Chapter 1017: The Towers Intervene
Chapter 1017: The Towers Intervene
Ollie didn’t even get to finish his masterpiece.
Just as he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind the noble lady’s ear, his hand froze mid-air.
The world suddenly went dark.
A familiar, warm hand covered his eyes, and before he could react, an arm wrapped firmly around his waist. A broad palm settled against his abdomen, pulling him back with quiet, steady force.
Kyle had heard enough.
There was no way he was letting this continue.
The ladies gasped. Their eyes widened as they stared at the sudden intrusion.
The blonde stiffened in surprise. For a brief second, he panicked. But then he was pulled flush against a solid chest, the warmth and weight grounding him almost instantly.
Then the hand over his eyes lifted.
But instead of the chocolate bar, his brother, or the ladies—
All he saw was Kyle.
Looking down at him.
Kyle’s fingers had since then shifted, lifting Ollie’s chin. His thumb settled against the side of the blonde’s lower lip, pressing just enough to make him look up.
Straight into his gaze.
To everyone else watching, they just witnessed the much taller man tilt Ollie Mylor’s head slightly. He looked every bit the domineering and dangerously handsome male lead.
"Didn’t you say you wanted to practice your smoldering look?" he asked, his voice low and steady. "Then how about showing it to me?"
"!!!"
Maybe it was the suddenness of things, the inexplicable change in the weather, or the way light hit their faces, but why does it look like Kyle was sporting the same exact look he’d been trying to do?
But his... well, his looked effortless.
Natural.
Perfect.
Ollie, the reddened dumpling, froze.
"K-Kyle?!"
"Yes?" Kyle replied, his eyes glinting as his thumb brushed lightly across Ollie’s lips in a slow, teasing motion. "Is there a problem?"
His gaze sharpened just a little.
"You weren’t planning on learning that for someone else, were you?"
There was amusement there.
But also something edged.
Something that always appeared whenever his mop got a little too charming elsewhere.
The little star was overheating.
His brain was struggling to cope, and his knees felt weak. Only now did he understand what the ladies meant by natural appeal.
That smolder.
When done right, it could disarm anyone.
His heart pounded so loudly he was sure everyone could hear it.
The world narrowed.
All he could see was Kyle. His face. The way his hair framed those eyes.
And then, completely forgetting where they were, Ollie puckered his lips.
Shamelessly.
It was hopeful. Almost comical. His lips pushed forward with complete sincerity, as if he was certain that if he asked, Kyle would kiss him.
Behind them, the ladies and Luca were practically vibrating.
They gasped, eyes wide, clutching each other’s arms as they watched the scene unfold like something pulled straight from a romance novel.
It was perfect.
Kyle looked incredible. The tension was there. The pull.
They braced themselves.
Waiting.
Expecting something breathtaking.
And then—
They saw Ollie.
Eyes squeezed shut. Hands clasped near his chest. Lips stuck out in the most earnest, ridiculous way.
Holding that pose with total sincerity.
"..."
Kyle’s shoulders trembled.
He let out a long, resigned breath.
Then he leaned down and kissed him.
That was all Ollie needed.
The moment their lips met, his eyes snapped open, bright and gleaming. Then, like a barnacle, he had been allowed to escape Kyle’s clutches only to latch on to him, practically climbing onto Kyle as he peppered his face with rapid, excited kisses.
For some reason, the adjutant didn’t stop him.
He simply held onto his little star and let himself be attacked from all sides.
Finally, Luca—the best brother anyone could have, and one who was currently quite comfortable in the arms of his protective husband—had been kind enough to clear his throat.
Xavier, for his part, would have preferred Luca never sully his eyes with... this.
But Luca spoke anyway.
"Um... Brother?" he asked, a little hesitant. "Are you okay?"
Ollie stopped.
It was like something snapped back into place.
He slowly became aware of his surroundings. Of the people watching. Of himself.
And then it hit him.
He was fully clinging to Kyle.
Like a monkey that had climbed up and refused to come down.
The blonde blinked at everyone.
Stunned.
But, well, the ever-dramatic shining star wasn’t done.
His lips trembled, and then came the sniffle that was eventually followed by the pout of the century.
Safe to say, with the whole package rivaling any tragic heroine, he cried out:
"What do we do? With me being cute, are we only ever destined to kiss?!"
He said it so sincerely.
So infuriatingly cute.
His hands even lifted a little, as if he were about to wipe nonexistent tears, like he was confessing to some doomed, unrequited love.
"..."
"..."
The listeners—save for Aziel, who thankfully had been spared, and Luca, who would never not believe his brother—practically ended up on the floor after hearing Ollie’s ridiculous statement.
Kyle, for one, had to close his eyes while trying to keep it together.
Just for a moment.
Because if he was really going to be asked to meet his maker anyway, how come they didn’t call him before any of this?
But at the same time, he figured it was impossible for him to be called by his maker at this point. He was pretty sure there was already no turning back for someone as far gone as him.
Mine.
The thought came easily.
Naturally.
He would likely pay for it with his life, but even then, he still claimed this walking disaster as his own.
Kyle ran a hand through his hair. His eyes sharpened with a quiet, dangerous intensity.
Because really, how could he not love this completely unhinged blonde?
Then he made a decision.
He tilted his head slightly, now holding Ollie as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I hope you don’t mind if we excuse ourselves first," he said.
His tone was calm, and he even offered his signature professional smile.
But when he looked at Ollie, the blonde jolted.
Because that gaze felt different.
"See, I believe it’d be best to clarify misunderstandings as soon as they come up."
One of the ladies hiccuped in surprise.
The rest nodded immediately.
No one argued.
Which idiot would even think to do that?
Kyle gave a small bow.
First to Luca, who still looked unsure.
Then to Xavier, who simply raised a brow and watched.
As Kyle walked past him, he added while barely stopping,
"Captain, unless someone important has died, please don’t call for us just yet."
Then he kept walking.
"Wait! Wha—"
Ollie finally reacted.
But Kyle only tightened his hold.
"You’ve been very busy," he said. "So let’s see the extent of what you’ve learned."
"!!!"
The wiggling star stiffened.
His eyes widened.
Confusion came first.
Then the realization.
And finally—
Panic.
Because he hadn’t actually learned anything at all.
Oh no!
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