CW: Explicit language, mentions of s*icide, mentions of sex, mental illness.

When a smaller path splits away, Rin follows that one instead, feeling a bit peckish. The path winds through an orchard, the bright red fruits hanging low and ripe from every tree they pass. The Rat snatches one and slips it into his pocket.

"May I ask...why has the young master posted guards at your door? Are you being threatened?" Lee also picks a fruit, admiring the rich colour before pocketing it for himself.

"Hm. I suppose it is a kind of threat," Rin glances at the guard, a hint of irritation in his expression. "He's trying to protect me in his own way, I guess. But a couple of dunderhead guards aren't going to keep this threat out."

"Fitz and Yeri are good men." Lee frowns at the younger man.

"They barely look at me. Every time I try to talk to them, they just stiffen up. And not in the way I like."

"Guards are for guarding, not socialising. They are doing their job well."

"Whatever," Rin scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Can't you do something about it? Maybe if you're the one guarding me, I wouldn't be so damn bored."

"Are you insinuating that I am bad at my job?"

"Yes. No. Kinda." The raven sighs and throws his arms around the man's waist, peering up at him with big black eyes. "You're way more fun than the other guys. I knew it the moment I saw you."

"Yeah, yeah. Just keep your hands to yourself, Rat." Lee untangles himself from his charge's embrace and continues on at his own pace. "You are...not quite what I'd expected," he adds in a murmur.

Rin huffs and ambles after the guard, annoyed that the latter seems to be impervious to his charm. He idly scrapes away the thorns on the rose stalk with his nail before sticking it behind his right ear. "Sorry to disappoint," he says, clapping the mess from his hands.

"No. Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. You are...a unique personality," Lee amends, pausing to glance back at the boy. He rubs the back of his neck when he sees the pink rose tucked behind Rin's ear. The colour compliments the raven well, drawing out the soft rosy hue in his cheeks. The man seems a little confused by the sight, his brows pinched together in consternation.

"Unique's one way of putting it, I suppose," the Rat snorts, picking more apples and stowing them away in his robes. "It's my mother's fault, you know. Everyone says I inherited her madness."

"Her madness?" Lee frowns, picking an especially beautiful apple from a high branch. He offers it to Rin and the boy tucks it away with the others. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, if you think I'm bad, she's ten times worse."

"...that is concerning."

"See?"

The guard reclines against a tree, savouring the cool shade. He watches Rin continue to pick apples, a touch of pity in his eyes. "What about...your father? Does he help you and your mother?"

"He's not around," Rin says, dryly. "We're doing perfectly fine without him."

"Where is he?"

"I dunno. Out West somewhere."

"You don't miss him?"

"Fuck no," Rin snaps, shooting a glare at the nosy guard. "What's it to you anyway?"

Lee raises a hand in surrender, indicating that he'd finished questioning the boy.

Rin huffs and points at one of the higher branches. "Be useful and grab that one for me."

The guard smiles and obediently picks the indicated apple. In fact, he picks a few and hands them over to his charge.

"How long have you been working here?" Rin asks, head bent as he counts his treasure trove. "You don't act like the other guards. They all tend to ignore me or treat me like a criminal." Which I am, but still. 

"Mn. Most of them are Silverswords so they don't take too kindly to Slummers." Lee pauses, tilting his head to make a quick calculation. "This would be my sixth year working for the Hwans."

The raven raises his head, squinting at Lee. "So you'd know quite a bit about them."

"Indeed I would."

"Know anything about Lady Hwan?" Rin asks casually, biting into an apple with relish.

Lee frowns, scrubbing at his jaw. "I know what I've heard," he says, cautiously.

"Which is...?" Hellebore eyes bore into the guard, daring him to avoid his question.

The guard swallows, sweat prickling his collar. "Ah. Not much. But she seemed like a rather well liked Lady. Treated everyone around her with respect, including the estate servants and workers."

"How did she die?" Rin asks, licking the apple juice from his lips.

"...I don't know. There are many rumours but no-one knows for sure."

"Why's that? Surely someone would have seen her croak."

Lee grimaces at the boy's insensitive remark. "Only a few remain from the time the Lady was alive and none of them are willing to share what befell the Lady."

"Weird. Reckon the Governor killed her? Maybe he caught her having an affair." Rin hums in thought, the sweet flesh of the apple pressed against his pursed lips.

"It wouldn't do to ruminate on these things. The dead should be left to rest." Lee smiles and plops a hand on the boy's head. "You're asking for the young master, aren't you?"

Rin scowls and ducks under the guard's hand, rubbing furiously at his head. "So what if I am? You're of no use anyway." He launches the half-eaten fruit at the man's head, but the latter easily side-steps the ranged attack.

"You care deeply for him."

"Like hell I do," the raven jeers, cheeks a blazing red.

Lee's eyes glint knowingly above his smile, but he keeps his mouth shut to avoid stirring the lad's ire further.

When Rin tires of picking apples, he grabs the guard's arm with both hands and gazes up at him with imploring eyes. "Tell me something, Lee. Where do the Hwans keep their best liquor?"

"You shouldn't drink. It's not good for your recovery."

"Come on, pet. Why don't you show me around the main mansion? A little sneak peek in the cellar, maybe?"

"Absolutely not."

"Please?"

"Ask the young master."

"I have and he's promised me a tour. He's just been so busy."

The guard scratches at his temple. "Can't you be patient? I'm sure if you waited-"

"I'm not patient at all. And when I get restless, I do things like jumping out of second floor windows and stealing the Hwan's best liquor. Who knows, maybe I'll even chat up Fitz and Yeri for a good hard fuck. It's been a while since I've been in a cock sandwich-"

"The mouth on you!" Lee bursts out, eyes bulging in shock.

Rin smirks and sidles up to him, pressing his body against the older man's. "It's the best in Hanjuyang, if you're willing to try~"

Finally succeeding in shaking the man, Rin struggles to stifle a laugh as he drinks in the guard's twisted visage. Still human, he does feel a flicker of pity so he steps back to give the man some room to breathe. "I'm just asking for a quick look around. And maybe a tiny glass of wine. I've been so parched."

Lee heaves a weary sigh and gives the boy another odd look. One of deep perplexity as if Rin were a complex puzzle he couldn't yet solve. "A quick look," he says sternly, knowing in his heart that he would also come to regret this decision. "And maybe if you ask the cook nice enough, she will give you a taste of some wine. But you must behave, Rat. Do you understand?"

Rin claps his hands together, eyes wide and shimmering with excitement. "Understood!"