Levian slowly withdrew his knee. With his support gone, Egru’s legs gave way and he staggered. Levian lightly steadied his body as it was about to collapse and gently lowered him down.

“Let’s see now.”

Levian promptly folded his large body to match Egru’s seated height.

They ended up sitting face to face. Egru’s frame, which couldn’t even compare to Levian’s broad back, was completely overshadowed.

“Let me see that ugly face after so long.”

Though he tried to appear nonchalant, Levian’s hands were trembling. Just then, as if searching for something, Egru stretched his arm upward and felt along the wall.

“What? Trying to turn on the lights?”

Levian asked in an uncharacteristically calm voice.

“You can’t. If you turn them on now, we’ll be discovered immediately. Do you know how much trouble I went through to bring you here?”

“……”

“Why so quiet? You were chattering away just fine earlier.”

Levian gently cupped Egru’s cheek and extended his thumb. In the darkness, he relied solely on touch to gauge the features of his face.

From the rounded forehead, he stroked over trembling eyelids, traced down the bridge of the nose. From the soft philtrum to the even softer lips, his touch ended at the short chin.

“You’ve returned to your original form.”

Levian murmured softly.

The blunt tip of his thumb carefully traced Egru’s jawline again. Following the jawbone under the thin skin, it methodically rose to the earlobe. Perhaps because of the intimately approaching touch, Egru’s cheeks trembled slightly.

“Uh… um…”

“What, too surprised to speak? If you’re worried about the kids, don’t be. I’ve taken them somewhere safer than by your side.”

“……”

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

After receiving no response for a while, Levian slowly leaned forward. He nuzzled his cheek against Egru’s nape, who flinched at the gentle contact.

He applied pressure unhurriedly. The cream-colored skin felt through the hair was soft and warm. Enough to make him want to feel it much more intimately.

I can breathe now.

At last his airways felt clearer.

Levian inhaled deeply the scent he thought he’d lost forever. Whatever had happened, the pheromone smell was fainter than usual. No doubt he’d been fed some cheap pheromone suppressant.

The warehouse, isolated from the festival streets, was quiet. For a long time, nothing could be heard except their breathing. The endless silence finally broke after Egru swallowed hard.

“Wh-who…”

A trembling voice asked.

“Who… are you?”

****

Wh-what should I do…

In the darkness where he couldn’t see an inch ahead, Egru watched Levian’s reaction. Cold sweat continuously dampened his nape.

N-no. It’s okay.

Worrying now was like crying over spilled milk. But just as he barely managed to relax, a growling sound rose from Levian’s throat.

“Are you playing games now…”

As Levian’s breathing instantly became rough, Egru conversely felt suffocated. His heart pounded like it was being beaten with fists. Even in the darkness, the feral killing intent was palpable against his skin.

“You must never get involved with those two people again. They’re completely unrelated to you now.”

Egru desperately recalled Miss Mayfield’s lessons.

“If you unavoidably encounter them, just pretend. Memory loss! Understand?”

Click, flick—.

Egru tightly closed his eyes at the suddenly flashing light.

Wh-what is it?

Is he angry? He must be extremely a-angry, right?

The finger-trembling tension lasted only briefly before a warm sensation wafted in front of his nostrils.

“Open your eyes.”

Levian said. Contrary to expectations, his tone was generous.

Egru cautiously opened one eye.

Oh…

A small flame appeared before him. Flickering like a candle but with a more intense color.

It was Levian’s zippo lighter.

Egru could slowly open both eyes properly. His amber gaze gradually rose beyond the small flame.

“……”

Levian, whom he hadn’t seen for so long, was indescribable. After all, he wore an expression Egru had never seen before. He was so surprised he almost hiccupped.

“You still don’t know who I am?”

“……”

“Say something, anything.”

Egru stared at the deep red eyebrows.

C-could they curve like that? As if he’s actually sad…

Or was it a mocking expression? Yes, he must have seen wrong. Levian was probably inwardly mocking him for not even remembering properly.

“Open your mouth. Before I lose it.”

Levian muttered through gritted teeth. The tendons in his angular jaw stood out, suggesting he was clenching his molars.

Egru unknowingly averted his gaze that had been fixed on Levian for so long. His spasming lips moved silently for a while.

“I-I don’t… I don’t remember…”

“…What?”

“I-I had a major accident… I c-can’t really distinguish wh-who you are… I think y-you’ve mistaken me for s-someone else…”

“You don’t remember.”

Before the clumsy sentence could finish, it was abruptly cut off. Levian repeated the same words several times, mulling them over.

“You don’t remember. You don’t remember, huh? Well, coming back from the dead is quite a major accident.”

Egru swallowed hard while clutching his pants.

H-how does he know I was resurrected?

How did he recognize me in the first place? My skin color and appearance must have changed a lot. Did he come all this way just to meet me?

B-but still…!

He could somehow continue the act Miss had taught him. Though it was regrettable that he couldn’t greet him warmly.

“When people try to deceive someone, they need to be prepared.”

Levian suddenly smiled faintly. His thick hand set the open zippo lighter upright to the side.

“Half-hearted resolve won’t get the job done. Do you understand what I mean?”

Levian then loosened his collar. He tore off a couple of buttons from the shirt that tightly hugged his solid chest.

“I’ll kill your brother.”

A sharp beam of light seeped into Levian’s golden eyes.

At the unbelievable statement, Egru couldn’t hide his agitation. The coldness from the metal door behind him spread throughout his body.

“It doesn’t matter, right? If you don’t remember me, you won’t remember him either.”

“Ah, th-that’s… that’s not…”

Egru’s fingertips began to tremble helplessly. Levian indifferently picked his ear and then braced his knee.

“If I get up from here, consider him dead.”

Levian knew better than anyone the provocation Egru could never resist. Just as he was about to stand up, Egru’s arms wrapped around Levian’s neck.

“Let go.”

It was a brief warning. Egru repeatedly shook his head with teary eyes. His breathing seemed to tangle with bewilderment as he even began coughing.

“I thought you didn’t remember.”

“N-no… no…”

As Levian repeatedly applied force to his knees, Egru clung to him with his entire body. He grabbed Levian’s shirt so tightly his knuckles turned white and pulled down desperately. Despite the desperate gestures, Levian declared as if Egru wasn’t worth dealing with anymore.

“I said let go. I’m leaving since I’m a stranger to you.”

“No, no. Don’t do this…”

Egru’s desperate breathing clung to the tattooed shoulder. In the end, the loser was predetermined.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

“For what?”

“F-for pretending not to know you, for acting…”

“What a joke.”

“Ah!”

Levian sharply tugged on Egru’s earlobe. Simultaneously, he lowered his head forward, bringing his face right up to Egru’s.

“You’re already telling lies that will be exposed immediately.”

At the irritable scolding, Egru helplessly whimpered. His already meager shoulders hunched considerably.

After staring down at the pitiful figure for a while, Levian turned his head and exhaled deeply. For some reason, his breath was quite heated.

“You can’t do anything without me, can you?”

“……”

“You only have me. And I only have you.”

Levian’s gaze turned back to Egru.

“Don’t cry. I’ll let go of your ear. Then you slowly come to me, understand?”

As Egru nodded vigorously, the hand gripping his pointed ear withdrew. Egru exhaled a trembling breath and awkwardly crawled forward.

“Good grief, who told you to crawl?”

Levian abruptly pulled Egru’s arm that was touching the floor. The place he arrived after being dragged was Levian’s chest.

Before he could ask anything, arms and legs were completely entangled. It felt like being tightly bound with forearm-thick ropes.

“…Hey.”

After a strange silence, Levian spoke.

“I’m sorry for being mean. Shit, you know how fucked up my temper is.”

“……”

“None of it is your fault. It’s all on me.”

Sniffling, Egru had a reasonable doubt. A warm embrace that didn’t hurt, followed by a heartfelt apology for no apparent reason?

“L-Levian.”

“What?”

“D-does your h-head hurt?”

“No, it doesn’t. I’m fine.”

After appearing to think for a moment, Levian’s voice sank heavily.

“Are you saying I’m acting out of character right now?”

Hit right on the mark, Egru flinched and lowered his head.