Chapter 228: Your legs need rest

The next day, Blake was supposed to meet up with Myles and the others at the base.

They had quite a bit to prepare.

’I mean, this is supposed to be a gathering for rich people, woah, can’t imagine all details to work out beforehand... and the fact that I have to be a woman is definitely going to be a little difficult to navigate, too.’

Technically, Blake and Myles were supposed to go there together, but he had other plans.

He wanted to arrive earlier, since he wanted to ask the others for advice about the gift he was supposed to buy for Myles.

He still had absolutely no idea what to get him, after all.

’They’ve known Myles much longer than I have, anyway. Surely one of them has some idea of what he likes.’

Normally, if Blake was traveling with Myles, the two of them either went directly to the base or took a longer route through areas without surveillance cameras before heading into the forest.

It was safer that way.

"I’ll sneak for my lover."

But Blake had his own skill, so he could go alone just fine.

’I always tell him that I can go alone, but he never listens.’

Blake walked down the street, hands in his pockets.

’Like, if you can teleport, just do it! I’ve got my own skill to bypass anyway.’

He boarded the bus without anyone giving him even a passing glance.

The journey continued through the city, then gradually farther away from the busier areas.

Eventually, Blake got off, the forest greeting him with familiar silence.

He walked between the trees until he found the one he was looking for.

Blake placed his palm against its trunk, a faint mechanical click sounded.

The hidden entrance opened.

"Here we go."

He stepped inside, the elevator doors closing.

Then the entire platform began descending just as fast as he remembered it. By the time the doors finally opened, Blake stretched his arms above his head.

"Good morning."

Zlatan was sitting on the couche, reading through several files.

Estelle was working at one of the terminals.

Tania was sitting nearby, seemingly doing absolutely nothing.

He walked over and dropped onto the couch beside Zlatan.

Zlatan glanced at him, his usual blinding smile appearing.

"You’re here earlier."

"Yeah."

Blake leaned back.

"If you’re not too busy, I wanted to ask a question."

"Go right ahead."

"Thanks."

Blake hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to phrase it without making it sound embarrassing.

"I was thinking of buying something for Myles, but I don’t know what the best option could be."

Zlatan’s eyebrow rose.

"A gift?"

Blake scratched his cheek.

"Just, y’know... some kind of token of gratitude, I guess?"

Zlatan hummed, his eyes narrowing slightly, a tiny smirk on his face.

"There’s nothing he can’t have."

Blake groaned.

"Right."

He dropped his head back against the couch.

"But I mean, that’s not a reason not to buy him anything."

"That’s true."

Zlatan shrugged.

"I’m not sure either."

Blake frowned.

"Don’t beat yourself up over it, he doesn’t want much."

"That’s exactly my problem."

Zlatan laughed softly.

Blake turned toward Tania.

She had been staring into nothing for several seconds.

Honestly, Blake still didn’t know much about her.

They hadn’t exactly had many conversations.

And there was still something unsettling about knowing that Tania could perceive things in ways ordinary humans couldn’t.

Especially when Blake remembered that she could supposedly see the fourth dimension or more.

He wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know what that looked like.

"Uh..."

Tania slowly turned her head.

"What do you think?"

She silently stared at him.

Blake waited.

Tania’s expression barely changed.

"There aren’t material things of that nature that he desires."

Blake scratched the back of his head.

"...Yeah."

That was pretty much what he had expected.

It wasn’t like they were wrong.

Still... he kinda had to give Myles something, anyway.

Estelle finally turned her chair slightly toward them.

"I would say that if it’s related to you, then he will like it."

"I know."

He rubbed his chin.

"But that feels a little shallow."

"There’s nothing shallow about it."

Estelle returned her attention to the screen.

"He simply isn’t interested in anything that could entail a gift. But if it’s something of yours, he’ll definitely like it."

Blake remained quiet.

Something of his.

He supposed that made sense, considering Myles seemed to value their time together more than anything Blake could physically purchase.

’Still...’

Blake sighed.

’Well, this definitely isn’t easy, I don’t want to give something that simply belongs to me, I already did that once, if I do it twice it would look so half-assed.’

Of course, that was only from his own perspective.

The sound of the entrance opening interrupted him.

Blake looked over.

Alexis walked into the room.

For half a second, he considered asking him, but then he remembered who he was asking.

His face immediately scrunched up.

"Watch your face."

Blake instantly straightened, a bright smile appearing.

"Good morning."

Alexis gave him a suspicious look but said nothing.

He walked toward the large tube and, a moment later, the metal suit was detached.

Alexis stepped out and walked straight toward Estelle, already talking to her about something.

"Move."

Blake’s eyes snapped up, Alexis was standing there, looking tense.

Zlatan stood up with his usual smile.

"Oh."

Blake immediately got up as well.

Alexis had apparently decided to claim the couch.

He walked over and simply laid down.

Blake stared at him, then sighed.

He sat down on the floor instead, leaning his back against the couch.

For a while, he simply looked at nothing, wondering what to do about this failing mission.

’I mean, I can reject penalties, too... but I’d rather use that for important, mandatory missions. This is about a gift. Besides, the system didn’t mention anything about Myles having to like it. Estelle is right, I should just give him something that reminds him or me.’

"Unh..."

Blake raised an eyebrow at the slight noise behind him, and looked over his shoulder.

Something seemed strange.

Alexis was lying there, staring at the ceiling, his face looking slightly different.

"What’s wrong?"

Alexis didn’t answer.

Blake leaned closer and, before Alexis could react, he placed his palm against his forehead.

"Do you have a fever?"

Alexis immediately slapped his hand away, just enough to make his point.

Blake tilted his head.

"Jesus, what’s that for? Could’ve just said get your hands off..."

"Mind your own business."

Blake sighed heavily. Then his gaze dropped.

Alexis’ legs looked strange, more specifically, the veins were much more visible than usual, and popping out, too.

His eyes widened.

"Hey!"

Alexis closed his eyes.

"What?"

"Why are your legs like this?"

"Just mind your own business."

Alexis groaned.

Zlatan answered from nearby.

"It’s his blood welling up a little. It happens sometimes during the year."

Blake looked at him.

"Oh."

He glanced back down at Alexis’ legs.

"I see."

Blake got up, lifted Alexis’ legs.

’Wah, so heavy! What the! This is the weight of a whole person, no, two!’

Alexis’ eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

Blake sat down properly and rested Alexis’ legs across his lap.

"Well, if it’s about your blood, it’d be better to give it a massage or something."

"Get off, you’re doing this just so you can sit on the couch."

"Look, no offence, but your legs weight as much as a cow, if it was really about comfort, then I would be sitting on the floor right now."

Blake started gently massaging his leg.

Alexis stared at him.

For several seconds, neither said anything.

Blake worked his fingers carefully along the muscles, occasionally glancing at the prominent veins.

"Huh."

"What?"

"You’re really tense."

"I’m tense because you’re touching me."

Blake laughed.

"That’s probably not helping, huh."

"You bet, stop."

"No."

Alexis stared at the ceiling again, his expression was completely dead.

Blake continued.

After a moment, Alexis’ shoulders seemed to loosen slightly. He didn’t say anything.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Across the room, Zlatan watched them with an amused smile.

Estelle glanced over briefly before returning to her work.

Tania remained silent.

Blake, meanwhile, seemed completely satisfied with himself.

SWISHHH—

Myles stepped out of the teleporting device, rolling one shoulder before cracking his neck from side to side.

"Hello, Myles!" Blake called immediately, a smile spreading across his face as he waved from where he was sitting.

Myles’ eyes shifted toward him.

"Sorry I got here without you," Blake added casually. "But I had nothing to do anyway."

Myles looked at Blake for a moment. Then his gaze moved toward Alexis.

He didn’t say anything, instead, he simply walked toward them.

"Move."

Alexis sat himself upright, but Blake’s hand went straight against his chest.

"No, no, let him rest a little." Blake shook his head. "Look at these legs. It hurts me to watch."

Myles stared at him, a brief silence following.

Then Myles simply turned around and headed toward Estelle.

"C’mon, lay down."

Alexis’ face scrunched up.

"Stop palming me and get off." He looked down at Blake’s hand with obvious irritation. "Those hands of yours make me feel ticklish at best."

"Yeah, yeah, and yet you didn’t stop me earlier."

"I did tell you to stop."

"Right, but you could just push me off if you wanted to," Blake replied, completely unbothered. "And since you’re not doing it, I can only assume you don’t actually want me to get off."

Alexis’ eye twitched.

"Or maybe it’s just because you’d die at a shove."

Blake’s smile disappeared for a second.

"Oh, God."

He sighed dramatically.

"Stop whining and just lay down."

Blake pushed against Alexis and, of course, nothing happened, he didn’t even move, simply staring at him.

Blake narrowed his eyes.

Eventually, Alexis huffed and laid himself back down on the sofa.

"See? That wasn’t so difficult."

"Watch it."

"Yeah yeah."

Myles, who had walked away only moments earlier, came back toward them.

"We’ll be discussing the plan now."