On the journey home, Cardin thought hard about what Nimue said. From the time he had decided to stay, he had been focused on figuring out how he could earn his own keep instead of freeloading off Keary. As for his housemate, another reason why it hadn't crossed his mind was because Keary didn't attend school either.
He turned to start up the hill, and, as if on cue, another set of footsteps fell in pace beside him, a shoulder nudging gently into his. His pulse quickened as he looked up at the dark-haired boy walking beside him, who took one last drag from his cigarette before tossing it aside and shooting him a crooked grin.
"Hey. How was your day?"
"It was alright. Things were really busy at the café." Cardin smiled up at Keary, feeling something in himself relax. He always felt safer with him around. Since he'd started work, the silver-eyed boy had equipped him with a mobile phone so that he could call if there was trouble, but still made it a point to always meet him somewhere along the walk back. But there had been no signs of any other stalkers or assailants for the last two weeks, and Cardin was still turning the matter of school over in his mind.
"Hey Kear, do you think I should attend school?"
"School?" The incredulity in Keary's voice spoke volumes about what he thought of it. "What for?"
"What do you mean, 'what for'? Isn't that a normal thing for people our age to do?"
"Well, I'll be 20 this year, so technically I'm too old for that." Keary turned towards him, walking backwards up the slope. Cardin noticed that the other boy, who was usually comfortably dressed, was suited up in a black dress shirt and pants under his winter coat, and his longish hair was slicked back.
"Not even university?" Cardin sighed when Keary wrinkled his nose in scorn. "If I'm to get a proper job here, I'll need academic qualifications…"
Keary snorted. "Do you? I didn't."
"But you– What do you even do for work anyway?"
The dark-haired boy gave a careless shrug. "I'm a freelancer. I take whatever comes my way. There's plenty if you know where to look. Which reminds me, I'll be busy tonight. A friend got me a gig to play at a bar, so I've asked Nigel to come over and keep you company until I get back," he said as they reached the front door. "I'll have to leave once he arrives. I could use some help with my tie though." He flashed Cardin a sweet smile.
"What makes you think I know how to do it?" Cardin huffed as they stepped into the warm house.
"Dunno. Intuition?" Keary sprawled out on the couch, unbuttoning his coat but not bothering to take it off. "You seem good with your hands." The silver eyes twinkled impishly, clearly alluding to something else.
And then there's that. Colour rushed to Cardin's face.
After he had voiced his intention to stay, they had returned back to the house, but had barely gotten out of the winter cold when he had found Keary's warm mouth and body pressing into his. Cardin had been quickly swept up in the other boy's touch, but before long, Keary had drawn back.
"Welcome home," he had murmured, before turning away.
After that, the dark-haired boy hadn't made any advances towards him. Although the silver eyes followed Cardin every time they were in the same room, Cardin had begun to wonder if those few intimate moments, as well as the night that Keary had caught him coming out of the shower, had just been a dream of his, or a result of his concussion. All he knew was that he wanted more.
But there was also the matter of Keary's night-time excursions. On several occasions, Cardin had woken in the middle of the night to find himself all alone in the house. Keary never picked up the phone at those times, although he was always back by morning, sometimes with small wounds and bruises. It was possible that he went on these mysterious trips in the day, when Cardin was at work in the café, but there was no way of knowing since Keary refused to give a proper reply when Cardin asked where he had been. The secret left a tension in the air between them.
Where does he go? Cardin wondered. What is he hiding?
He gave a frustrated sigh, then set his mouth in determination.
Well, two can play.
Now, he crossed the floor and snatched the tie, which Keary was dangling lazily in the air, and sat next to him, pretending that he wasn't still blushing.
"Sit up." When Keary obediently propped himself up, Cardin turned the shirt collar up, then looped the tie around the dark head, obstinately ignoring the intent argent gaze, as well as the fact that the other boy did indeed look especially suave tonight.
Apparently Cardin did know how to knot a tie, but only if he didn't think too hard about it. If he chased his memories, he had no clue what to do, but if he relaxed and followed his instincts, his hands seemed to move of their own accord.
Interesting. I can't remember my past, my name, or my age, but I can manage a necktie. Talk about priorities, eh? he grimaced at his brain. I wonder what else will surface if I try this method with my other memories–
He was jerked out of his thoughts at the sensation of a pair of lips brushing against his temple, and his hands fell still as a line of light kisses was planted unhurriedly down the right side of his face.
"So serious." Keary's voice was low. "Such focus…"
Cardin shuddered as the hot breath wafted against his ear, his heart pounding. He tried to speak, but could only manage a shaky breath. His eyes fluttered closed as the kisses continued down to his chin, then up his jaw to his other ear. When a warm tongue enveloped his lobe, he let out a loud gasp, throwing his head back as an intense tingle ran up his spine, making him go weak.
...