Like an obedient dog, Rowan stayed in the house—in the lounge—the whole morning Duke was not home. He didn't even dare to enter the studio again. He was scared that something would happen if he found himself surrounded with paint just like his real blissful days.
The door moved to an open, and Rowan perked his head up at the movement. He looked in the direction of the door and saw Duke walk in with boxes of pizza. The man's face was marked with a smile, but his eyes were rather cold.
"Welcome back, Duke. Did they get mad at you?" Rowan asked as he rose from the rug. He patted his clothes and ruffled his bed hair. "Did they hurt you?"
"They got mad, and they did hurt my feelings." Duke laughed as he handed the pizza to Rowan for him to plate. "I left as soon as I woke up. I feel dirty, so I'll take a shower first. You can start eating if you like. No need to wait for me."
That was what Duke said, but Rowan still slowed his actions to take as much time as he could. When Duke finished his quick shower, Rowan was still slicing the pizza. Their gazes met, and Rowan smiled as if trained to do the stupid.
He placed a slice on a plate and picked up a fork. "I really wasn't trying to wait for you. You just move too fast. It's going to get cold. We should eat it."
"I don't believe you." Duke's words didn't reflect his smile. He just shook his head and sat down on the couch. Rowan gave him the plate and the fork. He started eating, watching how Rowan worked on getting another slice for himself. "Did you sleep the entire morning? I can map your body on the rug."
"Huh?" Rowan blushed a little and looked at where he lay. He couldn't see a real indention he made, and it was not like the rug had dust or fur that could draw his silhouette on it. "Uh, sorry, I'll… I'll clean it…"
There was nothing to clean, however. He was really having a hard time seeing how Duke could tell he laid there the entire morning. Did he tear some strands of it? Did he leave a pool of saliva? If he left something unsightly, he should get rid of it before Duke gets mad for it.
"…you should learn how to react to jokes, Rowan…" Duke noticed how Rowan stared at the rug as if he was caught making a mistake. The poor man's eyes almost watered in fear and uncertainty.
"What?" Rowan turned to seek Duke's face, but the other man was already hiding it behind his hand.
Duke had no choice but to feel guilty. What happened just now felt like he was bullying a pitiful airhead. Even if it was adorable to look at, he shouldn't do it again.
He waved his hand. "I didn't mean to… Rowan, no, I can't map you on the rug. That was a joke."
Rowan only stared at the man and nodded without a sound. He just looked down at his food and started eating. If there was no problem, that was good.
"…maybe I should find out who that man is…" Duke whispered under his breath before finishing his pizza slice. The poor Rowan didn't even have much reaction toward the joke. Aside from complete servitude, Duke figured he had not seen Rowan make other kinds of moods yet.
Ah, no… he could grow too embarrassed. Rowan also grew strangely offended and upset when he saw that painting on the easel earlier that morning.
Duke wondered if there were more to see. He then turned to Rowan who was carefully eating as if hoping not to drop anything on the floor or on his clothes. A smile then curled Duke's lips before he reached out the plate in Rowan's direction.
Without a word, Rowan turned as if he was keeping Duke in his peripheral vision. He took the plate and asked, "Do you want another slice?"
"Yes, please." Duke released the plate since Rowan was already holding it. "Should we get groceries for our little kitchen? I'll leave you with the list. You can buy anything you think you need."
"Uhm, I don't know what Duke likes to eat…" Rowan went through the motion of serving another slice to Duke. He only continued eating when Duke started on the second slice. "Do you have dishes that you want me to cook for you?"
Duke didn't have a preference, but the way Rowan looked at him made him decide on a few food items that would work. He just had a feeling that Rowan would be scared to tread around if he put all the decisions in the man's hands.
At this point, Duke wondered if Rowan was kept as a slave instead. The man looked too healthy to be starved; neither did he have signs of maltreatment. That was why he figured Rowan was a lover stuck with an abominable man. The chains of love were far sturdier than any metal, but they would shrink faster than cotton or wool.
…
Even if Rowan was only in Duke's house for a short while, he couldn't help but feel like the sun hadn't shone on him for so long. Rowan stood under the afternoon sun while Duke was driving the car out to the front of the condominium. What a perfect time for the back elevator to be out of order.
The man with dark hair closed his eyes and felt the warmth on his body. Even if he was wearing two layers because of the winter weather, he still found the sun kissing his skin. Maybe if he stayed down there longer, he could feel less foreign.
The sights, sounds, and scents of this Wailing Veil were very different from what Rowan remembered. It seemed that this city was far up north. He didn't know how someone like Duke would be in the capital if he lived out here.
Honk! Honk! Rowan opened his eyes when he heard a car horn. He was prepared to step out of the way, but the sight shocked his entire core. He couldn't even fight the paralysis that came with his fear. That black finish and that smooth shape and edges…
He could recognize that car even if he just saw it from a mile away. It was Scott's car.
"Rowan, what are you doing?" Duke called out as he pulled over right in front of the other man. He noticed how Rowan's eyes almost fell out of the sockets. However, the poor guy seemed to have woken up from the daze upon staring at him longer.
"Sorry… I thought I saw something else…" Rowan apologized. He didn't even have the initiative to get inside the car.
Duke opened the door for the navigator's seat with a laugh. "It's all right. Just be more careful next time. Someone might just kidnap you if you freeze like that."