Chapter 15: Settling In.

Fizzy.

His real name was Fernando Montreal, but Ezra had never once called him that.

He became Fizzy the day he tried a carbonated drink for the first time and promptly panicked, convinced the bubbles were attacking his tongue.

Ezra never let him live it down.

Fizzy had been Ezra’s aide back then. His attendant. The person who helped him with everything from armor straps to paperwork.

He was also one of the many people Ezra had saved in the past. Inspired by him, Fizzy had tried to become a knight himself, but his small stature and lack of combat aptitude had steered him elsewhere.

So he stayed.

As Ezra’s attendant.

And judging by that bright, familiar smile, he was still perfectly happy with that.

“Fizzy,” Ezra said, stepping closer, disbelief still laced through his voice. “How are you still here? I thought you would’ve gone on vacation while I was gone.”

Fizzy laughed, wide and unrestrained. “I did, actually. Took a short trip home.” His smile softened a little. “But there wasn’t much waiting for me there. So I came back and ended up taking care of…”

He gestured behind him, toward the building Ezra had once called home.

Their home.

“To think you took so long to return, Sir Ezra,” Fizzy added, teasing. Then his eyes flicked past Ezra, widening. “And you brought a child! Oh my, you’ve certainly—”

“He’s not mine,” Ezra said immediately.

Fizzy blinked. “Oh.”

“Just a child I took in,” Ezra added quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Ah,” Fizzy said, nodding in understanding. “My apologies for assuming. It’s just… he looks a lot like you.”

Ezra let out an awkward chuckle. “Maybe that’s why I was drawn to helping him.”

He shifted slightly and gently nudged Lior forward. “Lior, say hello to Mister Fizzy. He’s a friend.”

“Friend?” Lior repeated, glancing between Ezra and Fizzy.

“Yes!” Fizzy said brightly, crouching a little so he wasn’t towering over him. “A good friend. And you’ll be seeing plenty of me, not just the brooding Sir Ezra anymore.”

Lior hesitated, then nodded slowly.

“Nice to meet you,” Fizzy continued warmly. “I hope we get along.”

“O-Okay,” Lior said quietly.

He sounded shy, but not afraid.

Ezra felt a small wave of relief wash over him.

Fizzy didn’t know Ezra was an omega. He didn’t know the truth about Lior either. And Ezra intended to keep it that way.

But he trusted Fizzy.

And maybe, just maybe, it would be good for Lior to have someone else here he could trust too.

Fizzy’s smile widened as he stepped closer, familiarity softening his expression. He reached out and rested a hand on Ezra’s shoulder, casual and unguarded, then paused.

His nose twitched slightly as he took a small sniff of the air.

“Huh,” Fizzy said thoughtfully. “It seems you’ve already been with Prince Helios. You smell a whole lot like him.”

Ezra stiffened.

His eyes widened just a fraction.

’Do I?’ he thought, startled. ’I didn’t even notice.’

Fizzy, oblivious as ever, continued. “I heard Princess Alyce is visiting, so I assumed His Highness would be far too busy to pick you up himself. From what I know, he already assigned knights to do it.” He grinned. “But I guess he couldn’t resist being the first to see you again.”

Ezra choked on air.

He coughed once, then twice, face warming rapidly. “Fizzy,” he said quickly, lowering his voice, “do not say things like that out loud. Or at least rephrase them.” He waved a hand vaguely. “You make it sound so… so—”

Fizzy tilted his head, staring at him blankly.

“So?”

Ezra closed his eyes for a brief moment.

’Right,’ he thought tiredly. ’Still the same Fizzy.’

“Never mind,” Ezra muttered. “It doesn’t matter.”

He exhaled slowly, then forced a small smile as he placed a hand lightly against Fizzy’s back, steering the conversation somewhere safer. “We have a lot to catch up on. Mostly about everything that happened while I was gone.” He glanced down at Lior, then back at Fizzy. “Shall we head inside?”

“Of course, Sir Ezra!” Fizzy said brightly, turning toward the entrance at once. “You’ll be happy to know everything is just how you left it.” He paused, then added proudly, “Only a hundred times cleaner.”

Ezra let out a soft laugh. “Just the way I like it. Lead the way.”

Fizzy nodded enthusiastically and started walking, already launching into a stream of commentary. “I made a few small renovations in the west wing, fixed the draft near the stairs, and I reorganized your study because honestly, Sir Ezra, your filing system was—”

Ezra listened with half an ear, his hand never leaving Lior’s.

But his thoughts drifted back to Fizzy’s earlier words.

’Helios wasn’t supposed to come?’

Ezra wondered quietly. ’Then why did he?’

It didn’t really matter why.

At least, that’s what he told himself as he ignored his heart beating a little too loud against his chest.

The question still lingered though as he entered the door to the house that he hasn’t been in in five years.

· ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

“Maman… this room is huge!!!”

The moment Fizzy closed the door behind him, the space seemed to open up even more. Quiet settled in, warm and safe, broken only by Lior’s excited voice.

Lior lifted his arms and spun in a wide circle, laughter bubbling out of him as his feet padded across the polished floor.

His eyes sparkled as he took everything in.

The tall windows.

The high ceiling.

The soft rugs that swallowed his steps.

“It’s bigger than our cottage!” he exclaimed again, spinning once more for emphasis.

Ezra smiled despite the tightness in his chest. “Careful, Lior,” he said gently, setting his cloak aside as he walked toward the bed. “Don’t make yourself dizzy like last time.”

’I knew he’d be happy once he saw our room.’ Ezra thought, watching him. ’I certainly was when I was younger as well.’

The bed caught his attention immediately. Wide. Inviting. Soft enough that his shoulders already ached to sink into it.

Of all the things he’d missed during his years away, this bed ranked embarrassingly high.

“I won’t, Maman!” Lior protested, spinning again. “I can spin a lot and a lot!”

Ezra let out a quiet chuckle as he sat down at the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight.

“Uh huh. I’m sure you can.” He patted the space beside him. “But before you keep spinning, come here first.”

Lior slowed, wobbling slightly before catching his balance. He frowned, curiosity replacing excitement as he trotted over. “Why?”

Ezra waited until Lior stood close enough, then gently guided him between his knees, resting his hands lightly on Lior’s shoulders.

“I need to talk to you again,” Ezra said softly.

“Uh oh.” Lior looked up at him, attentive now. Serious in that way that always made Ezra’s chest ache.

He brushed a thumb through Lior’s hair, grounding himself as much as the child. “I know today was… a lot,” he continued. “New place. New people. Loud voices. And a whole lot of information that may still be confusing.”

Lior nodded slowly.

“You did very well earlier,” Ezra added, his voice warm but firm. “Especially when you corrected yourself.”

Lior’s eyes widened a little. “When I said… Master?”

Ezra nodded. “Yes. That was very smart of you.”

Pride flickered across Lior’s face, brief but bright, before uncertainty crept back in. His brows knit together, his small fingers twisting nervously at the hem of Ezra’s tunic.

“Did I… do bad before?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ezra’s heart squeezed painfully at the question. He didn’t hesitate for a second.

“No,” he said firmly, cupping Lior’s cheek. “You didn’t do anything bad. Not at all.”

He leaned forward slightly so they were eye level, his voice softening as he lowered it. “But remember what I told you, little one. About being careful here.”

Lior nodded, slower this time, his excitement from earlier completely gone. His eyes dropped to the floor before he looked back up.

“Because… they might take me,” he said quietly.

Ezra swallowed, his throat tightening. “Yes,” he answered just as softly. “Because I love you. And I want to keep you safe.”

He brushed his thumb gently across Lior’s cheek, steadying himself. “So like I said, you stay away from the men with golden eyes. But if they come near you, I need you to be a good boy.”

Lior listened closely, eyes wide.

“Just be… neutral,” Ezra added, choosing the word carefully.

Lior stared at him for a long moment, as if turning the idea over in his mind. Then, without warning, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Ezra’s waist, pressing his face into him.

Ezra froze for half a heartbeat.

Then his arms came around Lior, holding him just as tightly.

“Understand, baby?” Ezra asked softly, his chin resting lightly against Lior’s head.

“Okay, Maman,” Lior murmured into his chest. “I understand… but…”

Ezra pulled back just enough to look at him. “Mhm?”

Lior tilted his head, confusion returning. “What does neutral mean?”

Ezra blinked, then let out a quiet, breathy laugh. Not from amusement, but from the sudden weight of the moment easing just a little.

’He’s still a baby…my baby…’ he thought. ’And I want him to stay that way.’

“It means,” Ezra explained gently, “you don’t smile too much, and you don’t frown either. You don’t hug them, and you don’t push them away.”

He demonstrated, smoothing his own expression. “You just stay like this. Calm. Quiet. Like you’re listening, but not too close.”

Lior studied Ezra’s face seriously, then tried to copy him. His mouth went straight, his eyes focused.

Ezra smiled despite himself. “Yes. Like that.”

Lior nodded once, determined. “I can do that.”

Ezra pulled him back into a hug, holding him a little longer than necessary.

“Good boy,” Ezra whispered, warmth softening his voice as he brushed a hand through Lior’s hair.

“There’s one more thing I need to tell you,” he added gently, his tone turning serious. “It’s very important, little one.”

Lior looked up at him, eyes wide and attentive.

“What is it, Maman?”

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