"You..." I squinted my eyes, trying to enhance my focus so I could recognize the blurry figure in front of me that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Surprised?" The familiar voice that had always irritated me, now made me ease up a bit, instead.
"What are you doing here, eel?" I asked with a surprisingly hoarse voice. After realizing that the ashy voice was mine, I quickly cleared my throat which was starting to burn.
"I should be the one asking you. Did the plan fail? Tsk, tsk." He sighed.
"Oh, right. You didn't know what happened ye--ukh!" Even before I could finish explaining our reason to come here, my words were cut off by unrelenting coughs.
'Cough! cough!'
"Hey hey, little cub, don't speak yet." His playful expression immediately changed into a more serious one as he leaned my back against his muscular chest. His brows curled into a frown, and his trademark grin disappeared.
