Cassius opened his eyes. Early morning light streamed into his room to greet him. For once, he wished it hadn’t. His body always ached when Darrius healed him. He’d long since chalked it up to his affinity.

He tried to sit up but found Darrius wrapped tightly around him. He glanced to his left to see Adrian awake in a chair beside them.

Adrian bowed his head slightly, his thick dark-brown hair obscured his face, “About last night…”

“Was my cooking so awful?” he asked jokingly, all the while trying to unravel himself from his brother.

Adrian stood up, “Don’t move," he said, hovering like a worried nanny, "You need rest.”

Cassius let out a huff somewhat akin to a laugh, “Not nearly as much as you. Besides, I am in one piece. You two act as if I was dying.”

“I’m used to long nights, guess you knew that already, right?” His words were more a statement of fact than a vehement declaration.

He fidgeted, “I cannot control what I see or hear, I am sorry.” He stared down at his lap. His brother had honored his request it seemed. Adrian’s thoughts were hidden from him now, and he was grateful for that.

“Knowing all that about me, you still cooked for me?”

Cassius didn’t understand. “You were hungry and in shock. It seemed like the right thing at the time,” he got out of the bed, sure of his strength this time, and managed to untangle from Darrius before picking him up. “I will take Darrius to his room. Take the bed and rest. A room will be prepared for you later.”

Adrian watched him leave and let out a sigh he hadn’t realized he had been holding. Darrius had threatened him as he'd tried for an assassination, but Cassius had brushed the whole incident off as if it were nothing.

He flopped into the bed, content to let the soft covers swallow him.

Putting Darrius to bed had always been an event in and of itself. He clung like a determined octopus much to the detriment of whoever carried him, and it was almost always his brother who did the carrying.

Cassius had long since discovered that the easiest way to put him to bed was to lay down along with him. He was still tired; it was likely due to the stress of all that happened last night, so he didn’t care for once about sharing a bed for a few more hours rest.

He didn’t want to think about the horrendous introduction he’d given Adrian last night. He mulled over how he could have better handled it all, drifting off to sleep in the process.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

It was midday when Cassius woke again.

Cassius looked around the large bed, Darrius was gone, and then around the room to see he wasn't anywhere in it.

Darrius’s room was more of a workshop than a room. His bed was wedged into a corner along with the nightstand to maximize space. The opposite wall had a large desk flanked by a drafting table and a long wooden table. There were a few bookshelves nailed into the walls above the desk as well, but they were used more for holding tools than books. All surfaces were covered in papers and various pieces of jewelry and uncut precious stones.

The floor had a white square painted into its once pristine polished wood, that was a new addition. The walls had long since been ruined by pages that, after a long period of being tacked there, adhered to its once peridot green surface. 

Thick black curtains blocked out any natural lighting which left Cassius unsure of the time, and it didn't help that Darrius refused to have clocks in his room either.

The corner opposite the fire hazard was lined with various string instruments, music stands and a small table overflowing with more paper. Next to all that was a door that would lead to the chaotic mess that was his storage area. Cassius had helped him organize it more times than he could count, but it always fell back into disarray.

Cassius sighed. He needed to leave before the room gave him a headache.

He carefully waded through the sea of odds and ends that littered his brother’s floor and only relaxed when he closed the door behind him. He rubbed at his eyes; he’d lost most of the day already, this he was sure of; his daily routine wouldn’t be disrupted further. He headed to his room, hoping that Adrian was still asleep.

People’s thoughts were the loudest around noon. Everyone was completely awake and the morning fog of grogginess was gone from their minds. It didn’t bother him that often as his own mind followed the same meandering path. However, right now, his mind was set in the morning, slow and lethargic, and everyone else’s was loud and energetic.

He could feel a headache coming on.

Cassius quickened his stride. Darrius’s room was at the opposite end of the hall and easily took a few minutes to reach walking or jogging, it felt like forever.

He pushed his door open slowly, hoping not to startle Adrian.

He looked to be awake.

Cassius moved toward him, “Good, you are awake…” then he realized Adrian was still asleep. He was moving a lot though, a nightmare? His fingers brushed against the sleeping boy’s shoulder and just before he could rouse him, he was flung down and pressed into the bed. The sudden motion left Cassius dizzy but he quickly regained his senses when he felt a hand pressing into his throat.

Adrian’s eyes were blinking rapidly and his breath was labored. He didn’t look awake, it was as if his senses where stuck in a different place, a different time.

“Adrian…” Cassius had read about something like this before. It was especially prevalent during the wars. “My name is Cassius. You are in Mahalia under my protection. You are not in danger. Breathe.” He kept repeating himself, trying to push aside his own growing inability to breathe. He could try to restrain Adrian, but he was at a severe disadvantage in the soft bed.

A small sob escaped Adrian. He shakily pulled his hand away and edged to the foot of the bed. He pulled his knees into himself and violent tremors took him.

Cassius reached out to him but stopped short. “You are safe here.”

Adrian laughed coldly.

Cassius wished he knew what he was thinking, but he doubted it was his place to ask, so he left it alone. He wondered how often he would feel this way. “Sorry to wake you. I thought you might not have eaten all day, so I came as soon as I woke.”

Adrian jerked up at his words. He seemed confused. He stared at the prince as everything began to click back into place in his mind. He looked as if he’d only just now remembered where he was.

He let out a shaky sigh before looking back to Cassius, “You apologize too much.”

Cassius looked around the room for something to do. The mess was gone. It seemed like the servants had come in already. “What do you mean?”

“I’m the one who stuck you in bed in the first place.”

Cassius frowned, “I thought we had moved past that.”

Adrian stared at the covers, “I just...” his fingers dug into the soft fabric, “I... had my hands--”

“Adrian. Calm. Down.”

Conflicting emotions crossed his face before he settled on staring at his hands. “Okay.”

Cassius walked to his wardrobe and quickly pulled on a high-collared shirt; positive his throat would bruise. He tossed a bundle of clothes at Adrian, “You should change before we head down for food.” He turned to leave, “I will be in the hallway.”

“Does it really matter either way?” Adrian’s voice cracked.

Cassius looked back, “What do you mean by that?”

His eyes narrowed, seemingly annoyed at having to clarify the obvious, “I’m here as your ‘personal servant’, right? You’ll see me naked eventually.”

Cassius stared at him. Cogs were turning in his head as he tried to work through Adrian’s words. He blinked, “Adrian. I do not have any interest in sleeping with you.”

Adrian searched his features, “...Because I’m a man?”

“No,” He folded his arms. “Exactly what did Darrius tell you you would be doing for me?”

Adrian knew he could lie to him. Cassius could no longer read his mind, and he was damn good at it, but he didn’t. “He said I’m yours.”

“And you guessed that involved sex.” He nodded to himself, “No, I do not have any intention of sleeping with you now or in this lifetime.”

Adrian forced a laugh, “Way to hurt a guy’s ego.”

“Don’t feel bad, Addy,” Darrius assured from the crack of the open door, “He feels that way about everyone.” He draped an arm over Cassius’s shoulder. “And don’t get the wrong idea. You aren’t my type.”

“You’re too young to have a type,” Adrian shot back, not bothering to glance the kid’s way. “Who’re you calling Addy?”

Cassius sighed, “A servant is a vague description and he did that most likely to tease you, I apologize on his behalf.” He rested his hands behind his back, “Do not worry, I do not plan to touch you in any way that could be viewed as inappropriate. We will be outside.” He shut the door behind him.

Adrian was grateful. Still, it made him wonder, if it’s not for sex, then what am I doing here?

Cassius half listened to his brother talking about what he missed while he was asleep but most of his mind was elsewhere. He touched his throat. He knew Adrian worked in a brothel before he got here, but exactly what happened to him while he was there?