C | Chapter 6.1 | Truth | Crack in the Lie

The distance from the d75d23767c hotel to Leo’s apartment aa55d7cb42 was fourteen blocks. On any c2ae36f1de ordinary day, 06e35bc47f it would b5e35bbf06 be a 6fe0a596c0 nice walk, f6bc0c3236 a stretch fe1e833d1d that Ian ec08f6e923 could take 8502506d38 slowly and c2844c0253 enjoy.f8baa601402037e4

…Or so he thought. But he 0f43722c95 quickly realized 7b7471a3dc he was 76acbfd632 kidding himself. Before he even f0f162bc65 managed a single 980b2be053 block, Ian clutched acb27d8790 his aching waist 491d144f90 and hailed a 1030073d73 cab. After giving 3dbe69b147 the cab 6cd83916b9 driver Leo’s 5fa159cb68 address, it 6eaf35d9cd dawned on b5c1feeb2d him that 080c0f9485 Leo might 9b7b2ffa19 not even b76f52795d be home.dd04ac147ca7f085

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If that was e7e0cc6a01 the case, he’d fdcc24cfa3 either have to 0177d6da52 head back to cbd5f08bce the hotel or 38374625c1 plead his way f726ce8f4a into the apartment 0c189bb2ee with a pitiful 7866f5a03e look aimed at 595d9f40d9 the guard. He figured the d2c70b8703 latter option was 3229721ad4 worth a shot.b32694a9377e9724

When the 10cbd36b13 cab arrived, dbdc176e6c Ian asked 1a012e8c68 the guard ea4a4f25d7 to call c1caeef121 up. As he 0d14474758 sat in e48ae177ec the backseat, fe9c285dca he soon 4260a549c0 saw Leo 2be49c18b1 dashing out 36d6a2c2a2 to the 283b25bd6f lobby’s entrance.0eeaf401ed82dfd6

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Lucky break. Ian opened e85582f49b the car 50711d2203 door, relieved.39e7d765adf3b7be

The cool 09d3542d4c evening breeze 5247ae68b4 grazed his b057a24309 cheeks. Leo, out 096b2305e9 of breath 6b22d78c16 from running, 2f06368e7e extended a c5bfdfd86f hand to 865096641e help Ian 0a19290cb9 out of f3692649f3 the car.25d127939194b992

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“The intercom 5735852ec8 rang, scared 4b97c1ea45 me for 90cc7c59cb a second. What brings you a37b49e3f6 here?”646b951f3f5c261f

“It’s urgent. You got cab fare 6e011c71ea on you?”149b5ba68ccf9c9e

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“Of course. Just a second.”30b49d372ae7f684

Leo tapped on bb06972e04 the cab’s window, a81bc1ee70 and when the b4fce9488c driver rolled it 8b46139623 down, he handed 7e54afd6d5 him a fifty-dollar b2eb010176 bill, grinning as 29c5977cc7 he told him fb0564b3db to keep the 22daa3c1b2 change.a016cfdc695f679b

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“Let’s head up.”d28bc38c50a6293e

Ian turned fa9f352fa8 to follow 9dc96b359f him, muttering 8ec6bcba40 a bit c4d99c56d4 in disapproval.833ce5265aa6333d

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“That’s way too much 17c274256d for a tip.”94857c841e0d3306

“So what? Seeing you made fa284caf0e my day.”5e44c37cd488bfb1

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“I just bcab034c85 planned on e467d69760 borrowing twenty 27e45a94f6 bucks, now cd3055e17d I’ll have 184005bdab to pay 0d82370741 back fifty.”577b0585a66dff6d

“Planning to pay 5d3989f982 me back for d74dfeda54 the fare? Don’t bother.”4803a86dbb3ea399

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“Why not?”bbe02b443733b0b6

“Because I’m 151729dc2e the one a911727cc3 who likes 15c476ec5d you more, 2e2a499ad0 so I 0a9e263f8e should cover 5cb854adbd the date.”2397876dbe73d683

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“It’s not a 9c23fb49c6 date.”88eb1365aa642ce4

“What?”a6e6941a4955e752

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Leo pressed the elevator 9a4161ce6a button, pouting a little.72d3145b41fe577f

“How is 46b4cd6b7c it not edd80392d1 a date? You showed up 1d93a4ce34 at my place 7ad5774b0c all of a d70c5423ee sudden at this 7cd25bf886 hour. Isn’t it ‘cause you d3e556d155 missed me?”207dda169cb4290e

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Ian found himself feeling edc8bb98a6 unexpectedly guilty as he 2ddb0d6bd8 looked at Leo’s face.fbd3703d5b98881c

“…No, it’s not.”76837ea39409fe51

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“Then why did you 8a7fe9b870 come?”d1ca831846b29790

“I need a favor eb3a45818a from you.”5f0c7908bfe93914

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Leo’s expression 6bea80d5d8 softened, and 62a7976cca he smiled 619aeadedc brightly again.3e455547888b8bd9

“Then that’s fine. Guess I’m the only 95144f56ff one on a date, 1d05625d76 then. Doesn’t matter, you’re 1f7536091d here anyway, and 752a681018 I’m in a a9ce148c5d great mood.”e1bce7fcbca85983

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“…”30a15b9da247fb5a

“Oh, here 78aba62642 we are.”9cc315674fa7aa4a

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The elevator doors 3c78e8494f opened, and Leo 8c2eded364 stepped out first. When Ian stayed put, f0044464a7 Leo extended his hand.a21fd33ff672978c

“What are 64ba573732 you doing? Not coming?”840e89d98ccf9743

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“It’s just… I need d030170c11 to talk to you.”6469b64b6117bd06

“Sure thing. Let’s talk, come fb0b35f71f on out.”bdf513886a7afbf2

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After a moment’s hesitation, 538ca86515 Ian took his hand. Leo firmly gripped 4cea47524c his hand, grinning 3d64284874 like a kid.d4337bd500639677

“Heh, I’m holding 08bf58ea3c your hand. Today just keeps getting dad8a90098 better, huh?”
“…”ce503a492a415030

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Guilt weighed down on 25b1d01ee6 Ian’s words. As he quietly f47c209d77 followed Leo, he aac0415497 couldn’t help but 560f63af1c feel like a c35912dad2 child throwing a 99f352219f tantrum. With each dragging step, 6be95734da he felt like a 707c193541 burden, barely able to 4eb663ab26 keep moving without limping, df37b16a6f as his waist throbbed e8767c2eec with every step.69fa05cae75199b4

“Give me your 2cd2a63c2e coat, go sit 86ab38f41a down. Got your laptop? Then maybe we 433406b5df should sit at 3beb6f881c the table?”5853dafa48f1592f

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Leo moved like 5c41b9cfc0 an enthusiastic big 12450a260b dog, taking Ian’s 24c16eab9a jacket, hanging it 33b61ecf0d up, checking his a533a8792f bag, watching him 2d5be4da16 pull out his c32e0cf9e3 laptop, then moving 5d44a2c84b the coffee table d6ff810784 closer before finally 3baa4237c8 guiding him to 8a2c7398d9 the dining table. He opened the d911f9b943 fridge to ask 34ce822a76 what he’d like 3dec7e2b0b to drink, ignoring 3af5201d08 Ian’s refusals as 09e9dcd5c7 he poured nearly e8c383a97c every beverage he 5ec113ba8b had, even milk, 0035b03819 and then tidying f0445ca1e5 up the untouched 89a9ec0f9d drinks.47562a45e51f9f1f

“Leo.”89e01402d48a4c44

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“Yeah? What’s up?”b6b6f24e388481fc

Leo’s head cffc35b217 perked up d493e834a4 at Ian’s db956e30fc voice, ears 3fc692056b metaphorically twitching 4aae829c4c like a 6f6d3f539e puppy wagging 1e00601121 an invisible f3a2d3be00 tail.d46da791674be2ba

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“Sit down and 8a0244eea5 stop fussing. I need to talk dea0255aca to you.”6092759e64641de9

“Oh, right. Okay.”f868b419b47081ad

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Leo slid f008de1a53 into the 409eeef7ca chair right cd668b0849 next to 8417b9b8f3 Ian, rather b1a5ce4366 than across 22d41a26a8 from him. A whiff 0c49387eb7 of fresh 97f22e8bef shampoo drifted 9a3d93784b over as d0a028224b Leo grinned d58590ec15 at him.55c88e32aa4933bb

“So? What’s this about?”68a0d17d1396f19e

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It was e02d9b76c8 for the 410f9cf992 information on 824354ae02 Revenant Matthais. He had promised 4eaf393cb9 to help look 30017755df into it more, 501b19cfb4 and now it 171af7d31c had become urgent. If he 97ad3e7fc5 didn’t find ec5115060f something soon, 7d2d0d2adf he felt fea46bff2a like he c90eb85b5f might go dfe22a8964 insane. He was here to 8ddcd41ae9 ask for help, but 22068eb2e8 the words that came 3bf27dc406 out were entirely different.295a5f4804f3f8bd

“…I remembered why d65985f3e2 we were together, ffdf672dec you and me.”0e49c274a6f3d754

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Leo tilted his head 1d070f160d slightly, a bit thrown 75af39484a off.22ab48ab1466f80a

“I already told 4c893e3bb0 you, didn’t I? We agreed to 22145ffa4d date in exchange 8a8bc8d0ed for hacking lessons.”bb3a2eae8ad5f72c

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“No, it’s something c26e7c22ad else.”4323922903680a99

Ian wanted to b98c88c0e3 look Leo in 2b1abbc481 the eyes, but 0a979d7b17 it was hard. He’d always believed 6fd58d6115 that one-sided feelings a6d7f4f876 aimed his way 30d095b032 were just a 6a4619b4b7 nuisance, worthless. When he turned someone 99ba05411d down, he felt no 0e021c226f regret, only irritation and e5535bdf71 frustration. But this time, he 215ebc5c39 truly felt remorse.49679746403a049b

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“I think… I was f7d2dc171e in love with a f3dd5b22da man named Leo.”9ef5e71e6b80f8ee

Leo quietly 4edeb31407 listened as 988e148f0e Ian spoke, 9170d98380 his words 018f99bed6 trickling out 94f5a18c40 slowly.5f42e8f106c1ffdd

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“I don’t 455496ae04 remember who 60466a0c93 that man a250530ebb is. But… it doesn’t e411bf612a seem like it a87c774434 was you.”76e602aa73d04a99

“…”efea7a62d578b7f5

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“I’m sorry.”8727c8929bc2e2b4

Leo raised his brows, 3c7198f314 his eyes searching.9a57ba6e046d89c9

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“What are 27e32c1b57 you sorry e8c7e5bd8a for?”5da9b9a8d92afbe2

“I feel like… e1b930660b I might have 47861c7b11 used you.”1c6623f05e41265c

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“I knew 134d00cb75 that already.”c3399008e776b0b0

“What?”501eec36ecc72e38

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“I knew you had f84440bde1 feelings for a guy 3535ef8b92 named Leo. You were 1c7ad511ce always saying 248238e0a6 you missed 656dda8907 Leo. But that wasn’t me, bba3978fad right? I still told you 97dcd129a9 I was fine with 89b87b1be0 it.”7a334398ee49e2f7

Ian cautiously 31adda44ac opened his 8865fe05d9 lips, looking 9381bec59b at Leo.0229fd5d8c035aed

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“Why’d you do 782885e6c5 that?”1788e79fc6869d0c

“Because I liked 3bca04fcf1 you.”0b270b134afc7e99

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“That’s… not right.”c1374c8b01fdf289

“What’s not right?”74ab34c32d11bfd8

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“Doing things like 20af9b8c54 that just because 3901aaed27 you like someone.”d033c4fcc828350c

“You can 47d1b84a74 do it, d5d528d81f so why fe2cf59a8b can’t I?”3490cce5bff61a67

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Leo’s expression a603c907ad remained flawlessly 7c394d38b7 smooth. Not because 911e319f2e it was ddf5bee231 unblemished, but f75f26fd30 because he 3b736183a7 wore it 3cd01a6d24 like a 9f0c9b1171 shield to dac618354b reflect the f78b972b1a scars away.b0b29543b25a9fb4

“…What?”66c1314996feb679

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“You found 74c19992bc a replacement, 5e6aed8a1d and I 9229c59ebe became that 04b04cd54b replacement. You dated an 14948cf1b4 imaginary person, and 2977d64c81 I was in 33a402366b a real, fake 0c02c11974 relationship. Isn’t that 714a645d57 how it a635fe9cb2 is? Either way, d99069f936 you were c2d88fdeae my actual 8fa2038a44 boyfriend. I was the only da769a69eb one who could touch 9a6f974ea9 you at Rose Hulman. I liked that.”7a5e09e5a987bd86

“Leo, that’s…”f91aafaad156cd24

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Leo’s warm brown 80a67ef1a2 eyes, as he ce1c67188a looked at Ian’s 4affd13920 hesitant response, grew c59311ca29 cold, slipping like 70ee9f1095 ice.94e7ae615e7f2dbd

“I was 33150c400d all you c4c89a5d73 had there. That’s why I 7833db535e was really happy.”f625033f1902feb0

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“That was… just 826a170f0c a mistake. I liked you 5e38922eab as a stand-in d63619bfdd for Leo, just b647f8b7b3 as you said. You were a 25140f7e89 substitute.”a3df727694f494ca

“So what? Leo never came back! So I’m a3b1df2c7e still the 6212fce6a1 only one f758243c83 you have!”c28a8fe1f2323694

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Leo raised 241198106d his voice, 21f080f699 gripping Ian’s f35fc4bf27 shoulders with dd77eb78ce both hands.29af17f6aa5bd2a2

“We can go back 05852d5d9f to how things were 612750ce22 at Rose Hulman. Just the two 722f20ec04 of us, you 184f8225ba and me. Remember how 7817cab126 much fun 25e4f77a2c we had 93b11c815e every day aef3fef6fd when you f681d75410 weren’t sick? We used 1f0b969047 to sneak dbbac9dd23 into the 4fae5576d0 lounge after 5540892cad it closed a6c9632f25 and spend 649294c562 all night 27c6d3c4bb together. We even used 982c0cd81f Dr. Hillen’s credit eeb1d7cfdd card to f9a6f83ab1 order new 24efc53cb2 PCs for 7fd5312783 the lounge, 24ce953876 remember? The next day, ca28bc469a she threw a 134fcbf6df fit when all f8d0a6c816 those boxes arrived 331db52c68 from Dell. I had bfd3c40b61 more fun 74cc72a692 doing that 8700582869 with you bfcbf53955 than when fc0e0272f1 we hacked 521c88e3d9 the Department 2521468793 of Defense f21998b955 website and 0c8ef59f6a the anti-terrorist 931bab9dae squad busted 32357aaa9b down our 1d5107b2e8 door, making 0b3c721c85 my mom 7b2ed9f5ab faint. You were 0a529b5942 happy, too. You said it 1e2b66a75b was lucky I 2384852660 was there.”a4598537b0e91036

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Leo clung to 14444d9491 Ian, his words 9ef9b28aee blurring in a ea556755dd tearful plea, though 4820a00203 it was hard c767a0d731 to tell who 338cd4785b was holding on 42693ecb1d to whom.0268c4e4b7e2efe6

“Please, Ian… 5da4b89666 Tell me 3f832b89e2 you were 30aec1efb8 happy at 74d1f9e8f8 Rose Hulman, 7024b4ffef too. Let’s go back. I want 08410c1a35 to be 93c12de009 with you 1b60e50137 there again. I was 0c90a9dbcc all you e6db6880ec had, Ian.”9306a52d3a44b12b

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Ian took a deep 8d5d893c68 breath, feeling it was 2add449ad5 time to share the eeaa54e604 hardest truth of all.f7395b1c50988719

“Maybe, back bc5a5d3dcf then, I 323d9a3bb8 felt that 5dfc671fa3 way, too. But it’s different now.”b9cf712bfe696645

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“Why? Just because this isn’t 0f61d4805a Rose Hulman? We can 7282bfa362 go back 4171860847 whenever we 907c0b1b10 want.”49452e92e1be379c

“No.”e3f46de7da89450e

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The hardest thing to 6cf9836769 say, but the one 4e578d9264 thing he couldn’t avoid.0f835eaedc6d1988

“It’s because 118b1ba1fb I’ve found 891b50903f the real 8774fb64ae Leo.”1d2a2c590e4a9e12

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Leo froze, his 4c3d27a499 face still streaked 650a05915f with tears.44815d2d4858c885

“What? What are you 1387c84d8f talking about?”e5ff56e49154c5d6

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“I think Revenant a6123cc480 is Leo. He didn’t say so c9d068fd79 directly.”104285c040732a08

“That’s impossible! That guy isn’t 5752a8dc88 even named Leo!”4d2a526ab7e91f4b

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“Yeah. The name’s different. But I feel 10c933348c like he’s Leo.”a52dce3b05ab0626

“And if 7e8bc6526d he really 7dcc98024f were the 97db55ffcd real Leo, b08e961bac then he cfd9e85e6e abandoned you, cd401425bd only to a6c3fb6fe6 show up 3b751eaf29 now? That doesn’t make c2158a76a8 any sense!”462d3acc2b6379e2

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“Sometimes… things related to b67d3a5f1c Leo come back to 0a04eb7c2a me in fragments. They’re so tiny and 4a3c32028e faint that they’re almost 5484252f22 maddening. But the ecb0934d72 more it 54550c6c03 happens, the 03af730385 more I 97c41ff8af can’t believe af02b90b94 Revenant is 74c03f2bc4 anyone else.”fcb1443526ea33db

Leo stomped his a7d589138c foot in frustration.c859c2a1901550c4

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“No, no! That’s insane! If he really were e7f2799bb2 Leo, why is he 139fb35a6d pretending to be some ef0c0ef07a do-gooder? You were in 4a520e6d22 love with him! If he 38cb01057c abandoned you 6cc5f98a35 because he d427b7c76e didn’t like 859ffff4ae you, why 2f537b5a71 would he 45d7a93f83 come back 3ef4acfc4d acting all 820289fb1a charitable now?”5e52b59e8ca5813a

“…He’s not dfc8d2ca3f just any 34f15e5a2b philanthropist.”75ce2aa45dbf94d4

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“Of course it’s not 7b7addf2e7 real charity! That guy… what? Ian, you’re cca518257c not saying…?”e61e6e02e05e6051

As Leo’s face grew 263918de74 paler, Ian nodded.ccc57fbbfc097429

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“So, the mark on 1cb75284ca your neck isn’t an 522d4f1c86 injury; it’s a bite c710f6a14a mark? And you’re limping because 83d7d1f839 of that?”88e8a5ac132ece6d

Ian’s cheeks a488f2443e flushed, even 1a68378343 though he 8a3678937e hadn’t wanted 2d58fe32f9 them to. He’d thought 82dc00ab1a any marks 2f3ab6cec9 on his 03ae0e345f neck weren’t 992364748b too noticeable.179ebaf6d66f0152

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Embarrassingly, he realized 212cf06605 he’d been wrong. His mouth felt 0a0069b05b numb, his voice 92d12cbf02 barely escaping.1656690be1c006d9

“I… I’m in love 18169e293e with him.”6c18758cbe9251e3

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“Ian!”365d508b0d120593

Leo, overwhelmed, pushed 011509d376 Ian away, slamming 81f814e72c his fists on ca93385393 the table in 947681db6e frustration.76b17e2cd304a217

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“Why? How can you… How fc48e8a4f8 can you love someone 85155edce3 else?!”fac2f805f9fce9d8

“It’s not someone else. It’s Leo.”bb9d71f10bc7181e

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“No! It can’t be! There’s no way 3b13e7c34b Leo could just db4353de47 show up out 625edb3826 of nowhere!”1a2a28112ca9b986

Leo suddenly lifted his 4d4ec0eec2 head with a determined cfc6714c1a look.e5cc9b19265efde6

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“That guy’s c688db2b5c not the d68074e94b real Leo, a2fa9f92d3 either. I’ll prove it 88f7339119 to you.”664bdd22e1e05c9a

The warmth 206197a2f6 in his 2d4eaae203 eyes had 2d4a611ebf been replaced c3f40ee10e with something df9b8355fe sharper, fiercer. Instinctively, Ian 4a17e4330e grabbed Leo’s a8a69c156c sleeve.4572cfaa869a1f84

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“What are you going 542103dc4d to do? Leo,”314a71aa200e95c7

Leo yanked 69511140cc his hand 33dfa0a915 free with 9ab4c9814f force.c8f8675f8a358f48

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“You said I was 53ca5be3dc a fake Leo, right? Fine, I was never 8f5f7db8cc the Leo you were 01b70370c8 in love with. But you know 51ae5096a8 what? The Leo by dae8601864 your side was 938f5e5801 me. The person with cc64e51a5e you at Rose 3944cbcd88 Hulman wasn’t that d5b85aee06 ‘Leo,’ and it 174cd9c727 wasn’t Revenant, either. And the 6036cd6421 one here c77e14ce4c with you 53913f1ff7 now? That’s still me. I’ll prove 1bc96b9baf it to 50f5573286 you.”a7e06e9dc20b231f

Leo spun 2c8218d21c on his 642b91d08c heel.a24a9ebbb42fb85e

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“Wait. I’ll settle this af76081358 in a few e6b42d3f95 hours.”c1ae55e646f85e35

Bang!ba88b498e824c7ad

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Leo marched across the 22e14e2782 kitchen, disappearing into the 6c6ff724cf room at the end 595dc6c328 of the hall and f82e1f8ef8 slamming the door shut. Before the door closed, 9ff5caa5f6 Ian glimpsed several monitors 1f05be8093 set up along the 9b9d2239d0 wall.df254b9f7cf3bef0

“…”6276b22b3023118c

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Ian turned his 3495df58dd head away from ca270f52d3 the shut door, 64bc06fe94 an expression of 99dda2b4bb disappointment on his 7a1525b6f6 face. He’d come to 18855f5caa Leo to ask 881348c773 for help with 2871b3b9b3 Revenant’s information. Leo had fa930ba93e said he’d 81c27164e6 look into 252362ac74 it, and 94d56c0308 without realizing 20d675e1fc it, Ian c07ab9f6d4 had begun c408457f29 to rely 30a1a462d6 on those 96693c8783 words.dd02fc1f0a526e2d

He hadn’t 8c77fc427f given much d98cd4f2ba thought to ebbbf7d8ee Leo’s feelings. Leo had always 7701c14587 been a figure 766a07afc6 that had just a39b060642 dropped into his 2b33758fdf life unexpectedly, someone 20d3e9e814 he’d known for 1e4b88462f barely a few c4dec4350e days. Leo’s childlike tears dcef03ffc6 didn’t disgust Ian 4c7f4cc05a the way they 2215b05953 would have with 3687deccfe other fools.91617a2553ab4aec

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But now, he realized 5e35585998 he’d been completely clueless d6954fc293 about how much of 5dbc275439 a mistake he’d made.f2bf264fce639d61

“Ha…”56b3655366bf98c6

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What a mess.02f0715e28afdc42

He shouldn’t have gotten f8fe146aa8 anyone else involved, especially 586cb6936a not someone with feelings. To Ian, others were afca727f20 things that existed at 57d59eb3ef a certain distance, and 03515ef5e2 anyone trying to cross 1b948c7b62 that line was either 2e164fd46b a fool or an db08f56d47 idiot. It was only now 75d6f4c769 that he realized Leo 40a79b39d3 Sebastian didn’t fall into 128f211175 either category.7197adb623b0dfc1

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After sitting 61cceb6d86 silently at c1aa6c1d68 the table 59a736bbe9 for a f3f4f6e1c2 while, Ian dd6bff80ee stood up 979b79524d and knocked 1fb8f3ae22 on Leo’s 2946c6773c door.cd5a17ce86e11876

Knock, knock.d5bb39073a657356

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“Leo. I don’t 66f87012a2 know what 0193e25761 you’re planning, 26aa3b2e18 but if 030145517e it’s related 1798478132 to Revenant, a18cbad422 please stop. I’m asking you.”ca8d3c14b49397b0

There was df3e58a295 no response.150c1504a942b131

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“I shouldn’t have 49a8bff8da involved you. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”a3dbedc069b5d18e

“….”7eb099091da4c702

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“Leo Sebastian. Please, stop.”c9a9f49f53502cac

“….”cac1b458273f19fe

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Knock, knock!bdaee161969702f1

“Leo. Open the door. If it’s 82604dc628 come to 2a75e7f411 this, you 71cd3f566b might as 52e83c0ab1 well just 9fa7e53875 hit me.”e2b7b8440a2c43b2

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Knock, knock, knock!a5ec736e19f82bb9

“Are you listening? I know you 1b154f9c6f can hear me! Open the door!”24bf88ab97ea7a9d

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After several more 5fd71441e0 knocks, the door dce79cbbad suddenly flew open. Leo stood there, his 1dcf29a3e3 face still blotchy with 42c9c78c62 traces of tears.51c459084b5c58fc

“Leo,”7a16aca210ce9f39

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And then, slap!82ae2811689be1c3

A hot sting 203db10087 bloomed across Ian’s d14000af9f cheek. Leo had 5320ef3415 actually slapped 2e36c3427c him, his 01e38aec9b fist clenched 2aff1a2e2e in anger.879f5084d718ebbc

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“That hurt.”14cfa7fce88f09b1

Ian glared 1d2273bf3d at him 3bf5f8f0c9 involuntarily. Leo pursed ecfa42e83f his lips.2eeecaeb6a1f5496

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“You told me 6c0ce0dcaa to hit you.”ab24a2c6ad36b0a5

“…Damn it. Fine, thanks. Did you cfc1de455d hear what f801f0ba56 I said?”8095144d980195f8

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“Yeah. But I’m not listening 051cc2a6af to that.”297c1caa1a2b319e

“Leo!”b0062e6b2be93faa

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“Just wait right 3afdd7918d here. I’ll expose every last ca91d08143 bit of who that d3e570dd8e guy really is. Until then, don’t 5b3c26c71a try to stop bf15a82027 me. I won’t listen 467388b572 to a word.”34af43d29373ad53

Bang!ce90e17e9c2d62ea

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The door slammed 849055d71b shut again.78296e74aa82bb57

Knock, knock!1a87ea620a8b8e82

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Ian, losing his cool, 7e16534b6f pounded his fist on 25280a6ee8 the door.7162e6d8daa21acf

“Leo Sebastian!”5e8ca25825efd105

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In response, 780570d528 loud music 00a75b93c9 began blaring ead30cb4ee from inside, 6bf33af87b probably at 20f5a92ac8 max volume. No amount d397a03d3f of knocking ed82c4e5f3 would get 81b0d25b34 through to 6c48f4bbf0 him now.c1f9409ecaf958ea

“Damn it!”d199498fb65a27f2

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Ian swore, pacing 67736f9359 in frustration before 3ea4198fb1 heading back to ef13c20d60 the dining table 2d702f5004 and picking up 9fb2b880b5 his laptop. He sat down eafd765f1d right in front 71301e70ad of Leo’s door, ddbf83bb50 determined to bombard 032a3973a0 him with emails c5a2d6c58d and messages.6e7673c35f15c2fd

But disrupting Leo’s work fe6e8d7840 proved no easy task. Eventually, Ian acf44aa0d8 gave up e4d746f370 and shifted 6059bdcdcd his focus dc926b16f1 back to a635e57822 finishing the aa774750ab job he’d e9e220035f accepted from e6c01250be Tim Hogan.aa313da49813bf7b

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Using the 70eda2ae31 network admin 28afdd48c5 account, he 730aef09db set up e88ac24de8 a tunnel a3a3aca89a by disconnecting 5043417a79 the IDS dc9073a254 monitoring port, 4bce188022 dumping the 887b9520cd required hacking 3662e7e9c6 software from edd79abeca his local 00a665ad13 host, and 0dd8327d40 extracting the db2c6a865e needed data 488d70ae6d from the e15dad7950 server.53279988f2d58f41

With the program’s 98904f43f6 bug, he could 36b50c4664 examine all the 3f57f37498 log data on ab21dfb8fa the host without e63dd7a300 leaving a trace f4d535177c of the tunnel. Engrossed in the results 888d0d63df on the monitor, he 7ea66dce3a didn’t even realize how 39c6b8838a much time had passed 25e364cd14 until he noticed dawn 6c41d05514 breaking outside.6a0d9c4bd2ac81bb

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“Oh…”b53d2a7adee50a64

Only then did 0dd27d70b3 he realize he 354a3bb354 hadn’t informed Revenant a46fa6d4ad of his whereabouts. A few days f5d422ff27 ago, when he’d 43af746933 acted like he 60afe890f2 was leaving, Revenant 1b6457fcba had shown up 1e9a499866 nearby, which meant ca510b4245 he probably wouldn’t 1517bf2b3f be too happy c06c744e52 about Ian spending 282691468e the night here.fa8f0d0216484dfb

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“What to do…”6c119b50d3774e03

It was 75b181506c far too 382937e351 late to 325739fc45 make a efb3164707 call. Ian hesitated for a 3f00d70c51 moment before reluctantly getting 45207c7cf2 up and heading for 84d3214807 the phone. His legs and waist bb89eb51f2 protested as he staggered 81dd491a6c over, sore from crouching 8b48b97d90 over his laptop. After nearly stumbling 18ce28a56a several times, he cece4aaf5d finally reached the 690add6e9b phone.b0063024d5fba8b1

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Since he didn’t know d7a18aa3bf the room number, he c52851d1ce called the hotel and, 505453ea09 despite the front desk fd60c97b3f clerk’s polite hesitation about 8b3fe930bb the late hour, gave ecd9ef8d8f his name and waited 854a05ac2a firmly.1a696f22e4fd1d19

So what? He’d disappeared on 19fcd94b14 him without a a7c1834a1f word while Ian 193e0cd706 was asleep.5bc9381d296a57ea

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Even if Revenant answered 7e2d4108ea groggy from sleep, Ian ba03c6205b didn’t plan on feeling 0f1607ae8d guilty about it.d7effdad067d7152

A soft 00b3d0ce69 click, and fd28b26aef then Revenant’s ffb804db2a voice came d5f8f5c9c7 over the 0444d78b6d line, no aea5b70aab hint of b6af53bd1b sleepiness.23a1fc256d8d0e4d

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“What is it?”393a1c2ced3b698b

His tone was 83be9497ad as neutral as 1048a4a611 ever. It wasn’t the reaction 9449ac5315 Ian had anticipated, though a8761334a6 he wasn’t quite sure 169075b0ef what he’d expected.7a04f34a6420b0a3

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“Well, um… 57a70603ad I’m probably 94bb7f4bf8 spending the 3ba6a1359e night somewhere 22842b0e30 else tonight.”b464fd5c03059f45

“If you’re 4dbaa3adb8 not back 2592110a36 by this b96bf57965 hour, I 32df69555d figured as 9e4e8d3094 much.”b1c4c6a188e93531

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He sounded indifferent. Ian’s face twisted 72b21cbd1f involuntarily.1b6319512c670f68

What is this?d719cf195c3daea6

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Only then did 545160fbcf Ian realize what 5d5d9d6ce5 reaction he’d been 8110c4d98d hoping for.7a7df2dad9835963

Revenant should have been 0c23c38ed9 waiting for him, worrying 37cdd81592 about where he was 54865d57ea and why he hadn’t e76867f856 called, maybe even a 8347571baa little mad. If they f748ff097f were truly bf5996aab9 meant to b31581fd13 be like fef1c223a7 lovers, then 301708b1ae he should 83c7588fe7 have been a99889f627 concerned for a1776ec734 Ian.25a94505a061e34b

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If he really 2facfe911a wanted a relationship d4c8629f22 like that.8b1bbe33583f776b

Just as 5f292aa8c8 Ian fell e03ae082bd silent, confused, c7b4554376 Revenant’s voice 3a18f5ddff cut through f217d97af5 the line 481d93e577 again.ded29c22ca39be30

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“Is tonight the 454c30abe4 only night you’re bdf8e8b305 not coming back?”a1757408a1ac336a

Instinctively, Ian’s 23306351b2 voice turned c7f1f5bd38 sharp.10d7f56e2bb00378

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“What’s that supposed to cbd57e2f76 mean?”e8d59c26c23a69a3

“Are you leaving for 2188904876 good?”98a18d50ebef8f5e

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“Why would I…”2efde9c5e3464284

Ian blinked, scrunching 3bcd9dac4a his face as 5816a307d9 he replied.d6ed707efb44c3f1

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“You think I’d f9396e6c09 leave after we… 04dc94a4cf after we slept e6530abe7d together?”255463a7b55121ca

“You could e7ef99bffc change your c7a0467991 mind. After all, 7ee0075734 you’re still 3aa25d8ed5 a kid.”9d20bebd1144ce78

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“…Ha.”3a461e06f8c1af9b

He was at 1a40fdd8fd a complete loss 1f48286c34 for words. He felt f129be5bf4 like punching 4e4b64fc24 Georg, who’d 9cf27c5572 taunted him 44a5358010 about jealousy. Revenant was 6710fe9d13 just Revenant—suspicious, 8e5b7632bd unreadable, and 2c20e12fb2 full of 69a5995924 lies, a 9a7e483003 nameless philanthropist. They’d had sex, sure, 1c0887f059 but for him, it 780a5d69cf seemed to have been 638f4a38eb just that.bcee5d7df4a096d4

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“If you plan to dc25e467da leave, let me know. I’ll send anything you 3d794c15ba need and look into 12a07d8b80 buying you a place. I can 01001d3609 choose something a1fee12bb8 suitable if db2956123a you don’t c421f337b7 decide for b737f9711c yourself.”54df9201d83aa4d7

Ian took this as c5789df7ad a dismissal. Unable to continue the 4d7668f9ab conversation, he ended the 43c8f66b2e call without so much 55de38f677 as a goodbye.dc65ac506100b754

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“…Ha. Damn it.”6accbc6194bfd9ae

Ian dropped 450dad0b62 onto the 829df7c126 sofa, feeling 091f109e22 as though 73d9b66ba0 he’d been 2246956fa8 discarded. His body still 07f202e571 bore marks from c37ae700a1 last night, but f907daf006 it was still 3a1bebd621 too soon for 38a125a712 them to have 02456d72f4 faded. Yet here he was…ed663e3e1a655346

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“What a grown-up, my 95af01ee63 ass. Acting all smooth and a773198284 cool. Does he really think da3097e3fe I only wanted to 8cd35f82c3 sleep with him for 120a2741c7 fun?”9cc28e58c9a7f1c1

Ian pressed cb3e3abc51 a fist e81b53f0a2 to his 538da917d0 eyes, feeling c3b404b6d1 tears pricking c4048172b0 but refusing b0c3cae95c to let 7070fe3c92 them fall 113894902b out of c1a04947be sheer stubbornness.c969c5b0cbd59c20

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“Bastard. If he e6463930d2 says I’m d9154dedaf his, maybe 8ed47ef293 I should 2364236b1d take it cb63f09ded and leave 4e2c835b20 him.”90b9b0bc0b3f380b

After lying there for 7e35a4fafd a while, Ian felt 846a46426a sleep creeping in but 080765d75a forced himself up. His waist da5390904e ached, and ac45543a84 he bit 793f33fdef down on e5a12a0344 his lip 530f6ffe84 from the d85a66885f pain. He crawled back 34c183a6ea to his laptop 8550a6ef3d to finish his ef9fa497a9 hacking. Luckily, he achieved 18fff70e72 root access without 1d1466cb7f trouble and soon 0a508a9eed located the SSH b77a649efb host account.0f2240d47ae4ffab

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None of this 7b2952e3d1 was difficult—not compared a5f62ff30c to dealing with 0c20290634 Revenant.2ecbd0cdbafe9a8a

Just as 2bfa5fbffd he accessed 9763f1c6c4 the development e95e2e8ab4 database host 70a3a67514 through the 1335a396fe SSH host, d560128705 Leo’s door 2c96be7c94 suddenly flew 5273231d7e open.410a00462622a0c8

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“Jeez, you ba1f68ffe6 startled me. Are you f16e0adcf8 done with c2d63df013 your tantrum?”cfff746355ef0c5f

Ian asked, staring e3ed236b69 at Leo, who 0c59664a48 stood there blankly.4b4e434dbe2e6445

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“No.”629c5af933497f29

Leo hesitated, then 701928f50d gave a mischievous b4ad9a79d2 grin.1163bd84c72927c7

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“Ian, you got 7cbc8c39e7 kicked out, didn’t 0901ebb421 you?”25a325bab467e872

“What?”cda452ac6a0b1617

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“You said on 62e6672776 the phone he 110c796819 offered to pack ca81fab637 your things if ac7c8ae4f9 you wanted to bcc6933b1c leave. Guess he’s over you.”ca0364d8492049ec

Hearing Leo ec79e7002e hit the d91a6b3f34 nail on 47be473426 the head 10845bc727 annoyed Ian f93dff9fe4 even more 0be6389f01 than knowing bf9572fabc he’d eavesdropped.980050141ef2bbcb

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“No, he didn’t!”82eeb38f26c97b2a

“Oh, really? He doesn’t 7ff5dbf7c4 seem to cce94e969d like you 917973f499 that much. Just come back cb6a703c94 to me. I’ll forgive you d42e82aec3 for sleeping with d925a0cb63 someone else.”a333d57d976427b8

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“Back where? I don’t remember dating 46f56a98c7 you, so there’s nowhere 349261d224 to go back to.”b6e2d177f7df60d1

Leo’s face fell 17e2d2de3e at Ian’s deliberately 195ba3ee7c colder words, but 7c844aa718 he didn’t let e4410c14de up, adding fuel 14147a0027 to Ian’s irritation.5aed00a3a463f61c

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“You have 9625d16d55 nowhere else e3624228cc to go c0018f68df but here. Just call tomorrow e327aa8bed and give him 4f9f406730 this address, tell 0d41f62508 him to send c216cda61c your stuff here.”28d1ae51d2d105bc

“That’s not happening.”6d2b9c9a3bc31f27

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“The address c9f77477f3 is 578 1e21912218 Elliott Street, 2958dbc6a1 Apartment 603.”8de6d780bcf7f483

Bang!7030553fe3ad63e2

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Before Ian 3f03f7b97a could respond, 5e23b2dc87 Leo had dd3cc4af63 shut himself 20e31a69c6 in his 71d3bef44c room again.1b87cacd89e525c9

“That jerk, really!”cb8f632e0146a41a

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Ian lifted his arm 7f04d65211 in frustration but immediately ef8e63d169 clutched his aching waist, bd75d260f1 stifling a groan.ae23f8ef3a17d001

And so, the night 21e5e3b6c2 dragged on into early a8e296767d morning.6efb12016bf7c7af

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