"You don’t trust ?" Malik said as he held a Braille notebook, using his fingers to read what Ravi had written for him to note. From bedti to curfew to Ash’s teacher’s contact information. There was even a reminder that he should visit Sage’s new workshop three tis a week.
Ravi coughed lightly, "How can you say that..."
He looked at Arlen, gesturing for him to find a befitting excuse.
Arlen had already dressed for the vacation, his face was flushed, and he smiled brightly at Malik, who was cross-legged on the dining table.
"It is because we trust you so well that we decided to entrust the notebook to you...." That felt like it could not convince anyone so Arlen changed it imdiately, "See it this way. If we didn’t trust you, would we have the confidence to travel halfway across the country for a vacation?" That one sounded better.
Ravi smiled at his lover and then turned to both Malik and Anouk who had just co ho ten minutes ago. Seeing him gave Ravi a lot more confidence and he asked again, " You would be in Harlem this entire two weeks, right?"
Ravi had been surprised at how good the iceberg was around the house and how tasty his cooking was. He didn’t say much, but when they had gone to the market, he picked out the best and freshest ingredients. The only fault was that he did not know how to bargain.
He would just give the trader a fifty-dollar note and say coldly, "Keep the change."
Anouk looked at both of them. He still dressed like the first ti that Ravi had t him. A black pressed suit. His long sandy blonde hair was tied in a low ponytail and his blue eyes were like frozen glaciers.
If not for Ravi having gotten to him this few weeks, he would think that the Hero Association was here to arrest him.
But since Anouk is here, he could rest assured.
"Rest assured. Really?" The voice in his head was clear and Malik’s gentle but absolutely mocking tone did not hold anything back.
"You burnt oatal. That does not make sense. Even a five-year-old child knows how to make oatal. It is one of the easiest things to cook in the world. How could not possibly ss it up? You owe a dollar for that oatal."
"That was a cup of oatal at most, fifty cents."
" Are you the one who bought it? Don’t try to guess the price?"
"I kept a gift in your box. 6000 years old and I am sure you would enjoy it but as soone who burnt oatal. What do I know?"
"Malik. My dear friend. Between the two of us, how can we start counting the costs?" Ravi made sure to infuse as much flattery as he could in his mind.
The two brothers were used to this situation. They would be talking and all of a sudden, everywhere would be silent. Malik and Ravi have moved the conversation to the ntal space.
Anouk took out a tablet. The page he opened was filled with graphs and statistical data.
"You are also working on Papa’s experint?" Arlen asked curiously. Anouk’s main job was
Anouk lifted an eyebrow, "Since soone decided to be a police officer in Davenport and refused to help with the family business. I can only pick up the slack." His voice cut through ice yet it did not move Arlen in the slightest.
He was the youngest and whenever he acted out, it was Anouk who picked up the slack.
"That must be so tiring. I would put you in my prayers. I would even bring back gifts for you. What do you want? Just say it." Arlen’s joy could not be hidden at all.
Anouk, "..."
Arlen, "I would also be leaving Ash in your care. Pay extra attention to him. Ravi is not completely at ease leaving him behind and when..."
Anouk, "Shut it. Just go." He rubbed his forehead and said in the next second, "Just focus on Ravi. I would take care of the rest."
Arlen wanted to hug him but then recalled that his brother particularly did not like hugs. He was not sure when that had actually started, seven or eight years ago?
After putting everything in order, Arlen and Ravi vanished from the living room.
It was just Anouk and Malik remaining.
It was still 8 a.m. in the morning. Ash must have already gone to school with Lana. They normally left by 7:30 pm and with Asher’s exam coming up soon, he must have urged her to leave even earlier than usual.
Sage was still transitioning from school to his own workshop so he still left at the sa ti he always did.
Anouk had already morised their daily routine to the T Including Malik.
Malik should have already dressed for work but he wasn’t. Was it because of Ravi’s vacation or did he know?
All of Anouk’s military training prevented him from sniffing himself. Before rushing here, he had made sure to stop at his flat and he had taken several baths, making sure to wash his hair thoroughly.
"Wasn’t there an incident yesterday night? It must have been exhausting."
He did not co closer to him. He didn’t call him Dove. He did not hug him. Anouk felt at a loss.
"En. During the Incident, Elistar broke so of their mbers from prison. Yesterday night, the Association led a recapture mission." Anouk reported quietly.
"This is the third night."
There was sothing about his tone that made Anouk scramble to check the rules in his head. Had he broken any?
That was not a rule per se? So he did not really break one.
One could never know with Malik and it made his heartbeat even faster.
Malik entered the bedroom shutting the door.
Anouk closed his eyes. That was the clearest sign. He had done sothing wrong.
He bit his lips, if he didn’t rember what he did wrong, he was done for.
When Malik ca out again, he wore a light blue shirt and trousers.
He stared at Anouk.
Anouk knew Malik could not see the way others could not but his gaze was even more piercing. Like there was nothing hidden before him.
That gaze made the skin behind Anouk’s ear seem so hot it was on fire, and the flas burned all the way to his core.
"Sir." Anouk tried to call out but no sound could leave his throat.
His voice had been taken away.
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