"Alright, just make sure to rest a bit. Next ti, try not to get hurt this badly again." Joshua reminded Beast, though he knew they never wished for such severe injuries in the first place.
The apocalypse was full of danger, and Joshua felt sowhat fortunate that at least he had Henry’s protection, or at the very least, he had an ability that could help others.
Just as he stood up to leave, his hand was suddenly grabbed.
Joshua flinched slightly, instinctively trying to pull his hand back. "Sorry..."
Justin had only wanted to hold Life back for a mont, but he severely underestimated the strength of an esper like himself. Seeing Life try to retract his hand, Justin frowned and instinctively reached out with his other hand to pull him back.
And that was when the accident happened. A faint tearing sound echoed, and the crowd froze before whispers rapidly exploded into excited commotion.
Justin looked up in shock as well. The young man had long, pure white hair, soft and flowing, and watery eyes that looked as if they could spill tears at any mont.
Justin almost panicked as he imdiately apologized. "I’m sorry, I didn’t an to..."
Joshua felt countless eyes turn toward him. Before he could pull his coat back on, the tall man sitting on the ground had already begun to stand. His towering fra nearly blocked out the light, muscles tense with power. Freshly healed, he no longer looked weak at all. If anything, he now resembled a feral beast on the verge of leaving its den.
What... what is this? Is he trying to fight?
That thought flashed through Joshua’s mind instantly, and he instinctively stepped back.
Seeing Joshua retreat, Justin frowned. He had not even spoken yet when the commotion in the distance swelled.
The crowd parted on its own, revealing a large man striding forward. For those who wandered outside on missions, there was no one who did not recognize him. Henry, the master of Eden, with a power so overwhelming it was terrifying.
At this mont, his brows were tightly furrowed, his cold expression turning even colder, like a storm about to break.
But the young man in front of him seed to have found a savior. Joshua almost imdiately ran behind Henry, leaving Justin frozen in place.
Henry had only just returned. He went to look for Joshua almost imdiately, and when he heard Joshua was in the treatnt area, he headed there without hesitation.
But then he saw Joshua without his hood, surrounded by a crowd of people like a pack of hungry wolves.
A surge of irritation rose in him instantly. Henry strode forward without hesitation, and thankfully, Joshua ran toward him.
His cold gaze shifted to Justin as he spoke slowly, "Eden does not welco guests who don’t know their place. Ian, return their crystals and show them out."
"Show them out" in na, but it was clearly an official expulsion, completely devoid of courtesy.
Justin’s subordinates ground their teeth in anger. They had no idea why their captain had suddenly behaved this way, but they couldn’t stand being humiliated like that.
However, before they could speak, Justin raised his hand.
His eyes were on Life.
He was now half hiding behind Henry, only a bit of his head and body peeking out. When he noticed Justin looking back, he instantly frowned.
Justin felt a surge of anger mixed with disbelief. Life was afraid of him but not of Henry? What kind of nonsense was that? Justin was absolutely sure he was never as terrifying as Henry.
But seeing the unhappy look on Life’s face, Justin couldn’t help feeling a faint sense of disappointnt. And when he saw Henry’s expression, that disappointnt turned instantly into anger.
He curved his lips into a smile. "We’ll leave. Consider those crystals paynt for Life’s treatnt."
Then he looked at the figure tucked behind Henry, smiling harmlessly as he said, "Life, see you next ti. I hope when we et again, neither of us will have any burdens holding us back."
It sounded like a declaration of a future fight. Joshua stayed silent, his face pressed against Henry, not sparing Justin even a glance.
Justin’s brows tightened further, irritation simring in his chest.
Henry watched Justin leave like a defeated man before finally pulling Joshua’s hood back on and starting to lead him away. But Joshua tugged his hand and spoke softly, "There are still a few people left who haven’t been treated."
Henry could only silently accompany him.
The injured people lying on stretchers trembled under Henry’s stare, wishing more than anything that their bodies could heal on their own.
In the end, the unrest in the treatnt area finally settled, and yet another rumor about Life began spreading.
So said he was an angel descended to earth.
So said he was actually Henry’s pampered "canary."
So said he was more beautiful than a celestial fairy.
In any case, Joshua could feel that Henry was angry.
He squeezed Henry’s hand tightly without saying anything. He felt a bit irritated himself, and a bit aggrieved.
Henry had been gone for so long, and the mont he returned, he was already upset. Joshua hadn’t even done anything wrong.
Suddenly, Joshua stopped walking. Feeling the pause, Henry imdiately stopped as well.
He turned around and saw Joshua with his head lowered, tears dripping silently onto the floor.
Henry froze. He hurried forward and pulled Joshua into his arms, apologizing over and over. "I’m sorry, it’s my fault, I shouldn’t have been like that, Joshua."
Joshua leaned against Henry’s chest without saying a word.
Henry panicked inside, even if he didn’t show it outwardly.
He lifted Joshua into his arms and carried him back to their own ho.
Joshua seed obedient enough, but his tears kept falling. Henry would rather Joshua get angry at him. That would have been easier to endure than this.
He placed Joshua on a chair and knelt on one knee before him, gently wiping away his tears. "Joshua, I’m sorry, please don’t cry anymore, alright?"
As he spoke, he lifted Joshua’s hand and placed it against his own face. "You can hit if you want. It’s my fault."
Joshua pressed his lips together before suddenly speaking, his voice choked. "You said you’d co back soon..."
Henry answered softly, "Sothing happened on the way back."
Joshua spoke again. "And earlier you ignored , even though I didn’t do anything wrong... hngh..."
At that, his tears started flowing again like a spring. Henry couldn’t help wondering if Joshua was made of water. How could anyone have this many tears?
He nodded and finally pulled Joshua tightly into his arms, his voice strangely hoarse. "It’s my fault, Joshua, I just... I was scared. I’m terrified of losing you."
Joshua paused for a mont.
He could feel Henry’s chest trembling. In the end, he lifted a hand and gently patted Henry’s back. "I’ll stay with you for my whole life, but you can’t do that again."
Henry released him and lowered his head to place a soft kiss on Joshua’s lips, murmuring a quiet promise.
Only then did Joshua’s tears finally stop. But once they stopped, embarrassnt arrived too late all at once.
He glanced at Henry and muttered, "I’m not a crybaby."
Henry couldn’t help finding the expression on Joshua’s face amusing, though there was a lingering ache in his chest.
In the past, Joshua had never cried. He was mischievous, and even when punished he could still laugh, carefree, as if he sohow knew that the best things in the world would always co to him.
But now it felt like his entire world had shrunk down to Henry alone. As if the re hint of coldness from Henry could frighten or wound him.
Henry gently kissed the top of Joshua’s head and whispered, "Joshua’s not a crybaby. You’re strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever known."
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