By Zephyria Turning his head dazedly, he saw an iron door that he could pass through by slightly lowering his head, half a floor above. The door was secured with an old padlock. However, the shackle was broken, and judging by the fact that the cut surface was not rusted, someone had touched it recently. The doorknob was also clean without a speck of dust.
Creak, behind the noise of old scrap metal rubbing together, a slightly strong sunlight shone through.
Leonardo frowned and stepped out of the door first. Before being captivated by the scenery in front of him, he turned back and reached out to cover the door frame so that Hugo’s head would not touch it. Hugo, who had already come out halfway, smiled faintly at the unexpected consideration.
“How chivalrous.”
The corners of Leonardo’s lips drew an awkward parabola as if he were embarrassed.
As he raised his gaze, following the other man straightening his bent back, he noticed a round, large weight hanging above his head.
Beyond the metal roof covering it, thick beams crossed the ceiling. It was a bell of considerable size.
“Is it a clock tower?”
Leonardo, who had vaguely guessed, looked around. The pillars supporting the four directions formed arches, encircling the bell like a flower bud. Beneath it, metal railings shaped like stems and leaves decorated the tower refreshingly.
The space was larger than he had expected, and he had to walk forward a dozen steps to look down at the scenery. Leonardo strode to the railing, craned his neck, and checked below, where, as expected, a clock of majestic size was located. But upon closer inspection, it had no hour or minute hands.
“It’s an abandoned clock tower.”
A strong scent of cologne wafted from behind him. A large hand grabbed Leonardo’s shoulder, which was over the railing, and gently pulled him back. With a gentle but firm force, his upper body returned, and he felt the warmth of another person’s body on his back and lower body.
Leonardo, momentarily taken aback by the solid sensation in many ways, inhaled without showing it. Soon, he half-turned his stiff neck, and a firm jaw suddenly appeared over his shoulder.
“Leo, look there.”
Hugo braced his hands on the railing as if to confine Leonardo, pressing his body close.
Leonardo, naturally leaning his back against Hugo’s upper body, followed the end of his blue gaze. A vast cityscape spread out coolly under the intensely flowing sunlight.
On one side, the market and shopping district were densely packed, and in the center was the 3rd preliminary main stadium where the match had been held. He realized only then that he had traveled quite a distance, as the stadium, which had been so majestic, could be seen at a glance. Outside the old city walls, which barely remained in shape, the roofs of newly built buildings were layered one upon another.
Among them, one tower under construction was visible.
“It seems they’re building a new clock tower in a densely populated area. Thanks to that, I found a decent place.”
If it was an abandoned clock tower, no one would come. It was clear that it was a thoroughly planned location.
“It’s an abandoned place, is it okay to come in as you please? Besides, it’s someone else’s territory. Is it okay because you’re a Duke?”
“Of course.”
The windows reflected in the intense sunlight sparkled with gold, and the flags fluttering in the breeze revealed the spirit of the territory. Because the tower they were standing on was quite high, all of that was below their feet.
Although it was one of the adjacent administrative districts, not the Zodiac, there was no place on this land that Leonardo did not welcome. If it belonged to Laina Rogia, it was the territory he had protected with his own hands, all the same.
As Hugo gazed blankly at the scenery with affection in his golden eyes, Hugo asked cautiously.
“You like looking down from high places, don’t you?”
Leonardo fixed his gaze and retorted.
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“Because you were riding on the angel’s back and looking around diligently.”
His golden eyebrows shot up for a moment. It seemed he was talking about when he had climbed onto the pillar before leaving the stadium.
“What, how long have you been watching?”
“Hmm… from the moment our eyes met.”
It was a vague statement, but he understood that it was from the moment he had waved his hand during the match. Then had he been watching him cross the desert too?
Just as his curiosity grew, Hugo continued calmly.
“After receiving the release verdict, you went straight to Celestia after leaving my territory, I heard. I wondered where you would go, taking freedom and leaving like the wind, but a floating city. It’s a suitable place to look down on the world.”
Leonardo tensed inwardly at the mention of his actions immediately after their separation.
He had gone from Celestia to Solia, met Nero, greeted his father and Ian’s tombstones, and then free-fell from 5,000 feet above sea level to shake off the pursuit. Then he moved to Libertas’s residence, didn’t he? He had checked several times that there were no tails following him, but you never knew.
As he remained silent out of caution, the other man did not continue to speak about it.
After a while, Leonardo was the first to break the silence.
“…How do you know even that? You’re like my stalker.”The entry and exit records of the Portal connected to the territory are always reported, so I naturally found out while handling work.” However, I haven’t heard about your actions after that. I apologize if you felt bad.”
“No, it’s not bad… Come to think of it, thanks to you, I passed through the Gate comfortably. Thank you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Hugo, who had glanced down, watched the side of his face, which seemed embarrassed.
Soon, he leaned down slightly and whispered near Leonardo’s ear.
“But, you don’t even give stalkers a chance to attach themselves. Wouldn’t the one who broke into the house be closer to a stalker?”
Perhaps the word “stalker” had offended him, Hugo turned the arrow. Leonardo only moved his lips at the unexpected argument. Was he calling him a stalker now? He was momentarily taken aback, but well, when he thought about it, it wasn’t wrong.
‘Because it’s true that I’ve always been watching.’
Leonardo shrugged his shoulders, rested his forearms on the railing, and propped up his chin, deliberately retorting playfully.
“Maybe. So be careful, if you don’t want me to find out what you’re doing in the bedroom.”
“In the bedroom? Are you talking about something like this?”
Hugo, who had understood his intention, wrapped his left arm around Leonardo’s waist. Then, he blatantly stroked his lower abdomen and sides with his palm.
Leonardo, who had been off guard, flinched for a moment. As he reflexively bent his upper body, his abdomen, which had been exerting strength, flattened. Could it be here? No matter how high the clock tower was, it was an open space. He didn’t know how many pairs of eyes were below his feet… Even if it was difficult to identify people, if they were attached to the railing and acting strangely, they would be caught quickly.
“Wait.”
Leonardo had immediately imagined the foreplay of masturbation, but soon he grabbed Hugo’s wrist and chuckled softly.
Contrary to his expectations, the large hand came up not to his lower body but to his ribs. He didn’t know what to do if he just groped, but when he rubbed weakly with his fingertips, a subtle excitement mixed with embarrassment was confused with ticklishness.
“Ah, it’s ticklish—.”
Moreover, his hand, which he usually tried to keep warm, felt very cold even over his clothes.
Looking down at Leonardo, who was struggling in his arms with a wry smile, Hugo’s lips also relaxed. Perhaps he was relieved that the volume of the rib cage touching his palm was much thicker than when he had been wandering on the brink of death in the peninsula. Or perhaps it was because this wary guy didn’t show any aversion to the touch that was full of intention.
The breathable military T-shirt was made of light material and thin fabric, so it clung to his body. Thanks to that, he could clearly see the curves of his body. The movement of his stiff back muscles or scapula bones, his sleek waist, and the protrusions of his chest that stood out due to the sudden temperature difference.
Hugo, pretending to be a doctor with an unlikeable prank, checked Leonardo’s measurements, which had changed in the past few months. He seemed to have eaten well and exercised properly, even if not as much as him. Unlike back then, when he seemed like he would break, he had returned to an attractive and solid body that he wanted to check in detail with all five senses.
The muscles and smooth skin that wrapped around his fingers evoked strange imaginations. It would have been better if he had seen that lewd body, trembling with excitement at his touch, in such a bright place.
“The owner who sold the fireworks doesn’t know anything. Fireworks are most beautiful when viewed in a bright place.”
Leonardo, twisting his waist, interlocked his fingers over Hugo’s hand to stop Hugo’s hand habits that were crossing his chest.
“How long have you been watching?”
“I told you. From the moment our eyes met.”
Leonardo chuckled with a face that still had the lingering effects of ticklishness. Hugo, seeing him, continued in a gentle tone.
“You’re smiling now.”
“…I was smiling just now too.”
“When you were looking down at the street, you were making a similar expression to when you were looking from the west annex.”
“West annex?”
Was he talking about the Council building? He had only been to the west annex once. He had gone out after receiving a promise that he would be allowed to smoke a cigarette in exchange for faithfully cooperating with the interrogation.
In that place where twilight was falling, he had looked at the streets of the Zodiac for the first time in three years.
What was his feeling back then?
“What kind of expression did I make?”
Hugo did not continue speaking for a moment. Then, he murmured, gazing at the golden rims of his eyes, which were moist, perhaps because he had been laughing so much.
“An expression like you were about to cry.”
Leonardo’s lips, which had been raised, suddenly stopped. Soon, his golden eyes rolled halfway.
“When did I…”
Just as he was about to completely turn his head to deny it out of embarrassment, his cheek was brushed by lips.
It was different from a situation where they were running at each other mindlessly.
The moist and soft curve teased his skin, disguised as a coincidence. Leonardo reflexively pulled his head back. Then, their eyes were visible to each other at a distance close enough to feel their breath.
There was no embarrassment in them at all.