7. What I can do for you (3)

"Let me get this straight," Lucius said.

"Impossible."

Psyche lay on the bed as Lucius circled around the room. He felt like his head was about to explode.

It was seven in the morning, but both of them still wore pajamas. Psyche had borrowed a blue pair with bear faces from Lucius, while the other guy had decided to sleep with his underwear only.

Psyche ran away from the mansion the night before. He had refused to leave Lucius' place, afraid that he would get caught by Demetriou's guards.

And also, because he was beyond embarrassed.

"You asked this dude you barely know to sleep with you."

"It wasn't like that-"

"You asked him for money, too."

"I didn't mean it-"

"Like a whore."

"Hey!

"And, of course, he rejected you."

"Urrrgghhh."

Psyche buried his face on a pillow. He didn't understand why he had acted in a way that could throw his efforts away.

All his life Psyche had tried to get his father to acknowledge him.

He worked his ass off to earn the team's leader position at the subsidiary; he made sure to never get in between his siblings' matters; he even followed Adolphe's orders.

Of course, it wasn't in vain. He had earned his position in the subsidiary so that at least he would not starve, he also had a part of the company, and he knew that it was included in his grandmother's will.

Until yesterday, at least.

'I… probably got kicked out of everything, right?'

Psyche knew of his family's temperament better than anyone. Adolphe and Phyros would beat him to death if they found him first. Anna would cry and blame him for her rushed marriage.

His mother was probably searching earth and above looking for him. Yesterday, she acted as if she agreed with Psyche's intention, but he knew it wouldn't last long.

As for his sister, Cassia...

'I'd be lucky if she didn't bury me alive.'

Normally, he wouldn't have done a public scene like that just because Adolphe asked him to. It was true he tried to avoid problems, but he wasn't a pushover.

"Why. Did. I. Do. That?! Urrrgghhh," he said, hitting his head against the pillow with every word.

Lucius finally came to a halt in front of a window. The lights made his back muscles more pronounced and cast a shadow on his front side that highlighted his abdomen.

He had a serene charm, the type you would want to tell all of your life's secrets to. People usually didn't notice Lucius because Psyche always outshone him, but he didn't care.

His blue eyes looked at Psyche, who acted like a madman.

"To be honest, I'm surprised. What possessed you to do that?"

Lucius had met Psyche for a long time, but he had never seen him in this state before. The Psyche he knew was a boring guy, with an absent mind and a dead stare. He resembled a marble statue more than a human.

'I was so surprised when he showed up late at night, half-naked and crying.'

To Lucius' knowledge, they weren't exactly friends. He just hung out with him because Psyche looked pitifully alone, and he had a feeling the white-haired guy knew of this fact.

'Well, I'm this guy's only close acquaintance, so we both just act as if we were best friends.'

Lucius looked at Psyche burying his face among the pillows and he patted his head with a pitying look.

'But, what do we even know about each other for you to come here?'

Lost in thought, Lucius walked to the other side of the room and opened the mini-fridge. He brought over a can of craft beer for Psyche, who took the can and emptied it in two long sips.

"I- I have no idea…"

"You did something without thinking?"

"Yes…"

"How unlike you."

Psyche looked up at Lucius. He was crossing his arms in front of his chest and looked as if he was about to nag him, which made Psyche annoyed.

"Why did you help me, then?"

"Adolphe paid me."

"Urrrgghhh, figures."

It sounded cheap, but they knew that Lucius wouldn't have been so easily persuaded if Psyche hadn't agreed to do it beforehand. Despite their complicated relationship, Lucius had never done anything to hurt him on purpose.

And Psyche knew Lucius loved money, so he couldn't complain about it.

"Didn't he ask to meet you today?" Lucius said.

"Mh?"

"Heaven's heir'. He said morning, right?"

Psyche pouted again.

"He said morning, but he didn't say exactly when in the morning…"

"Then, you should get ready."

"Urrrgghhh."

"Is that the only thing you say?"

Seeing as Psyche's complexion looked better, Lucius went to his drawer and searched for clothes to lend to him.

"You're just tired of having me here, aren't you?"

"If you know it then leave."

"To where, exactly?"

"Get a job and buy a house."

"Tch."

Secretly, Psyche felt relieved they could joke like this.

He had never put himself in a position where he desperately had to ask Lucius for help. It was the first time they were in this situation, and neither knew how to act.

He tried to ease the tension between them.

"Ahem, where did you get a bondage set, anyways?"

"It's mine."

"..."

Silence covered the room. Psyche sat awkwardly on the bed with his mouth closed as he patiently waited for Lucius to bring him his spare clothes.

-TocToc

Psyche immediately stood up and opened the door in a flash. A surprised old lady waited behind it, with her right fist still in the air and a bowl of cut fruit on the other hand.

"H-Hi?"

"Ma'am!"

Lucius walked to the door. He placed his hand on the door frame, above Psyche's head.

"Mom?"

When she saw her son in his underwear and Psyche using Lucius' old pajamas, a grin covered the woman's face.

"hoho~ when did you guys get so close?"

"We're not," both of them said.

"Yes~ Yes~"

The woman's smile got bigger at the coordinated response. She passed the bowl to her son and winked at Psyche before leaving.

"hohoho, beautiful youth~"

"..."

"..."

*

Inside the private wing of a palace made of the purest white marble waited Eros.

He no longer carried a relaxed stance and his physical appearance had also transformed from the younger, carefree blonde man with gray eyes from the night before.

The sleeveless cream tunic left his defined muscles on view and soft black curls fell in front of his obsidian eyes. Eros exhibited a straight and unattainable posture, and though his eyes looked dull, his strong features made them look like ornaments.

"Ah~ seriously~"

The strong imagery was shattered by a red blush on his cheeks. A playful light filled his pupils as he rubbed his chin with his hand.

{"My name is Psyche. You said you wanted me, right? Then take me. I'll give you a fair price."}

It was obvious that Eros' presence had had more impact on Psyche than on anyone else.

The reason laid on the latter's mental fortitude: It was extremely easy for the God of Love to touch upon those emotions humans keep locked in the back of their minds.

Eros giggled to himself.

"Should I teach the tiger cub~?"

"Teach what to who?"

Iris walked in, wearing a pale purple gown. Her eyes didn't need to be hidden now, and so her irises were free to dance in millions of combinations of different colors and patterns.

Looking at her eyes, Eros remembered the only time he had seen them lose all light and become dull. Back then, he thought that the world itself would drain its color to bring life back to her gaze.

It didn't.

'It's only when you think you're invincible that you realize how truly vulnerable you are.'

Eros' face darkened for a quick second, before resuming his usual style. Instead of voicing his thoughts for Iris to hear, he strolled towards her and offered his hand out, bowing his head.

"A deep knowledge I stumbled upon~ Want me to share it with you, my lady?~~"

"..."

"..."

"Disgusting."

"You're so mean~~"

"Enough. Her Majesty is waiting for you."

"Yes, yes, whatever- oh!"

He was about to head towards the door, but as if he had just remembered something, he grinned. With a concerned face full of bad acting skills, Eros turned around and held Iris' hand.

"Did all my guards get fired?"

"They ran away, yes," she answered as she snatched her hand away with suspicion.

"So… we're hiring?"

"... I have a feeling I shouldn't respond."

"No need! Your face told me everything I need to know~"

"Wha- No, wait. Never mind, I don't want to know. Let's go."

"Right after you~"

Eros started to hop towards the public wing of the palace without waiting for Iris to catch up, leaving behind the goddess with a sour expression.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"