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Although Claggor knew that Vander was more than capable of taking care of himself, he didn’t like it when his new caretaker left The Last Drop. Every time Vander stepped foot outside of the bar, Claggor prepared himself for being a homeless orphan again. This time especially, Vander had looked particularly grim before he left. And maybe a little scared.
Vander’s return was always a joy. The three of them - Claggor, Vi, and Powder - gathered around Vander on the stairs.
“You’re back!” Claggor said.
“Where did you go?” Vi demanded.
“Did you bring me something?” Powder asked.
Without speaking, Vander knelt and wrapped his arms around all three of them, drawing them into a tight hug. Over his head, Claggor and Vi exchanged a look. It wasn’t like Vander withheld affection but he wasn’t normally...like this.
“Did something happen?” Claggor asked, dreading whatever was going to come out of Vander’s mouth. He still remembered the way his uncle had held him while delivering the news that Claggor’s mom was dead. It had been with this exact sort of desperation.
After Powder became wiggly, Vander let go. He stood up again. “There’s a new family member,” Vander explained. “His name is Mylo. He’s between Vi and Claggor in age.”
Claggor blinked. He hadn’t expected a new kid. Then again, Vander adopted Vi and Powder and agreed to take Claggor in so maybe the guy just really liked being a dad.
“Where is he?” Powder asked.
“Where did you get him?” Vi asked.
“He’s in my room. He’s...not feeling well and needs a comfortable place to sleep while I work on building a bed for him down here,” Vander said. His gaze flicked to the basement, giving it a contemplative once-over. Probably deciding where to put Mylo’s bed. He put a hand on Vi’s shoulder. “Where he came from is his business. If he wants to tell you, he will.”
“Where are you sleeping?” Claggor asked.
“In the office,” Vander replied. He ruffled Claggor’s hair before scooping up Powder. “Now I think it’s time for bed.”
They were already ready for bed but had stayed up late to wait for Vander’s return so it was just a matter of crawling into bed and saying goodnight.
Vander dropped Powder onto her bed, making her giggle with delight. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead. “Good night, Powder.” Next Vander moved to Vi’s bed. She was already tucked under the covers so Vander only kissed her forehead and said “Good night, Vi.”
“Night, Vander,” Vi said.
Vander came to Claggor’s bedside next. He kissed Claggor’s forehead. “Good night, Claggor.”
“Good night, Vander,” Claggor echoed. He watched Vander go upstairs and close the door behind him. Even when Vander was out of sight, his footsteps could be felt as he moved around. Claggor listened to Vander go up to the bar and then the fainter footsteps of him going up to the office above the bar.
Claggor laid in bed, staring across at Powder’s strand of pink lights in her bunk. He tried to imagine the new boy, Mylo, but came up blank. What was he like? Would he like Claggor? What if he hated Claggor? Was he sick? Or just hurt? Maybe he was a fighter.
Curiosity burned at Claggor, keeping him awake long into the night. He tossed and turned, restless. His imagination ran wild. Finally, Claggor decided that he would go investigate this new boy, Mylo. Even if they couldn’t talk, it would be good to just have a picture of him in Claggor’s head so that he could at least imagine properly. He got out of bed and tiptoed to the basement door. Claggor went up the stairs, avoiding the one that creaked. Out in the hallway, Claggor paused on the landing to listen. He heard nothing out of the ordinary.
Claggor crept up the stairs on all fours, evenly distributing his weight so that he moved quieter. Vander’s bedroom was at the very top of the stairs. The door was ajar. The yellow flicker of a candle was the only light. Claggor crept forward, still on his hands and knees, trying to peek into the room without alerting Mylo to his presence. He peered through the open door.
The room was lit by a single candle on the nightstand, flickering a warm yellow light. Vander’s bed was a few feet away. It was a big bed - Vander was a big guy - and half of the bed was piled with laundry. In the space closest to the door was a space big enough for Vander to lay on his side. The boy laying there now was nowhere near as big as Vander. Mylo lay on his side in such a way that his collar bones protruded grotesquely and one hand hung limply over the side of the bed. His eyes were closed, long lashes almost brushing his cheeks. His face was angular, cheeks hollow, except for his square chin. He had light brown skin and short, dark brown hair. Mylo seemed to be wearing one of Vander’s shirts because it looked way too big on him.
Claggor stared. He wasn’t sure what to think. Seeing Mylo had certainly put a face to the boy in his imagination but left Claggor wanting to know more.
Mylo’s eyes opened. He did not look surprised to see Claggor there. His eyes were an unusual yellow-green; which Claggor suspected was because of the candlelight. “Are you Claggor?” Mylo asked. His voice was tired.
“How did you know?” Claggor asked, surprised. Have they met?
“Vander told me that he had a son named Claggor,” Mylo said. He blinked, a long and slow blink. Then he yawned, opening his jaws wide. His teeth were pointed and white.
Claggor blushed. He should have known. “Are you Mylo?”
“How did you know?” Mylo asked, sounding like he didn’t really care about the answer.
“Vander said he brought home a new family member,” Claggor answered. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Mylo’s face. This boy was going to be their new family member. It was exciting and daunting. Claggor hoped they would get along.
Mylo bit his lip. “Vander said you would like me. Do you?”
“I don’t know you,” Claggor replied. He finally decided to stop being such a creep and actually sit down on his butt instead of crouching on the floor like an animal. He sat cross-legged. “Vander said you weren’t feeling good.”
“I’m not.”
“Are you sick?”
Mylo shook his head. “I was hurt.”
Claggor couldn’t see most of Mylo because of the shirt and the blanket pulled up to his hips, but he didn’t see many obvious wounds. A few bruises...and both of his wrists had a ring of dark bruises around them. “You don’t look hurt,” he said hesitantly. “Except your wrists…”
Mylo shifted beneath the blanket. He looked at his wrists like he’s never seen them before. “I can’t even feel this,” he confided. “I’m hurt on the inside.”
“Oh.” Claggor wondered what happened. He waited to see if Mylo would say more, but Mylo looked like he was struggling to stay awake. “I could get you a shot of whiskey if you want. It might help you feel better.” That’s what Vander did for Vi when she broke a knuckle six months ago.
“Vander already gave me one,” Mylo mumbled. His eyelids slid closed. It was a long few seconds before he opened them again. He met Claggor’s eye. “Is Vander...is he a good man?”
Claggor was taken aback by the question. How could anyone ask that of Vander? “Of course he is. He’s…” Claggor paused, thinking about what to say. “My uncle wasn’t a very nice person. The best thing he ever did for me was on his deathbed, telling me to go to Vander.” He took his goggles off his head and fiddled with them. “Vander didn’t have to take me in. He already had Vi and Powder. But he didn’t even hesitate and he’s never hurt me. Not even once.”
Mylo gave a low hum of acknowledgment. His eyelids slid closed again, lashes brushing his cheekbones. “I think I like you, Claggor,” he mumbled. His expression went slack as he fell asleep. Mylo seemed to deflate all at once as the tension left him.
Claggor stayed where he was on the floor. He had more questions about Mylo - for Mylo - but he wasn’t going to wake the other boy to ask them. He felt...something in his chest, a fondness, maybe. It surprised him. “I think I like you too, Mylo,” Claggor whispered.