Blackfeather Woods eye of the beholder

It did not occur to Cicero that any problems might arise if anyone hurt him. He'd been hurt before. He liked being hurt. Didn't everyone already know this? Yet Burke's words clarified that perhaps he overestimated those that stood beside him. Cicero said: "Cicero never wanted it this way, but there was nothing he could do when it happened. It was too late. He should have seen earlier. And perhaps he should have done something. Should have tried." He often felt like that; an observer, able to look on, but unable to make a difference to anything that played out in the world. Yet he understood that Burke would not trust him again. There was no sadness in his voice, no indication he felt the victim — he did not — because it was understandable that Burke would never look onto him the same. That was simply the way of the world. He had lost the trust of many as time had passed, even though he was fairly consistent in his being.

The only thing that one could know for sure about Cicero was that he would never do what one expected him to do. Even Damien hadn't yet figured him out.

A smile tugged at the frays of Cicero's lips as Burke used a metaphor. He would miss that, when they were gone, in both Burke and Malice. There was a sadness lingering in his eyes as Cicero said: "Maybe Cicero enjoys being cut." Was it for that reason that he had sought to stand by Damien's side in the end? He had not, truly, had tried to diffuse the situation but understood there were too many standing on the other side. Yet by not choosing a side he had chosen the victor's side ultimately, had chosen the side which had the most wolves on it already. It was disgusting, truly, to think about what he had become — but what could he do now?

Nothing but move forward. Yet it was the words of Burke that stuck to him the most that weren't part of the metaphor he played. "I love Damien," he admitted after a pregnant pause. Cicero didn't know if Damien would ever return his affections, but he would stand by his side regardless.

Always.