Cyrus and Soren might be married.
Rumor which was started as a theatrical performance and exaggeration of Soren telling the tale of his and Cyrus's time in the whispering forest became the cause of the falsified rumour. Now whenever they walk the orphanage halls, they get the kids' side eyeing them.
Marryanne, being the little devil she is, exaggerated the rumours more. The twins, Raynold and Jayson, who are the two reasons for this all happening also exaggerate the rumours making most of the twenty-eight kids believe that Soren and Cyrus could be married.
At lunch time the kids would sit in a way so that the two 'married couples' could sit together. They even congratulated them on a happy marriage.
"Well…" Soren unconsciously skids towards Cyrus, "this was unexpected… haha…"
Cyrus glared at him from his sandwich. Mismatched eyes staring right into Soren's soul.
Soren gulped, "fineeeee" He sighed, "I guess it was my fault… but you know I didn't mean it like that."
Cyrus and Soren had never since sixteen and fourteen sat together on the same table. That's the age Cyrus's competitiveness kicked in. While Soren was busy being the big brother the kids needed, Cyrus stayed alone; besides Maelis or Levi no one really talked to him that much. Soren's handsome and smart and Cyrus had never seen himself as an eye-candy like Soren. He never cared.
"What did you even tell them?" Cyrus asked through clenched teeth.
"Well…" Soren drawled out, "I only told them about what happened at our time trying to find the herbs."
Cyrus still glared at Soren.
Soren guiltily stabbed his pea with his fork, "and uhh" he glanced at Cyrus, "I might have exaggerated a bit with what happened inside the cave."
Cyrus almost threw his sandwich away and caused a food fight to occur. But decided against it since he didn't want to clean the cafeteria for three months straight.
"I will take care of the rumours." Soren sympathetically looked at Cyrus, "if the rumours make you feel uncomfortable."
Cyrus finished his sandwich, "you don't need to do anything." Cyrus countered, standing up and left the cafeteria.
He doesn't know why he said that. Maybe the rumours about being married to him would ruin Soren's reputation or Cyrus himself doesn't want the rumours to die down. Though it feels awkward Cyrus doesn't want Soren to be married to someone else, that's a stupid thought and he doesn't know why he wants it. Soren, just like the other older kids, would leave this place someday.
Cyrus closes the bedroom door before handing in his blanket. His face was red. He has never been so close to Soren since he was fourteen. Yes, Soren had held him once after waking up from a nightmare and Yes Soren had helped him multiple times when he was injured… but that doesn't mean he wants to be married to that damn blue-eyed perfect charming boy.
To Cyrus, Soren will always be his infuriating senior. Nothing more. So, why doesn't he want the rumours to die down? Why does he want Soren to hold him while he sleeps?
This is so, so infuriating. Then he heard the door opening. He closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. He felt someone's hand run through his hair then a bit too familiar voice said to him.
"Don't worry I will take care of the rumours."
That damn sweet, soothing deep voice only can belong to Soren. He heard footsteps trying to leave. Cyrus gripped Soren's sleeve. Not turning around. Not looking at him. His hand acted on its own accord, "don't leave," he doesn't know why he is doing this, "please." Pathetic. Why is he begging? He doesn't know.
Soren turned and smiled, "I'm not leaving." His voice was as soothing as Cyrus remembered a couple of years back. Soren sat down next to Cyrus just watching him.
Cyrus's cheeks were painted red. He couldn't speak or say something and maybe it was for the best. This silence between them is all they needed. Cyrus peeked slightly but quickly looked away because he doesn't want to show how affected he is by Soren's gentle smile.
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The rumours did die down just a little bit but remained as an inside joke in the silvergone orphanage. The angel and the demon of silvergone being a married couple. Cyrus doesn't know why the young crotch goblins have nicknamed him demon when there are other little demons causing trouble. He glanced at Marryanne and then to the twins.
His eyes wandered towards Soren who was taking in whatever nonsense coming out of master Elric's mouth. All he wants to do is be done with the lesson.
Maybe his eyes lingered a little too long at Soren. Soren had met his eyes suddenly and Cyrus had to look away shyly. What has gotten into him? Why is he acting this way?
He sighed and looked out the window. It had started snowing. The snow fell on the grassy grounds and trees like a blanket made of cloud and ice. He kept looking around.
When Soren's eyes had met Cyrus's. He smiled as the blonde looked away with a blush painting his cheek. It's almost kinda adorable to Soren. Cyrus is just like a little puppy after all.
Soren kept listening to whatever Elric was saying about magic and what not. But his eyes would wander off to Cyrus. He is short and looks quite fragile. Looks can fool. He is actually quite skilled in fights and duels master Elric had taught them well.
Soren still doesn't understand why someone as adorable as Cyrus could look at him like that. Like with admiration in his eyes. People lie but eyes don't.
Soren had thought of Cyrus as nothing more than another little brother in the orphanage. Just another junior who is cranky all the time. But he likes to tease him.
The class finally was dismissed for the day but before we could leave Elric says.
"There might be a play that you kids must arrange in groups."
One of the kids looks up at him, "What play?"
"That's for you to decide." With that Elric had left.
Oh shit
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Marryanne had become the unofficial leader of the group they have created which consists of. Soren, Cyrus, Fallon and the twins. And if they count four year old Levi and six year old Maelis as members then they are here as well.
"So what play should we do?" Fallon asked, resting his back against the wall behind him.
"Hmm," Ray thought for a while, "little match girl?"
"Eh-" Marryanne shrugged, "that's over done."
"Red Riding Hood?" Jay suggested.
"Too tacky." Marryanne sighed and turned to Soren, "big bro, you got any ideas?"
Soren thought for a bit, "since you all are indecisive." Soren smiled, "how about you guys write your ideas on a piece of parchment and then fold it and shuffle it on the ground." Soren looked at Levi who was playing with Maelis, "then let Levi pick one. And the one he picks is the play we gotta do."
"Why would Levi get to pick?" Ray tilted his head.
"Because he is the youngest of us all." Soren smiled.
Cyrus sighed bored out of his mind. He hates Soren's smug smiles, he hates his whitened teeth, he hates him… Does he?
"Sunshine?" Soren looked behind him at Cyrus, "why are you looking at me like that."
Cyrus huffed, "I'm not looking at you, Crow."
"If you say so." Soren turned around.
"Okay, let's get the shuffling started." Marryanne got up from her seat.
Each member of the group except Levi and Maelis grabbed a piece of parchment. They sat in circles and started writing their ideas. The sketching sounds of the quilt against the parchment filled the room.
After they were done. They had the folded parchments on the floor. "Sunshine," Soren turned his head towards Cyrus, "shuffle it for us."
Cyrus rolled his eyes, "whatever…" he softly murmured while shuffling the piece of parchments. After he was done. He leaned back. He doesn't care what play they do? As long as he doesn't get a stupid role like being a background tree.
"Little Levi?" Soren called as Levi looked up at him. He waddled over to Soren.
"Yes, big bwo" Levi stood in front of Soren.
"Would you be a dear and pick one for us?" Soren ruffled his hair.
"Oki" he goes to the shuffle pile of parchment and picks one up. Then he waddles over to Soren, "gwot it" he hands it to Soren.
"Not to me," Soren gives the parchment back, "give it to big sis, Mary."
"Oki." Levi waddles over to Marryanne, "hwere" he hands it to Marryanne.
Marryanne takes it with a smile, "thanks a bunch, little one." She placed a soft kiss on Levi's cheek. Which made him giggle. He went back to Maelis.
"Okay, moment of truth..." Marryanne carefully unfolded the parchment, "the play we would be performing is…" the members looked at each other as they waited in anticipation CINDERELLA!!!" she announced finally.
The whole room looked at her. But she creepily glanced at Soren and Cyrus.
You know what suddenly Cyrus doesn't mind being a background tree.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cyrus looks out the window. The snow had covered almost everything. The grounds, the leaves of the trees, the roof of the shed beside the orphanage. He is just watching the younger ones play.
"Looking down?" Soren walks into their room, "what's up."
"Nothing…" Cyrus sighs.
"There is 'something'" Soren stands next to Cyrus.
"No," Cyrus denies, "it's really nothing. Let it go."
"Fine," Soren sighs, "I will let it go."
Both of them stood by the window in silence as glancing in the distance might help with the tension that is hidden beneath teasing and soft touches.
"Crow?" Cyrus said his name. He doesn't know why he is asking this. He shouldn't care.
"Yes Sunshine." Soren answered. Smiling.
"Will you leave the orphanage one day?" Cyrus wants to hit himself on the head for asking an obvious question he knows the answer to.
"Why?" Soren teased, "would you miss me if I did?"
Cyrus gritted his teeth, "just– just answer the damn question." He murmured.
Soren chuckled, "I will be here as long as you and the others want me to be here."
Cyrus's cheeks turned red. He didn't know why he asked this. But it comforts him to know that. Why does it comfort him? Why does he care?
Soren to him will always be an infuriating senior.