Elwin, Prin, and Valor managed to make it back to Valor’s home without further incident.

That is, if you don’t count a freak thunderstorm, a runaway carriage, or a herd of leering drunken pirates that had just docked and didn’t know how to behave, and a brief brush with a runaway leaf fire.

Luckily home was only a short walk from the tailor’s shop, and somehow no one was hurt on the journey.

Poor bedraggled Aster said her goodbyes at the end of their block before turning back to town, her jaunty candy colored dress soaked, despite the umbrella, and torn. Hair and makeup mussed and slightly concussed. She kissed Prin on the cheek goodbye and hugged Elwin, only eyeing Valor warily with a wan smile. She vowed to see them again in two days at the party, if not before.

As soon as they were safely inside, Valor collected his cats and went straight to his room to take to his bed, without saying a word to anyone. Prin had made a move to follow him, but ended up taking to his own bed instead. With, perhaps, a bit of an allergic reaction to the bee sting after all. At least, Elwin hoped that was all it was.

Elwin went away to the kitchen and brought Prin another cold compress for his arm as well as some medicinal tea.

He helped Prin off with his boots and outer garments and under the covers in the soft bed. Elwin fluffed the pillows up under Prin’s head, getting a strange twinge of nostalgia for their old lives.

“I feel like . . . that went poorly.” Prin said.

“Yes. Maybe an understatement. But, no one died.” Elwin said. “It’s always a good day when no one died.”

Prin laughed, ending in a cough. “Thank you for putting it into perspective. Not for lack of opportunity though.”

“Near misses don’t even count.” Elwin said.

“No?”

“Na-aahh.” Elwin waved his hand. He didn’t even want to begin to think how they would get through that party. But that was another day’s problem.

“Check on Valor, he’s upset I’m sure.” The prince said. He sipped his tea, making a face at its bitterness.

“Do I have to? He’ll be fine now that he’s home.” Elwin said. “He doesn’t want me anyway.”

“Don’t be afraid of him. He’s just a rude child.” Prin said.

“Ugh.”

“Tell him I’ll be in to see him afterwhile, I might take a little nap first. Okay?” Prin said.

Elwin stood to leave the room but turned back abruptly. “Are you-Are you really okay?”

Prin frowned. “You don’t need to always be asking me that.”

Elwin sat down beside him on the bed and touched the blanket over his belly. “You aren’t hungry . . . are you?”

Prin laughed ruefully. “I am actually, but it’s just because we missed lunch and didn’t get any while we were out.” He put his hand over Elwin’s.

“Oh! That’s right! I’ll go see what they have in the kitchen.” Elwin jumped up abruptly and headed for the door.

“S’okay.” Prin rolled over on his side, burrowing his head into the pillows. “I’m gonna nap first anyway. Go see how Valor is doing.”

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Elwin sighed, long suffering but he couldn’t help it. “Okay.”

Elwin went quickly through the house to Valor’s room. He still did not know what to make of the kid, every time he could feel sympathy for him growing, he would just do or say something obnoxious that would ruin the whole thing. And while wearing his obvious crush on Elwin’s prince directly on his sleeve, he wouldn’t put it past him to do something to put Prin on the spot. The first time he would touch Prin inappropriately, he would not be getting a second opportunity.

Elwin realized how irrational he was being to get so angry at Valor for just being a brat, and liking someone who he himself found imminently likable, but still. Nothing about it was comfortable for Elwin, and he might as well let himself admit it.

Even so he wouldn’t dream of going against Prin’s wishes and not checking on the boy. Although, didn’t he have a family for that?

Elwin knocked softly on the door, and when no answer came he knocked a little harder. Finally he opened the door just a crack, releasing a small beam of light into the world of darkness within.

“It’s Elwin?” He didn’t know why he made that into a question. “I’m coming in.”

He opened the door wider, increasing the beam of light. “Is everything alright? Do you want something to eat?”

Valor was huddled on the wide windowsill, wrapped in a throw blanket. He seemed to be still dressed in his rain wettened shoes and clothes from when they were out.

The two cats played with a feather at his feet, swirling together like a two headed shadow.

Oh great, he really did need to be checked on. Prin would never forgive him if he didn’t do this right. And besides, another arrow of nostalgia pierced right through him. The fragile boy on the window seat. A familiar scene indeed.

“I’m going to light a couple of lamps, okay?” Elwin lit them. If nothing else, then so he wouldn’t trip over anything. “Prin sends his regards. He’s just taking a little nap now. I guess it’s been a really long day . . . for everyone.” He laughed awkwardly. “Not that anyone blames you.” Elwin could kick himself for saying that, drawing attention to the fact that someone might potentially blame him.

“This is what always happens.” Valor said. “The longer I hide away in my own little corner . . . it’s like it builds up. So when I do go out, boom.”

“Is that how it works . . ?” Elwin saw no way to refute it, given the evidence of the day. It was a preposterous number of disasters, so a preposterous explanation almost seemed logical. “No one is angry with you.” He didn’t know what other comfort to offer.

“They should be.” Valor said. “They should be . . .” He rested his head on his knees in a posture of childish defeat.

“No. No they shouldn’t.” Elwin took a couple of hesitant steps farther into the room, closing the door behind him. “We can all see what this is like for you. Prin . . . won’t give up, he has barely gotten started, but he won’t give up on fixing-on helping you with this. That’s something you should know about him, Prin is very stubborn. When he sets his mind to something, look out. And he cares about solving-he cares about you.” Hell, what had he done? Fanning the flames of the crush for sure. But he just seemed so sad. A minute ago Elwin had dreaded even coming in here, but now he was ensnared again. And at the moment he wasn’t so sure that he didn’t care about the boy too.

He needed all the love he could get. Like a mangy feral kitten.

“Don’t say that.” Valor said. “Just being around me is bad enough. The last person who cared about me . . . Well, everyone says he just left the island. Must have done.”

Elwin closed the distance further, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking slightly up at the boy on the window ledge. “What happened?”

“He disappeared.” Valor said simply. But those two words held more ominous vibes then an entire dictionary. “He was my friend, he read to me. Well, more than friends . . .”

“Oh.” Elwin was a bit shocked, but tried to keep it out of his voice.

“So don’t say Prin cares about me. Or he might “run away” too. And leave all his belongings behind . . . Including money. And a smell. A sweat-blood-fear smell.” Valor shook his head. “Never mind, just never mind it anyway. I’m not allowed to have something like that . . .”

“Did anyone look for him?” Elwin asked.

“Do I seem like I can look for someone!?” Valor yelled. “With who’s eyes!?” He lifted his head towards Elwin, his eyes full of nothing glaring vaguely in his direction.

He had done it now. “I’m sorry.” Elwin said. “Do you want a bath? The rain . . ?”

“No.” Valor said, voice gone quiet again, deflated.

“How about I just help you change your clothes then?” Elwin offered. “And bring you some hot soup?”

“No. Leave me alone.” Valor buried his head in his knees again. The long-furred cat sat on his foot and purred.

“You shouldn’t sit there in wet clothes.” Elwin said. “After you get changed, I could read to you.”

“Get out of here!” Valor yelled. “You’re making me wish I was dead!”

“Okay, okay.” Elwin stood up and went toward the door. His hand on the knob, he had an epiphany. “Do you want me to look for him?”

Valor began to laugh, softly at first but rising into a hysterical crescendo.

Elwin was barely able to dodge the shoe that was thrown at him on the way out the door. He heard it thump against the wooden door as he closed it behind himself.