Work isn’t terribly overbearing for the next week. If anything he’s spent most of his time managing his savings, packing what he doesn’t use, and spending time up at the hospital. To the point where he knows he should speak with Soren about quitting. He can’t put it off forever.

He could. But that’s not how Lyra raised him. Face his problems head-on, that’s the way he does things. Except, as he reaches Soren’s office he notices that the lights are off. The door is locked and there’s no one inside.

“Shit…” he mumbles under his breath. It figures. He wanted to get to Soren, drop the information, and then deal with Daichi tonight. Get them both over with at the same time.

“Hey there, looking for someone?”

Zye pinches his eyes shut. He tries to steel himself before turning. “Not really. What can I do for you, sir?”

Daichi gestures to follow and so Zye does, against his better judgment. They enter the office with Zye taking a seat in the chair in front of the desk. Daichi, however, plants himself on the edge of the desk so that he’s right in front of Zye.

“I told you, you don’t have to be so formal.”

“It’s not good to play favorites with your employees.”

Daichi leans forward to the point where Zye sits back in the chair as far as he can. Daichi’s hand lands on the armrest as he smiles at Zye. “You’re more than just my favorite employee. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be going out tonight.”

“R-right, tonight. But I should get going, I still have an errand to run before you come by.”

“But you found time to go look for Soren? I’m hurt.” His hand slides off the chair and instead onto Zye’s arm, fingers brushing over his wrist. “Whatever you need I can take care of.”

Zye pushes his hand off. “I already told you we shouldn’t do that at work.” It’s so hard to not want to become one with the chair. He’s already regretting coming in the office with him— regretting ever getting involved with someone so…intense.

It doesn’t help that Daichi is getting closer. More and more until he’s off the desk, a knee pushing against the cushion he’s on. It’s the only time he’s taller than Zye, leering over him with that glint in his eyes. “So that means I can do it elsewhere?”

More than a year ago, he’d have flushed and been putty in Daichi’s hands. Now he knows better. Not that there’s anywhere to run at the moment. Zye tries to lean back and doesn’t dare move his legs.

“I think that’d be considered sexual harassment, sir.”

“Always so coy. You’re lucky I like the chase.” Daichi dips his head down beside Zye’s ear. “And your ass.”

The breath, not to mention the words, sends a chill down his spine. He could slap his past self for ever climbing into bed with this man. What a needy idiot he was. It has him thankful for the knock on the door. Daichi stands up and glowers at the interruption he can’t see.

“What is it?”

“There’s an issue with a delivery, sir.”

“I’ll be right there.”

The aggressive tone begins to melt away until he notices Zye rising and slipping around the side of the chair. He grabs for Zye’s wrist and tugs him to a stop. A hand reaches for Zye’s face to force him to lean down.

Their lips crush together with Daichi attempting to urge it further. Zye pushes at Daichi’s shoulders, easily overpowering him and ending the kiss. “There are people out there!” he hisses at Daichi.

“Didn’t use to mind. Figured you liked the desk more than the bed.”

Flushing at that, Zye glances away. “That doesn’t have anything to do with it.”

Daichi begins to laugh. “Sorry, sorry. I forgot I’ve been neglecting you. What has it been? A month, almost two? I’m sorry I was gone so long, I won’t leave you again.”

“That’s not it either— I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”

Zye yanks his wrist away yet can’t get out the door fast enough.

“Don’t be so mean, I’m always here for you. Next time come knock on my door. I can handle whatever it is.”

For a moment he lets the mask slip back on. He meets Daichi’s gaze. It has him feeling as though he’s looking into the eyes of a devil. Someone so cunning and kind with something lurking beneath the surface of the calm waters.

Zye huffs, “You can’t handle this mess.”

Leaving the office— no— leaving work entirely, he hurries home as best he can. Even then he knows it’s only a couple of hours before the storm is at his door instead. He busies himself with sending messages to Shae or Callua. Setting up a date to move out won’t be easy yet has to be done eventually.

Except thinking about that has him hesitating. It’s such a long drive to the hospital where Lyra is from Shae’s. Not that he minds, he’d drive across the continent if that’s what it took. By the time he’s home, he’s made his way into his room to stare at the boxes he’s begun to pack up. The whirlwind of change is intoxicating. The reality is a cold slap to the face.

Something new, yet old, doesn’t mean anything is different.

Zye sits on his bed, staring at the pale blue walls. His mind is running in the wrong direction. There’s worry settling in that Daichi will be there tomorrow when he goes in to see Soren. Even fear settles in the back of his mind that Daichi won’t accept how he feels.

The man has always been so overbearing. Then again, Zye can’t deny that he got swept up by him and his attitude. Everything about him is confident and demanding. At a point, he stopped saying no. The time away from him has been an eye-opener. Even more so than the orders he was beginning to make. It was always his way or the highway.

There’s no way he’d move in with Daichi under the pretense of always being there to greet him. He’s not some little maid to greet his master. That just doesn’t sit right no matter how sweet Daichi can be. As long as he’s doing what Daichi wants.

A sigh slips from his lips as he begins to tidy things up. There’s still laundry and cleaning to do and bills to pay. He’s got plenty to keep his mind busy from the paranoia until Daichi arrives.

To say he’s anxious would be an understatement of the century. Part of him wishes he had just said something back at work. Then again, he feels safer here. This is his space and Daichi can take a hike if he doesn’t respect it.

So he thinks.

When the knock echoes off the door he’s panicking inside. Confrontation is harder than fighting someone. Knocking a guy onto his ass? Easy. This? Very difficult. Not that it stops him from doing it. He’ll burn this bridge if he has to.

Zye hurries to let Daichi in yet doesn’t move too far from the door, intending to keep the man right here. It doesn’t help that Daichi knows something is up right from the start. He places a hand on his hip and shoots Zye a questioning gaze.

“What’s wrong? No welcome home kiss, honey?”

“We need to talk.”

“Aren’t we already?” Daichi pushes past him and strides toward the couch. “Tell me what’s wrong. I’ll fix it. Is it money? Someone bothering you?” He laughs as he leans on the arm of the couch, sitting down and making himself at home. “Or have you finally come to see that I’m right and want me to take care of you? I can have all of this at my place by the morning.”

Zye turns slowly and takes a deep breath, letting the door swing shut. He takes a few steps closer so that he doesn’t raise his voice. The closer he is to Daichi, the quieter he gets. “Someone’s bothering me.”

His mother always warned him about these types. All of that insight and he’s wasted it, fallen right into the trap. A quick break is what he needs.

“Oh? Tell me all about them and I’ll make sure they disappear.”

“It’s you.”

Daichi stares up at Zye for a moment. He’s processing the admission and it’s not going well at all. His eyes narrow and his jaw tenses. He’s angry. So very angry. “What was that? I think I misheard you.”

“I won’t do this anymore. I don’t want a relationship like this. We were sex friends at best, there’s no love in that.”

“I told you, you will love me but you keep running away.” Daichi rises to his feet while trying to put on a calming smile. One Zye can see straight through. “If you apologize, I’ll pretend this didn’t happen and we can go get dinner.”

Zye lets out a breath through his nose and turns. Making his way back to the door, he gestures to it. “I think you should leave. We’re done.”

“This is because of Callua isn’t it? She got in your head—”

“First off, she’s my friend. Second, I decided this. No one else.”

“I can be too!”

“No, you can’t.” Zye shakes his head. He grabs onto the doorknob, clutching onto it for support. “You don’t know what line not to cross.”

“Don’t be an idiot. I can give you anything you want.”

“I want you to leave.” The words come out strong, but he’s starting to shake. Fingers are quivering around their grip on the doorknob.

Daichi is storming over to him with renewed fury. He grabs a fistful of Zye’s t-shirt, yanking at it to try and force him down to his level. Zye only barely budges but it’s enough movement to make Daichi feel powerful. To feel as though he can force a different outcome.

“I guess working in a whore house made you want to play hard to get, huh?”

“I’ll ask nicely one last time or I’m kicking your ass out.”

“You’ll regret this, Zye. You shouldn’t let that someone poison your mind. I’m the only one that loves you— the only one that can help you.” He lets go and pushes Zye back so that he releases the doorknob. The door opens. He shoots Zye a smirk. “You’ll realize it soon enough and you’ll come crawling back. Don’t keep me waiting, I’m not very patient.”

He’s gone the next instant and Zye is slamming the door shut. Hands press against it as if to try and keep Daichi out should he come back. He doesn’t know what to do. For the briefest of moments, he’s afraid. The fear worms so deep down into his gut that he’s sick.

Daichi is terrifying— crazy even. Attractive maybe but definitely a little off. Why was he so dumb to have let that freak of a man cast a line in his direction? All those sweet nothings or the late nights— none of it meant anything. All of the advice to get away from his friends. To leave Kass’s side and forget about Shae…

Hindsight is a bitch and he’s hating it.