Chapter 23 – Don't go back on your word later

Noah: “…” Brother… now I’m starting to suspect you are lying through your teeth just to ruin my sex life… (￢_￢;)

Not that Noah would even have a sex life to ruin. Ever since he found out that worldborn were asexual, Noah had resolved himself to staying single for life. This whole conversation topic couldn’t be any more pointless. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Noah sat there speechlessly, not knowing how to respond to his brother-in-law’s ridiculous statement.

Levi, on the other hand, knew exactly where to go from there – he simply continued to pet Noah’s head again and relentlessly continued to demand, “You haven’t promised yet.” (≖ ‸ ≖)

Noah: QAQ

…Ah, forget it… I’ll just enjoy the perks of this little-brother treatment while it lasts…

“Mn” Noah took a page from Levi’s book and gave a non-committal hum in response.

Luckily, Levi, whose ‘mns’ were always very committal, happily took that as an agreement. Very good! Now that he had his kitten’s approval, that meant he could cockblock pigs in a just and aboveboard manner. This was a good day!

While Levi was rejoicing, Noah, resigned to his fate of being treated like a little kid, at least for now, concentrated on more important matters. He looked at this silly brother-in-law thoughtfully, and then tried to offer him some well-intentioned advice, “Brother-in-law, I don’t mind you petting my head, but… isn’t it a waste to come to a cat café and not pet a cat? You can pet my head anytime, but you can pet the kitties only while we are here…”

Levi’s hand paused for a moment, and he gave Noah a profound look, “…anytime?”

‘…bro…you are concentrating on the wrong thing again… (◞‸ლ)’ Still, Noah helplessly nodded.

Levi’s lips curled up in a very satisfied smile, he couldn’t look more pleased if he tried. And then, he, of course, contentedly continued to run his fingers through Noah’s hair.

Instead of receiving the usual ‘Mn’, this time, Noah received a full sentence that sent shivers down his spine: “Don’t go back on your word later.”

Noah wasn’t sure whether the shivers were the good kind, due to how Levi nearly purred out those words in an objectively sexy voice, or whether they were the bad kind, because he had this strange feeling that something was not right somewhere.

Indeed, things were not right somewhere, and that ‘somewhere’ was 99% of the time, inside Levi’s head, with the remaining 1% being there just to leave some room for error.

Levi found his obedient little kitten too adorable for words. He just meekly sat there, letting Levi stroke and caress as he pleased without putting up any resistance. And from time to time, the little guy would even squint his eyes in satisfaction like a real kitten enjoying a petting. The little guy was simply the most adorable creature in existence! Ah, ah, want to pet and spoil him to bits! (／≧ω＼) ❤

Also… Levi couldn't help but wonder, would the little guy be equally as submissive and obedient with his lover in bed? Letting the other “play” with him as they wished?!?

On the one hand, that set off blaring alarms in Levi’s head, wouldn’t his little cabbage be eaten clean?? Completely taken advantage of in every way possible!? This must definitely not happen!!

And… on the other hand… for some baffling reason, his mouth got parched again, and his blood started to boil, heating up his entire body from head to toe.

***

When Fynn said five minutes, it was indeed five minutes before a waiter led him into their private room.

Noah found it hilarious how a man capable of estimating time so well couldn’t manage to free up any.

Fynn was a handsome, slender man in his late twenties, with his shoulder-length chestnut hair tied at the back of his head. He had a bit of a rugged appearance – his hair was a bit messy, and there was some stubble on his chin. However, instead of looking sloppy, it worked well with his natural charm, making him look free-spirited.

He wasn’t dressed in an official uniform of the force to avoid attracting attention. Instead, he just wore a white shirt with few buttons undone at the top, jeans, and comfortable sneakers.

As soon as Fynn entered the room, his breath caught in his throat, his feet got stuck to the ground, and his eyebrows shot up.

What the hell? What’s with the overpowering intents he was feeling in this room?? (⊙_⊙;)

Fynn was an Intenter, which was why, although he was so young, he was already among the top inspectors of the force. Intenters could sense various “intents” from people - intents were vibes originating from that person’s intentions and desires, targeted towards someone or something else. Fynn could tell when people were lying, trying to hide something, having harmful intentions toward someone, desiring to engage in sexual intercourse, etc.

Naturally, when you had a power that can tell whether someone is lying or trying to hide something, investigating cases became a lot easier. Unfortunately, for the same reasons, his circle of friends was nearly deserted. Everyone had something to hide, whether it was that they were crushing on their hot coworker, or that they despise the slut next door to the bone and take every opportunity to mess with her, or that they lied about their plans Friday night. No one wanted to be around a person who will always know they lied, they messed up, they did something wrong. It felt as if they were always under surveillance, and that was not anyone’s idea of a good time.

That was precisely why Fynn valued his friendship with Aris. Aris, as a little prince of Concordia, should have been high up above everyone, but instead, he was very approachable and honest. Aris didn’t feel uncomfortable around Fynn, nor did he mind that Fynn was an Intenter. Even when he was caught in some kind of a silly lie, he would give him a half-hearted glare followed by a cute pout ‘can’t you let me keep my dignity, just once??’.

Fynn very much liked Aris, and if he had ever felt a sliver of interest from the other side, he would have jumped at the opportunity to have a relationship with him. Unfortunately, Aris was deaf and blind to the interested parties around him, which also included Fynn.

Just like now, the other party gave him a brilliant smile, unaware of how charming he was, and greeted in his lovely clear voice, “Hey!”

Ah, it must have been too long since the last time the two had met because Fynn found Aris to be absolutely stunning today. Aris had always been charming, but today this charm seemed to be cranked up to the max. As if the previous Aris was a lovely little caterpillar, which only now came out of its cocoon and spread its beautiful butterfly wings.

If it weren’t for the fact that he felt no such intent coming from him, he would have suspected whether he had fallen in love or gotten into a new relationship. He truly had a hard to ignore glow about him, and for an inspector with a keen eye for detail, this glow was positively blinding.

Fynn returned Noah’s smile back with one of his own, which got wiped off his face at a blazingly fast speed when he moved his gaze to Levi, who still had his naughty paw entangled in Noah’s hair. After scanning Levi up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, Fynn only gave a distant polite nod. Then his expression changed again into mild interest when he looked at Trey, whom he also scanned up and down before plopping his butt on the couch next to him.

Fynn: Ah! So many questions, I don’t know what to ask first! Let’s start with something simple!

Fynn motioned his head towards Trey, a guy who judging by his intents, seemed to be crushing on his little friend, “Who’s this?”

Noah gave him a half-helpless half-reproachful look, “My new personal guard, Trey.”

“Oooh, the old man finally retired, did he? About time.”

Although Fynn didn’t ask because he had already deduced as such, Noah still introduced him to Levi. “Brother-in-law, this is one of my good friends Fynn. Fynn, this is Astar Levi, my soon to be brother-in-law.”

Neither of the two attempted to shake hands, they carefully eyed each other, then reluctantly nodded in acknowledgment.

Levi was still trying to decide whether this ‘good friend’ would be a big thorn in his side like the previous ‘good friend’ of Noah’s. While Fynn’s impression of Levi was rather mixed from the very start. Fynn felt that Levi was a giant disorienting ball of various powerful intents and the originator of the overpowering feeling he had felt.

But that wasn’t even the main point. The main point was that all of those intents were closely linked to poor unsuspecting little Aris!!

To put it in simple words that non-Intenters could understand, this Levi, though he himself seemed to be oblivious to the fact, was 100% obsessed with Aris!!! Obsessed, as in, every thought that ran through his head was in some way related to Aris! Obsessed, as in, if the other was in danger, he wouldn’t hesitate to run his head through a wall and kill his way over to save him! Obsessed, as in, his moral integrity and bottom line got fed to the dogs when Aris was involved!!