Free Web NovelChapter 256: _You Have Us
Later that night, everyone went to bed quickly. No dinner. No extracurricular nightly activities. They all just freshened up and went straight to sleep.
Valentine and Gabriel were given a separate bedroom—Viktor and Devon were forced to sleep on Ambrose’s bed for the night.
As much as Ambrose loved his boyfriends he couldn’t help but wake up sometime later at night, groaning softly when he felt himself squeezed between their almost suffocating cuddling.
His head swerved from Devon. Then to Viktor.
Both men were knocked out. To make things worse Viktor snored loudly with his mouth slightly open.
Yeah... nope.
Ambrose found a way to slip away from the S-Ranks. He came off the bed, adjusting his pajamas. He was shirtless so he could feel the slickness of their sweat on him.
After dabbing some off his chest he made his way to the bedroom door.
’How many hours are left for the special mission?’
[Well, someone’s taking this a little too seriously.]
’Just shut it and pull up the screen.’ He stepped into the lit hallway, his gaze moving left and right.
Spatial awareness caught other signatures almost perfectly still in the other rooms. Good—they were all asleep.
[Here you go:]
[Timer left: 69 hours, 24 minutes and 34 seconds.]
Ugh.
’I guess that means time’s way past twelve midnight.’ he dispelled the screen as he descended the steps leading to the living room. ’I can’t sleep. Not with that mission hanging over my neck like a fucking guillotine.’
[Such a drama king.]
’There’s nothing dramatic about fearing losing two of arguably my most important passive skills.’
[Aww. This almost makes me want to stop giving you these missions. But then it’ll delete the point of leveling up and you’ll quickly find yourself stuck in one rank while the world becomes more and more unstable and dangerous.]
Ambrose finally got to the living room.
He strode to the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a can of vodka soda. He probably shouldn’t be taking that especially since he wanted to sleep.
But fuck it.
The soft pop of the can when he opened it made him sigh with relief before taking a sip. The cool liquid poured down his throat, awakening an almost rejuvenating feeling.
Or maybe that was just his imagination.
Whatever the case was he now felt ready to—
"Yes, mother," a voice broke through the quiet of the night, making him stay petrified like stone. "I’m fine, you don’t need to worry."
Ambrose’s eyes narrowed.
That voice...
Slowly he set the vodka soda aside as he followed the voice’s direction. It seemed to be coming from the backyard.
"I’ve eaten." The voice continued. "I’ll come see you and Dad next week, okay? I’ve just been so busy—no, I’m not lying to you. Jesus, Mom."
A laugh resounded, so light-hearted that Ambrose didn’t know when a smile played on his lips.
Now he knew why the voice sounded familiar.
Soon enough he got to the back entrance and opened the door. And there he was.
Gabriel stood out in the open carpet grass, his phone pressed against one ear while his other hand rested on his waist. He was shirtless—exposing those perfect dark back muscles to Ambrose.
Jesus, all the men in his life were hot.
"We’ve talked about this, mother," Gabriel’s voice suddenly became lower. A man who’s faced extinction-level beings without flinching actually seemed anxious. "I... don’t have a girlfriend. I mean, Tristan has one and they seem serious."
Ambrose’s brows creased at that.
Girlfriend?
[Yikes. Looks like someone isn’t out to his parents yet.]
"I don’t want to settle down nor do I need a family," Gabriel said firmly. "Mom, are you—come on, don’t cry. You shouldn’t be... Christ."
The next two or so minutes were just the SS-Rank calming his mother. Then promising they’d talk about this more when he visited.
It all made Ambrose feel a pang of guilt.
Was he really about to string this man into his ’harem’ like Valentine calls it when he still wished to keep such a personal part of himself from his parents?
Devon’s grandfather was accepting. Viktor’s mother was. Valentine and Ambrose technically didn’t have parents to worry about if they were supportive—so seeing one of them clearly struggling in that regard was as though someone splashed water on a perfect fairy tale painting.
"Good night, mom," Gabriel muttered. "I love you."
The space god hung up, dropping his phone with a heavy inhale. By the time he exhaled, he spoke without even looking back.
"You should’ve heard enough of that exchange."
Ambrose had figured the man would sense his presence so he wasn’t shocked. If anything his lips curled.
"I’m afraid I did."
That’s when Gabriel looked over his shoulder, those iridescent orbs locking directly on Ambrose.
Gabriel held his gaze for several seconds before shaking his head. "Then you heard enough to know it’s complicated."
Ambrose stepped out onto the grass properly, stopping beside him. Neither of them spoke for a while after that.
The night air was cool. Quiet.
For once no eldritch horrors were trying to erase reality. Just two men staring at the stars.
"My parents are very traditional Christians," Gabriel eventually said. "Not the modern kind either. The old-fashioned sort." His laugh lacked any real amusement. "Growing up, I heard my father say things about people like me that made it impossible to imagine ever telling them the truth."
Ambrose’s chest tightened. "Gabriel..."
"I’m thirty-two years old," the Space God continued. "I’ve fought monsters. Watched unspoken things happen to people and lived to tell the tale. Yet somehow I still can’t work up the courage to tell my own parents that I like men."
His voice was calm.
That somehow made it sadder.
Without thinking, Ambrose reached over and took his hand. Gabriel visibly froze.
"You’ll have to face it one day," Ambrose said quietly. "Otherwise you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering what would’ve happened if you’d just told them. And when they’re gone..." He swallowed. "That regret isn’t something you can fix."
Gabriel’s fingers tightened around his. "It’s not that easy."
"I know."
"They could disown me." The admission came out almost painfully. "They’re all I’ve got."
Ambrose immediately shook his head. "No. That’s not true."
Gabriel looked at him.
"You have Devon. Viktor. Valentine. Orion." Ambrose smiled softly. "You have us."
His cheeks warmed slightly.
"And you have me."
For a second Gabriel simply stared. Then a small smile appeared on his face. Genuine. Warm.
Dangerously handsome.
The two of them turned back toward the night sky.
Almost immediately a familiar screen appeared before Ambrose.
[Permanent Link candidate confirmed.]
[Requirements fulfilled.]
[Create permanent link with Gabriel Silverstone?]
Ambrose stared at it. Then dismissed the notification.
Not tonight.
Tonight could wait...
