The After Kingdom: UnOrdinary (Arlo x John)

Chapter 35

Arlo noticed a lot of changes after John told him about his feelings, and about his desire to study again.

The blond wasn't sure that it was a good thing or not, but John became more attached to him.

During unexpected times, John would just hug him really tight, as if he was afraid of being completely alone. He can see the loneliness in John's eyes during those moments, and Arlo would feel guilty with the things that he was hiding from him.

Still, John was starting to become better. After a week of telling him about his plans, John left to go somewhere. Arlo was worried about where he might have gone, but he returned home after just a couple of hours.

When he've returned home, he brought with him a couple of books, and a single pen and a notebook.

The next following days, John spent his days reading and studying. Sometimes, John hallucinates, but it wasn't that frequent, and Arlo would hold him afterwards, until he've finally calmed down.

The blond would find him looking miserable at certain times, and it makes it more difficult for Arlo to tell him about the truth.

The truth that his father was killed, and that the authorities are already after John.

The blond could just wish, and prevent John from leaving whenever he can. He knew he couldn't hide him here forever, but what was Arlo even supposed to do?

Arlo could see the determination of John on wanting to fix his life, but the blond felt scared for what may have come.

It was a bad thing to wish for, but he wished that John was really a cripple.

If he is, maybe, they'll leave the dark haired man alone.

Still...

Is there anything that Arlo could do about it?

The confiscated drugs... Would it work on him? Should Arlo do it? Should he inject those to John? If John became a real cripple, Arlo could easily get him real help, and the authorities would also get the data of him being crippled and would lose interest on John.

He needs something permanent, or almost as permanent during that time when Seraphina lost her abilities.

Arlo had have hidden a single piece of ability dampers along with other drugs just in case, but he wasn't sure if the drugs are that strong.

The length shouldn't matter that much, as long as he could have John checked while on his weakened state.

It was a very tempting plan, and Arlo reconsiders it a couple of times.

In the end, the blond decided that it's best to do it than the other solutions he could think of. From then, he made sure to keep the syringe close to him most the time. Arlo does that in order to put his plan into actions once he was given an opportunity.

One night, John was sitting beside him on a couch, his head was resting against Arlo's shoulders, and it looked like John was about to doze off. Arlo contemplates about doing it, until John just spoke, catching the blond off guard.

"Arlo... I've been wondering, where are your parents...?" John asked him.

His parents? Why so sudden?

"They live on somewhere far because of their business, but my mother does visit me atleast three to four times a year. Why did you ask so sudden, John?"

"Nothing." he replied, "I was just wondering, you never really mentioned your parents, until that time when you used it as an excuse during the reunion."

Arlo started stroking John's hair, an attempt to make John drowsy.

"I've been given this freedom ever since I graduated, it wasn't easy getting it, but I managed."

John was silent again, and Arlo continued stroking his hair affectionately. The dark haired man was almost closing his eyes, but he seemed to be fighting it.

"Hey, Arlo... Is this okay?"

"What do you mean, John?" Arlo asked him.

"Do you think your parents would be fine about this? About us I mean..."

To be honest, Arlo have never really thought of what his parents would say. Surely, they'll want him to marry a woman someday, and no matter how you look at it, John isn't a woman.

But Arlo loves John, and even if his parents disapprove of the dark haired man, Arlo wouldn't care. Before, he would've cared for what they think, but Arlo have changed.

And he believes that his parents would be able to accept John after some time.

"Do you want to meet them, John?"

John didn't replied. It would be too soon, but maybe, someday perhaps... He wanted to fix himself first before meeting them, but if they visit suddenly just like what Arlo have said, then he guess there's no avoiding it.

He doesn't really want to worry about it now, it just crossed his mind, and for now, John just wanted to sleep...

And not worry about everything else.

Because Arlo was there by his side.

It didn't took so long before John have finally fallen as sleep. The blond almost forgot about his plan, but he remembered when he've thought of what Isen have said.

He stares at John's sleeping face, and Arlo wasn't so sure again if he could do it. How would John even feel if he truly was a cripple again? Would this be betrayal? Would this be hurting John? How would he even feel about this? But this can't be bad, right? John barely even use his abilities, and he doesn't even seem to want it. Wouldn't this be giving John what he wished for, for him to be a cripple again?

The blond thinks about it for a couple of times again, and he remembered that John's father have already died.

He doesn't want John to be next.

If the authorities got John, and he if he didn't comply according to their will, they might do the worst.

Injecting him with this drug would solve almost all of his worries about John, so why exactly was he hesitating now?

Arlo took a deep breath. He could do this, this is for John's sake. He's just saving John, and this drug doesn't even appear to be permanent, John might not even notice about the disappearance of his abilities after this.

With doubts on his minds, Arlo injected the drug on John's neck.

For some reason, Arlo wanted to cry. He doesn't really feel this much, but despite what his logic is trying to tell him to ease his feelings about what he did, he felt like as if he just betrayed John.