Chapter 2

Adonis looked around the med-bay, there were small separate rooms for the more lethally injured. He mentally cursed, nurses are still here to care for the injured. He looked up at his IV, the blood bag was nearly empty. He took a deep breath before carefully pulling out the IV, his stomach did a flip at the sight of the blood-dripping needle. The brunette grabbed his cleaned cloak and tore it, he used the strip of fabric to keep his arm from bleeding. He peaked out from his curtain and looked at the other patients. All of them were asleep. He sighed with relief and quietly began his search.

"There it is!" he whispered in excitement, he opened the medicine cabinet and started to carefully read the labels, most of the medicine seemed useless. He needed some sort of medicine for fever or the flu. He cursed silently and started to look for labels on the back of the bottles. 'Treats the flu and flu-like illnesses' he frowned a little when he realized it wasn't pills or syrup. He sighed and stuffed the bottle into his pants pocket. He started to sift through the medical supplies and found a needle. He shivered a little and put it in his pocket as well. He froze when he felt a pair of eyes on his back, goosebumps ran up his arms. He glanced over his shoulder. A tall man with black hair, wearing the same scrubs as him gazed at Adonis, mouth agape. 

"Let's make a deal," Adonis was going to do everything he could to keep the medicine. The man stood there frozen as Adonis continued to speak, "You take what you need and we pretend like we never met…" he turned around, "although… you don't seem like the type to steal-"

Adonis's eyes widened when he saw the black diamond tattoo on the man's neck, he grit his teeth. There was no point in making a deal with the man now, Adonis was a goner. The noble-man tensed and let out a shaky breath.

"It's okay… just take what you need. I'll take the blame when the nurses take count of inventory," he whispered, Adonis paused.

"What…" The noble cautiously passed Adonis and looked through the cabinet.

"If you're stealing medicine that probably means someone close is sick… I know my family doesn't have the most charitable people in it," Adonis relaxed slightly. The tattoo was oddly unsettling, the black diamond permanently branding the man. It was like claiming property. If you're a noble you can't run away from it. No matter what, you can't separate yourself from your family.

"Thanks…" he whispered, the noble gave Adonis a kind smile. There was something else the noble was hiding, his aura alone was enough to make a man's blood run cold. Adonis turned tail and ran, he let out a shaky breath when back at his bed. He glanced at his IV, it was empty. He shakily grabbed a towel from a nearby rack, cleaned the blood off the floor, and threw away the needle and empty blood bag. He sat on the bed and felt his pocket. He still had the medicine. He laughed a little and laid back on his bed, he shivered a little as a wave of dizziness washed over him.

He tensed again when the noble peaked into the curtain. He smiled with a friendly laugh. His pale eyes fell on Adonis, his smile lingered for a second too long. You could easily compare him to an alien. A creature, unknowing of human emotions.

"How funny… It says here you need a blood exchange?" Adonis swallowed and nodded. The noble glanced at the blood-stained towel and empty blood bag. He laughed a little and picked up the empty blood bag.

"We should probably tear this so they don't think you're the one who stole the medicine," he mumbled, the noble tore the bag where the tube was connected then tossed it into the trash. He leaned closer to Adonis and observed his face.

"You don't seem like you need more blood… stand," he ordered, Adonis stood up only getting a little dizzy from the sudden movement. The noble sighed and stepped back.

"Looks like you just need some water… I'll be back," he smiled before running off what seemed to be a second too late. Everything about him was unsettling. From the uneven smile to the delay in timing. He was an undoubtedly attractive man, but he seemed to be too nice, too mechanical. Adonis ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it a little then wincing. It always seems like he forgets what he is like and it doesn't feel real to him.

The noble popped back in with a cup of water, he smiled and sat next to Adonis with a closed eye smile… It somehow seemed more genuine than the others. Was he starting to trust Adonis? 

"Anyways… what's your name?" he asked, his features softened slightly. But there was still that unsettling aura.

"Adonis," the commoner mumbled before cautiously taking a sip of the water. The noble leaned back a little and slouched. 

"I'm Leopold-" Adonis cut him off.

"Yeah I know, you're a noble who wouldn't know you," he whispered, Leopold covered the diamond on his neck. He got a lot quieter after that.

"Uh… that aside… Why are you here? I mean- other than to steal medicine," Adonis finished his water and laid down. 

"I don't need to stay. I got what I needed," Leopold paused and stared at Adonis, a blank look on his face. The commoner looked away from Leopold, trying to ignore the look on the noble's face.

"You know… if you had to steal medicine… That probably means you need money. You know the Knights pay a lot right? It would be better to stay," Adonis growled and sighed.

"You have a point… So I'm guessing I'm stuck with you?" Leopold laughed.

"I guess you could look at it that way. Your kinda interesting… and I think you could probably help me with my investigation," Adonis sat up and looked at Leopold who had a playful smile on his face. 

"Investigation?" Adonis asked the noble-man nodded.

"Do you happen to know of a Dobutsu with a fox's tail?"...