Free Web NovelChapter 38: _Just Keep Holding Me
The drive back to Phoenix Flight HQ was a heavily quiet one. Ambrose had to take the wheel this time, since Devon had already gotten drunk.
It would take a lot of normal alcohol to get a high-ranked Esper wasted. Too bad the vodka he took wasn’t ’normal’. Worst still he emptied half the bottle.
Meanwhile, as Ambrose drove, Devon couldn’t take his half-lidded eyes off his phone. Scrolling through social media and seeing numerous reports on the ongoing dungeon break in Norfolk was enough to slowly sober him up.
Still no messages from his nephew. And the guy wasn’t picking up calls anymore.
Something horrible had surely happened there.
Finally, the car parked in front of the tall glass HQ tower. Ambrose pulled out the car keys, stepping out with a light sigh.
"Come on," he grunted, grabbing Devon and managing to drag him out. "God, did you get heavier or something?"
"Mmm..." Devon grumbled under his breath as Ambrose made him wrap an arm around his shoulders. "H–Home... Orion..."
Ambrose paused, angling his head to him. The Esper’s face was lowered but his eyes were still sharp. Like he was trying to force the alcohol out before little Orion sees him like this.
That brought a wry smile to Ambrose’s lips. "Yes, Devon." His head swerved back to the tall building and the bright lights beaming through the glass windows. "Home."
A man walked toward them just then, his eyes flicking between them. "Good evening, sirs. May I take the car to the parking garage—"
He didn’t get to finish as Ambrose threw the keys to him. "Thanks."
The walk to Ambrose’s suite was fortunately easy. Devon seemed to be getting himself back, coherent enough to respond to greetings thrown his way.
But there was something different in the air tonight.
From the lobby itself, everyone’s expression looked grim. Some whispered. Others had their attention on their TV screens, following the news in Norfolk.
It felt as though they were witnessing the beginning of an apocalypse.
At the door, Ambrose sighed, attempting to withdraw the arm he had on Devon’s waist.
"Don’t," the S-Rank grabbed his hand in a flash, keeping it steady on his waist. Ambrose froze, his eyes trembling as they slid to Devon’s golden orbs. "Don’t... just keep holding me."
His mind was a storm right now. The more he thought about Leo and his despondent tone during their last call, the more his emotions surged.
If he let himself sink deeper—he’d definitely do something stupid.
Ambrose’s presence and touch were a beautiful contrast to all that mental chaos. And he didn’t want to lose sight of him for even a second.
"I–I have to grab my key card," the Guide whispered. "It’ll just be for a second. Besides, you have your arm around my shoulders right now."
Bringing his mouth to his ear, he added. "I’m not leaving you, Devon."
That managed to reassure the Esper.
As Ambrose searched his pockets for his key while Devon stood over his neck like an attention-starved kitten, the former wondered how they got here so fast.
From hating each other’s guts because of one man to sticking close like an insufferable married couple. The permanent link definitely helped speed run things.
That and one little urchin—
"Daddy!" The second he opened the door, a high-pitched laughter welcomed him first.
Ambrose didn’t have time to react as little arms wrapped around his waist, causing him to take one or two steps back from the force.
He blinked. Then smiled, gaze lowering to meet Orion’s bright golden eyes.
"You little trouble maker," Ambrose chuckled as he and Devon walked in, Orion still clinging to the Guide. "Aren’t you supposed to be asleep by now?"
Orion pouted, hopping off him. "How could I sleep when you and pa—Devon were outside?" He paused, head lifting to Devon next. "Hi, Devon."
A warm smile played on the latter’s face. "Hey, buddy."
He couldn’t tear his eyes off the boy. Even as he continued ranting to Ambrose about how he missed them and tuned into the news when he got bored.
Maybe it was because he was still a little tipsy. But the similarities between himself and the boy had never struck him as much as they did now.
He also caught how he almost called him ’papa’ before quickly correcting himself. For someone who may have lost the closest thing he had to a child of his own tonight... that brought a warmth in his chest that he never wished to get rid of.
"You were able to watch the news?" On the flip side, Ambrose nearly exclaimed, head spinning to the large flat screen TV. "I need to place a parental lock or something on that thing..."
"Yes, I did," Orion seemed oddly excited, skipping to the television. It was currently on an international news channel with a breaking news headline.
Which was the ongoing Norfolk incident.
"Footage from the city of Norfolk shows the eerie-looking dungeon Rift over the Atlantic," a male reporter said as the screen shifted to the footage in question.
The dungeon Rift was a massive tear in space-time glowing with a pitch-black light. Several humanoid figures jumped out of the Rift and into the surrounding waters as the camera moved to the harbour.
Or at least, what was left of it.
Wrecked boats. Flattened buildings. Floating bodies of dead fish and humans alike. Fire and smoke rising into the air like burnt offerings.
It was a disaster.
Ambrose glanced at Orion and Devon.
The boy seemed oddly fascinated, his eyes gleaming. But Devon? His jaw tightened, the light of his flames burning in his eyes.
"Nope." Ambrose rushed for the remote, switching the channel to something else. "Now’s not the time for such news."
Orion groaned. "But, daddy..."
"No." Ambrose was unshaken, leaving his eyes a little longer on Devon. "Come on. It’s time for bed."
He grabbed Orion’s hand, leading him to his bedroom while Devon just stood there. A forced exhale left the S-Rank’s mouth as his fists unclenched.
’The chances of him surviving are looking slimmer.’ he thought to himself as his shoulders dropped. ’Leo... where are you?’
