Autumn is a second spring

169. War unfought

Ohm stepped out of the isolated villa alone, the cool night air brushing against his face as he shut the door behind him. Everything that needed to be settled there had been handled. At least for now. For a moment he simply stood there, breathing in the quiet, letting the tension drain from his shoulders.

The first place that came to his mind was the cottage he was sharing with Fluke. Earlier that night he had practically carried a very drunk Fluke there and tucked him into bed. Fluke had been completely out of it, mumbling half-coherent complaints before passing out the moment his head hit the pillow.

Ohm started walking toward that direction. But after a few steps, he slowed. Then he stopped altogether.

He stood there for a second, thinking. His gaze drifted across the dimly lit pathway between the cottages.

A sigh escaped him. "...Well, might as well get this over with," he muttered to himself.

Instead of heading back to his own cottage, Ohm turned and began walking in a different direction.

The cottage he stopped in front of was a little farther away, sitting quietly at the edge of the property. The lights inside were still on.

Ohm knocked on the door.

There was no immediate answer.

He waited patiently.

A few minutes later, the door finally opened.

Thas stood there.

The moment their eyes met, Thas's expression darkened into a deep scowl.

Ohm, on the other hand, greeted him with a wide, almost cheerful smile. "Swadee Khrab, Dad."

Thas's glare sharpened. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Oh, nothing much," Ohm replied casually. "I came to talk to you."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Mind if I come in?"

"No." The answer came instantly. "You have no business here," Thas said coldly. "Leave." He began closing the door.

Ohm moved faster. His hand shot forward, catching the door before it shut. With a firm push, he forced it open and stepped inside.

Thas's irritation visibly increased. "Stop creating a scene," he snapped.

Ohm groaned as he walked in anyway. "I came in peace, dad," he said, running a hand through his hair. "You are the one making this difficult."

Thas shut the door with an annoyed click. "Oh really?"

"Yes really," Ohm replied.

Then he grinned again.

"Come on, Dad. I am your son-in-law now. You should start getting used to seeing me around."

Thas let out a humorless laugh. "Son-in-law?" His eyes flashed with anger.  "You blackmailed my son into marrying you."

The room suddenly felt colder.

"And I will help him get rid of you," Thas continued.

Ohm chuckled softly. "But the funny thing is," he said, leaning casually against a chair, "Fluke himself doesn't want to get rid of me." He tilted his head again. "So why are you so determined to be the villain in our love story?"

"There is no love story," Thas snapped. "You manipulated him. My son is blinded by his feelings, but I am not." His voice dropped into something darker. "I know you are not with Fluke for good reasons."