[After all the insanity]

Nicolai got up very early to go to the Eastern quadrant of the city because he works there for several years now for a bakery there. And he wanted to escape his aunt’s early morning ranting. He was dressed up in an ash colored shirt with his overalls and his weather beaten shoes.

As usual there is a bright smile on his face. He felt the cool morning breeze against his skin, it was crisp and damp.

The market place is slowly standing up and stalls were opening. From fruits to vegetables; and the meat and poultry were being prepared by the butchers. Flowers were also being sold. He gestured over to the flower merchant and looked for spare change in his pockets. Yep, enough for rose steam.

“Good Morning.” He greeted casually to the flower merchant. “I would love to buy a stalk of a red rose please.”

The merchant smiled as he gave a beautiful rose to the youth in exchange of money.

She’s going to love this, Nicolai thought. He clicked his heels and went to the bakery where he works.

A few moments of walking he arrived with the rose in hand. The scent of yeast and cinnamon just filled the room. There was a rather stout woman on the counter kneading a piece of dough.

“Where’s Miss Ranna?” Asked Nicolai asked.

“She went to Haven in the wee hours of the morn to her brother’s house.” The woman replied still kneading the dough. “She said that she’s going to be back in a few days. Don’t worry.”

He frowned, She didn't tell me that she was leaving! ;-; Now I'm worried!!!

Echoes of a horse outside. The woman behind the counter laughed.

"Oh, him again." She shook her head as the door opened. "Welcome back, High Commander. She's gone today, but she'll be back next week."

Hadrian was more or less in riding leather. Oh yes. Made less clanking noises. Well, his face fell slightly when he heard, but he sighed and put his hands into his... uh... pockets. Well that was TODAY ruined. What now? Torment some recruits? Sure.

...

HE APPRECIATED A GOODBYE, YOU KNOW.

"Well, tell her I dropped by." He said slightly miffed at the thought. "Although I would've appreciated some form of goodbye..."

Meeeh, you can't have it all, can you?

"Well, tell her I dropped by." He said slightly miffed at the thought. "Although I would've appreciated some form of goodbye..."

"But she saids her regards to you also, sire." The woman said. "And she sends her deepest apologies too."

Wait... I REMEMBER HIM.

"YOU!" Nicolai snapped, pointing a finger at Hadrian. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MISS RANNA?"

The older woman suddenly gasped, "Please, Nicolai." She begged. "Show some respect!"

"BUT! HE!" The youth stammered. "ARAGH!!"

"Lay your filthy hands off of her!" Nicolai said coldly to the High Commander. "You OLD windbag! You look too OLD for her anyway."

"YOU!" The other guy snapped, pointing a finger at him. At HIM. Hadrian Evaristus. HIGH COMMANDER OF ALL FREAKING OLENCIA. SECOND ONLY TO THE ROYAL HOUSE AND WHATNOT, AND YOU POINT A FINGER AT HIM? "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MISS RANNA?"

OH PREPARE TO DIE, YOU BASTARD. He twitched, but made no move to correct him. Another word, you poor sod... just one more WORD.

The older woman suddenly gasped, "Please, Nicolai." She begged. "Show some respect!"

YES. SHOW SOME RESPECT, YOU POOR SOD.

"BUT! HE!" The youth stammered. "ARAGH!!"

Hadrian raised an eyebrow.

"Lay your filthy hands off of her!" Nicolai said coldly to the High Commander. "You OLD windbag! You look too OLD for her anyway."

...

What?

"Say that again." He said slowly and deliberately, turning a deathly cold glare at him. He fingered the hilt of the sword at his waist. Yes. Say it again, you poor sod. Say. It. Again.

"Say that again." He said slowly.

Nicolai's eyebrow arched again and has smirk on his face. "What?" He said. "You didn't hear me what I said earlier?" He scoffed.

The woman just frowned, "Please," She begged. "Nicolai... have some respect. Miss Ranna will be displeased..."

He ignored the woman's pleas. "Gee, you must be really OLD, Lord High Commander." He scoffed then he laughed.

The woman sighed, "I'm sorry for his insolence, sire." She said apologetically. "He's a real pain. Even for her."

Nicolai's eyebrow arched again and has smirk on his face. "What?" He said. "You didn't hear me what I said earlier?" He scoffed.

No. I heard you. I just want you to repeat it so that I can use that to my defense when I go to court from CUTTING OFF YOUR HEAD.

The woman just frowned, "Please," She begged. "Nicolai... have some respect. Miss Ranna will be displeased..."

LISTEN TO HER, WHY DON'T YOU? FREAKING..... PEASANT.

He ignored the woman's pleas. "Gee, you must be really OLD, Lord High Commander." He scoffed then he laughed.

THAT was it. The sword was out of its sheathe in a flash. With deadly dexterity, Hadrian had its point on the young man's throat. Right... there. IF I POKED YOU, WILL YOU BLEED?

The woman sighed, "I'm sorry for his insolence, sire." She said apologetically. "He's a real pain. Even for her."

No, NOT LISTENING. HAVE TO HEAR IT FROM HIM. He narrowed his eyes. NO MORE NICE HIGH COMMANDER. YOU WILL FEAR ME STARTING NOW.

"Take it back." He said with a growl like that of an enraged wolf. "Or else."

JUST... A FEW MORE PACES.

The woman's eyes widen as she saw the Lord High Commander snapped as he brandished his sword and pointed at the youth's throat. "S-sir!" she said gasping

"Whoah," Nicolai said raising his hands up in the air mockingly.

The Lord high commander was fuming. Like an enraged bull. There was still playful smirk on the youth's face. He wanted to laugh out loud because of the high commander's face.

"...You should look at your face." Nicolai said playfully again.

"Take it back." He said with a growl like that of an enraged wolf. "Or else."

Nicolai's eyebrow was raised, "What?" he said scoffing, "The fact that you're old and wrinkly? I think not."

The elderly woman was fuming also, "Okay." She said flatly, "If you're going brawl. I suggest you go outside. If this place is going to be wrecked by the both of you, Ranna will probably feed the both of you to her rabid dog."

Nicolai shuddered, No. NO DOGS!!!

"Whoah," Nicolai said raising his hands up in the air mockingly. Hadrian prodded a LITTLE further and drew blood. YOU THINK I'M JOKING, YOU FREAKING IDIOT?

There was still playful smirk on the youth's face. Hadrian's eyebrow twitched. Oh hell YES, YOU'RE SO GOING TO GET FIVE WEEKS IN PRISON.

"...You should look at your face." Nicolai said playfully again.

...

TEN WEEKS IN PRISON.

Nicolai's eyebrow was raised, "What?" he said scoffing, "The fact that you're old and wrinkly? I think not."

...

DIE.

The elderly woman was fuming also, "Okay." She said flatly, "If you're going brawl. I suggest you go outside. If this place is going to be wrecked by the both of you, Ranna will probably feed the both of you to her rabid dog."

Hadrian flashed a devious smile. Eyes shining with a light bordering on complete insanity, he reached out and gripped the youth's collar and hoisted him high up in the air with one hand.

"With pleasure." Still with the same half insane smile, he opened the door and threw Nicolai outside.

EAT THAT YOU BASTARD. EAT LEAVES. EAT LEAVES.

The man suddenly grabbed him by the collar as he raised him up in the air. Now the High Commander's eyes were now sparkling with devious glee.

"LET GO OFF ME, JERK!" He said fighting Hadrian's grasp.

"With pleasure." Still with the same half insane smile, he opened the door and threw Nicolai outside.

But noooo, the High commander opened the door and threw him to the streets like he was some kind of garbage. But, he's beautiful garbage. :3 Hee.

"What was THAT for?" He asked impulsively.

"What was THAT for?" He asked impulsively.

"I'm doing what she said." Hadrian replied gleefully. He closed the door behind him politely. "We're brawling outside and I DO hope you've prepared for the consequence." He sheathed his sword and made sure his clothes would stay on.

"You want to fight, boy? Come on then." He said, growling. "Another word from your mouth and I swear to GOD I'll kill YOU." With that, he ran forward, intent on making SURE the boy would lose at least THREE TEETH FROM HIS JAW.

"I'm doing what she said." Hadrian replied gleefully. He closed the door behind him politely. "We're brawling outside and I DO hope you've prepared for the consequence." He sheathed his sword and made sure his clothes would stay on.

Nicolai gingerly stood up while dusting himself. "Whatever." He scoffed.

"You want to fight, boy? Come on then." He said, growling. "Another word from your mouth and I swear to GOD I'll kill YOU." With that, he ran forward, intent on making SURE the boy would lose at least THREE TEETH FROM HIS JAW.

His eyes just widened. The Lord High Commander was charging towards him like an enraged THING. Don't you dare say THAT word... even though it's the proper time to say it.

Then BAM, Hadrian collided with him. The Lord High Commander sent him flying, towards a tree trunk. His back was hit and he fell to the ground face down.But, three teeth fell from his jaw. Shuddering, he picked up to his feet groggily and charged to the Lord High Commander with punches.

"YOU'LL PAY..." he grunted.

BAM, INTO A TREETRUNK. HA. Hadrian clenched his fists. And then the kid had the stupidity to LAUNCH HIMSELF AT HIM. HIM. THE HIGH COMMANDER.

...

DURRRRR.

He sidestepped easily and watched the kid fly past. "Don't be a fool." He growled. "One little word, that's all I ask of you." Another lunge, filled with enough killing intent to knock the kid out for a few days.

YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. YOU SO DESERVE FIVE WHATEVER LASHES. MORE THAN FIFTY. YOU'RE GOING TO SUFFER AND DIE SO BADLY YOU'D WANT TO BE DEAD AFTER THE FIST THREE LASHINGS.

He drew back a leg and aimed a kick. WHO'S LAUGHING NOW, BASTARD? WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!? Eyes slowly filling with rage and a little bit of insanity, Hadrian's fists flexed.

DIE, DIE, DIE. YOU SUCK. YOU DAMN LITTLE...

The High Commander kicked him that sent him cowering. Oh no. NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY. IT'S GO TIME.

"Don't be a fool." He growled. "One little word, that's all I ask of you."

He stood up, weakly. He's not giving up. He is not a wuss, okay or a fool. Maybe a love fool.

Nicolai just gritted his teeth, "S..." He hissed. Come on, say it... FOOL. Miss Ranna will kill you... "Sorry." Finally, good job. Have a cookie.

He wiped the blood off his cheek and lips. "Tsk." He hissed. "Why do you come here every single day then?" He asks him rather disrespectfully. Ha, time to gut down the fish.

Nicolai just gritted his teeth, "S..." He hissed. Come on, say it... FOOL. Miss Ranna will kill you... "Sorry."

Good dog. Hadrian flinched slightly, but held what was left of his anger in check. Mustn't go all High Commander right now. Might regret it. For now, let's settle on glaring at him like he was going to die.

...

HE WAS, but let's get some answers first.

He wiped the blood off his cheek and lips. "Tsk." He hissed. "Why do you come here every single day then?" He asks him rather disrespectfully.

HATE THE TONE. GOTTA HATE THE TONE. DIE YOU BASTARD. DIE. He twitched again, but he shouldn't. Really.

"Keep up with that tone and you might find yourself without a head." he said snidely. "I come here because I want to. None of your business." Well, it sounded like he was having PMS right now, but HE STARTED IT DAMMIT.

"Keep up with that tone and you might find yourself without a head." he said snidely.

EEEEEP!! NO...I LIKE MY HEAD WHERE IT IS.

"I come here because I want to. None of your business." The Lord High Commander added rather agitated.

"Oh really," Nicolai replied with a grin. "You were looking for HER also. Her as in Miss Ranna... who owns the establishment." He added while pointing at the door of the bakery. He twitched after saying that, What the heck am I saying. Have I gone loco. I befriended MY rival for Miss Ranna. I know her longer than he does ;-;. So ha!

"Oh really," Nicolai replied with a grin. "You were looking for HER also. Her as in Miss Ranna... who owns the establishment." He added while pointing at the door of the bakery.

Well, yes. Still none of your business. Hadrian frowned slightly, but he DID have to agree. "Aye." he said gruffly. "Leaving without telling me wasn't very nice, but I can get over it." He honestly had no idea why he was saying this, but who cares?

"And you?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. HA. LEARNED A LESSON, DIDN'T YA? He went over to the tree trunk and leaned against it.

...

GOD HE WAS SO TIRED. It had been a LONG TIME SINCE HE PULLED SOMETHING LIKE THAT OFF, MY GOD. His fists HURT. HURT SO DAMN BADLY.

"Aye." he said gruffly.

He simply grinned. Inside he was laughing, evilly.

The High Commander added, "Leaving without telling me wasn't very nice, but I can get over it."

He rolled his eyes. Typical. He thought.

"And you?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Nicolai scoffed, "I work here," he said brashly. "AND I've known her for a very long time, Gramps." He said with a grin. That's right. Make him jealous. MUWAHAHA!! Make him beg.

Nicolai scoffed, "I work here," he said brashly. "AND I've known her for a very long time, Gramps." He said with a grin.

Gramps? Hadrian visibly twitched as he fingered a throwing knife he'd kept in his boot as part of his uniform. Flick of the wrist, BOOM, right there, quivering a few MILLIMETERS FROM YOUR GROIN. NEED I SAY MORE?

He gave a dry sarcastic laugh. Ha. Ha. Ha. Funny. Now keel over and DIE. "So I noticed." He said. "Pity being around her hasn't made you more intelligent."

I'M BETTER. I'M ALPHA HERE, DAMN YOU. YOU LITTLE RUNT. I OUGHTA BEHEAD YOU, BUT I SHOULDN'T. WHY? I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE AND ARREST WHOEVER DID THAT TO YOU.

...

NOT RIGHT NOW THOUGH. SCREW YOU.

The Lord High Commander just threw a throwing knife at him. EEEP! It barely touched him... and it almost hit his groin. He frowned after.

"So I noticed." He said. "Pity being around her hasn't made you more intelligent."

Okay, that OFFENDED him. Big time. He twitched, "Wasn't my fault that my mother died and my father's a bastard." He scoffed. "Not to mention my aunt sells her body for a living."

And she molested me. D:

Silence.

"Luckily," He said. "She's not here." He added flatly.

He continued, "Or else she'll be smacking our skulls with her walking stick." then he laughed. "Or that dog will be chasing us and probably biting our behinds."

The old woman peered from the window, she looked at Nicolai who was all dirty. "Nicolai," She said. "Come inside... you've got work to do."

He scoffed, but he wanted to torture the elderly man some more. But he has to do work and offer food on the table. The youth just silently turned away and entered the bakery.

The woman just looked at the young man entering the bakery and looked at Hadrian once again;and luckily that Nicolai was very far from them. "Thanks for torturing him, sire." She said thankfully with a coy smile; then she closed the door.

"Wasn't my fault that my mother died and my father's a bastard." He scoffed. "Not to mention my aunt sells her body for a living."

...

MUST LOOK INTO THAT.

Silence.

"Luckily," He said. "She's not here." He added flatly.

Hee.

He continued, "Or else she'll be smacking our skulls with her walking stick." then he laughed. "Or that dog will be chasing us and probably biting our behinds."

He LIKED DOGS.

The old woman peered from the window, she looked at Nicolai who was all dirty. "Nicolai," She said. "Come inside... you've got work to do."

The youth just silently turned away and entered the bakery.

THAT'S RIGHT. RUN AWAY.

The woman just looked at the young man entering the bakery and looked at Hadrian once again;and luckily that Nicolai was very far from them. "Thanks for torturing him, sire." She said thankfully with a coy smile; then she closed the door.

Hadrian grinned.