VARSITY 9 | VOLUME II | BL

TWENTY-THREE

"Luka..." Wen stared up at his upperclassman with wide eyes. Why is he apologizing? I would have been in big trouble if he didn't find me.

"Oi! Luka!" A voice calling out to the sophomore arlex broke Luka and Wen's locked gaze. "Don't you be scaring the kids again," Johthan, captain of the sophomore v-team, stated as he reached Luka. The captain slung his arm over the arlex's shoulder and waved at the six freshmen in quick greeting.

"Oh ho, what's this heavy mood about?" Johthan inquired when he saw the seven's fallen expressions. "Luka, what did you-"

"Luka didn't do anything." Wen was quick to defend his fellow arlex. "We were just...um..." Wen trailed off as he recalled the heavy topic that had risen.

Johthan was quick to catch onto Wen's reluctance to disclose what was being discussed prior to his arrival, so he did not push the topic and, instead, changed the subject with a light tease. "How you guys faring with the cuffs? Anyone kiss yet?"

The mood instantly changed, and Lay spit out the sip of water he had just taken. Wen turned toward Lay with a smile when he saw his friend's response to the sophomore's tease. Liyam's lips curled into a smirk as he glanced at the flustered lyr before answering, "No. Someone's still a little shy."

"Aww, that's no fun!" It was a new voice that sounded from behind Johthan to tease the freshmen.

Turning to see who had just arrived, Wen saw a guy with flaming blue hair with dark blue streaks running through it and bright red eyes. Oh wow...a kyro with blue fire! The moment Wen saw the bright red and flaming blue combination, he instantly knew what type of xaiyon the newly arrived male was. Though the guy had blue hair, it was his red eyes that gave away his xaiyon type. Blue kyros were extremely rare, so meeting one in person was not a small thing.

"Oh, hey!" Johthan sounded in greeting as the blue kyro came to stand next to him and Luka. "Guys, this is Han Byrnn, a VP on the sophomore team. Han, these six are some of the new fish VPs."

"Hey everyone!" Han smiled and waved in greeting. "Nice to meet you!" Aside from the kyro's flaming blue hair, it was his energy that struck Wen the most. Han's energy reminded Wen of Brix's but with a twinge of crazed fun.

"Mind if we join ya?" Han asked with a wide smile. When there was no pushback, Han sat next to Wen and began enjoying his lunch of various types of dumplings and bao. Johthan and Luka soon joined Han in sitting at the freshmen's table, and before long, a light chatter broke out amongst the nine VPs.

The remainder of the day passed by quietly with Wen and Kean bringing it to a close with a 5-mile (8km) jog. Ever since the topic of his attack had been brought up at lunch, Wen's nerves had been gittery. Luckily, the jog had helped to dispel most of his silent anxiety, so falling asleep was not much of a chore. The warmth of Kean next to him also helped the arlex to fall asleep not long after the two had crawled into bed.

Ever since the kiss, Wen had become much more comfortable around Kean, and while sleeping next to the kyro still got his heart racing, he was much less nervous. However, this was not the case for Kean. The kyro had only grown more nervous around Wen, and excitement would course through him each time Wen glanced his way.

So, even after Wen had fallen asleep, Kean remained wide awake. Though his eyes were shut, he enjoyed listening to Wen's soft breathing and let it calm his racing heart. However, just as Kean had begun to fall asleep, Wen's breathing suddenly changed. It grew strained and was accompanied by quiet whimpers.

Eyes shooting open, Kean looked at the arlex to see Wen's brows furrowed in fear. Wen was shaking his head, and his fingers were twitching as if he was preparing to fight. Kean was quick to try and wake the arlex. Shaking Wen's shoulder, Kean called out Wen's name several times. "Wen, Wen...!"

Kean had never been more grateful that Wen was a light sleeper than when Wen's eyes finally snapped open. The arlex looked around frantically as he caught his breath, his chest heaving slightly. "Are you okay?" Kean asked, called Wen's attention to him. The moment Wen realized where he was, relief washed over him, and he buried his face into Kean's chest.

The realization that Wen had likely dreamed of the attack sunk into Kean as he felt the arlex relax into him. Wrapping his right arm around Wen, Kean pulled the arlex closer and began petting Wen's head in soothing motions. "It's okay...you're safe."

Images of his attackers sneering at him flashed through Wen's mind, and no matter what he did, they refused to let him be.

"He's one of those freaks." "We got him good." "We going to sell him?" "Tie him up."

Even after he had woken, the men's taunts and jabs remained in Wen's mind. "They won't go away..." Wen's voice was barely above a whisper as he shook his head in an attempt to rid his mind of his attackers.

Kean's heart broke when he heard the fear that filled Wen's voice. He hated watching Wen be tormented by those who sought to harm him, so he pulled away just enough to look Wen in the eyes. The arlex's blue and silver orbs were brimming with tears causing Kean's blood to boil. If he could, he would have hunted down each and every one of the men who attacked Wen and made them regret touching even a hair on Wen's head for the rest of their lives.

However, that was something he would have to chase down another day. Right now, he needed to help Wen. So, without hesitation, Kean offered, "Do you want me to make you forget?"

Kean was unsure how Wen would respond. Though they had kissed, Kean had been careful to not push Wen's boundaries and had let the arlex initiate any intimate actions. So, when Wen replied with, "Yes," Kean was slightly surprised but not shocked.

Wen's heart sped in his chest, but it was not from the residual fear clinging onto him. It was from excitement that caused his cheeks to heat and his breathing to quicken. Wen was willing to do anything to escape from the terror that tormented his mind, so when Kean offered to make him forget, while he was not entirely certain what the kyro had meant, he was willing to figure out.

So, with a racing heart and reddened cheeks, Wen confirmed his decision by placing his request to the kyro. "Make me forget."

The words were barely out of Wen's mouth before Kean's lips crashed against his. Unlike the previous kisses, which were soft and careful, this one was dangerous. It quickly surpassed the first kiss in terms of intensity and stole Wen's breath within the first second. Kean's lips sparked a fire in Wen's body as the kyro interlaced his fingers with Wen, connecting their cuffed hands even further.

Kean was now positioned above Wen, trapping the arlex in his kiss. Kean's motive was to fill Wen's thoughts. He wanted Wen to be able to only think of him, his lips, his touch, his body. Kean intended to make Wen think about nothing other than their two racing hearts and hot skin, so he made his kiss as passionate and loving as possible.

After pulling away from air, Kean kept the break as short as he possibly could. Nearly the moment their lips separated, Kean placed his free hand under Wen's chin and turned the arlex's head to the side. He then placed his lips against Wen's exposed neck and sucked on the arlex's soft skin. While Wen's eyes fluttered from the warm sensation, Kean slipped his hand beneath the hem of Wen's shirt and grasped the arlex's waist.

The sudden touch of Kean's hand on his skin caused Wen's breath to hitch in his throat, and he ended up holding his breath completely as Kean's hand traveled up his side, pulling his shirt up to expose his abs and chest. As Kean moved from Wen's neck back to Wen's lips, the arlex tightened his grip around Kean's interlaced fingers and brought his free hand to caress the back of Kean's neck.

It had worked; every single thought Wen had was of Kean. He wanted more. He craved Kean's touch, and he wanted to be covered by it. The more Kean gave Wen, the more Wen needed. His soul burned with excitement as Kean continued to explore his body. It was not long before Wen knew he was completely destroyed. He was captivated by Kean, and he never wanted to be set free.

Kean had consumed his thoughts, and every ounce of fear that had plagued Wen had been banished from his mind. Now, he could only think of Kean's lips that stole his breath away each time he managed to catch it.