Chapter 89

As Theo scolded him and braced on the windowsill to leap out, Blaine shot up from the flowerbed, panic written all over his face, and bolted off.

“Hey!”

Theo called out frantically at Blaine’s retreating back, stepping onto the flowerbed and jumping down to chase after him.

“Blaine! Why aren’t you coming?!”

“N-no! I don’t want to! You’re just going to scold me!”

“Then why are you acting like this knowing you’ll get scolded?!”

“Because I’m not sleeping! I-I’m not going to sleep even if I get home!”

“Exactly why I said to put the bed in your house! Whether you sleep or not, as long as it’s in your room, I don’t have to worry about it. Isn’t that great?!”

“I don’t like it! I want you to worry about me!”

“How much more do you want me to worry?!”

Blaine shot back defiantly, running for his life, but Theo was closing the gap with every step. There was no way he could escape someone like Theo, who had movement speed enhancements.

The chase that had thrown the entire village into chaos ended before he had even made a full lap. Theo, fueled by exasperation, grabbed Blaine by the nape of his neck, and after a brief struggle, Blaine was caught.

As if to underline how easily the game of tag had ended, Theo, completely composed, glared at Blaine with a terrifying stare. Blaine immediately pouted, ears drooping in defeat.

“Hyung…”

Theo twisted his mouth in frustration, opening his lips as if to speak but then stopping. Instead, he brushed his bangs aside, took a deep breath to steady himself, and began dragging Blaine along. Blaine flailed half-heartedly, being pulled toward their destination.

“Hyung, hyung… are you angry? I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

“If I’m not angry, I’m an idiot. Stay quiet.”

“I’m sorry… but, but I…”

Blaine, desperately trying to come up with excuses, suddenly realized where Theo was taking him—his own house. Panic and impending dread flashed across his eyes.

“Hyung, hyung, I’m not going home! I don’t want to go home! Please, let me stay in front of your house!”

Blaine pleaded, struggling to free himself from Theo’s grasp. But Theo didn’t budge an inch, steadily pulling Blaine along until they reached the front of Blaine’s house.

“Open it.”

Theo’s voice was cold, like frost covering a surface. Blaine looked reluctant to open the door, but under Theo’s commanding presence, he had no choice and swung the door open. Theo dragged Blaine inside.

The first floor of Blaine’s house was a combined living and sitting room, furnished with a sofa, table, and various household items.

Knowing from his previous visit that there was no bed on the first floor, Theo didn’t hesitate and went down to the basement. He froze briefly at the stark sight before him. Unlike the lived-in first floor, the basement had only a single, large bed. There was no other furniture and no sense of daily life. Staring blankly at the desolate room, Theo shook his head lightly and strode forward, plopping Blaine down onto the bed.

Blaine struggled to get up, but before he could, Theo pinned him down by the shoulders, pressing with his upper body to keep him from moving.

“Just lie down.”

“N-no… Hyung, please.”

“I’ll stay until you fall asleep, so just sleep.”

Blaine’s eyes widened in surprise, but soon he muttered with a forlorn expression,

“…You’re going to leave once I sleep.”

“I’m not leaving. Just do the visitor registration.”

“?”

Blaine blinked, clearly confused by Theo’s words. He blinked twice, thrice, before finally pushing against Theo and sitting upright, his voice brimming with excitement.

“Are you really going to sleep here?! You’re going to stay with me?!”

Pushed by Blaine’s unexpected strength, Theo staggered back but didn’t fall, thanks to Blaine steadying him.

“Yeah, so just lie down.”

Relieved that he hadn’t fallen, Theo tried to lay Blaine back down, but Blaine grabbed his hands and sat him on the bed instead.

“You’re really going to sleep in my house?! You’re going to stay with me?!”

Still in disbelief, Blaine quickly opened his display and completed the visitor registration.

“Tonight, I’ll be staying at your place, so behave and sleep.”

Theo pressed the excited Blaine back onto the bed and pulled the blanket up to his neck. Blaine’s cheeks peeked out from under the covers, flushed in a way that was hard not to notice.

“But… I only have one bed…!”

“Then I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

Blaine looked like he’d been struck by lightning, staring at Theo in shock, but Theo, seemingly unfazed, covered Blaine’s eyes with a hand.

“If you keep your eyes open, you won’t fall asleep. I’d make you some warm milk, but since this isn’t my place, just lie down and close your eyes.”

“…My bed is big, hyung… You could sleep here with me…”

“Yeah, it’s big. But one night of sleeping together is enough for me.”

“Still…”

“It’s uncomfortable. Stop complaining and sleep.”

Theo lightly tapped Blaine’s forehead with the hand covering his eyes. Startled, Blaine instinctively touched his own forehead.

“……”

“……”

But the touch landed on Theo’s hand instead of Blaine’s forehead. Both were surprised, but neither pulled away.

Realizing Theo wasn’t withdrawing, Blaine slowly wrapped his hands around Theo’s and, lying on his side, pressed close against his chest, holding him gently.

Blaine didn’t dare open his eyes to look at Theo, simply lying there as if obediently following his words.

Sitting quietly beside Blaine for a long moment, Theo felt the grip on his hand loosen.

“Blaine?”

He called softly, but Blaine remained motionless. He had likely fallen asleep. Carefully, Theo removed his hand, worried about waking him, but Blaine only furrowed his brows slightly, staying asleep.

Theo gazed down at Blaine’s sleeping face, then hesitated before running a hand through his hair. The silky strands slipped through his fingers, and he couldn’t help but smile.

After stroking Blaine’s hair a few more times, Theo quietly got up and went upstairs, making sure one last time that Blaine was still asleep before climbing the stairs.

Once upstairs, Theo stretched and sat on the sofa.

“Somehow… I feel like drinking.”

He smacked his lips, kicked off his boots, and flopped onto the sofa. The warmth of Blaine’s hand on his and the soft strands of hair brushing his fingers still lingered.

He rested his arm on the sofa’s armrest, absently running his fingers over his own hand, feeling… not unpleasant at all.

The next morning, Theo woke to the loud chirping of birds and sunlight hitting his eyes. He frowned, momentarily stunned at the unfamiliar ceiling, but realizing he was at Blaine’s house, he yawned and stretched.

Something felt heavy on top of him.

“?”

A piece of cloth was draped over his body. It was Blaine’s cloak.

“?”

Confused, Theo was about to get up when he froze—under the sofa, Blaine was curled up, still asleep. Staring at him dangling at the edge of the sofa, Theo quickly reached out and shook his shoulder.

“Why are you here…? Blaine, Blaine!”

After a few shakes, Blaine groaned and slowly sat up, still half-asleep, giving Theo space to move his feet down.

“Why did you sleep here?”

Still drowsy, Blaine fumbled until he found Theo’s knee and buried his face against it. Theo stiffened instinctively, but couldn’t ignore the sight of his bare back. Quickly, he grabbed the cloak he’d been using and draped it over Blaine’s shoulders.

Blaine pressed closer, nuzzling against Theo’s knee.

“Sleep… B-Blaine!”

Startled, Theo pushed Blaine’s shoulders gently away. Blaine looked up at him, his eyes meeting. The sleepy haze was gone, replaced by sharp focus.

“Hyung, did you sleep well?”

Theo instinctively looked away, cheeks burning hot. Blaine blinked, confused, but Theo couldn’t meet his gaze—his face was too flushed.

After the small morning chaos, the two headed toward Lucilvania. Near the guild house, they ran into Father, Holanghee, and Noquia, who were on their way to Sanaret Village for breakfast. Naturally, Theo and Blaine accompanied them.

Riding Father’s carriage toward Sanaret, they noticed a group of chasing players. Four were pursuing one.

“Someone’s enthusiastic this early,” Noquia muttered, unimpressed, as everyone watched through the window. All the players were in Murderer Mode, attacking each other. A 4-to-1 fight seemed underhanded, but interest waned quickly. Soon, their attention returned to the road, and the carriage arrived at Sanaret Village.