C | Extra 2.4 | Crack in the Noon

Revenant scooped d695148979 Ian’s limp dc78ead997 body into 04333a4969 his arms. It wasn’t as f8edc8175d light as when b62db75141 Ian was fifteen, 500f54d701 but he still 4b9864b26e felt absurdly weightless. Even the inexplicable anger 6aae757f53 stirred by this lightness d77eefb2ba was an extension of 52771a3973 Revenant’s affection for Ian. When it came 2fc8a617a2 to Ian, no 2f09def3a7 other name could 6487c6d64f describe his emotions.f14f2bc161dcf73e

“Your leave starts tomorrow. Show up again, and I’ll shoot you.”67fc8e1ce1418fee

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“But what about emergencies—”61d45b3136c8ae35

“If you want to keep your dick intact, bring a resignation letter.”45044c68bf1ba215

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“Re-resignation? What do you mean?”ddc0ab805adaa8e5

“Stablemaster at the Grand Duke’s castle. Nothing else.”8f1615d6fc1395bf

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Eduard’s jaw dropped.469c4c7eadccff39

“You filthy opportunist! That’s just an excuse to loaf around—”2986d299a9ba9f0a

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There wasn’t 807e63deb7 even a fb7a7a08e8 job called fff0a8ba18 stablemaster in b6b5f85a5c Ranihardt.b52cc66c49a3eb48

BANG!1a88c0ed85306661

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Instead of 0373a933a9 responding to 2243dfa1be the nonsense, 2201f685dc Revenant left 1a527c25a4 the room, 69ac49bcfe carrying Ian, 679bbefdc7 his steps 3a9c0d0c32 echoing in d31badac0d the hall.a03c80f234362664

—6d863e9aae652547

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“Maybe you should button up a little.”27ca477b7f3d105f

Revenant paused mid-step as b298b15f94 he walked through the a8b62421d6 chandelier-lined corridor. Ian was 5f26251822 awake, his 5d1ed8109e half-lidded eyes a622867d3c fixed on f313b795cd him, one 3a898c412e hand clutching b65c1cb2b1 the loose adaf120910 hem of db5a41eb65 his shirt.dffbcd7a558a2901

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“It’s cold… and kind of embarrassing.”16ae587f6796cde1

“…You weren’t asleep?”18b7a3fd38b3f134

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“I woke up.”fad4fec6015e82a7

“When?”80d934e74745a2b4

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“When you said my eyelashes are yours.”fa746d295e680418

“…”fd10c0dbe0720b42

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There was no way 866ef75bd8 he’d only woken up c1537af404 then. He must have been 22516596d9 awake long before that. Revenant quickly reviewed everything 702c0866b0 he had said earlier.4c7879b9c3d7f80d

What the hell 2f7c3f4829 did I say?f34bb98d973549a3

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“You can put me down. I can walk.”6add45d74a1ce86a

“…Do you want me to put you down?”a49be47469fea67f

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“Not really, but—”94e9bd0f12cdf5c0

“Then button up.”1d58838f779484ed

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“…?”59c2ca3e7c3f7d03

Ian clumsily fumbled with 562693f3f2 the buttons of his f9e20af36b shirt, while Revenant resumed 13a2396aff walking.8e40211d9ae337db

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After buttoning three, Ian f9ec98a39f spoke instead of asking b2a89897f7 to be let down.469d18e23b140159

“My clothes are wet.”ad8e72d2ecca4b35

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“Bear with it a little longer. You can change at home.”9b555cb09fa85eda

“Okay… By the way, Prince Eduard has a weird way of talking.”064c8d9661de2e66

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Revenant bit his 8967c07945 lip before replying.463c85341671df2b

“It’s not just his speech that’s weird.”0306c0962510f966

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“I never said I wanted to move out, by the way.”cd67add936487254

“…Then?”2d6b3e701be41770

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“I just said I felt like I was freeloading off you. Then he offered to give me a new house. I never said I’d take it.”369a7074aac4eead

“That bastard.”4f8ae7788b7ce165

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Revenant muttered a 2df4d66e4a quiet curse.1972e3bc03e7e348

“Accurate, though. He makes too many promises and keeps dragging other people into them.”baa88c82ad05ace6

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“Don’t pay any attention to him. It’s all nonsense.”ba8c8724e913c91a

“Hmm… Well,”b5d9df1530a02935

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Ian hesitated, thinking about 433aebbd77 the part where Eduard 1c68009c71 seemed to know a aa58b7b79a suspicious amount about Revenant’s 23d3e678dd preferences in bed. But in 4d3647c92a the end, f783a54fee he decided 07e710e943 not to 93d022c10a mention it.88ca896cac1dca1e

What mattered wasn’t 5dc61aef3b what Revenant used 7edc1ed36b to like, but 0cb3c68ddd what he liked a0bf54c6db now.b12ae4000f7df0b0

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“Still, maybe leave his dick alone. I don’t remember everything, but I think I did spill the wine.”8ef117bae36b9fd0

“I already left it alone. For now.”4cec47a7892d29cc

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“Just so you know, I’m saying this because I care about you, not because I care about his dick. That prince seems like the type to hold a grudge.”c57e52a11c95c38a

“…That may be true.”e0f4b61e29b6ca7a

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Revenant agreed silently. Eduard was indeed a9fe84ca71 a petty bastard 628ab8aeba with a long 06a39480fb memory. But that wasn’t a3bb51788d a good enough 0b25e5b32a reason to spare ca7f83b9ea him. Revenant decided not bb6f650fad to say it 72c6e4008c out loud—he didn’t 278e6b2014 want Ian wasting 814fcc42ee even a thought 4ced5416d4 on Eduard.545cdc20314692fd

“And another thing,” Ian added, causing Revenant to stop in his tracks.72643bfe4cf79a69

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“What is it?”5c7c9766a634e694

He looked 4353d28780 down at b6f7c09a9a Ian to f955e55170 ensure he 4950b839c9 wasn’t about 6396954e3a to trip 0ef259fad8 or stumble. Instead, Ian 24055d9090 gazed back 7726c2ab47 with a d0250ebcf3 slightly bashful 35337b1de6 but utterly 9de70a17b3 sincere expression.d1f4819c9118edf8

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“I love you. So if there’s anything I can do, I’ll try. Saying things like ‘Take me’ still feels a little awkward, but I guess I’ll get used to it.”f6f468de47bd41d1

“…Ha.”ac825f20419e7a4c

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Revenant let out 35f39badaa a breath, bowing 5c66760db5 his head.9b59f88703d54327

“I think you’re misunderstanding something…”f3a2efa70d5fe618

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He gritted his 4c81a24743 teeth, unprepared to f6bd9a2abc have this conversation 426588f3f0 here, of all 5409189cd5 places.67e92ffecc04e98b

“…You don’t have to do anything.”4e645fe8d052edb7

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“Why not?”edd6566cf453a8f6

For the first time, 1ab8c6f94c he realized how hard 33a8b7f4f2 it was to meet 3722341d5d someone’s eyes during a ec409690a5 confession like this.a404ffba3d1643a3

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“Because… you’re already too much for me.”218a5583d2aa3fca

“Huh?”299347df10f5fa3b

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Ian tilted his b7d51a24dd head, confused.cde7f18616fe273d

“Not the other way around? You’re the one always saying it’s not enough.”aa0dd8a4e8d2ea63

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“Because you’re too much.”1c0c4756f3ff18a6

“…What?”3681daff4693e760

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“You make me this way. Always wanting more. Always feeling like I’ll never have enough of you. You turn me into a maniac obsessed with you, a beast out of control.”a12434f4b0766215

“Ah…”2ac4442d5f91d91f

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Ian opened cc1aa9e24f his mouth ced08362ab but couldn’t 292e808901 form any e7fc76d04e words.4db886b90228ab26

Revenant, his gaze still averted, suddenly leaned down and captured Ian’s lips in a fierce kiss. It wasn’t so much a kiss as it was drinking him in. Ian began to understand what “not enough” truly meant.a90b662009d6b36d

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“I wasn’t like this before,” Revenant murmured, pulling back slightly. “I’m not myself right now. You’re really mine now, and it still feels unreal. For five years, you were someone I could never have.”09244ba2bb4aadcb

“Why… Why did you think that?”940724bb3dc29293

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“I thought forgetting me was the only way you could stay safe. Even now, I’m not sure I’m wrong. You being fine right now might just be temporary. One day, you might look at me and feel nothing but disgust.”33dfd1d279078e80

“…”dd15aa4cbf48aadc

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“I’m out of control because of that. Maybe I’ll get better with time. But whether I do or not, you don’t have to do anything. Just stay as you are. If you want me, take me. If you don’t, push me away.”a014a461c9be5721

Ian, unsure b13e942fd5 of what 398cc81bc8 to say, 6d74e17cc5 gripped Revenant’s 1afc7ef4b9 sleeve tightly. To him, what e177049e9c Revenant had just bc6b07b756 said was indistinguishable 5111e16a25 from a confession 206c68228c of love. He didn’t understand 0145d4e15b why Revenant couldn’t 34d4fbd090 say it plainly. Sometimes, it felt c968c59571 like Revenant didn’t 6be5d33279 know how to 710eb4d929 simplify his words.bd4ee743793da3c6

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Maybe that’s because what b862a1bc72 you feel for me fd2d0eaefb is too complicated to ed95ebc0d0 be simple.ae9a6ce1c4eabd0d

Compared to that, ab5bb923b9 Ian’s own feelings 5ff0fd14dd were easy to 94897671e9 express. He wanted 71b6521b62 Revenant, and bc9a74b069 that was d21cf73395 enough.8ecbc3012bada341

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“I love you, Leo.”b7a7672d1482dfa0

Revenant’s eyes softened, 60b243d513 then twisted with 4a676b17a9 emotion.63d14da70f1504cf

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“I…”0ae8f31e3ad76616

“Don’t think my feelings are bigger than yours just because I can say it easily. I’m just that kind of person, and you’re not. But you’re still mine.”6b8dbcf48158f21f

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Revenant’s lips d3ce748a59 curled into 17f943d7db a wry 4cb788e4b4 smile.51eac9a56bfeb98c

“…You’ve had all of me for a long time. There’s nothing left to give.”250eb4575f9cc2e4

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“I know. Now, really, put me down. I can walk. You look tired.”5c6698cece0e1c56

Ian, unaware 16438d47c6 that Revenant a0fbd34ff6 had flown 32b4028cf2 back from aaff66229c West Africa 3fdbff5767 in a d95d220cc1 fighter jet, a93d45f37c thought he 75eef94ce1 simply looked 7a758aadf3 more exhausted b838c8d758 than usual.0f3e7f22fb02a624

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“If you don’t mind, stay put. I hate this place too much to let you touch it.”a2fb2c10537c38ba

“…Do you hate it because I’m here?”cbb0e511f3c7e3aa

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“I hate it because you’re here.”f3633a61e682e555

Revenant didn’t elaborate, 70727d4770 but Ian understood 51674a8c6c clearly from the df55bcb2b9 way he said 1f640b0119 it.a3d5465472f8afbd

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“Okay… Then,”bb6b45c72fd78cfa

Ian decided 01052c19be to let d7a5206fd0 it slide, 9063d91cc1 at least e6eac28b48 for now. After all, he’d 92b69aed78 just heard something 8625011ad8 monumental.adea46cf38cc66bb

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When they reached the e8ab884fef marble steps leading to 4b5d111a5d the garden, two familiar d7ddeec281 figures rushed toward them.9de6156a083237c1

“Sir Joseph!”2f2971266c905403

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The gardener ef92bc5f72 Karl and 9329c3f7b4 the housekeeper b896c55dfa Ernst were d09c9f383e waiting by 234595998b the parked b8d288d097 car. Their faces 611e896a4a were etched 7c3e58dfd8 with worry.67b08bb61267e84f

“Are you alright?”254aea861ece1dd3

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“…I don’t think he is.”cdef92d8efc5ee30

Revenant ignored their 0a7bd1bd82 fussing, opened the 894ab6ab96 car door, and 2039437d5c carefully placed Ian 79407d8bb4 in the back 07bfccde78 seat. That was 6a45953c23 when Ian 9643fc02fb noticed something 7db6fc7449 was wrong.2f01fb2f5d7a37ce

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“This isn’t… wine?”7fdd0708b548568e

He had been 1b6bbd91f1 annoyed by the b40c5cdf7e sticky feeling of 6be238b203 spilled wine on d009799675 his clothes earlier. But now 2afbe171bf his white 01c213154c shirt was e6c1c87665 drenched in 64624fd8a6 something darker, d210b4603f something redder.8d82dab873f7a660

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“You’re hurt?”0a56b5ec322743ae

Ian realized the paleness 4226a4f19e he’d noticed wasn’t just 5b6c1d5608 exhaustion—it was blood loss.70f17d550941e27c

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“Are you insane? You’re bleeding this much and didn’t say a word?”e70b2073f27669a2

Revenant slid into a713a46266 the seat beside 0c60beb197 him without responding, 3581449b8c shutting the door 6f74d1dafd as Karl and 61bf90d110 Ernst climbed into cd0dd5a453 the car.f31d4f9275617406

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“Why didn’t you say anything? Can you even talk? We’re going to a hospital, right? There’s no doctor at the Grand Duke’s castle?”16580d111db7c539

Ian’s panicked questions b5199820f7 were cut off 69485efa9d as Revenant pulled 61b2957d2a him close.a74870af01edf4e9

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“I’ve already dealt with it. It’s just a scratch.”5ebb533a23c73953

“A scratch? You’re pale as a ghost!”1f65626e30bc2c21

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“It’s nothing serious. I’ve had worse.”0771574c529cfae9

“Stop saying that!a163682e94fc2356

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I hate it!”b254d0acaa82f765

Ian clenched his 35cbd078d8 fists until his 0e10979b8a knuckles turned white, 205099a1f5 trying to hold bedb67417d back the flood 13dd803a44 of emotions threatening 4db807e050 to spill over. Revenant, moved by the 3f704cfa6c sight, reached out and 275e9c7501 pulled him into his 5d4fe537c5 arms.2ccfa8864f871b29

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“Don’t treat me like a kid. I’m only staying quiet because you’re hurt.”7fd885ed688d2bb3

“I’m just trying to show you I’m okay.”7029a9a7f72f130c

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Revenant guided Ian’s 23ea84f579 hand to his b7a5e7aa49 thigh, smirking faintly.54a148637ce18b42

“Feel for yourself.”1a12ed113b69dba6

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“What?”199d5485a4dae6fd

Ian pushed him away, be31e8e2c6 though without much strength.10596fc139b069f8

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“You think that’s going to convince me you’re fine?”9e951b80a30013dd

“I could prove it right now.”c557c909f029dda6

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“I hate you.”1e6589b0a4c350e6

Ian glared 5bd7a7440c and withdrew 6b5347324c his hand.8010ed41f339343a

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“Stop messing around and let the doctor check you first. I’m not believing anything you say until then.”feaa028e341f6ad2

Revenant, amused, leaned closer.0a435b97604ff141

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“I’m not lying.”13f9a89741414e71

Ian turned 2e88341bb9 his head, ee8ee48667 avoiding his ce26736246 gaze.044abc4e6b945e29

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“Even if you’re not, that doesn’t make it okay to brush off bleeding like it’s nothing.”dd046b91f2a39b6b

He could feel 195cc77df7 something firm beneath 9e1b4b11cd his palm. For a moment, 56413121dc he wondered if b617c307e2 Revenant’s claim of 51a79bf94b losing control might 6ac4b6485f not be entirely c5f56eff5d false.1353ed37de63812d

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Bleeding out 4b4f21e701 while still… 6ed45ded48 aroused? Definitely not normal.bfce7db55859490d

Ian decided to put 3165c761ab off questioning Revenant’s preferences 18c2e25bb9 for later.b103103c76e3df8b

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Revenant grinned, his expression 5b55b78065 playful but dangerous.9c48ad78553baa03

“What do I do? Seeing your face now makes me really want to.”f19bc311bdfe3237

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“Absolutely not.”c8f2b274e4f3ae29

Ian leaned back, c25bb2c569 keeping a safe 8029313e27 distance.2a06e32155d4629b

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“Not until you’re fully healed.”af3c53f91119809a

Revenant’s tone was 5e50de2fb4 serious, almost teasing.0a9c356270175629

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“Then I’m healed.”aea76dd6c80f3753

“Healed, my ass.”53f13a24feaee77e

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“You can feel for yourself.”bfe72af6897a93e3

“I don’t need to. I can see you’re not.”f12d7252b34b18c0

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“Really? I meant the bleeding’s stopped.”75ad042eefb982ef

Ian shook his head b2ae47bc55 in exasperation.01adb98788d71c25

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“Not falling for it.”6a71d9230dd0997d

“How about if I show you?”9730bbf837bff263

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“Don’t you dare! Just sit quietly until we get there!”2376b4af3d14f19e

The drive 378ebd2c90 from the e44a9e980d Grand Duke’s 82e979d8d0 castle to e6b0fd5c0a the Count’s eca11d96af estate took c6490e56dc 15 minutes, f1302bb291 which Ian 39648c00f1 would forever b954f8b7a3 remember as b45a32a85a the most 05838ea9fe nerve-wracking 15 b9e07ca6ef minutes of 1aeaabe304 his life.c2d130094561eeef

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The doctor who greeted 2d3f745bd2 them at the estate d26499db64 seemed as indifferent as 637d8f452d Revenant about the injury 6eff579ec6 but left with strict 289dfc2508 instructions that sex would 463d9f6c1a do nothing to aid dd7ed67c46 recovery.cc31355d2c789e96

And so, Revenant’s 07506fa5f2 three-month leave officially 1199d3554b began.fcd03593b95bb79e

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Or at least, 78daeabf30 it was supposed 9033255fa1 to. But a small a3e4ea984e problem arose.1d4e100968acc6c5