"W-well sir, after you got injured a few more people came and tried to kill you, but I took your sword and tried to protect you, I am just glad you made it out alive," Alexander said weakly. Alexander took the bowl of broth and finished it up.

Tar was dumbfounded. "you...really? do you have proof of this?" He wanted to make sure. If it was true. He would probably treat him a bit better. But if he was lying just to show a little glory, he would probably abuse him more than he ever had. He was at least glad he was loyal. He could have ran off to let him die.

"Well, sir, would I have the scars? I could easily run away or worse to get away. Seeing how their feet were red, they have been walking bare foot on the ground for quite some time, their feet would have been on fire trying to chase after me," Alexander said.

"I guess...but I'm still not fully convinced unless maybe somebody witnessed anything? But I'll trust you for now." Tar said, shifting in the bed a bit. He was not going to like things very much, not being able to go on with his usual scheduled events until he healed enough and til his prize was healed enough so nothing would open those wounds. He ordered a fresh thing of the broth after he was done, giving him a full bowl and warm one for once.

"Well, that's reasonable, sir," Alexander said, while excepting the warm bowl of broth. He felt very grateful towards his master. He didn't take a second to hesitate, he drank the broth up. His eyes rolled back into his had a little bit and he fell back asleep.

Tar tucked the boy in when he fell asleep again, knowing resting would probably heal the wounds quicker. He questioned the men when they came in to check up on them every once in a while. They'd said how they found them and sure enough the boy had protected him from being harmed more than he already had been. It made him think, feeling a bit guilty at how he'd treated him in the past. But really he was only rough with him for certain things. He decided to sleep a bit more as well, resting as he got closer to the boy. He would have cuddled up if they weren't wounded.

(( Off to enter a contest, be back soon~ ))

Alexander had a dream, it wasn't disturbing in the least, but it was a bit strange. He saw himself in armor, with a sword, riding alongside his master into the heat of battle. Slashing and striking their enemies down, working hand in hand to defeat enemies. He saw himself eating like a king alongside his master, feasting on many meats and breads and fruits. Drinking a few glasses of wine and....

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

Tar had woken up much later the next day, feeling a little better as he had his bandages changed. He stroked the boy's head, hoping to wake him too so he could have his wounds cleaned and bandaged again. They were healing up a bit, the main one still being a problem. The rest of them were nearly just scratches with scabs now.

Alexander felt a light stroke on his forehead. He opened his eyes to see his master stroking him like a cat. He had never been touched so lightly before. He was really enjoying it.

"Ready to get your wounds and bandages all cleaned up? I believe you now." He kept stroking the boy as it was nice but stopped when the doctor came in to exchange the bandages and clean up the wounds and see how they were healing. He was forever grateful to the boy now. He just hadn't known how to share affection since he was brought up ruthlessly and without much love himself.

"Th-thank you, master," he said. Alexander was very tired. The skirmish had taken a toll on him. It did hurt a little to get the bandages swapped out, but once the doctor finished aiding him, he fell back asleep.

Tar rested but did not want to sleep any more, bringing the boy closer to him as gently as he could without almost opening their wounds. He held him close, checking out the damage he and the attack had done to him, hoping to not wake him as he looked content and needed the sleep. He found this awkward since he was not an affectionate person, it's just not how he was brought up on the streets. Being ruthless was how he'd gained his appreciation and glory, earning him a spot in the king's army.

Alexander felt something warm brush against him almost like someone was holding him. Unable to really know who it was he wrapped his arms around the person's body and fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Tar stroked his hair, untangling the mangled mess that really needed to be groomed better. He also noted that he either needed a haircut or to keep it up more. He reached for a brush, de-tangling his own mangled mess before softening the boy's. He tried his best to not tug or pull. It was safe to say when they were healed up. They would definitely be bathing again to get rid of all the blood and other stuff.

Alexander woke up then. He could feel something going through his hair. It kind of felt good. Alexander was oohing and ahhing at the grooming. He had never brushed his hair before. All he did was use his hands and a little melted pig fat he steals to make it look groomed. Surely the brush would be better. "Thank you, Tar," he said. He had never called his master by the first name before.

Tar was caught off guard by his name being used. Raising his hand as if to strike, only to pull the boy closer as he stoke a kiss. He thought it payback for when he was drunk. "You need to get drunk more often. This is payback. Now we're even for that. I think it's safe to say you won't be used until we're both healed so no stitches open up."

"O-ohh-hh, okay," Alexander said nervously. He didn't like being abused very much nor did he enjoy being drunk, but he did somehow like the kiss. Maybe he was starting to feel something, something deep he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it just felt good. He was swearing to himself that he was becoming inhuman, but he didn't care. "T-tar, do you think I am not a human?"

Tar laughed a bit at the question. It was definitely a strange one. "you bleed and function like one. So No I don't think." He still thought he should drink more often, not too much but whenever he himself did. "you're weird for thinking that though." He ruffled the boy's hair as a tease. He'd studied couples from a distance, only knowing minimal affection but never using or knowing how to put it to good use.

"Why am I weird?" Alexander said dumbfounded, "haven't you asked some strange things before?" Alexander enjoyed being showed the affection. He hoped that it would continue after they got better, already nervous about being abused afterward hinted that he wasn't going to be treated nicely.

"like what?" Tar asked as he twirled the boy's hair in his fingers. He didn't ever remember saying things that were weird. "that question of yours was weird...that's all." If he was better he would have the boy pinned to the bed by now for acting a little strange and being more open.

(( It's time for some seriousness. ))

"U-um, T-tar,please don't hit me, but I have a question, a very serious question," Alexander said. He kind of flinched a little bit, "w-w-will I ever be m-m-more t-t-to you?"

Tar shook his head. "I'm giving you permission to speak, I think that means your safe with me. Why did you stay? You could have ran off." He asked before answering the boy's questions. "Probably, but I'm not used to affection so don't expect what I do not know." He wanted his question answered, seriously. As serious as the boy could be with his reason for not running away.

"Well, that is nice. But, I think I stayed because I like you, well not the things you did to me but I like that you acknowledged me more than anyone else," he said as he looked down.

"I haven't really been all that bad...have I? I know I am controlling but I don't intentionally mean to hurt anyone's feelings or pride." Tar asked, somehow ending up cradling the boy as he said that. He didn't know what it was like to be liked that way as he often did what he did as rape. No consent what-so-ever.

"Well, no. You fed me, you bathed me once, I was able to sleep, I rode your horse. I guess war prizes are usually killed off the spot, but somehow you managed NOT to directly injure me badly," Alexander trailed off. He did speak anymore after that.

Tar nodded. "I suppose it's a little odd. Taking better care of you than most would. Though just think if you weren't around. I wouldn't have an outlet and I would just be angry all the time..." He felt a little bad, but what could he do.

"That's fine. I never hated you and come to think I didn't know I was helping you at the times, but what could you have done?" Alexander gave a smile. "I guess, I will always be here for you if you need someone to help you get rid of frustration.

Tar nodded. "I feel a bit bad for the past month. Forgetting you also had feelings too." He sighed, still feeling ashamed of himself. But it was all he was taught growing up without a real family.

"You were taught that way, I am sure if you weren't you'd be a little nicer, Tar, sir," he said, "I am fine, so there is no reason to apologize about anyway thing done in the past."

"mhm. I probably grew up in the same way you've had to. The streets. But the people I was with were always fight or flight." He didn't know how the boy grew up if he was on the streets or not, but that was where he'd found him. "were you a street kid?"

"Well, yes, I was. I wasn't one of those rowdy ones, but one of those street boys that never got any attention and was looked down upon by most people. I did have a thing with one, girl, but she found out that I was on the streets and I never saw her again. After that I was sure my life would always be like this, having no one to care but, I like to think that you cared in some way and took notice to me. I guess that is why I didn't run away. Running away will promise me a lonely life."

Tar stroked the boy, hugging him closer. "that doesn't sound very fun. I respect that though." He would try and be kinder even though he had never known kindness except when the boy was around. Before then he had to fight to survive.

"R-really? Respect is such a strong word, sir. I have never had anyone who respected me before, but thank you." Alexander said. His eyes got a little teary.

"I'll try to be better. Sorry I was such a Jerk, even if you say that." Tar looked away, ashamed with himself still and there was no reasoning with that. He wanted to get up but was told to stay in bed. He was bored and couldn't do anything to fix it.

"No, it's fine," Alexander said. He placed his hand on Tar's face and turned it towards him, "It's fine, sir." He gave a little smile and hopped from the bed. He had to use the rest room. He slowly limped to the bath room. He remembered using the little wooden box that people used to sit on and do their business, but he didn't think it would be so glamorous in the hotel. The poop box was a shiny wood, at home the boxes were so splintery and raggedy.

"careful in there. Don't rip open anything. What's in there anyway. Any tubs?" Tar wondered, asking him from the bed. He wondered if those wooden tubs were in the room or a brass one maybe. If anything that is. Maybe when they were healed enough they could have a bath and get clean again. They were a little clean at the wound sites but around them probably had blood and sweat still from the initial attack.

"Um, there is a very large square tub in here. It's brass," Alexander shouted out, "and don't worry about me, I am nearly done." He finished his business, took a scoop of the smelling salt that was supposed to be dropped in the box after someone has done something in there. He walked out carefully not trying to bump into anything. He hopped back in bed.

"Ah that's good. More bathing is good. But not until these wounds heal up a lot more. Stitching is not supposed to get wet. I worry because I don't know who got attacked worse out of us." Tar said honestly. He had the only one big wound, he didn't really know if the boy had more little ones or serious ones or not.

"Yeah, I guess so. I have never had stitches before or never had any type of cuts before," Alexander said. He sat up a bit. He had placed his hand over his stomach as lightly as possible and found a good position where it wouldn't hurt. His stomach growled just a little bit.

Tar heard the stomach go. "hungry still? I dunno if you should eat anymore. I don't want you fat." He gave a serious face before screwing it up by laughing. "nah. I'm a little hungry too. Liquid doesn't leave be full for long. I think that might be all we're allowed right now but I'm not sure." He called the guard to ask what they were allowed as far as food was concerned.