The Specialists and Clare burst out laughing, unable to contain themselves as Malvin's irritation and embarrassment grew in equal measure. "Tha—that's just hilarious, Captain!" Jos wheezed between fits of laughter, slapping his knee.
"I-I can't believe he actually did that!" Tores added, practically doubling over.
"Ah, I wish I'd been there to hear it myself!" Clare managed, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Wow, this was needed after everything else you've told us," Loreen said with a lingering chuckle, dabbing at the corner of her eye.
"You must have been furious, Captain," Aeron chimed in, delivering a deadpan "ha, ha, ha" in a monotone that only made the others laugh harder.
Malvin, now messaging his temples with a mixture of annoyance and resignation, growled, "Must have been furious? I'm getting pissed off just remembering and telling you all about this!"
Their laughter lingered for a few more moments before they gradually began to calm down. Loreen cleared her throat, though her smile betrayed that she was still holding back laughter. "What happened after that, Captain?" she asked.
"More shit that pissed me off!" Malvin snapped before letting out a sigh. "But right after Viktor yelled that, what happened was…"
---
"Do you get it now?!" Malvin barked, his hands clutching the front of Silas's sweater as he all but shook the man. "He was just trying to create a misunderstanding! Do you understand?! We are NOT dating!" Malvin had been holding Silas by the collar of his sweater for the past few minutes, aggressively explaining—over and over—that he and Viktor were in no way, shape, or form involved in any kind of romantic or sexual relationship.
"I got it, I got it!" Silas squeaked, his hands desperately trying to pry Malvin's grip loose. "Please let me go! You're scaring me!"
Malvin finally let go with an irritated grunt, allowing Silas to stumble back and clutch his collar like it might somehow keep him safe. Viktor, meanwhile, stood a short distance away, snickering loudly and completely unrepentant.
Hearing that, Malvin's glare shifted to his so-called "friend." A visible vein pulsed on his temple as his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his entire body tensing like he was about to ascend into another dimension. He stood there, trembling with suppressed rage, his stance wide and rigid, his shoulders pulled back as though he were mid-transformation in a dramatic action scene.
"Why. Did. You. Do. That. You asshole?!" Malvin roared, his voice a mix of fury and disbelief as he barely resisted the urge to throttle Viktor then and there.
Viktor, clearly reveling in the chaos he'd caused, shrugged with an amused smirk. "Because it was funny," he said nonchalantly, brushing some imaginary dust off his sleeve. "Come on, Malvin, lighten up. You saw your partner's face, right? That was hilarious."
Malvin's jaw tightened, and his clenched fists twitched like they were just waiting for permission to strike.
Meanwhile, Silas, still rubbing his neck and shooting Malvin a wary glance, hesitated before asking, "So… who actually are you?"
Malvin's fury paused for a moment as he glanced between Silas and Viktor. He exhaled sharply through his nose, shoving his frustration aside just enough to mutter, "Silas, meet Viktor Lovern." He jabbed a finger at Viktor, his tone laced with irritation. "Viktor, meet Silas Deep."
Silas blinked, his confusion quickly morphing into shock as the name registered. "Huh!? Viktor Lovern? As in, the Viktor Lovern? The heir of the Lovern family!?"
Viktor's smirk deepened as he offered Silas a small wink. "That's me. Nice to meet you," he said smoothly.
Silas recoiled slightly, holding up a hand like he needed a moment to process it all. "Please do not do that again," he said, his voice wary. "I feel like… something will wake up inside of me if you do."
"Viktor, could you not flirt with my partner, please?" Malvin said, his tone strained with barely contained irritation, before quickly adding, "Or me, for that matter."
Viktor let out an exaggerated sigh, one hand dramatically pressed to his chest. "Okay, fine, you're no fun," he said with a pout so ridiculous it looked absurd on someone of his status.
Silas, still trying to process everything, stared at Viktor for a long moment before shaking his head and turning to Malvin, his finger pointing accusingly at Viktor. "You're friends with someone like this, and you never told me?"
"Why would I tell you?" Malvin retorted, crossing his arms.
"Because we're partners," Silas said, motioning between himself and Malvin as if the answer was obvious.
"That doesn't mean we have to share everything," Malvin replied flatly.
Before Silas could argue, Viktor slid an arm casually around Malvin's shoulders, flashing an impish grin. "Aw, but you shared everything with me when we were partners, Malvy. Was I that much more special?" Viktor's eyes practically sparkled as he leaned in, his voice dripping with a flirtatious undertone, completely ignoring Malvin's earlier request.
Malvin slipped out from under Viktor's arm with a glare, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "We were kids, and that was school! Stop trying to create more misunderstandings!" he snapped, his frustration boiling over as Viktor chuckled unapologetically.
Meanwhile, Silas just stood there, watching the exchange in quiet disbelief. He couldn't help but think Malvin seemed like a completely different person when Viktor was around—less stoic and more... human, if not utterly exasperated.
---
"And as if Viktor wasn't pissing me off enough already, a certain brat decided to show his face as well!"
---
"I was wondering what all the yelling was about over here. Turns out it's just you two."
Malvin froze, the familiar voice sending an immediate wave of annoyance through him. He recognized it all too well, and he already regretted turning to look.
The three men turned to see a twelve-year-old boy with sharp blue hair and matching eyes, dressed in what were almost certainly stolen winter clothes. Next to him, clutching the boy's arm and half-hiding behind him, was another child around the same age. This one was a half-elven boy with golden hair that faded into white at the tips and striking magenta eyes that shimmered faintly, like stars caught in their depths. He, too, was wearing what Malvin could only assume were stolen winter garments.
"What are you doing here, Xain!?" Malvin growled, his tone dripping with seething irritation.
Xain tilted his head slightly, his expression equal parts confused and unbothered. "Hi?"