The door opened and Nelia came in to check how the boys were doing. It was a long ago she left them here and it was time for them to go home before the dark.
She found Anciel moping the floor while casually whistling and wiping the sweat from all the hard work, while Label was standing in the middle of the room looking like he was hiding something.
“What’s that smell? Is something burning?” the nun sniffed around with her piggy nose.
“Eh... no. Nothing burning. All good,” he hurried and swept up the ashes nervously.
Nelia looked around and judged everything clean enough, so she patted him on the back.
Passing through the hallway again, they met with Father Ferguson.
“Hold on. Anciel was it? You are forgiven by the High Lord Label himself after today's hard work,” Anciel bowed, although he didn't really like all that religious talk.
“So I see you are feeling better already son. Care to tell me your name now?” Father asked Label after crouching down.
“It's...it’s Markus... sir,” he replied while looking out through the door.
The Father followed his gaze into the room where Merlotta was sitting and watching them.
“I see you made quite a few friends today Markus, alas some enemies as well I'm afraid. Be sure to go and apologize to the poor guards and the lady you stole the apple from. I know you think it's important, but I find it to be. There can still be a proper man out of you,” with that, he tapped Label on the shoulder and left them.
Merlotta was still smiling their way.
Label pulled his pants up and blew a bit of air up at his bangs preparing to make a move, but all he managed was to yell an awkward “See you!” as Nelia grabbed him by the shirt's collar and pulled him out.
* * *
After stopping by the guard post and apologizing, they were strolling through now finally quiet market lane on the way back to the orphanage.
The fisherman gave up and his boat was now lulling softly on the sunset waves. Seagulls could be heard in the distance as even the late working merchants were closing down their stands.
“So, where do you live?” Label broke the silence. They were both a bit tired from the crazy day, but still, their heads were high and their gaze fixed in front.
“Nowhere and everywhere.”
Label watched him for some time with his arms above his head.
“You can always come to my place, you know. I mean, it's not really like it's my place... it's more like an orphanage, so...”
“Thank you but I do not belong there.”
“Oh, so you do have a mom and dad?”
“No...I don’t.”
“Doesn’t that make you an orphan?”
“I never had parents, so I don’t know, you tell me; does that make me an orphan?” he stopped and was now looking at Label, waiting for a response.
The blue-eyed boy lowered his arms, “Everyone has parents. How else would you be here?”
“After they abandoned you, would you still call them parents? You would welcome them with open arms?” his brows furrowed and his fists clenched, “If I ever find them, I’ll be darn sure to give them a good beating.”
“Hmm… I suppose you’re right. I never thought of it that way. I always felt they abandoned me because I’m different.”
Anciel started walking again, lost in his own thoughts.
“We should talk to them first.”
“What?”
“I mean, if we ever meet them, we should ask them why they did it.”
The dark boy still didn’t approve, but blondie continued; “Then, if we think they deserve it, we can beat them together. Deal?” he offered a hand.
Anciel first took a few moments, but then he accepted, “Deal.”
“So why not just come over for a night?” Label didn’t want to push him, but felt that he needs a bit of encouragement.
“Alright, I guess I will ...Thank you,” he bowed, making the other boy feel a bit awkward.
They stopped in front of a windmill, one story high. A dim light on the second floor looked warm to Anciel.
Label approached the door and tried to sneak in as silently as he could, but as soon as he touched the knob, a woman dressed in a typical housewife dress, complete with an apron, opened and grabbed him.
“Label, I was so worried!” she sobbed and pulled him in her chest a bit too tightly.
“I can't breathe!” he complained.
“Where were you!?” she changed her attitude, now standing tall with her arms at hips and a frown on her otherwise gentle face.
Inala was a middle-aged woman running an orphanage for many years. She was a bit on the heavy side, as was her huge chest, but that didn't lessen her motherly charm. She had the curves, if only there was someone man enough to help out with her impossible job.
A blond wavy hair was reaching her shoulders and her beautiful eyes were but now endlessly worried.
Label didn't even manage to give any explanation, not that it would be any good, but the other children, now awoken, ran down the stairs, curious to see what is going on.
“Bwothel Label is dat yoo?” asked Marco, the smallest of the kids.
“You made mom worry again!” Ezel blamed him.
“Waaaaaaa-ha-haaaa!” a cry could be heard from upstairs.
“Now Tina is up as well, thanks to you,” Metena and Miko looked at Label, blaming him for ruining all their hard work of putting their sister to sleep.
Anciel looked at all the children, surprised that this woman could handle them all by herself.
“Who is this?” asked Inala quietly, after giving Label a stern look.
“Aaah, this is a friend. I met him today, he's real nice. And... Well, he doesn't have anywhere to go...” Label looked at the floor, avoiding eye contact.
“He can stay tonight,” she made it very clear.
“Yes!” Label couldn’t contain himself.
Anciel bowed deeply; “I am in your dept.”
Inala was taken by surprise as she was probably expecting another brat like Label.
“Don’t worry about it.”
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