Orel didn't answer. He knelt down on the floor slowly and started patting his hand over the furs trying to find the ring. He couldn't find it in the darkness. Nikto watched him silently. Orel raised his gaze uncertainty; his eyes were full of tears.
"I'll find it and leave," he said quietly and turned away.
Nikto got down from the bed and sat on the furs next to Orel. He reached his hand touching Orel's shoulder and turned him to himself.
"Arel, I didn't want to…"
Orel moved away from him.
"Nik, don't, I understand, you'll never forgive me. I deserved these blows."
His split lip was bleeding but he didn't seem to notice it.
"I cannot find the ring but let it be, I don't need it."
"Arel…"
"Don't, Nik," Orel shook his head, pushed a few bloodied strands away from his face and reached for his jacket.
Nikto abruptly covered Orel's hand with his, not letting him take the jacket.
"Arel," he squeezed his hand. "Orel, wait!"
"Forgive me if you can, please," Orel said.
"Enough. We are always begging each other for forgiveness, like two idiots. I'm tired of it!"
Nikto pulled Orel closer.
"I'm tired of it, do you hear?"
"Do you want to kill me?"
"Little fool," Nikto laughed softly and gently patted Orel's dirty hair, then hugged him pressing him to his chest like a child. "I can't hurt you, I can't."
Orel clung to him, hiding his face against Nikto's chest. Nikto stroked his head kissing his hair.
"You're very beautiful, prince, really. You're just splendid!" He paused. "But you stink like a butcher!"
Orel laughed and raised his head.
"I don't know how I managed to get dirty like this," he shook his head. "I spoiled your gift. I was drunk."
"Forget it," when Nikto was talking quietly and gently, his voice didn't sound dissonant at all.
"Why are you comforting me? Have you read my thoughts about killing myself? You shouldn't have done that."
"I don't read your thoughts. I was very rude to you. Drugs are finishing me off, they make me mad. You didn't do anything that deserved hitting you so badly. I seem to have hit you too hard, I don't understand how it happened." He pushed Orel away slightly, carefully passed his fingers over Orel's eye that started swelling shut, looked at the bruise closely. Leaning towards Orel, Nikto touched his lips, kissing them gently. He looked straight at Orel, his eyes glittered in the darkness.