A/N: Hello lovely people! I'm still keeping up the pace! Hope it continues! This story is a challenge because it's a slow burn and I'm feeling Lou's frustration 😆 lots of love ❤️
This is unedited! As always ✨
Chapter 4.
They reached Devan the next day. The town was close to the ocean and the sea breeze was fresh and strong.
Holly's unease grew with each step closer and Louis wasn't keen on the boy being spotted by the wrong folks either.
"Reckon it's best you stay here and I'll fetch some supplies." Louis said and Holly looked up at him quickly.
"You'll...leave?" Holly asked and his hands tightened on his walking stick.
"Just for a few hours. Then I'll come back and we can catch the ferry in the evening. It'll be easier to hide you in the dark." Louis explained and Holly's lips tightened. An expression Louis was quickly learning was the Sai-ran's unhappy face.
Louis frowned and put his hands in his pockets. "You don't trust me, Hol?"
Holly blinked. "What did you call me?"
"It's just a nickname." Louis said, frowning deeper.
"I know, it's..." Holly stopped himself and stepped back towards the trees. "Go ahead. I'll wait."
Louis didn't like leaving with that strange atmosphere between them. But the shops would be closing soon and they needed those supplies. He nodded and started down the road.
Daven was a larger town than Portmen, back home, and he eyed the streets curiously.
He didn't see any wanted posters on the billboards, but he checked the post office, just in case. There was a couple of posters there, but none featuring a Sai-ran and Louis felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
A few people were waiting in line and Louis stood patiently, until the clerk was ready to type out his telegram.
I arrived safely. Weather's fine and clear. Johnny's been looking for a job and can take my shifts. Miss you. I'll write again soon.
Louis left it at that. He didn't mention Holly at all, in case the telegram got in the wrong hands, and he set out to finish his errands.
He found a grocer and bought coffee, jerky and salt, along with some canned beans and corn.
Further down the street was a gunsmith's, where he purchased bullets and a knife. The man also sold hunting gear and Louis found a bed-roll, a leather sack and a map.
And finally, he stood perplexed in a shoe shop. Idiot that he was, he realized he'd forgotten to ask Holly his shoe-size. The boy couldn't be much bigger than Louis had been around fourteen and he tried to remember his size back then.
"Can I help you, mister?" A girl, not much older than himself, stepped around the till. A few strands of blonde hair curled beneath her bonnet and she had a lovely face with rosy lips.
"Yes, m'am, I'm taking these." Louis selected a pair of boots in soft brown leather. "They're not for me and I'm honestly guessing his size."
"You could bring the gentleman down for a measure?" She suggested.
"I'm just passing through." He said and placed the boots on the till.
"What a shame." The girl packaged the boots and peaked up at him with a smile. "There's a band performing in our town hall tonight."
"Maybe next time." Louis grinned, enjoying himself, and handed her a coin.
He'd never had trouble attracting a girl, or a guy, if they swung that way. He wasn't particularly vain, but he had his mother's blue eyes and his father's fit build and he knew it.
On the way down a side street, he noticed a man leaving a bordello and he paused by the door consideringly.
Watching Holly's pretty face all day, and feeling his warmth at night, had Louis pent up with sexual frustration and he ached for some relief - but he'd already spent more money than he was comfortable with and they still had a long journey ahead.
He walked on with a sigh of regret, turning onto the main street, and entered a quaint looking pub.
The menu that night was pork chops, gravy, green beans and biscuits. The owner's wife delivered his meal and Louis struck up a conversation as he ate and drank a big pint of ale.
"That was incredible. Thank you m'am." He slapped his belly appreciatively and the woman beamed at him. She was a little older than his ma, rounder too, with brown hair braided around her head.
"It's good to hear someone appreciates my cooking. My thankless son over there said it was bland." She cast a sour look towards a young man playing cards, and smoking tobacco, with a group by the window.
Louis was tempted to join them, but Holly was waiting and he had to be hungry by now.
"Not at all." Louis didn't mention that he hadn't had a home cooked meal in three days and just about anything would taste good by now. "Any chance I could take some to go?"
He tilted his head and smiled up at her. That look usually worked on his ma. Unless he'd pushed his luck too many times that day and then she might whack him on the head with a wooden spoon.
"I think we can arrange that." The woman took away his plates and returned with a portion wrapped in paper.
"Thank you, m'am. This is a fine place you got here. I'll visit on my way back." He said sincerely and her cheeks flushed.
It was late afternoon by the time he reached the hill and there was no sign of Holly.
Louis figured the Sai-ran would hide and he stepped into the woods.
"Holly?" He whispered. "Where are you?"
He walked further, calling out softly, and pushing away branches. The sun was starting to set and fear gripped his chest. What if someone had found Holly?
"Hol-" Louis stopped, looking up at a rustle of leaves and there he was. Green eyes staring down and red skin bright between the leaves.
"How the hell did you get up there?" Louis stared perplexed at the tall smooth trunk of the tree. There were no handholds that he could reach.
"I climbed." Holly's cheeks were pale red from exertion, but his thin lips were starting to twitch in a smile.
His slender body was stretched out on a large branch and he sat up slowly, hands gripping the bark. He pressed his knees to either side of the trunk and climbed down haltingly.
"Careful!" Louis heart leapt and he quickly dropped his pack and stretched out his arms.
He didn't know when he'd become so protective, but it was such a relief when he was able to grip the Sai-ran's narrow hips.
Holly hesitated, fingers clutching the tree, but then he let go, allowing Louis to take his weight and lower him to the ground.
"At least your ankle's better." Louis frowned, unreasonably annoyed that Holly had risked himself like that. There was a leaf caught in the Sai-ran's wild green hair and Louis plucked it off thoughtlessly.
Holly looked up at him and the corners of his mouth finally lifted in a small smile. "It was a good hiding place."
"Yeah? Let's find one on the ground. Where's your stick?" Louis grumbled and lifted his pack.
Holly stepped away and retrieved his walking-stick from a thicket. His limp was a little more pronounced than it had been that morning and Louis had to bite back a scolding. He was turning into his ma.
Louis found a spot sheltered by pine trees and reached into his pack for Holly's meal.
The Sai-ran's face lit up when he unwrapped the food and Louis was glad that he'd brought it. Even if it was difficult to watch Holly lick gravy off his red lips and fingers.
He shifted to ease the pressure in his crotch and thought longingly of the bordello earlier. Holly's eyes flicked towards him questioningly and Louis realized he was staring.
"Your nails," Louis stammered, feeling a need to defend himself with something that wasn't the truth, "they look sharper. Is that how you climb so good?"
Holly blinked and curled his fingers self-consciously around a biscuit. They were definitely more oval looking with a tapered point. "...yes and no."
Lou raised his eyebrows at that non-answer, but Holly's shoulders were hunching, and he figured it was another sore topic.
Feeling guiltier than before, he rummaged through his pack for Holly's gifts.
"Here." He placed the boots beside the Sai-ran's feet, along with the bed-roll and the leather sack. "Not sure if the boots fit, but maybe we can swap them in the next town."
Holly's eyes widened. "For me?" He whispered and Louis nodded.
The boy swallowed and started to reach for the boots, then he snatched his hand back and looked at Louis warily.
"Why?" Holly demanded.
Louis lifted his brows. "Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?" Holly gestured to the gifts and then the forest. "I don't have any money. I can't give you anything in return."
"I'm not doing it to be rewarded, Hol." Louis frowned, feeling hurt. "I'm doing this to help."
Holly's eyes narrowed and his lips pulled down, like when his ankle hurt him real bad. "Your people don't just help someone like me. You want something."
That gave Louis pause, because he did want something from Holly - a lot in fact - but not in exchange for anything.
"Look," He said gentler, "You remember my ma telling you how she and my pa were saved by Sai-ran? I suppose a part of me is doing this to repay them. But I hate to see the way my people are treating you and I sure as hell don't want those men catching you."
Holly watched him for a long moment, eyes a deep dark green in the fading light, and Louis knew he was being measured. His own shoulders began to hunch and he forced them straight.
When the Sai-ran finally looked away, Louis felt as if he could breathe easier.
"I'm sorry." Holly said quietly. "It-it isn't easy for me to trust."
Louis nodded and waved his hand as if to clear the air. "I understand."
Holly smiled faintly and finished the rest of his biscuit, before reaching for the boots.
He stroked the leather reverently, fingertips running over the neat little stitches and folding down the sides to touch the soft lining.
He toed off his worn too-large boots and pulled on the new ones, slender feet slipping inside smoothly. It looked like a good fit.
Louis smiled. "Feel good?"
"Yes." Holly tied the laces and stood to limp a few steps. "Very good."
"Guess I got lucky." Spirits lifting, Louis took the roll and pressed it into the pouch. "Now you can carry your own things. You should get rid of those ol' boots, they'll only weigh you down."
Louis felt movement close to him and looked up as the Sai-ran crouched down. Fine-boned hands folded around his on the bag and Holly bent his head.
"Thank you." Holly murmured and Louis could feel the boy's fingers trembling. "Someday, I hope I can..."
"Hey." Louis interrupted and turned his hand to squeeze Holly's palm gently. "Don't go feeling obliged, alright? It was a gift."
Holly was so close to him and his mouth looked so pretty and red, Louis wanted to lean in and taste it. Instead he settled for a kiss on the Sai-ran's warm cheek.
He felt Holly's quick inhale by his ear and pulled back with a smile. "You ready to go?"
The Sai-ran nodded slowly, eyes half-closed, and they gathered their things.
A crescent moon waned in the sky by the time they walked down the hill. Holly had lifted his hood and his hat was pulled down to shield half of his face.
Louis was tempted to just cover the boy in a blanket, but that would only look ridiculous and suspicious.
There weren't many people taking the ferry this late, but Louis could feel Holly's tension coming off him in waves.
Louis double checked the destination sign and assured himself they were headed toward Mellem harbour. From there they'd be taking the train. If it was safe.
There were hardly any lights by the bridge and the waterman looked grouchy and tired.
"Two tickets." Louis said.
The man barely glanced at him, when he took his money, and waved them onboard.
Louis and Holly sat on the lower level of the ferry, with four men in front of them. Holly's fingers were gripping the edge of Lou's jacket and it warmed Louis to know Holly depended on him.
The boy needn't have worried though. People just weren't expecting to see a blonde lad and a Sai-ran travelling together and the late night workers were all too tired, or too drunk, to pay close attention.
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