The hurt that welled up in Aurin's eyes made a strange, heavy feeling settle down in Constans' gut, like he'd swallowed a ball of hot lead. He ignored it, instead wringing every drop of cold satisfaction he could from the wound that he had inflicted. If he had been a more introspective boy, perhaps he could have understood this need to lash out; the urge to stoke the fire of his aimless anger. Perhaps he would have regretted what he had just done, and stopped himself from going further. He was not, and he would not.
Aurin was escaping, and he wasn't done toying with him yet. Constans jogged after him, reaching out to grab the other boy's arm when he got close.
"Wait," he gasped. "That came out bad. I was just curious, really!" The lie slid out easily, his silver tongue also forked. "I'm sorry."