By Zephyria The two walked side by side through the forest. They could have just Teleport, but somehow they stopped just before arriving at the base camp and were walking along a nearby forest path.
And somehow they were holding hands too.
In fact, Hugo’s hand seemed to be holding Leonardo tightly, but if you looked at the slightly bent fingertips of the hand being held, and the fact that he wasn’t bothering to pull it out, it didn’t seem like he was being held entirely against his will.
In any case, it was Leonardo himself who had placed his hand on Hugo’s hand, which had been offered with the words “Let’s go back.”
Perhaps he wanted to reassure him, seeing his slightly bewildered expression as he looked into his bowed face and his worried voice asking repeatedly if something was wrong, Leonardo composed himself, raised his head, and shook his head weakly, saying that he was okay.
However, Hugo still didn’t seem to completely believe those words.
Seeing Leonardo’s appearance, which seemed somehow droopy after returning to him, as if something had changed in his mind, Hugo occasionally turned his head to check his condition even as they walked together. He was quite concerned about the way he was walking with his eyes slightly lowered, and he unconsciously fiddled with the warmth in his right hand.
In the forest, where the bluish darkness and the retreating red sunset were mixed, the uniquely shining Gold Eyes rolled around and met Hugo’s eyes.
The only skin that was touching moved softly, as if responding to the stroking touch. The feeling of wriggling while looking into his eyes was more seductive than he had expected, and Hugo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Leonardo.
He thought it was strange that two grown men who were not lovers were walking hand in hand, but perhaps it was because the youthful face that had not yet shed all traces of boyhood stimulated his protective instincts, he didn’t feel any particular aversion. Rather, he even felt a strange feeling that he shouldn’t let go.
Feeling unnecessary thoughts arise, Hugo avoided the touching gaze and turned his head straight ahead. Leonardo, who had been quietly watching him, also turned his head in the same way.
But just because he didn’t look at his face didn’t mean that the unnecessary thoughts disappeared. Rather, his attention was focused on the clasped hands, and the sensation was felt more vividly than before.
The hand he was holding was a substitute for handcuffs, used to prevent escape.
But it was clear that both of them knew that it didn’t just have that meaning.
After walking hand in hand in silence for a long time, time passed relentlessly quickly compared to what they felt.
Darkness slowly began to descend over the colorful forest path, and the energy of others was faintly felt not far away. Leonardo could intuitively tell that not only the members of the 1st Battalion but also members of other battalions were gathered nearby.
Feeling that there was not much time left for just the two of them, he could not bear the stuffiness caused by the continued silence and finally opened his mouth first.
“Why don’t you ask?”
At the sudden voice, Hugo’s gaze shifted back to him. Then he could meet the sulky eyes that were quietly looking up at him.
He was looking into his eyes, so he knew he was asking him, but there was a lot missing from the sentence, and one eyebrow reflexively raised slightly. After blinking slowly once, Hugo gently asked back, trying to understand what he was trying to say.
“What?”
“……”
Was he pretending not to know, or did he really not know? At his question, Leonardo moved his lips but swallowed the words he was about to say. Then, as if he was having an eye fight by himself, he stared at him quietly, and then, at his gaze that seemed to really not know, he turned his head with a creak to a completely different place.
He was still conscious of the gaze that remained on his profile, but he pretended not to notice.
While separated from the ranks, he would occasionally think about what he would hear first if he met this person again. And the most plausible of these was an interrogation like, ‘Why didn’t you come back right away?’
He thought that he would have to explain it himself someday, so Leonardo had been creating numerous excuses in his head for that question. That was also why he had tried to meet Kenneth in advance to coordinate his story.
But as a result, they were now holding hands like this, so he thought it would be better to say it first when they were alone, so he asked the question to get things started.
However, when the person he thought was quick-witted asked back like that, it became a bit awkward to bring up an excuse right away. It seemed like it would be less credible if he looked like he was jumping the gun.
His words were blocked by these and other thoughts, and Leonardo fiddled with his neck for no reason and listlessly shifted his gaze to his feet, where the grass was brushing.
Hugo, who had been glancing at his appearance out of the corner of his eye, also turned his eyes elsewhere. He seemed to see heat rising in that small head, so he didn’t urge him to answer even as he walked in step with him.
The surroundings were very quiet, and only the sound of their footsteps stepping on the low grass lingered, making the silence feel longer. Leonardo, who couldn’t find the right words to continue, simply remained silent.
As if sensing his worries from the hand he was holding, Hugo, who had been waiting, soon murmured in a low voice.
“It’s enough that you came back safely.”
At the seemingly indifferent and generous voice, Leonardo’s gaze, which had paused for a moment, slowly turned to him. It took him a little time to fully understand the meaning of the unexpected words. Soon, a belated bewilderment spread in his Gold Eyes.
Leaving aside the fact that he had realized the true intention of the question he had asked indirectly, he had never expected such an answer to come back. Wasn’t he the thorough Legion Commander who said that he had to thoroughly verify and prepare for all possible possibilities?
Something… it wasn’t like him.
But more than that, suddenly, as he repeated his words ‘without dying’, one thing came to mind.
The scene that had been messed up as if a storm had passed, and the missing squad leader’s blood-stained armband that had been found there.
Unlike himself, who had returned safely, he thought of the one who would not be able to return now, and he wondered if he should tell him that he probably didn’t know about it. But for some reason, it didn’t seem like the right time to say it now, so he was very careful to bring it up.
As Leonardo, lost in thought, didn’t say anything, Hugo turned his head back to the front and used the wind to clear away the vines that were drooping in front of him and blocking the way. Then, he took the lead and continued to speak, slowly leading the hand he was holding.
“In the first place, the reason you were separated from the ranks is largely my responsibility for not holding you properly. I have no right to blame you, and I have no intention of restraining you at all. I was just looking for you, waiting for you, and worrying about you.”
Leonardo’s feet suddenly stopped in their tracks as he followed him.
Hugo, who had been walking in step with his speed, also stopped walking.
Leonardo’s face, which he immediately turned to look at, was subtly distorted. He had an expression as if he couldn’t believe something.
“You were waiting for me and worrying about me?”
There was a lot of disbelief in the questioning voice, and a bitter smile appeared on Hugo’s lips as he stared at him. He understood that he was getting this reaction from him because of what he had done, but he couldn’t help but feel a little bitter.
Hoping that his disbelief would be alleviated even a little, Hugo took a step closer to Leonardo. Then, he gently lifted his other hand, which was not holding anything, and carefully brushed the skin under his Gold Eyes with his fingers. The deep, lowered gaze followed the touch.
“Yes. I was waiting and worrying.”
Hugo’s hand, which had been skimming over the edge of his faintly trembling eyelashes, slowly stroked his cheek and neck and came down to rest lightly on Leonardo’s shoulder. He made eye contact and added one more word in a low voice.
“And I’m glad you’re safe, and I’m grateful.”
As the unfamiliar sentiment that suddenly came in swept over his skin softly, Leonardo’s eyes twitched. His lips also parted slightly. The urge to say ‘don’t lie’ rose to his throat out of embarrassment, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
In fact, he didn’t ask back because he didn’t believe his words, but because the words ‘waiting’ and ‘worrying’ that he heard from him, who was neither a colleague nor anything else, were just unfamiliar. Of course, he also wanted to confirm if he was sincere.
But as the affectionate gaze that didn’t even give him room to doubt was directed solely at him, he became very confused about where to put his eyes.
He wanted to say anything to avoid his embarrassment being felt in the unnaturally prolonged silence. But the tension flowing through the connected fingertips, which was different from before, contributed to making it difficult for him to open his mouth.
The hand on his shoulder, which must have been placed lightly, felt particularly heavy because of the words he had said, making it impossible for him to move his body. Thanks to this, silence returned, but it wasn’t as stuffy as before.
Rather, all his senses were focused on this moment when they were facing each other, making it excessively clear and vivid.
In the darkened forest, they could barely see each other’s faces, and he felt a strange feeling as if they were the only two people on this vast peninsula.
His head was full of all sorts of thoughts, but perhaps because he didn’t want to disturb this tension in which all his senses were focused on the joined hands, the two remained silent as if they had made a promise.
Sometimes, there are many things that come and go in such silence, and Hugo decided to postpone the stories that he had been thinking about telling him if they met again.
Even the creatures living in the dense bushes seemed to be holding their breath at this moment, and everything was very quiet.
This short moment, as if only the two of them were left in the world, felt as if it would last forever.