Coming back to the outer world the two saw Fabius Maximus rolling on the floor while trying to get rid of strange red creepers that were entangled around his whole body. Only two angry eyes were staring at John with fury.
John, on the other hand, sat near the well and plunged his feet inside. His green eyes warmly shone as they appeared. ''Welcome back.''
Anne glanced at John then at Fabius Maximus then sighed. ''The two of you must compromise. I have no wish to see this situation every single time when I come out.''
Hearing her words John just rolled his eyes. ''He is like a two-headed rhinoceros mixed with a bull. I just teased him a tiny bit, but in the end, he couldn't stop chasing me, even after I said that I am sorry multiple times. So I had to turn him into a bundle.''
Unfortunately for Fabius Maximus, he couldn't tell her the real reason why he was chasing John, so he just silently staring daggers at John. If eyes could kill...
"Sorry?" His voice was seeping with sarcasm. "Let me out and you will really be sorry..."
But instead of letting him out, more of those things tightly held his body, making him unable to move.
Jenny poked John. "It seems you are holding grudges for a long time. If he is childish, do you need to compete with him? I never thought you would be such a person. I was wrong, I thought you are different."
John saw her turning away from him and became strangely anxious. Not many people accepted him, the true him. He waved his hand and rushed to her. "Look, I let him go."
At this moment Jenny had a hard time to keep a straight face. Seriously? After she spoke about how childish that was, he undid his actions and childishly almost asked for her praise.
She patted his shoulder lightly and nodded. "Well done. You see, you are not as childish."
Fabius Maximus stood up and was about to attack John but stopped.
With a swing, he pointed at the tip of John's nose with a sword and childishly pouted. "What's wrong being childish. He started it."
Jenny rolled her eyes and looked at the silent Anne. "Seriously?"
Anne understood her and chuckled. "I think it is kind of cute. Showing his vulnerable side in front of us, means he trust us enough."
She suddenly winked at Fabius Maximus. Seeing her wink, he froze in motion and his ears became red. With quite a speed, he rushed to her and pointed at his ripped clothes. "Look what he did. This time it was truly not my fault."
Anne patted his head. "I know, I know. Now let's go. I'd like to see more of this world."
She suddenly held his arm and started walking while he dazedly let her have her way. As he was new to this world, he couldn't tell her what is what, but he could be by her side to protect her. So they held each other's arms, like an old pair that lived together for decades.
John looked at Jenny and just smiled mischievously. ''Should I?''
She shrugged. ''If you really plan to become a plant, sure. He is still angry and he might just burry you literally into the ground like some kind of flower.''
John waved his hair and smiled. ''I'm prettier than a flower now, would he have the heart to do it?''
Her eyes flashed as she saw his feminine movements. Is it what she thinks?
There was silence and he peeked at her and saw her looking at him curiously. ''What?''
''Uhm, don't take me wrong, but how comes you are not married and have a bunch of children and grandchildren. You are good looking, single, smart, emotional and I don't see any negative aspects.'' Jenny really wondered.
''But I am who I am. What woman with a right mind would want to be by my side?'' His eyes became cloudy and he sighed. ''Never mind. I am used to be alone.''
Jenny shook her head. ''But since you know now how it is to have friends, why don't you rethink your decision? And if there is no woman you can find a man and...''
John suddenly stopped as he realized what she was insinuating. ''Uhm, no. My preference is towards females.''
She nodded. There are people that are playful like John and there are men that are just effeminate but not having the preference to the same-sex. Anyway, she just accepted it and smiled at him. ''Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Anyway, maybe one day you might find someone who will like you because of who you are. Do not hide in some garden again. The world is so big and open. And now your world is safer than mine. What is the problem? On top of it, you have us as well.''
The world is big so John could go wherever he wanted. No need to hide in one tiny spot only because he was a tiny bit different than other people. He understood that and smiled. ''I know. It was just that I got older and felt age deeply inside my soul, not only my body. And people are annoying most of the time.''
Anne turned her head with a big smile. ''Yep. Usually I hate people as well.''
Looking at her smiling face John chuckled. ''What about me and that big grizzly next to you?''
''You are my friends. It is different. People are all others.'' She smiled as he looked at him and almost fell down as she stepped on a stone and slipped on it.
Fabius Maximus had quite fast reflexes and caught her on time then grumbled. ''Looking at unrelated people will bring you death. Look, now you almost broke your leg.''
Anne rolled her eyes and pointed at her arm that he held with his claws. ''I'm more worried about my arm. Its turning purple.''
Her hand literally was turning blue as held her very tightly. She understood it was because he got scared, but he was still holding her and she had to tell him. When he realized, he let go off her hand and looked at her arm. They had bruises on her arm and then he suddenly fainted...