Chapter 13: "Storm"

The summer days grew shorter and before they knew it, fall was fading into early winter. Theodore struggled with dreams at night and let his mind wander during his experimentation during the day. It was filled with thoughts of Ky. How he smiled, laughed, and moved when they sparred. It was driving him crazy. He didn’t know what to do with himself when Ky was around, but he also couldn’t seem to get anything done when he wasn’t.

Their sparring matches had increased to three times a week, but it had been almost two weeks since Ky had been here last. The rain had gotten heavier making the pass incredibly dangerous. Theodore had gotten his hopes up at breakfast when the weather was clear, but by noon it was pouring again.

Theodore had given up pacing the front windows in the living room and returned to his workroom. He sat working through chemical formulas, trying to combine the right metals for his next experimental sword. As evening waned on, the thunder rumbled overhead, startling him. His pen streaked across the paper leaving a hard line through some good numbers. Theodore muttered a curse as he started rewriting the formula.

The rain battered the side of the house while the wind pressed against its sides in waves. The stone house stood firm and warm against the railing storm as it would a hundred years from now.

Theodore cocked his head as he listened. He couldn’t tell if he’d just heard a knock or more of the wind causing havoc. He decided to check anyway. He was fed up with his studies as it was. The chair screeched against the stone floor as he pushed back. Again, what seemed like a series of knocks played through the house, but it sounded weak against the storm.

Theodore padded down the carpeted hall towards the heavy wooden front door. The knocks were uneven and frail, but consistent. He assumed it was a tree branch from the front oak, but his heart sped at the fleeting thought that it might be Ky.

He took a deep breath as he prepared for disappointment and opened the door. The wind blasted the door open. Ky stumbled forward, wet and shivering, falling against Theodore’s chest. Theodore brought a protective arm up around Ky’s small frame, hugging him tightly against him as the wind whipped around them.

Theodore pulled Ky back with him a couple of steps and with his free arm, he slammed the heavy door shut against the wind. The room fell quiet and the air warmed.

Ky’s cold body melted against him in exhaustion. Theodore felt his other arm encircle Ky of its own accord. His heart raced and he didn’t even know what he was doing. All he knew was that Ky was shivering and he couldn’t help himself. He rested his chin on the top of Ky’s head. The wet brown hair stuck to his cheek. His hands moved up and down on Ky’s cold wet arm sleeves as he tried his best to warm him up.

“Ky? Is that you?” Master’s voice rang from behind them.

Theodore jumped back, leaving Ky hugging himself alone in the entry way. Theodore all of a sudden didn’t know what to do with his hands. He felt as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t have, but he was just keeping Ky from falling against the wind. Right?

“I’ll… Let me get you a towel,” Theodore stuttered. He darted down the hall to the linen closet leaving Master alone with Ky. He ducked his head as he passed Master, avoiding eye contact and the inevitable smirk he knew to be playing on his lips.

Theodore dashed around the corner and caught his breath. His clothes were damp and his own hands shook. He didn’t know why he had done that. Why he had held Ky that way. That was not how friends should act. It was like he couldn’t help himself. Ky’s sweet scent lingered on him, intensified by the rainwater. It smelled of dirt, sweat, and horse, but also that alluring musk he assumed to be herbs, but couldn’t be positive.

He sighed and cleared his mind. He had to get a steady head about this. He was over thinking this. Ky was his friend and he was helping him. That was all. Theodore snagged at towel from the closet and returned to find Master and Ky standing in front of the fireplace in the sitting room.

Master beckoned him forward and Theodore handed over the towel. Ky removed his brown jacket and Theodore took it from him. It was heavy with water that dripped off in rivulets. Theodore looked up to see Ky’s white shirt soaked through and clinging to him. It hugged the curve of his side beneath the towel he clung to. Theodore stood transfixed and familiar words rang through his head. “Are you sure about that?”

Ky caught him staring and pulled the towel up higher around his sides. Was that a blush he detected or was she just flushed from the wind? Wait… no. He. Was he flushed from the wind? Theodore blinked. Was he starting to believe this? Was his best friend a girl? Theodore all of sudden found it very hard to look at her… him. His head hurt from all this uncertainty.

“You are chilled to the bone, my dear. Let’s have you take a bath and warm up. Theodore?”

“Yes, Master.” Theodore was glad for something to do to get away from this situation. He darted back down the hall and started the bath in the bathing room. He laid out a set of towels and found himself taking great care to organize the hygiene supplies. He stepped back and shook his head. What was he doing? This was Ky. He had taken baths here a few times before. He already knew Theodore’s bathroom was a little messy. But this new thought sinking into his core was making him act crazy. He flipped the water off and returned to the living room.

“It’s ready,” Theodore said.

Master pushed Ky in the direction of the bath, handing him over to Theodore. Ky gave a little smile, a blush crept over his face as he walked towards him. Theodore turned quickly and walked in front of him before Ky could see his own. No. What was he thinking? It wasn’t a blush. Ky was wet from the rain. That was all.

Theodore led Ky to the bathroom. He gestured with his hand. Ky went in but stopped in the door frame.

“Thanks,” he whispered and shut the door behind him, leaving Theodore alone in the hallway gaping for words.

Had Ky just winked at him? What the hell was that? No, no. That was his imagination. Definitely. Probably.

Theodore ran his fingers through his hair. He was losing his mind. He fought the sudden urge to barge in and settle his once and for all but instead stomped back to his workroom. He sat and stared at his chemical formulas without seeing them. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there until a quiet voice roused him from his thoughts.

“Theodore?” Ky asked tentatively.

Theodore turned. Ky was standing wrapped in a towel all the way up under his arms. He started at him…her? Again his mind flickered between the two. Boys didn’t wear towels like that.

“Theodore?” Ky asked again.

Theodore realized he was starting dumbly. “A…yes?” He stuttered.

“Can I borrow some clothes?”

“Oh… yeah. Yes. One sec.” He stood and walked towards the door where Ky was standing. As he got closer, he couldn’t help but look Ky over. He slowed as he approached the door until Ky was right in front of him. His brown eyes looked at him questioning his movements.

“Theo…?” Ky’s face was flushing bright pink under the freckles and Theodore was having a hard time concentrating.

“Clothes… in my room,” he managed to get out.

“Oh, right.” Ky stepped to the side.

Theodore wrenched his eyes from him and focused on his mission. Clothes. Right, clothes. He reached his room and sifted through drawers until he found a smaller pair of pants and a shirt that didn’t fit anymore. He wished for a fleeting moment he had something even smaller but pushed the thought aside. He had to focus.

He turned quickly with the pile of clothes in hand. He went to step out the door just as Ky came around the corner. They collided. Theodore’s free hand reached out and grasped Ky’s arm to steady the both of them. The skin beneath his fingers was so smooth and soft, with a gentle ripple of muscle just beneath.

A pulling sensation from his other arm drew his attention. Ky was pulling the clothes from his other arm. His head was lowered as he pulled at the clothing. Theodore released them and his hand released his arm but lingered on the soft skin a moment more.

As soon as Ky had the clothes, he spun and vanished back toward the bathroom. Theodore stood staring after him…her…? Did it matter anymore? The feelings that arose in him made him want more and the fact that Ky might be a boy seemed to matter less and less. The biggest question was, did Ky feel that way about him? And how could he find out without losing him as a friend?

He pushed his raging emotions back down where they belonged. He just needed to act normal. He sucked in a breath and filled his chest. It was time for some tea and dinner. His Master would insist, of course. He probably even forgot to make it. The kitchen was such a mess anyone could forget what they came in there for.

He arrived to find Master thumbing through the cupboards. The water on the stove was boiling over and there were bits and pieces of sandwich material scattered across the counter in a cleared away space.

Theodore hurried to rescue the pot form the stove and poured it into the teapot. Master was distracted with something on the opposite counter. With a sigh, Theodore took over making the sandwiches and was arranging them on the tray when his master finished.

“Such a good boy.” Master patted him on the shoulder. “Come now, let’s take care of our friend.”

Theodore followed after his master. “Where’s Cherry? Should I go get her?”

“Ky said he already dropped her in the stable for the night.”

“The night? Ky’s staying the night?”

Master turned and gave Theodore a confused look. “Should I send him back out in this storm? It’s already getting dark. I don’t think…”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant. I just… I didn’t think that far ahead.”

Master gave him a sly smile. He looked as if he was going to say something more but thought better of it. He turned and continued down the hall. Theodore followed dutifully after.

When they reached the sitting room, Ky was sitting patiently on the couch, tapping his fingers on his leg.

Theodore laid the tray on the coffee table. Ky ducked his head to avoid eye contact and grabbed a sandwich off the tray. Theodore could feel the heat rising to his face.

“I forgot something,” he mumbled as an excuse and darted back down the hall.

He didn’t know what he’d forgotten, but he just wanted the time to collect his thoughts. Ky was staying the night. Where? In his room? In the sitting room or the living room? Well, if he was a boy, sharing a bed wouldn’t be inappropriate, it would be expected. The thought excited him, but if Ky was a girl that would make her very uncomfortable. He should be the gentleman here and decline. Even if Ky was a boy, that would still be appropriate. He nodded. That was the best course.

He looked around the hall. He needed something to return with. After a moment, he grabbed a spare blanket from the linen closet and returned.

Master sat across from Ky pouring the tea. Theodore walked in but hesitated. His first instinct was to throw it over Ky’s shoulders, but now that seemed weird. He stood there a moment, drawing Ky’s and Master’s eyes. The blanket hung in his hand. He blinked realizing the eyes on him and with teeth gritted he draped the blanket over Ky’s shoulders and quickly sat in the armchair.

“Ky was just telling me about the ride over,” Master said.

Theodore forced his voice out. “How… How was it?”

Ky’s eyes looked to him and then darted to the floor. “It started out nice. Cherry and I rode fast, but we rode right into the head of the storm. She took care of me though and somehow we made it here.” Ky lifted his eyes. “I already took her to the stables.”

Theodore nodded. “Master told me.” He locked eyes with Ky. The tension filled the room. Theodore could feel the question burning on his tongue. He bit his lip to keep it at bay.

Master clapped his hands together, startling both of them. “I have a lot of work to do. I assume you can take care of Ky’s needs this evening?” He stuck a finger in the air. “I am not to be disturbed.”

Theodore nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Alright, Ky, you are in good hands. Don’t get up to too much trouble and I’ll see you in the morning.” Master limped out of the room.

A heavy silence followed his exit. Ky pulled at the fringe on the blanket. Theodore finished a sandwich with impossibly small bites.

Ky cleared his throat. His high voice chimed weakly. “Where do I sleep?”

The same thought was coursing through his own head. “You can… a… have my bed.”

The gesture was two-pronged. He looked like a nice guy but also his bed would smell like Ky. That thought drew a smile to his lips.

“That’s okay, really. Do you think I can just sleep here on the couch?”

Theodore shook his head slowly. “Master wouldn’t like that. These are the fancy couches.” Theodore leaned in and whispered, “He won’t even let me take naps on them.”

“Oh.” Ky frowned. “Where will you sleep then?”

“I’ve got a mattress pad and some extra blankets. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“In your room?”

Theodore nodded. “Unless…”

Ky put up his hands quickly. “No, no. That’s fine. It’s your room.”

“Okay, then.”

“Okay.”

The sound of the grandfather clock clicked as they stared at each other.

“Well, I better get ready for bed,” Theodore said and got up. “You should eat another sandwich. They’ll just go bad if you don’t. We lose everything in that kitchen.” He ducked out of the room without waiting for the reply.

He showered and dressed, taking his time and showing great care to his personal hygiene. He readied the beds then went to retrieve Ky.

He found him asleep, head drooping forward in a sitting position. The blanket had fallen from his shoulders.

Theodore leaned down in front of him. A curtain of brown hair hung over his eyes. Theodore fought his hand to keep from touching it. It looked so silky and soft.

“Ky?” Theodore whispered. “Ky?” He placed a tentative hand on his shoulder and gave a little squeeze.

Ky jumped and sat bolt upright. His big brown eyes blinked with sleep as he took in his surroundings and then realized where he was. “Right, no sleeping on the couch.”

Theodore suppressed a laugh and instead gave him a shrug. “Come on, I’ll get you settled in.”

Ky got to his feet and followed Theodore to his room. Theodore gestured to the neatly made bed. “It’s all yours.”

Ky’s eyes darted between the bed and the mattress pad on the floor. “I feel weird taking your bed. I can—”

Theodore ended his sentence with a shove that launched Ky forward and into the bed.

“Quit arguing with me and get some sleep,” Theodore said. He was starting to feel a little more like himself like he was just Ky’s friend again and all that weirdness was in the back of his mind and out of sight.

Ky gave a half smile after turning around in the bed. “Alright, but you insisted.”

“That, I did.” Theodore stepped forward to the mattress pad and pulled his shirt off over his head. He leaned forward to turn off the light on the nightstand and found Ky’s eyes transfixed on him.

Theodore gave a coy smile and flicked the light off. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Ky whispered.

Theodore slid into the sheets. Ky was definitely into him. Girl or guy didn’t seem to matter to him either, or else Ky was just staring at him like that because, well, because… he couldn’t come up with a good reason, or maybe he just didn’t want to. He’d have to try again in the morning to be sure. He rolled over and fell asleep with a smile on his lips.

Copyright 2019 Ava Altair

#norwescon #freefiction