Do You Know You're Cute?

It was already midnight, and most fast-food restaurants were already closed. The only service they could get was takeaway. Since it was improper for them to share rooms with Rebecca, Theresa had booked a room for them.

Their mission this time involved neutralizing someone. Normally, they would have to wait for a while to make sure that the target would not wake up and start talking. That was why Noah and Luca didn't return as soon as they finished their task.

The television was on, but the old movie was only playing in the background. Luca and Noah were simply eating their food on the table. Things were too quiet, and Luca didn't seem to be so comfortable with it.

'Sleep with him… he should have said share the room… still…'

Luca rarely got some private time with Noah, and he didn't want to waste much of it. He had no courage to be so straightforward, and so the silence and frustration were making his movements stiff.

"Are you okay?" Noah asked, finding bits and bits of Luca's anxiousness in his shaky hands. "Is jeopardizing someone's life too much for you?"

"Jeopardizing?

"You mean what happened to the fake Randy Connor?" Luca was quick to realize what Noah was getting to.

However, he hesitated whether to make Noah believe so or humiliate himself by giving the real reason for his discomfort. "I… I actually think we… no, he jeopardized himself on his own already."

"I see." Noah flicked his gaze at the other man, making Luca inwardly panic in his seat. "Then, why are you acting strangely? Not used to too much silence?"

Luca lifted his face to look at Noah and nodded. He didn't say anything to avoid further questions.

The witch only smiled before looking down at his food and eating again. Luca was left to stare at Noah, not knowing what else to do to have a conversation without him being the topic. To be honest, he and Noah were barely acquaintances.

They had talked a lot, but he probably wouldn't be referred to as Noah's friend any time soon.

Those thoughts made him remember Noah's friend. He then asked, "Your friend… is one of those witches brought away by Mariz, right? Is she well now? They didn't look fine when I saw them."

At this, Noah actually stopped. He then brought his eyes to Luca. "I haven't talked to her yet. I can't reach her anymore. As well as the other Shadow Hands."

He then looked at the fries he was munching on. "I know that the organization wanted Bomberman as an ally, and my actions would probably lead them to believe that I had indeed betrayed them.

"However, I don't understand why I can't reach them anymore. I didn't receive any formal declaration either."

"Uhm, didn't it occur to you that what they did was already the declaration?" Luca frowned. What Noah wanted from the organization was something only companies with a heart would do. As for dangerous ones that involved killing, why would they issue official statements?

"I would… if it wasn't stated on our contracts." Noah chuckled.

"Oh, there are guidelines?" Luca frowned deeper. Why did it sound strange to him? Did he think of black-hearted organizations differently?

Who would tell Luca that the reason why this was instated was that old employees tend to return even after decommission? This was why they needed a declaration that the organization had already spat them out.

Noah didn't tell him that and only shrugged his shoulder, with a mischievous smile curling his lips.

Luca could tell that Noah was poking fun at him again, and he didn't even try to hide it this time. Then again, his prying became the life of their conversation… along with Noah's teasing chuckling.

…

The clock continued to tick, and Luca couldn't fall asleep. He was alone in his bed, just a meter away from Noah who was a notorious sleeper.

When the hunter rolled to his side to look at Noah's direction, he could only see Noah's figure underneath the blanket. Was it because of Luca's staring that Noah kept on covering his head when he slept?

Actually, it was Mephisto's fault, but Luca would never know.

Luca sat up on his bed and stared at the figure at the next bed. He didn't know why he was starting to feel so cold and uncomfortable not being able to have something between his arms. Was he thinking of hugging Noah… just like when they were traveling to New York?

A blush crept to his face before shaking his head. "I shouldn't have these thoughts…"

He looked at Noah again and continued to stare before getting to his feet slowly. Steps were taken, and Luca kept his eyes open in case he felt anything under his bare feet. If he stepped on a hellhound, who knew what part of him would be blasted?

"Noah…" Luca called his name before sitting at the edge. If Noah was aware of his presence, it would be very embarrassing to be caught. Then again, there was no movement altogether.

The hunter then lied down and rolled to his side. He moved so carefully so he wouldn't disturb Noah. He kept his back against the other, fighting the urge to actually face him and wrap his arms around that body.

"Don't do anything stupid… don't do anything stupid…" Luca chanted under his breath.

He didn't plan to be so loud… until Noah moved away from him. His gasp escaped from his mouth, and he knew he was going to regret this for the rest of his life.

"What do you want?" Noah murmured as he reached out to place his arm on Luca. He actually rolled to face Luca, but he wasn't planning to get so near for now.

"Uhm… it's so cold. I figured I could borrow some body heat…" Luca babbled and inwardly berated himself for saying things out loud.

"Is it?"

Before Luca could speak again, he felt Noah move closer, spooning him from behind. His mind went blank for a few seconds before realizing that the witch was already asleep again. Such an odd ability to have: one second to wake up, one second to fall asleep.

The hunter only sighed before scooting back, fully falling into Noah's one-arm embrace. He even lay on his back and closed his eyes.

His mind seemed to have naughty whispers coming from it, but Luca was a person from the Order. He went through a test of temptation and would win over it any time.

However, that conviction only worked with very deep temptation and indulgence. Just a few hints of wanting closeness shouldn't be included, right?

It's just that… before he fell asleep, he felt Noah's hand move to the further side of his neck. His fingers began tracing the length and even the crook of it. Such a slow touch sent strange signals to Luca.

"Noah… are you awake?" he whispered before pursing his lips. The fingers started caressing his arm after all. "What is it?"

"Did you work on these muscles yourself?" A muffled voice came from inside the blanket.

Luca looked at the figure next to him and realized that the blanket was lifted at the side just to let his arm out. His face was still covered, along with most of his body. He then lifted a hand and took hold of Noah's arm.

"Uhm, I guess. I did have to train a lot." He then remembered Noah during the first time they met. "You did work hard on your own body, too. It must be tough for you to build this shape in a year."

He didn't mean much; it's just that Montana was chubby back then. Flushing all that fat could only mean rigorous weight loss and bodybuilding plans for months.

"It wasn't me. This is magic…" Noah only hummed as if he was smiling, happily tracing the contours on Luca's arm. Since the arm was now bent, he could feel more of its firmness. "How strong are you?"

"Hm?" Luca began questioning his conversation with Noah. Was the witch awake or asleep? He just ended up answering nonetheless. "I don't know how to quantify my strength or actually prove that."

"Do you think you can carry me?"

"…Noah, I carried you from the ground and took you to the room… twice."

Silence.

Luca's face flushed red as he realized the latter part was easy to misunderstand. He then cleared his throat. "I mean to the guest room so you can rest."

"Hehe."

"Hehe?"

"I don't normally take my eyes off of Mephisto because it's troublesome… but you're so cute." Noah began slurring his words, and Luca felt like he was indeed talking to a half-awake guy. "Do you know you're cute?"

Luca only sighed before lifting the same hand holding Noah's arm to pet Noah's head instead. "Noah, please sleep. You're behaving like a drunk person."

Noah slipped his hand away from Luca's arm and flattened it on his abdomen. "I'm not drunk or sleep talking. If I was, why would I be hiding underneath the blanket?"

Danger. Luca was feeling danger, but he was unsure if it was for him or for his vows. Indulgence of the flesh was something frowned upon by the Order, especially towards unmarried men like him. Moreover, he was rather close to walking a path with no return.

Then again, this… didn't have to end up that way, right? Maybe Noah was just being mischievous enough to poke fun at him so hard.

"Uhm, Noah…"—Luca reached down and laced his fingers with Noah's hand, preventing him from escaping from his grip—"you might want to tone down the teasing. I know I might be a little gullible, but…"

His words ran out as Noah pulled away his hand. Just as Luca thought it was over, he was shocked when the blanket suddenly flew to his face. In that sudden blindness, he felt something heavy fell on his groin. When he pulled the sheets, his heart almost stopped.

Noah smiled down at him, sitting on the poor boy. "What if I don't want to?"