“I’m on the fun floor,” I counter jokingly, and he laughs even harder until we reach my door.
“Thank you for not fighting with me about walking you back. As promised, I’ll be a gentleman, but I’ll resume being myself tomorrow,” he teases.
I reluctantly open the door, and then I turn around to pull his tie which brings his face to mine. He smiles against the kiss he wasn’t expecting, and then I release him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I utter softly.
“I can’t wait,” he seduces, and he kisses my hand before walking a way with a salacious grin.
Hale. Oh my Hale. Fuck.
The door starts to creak open a little after four in the morning, and I reflexively reach for my loaded gun. I steady my breath while lying on the pullout bed, and I point the gun into the couch to face the intruder I’m expecting to sneakily attack me.
The door shuts even slower than it opened, and I hear the sluggish steps coming in my direction. My body lunges at the intruder, and the barrel of my gun connects with their forehead.
“Fucking shit, Araya. It’s me,” Ty gushes in a terrified panic while raising his hands high over his head.
I stifle my laughter, and then I narrow my eyes.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask suspiciously.
“I’m your fucking roommate. Damn it. I told people you were crazy,” he rattles out in a breathless tone, and I use my gift to flip the light switch up.
“Roommate?” I scoff.
“Yes,” he smugly retorts while pushing my gun away from his temple.
“I don’t think so. I can’t stay here with you,” I bark, and I quickly leap over the couch.
“Why the hell not?” he asks in an offended tone.
I don’t answer as I barge out of the room, and I quickly jump on the elevator to head up to the sixth floor - Hale and Brazen’s floor.
I feel nauseated the moment the doors open, and I’m scared to get off. I’m worried I’ll see one of them, and then I’ll be fucked. Literally.
My fingers graze the surface of Hale’s door, but all is quiet. I can almost hear his breaths, which is odd. He’s sleeping peacefully, and it’s so tempting to just go climb into bed with him. I start to use my gift to turn the knob, but I quickly pull myself away.
Brazen’s door is just a little bit away, and again my fingers trickle over the cold metal that would open to his home. It’s not quiet in his place though. I can hear a few bits of laughter scattered around, and then I hear a man speak.
“So, Araya Crush,” the man murmurs, and obviously I have to listen now.
“What about her?” Brazen asks mildly.
“Your mother tells me the two of you have been together,” the man says, and I can hear a bit of disappointment in his tone.
“We were together, and I pray we’ll be together again very soon. I hope you’re not trying to dissuade me from such,” he cautions.
“I’m not trying to do anything, Captain. I’m merely pointing out she’s a hybrid. There’s a reason we don’t mingle. Their needs and our needs don’t match. It’s hectic, it’s often annoying, and eventually it ends. With the two of you both in the United, it could look rather bad if things got messy.”
“They’re not going to get messy,” Brazen growls, and I can hear several uncomfortable shifts.
They’re not alone. People are listening to this.
“And if she goes back to Hale Banner? Do you think it still won’t be messy?”
“She won’t go back to him, and even if she did, it wouldn’t stop me from loving her. If she went back it would just be a matter of time before he fucked up. He doesn’t love her the way I do. He thinks he has a right to her.”
No he doesn’t, Brazen. He loves me just like you do.
