After visiting his father, Noah took a minute to send a message to Fynn, telling him to drop by the manor so that they could further discuss the case. He also updated his social status to say he was resting at home, but otherwise fine.
After that, he recorded and sent a long and touching video message to Trey, ensuring him that everything was fine, and he would keep him updated on the happenings. He also encouraged Trey to properly rest and recuperate, apologized for getting him into this mess, and thanked him for his hard work both verbally and monetarily with a thick electronic envelope of cash. He also ordered a get-well gift basket to be sent to his hospital room.
Suffice to say, after witnessing his baby’s care and concern towards his love rival, Levi’s dark facial expression couldn’t get any worse. Near the end of the video call, his vinegar jar overspilled so much he squeezed Noah’s face off the screen with his own, “Are you done yet? Dinner is getting cold.”
Not only did he domineeringly declare his ownership by rubbing his cheek against Noah’s while throwing the communicator a cold glare, but he even hugged Noah from behind, lifting him off the floor as if he would tow him away right now if the other didn’t come of his own free will.
Noah could only throw the communicator a helpless, apologetic look and bring the message to its end. He then looked towards the sulking man-child who was hugging him from behind and didn’t know what to say.
Finally, Noah settled for patting the arms that were wrapped around his torso, “Ok, ok, I’m sorry for making you wait, I know you are starving. Next time, you don’t have to wait for me, brother. Just go and eat.”
Levi felt both amused and exasperated. His baby was always very sensitive towards his mood, but also always seemed to completely miss the point. On the one hand, he felt relieved that his impulsive actions wouldn’t expose his true intentions; on the other, he felt worried. Was he so bad at loving his baby that the other couldn’t even tell he was being loved?
***
When Noah and Levi returned downstairs, the dining table was already filled with a wide variety of dishes. And a very enthusiastic Cordia mommy was sitting there expectantly waiting for the two to eat her food. She had gone to the kitchen to personally cook something up, but in the end, it turned into a joined effort with other staff. It’s not that Cordia mommy wasn’t a capable cook, it’s just that she wanted to prepare a nourishing feast for her two boys but only had two hands.
Faced with the enticing feast splayed on the table in front of them, Noah and Levi, without further ado, sat next to each other opposite of Cordia mommy, and dug in.
Cordia mommy had prepared all of Aris’ favorites since she didn’t know what Levi enjoyed eating. She was both worried whether the food had turned out alright and worried whether Levi would like it, so she intently watched the two eat. Or at least, she had intended to watch them eating, but how come it was her that got fed a big bowl of dog food???
Just look at how harmonious the two were! One woke up to find another man in his arms and apparently found no problem with it. The other woke up in another man’s arms… and apparently also had no problem with it!! Cordia mommy looked towards the sky in desolation. Men!
Sigh~ Her worries were clearly misplaced. Her son was very happily eating, while her son-in-law was far more concerned with her son than the food. As soon as her glittery-eyed son even glanced towards a plate of something that wasn’t in his reach, Astar Levi would very considerately pick it up and offer it to the other like a prize. The little one would then very naturally pick a few pieces like he was used to receiving such a treatment, and then thank the other.
And boy, was that thanks blinding! It consisted of his limpid eyes and pink lips curving, followed by a soft “Thank you” that was ticklish to the ears and made one feel like it had been dipped in honey. Cordia mommy could swear she saw pink hearts fluttering in the background! And could even hear the sizzling sound of her son-in-law’s heart melting into a puddle!!
She was clearly hallucinating; the worry must have taken a toll on her. She should go to bed...
Cordia mommy tiredly rubbed her eyes. When she opened them back up, the scene in front of her made her choke.
Her good son-in-law had skillfully snatched a buffalo wing straight out of her son’s plate, “You can’t eat greasy food, you are still recovering.”
Noah, who was about to squeak, “Brother, I had already taken a bite out of that!” switched his lines into, “What recovering? Brother, I have already been fully healed!”
“It isn’t good to eat greasy food before bed,” Levi seriously explained. His reason would have been far more convincing if he didn’t take a big bite out of the buffalo wing right after. A bite, which Cordia mommy noticed, was taken out of the same place her son had previously bitten.
Noah naturally didn’t miss the double standards. “Then why are you eating it?” He voiced his complaints in a half-indignant, half-amused tone.
Levi’s reply was matter-of-fact, “Can’t waste mother’s effort.”
Noah could no longer hold in his chuckle, “Oh, so you are sacrificing yourself, are you?”
“Mn.” Levi raised his chin as if to say ‘As long as you know.’
Cordia mommy stared at the display stupefied. What was this feeling of a third wheel?! What was this strong stench of dog food?!
( ゚Д゚)“…”
Should she give the two some privacy? They must be holding back in front of her, ah?
Yep, it would be better if she retired to bed early…
And thus, Cordia mommy bid the two goodnight and made to leave. Still, she couldn’t help but look back at the duo with each step, seemingly lost in thought.
***
Once his mother left the room, Levi and Noah were left to enjoy their food in complete privacy. And thus, Noah, this wondrous creature that had an attention span of a fish, yet could still somehow remember everything he wanted to remember, naturally recalled the topic he had previously been forced to put away.
“Brother, what happened to your manor?”
Levi’s chewing abruptly stopped.
Seeing Levi’s stiff sitting posture, Noah softly sighed, “Would you rather tell me yourself, or have me ask your mother?”
Levi’s frozen form melted into a crestfallen puddle of gloom. Within seconds, his tall and dangerous-looking self slumped into a creature that more resembled a crossbreed between a kicked puppy and a drenched fox than a wild wolf.
After a long moment of silence, the brooding canine squeezed out in between his gritted teeth, “I had a nightmare last night…”
“And?” Noah prodded with a tone one would use to cajole a child.
“Accidentally…” Levi’s blue eyes looked everywhere but at his baby.
“Accidentally?” Like a warm spring breeze, Noah's gentle voice trickled into the ears, encouraging Levi to continue.
“Accidentally destroyed the west wing of the manor…” Levi’s voice tapered out.
At that moment, Noah finally realized why his pitiful brother-in-law looked so undead in the morning. Not only was his sleep quality poor, getting tormented by nightmares, but he even ended up destroying his room!How horrible would one feel if, in a blink of an eye, they destroyed their own home?!Never mind the stress, pitiful brother-in-law was the one who lost the most in this accident, yet instead of mourning his own loss, he even had a crushing sense of regret and guilt! Feeling as if it was his fault, as if there was something wrong with him!
“Understand?” Noah’s beautiful honey-colored eyes curved, watching Levi with a pure and clean gaze of a little sheep, utterly oblivious to their impending fate of getting eaten clean, with not even bones remaining.Levi repeatedly nodded, “I understand!”Noah eyed Levi, confirmed that the other was no longer feeling down, and then nodded satisfied, “As long as you understand. Every problem has a solution. Don’t let people who don’t even know you pin nonsense adjectives to you.”Levi ke
As he watched this tall, dark, and fierce man blankly hug Noah’s frail body, Fynn felt an overwhelming sense of defeat. Astar Levi might not be qualified to pursue Cordia Aris. But he, Fynn, wasn’t qualified either – his own feelings couldn’t even compare to the ones of an “unqualified” person. What face did he have to continue his pursuit? How could he convince Noah that he was the better choice, when even he, himself, didn’t believe it? Astar Levi might be all kinds of mad and shameless; he might be a villain to every single person i
Fynn nodded, “My first thought was that your brother-in-law’s pressure had destroyed it, but then I started to think. If the Fluxer and the Blazer had also been hit with a dart, why is it that we were unable to find the dart?” “Right before the Fluxer went berserk,” Levi opened his golden mouth, “he had slapped his neck as if he had been bitten by a mosquito.” Noah nodded, “Right! He must have felt the dart prick him, and instinctively slapped his neck!” After chewing off the majority of the chicken drumstick, Fynn took a bite of a buffalo wing, “The Fluxer is taking longer to regain consciousness than the Blazer, so I still couldn’t get his statement. However, I went back to talk to the Blazer.” Fynn stopped to chew and swallow, “After mentioning a prick, he suddenly remembered. He said that he did feel a prick before the power rampage, but he didn’t think much of it at the time, so he had completely forgotten about it.” Noah’s amber eyes nar
Noah’s tense posture relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair, “You are saying that the Shooter isn’t a member of the terrorists but hired help?”Fynn nodded, “It would also explain why not getting caught was more important to him than ensuring the power rampages went as planned. In the last power rampage incident, after starting the power rampage, if he shot another bullet to incapacitate or kill you…”Noah felt Levi’s hand in his hair stiffen unnaturally at the words “kill you”. He promptly shot Levi a comforting look and gently patted his thigh. For some reason, that action made Levi stiffen even more, and even Fynn choked on the water he was drinking, starting to cough violently.Noah attempted to get up to pat his back, but Fynn’s teary eyes widened, and he started to wave his hands as if to say ‘No need! You! Remain sitting!! Don’t come over!!’Seeing how insistent
After Fynn left to execute his part in the plan, Noah and Levi remained sitting alone in the dining room. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Noah side-eyed Levi. Noah might be misinterpreting most of Levi’s reactions, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t see them clearly. Over the last couple of hours, the more he spoke, the fierier Levi’s gaze became. At first, Noah had ignored it, but later on, he couldn’t help but seek solace from his black-hearted system, “Blackie… is it just me or brother-in-law's gaze seems a bit… too fervent?” “What’s wrong with admiring your wit? Your plan is really well-thought-out! Even I, this AI system which has seen many things, can’t help but feel admiration and respect for the level of your scheming,” Blackie very cheerfully praised his host, which, considering that he was usually a total jerk, should have been suspicious in itself, but Noah, whose attention had been preoccupied with Levi, missed it. “Is-is that s
Due to the Cleanser’s thorough cleansing of both their bodies and clothes earlier today, the two men only washed their teeth and left the shower for the morning after. Noah had found an extra toothbrush in his cupboard, and graciously offered it to Levi. Levi eyed the two toothbrushes standing side by side within the same cup and couldn’t help but feel extremely pleased by the image. Afterward, Noah, as usual, wore an oversized t-shirt to bed, and Levi… Noah averted his eyes from his brother-in-law’s naked torso, “Brother… I have several t-shirts here that should fit you–” “No need,” Levi interrupted, “It’s fine; I usually sleep like this.” Noah swallowed down the rest of his words. There… there was nothing strange with men only sleeping in their boxers… In his previous life on Cradle, he totally knew a lot of guys who slept only in their boxers… It’s just… it’s just… how come when his brother-in-law did it, he got a strange feeling? Like it wasn’t quite prop
Noah couldn’t help but once again remember the memories Blackie shared with him, and his two amber eyes moistened.Before he could register what he was doing, he grabbed Levi’s chin and made the other face him. “I won’t die,” Noah proclaimed solemnly. ‘I really won’t die. I have Blackie.’Blackie: (눈_눈) ‘Oh? Now you remember how useful this system is? Then how come I remember you constantly doubting this lord’s abilities and even asking for a mute button?’Noah didn’t have the chance to continue his pledge because as soon as he made the first move, it was as if all hell broke loose.As if a tight string had snapped within Levi, his previously motionless form abruptly enveloped Noah within his arms. His left arm wrapped around Noah’s waist and lower back, his hand stealthily gliding over Noah’s round bottom to rest on his hip. Meanwhile, his right arm slid