Free Web NovelChapter 19: _The Line We Crossed
"Who’s the kid?"
That single question from Devon just about air fried every last butterfly in Ambrose’s stomach. He gulped, keeping the shaky smile on his face while quickly alerting the system.
’Aura... this might be it. How do I explain to him that Orion is our son from the future without sounding like a crazy person?’
[Well, if it makes you feel better you already sound like a crazy person.]
’Not helping Aura!’
[I told you—I can’t help you solve your missions. Especially this one. You’ll need to figure out how to break the news to him.]
[That’s what makes it exciting.]
This fucked up system was after his life!
"Don’t tell me you’re going to ignore the question again." Devon sighed, lowering the flask in his hands. He brushed past Ambrose, smiling at the little boy. "Hey, buddy. Why did you call me papa?"
Oh, hell no.
In a panic, Ambrose rushed to Devon, grabbing him by the shoulders. He turned him away from Orion, the chaos from the tussling causing the Esper to drop the flask.
"Ambrose!"
Crap.
The contents of the flask spilt on the marble floor, chicken slipping past them and toward the sofa Orion sat on.
Devon placed a hand on his head. "What did you do all that for?"
Ambrose bit his bottom lip, giving Orion a discreet look. He mouthed four words. "Go to your room."
The kid fortunately understood the assignment, jumping off the sofa with his plate of sandwiches clutched safely to his chest. As if he were afraid of Ambrose wasting his food as well.
As the boy left, Ambrose huffed. "I’m so sorry, Devon." He brought his gaze back to the man only to realise his hands were still on his shoulders. And their faces were only inches apart.
Heat pooled on Ambrose’s cheeks but he whipped his head away in a flash. "I–I’ll go get a mop."
"That thing took a lot of effort to make," Devon grumbled. "Why are you acting weird? Is it... is it because of what I said the other night?"
Ambrose’s mouth opened and closed as he inched backwards. "N–No. I just—"
"Please, answer my question then." Devon sounded almost desperate now. "Who is that kid? Why does he feel so... familiar? Even though I’m certain I’ve never seen him before."
[Looks like the cat’s coming out of the bag...]
"I..." Ambrose stuttered, eyes fleeting from Devon to the mess on the floor between them. "He’s family."
"Family?"
"Yep."
"And he’s staying here with you?"
"He is."
"For how long?"
The back and forth made Ambrose heave. This was harder than he thought. "As long as it takes."
That was his strategy now.
Until he found the perfect way to break the ice around Orion’s origins with Devon, he wouldn’t lie to him. Neither would he outright say the truth.
He’ll just keep playing in that delicate line separating both.
[I believe that’s what people call ’manipulation’.]
’Do you have any bright ideas then?’
Silence.
He thought so...
"Well," Devon nodded once. "He... has your hair at least."
Not knowing what to say, Ambrose shone his teeth. That however made Devon blink weirdly at him.
The energy in the room right now felt like two awkward teens right before their first high school dance. Except the ’dance’ was their respective energies coiling around each other.
Waiting.
Thrumming like a thread linking their bodies, mind and soul.
"How are you feeling?" Ambrose found himself asking. "You know—after almost cooking us all back in the dungeon."
A sarcastic smile curled Devon’s lips. "I’m peachy, actually. Which I believe I should be thanking you for."
[I’m sorry but you two talking over the splattered flask of soup is simply adorable. Or disgusting.]
’What are you? A dating show host?’
[I could be.]
"Thank you," those words coming from Devon’s mouth felt off. So off that Ambrose swept Aura’s banter to the back of his mind.
Devon noticed his surprise but continued regardless. "If you didn’t make it on time, I would’ve gone berserk. Putting the lives of some of the country’s best S-ranks in mortal danger."
Ambrose shook his head. "It’s... It’s fine. I just—"
"Don’t try downplaying what you did." Devon hesitated, then stepped forward. The heat from his body made Ambrose stiffen. "You... saved me. Risked your life in the process."
His tone grew grim at the end. "... You could’ve hurt yourself badly. Gotten yourself killed in fact."
"But I’m alive now," Ambrose bit out. "And I know you’re disappointed that a mere C-rank is your permanent Guide. But it was either linking with you or watching you die. And for some reason, the former option seemed more pleasant."
Devon’s hands balled into fists. "Disappointed?"
It was at that point that Ambrose realised their voices were rising. He didn’t mean to. But the frustration from not being able to just come clean about Orion was driving him nuts.
"Just," Ambrose rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Devon, it’s fine. Can we not argue? I don’t want Orion to get worried."
The Esper’s expression softened, an unnameable light flickering in his eyes. "Orion? That’s the kid’s name?"
All Ambrose could offer was a nod.
Devon’s eyes flashed with more confusion. "That’s — that’s the name I hoped to give my first child if it turned out to be a boy."
The tension between them doubled.
Ambrose’s throat tightened.
He didn’t know how it happened. He didn’t even know when he made the move or mental decision.
What he knew was that he was desperate to distract Devon from talking about their shared child.
So—he kissed him.
On the lips.
His eyes closed as he placed a hand on Devon’s face. The latter’s eyes bulged so wide you’d think they were about to pop any second.
However, the shock didn’t last long.
Devon reciprocated, his eyelashes fluttering shut as well. As they kissed, their energies constricted tighter around each other. Deeper.
The kiss wasn’t hungry.
It was soft. Grounding. Tender in a way that made Ambrose’s legs wobble.
By the time they broke it... he knew instantly that they’d crossed a line they could never return from.
"If that was a mistake," he said quietly, barely able to catch his breath, "then tell me now."
Devon didn’t answer. He just looked at him — like he was seeing him for the first time.
