Chapter 123: Weird atmosphere
"Didn’t expect you to suggest that." Blake raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "What, you don’t want to end up watching a weird movie again?"
Without waiting for an answer, Blake immediately headed for Myles’ bedroom, backpack in hand.
He still had a few clothes he could hang outside to air out. Luckily, he’d packed everything neatly.
"To digest," Myles replied. "And get some fresh air."
Blake chuckled as he pulled a pair of flared jeans and a white shirt from his backpack.
It was still a little hot outside despite the evening hour, but he didn’t really have a choice.
The bruises on his arms had faded into that ugly yellow stage right before disappearing completely. They weren’t painful anymore, but they were still visible enough to raise questions.
Questions he absolutely did not want Myles asking.
With the clothes gathered in his arms, Blake headed into the bathroom first while Myles stayed behind in the bedroom to change.
Blake changed quickly, folding his old clothes and setting them aside before buttoning the white shirt. The sleeves covered most of his arms without looking suspiciously long for the weather.
After brushing his hair and making sure nothing looked out of place, he stepped back out.
Myles was already finished changing: black hoodie and baggy black jeans.
Somehow, despite being dressed almost entirely in black, he didn’t look particularly warm.
Myles glanced over, then he walked closer.
Before Blake could ask anything, he felt fingers lightly touch his shoulder.
Myles rubbed the fabric between two fingers, checking the material of the shirt.
"Aren’t you going to get another cold without a jacket?"
Blake shook his head immediately.
"It’s still hot outside, I’d rather not wear one."
Myles hummed quietly, walking right past Blake toward the entrance. He watched him for a second before following.
As they stepped outside, the evening air greeted them immediately.
There was wind, it wasn’t much, but enough to move loose strands of hair and rustle leaves.
At the same time, the heat from the day still lingered stubbornly between buildings. The air felt damp, heavy with humidity.
It was the kind of weather that couldn’t decide whether it wanted to cool down or stay warm.
Blake shoved his hands into his pockets.
"So, where are we going?"
"We’ll just take a walk."
"That’s it?"
"Not too far."
He turned his head toward Myles.
"Why not? I want ice cream."
Myles didn’t even look surprised.
"It’s a little late."
"So?"
"It can get dangerous."
Blake blinked.
’Dangerous?’
He immediately pulled out his phone and checked the time.
’We’re not even past ten...’
He looked back up.
’Seriously?’
Although there were only some people, everything about them looked perfectly normal.
’Is he really that careful even with this kind of stuff?’
Considering how strong Myles was, the idea felt a little funny.
A random street thug wasn’t exactly a threat.
Still, Myles didn’t seem like he was joking.
As they continued walking, Blake noticed something else.
Myles was staying unusually close. It wasn’t as if he usually walked several feet away.
Still, it was closer than normal, their shoulders nearly brushed every now and then.
"Did you see the latest news?"
"I did."
Blake had expected that answer.
After he gathered the courage, he checked the he news and, of course, everything had spread quickly.
AL-TECH had released a public statement regarding the recent incidents.
Apparently, two suspicious individuals continued interfering with operations and putting scientists at risk.
The wording had been carefully chosen, it wasn’t alarming, but it was enough information to acknowledge the situation without causing panic.
Of course, what nobody knew was that those two suspicious individuals were actually both Blake.
"The reports seem connected," Myles said.
Blake looked over.
"Connected?"
"Based on previous information."
Myles kept his gaze forward.
"The two individuals are probably connected to the masked person who infiltrated AOP."
Blake nearly sighed aloud.
’Right, AL-TECH reached the same conclusion, probably but at least they have surveillance footage to work with... Myles has nothing much except public information.’
Yet he’d still connected the dots. Still, to be fair, wasn’t exactly an unreasonably difficult conclusion to reach.
Three seemingly different people attacking AL-TECH in a time period not too wide.
Naturally some would assume they were connected somehow.
Ironically, everyone was wrong anyway.
Because all three people were him.
"That makes sense," Blake admitted.
Then he glanced sideways.
"What do you think about them?"
Myles didn’t answer immediately, several seconds passed.
"I don’t think much. I don’t know enough from the news to judge them."
"Oh."
Blake scratched the back of his head.
Honestly, he’d hoped for an opinion.
Anything, really.
Positive.
Negative.
Neutral.
But now that he thought about it, Myles was probably avoiding that on purpose.
An opinion would reveal something about his own alter ego, at least indirectly.
So naturally he’d avoid discussing it.
Blake understood, even if it was frustrating.
Still...
He hoped Myles didn’t secretly think badly of those so-called masked individuals.
Thankfully, something else distracted him.
An orange shape appeared further down the sidewalk.
Blake immediately brightened.
"Look!"
Without hesitation, he pointed.
An orange cat was trotting casually toward them.
Its tail stood proudly upright.
Its ears twitched as it approached.
"It looks so cute...!"
The smile appeared on Blake’s face before he could stop it, then, he immediately hurried closer.
The cat didn’t seem bothered by the attention.
If anything, it looked mildly curious.
Myles followed behind at a much slower pace.
Blake crouched down as the cat stopped in front of him.
Only then did he notice the collar around its neck.
’Oh, it’s definitely someone’s pet then... but why outside at this hour?’
The cat meowed once.
Blake laughed softly.
"Why are you out so late, you little baby?"
The cat pushed its head into his hand.
Blake immediately surrendered to petting duties.
The fur was soft.
He gently scratched beneath its chin.
The cat seemed pleased with the arrangement.
After another moment, Blake looked over his shoulder.
"Myles."
Myles stood behind him, watching.
"Pet it too."
Myles stared at the cat... the cat stared back and neither moved.
Then, eventually, Myles cautiously crouched down beside him.
He reached out and gave the cat a brief pat, then immediately withdrew his hand.
Blake burst out laughing.
"That’s not petting."
"..."
Blake grabbed his wrist lightly and nudged his hand forward again.
"Don’t be afraid of cats of all things."
The moment the words left his mouth, everything changed.
Blake felt it instantly, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
The warmth and calm disappeared as Myles went completely still.
Blake froze, his laughter also fading.
’What is wrong now? Myles wouldn’t get angry over something like this... I’m certain of it!’
Slowly, he looked up.
Myles was staring right at the cat, his expression was unreadable.
"We should go home."
"What?"
"We should go home."
"But you said we’d take a walk."
Blake stood up.
"We haven’t even gone that far."
He wasn’t trying to argue, he just wanted to understand, since this didn’t make sense.
Myles looked at him.
For a moment, the coldness around him eased slightly.
Then, he reached out, his fingers wrapped around Blake’s hand.
"After all," he said quietly, "it’s too cold."
Blake stared.
’Too cold? Does he expect me to believe that?!’
Still, before he could question it further, Myles stood up, without letting go of his hand. And then, he started walking.
Blake followed automatically.
The cat remained behind, watching them leave.
The entire walk back felt different.
Not bad, just... off.
The conversation never properly recovered.
And Blake understood quickly that asking more questions wouldn’t get him answers.
Whatever had happened, Myles wasn’t going to explain it, at least not tonight.
By the time they returned home, the strange tension still lingered.
Blake changed into his pajamas first.
Afterward, he climbed onto Myles’ bed and settled beneath the blanket.
The room was quiet until, a while later, Myles entered as well.
After turning off the main light, he went ahead and laid down beside him, the mattress shifting slightly under the added weight.
Blake stared at the darkness.
’Relax, relax... one sheep, two sheep... uh, how do I fall asleep?’
Eventually, without thinking much about it, he moved closer, until he could tug lightly at Myles’ sleeve.
Myles turned onto his side.
"What is it?"
Blake hesitated, since the words felt strangely embarrassing now.
"I feel like you might be angry."
The darkness hid most of his expression.
"But... maybe I’m wrong."
A brief pause followed, then Myles shifted closer, close enough that Blake could hear the quiet sound of his breathing.
"It isn’t something you should worry about."
Blake stared at him.
For some reason, that answer helped. Not because it explained anything, because it didn’t, but Myles wasn’t denying or brushing the feeling aside.
Somehow, that made it easier to accept.
The knot in Blake’s chest loosened slightly.
The tension faded.
Little by little.
The room grew quieter.
The exhaustion from the day finally caught up to him.
His eyes became heavier, his thoughts slower.
The last thing he remembered was the steady presence beside him.
Then, gradually, sleep claimed him.
