"If we kept to ourselves, and didn't bother them ever again--" Braig noted one day, passing a brief glance to the youngest of Ansem's apprentices, who stood besides him. "--they'd go about their business and we'd never be heard from again.

"It's the plight of the little dude, the short shit."

One cue, Dilan and Even strode on by, locked in conversation, neither's gaze wavering from the other as they chat.

Ienzo frowned, the expression utterly adorable with brows knitted and lips pouted. "I see. I wasn't aware of this problem..."

Braig snorted, eyes rolling as arms came behind his head, fingers locking together. "Get used to it, kid. You're smaller than I am."

"I'm also still young," he replied, glancing over, looking just a tad bit defiant. Braig had thrown and underhanded insult his way after all. "Unlike you, a man in his thirties, I still have ample time to grow."

It was Braig's turn to scowl now, shifting where he stood, crossing his arms and looking rather surly.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, opposite the direction Dilan and Even had come from. "And you forget Braig," Ienzo continued, smirking. "Lacking in height or not, I always have a catch--a way out as it were."

Braig's scowl hardens into a glare.

"Ienzo--?" Aeleus stood paused mid-step, a pace between each of the other apprentices. "Is something the matter?"

Putting on his most pathetic face, Ienzo sniffed. "I-I missed breakfast and my stomach hurts...M-my blood sugar's low and he--"

Aeleus narrowed his eyes at Braig, who's jaw dropped at the ridiculousness of their exchange.

"Aeleus," Ienzo's hands shook. "I--"

"Let's get you into the kitchen for a snack. I'll be making lunch in a moment."

Ienzo nodded and murmured a few words of agreement, paused for a moment as Aeleus began to walk off. Quickly, he turned to Braig, the smirk returned in full force. "We may be small, Braig, but I'm cute. Don't forget that so easily."

Braig swore and kicked a wall.

Life continued on as usual.