2nd Path (continued)

Valin didn't wake up for 72 hours, RJ said it wasn't safe to move him so I let him have my bed and sat in a chair at his side, occasionally drifting off and laying my head down on the bed and napping. I could never seem to nap long enough, I kept hoping he would be awake by the time I got up but was met with disappointment each time.

"Snowe..." He mumbled when he finally woke up, His hand reached out for me and I took hold of it and rested it against my cheek, causing him to spring up and look at me as if he was perfectly healthy and full of energy. "Where am I?" He asked,

"My room." He started sweating and I could easily read the panic on his face.

"I see." He then got out of bed and rushed out. Thank goodness he's feeling better. RJ said he could die... it would have been all my fault if he did, whether I meant to or not. I bundled up the sheets and comforter, then put them into the washer, and now that Valin is okay, my appetite has returned so I went down to the kitchen. That's when I saw him leaving the bathroom in nothing but a towel hugging his hips... why is he taking a shower down here?! Plus... seeing him like this makes it impossible to see him the same way anymore. He walked past me without saying a word, and this time I couldn't explain away my rapid heartbeat with excuses like "He looks like a puppy" He's a grown man! Is Valin actually hot?! No, maybe I'm just too lonely, and hallucinating. I made myself a PB and J sandwich then a fully dressed Valin returned downstairs and poured himself a glass of orange juice. "Do you want to go out or is that enough to fill you up?" He asked. I tried looking at him but couldn't stop imagining him naked so I kept my head down.

"Where do you want to go?"

"There's a place that sells noodles, it's usually quiet... Have you had ramen before?" He asked,

"No." He grinned widely and said,

"Good."

It was a dimly lit restaurant and the tables were far apart. There were only 7 other customers. There was a nice atmosphere and the portions were huge. Valin asked me about my life, growing up in Infaniya, and then he told me about his. He's not the weakest of his brothers, his power is Earth, and he's a direct counter to both RJ and Zai, but he hates fighting, especially with his brothers.

"Family is important to me, I always worry that one day a fight might go too far, so I rather forfeit without trying..." He then revealed the reason he gave up empathy was because unlike most Afarions he couldn't stomach killing or torture. He felt like empathy was a weakness that always held him back,

"I'm sorry... making you waver on your vow... I didn't realize." He chuckled and stroked my cheek,

"I never told you... no need to apologize." I swatted his hand and looked away bashfully, "By the way... I was wrong, what happened to you was awful. I said oh because I didn't know how to feel and I was processing what you said but I understand how it may have come off as, I don't care. I'm sorry... also I do see the benefit in kissing you, now." I gasped and turned to him but he was no longer looking at me, just waving to get the waiter's attention to pay our bill. The night air was cold when we left, which felt nice after all that hot food.

"That's a nice breeze," I said then I felt his arm go around my waist and his hand laid on my hip.

"I do care about you." He stated urgently. I felt myself wavering slightly,

"I know... you wouldn't have gotten put in that state if you didn't care." Should I push him away?

"Fine... but you haven't told me, how you feel about me. I'm not good at reading people, so I'm going to need you to be honest." The breeze was no longer helping me so I started to fan myself,

"I... like you, I enjoy having you around," I admitted, and then he grinned widely and hugged me tight.

"Then I have a chance?" I started to say yes but bit my tongue and walked away instead. It seems like being with me will be dangerous for him and, I'd hate to see him in that state again. Days passed, and usually, it was just me and Valin together, baking a cake, practicing algebra, watching shows, or playing cards. Sometimes RJ would be home playing a game with Valin and I would keep to myself, eating snacks in my room to not disturb them, but even on those nights, before bed, Valin would text me affirming that he wants to kiss me, or that he wants to hold me or simply that he misses me. WHAT'S WITH THIS BARRAGE OF MENTAL ATTACKS?! And every morning it's a new math joke... some that actually made me laugh.

"Good morning Val!" I said while coming downstairs and sitting next to him on the sofa,

"I hate when you call me that." He replied, not looking up from his PC,

"I found a job! I'm going to be a barista at a cafe. I still need to go through 2 weeks of training but it's paid." He kept typing quietly despite my news, "In two months I might be able to afford an apartment," He stopped typing then and said,

"I have a condo, you can move into." I blinked rapidly,

"What's the catch?" I asked, "Wait I told you I was looking for work to afford a place before and you said nothing!"

"The catch is, I'll be your roommate... I hope you'll feel more welcome staying with just me, instead of in this shared mansion. And I didn't mention it earlier because I needed to get ready to move." I hugged him, squeezing his head against my chest.

"Deal!" He hugged me back and then sighed softly saying,

"This must be heaven. Being nice really does pay off." Nuzzling his face into my breasts. After that, I let him go and pushed him away. Apparently, Valin was planning on leaving the house soon but was procrastinating because he didn't want to leave me behind. It was 3 days before we left but no one ever came home for me to say goodbye to them. The condo was smaller, with only 2 bedrooms, and 1 and a half baths, but the kitchen and living room were big, so much so that they took up the whole first floor. In the corner of the living room was a Grand Piano.

"Why is there a piano here?" I asked,

"So I can play it," Valin answered, tossing his bags aside and sitting down on the bench in front of the instrument.

"You can play?" I was dumbfounded, is there no end to things I don't know about him? To answer my question he played a sonata that filled the whole house and resonated in the core of my soul.

"... The acoustics in here are good, right?" He commented then turned to me with a smile on his face. I nodded, awestruck with my mouth ajar.

"That was beautiful..." He ushered me over and said,

"Do you know how to play?" I sat with him and shook my head no. The last time I saw a piano was in Qon's house but I never got a chance to learn to play...

"I don't know how," I admitted bashfully

"Well sit in my lap and I'll teach you." My heart started racing,

"You're always flirting," I remarked,

"Of course..."

"It must be hard to teach me in that position," I added and he replied,

"I won't teach you otherwise." I bit my bottom lip and after a few seconds of internal debate, I moved into his lap, he took my hand and patiently explained the notes of each key, and how the pedals work, and when I admitted I couldn't read sheet music he spent the afternoon instructing me. Thankfully some of my knowledge from playing the guitar did transfer over.

During my first week of work, he paid for a taxi, and at night he taught me how to drive, around the neighborhood. Eventually, he let me drive myself to the cafe I was working at. It seemed like he was always working in the daytime. I was expecting him to be flirting with me non-stop once we moved in together, but that wasn't the case. He instructed me on how to drive. After I got decent at driving he went back to just teaching me piano. One day he showed up at my job, looking tense.

"Hey! Welcome to Happy Cafe' how can I help you?" Aliyah greeted, and he glared at her and held up his phone to show his order. She put it into the computer, and he paid through his phone as well. Then he walked to the bar counter, where I was.

"If you mess up my drink, I'll riot." He threatened.

"Go easy on me! I'm still new." I replied, then he smiled and said,

"You get off in 30 minutes, right?"

"Yeah," I answered while carefully preparing his order.

"Let's hang out." I smiled but didn't respond. After I gave him his drink he sat by the window and read something on his phone. And once my shift was over we left together.

"How was it?" I inquired.

"It was... sufficient." I scoffed then elbowed his side playfully.

"So where did you want to go?"

"Let's go home, order some food and watch something. I just finished a big project so I need a break." He had called for a ride to get here so I drove us both back to the condo. Valin ordered pizza and we watched a comedy together both laughing at the same scenes. "Wow... we should watch that again one day."

"I agree!" I replied, delighted. Then he turned the TV off, and placed his hand on mine, "um?!"

"It's okay if I hold your hand right?" I swallowed hard and replied,

"Uh ... yeah... are you tired of watching TV? Want to play a game instead?"

"I want to kiss you." He announced, I blushed and looked at him,

"... Really? I mean... you can kiss me ... if you want. I... want you to kiss me." I know he can feel my heart racing through my palm right now.

"Are you sure?" He asked while leaning closer "I won't stop at your lips, I will kiss every inch of your body." I fell onto my back and he looked down at me, his eyes scanning me up and down before finally moving in and pressing his lips to mine. His kiss tasted like pizza. "That felt different than I was expecting." He mumbled, I put my hand to my mouth still feeling flustered. then he kissed my fingertips and down my arm before burying his face under my shirt.

"W-wait!" I muttered as he pressed his lips against my breast and when I felt his tongue hit my nipple I pushed his shoulders, making him pop out from beneath my shirt.

"What's wrong? You said kisses are fine." I scooted away and crossed my arms across my chest. Does that also count as a kiss?!

"It's just so sudden," I replied. Valin crawled until he was hovering over top of me again,

"So it's okay... if I go slower?" Is this the same goofy math-loving Valin I've known?! Since when could he ask me questions like that?

"... I'm nervous," I admitted. He then moved his hands up my skirt,

"I know a good way to relieve stress." Not helping! I gulped loudly; the panic on my face seemed to amuse him but he released my panties that he'd been tugging on and sat up with a sigh, "Fine... I'll wait." Then he turned the TV back on and didn't say anything else. I sat up and crossed my legs, trying to settle my racing heart. What would I have done if he didn't stop?

The next morning as I was leaving for work he was on his laptop as usual, seemingly in a business call.

"It was Rhonda Mills... yes... I'm sending over the evidence now... I expect to be paid by noon." Then he looked up and saw me and said, "Hang on." He took his headset off and walked my way.

"Oh, seeing me off for once? I get off early today so-" He cut me off with a kiss,

"See you when you get off." With that, he walked back to his seat and got back on his call. What the heck?!

After that day, every day before work he'd kiss me goodbye and look me into my eyes as he reassured me that he was eagerly waiting for me to get back home. His lips tasted sweet and each time they touched mine I felt my heart wavering... If he asked me to sleep with him right now, I can't imagine refusing... No... I'd likely jump on top of him myself...