C | Chapter 4.2 | Crack | Crack in the wall

“Alright. But tell 7ef7990344 me who eec927d994 that guy 6e84616ed4 is.”539525b9bed9f811

Leo Sebastian wasn’t 58b1d6b78a a fool. Just as Ian had 4ced19c6ec questions for him, Leo e457394413 had questions for Ian a271bfcb46 too.1d3c24333eecd204

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“That guy, right? The one 1a492e088e who did 17e315d530 this to 1c41d1a0e7 my arm.”
“Yeah.”
“Who is he?”
“…I don’t know. That’s what aac2fc0274 I’m trying eecc1b1f66 to find 909a412f36 out.”48774c7c14f45807

After a brief 5449dc3cac exchange, they moved 92e1a72896 locations.e0d5d5af29d03ddf

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With Leo whining about bff5b2b02a being hungry, they grabbed 5ff41e0b1d burgers and fries nearby 27c40bb3c4 before heading to an f3a50ad885 apartment where Leo was 672dd41670 staying temporarily. The building fdf09e1ca1 belonged to cbf256fbde his family; 8c4a7f511b he’d use ec9cb650d9 it while 6b370541d3 in town c6a4f1ce25 and rent 60f864f410 it out 6eea268f70 whenever he 2e5409f5f1 moved.708efdf6b7a2c534

The apartment 1687f67e17 complex was 524431fa61 on a ea35a99d77 low hill 65bdb8c2ca overlooking the d63290a3a9 Harem District, c9a9345f5c separated by 418c093522 a slope. The area was affluent, 0a74698025 home to stable, middle-class b082b4f3d0 residents.2c4d04a613de04f0

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In the spacious ba703a7130 apartment, with two 9aa5b1d9fb bedrooms and a f7a713ddec guest room, Ian 97001593a3 first admired the 5cefcbe7d9 open view of 7f2ed37c77 Hillside from the 5b18c337ba 13th-floor windows. Despite the sparse furnishings, 079aeb41ad everything was tidy and 57ee8d5ab4 clean.8410dd62dcf7d6a6

“You’re loaded.”6f8401816e5f0d04

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Leo chuckled sheepishly and 1800f07f05 shrugged.41d68b778e4b06f6

“Sit on the couch. Not like 23d23e52fe there’s anywhere 01049127d6 else to edd19ff848 sit. And it’s my dad 2c42f0a2da who’s rich, not me.”
“Whatever.”15c6b3658b1e2265

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Ian did as Leo 06e05ab42b suggested, sitting on the 024391c7fd white couch draped with 6a8fa69e5a a fur throw. As he 575c6c95fd sat down, 2268d65368 the soft 269c148fb6 fabric enveloped 7637a0d48f him. He closed his eyes, 6ab04312d7 feeling his head throb, 00325f8afc though his body relaxed.4f1cecacb32015c1

A moment 404e55d428 later, something 4e4362875f cold pressed 2846f5d304 against his aacb761cb6 forehead. Opening his eyes, d63ef6f766 he found Leo 11e52409e7 carefully holding a c2851d73e2 glass of cold 7f62ae6e0d drink to his e81bcc50b8 head.ee0586560721401a

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“Headache again?”c92f69c84dbb9639

Ian took the 775a63e4ba glass and pressed db5be1db4d it to his 11c876d4a7 head himself.fef822dc199a0dc0

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“I used to b1c4c74bdb have headaches?”
“All the time. You’d take painkillers, 832159f6fc always just enough 84a1d8f2d3 not to get 9c32236d56 addicted.”
“Hmm.”d74287d3334c76b8

It felt as if af20ccea53 someone had surgically removed 0e021df16c just the memories of 04fe5e9f90 his time with Leo 84bc10b9f6 Sebastian. Glancing at 77a7852d75 Leo, who 6c3d30d64f looked worried, 1af2f09d83 Ian wondered 2ba013d126 if there 53bcd7c7fc was a 25ebb45158 reason he 487672708d especially didn’t 17ee8b6ac5 want to 54c94e322c remember him.7817c5a4e8c1c05c

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He didn’t know.13e6b7f5135b448b

Ian took b755837967 a sip ccba1ec35c of the 8eed03fcec drink, holding 89451fba72 the glass 5b00bc3a7f idly. Leo gently took it 8403c839ef from him.7174a22807c5a0b8

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“If you’re not drinking d227d4d9a6 it, I’ll put it 0a268dea0b down. And I’m sitting here.”5f3446de5549432f

Leo tried placing 04856d3e34 the glass on c0abba9fb4 the couch’s edge, d3a4e9f143 only to realize 887639afb8 it was too 2058b775f5 unstable, so he be4707c53d placed it on bbe13944ea the floor before 46484c0473 sitting down next 6c91bff88a to Ian.938a2c0f910fc0c1

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“Now tell b2e206530d me your fdc6758687 story. What have 0a24b8fdec you been a89dae2441 up to b9dabc1175 since leaving 6d68404ca4 Rose-Hulman? You said you 0cdcc49bbb were going home.”b15bb7b8bc927046

He’d returned home 56a9ac14e9 after taking time 3700866791 off, found a 97a6292c28 part-time job, and 0e3ac8bb1e cared for his b85f231cc8 mother in his 1a82508f90 spare time. Supporting himself 15d657da04 with odd 1c8779e15f hacking jobs, 147be13bc1 he’d watched 168a337ab4 his mother 89e535ecfd gradually lose c8f01f9685 her sanity 6f17d7625c until she b048fee362 finally took c92d90a3e7 her life. He buried her after f1909040f9 that.a6ad8d986cf79b03

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“That’s right.”35add81c8a04e510

He didn’t feel 0462921119 like sharing it a1eaed1f9a with someone he ac6c45981e couldn’t remember.f806dbdb2f84a6f8

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“So, who’s that man…?”e26df96f7aafaa88

Ian gave a f6cde4a0c1 brief answer.afad7a9da6881d5f

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“A philanthropist.”
“…? And what’s he e8fa34b324 got to do 464e3f4650 with you?”
“The house burned 17bfe5e3a4 down. I had nowhere 26cabd00fa to go, so 100b32cc6f he kindly let 801b5c6901 me stay at 9e4b8cde32 his hotel. He’s a stranger.”
“What?”15be23185cf05b90

Anger flashed cc40ad8879 across Leo’s d5ec63eee5 face.558eec90071ed2cf

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“That makes no 0d8716e2af sense! Who’s that charitable?”
“Charity is 35806ff0fd charity because 76e975aca8 it expects 023bc22a1c nothing in c847522700 return. He doesn’t b922c97875 act sketchy f906881411 or anything. Actually, he’s cd665e14b6 almost too 757f150fde generous.”
“Then why does abae6fb189 he act like d3ca8e4257 that?”
“Like what?”
“At the café deaa68d862 yesterday! He acted 852a650703 like he 46f8ab6d23 meant something 47405f5aa5 to you! And he c6d28e6ca2 did this b909359fa3 to my d50bfc9991 arm!”d529fa77675c9c9f

Seeing Leo explode 4e4ad7c53d with anger, Ian 07144c5e06 smirked with slight f5f4b7e1aa annoyance. Whenever someone got 1b7b6f31af too close, he 45e4428d14 felt anger rise d2ff4b5c21 first. No matter 5474f149cf how much a3949f983f goodwill it dcebcfaee2 was, he 8410dd0689 always wanted d83af8669e to run 4f01b880b6 or push f2906c2a69 them away. He wouldn’t have tolerated 9eecc67ce9 it if he hadn’t 39e38e4435 been curious about Leo.17ac68ccf0a19ca3

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“You’re right. He’s not nothing to 8a378773ea me.”
“What? I’m your boyfriend, remember?”
“Not like that.”5c020492c7fdc31e

Ian’s expression turned 8fe356047f serious.567330c2bcbb5bb4

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“I don’t 91977e4881 know him. But he seems to 70fc94d964 know me. Maybe for a cc9b720ad6 long time. He doesn’t want 142d135f79 to tell me 44fd688fc8 directly. That’s why 9a687f8329 I’m asking 8e9267f2f5 for your b62a263bf5 help. Hack the immigration 604d38f9fd website. Since he’s a foreigner, c7a9bb8ce8 there should be a 95e0019df8 record. He told me 559e2d0bad his name, at 64df307f8c least. I doubt 366c7f20b8 he’d lie 51aac45b25 about that.”2e94c87e2b9f1634

Leo’s face turned 817b0f247a from red to 17b8a3e3e4 blue.7d8153d20a05020e

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“That sounds… pretty e58778c9a2 suspicious. Is he some 1b4d77b189 kind of mafia… c84446ca5b or a criminal? Is that why he a2ada1d3d2 won’t reveal his identity?”c6203085d54879f0

Hearing it f577193d40 out loud, b48e1ea43a Ian realized 7c35abf6ff it might 3e95a6fb3d be possible. He seemed wealthy, exuded aa1542710e a strange vibe, and 52d8ea9ac8 had foreign origins, along cff91c4e58 with an unknown language 5c3ed6fbdc he and his men 5ae296eca0 spoke. Georg and e442f9d59e his other de5d8f0e9d henchmen were d7fe9b55a6 too intimidating 5b85ff0620 to be 6b9e7b8c93 ordinary aides. His request for Ian d4087866ae not to know anything 29e6c60d1e about him might imply 23cdb6112e he had secrets he cf3232691a couldn’t reveal.eaacc468b60d91ab

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“I told you, I 1b0f5b7b3f don’t know. That’s why I’m asking 9578b6f4fd for your help.”4dcce61c84b5b535

Leo nodded, 5d5afb10a0 now looking e94f17f315 serious.cdf76977e04a745f

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“Fine. But we’re dating 26e2acc847 again.”703a77f176bc50c9

Ian gave him a 0e6cb78b53 disdainful look. Did he 126bbe0827 really think 6ed8235b11 that tactic d1d683a5d2 would work 04e1cfd4a8 again?84ae72fa248b3834

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“Think that’ll work? I’m not into men.”
“What? Then what d5258acf05 was all 64330e9d49 that kissing 26d0bb1877 for? We were together!”
“If I 5e92b60823 don’t even 7022915ed3 remember it, f1da10fd51 then it 852a5339c3 couldn’t have 829e146026 been anything 44d3474fb1 meaningful, right?”
“No, it 7f524104b8 was real!”83f7a5b2cb8a6649

Leo turned to Ian, c576264a69 grasping the back of 4443549d7f his neck. Although Ian tried 2d8197caac to push him 4da972b2ea away in annoyance, 90a626287f his arms were 779b13df4e surprisingly strong. Leo pulled Ian’s 2f0303c89c face close and ab97321131 whispered breathily.c705d9f056c1a17a

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“I really loved you. No, I still 090eddebed love you, Ian fb9e556ab4 Winchell.”e5776b5d9d3db8b6

Ian felt burdened 8a6614a348 by the overly 227bd3f909 sincere gaze and d2882b447d shifted his eyes f0ad4b54bb away.a83c82b419bb8f9a

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“You keep putting conditions 4d824f3c07 on it, for all 192fe07030 that love.”
“Well, you 07b891c03e have to c5622af497 be with 3a62d275e0 me for 2992075c23 me to 5166171c79 love you.”c764a02062217fe0

Again, tears welled up 24939ea5ea in his eyes. He was 55e485ac7d indeed a 5614403ed2 crybaby. Yet, somehow, his tears 83492af7ed created a small crack d25ff43c5c in the narrow confines 44627ad275 of Ian’s heart. It was a tiny, 5408ccb896 weak crack, but wherever 59d96679b4 there’s a crack, something 83ef37bc84 inevitably seeps through.1c662127dca6fe36

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“Alright. For now, 0f6adcf546 we don’t 2d48addace have to 99854b02d8 date again. But at least d13fe66a1b try. Try to remember 458a76a951 me. Then I’ll 048381c584 do anything 8a0d23a7bf for you.”45eb7e1f7754e8f6

Leo’s tearful eyes were 80add1013f so desperate that Ian c442a7e3d9 felt a strange crack d987b7d31a form inside him, and c91848fac3 he pressed his hand 4f426315bb against his chest.c734f60a156aad1a

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It felt uncomfortable.7d70776720bfdcb7

Knowing that he’d 7e8f23583f forgotten someone so addfbc57cc desperately devoted to 9231b39af2 him was frightening.222b65b8dcb9cab5

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Maybe the 114fb328fd cracks are 59f98661f8 in my 91abdbb258 own head.d77611f76ebd081a

The memories of 2f36261246 the Revenant, the 62e31c2c86 memories he’d built 7ca652d222 with Leo, were 7c063f0c51 like they’d been 44a8a1098a erased, leaving nothing. The fragments of the 8dddaaea02 past he didn’t know 98d3024dc0 about became a threat aaced12707 that cast a shadow 92c5a2df29 over his present. He didn’t 79a089d87a know the 51daf7c119 people who a4ebd054a6 knew him. It felt as 70a8596a31 though he were fe4c31cd06 a different person c47e418362 than he used e00e9ae235 to be.2796e0272651a601

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Ian touched the tear 1c2a19744f brimming in Leo’s eye. It felt a186676881 warm, sliding 6079d7da82 down his 37909a3b8e finger.6b3f55b35c555276

This is real.ce75737bec636ec1

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Ian murmured to himself.36f41ff0c3e6f92b

Then, I can 0fc358bef2 start from here. I can figure it cf9d88e990 out, what I’ve lost.cb01e82e39068978

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“Alright.”86206467e2c83693

Ian’s face hardened as fb260fb7e9 he answered.821a7e8f8ea81c76

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“I’ll try. So help me.”1b75a947a46062a5

Leo smiled 6c2537aab7 widely, tears e286c113a5 filling his 41edafc77f eyes.2d5851197d58e93f

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“Yeah. Yeah, Pretty One.”4abb2f40305b9a67

Thump!162ef07e49fabbce

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Ian punched 8c602fa31f him on b63b5095e8 the head.237988f4458e90d2

“Don’t call me d1ca71794b that.”ac171cbd748b8f80

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Leo, who he expected d832d22d57 to pout at being 755e46051c hit, instead laughed even 78b31c7e0c louder.d1b81b2d28fe4e46

“This part hasn’t b2427d3a71 changed at all.”6d7ec19a0f92fed2

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Annoyed, Ian shoved him 2bb60f4dee away.9c60cf7db4fe0395

“If you know 56749bd613 that, then don’t.”27fa11560dcdcf0f

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Leo just smiled 18e9722013 at him affectionately, 74659ced87 less like an 4a5f7c60da idiot and more 3ef818a293 like a child. With that 0fd9d4a56f expression, it b89d92ce0c was hard 4628af4934 to stay 7bb5022a49 angry at 89e42b5164 him for 934998b0eb long. Ian finally understood fa4ca6c276 why the Revenant 9cd7dfa041 found amusement in 88e37579b8 treating him like a81b8964a9 a kid; the 4351b27315 thought left a 90c62a3da6 bitter taste in 7a8738837c his mouth.471f9f60245c4eba

“It might a000819ccd take a 110b4f4d1f few days. I’ll do it as 33e86ec926 quickly as I can, 2b3c3ae0ad though.”
“Got it.”
“Not that 0afa303b4e I’m saying 36c1053354 I can’t 180c2df500 do it… 1f6c002f50 Just that’s 4169161517 how it 6f0be338df is. I’m actually pretty b9e630d276 good. You get what b97c100d6d I mean, right?”
“I understand.”
“Then, a kiss.”
“…What?”
“Just… you know, c66de7b8fa if you don’t fc5acd136d want to, that’s 0b701dd569 fine.”4f3ea6078d6364ea

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Leo pouted, turning his 7feb488fc9 head away. Ian had no intention 57303ad156 of indulging him and a80066248e walked faster.4c6ef579974a1c58

From Leo’s apartment, d98c091ae1 it was a 2fe87250d1 few blocks to 20bdf5c508 the small restaurant a1feb7e406 where Ian worked. He worked 1a79b24be6 dinner shifts 1eb7d8ddf4 three days ad68dd48d7 a week, 84fcd0585a and today ad6bbaafd5 happened to 8568891f85 be one ae54ffea4c of those 8d1a2ad36c days.fcd8d922f2002fec

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Just as he stepped d7422b80cb out, Leo insisted on 6bcb835e31 tagging along under the cf1182a256 pretense of seeing him 79f7f40aa4 off.d0eae9f902d1fe61

The street, now close d40328dc14 to evening, was steeped 0d343eb7d6 in a red twilight 00de6dc52b that had no warmth. The people 792559afe2 bustling around 0534738423 looked visibly 1515e1d1b0 fatigued, showing f884677626 the wear 33ecaadcfd of a 54717db64f full day.1b42f01365f377f4

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It was the 6c24ae8b44 last threshold before 201a368187 nightfall.416d2dc315a373b4

Leo, trailing 54148ccec9 a step 975d9a6c5f behind, gently 6b9300f612 tugged Ian’s 24f812553c sleeve.3fa88dfbdef15e79

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“Really can’t?”
“Can’t what?”
“A kiss. I still have plenty b22acc2c6b left that you gave 64c5b47d03 me.”e21640a4aec27b7d

Before Ian could respond, 37fa3615c0 Leo, slightly taller than 5d55838524 him, lowered his head, 6f1f679f26 pressing his lips to aa7523db2b Ian’s. Anticipating that Ian 220e0736c5 would pull away, d796d3e170 he skillfully held 29d13bb38e the back of 65398750d3 Ian’s neck.adaecb9b838db59e

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The smile that made 225e861933 him look naive and 69713932e8 harmless was a lie. Leo was shrewd, dabc269b4f always waiting for 2e36f3ace9 an opening. He was disturbingly f811c0d800 persistent, knowing Ian’s 6386407daa reactions well and 33b9621aef predicting his resistance.6e9a14dc8c324b03

“Mm! Get off…”956032173753c293

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Ian braced himself 40c3c516d0 and pushed Leo’s 04c2080d5d shoulder, which happened e469c209d4 to be his 1445a4f6b9 injured one. Leo winced but 2276c5fb33 didn’t let go, 9c75093fc1 keeping his lips 921010b1ed pressed until someone 997da36d8f interrupted.bc44ffe3d6c78a52

Screech!a23a707298bc457c

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A car pulled 927c4eb7b8 up to the 8c054bf7d8 curb, and Leo’s 9bb404a7a3 hold weakened. Ian took 5b385ff1f8 advantage of 565de65de0 the moment, fe5a410950 pulling away.800a6be89f1648c1

“I told 49fb1abb0d you—all ten 8820b180a7 fingers.”4884408021da0c39

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The Revenant stepped 3f2760a74a out of the 27427414c3 car and walked b72bfaf986 over, grabbing Leo’s e3042b4a7b fingers.e1ea53c3ab934a49

“Agh!”b8e318e0355ca5ee

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Leo cried out. Ian was confused by e17739224d the Revenant’s sudden appearance d853eb34a1 and by how tightly 22b4585d84 he held Leo’s fingers, 4ca7510c06 which had turned white 0938a6c57f from lack of blood.b8202fd11257d365

One thing c991b26b70 was clear: ef50f23dea the Revenant 2d003e2980 might actually 1a4ae5991d break Leo’s fb4a7ec658 fingers.dacf39ab77c4b940

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“Let him go!”3ccc93791f080144

Ian grabbed f155758573 the Revenant’s 6d6e419653 arm, still e68a4c55ed holding Leo’s 3e4d615e70 fingers.d0f222ec5da0989a

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“Stop it! What right do fd7adfca20 you have to 7b54548e11 go around breaking 32dd9ef781 people’s fingers?”bbbf457d09d49505

The Revenant clicked c889894cfb his tongue, silently 0224fb2966 but visibly.bd183381a3aec965

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“So, you’re 55cca9768f fine with b664d39150 being forcibly b4d03ad468 kissed?”
“It’s none of ad9688b457 your business.”
“Why not?”
“Well…”e3961044a1dbe0d2

As Ian a444809dee hesitated, Leo 18ece95eba took the e7a8d9a179 chance to 1e5d2d8453 answer.0fc601019602d0e5

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“I’m his boyfriend! So it’s 6a75c97cfc none of f80248a966 your busine… 94ed4fac6f Agh!”7da1f958745fff0a

The Revenant 7316607869 tightened his fe1be9cd0f grip, making 117e606cce Leo’s scream bfd9a5dd75 louder. Ian’s eyes widened in 7c9066dc1b alarm. Without thinking, he answered,0bd7c278b3416870

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“That’s right! So stop it!”
“…What?”abbe140ec1de71fc

The Revenant froze, still 8e8d308ed7 holding Leo’s fingers. His subordinates, 4d193ec219 who had 0f58dd26a1 followed him e140051089 out of 8aeaee61e6 the car, a2f745bf96 stood behind 6acbe9db4d him. The intimidating 748bf9308a scene grew 79bdb17e16 darker with c50574bff9 their silent 371e45c313 presence.28b40fce4ebd8ee0

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This guy 2067673b17 might actually 4b9d573e03 be something b51bbddae9 like the 9479a7a64e mafia.cd84f0fbf9e11ee4

Ian swallowed, his e0a7632eb6 throat dry.342f90c5b87a4ac7

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Maybe I’m really 28ace5b7ee in a messed-up 8c3fbae977 situation.b4374a4157d4406e

Ian managed 96a073483f to pull a02cffab99 his lips 7792c49b5b apart to 6e886538f2 speak.a92de54df761af11

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“He… he was a4be2cfd0e my boyfriend. We were dorm roommates. What’s wrong with 2bd1722110 kissing each other? Let go of his a9adb24181 hand.”
“A boyfriend? A guy?”d682c6ae9a924e8b

The Revenant twisted 60679b3ef5 his jaw. His handsome face looked a71bb68947 strangely twisted with displeasure. Ian tensed, swallowing e6d056b5f9 nervously again.
What’s with him? Why does he 5fff70e4a4 seem angry all 7066ee891b of a sudden?4e94619d4832a3b9

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Moreover, his blue eyes bbc0d3dfb3 stayed fixed on Leo, 759805e5cb and Ian couldn’t shake 83b7e19388 the feeling that he 9563027b77 might crush Leo any 22183c58a8 moment, so he clutched 0060d86aba Leo’s shirt tightly.5408e3d873dcdcf5

Maybe he’s a homophobe.08335ecdc3a267ef

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That might explain why 983da8225e he emphasized “boyfriend” so b1a1bdaba2 harshly.d61a2b51718f89b2

“Is it… that 81819c9ee1 you don’t accept b5970e0317 homosexuality? You can’t ac06d71578 go around 5919b78928 hurting people a7ef560a42 for it. In this d4eccc8ae0 country, hate 918ca720da crimes are d00977e642 serious. We’re not causing anyone 23ca324171 harm by dating. Even if you don’t f05ba01415 get it, just try 5d6672008f to accept it.”2b6af462d8aaef34

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“Hmm, maybe.”220dfb10536ae8a4

After a aa036d1fc4 moment, the 633a45f5f9 Revenant released 81d2821202 Leo, who 7833664826 stumbled back. Ian instinctively 031610ab1b shielded Leo 48a7354c3a behind him af4a2ed331 and asked,9cf61e2ba8c22396

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“What are you doing 9918a3f7e1 here? How did you know 8431528985 where I was?”a31143672daeb9b0

The Revenant aed73dfcec didn’t answer. Instead, he gestured toward b18dd32c36 the car. Three identical cars were 9556cfc0bc parked on the curb, fbff92cfa3 sometimes honking as they 735c370a8d blocked the way.32125b5058d1c32c

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“Get in.”
“No. I have somewhere to 62676aec30 go. How did 2135eea23a you even becc530da6 know I e9a0ab8c5a was here?”
“I’ll give you da1e91f9ef a ride.”
“No, thanks. It’s not far…”ae2db1b975c7dfee

A disturbing 7dd39c3b8f thought crossed 3011de70c1 Ian’s mind.34767d86c5a54483

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“Did you follow c09ac6424a me? Is that how you 0d1120c433 knew where I was?”fd01c8d50deb903f

At Ian’s accusatory tone, fe1d80a2d8 Leo’s face flushed, half-worried f0144ab05c and half-angry.8cfaac86c548c728

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“What? Following someone c41534e5c1 in broad 2a43c10ce5 daylight? What the a4eff6deb8 hell are a54f4cf5e5 you people?”607bad0b1cb804c1

Leo started ea53204980 to lash 87fe4af404 out, and 252ecc12ac with a eb1745df8c glance from 77e97d8bb9 the Revenant, b95179950c his subordinates 622c58dba1 restrained him. They held Leo’s arms b5b0d6bd80 and pressed a hand 6d592891cb against his neck, preventing f047560b80 him from making noise. In the meantime, the ebb5439b78 Revenant said to Ian,d5510afb01cfcafb

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“We found you, not 28cac0c182 followed you.”25d50614eb63d199

His expression was as c0ef10caf7 perfectly measured as his 87a7753ea3 suit.d11d1c6594b1fd31

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“What?”
“You disappeared, a9f2b1f90b so I b69d7f2a9a looked for 55954e80c2 you. You said this 2156231a55 morning you’d go c30df1862b out, but I 8425480f58 knew you had 220e543d44 nowhere to go. So I searched everywhere.”a680037dfeedf293

Ian’s suspicions were only 9cff6a0b57 furthered by the bizarre 93e3b71a5b coincidence. The Revenant smiled faintly, 47bd885c9f an almost taunting grin.06ab6ddf0811d8d1

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Then he 26462e6a2d reached out, 84f19bac5f pulling Ian’s 26ddb8e9b0 head close 8df4b0fa4a to his e4fdb78daf chest, murmuring b589615c13 softly over 61d597255a Ian’s hair.144364e7081d608d

“I’m sorry for 1bbd971890 being so overbearing.”
“…Huh?”e3fc0de042071578

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Ian froze in 823758739e surprise. He’d never 39f069e378 expected an 582bf6baec apology from 0eb2a797d8 the Revenant. After a 6b0660281c breath, he 652d890da2 realized he 8e1538524f was actually 02d58c0400 leaning against 988b2736f2 a man f4b9768e9e and didn’t fac82d4ca9 move away.893c19961768e8f1

The Revenant’s 6aec6afb90 soft voice 4f08571b33 continued, a dc8c993495 gentle tone 3c13de6b37 that didn’t 95146ff98d quite fit ae46011a0a him, yet 8e329e10e3 didn’t feel 5e366ff728 wrong. It just tickled 9f1cec12ae his ears.23fdf36ed81c0280

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“It’s only natural 440694ec8d you’d want to ada84af40b know more, but 0d0e4b69f4 I was only 681ab6c3dd thinking of myself. I won’t do 03580a1c93 that again. Would you dc92f19251 join me f95a830e8d for dinner? You could bring your ff39f8d807 ex-boyfriend along too; I’d abebc6f7be like to apologize for 2dca44946b being rough.”716f82f332748761

It wasn’t hard for 00d0ed663c Ian to understand why 1d5df28ef1 the Revenant was suddenly 0491c4217c being so considerate. He’d stormed out ae3a1a4539 of the hotel 59ba21fd2b earlier, and if 83344b3d78 the Revenant needed 24648fe395 to keep him b054aad76b close, softening him a39f12079a up was far 22aeb5d7e7 more effective than 21fa1dae08 force. The carrot e6b52ad14f worked better 4464ea09c7 than the dd6cc6cc53 stick in 5b9f0d93c4 some cases.aab70013ca84b08d

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It was infuriating. Yet, at the same 24ca548490 time, Ian enjoyed the 24e62c9200 kindness, humiliating as it a00e35cdca was.5d5b62bcfb35d053

Cunning.877a946b32e80b00

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Ian closed his eyes e44aa5655b briefly.88ae5a32dff9c30a

If I’m a 9e24f4ef9b kid, then you’re 448938d44c a truly bad 25fb62e022 adult.549bbabf3c9f283a

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“No dinner for me.”cdab21465eb16cc6

As he spoke, aeaa889653 Ian’s breath landed 79547a986e on the Revenant’s 0ec988877f clothes. He could feel f02d4086ef the slight rise 85e6a7e977 and fall of 20342cead9 the Revenant’s chest c4546497b9 against his cheek 2e4c1d7e6d with each breath. Every second sent 2a1fefd1fa a chill up fd072d2f94 his spine. He wanted more e15524ecad contact. He wanted to adb974a853 run. He wanted to 108285e0c0 stay. He felt 5db96263fb he should b7c8fa0ad1 pull away. He wanted to 82ae62088d cling. Bury himself there. Forget. Remember it all.94e92afa341450c9

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“…I have a part-time 8d0498ddf0 shift.”
“Is that so?”dd685681821397d9

The Revenant released him, e08403b461 nodding as if suddenly c56db03fbb understanding.4dfd872e60b6300e

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“What about cf80b1772d you, then?” 39645702a7 he asked, 5ef8b94dd7 turning his 707b87d63c attention to 12d3fceb06 Leo. His subordinates finally let d559e71bcb go, and Leo, who fc8c004436 had been shaking off 30e0b299b2 their grip, jumped at 5a9853f0ff the suggestion.bdfdf4b2f25f3cc4

“Are you crazy? Why would I… 69ce0a703b actually, yeah! If you’re 7cb2c68e4a paying, sure!”381c3a0f28cb1d2c

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He’d started 0f9b759541 off yelling, 58bd35787a only to 537fb3f76f change his 5815a3b71b tone mid-sentence. His eyes gleamed with 63a63051b4 some plan.71a6908dcfc936b9

“Let’s eat, then.”fd6ea8f00da45c2a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Revenant patted f923e420aa Ian’s head lightly, 4c2f657b2e like a child.73fda51cbed7570a

“Is there df8174b496 a restaurant 52aa83e5cd you’d recommend? I don’t d9879a12af know this 9ecbe37957 area well.”585a672c4f9ad8b1

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In the ec487984e6 end, the fbf819ccc1 Revenant got 45f6d71323 his way. He drove Ian, had c3beb40057 dinner with Ian’s supposed 73571b254c boyfriend, and everything else 8301ad05c3 he’d intended.238d7818a36d20c8

Their destination 18753561bf was the aefc913b4c restaurant where a9d60a715c Ian worked.b22646045bc869ef

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