Different how?, he nearly blurted out, momentarily worried that they had already figured out his blessed and cursed nature. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Arash enough to tell them his origins, but he didn’t wish to seen like a bad omen in their eyes. Cú knew he would’ve to tell them eventually, but for now he just wanted them to see him as Cú Chulainn, nothing more, nothing less.
They were right, he wasn’t built to be an assassin. He knew that too, but… “There’s not that many things a traveler trying to keep a low profile can do, you know?” Sure, it would be easier if he took on quests and defeated monsters, but that would gain him fame, that would make him known, and that was something he couldn’t allow. “Most have a mental image of what a proper mercenary should look like… And selling my body looks like a scary thing to do.” And while hunting would’ve earned him a good profit, the young warrior couldn’t bring himself to kill a beast for something other than their meat when he needed to eat. Ah… it all sounded like excuses now. His teacher had warned him that he would eventually need to make decisions he wouldn’t like. Living without making sacrifices wasn’t possible. “I would kill you if you asked me to… I wouldn’t get in your way if you wished to sacrifice yourself for a greater reason… and I wouldn’t want nor expect any different from you.”
He looked away for a moment, his face turning red again but for an entirely different reason. He was embarrassed. It was too embarrassing to admit some things when Arash was looking at him. “Do you remember how I kept leaching on you the weeks after we met? Well, I was supposed to bring your head to get paid. I sent a letter saying that I failed instead.” And perhaps that was the reason why they had encountered quite the number of ‘bandits’ afterwards. It was better to silence those who could become annoyances later on. Knowing too much was always an issue between assassins. Arash mentioned crossing employers but it was far more likely for an employer to try to get rid of someone who knew too much than the other way around.
Finally, Cú let out a short sigh and looked up at the other man again. He stood on his tiptoes and let go of their hand so he could cup their face between his hands and pull him a little closer. “You ask too many questions, but you’re really bad at answering any about yourself, Arash.” He incriminated without any anger or suspicion in his tone. “What do you miss of your home? Do you feel guilty for what happened during that war? Will you be visiting your comrades’ graves or will you do your best to forget? If we part ways, will you remember me? Do you want me to be part of the future you’ve in mind? Will you kiss me already?” He had lots of questions too.
❝HUNTING. IT’S WHAT I do.❞ Or did. There was not much point in it when he travelled about with Cu, although it wasn’t as if Arash was lacking in funds. Being a famous ‘hero’ back in his homeland meant he lived rather easy aside from the fighting, and even then, he liked to only use said money when necessary. Other than that, he was fine living a rather humble life. Cu, however, didn’t have such things tied to his name. He was just one of those travelers you may catch a glimpse of and then forget the next…which, according to what they told him, was exactly what the other warrior was hoping for. Why, though? Why did they wish to stay under the radar? Certainly not because of an ex-employer wanting to get rid of them. Those bandits had been sufficiently weak despite their numbers…or maybe it was just because Arash and Cu were that strong that picking them off had been no different from swatting flies.
❝But you always did seem really odd about selling meat.❞ Arash gave a sigh, dramatic, long, but it was one of slight amusement rather than anything else. That aside... Cu’s traveling habits were not what this discussion was about. It had teetered into something much more personal. ❝Anyway, why would you tell your employer that you failed? Geez…you really are terrible at that profession.❞ Of course they were going to want to kill Cu! If they had been a part of a guild of some sort, no doubt other assassins would have gone after them to clean up. But, what was said afterwards did please him to hear. It was what he had wanted to hear. If anything else was stated, Arash would have instantly waved his hand and turned them down.
❝Good,❞ he said, a small nod granted. ❝Very good response.❞ Holding out his hands, he moved to push Cu back a bit, just enough to put some semblance of space between them though they still remained upon shoulders. Arash had meant to say more, but the hands upon his cheeks and the many questions that followed temporarily distracted him. W-Why so many? And why ask him this all at one time? Why now? The last ones he could understand, but the others? ❝H-Hey slow down. It’s not as if we don’t have plenty of time to talk to one another since we often have the same destinations.❞ A pause. ❝I miss the saffron fields that would bloom around the village I was from. We often used the stems for dye and would sell it along with furs and meat we would get from beasts, so that scent was one I grew up with and came to love the most.❞ He missed his mother too, but that was not mentioned. He’d keep that to himself. ❝I’m not a good guy, Cu. I killed because I had no choice and have to pick between protecting myself, my comrades, and my people, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy it.❞
Guilt… Yeah, he felt that sometimes too. He didn’t regret any of it. Even still, he tore others from their families. That was not something he should ever completely forget each time he loosed an arrow on an enemy. ❝Will I visit my comrade’s graves? Naturally. I will even visit their families if I can. If we come to part ways, I’ll remember you. Kinda hard to forget a feisty little guy like you.❞ He laughed gently, softly and near breathless. ❝Anyways, enough about that.❞ He lifted his hand, placing it upon the other’s mouth. ❝You want me to kiss you? Earn it then. Court me properly and you’ll get your answer. Think you can be patient enough for that, Cu? If not, then this is as far as we go with this conversation.❞ This would be his final test for the little wolf.