(Thanks for your patience <3)

"You're scaring me, Amia. Since when are you so excited about fetching the day's food? And pulling the cart, no less." Hollem asked as he walked alongside the other man. 

He had made such a big deal out of doing the task before, and had even hurt himself in the process. Yet he was adamant about doing it that morning. 

"Just fill it up already. I swear we've passed at least six vendors we normally buy produce from already." Amia said, drawing a slight grin from Hollem before he could hide it. 

"I saw that. You're totally messing with me right now." Amia grumbled, dropping the cart so that he could turn toward Hollem and cross his arms. 

"Why don't you do it if you think it's fun to pull the cart around in this heat?" He said. 

Hollem couldn't keep from chuckling. Amia looked like a small child throwing a temper tantrum because he had to do some menial chore. Granted, the cart was heavy, even empty, but with the wheels on the back of it, it surely wouldn't wear someone out so quickly. 

"There might be a piece licorice at the end of this terrible day if you work hard." Hollem said with a raised eyebrow. 

Amia rolled his eyes, but picked up the two wooden handles for the cart anyways and began walking again. 

"Yeah, right. I know that the two vendors that have it are sold out. We passed them both." 

Because I bought them all earlier before I came back to get you for this errand. 

It had drained a good chunk of his savings for the week, but he was starting to like seeing Amia smile more than he wanted to admit. He could definitely make him happy by using his body, but for some reason, he wanted to find other methods, too. 

I think my mind is sick. 

"Why are you just staring at me? If you walk that way, you're going to trip or bump into someone." Amia said, snapping Hollem out of his thoughts just in time to return his attention to where he was going... which was nearly right into a large man pulling a small cart of cow manure.  

He stopped just time to keep himself clean, but he could hear Amia snickering to his right and cut the guy a sideways glance.

"Oh come on. That would have been hilarious. I should have let you walk into it." He said. 

Should I eat all of those treats I bought? Hollem asked himself as he glared down at the dusty ground. 

"Oh, don't be like that. You know I love you." Amia said as he set down the cart and leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to Hollem's cheek before picking the handles back up and starting to walk again. 

Does he have any idea what he just said? Was that a mistake? 

Hurrying after him, Hollem split his attention between where they were going and Amia's expressions and body language, but the guy didn't seem uneasy at all. 

Had he actually meant that? 

That question was buzzing around his head as they finally stopped at several different produce stands to buy what was on the list madam Maria had given them from the head chef. The cart soon got weighed down to the point that Amia was actually struggling a little. 

I can see you holding back showing that it's taking a lot of effort to move that. Why don't you just ask for help?

Of course, he knew that he wouldn't. He'd complain that he had to do it, but he wouldn't ask to split the work. 

Amia was panting hard by the time they got to the fishmonger by the docks, and once their purchase was loaded up, the look on his face told Hollem that he was now honestly dreading pulling the cart back uphill toward the brothel. 

Shaking his head, he decided to give the guy a break and grabbed one of the handles. "Come on, let's head back." 

Amia gave a relieved sigh and was just reaching for the handle when he paused, turning his head slowly as if he were watching something. 

Curious, Hollem let go of the one he was holding and followed his gaze. Lauriette? He knew that she had no errand work today and was supposed to be with Matilda cleaning the bed linens...

"Are you surprised to see Lauriette out and about? And at the rat poison dealer, no less." Amia asked, not a hint of enthusiasm in his voice. 

Clucking his tongue once in distaste, Hollem shook his head and grabbed hold of the handle he had previously held. 

"Let's get back and talk to madam Maria. If I'm not mistaken, that rat poison is not being bought to handle the rat problem we don't have." He said as Amia hurried to pick up his handle and they turned the cart around. 

He knew that she shouldn't be able to obtain the poison if she didn't have a letter from the owner of the establishment, meaning madam Maria, but a simple handwritten letter was easy to forge. 

The moment they got back Hollem had Amia stay with the cart to help unload it, much to his frustration, and headed straight for madam Maria's office. He liked being around the man, but the poison was a big deal, and madam Maria didn't need to hear the same thing from two mouths. 

He knocked once, then opened the door and stepped inside. Madam Maria sat behind her desk, a large stack of papers before her that she was clearly in the middle of reading. 

"What is it, Hollem? I'm quite busy for once." She said with a raised eyebrow and a lack of patience. 

Hollem hurried over to the table and pulled out a chair, taking a seat as he started talking. 

"Amia and I were at the market and saw Lauriette at the poison dealer." 

Madam Maria didn't respond right away and instead looking down and licked her lips in thought. 

"We have no rodent problem... Was Amia's uncle with her, by chance? I know that she wasn't supposed to be out on an errand today, either." She said. 

Hollem shook his head. "No, he wasn't with her from what we could see. The market was quite busy, though. He could have been somewhere nearby and we would have been none the wiser." He replied. 

"I'm assuming that you two headed back here right away when you saw her buying it to tell me, so she has not returned yet?" Madam Maria asked. 

Hollem nodded, glancing over her shoulder briefly out of reflex. 

"She might be back by now. I'm worried that she's going to hide that poison before we get a chance to catch it." He said. 

Madam Maria nodded, crossing her arms on her desk to lean forward. "That, or she's going to give it to Matilda or Amia's uncle. Either way, I want you to wait outside for her. Bring that poison, Hollem." 

Nodding, Hollem quickly got up and excused himself. The cart was nearly unloaded by the time he stepped back outside, and conveniently enough, he could see Lauriette walking toward them in the distance. 

When she was close enough to notice him, she simply smiled and stopped right in front of him.

"Good morning, Hollem." She greeted, almost as if she knew that he was there specifically for her. 

When she lifted her hand to try and touch his chest, he stepped aside and offered a forced smile. 

"Hello, Lauriette, I've been told to ask you something." He said, his words making her tilt her head slightly. 

"What would that be, Hollem?" She asked. 

You're faking being clueless. No one goes to get rat poison illegally and doesn't worry about getting caught. 

"What were you buying at the rat poison dealer earlier?" He asked, getting straight to the point. He was also watching her expression, and she didn't disappoint. 

It definitely wasn't intentional, but she let her surprise slip for a second before covering it up with a confused smile. 

"I don't understand, Hollem. What reason would I need to procure rat poison? We do not have a rat problem." She said. "Perhaps it was another person who looked similar to me?" 

Now I know that you are lying. You are far too vain to ever compare yourself to another. 

"I am quite sure that you were specifically identified. Would you please empty your pockets, madam?" He asked with false patience. 

She seemed a little surprised, but did as told. There was very little in them, and none of it was remotely close to being rat poison. Hollem was just opening his mouth to tell her to slip off her shoes when Matilda appeared beside them and grabbed Lauriette's elbow. 

"There you are. Where did you go? We have mounds of laundry to clean and you suddenly disappeared. Come now, let's get to work." She said, hurrying lauriette toward the door. 

Hollem scowled and reached for Lauriette, but she surprisingly stopped on her own and turned toward him. "One moment, madam." She said as she quickly slipped off her shoes, then picked them up to turn them upside down. 

You've got it hidden somewhere else, then. 

Unable to legally search any other places, especially in broad daylight... and honestly not wishing to, Hollem nodded for her to follow Matilda inside. She gave him a quick bow and after slipping her shoes back on, hurried after the other woman. 

"She either slipped it to my uncle before getting here, or is hiding it somewhere neither of us want to look." Amia said, making Hollem jump when he suddenly appeared beside him. 

The uncle made the most sense, but either way, he needed to report it to madam Maria. 

"Go ahead and get back to bed. I'll be up in a few minutes." He said, mussing up Amia's hair enough to make him swat at him and spit a few foul words before running back inside. 

Cute. 

The guy would be relentless when he made it upstairs... and he was starting to look forward to when he got so wound up. 

Licking his lips, Hollem returned to Madam Maria's office and slipped inside. She glanced up at him, but didn't speak, since it was obvious that he had come to report to her. 

"She did not have it on her anywhere I could search. My money would be on her having passed it off to Amia's uncle, though Matilda came out to get her specifically and tried to interrupt my search..." 

Madam Maria nodded, rubbing her chin as she thought through her next words. What she said a few moments later wasn't what Hollem had expected, though. 

"Come evening, take your little trouble maker lad and head for the magistrate's place to report what happened. It shouldn't take you more than a day, but the person I normally send out for messages is currently busy with another task outside of the brothel." 

Furrowing his brow, Hollem was about to argue that he was the main bouncer in case things got out of hand, but she waved off his concern. 

"Don't worry. I'm training a new man so it will be a good test." 

A new guy?

"Besides, I can do the morning check, so with him trained up, that will give you more time to rest after busy nights." 

He would definitely appreciate that. 

"Alright. I assume I'm not scheduled for anyone this evening, then?" He asked, getting a shake of madam Maria's head in response. 

"And I'll keep an eye on Matilda and Lauriette until you're back. Amia's uncle will not be allowed on the premises while you are away, too." She said, giving Hollem at least a little reassurance that things won't get bad while he and Amia were gone. 

"Alright. I'm going to head back upstairs and pack some things, then get some sleep." He said, turning to leave. 

"Hollem, you and I both know that you are going to bed that lad until both of you are too exhausted to move. Just don't wear yourselves out, it's a long ride to the magistrate's home and I doubt he wishes to ride in a saddle with a raw backside." She said before making a shewing gesture with her hand, dismissing him. 

Grumbling under his breath, Hollem rolled his eyes at the door and exited. Amia would verbally beat him for refusing to bed him, but madam Maria had a point. 

Maybe just once... or twice. 

By the time he started up the stairs, he knew that Amia would love him today, but hate him tomorrow. 

I think I'm getting addicted to him. 

And that was saying something for a whore who had sex with plenty of beautiful and sweet young men and women for a living. 

At least I have all of those candies. I'll probably need them all for tomorrow...