Chapitre 28: Chapter 28 - End of a minor cold
The night was warm despite the winter outside. Comfortable and warm, there was no way Benjin wanted to move from that bed. But for some strange reason his body was too heavy, sore.
Had he been able to withstand the fatigue and reach his room, instead of collecting himself on the upholstery of the drawing room as he always did? If so, he deserved some credit for his efforts.
Blinking his greenish eyes slowly, Benjin had a vision of a partially dark ceiling. There was no light on, but there was sparse illumination. Rotating his eyes around the place without recognising his room, he soon realised where he was and his heart missed a beat.
The young master's room.
He had slept there a few times to the point where he recognized his wardrobe, the bathroom door and even the desk next to it. There on the study table was a lit candle, illuminating the average boy in grey sweatpants and a black wool shirt, leaning against the wall. Arms crossed and eyes closed, having the sound of the rain outside making his lullaby serene.
So beautiful.
His heart immediately sped up as he saw how relaxed Leonardo looked leaning against the wall like that. Sitting up in bed, the trapeze artist was about to call him over when a hand rested on his own, stealing his attention.
He was surprised to see Vincent leaning to his left, smiling.
― Vinnie...
Vincent had raised his forefinger in a sign of silence.
― Please don't wake him. He's only just gone to sleep. ― Benjin had tilted his head blinking in confusion, drawing a simple laugh from the administrator. ― He had been nursing your fever all night.
Bringing his hand to his chest, Benjin had blushed immediately. He had also noticed his clothes, smelling the woody perfume Leonardo used to wear. Ah, his heart raced immediately.
― Have I been ill again?
― Young master said he saw you faint. He was in his study and went out to help you. When I arrived to call him to eat, your fever was too high and he asked me to prepare some medicine ― Vincent said as he sat on the edge of the bed, arranging the covers on Benjin ― He can only rest now that your fever has gone down.
The heart could only accelerate more and more euphoric to hear those words. They would seem like seductive lies, if it weren't for the figure of Leonardo himself propped sleeping at the window. Benjin had already noticed his habit, he liked to sit at the window.
A shy smile appeared on his face.
He was happy.
He had imagined that his foolish decision to make the bet would be decisive for their estrangement. Besides, the young master seemed to get along with other people both outside and inside Dreamland, making a groom by his side unnecessary. Which was even more frustrating.
But he should laugh at his own foolishness, for he had made the bet knowing that Leonardo cared for him. And his care was the greatest proof of that.
― He should come and lay down with me, Vinnie.
― I presume the smallest of movements will rouse him ― Whispered Vincent.
Benjin wanted to hold Leonardo. Wanted to smell his scent and feel his warmth. Even if it was met with a roll of eyes and grumbles, Benjin wanted to hold his fiancé in his arms. Covering his mouth to hide the weak smile that appeared on his face, the trapeze artist shivered.
― What to do, I'm so happy. My Leo...
― Please let him sleep, Benjin. Besides, we are without power because of the storm. I assume when he wakes up he'll worry about the park.
― Of course he would worry, it's his home.
Benjin's grumbling had been a net that had caught a curious fish. He had noticed in Vincent a disguised and restrained smile, turning into a strange grimace. Realising he was the target of the trapeze artist's uneasiness, Vincent huffed, swallowing his own laughter.
― I suppose so.
― Spit it out, Vinnie.
Vincent sighed and then his amber eyes sparkled like a real jewel.
― Today I caught a glimpse of Leonardo diligently looking after Dreamland. Ah, Benjin, it was the most beautiful thing.
― Diligently looking after it? What did he do?
― He behaved exactly like a young master ― Smiled Vicente proudly, despite the slight confusion in Benjin. Realising his incomprehension, the clown soon continued ― It was just like that character Aslan showed you and you liked.
It had taken a while for Benjin to assimilate the information. Aslan had shown a Japanese animation where a fifteen-year-old boy had inherited a county and made a shady contract. Benjin had loved the little boy, for despite all his coolness he never stopped acting like a mere teenager.
Oh... Leonardo had acted like that?
Oh...
Oh...
Smoke billowed from Benjin's ears and nostrils as his face reddened with his fertile imagination.
― I want to accompany Leo next time.
― I'm sorry, but Benjin must rehearse at the circus.
― I have confidence in my abilities!
― Denied.
― Vinnie...
Benjin had formed a beak on his lips when his hair was stroked. Vicente got up from the bed and gave the trapeze artist a glass of water and a pill waiting for him to take it. Leonardo acting like a young master, he must be all wily and intelligent. Surely it would be a vision from the heavens. Benjin had to see that. he would find a way to see Leonardo acting like a young master, it would be better than his fantasies.
Finally being alone with the sleeper, Benjin rose from the bed quietly approaching the window. He had tried his best not to make any noise, though he wished he could run and jump into its arms. Being close enough, he smiled as he held up a few strands of his hair that fell over his closed eye. He pulled the lock away just enough to get a better glimpse of his sleeping face.
Was he so tired as to not notice a movement like that?
Leonardo was a box of surprises. When they first saw each other it had felt like he was a knight ready to rescue his prince. The warmth of his coat and the way he had fought with that brute were unforgettable. The second time they met again he already seemed reluctant to accept his feelings.
He should admit that it was fun to play with Leonardo, for his words said the opposite of his features. He gave himself up to his hugs and kisses, becoming weak to the charms of the trapeze artist. But all he had to do was to give him a crack and the young master would pull himself together and push him away. Still, it was fun.
But in the video Aslan had shown him of the band's performance Benjin saw a different Leonardo. Like a bird free to fly away at any moment, leaving him behind. It reminded him of the discussion that dawn, which one of those sides was the real Leonardo Evilian?
Regardless of which one it was, Benjin loved him.
He loved him so much that he was selfish enough to lock that bird in a cage. Leonardo certainly wouldn't like this side of him, so he should be more careful. Anyway, the young master was a great person who attracted people. Be they good or bad.
As long as he was inside Dreamland, he would be protected.
Benjin had been careful to hold his young master in his arms and carry him to bed. Leonardo was still sleeping serenely, curling up under the covers laid over him and sinking his face comfortably into the pillow. As adorable as a child.
The trapeze artist lay down on the bed again, staying exactly next to his fiancé to continue admiring him. He wanted to hug him, to tuck Leonardo in his arms so they could be in contact. But he had to be patient.
― How much longer are you going to stare at me?
The husky, sleepy voice had caught Benjin off guard, leaving him paralysed.
― Are you awake?
The dark eyes opened slowly showing the heir's visible tiredness. Benjin smiled nervously, shrinking into the covers, not knowing what he could, or could not, do.
To his surprise, Leonardo reached out his hand and touched his forehead, checking his temperature superficially.
― It seems that your fever has gone down. Do you feel anything?
― My heart is going to explode and mini Benjins will be spread all over the room.
Leonardo gritted his teeth.
― I'm talking about your health, you perverted puppet.
― Oh, right. I'm fine. I've been well taken care of.
Benjin's genuine smile had brought flushing to the cheeks of his young master, who had shrunk under the covers and looked away. An adorable reaction that increased the desire to hug him.
― How can you work so hard to the point of fainting, you're such an idiot. And you gave me a hard time carrying you, do you have a problem wearing thick clothes? It's winter.
― Am I being lectured?
― Yes, you are! ― shouted the young master, making the other laugh.
― Was my beloved fiancé by any chance worried about me?
The question contained his malice, which caused a reddish tinge to those pale cheeks.
― Who said I was worried?
― Vinnie told me you took care of me diligently.
― That clown son of a...
Holding Leonardo's face with both hands, Benjin forced him to return his gaze at last. Even if he could see his shame, even if he didn't know how to escape. He would corner him with that simple touch on his warm cheeks.
― That shows I won our bet.
One, two, three seconds to Leonardo's paralysis.
― From where? I stayed away!
― In the end you came to my rescue, took care of my illness, and gave me a good lecture ― whispered Benjin, caressing the young master's cheeks with a sweet smile on his face ― You care for me because you love me, Leo.
That was proof enough that he really cared about the trapeze artist, and there would be no denying it. Leonardo clicked his tongue straining to turn his face away from those greenish eyes. Though Benjin was only too happy with his every reaction.
He wouldn't admit it out loud, the trapeze artist could tell. But he felt it was in his young master's heart. So he would declare an end to that torturous bet.
Hugging the young master tightly, to the point where he felt his neck tickle with the strands of dark hair, Benjin was the embodiment of happiness.
― Thank you, Leo. Thank you for taking care of me, and for caring about me. I'm so happy.
― Your heart is really racing ― murmured Leonardo against the trapeze artist's chest.
― It's because I am embracing my moon. Ah, I missed your smell...
― Don't you dare get excited! ― growled the boy, trying to get away from the hug, causing Benjin to laugh.
― Did you notice? Oh, I'm so bad at hiding my fetish for the young master.
Stiffened, Leonardo had picked up the pillow and used it to hit the trapeze artist. But he dared to keep laughing as if his young master's reaction was adorable.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone