ORPHEN: Retribution Chapter 13 Kevin shifted on the floor again. Steph had bought a new house after marrying Tim but she had only prepared guestrooms for Orphen, Cleo, and Majic. She had not known about him so she could not have made a room. So he offered to sleep on the floor. It was fine with him. Really it was. He just couldn't sleep. He was having waking nightmares. Orphen crept through the halls. Why was he doing this again? He could not answer himself. He was just moving where his legs took him of their own volition. Majic lay in the bed in the room that Steph had made for him. He was thinking about this evening's events. When Steph showed him the room earlier she told him that she had put a magazine rack on the side of the bed. An hour later Majic's curiosity got the best of him and he took out a few of the magazines. He wished he hadn't of. They were magazines of naked women. Majic like most boys his age was interested in that kind of thing but it was too weird to have Steph give them to him. That's not saying of course that he didn't look at a few of them. Cleo lay awake in her room. She didn't want to go to sleep this time. She knew what she would dream about and most of the time it would have been welcome, but today after what had happened she did not feel like sleeping. That stupid apprentice had almost destroyed the town. Almost killed.. Orphen. Slowly Cleo's eyes closed. She was too tired from her own fighting today to resist the deep slumber that her mind was going into. Orphen opened the door and stepped quietly in. What was he doing? He walked close to the bed. There she lay. Like an angel.. A shivering angel. She was not under any blankets; they were all pushed down at her feet. It was too cold out tonight for that. Orphen reached down to the foot of the bed and raised the sheets over her. Am I tucking her in? The only obvious answer was yes. Yes he was standing by this angel and tucking her in. He sat down on the floor next to her bed and watched her. "I'll only stay a few minutes.' He thought. He looked around the room that Steph had given her. On the walls were pictures of him. Pictures Steph had taken after the Azalie incident was over. He returned his vision back to the sleeping angel. "Only a few more seconds." He thought.

Cleo woke up the next morning and was fixing to get out of her bed when she saw Orphen. She thought at first that it was another poster Steph had put in there. But she touched his shoulder. It was really him. He had slept in here all night? Why? To protect her? To watch her? She didn't understand. Was she still dreaming? She lightly pinched her arm. Pain. It wasn't a dream. Orphen was sitting on the floor beside her, sleeping against a dresser. And it wasn't a dream. More so she hadn't walked to his room like she had done on countless nights a year ago. Each time she claimed she was confused but really she went to his bed on her own decision. She wanted to be close to him. It was in the morning when she remembered he didn't want her that she got mad and had Leki blow up the house or inn wherever they stayed. After Lycorise had gone she stopped doing it all together. But now here he was. He had walked into her room. And it wasn't because of confusion. He had not climbed in the bed and judging by the angle of his face he had watched her before dozing off. He mumbled something. She got closer to hear.

Orphen: Cleo, don't leave. I'm not sure how I feel but I enjoy your company.

Cleo shot upright. When she had bent her head to listen she had expected something like him complaining about Majic. Orphen had not spoke of Azalie anymore. But at campfires he sometimes complained in his sleep about Majic's apprenticeship. But he had told her not to leave. She had never planned on leaving him. Not unless death met up to one of them. And if it were he, she truly thought she would kill herself. She would never truly leave his side until he told her to or death. As she thought about this Orphen sneezed. "The stupid fool went without covers last night." She carefully got out of her bed and grabbed the covers from it. She laid them on him. And like every time she had tried to cover him up, one eye flashed open.

Cleo: Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you.

Orphen: It's alright.

Cleo: You sneezed. I thought you might need some covers. Thanks by the way, for protecting me. If one of those gargoyles had came I don't know what I'd do. (It hit her as she said it. He was just here making sure his money was safe.)

Orphen: I didn't come in here to protect you. I just came in here to see you. You're a brat when awake, but you look like an angel while you sleep.

Cleo: (blushing) Thanks. Wait a minute. A brat!?

Orphen: Yep. (Pats her head and pulls her closer.) But you're my brat. And I wouldn't change you if I could.

Cleo: (slowly, confused.) You're brat?

Orphen: That is of course if you want to be. Or is it Kevin's that you want to be? (Trying to hide a hurt look.)

Cleo: (hugging Orphen) No. I like being yours just fine. I was only with Kevin so much so he could give me advice on how to get your attention. (She poked him in the ribs when she said your.)

Orphen: You have had my attention for three years Cleo. I was just too foolish to see it. I didn't want to admit it. Not until now.

Cleo: You mean you've liked me all this time? (Confused again.)

Orphen: Yeah. Don't tell anyone but I just might be in love.

Cleo: With me?

Orphen: No, with the waitress I met. Of course with you. I don't know why but I just need to admit this all today.

Cleo: I'm glad. That you're admitting it. I thought.(getting teary) I thought that you were only carrying me around so you could get the money that I'm paying you for escorting me.

Orphen: For that I would have had to spend the money on something for me. Here. (Reaches into his pant's pocket and pulls out a velvet pouch. He hands it to Cleo.)

Cleo: What is this? (Looks in it. Gets teary-eyed. Hugs Orphen again) Oh thank you Orphen!

Orphen: I saw you put these down the other day after I had been a jerk. I bought them after you left. I was going to give them to you earlier but you seemed to go into a warrior mode then.

Cleo: Kevin said you would like it if I were stronger.

Orphen: I see. Well the outfit really is great on you. But if you don't want to fight you don't have to.

Cleo: I want to. I want to fight beside you and make sure nothing happens to you. I liked the rush of fighting. And I love the power of my sorcery.

Orphen: I just wanted you to know that I am not here because you changed into a fighter. I have watched you for three years. I like you for you no matter what.

Cleo: I have something I want to give you too. (Goes to her pack and pulls out a small sack. She walks back to him and sits beside him before giving it to him.) It doesn't cost as much, but I was not expecting your gift. Plus I couldn't think of anything that would suit you.

Orphen opened the bag slowly, enjoying the suspense. He had not counted on a gift. What could it be? Finally he slip the bag open all the way and without looking he reached into it. He felt something soft like silk. He grabbed it carefully and pulled it out. His eyes lit up like a little kid's. It was a silk headband. He began to unfold it and put it on when he saw that something was embroidered on it. "ORPHEN: SCION OF SORCERY" was how it read. He smiled. He had not called himself that for a long time. She had remembered it though. He tugged his old headband off in one pull and placed this new one on. He reached over and pulled Cleo into a kiss. Only a small peck. Then hugged her. He pulled away after a few minutes and looked in the mirror in her room at himself. The black words on the red silk could easily be made out. He loved it.

Orphen: I love it, Cleo. Thanks.

Cleo: I love you, Orphen.

Orphen: (He froze. He knew it was coming. But it was still a surprise.) I love you, too. (He had said it. He had finally said it.)

Cleo: (Hugging Orphen tightly) This is the best day of my life.

Kevin walked from the living room to the kitchen. There sat Cleo and Orphen. He immediately saw the changes in them and knew what has happened.

Kevin: So we have Orphen: Scion of Sorcery sitting next to a girl with so much jewelry on that she blinds me. Visually remove jewelry and it is. O My God! It's Cleo. The couple that nobody saw coming.

Steph: Yeah right. The couple everyone saw coming. It was so obvious.

Kevin: Good morning miss Stephanie. I was being sarcastic.

Steph: And so was I. But really everyone but them knew it was going to happen.

Orphen: You mean everyone knew it!?

Majic: Yes, master. Everyone. Except you and Cleo. It was so obvious. Cleo: (Giggling) Wow! I guess we are just idiots then.

Orphen: No. Well I am. But you are just a brat. But you are my brat right?

Cleo: (nodding her head happily.) Right!

Orphen: Come on guys. Sit down. I am starving.

Kevin: I'll cook breakfast then in celebration for these two.

Steph: They are not married yet you know?

Kevin: When they do. And they will. I'll cook an even bigger breakfast or dinner and invite everyone to see it.