4 Leaf Clover - ᴹˣᴹˣᴹˣᴹ

20.

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After observing Yuki sleep soundly for an hour, Clover's stomach couldn't endure it anymore. He quietly snuck out of the bed, his careful movement calculated so he wouldn't wake up the sleeping man. A clock told him the time was around 8 am. He wandered down the stairs of the house he had come to appreciate - the sunlight illuminated the first floor, and no one had bothered to close the curtains at all.

Clover walked into the kitchen, but he was still reluctant. Although Yuki had gone through all the misfortunes of finding him, nursing him to health and apologising, Clover didn't want to misinterpret his apology for anything else. He presumed Yuki had permitted him to make himself food from now on, but what if he hadn't?

He was sleeping anyhow and Clover was going to go feral from hunger. He unlocked the cupboards and a small pantry - there were considerable things inside and nicely stocked. Clover didn't know how to make proper meals, his family were uncompromising when it came to 'underage' people from the family and appliances. He wasn't allowed to use the oven, only the microwave, and he wasn't permitted to use many of the ingredients anyway, his mother would yell at him for even having snacks.

Clover picked up a box of cereal, something he was used to having when his parents were to occupied to cook him breakfast. He found a bowl and sat at the island, he ate and contemplated what to do. He had no idea if Elio or Finley were at work, he had no idea how they had responded to him departing and he was dreading the confrontation. He supposed in the meantime, he could read the recipe book he got for Elio or perhaps learn how to plant bluebells.

After eating his plain and dry cereal, he placed the bowl into the sink and rinsed it out. Once clean, he put it to the side and decided to wander to the gym room. If he was being 'naughty' and exploring the locations he wasn't allowed, then he might as well peek at the gym room. He recalled how Yuki told him he wasn't permitted to go inside but he hoped they were on more reasonable terms now.

The gym room was sleek and pristine - the flooring was made of laminated wood and one of the walls was full of mirrors. It was a proper gym room, Clover thought, but the majority of the apparatuses he had never seen in his life. Gyms weren't strictly off-limits when he was at home, but none of them were near his home. Clover's mother often stated the places were full of men who were contending against each other, and women who got away with wearing skimpy clothing. She said they never dressed appropriately and the music they played there was very offensive.

Clover stood in front of the machine he did know, a treadmill. They actually had one of these at home, and his mother operated it to go walking. She would play bible verses from a speaker as she walked. Looking back, Clover's mother always wore long sleeves and moderate pants and never once had her legs out, as if God would scorn her for being 'slutty'. Clover didn't understand why it mattered so much but he never questioned it.

Beyond the treadmill, there was a rack of weights. Next to it was unobstructed space, and to the far side by the door, was an apparatus that had a bar stationed there. On the side of the bar were more weights but not the same ones on the rack. These weights were circular and appeared more weighty than the black dumbbells. Clover didn't even attempt to pick any up, he had lacked strength his entire life and it would presumably stay that way. Beyond the weights, there was a machine with steps and behind that machine were three different coloured mats.

Clover knew they belonged to Elio, Finley and Yuki. He wondered if one day, he might have a mat to join them.

It was also depressing, Clover couldn't get the sentiment out of his body. He was still intruding, he would never find himself a part of the relationship, would he?

Yuki had mentioned something about Elio bearing an appreciation to him, but to what degree, and was it even the liking that Clover assumed it was? Elio was a very compassionate man, Clover had learned, so he wasn't certain if he could depend on Yuki's words. Clover would find himself embarrassed if he mistook it and uncovered that Elio's likeness was simply sympathy or the likeness of a younger brother.

Could he approach the subject, would Elio give him an honest answer?

He decided he wouldn't bring it up himself, instead, he would wait it out. If Elio fancied him like that, he would wait for him to make the first move. Clover was far too apprehensive to initiate anything and his very survival was founded on how well he got along with the three other men in the house. If he were to make the first move, he could destroy everything and he would have to leave again.

Clover walked out of the gym and wandered around for a while. He found himself outside of a door. He knew it wasn't his room because he left the door open to not make any racket when he left. Clover wondered which room he was going to enter, perhaps it was a bathroom or Elio was lying inside. Clover gently forced open the door.

It was unlit inside, therefore it was a bedroom. Clover slowly entered and ambled over to the bed where he would discover who lived here. A head of dark hair was splayed on the pillow messily. Clover could tell it was Elio, despite his face being covered by the blankets. Finley's hair was a lot lighter. Clover hesitated for a moment, but he gently laid his hand on Elio's exposed arm.

Elio didn't even flinch, unknown to Clover, Elio had cried himself to sleep so painfully, that he needed more than a day's rest. He had been in and out of sleep the whole night but ultimately, he grew so exhausted, he had slept for hours on end. Clover couldn't wake him, he shook his shoulder, prodded him and even blew in Elio's ear. Yet, nothing stirred him. Clover sighed and decided he was too weary to try anything else. Clover climbed into the bed himself, his body, after eating a simple bowl of cereal had grown tired once more.

"Hmm," Elio whined at the cold intrusion, he pivoted to the person who had entered his bed, he was expecting Finley, "Fin, you're far too cold,"

"It's not Finley," Clover whispered, "It's Clover,"

Elio opened his eyes abruptly, the darkness obscuring everything. His eyes strained, they were stinging but he needed to know if he heard correctly. After a few seconds, he saw the features he thought he had failed beside him. He saw the unkempt hair he had come to treasure, he saw the eyes of the young man he had saved. Clover was here, beside him, in his bed.

"Are you really here?" Elio asked, he was sure this was some sort of hysteria.

"Of course I am, do you want to feel how cold my toes are?" Clover joked, and then placed his cold toes on Elio's bare legs.

Elio flinched at the coldness but it solidified that Clover was really here. He shuffled closer in haste and gathered the boy in his arms. Clover was cold, but he held him closer and tucked Clover's head under his chin. His arms surrounded the boy's shoulder and he held him. A part of Elio's soul had healed knowing he was secure and found, knowing he was back to stay.

So he stopped fretting and cuddled Clover, he forgot about every worry because all of them had been eased. He would apologise to Yuki in the morning and make up with him, but right now, his heart had calmed and his mind was at ease. Clover was back - he was cold, a little skinny but he was back.

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Hello! 20 chapters down and hopefully still a lot to go! I won't be able to update tomorrow as I'll be out all day, but on Friday I'll be back to normal :)