Free Web NovelChapter 80: _If You’d Like Me To Use You...
"Why... why would you bring yourself here?" Ambrose questioned, pacing around the restroom now. "I–I wasn’t expecting you and I don’t think—"
"Here," Viktor repeated from the other end, tone knowing. "That means you really are here in this Guild building. Right now."
Ambrose buried his face in a palm. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe screaming would work in this case. Because why the fuck did this feel like he got himself a stalker?
"Look, I’m not ready to see you yet." He stared at his reflection while saying that, fingers brushing over some ash on his cheek. "Can we—wait a minute..."
His breath hitched.
For a split second, everything existed at once. The different stalls in the restroom. The unflushed mess in one of them—ew. Then beyond the restroom and into the lobby.
Every footstep. Every breath. Every movement. It all slammed into him at once.
Ambrose doubled over, gripping the sink.
"Hello?" Viktor muttered. "You sound like you’re in a place that echoes. A bathroom, I guess?"
"Lobby restroom," Ambrose answered flatly, eyes shutting tight as he struggled to narrow out all the sensory information before he got an overload. "I’m alone in here. So—"
"Oh, that’s good. It’s okay if I can come check on you, right—"
"Clothes." Ambrose didn’t let him finish. "If you’re going to come here, please come with a change of clothes for me. Fast. And don’t let anyone know."
The noise and odd feelings started fading away after a few steady breaths. His eyes fluttered open, taking in his reflection once again.
At that same moment, Viktor sniggered. "Why do you sound like you need help hiding a body?"
"If I wanted to hide a body, you’d be the last man I call. Just help me with this one thing, Viktor."
He subconsciously held his breath waiting for a response. If he knew anything about the Esper he might probably ask for another favour in return. Maybe one specific thing this time.
So he braced himself, ready to reject whatever it is if it’s something outrageous.
"Very well then," when Viktor’s response came, Ambrose’s forehead creased. "I just texted my assistant. He’s coming in now with a pair of blue jeans and a red t-shirt that I left at the back of my car."
Relief would’ve flooded Ambrose’s chest instantly if he didn’t expect a catch. A ’but’.
Yet after waiting for several seconds, Viktor didn’t do or say anything other than breathe.
"So..." Ambrose decided to ask still. "That’s it? You’re just going to help me without expecting something in return?"
Viktor made an amused sound. "What do you take me for, Ambrose Hale?"
The former’s cheeks flushed. "It’s just... that’s what you did when I needed to board your ship. And I—"
"I merely wanted to get to know you better with the dinner that followed," Viktor intoned calmly. "I don’t know what my dear friend Devon has been telling you... But I’m not that kind of man."
For the fastest second, Ambrose could’ve sworn he felt something warm bloom in his chest. Just for a heartbeat. Then it faded just as fast when Viktor added:
"Although, if you’d like me to use you, I’d be more than happy to—"
"You just had to ruin it." Ambrose rubbed the bridge of his nose while Viktor chuckled. "Please, just hurry up before people start showing up here."
"As you wish."
The line went dead after that, giving Ambrose some breathing space.
★★★★★
When a knock sounded on the main restroom door, Ambrose didn’t even need to move to know who it was. His spatial awareness made him recognise him instantly.
"I’m still the only one in."
The door swung open, Viktor’s head filled with icy white hair peeking in first. When he walked in fully, his eyes were assessing, bright with questions, worry and suspicion all at once.
"... What in the hell happened to you?"
Ambrose sighed, breaking the distance between them. He snatched the clothes in Viktor’s hands, forcing a grateful smile. "No one asked you any questions or anything like that?"
Viktor didn’t seem mentally present, his icy blue orbs still scrutinised him. When they rose to Ambrose’s eyes again, he nodded once.
"Our Guild rivalries are useless in times like this." He mumbled. "I still... haven’t heard from my mother. They’ve been battling for days now."
Hearing Viktor talk about something else gave Ambrose the hope that he wouldn’t ask him any more questions. Sadly, he was sorely mistaken.
"You look like you crawled out of a grave." The S-Rank’s baritone was low. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere important." Ambrose was quick with his response, already peeling off the bloody clothes from his body. He barely paid any attention to Viktor. "It’s been a rough day, okay? I don’t know why you’re so shaken by our call disconnecting. I wasn’t even gone for two hours."
Aura’s voice was the last thing he wanted to hear right now. But he did. [Actually... you might want to listen to what Viktor has to say next.]
He frowned, pausing right when he pulled down his pants to his knees. Viktor stared for a second too long before speaking:
"I said I’ve been calling for an hour, yes," Viktor nodded. "But Ambrose, it’s six PM. It’s been several hours now."
Ice ran through Ambrose’s blood and bones. He didn’t even bother pulling out his phone to check, realising what was happening within seconds.
Time moved more slowly in the Black Key’s quest dimension.
Shit!
That means he’s missed an entire day. He left Orion all alone... dear God.
"Fuck," he cursed under his breath, rushing to a stall once he had nothing but a black boxer on. "I’ll... I’ll go wash up a bit in one of the stalls."
He flung his dirty clothes at Viktor, the latter’s face twisting like he caught horse crap.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
Ambrose heaved. "Just... help me get rid of it. Please."
"You still haven’t told me what happened, Ambrose."
"I know, I know. Just, please."
He shut the stall door the second he got in, grabbing a water faucet to wash off the ash and dust. When he placed his phone on top of the toilet seat, however, it rang with a call.
He stilled, blinking at the screen and the name on it.
... Devon.
