A smile came to the zeta's face as he approached the breezeway where he had made the decision to disappear from the prince's side. "Inso!" Syri greeted as he approached the bench beneath the breezeway. Estan turned his head to see the zeta walking up to him; a smile instantly made its way to his face.
"Syri!" The gamma returned in greeting as he stood to his feet and opened his arms. "Ohhh how I've missed you," Estan said as Syri walked into his arms. The gamma wrapped the zeta in his embrace and ruffled the top of Syri's head as he asked, "How have you been? How's the job? How about your co-workers? Do they treat you well? How's the living condition? Are you getting enough to eat?"
Syri laughed lightly at the gamma's mothering inquiries as he stepped out of Estan's embrace. "I'm fine, Inso," the zeta assured the fretting gamma as he led the blonde to the bench. "How are you?" Syri inquired of the gamma as the two sat down.
"I'm okay," Estan replied with a soft nod. "Now, tell me aaaaaall about it. Are you adjusting well?" The gamma's expression was tender as he inquired about the zeta's past few days as a worker.
Syri let out a breath before beginning, "Everyone is nice and has been helping me learn the ropes. They treat me well and make sure to help me whenever I make a mistake. My room is just how I like it; I can watch the sun rise and set from my window, and the closet is nice. I have plenty to eat as the royal researcher's apprentice brings us food every day." Estan remained silent as he listened intently to the zeta. "I get to talk to Ajax everyday. I haven't really talked to Tran because I am not his caretaker, but he seems nice. All in all, I enjoy working with everyone."
"I'm so glad you are enjoying it," Estan commented as the zeta concluded the summary of his most recent days. A moment of silence passed between the two as the gamma turned his head to look at the stars twinkling in the night sky. "Inso," the zeta's soft voice sounded after a moment, drawing the gamma's gaze. "Let's meet up here every night," Syri proposed with a small smile. He could tell the gamma was concerned for him, and he wanted to assure Estan he would be alright. So, Syri thought it best to meet with the gamma each night to ease Estan's worry.
Estan smiled at the zeta and nodded as he replied, "Let's do that." Syri returned the smile before leaning his head onto the gamma's shoulder. Estan released a coo in adoration of the cute zeta and wrapped an arm around the exhausted male. The two sat in silence beneath the stars as Estan affectionately patted the zeta's shoulder. Syri felt himself falling asleep on the gamma's shoulder, but there was one last thing he wanted to tell Estan, so he spoke before he completely passed out from the tiring day. "I saw Jae the other night," Syri said quietly.
The gamma's rhythm on the zeta's shoulder paused for a split second as the physician heard Syri's words before returning to its normal pace as Estan asked, "Did he see you?" Syri shook his head against Estan's shoulder as he replied, "No, but he nearly did. I was going back to my room from the stables when I smelled him. He smelled me, too, but I hid behind a tree."
"He must have thought he was smelling things," the gamma commented with a slight chuckle to lift the mood. A sad smile came to the zeta's lips as he responded, "Yeah...I guess so..."
"You miss him...don't you?" Estan inquired as he heard the sadness in Syri's voice. The zeta let out a sigh before answering, "...I do."
"He misses you, too," Estan revealed as he looked down at the male resting on his shoulder. Syri's lips parted slightly as his warm brown eyes gazed up at the gamma; they were glistening. "Did you give him the note?" Syri inquired. His voice was barely above a whisper. Estan nodded as he answered, "I did. The matter was settled once he read it." The gamma took a breath before adding, "At first, he wouldn't believe me. He insisted to find you, but after he read the note...he said nothing more about it."
The zeta became conflicted by the gamma's words. He was relieved the prince was not searching for him, but he regretted not telling the prince goodbye and, no matter how hard he tried, Syri knew he would never be able to remove the prince from his heart entirely. A tear trickled down the zeta's cheek as Syri closed his eyes. "How is he?" Syri knew he should not be inquiring about the prince; it would only make it harder to move on, but the zeta had wondered about the prince for nearly the entirety of the past few days.
Estan brought his hand to the zeta's head and began running his fingers through Syri's soft, pink hair as he answered, "He has been quiet, hardly speaking a word. He's buried himself in his work and remains alone most of the day. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but don't worry. I'm sure he'll come around eventually." Estan's voice was kind as he informed the zeta of the prince's condition.
"Punch him for me if he doesn't," Syri requested through silent tears as he gazed at the stars. A small smile came to the gamma's lip as he replied, "For sure."