A/N: HELLO AGAIN, BUNNIES 3
So, what did you think of chapter one? I've already finished the first couple of chapters, so they'll get up in the next few days. Maybe even hours, if you seem to like them; but they're kinda short - don't worry, I'll make them longer laterz. I just had to see if you'd actually read it. (I'm very sorry if there are some things you don't understand in the chapters - there will be explanation to all of the things I've written, I promise!) ENJOY chapter two!
(Remember: Reviews = looooove! :'D..)
Merv followed Blaine to a big house a few streets away from the inn with the beautiful boy. He was led through the kitchen, where Merv offered him some lunch before he'd show him his room. Blaine was still shocked. He'd even get a room? He almost choked on his bread when he said thank you.
He was introduced to Merv's wife Viola and their two children, Rosa and Val. Val was the oldest and seemed to be a bit shy, while his sister almost instantly started asking Blaine questions.
"Where are you from? Why are you alone? Where's your family? Why don't you have a horse? Why are you here? Will you be living with us now? Are you my new big brother?"
Blaine tried to answer honestly but without too many details. He didn't feel the need to explain his situation to a house of strangers - even though they were kind - yet.
"I'm from western Litera," he said and got Rose's attention. "I don't have any family anymore." He didn't want to explain death or loss to this little girl, so he quickly moved on to stop her from asking any more questions. "And I've never had a horse, even though I'd very much want to. And yes," he looked over at Merv who nodded. "I'll be living with you guys now. But I won't be your brother. You have Val, little Rose."
This made Rose giggle and Blaine send her father a confused look. Merv just shrugged. But Rose soon explained herself. "You just called me little Rose," she chuckled.
"Oh. I... I'm sorry, you don't like that?"
"Yes, I do. It's just…" Rose seemed to compose herself. "It sounded like you called me an actual rose."
"Oh," was all Blaine could think of to say.
"It's quite nice," Rose said and smiled the most angel-like smile, making Blaine smile back at her. The little girl sounded so well-taught. She looked mostly like her mother with her blond hair with little curls at the end. Her big eyes were dark ocean-blue, like her father's, but even the way she stood resembled her mother. Viola was a tall, slim woman with long blond hair and piercing ice blue eyes, and if Blaine had been attracted to women, he was sure he'd have found her very… appealing.
Val on the other hand resembled his father quite a bit. His hair was dark and shot up in all directions; he was tall as well, at least for a twelve year old. He had light green eyes, something none of his parents had, but Blaine suspected that it was something inherited from the grandparents. Who didn't even live in the house; much to Blaine's surprise. When he asked Merv about it, the older man looked at him, like he was from another dimension.
"Why would I have Vi's folks living here? I think it's bad enough we have to visit them twice a month."
"But isn't it the job of the children to care for their elders?" Then it hit Blaine. "Oh, maybe they're living at your wife's sibling's house then?"
"Vi is an only child, kid. Why is it such a surprise for you? It's not like every child has to take care of their folks when they grow old."
"It's not?" Back in Litera grandparents lived with their children and grandchildren. That's just how it's always been, and Blaine thought it was the same in the other villages and countries.
Merv just laughed at him. "It must've been a weird town you lived in, kid."
"Yea," he mumbled and tried to push the memories away. Merv must've noticed because the large man cleared his voice and then began explaining what Blaine was to do. Mostly he'd just help with the food and lift the heavy - Thank God, I exercised a lot at home - things. He basically just had to do what Viola told him to. So when she sent him to the market to pick up eggs, he gladly did so. He got a few weird looks, but Viola told him to ignore it.
"They'll get used to you soon enough, Blaine." She said and added "Especially if you're planning on staying?"
"I am," he said. "But only if I won't trouble you, of course." He didn't want to intrude when they had been so kind to him, even though they didn't even know anything about him.
At least they didn't until Blaine's fifth day working and living with them. Blaine overheard Viola and Merv talking in the kitchen. He didn't want to interrupt, so he simply waited outside.
"But it's not like I'll interrogate him!"
"Viola, you are not to ask him about his past. He wouldn't be here, if he didn't have scars."
"I know, Merv, but I can't just let a stranger live under our roof, if I know nothing about him."
"Vi," Merv's voice was suddenly soft. "Haven't you heard him at night? Would a normal kid cry like that if he could just talk about what happened?" Blaine gasped. They'd heard him…
Viola sighed. "Okay, I understand."
At this moment Blaine decided to step into the room. Viola and Merv startled and turned around to face him.
"My name is Blaine Everett Anderson," he began with a shaky voice. "I come from Western Litera, and I've lived there my whole life. I'm nineteen years old. My mother died when she gave birth to my younger sister. My father is a well-known man in Litera. I'm…" His voice broke. "I'm not… interested in women," he didn't miss the way Viola's eyes grew bigger and Merv took an awkward step to the side. "So my father sent me to the soldier school located at the King's castle. I met a boy there." Blaine swallowed and tried to keep the tears away. "He sold me out."
"He betrayed you," Merv said, voice hard as stone.
"Did he love you?" Vi's soft voice asked.
"I…" Blaine stuttered. Had Aldigree ever loved him? Or was it all a plot to let the soldiers get him? Both Aldigree and Blaine knew what the soldiers did to men like him. Blaine shivered at the thought. "I don't know."
"But you loved him?" She said as if asking. Blaine gulped audibly.
"Yes. I did." Blaine lowered his head, but didn't get to hide his tears, before he was swept into a bone-crushing hug.
"You poor thing," Viola mumbled and caressed his dark curls. He felt another hand heavy on his head. "It's okay Blaine. You can stay here for as long as you'd like." Merv ruffled his hair and then left the kitchen.
Later that day - when he was done crying into Viola's embrace - Blaine was sent down to the market to get meat for that night's dinner. Viola had said they'd have to celebrate their new family member, even though Blaine had protested.
Merv had obviously spoken to at least a few people, because the man who sold Blaine the meat was polite and didn't narrow his eyes at him, like all the other people used to do. And he even got a smile from a young woman who carried her little brother - or maybe son - on her way to the market. Blaine walked home with spring in his steps and a smile on his lips. Maybe it was this happiness that made him brave too brave to think clearly.
His eyes caught something light brown and he felt his stomach squirm with pleasure. The beautiful boy from the inn was standing over by a house, bending over a few boxes. He walked up behind the boy and waited. But the other teen didn't seem to notice his presence.
"Hello," Blaine said softly. He always thought that the best way to approach someone was in a direct manner. The boy startled and turned around. Blaine couldn't help but notice how his posture looked like he was getting ready to fight. When he didn't get an answer Blaine stepped forward, offering his hand.
"I'm Blaine," he said, but the other boy still didn't say anything. So it's true, Blaine thought, he's mute. The boy turned back around after looking up and down Blaine's body as if to measure him; his eyes clearly saying stay away from me.
"I'd like to get to know you," Blaine pressed as he lowered his hand but the boy still half-ignored him.
"I was told you were brought to the village a few years ago," He'd talked to Merv about the boy on his third night here, and since there was no sign of this being wrong information, he continued, "By Karofsky." The boy flinched at the name, and Blaine hurried on.
"You don't talk. And nobody knows your name." The boy looked up at this statement, raising a perfect shaped eyebrow. "Someone does?" Blaine asked, excited about finally getting new information; and this time directly from the source itself. The frail boy moved his head slowly in a single nod, eyes still expressionless. Blaine smiled.
"Can I?" He asked, but the boy didn't seem to understand. "Know your name?" He explained.
The boy looked at him with an empty look in his eyes. Then those said eyes narrowed and the full, pink lips pulled back into a snarl, just like the one Blaine had seen in the inn a few days before. Maybe not as furious, but it was still a snarl nonetheless. Blaine took a step back; he'd never been scrowled at before. Normally people liked him. Until they found out whom or rather what he was, at least. He worried his bottom lip and took a few more steps back.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled and then turned around. He didn't know why, but he felt hurt. He didn't know the boy, but still… Did he seem like a threat? Like an evil person? He walked back to the house in depressed thoughts. As he stepped into the house, Rose walked up to him.
"Are you okay, Bainey?" Rose had gotten the idea that Blaine sounded way too grown up, so she'd given him a nickname. She'd told him that was the reason at least. It could also have something to do with the fact that she couldn't pronounce the 'l' in Blaine.
"Yea," he muttered, but that night he didn't sleep well at all.