"Is he alright?" a woman asked, gently touching Silas' shoulder. Silas blinked a moment, confused.
"What?" he asked. The woman gestured to… Aarav? How could she see him?
"Those bandages on his arm… why, they're seeped with blood! Is he alright?" she asked him again. Silas glanced at Aarav, hesitating. His bandage was, in fact, very bloodied. He was quiet, quickly glancing around. No one else was near that had a bloodied, bandaged arm?
"Uhm… him?" he asked, pointing to Aarav.
"Yes, of course, him!" the woman said, giving him a concerned, odd look. Aarav furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"You can… see me?" Aarav asked slowly. The woman turned the odd look onto him now, utter confusion on her face. She paused a moment, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Of course I… should… I call someone? Did you two uhm… hit your head?" she questioned quietly. The two just stared at her in confused silence. Awkwardly, the woman slowly walked away, just as confused as them.
"They… can see…," Silas started slowly.
"…me," Aarav finished. He glanced around slightly. A man nodded to him as he walked by.
And… he felt insecure, out of nowhere. He felt seen, for the first time in… how long? Over ten years, right? Yes, over ten years… and… it was terrifying. He didn't want to be seen. His breathing got shallow, his head beginning to spin.
No… no, he did not like this. He didn't like being heard, seen by people other than Silas. He thought – he thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad earlier, but now? He wasn't prepared for it, not now. It was… it… just… wasn't natural, not to him. It was absolutely terrifying, he concluded, feeling his chest get tight.
Then he felt Silas place his hand on his shoulder. He jumped, looking at Silas in fear. "What.. what the fuck… did that – that guy–…," he trailed off, his voice shaking. Silas gave a small smile. He was unsure, but he was trying to help.
"I… I'm not sure," Silas said helplessly. "Let's just… go back, ok?" Aarav nodded quickly.
He wanted out of the view of everyone as soon as possible.
Aarav sat on the floor immediately, shaking. He didn't like the shaking. It made everything feel so real – but it couldn't be real. He felt so scared, the most scared he'd ever felt. No, that wasn't true… he'd felt this before. Years ago.
He closed his eyes tightly. Before he had died, he'd felt it, oh yes… many times. But he wasn't alive. He was dead. He was invisible. All of this, it reminded him of his life before, and it was terrifying. He didn't want to think about that.
Aarav felt the presence of Silas beside him, and he felt a bit of that fear shrink away. It was still there, but… but it felt better. He felt a blanket drape over his shoulder before Silas sat beside him. He kept his gaze on the floor.
Silas chewed his cheek, trying to think of ways to get his friend to feel better. He glanced at Aarav, quiet.
"I… I felt this way when I lost my sight… and even when I got it back. I don't know what you're thinking right now, but, I… I can tell you this. Things will get better. I promise they will. And… I'll be here with you every step of the way… ok?"
Aarav closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Silas would be there. Not because he couldn't leave, because he wanted to be there… he never once complained about having to be there. This… this felt better, he thought. It felt like everything would be ok. And for once… he believed it.
The two stayed in the rest of that day, leaving the apartment early that morning.
Aarav took a small sip of his coffee, eyes darting around. He really didn't want to be out, but he desperately wanted a coffee. Silas had convinced him to go out as well, claiming the more he got used to being seen, the better it would be to handle.
Of course, Aarav didn't believe this. But Silas insisted, and promised that the second Aarav got too uncomfortable, they would go back. So, Aarav agreed.
"What are we even doing out here, Si? Shouldn't you be working?" Aarav asked, trying to distract himself.
"Working my entire life!" Silas said, placing a hand on his chest. "Oh, could you imagine? How boring would that be!"
Aarav rolled his eyes, sipping the coffee. "That doesn't answer my question though. Why are we out?"
Silas took a deep breath. "It's a fine day, isn't it? Nice and cool," he said, stretching. Aarav glanced at him, earning a small shrug. "I just wanted to get out. Do you have anything in mind?"
"I don't get out much," Aarav said, taking another sip. "In fact, most of my decisions are, truly, yours," he muttered. Silas ignored this comment, looking around. He gave a small hum.
"Well… there's got to be something to do around here," he said cheerily.
Aarav was quiet a moment, frowning at his cup. He had finished all the coffee. "There's always the bar," he muttered.
Silas frowned, furrowing his eyebrows as he looked at Aarav. "Why would we go to the bar? Neither of us drink – there's no use!"
"You could play the piano."
"That's a job!"
Aarav allowed a small smile to cross his face, looking at Silas. "Not if you want to do it."
"Well… I don't want to."
"I want you to," Aarav insisted. "Please, Si? Play a song for me – it'll make me feel more comfortable."
Silas hesitated. He sighed dramatically, before starting to walk towards the nearest bar.
Aarav rested his head on the empty table, eyes closed. He hummed softly along with the song Silas was playing. At first, he thought he wouldn't be able to get the song – the bartender was reluctant to let Silas play. But after convincing the bartender he wasn't trying to get paid, Silas was allowed to play.
Claps came at the end of the song, making Silas' ears go pink. He walked back over to Aarav, sitting next to him. He sighed, leaning back in chair. It was quiet in the room, small chatter and the occasional laughter coming from the odd table. It was nice. Rare was it that there was not a fight in a bar.
"That was good," Aarav complimented. Silas nodded slightly, stretching his limbs slightly.
"Thanks," he grunted. He glanced around, immediately bored. "Now what?"
Aarav raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Do you ever take a break, Si?"
"Not if I can help it," Silas said, smiling brightly. "Really though. Its so… boring, just sitting and doing nothing. Can't we find something to do, Aar?"
"I have something for you to do."
Silas jumped at the new voice. He didn't even need to turn around; he knew that smug tone anywhere. Aarav stood, immediately ready to fight Ruk. He was quickly shoved down by an invisible force, locking him to the chair. He glared in bitter anger at Ruk.
"Now, now," Ruk said, pulling a seat over with his magic. "You wouldn't like to start a barfight, would you? People can see you now, remember."
Ruk plopped down in the backwards chair, resting his arms on the back of the seat. Aarav scowled.
"Get a job and stop following us, you perverted prick," he grumbled. Ruk glanced at him, a calm, indifferent expression crossing his face. He winked quietly, turning his attention back to Silas.
"Been lookin' all over for you, barmaid," he said, a smug smirk coming back to his lips
"Don't call me that," Silas hissed quietly.
"Oh? Then you will give me your name?" Ruk questioned, tilting his head. Silas scoffed.
"You don't have to know my name to not call me 'barmaid'," he muttered.
Ruk's smirk grew a little as he raised an eyebrow. "Fair point… alright then, darlin'. Anyway – you're bored, are you not? I can help with that," he suggested, resting his head on his arms.
"We don't need nor want your help," Aarav growled. Ruk only gave him a short glance.
"Your puppy-dog sure is annoying," he muttered. "In any case, its not exactly you that needs the help. Truthfully… I could benefit with yours." Silas' eyebrows raised at that. What could this guy want from him?
Ruk looked up, thinking a moment. "You see… well, because of your little issue with the Don of… oh, what was it… Galet, right? Anyway, because of that issue, I have gotten in trouble. Now, I request your help to get me out of it."
"Wait, so – you're telling me that because you killed people, its my fault you get in trouble?"
Ruk tilted his head again, raising his hand slightly. "Really, Orah was the one killing. But yea, pretty much."
"That's not fair," Aarav barked bitterly, "he didn't do anything!"
Ruk frowned a little. "Well, if you count avoiding a fee and running from a don… which prompted men to come into my town, pick a fight with me… truthfully, I was being good by helping a friend in need!"
"'Friend'? Fuck you," Aarav muttered. Ruk ignored it.
"Now," he said, "are you willing to help or not?"
Silas chewed his cheek. "What do you need help with?"
"Well… it's a bit… confidential. Perhaps, we could go back to your—"
"Hell no," Aarav snapped. "You're not getting anywhere near our apartment, you sick fuck!"
"What makes you think I don't know where you live already?" Ruk asked in an innocent voice. That got Aarav to shut up. Ruk smirked, giving a wink. "I don't bite, doll. Unless you like that. But, I get it – lets just go outside, then."
Aarav bristled as Ruk stood, walking out the door. He let out a small sigh of relief as the magic released him. Silas stumbled to stand, quickly following Ruk out. He pushed the doors open, looking around. Ruk was to his right, leaning against the wall.
He almost looked like he'd been there a while, a cigar propped in his mouth. Aarav watching in disgust as Ruk raised a lighter to the end of it.
"Problem, pup?" Ruk questioned, raising an eyebrow. Aarav scowled, clearly not approving of the nickname.
"Put that away," he grumbled. "We're not going to do shit for you if you keep acting like a druggie-fuck the whole time."
Ruk scoffed, but returned the unlit cigar and lighter to his pocket. He smirked a little to Aarav. "Aww, but I am a druggie-fuck, puppy-dog!" he cooed sarcastically. Aarav bristled again, getting in Ruk's face.
"Don't call me that," he growled in a low, warning tone. The smirk never left Ruk's face.
"Make me."
"Stop it, Aarav!" Silas' voice came. Reluctantly, Aarav backed off. Ruk winked to him a little.
"Good boy," he muttered. Aarav didn't move, but his eyes burned with hatred. Ruk turned his smug smile to Silas. "You've got him well trained."
"You're pushing your fuckin luck, pervert," Aarav growled. Ruk waved the comment away.
"Well," he sighed. "Like I said, I need your help. This… Don of Galet. In order to… 'atone for our sins', so to speak. By throwing a… party, of types. One to speak of business, or pleasure, or whatever the fuck he wants. The shit won't be there, of course – he's too good for petty parties. But if we don't go, it's pretty much war."
"It's going to take more than a party to atone for your damn sins," Aarav muttered.
"Mm, the sooner you shut up, the sooner I leave!" Ruk said. His voice had mock friendliness in it, hiding the bitterness that lie underneath. Aarav bit his tongue, looking away. "Good. I suppose what I'm saying here is," Ruk paused, "I'm inviting you to the ball, princess."
"Don't call me that," Silas said quickly, frowning. Ruk rolled his eyes.
"Buzzkill," he chuckled. "Alright, alright. Anyway… its this… formal… get-together, one could say. And I'd like for you to come."
"So you don't… need us, then?" Silas pointed out slowly. Ruk raised a hand, stopping him.
"Ahh, no," he said, "I do need you. This is your problem, remember?"
"You didn't need to kill them."
"Orah killed them," Ruk stressed. Silas shrugged.
"That's not really enough reason for me to owe you."
Ruk sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. "Fine, fine. Then I ask you politely; please, come with me."
"Why? Just tell me what you need – or, want – from me?" Silas asked, genuinely curiously.
"Look," Ruk sighed, "I'm gonna be honest with you. There's this gal there, she wants to be with me. Like, really wants it."
"Sounds like a you problem," Aarav said. Ruk ignored it.
"She… happens to be one of the Don's girls. So… to get this issue dealt, I'm assuming I will be forced to get with her. Thing is, she's a bitch. Excuse me – I meant I don't like her. So, if you come with me…."
"You want me… to pretend to be your date for the night?"
Ruk shrugged. "Not exactly. I just want you to show up with me. What people assume is, well, what they assume. There's no stopping thoughts and assumptions, you know," he smirked. Silas narrowed his eyes a bit.
"What's in it for me?"
"Oh, your life," he said casually. Aarav stepped forward, fists clenched. "Down dog!" Ruk smirked. "I'm only joking. What do you want? Money?"
Silas frowned. "I don't want your money."
"Then tell me what you do want, doll," he said in a disinterested way, leaning against the wall. He seemed bored by the whole ordeal.
Silas paused a moment, thinking quietly. He bite his cheek a little. What did he want? He didn't want money, that was for sure; no, money would be too easy for this rich jerk.
"You owe me," Silas said. "I don't know what it is yet, but you owe me, ok?"
Ruk smirked. He held out his hand. "Deal."