(Asurah's POV)
Fun wasn't something I was used to. Being king didn't exactly let you indulge yourself with fun. We were too busy doing business with other worlds, as well as making sure your people were safe from harm.
And yet, here I was at the Amundo Moon Space Shops, having the time of my life. I was having so much fun just looking around with Joseph. I could tell that he was having fun too, since he laughed at my jokes and had a big smile on his face as we went store to store. So far, we had been to thirteen of the stores on Amundo. We didn't buy from some of the stores, but we had bought a couple feet of fabric for me at Needless Needles, where they sold different sewing materials. Joseph had gotten a leather jacket sporting many pockets, much to my bewilderment, as well as some new boots, since his were old and fraying. We had also tried the food here, some of it not as delicious as others. We had to stop, since both of us had eaten too much and felt too full to devour another meal.
Despite that, this was the first day in a long time that I felt completely at ease. I wasn't worrying about my people's safety, or worrying about attending another godforsaken diplomatic party, instead, I was finally indulging myself. Well, indulging Joseph, too, since I basically paid for his jacket and boots. He had insisted he could pay for his own things, but Amundo didn't take the same currency as Earth did. So despite his protests, I purchased his items for him. I mean, I was the king of the richest planet in my galaxy. Money was not a problem for me, since I also rarely spent any of my creds. Plus, it felt...strangely nice to buy something for him. And it made me happy.
I couldn't really explain why I felt this way, since the feeling was foreign to me. I could only describe it as a...giddiness feeling. It was like happiness, but on a whole new level, and I may not be able to describe the feeling accurately, but I did know that I didn't completely hate it.
I turned to ask Joseph a question when I caught sight of him staring at the Jewels for Fools store, his eyes set on a necklace display. Raising my eyebrow, I gently tapped his shoulder, causing those chocolate eyes to turn towards me. "I didn't know you were into jewelry. I mean, not that you can't like jewelry, or anything, I mean..I like jewelry too. Gosh, um, awkward." I could feel my cheeks heating up, although I had no idea why. I just chalked it up to me being embarrassed that I probably unintentionally insulted him.
Joseph chuckled at his reaction, shaking his head and making his curls bounce quite cutely. "I don't really wear jewelry. Actually, I was thinking about getting my mother something."
"You're mother?" I was surprised that he mentioned his mother, since he never mentioned her to me before.
"Yeah. She's the only real family I have left, actually. She's in her seventies. She's the "sparkly" type, so those necklaces caught my eye."
Remembering my own mitéra and how she used to love jewels, I bit my bottom lip and looked at Joseph, who was still staring at the necklaces. For some reason, I felt saddened at the notion that Joseph only had his mother left. I also felt sympathetic, knowing what he must be going through, although, only faintly seeing as both of my parents were gone and I had been an only child. And I wanted to hug him and tell him everything was alright and he also had me, even if he didn't quite see me as family. Although, I would probably scare him if I randomly hugged him in a crowded Shop Hall. Not to mention I would be embarrassed. I never hugged anyone that wasn't my parents, Teiken and Temour. So I would be treading in new territory.
I bit my bottom lip and pulled out my cred card, tapping Joseph on the shoulder to get his attention. He glanced at me curiously, his eyes dropping down to the card held between my fingers. He immediately shook his head. "No, I can't. You already got me this jacket and those boots. There's no need to spend any of your money on me."
I smiled softly, taking Joseph's hand in my own, and placing the card on his open palm. "It's technically not for you," I pointed out, making Joseph purse his lips, "it's for you mother. You claim she likes jewelry, right? So, get her something nice. Don't worry about what the price tags say, since money isn't really a worry." Joseph opened his mouth to protest, but I shook my head, making him snap his mouth shut. "Please, I insist. Get your mother something nice, and meet me in the Choc'O Shop on the second floor."
"But-"
"No buts." I patted him on his shoulder and began walking off, despite the look on his face asking me not to. For some reason I felt really good knowing that despite his protests, I helped him get something for his dear mother. I felt like skipping all the way up to the Choc'O Shop, though, I didn't dare in this company. People may think I was crazy. Not that I wasn't, but, you know...reputation. I had to make sure I acted "kingly" so people didn't question my rule.
I smiled to myself, remembering how Joseph's hand felt in mine as I gave him my card. It was soft, yet there was a masculine quality about it. His skin was also very warm, like a summery day on Hera. It made my stomach do weird flops, and I didn't know why.
Maybe it was the fluff drink, I thought absentmindedly, stepping up on a hoverpad to get up onto the next level. Yeah, it was definitely that. I pulled out of my thoughts once I hit the third level, and stepped off the pad before I made my way to the Choc'O Shop. The aroma of chocolate hit my senses and I breathed it all in, sighing with content. Chocolate was extremely rare on my planet, mostly because plants couldn't grow there, thanks to the cold climate. We did have a few trees indigenous to Glacion, as well as a few other fruit found on no other planet. But cacao trees definitely weren't one of them.
I walked into the shop, glancing appreciated at the warm beige walls and dark wooden floor, giving the shop a homey feel. I walked around the isles, looking at the different chocolates from around the universe, picking up a couple of them. I knew I had to wait until Joseph got back up with me with my cred card, so I walked slowly between isles and collected what I wanted, though, none of them containing any almonds. I never really liked nuts in my chocolate, since to me, it gave the chocolate a gritty feeling that I didn't like. So I only grabbed the nut free ones, as well as a lot of dark chocolate, my favorite.
I was looking at a piece of chocolate shaped like a spaceship, when I felt a presence behind me. I turned, expecting to see Joseph, only to literally feel myself deflate as I stared back at the one person I didn't expect to be here.
His dark red hair, shaved on one side, was laying over his broad sunkissed shoulders as he stared back at me with vibrant red eyes, just as surprised as I was. He blinked, his brow furrowing as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.
"What are you doing here, Delkele?" I asked irritably, giving the barbarian king the fiercest glare I could manage.
Delkele glared back at me, his full lips in a frown as he regarded me with a heated stare. "I could ask you the same thing, doll."
"The name's Asurah you overgrown dog turd. And for your information, I'm doing whatever I want to do, so bugger off and quit stalking me."
Delkele scoffed as if the idea was absurd. "Following you? This is the first time I have seen you since the Hewon Ball. If anything, you're following me." He uncrossed his arms and looked around, as if he were searching for someone. "Where's your human at? I'm surprised he isn't humping your leg, at the moment. Did he finally have enough of you and leave?"
I snorted. "In your dreams, wannabe."
"As if I want to be that human worm." Delkele scoffed, looking a bit insulted. He then looked back at me, looking...dare I say...embarrassed, for some reason. "I'm actually not here to discuss where your human is. I actually wish to speak to you."
I frowned, setting my chocolate down on one of the small tables as I turned towards him, folding my arms over my chest. "Why would I want to hear anything you have to say? All you can manage is backstreet insults that would make even a child laugh at you."
Delkele sighed in frustration, tugging a large hand down his face. "Look, I do what I do for a reason. And I'm trying to tell you what that reason is, so why can't you grow up and talk to me? King to king?"
My frown deepened, my curiosity blossoming the longer he stood in front of me. He wanted to tell me why he treats me like crap? Why? What made him want to tell me now, all of a sudden? Was he actually serious? Was there a war, or something? So, despite myself I found myself biting my lip as I slowly nodded my head, keeping my guard up in case he tried anything stupid. "Alright, let's talk."