Chapter 232: Now return the favor!

Of course, it wasn’t as light-hearted as he thought it would be!

Blake reverted into his original appearance, and the moment the transformation finished, his legs seemed to forget what they were supposed to be doing.

His balance disappeared completely.

"Whoa—"

Before he could stumble properly, a pair of arms caught him.

"Thanks, Myles...!"

He sighed heavily, leaning against him without even bothering to straighten himself. His face pressed against Myles’ chest as he let out another exhausted breath.

"Damn, this feels so tiring...!"

Myles looked down at him.

"Be careful, stand up straight."

Myles stared at him.

Blake lifted his head slightly.

"... C’mon, this was so intense for me."

Myles let out a light breath, guiding him toward the couch. Then, he made him sit down.

He slumped onto the couch next to Alexis. Blake glanced at him, then at his shoulders.

"Hey, I could use some massage right now... how about you do it?"

Alexis slowly turned his head, his eyes narrowing.

"I don’t owe you anything. You started that puny massage on your own, against my will."

Blake waved his hand dismissively.

"Stop complaining, will you?"

Alexis’ eyebrow twitched.

For several seconds, he simply stared at Blake as though debating whether ignoring him would be easier than arguing.

Then, with an expression of profound irritation, Alexis awkwardly placed his hands on Blake’s shoulders.

Blake blinked.

"Oh?"

Alexis began massaging his shoulders.

It wasn’t particularly gentle, but it was surprisingly effective.

Blake’s entire body relaxed.

"Ohhh..."

"What?"

"Nothing. Just that, that’s actually pretty good."

Alexis’ fingers pressed slightly harder.

"Really?"

"Yeah, so don’t break my shoulders now, ease the grip up a little."

"Your shame knows bounds."

Alexis’ expression became increasingly uncomfortable.

Blake opened one eye.

Alexis looked like he was being forced to participate in some sort of hostage negotiation.

"What the?"

Blake sat up slightly.

"You make it look like I’m violently whipping you into it. At this point just don’t—"

"Shut up!"

Blake immediately closed his mouth, a small grin appearing on his face.

Estelle, standing nearby, watched the entire exchange with a tired smile.

"You two sure get along great."

Blake looked at him.

"That’s rich coming from you, you and Alexis argue way more. He even calls you a hag."

Alexis groaned, pulling Blake’s hair, without hurting him.

"So what? She’s an old hag alright?!"

"Take it down a notch, I’m in my thirties!"

Myles walked closer to Blake.

"Are you still planning on going out?"

Blake’s tired expression immediately brightened.

"Oh, right!"

He straightened.

The fatigue didn’t disappear, but the thought of leaving the base with Myles was enough to bring some energy back into him.

"Yeah, let’s go! As I already said, I want to treat you."

Blake stood up, this time, much more carefully.

"Hah. See? Perfectly fine."

Myles reached out and lightly caught his wrist.

"Don’t get overconfident and walk slowly for now."

"I walked three steps."

"And nearly fell after the first."

"Myles, have I already told you that you’re getting chatty..."

Alexis scoffed from the couch.

"You look exhausted, who wants to treat who here."

Blake turned toward him.

"And yet I’m still going out."

"Why?"

"Because unlike you, I have a social life."

He was itching to say he has a boyfriend but... in front of them, maybe there were better occasions to do so.

Alexis’ face immediately twisted.

"You’re really cocky, never watching your mouth."

"Thank you."

"That wasn’t a compliment!!"

"I’ll take it anyway."

Myles simply walked toward the exit.

"Wait for me!"

As they left the main room, Blake glanced back.

"Bye!"

Alexis lifted one hand without looking at him.

"Go away."

Blake grinned.

"I was joking, you do have a social life. You’re my friend, aren’t you? So don’t be too depressed."

"Get lost."

The doors closed behind them.

The mechanical hum of the facility remained, along with the faint sounds of equipment operating somewhere deeper underground.

But compared to the chaos inside, the corridor felt peaceful.

Blake walked beside Myles.

"So, about dinner, are you enthusiastic?"

"I am."

They continued toward the elevator.

Blake shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I was thinking about this for a while."

"What?"

"Where to eat."

Myles looked at him.

"I have a place in mind."

Blake smiled.

"You’re not even going to ask what kind of place?"

"You chose it."

Blake looked at him for a moment.

"You really trust me that much?"

"Yes."

Blake raised an eyebrow, laughing.

’Is that so? Yet the trust stat was so low last time. I guess it depends on the situation. Or maybe it raised up!’

"Why are you laughing."

"You always make it difficult to tease you. Besides I’m happy that you trust me."

They eventually made their way outside.

The evening air was cool, and the sky had already begun shifting toward darker shades as the last traces of daylight faded.

Blake stretched his arms.

"Ahhh."

Myles looked at him.

"Still tired?"

"A little."

"Then we can go back."

"No, no."

Blake immediately shook his head.

"I said I’d treat you to dinner. I’m not backing out now."

Especially since it was mission.

"I just want to have dinner with you, c’mon, no biggie!"

***

Blake brought Myles to a familiar mountain.

Actually, it was the same place Myles had brought Blake a few months earlier.

The first time they kissed, it was here.

Yesterday evening, Blake had prepared everything: a table and packed food beside the river.

The evening air was cool, and the sound of rushing water filled the quiet mountain valley.

Myles looked around.

"You prepared all this?"

Blake smiled proudly.

"Of course."

He gestured toward the table beside the river. A cloth had been spread across it, and several containers of packed food were arranged neatly on top.

"I wanted to do something special."

Myles looked at the river.

Blake walked toward the table. "You brought me here a few months ago, remember? Now I’m bringing you back."

Myles looked at him. "Why?"

"Because I wanted to confirm what I said that day."

Blake walked closer to Myles, and hugged him.

"The hand you gave me, I don’t regret taking it."

Myles’ eyes widened slightly. Then, he hugged Blake back. He pulled his head back a little, and kissed him.

"Ahh, we’re here for dinner!" Blake said against Myles’ mouth.

"If you did this yesterday, then you didn’t sleep much."

"I slept enough, don’t worry about it."

Myles buried his face against Blake’s shoulder.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The river continued flowing beside them, its surface reflecting the fading light.

Myles walked toward the table and sat down.

Blake sat opposite him.

"I wasn’t sure if you’d like it."

"I do."

"You haven’t eaten yet."

"I like it here."

Blake smiled as he opened one of the containers. "Then I picked correctly."

"I brought fish for you."

Myles started eating.

"Well?"

"It’s good."

Blake’s expression brightened. "Really?"

"Yes."

Blake smiled and began eating as well.

"Why did you bring me here the first time?"

Myles stayed silent for a few seconds. Then, he looked around him.

The mountain air was clean and cool. The last traces of daylight faded behind the trees, and the sound of the water seemed to make the entire world feel distant.

Blake looked across the table.

"You know, I thought about this place a lot after you brought me here. It’s beautiful. So I was just wondering."

"I used to come here after training with my uncle."

Blake’s eyes widened.

"Really? Like a sanctuary?"

"Animals are naturally drawn to us. And at the time, I was curious about them. So I came here a lot."

"How old were you?"

"The first time I was six."

"Um, I take it your uncle brought you here..."

"I came alone."

He sighed, tapping Myles’ hand.

"Weren’t you lonely?"

Myles looked at his hand, silent.

Blake scratched the back of his head.

"You know, you were different that day. I liked it so much, it felt like you were scared."

"..."

"I’m not saying you’re weak to emotions. And yet, after thinking about it, you gave me signs. No well, more like openings."

Blake smiled faintly.

"Even now, sometimes, it seems like you are uncertain of my love."

"Blake—"

Blake raised his hand.

"I’m saying it’s just my feeling. There are many things we don’t know about each other yet."

He stuffed his face with a sandwich.

"Myles, listen."

Blake raised his head, smiling.

"Meeting you was the best thing to have ever happened in this world."

Myles’ eyes widened slightly.

"I know you might not believe it. Y’know I’ve got a family I used to cling to and other stuff. My life was never as bad as yours."

Blake took something out of his pocket.

"And yet, Myles, I can only be glad to be born into this world, with you in it."

Myles, still stunned, suddenly felt something warm touching his hand. It was a beautiful red crystal, shining brightly.

"What is this?"

At the touch, he couldn’t tell what it was.

Yet, he knew everything about any texture, so it made no sense for him not to recognize it.

Slowly, Myles brought it closer to his face. There was a sound inside, that was the same as Blake’s heartbeat.

"That’s a gift for you: piece of me!"