บท 59: Chapter 59 - How to calm down the puppet
It was already dawn when Leonardo finally woke up. Sitting up in bed, he had a hard time understanding what was happening. His head was spinning and his eyes were heavy as if he needed to sleep even more.
— Argh, my head...
Stroking his forehead he felt a discomfort in his hand. Was it bandaged?
Ah.
That's right.
Alex had broken into the circus and injured his hand... Again.
Vicente took him to the hospital, and he fell asleep because of the medicine. As he hated to take medicine, he was weak to them and always fell asleep like a bear about to hibernate.
Feeling his mouth dry, Leonardo looked for a bottle of water in the dresser next to his bed, but he couldn't find one. He got up to turn on the light of the study table, but he couldn't find any bottle in the room.
— I don't want to go down to the kitchen...
Sitting up in bed, the boy sighed heavily. He definitely felt sleepy to the point that he couldn't stand up. He wouldn't have the strength to go downstairs and walk to the kitchen. What a drag...
The bedroom door slowly opened. The figure of Benjin standing looking down made Leonardo remember his biggest problem.
Only Aslan was human. Vicente, Ray and Benjin had that scary appearance, and were possibly responsible for the disappearances. The clown said he would tell him as soon as his injury was treated, but because of the effect of the medicines, Leonardo still didn't have the "pleasure" of knowing the truth. Well, that made the situation tense and uncomfortable.
Swallowing dryly, he continued to stare at Benjin realising that he was still wearing his training clothes. However, it looked dirty with some reddish stains. Benjin did not look at him. He kept a safe distance from his young master and didn't dare look him in the eye either.
When they were at the circus, Leonardo had said he didn't care who he was. Of course, he had said that in the dread of the moment. He didn't want Barley, nor the other foremen, to see the trapeze artist looking so frightening. And besides, the pain he felt at the time also gave him no way to think better about the situation as a whole.
However, that didn't mean that Leonardo wouldn't care if he really knew who Benjin was.
So... how should he act?
It was uncomfortable that Benjin stood still as if waiting for a word from him. A dog waiting for its master's command to enter the house. Leonardo would rather see him acting as he always did.
— Are you going to stay there? — murmured the boy scratching the back of his neck, somewhat embarrassed.
— Aren't you afraid of me, Leo?
Tilting his head, he observed that the puppet was still looking the way it always did. It wasn't scary. But he couldn't lie to himself about his other appearance.
Extending his hand towards Benjin, the brunette sighed.
— It looks more like you're afraid of me, Ben.
Raising his greenish eyes quickly, the trapeze artist replied promptly.
— But of course not! How could I? You're so warm and cuddly.
— So you have no reason not to hold my hand.
— But I'm not human... You might end up hating me...
Leonardo lowered his hand to lean on the bed. Benjin was like an open book when it came to his feelings. From the moment he stepped into the mansion, he had made it clear how much he loved his young master and how afraid he was of losing him. Always caring and being on Leonardo's side, wanting to be pampered and touched. Even in the midst of the mess at the circus he worried more about not being more handsome in the boy's eyes.
Benjin was standing in front of him, afraid of being rejected for not being human.
Leonardo felt afraid of what he might find out about that dumb puppet. At the same time, he couldn't calm his heart from seeing the sad countenance on his lover.
— Honestly, I don't know what to think about it. At the same time it feels like a lie, I'm scared of everything they're hiding from me.
Benjin raised his head, entering the room and leaning against the door. Still he kept his distance.
— It would be natural for you to feel fear, Leo. I-I'll understand if you don't want to be with me anymore.
— But I didn't say I didn't want to be with you.
Hope appeared on the face of the trapeze artist, who still seemed reluctant to approach. Leonardo stared at him silently, wondering how much he should believe that drivel. I mean, look at that sad face! It was clear that Benjin was holding himself back from jumping on Leonardo.
For some reason, Leonardo wouldn't be hurt by Benjin.
Not while they were together romantically.
Should he take advantage of that while he understood what was going on behind the scenes at Dreamland?
— You're not angry?
— No.
— But you're afraid?
— It would be a lie if I denied it. Yeah, I'm scared.
— Do you want to run away from me, Leo?
— Not in the least.
— Can I hold you?
— You should have done that already.
Benjin ran towards his young master, dropping to his knees in front of him and hugging his waist. Leonardo let out a low chuckle at seeing his spoiled attitude back. That was the idiotic, perverted puppet he knew. Stroking his greyish hair, he couldn't help but feel comfortable with that trapeze artist's touch.
— Are you happy now, Ben?
— Uh-huh. I love you so much, Leo!
Yes, he is back to normal.
Leonardo felt his cheeks burn with heat, only it wouldn't be enough to keep him away from the trapeze artist. Lifting Benjin's face with both hands, the young master leaned down to kiss the other's lips tenderly.
If he needed to calm his lover about his fear of being rejected, then he would do so. Regardless of how afraid he felt, seeing Benjin as an abandoned puppy was even more annoying.
When his lips parted, the trapeze artist looked surprised and frozen in place. A sneaky smile appeared on Leonardo's face, maybe it wasn't so bad to see him with that expression. Teasing him could be a new hobby, though he believed it was an easy thing to do.
— What is it? The cat ate your tongue?
— A kitten wants to play with it.
Leonardo, looking at his eyes, undid his smile immediately.
— Are you kidding me?
— If I pet you, will you purr?
— Perverted son of a...
Benjin hugged Leonardo until he dropped him on the bed. Staying on top of the brunette, the puppet didn't delay in taking possession of his lips in another breathtaking attack. Leonardo already recognized the sensations that ran through his body. The shivers he felt when their tongues intertwined, the heat that surged when he was touched by Benjin's hands, and the growing desire to want more.
Hugging the trapeze artist so that any distance between them was lessened, Leonardo could feel Benjin's hot, panting breath against his skin. No matter what he did, he knew very well it would drive the other one mad. The point was that Leonardo couldn't enjoy the touches as much since his injured hand continued to throb.
But that wasn't enough to make those two pull away from each other.
Benjin explored Leonardo's mouth with his usual euphoria. His lip movement was intense and deep, swallowing every gasp his young master emitted. Still Leonardo felt that his lover would be holding back.
Wouldn't this be a good opportunity for a little teasing?
Leonardo didn't miss the chance to bite his lower lip and suck on it. The nibbling surprised Benjin, who held the brunette's chin and kissed him again more thirstily. An intense, passionate kiss that could take both of their breath away. There Leonardo could feel a hint of the desire Benjin felt.
His mind went blank when he was kissed like that. He wished he could live up to it, but Benjin knew how to leave him at his mercy. And when they needed air, the kiss would finally come to an end under the promise that that wasn't enough to calm the intense desires they felt for each other.
— Leo~ My Leo.
— Don't talk like that — the brunette complained, looking away — It's embarrassing.
— If you make that face, I'll swallow you whole.
Benjin nibbled Leonardo's jaw, letting out a muffled laugh when he saw the brunette blushing intensely. Only... The young master could sigh with relief to feel that nothing would have changed.
Stroking Benjin's face gently, Leonardo sighed. He would rather see him exactly like that, all silly and perverted instead of that scary look worthy of a maniac. Although that other version of him was still part of a Benjin that Leonardo didn't know.
Benjin held his injured hand gently, and kissed his palm. The sad look he directed at his young master had made him abandon any thought he had at that moment. Only to focus on that needy puppet.
— Does that hurt?
— Hm, fucking hell.
— I should be there to protect you.
Rolling his eyes, Leonardo remembered the dream he had had the other night.
"— Don't worry. Benjin is still on my side protecting me. "
Ah, right. That dream was intriguing.
After he'd had it, Leonardo didn't feel afraid to stay in the park. He also didn't feel that insane desire to run away from Dreamland. It was as if he had rediscovered within himself the key piece that would remind him that there was his home. The place where he was supposed to be.
— Leo?
Waking from his thoughts, Leonardo stroked Benjin's face.
— But you protected me when you arrived, didn't you? — Lowering his eyes to the trapeze artist's clothes, Leonardo pointed to the red stain — Isn't that why you left?
Pressing his lips together, Benjin leaned his head against the brunette's chest and stared at him sadly.
— You asked for a show. And I couldn't let him get away after what he did to you.
A shiver ran through Leonardo's body. Did that mean that this was... a bloodstain? Has Benjin done something to Alex?
— What did you... show him?
— Just a punishment that everyone will suffer if they dare touch an Evilian.
Something had happened. Definitely. Leonardo would think the worst case scenario would have occurred while he was sleeping. Swallowing dryly, Leonardo held Benjin's hands and kissed them warmly.
— I don't want to see you dirty again, understand?
Blushing, Benjin nodded.
— Yes, Leo.
As he stroked Benjin's hair, Leonardo couldn't help but think that something was being kept from him until then. Well, the situation had gotten out of hand to the point where Vincent was letting this secret out. They were so keen for him to become the heir to Dreamland that they were manipulating him like a puppet.
Leonardo could not allow this to go any further. Since he was willing to change his life, that crossroads seemed to be his final test.
But before making a definitive decision, Leonardo needed to dot the i's and cross the t's first.
— Ben, are the attractions still awake by any chance?
— They are, Leo. Why?
As Benjin raised his head, he met that determined look he loved so much.
— I want them all gathered in my office. Right now.
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