*I didn't get to do a drabble of mine last night, so I'll do one or two tonight. Hope you enjoy!
Also, these two are my favorite friendship. If you have read "Curious Smile", you more than likely saw this coming, too. Gave myself a weird, fuzzy feeling in my chest with this one.*
He stood in front of the tent, unsure on if he should enter. How could he possibly begin to explain himself? Before, he wouldn't have cared, but he had changed; everyone could see the change when he met and married Cherche and became friends rarely quickly with a certain mage. A sigh escaped his lips as he opened up the tent flap and walked inside to see Nowi brushing her hair and her husband sitting up on the bed, tome in hand. A nasty gash on his cheekbone, surrounded by a bruise, and his lip had a small cut on it. It pained the dark mage to see it.
"Hello, Henry!" Nowi greeted with a grin. "What are you doing up so late?"
"Me? What about you?"
"Oh, you know! I've gotten all the beauty sleep I'll ever need, so what's it gonna hurt for me to stay up later?" she retorted lightheartedly.
Her husband laughed. "Well, you certainly are beautiful, Nowi, but you should sleep just to keep your health in check." He then gave Henry his attention. "What's up?"
"Could I talk to you for a moment?"
It was obvious to him that something was wrong, so he bookmarked his page and stood up. "Yeah, all right. I'll be back, Nowi."
"'Kay!"
The two walked outside, where Henry gestured toward a hill close by. As they made their way there, neither of them spoke, creating an air of awkwardness around them. Once they were at the top, they stopped and sat down on the cool grass that was damp with dew. For a moment, nothing was said still, and it finally took the mage to break it.
"Henry, what's the matter? You seem upset."
Henry looked up at the moon. "Sorry."
"Huh? For what?"
"Today."
"Oh," he simply said as he stared at the moon as well. "It's okay."
"Yeah, that's what I kept telling myself, too. Cherche even told me it was. I just… I mean, everyone knows I've got a knack for killing," he continued, his tone as upbeat as normal and a smile on his face.
"Then, what's the problem?"
He brought in his feet and bent his knees, which he rested one of his arms on. "It was a pretty bloody scene. Cherche had to wash my clothes four times before all the blood came off my clothes."
"I'm sure she didn't like that, huh?" he chuckled. "Nowi hates it when-"
"Ricken. I saw the look you had in your eyes." As soon as he said this, he could see his friend's eyes fall to the ground. "If… if you're afraid of me, I understand."
"It's not that," Ricken hastily denied as he shook his head. "I just… I don't know. I guess I was just surprised you appeared out of nowhere like that. It was my carelessness that put both you and me in danger, and I'm sorry."
"Carelessness? You fought like a man possessed, nya ha!" Henry laughed, but Ricken could tell it was forced. If anyone knew Henry, it was him and Cherche. "You can't tell me you're not a little scared."
Ricken's eyes went back to the moon. "At the time, I was. I even felt sorry for those four bandits. If anything, I feel sorry for their families now. But, if you hadn't done what you did, I wouldn't be here. So… thank you."
"Mm-hm," Henry nodded.
"What made you kill them like that, anyway?"
Henry shrugged. "I wonder that myself."
Ricken touched his cheek tenderly as he smiled warmly. "Guess we'll never know, huh?"
"Guess not. But, hey, at least I know you're not scared of me." He put his arm around Ricken's shoulders and began to rock him back and forth. "Maybe I should change that. People are gonna think I'm turning into a big ol' softie! A good hex or two would fix that right up, nya ha!"
"Haha, let's not," Ricken laughed nervously. Yet, in his heart, he could not have been any happier than to see his best friend truly himself once again.