flowers
“hey” Darius called out to me as soon as he realized that i was up
“hey” i said, feeling lighter.
He smiled at me, the smile slowly but surely turning nervous. “I did not know what to do, so umm…” he scratched the back of his head, stepping to the side so that i could see what he had done.
It was nothing elegant, just a simple toast with milk.
“thank you” i said, picking up the milk.
“i know it is nothing fancy, it’s just… i did not want anyone handling your food, especially now that the castle is going through attack.” he said, stretching something that seemed to be sugar. “would you care for?” i shook my head no.
“i honestly do appreciate the meal” i said as politely as possible, placing the toast back on the plate.
I mean how could anyone ruin toast?
“you are not eating anymore?” he said, a look of concern on his face “it is horrible isn’t it?” he tugged is hair, looking around as though he was looking for something. “i would do better, the recipe book said…”
He shook his head as though thinking better of what he wanted to say “forget it, it is no excuse” he said more to himself than to me. “i would make it better, i think it’s the sugar… right?” he looked at me. He sheer look of concern on his face almost made me burst into laughter.
“Darius” i called, trying to get his attention, but he was lost in the panic to even care.
“i think i should use the new bags of sugar in the stall.. what if…” he looked up at me, having this panicked look on his face. “what if it was tempered!!!” he walked towards me, looking at me from head to toes “do you feel okay? Dizzy? I swear i would have those kitchen staff beheaded if they dared…”
“DARIUS!!!” i called, finally snapping him out of whatever headspace he was in. “i am fine” he blinked, looking at me like he did not believe me. “honestly, i am” i tried to break out of his hold, but it did not see, to be possible.
“…besides, are you not meant to be attending to your subjects or the council or whatever… are you not?” i said, giving him a smirk as i nodded towards the door “you can and should get going”
He pulled himself back, looking at me like i had grown another head or done something that was worth killing me for.
“i made this mistake once you, know…” the sadness in his voice stopped me from pushing him out.
“what??” i said instead, trying to understand what he was trying to say.
“i left you for the council and then….” he shook his head again.
I honestly was starting to be concerned with the number of times he shook his head. “it does not matter, the council can wait, you come first, and than includes feeding you.”
I did not know whether it was the words he said, or the smile he gave after saying those words but i felt something flutter inside of me..
I pulled my hands away from his hold almost immediately, trying to hide the blush that had somehow appeared on my face.
He seemed to have noticed it almost immediately, looking at me with wide eyes. “are you okay??” he said, coming closer to me. “you…” the panic started to set in, “you look a bit flustered. Is it the bread?” he looked at me a little closer, but i looked away.
“no…” i pushed him further away. “i don’t… i don’t appreciate you this close to me” i said out of panic, the feeling tugging at my chest did not for some reason want to stop.
“did i,.. did i do something wrong?” he sounded like a child whose candy had been snatched.
“yes.. i need you to stop pretending like you care and get out. You think i don’t know?” he looked completely lost at this point i almost felt bad for what i was doing.
“don’t know what?”
“this is all some plot to you, you dragons, you are all the same. You have seen my weakness now and…”
“Mika” he called, looking at me with a hurt expression but i did not care.
It was better this way.
If i hurt him enough, he would leave me alone. Then i would not have this uncomfortable feeling in my chest that made it warm.
He said nothing after that, just looking at me as though i had hurt him then he sighed.
“i understand how you must feel” he said, forcing a smile. “i do not expect you to warm up to me that easily so…” he nodded, looking at me with another smile. “i’ll just…” he pointed to the door, walking out.
I sighed, thinking that i was all alone. The door swung open again, making me snap my head to him. “i know you want your space right now, and i promise, i am going to go out of your hair. I just…” he brought the flowers that he was hiding at his back as he walked in and i could have sworn that my heart stopped in that moment.
The warm feeling i felt in my chest stopped almost instantly, the fluttering in my stomach also stopped.
It felt as though i was suddenly a whole different person. “i would just leave them here and,,” i took the flowers from his hands, flinging it across the room while he stood there, most likely in shock of what i had just done.
“i don’t want to ever…” my voice shook forcing me to take in a deep breath. “see them or any type of flowers again… please” i muttered, running out of the room
“mika?” he called after me but i did not stop. There was no bloody way i was going to stop, “MIKA!!!!” he called again, this time, his voice sounded more distant but then again, i did not dare to look back…