The After Kingdom: UnOrdinary (Arlo x John)

Chapter 23

John couldn't find his pills that night, and was having trouble falling asleep. He doesn't always rely on the pills, but this night, he just couldn't sleep.

Although John felt ashamed, he ended up moving on Arlo's bed, lying beside the blond. He knew that he might be making him uncomfortable, but John was having a hard time falling asleep.

His movement have accidentally woken the blond up, and John didn't even know how he was going to explain 'this'.

"Hm? John...? Is something wrong? "

Should he tell Arlo the truth? Should he tell him about his pills and them being gone?

John bit his lips, Arlo shouldn't know.

The dark haired man sat on Arlo's bed, proceeding to return on his mattress. To his surprised, Arlo grabbed his wrist.

"You can sleep here, John. I don't mind..."

Hesitant, John moved back on the blond's bed, lying beside him again. Arlo's presence was comforting, and for some reason, John just felt safer beside him.

"John... If you have problems, you can tell me. If you're having trouble with things, you can vent it out on me." Arlo's voice was soft, and for a second, John actually wanted to tell him everything, even if he's scared.

"Sometimes..." the dark haired man started, "I can't tell if things were real or not..."

"What do you mean?"

John didn't reply after that, closing his eyes to sleep. Sleep came to him easily with Arlo beside him. His arms have wrapped itself at Arlo at some point, but this time, the blond also held him.

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Morning was surprisingly peaceful between them. John woke up in Arlo's arms, but he didn't asked anything. Instead, there was a suppressed smile on his lips, and the blond liked the seeing it.

Arlo still felt guilty about making him wait last night, so he've thought that he'll make it up to him. After realizing his feelings, Arlo decided that he wouldn't quit John.

Maybe, he could really take him out to dinner tonight, since Arlo showed up really late yesterday, and have obviously upset and scared the dark haired man.

Arlo was starting to plan things, but then, he remembered...

Today is the scheduled monthly reunion between royals, and he've made John agree to come with him for a lunch with them.

Elaine would be there-- Arlo doesn't even know what she thinks about John after what she've learned. Does she hate John? Was she afraid of him?

What if, John felt like they hated him?

Should he just tell John not to come anymore?

No. Even if John would agree, he'd keep wondering why, and he might even assume the worst.

Besides, Arlo personally asked him, and John wasn't someone he could just hide. John needed someone-- anyone other than Seraphina and him, this might even be a step for him to open up more.

Once they've finished eating breakfast, Arlo told John to take a bath first. He used this opportunity to call Elaine.

The girl didn't picked up on his first call, but after calling her for another time, she finally picked up.

"Hello, Arlo?"

"Elaine." he said, "John's coming with me."

"J-john?! Why? He might do something again! What if he snapped? Or if he--"

"John wouldn't do anything." Arlo told her.

"But I saw him going mad... I saw what he did to his father! What if he harms someone there? "

"Elaine, please. Just trust me. I'll handle him... I'll make sure John doesn't harm anyone. " Arlo sighed.

Arlo ended the call after that, and at the very same time, he noticed John standing in behind him, his body wrapped on a towel. He wasn't finished taking a bath yet, and he've returned to get a new bar of soap from the cabinets.

"John...! You're finished already?"

"No, I just came here to get some soap."

John didn't heard the whole conversation, but he've heard the last thing Arlo said before hanging up.

Do they really see him as a threat? Is he that harmful...?

Arlo was talking to Elaine, and assuming from what he could understand, he must have told him about John coming.

John tried hard not to be affected about it. Of course, it's only natural for Elaine to be scared of him. Afterall, the dark haired man have acted violent during his time at Wellston, and she've also been hit by John on her face once.

Instead of worrying, John just finished his bath quickly, changing into a sleeveless gray hoodie and a pair of black pants once he was done. The blond prepared as well, taking a bath and putting on a simple maroon v-neck shirt and a gray cardigan.

After both of them were finished, they've headed outside, and Arlo took a stroll with John at the park since it was still early. He tried asking simple things about John, and the dark haired man replied as less as he could. Sometimes, John wasn't sure of his answer, and it occured to Arlo that John might not actually know what he wants for himself. He stopped dreaming, and he stopped being interested on anything.

John looked really calm when they were talking, but Arlo knew that he was troubled. A couple of times, he would place one of his hands on the side of his arm, rubbing it in an almost unnoticeable way.

He'd look at Arlo, and yet he couldn't meet him in the eyes.

"John... Whenever I look at you, you always avert your gaze."

The dark haired man was taken aback by his question.

"I don't really notice..."

John knows it, and it wasn't that he doesn't notice, it's just that, he purposely avoid the blond's gaze.

"Would you look at me now, John?"

His golden eyes stared, meeting the blond's gaze. He've always found Arlo's eyes beautiful, clear-blue... Like the skies and seas. He broke their contact immediately, because if the dark haired man stared for too long, he might find it harder to look away.

"Just like I've said."

"Maybe I'm just more used with glaring at you than staring at you?"

John laughed a bit, and Arlo ended up laughing as well.

The blond's eyes remained fixed on John, even after when they've left the park.

Arlo then headed on the eat-all-you-can restaurant where they were going to meet up.

When they arrived, Remi, Blyke, Isen and Elaine were already there, only Seraphina wasn't there yet.

The royals seemed to be surprised at John's presence, everyone except Elaine who looked alarmed and worried. John noticed it of course, causing him to look down until someone tried to talk to him.

"John! We haven't heard from you for a long time, you're looking great!" it was Remi, smiling sincerely at John.

"Thank you." a soft smile appeared on John's face.

"You're still ripped, what's your secret?" Blyke asked him.

The couple kept talking with John, Arlo thought that it was a good start. Elaine remained quiet and worried, while Isen watched John.

Somehow, Arlo suddenly felt uneasy. Isen was looking at John differently, and he couldn't read his co-worker's mind. He remembered that Isen knew about John's former job, but Arlo haven't told anything about John after that.

Then, he recognized that look, and Arlo couldn't help but feel annoyed and possessive.