Chapter Text
Frantic knocks on his front door woke Lighter. His sore muscles begged him to simply ignore the person at his door. Lighter checked his phone and questioned who would visit him so late at night. There was a possibility that someone was hurt so he pushed himself off the couch. When he opened his door, he found his neighbour cradling a bundle in one arm. Wise’s face was pale and his breathing was ragged as if he had run a mile. They rarely spoke so Lighter didn’t know what could’ve made him look so afraid.
Wise’s eyes brightened like Christmas lights the moment their gaze met. The relief he felt only lasted a few seconds before he remembered his situation. In his panic, he stepped closer to Lighter than he would with others. He took his arm and said: “Thank goodness you’re home, Lighter. I know it’s late but please help me! Eous has a bad fever and he needs to go to the emergency room. My car broke down so can you drive us? You just need to drop us off and I’ll owe you big time.”
He looked down at the bundle of blankets in his arms and Wise carefully pushed aside the fabric to reveal a young child. The boy was trembling like a leaf as his eyes darted around the room. While Eous avoided facing them, Lighter caught a brief glimpse of guilt on his chubby face. He appeared slightly sick so Lighter gently placed his hand on his forehead to check Eous’s temperature. Lighter hummed thoughtfully. “It’s probably a regular cold and he’ll be better in the morning with just some sleep.”
“But Eous has a temperature of almost 40°! I read online that you should take your child to the emergency room if that’s the case. It might just be a fever but what if it’s something more? I don’t want to take a chance with Eous’s health.” They weren’t close neighbours so the logical side of Wise knew that it was presumptuous to ask for his help in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, disappointment made Wise hold Eous tighter. “I’ll call a cab if you can’t take me.”
“I’m not a doctor but his temperature doesn’t feel like 40°. He’s not drowsy and he doesn’t have trouble breathing. There’s no need to fret just yet. I know you’re worried about your kid but he’ll be fine.” Lighter said to reassure him. His frown only deepened and there was something about his blue eyes that tugged at Lighter. When Wise turned to leave, he placed his arm on the doorframe next to him and stopped him. “Tomorrow is Monday. There’s better ways to get out of school, Kid.”
Wise’s eyes flashed. Was he suggesting that Eous lied to him? He couldn’t help but be protective of Eous. Only Eous stopped him from arguing further with Lighter. He tugged on his shirt and struggled to lift himself high enough to whisper in his ear. Eous only felt comfortable enough to speak with a few people. His small voice trembled as he confessed.
“Eh, you said I’ll have to stay home if my cold gets worse. I’m sorry. But I really am sick so I didn’t lie to you.” He knew that he should be angry with Eous for lying and scaring him. If he didn’t correct his behaviour, he would learn to lie when he wanted to avoid something. Wise couldn’t bring himself to lecture him, especially when Eous coughed into his hands. He lightly kissed his temple and felt his fever.
To his surprise, it was Lighter who broke the tension. He let out a deep laugh and then he tousled Eous’s black hair in a brotherly gesture. It was the first time he heard his neighbour laugh and it was different from the gruff tone he would expect from the handsome man. “You’re pretty smart, Kid. Did you use the hot water trick? Next time, take out the thermometer before it gets bad enough to freak out your dad.”
“Hey, don’t give Eous any ideas.” Wise warned him. Neither Lighter nor Eous were intimidated by his scowl as they merely chuckled together. The way Lighter smiled back at him made his heart stumble and he hoped his voice wouldn’t do the same. He had to admit that Lighter was handsome. They were neighbours but he never found the right moment to introduce himself. “Sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night, Lighter. I’ll take Eous back home.”
“I have to get up in an hour to head to work so it wasn’t too much trouble. I’d take waking up to a pretty face like yours over my alarm. My boss has been giving me so many odd jobs at random times that I always end up sleeping on my couch.” Lighter joked and nodded at his couch. Wise had to wonder what his job was because it was rare to see his motorcycle parked in his own parking lot.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Lighter placed his hand on his forehead. At first, his surprise kept him from moving. His large hand was cool against his flushed skin and he was tempted to lean into his touch. His own thoughts embarrassed him when Lighter said, “You have a small temperature too. You should take some ibuprofen after you put Eous to bed. I doubt your kid can drive you to the hospital.”
Wise had been so focused on caring for Eous that he hadn’t noticed how sluggish he felt. Now that the worry and adrenaline had subsided, his body became heavy and forced him to lean back against the door frame. He didn’t know he managed to keep himself from dropping Eous in his state. Lighter must’ve noticed because he placed a hand on Wise’s waist to keep him from sliding down to the ground.
Eous slipped his hand from Wise’s light grip and then reached out to Lighter. It surprised Wise because the child was usually quiet around others. He would mainly speak through short mumbles like ‘ehn na’. He couldn’t blame him for being so wary after his past but seeing Eous’s curious eyes made Wise hopeful. This was the first time Eous tried to initiate a conversation.
Wise smiled. He pushed himself off the wall and closer to Lighter. “I think Eous wants to tell you something.”
“If Wise is sick, can you give him soup and let him sleep here?” Eous asked politely. He assumed that Eous would either tell Lighter goodnight or thank him so the request took him by surprise.
“Eous, you shouldn’t ask Lighter that when we already bothered him by waking him in the middle of the night. Sorry about that, Lighter. I’ll let you get back to sleep.”
“I don’t think Eous will agree to that.” He poked Eous’s hand that was clutching his black shirt. He could easily force him to let go but Eous appeared prepared to cry. Lighter leaned down and whispered into Wise’s ear. “We should play along with what he wants until he falls asleep. Then, you can take him back home without the waterworks. It looks like he’ll be out like a light soon, anyways.”
“I’m really sorry for keeping you awake like this.” Wise whispered back. Usually, Eous was well behaved and obedient. He assumed that the fever was making him fussier. At least Lighter was understanding and he merely shrugged at the situation. He let him into his house and gestured for Wise to sit on the couch.
There was already a pillow and blanket on the couch and Wise frowned. Was there truth in Lighter’s joke that he slept on his couch? Lighter’s home was sparsely furnished so his eyes were immediately drawn to a punching bag in the corner of the room. Lighter had broad shoulders and toned muscles so Wise could easily imagine him as a boxer. Could that be his job?
Wise slowly lowered Eous onto the couch and then tucked the blanket over his small body. He tenderly stroked his back to soothe him to sleep. Eous used his leg as a pillow and rubbed his tired eyes against his pants. He struggled to keep his eyes open and the sight was endearing to Wise. It would be best to talk with Eous about lying and entering a stranger’s home. However, he would leave that for later.
“How’s his fever?” Lighter asked and sat on the arm of the couch.
“Not as bad as I thought but I’ll have to keep him home tomorrow. Hopefully, this won’t teach him that lying and causing a scene will get him what he wants. Parenting is more difficult than I imagined— even after reading a hundred books.” Wise laughed weakly, his voice reflecting nights of restless sleep. “You’re really good with kids, Lighter.”
“I used to take care of a kid so I have a lot of practice.” Lighter nodded to a picture framed on his wall. In the photograph, a little girl smiled brightly with boxing gloves. The gloves were far too large for her and he reasoned that they actually belonged to Lighter. Lighter carried her on his shoulders. It was easy to see how close the two were from the pride in Lighter’s smile.
“I didn’t know that you have a daughter.” Wise worked from home but he had never seen Lighter with his daughter. He didn’t comment on it because he didn’t want him to think he had been watching him. They were only familiar strangers with each other. “If she’s the same age as Eous, they can play together. I’m surprised that you have a daughter at your age, Lighter. When did—”
Wise quickly bit his tongue when he realized that Lighter referred to his daughter in the past tense. He glanced back at him and noticed a hint of loneliness in his green eyes. Worried that he had unburied a difficult memory for Lighter, he started to apologize. Lighter shook his head to stop him. His expression didn’t appear upset or sad, just a reluctant acceptance.
“Her name is Stephanie. She’s actually the little sister of my friend and not my biological daughter. Dane listed me as her godfather in case anything happens to him. I don’t know why he chose me. I agreed because I never thought anything would happen to him. Then… Things happened and I ended up adopting her for a few years. When her grandparents found out, they hired a lawyer to get custody of her. They didn’t need to go that far. I know that they can raise her better than me.”
He spoke in a flat tone but Wise could hear the regret in his voice. He looked down at Eous and his heart tightened. Wise took Lighter’s hand and squeezed it tenderly. “Your friend wanted you to be her godfather because he knew that you would take good care of her. He’s right. Stephanie looks happy in that picture and Eous instantly took a liking to you.”
Lighter wondered if Wise’s words were merely meant as a platitude or something polite to say. Nevertheless, it made him happy. He told himself that it was better for Stephanie to live with her grandparents who could give her more. There were nights where he wondered if he honoured his friend’s last wish.
“Actually, we’re in a similar situation. I’m not related to Eous either. I decided to adopt him after my teacher… It’s a long story.” Careful not to wake him, Wise wiped sweat from his Eous’s dark hair. Lighter could sense that there was more but he didn’t push him for more. “At the time, it was the logical choice. I took care of my little sister after we lost our parents. But, as you can see, I underestimated how difficult it’ll be.”
“I would offer to give you some tips. Though, you might not trust the advice of a guy like me.”
“You knew that Eous was lying to stay home. If I ran to the hospital instead of your door, Eous would be spending an uncomfortable night in the emergency room. I’m glad I came here for your help.” Wise told him honestly. “It’s good that I’m a programmer so I work from home and I can keep an eye on him. What do you do for work, Lighter.”
“I work for Leaps and Bounds Logistics Company. I’m a consultant but I also do some odd jobs like deliveries and repairs.” Lighter told him a half truth and shrugged. The Sons of Calydon would take side work under the false name.
“Are you good with your hands?”
A teasing smile spread across Lighter’s lips. “Want me to show you?”
Wise realized how his initial question sounded and blushed. “I wanted to ask if you can fix my car. You said that you do repairs for your workplace. I sometimes see you working on your bike too. If you can help me, I’ll pay you well.”
He stood and moved to kneel in front of Wise. Now that they were facing each other, he could examine his green eyes better. His iris had a unique red tint. Lighter broke the moment. “It looks like Eous is asleep so you can take him home now.”
Lighter slipped his arms around Eous so he could lift him from his lap. Despite his strength, he was gentle and careful with Eous. His movements were so light that Eous continued to sleep peacefully as he placed him in Wise’s waiting arms. He was caught between wanting to talk with Lighter longer and taking Eous back home.
“Thank you for humouring Eous by letting us stay.” In the end, Wise rose from the couch to leave.
“Your face is red.” Lighter noted and placed his hand on his forehead. “Eous asked me to take care of you tomorrow if you’re sick. I can’t make any promises since I don’t know when I’ll get back from work. But, if you need help, just knock on my door.”
Lighter parked his bike in front of his garage. His body was sore from work and his stomach cried for food. The savoury smell of noodles from the house next door only made his hunger worse. Unfortunately, he neither had the energy nor groceries to make a decent meal for himself. He reached for his phone to order something for dinner.
“Ehn, a big bike—” Eous bit his tongue against the rest of the sentence when Lighter turned towards him. His curious eyes never left his bike but he held himself back from approaching him. Lighter looked around him and searched for Wise. From their short interaction last night, it was clear that Wise fretted over Eous and wouldn’t let him simply wander off.
He stepped off his bike and asked: “Hey, Kid, where’s Wise?”
To answer his question, Wise stepped out of his house and waved to them. He crossed the short pathway between their houses. He gave Lighter an eager smile when he reached his side. “Welcome home, Lighter. Eous wanted to thank you for taking care of us last night and invite you to dinner. I told him to wait until I finish cooking but he ran out of the house the moment that he heard your bike.”
“This little guy has a lot of energy now that he’s not sick.” Lighter knelt down and ruffled his hair. Eous nodded and bounced on his feet. It was clear to Wise that his neighbour had left quite an impression on Eous. He understood his feelings but for another reason. Wise had always been intrigued by his neighbour who wore a leather jacket and rode a motorcycle. Watching them interact was endearing.
“So, do you have plans for tonight, Lighter? If not, I’m making burgers.” At the mention of food, Lighter’s stomach growled. Wise couldn’t help but chuckle and it sounded like chimes to Lighter. That smile was more than enough to make Lighter nod. Wise and Eous each took one of his hands and pulled him towards their house.