Chapter 131
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2038, Planet: Grimoire
The hour was growing late, and the kitchen was getting cold. "I should probably just take off." Firenze sat in the kitchen patiently waiting for Grifton to return. "Nah, he's going to need to blow off steam even if just talking."
Firenze shook his head wearily. "I kinda wish those kids waited until after Grifton returned from this latest journey. He's scheduled to go out at dawn."
This was the worst timing, but Firenze knew it wasn't those kids' fault. How could they know the pain that Grifton felt whenever he saw them? Firenze sighed in concern. "Man, I hope he didn't fall asleep in some hallway because he's so exhausted."
Firenze drummed his fingers on the table before rising to his feet and then sinking down. "No, he'll be back soon." He knew it was causing him some severe psychological damage to see those kids who were spitting images of their mother and father.
Firenze recalled the brief time he'd seen the Alpha sire, Donrico Consuenos. His teeth gritted in fury when he remembered that evil creature. "Damn that nasty bastard. He ruined so many freaking lives." He still influences how people live, even now.
"Damned jackass didn't know when to quit." No thanks to that bastard, Firenze hadn't gained Grifton's trust until several years later. "I suppose I should also thank him, though." Even now, he knew that Grifton had moments of unease when he tussled with conflicting emotions and base desires.
He shook his head in bemusement. "Well, at least he's learned to distinguish the levels of crazy obsession when it comes to different types of Alphas out there." There was also a colossal divide between them since Firenze was Alpha and Grifton was Omega.
Now sitting in the silent kitchen, Firenze sighed. "I admit it, I'm in love with him." It was pretty painful to have unrequited love for someone that would likely never acknowledge him. "I'm reaping what I've sown." He understood what others had felt when he'd been so careless around them. "Oh well, I'm grateful he hasn't kicked me out of his life." It wasn't as if Grifton hadn't tried that, Firenze acknowledged with amusement.
There had been quite a few times when Grifton had tried to distance himself from Firenze. "Well, I'll admit that I didn't exactly try stopping him those times either." Only twice had he nearly succeeded, but that was because Firenze had commitments he needed to complete.
"I think he stopped doing that after he nearly got kidnapped again." Even so, Firenze returned to Grifton's side once he finished. "Too bad there were no other reasons for him to turn me down." He also remembered how Grifton was an emotional wreck once he'd returned from his mission.
"Huh, maybe he needed the support of someone familiar after that disaster of a mission?" Firenze sighed heavily as a few connections clicked in his brain. "Maybe I shouldn't have pushed so hard to join the caravan after all," he muttered wryly. "Nah, it isn't as though I won't have other opportunities in the future."
Firenze supposed the real reason was that he feared some Alpha would catch Grifton at a vulnerable time. "I'm pretty sure he's about to go into heat." He knew there would come a time when his instincts as an Alpha would take over. "Grifton even admitted that his suppressants weren't working anymore."
Unease grew in Firenze when he thought of what might happen. "I just hope he doesn't reject me when the time comes." That would cause quite a showdown between him and Grifton. "How do I convince him that I genuinely love him?" It would also determine once and for all whether they shared similar levels of affection for each other.
Firenze sighed. "He should be coming back soon." He didn't mind waiting for Grifton. No doubt the exhausted idiot had forgotten that he was here. Firenze was going to have fun teasing him if that was what happened. "I wouldn't put it past him to conk out on the couch either." That was something Grifton often did when he couldn't move any longer. "He must be close to his limits and pulling on reserves by now." Firenze shook his head when he realized he was making excuses for why he wasn't leaving yet.
Sure enough, he heard footsteps approaching the doorway. Right on time, it was almost 3 a.m. Surely, he wouldn't try going on the caravan in this condition? If he'd stayed out this long, Grifton most likely had spent some time at Lamberton's office. Well, Firenze figured he'd find out soon enough.
The last few hours had been quite eventful and somewhat shocking for Grifton, who wavered between being grateful to the youngsters for recalling his existence and experiencing extreme exhaustion. At last, after seeing the kids off, he returned to his room and collapsed on the couch.
He almost jumped out of his skin when Firenze commented, "You surely aren't going to sleep there, are you?"
Crap, he'd forgotten entirely that Firenze had hung around the entire time. Grifton stared at the fireplace, which had a small fire crackling. "I was seriously thinking about it." He admitted. "I'm just that tired."
Firenze frowned at Grifton. "Either you get up and walk on your two feet," he said pleasantly. "Or I carry you in there." Firenze absolutely wouldn't let him remain where he was. The damned fool would get sick if he slept there without a blanket. "You know what'll happen if I do that." His eyes glinted when he spoke.
Grifton gave Firenze a long stare. "I had a talk with Lamberton."
Firenze looked baffled. "Okay, and what was it about?"
He felt uncomfortable with this situation even though he'd been the one to create it in the first place. "I delayed my departure for another couple of days," Grifton sighed. "I might have mentioned that I could use your assistance once it is time to go." He stared at the fire. "Don't make me regret doing that." His concession rattled Firenze.
Wasn't this quite the change of events? Firenze didn't know what to say or how to react at first. Chills ran down his spine when he thought of his earlier speculations. He couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Hell with it, Firenze would just sit next to Grifton so that he didn't miss a word that Grifton mumbled.
"What made you change your mind?" Firenze dropped onto the floor to be within accurate listening distance. "You're slurring your words because you're so tired." He brushed the hair out of Grifton's eyes.
"Err," Grifton sniffed the air. "Your fragrance..." His body twitched as he tried to sit up. "What is up with this situation?" He struggled to even move his body.
Damn, he was in bad shape. "Just stay there." Firenze leaned his head against Grifton's thigh. "So why did you decide to see if I could be added?" He was genuinely curious, delighted, but curious.
"I had time to consider why I'd refused your addition to the group." Grifton was silent. "I was being petty and immature, not to mention scared about the closeness growing between us." He sighed. "Something one of my siblings said to me." He admitted. "It came back to me while chatting with Nefi, Lil, Pumpkin, and Pepper and the others."
Oh, now, this was unexpected. "I'm not sure how to feel right now," Firenze was astonished. "Oh really," He hadn't really known the siblings. "Should I be honored?" In fact, he'd only met them that one time in the arena. "I'll be quiet." Grifton gave him a long stare.
Firenze sighed. "I had a small flashback to when I met your siblings." If he was honest, it hadn't been the best of impressions for him or them.
"I think we all wondered what we should've, could've, would've done had the times been better for all of us," Grifton grunted. "They regretted not having brought me into their group sooner." Firenze sucked in his breath. Wow, that nearly gutted Grifton when he heard that news. He gave Grifton a brief hug. Brief flashes of emotional pain escaped him. Firenze didn't touch him again.
A few minutes passed.
Grifton was quiet before he admitted. "They finally acknowledged that they'd been embarrassed by my speech impediment, among other problems that I suffered from as a tiny child."
Oh wow, that had to have burned big time. "I can't picture it." From what Firenze could recall, small had been subjective for Grifton all his life. "You being small, that is." There was nothing small about him at all. "Though I suppose I could see you as being around Pepper's size at one point." He'd been the biggest of the boys.
"I might've been that small when I was around three or four." That got a laugh out of Grifton. "I outgrew them at a very early age. I never quite looked as young as the others."
Well, Firenze could definitely see where the problem rose from that. "Huh," He and his buddies sure hadn't done anything to make Grifton like him, now that he thought about it. "I'm truly sorry for all that crap we did to you now."
Grifton shrugged. "Don't be. It made me stronger." He glanced at Firenze and then kissed him impulsively. Shall we head to the bedroom?"
Firenze was amused. "Sure." He crouched beside the couch and lifted Grifton easily.
Firenze wasn't going to lose this opportunity when Grifton was willing to let Firenze spoil him. He might change his mind later on, and Firenze wasn't about to let that happen now.