| Before |

During the day, both Nicolas and yourself were to cling to your duties like a lifeline and make sure to protect Wallace Arcangelo. The boy was very alert to his surroundings and he was found in the library a lot. There were a lot of times when you could sneak out to see what he did in the library and you were beyond amazed to observe the way he skimmed through the pages, flipping through a whole book in under two minutes. He would then sigh, put the book down; adding it to his ever-growing pile, then get another book and repeat.

Nicolas was very cautious when you'd grab his arm to drag him away from your headquarters in the mansion. Where all the body guards and military soldiers under commander Gaston Brown were situated- that's where you had to be at night. you would always be clinging onto Nicolas' arm as he held it close to him, making sure to feel your body heat radiate to his. He liked to feel your light breathing on his shoulder or sometimes the back of his neck. He felt much more relaxed when he knew you were right there; feeling him, breathing him in and always following.

The guards in the room at night thrived on taking their frustrations out on the both of you. At such a young age with a girl who had freakish eyes and a deaf boy, they reveled in the fact that commander Gaston would let them strike you. Their mouths would twist manically, their teeth showing when their lips spread up their cheeks almost in a proud way. They'd stare down at the two children condescendingly and give no justified reason for their beatings.

It was fun, it was acceptable as it was to keep the two younglings in line and make them submissive. It made the others feel powerful and they loved to see the childrens eyes scrunch up in pain, in agony and they loved hearing the muffled screams that came from the girl when her beloved little friend would stand in front of her. They had to make sure to not disturb the household, they had to make sure that whatever happened in that room, stayed there.

Nicolas always disobeyed your orders and stood his ground in front of your beaten body. He was always held back as he watched them punch, slap and kick her. She would scream but she never looked Nicolas in the face- she didn't want him to see how much she really needed him. After they laughed, chuckled dryly, they would slowly let him go where they watched him grab the girl; (Name). She was groaning in pain and huffing as her body ached but Nicolas never ceased his actions, he'd grab her arms and then drag her to the farthest corner near the window and keep her there letting her see the night sky and the luminescent moon.

He hated- no he absolutely loathed the fact that he couldn't hear what you were, that you could hear the impact of the soldiers punches as he stood and took what he was given. He hated seeing your body heaving with sobs when he glanced your way, when the men would give it to him twice as hard for trying to seem better than them. He hated that their lips would move but only you heard the way they called the two of you monsters.

In the late hours of the night when the clock read eleven or sometimes twelve, the soldiers were done with their lessons and threw a couple of celebrer pills at the two of you and then you two were given the luxury of sleep. Nicolas somehow would manage with dried blood covering his face as he held you between his legs, wrapped in his arms. You, however, couldn't close your eyes for a second without believing that someone would strike you again. Nicolas knew of what you went through, how you could never really sleep and only nap for an hour or so if you were lucky. He didn't know what to do, he was scared of what he would say and he only noticed you holding his arms tighter, digging your face into his chest. His shirt would go damp a lot but he didn't mind it, he just slept and waited until the sun came up so he could leave the room to follow his father's orders which either consisted of assisting in the war or protecting the youngest Arcangelo.

They were stationed at the door and inside the room was Wallace with a tutor. He was told that he had to learn all of the history of the war and the twilights, learn about the government and his family's history. He had memorised everything in the library already- there was no real need for a tutor and she had almost reached the point of giving up. Wallace sat at his desk when the teacher opened the door to leave. She glared at Nicolas and yourself for standing so close to her, she turned her head in disgust to find her students Father and you had taken the open door as an invitation to enter.

Wallace sat there at the single desk, one empty chair in front of him with a chalkboard against the wall that he faced. The letters and numbers were gibberish to you, both Nicolas and yourself. It looked like scribbles that made absolutely no sense. Nevertheless you made your way inside then Nicolas stared after you and he followed, keeping his head lowered when it still ached in pain.

Wallace seemed to glare at the newcomers but he felt himself relax a little when he saw they were the same size as him, "What happened to your face?"

Looking away from the chalkboard, Wallace had already gotten a good glance at your pink face. There were blotches of purple and markings that resembled four knuckles, "Oh.. That was just the soldiers."

He saw how nonchalant you were, he didn't feel it was fair but he understood. He also went through what you did, what Nicolas did too. Nicolas was standing further away, but wherever you went, he followed behind. You grabbed the chair and glanced at Wallace hesitantly. He shrugged and opened a palm towards it. You almost lifted your lips to a small smile, inviting Nicolas over with a move of your fingers. He tilted his head but walked over and looked at you questioningly. You grabbed his arm gently to place him in the chair, he was worried and pushed off of the chair almost immediately before you had moved to where he could see your lips, "It's.. okay..."

He stared at your lips, the cut that split your lips making him sadder and he stayed put, "He can read lips?"

Wallace saw your eye again when you stood up straight again, he stared at it and almost admired the bright colour. You nodded and tenderly grabbed Nicolas' shoulder from where you stood behind him, "Only a little, he's still learning."

The blond nodded and perked up a little, "Come here again tomorrow- I have something I can give you."

Before surprise could register in you, Nicolas felt how your hands suddenly squeezed him frightfully, "N-no I-I- can't accept anything f-from you."

He clicked his tongue against the top of his mouth and looked away, "That's an order."

The blue-eyes boy looked down to Nicolas and stared at him, seeing the chain of his tags hanging from his neck, his eyes narrowed, "He have to stay together.. We're more common than you think."

Nicolas didn't make a move before feeling your hands loosen on him and then he nodded very slowly, Wallace almost didn't catch it. He couldn't help thinking about his Father. He was craving a cigarette but he had to restrain himself sometimes. He knew the head of the mansion that he resided in would surely come to find him, scold him about the teacher that Wallace sent away.

"Is that from your Father?"

You; unsure of your boundaries around Wallace, spoke lowly with a scratchy voice, it automatically caught his attention and his eyes narrowed on you. His hair was parted in the middle of his head, parts hanging down as some of his bangs covered a bruised part above his brow, "Yes. My Father caught me smoking- again." There was a pause, it was silent apart from some birds chirping in the trees outside, "What about you?"

"Well.. I've got a bit of everyone on me- my face, my torso and my legs too. The commander's subordinates are ruthless sometimes."

He nodded slowly, he understood what you meant and his eyes focused on the dark bags under your eyes, he knew it was affecting you more than you let on- he was slightly impressed at how you managed to hide it. Either Nicolas also didn't know or he did but he hid his concerns for when you were both alone. Wallace didn't know and you didn't know that the master was a little bit- only a tiny bit, envious of the fact that you had someone and Nicolas did too.