"Right now?" Sebastian asked, not looking away from the road. He had a serious expression on his face and didn't look surprised at all.
"You're saying yes so easily?" I replied, flabbergasted. Usually, people would stare weirdly if someone asked to sleep with them. Possibly because sleeping with someone connotated sexual encounter between the two. But this man didn't even think about what she was implying before saying yes.
"I'm the only one you know in town and if it helps you recover, I'm willing to sacrifice my body." He nodded strangely, making me feel strange about this whole situation.
"What do you mean sacrifice your body?" I protested. The vigor of my voice not impacting the man sitting beside me.
"I'll have to move in with you for the most part. Sheng Sheng will have to come, too. And I don't know what kind of sleeping habits you have, so I will literally be putting my body on the line to help you recover."
I huffed in frustration.
"I haven't strangled anyone in my sleep." Yet, I added internally. If it was Sebastian, I would pretend to sleep to let him get a taste.
"Because you've never slept with anyone. Once you have a partner, all sorts of secrets about your sleeping state will come out. Maybe you snore, or kick in your sleep." Sebastian frowned. "Not to mention, your mattress isn't the best for my back."
I had to roll my eyes. "No disrespect, Mr. Butler, but maybe go to an orthopedic to get your back checked. You're definitely getting old. Also, stop sleeping like a mummy. It's freaky." I breathed in a victorious gush of air. Whatever that meant.
"I don't sleep like a mummy!" Sebastian protested and fired up the car's engine.
"I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night to that horrifying sight. Please act like a human." The conversation continued into the university where students greeted them. Sebastian had gone to lengths about how superior his sleeping method was. No doubt, this genius thought himself perfect in all ways.
"Beware. I might try to pull out your brains through your nose in the middle of the night," I promised threateningly. I could see people turn to look at us when I said that. For the most part, people had ignored them but this must have gotten their ears working.
I slowed down, trying not to say anything scandalous after that.
"I'm already letting you sleep with me and you pay me back like this?" he scoffed. The surrounding people turned away as quickly as possible, some of their eyes wide with excitement.
"Shut up," I warned him.
"You'll regret it," he began. "I'm a slave to the modernization of medicine and surgical practices but I draw the line at taking my brains out. It's precious and can only function within my body. I'll fight you to death if you try."
I nodded quickly and was going to speed up when he held me back. "Also, if you're capable of being violent, should I be scared of you jumping in my sleep?"
I wanted the ground to split up and swallow me. "I'm not going to act like an animal, Mr. Butler," I grit out through my teeth.
"You have a lot of repressed emotions, you can never tell." I wondered if he was being obtuse but when I turned to look him in the eye and beg him to stop, I saw the amusement in his eyes. He was doing this on purpose. In the distance, I could see students from classes I sat in on, staring at me. Sebastian looked at them too. The receivers of his gaze were usually men.
Confused, I let the matter go and turned to retort.
"I'm throwing you out. I'll find someone else," I said without a shift in expression.
"Someone else?" he almost yelled.
"Yes, I've found that you're not supportive and understanding in your ways. I'll just find someone who is more understanding of my situation. Even if I jump them." I gave him a pointed glare.
"I'll have to warn you. I have extensive knowledge in the field of psychology and can help you if you meet any adverse situation. Someone else wouldn't be well equipped to do the same. And not everyone is so controlled as I am. If you jump an unsuspecting person, they'll not control their animal nature. You'll be swallowed alive while you are unconscious."
There was no hint of panic in his voice after the initial one of surprise. I turned to glare at him.
"So be it." I strode into the faculty common room and placed my bag. The first class was in ten minutes, so I had to prepare for it. Sebastian didn't say another word for the rest of the day.
When they came back to the complex, I went to my apartment without prompting. I was just preparing to have some fruit for snacks when the calling bell sounded. I looked over my shoulder towards the front door and had a sneaking suspicion that it was Sebastian. I padded towards it without a hurry, wanting to make him wait for a while.
When I peered through the peeping hole, I saw black fur. Confused, I pulled back and opened the door quickly.
"Oh," I sighed. Sebastian was holding up Sheng Sheng in front of the door, leading to the strange sight. Sheng Sheng was looking healthy and the shine of her fur made me want to cuddle with her. I leaned in, extending my arms so that she could jump into them.
"Traitor," Sebastian muttered as he walked in, bypassing me. Sheng Sheng rubbed herself against my clothes and purred. I closed the door behind me and followed Sebastian in without a word.
"What brings you here?" I asked. He had already taken a seat
"We have interviews with the victims on tape. We'll be analyzing them to see what they have in common and how we can make a profile for the perpetrator."
He held up a pendrive to show me. I nodded.
"Set it up on my laptop. I'm cutting fruits," I told him. I placed Sheng Sheng into his lap and strode towards the kitchen without another word.
When I came out with the plate of fruits, Sebastian had already set everything up. He looked up and patted the seat beside him. I gave him a smile and placed the plate between us.