C | Chapter 4.2 | Crack | Crack in the wall

“Alright. But tell 84f94a726a me who 83432f5bca that guy c0e96077a0 is.”89ff3e2906790c8b

Leo Sebastian wasn’t 02adbdc093 a fool. Just as cc53dd05d7 Ian had ee52a2711e questions for 84681f4671 him, Leo 702e266102 had questions 8c316857cb for Ian 5032e9413a too.2e354c85f47d5f74

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“That guy, right? The one who did 343800063e this to my arm.”
“Yeah.”
“Who is he?”
“…I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying 290650cdd7 to find out.”60b226b1e0f06263

After a 7926029afa brief exchange, 8b5430f72c they moved ec952e51e3 locations.7ffb86d5850d0c16

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With Leo whining 0f6b8c5baa about being hungry, bbfad28f7d they grabbed burgers dd5da2ceb6 and fries nearby 5ec3e5d829 before heading to cf1071805a an apartment where 5dbf6aa639 Leo was staying 2dc07286de temporarily. The building belonged c94f30453d to his family; f290a4ae64 he’d use it 4dac85b783 while in town caad46aee1 and rent it 99c4a7878e out whenever he 3cef131d64 moved.c5e91a3ad184e9e6

The apartment complex fdd2574a21 was on a a125cca402 low hill overlooking cec556fbcf the Harem District, 8f0bd25dc6 separated by a f02f41a4ab slope. The area 6a9b0a71a3 was affluent, 2bde8ef945 home to ce8549e24e stable, middle-class f5bf1a7911 residents.109c2669cda02b8c

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In the spacious apartment, 18bf84d77a with two bedrooms and 76958359a2 a guest room, Ian 5d3719dc8d first admired the open d509a597dc view of Hillside from 4329e1f7ea the 13th-floor windows. Despite the sparse furnishings, 4774b409f1 everything was tidy and dab4ea31bb clean.19a2ad922a24c6e6

“You’re loaded.”3c6cfd06fff0efed

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Leo chuckled sheepishly 264ec8b291 and shrugged.266fca09efde1d68

“Sit on the couch. Not like there’s 7d0a6bfa35 anywhere else to de35b67c8a sit. And it’s 8795b652a5 my dad e6b3642278 who’s rich, 27a8ee2b9c not me.”
“Whatever.”6041e60d894f76c9

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Ian did as b3148a5d57 Leo suggested, sitting 641cc8fec0 on the white 447a98caed couch draped with a2bb78cf65 a fur throw. As he sat 6f05a87475 down, the soft 2df07dd961 fabric enveloped him. He closed 552a371a72 his eyes, 06d2d6e026 feeling his 4d3930a8ba head throb, 306f3704a4 though his 4d4d78b8e1 body relaxed.c27eea8eb8be2751

A moment later, something dde3597e4a cold pressed against his 5afa85daba forehead. Opening his eyes, e071dfefa2 he found Leo 0f24ee6744 carefully holding a 53bd134d86 glass of cold 4582bc3016 drink to his 3948dd60bf head.0fcd1ffa62c9d6a6

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“Headache again?”1987025d97bea73f

Ian took fd586b7bed the glass ad2105f915 and pressed d70a070443 it to f2d1c03db4 his head 662d30d0b2 himself.28f8b23b288ef831

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“I used faf9afa742 to have a3bb988940 headaches?”
“All the time. You’d take painkillers, e79994bc39 always just enough afaee91557 not to get 42ce5cda70 addicted.”
“Hmm.”a8383d55e403429f

It felt 67a40c2fba as if 84d3c1186e someone had 2eff401bc2 surgically removed effba2491c just the 3529d29716 memories of c94050aec6 his time 375d0dc721 with Leo ae048fd50a Sebastian. Glancing at 0ad9b387d8 Leo, who 453224c9e4 looked worried, 69259d4205 Ian wondered 99252bce58 if there 9f872f42dc was a cb004b5311 reason he d3d94718c7 especially didn’t 4e5bcaf71a want to 28c087d264 remember him.6299e3bd794a8b9d

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He didn’t know.890159d79ae12fa1

Ian took a sip f62cb1c4c1 of the drink, holding 46f9f74e3b the glass idly. Leo gently took be5da0eb27 it from him.3a40da3d4e507d85

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“If you’re not drinking 6c2e2f44ea it, I’ll put it 5559e38fb2 down. And I’m sitting 942f948a22 here.”9dbc26ee3789ad04

Leo tried 8d01eeda86 placing the 328de2806f glass on b1d6e307d5 the couch’s f807f10180 edge, only 3134382953 to realize f2cd5ab06e it was 25e60beede too unstable, 2b9de137a4 so he f4a7ae6242 placed it 5c7acbb6f2 on the 4f5378a6fb floor before c074d777ac sitting down d446090d6e next to 014ad69d5c Ian.b1b45346e41a68b4

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“Now tell me your da0864a37f story. What have bab527042d you been 5608e32b0c up to 8de3b1e093 since leaving 548a1f0013 Rose-Hulman? You said you b73fd5c34b were going home.”4eba1e9d0ae6d529

He’d returned home 27a9a5ef83 after taking time 07a571966c off, found a 024e52eba0 part-time job, and 124317290a cared for his afad9d4d4c mother in his 54f291dc5e spare time. Supporting himself with 40416ec899 odd hacking jobs, f1984c3edd he’d watched his 8cd36e7db4 mother gradually lose ffe6408bcc her sanity until 350d2976ae she finally took 9bf8552bb5 her life. He buried her 8072eb04b1 after that.4365f090dc5b3592

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“That’s right.”4aee321c60739ce4

He didn’t feel 046150036c like sharing it 090981875f with someone he d7c2e2a8c6 couldn’t remember.dc3d939e8fbf73f3

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“So, who’s that 6dc49900b6 man…?”186e1d742e99728e

Ian gave a brief ba345cc867 answer.daacd6449871a6ef

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“A philanthropist.”
“…? And what’s he got 86a2b12b6f to do with you?”
“The house burned f6669b15ea down. I had nowhere dbfd7a3b9f to go, so cd6da53b6c he kindly let 7f367de12d me stay at d02f761069 his hotel. He’s a stranger.”
“What?”47c712de1f1e1a06

Anger flashed 04f370fd9f across Leo’s 759a22691e face.a39f95d17f413abc

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“That makes no bb33b36bd4 sense! Who’s that charitable?”
“Charity is d1cb39c459 charity because b4bed7ea6c it expects 247303fc99 nothing in aaf15ba1df return. He doesn’t act sketchy 6df3eb3fb0 or anything. Actually, he’s 583d2f0b4f almost too ed8705ce4f generous.”
“Then why does ad89fead83 he act like 164d69bd7c that?”
“Like what?”
“At the 6d70b04fb2 café yesterday! He acted 5a3ce7fc9a like he fefd0be6c9 meant something 3b25a731ec to you! And he did this ba2d841e71 to my arm!”e09131c3a078bd14

Seeing Leo explode f13a857d3e with anger, Ian 18032d48e1 smirked with slight d6475df138 annoyance. Whenever someone got too af1056ef15 close, he felt anger 96a412c30c rise first. No matter how much 62dc3d822f goodwill it was, he 0ad3bb638f always wanted to run 3b87cd9460 or push them away. He wouldn’t 43ed2f4c82 have tolerated 9dcb9680d4 it if 9ed9ad8827 he hadn’t e74444503f been curious bf11695cf0 about Leo.3c8928bb1df05ffe

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“You’re right. He’s not nothing to 57381f032f me.”
“What? I’m your boyfriend, remember?”
“Not like that.”71430bfcfd5d8666

Ian’s expression turned 35c89ba5ba serious.a8430689cdf54724

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“I don’t know him. But he 02926c0717 seems to 2ee5f08fb4 know me. Maybe for a long a3da93d54b time. He doesn’t 03605234af want to 17058772c4 tell me 8d4dcae3a6 directly. That’s why I’m asking b9746f63fa for your help. Hack the d63cf67e16 immigration website. Since he’s a 1ee0bd3f29 foreigner, there should 00c2c94414 be a record. He told me his e0157628b4 name, at least. I doubt 49ca64b615 he’d lie c02036fa4c about that.”fae4ddc066fe7bbb

Leo’s face 10b5eefa8e turned from 4ff196a725 red to 7e7a58d6b3 blue.631e67de6979852c

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“That sounds… pretty suspicious. Is he some kind 9bfd7464e6 of mafia… or a 129e1a0691 criminal? Is that why he 643568997c won’t reveal his identity?”63f18a15ae4ef9d1

Hearing it out a350c57973 loud, Ian realized 577e1c4013 it might be 0d4efde70b possible. He seemed wealthy, a80aedfcd9 exuded a strange 9f6daf7e10 vibe, and had fbafcaac9e foreign origins, along 9b84c62531 with an unknown 6c6d217b18 language he and e1e4699bce his men spoke. Georg and his other 8e54e1dc0e henchmen were too intimidating cb5a8b4c1b to be ordinary aides. His request for Ian 4a5b26b5cc not to know anything 36d8252981 about him might imply ca1713e79f he had secrets he 651a0e70e4 couldn’t reveal.93a5a92edd319273

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“I told d731f37f10 you, I 740c630d55 don’t know. That’s why I’m 528fb7ff93 asking for your 0c715dea51 help.”82db2b5b452fbd28

Leo nodded, 133d76971f now looking 07661785e8 serious.55ab61b848924fff

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“Fine. But we’re dating 39c4418c60 again.”d65320f6cd2b8796

Ian gave him 0bedd0598c a disdainful look. Did he really b36d68562d think that tactic ef4f7278d4 would work again?fa73697e0a0ba896

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“Think that’ll work? I’m not into men.”
“What? Then what was all 1b22a87340 that kissing for? We were together!”
“If I don’t ec9e83982c even remember it, bc428a9483 then it couldn’t e142796091 have been anything 04e86b7ad1 meaningful, right?”
“No, it 3d8b1a96aa was real!”880a19de66811082

Leo turned to Ian, 8bd4cc7a7f grasping the back of 0830f03c54 his neck. Although Ian 65aab3032c tried to 1ae8af2437 push him 6e231dcbca away in ea635d0564 annoyance, his 8d7336bf12 arms were 96b5786d15 surprisingly strong. Leo pulled Ian’s 2db380e05e face close and 585e7065eb whispered breathily.c5c2301490f0e40d

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“I really loved you. No, I still d6c82fdcff love you, Ian db2b2bdc6b Winchell.”4633277a91cdb7a0

Ian felt burdened 5e804aa37a by the overly e0a1dda329 sincere gaze and 9f26e57377 shifted his eyes 6ffde623fb away.a0768ed30c70e30d

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“You keep fdc4dd3816 putting conditions f6264164c4 on it, b7df8383ef for all f0167c9427 that love.”
“Well, you have to c36a195a20 be with me for 108b470fdb me to love you.”d249519bbc65ef60

Again, tears 4313f3e12f welled up aa352f12bd in his 1a74b81a32 eyes. He was indeed a 5fdfe36f42 crybaby. Yet, somehow, his 457702dbfe tears created a f33ea6a4ba small crack in c899234721 the narrow confines 48023ed8aa of Ian’s heart. It was 08cba438e4 a tiny, 0d81cd836d weak crack, f887d3d06a but wherever 87b3e9f694 there’s a 556795c26c crack, something e33bd3eb2e inevitably seeps ce6789dd73 through.1dfd0792ef383617

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“Alright. For now, cb7b4d68b9 we don’t d8f71030f8 have to 6dd2b1598b date again. But at bae21194ed least try. Try to remember me. Then I’ll d908348646 do anything 11141a7403 for you.”d74f95c27582f1b9

Leo’s tearful eyes 3a91fac498 were so desperate 10b3c1f348 that Ian felt e2c1e12380 a strange crack 4efdc8b1be form inside him, 2b4c9c918b and he pressed 1fd22c96bb his hand against 2f8618f89c his chest.2a3e61d8dfb553f6

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It felt uncomfortable.0af91e23a8192815

Knowing that deae8115ea he’d forgotten 48df4b7d02 someone so c7a0be12eb desperately devoted fe5c5b7af1 to him 968c245128 was frightening.2cf8a3a5133dc41f

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Maybe the 6356a21770 cracks are 3a361d5374 in my 53ca4ef1e4 own head.cdb66b27897a2b0e

The memories b7906c7fd5 of the 013ef1f7c4 Revenant, the 551140c124 memories he’d 3e48a014fe built with 3e30f300ae Leo, were 48a679b386 like they’d cb02e60205 been erased, 5dba58e8a7 leaving nothing. The fragments of f84e7573ca the past he 8594468ed6 didn’t know about a202f4ea82 became a threat fcab49dba6 that cast a c015b08895 shadow over his b6103a9499 present. He didn’t know 29f118427c the people who 5f04fdb4b0 knew him. It felt bb63fb1fee as though f31d269c53 he were bfa6df31b2 a different 025683a550 person than 97997f0c64 he used c519ca9773 to be.a7f93f4bbb9757cc

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Ian touched the 0c37f92638 tear brimming in 3e3817405a Leo’s eye. It felt 8fde1fc604 warm, sliding 8e4bf48ff8 down his c2f0aeb97c finger.2cce79bfd8e376c0

This is real.70be7963d575491f

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Ian murmured to d75ef71f14 himself.076ba2f857fd2d4d

Then, I can start c92d992b50 from here. I can 127bde0487 figure it 9fc0f8f350 out, what fb97c220af I’ve lost.69f2e2d55a7b8ec1

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“Alright.”7b985a3a0a144198

Ian’s face a5a7269dc9 hardened as d3f803ff20 he answered.6a5606699effcc2a

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“I’ll try. So help me.”24766a942f49b8de

Leo smiled 514bd990c5 widely, tears b18ae61fa8 filling his 2fbee5b1bb eyes.a5c79e8e9043be55

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“Yeah. Yeah, Pretty One.”7a398a078ccb9379

Thump!f829a97dcfadebab

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Ian punched him on 21b8a6f5c7 the head.a2bc87a5851816bd

“Don’t call me b75f2357e0 that.”3aeb02ece92725af

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Leo, who 95cc7202d8 he expected 702f611753 to pout dc435a0203 at being 81092776b7 hit, instead 976f0cedb7 laughed even be7243726c louder.b1fdecb23011740a

“This part 47a90d9495 hasn’t changed ac590e6ac8 at all.”51cbf45e5cd45d5e

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Annoyed, Ian shoved 5047a42ca7 him away.a43aa549047fa8b2

“If you cd208422a1 know that, f5626d22b7 then don’t.”a279862c8e342a7e

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Leo just 2aba838efc smiled at 48196e3e7f him affectionately, c4143a30d0 less like 976ecc3e85 an idiot 61639fb7eb and more 3c3e64c293 like a 5103698318 child. With that expression, 1d74c54a4b it was hard c2f2d91110 to stay angry c3a0d639cd at him for 8791679549 long. Ian finally 6ddf0e2978 understood why bbf94158eb the Revenant 0be09d11a4 found amusement e5cbe91fbf in treating 762062d777 him like a73089c31c a kid; 5b2eca596d the thought 932e10a1d0 left a f0c5d30fed bitter taste 9802c217b3 in his f1cc7ce14e mouth.686b177c6d062d50

“It might take 0f98df29d3 a few days. I’ll do 142abab694 it as e340e6d93c quickly as 4a02cfa106 I can, 550fef1ee7 though.”
“Got it.”
“Not that I’m saying 05044ce6bf I can’t do it… b3c7cae92e Just that’s how it 47118bdb0a is. I’m actually a0c4750078 pretty good. You get what 49b90a706b I mean, right?”
“I understand.”
“Then, a kiss.”
“…What?”
“Just… you 0f4c707298 know, if cafa4a3fa3 you don’t d1d5cebec8 want to, 5d12399266 that’s fine.”9ecc7ee893da6aad

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Leo pouted, turning f7e95462a5 his head away. Ian had no intention 4359b627f6 of indulging him and 476e5bd1c6 walked faster.dfc13ff31aa20a16

From Leo’s 3160ecef8f apartment, it 2398a808a8 was a 6fb2664919 few blocks e8d804be80 to the 1ace395131 small restaurant 732bc7dcee where Ian 644e08dd3e worked. He worked dinner shifts f28288ee79 three days a week, fb6439bc7a and today happened to b72f3393cc be one of those c02520157c days.a4a0e1f81e309c84

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Just as abf3e272fa he stepped 2149d2e1ae out, Leo 9be4f84fbd insisted on 6aeabf1dd5 tagging along 5f389d11a9 under the 302ee531eb pretense of aa41fdc427 seeing him c2b754d76b off.447e3ecc23a19cdc

The street, now close 63b5b1ba7f to evening, was steeped 8463b08991 in a red twilight 87612068b0 that had no warmth. The people 8294458457 bustling around ab2d804e22 looked visibly d7e46991ac fatigued, showing e2044f3de2 the wear 9915aa9dcd of a 28b1b6eb4a full day.3feaf222bd16561e

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It was 08de7b51e0 the last a4c4404189 threshold before 34632566b5 nightfall.12ab5fbb42c44e7a

Leo, trailing a step 7d16f28abe behind, gently tugged Ian’s 062821e78a sleeve.daac520c64148853

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“Really can’t?”
“Can’t what?”
“A kiss. I still have 25474fef9a plenty left that 2910d047ba you gave me.”e90fc81058118a64

Before Ian could respond, 5cc98c84a2 Leo, slightly taller than 83978f6976 him, lowered his head, 7d4b44d84c pressing his lips to 074fd3b6a6 Ian’s. Anticipating that Ian e408586e64 would pull away, 3663c23a02 he skillfully held 940b8a7b6b the back of 6583703648 Ian’s neck.971d3728ee8ac0c2

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The smile that made f2ba9b99ef him look naive and 95ce152c93 harmless was a lie. Leo was shrewd, always 562fe08e82 waiting for an opening. He was disturbingly persistent, 4a71050729 knowing Ian’s reactions well 1ce5c8ff8c and predicting his resistance.168a5d833b642349

“Mm! Get off…”55b0b2f338fa06e1

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Ian braced 87dc815942 himself and 8dd237de2d pushed Leo’s b6ed5dbe1f shoulder, which 8a0050d811 happened to 5cda080d02 be his 991945c15a injured one. Leo winced but didn’t 3f899b7108 let go, keeping his b2f4ebf2c5 lips pressed until someone c98f8cbb2e interrupted.26b538bc23e14ce7

Screech!6dac637fd2c71096

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A car pulled dbe862f226 up to the 80b4b5693d curb, and Leo’s 5da33e28da hold weakened. Ian took advantage 3d9784c352 of the moment, ed533b95b0 pulling away.902bef8948dcd120

“I told you—all ten 721d7696e6 fingers.”9a2736225c4afc76

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The Revenant stepped e2f6eef4db out of the 966e2de142 car and walked 2274a3f1ee over, grabbing Leo’s 114a2d4a1a fingers.0aa5203a00ead092

“Agh!”3a2b2b53c53472a9

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Leo cried out. Ian was f21a812c61 confused by dd661fab92 the Revenant’s cf2627f8f9 sudden appearance 58967804d9 and by 61eb9a6edc how tightly fb77617e5d he held e3666bf64c Leo’s fingers, c2dd24a9fe which had e9b2f2aa9a turned white 80cfd2912a from lack f0706a353b of blood.cb18d39b57c539f7

One thing eade5cbfb6 was clear: 02ad8b26ae the Revenant 8d5869f233 might actually f8b930c718 break Leo’s 5947d97a1b fingers.06b36d90c10195bf

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“Let him go!”8aa5d90e5f8f8d45

Ian grabbed fb8febef52 the Revenant’s d6b80572b7 arm, still ed95950a26 holding Leo’s 1d7c8d527b fingers.bca45a0e9e87879c

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“Stop it! What right do you 682b4e3116 have to go around 4ad09c2924 breaking people’s fingers?”5900b30f5386b163

The Revenant 2a35f9dda0 clicked his 346fca40ec tongue, silently d1b089a9d6 but visibly.dfa2952c50db5fb9

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“So, you’re 2e234150e1 fine with fb16d04688 being forcibly fb66177173 kissed?”
“It’s none of your f2a782d2b1 business.”
“Why not?”
“Well…”b70f8517de341f0e

As Ian 74449eebc2 hesitated, Leo 4e58cde4a8 took the 9c20835fce chance to b05449c22a answer.ba4e63a3d97b4be9

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“I’m his boyfriend! So it’s 24db5cd794 none of 158cedc97c your busine… 8fde628e03 Agh!”1e98492a464a4f36

The Revenant tightened 9e4199f582 his grip, making 93af863be3 Leo’s scream louder. Ian’s eyes 2b67c84b06 widened in 3557beabd5 alarm. Without thinking, he answered,2881c7ea97996b3d

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“That’s right! So stop it!”
“…What?”1705c94a719554b3

The Revenant froze, 823f2e11cc still holding Leo’s 0dcadd1f9a fingers. His subordinates, 336cd16330 who had 0e7d52321f followed him b104d5b741 out of 930dda053d the car, 92b4d0cc1b stood behind e4a923f10f him. The intimidating scene grew 525f15ee02 darker with their silent 6d3fa2675c presence.078eed6533f00e51

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This guy might e225768664 actually be something 42532e329c like the mafia.e46e7043b4798eb3

Ian swallowed, a475c1d019 his throat d9a62632e8 dry.9d069cdf86659c73

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Maybe I’m really in 65556f1497 a messed-up situation.1cde9c56c696b5e9

Ian managed to 9b32863301 pull his lips 23bf09ef70 apart to speak.e88cbaadb9091051

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“He… he was my 2a435a94c9 boyfriend. We were dorm d2ab515e68 roommates. What’s wrong f40b5fa881 with kissing 0b1cae1f22 each other? Let go of his 542d0cf2e9 hand.”
“A boyfriend? A guy?”92153bc0cbcdb9c4

The Revenant twisted f9e8bbf1ea his jaw. His handsome face looked 02ac57ad1a strangely twisted with displeasure. Ian tensed, 03b95c38e2 swallowing nervously e469c1c5b7 again.
What’s with him? Why does 2a57d58b9b he seem 0e2d3e2a90 angry all 1aaa085784 of a a6283ba459 sudden?4aa62541032bc4ec

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Moreover, his 2187f79519 blue eyes 05b7d1c197 stayed fixed 354a423a95 on Leo, 6c6195307a and Ian 584a393886 couldn’t shake dda1384bd9 the feeling e455f68307 that he 6b2657f1e0 might crush e6e77609fc Leo any b0945ea2fa moment, so 65b19c6ee2 he clutched ab62e7820d Leo’s shirt 8f12ff492d tightly.b760427ede812eab

Maybe he’s a homophobe.d3860315f79a176a

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That might explain why a54d384af5 he emphasized “boyfriend” so c4c03845fb harshly.3f1aea4f448c7133

“Is it… that you 9e39156a23 don’t accept homosexuality? You can’t b1f1c8d2a2 go around f2ce3f735e hurting people 4b49eb31a2 for it. In this country, hate 7cf20beb3c crimes are serious. We’re not causing anyone d9258a3105 harm by dating. Even if you d38d1a9846 don’t get it, 0b2f13de5f just try to d977a44c62 accept it.”486b66f0c7ebe907

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“Hmm, maybe.”0360358e4188c2bd

After a 4f9694f78e moment, the 834226432b Revenant released 4d9c24f0ee Leo, who a851e86c42 stumbled back. Ian instinctively 0ef8c22c90 shielded Leo 4ee895d694 behind him ca0e8b2ef3 and asked,db603788b72cbbc0

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“What are bc7964cd7c you doing 0781fb64c1 here? How did you 1d72f743c0 know where I 17e0e39c53 was?”93f5daa6c1ef61b8

The Revenant 81de7a183d didn’t answer. Instead, he gestured toward 1c64f74fce the car. Three identical cars were 4c7706f3ff parked on the curb, 4f9d6b5519 sometimes honking as they c3e99d333e blocked the way.5534284bfa8b47ca

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“Get in.”
“No. I have somewhere 304c34c9e1 to go. How did you even 0e43cbf4c8 know I was here?”
“I’ll give 7d8c35dc10 you a 71b673c77e ride.”
“No, thanks. It’s not far…”48cf50ee44fa9451

A disturbing ad64cef2e1 thought crossed 5a73a0e20d Ian’s mind.98ce5e4238f3a593

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“Did you follow me? Is that 5135089219 how you 31d23f0c44 knew where e1283f8e0d I was?”89bc9fe26bfb76c7

At Ian’s accusatory d169e77da6 tone, Leo’s face a7ad027b29 flushed, half-worried and cce7d48389 half-angry.cc0a8db972ee198d

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“What? Following someone in b92f4d6b75 broad daylight? What the hell 0141e53033 are you people?”7c5cd55628b26ea9

Leo started 5fa41f1ac4 to lash 43f622544b out, and bcee6dc91d with a 6a040f8715 glance from e7ee4cc305 the Revenant, f91934522f his subordinates 5fa9bcc60a restrained him. They held Leo’s fc223ba6ba arms and pressed ab25097269 a hand against 439e59fcbf his neck, preventing 5b541eff3d him from making 7648ac8011 noise. In the 9ed566abf0 meantime, the 25c6a925ad Revenant said f24420250e to Ian,3774d700c1830616

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“We found f448932f1b you, not da59645c22 followed you.”9716ac068427c5fb

His expression 4c61a0af9a was as 8f7a37bb54 perfectly measured 7b4c18f82d as his 90e33146f0 suit.0cd28339454c2bc8

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“What?”
“You disappeared, so I 9ccbd26053 looked for you. You said this morning ffa2d67087 you’d go out, but 04aceebd4a I knew you had c42aa51d36 nowhere to go. So I e4e3871cb7 searched everywhere.”1bd67f57c5d19531

Ian’s suspicions 3251d68807 were only a9cb19c839 furthered by 058b5d47e0 the bizarre caec231ddd coincidence. The Revenant smiled faintly, 9cf65ab332 an almost taunting grin.0617e161077b9bce

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Then he reached c309e2e40a out, pulling Ian’s 15fa3390ff head close to ce066ba235 his chest, murmuring 38bb1f30da softly over Ian’s e24249d9bc hair.7d1342a33cf70341

“I’m sorry for 84b52cec9d being so overbearing.”
“…Huh?”5c7075d3ad7d677b

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Ian froze a9ed81a658 in surprise. He’d never expected 88e9997608 an apology from 3c2dc3627d the Revenant. After a e10d6201dd breath, he c96f7f6f58 realized he 0776c76871 was actually 89b4ab265a leaning against 5e16410b81 a man b46b231a65 and didn’t b0015c56ee move away.95a19d88cbfca18f

The Revenant’s f12b93481b soft voice 68719b3473 continued, a 23729aa354 gentle tone 6faf8e848c that didn’t 301b3f3c84 quite fit ad74cffaa7 him, yet f04294dde9 didn’t feel baffa71b3c wrong. It just tickled his 9b2ca1eb14 ears.ed154c7635354c7d

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“It’s only natural you’d 8f41f2c75a want to know more, a77e6eca27 but I was only 4cdd9c0fec thinking of myself. I won’t df8e4b33d9 do that 0b3bea4154 again. Would you join 1ebeaea969 me for dinner? You could bring b93da9cfb3 your ex-boyfriend along 4b8aab64d3 too; I’d like cc26c58100 to apologize for a4d283e82e being rough.”798621e7c09b0659

It wasn’t hard for 02675b9b0e Ian to understand why 9cb58950da the Revenant was suddenly f143a74cbc being so considerate. He’d stormed out 8f4866b4a1 of the hotel 0e70280a87 earlier, and if c78e384ec8 the Revenant needed bc376f966a to keep him 999c3542cc close, softening him 2d38a38f2e up was far b7f19bf398 more effective than 6394e3c6a8 force. The carrot worked f6e4e88a07 better than the c1fc7f6524 stick in some 1a3432fdc8 cases.c33c8145f74d5881

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It was infuriating. Yet, at 1c3802b7bb the same 87f6cd502f time, Ian 151301c6d5 enjoyed the 224da45cbc kindness, humiliating 6f9b240a1e as it 9388c91544 was.27e0193e1a959fcc

Cunning.42839fe37189516e

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Ian closed d27577ff1f his eyes 1292aa2e0b briefly.552e654efa5aef9f

If I’m a kid, 7b707eb557 then you’re a truly 51581a076a bad adult.b67b5dff55582928

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“No dinner for 66c996150a me.”5f9650f61698dca7

As he 552f297176 spoke, Ian’s 186ccd56c3 breath landed 03469cb3f1 on the 89fd8aa2d1 Revenant’s clothes. He could aea8be7cca feel the b8d981adad slight rise 606f59c292 and fall ef95ab0570 of the da445ca1b6 Revenant’s chest 1203ee8a58 against his 141e0fba49 cheek with 715c25e57c each breath. Every second 39102e52c9 sent a 9435cba41d chill up 2433ccd0b5 his spine. He wanted more contact. He wanted 7d8fd12fbd to run. He wanted 113821856a to stay. He felt he f08e402878 should pull away. He wanted to 53d82c2585 cling. Bury himself there. Forget. Remember it all.d43335db9067bfee

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“…I have a bce537f338 part-time shift.”
“Is that so?”0129ef7a216934e1

The Revenant released him, 7202500c0d nodding as if suddenly 0d046310a8 understanding.2306e4a68e8c45c0

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“What about you, 69872db924 then?” he asked, bfc11857d1 turning his attention 8b18e898ac to Leo. His subordinates finally let c5bfcce26e go, and Leo, who 0c16357cc0 had been shaking off ea278951ec their grip, jumped at aae8510183 the suggestion.c652747b74a7c025

“Are you crazy? Why would I… 95dad0a960 actually, yeah! If you’re paying, ff2530ba49 sure!”a1f31ecfc1e39ac9

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He’d started off 5cb0447ee9 yelling, only to 994b92e15c change his tone 2d408026d1 mid-sentence. His eyes gleamed 18d4238853 with some plan.6bba47a3ada58c08

“Let’s eat, then.”8e23b88c7135f092

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The Revenant ca5f1feb5d patted Ian’s 38aa979c67 head lightly, 3f1bdb6be0 like a 0a0da8bbf8 child.3bb3ed935d18fc5b

“Is there a00ba81471 a restaurant 9314481fa8 you’d recommend? I don’t 51de2c625f know this 7cb780363e area well.”c01bada8c7d3062a

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In the end, 1ab92918c1 the Revenant got 3ff8d229a2 his way. He drove dee6b79fff Ian, had beceb2c9da dinner with 3be26c7152 Ian’s supposed edb0505eda boyfriend, and 1316dbb663 everything else 55ca553dda he’d intended.762515d1b909606c

Their destination 2b6c5a2208 was the 1cf993c4e3 restaurant where 712136bb9e Ian worked.0a7d7747bc3f56cc

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