Louis struggled to stand up, his own words echoing confusingly in his mind. Overwhelmed by inner turmoil and a desperate need for solace, he yearned to escape the situation and find respite for the day. However, as he began to make his exit, Ezra unexpectedly intervened, his tone softened in a departure from his usual demeanor.
"We're navigating through murky waters here, Hughes. It's all quite absurd, and making snap judgments won't do us any good. Right now, we're just tossing around hypotheses and opinions to stay cautious. Plus, even if we do notice peculiarities, the connection with Alice remains elusive. So, try not to let it consume you too much," Ezra said with an uncharacteristic gentleness.
Louis, taken aback by Ezra's sudden shift in attitude, pondered the reasons behind it. After some reflection, he surmised that Ezra's kindness might stem from a biased affection towards Alice and a lingering positive image of his sister. The realization weighed heavily on Louis, prompting him to furiously tap his forehead with his fist, succumbing to a moment of self-loathing.
Louis grappled with conflicting emotions, a storm of confusion and jealousy swirling within him. Even in this moment, as Ezra extended care and concern toward Alice's memory, a pang of envy gripped Louis's heart. The realization that he harbored such feelings for his deceased sister's place in Ezra's thoughts intensified his self-loathing. He felt he was a really terrible person.
He did not have a right to pursue Ezra. He never had from the beginning. He should really just focus on solving this horrible supernatural situation so that he could get out of Ezra's sight and not cause any more trouble for him.
After a brief pause, Louis turned his attention to Maximillian, his voice measured. "Did they mention anything else? Was there any observation beyond what we just discussed? If not, I'd like to call it a day."
Maximillian, having polished off an entire protein bar and now tidying his hands with a handkerchief, took a moment before responding. "Miss Alicia mentioned something. She noticed that the blue lines extending from our feet lose some of their luster when the individuals they connect to step out of character."
Pondering the revelation for a moment, Maximillian continued, "It seems to be a sign of the control over us diminishing to some extent. At least, that's what the countess inferred. She suggested that you might have noticed something similar, considering our previous discussions on the matter." Maximillian directed his gaze at Ezra as he spoke.
Ezra contemplated the revelation, his lips pursed with a hint of skepticism. "Well, I did suggest before that the end of that line might lead us to the source of our control. Perhaps... it's more than just a possibility."
Damien, catching onto Ezra's line of thought, raised his eyebrows. "Ez, you might be onto something significant here. This line of control could be our most promising lead to unraveling the truth of your situation."
"Maybe," Ezra conceded, acknowledging the potential breakthrough. "If that's the case, then we need to utilize the brief moments when we're out of character to follow the direction of this line. 'Line of control,' as you put it. I'll adopt that term."
A sense of relief washed over Damien as he observed Ezra's growing composure. The trauma of witnessing an innocent child's death was a burden too heavy to fathom, and Damien couldn't bear the thought of Ezra enduring such a harrowing experience.
Sensing the conclusion of their discussion, Louis rose from his seat and made his way out. Damien, aftet hastily finishing his meal, joined the departing Louis. Before leaving, he turned to Ezra, suggesting they leave together to make it in time for their second class, if luck was on their side.
Ezra declined with a subtle shake of his head. He instructed Damien to call out his name during attendance in a way that the professor wouldn't notice his absence. A faint chuckle escaped Damien's lips as he nodded. Damien cast a discreet glance over the remaining two figures in the café before departing.
As the cafe emptied out, Ezra turned to Maximillian, his eyes conveying a deep seriousness. In a soft but probing tone, he inquired,"I believe there's a conversation that needs to happen between you and me. What do you think?"
Maximillian averted his gaze, reluctance evident in his demeanor. Observing this, Ezra raised his eyebrows before offering an unusual smile. "There's not much left between us, I get that."
"Indeed, it's a simple understanding. Do you expect a reward?" Maximillian retorted, his tone icy.
"Ah, perhaps I do deserve a reward," Ezra responded with a deadpan expression. "I was blind for two years, consumed by hatred. I convinced myself that the guy who worshipped the very ground I walked on was nothing more than a two-faced jerk."
Maximillian drew in a deep breath, the words clawing at his heart before escaping with harshness, "I hate you intensely. Your words, your actions, every inch of you—I despise it all."
Ezra responded with a harsh chuckle, casting Maximillian a mocking look. "Maximillian Carlisle, you're either the most adept liar the world has ever witnessed or a colossal hypocrite. Or, here's a more fitting conjecture: you, you asshole, embody both the traits of a liar and a hypocrite."
Ezra rose from his seat, circling the table to stand in front of Maximillian. With a gentle lift of his hand, he subtly traced the tips of his fingers against Maximillian's cheek. However, Maximillian swiftly seized Ezra's hand, halting his actions. Undeterred, Ezra leaned in until their foreheads touched, his free arm wrapping around Maximillian's neck, fingers teasingly scratching at the bobbing Adam's apple.
Maximillian's jaw clenched visibly, veins pulsating, as his eyes bore into Ezra's impassive gaze. "Let go, Ashton."
"Hmm? Can't handle pushing away stubborn little me yourself? After all, I'm no match for dear Mister High-Fly here, skilled in mixed martial arts, you know?" Ezra taunted.
"Ashton."
Ezra maintained the close proximity, a barely present smile playing on his lips. "If we linger like this, the owner is bound to catch us in this compromising position. What do you say? Shall we continue our conversation more comfortably in the car? What's your take, Carlisle?"
Maximillian's upper lip twitched in annoyance, feeling Ezra's proximity becoming dangerously close. Acting on the impulse, he gently held Ezra's waist and applied subtle pressure, pushing him back. Ezra complied, obediently stepping back, but his head tilted to the side in a challenging manner.
"Well?" Ezra prompted.
"Fine," Maximillian grumbled in acquiescence.
Upon getting into the car, Maximillian barely had a chance to settle before Ezra deftly maneuvered, settling into Maximillian's lap. Legs on either side of Maximillian's thighs, back facing the front window, Ezra's right arm coiled around Maximillian's neck, and his left hand rested on Maximillian's nape, brushing gently against his hair.
"Say, Carlisle," Ezra teased, "if I take it a step further, that is, if I kiss you right now, will you hit me?"
"Get off me, Ashton. You're the one who said someone might see," Maximillian retorted, his tone edged with frustration.
"Don't worry, your car is parked in a rather inconspicuous corner. I doubt anyone will notice us here. But, of course, if they spot a Bugatti, well, I actually don't care. Can't say the same about you, though," Ezra stated, his eyes oddly dull as he spoke.
Maximillian breathed harshly, firmly gripping Ezra's waist. Despite the desire to push him away, he hesitated, always fearful of applying too much force when dealing with Ezra. What if he unintentionally hurt him? That caution and worry were his weakness, and Ezra's answer.
"You're quite the comedian, you know that? Did you think I'm blind? Or perhaps you believed I'd be too stupid not to notice how much you still f**king worry about your ex, the one you just claimed to hate so much?"
Maximillian closed his eyes, attempting to shut out the scene in front of him. Desperately, he wished to block the rest of his senses, yearning not to be so keenly aware and affected by the warmth of the body in his arms or the enticing scent that enveloped him. Ezra could be remarkably harsh at times, but Maximillian knew he had no right to say that.
Ezra inched closer until their cheeks brushed against each other, his voice low and intimate as he spoke into Maximillian's ear. The hot breath sent shivers down Maximillian's spine, making him acutely aware of the impact. "If you hate me so much, why do you care about Louis and me being paired in that world? Why were you shaken up when you saw me in that state at the party? Why don't you push me away when I tease you like this? Why do you still worry whether I get hurt or not?"
Ezra pulled back, resting his forehead against Maximillian's, his eyes intensely scrutinizing every nuance of Maximillian's face and each subtle shift in expression. A slow, knowing laugh escaped Ezra. "The truth is, you just can't leave me alone, even if you want to. Call me conceited, but you never truly concealed your concern and care behind that half-hearted attempt to convince me that you hate me."
Maximillian's heart thumped harshly, a near-painful rhythm against his ribcage. His hand instinctively rose, gently cupping Ezra's cheek. His thumb unconsciously glided against the soft skin as he uttered in an exhausted tone, "You're lying to yourself if you think I care for you. I don't worry about you either. You're delusional. And extremely conceited. I hate you, Ezra. I really do."
Ezra met the intense gaze that held a mix of passion and love so openly, it was almost suffocating. Maximillian appeared oblivious to his own emotions. Ezra couldn't help but emit a mocking laugh. "Yes, of course. I can totally see that. You seem to be absolutely unable to stand me."
Ezra laughed for a while before fixing Maximillian with a blank stare. "Be real, Maximillian Carlisle. Spare me your BS. I'm tired of it."
Maximillian frowned, the pain evident in his eyes. "Ezra, please, just let me go. This is enough."
Ezra's arms tightened around Maximillian, and he pressed himself against the sturdy frame, casting Maximillian a challenging look. "I won't be letting you go that easily. You tell me first, my dear f**king Max. Why did you break up with me all those years ago? No, just tell me why you did it. I need answers now."
Their noses lightly bumped against each other's. "Take me back to our past. At what point did you decide that leaving Ezra Ashton in such a horrible way was necessary? Was it from the very beginning, from our embarrassing meeting? No, we seemed fine back then. In fact, we seemed fine throughout the entire thing. What prompted that decision then, Maximillian Carlisle? Tell me the truth."