Comforting Words

❛❛Rahart, dear… I really wish you would stop getting into trouble like this…❜❜

         The teal woman sighed, her eyebrows knitting together in a sad kind of pity as she dabbed a cotton ball that had been dipped in antibiotics over the rust’s grazed knees through his torn jeans. He winced as she applied pressure, his arms tensing by his sides. 

❛❛I didn’t mean to,❜❜ he groaned through gritted teeth, ❛❛how was I supposed to know that place was ‘invite only’?❜❜

         She looked him in the eye and he shifted in his spot feeling slightly intimidated, ❛❛alright so I deliberately slipped past the guards. But I just wanted to see what a highblood event looked like!❜❜ He let his shoulders slump and he looked away from her gaze, clearly bothered by something. His eyes glazed over briefly before he blinked back tears. ❛❛It’s… it’s not fair. I just don’t understand why… you know? Why do people hate me because of my colour?❜❜

        Daovia stopped what she was doing and let her hand rest against his chest. He froze, not really understanding the gesture at first, but soon allowed himself to relax. Being touched in a way that wasn’t violent was still something he was trying to get used to. 

❛❛Nobody is happy with the colour of others,❜❜ she began, moving her hand so that she was running her fingers through his hair, ❛❛My blood is too bright. Yours is too low. Lowbloods dislike highbloods. Highbloods dislike lowbloods. Sometimes those of the same castes dislike each other. It’s not something I can explain.❜❜

         The room was quiet after that. Daovia went back to cleaning up Rahart’s wounds and placed gentle kisses over his bruises. Eventually, he mumbled something under his breath that she didn’t quite catch. She made a sound that was intended to encourage him to speak up and he hesitated. 

❛❛I said that the things they said were right anyway…❜❜ He looked away once again, and let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. ❛❛I’m not worth anything.❜❜

❛❛Don’t be stupid!❜❜ The woman barked. She quickly looked shocked and lowered her voice,❛❛ah, I’m sorry I got worked up - you’re not stupid and you’re worth a lot more than you realise, don’t say that you aren’t. You’re here, aren’t you? You survived what most couldn’t. That should mean something on it’s own.❜❜

         Rahart gave a weak smile, but it was quickly hidden away. He stood and nodded as if to thank her for trying to cheer him up. She stood also and pulled him into a hug which he immediately tried to escape from, but he was quick to still. They stayed in that embrace for a while before the rust wordlessly pulled away and made his leave. Daovia watched him go but didn’t stop him, knowing that he’d want to be on his own for the time being.

        She sat on her lounge and allowed herself to slide down against the back until her posture made her feel uncomfortable. She wished that he’d one day see his worth, but she knew that wishing for that was unfortunately asking too much.