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Kakavasha expects to wake up to sand and storms when he opens his eyes to another morning.
Instead, he's met with sterile white walls, cool fluorescent lights overhead, and a blanket over his body that's only ever known cold rain and wet, ragged fabric for the few months he's been left wandering the ruins of his home.
He blinks, thinking it's a strange dream.
He rubs his eyes when the pale white illusion doesn't fade, and squints when he realizes that no—
This isn't a dream, and he's no longer home.
"You're awake."
Kakavasha jerks at the sudden voice, hands balling up into fists. It's then that he realizes that something is poking into his arm—a needle, attached to a tube connected to some kind of bag.
There's a flash of panic, of anger, a surge of adrenaline in him as he turns to face whoever it was who'd spoken, thinking that he can rip the needle off then deal with whoever it was that had captured him.
But—
What meets his gaze is the most beautiful boy he's ever met in all his years of life. With luscious purple hair cradling chubby pale cheeks and wine-red cat-like eyes, the vision before him is so dream-like that he has to stare.
"...do you intend to put your fists down, or do you wish to pick a fight?"
Kakavasha blinks. "Ah. Oh, sorry, you surprised me," he flusters, promptly lowering his hands flat on his lap as he looks down then up at the other child. He makes to pick at the needle stuck in his arm, and immediately stops when the other child glares at his hand. "Um, who are you..? I'm Kakavasha."
"Veritas Ratio," the child answers, tucking his big book closer to his chest. The big thing makes him look even smaller, and while Kakavasha isn't big and tall by any means, he still can't help from thinking that Veritas looks…
Well, cute.
He bites the inside of his cheek to hide a wide smile. "Um, it's nice to meet you! How did I get here..?"
"You're in an infirmary within the IPC's temporary base on Sigonia-IV," Veritas declares. His voice is soft and smooth, like Mama's mix of milk and honey, and Kakavasha finds himself captivated as he goes on to explain, "My mentor—Professor Rond—and I found you unconscious while we were gathering information on the land. The object connected to your arm is an IV drip, and it's ensuring that you get the nutrients you sorely need. I understand that we do not know each other, so you may not trust me—"
"You gave me your name, so I can trust you," Kakavasha interrupts, smiling when the stolid expression on that pretty face becomes bright with surprise.
"You are naive, then," Veritas scolds, wine-red eyes squinting at him in seeming disappointment. "For all you know, I could be here to conduct research on you and your species. I may not have good intentions."
"Were you planning to do research on me, then?"
Veritas frowns. "No. That is not my point, however. Have you never considered I may be lying?"
"You're not, though. I can tell!"
"You—"
Veritas sighs in frustration, shaking his head. "Never mind. Is that a skill of the Sigonians? Being able to tell a truth from a lie?"
Kakavasha grins at the curious gaze Veritas throws his way. "Maaaybe?"
"Hah. How childish," Veritas huffs. "Regardless...I do owe you answers, and you are still a child. I should not have forgotten that."
"Aren't you a kid yourself?"
"In age, yes. However, I have far loftier goals...as such, I cannot afford to be as relaxed as you are. Anyway," Veritas clears his throat, "I found you, and brought you here. The IPC is not so generous to take in strays, but you were fortunate enough that my mentor holds some sway given his endorsement of me. As such, you are temporarily under my care until you have recovered."
"And after I've recovered? What then?"
"That is up to you. Should you choose to stay here and wander, or to come with me—"
He gasps, little fists bunching up the blanket around his waist. "I can come with you?"
“Must you interrupt me every time I speak?" Veritas scolds, scowling. "I was not finished."
Kakavasha places a hand over his mouth, and shakes his head.
Veritas sighs. "As I was saying, you may come with me—provided, you accept the responsibility of being a student of Professor Rond. That is to say, you will have to work hard to reach his educational standards."
He raises a hand. Veritas nods in seeming satisfaction, and says, "Yes?"
"What if I'm not that smart? I didn't really have, well, a real school even before..."
"You will have to make an effort regardless. I do not expect you to match my intelligence, and I doubt Professor Rond expects to make a genius out of you, but you will at least be provided the resources you need to catch up. This way, we will have a reason to take you away from the IPC instead of leaving you here to their whims."
Kakavasha smiles at his blunt honesty. It's a far cry from the deceitful kind words of other adults, and maybe his sister might have balked at such bluntness, but he thinks he likes it. It's refreshing.
"Then, I'll stay with you," he says.
Veritas pauses, frowns, then sends a wary look his way. "You mean, you choose to be a student?"
He laughs. "Well, isn't that the same thing? I don't think I want to be around any other adults, and I like you, so I want to stay with you. If that means being a student, then that's okay with me!"
"...you..."
"Me?"
"...nothing."
"Eh? What's with that?"
"Just rest," Veritas huffs, spinning to the door with a flourish that his his cloak flying up for a second. As expected, even from behind, Veritas really does look pretty—like an angel. Maybe he is one, and he just doesn't want to say? He'd saved Kakavasha, after all.
“I will, and thank you! For saving me, that is.”
Veritas turns to look at him. Just enough that Kakavasha is finally able to see the hint of pink at the tips of his ears, and just enough to say, “I am only doing what any decent person should. There is no need for thanks.”
He smiles.
“Thanks anyway.”
Veritas shakes his head. “Your thanks are acknowledged. Now rest, Kakavasha.”
He wiggles back into bed at Veritas’ behest, and finds that it's easier to sleep now that he's been told to rest by someone he believes he can trust. It had been difficult to get proper sleep before, when he'd always been on the run.
To think, even his name could sound so pretty, coming from such a beautiful person.
He smiles, and dreams.