IRO
A gentle knock on his door caught Iroâs attention. He was just pulling on his sweater, and he finished dressing as he moved to answer it.
Opening the door, he found Cerys the centaur looking down at him. Her towering figure made most people in the house seem small, but Iro, with his delicate build, seemed particularly tiny in comparison.
He didnât really mind. He was used to it, though it did sometimes make his neck sore from constantly looking up at her.
âGood morning, Mister Iro. Master Zeltaria asked me to tell you that you have the week off from your usual duties.â
Iroâs ears perked up and he tilted his head slightly, his left hand rubbing his other arm. âA ~week~? That seems a bit much. I didnât do anything ~wrong~, did I?â
Cerys slowly shook her head. âNot at all. The recent events, particularly your kidnapping, have left the master of the house feeling somewhat guilty. Zeltaria thought it best to give you a break.
âTo ease your mind, itâs only until the ~end~ of the week. You have five days to relax and recover.â
Iro nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. After the events in town with Zeltaria the day before, he ~could~ use a little break.
âAlso, ~this~ came for you today.â Cerys handed Iro a small envelope. âMeals will be served as usual, but youâre not required to attend since youâre on vacation.
âThe others know and wonât bother you for skipping your duties, though Mika might pester you for some alcohol. Just ignore her.â With that, Cerys turned and began to walk away, giving Iro a friendly wave goodbye.
Iro waved back and retreated into his room, flopping onto his bed to examine the letter. He recognized the handwriting on the envelope and quickly opened it. A grin spread across his face as he read the opening lines.
~Hey dummy, you havenât called or written, so Iâm coming over. Why am I sending a letter? Because I can time it so I arrive pretty much the same day and surprise you. ~
~Plus, getting letters is more fun, right? Iâll call when I get to whatever counts as a bus station in your town. âBeck~
Iro chuckled at Beckâs straightforward writing and checked his phone. No missed calls. Deciding to get ready, he went to find Cerys again to ask if he could have a friend over.
He reached his door and paused, wondering if Beck would ~want~ to stay here. Or if ~he~ wanted her to stay. Considering some of their past activities, he might feel a bit embarrassed.
Iro shook his head, scolding himself. There was nothing to be embarrassed about.
Gathering his courage, he went to find Cerys to ask if he could have a friend over. It felt like asking his mom for a sleepover.
~No, asking ~Zel~ would be like asking your momâ¦wait⦠~Iro decided not to pursue that thought and went to find the centaur.
He found her in the downstairs study, engrossed in some books and records spread out on a table. She was sitting on the floor, her horse-like legs neatly folded beneath her.
âMiss Cerys?â Iro asked, a bit timidly. He didnât want to interrupt her rudely.
Cerys turned and pushed her small reading glasses down her nose. She looked like a movie librarian and gave him a faint smile. âYes, Mister Iro? Did you need something else?â
Iro stepped closer and held up the letter from his former college roommate and current best friend.
âThe letter you gave me? Itâs from my friend. Sheâs coming to visit. Is itâ¦would it be okay if she came over? Maybe even stayed in a spare room? I mean, she could stay in my roomââ
Cerys clapped her hands and fixed her gaze on Iro. âOf course she can stay! Iâm sure everyone will be ~thrilled ~to meet one of ~your~ friends. The stories she could tellâ¦â
A grin began to form on Cerysâs face as she stood and took a few steps toward Iro. âIâll let Master Zeltaria know. Do you know when sheâll get here?â
Iroâs phone started to ring, and he jumped, reaching into his sweater pocket to find it. A mix of excitement and dread filled him at the thought of his friendâs potentially embarrassing arrival. âLooks like sheâs here now.â
***
Iro shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Beck admired the city passing by. The taxi they were in was quickly making its way back to Zeltariaâs estate, but the route was still scenic.
When they finally arrived at the gate, they got out, thanked and paid the driver, and walked through the open, ornate gates and up the brick driveway.
âAnd you say that ~you~ trim the hedges?â Beck teased, admiring the landscaping. Her tone made it clear she was turning it into an innuendo.
Iro caught her playful grin and chuckled. âYeah, ~all over~. Letâs just get inside and in private before you start ~suggesting ~anything else.â
Beck laughed as Iro quickened his pace, his tail wagging with noticeable excitement.
Beck followed closely, but her attention was more on the grounds than on her friend. She admired the well-kept grass and shrubs, the neatly pruned trees and hedges, and most of all, the grand mansion at the top of the estate.
The elegant, aged brickwork hinted at the buildingâs refined elegance and long history, suggesting countless stories held within its walls.
As they approached the large wooden double doors at the entrance, one of the doors creaked open. Mika, the often tipsy cat maid, glanced at Iro before turning her attention to Beck.
She fully opened the door, revealing herself in a freshly pressed uniform, looking much neater than Iro usually saw her.
âYou must be Rebecca, Iroâs ~friend~,â she said sweetly, her smile matching her tone.
Mika reached out, taking both of Beckâs hands in her own. âItâs a ~joy~ to meet you. Iro keeps his personal life pretty quiet, so weâre ~excited~ to meet someone from his world. Please, come in.â
Iro, hearing Mikaâs warm voice and catching a mischievous look from the cat as Beck stepped inside, felt his worries intensify.
Zeltaria and the rest of them were bound to use Beckâs visit to their advantage. He had two choices: be ~extra~ cautious for the next few days, or just accept that he was going to be the butt of a few jokes.
Beck knew all his secrets from college, including and ~especially~ the kind of fun they used to have when they were messing around.
Following Beck and his coworker into the mansion, Iro felt a faint sensation in his backside, a physical reminder of the many times heâd been on the receiving end of Beckâs toys.
He wondered how many sheâd packed. He wondered if Zeltaria would discover them.
As they entered, Iro noticed a quick flutter near the kitchen door. The burst of feathers was a dead giveaway.
The sudden appearance of not just Airyâs feathers, but also a pair of curious shark-like features and a group of watchful spider eyes around the doorframe, let Iro know that the whole house was in on the secret.
Iro ~also~ knew they wouldnât hesitate to use it to their advantage.