Ben's POV

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I awoke with a start, sitting up and clutching the sheets of my bed to my chest as I panted heavily. I tried to remember what had startled me awake, but all that came to mind were two oxidized copper-colored eyes. 

I hadn't the faintest idea how and why they were so familiar, but the thought was cut short as I realized where I was. In my...room? When had I gotten to my room? How, even? I was passed out! Was I carried here? I blushed as I remembered yesterday night. The conversation I had with Phobus. The park. The...moment we had shared. 

I remembered the feeling of Phobus's hand in mine and the heat that had embodied me as he carried me. but the one memory that refused to leave was that of his eyes. The vulnerability within them and a strong urge to fill him with the assurance that everything was alright. It greatly contrasted with the powerful confidence he had exuded before with me in the hotel.

It wasn't his fault for the whole ordeal. I had simply overused my magic. I wanted to tell him that, so I was moving the sheets to climb out of bed when I suddenly stopped as I heard the doorknob begin to turn. 

In an attempt to move back toward my pillows, I leaned too far onto the edge of the bed, sending my body tumbling to the ground and a loud "SHIT!" trailing with me until I hit the floor with a loud THUD!

I heard a gasp and quick footsteps move towards me as I lifted my head and stared into the worried eyes of Mourner. He raised my arm and checked my body for any bruises while muttering a few 'sorries' here and there, but I pulled away from him, only staring helplessly as I stood and rubbed my head where I had made contact with the floor. Mourner began to make a fuss, but I wasn't listening to him anymore. The only thing I could focus on was the man that had just entered. It was Phobus. He looked tense. His eyes held questions he was too afraid to voice.

"Are you even listening to me?", Mourner sighed exasperatedly. I chuckled, and Phobus smiled, letting his shoulders relax. 

"Um, Mourner, would you please leave us so we can speak? Privately?" I asked Mourner as politely as I could while keeping my gaze on Phobus. He did the same.

Mourner tried to refuse, but my Mistress beckoned him from somewhere downstairs. He grumbled all to way to the door and closed it defeatedly, leaving Phobus and I to ourselves. I gulped.

I knew I had asked Mourner to leave, but now that we were alone, my heartbeat thumped against my chest in rhythm with my thoughts wildly racing through my head. I didn't have a single idea of what I should tell him.  I should probably start with thanking him, right? Wasn't that the normal thing to do? But what about us was normal? Certainly not the moment we had shared. Two males were not normal. At least, not to me. 

"Are you alright?"

I fumbled with my words as soon as Phobus asked because I had no idea If I was fine or not. I was very confused. 

Phobus moved from the door to my bed, patting the spot next to him. I was reluctant to move, seeing as I was in nothing but boxers, but I nodded sheepishly, standing and sitting where he had patted, if not a few inches farther away. He seemed to notice but didn't say anything about it, instead, he sighed and began to speak. 

"Thank you for yesterday. O-or more or less this early morning. I am very thankful. Nobody had ever done something like that for me. It was very beautiful.", He shook his head, "You have no idea how long I desired to see something which was not the walls from where I was confined, where I was...worshipped in a sick and twisted way.", He bitterly spoke. 

I could only listen and watch him as he bounced his leg anxiously, "For the longest time, I thought the monks' had their faith misplaced in some... normal guy that didn't even remember who, and until recently, what he was. I never knew what time it was, and all the delicacies and beverages were delivered to me by people in white robes with masks of different animals. two times per what I would assume was a day. 

I guess I was like a god to them.", He chuckled humorlessly. I stayed silent, taking this all in. He was currently chewing his bottom lip, averting his eyes to the floor. It must have taken a lot out of him to be able to talk about his past. And I was stupidly sitting beside him in silence. I couldn't help him. I had no idea how!

"What do you mean with 'until now'? You know, about not knowing what you are?" I asked absentmindedly, immediately regretting having asked as Phobus tensed beside me. I reached forward and placed my hand in his for once cold hand, reassurance in my mind. 

Phobus relaxed but intertwined our fingers, gulping hard and whispering, "I'll show you." when suddenly my hand began to become warm, the heat slowly becoming unbearable but I dared not let go. Strands of light began emanating from our intertwined hands, slowly encircling us both in a yellow hue. Without hesitation, I added some power of my own to it and the strands erupted into small, iridescent orbs which hung in the air, glowing in shades of color that resembled a shattered rainbow.

I blurted out a laugh and covered my mouth with a hand, fearing if I made too much noise the beauty would disappear. I was fascinated and intrigued, but mostly happy that I had finally met someone like me. Not normal. Not human. Someone that had shared the problems of not being normal. 

A tear slowly slipped from my blue eye, where I removed my shaking hand and leaned forward, placing my head on Phobus's shoulder, shaking and holding back sobs, mustering only a single word, "Fuck..."