Kings of Hawkings [bxb]

Chapter 36

Jonas watched Hugh fall asleep in his arms, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest steady and soothing. As Hugh slept soundly beside him, Jonas absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair, a gentle caress that spoke of a deeper affection. Despite the warmth of the moment, sleep elided Jonas as his thoughts swirled in a chaotic dance.

He cared for Hugh deeply, more than mere words or actions could express. He wondered if this was what love truly felt like. The impulse to say "I love you" had lingered at the edge of his consciousness for some time. Yet, he hesitated, plagued by doubts. Was this really love? Wasn't he too young? Were they moving too quickly? And if he spoke those words, would he risk scaring Hugh away?

Now, with Hugh nestled peacefully beside him, those doubts seemed to fade. Jonas could no longer deny the truth he had been avoiding: he was in love with Hugh. The realization struck him with the force of a revelation—stark and undeniable. This was no fleeting attraction or temporary infatuation; it was something deeper, something that had grown and solidified over time.

The struggle was not with the feeling itself but with how to acknowledge and express it. Jonas grappled with the fear of vulnerability, the challenge of admitting out loud what he felt so profoundly inside. He had been cautious, measuring his words and actions, but the certainty of his love for Hugh could no longer be ignored. It was clear and unambiguous, filling him with profound joy and a gnawing anxiety about the future.

As Jonas held Hugh close, he resolved to confront his feelings head-on. Hiding behind hesitancy and fear would not change the depth of his emotions. It was time to embrace the love he felt and find a way to share it with Hugh, regardless of the uncertainty that lay ahead.

Jonas picked up his phone and switched to the camera application. He silenced the shutter and turned off the flash before he snapped a quick picture of Hugh sleeping soundly on his chest. Although the light was dim, the image still captured his beauty. Jonas grinned at the image now saved on his phone. He wanted to treasure this night with him.

As he was about to toss his phone back onto the desk, he noticed an unread text message and recalled the notification sound earlier.

He opened the message and clenched his teeth when he red the message.

Unknown: My proposition is a good deal for you.

It had come through a while ago, but he knew Lukas would still be up, savoring Jonas' discomfort.

Jonas: There are only so many ways I can say 'fuck off.'

Unknown: A redo, Joey. You didn't let us hunt. This time, let's do it the right way.

Jonas: Fuck your hunts

Unknown: Stop being dramatic. It's simple. A hunt of you versus us. Just you. No one else will be involved or get hurt.

Jonas: Fuck. Your. Hunts.

Unknown: Think about it. We hunt you for one night. Win or lose, we will leave Hawkings alone.

Unknown: I know you're smarter than this. Hear me out. If you participate, the feud between our schools is dead.

Jonas: There's always a catch. Lose my number

Unknown: Well, I won't deny that there is a caveat. You won't like it if you are caught, but you will be our only target. If we don't find you, St. Vincent's completely withdraws. Not only do we step away from our schools' feud, but as an added bonus, we will kill any thoughts of future Hunts.