Free and Unfettered 140 An Unlikely Friendship

Zenith was chatty, and there was always something that he could talk about, and the more he talked, the more Valerius realized that his new friend was remarkable in all ways, except one… social interaction.

It was not to say that he was completely inept, but it just seemed like he couldn't really read people's expressions. The more he talked, the one realized that Zenith didn't really have the same moral compass as most people did.

Perhaps this was why most shied away from the man, but Valerius felt like a moth attracted to the flame. There was just something about the rather strange man that drew him in. It was a rather novel feeling.

Most of the time, Valerius preferred to be alone. It wasn't to say that he didn't enjoy social interaction, it was just that over time, it felt rather stifling. So much so that he had to recuperate with a little 'me' time.

However, when Valerius interacted with Zenith, he never felt the need for that little break. Someway, somehow, the man had inserted a Zenith shaped hole into Valerius' life in the short span that they met.

Valerius walked down the hospital hallway, only to hear the rare sound of his mother's laughter spilling out from behind her door. Valerius paused, surprised but happy. It had been a long time since he had heard a genuine burst of laughter from his mother.

Though she never complained nor showed it, Valerius knew deep down that his mother felt like she was a burden to him. No matter what he said, he couldn't convince her otherwise. Her time in the sterile room had drained away much of her characteristic liveliness and joy.

Valerius couldn't help but pause outside of the room, drinking in her laugher.

"Knock, knock"

Valerius knocked on the door, just loud enough to be heard, but not enough to disrupt or jar the happiness that was radiating from the room.

The door slid open harshly before he made a move to open it, startling him, but he didn't have enough time to react before he was bodily dragged in.

"Valerius! My bestest friend in the whole universe! You never told me what a charming woman your mother was! You were holding out on me!"

This led to his mother giggling like a young maiden. "Oh, you flatterer!"

Stunned, Valerius struggle to reorient himself. "Zenith?"

"The one and only," Zenith said, somewhat smugly.

"What are you doing here? In fact, how did you even know?"

Zenith rolled his eyes. "Know what? You told me yourself, but in case you still haven't realized, you talked about your mother that one time, remember? So, here I am!"

Valerius couldn't help the fond but somewhat exasperated smile that crept onto his lips. This man…

Valerius huffed, kissing his obliging mother on the cheek. "Well, give me ten minutes and I'll be back," he said, stepping out of the room.

Valerius walked to the receptionist, who redirected him to their medical office to pay the bills that were due soon. Recently, he managed to obtain a good amount of money so that he could finally pay off the rest of the debt and see about getting her further treatment, so he was in a rather good mood.

"Hello, I'd like to pay off the bill for Ward A, Room 412?"

The young worker looked at him and looked back down. "Give me a moment, sir. Let me check," she said, rapidly typing into the computer before raising an eyebrow.

"Ward A, Room 412?" she said, confirming.

"Yes."

"The bills have already been paid in full, as well as all further treatments earlier today."

"What?" Valerius said, stunned. Then, his mind rapidly connected the dots.

"I see. Thank you," he said courteously to the lady.

"No problem."

Valerius saw himself out, walking back to the room.

Without another word, he integrated himself into Zenith and his mother's conversation, drawing out more laughs from her than he had in a year. The sight made his heart ache. He really wished he could have done more, sooner, but the sight of her this happy filled him with happiness as well.

Zenith, the infuriating man, had paid off all of the debt that he had incurred due to his mother's hospital bill, and Valerius felt a complicated mix of emotions when he found out.

Valerius pulled the other man aside when they had to leave after visiting hours were over.

"Zenith, I know you paid off the hospital bills. Thank you, but you really shouldn't have. Pass me your bank number so I can pay you back, alright?"

Zenith crossed his arms, sniffing. "How about no. Besides, you need that money."

Valerius didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Zenith! That's not just a small amount of money! I'm sure you need it as well!"

Zenith, for some strange reason, eyed him in delight. "You don't know? You don't know!" he said randomly, puzzling Valerius.

"Know what?"

"Exactly!"

Before he could drag out the answer of his bank details from the infuriating man, he was instead dragged off bodily.

"Come on, let's go!"

"What? Go where? Zenith, slow down!"

He was shoved into an inconspicuous black vehicle that he thought he spotted in the times they always met up.

"Back to HQ," Zenith told the driver, who nodded.

Once the car was in motion, Valerius made an exasperated sound.

"Zenith, did you just kidnap me?" Valerius was both exasperated but bemused at the same time.

"Well, you aren't a kid, so isn't it fine?"

"Okay, first of all, that isn't the problem. Second – mmpf?"

Zenith quickly muffled his friend, leaving his hand there. He happily ignored the glare that was sent his way.

"There. Don't ask so many questions. Just live in the moment!"

If it was anyone else, Valerius would have given them a good earful, but somehow, he just didn't with Zenith. He didn't know if it was because he was becoming more and more tolerant of the eccentric man, or because he genuinely felt he was funny, but Valerius liked to think that the other man was just as tolerant of him.

When they arrived at 'HQ', Valerius' jaw dropped when he realized where they were.

"Why are we here?" he couldn't help but question.

Zenith, of course, ignored his question, and dragged him into the building, attracting stares. By the time they were in the elevator, Valerius had already thrown away all sense of shame. Fighting against Zenith was an exercise in futility, so he just had to learn how to embrace it.

Zenith dramatically flung the doors of the top floor open, but not before Valerius managed to spot the words 'President's Office' on the plaque mounted one the door.

Zenith flung himself into the chair carelessly, leaving Valerius to gape at the man. His brain stalled as he tried to process everything.

"Wait… you're the producer of 'Pride and Honour'?!"

Zenith buffed his nails on his coat, blowing them. "The one and only," he said smugly.

Valerius, strengthless at the sheer ridiculousness of it all, sat down in an empty chair.

He ignored Zenith's eager face for praise, lacing his fingers. "So, what are your bank details?" he said seriously, holding in his laughter at the dramatic way the man's face fell.

"Valerius," Zenith whined, looking cheated.

"Zenith," Valerius said back evenly.

Zenith draped himself over Valerius dramatically. "Well, you will never find out my bank details," he declared happily.

Valerius helplessly cracked a smile, giving in to the urge at pull at Zenith's cheeks hard.

"Ow!" Zenith cried out, rubbing his aching cheeks. "Is that the thanks I get for paying your bills?" he pouted.

Valerius huffed, feeling warm. This man… "Thank you," he said genuinely. "But don't do it again! At least, tell me before you do anything!"

"Okay," Zenith said, brightening up. He would text Valerius then proceed to do it before he could respond.

The two men headed into a private room where there contained two gaming pods.

"Do you think the world of 'Pride and Honour' seems extremely realistic?" Zenith said suddenly, surprising the other man.

"I do."

"I have sneaking suspicions that the world is truly a world somewhere, and we're just unable to find it."

Valerius paused as he thought about what Zenith was saying seriously. Whilst another person might have dismissed Zenith's claims as mere fantasy, Valerius couldn't help but feel that there was a ringing truth in his words that could not be dismissed.

Had he not thought about how realistic the world was? How real the characters and personalities that existed in the game were? How complex the battle mechanics were? Had it been anyone else, they would have called him crazy, but Valerius couldn't deny that he had thought about the possibility.

"How are you going to prove it?" he said instead, and he knew he said the right thing, because there was a mix of relief and anticipation in Zenith's eyes.

It was a rare sight from the usually carefree and flighty man.

"Let me tell you all about it…"

Chapter end