“What did they say?” Lion rushed forwards nervously, wringing his hands as Inn exited the principal’s office. He couldn’t believe that because of him, the great Lord Hanuman was going to get expelled on his first day of high school.

Inn, however, seemed to look unperturbed, simply shrugging and shoving his hands in his pockets. “I have something called ‘detention’ and I have to join the kickboxing team.”

“The what?” Lion gasped. He had noticed that the teacher that had come to break up the fight had been one of the sports coaches but he thought the man had a reputation for being particularly strict!

“Apparently, even in this world, fighting is a sport,” Inn replied, sucking on his still bloodied lip.

“I…” Lion faltered, he had no idea what to say, he felt so unbelievably guilty. “I’ll do your detention with you okay? Whatever it is, I’ll do all the work!”

“Okay,” Inn replied with a short nod before his face scrunched up in a wince and he gingerly moved his fingers to touch at his busted lip. “This is a strange feeling…”

“Shit, you must be in pain,” Lion said, “we need to get you some ice from the school nurse, shopping will have to wait until another day.”

“My clothes are also damaged,” Inn announced, peering down at where a button had been ripped from his shirt.

“Oh,” Lion flushed as he caught a slither of golden skin on Inn’s chest, “I’ll sew it back on for you once we’re home.” He turned away and tried not to think about how Inn’s chest had felt so strong and hard when he had fallen out of the tree.

The nurse’s office was quiet, so Lion was able to get an icepack for Inn. He instructed the larger boy to hold it carefully against his lip so the bruising would go down.

“I don’t know how we’ll explain this to Granny,” Lion shifted nervously, fingering the straps of his backpack.

“Muay Thai try outs?” Inn suggested, raising a thick eyebrow questioningly at Lion.

“That…that’s actually a good idea, she’ll buy that!" Lion exclaimed excitedly. "Plus, Granny will be impressed you’ve already been scouted for a school sport. She likes sports; she watches football all the time on TV.”

“I see,” Inn replied in a manner that indicated he clearly did not see.

“You didn’t have to stick up for me like that,” Lion hugged his arms around himself, trying not to make eye contact as he stared intently at Nurse May’s trashcan by her desk. It was full of red Choco Pie wrappers.

“Is that not why you summoned me?” Inn asked. “To protect you?”

“I-“ Lion stammered, the back of his neck felt unreasonably hot for the air conditioned office. “It sounds so stupid when you say it like that. I don’t know what I wanted really.”

“Whilst I am here, I can protect you,” Inn nodded, as if the matter had been decided.

Lion gazed at him in surprise, although he guessed he should have expected such a gesture from a renowned hero like Hanuman. A small traitorous part of him wondered what it would be like if he was never able to find a way to send Inn back?

“Um, thank you,” Lion replied, chewing on his lip. “We should probably get going now. I promised I would cook tonight.”

By the time the two boys reached home, the skies had started to darken ready for a thunderstorm. Whilst such storms were common at this time of year it didn’t stop the flashing lightning and booming echoes of thunder from making Lion’s skin crawl, reminding him of memories he would rather forget.

“Okay, I think I’ll make Pad Kra Pao for dinner?” Lion looked over to Inn questioningly. He had no idea what the warrior preferred to eat but they were bitterly limited by what was left in the fridge. It made Lion feel a little embarrassed after what had already been a trying day for his dignity.

“I shall fry the pork,” Inn nodded as Lion floundered.

“Oh no – I didn’t mean you had to help!” Lion exclaimed. “You can go sit and rest with Granny in the other room, I think there’s a historical drama on.”

“Why would I not help?” Inn raised an eyebrow challengingly. “I learned how to cook from the servants when I was young.”

“Oh,” Lion felt surprised, but of course Lord Hanuman would have had servants, he socialised with deities and princes.

“I’ll just set the rice to cook,” Lion announced, walking over to stab at the buttons on the rice cooker that Inn eyed with clear suspicion.

“You need a knife for the vegetables?” Inn asked, smirking to himself as he drew a large one out from a wooden block and began twirling and flipping it with startling speed.

“Shit, how are you doing that?” Lion exclaimed in shock, he could barely track the movement of the glinting metal, the dangerously sharp blade twirling through the air.

Inn let out a barking laugh before grabbing another knife and juggling them with synchronicity.

Lion stared transfixed as Inn threw both knives so they pierced and whizzed through the air of the kitchen. One slid perfectly back into a thin slot on the block, the other landed, quivering inches from Lion’s hand, embedded in a bamboo chopping board.

“Oh my god!” Lion gasped, jerking backwards in fright.

“Do not worry, I never miss,” Inn remarked with amusement as he turned to retrieve a wok from the cupboard.

“Very impressive,” Lion replied, his throat feeling a little dry as he tugged, with no small amount of effort, the knife out of the board and began to slice the vegetables for their dish.

A little while later the boys sat down at the table with Granny and began to tuck in. Lion felt awkward again as he noticed how quickly Inn was wolfing down his food. Inn was probably used to great feasts and of course he would have to eat a lot more than Lion in order to sustain his large body and muscles.

Lion wondered if he should dash out to Family Mart after the meal to try and get some more cheap snacks? He flinched a little as he realised Inn had noticed him staring.

“Sorry!” Lion smiled ruefully, hurriedly reaching for his spoon to start shovelling the food into his own mouth. He had always imagined Hanuman would be friendly, open, perhaps even a little cheeky like he was in the myths. Inn, however, was quite daunting to be around.

“This tastes better than usual,” Granny announced, tapping her spoon on the side of her plate. “What did you do differently?”

“I don’t know,” Lion shrugged, “Inn cooked it with me though.”

“I see,” Granny nodded thoughtfully, “well Inn should help with all the meals from now on.”

“Granny!” Lion flushed, quickly turning to apologise to Inn,

“Of course, Grandmother,” Inn nodded, “It is the least I can do as your guest.”

Lion gaped at the larger boy for a moment before smiling happily.