As she pulled back, teasing warmth returned to her voice. "And I was joking. You are stupid only sotis." She paused deliberately. "And you are handso most of the ti."
Leo looked at her, and the shadows in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by pure, unfiltered amusent. A laugh escaped him, low and rough from disuse but completely genuine. "You thought I was sad because you called stupid?" he asked, his shoulders shaking slightly with quiet laughter. Oh, his Bella. His wonderfully unexpected Bella.
Bella shook her head quickly, but a soft pink blush spread across her cheeks anyway, betraying her. Flustered, she looked away for a mont, suddenly very busy adjusting a cushion that was already perfectly straight and perfectly aligned.
Leo just watched her quietly. The blush spreading across her skin. The way she bit her lower lip to stop herself from smiling too much. His heart thudded hard and heavy inside his chest, loud in the quiet living room.
"I... I will get you so juice and fruit," Bella said suddenly, like the words were an escape, like she needed to move, to breathe, to step away from how intensely he was looking at her before she forgot how to act normal around him.
Before he could reply, she turned and walked quickly toward the kitchen, her steps a little too fast, almost rushed.
Leo watched her go. He watched the gentle sway of her hair, the determined set of her shoulders, the way the window light traced her silhouette. And then, without warning, his mind shifted.
The mory descended not as a thought, but as a visceral flash.
The grainy video. The concrete basent. The chilling calm on her face as she stood before broken n. The sweet, soulless ice in her voice as she extracted truth.
Bellatrix.
It had shocked him to his core then, just like discovering her hidden world had shocked him before. The more he thought he understood her, soft, kind, gentle Bella, the more layers she revealed. Soft. Fierce. Gentle. Dangerous. All at once. All her. The contradiction was breathtaking.
He leaned back into the cushions and exhaled slowly, trying to settle the strange mix of pride, confusion, awe, and a deeper, more possessive feeling he was not ready to examine yet.
The soft sound of her footsteps returning pulled him back to the present. Bella walked in, carefully balancing a plate of neatly cut fruit, mango, apple, berries, and a tall glass of pale golden pineapple juice. She placed them on the low table beside him with a soft clink, then sat back down on the sofa, closer this ti.
Leo nodded once in silent thanks and picked up a piece of mango. He ate slowly, thodically, though he barely noticed the sweet taste. His mind was still caught in the duality of the woman beside him.
He took a slow sip of the cool juice, the tartness barely registering on his tongue. His gaze found her as she picked up a single blueberry, her attention divided between the fruit and him, her eyes constantly checking. Was he in pain? Was he comfortable? Did he need anything?
The silence stretched comfortably between them.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deep, filling the quiet space between them.
"You should eat too," he said, holding her gaze. "Not just watch ."
Bella nodded and popped the blueberry into her mouth, but her caring, watchful attention never fully left him.
***
"Nooooo—"
Dom’s voice echoed through the hallway like soone had just been given his execution date.
Jason had one firm hand gripping the back of Dom’s collar and was dragging him forward like an unwilling hostage, completely ignoring how Dom was trying to slow himself down by grabbing door fras and furniture edges.
"Stop walking like you’re going to your funeral," Jason muttered, pulling him forward again.
"I AM going to my funeral," Dom hissed dramatically, stumbling as he tried to resist. "You don’t understand. He saw . He looked at . With both eyes. Fully conscious."
Jason rolled his eyes so hard it was honestly impressive.
They turned the corner toward the living room.
Then Jason suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Oh great," Jason said, sounding far too amused for Dom’s comfort. "Good news. We don’t even have to climb stairs. Leo is in the living room."
Dom froze completely.
Like soone had pressed pause on him.
Jason tightened his grip and dragged him forward again.
Dom looked like he was seconds away from real tears.
"Jason," Dom whispered urgently, "Jason, listen to like a brother—"
"You are not my brother," Jason said imdiately.
"Like a financial brother," Dom corrected quickly. "If I disappear, who will help you dodge taxes creatively?"
Jason didn’t even slow down.
"You’re eting him."
"Jason, I have plans," Dom said quickly. "Very important plans. Spiritual growth plans. ditation. Self-reflection. Maybe monk life."
"Shut up and walk."
"I can change my na," Dom tried again desperately. "New country. New identity. I can beco a farr. I don’t even know how to farm, but I will learn."
They reached the living room entrance.
Dom tried one last ti to plant his feet.
Jason just dragged harder.
"You are a bad friend," Dom whispered angrily.
"I am an honest friend," Jason replied calmly. "Honest friends deliver you to consequences."
They stepped fully into the living room.
Dom saw Leo sitting on the sofa.
Dom inhaled sharply, like oxygen had suddenly betrayed him.
Then he forced a weak smile.
"Leo," he said faintly. "You look... alive."
Jason released him like he was dropping off a package.
"You’re welco," Jason said cheerfully.
Dom stood there stiffly, hands awkward at his sides, looking like a man calculating survival probability in real ti.
Bella was trying very hard not to laugh.
And Leo simply watched Dom with that calm, unreadable expression that made grown n rethink their life choices.
"I got him to you," Jason said proudly, stepping aside and giving Leo a dramatic wink, like he had just delivered a rare package.
Leo didn’t even look at him. His gaze stayed fixed on Dom.
Dom, anwhile, was suddenly very interested in studying the carpet.
The room went quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
Leo leaned back slightly against the sofa, slow and controlled. His expression stayed calm, but the faint, cold smirk resting on his lips was enough to make Dom feel like ice water had been poured down his spine.
"So," Leo said slowly, his voice low and smooth, "you’re that hacker from Hackerverse who stole my money?"
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