(Hey, long time no write... or very little writing. I don't have a laptop because of scammers making me very very suspicious for good reason. And my old laptop won't patch me into my own wifi so there's literally no reason for me to have it. My last couple of posts were on my phone but I do the hunt-and-peck on my phone and it takes sooo long and I usually have to write the chapter out in advance and add on later when the mood strikes me. However, 2020 sucks and I'm still trying to regain my professional balance. I am a work-o-holic and I'm ready to rebuild my financial capabilities. But at the job that I'm temping at, I keep daydreaming about previous stories, new stories, and just little scenes. So I got to thinking...is there such thing as a bluetooth keyboard? Well, the answer is yes! And they don't cost that much so I got one for my birthday! So as I type this out, please remember that I'm still getting used to this keyboard and I'm loving it!)

Chapter 7: Reunited

"So do we have an agreement?"

Snake looked at the hand belonging to Smile, the young boy dressed in finery that was very different from the clothes in the circus. He didn't know where the others were but Smile would help him find them, he said so himself. But even still, there was one person that he knew for certain had been there. She had to be there, somewhere. And if she wasn't, he would leave to find Joker and the others, leaving his heart behind.

"Eden came here...she said she would wait for me, for us, here...Emily says... please tell us where she is, she wouldn't leave unless forced." The light-haired young man had found the paper with Earl Phantomhive's address in the tent that Joker used. He had helped pack up Joker's things to get the circus ready for travel. So that was his only clue. He clung to that clue and hoped that he was not wrong.

Black cleared his throat. "Ah, yes... about Miss Eden..." Snake's wide eyes pinned onto the butler's. He hoped he was looking into the vague statement...hoped what he thought the man was saying was wrong... The butler walked over to a small cupboard in the office and lightly opened the door. Immediately a familiar hiss came from the crack and Snake's sensitive nose took in the metallic tinge of blood from within the wooden contraption. "I found her in a spare bedroom. I managed to move her to this room and narrowly avoided being bitten by the snake guarding her. I kept quiet so no one would try to help her and get hurt in the process. It would have been a terrible shame for Meyrin to walk into a room to change the sheets and come across her body...and then suffer a snake bite."

Smile smirked. It was like night and day from the smile that was his circus namesake. "If you stay here to serve the Phantomhive name, we will be able to give the girl medical attention. It has been more than a week since we've returned. No doubt she'll be in need of food and drink..."

"Indeed, young master. There was also quite a lot of blood on her scarf."

Snake wince and nodded. "Untie me and I'll do as you say." As soon as he was unbound, he raced to the cupboard and opened it all the way, Oscar greeting him with bared fangs from between the blood-encrusted breasts of his Eden. He knelt beside her and reached out with one hand and pulled away. Would he hurt her by touching her? She looked noticably thinner and while the blood was unnerving, he was grateful that her chest was rising and falling with every shallow breath. He caressed a single chestnut curl and a clover green eye fluttered open to lock onto his yellow. She gave a little smile at him then winced- she had been in there so long that he was sure her joints and muscles felt cramped and ached.

"Snake... I'm sorry..." Her voice cracked and her face scrunched, dry tongue passing over her lips. Black handed the circus performer a cup of tea and he held it to her lips so she could rehydrate a bit. "I tried to wait outside but..."

Snake shook his head and pressed a finger to her lips. "Explain once you healed. Black, while we stay here, may we have a room in the servants' quarters?" He paused and added a quick "says Victor" as he carefully gathered her into his arms. He felt her nuzzle into his chest and he smiled softly at her. He also noticed that her leaves were much smaller, only covering enough to keep her modesty. A cry from Smile had Black shucking his jacket to cover her up more. He had a sly smirk on his face as if he enjoyed Smile's outrage and embarrassment.

"Well, we can put Miss Eden in the female quarters' with Meyrin and you can bunk with Finnian and Bardroy." Eden tensed under those crimson eyes and her deep green eyes looked at him. He raised an eyebrow. "However...given your prior arrangements at the circus, I understand that you may be better off having your own room. It would not do to have her sneak into your bed at night...as well as all of the poisonous snakes..." Smile was almost as red as his butler's eyes. He stammered out the order for Sebastian/Black to take them to the room that she had been found in. It made sense since it was very unlikely that the blood stain was unable to be removed from the floor considering they returned roughly 24 hours after the injury.

X.X

Once in the room, Black produced a bowl of warm water and some bandages. He also held a cloth and verbalized that he would clean her wounds and Snake stopped him. He didn't want anyone to help her if he could help her. Especially since the majority of the blood was on her chest. "I've got it...says Emily..." His cheeks were a vibrant pink that looked adorable on his pale skin. The butler left with a knowing smirk and the circus performer approached his resting roommate. He saw the dark stain on his scarf. There looked like so much that he found he was grateful that she had lived as long as she had without help. She opened her eyes and gave him an appologetic smile.

"I'm sorry... I tried to keep it clean..." She raised up her clenched fist and showed him 3 bullets. "I was shot... Oscar helped protect me..."

The shock was all over his face as he mechanically removed his scarf from her neck. So much blood... He took the wet cloth and started to gently clean her flesh. He was amazed that he saw no scars and looked up at her before going back to cleaning her. skin. He imagined it felt like when he shed his scales-uncomfortable. He decided then and there that this would be the last time she got hurt like this. They would stick together, never be apart, never be alone. He would always protect her with every scale and every fang...and his friends would help him.

(Hope everyone is staying safe!)