Undorn: The Beginning

Part Six

Beo, Region of Lufe

Location: Camp Monmouth

No Bones.

That was the only condition for Taide and Orwell when Beo came to them about a month ago, looking for help. He knew what he wanted to do. He knew exactly how he felt. But he had no idea where to begin.

Growing up, Beo was always taught to trust. Trust that his mother was teaching him right from wrong. Trust that his father knew what was best for him. Trust me, Beo.  He had heard the words thousands of times. But for some reason, trust didn't come naturally to him. He questioned every single one of his father's orders, every school lesson his mother taught him, and every quirky fact his sister Scarlett claimed she read in one of her thousand books. 

The one thing Beo did trust, however, was himself. He trusted his decision to enlist. He knew it would bring his mother and sister security. He knew it was the only option for their family to have a comfortable lifestyle: Beo couldn't go to work in the mines of Lufe, his mother would never let him. Not after his father's death. 

Beo knew he was bound to the Enforcers for life. And he trusted that it was the right--the only--path for him. 

But then an Enforcer made him kill his dog. His innocent, naive, alive and breathing dog. And then Beo didn't trust his decision anymore. In fact, he didn't trust anything anymore. All he knew was that he couldn't be one of them. He needed out. 

'Needing out' of the Enforcers wasn't an option. You were an Enforcer until you were injured or killed in active duty. You were an Enforcer until your body gave up on itself. Enlisting is like signing away the rights to your body; you no longer have control. Not of anything.

But Beo knew things were changing outside these walls. In Undorn, murmurs of rebellion and resistance groups were stronger than they had been in centuries. There were options. Beo convinced himself there were options.

First, he confided in Orwell. Orwell had come back from his final level of Enforcer training a completely different man. He used to be an infectiously bubbly, cussin' goofball. But he hasn't smiled since then. Beo has never asked him why, and Orwell hasn't offered any reason. But Beo knew something dark resided in his chest. Something profoundly crippling. Something exactly like what resided in Beo's.

"I'm finding a way out of here," Beo recalled saying to Orwell one day, the two of them alone in the sleeping quarters. 

Orwell didn't even stir from where he was lying in his bed. "I'm in."

Taide was harder to convince. But he came around after a few days. Right after he agreed, though, that's when Orwell and Taide offered Beo the condition. 

"Orwell and I are in, But on one condition," Taide paused, glancing towards the door to their room, then back at Orwell. Beo swallowed down the betrayal he felt with Taide and Orwell clearly going behind his back. To discuss his idea, nonetheless. Taide's eyes focused finally on Beo's. Then, with a demanding, hard voice he told Beo, "No Bones."

Beo swallowed down something that fought in his throat. 

And then, without missing a beat, he replied, "Of course."

Oh well,  Beo thought that night, staring at the ceiling above their bunk, Bones' light snoring lulling Beo's eyes to sleep. He's a pest anyway. 

But his heart wasn't in it. 

Bones, Region of Orrosta

Location: Camp Monmouth

The next morning in the showers, Bones fought the urge to watch Beo wrap a towel around his waist and shove his toothbrush in his mouth, going about his morning routine. Bones was waiting for his bunkmate to approach him, to talk to him like he'd promised. At the very least he wanted Beo to tell him anything about what the hell was going on, even if it was Beo telling him he couldn't talk about it. Bones just wanted some sort of confirmation from Beo, as silly as it sounds. He just wanted to know Beo hadn't forgotten about him. 

But confirmation never came. Beo left the showers soundlessly, not even giving Bones a second glance. 

Okay, Bones thought. Maybe he's waiting until we're alone. Afterall, there were about ten other guys in here. They would have had no privacy. That's it. They just need privacy. 

The two men weren't alone together at all for the rest of the day, but still, Bones wasn't worried. Beo was waiting for a good time. Bones knew that. He respected that.

And then the next day, the two of them were alone in their sleeping quarters. Taide and Orwell had a meeting with their flank advisors. Beo and Bones weren't in the same group, so they had some free time to relax. Both men decided to hang around their room.

This is it, Bones couldn't ignore the excitement in his chest. It was stupid, he knew that, but there wasn't much else to look forward to around here. Bones' stupid crush on Beo was the only thing that really kept him occupied, entertained. 

Quite frankly, it was the only thing that has given him some semblance of happiness his whole life.

Not that he was willing to admit that. 

But nothing happened.

Nothing.

Except for Beo taking a big fat nap, ignoring his roommate, and the conversation he promised they'd have. 

Bones was furious. He was disappointed. He was embarrassed, and he barely even knows what being embarrassed feels like. He's Thomas of fucking' Orrosta. Absolutely no one messes with him. 

But the stupid, adorable blonde-haired pansy sleeping above him had completely messed with him. And it fucking stung.