Nero Is Shy

Nero looked confused, but shrugged it off and held his bowl out to the cook. They took the bowl and went to the back to get him some more. They had come up with a good replacement for his usual ‘food’ - pig meat. He could handle it raw, so it never needed to be cooked.

As he waited, he watched Nilima, Yule and Haven.

Yule was used to his watching, it being one of his favorite pass times, and merely got herself some food with Haven.

Nilima got herself some food, something that had been cooked.

“Pretty,” Nero said and returned to his table before Nilima could see he was blushing.

Nilima sat down and ate. So she would not have to hide what she was here.

Yule kind of felt bad for Nero. He always ate alone when Loreen was not around and he looked…lonely. “Should we sit with him?” She asked Haven.

“Uh…” Haven looked at the raw pork meat in Nero’s bowl.

“He isn’t going to harm us.” Yule reminded her friend. Nero had never harmed her or Haven and she doubted he would do anything to Nilima aside from look and call her pretty. All he was doing now was slowly trying to use a fork.

“I know that.” Haven said. “Just…” The raw pork grossed her out.

“I know it’s gross, but…” Yule hunched up her shoulders. “I feel bad. He’s always alone…”

Nero finally figured out the damn fork and was eating.

“I know.” Haven sighed. It wasn’t fair.

“I…I’ll sit with him.” Yule said and got up, walking over to Nero’s table with her tray. She sat across from him, pulling his attention from his food. “Hi…”

Some other girls giggled. “Ew, seriously?”

Haven felt ashamed. She picked up her tray and carried it to Nero’s table, sitting next to Yule.

Yule offered Nero a smile and looked toward Nilima, wondering if she would join them.

Nilima was not feeling that outgoing. She stayed where she was.

Haven tried to eat and not be bothered by the raw pig meat.

Seeing Haven’t discomfort, Nero ate quickly so she wouldn’t have to see it very long. He hated making Haven and Yule uncomfortable since they were some of the few “friends” he had. Thanks to Loreen, he’d learned to nice to girls to the best of his ability, but with how he spoke and his size…well, it made being an attractive individual that could make friends very difficult.

“Thank you, Nero.” Yule said.

Haven looked down at her food.

Nero looked at Haven. “S…sorry…” He murmured.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Haven said.

Nero grimaced, unsure how to word what he wanted to say. All he could do was bite at his thumb nail nervously and glanced at Nilima.

Yule noticed and cleared her throat. “It’s best to leave her be,” She told him.