His lips parted as he heard him on the other side of the door.  So many locks, so many things to keep people out.  Or perhaps he had it backwards and they were meant to keep people in.  Either way, what bothered him the most was the desperate way they were undone and he couldn’t help it when the light of his eyes dimmed in sadness.  All of that was forgotten momentarily when the door finally opened though and he was met with a much more brilliant light that filled the small section of alley way.

 His heart beat faster in his chest as he tried to figure out the source of it on him.  How was he able to make himself shine so brilliantly?  Did he even do it on purpose?  That glow was unlike any light he had worked with over the years and it drew him in even more.  But he stopped himself when he started to speak, a gentle smile forming from all of his questions.  Just how long had this other boy been trapped here?  Where did he even come from?  It was then that he realized he had a fountain of questions for him as well.

Where to start?  He tried his best not to get too distracted by the light coming off of him and began to answer his questions, “I’m from Ataiyo, it’s a coastal country on another continent…As for this city, it’s beautiful but were it up to me I wouldn’t be here unless absolutely necessary.”   He felt only a little guilty for saying it since it very well might have been the only place the other knew, but he was also living proof of the cruelties here.

“I’ve been to nearly every country on both continents, but I’m always drawn back to the coast lines.  Call it homesickness.”   So many questions, “I can answer more of your questions but I’m actually concerned about you right now-How did you get here?”   Nothing about him was recognizable to any race he’d studied, and though he hadn’t learned of every culture, there was still something about him that didn’t quite fit.  Maybe it was that light, or maybe he was reaching too far.

He looked him over from head to toe, taking in his slender frame, his elongated limbs…the chain at his ankles.  That kept his attention and brought him back to the situation at hand as he looked back up to his eyes, “You shouldn’t be here.”

A hand flew to his mouth, face flushing as he became suddenly aware of the unbroken wave of questions he’d just unleashed on his new friend. Of course, give him time to answer. He watched with sheepish eyes, hand still at his lips, absorbing every word Naota said in response. Ataiyo, a coastal country. Nemu knew the city they were in was part of a county - was this country different than a coastal country? What made it different? He’d seen many pretty things from glances out the window, or even just inside the house - were there really places more beautiful to see? Where, and how would one get there? More questions were building up in Nemu’s mind, but now it was the man’s turn to ask and he held his tongue.

How exactly had he come here? It was something he hadn’t really thought about in a long time. After a pause, Nemu looked up - the walls of the alley and the surrounding buildings were covering most of it, but there was still a sliver of the night sky to be seen from the stoop of the kitchen door. How.. would one explain this? Nemu wasn’t even sure how it had happened exactly, or even what had happened. Everything was normal one day and, then, what? It was as though a thousand empty hands crawled across and pulled him into a nothingness, and just like that, he was on land sitting in front of Master and an old man with an impressive beard.

He furrowed his brows and looked back at Naota, standing there and waiting patiently for an answer. ”From there, to here.” his finger pointed at the respective up and down of sky and land before moving to scratch at the back of his neck. ”I’m… not entirely sure how it happened.”

He was back to staring again, and Nemu noticed for the first time there was a slight glow to his eyes. Could humans always do that? Neither Master nor his few friends had ever had eyes to do anything like that - was Naota a magical person? He tilted his head to the side and followed the black spot of pupil with a bit of wonder as they moved down and back up. What did he see? He smiled at the man when they locked eyes again.

You shouldn’t be here. Nemu felt his heart in his throat and the cold sweat of nerves return as his expression switched to one of horror. With lips parted and teeth locked, he instinctively turned to look behind him - had he seen someone? No? The house was silent, still, same as it had been all day. Maybe, something was happening in the city and the house was in danger. Is that why he came tonight? To warn people? Nemu looked back to his friend,

”What - what has happened? Is there something bad here?”

So he was from the heavens.  How was that even possible?  What was it like there?  Before he’d had so many questions, now it was as if he had thousands more.  Did that mean that there were other worlds beyond theirs?  It was so much that he was almost dizzy with knowledge.  That glow then, could that mean that his light was unlike anything they had in Revaliir…?  No wonder he was so drawn.  For years he had been under study of light, all forms and how to use and wield them: it was practically as much a part of him as his limbs were. 
 
Just the thought of being stolen from this world and thrust into another made his skin crawl.  Much less if he had been forced into servitude immediately.  That settled it: he would take him away from here, no matter what the cost.  Even if it didn’t happen today, it would happen.  How could he not realize what was going on…?  Or maybe he did but he didn’t mind it?  No, he was far too timid, too careful, there was no way he’d actually enjoy being trapped in this house under someone else’s power.  How could a person even think to lay their hands on someone so pure seeming…?  He himself was a full head taller than him and that alone would make him think twice about touching him in a negative way.
 
Looking over his head into the house he made sure there was no one else there.  Having seen him look over his shoulder made him worry, but it was brief: his fingers were twitching for his blade and the chance to slash at the person who had trapped him here.  This city got to him way too much… “Yes, there’s something very bad here.  The master of this house has you chained in servitude.  You deserve to be free, not tethered and abused.  And you’re not the only one, so many others in this place are treated just as you are-a great deal are treated even worse if you can imagine.”
 
The green of his eyes slowly shifted to red, his anger was rising but he didn’t want to let it consume him.  Not now, not with him, “You should come with me.  Get away from this place-We should be working towards getting you back home to where you came from.”   But before any of that could be done he’d have to calm down, not that he was in a raging state, he just so hated feeling angry.  He knew one thing that would help, “Tell me your name…”   His voice softened, and though his eyes remained crimson, the tension in his muscles slowly eased down.  Good.  But there was one thing bothering him, and even though it was simple, he wanted to right it, “If you’d like to…I’d like to know your name.”  
 

He’d probably been bossed around day after day since being here, and even though that wasn’t what he was doing and certainly wasn’t his intention, he at least wanted to adjust his wording and give him the choice.  

His eyes, they shifted colors. Nemu took a step back, fearful of this new progression in his pleasant, if odd, friend Naota. Something was wrong, he was holding something back, but what? This wasn’t simple anger. Master often got angry, but this - it was something else. Something truly powerful. Nemu’s fear turned to worry, stopping him from stepping back anymore. Does this have to do with those eyes? What could cause them to change color like that? Something is bothering him, he’s fighting. Does it hurt, does he need help?

But then, what he said. It was… bad here? Nemu looked at the chains at his ankles, Chained and servitude, tethered and abused. It had never occurred to him to think of it that way, not that he’d had the opportunity before Naota to be made aware of it. This is simply how things were, how it had to be - or so he’d thought. It was all he’d known certainly, since leaving home.

And there. That stinging, tearless pain behind his eyes again. getting you back home… Nemu knew he’d never go home. Something had changed about him, something he could feel yet couldn’t explain, when he arrived on land. He clutched at his tunic anxiously, humming softly and averting his gaze. Naota would want to take him home, and would dissapointed. Upset. The thought of his friend, mad at him, having to deal with this power he was struggling with right now - but Nemu couldn’t bring himself to lie. ”I.. cant.” the words were barely a wavering whisper”I can’t - go home, It’s. It can’t.”

But surely, they could go somewhere. Leaving here, it would make Naota feel better. Maybe. Clutched fingers pulsing at the thin fabric on his chest, he tried hard to think. Naota was upset because he, Nemu, was here. What had he just said? He was from Atriyo. Or, something. He traveled a lot, but he liked to return to…

There. Nemu clasped his hands together at his stomach, and braved to look Naota straight in the eyes with as straight a face as he could muster.

”M-master calls me Nemu, you can too if you like. C-can we go see a coastline?”

The way the other looked down at his chains, was it possible that he didn't realize the gravity of the situation he was in…? He couldn't imagine how he wouldn't know, but he made an effort not to bring too much anger to it…well, not on the surface at least. Exactly how long had the other been here? It must have seemed completely normal to him and he wondered briefly if he had been here since childhood. Children were brought here all the time, some were even born into this kind of life, so he wouldn't have put it past the master of the house to do so.


The way he told him that he wasn't able to go home pained his heart. If he truly was from the heavens as he had implied, then he understood. As he'd thought before, they so far had not discovered a way to reach beyond their sky, but in vain he had assumed that he would have had some sort of clue. Maybe this world was his home's sky: both unreachable to each other in the same way. Best not to bring it up again so soon. Very slowly the emerald hue returned to his irises; sympathy taking over anger.


Nemu… He committed it to memory instantly and couldn't stop the smile that formed as he spoke. Even though he didn't look it, some of his mannerisms so reminded him of a child, and that innocent naivete didn't help his case any more. His lips parted though, how had he never seen a coast line? Was he unaware of the fact that he was on an island…? Wait, did this mean that he had never left this house? The very idea of it worried him and set his reserve even more to get him away from here.


"Well then Nemu, I promise you the first thing I'll show you when we leave here is a coast line. They're beautiful, I'm sure you'll enjoy it." He had to hold his tongue from telling him that he'd been surrounded by one since he'd been brought here.

"If you're to come with me though then we'll need to remove the chain at your ankles. I can do it so long as the Master of the house hasn't sealed them in some way." He kept his voice soft, not wanting to startle him. At the front door he was so timid, and while he was showing more of himself back here he still worried that one wrong word would send him back into the house behind locked doors.


Hopefully his bindings weren't strengthened by magick of any kind, and even if they were he knew a few places he could take him to get them removed. With any luck they wouldn't have to worry about that and he'd be able to do it before they set foot away from here. He deserved to have his first step away from the house be unshackled.

The tension eased and a smile returned to his face when the other man’s eyes returned to their normal color. Naota must really likes the coastline. But this strange feeling lingered in his stomach - not a bad one, but odd none the less. He kept his hands pressed, gripping at the fabric that was gathered at his midsection. What was it? He was leaving the house for the first time in years. It had been something he’d wondered about, what else was out there here on land, but leaving the house… it wasn’t allowed, absolutely not allowed, and here he was about to do it anyways.

Those instincts from before, one ones that screamed at him from within to not do anything that would make Master angry - they were silenced entirely. Nemu bit at his lower lip with an ever-growing smile, what was this feeling?  It coursed through him like electricity, the possibility of a possibility. It’s likely Master might not even find out I’d left. Not for certain, absolutely - but having such a chance appear before him like this. It was so much more than anything he could have ever wondered about on his own and it was getting harder to feel nervous for the possible consequences.

But to go forward, to spend time with Naota, to feel this feeling even more - the shackles had to be removed? The man at the door was speaking softly, so different than just a few moments earlier, but his voice was serious. Nemu furrowed his brows, the instincts whispered their way back. No no, that’s too far, that’s - that’s definitely something that wouldn’t go unnoticed. The chains had been put on him as soon as he’d arrived at the house. To remind me, Master would often tell him. He’d never quite figured out what they were supposed to remind him of, but they sure seemed important regardless. Another way, there’s gotta be another way. What was it about them Naota didn’t want? If we’re going to be traveling, they’re hard to walk in sometimes, unless…

Alight with the sudden idea, Nemu widened his eyes and quickly squatted and hunched over his ankles to fumble with the chain hooked at his ankle. He hadn’t tried in a while, but it had been done many times before. In the first year at the house he’d taken a spectacular spill from attempting to walk too quickly through a room full of furniture, resulting in the misfortune of a broken ankle but a fortuitous, ever-so-slightly loosened link on the left side of the chain. With quite a bit of effort and just the right angle, the thing could be popped off and on. After he first noticed it there were many sleepless nights spent perfecting the motions, but fear of being caught at any moment had stopped the mindless distraction. But, what was the trick again? Slightly backwards… turn it up and left pull with all you’ve got - Ah!

The force of the chain being released from the hook threw him from squatting to sitting flat on the stone floor below - but it had worked. Nemu looked up to Naota, hopeful and smiling, the now loose chain dangling in his hand. ”Will this do?”

His eyes widened as he watched him, a smile spreading as the chain was removed from the link of his cuff. That would certainly make it easier and call less attention. And while he didn't like to think about it, should there come a reason that he would have to bring him back before his Master returned, he'd be able to put himself back into his shackles without anyone else being the wiser. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that though.


Were he to have it his way then he'd keep him away from this house permanently, but sometimes those that were kept captive didn't know any other way to be. It didn't soften his resolve. He nodded, the smile staying easily, "That will more than do. Come with me."


He turned his head and looked down the alley way, comforted by the fact that the street -from here at least- seemed just as empty as it had been earlier. Had he been more of a paranoid person he would have taken this as a bad omen: that it had all happened too easily. Truth be told he was surprised that there weren't any more security measures in place to keep a slave stuck here. Or it might have been that neither of them were aware…


Before he'd take him anywhere he'd have to find out, "Do you know of any security he might have…? Anything to alert him of you leaving or being gone?" He was trying not to be too invasive, but he'd seen what could happen to failed runaway attempts and it was never good.

Nemu stood and looked behind his shoulder, back to the dark and empty kitchen. Something to alert Master… Yes. Out of excitement and all these new feelings he’d allowed his thoughts to manufacture ideas to the contrary, hopeful thoughts to convince himself that everything would be okay. But Master always knew, always found out, somehow. Every little thing. He would find out about this, even if he were to shut the door right now and lock it tight. You’ll never have another chance like this, not ever.

Thin fingers gripped at the fabric of his tunic as his stomach knotted, his glow dimming to nothing. There would be repercussions, undoubtedly, and worse than he’d ever experienced before. But, to have been offered a chance like this, to not take it and regret it the rest of his life - surely that would be a punishment worse than anything he or even Master could imagine. Slowly, Nemu looked back to Naota. A strange man with stranger eyes and a something about this person that was pulling at him, even now, encouraging him to do such dangerous and exciting things. A friend.

”Yes, Master always knows.” the words came out broken, though a faint smile rode his lips as Nemu stood with resolute determination before bowing slightly towards Naota, ”Please take me, if you will”

His eyes both softened and saddened.  Being under that much control would have driven him mad.  Well, if the master of the house was going to find out either way, then best to just take a leap now.  Nodding stiffly in his resolve, he reached out and gently took his fingers in his hand, pulling him with him from the house.  His other hand lifted up and with a flick of his wrist the door closed and locked itself.  The streets were still more bare than they had been earlier, but he stopped just at the edge of the alley way, looking out to see if there were any passerby.

As it was there were only a few people walking along the battery and he internally cursed their luck.  Where before people had been further from the house in their passing, now they were directly across the street.  There were two options: cloak the two of them in invisibility and continue onward, or teleport them somewhere much further.  The latter would be much quicker and would leave little room for detection, but it could also be unsettling for those that were unaccustomed to it.  And having been locked away in a house for an unknown amount of years, he highly doubted that Nemu was used to such ways of travel.

His voice was a hushed whisper, “Try to keep absolutely silent.  You won’t be able to tell, but I’m going to make it so that the two of us can travel without detection from others.  We’ll be invisible to the naked eye but you must remain quiet so that we don’t draw attention to ourselves, all right…?”   He looked back at him, keeping a gentle hold on his fingers before slowly spreading the effect on them both.  So long as he kept contact with him then they could both stay hidden and as an extension of that would be able to see one another past the illusion.

When they were both completely concealed he began to walk, making a careful effort to keep his footsteps as silent as possible against the cobble stone.  Luckily they were near the water, it was a decent distance off but even from here on the street the soft crash of the waves in the distance could easily be mistaken for a slip of their feet.  He smiled as they moved, thinking about how shortly Nemu would finally be able to see a coastline.  And then from there?  Whatever he desired.

The outside air was crisp and cool and entirely overwhelming. Nemu quickly grew dizzy and struggled to keep his footing on the rough cobbles of the back alley, holding tight to Naota as they made their way to the street. His heart pounded so hard his ears were ringing, there was so much so much. Things he’d barely seen from the small windows were right in front of him, things he’d never seen before in his life and the stars. Naota stopped, and Nemu focused his gaze upwards, gawking at the clarity and sheer amount of night sky that could be seen from the end of the alleyway. How long had it been since there was so much? The back of his eyes began to sting, body buzzing from a glow that was rapidly resurfacing from the sight.

Silent. Nemu clasped his gaping mouth shut at the command of Naota. They were out the door but they weren’t out yet, he was… wait, what? From where the two were holding hands, a strange cold sensation ran up his arm and soon covered his whole body. He looked at Naota, panicked. What are you doing? He had said something about invisible, but he can still be seen. Nemu gripped at his tunic with his free hand and looked ahead, No, no - Naota wouldn’t hurt you, surely. They would move, silently and apparently without being seen as Nemu silently boggled at everything they passed.