Late night falls.

‘Sleep in the tent’. Ray said.

Vi don’t know what’s in his head really. It’s been… A rollercoaster.

He had thought about things. He heard the orphanage was destroyed in a fire a year after he was adopted. He even visited to see the ruined building with his own eyes. He even makes some makeshifts graves for all of them.

Vi entered the tent, obeying him. He laid down, moving around trying to sleep. He can’t though. After some time, he looked out of the tent to see Ray staring at the starry sky.

‘Ray…’

Vi wanted to ask many things but held back. He prod his head out.

‘You should sleep too’. Vi don’t know what to ask, but for the time being, it’s true Ray should get some sleep as well.

‘There might be monsters roaming around. Just sleep’.

This time, ray tone is a bit calmer – or more accurately flat.

Vi hesitantly said,

“I can make a barrier around here. At least, low tier monsters can’t come close and… And I can set an alarm if a big one comes…”

Ray just silently glanced at Vi, then looked away.

?

Does he agree to it or not? Vi himself don’t know what really he is doing.

Vi hesitantly walked out of the tent, seeing Ray have no respond, he walked around 20 meters away from the tent, sat down and place the anchor for a barrier spell.

Dim magic circle implanted into the ground, and disappears. He needs at least 3 anchors, but 4 is what most optimal for the size he wanted. He noticed Ray was following closely behind him, silently watching him.

He walked around the tent, to make 4 anchors around the tent in 20m radius. Preparation is complete and he simply need to chant the 2 spells, deter monster and life force alarm. The basis of the spell is replicating false mana signature of higher tier monster, and detecting high concentrated mana in monsters respectively.

Setting that aside, Vi had spent most of his mana that night and felt exhausted.

‘It’s done’ Vi said.

Ray simply turned back and walked to camp, laid down his cloak on the ground and use his bag as a pillow.

Maybe Ray felt uncomfortable with Vi, who he had almost killed, in the same tent. And more other things really.

Vi felt the same too, but still… Ray was his family.

‘Ray… You should come in too. There’s space here.’

Ray was still silent, with his eyes closed.

Vi moved away from the tent, and walked closer Ray. He just laid on the ground few metres away from Ray. Ray noticed this and finally opened his eyes to see Vi, laying in the ground with some leaves as his pillow(?).

Ray finally lost it. He sat up and screamed.

‘Can you stop bothering me!? Just get in the damn tent!’.

He took out his blade.

‘Do you want to die?’.

Vi was frozen. Tears fell down his cheeks involuntarily. He finally stood up and silently went into the tent.

That’s not Ray.

Ray gripped the blade in his hand so tightly, he felt soreness on his palm.

His eyes are watery. Even he didn’t expect it. ‘Ah…’.

He can’t hold it in anymore. The feelings he had thought are deep buried and was dead, came alive again, torturing his insides.

He shed a tear the first time in years. He stood up and hold himself against a tree, one hand closing his eyes, as if holding back his tears, while another beating his own chest.

‘It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.’. The pooled water can’t be held and fell down his cheeks.

All the years of suppressing his emotion come out all at once.

The trauma.

The memories of his siblings died by his own hand.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

The memory of him mercilessly killing people begging for their lives, or before they even manage to speak surfaced.

His knees get weak and he finally crouched down on the ground, still weeping and beating his chest to stop the pain.

Vi heard something is going on.

Looking out the tent, seeing Ray, on his knees, beating his own chest with grunts and sobbing, the fear and he had just now, was washed away.

He felt sad, guilt, and pity. And he sees that Ray truly needs him.

It must have been hard for him. Ray looks so… Broken.

Vi walked out of the tent, slowly walking to ray.

“Leave me alone…’ Ray quietly muttered, barely audible to Vi.

Ray still weeping uncontrollably on the ground.

Vi crouched down as well.

‘Lea-’.

Vi shoved his hands around Ray, hugging him tightly.

‘It must have been hard… I am sorry for not being there…’.

Ray turned around and pushed Vi away.

‘Stay away from me…’.

Vi finally saw Ray’s face. Tears are still visible on his face. His face is not angry. He looks in despair.

‘Stay away from me… I…’

‘I am not- I killed them…’

‘I am a monster.’

Ray very quietly muttered these words, as if wanting to tell Vi but don’t want him to hear.

Vi ignored his inaudible mutterings and just walked forward, embracing him in his hands.

Vi can’t say anything. He really can’t say anything. But he does know… He doesn’t want to see Ray like this…

Ray tried to push him away but his hands are weak, as if hesitant.

Vi ignored it and even holds him firmer. Ray finally gave up and let Vi hug him. He let his guard for real. He felt warmth for the first time in years. He can even hear Vi’s heartbeat. It’s… So warm. So safe. It’s familiar… His eyes get teary again.

He wrapped his hands around Vi too. It feels like, they finally truly reunited after years of being away from each other.

…

Few minutes passed while they silently hugging each other.

Honestly, Vi felt like it’s becoming more and more awkward by the second. How long am I supposed to stand here with him and hugging him??? Even his legs felt a bit sore standing still in this position.

At least Ray no longer pushed him away.

Hesitantly, Vi look into Ray’s eyes.

‘Umm… We should, get in the tent’.

Ray just nodded, and went in with Vi.

They both laid down side by side. Ray was turning his back away from him, seemingly trying to sleep.

Vi hesitantly decides to move in closer and wrap his hand around Ray.

Ray was still. Not reacting much. As if he had already fell asleep.

‘Ray. I am sorry for not being there for you. I will stay with you from now, I promise’. Vi made a heartfelt promise.

Ray didn’t show any reaction to it.

Soon, the drama of the day finally drove Vi to sleep.

*Chirp2*

Vi opened his eyes, as he heard the chirping bird outside. He found a comfortable scent tickling his nose as he opened his eyes – only to see he was facing Ray’s chest.

Ray hugged him during the night it seems, somehow their position ending up like this.

He looked up a bit, to see Ray still closing his eyes, his face and body facing him. He realized he is laying right under Ray’s arm, and his other hand was wrapping him. Even Ray’s legs are wrapping his own.

Ray looks… So calm now. He didn’t expect, Ray would hug him in his sleep like this.

Now that Vi take a closer look, Ray had grown splendidly, physically speaking. He looks so handsome and very manly up closely. His wide chest, his comforting scent. There’s a scar, not visible from afar on his cheek.

Vi is not sure if he should move away, afraid he would wake him up. He felt a bit awkward like this… And… It’s just been some hell of a rollercoaster. He wanted to cry, for some reason. Teacher is dead. He finally remembered it. He doesn’t know who to blame. He buried his head into Ray’s chest, don’t want to think about anything and just stay like this with this calm Ray.

…

Ray too woke up soon. It’s the first time he felt like he had a true sleep. Feeling the warmth from the familiar person in front of him. Someone he truly cherished back then. Someone he cared so much. Someone he wrote letters to and back for a year or two… Someone he had a childhood crush on. Although he never said it.

Until… They are taken away.

He looked at Vi, who had buried himself into him.

Such white soft skin. He looked even more beautiful and cuter then back when he left. He truly, missed him so much. He thought he was dead as well. He just wants to stay like this, in this warmth and comfort.

He stared at Vi sleeping face, eyeing his soft pinkish lips, his cute nose, somewhat chubby cheek. His body seems small, his skin feels soft. The more he observes Vi closely, the more another kind of feeling coming in. Feeling Vi’s hand embracing him, the way Vi’s face buried in his chest, his heart beats in a different way… Familiar to the time he was still crushing on him back then.

-This isn’t right-

Ray was bewildered at his own body’s reaction. His manhood stood by itself, as a desire to devour Vi rises in him.

It's confusing, embarrassing, and shameful. So much emotions run through his mind. He carefully bent his waist to avoid his manhood from touching Vi.

When he thinks about how he treated Vi, he felt awful for being so cruel and rash to him. For almost killing him… His heart hurt at this thought. Keeping his hand even firmer on Vi.

Vi seems to already woke up, looking up to him. They both looked at each other’s eyes. No words could come out.

His eyes are so beautiful. Ray thought. The violet purple eye. It’s rare and enchanting.

Vi finally sees the grey eyes that Ray had now. It looks partly alive, and he felt that Ray is looking at him. Truly looking at him.

He felt glad that the Ray come back somewhat. Vi just buried his face into his chest again, while crossing his leg and arm to hug him. Vi’s action stimulated that desire in Ray’s again, pushing it above close a limit.

Vi felt something(?) on his stomach as he moves closer to Ray. He looked down to see what it is and a clear enormous tower covered by a cloth seemingly suffocating in the fit pants of Ray.

U-uh….

Vi felt it started to feel awkward now.

To make it worse it twitched as Vi moved and had contact with it.

‘S-sorry’.

Ray finally uttered a word. He felt embarrassed. So many varying emotions, in just a night and a morning.

Vi can’t help but chuckled. To hear a sorry from Ray, who looks like he wanted to kill- I mean he did try to kill him the night before- and the sorry come becomes of this… It felt so funny.

‘It’s okay…’. Vi said as he buried his face on ray’s chest again, his hand wrapped him firmer.

Vi seemingly ignored the rod and just let it twitch here and there on his stomach as he hugs him close.

Vi affection, and that Vi's stomach exude warmth onto his rod laying on it make Ray crossed his limit.

-He's wet-

Few minutes passed but Ray have no sign of calming down, hearing his fast and strong heartbeat still. Vi moved his head away a bit, curiously to take a look at it again (ahem. Just out of curiosity… and it seems huge ehem) and saw a wet spot on top of the humoungous tower.

Oh.

Okay he thought it’s morning wood or something. Now seeing it again… did Ray, wants him? (He does)

He doesn’t know if it’s the right time given the circumstances. He would be glad to do it with him.

Ray is still closing his eyes.

‘Ray…’.

Vi spoke.

Ray opened his eyes.

‘Umm… I can, help you if you want’.