2.1 Pity?

Elena was a little confused when she went to her room. Why did Xavier do that? Maybe he wants to show some good will to Leo. But why? He never cared for Leo. Leo on the other hand was a bit shook. He didn't want to go to the servent quarters at all. Whenever he went to servent quarters the big guards there would torment him for the night and used his mother as blackmail. He hated it. When Xavier asked for him to stay, his nerves settled a little. He knew that brother Xavi was a good man, he wouldn't harm anyone. But Elena says he will take her away from me. He can't be a good man if he does that.

The room was spacious, better than the one he lived in back at the Xalvadore residence. Elena said that we have to please Mr.Morris to allow us a safe passage through the 3rd pass opening way for a new market in city X. This will help Master Aldo a lot. Leo wants to thank Master Aldo for rescuing him from that hell. He wanted to bath but the wooden tub was empty. So he asked a servent about where he could get warm water.

He grabbed a bucket and went to collect water for the tub. The room Shu XinYi stayed in had been prepared with fresh water. He took a short bath and went outside to evaluate the situation. He saw Leo holding a water bucket and carrying it somewhere. He was around 6ft4in tall with a well built body. From nowhere did it look like this young man was mentally scarred. Shu XinYi hoped that Leo would get better with time learning to be independent.

Shu XinYi walked towards him saying "Why didn't you ask the servents here, You are a guest here today so leave these activities to the ones incharge."

"Elder brother Xavier I can take it myself, I am used to it." Leo said.

"Leo haven't I told you to call me brother Xavi. As I said it doesn't matter if you do or do not know how to do this. Do you want to shame our host by doing this kind of work as a guest. Why don't you help me with something hmm? Follow me." Shu XinYi asked a worker to fill the water and motioned Leo to follow him in the room where the products they brought today were held.

"Father has prepared three sets of pure silver jewelry for Mr.Morris Haa I think father is being too giving. Each of this set is hand made with the finest design. At dinner I want you to help me with something. I will only present this one set, take these two back with you and keep it safely hidden. When I present this at dinner, can you put it on Elder sister Elena and describe the set giving some good points?" Shu XinYi asked, he wanted to assess where Leo stood right now.

"Why are we gifting this set to him?" Leo asked. His voice was firm and cold but he had only one thought in mind. That he had to get all the information and tell sister Elena, this is what she taught him.

"I won't hide from you as you will know sooner or later. We are trying to get access to the 3rd pass so we can trade this new type of jewelry. It won't be a bother to offer some commission everytime our fleat passes helping both parties but first we have to present a sample of the set and also sell it's good points. I hope you can help me. Sister Elena is the only lady presenting us so we can only present the set through her. As you know she and I are not on the best of terms hence I ask your help. If this is successful, father will be very happy."

"If it's for Master Aldo then I will definitely help. What do I do of these two remaining sets?" Leo decisively asked.

"For now keep them with you don't show them to anyone I can only trust you, I will say later what is to be done about them. I will not trouble you any longer." Shu XinYi walked off to the pavilion looking through a notebook he kept in his pocket.

Leo first went back to his room to put the two sets in a safe place and then took a bath before heading to sister Elena's room. He told Elena everything except for the part about the two extra sets. Elena listened and then nodded "Good then, you will do what he says, I will handle the rest also remember the table manners I taught you, don't mess up alright."

The dinner table was set and they were all called. Shu XinYi looked at Leo and noddeqd. Leo nodded back in affirmation. They had some polite talks throughout the dinner. After the dinner ended and the table was cleared Shu XinYi got up from the table and brought a beautiful looking silver jewelry set. He opened the lid of the box to show it to Mr.Morris and said "This is a hand made set, every crease and curve is cut to perfection. Mr.Morris never before has the trade market been introduce with a gem like this."

Shu XinYi handed the set to Leo who neatly placed the set on Elena. Elena was sitting right beside Mr.Morris so he could have a clear look. Leo said in a calm voice "Mr.Morris as you can see it looks very beautiful on Lady Elena. This kind of set will always attract people in search for beauty, be that a man or a woman."

Elena continued after Leo in a magnetic luring voice. "Mr.Morris I as a lady have to agree with him. This really is beautiful. I hope I am not speaking too much but If you allow us to trade this in city X a 7% commission really will benefit you. The demand for these kinds of sets will only rise in the coming days."

Both Shu XinYi and Aldo frowned. They could easily get them to agree on a 4% commission, since this product really was high class and would sell well. Now that Elena had given a 7% figure they can't suggest any less. What kind of trade genius gives a bigger number to start negotiations? Shu XinYi was utterly baffled, was she trying to impress Mr.Morris? but that will be useless since he can help no further then the third pass.

Leo saw that what Elena said wouldn't be beneficial for them. Although he was a scared child he still had high iq just that he had problems in speaking his decisions, but right now Elena had said that she wanted to help father, and for this feat to be successful so Leo spoke up "Sister Elena is too generous as a lady but Mr.Morris you should know the value of this set. Even a 2% commission would be a luxury unless Mr.Morris wants to negotiate."

Mr.Morris knew what Leo said was correct but he was not ready to give up some extra profits. He said "Young master Xavier, Mr.Leo, I think both of us will be happy with a 4% commission since I have to further negotiate with my family and help you get into this new market."

This time Shu XinYi spoke up "Mr.Morris I hope you are not undervaluing our product and ultimately us. You are our esteemed buyer and have been a good host today so I will agree upon a 3% rate. If you disagree we can only leave politely since we stay at no place that undervalues us."

Elena was enraged in her heart. She was angry at Leo but she knew what he said was right. A 7% really was a loss and she saw that father was angry at her. All she was thinking of was impressing Mr.Morris to have good contacts, but that would only backfire. So she sat quietly trying not to anger father anymore.

"Young master why do you mind my words. I simply wanted to put forward a negotiation. 3% is just fine with me. Albert bring the seal, i will write a letter of acceptance right now for you."

Shu XinYi looked at Mr.Morris write a seal of acceptance that will help them pass through. Shu XinYi thought that Leo could not make decisions on his own but he saw that although he still lacked confidence and was sometimes caught off gaurd, he really was decisive. He looked at Leo and nodded to him showing that he was satisfied. He has to make sure Leo realises that he is being used. The more time he spends with Elena the more he will be affected because she does not let him move on and constantly reminds him of the pain and torture and that he should rely on her.

They had some idle talks after the matter was handled. Shu Xinyi knocked his father's room after dinner and entered after affirmation. They talked about the fleet they would send with the seal to city X. Shu XinYi assured his father that he would personally select the most honest and decisive traders and so his father shouldn't be worried.

He went to his own room to sleep but he couldn't. At dinner Leo had unknowingly touched Elena's sour spots. Now she definitely will get back at Leo. He asked snow to send the live voice recordings of their room.

Warning Gore and ra*e

"Leo do you know what you did wrong today? I will tell you. You made both Father and elder brother get angry at me. Now they will think that I am becoming a burden, so they will marry me away and I would have to leave you."

"No no please I am sorry please don't leave me"

"Leo whenever you say this I feel like you are lying, like you are not loyal to me. What if one day father beats you and tells you to leave me then wouldn't you just leave like you left your mother's body."

"No I won't, I will take all the beatings I don't care. I won't let them hurt you please believe me. If you want you can test me. Here."

"No, how can I hurt you Leo? I can't but.. here, if it you want to assure me that much then do it yourself."

"Stop it, stop it please Snow I can't do it." Shu XinYi was shaking all over. "What exactly happened in his past. Why is he like this, I hate it."

"Master he was in a camp in the city outskirts with his mother. That area was controlled by human traffickers who sold these poor humans for all sorts of reasons. Leo begged for his mother and him to not be separated. The people said they would let them live here with food everyday if he served them at nights. Leo was too young to know the meaning but he endured all of it for his mother. They beat him up and did things with him until six years ago he found his mother being rap*d by the gaurds and he could see that his mother was not breathing. He knew that if they found him looking they would do this to him as well. He was too scared. Since his mother was dead he decided to run away afraid for his life, and was found by Aldo to be bought here."

END OF WARNING

Shu XinYi was horrified. He was only 17. Although in his previous worlds Shu XinYi had seen people with a fate more horrifying then this, his heart never hurt for them and he only felt pity but right now it felt like a knife had stabbed him. He tried to endure and endure but the pain was endless. He sat up from the bed no longer able to endure.

He went out of his room and went to Leo's room knocking the door. Elena had obviously left. It was late in the night, so when Leo opened the door he was in his night dress. Shu XinYi got inside the room and closed the door. He was still trembling a little from the pain in his heart and he refused to look at Leo at all.

"Brother Xavi you... What are you doing here. Is something of the matter." Leo couldn't be more confused.

Shu XinYi's voice was a bit shaky and out of breath as he asked "You ... Are you okay?"

Leo could obviously see his hands tremble as if he was in pain. The question startled him more. Was brother Xavi worried for him, but why? He didn't like the feeling of Brother Xavi being in pain. He saw his trembling hands so he comforted him saying,

"Brother Xavi, I am fine you don't have to worry okay." He had the urge to touch Brother Xavi's ear and rub it thinking this should comfort him but before he could do so he heard a little voice say "Don't try to comfort me you idiot. If you are in pain you should say it, not just endure it alone."

Huh? Why is brother Xavi saying all this? Does he know about my past? but I only told Sister Elena. Whatever the reason, he couldn't see Xavi's voice break like he was about to cry. Leo lowered his voice assuring him truthfully "Okay then, if I am in pain I can't endure then I will say it okay. So don't cry Xavi. Sit down. Here drink some water."

Shu XinYi didn't know why he was crying but he didn't want to imagine Leo suffering what he suffered, it really did hurt him too much. He drank the water and laid down on the bed hugging the pillow. He wanted to actually hug Leo but that would be too ooc for Leo who knew him for six years. He slept in this broken state and Leo was just staring with wide eyes. His heart beat had fastened without him knowing and he didn't move a single step.

Brother Xavi was crying for him. Brother Xavi was always a calm and decisive person, he never showed himself in a vulnerable position. What caused that Xavi to show this behaviour? Maybe he found out the truth about Leo. But even so why would he cry for him? Maybe it's the first time brother Xavi has known something like this. Xavi always stays busy with business and stays in the house most of the time, so he didn't know that a harsh cruel world like that existed.

He lived that cruel life but never had he cried in pain like brother Xavi had right now. Not even when he saw his mother for the last time. At that time his heart was empty. Elena was the only one who looked after him and cared for him in the lowest time of his life. He was in pain but he had hidden the pain deep inside showing only snippets of it to Elena, trying to open his heart to her but he was scared of the pain. He didn't want to face it. So he didn't cry nor did he speak a lot about his past. He didn't want Elena to leave him since she was the only one who would care for him. He wanted to feel a little safe by relying on her but he never did.

He saw that Xavi's breathing had evened out so he sat down on the bed and rubbed his ear, something that surprised him but he didn't stop. He saw Xavi relax his muscles like he was comforted. He smiled to himself thinking Xavi looks like a bunny. This was the first time he smiled his most genuine smile without any fear. He too laid down on the bed beside Xavi and went to sleep.

When he woke up Xavi was still sleeping. He had this uneasiness settled in him since he was young, but right now his heart was at peace. Xavi opened his peach blossom eyes slowly and looked at him. He wasn't surprised nor did he get up he just looked at him with an irritated face then turned over on the other side giving a little humph. Leo's heart skipped a beat. Why was brother Xavi looking more and more like a snow bunny? He saw that Xavi was angry at him although he didn't know the reason he still said "I am sorry, okay don't get angry. Didn't I say I won't face anything I can't endure."

He heard another humph and then "Idiot don't you have brains can't you use it? Who will care for you if not yourself? If you don't want me to be angry then don't be an idiot."

Although Leo was being insulted, he was feeling giddy on the inside. He had the urge to laugh and hold Xavi but he endured saying "okay okay I will not be an idiot but if I am being an idiot then you can remind me no?"

"Whatever go change we have to leave in some time. Thanks to you the deal went well, so uh keep it up."

Shu XinYi didn't find anything weird with his behavior nor Leo's, he didn't know that Leo didn't laugh even in front of Elena. All he could think was that, did Leo really harm himself last night? He was scared to know the answer so he didn't try to find out. He really was angry at this dumb idiot but he couldn't even be angry at him without his heart hurting. Why was it like this? Shu XinYi didn't know but he didn't want to understand either.