Chapter Four (Part 3): Lunatic

While we were walking all the way toward the communal shower, somehow I started to get used to Leo's touch in a matter of 5 minutes or so, despite the fact that we had been bickering for all that 5 minutes passed.

His hand, it was incredibly gentle, holding mine, as if he became a whole different person from that... starving and lunatic lion. Surprisingly, instead of trembling like crazy, I did feel safe walking with him by my side. I even felt comfortable enough to start observing the whole hallway, taking note of their red and black color palette, which seemed to be the Hunters of New York's favorite palette, even the guestroom I stayed in and the parking lot were both decorated in red and black. And the lighting around here was strangely dim, combined with the all-black metal walls, I did have to peer in order to read some holographic signs along the way.

I wondered if these Hunters really viewed themselves as the divine warriors or not, why was their HQ so dark? Or did they take Leo's advice on how to decorate this whole place because it really matched his apparel and even his airbike's color?

Oh, and for some reason, all the Hunters in the hallway, especially the men, were really glancing or glaring at us while we were walking past them, just like what Leo said. Some immediately turned their heads toward us as soon as we both appeared in their line of sight, some aloof-looking ones looked at us from the corner of their eyes. But almost all of them just had to gaze at ME at some point, then quickly averted their eyes away when Leo turned his head to snarl at them.

So it was true... All of these men, they really smelled something sweet from me, just like Leo did?

Good God...

"Grrr! These motherf*ckers be sniffing you like packs of coyotes! Hey you?! The f*ck you looking at?! Keep looking and you'll find your d*ck become a grilled bully stick!"

"Leo?!" I must admit that the whole situation made me so anxious and restless, and it did give me a sense of walking into some kind of a den of wild animals, but please, Leo, you couldn't just threaten to burn someone's manhood off???

"Don't you even think of correcting me, Stupid Adel! You don't know what these hungry males are capable of! Hey, ladies, keep your boyfriends or boy friends close to you, NOW!"

"OK, Leo~ We'll do that~" However, despite of Leo speaking like a complete dirtbag, one of the Huntresses was giggling as she replied to him. The other ladies also didn't seem to be affected by his threats much, and some were even waving their hands at him, at which this kitty also gave them a nod, acknowledging their presence.

W-What the heck...? I thought he'd be like... 'Nah. You lowly commoners, I won't even bat an eye at you mongrels.'???

"Are you popular with girls, Leo???"

"Huh? Why wouldn't I be?"

I didn't know if I was overreacting or not but my jaw dropped and my whole face was frozen because of his answer, or rather a question.

"But how???" You said it yourself that you've always been feared by everyone???

"Well, you look at my muscles and tell me, ain't I hot? And I always respect women... Even though I'm not really interested in one."

"..."

Oh. Alright...

THE AUDACITY OF THIS GAY CAT???

At that moment, I just let myself get dragged by Leo all the way toward the other end of the hallway. I was utterly speechless and stunned beyond thinking.

Oh my God, this kitty's confidence was really something else...

"Finally got a boyfriend, huh? Leo~"

"Is that your boyfriend, Leo? He's so cute~"

"Don't forget to post your pic of you and him doing boyfriends' stuff, yeah?"

While we were walking past another group of Huntresses, I, myself, couldn't even return the ladies' gazes, let alone deny their claim about us being in a relationship or emit a sound even, but Leo, he simply let out a smirk, clearly accepting all the glory, without any shame.

"Hey, stop calling him my boyfriend~ He's my wife~"

"What--?"

And then no longer than 5 seconds later, his ass still had the audacity to add fuel to the fire. I had to turn my head so freaking fast to look at him in total disbelief, I thought I was breaking my own neck.

Before I knew it, we had already arrived in front of an entrance with the holographic sign 'Shower' being shown above it - MY destination. But strangely, in that minute, I didn't feel like taking a shower anymore.

"Want me to go in there with you?"

Instead, I felt like kicking this boy for one more time so goddamn much, my face got rid of all emotions as I was trying to hold myself back and not put my feet in a bear trap again.

"No. Please, don't."

"Why? There might be lots of men in there. It's clearly not safe for you."

"It might not be safe for me, alright... But I did ask you not to treat me like I'm a helpless lady, didn't I?"

"Well, you did. But I'm pretty sure you can't fight off those guys, especially when they've gone crazy after smelling your scent."

"Then I'll take a shower so thoroughly, all that scent got rid of me. Thank you for your concern."

The moment I finished those words, I immediately turned my back and literally sprinted into the communal shower, onward to the male section, and then frantically trying to make up my mind whether I should hide in a shower room or the storage room, well, in case the lion himself got crazy and decided to come after my ass.

"B*tch, don't fret! I was just f*cking with you! I'm not following you in there! It's 10 f*cking A.M. Hunters have jobs to do!"

Hence, when the lion boy yelled at me from the other side of the entrance with his roaring voice, revealing that he was, in fact, not coming after me, it was also then that I stopped panicking and came to my senses.

Slowly, I turned my head to peek at the male section's door, and then I started looking around the whole place.

There was no one here with me, and there was no one coming in either, not a soul.

"..."

Everything was so quiet, there was not even a single drop of water falling onto the floor.

...

For real, man? Why must he make a fool out of me like this?

I just couldn't help but ask myself in my mind while I was gawking at nothingness... and then I shook my head, holding my own temple, at my own stupidity.

In that huge mirror beside me, I saw my agitated face reflected on it. 'Adel Ozwald, you're a clown.' It almost felt like the me in there was trying to say that to my face, all the words got reflected in those blue eyes.

So I replied 'Who said I'm just a clown? I'm a freaking circus, you f*ck.'

For some unknown reason, suddenly I felt like I just heard my own laughter coming out of nowhere as a response. Not my mouth, but nowhere.

...

Thanks to Leo waking me up, I guessed I hadn't had enough sleep, after all.