Kiss and Capture

Ru blinked, his eyelids heavy and his body still weighed down by exhaustion. He shifted slightly, trying to pull his body free from Heise's embrace, but the man's hold was unyielding. "Wh... what is this now?" he asked, his voice groggy and tinged with irritation. His green eyes, still clouded with the remnants of sleep, narrowed as he glared up at Heise. "What are you doing?"

"I'm saving you," Heise replied, his tone clipped as he frowned down at Ru. His arms loosened slightly as if to emphasize his point, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something that looked almost like concern.

"Saving me from what?" Ru asked, his confusion evident as he struggled to sit up. His mind felt foggy, the remnants of the dream still clinging to him like cobwebs. He rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the disorientation. "From me? From you? From the sultan? What?"

"From everything," Heise said, his gaze sharp and unwavering. He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied Ru's face. Suddenly, he froze, his attention locking onto something in Ru's left eye. A flicker, faint but unmistakable, like a spark of light trapped in the depths of his iris. "Found it!" Heise exclaimed, his voice tinged with triumph.

"Huh? What?" Ru's brow furrowed, his confusion deepening. "What are you talking about?" He instinctively pulled back, but Heise persistently held him in his arms.

Heise didn't answer. Instead, he stood abruptly and yanked Ru to his feet, his movements quick and decisive. Ru stumbled, his legs still unsteady, but Heise’s arm shot out to steady him, his touch firm but not unkind.

"Where to? What's going on?" Ru protested. "I don't understand you." He attempted to resist, planting his feet firmly on the ground, but Heise’s strength was unyielding. "You're kissing me one moment and dragging me around like a bag of potatoes the next. What's your deal?"

"I'm here to save you," Heise snapped, his patience waning. His voice was low, but there was an edge to it that made Ru pause. "What more explanation do you need?"

"Your goal was to take the genie's sigil, not to save me," Ru shot back, his voice rising. He wrenched his arm free, taking a step back and crossing his arms over his chest. His green eyes burned with defiance. "Or did you suddenly develop a conscience?"

Heise stopped short, his grip tightening for a moment before he turned to face Ru. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that looked almost like guilt. "Yes, it was," he admitted, his voice low and measured. "And technically, it still is. But when I remove the genie's sigil from you, you'll be free. Isn't that what you want?"

Ru raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking down to Heise’s hand, which was still hovering in the air as if ready to grab him again. "Is that how it's going to be?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "You rip the sigil out of me, and I’m suddenly free? Sounds too good to be true."

"Well, you'll just be free from the sultan," Heise clarified, his voice softening slightly. He glanced down at the cat, who had been quietly trailing them, and sighed. "Kaero? How could I forget you?"

The cat—Kaero—stopped and yawned, stretching lazily as if to remind them of his presence. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, and he let out a soft "meow."

"How about going to Misha?" Heise suggested, his tone shifting to one of mild exasperation.

At that moment, Ru wrenched his hand free from Heise's grip. "I want to go to my room," he said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. His expression was stubborn, but there was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes that Heise didn’t miss.

"But I need you," Heise insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "I have to take the sultan's mark from you."

"I don't want the damn genie's sigil," Ru retorted, his tone sharp. He took a step back, putting distance between them. "You can take it, but do it without harming me, if possible."

"Don't worry, I will," Heise said, his voice steady. He reached out, as if to touch Ru’s arm, but stopped himself. "But you have to listen to me."

"Seems like I've listened enough in the past," Ru said, his eyes narrowing, his expression hardening. He took another step back, his arms still crossed defensively over his chest. "Why should I listen to you now?"

"Stop acting like a child!" Heise snapped, his patience clearly fraying. He took a step forward, his voice rising. "You're an ancient king, for crying out loud! Start acting like one."

"And I'll be yours—sorry, I'm yours... is that it?" Ru shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He took another step back, his green eyes blazing with defiance. "You think just because you kissed me, you own me now? Newsflash, Ru: I don’t belong to anyone."

Kaero stretched lazily again, his golden eyes flicking between the two of them with mild amusement.

Heise glanced at Kaero for a moment, then turned back to Ru, his expression softening slightly. "Let's not argue about this now, okay?" he said, his voice quieter but still firm. "Just let me save you."

"You're forcing yourself to be my hero," Ru said, his tone bitter. He turned away, running a hand through his dark hair. "I want to think about it."

"I saved your friends," Heise countered, his voice rising again. He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "I’m already your hero. Whether you like it or not."

"You're right about that," Ru admitted, his tone grudging. "That's why I opened my mind to you. But what did you do?"

"What did I do?" Heise asked, his voice tinged with exasperation. He took another step closer, closing the distance between them. His gaze was intense, almost piercing.

"You took my first kiss without my permission," Ru said, his voice low but filled with anger. He took a step toward Heise. "And that pissed me off." He turned to Kaero and asked, "Am I wrong, Kaero?"

"Meow!" Kaero replied, his tone unmistakably affirmative.

"Oh!" Heise sighed and pulled the sash, releasing his ponytail. "Be reasonable, Ru!"

"I am reasonable," Ru said, showing his upright stance. "You're looking at my left eye. Maybe you're going to harm it. Is there any guarantee you won't?"

"I won't," Heise said, his voice steady. "If you want, you can take Kaero as your guard."

"I like this idea," Ru said, turning to Kaero. "At least he can stop you from jumping on me again." He paused, then added, "Can you transform into a human form?"

"Meow!" Kaero replied, his tone suggesting a clear "no."

"Ah!" Heise exhaled deeply and flexed his fingers. "He can't do it without me." He walked towards Kaero and, holding his hand over the cat's head, whispered a word whose tone was low and very difficult to hear.

"Did you say abracadabra?" Ru asked, grinning.

A shimmering, ethereal haze enveloped Kaero. The air around him crackled with unseen energy, and motes of golden light danced and swirled, briefly illuminating the conservatory with an arcane glow. The cat's form began to ripple and distort, as if melting into liquid gold. With a final, radiant flash, the transformation was complete. Kaero stood in his human form: tall, lithe, with golden eyes that held a wild wisdom and an air of quiet confidence that radiated from him like a subtle warmth. The lingering golden light faded, leaving behind only the faintest trace in the air.

"Alright," Ru said, avoiding Kaero's nakedness. He turned away, his cheeks tinged with pink. "We can go wherever you want."

"Follow me," Heise said, taking the lead. With a wave of his silk fan, he summoned a gust of wind that swept the snow from the garden, clearing a path. Ru felt his feet lift off the ground as the silk fabrics around Heise fluttered in the wind, the world around them blurring into a haze of light and motion.

Ru's stomach lurched as the ground seemed to flow beneath them like a river, the walls of the garden dissolving into a swirl of colors. Kaero, now in human form, floated beside them, his expression calm and unbothered. The sensation was disorienting, and Ru clenched his teeth, trying to steady himself.

Finally, the world snapped back into focus, and they landed in Heise's laboratory. The room was a chaotic blend of alchemical tools, glowing crystals, and stacks of ancient tomes. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and the faint hum of magic.

Ru stumbled slightly as his feet touched the ground, his head spinning. "What the hell was that?" he demanded, glaring at Heise.

"Teleportation," Heise replied, his tone matter-of-fact. He straightened his robes and hair. "Now, let's get to work."

"You'd better not mess this up," Ru said, his gaze sharp and calculating.

"Trust me, baby king," Heise replied, his lips curved into a faint smile. "I know what I'm doing,"

"That's what I'm afraid of." Ru snorted.