Kiran positioned his face for the old man to look at him and only him. Kiran slowly moves his hands on the old man's mouth and massaging down on the man's neck and shoulder, sensually and teasingly.

"Do you like it?" The man nodded. "...then, how about THIS?"

Then without any warning, Kiran uppercut his knees at the man'a ding ding. A low groan was barely out with his mouth blocked by Kiran's hands.

Grabbing the chance while the man was on his knees holding onto dear life, "Hong Wei! Your knife!"

Hong Wei was woken up from his boiling anger and without reluctance, revealed the knife behind his back. It was knife he could never trust in the hands of another, it was his lifeline...until now.

He slid the knife across the floor to Kiran. Kiran gripped the knife handle then quickly ran to Hong Wei to cut off his ropes. Kiran handed back his knife with a thankful smile, like he understood the trust Hong Wei placed him.

Hong Wei's heart beat faster and a shiver passed along his spine . He looked away from Kiran’s sparkly face full of pride, hiding his embarrassing appearance.

It's definitely his face. Definitely.

To vent his shame, he aimed it at the old man, slicing his knife through the man's throat - instant death - the man didn't even have time to react before he was dead. No, one more time. Hong Wei picked up the knife and stabbed the man's crotch.

Much better.

Kiran was shocked beyond belief. That was brutal. First time he witnessed a murder and it happened so fast!

Hong Wei froze before stabbing the third time. He glanced at Kiran.

He was afraid of him... no, it was only right. He was a murderer. Unworthy of someone like him.

Hong Wei flicked the blood off his knife and wiped the rest on the dead corpse.

"Are you afraid?" his voice low and shoulders dropping.

Kinda like a puppy. Was Hong Wei afraid? Of being judged? The ruthless cold assassin was worried about what he thought of him?

Kiran was reminded that Hong Wei was still human. He probably had circumstances that made him the way he is, no matter, he's just a human, he felt pain from killing, feels the guilt. No one should walk alone on this.

Kiran walked towards Hong Wei. Hong Wei gaze was down cast but he flinched with the sound of footsteps.

Why is he coming close to trash like me?

Kiran pulled him into a hug. Hong Wei was taller than Kiran by a head. Kiran head was leaning on Hong Wei's shoulder. Hong Wei could feel his breathe on his neck. Hong Wei hoped he didn’t feel his heartbeat. They were so close.

"It's okay."

It reminded of a time he was with his mom. In her warm big embrace, he was just a child, so many years ago. He almost forgotten the feeling. He was crying on her shoulder, tired from the bullies, tired from being weak. His body was scrawny and couldn’t eat much.

His mom would always comfort him with her soft patient words. She was so beautiful with a flower, the lotus, always in her hair.

It was her favorite. A pond was close by their house where all the lotus grew. Floating on the surface of the pond so delicately like they could disappear on any moment.

His father was an important figure in the Feng kingdom, a general. He was strict and held a stern disposition. Seeing such a weak son, he wasn't as supportive and always made Hong Wei work his body to the bone till he collapsed.

Useless. Useless. Useless.

He was made sure to be reminded of that every day. His peers, his seniors, and family.

He wasn't allowed to eat if he didn't cut all wood, carry 50 buckets of water from the pond so the cleaning room. His brothers also threw all their chores onto him. It took a toll on his body.

It hurt.

One day, he was carrying the 48th bucket back to home. His hand covered with calluses. He was eleven this year and he no longer could be in the embrace of his mom, he couldn't, his father would disapprove. His arms and legs were spotted with bruises as a result. The day was ending, no wind was blowing. It was quiet. He decided to take longer to get home that day. Food was not a concern anymore.

Oddly no bullies were picking on him today. Before he could even have a moment a happiness. Smoke struck his senses.

Staining the red orange sky was black clouds floating into the atmosphere.

That was in the direction of home...

He had no care to the idea of home. He didn't immediately run home to check. He stood in place pondering. His eyes flashed towards the white pure lotus floating on the pond. Although he was mistreated by the damn family for so many years, he shouldn’t have forgotten his mother. Her warm embrace and words of comfort. Like fuel for his legs, he ran, until his lungs hurt.

People surrounded his house. Hong Wei could see his bullies by their parents side watching the flames, some were trying to put the fire carrying buckets of water putting out the fan. He doubted they were helping his family, the fire could spread and affect their houses, After all, the world was just cruel like that.

He was a second too late. No sign of the lotus, no sign of the treacherous old man of his, just ash. Dark ash consumed his senses. He didn’t know if his eyes were teary from the ash or the death of his family.

The flames warmed his skin. It softly touched him from the distance. That was his last embrace.

Now in the arms of Kiran. The golden hair was his sun. There was no ash to confuse him this time, warm hot tears poured from his face and he cried in Kiran’s hair, his soft curly hair, it smelled like lotuses.

So soft and low despite their intimacy, Kiran could  barely make out a small whimper. 

“Thank you, Kiran.”