Crowd Management

Noir looked at the crowd clamouring outside the car and closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses. He realised that there wasn't any malice within the crowd here…the real malicious people were probably waiting for them inside. Most of these people were either curious, or harboured positive feelings.

Noir opened his eyes and turned to Solis. "We should step out of the car and wave at the gathered crowd," he said. "There are many people who wish you well here."

Solis blinked. "You can sense malicious intent?" he asked curiously.

Noir nodded. "A good wish, or a blessing never goes to waste," he murmured, remembering his Master's words from a long time ago. "You will gather a lot of goodwill if interact a little with the crowd now." He patted Solis's arm. "And even if someone here is a master at hiding their malintent, I'm here to protect you."

"All right, then," Solis agreed easily, instructing the driver to stop the car.

The crowd was stunned when the limousine rolled to a stop before entering the hotel. They were even more surprised when the door opened and a dazzling young man stepped out and waved merrily at them before helping another man out of the car. Then the two of them smiled and waved at the crowd together.

Everyone recognised the second man. It was Boss Solis!

But what was this?! Wasn't Boss Solis crippled?! How was he standing here on his own two feet, looking perfectly hale and hearty – and so devastatingly handsome?! He even smiled and waved at them?!

The cameras started rolling madly.

"Thank you for coming to see us," Noir spoke up when he realised that Solis had no intention of doing so. "Solis and I are very happy to receive your good wishes." He inclined his head in a polite bow, and nudged his companion.

Solis turned to Noir and a beautiful smile lit his face. He turned back to the crowd and said, "As Noir said, we are grateful for your support. I have just recovered, thanks to my wonderful fiancé, and we appreciate the effort you took to come and see us."

Deafening cheers and thunderous applause erupted. The crowd went wild.

"Boss Solis! Have you recovered fully now?" a journalist asked, thrusting a mic at his face.

Thanks to the well-trained bodyguards of Chaos Demon, the mic was stopped before it got close to Solis.

"I have," Solis said calmly.

"How did you recover?" another reporter yelled.

Solis took Noir's hand and brought it to his lips, placing a reverent kiss on the back of the exquisitely shaped hand. "It was all thanks to Noir," Solis said.

"Mr. Noir, are you a doctor?" someone shouted.

Noir shook his head. "I can only be grateful that my meagre knowledge was adequate to heal Solis," he replied vaguely. He looked up at Solis, who was a little taller than him, with sparkling eyes.

"Mr. Noir, who are you? Why is there no information about your identity?" another question was flung at them.

Noir smiled politely. "I'm afraid that is classified information," he replied.

"How did you meet Boss Solis?"

Solis and Noir looked at each other and laughed lightly.

"Would you believe me if I said I fell into Solis's lap?" Noir asked the person questioning them.

"How did you fall in love?" someone else asked.

Noir laughed and pointed at Solis. "Have you seen him? How can anyone *not* fall in love with him?" he retorted.

There were cheers and whistles from the crowd.

"What about you, Boss Solis?"

Solis looked at Noir, his grey eyes soft and indulgent. "I don't know," he said, unaware of the doting expression on his face. "Perhaps it was the very first time I saw him…"

At Noir's subtle hint, a bodyguard stepped forward, pointing at his watch.

Solis and Noir held each other's hands and waved at the crowd again.

"We have to go in now," Noir announced. "But once again, thank you very much for coming, and we hope you will give us your blessings. Please take care on your way home!"

The crowd cheered for them again.

Hand-in-hand, Solis and Noir walked into the hotel. The crowd dispersed peacefully behind them, much to the relief of the hotel staff.

"Young Master Noir, that was beautifully handled!" Alpha praised in a low voice as they went in.

Noir simply smiled in response, his attention focussed on the gazes being directed at Solis. There was surprise, shock, pleasure, curiosity, disbelief, anger, jealousy, greed…and even killing intent, although rather subtle at the moment.

"Boss Solis!" a beautiful woman called. "It's good to see you back on your feet." She approached them with a slow, seductive walk. A group of men followed behind her.

"That's Boss Gaia of Dragon's Breath," Delta whispered in Noir's ear. "Be careful, she's had her eye on our boss for a long time!"

Solis, who had been smiling when facing the crowd outside, had resumed his usual impassive face when they entered the hotel.

"Boss Gaia," he greeted with a polite nod.

Boss Gaia raked a predatory gaze over Noir. "So…this is your little fiancé?" she asked.

"Hello," Noir said politely.

Boss Gaia smiled widely. "You really are exquisitely beautiful," she said. "No wonder Martis has taken such a liking to you."

A faint look of distaste appeared on Noir's face.

Boss Gaia's smile widened. "Ah, here comes your family," she said.

Solis's entire family stood frozen in shock at the sight of Solis standing leisurely with Noir.

His stepmother gasped. "Solis…you can walk now?" she asked in a trembling voice.

Solis nodded curtly.

"Bastard! You were hiding from us deliberately, weren't you?" Martis cried and charged at Solis, only to be stopped by Alpha and Delta stepping in front of Solis and Noir protectively.

Martis glared at Noir. "It was you, wasn't it? You're the one that cured him!" he shouted.

Solis slipped an arm around Noir's waist and pulled him close. "Yes, my fiancé is the one that cured me," he said. "Aren't you happy that I have recovered, little brother?"