Goodnight

The walk back to the apartment was quiet and awkward, neither of them knew what to say to each other, they just walked side by side and looked down at the floor.

Shared a bed...Berry was still fixated on what Caelum said earlier, he wanted to ask but he didn't want to seem like he was intruding, so he kept quiet.

"I'm sorry about that" Caelum said apologetically.

"It's okay" Berry whispered in understanding.

As they continued to walk in silence, his mind drifted back to how Caelum had defended him, shielded him despite the critic.

Then he thought about the words of the girl that day and the secret she told him. But the way Caelum had behaved countered everything she said, so far Caelum had only shown him kindness. Despite being a Rune, he had never been mistreated.

Don't trust them my foot! Caelum doesn't have to defend me but he always does, why should I believe anything a stranger says, he thought and ultimately decided to dismiss her words.

"I hope you had fun though…before the distraction" Caelum said with a very small smile.

"I did and the food was so good"

"Yeah you ate a lot"

"I couldn't help myself, thank you for paying though"

"It's okay, I like helping the poor" Caelum teased with a cocky smirk.

Berry feigned hurt and gave him a playful glare, "yeah right, I'm not poor I'm just…" he struggled to come up with a comeback so he just pouted.

Caelum smirked at him, "you're welcome".

Berry glared as hard as he could but it did nothing to faze the dragon who's smirk kept growing wider, Caelum found the expression rather cute.

They kept walking and talking till they got to the room, the doors opening for them to pass.

They got in, stripped out of the thick layer of clothing they were wearing and freshened up.

H e laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, the soft fabric of the pyjamas making him feel somewhat cosy. He yawned and snuggled under the covers even more, the tiredness finally getting to him.

"I'm going now" Caelum's voice cut through the silence. Those very words made Berry feel sad all of a sudden, he didn't know why but for some reason, he would have liked Caelum to stay.

The thought of being alone, with the recent incidents and the laughter they had shared earlier made him want the company of Caelum for a little longer.

"Can't you stay?" He blurted out, he flushed and hid under the covers, cursing himself for speaking without thinking.

Caelum chuckled, shaking his head at the Rune, "I can't".

"Why? Is there something you have to do?" Berry asked, pulling down the covers from his face slowly.

"No, I don't want to inconvenience you"

Berry was taken aback by his words, staying out of his own room because he doesn't want to inconvenience me?.

Berry sat up and looked at him, "it's your room, you shouldn't have to stay out because of me, I could always sleep somewhere else".

"No you can't, if you go to your room, you will end up getting attacked by the other Runes and you have nowhere else to stay except here"

"But now I'm the one inconveniencing you…"

"It's fine, I chose to stay out on my own, you have no need to feel guilty" Caelum reassured.

Berry looked down at the mattress, still feeling bad that Caelum had to compromise because of him.

"I said don't feel bad" Caelum said a bit firmer this time, not liking the sad look on Berry's face, "I don't want you blaming yourself okay? And besides, this is not the only room I have access to, so it's not like I'm homeless".

"Oh…", I genuinely thought he was wandering around till morning, Berry internally facepalmed at the silly and pitiful scenario of homeless Caelum he had made up in his head, forgetting he was the King.

But still even knowing that, the Rune didn't want to be alone, he decided to tell half the truth, "please stay, I'm scared" he said, his voice barely above a whisper,And I also want to spend more time with you for some reason, but that's absurd.

Caelum sighed at his request and stood there for a while, contemplating on what to do before he finally said, "fine but I want to be sure you have no problems with it".

Berry eagerly nodded, smiling brightly and scooting over to make space on the small bed for a dragon that was over twice his size.

Caelum took off the sweater and joined Berry on the bed, it was small and he tried not to squish him and make him feel uncomfortable but the Rune didn't seem to mind, a smile just plastered on his face as he settled in the covers.

"Thank you for today once again" Berry said gratefully.

"Its fine, I did what was right"

Caelum laid down too, trying to keep his body distant from Berry's, I should get a bigger bed if we are going to keep doing this, he thought, feeling uncomfortable himself.

Meanwhile, Berry was beaming with joy, just happy he was not alone in the room. He's warm, he thought, Caelum's heat providing comfort admist the cold, sterile walls of the room.

He found himself leaning towards him even more, closing his eyes to embrace the sleep. "Goodnight" he muttered and began to drift off.

Caelum stayed rigid like a statue, trying not to move too much so he would not disturb Berry, he also tried to hold his breath, fearing that he may even be breathing too loud. Shit.

He watched as Berry began to sleep, his features softening, the doll-like face making him seem like some beauty from a fairy tale. His soft pink hair added to his ethereal beauty and Caelum found himself having the urge to run his fingers through it, an urge that he quickly dismissed.

He couldn't deny that the Rune looked very beautiful, unlike anything he had ever seen.

As he took in the beauty of the Rune, his mind suddenly drifted to the thought of Berry going feral.

Would the bright pink on his hair turn a darker shade? Would this porcelain type skin turn gray and would the black veins cover the once fragile surface?, Would those innocent eyes be overtaken by blood thirsty ones? And when that time comes what would he do? Kill him like the rest?.

The thought of Berry going feral left a bitter taste in his mouth, the fact that Berry had powers might not dismiss him from the ill fate all Runes were destined to meet.

He might also experience that or even die the same way. Just like they all do.

Well that took a dark turn.

Caelum rolled his eyes at the negativity of the thought, he didn't want to think about those things any longer so he tried to push them at the back of his mind and focus on the brighter things.

And who knows, Berry might live and even cure the madness of the world of Runes. He might change everything and make the world peaceful again.

Caelum looked at him once more, his eyes filled with hope and uncertainty for their future. But he knew one thing for sure…

It would be hard.

Very hard.

The forces that are against them, the voices of the other dragons telling him to stay away from Runes, Sepehr mostly telling him not to get attached to Berry and focus only on the goal. And something else brewing in the dark…

It would get rough, especially for Berry but his only prayer is that they would get through it and they would come out on top and not be swallowed by the void.