk, then looked up to stare at the butler before smiling. His hands had turned a brilliant rusty red color. "Nothing ever changes about you. Ever. I hope you realize that. Once in a while you could say 'no.'"

"Yes, I suppose so, Sir," the butler replied, returning the smile. He took the letter and placed it carefully into his pocket. "Lord Cain, I must ask you something." his voice suddenly became serious, his words more carefully chosen.

Cain noticed, and stood up, staring him in the eyes. Something slightly fearful was hidden deep in the navy blue eyes of the older man. "…What's wrong? Ask anything, but tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, Sir it's-"

"Riff, how many times must I tell you? You're a bad liar. Tell me what's wrong." he demanded, wrapping his arms around the taller man's neck and pulling him down so they met eye to eye. When Riff didn't respond, Cain stuck out his lower lip. Then, with a deep chuckle in his mind, he stuck out his tongue and licked the butler's cheek.

Riff blushed to the roots of his hair and shuddered.

"Tell me what's wrong or I'll be doing that somewhere…else."

"Th-there's nothing…nothing wrong…it's just that…I am…a bit worried about what would happen if a-anyone…else in London f-found out…about…"

"About us?" Cain finished his sentence for him. "Nothing. Because if they do, they won't live too long after." He watched his butler with slightly narrowed eyes, releasing his neck and leaning back against the desk. "Or maybe you just don't want me like that?"

Riff's eyes widened in shock, "O-of course that's not it! Lord Cain, it's not like that at all!" but when Cain didn't answer and turned most of his attention back to the tea on the desk, he sighed and turned around.

"N-never mind, Master Cain. I…er…I didn't say anything," and he took a few steps towards the door. But just as his fingertips brushed the knob, he heard the Earl call to him.

"Ah-ah-ah, come back here."

Riff swallowed air, and turned around and went back to his young master. He gasped when Cain flung his arms around his neck again.

"I know what you meant…" Cain breathed against Riff's necked, "Just seeing you so flustered is a bit of a shock. I didn't know what to think…" he felt Riff's hands rest on his back, rubbing gently. No words were shared between them for a few minutes; they just stood in that position, enjoying the silence.


"I see you're awake, Carina. Did you and your boyfriend over there have a good sleep or were you up all night?" Cain stared at her, smirking. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"What do you think, Sherlock?"

"Hmm…I dunno. I thought I heard things." he chuckled and turned around to face the "other" Cain. "Uhm…hello there, Knightlord….Priest," he added when he noticed Abel behind him. "Or so you say."

Abel's face became bright pink and he kicked at the floor gently.

"Heh. Well, Riff, can you take everyone down to the parlor?"

"Yes, of course, Sir." Riff smiled, "Come with me, please." he turned around and walked straight down the hall before turning left. Everyone besides Carina and Cain followed. After a few minutes of silence, where all that was heard was the dimming footsteps of everyone heading to the parlor- then nothing, a conversation started.

"Still haven't told him, have you?"

"…No. I was planning on it, though," Cain made a face, "I just didn't get around to it."

"And unless you tell him, you won't ever get around to it. It will just…slip…your mind."

-Hey, good idea. No. No I can't do that. Damn.- "Yeah, I know. It's hard though. I don't know what he'll think or say, I don't even know if he'd trust me after I tell him. He says I was home the whole time, so how could he believe me anyway?"

"…I guess he won't. But still, telling him would be best." Carina replied calmly.

Cain's anger suddenly flared, "Oh yeah, Tell him something like; 'Yeah, while I was in a coma I had dreams of someone having sex with me and, oh, yeah, it wasn't you, Sorry.' Is that what I'm supposed to say?"

Neither of them had noticed that Riff had come back up from the parlor and was standing at the corner. "M…master Cain…?"

-No! No, no, no! Argh. This is going so damn badly right now…he was NOT supposed to hear that!- Cain mentally slapped himself as he turned around to meet the shocked gaze of the butler. Riff only cleared his throat, ducked his head and went back the way he came.

"…Carina…I just messed up…"


I just love plot-twists. Of course, that's not much of a twist...but y'know I still love 'em ; )