Page 46 of Omega's Secret Guardian
And that made Storm a little angry.
But that was fine. It meant he had a reason to hang around, to protect Linus from the shadows.
Linus stared at the road, opening and closing his mouth. “I... I don’t know why.”
His gaze was shadowed, though. Maybe he knew but he wasn’t willing to share. Maybe someone had caused him to feel that way.
Storm bit down his anger. “You should believe in yourself,” he said lowly. “Lots of people out there want to see you succeed.”
At the drugstore, Linus pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine, turning to face Storm. “Like who? Who would want me to succeed?”
“Like your friends. Your family. And... and me.”
The professor blinked. “You too?”
Storm fought down his blush. “I told you, you’re special.”
“Oh,” Linus said softly.
His heart thumping, Storm reached over, tracing the backs of his knuckles against Linus’ soft, velvety cheek.
Linus’ eyes widened. But he didn’t pull away at all.
“Tell me if this is bad,” Storm murmured.
Linus shook his head, his gaze so dark in the shadows. “You were my student.”
“So?”
“So... we shouldn’t. I’m not great for you.”
Storm huffed. “Let me decide that for myself.”
Because Linus didn’t seem to be repulsed by him, Storm slipped his fingers into Linus’ soft hair, brushing his fingers through it. It was just a simple touch, but he committed every second of it to his memory.
Linus’ eyelids fluttered shut. He liked this, didn’t he? Storm brushed his hair again, several more times. Then he reluctantly pulled his hand away. “We should get my splint before the place closes.”
Linus straightened like he had received an electric shock. “Oh, gods! The splint! And dinner!”
Had he really relaxed so much around Storm, that he had forgotten everything else?
Storm’s heart swelled. He glanced at the car clock. “It hasn’t been twenty minutes. We’re fine. C’mon.”
He hopped out of the Jeep, then rounded its hood to make sure Linus got out safely. With Linus half a step ahead, Storm followed him all the way to the store.
“Are you... being my bodyguard?” Linus asked, peeking over his shoulder at Storm.
Storm grinned. “Sure, why not?”
“We should be walking as friends.”
Oh.“I can be your friend from here, too. It doesn’t matter how we walk.”
Linus frowned but didn’t seem to have the words to argue further.
This late, the drugstore was mostly empty, fluorescent lights keeping the aisles brightly lit. Storm knew where the splints were, but Linus surprised him by turning in the same direction immediately.
His eyebrows shot up. “You’re familiar with wound care, Professor?”
