Chapter 35: Winter Blues

I woke up to find the bed empty beside me. For me, it felt more akin to a rude awakening as all the alarms from his phone and the beeping of the wrist band was blaring in my ears.

It's literally a cacophony of noise. I have no idea how the ear plugs he had given me were of any use in this regard. The noise was as loud as ever, completely inefficacious in its intended effect.

I took out the ear plugs and furrowed my brows, blinking groggily after taking off the eye mask. I then pinched the bridge of my nose to get my eyes to focus as my hand slid to Sol's side of the bed. Unlike what I had expected, Sol wasn't asleep beside me... or so I thought.

I glanced over to his side of the bed, climbing over before I peered downwards to find him fast asleep on the floor. Apparently the alarms were not effective against him. Begs the question to how he confidently claimed that he was going to wake me up when he was still soundly asleep, unaware of the weird choice of alarm music he chose. Well, if you want to know, it's that 'Butterfly' song if I'm not mistaken. Why would he-- Nevermind, he has peculiar interests to begin with so I shall not question his taste in music. It actually doesn't sound too bad now that I think about it.

The ability to sleep so soundly through the alarms is quite amazing. Though... It kind of worries me to think of how he may as well sleep through a burglary or something of the sort. However... I doubt anyone in their right mind would want to scale a mountain just to rob him.

"Sol? Sol...?" I got off the bed and lowered myself to my knees as I gently shook him.

*SLAP*

Sol grunted and slapped me dead in the center of my face as he mumbled for me to give him another five minutes. I grimaced at the weight of how hard he had slapped his hand against my face and held his hand as I pulled it away from my face.

I rubbed at my my sore forehead before sighing and glancing over to his phone which innocently sat on the end table. I'm surprised his phone could even take such abuse daily. But if I were to think about it, he doesn't set his alarms on a daily basis. He wakes whenever he does, simple as that.

And... maybe there is that small fact that he told me he liked to coat his phones in a lightweight metal. It's most likely because he complains on how fragile the current model of cellular devices, although I think its because of how often he drops them.

I sighed and scratched my head before carrying him and placing him back onto the bed to which he rolled the blankets over him and comfily wrapped himself in the blanket to resemble a burrito.

Amazing. I am surprised I even had a smidge of the blanket the night before. Hmm... Wait a second... That doesn't feel quite right...

*mini flashback of the night before*

Why is it so cold? Didn't I turn the heater on?

I didn't want to take of the eye mask so I just felt around noticing the lack of the blanket that was supposed to be covering me. I frowned and touched around the bed, noticing the smooth sheets beside me that only managed to cover one person.

"Stop... hogging it. Give it here..." I grumbled and found Sol snugly tucked within the warm embrace of the blanket.

"Stop... I... haven't... blossomed... cocoon..." Sol mumbled as I took off the eye mask and glanced over to his side.

Wha-?

Nevermind... I'm not planning to freeze tonight. I pried his fingers which had clutched onto the blankets even tighter when he realized there was some resistance from his well sealed comfort of warmth.

And just as expected, the rest of the night continued with me and Sol in a tug of war over the blanket.

***

"... I guess it's fine if he sleeps longer. Then he doesn't need to head out with that guy for long... Maybe I'll get another set of blanket. If he is going to steal it every single night." I muttered as I heard the door knock.

I briefly glanced at the time before heading over. It's likely one of the staffs coming to wake me. The particular photographer this time is one who hates tardiness.

Heading over to the door, I wrapped myself in a warm coat since it was always chilly in the early hours of the day. As soon as I opened the door, I was met with that white haired bastard. What a terrible start to the day.

Just as I was about to shut the door, a staff member took a step to the side from behind Darryl and greeted me. I think it was the same person from yesterday but I couldn't quite recall her name.

"Good morning, Mr. Aries. I... just a quick reminder, we will be ready for you in an hour." the woman exclaimed with a flustered expression as she glanced from Aries to Darryl.

Ah, I see. But, of course my looks should be more superior. Sol approves after all.

"Why don't you invite us in for breakfast or something?" Darryl smiled as I immediately recognized his ploy for entry. No way, this is my dominion, I won't let you in.

"Oh, no. That would be too rude of me to... I am just here to inform you of the schedule..." the woman blushed as she brushed her hair coyly. Her eyes glistened with hope as she shyly glanced over her shoulder and blinked.

"Sorry. I have to decline. My partner is still asleep and I don't want to wake him. I took note of your reminder. See you in an hour." I pasted on my usual workplace smile and replied to her, taking note of the disappointed look which adorned the woman's face soon after.

"Why don't you have breakfast with Darryl here instead? I'm sure he is much better company for a beauty like you." I smiled as I casually shirked the unwanted attention over to Darryl.

Darryl frowned as he narrowed his eyes at me. No way was I going to let him in. Don't even think of spending time with Sol without me watching you.

"I'm sorry, but I have to decline as well. I have some urgent things to catch up on. Maybe next time." Darryl smiled as the woman sighed in exaggerated disappointment.

"It's alright. You two must be busy. I'll just wait for... Umm... Next time then." she smiled and hurried away as I stared at Darryl.

As soon as the sound of her footsteps died down, I moved to shut the door before Darryl held onto it. His expression looked calm and collected but he must have been using quite a decent amount of strength to hold onto the door.

Strength was where were-people excelled in. Me, especially. I excelled in it, more so than my peers. I smirked as I tugged at the handle, watching Darryl struggle to hold on. His smile faltered before he met my eyes and held the door firmly.

"For someone who casually invited themselves for breakfast, you were quick to turn down the woman's invitation the minute I rejected the idea." I grinned as I released the door and Darryl was forced to take a step back when the door swung open in his direction.

"... I am just keeping to my promise with Sol. We're going to de-stress while you... should be working." Darryl pointed at me with a smug grin as I felt my eyes twitch.

"Well, Sol is still sleeping. Come back later. Or never. The latter would be much appreciated." I said as I grabbed the door knob, ready to shut it.

"It kind of intrigues me..." Darryl grinned as he leaned against the door frame, one hand holding the door open.

"What does?"

"Why you're so overprotective of him? And the reason you go to such lengths to mark him. Is there an underlying reason you dare not speak of?" Darryl glanced up and stared at me with his ruby red eyes.

It looked like they were glowing a certain mixture of amber and ruby, swirling together before I shook my head to clear my mind. This man!

"Don't even try it. Its not going to work!" I growled as I felt the rush of emotions quickly take over and my ears and tail fluffed up in alert.

"Really? It was worth a shot." Darryl shrugged as he straightened himself out and patted me on the shoulder.

"Tell Sol I'm ready for him anytime. And maybe rid that pathetic appearance of yours." Darryl laughed as he waved goodbye and headed to the courtyard which linked his lodge to ours.

"As if..." I frowned as I tried to calm myself down.

I shut the door behind me as I glanced briefly at the self made burrito and sighed. If he was merely trying to catch me off guard then he was close.

But now... I somehow wish Sol hadn't needed to mention our trip to him. I have to be even more wary of this man.