Chapter 6: Sparkles

Floxy

von Floxy

Story

Zane’s POV

We ran two alleys deep before I pulled us behind an old vendor’s cart and pushed him down. He was panting. Hard. Shoulders shaking. Probably going into some kind of panic spiral. I crouched next to him. „Okay, Highness. You good, or do I need to slap the sense back into you?“ He looked at me like I’d just slapped him with words. „You- how do you know who I am?“ I tilted my head. „I live in a place with walls. We’ve all seen your ‚Missing But Probably Dangerous‘ poster.“ He flushed. Like flushed flushed, cheeks, neck, ears. Cute, if you’re into terrified nobility. „I didn’t mean to- They were just-“ He was trying to explain. Or apologize. Hard to tell which. „I know,“ I cut him off. „You’ve got a little power leak. Like a broken pipe. It’s fine. Would’ve been more impressed if you’d exploded something.“ He blinked at me. „You’re- not afraid?“ „Oh, I’m terrified,“ I smirked. „That’s why I’m making jokes. Helps me cope.“ He cracked a smile. Tiny. Barely there. But real.

I stood and offered a hand. „Come on, Sparkles.“ He frowned. „Sparkles?“ „Until you give me a name, that’s what I’m calling you.“ He hesitated. Then, softly: „…Leo.“ My brows shot up. I didn’t expect him to say it. „Well, Leo,“ I said, helping him up, „you’re lucky I’m having a generous night. Follow me. You’re crashing at my place.“ He flinched. „Are you going to sell me to someone?“ I looked at him. „You think I’d go through all this trouble just to sell you? Please. That sounds exhausting.“ He looked away, but I saw the twitch of his lips again.

We walked in silence for a bit. His shoulders still stiff. His hands clenched like he was holding the world together by force of will. I led him past the dying lanterns and down into the underside of the tavern. Rented a room above it years ago, technically unregistered. The stairs creaked, the walls cracked, and the only decoration was a sketch I stole from a noble’s gallery because it looked like a bird flipping someone off. „Here we are,“ I said. „Home sweet mess.“ Leo stared around like I’d just dragged him into a sewer. Which, to be fair, was kind of accurate. I tossed him a blanket and a bottle of water. „You’ll live.“ „Thank you,“ he said softly, after a pause. I paused too. „Don’t thank me yet.“ I lay down on the floor, arms behind my head. He curled up awkwardly on the cot.

Then, after a few minutes, Glass shook. Books trembled on the shelf. He was dreaming. Floating. Unstable. One of the lights flickered and popped. I sat up and looked at him. He was shivering in his sleep. Lips parted. Breathing fast. Not peaceful, haunted. Something twisted in my chest. „Hey,“ I whispered. „Leo. Wake up.“ He didn’t. The chair floated two inches off the floor. Oh hell.

I moved fast, crouched beside him and gently grabbed his wrist. „Hey. It’s okay. Wake up.“ His eyes snapped open, glowing faintly, silvery white, and the world snapped back into place. Everything fell. Books. Chair. Air.  He looked at me like I’d caught him bleeding. „I’m sorry,“ he whispered. „I can’t- I didn’t mean-“ „Relax,“ I said quietly. „I’ve seen worse.“

That was a lie. But he needed to hear it.


© Floxy 2025-07-02

Genres
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Stimmung
Emotional, Dark, Lighthearted, Sad, Hopeful
Hashtags