When Gabriel entered the bedroom, a pair of ice-cold eyes landed on him. It made him halt for an instant, his smile stiffening on his lips. If looks could kill, he had a hunch he'd have dropped dead as soon as he had opened the door. But thankfully, Misha couldn't actually drill a hole in his forehead with his gaze. No matter how intensely he glared at him, it was an endeavor doomed to fail.
"Angry…?" Gabriel heard himself ask, although the answer was obvious.
"And why should I be?"
'Alright, he's mad. Goodbye peaceful evening,' Gabriel thought as he let out a wry laugh and closed the door behind him. He walked further inside the room, then sat beside the teenager on the bed. Oddly enough, whenever Misha's anger reached its peak, he didn't wreak havoc and instead calmed down, his mind clearing up. It was scarier than any outburst, for it was probably the only time Gabriel couldn't tell what was going through his head.
"I'm sorry for canceling at the last minute," Gabriel continued, his voice growing softer, "but you know how rare it is for Tristan to ask anything from Jake or me."
"Which is why I haven't kicked you out yet," Misha smiled kindly.
Gabriel got the cue and shut his mouth. Whatever excuse he gave right now would only backfire as Misha's pettiness hadn't receded over the years, not even one bit. What had changed was that Misha learned how to bide his time and pay back others when they least expected it, thanks to Gabriel's influence. Stephan frequently chewed him out about this, telling him that he didn't have to teach these kinds of wicked things to a "cute and straightforward child" like Misha. Now, he never knew when he'd get back at him. And damn, was it unnerving!
Honestly, Gabriel shared the thought. It had never been his intention to influence Misha, but they were always together. So naturally, they picked up each other's habits. Even he had become more honest with his feelings, and his emotions showed more often on his face. Whether this was a good or a bad thing, only God knew.
'I'm in for a lot of pain later,' Gabriel inwardly despaired while outwardly, he smiled and said, "Here, I've got a gift for you."
Misha cocked an eyebrow but accepted the brown paper bag Gabriel handed him. It had the logo of the aquarium stamped on it, so it wasn't hard to guess where Gabriel had bought the gift. Still, it did wonders to lift Misha's mood as he curiously peeked inside. He then gently lifted the small aquarium and brought it to eye level.
"I know it's on the ugly side," Gabriel chuckled at the puzzled face Misha pulled, "but I swear I did my best. Unfortunately, my artistic sense is just that hopeless."
"Wait, you made it?"
"Yes."
There was a short silence before Misha repeated, "You really made it…?"
"Is it that hard to believe?"
Misha pursed his lips and didn't answer. In response, Gabriel's smile deepened. He knew why the teenager couldn't help but doubt him. Anything that required using his ten fingers was usually beyond his capabilities and would more often than not end in a disaster. According to Misha, he managed to blow up the vacuum cleaner and set the stove on fire in the first timeline. Every cleaning tool he tried to repair all met a tragic end, and it took him years to learn how to cook a decent meal. It was no wonder Misha didn't allow him in the kitchen nor let him take care of the house chores in the second timeline.
Right now, Misha must be thinking something along these lines: "If I shake the aquarium too strongly, will it explode…? Yeah, probably. Gotta handle it carefully." He scrutinized it from every angle, just like a bomb technician would with an explosive device. His serious face made him look older, yet Gabriel couldn't help finding it cute. He had the urge to pinch his cheeks but somehow restrained himself. Antagonizing Misha any further would be akin to courting death.
Gabriel observed Misha's antics for a while longer before stretching a hand to take the aquarium back. As his fingertips were about to touch it, he said, "You don't want it? Then, I guess I'll throw it in the trash bin."
"Who said I didn't want it?!" Misha cried out as he leaped to his feet, scurrying out of the man's reach. He brought the aquarium to his chest and squeezed it tightly, almost as if afraid Gabriel would snatch it from him. "You gave it to me, so it's mine now! Stay back!"
A soft chuckle escaped Gabriel's lips, and Misha's cheeks flared up. That jerk was teasing him and he fell for it. Since the video recording incident in which his past self blurted out loving the guy, Gabriel seemed to have let go of his reservation and picked on him whenever the opportunity arose. He wore the same poker face as usual, so it was hard to tell when he was joking and when he was being serious.
"Stop making fun of me!" Misha growled, holding the aquarium with his left hand and poking the man's forehead with his right. "You act like a grade-schooler with their crush, it's honestly—"
Misha stopped talking mid-sentence and let out an awkward cough. That gentle look on Gabriel's face…. Nope, he hadn't seen it. Just his eyes playing tricks on him.
"Hm? What were you saying?"
"Nothing!" Misha grimaced, peering at Gabriel's hand that had gripped his wrist. It held it in place and prevented him from poking his forehead. The thumb gently stroked his wrist as Gabriel lowered his hand, mirth twinkling in the depths of his emerald eyes. He looked to be having the time of his life.
….Was it really that entertaining to tease him?!
"You know—" Gabriel started before being interrupted by a door being slammed open. He then lazily glanced at the doorway, not letting go of Misha's hand. A little pest just had to show up right at this moment.
"Oh, sorry!" Masha's voice carried a hint of surprise but also a bit of mischievousness. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Don't you know how to knock on a door?!" Misha groaned. "And no, you're not interrupting anything. There's nothing to interrupt, for starters!"
"You sure about that?"
"Yes!"
That being said, Misha yanked his hand back. He pretended not to notice the pity in his sister's eyes or the sympathetic glance she cast at Gabriel. Instead, he placed the aquarium on the night table beside his bed and said, "So? What do you want? I don't think you're the kind to pop up in my room for no reason."
"Oh, come on! What's with this awful greeting?! You've grown so uncute over the years!"
"I've never been cute to start with!"
"Uh-huh."
Gabriel shook his head and decided to interfere before the two siblings started to bicker their heads off. "Masha, did you need something?"
"Right!" Masha clapped her hands and smiled, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons. "Yuki and I thought of going on a picnic on Saturday since the weather is supposed to be mild. We wanted to know if you'd like to come with us? Also, can you invite your brothers and Stephan, Gaby?"
"Sure, can do."
"Great! And that's it! That's all I had to say, so the third wheel will take her leave now!"
Not waiting for her brother's answer, Masha fled to her room. As the door closed, her laughter still echoed in Misha's bedroom. It was almost taunting.
"Why does everyone act as if we're a couple?!" Misha grunted.
"I wonder why, indeed."
"Stop it with the creepy smile! We're not!"
"Well, not yet."
"We're not having this discussion!" Misha flicked Gabriel's forehead. He pinched his lips, and then his voice grew agitated as he added, "I don't want to have it now."
"Alright," Gabriel cooperatively nodded, rubbing his forehead. "I'll wait."
'Great. I feel like a jerk,' Misha inwardly sobbed as he ruffled his hair into a bird's nest, trying to calm down his erratic heartbeat. He had once wondered if Gabriel would ever fall in love with him, and that had been a stupid question. Even with how dense he was, he could tell the man held him dear—he'd have to be blind not to have noticed. Gabriel treasured him like no one else had before. They weren't a couple but did act as one. Misha didn't need to ask to know he loved him, and he didn't need to say it for Gabriel to know he also loved him.
However, Misha was currently a teenager. A freaking teenager. Confessing felt wrong, and more than anything, he feared he wouldn't be able to restrain his hormones were they to officially become a couple.
Misha had so many wet dreams lately it was starting to get out of hand; he'd even daydream about bringing Gabriel to his bed in class. If Gabriel told him he loved him out loud, Misha had a hunch that he'd throw precaution to the wind and jump the man. It was already hard not to let his hands wander when they hugged or slept in the same bed nowadays…. Gabriel truly had a nice waist, and an even nicer butt.
Oh crap, he was lusting after his body again. How could he ever have doubted he wouldn't be attracted to a man? Misha had never been in a relationship, his trauma acting up before he could get close to anyone. However, with Gabriel, it was different. His touch had always felt warm and comforting, even when he hated him enough to scheme his demise. And after entering puberty, Misha started to wonder what it'd felt like to get their bodies entangled. It was an innocent thought at first, one he had because he had never experienced love in his first life. Now, though….
Goodness, it was better to have a platonic relationship for the time being. He did not want to turn Gabriel into a criminal! This body was just too young. But honestly, Gabriel not saying anything and maintaining the status quo was the only reason Misha managed to keep himself in check. And maybe the nervousness of not doing it right helped keep his mind out of the gutter. But, of course, it wasn't something he'd ever admit aloud.