Chapter 21 - T

Anton woke up to someone moving around the room. He opened his eyes to see Xander placing a tray of water and some food on the table, before turning to sit on the bed. However, he didn't get to sit because he had seen Anton was awake.

"How are you feeling? Are you thirsty? Hungry?" Xander asked, watching Anton with in a worried tone.

Anton shook his head. He stretched out his hand, latching it onto Xander's arm and pulling him to sit on the bed, then sat up and leaned his forehead on Xander's shoulder, the one closest to him.

"Just sit and breathe." He told Xander. "Have you even eaten today?"

"Why do you ask?" Xander asked suspiciously.

"I've heard you moving around nonstop for the past 15 minutes. I don't think you've had enough time to take a break." Anton explained.

"I've taken enough breaks. You just get better." Xander told him.

"What exactly did the doctor say was wrong with me?" Anton asked frowning.

"The knives you got cut with were poisoned."

"Oh..." Anton drowned deeper.

"Oh? All you have to say is oh? I was practically explaining to you why you shouldn't have taken them on yourself, and you fainted less than half way through, practically proving my point and all you have to say for yourself is 'oh'?" Xander raised his voice.

Anton raised his head and turned to look at Xander. He smiled tiredly. "It's fine. I'm fine. Nothing happened."

"This time. Nothing happened this time. What about the next, huh?" Xander asked, his voice frosty.

"It won't happen again. I wonder why you're so livid." Anton replied. Xander said nothing.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until there was a knock on the door. The door opened shortly after and Caleb and another man walked in.

Anton smiled, watching them walk in.

"Anton! How on earth did you get into this state?!" Caleb asked.

Anton opened his mouth to answer but before he could, Xander interrupted him.

"Who is he?" Xander asked Caleb.

"Oh, almost forgot. This is Zeta. He... He's my boyfriend." Caleb explained.

"Your what?!" Xander exclaimed his eyes going wide in shock. Zeta only studied Xander's reaction but didn't make any reaction to it.

"Well, that was fast... Good job." Anton told Zeta with a nod and a smirk. Zeta nodded once with a slight smile but he watched Xander with the corner of his eyes as though suspecting he'd explode or something.

"Wait, you know him too?" Xander turned to Anton.

"Yes, we met on the night you and I met as well."

"Do you even know when they met? You're just letting them date?"

"I don't need to know when they met, Xander. And what right do I have to stop them from dating. It's their choice."

"Their choice? Bullshit. I've never even heard of this guy before today and all of a sudden, Caleb is dating him?"

"Caleb is old enough to make his own choices. You're not his dad. Besides, knowing Caleb, I'm pretty sure his parents would already know about this already."

"I don't need to be his dad to stop him. The guy looks like a creep. Pretty sure he stalked Caleb at a point."

"Um... Yeah... About that... He kinda-" Caleb started.

"He fucking stalked you didn't he? That's it. He's outta here." Xander finally exploded in anger. He was shaking. It's seemed unreasonable to get angry over something that didn't even concern him. However, it was probably the pent up anger from the previous events in addition to this.

He was just about to get up and give a piece of his mind, maybe even fists when he felt arms snake around his waist, and someone rest their face against his back.

"Xander, breathe. Just breathe." Anton whispered.

Xander closed his eyes and took deep breaths, over and over until he finally stopped shaking. He stayed silent for a moment, then opened his eyes, turning towards Anton, purposefully avoiding where Caleb and Zeta stood.

He removed Anton's hands from around his waist, and laid him down. Anton only watched Xander to be sure he was stable. Xander looked up at the drip, noticing the pack of the fluid was finally empty, brought the covers up to his chest, pushing a few stray hairs; that fell around Anton's face when he laid down, away and placing the back of his hand on his forehead to feel his temperature.

"You should sleep. I'll tell the nurse your drip is finished."

Anton nodded with an "Mn."

Xander smiled with a "good" then turned around afterwards only to see Caleb watching them with both brows lifted in curiousity.

Xander ignored him turning to Zeta. "You. Come with me." He commanded.

Zeta raised a brow but followed him without a word.

Caleb, suspecting Xander would do something, moved to follow him, when Anton called his name.

He turned to Anton to see him shaking his head with a smile.

"I'd like to speak with you for a bit too. Do you mind?" Anton asked.

Caleb sighed. "Fine."

Anton started,"I could already guess the kind of person he was when I met him. Zeta I mean. He really loves you. And it didn't just start. I'm happy you're ok with knowing this. However, you need to be sure you can handle all of what he has to throw at you."

"He's been admiring you for years. You'll need to be a bit more considerate of his feelings and to understand where he's coming from when he says certain things or wouldn't let you do certain things."

Caleb chuckled. "I know Anton. You're not my mum."

"Do I sound like her?" Anton asked curiously.

"Yes, you do! She's rubbed off on you. See why I told you to stop hanging around her? I can swear she loves you, Xander and Zeta more than she does me." Caleb frowned a bit.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're still her son, so she obviously loves you the most." Anton assured him.

Caleb rolled his eyes. "If you say so. There's something I'd like to know about though... So... You and Xander, huh?"

"Uh, well... It's not exactly what you're thinking..." Anton tried to explain.

"Ah, really? Well, then please enlighten me, what is it I'm thinking?" Caleb mocked.

Anton remained silent, not knowing how to reply without giving anything away.

"You like him, don't you?" Caleb asked.

"Liking him doesn't mean anything if he doesn't like me back. I'm really genuinely happy for you and Zeta. I hope you'll remain happy for a long time. He's really good for you." Anton said.

"I know. I also hope you and Xander get together soon. You're good for each other, believe it or not. He'll come to realise that soon enough." Caleb smiled at Anton.

Anton gave him a wry smile back.