"Who... you again? What’s your na? You’re the prince...?"
Ezra could hear the effort in Lior’s voice. Careful. Polite. Trying to rember the right way to speak. He also heard the tension beneath it. Not fear, not quite. Just uncertainty.
’He’s still guarded,’ Ezra thought. ’But he’s not panicking.’
Maybe because he knew Ezra was nearby.
Even if Ezra had been pretending to sleep.
Helios let out a soft chuckle. "Forgot my na already?"
"Am I... sappos to rember? I’m only four."
Helios went quiet.
Ezra’s eyes flew open for a split second before he quickly buried his face deeper into his forearms.
Thank Aurethys for that position. Neither of them could see his expression.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or sink through the floor.
Then Helios laughed. Louder this ti.
"First of all, it’s ’supposed.’"
"Hmph. That is what I said."
"Of course it is," Helios replied, clearly trying to contain his amusent. "Second, I apologize for expecting you to rember my na when you are only four. My na is Helios."
"Hee... yos?"
Lior was usually very clear for his age, but so words still tripped him. Especially unfamiliar ones.
Ezra heard Helios shift. The mattress dipped slightly.
"That works," Helios said warmly as he sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling, Lior?"
There was a pause.
Instead of answering, Lior asked, "What... happen?"
"You don’t rember?" Helios asked gently.
’They’re just answering questions with questions,’ Ezra thought, faintly amused with that exchange.
"Nuh uh."
"You passed out," Helios explained. "The doctor said you ate too much candy."
There was a sharp intake of breath.
"Uh oh... uh oh..." Lior’s voice shrank. "Is... is Ma–Master... mad? Was he... crossed with ?"
The worry in his tone sliced straight through Ezra.
’Mad?’ Ezra thought, frowning against his arms. ’Why would I ever be mad at you?’
Helios seed to echo the sa thought aloud.
"Now why would Ezra be mad at you, hm?"
"W-Well..." Lior rushed out, words tumbling over each other. "Master told eating too much candy will make my teeth hurt. I said I will only eat a bit but I ate a lot. And now I’m sick and— and— no more candies! I don’t want no more candies—"
It was the usual spiral.
The guilty rambling that happened whenever he thought he had disappointed soone.
Or specifically his Maman.
"Lior, calm down," Helios said softly.
"I need to say sorry to Mama— Master—"
Ezra felt small fingers wrap around his hand.
Warm. Clutching.
Lior was reaching for him.
Ezra nearly lifted his head right then. He was ready to tell him he wasn’t asleep. Ready to pull him close.
But before he could—
"Don’t worry, little one," Helios said again.
Ezra felt another hand settle over theirs.
Larger.
And a lot warr.
Helios’s hand.
It covered Lior’s small fingers and Ezra’s hand beneath, sandwiching them together.
Ezra felt Lior stiffen instantly.
There was a tiny twitch. A sharp inhale.
Then, very politely—
"Please don’t touch , Mr. Heyos."
Ezra’s heart stopped for a beat.
Lior’s voice wasn’t rude.
It wasn’t angry.
Just firm.
Careful.
And wary.
"Oh, my apologies again." Helios imdiately withdrew his hand, no offense taken, no pride wounded. "I only ant to help you calm down. Let Ezra rest for a bit. He’s been taking care of you all day, you know?"
There was a small pause.
"He’s... tired?" Lior asked quietly.
"Very tired," Helios replied. His voice softened in a way Ezra rarely heard outside private monts. "And he’s not mad at you. If anything, he was upset with himself."
"R-Really?" Lior’s voice carried that fragile innocence again. "But it’s my fault."
"That’s not what he thinks," Helios said gently. "You know, I’ve known Ezra for a very, very long ti. I know how he thinks. How he acts. Why does he do things."
Ezra felt his breath catch.
’What are you doing...?’ he wondered, listening carefully.
"Very long?" Lior echoed. "How long?"
Helios humd thoughtfully. "More than ten years, I think. Maybe more. I’m not entirely sure anymore. We t because he saved ."
Silence.
Then—
"Master did?" Lior gasped, amazent flooding his tone. The tension in his voice lted away. "Like a hero who adventures around kingdoms and help people? Or like Crimson?"
Ezra almost lifted his head at that.
’Crimson?’ he thought, startled.
Helios sounded amused. "Crimson? Who is Crimson?"
"Ooo Crimson is a really cool knight!" Lior rushed to explain. "All his friends got eaten by Dark Ones so he vowed to fight them forever. He’s like a hero."
"Oh," Helios said slowly, clearly holding back a laugh. "Crimson. Yes. I’m familiar."
Ezra pressed his lips together against his forearm.
"Well," Helios continued smoothly, "yes. Ezra is exactly like Crimson. Fierce. Strong. Kind. Very likable."
Ezra felt heat crawl up his neck.
’Seriously... where is he going with this?’ he thought, mortified.
"Wow!" Lior breathed.
"Right?" Helios replied easily. "He’s saved many people. You know Fizzy, yes?"
"Uh huh!"
"Ezra saved his life. Just like he saved mine. Just like he saved yours, Lior." Helios’s voice lowered slightly. "He’s really admirable."
"Ad... marahble? What that an?"
"Admirable," Helios repeated patiently. "It ans soone is truly great. Very kind. Soone you respect because of who they are."
"Ooo. Yes! Master is very admarahble!"
Ezra nearly choked on a laugh.
’Where is he getting the H from?’ he thought, absurdly amused despite everything.
Helios chuckled softly. "He is. That’s why he’s my closest friend." He paused, then added, "And you’re admirable too."
"?" Lior sounded genuinely shocked.
"Yes. You’re smart for your age. And strong. I heard you’ve only been sick twice in your life."
"Yup! That is true!" Lior declared proudly, voice brighter now.
Ezra’s chest tightened.
Helios continued, gentle but deliberate. "That’s why I would like you to be my friend as well."
The air shifted.
Ezra went completely still.
"If it’s alright with you," Helios added carefully. "I’d like us to get closer, Lior."
Oh.
’That’s what you’re doing,’ Ezra realized, heart thudding. ’You’re trying to build sothing with him.’
His chest clenched unexpectedly. Not jealousy. Not anger.
Sothing heavier.
Sothing that almost felt like guilt.
’You don’t know,’ he thought. ’You have no idea...’
"F-Friend?" Lior asked uncertainly.
"Yes," Helios said softly. "Friend. Is that okay?"
A beat of silence passed.
Then—
"Nope."
Ezra’s eyes flew open, even though his face was still buried.
Helios didn’t speak.
There was silence.
Not the awkward kind. Not the fleeting kind.
The kind that settled into the room and waited.
Ezra knew Helios was mature. He knew Helios wouldn’t take offense to a child’s rejection.
But he also knew Helios was stunned.
’Well,’ Ezra thought faintly, ’that was unexpected.’
For a brief second, he wondered if this was the mont he should "wake up." Sit up. Pretend he had just stirred. Diffuse whatever tension might follow.
Before he could decide, Helios cleared his throat.
"I understand," Helios said calmly. No edge. No wounded pride. "And I respect that you’re honest with ." A small pause. "However... may I ask why?"
Ezra’s pulse spiked.
’Please, Lior. Do not tell him the truth.’
Because the truth was ssy.
Ezra had once told Lior to be careful around n with golden eyes. To keep his distance. To never speak carelessly.
He hadn’t ant Helios.
Helios was... Helios.
But Lior was four.
Four-year-olds did not understand nuance.
"Uhm... Master said..." Lior began hesitantly.
Ezra’s fingers curled slightly against the mattress.
"...that friendship is earned."
Ezra froze.
"Heeyos has not earned my friendship," Lior continued seriously. "If you want to be friends with , please earn my friendship."
Ah.
That.
Ezra exhaled slowly.
Relief washed through him so hard he almost felt lightheaded.
’That’s my smart boy,’ he thought, pride warming his chest.
For a second, there was silence again.
Then Helios laughed.
Not mockingly. Not offended.
Genuinely amused.
"You know what?" Helios said, delight clear in his voice. "That is very smart, little one."
"R-Really?" Lior asked, cautious but hopeful.
"Yes. Very smart." Helios sounded almost impressed. "It makes admire you even more. No wonder Ezra cares about you deeply. And that’s rare."
Lior huffed.
A proud little huff.
Ezra knew that sound. It ant Lior was pleased with himself. Trying not to smile, but absolutely smiling.
"And since you’re right," Helios went on gently, "I’ll accept that challenge."
Ezra could hear the warmth in his tone.
"I will do my best to earn your friendship, Lior."
"You will?" Lior asked, surprised.
"Yes. I promise, in honor as a prince, that I will earn it properly. Is that acceptable?"
Lior went quiet.
Ezra understood why.
Helios was being patient. Earnest. Respectful.
It was the sa patience that had disard Ezra years ago.
Despite the golden eyes. Despite the intimidating title. Despite the weight of being a prince.
Helios had always been kind first.
Naturally.
Unapologetically.
’Helios is very unfair,’ Ezra thought quietly. ’He makes it hard not to trust him.’
"Okay," Lior finally mumbled. "I will give you a chance."
Even without looking, Ezra could feel it.
Helios was smiling.
Not the charming court smile. Not the confident prince smile.
The bright one.
The real one.
And for so reason, that made Ezra’s chest ache even more.
’Fuck.’ Ezra thought as he closed his eyes. ’Fuck, fuck, fuck.’
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