Chapter 29: Difference Begets Change

"You don't need to walk me back up. It would be the second time you scale this mountain again." I said as I laughed, thinking of Darryl going up and down the mountain with the image of a thief bagging his goods.

I imagined that because he had been helping me lug my groceries until the foot of the mountain. It didn't help that he carried it over his shoulder like it was a sack of potatoes.

"It's alright, I'm sure you can't carry it all up." Darryl smiles, insisting on helping me despite the fact he looked disheveled and worn out from the day activities.

"Trust me. You'd better head on home to rest. I'm sure you're tired. Thank you for today. I had fun!" I smiled as I grabbed the bags from his hands.

"Are you certain? I can walk with you till midway."

"It's fine. Good night." I said as I waved at him and headed up the mountain.

***

A few minutes into walking up the mountain, I glanced behind and sighed in relief that he had stopped following me.

However, I stared at the bags of groceries in my hands that have begun to feel like I was carrying bags of stones instead.

"Ahh! Maybe I should have just took him up on his offer!" I sighed and slumped against the guard rails.

"Looks like it has come to it... I have to use that..." I muttered to myself as I glanced at the thick greenery on my right.

Carrying all the bags of groceries up the mountain was impossible for me. I had to do this. Even at the cost.

"Ugh... why did he make it so fragile? That f**ker. Stingy bastard." I muttered as I made my way into the forest, looking for the device I had hidden.

Upon finding it, my face lit up and I felt relieved. I just wanted to get back home and relax in a nice bubble bath. Maybe drink some wine after a long while?

That Darryl is making me fork out my cash like him. Only difference is he is loaded and I'm not. Better stop getting influenced by him. I shook my head as I quickly headed towards the teleportation device.

Seeing as how I kept it such a hidden thing, even the end point to which I set it was hidden in the lab somewhere.

It was usually just me and Aries but I also didn't want him to use it as much because the cost to replace one device was really pricey. I only used it during emergencies.

This is an emergency okay?!

I said the pass code and touched the device before being enveloped into a darkness. My stomach turned and I felt my eyes squeezing. I felt queasy but held it in.

That was the cons of using the device. You do feel terrible after. Even motion sickness pills were useless. That's another one of the reasons I prefer walking up and down the mountain.

I pried my eyes open to find myself falling in a heap of boxes before groaning in pain once I fell into them.

I glanced around and sure enough, I was back in the lab. I had placed the end point in the attic of the lab so it was mostly dark and I could hardly make my way around.

I scrambled about as I searched for the lever that drops a staircase but halted in my actions when I heard the sound of the front door breaking. My face paled as I stayed as still as possible.

There... is someone in the house... I'm sure I locked the door... What do I do? It's never happened before.

I stayed as still as possible and tried to breathe as soft and silently as possible, hoping that the person wouldn't think to enter the attic.

Suddenly, the attic door was pulled open and light poured in, blinding me temporarily. I panicked as I heard the sound of the folded ladder hit the ground and the creaking sound of someone climbing on it.

My fingers fumbled through the bag of groceries as I armed myself with stuff to toss at the person. As I saw a head emerge from the stairs, I quickly tossed something in their direction. I could probably escape if they were to stumble and then get out of here.

However, nothing goes as planned as everything I threw at them were either skillfully dodged or caught. My lips trembled as I backed myself into a corner.

I threw a book I could grab and tried to distance myself from them, surprising both myself and them when it had landed square on their face. It had a similar satisfaction you'd get from watching a video where cheese was thrown to someone's face.

What do I do now? Are they here to rob me? But I don't have that many things of value! I pawned most of them to make ends meet.

"P-phone! I'll call Darryl..." I muttered to myself as I fumbled through my pockets.

"I-its not turning on! N-no way!" I panicked as I pressed the power key in a frenzy.

"Sol?" A clear and gentle voice with a curious tone... I recognised it anywhere.

"Aries?" I replied as I dropped the phone and forced myself to adjust to the dim lights.

"I thought it was a burglar. It was you. But why are you in here?" Aries asked before noticing the teleport end point resting in a corner beside me.

"I can explain..."

"There's no need to. Why don't we head down? I'll grab these." Aries said as he placed the things I had tossed at him into the bags before heading down.

"Sol, hand over the rest. I'll take it down. Then slowly come down." Aries called out from below as I grabbed the last few bags and placed it near the entrance.

I handed them to him before heading down, only to remember halfway that I had left my phone behind. I quickly headed up again, only to slip and get caught in the ladder.

"Ahh-" I gasped before a strong pair of arms caught me.

"Sol! Are you okay?! What happened? I'm so glad I was nearby." Aries sighed as he pulled me close to his chest.

I could hear the beating of his heart... or was it mine?

"Sol?" Aries asked as his ocean blue eyes entranced me.

"Did you hit your head?! You're not saying anything!" Aries panicked as he suddenly pressed me against his chest as he checked my head for lumps.

Well, that's enough of that I guess. The moment didn't last longer than a minute.

"I'm fine. I left something up there. I was going to get it and slipped. You caught me in time. I would have protected my head even if you didn't come." I said as I pushed him away.

"I can get whatever you left up there. Why don't you put the things away?"

"... Sure. I left my phone up there. Just grab that and come down." I said as Aries helped me off the ladder before he climbed up to the attic.

I sighed and lugged the groceries to the kitchen, putting them away before noticing a cold breeze.

Why is there a------

"ARIES! MY DOOR!" I screamed as I pointed at the missing front door.

Aries had rushed over and glanced at me nervously before lowering his head.

"Sorry... I broke it... I thought there was a burglar in the house, so I rushed in to catch them." Aries pouted as he held onto my shoulders.

"Forgive me?"

"You.... better fix it! Winter is coming!" I said as I pushed his face away from me.

He knew full well I was weak to a handsome face like that. There was no need to go above and beyond by putting on the puppy dog eyes as well.

"But Sol... I've been meaning to ask..."

"What?"

"You smell... different... strange." Aries narrowed his eyes as he leaned into my hands that were pushing him away and licked it.

"Wha-what are you doing?!" I panicked as I pulled my hands back. My face was probably red as I felt my cheeks heating up and my voice raising in pitch.

How does he always do things beyond expectations?

"Were you with someone else? I smell a different scent from you. I don't like it." Aries said as he pinned me against the wall, sealing my exit.

"What? I was but... I don't think they smelt that bad? D-do I smell bad? Also, isn't that kind of creepy? How do you know how I smell? Do I always smell bad? My God, did I have BO?!" I panicked and blurted out whatever came to mind before Aries leaned closer and leaned into my neck.

"No... Sol smells really good. But now your scent is very faint. I don't like it." Aries said in a muffle as I felt his breath tickle my neck.

"Is it? That guy is a little like you. He often comes over as well." I laughed as I thought of how these two liked to hang out at my lab which was secluded from most of civilization.

"I don't like that at all. Why does he come over? Aren't I enough for you?" Aries asked as I felt him wrap his arms around my waist.

"... What are you talking about? He comes over for work. He's my sponsor. I don't get where you're going with this question." I replied as I pondered where to put my hands before settling to wrap my arms around his neck.

Sometimes Aries tend to whine. It's quite endearing but I don't get what was making him so upset currently. Whenever he was upset I had to pamper him with attention and pat his head to calm him, which was what I was doing now.

"Are you feeling better now?" I asked as I ran my fingers through his silky locks.

"A bit. But can you continue for a while longer?"

"I don't mind but... it's getting a bit chilly." I said as I glanced at the place where the front door should be.

"Oh... sorry. I'll fix it now. Please continue on the bed later."

"Huh? What?"

"Did I stutter?" Aries grinned at me before ruffling my hair.

He then checked the door hinges and grabbed the door he had tossed against the wall outside and pressed it against its initial location.

"I'll put the things away while you get to work." I said as I headed to the kitchen and selected the things to put away into the pantry.

What a way to say it. Maybe his neck has been stiff from sleeping on the couch whenever he came over. It's just... awkward. Two grown men on a bed big enough for one person.