He decided that going out that night was a good idea despite his injury, he just didn’t want to go home. He figured that if Sen had issues with him being there then maybe not being there was a way for him to leave faster.

He gained new injuries and he felt tired, he figured that staying at work was a good idea, Greenbell would tell him if he left. Van relaxed on the bed in his room staring up at the ceiling, he felt tired but he couldn’t seem to sleep. Tomorrow would be the weekend, lots of time for Sen to look for a new place. He might leave on Monday, Van didn’t want to give the guy a reason to stay.

Staying would be a bad idea. If he was going to accuse him for nothing he should keep a distance so as not to distract the man from leaving.

He hoped it would be soon.

‘When he leaves he takes moms cooking with him,’ Van tried not to dwell on the thought but the hurt in his heart was making itself known. He missed her. When he ate his food he remembered all the good times he had with her. It may have been short but he truly felt safe with her. Not like his own mother.

Sighing he closed his eyes and tried again to sleep, he didn’t want his emotions to get the best of him. This place wasn’t soundproof. Maybe he should have gone home. No it wasn’t safe there until Sen left.

Greenbell should have known about this and told him. But he figured he should have looked at those files. He should have trusted himself and looked. He figured that he was feeling uneasy was because of the food he ate before. He was worried that Sen wouldn’t take the job.

Sen’s main goal was money.

It was always that stupid reason.

Did Sen also have dirt on him? Sen could have sent him to jail and taken everything without a second thought. Did the guy want more than what he offered?

What did he truly want?

‘I’ll get Tomorrow to drive me home in the morning, I need to settle this.’ He finally thought and finally rested his head on his pillow and closed his eyes.

He woke up feeling sore and pain where he was either shot or stabbed. He slowly got up and washed himself as best as he could and went down to the gym to loosen up his tense muscles in gentle exercise. He met with Tony and asked to be brought home.

He walked in and called out that he was home. No answer. No nice smell of food being made.

“Ah, so he left.” He walked up the stairs and looked around, it was empty. He looked into the girls room and seen that it was also empty. He didn’t want to venture further worried that his wish had come true. He walked to his room and looked to Sen’s room.

He walked over, hesitating on opening it and finally just bit back his fear and opened it slowly. He seen someone sleeping on the bed, he closed the door and walked to the couch wondering if what he saw was real.

He walked into the kitchen and started working on making something. He figured omelette's would be nice to wake up to. He finished them quickly and looked to see if anyone was up yet.

No one.

Sighing he covered the food and figured he’d wait half an hour before putting them in the fridge and leaving a note. He walked into his room and started working on the e-mail, knowing that would take him at least half an hour to write.

He finished later than he thought and opened the door to put the food away, only to find them gone and in the sink. He wondered if Sen threw it out and was about to check.

“Breakfast was good, thank you.” It took all Van had not to scream and run away.

“Ah,” he managed to keep it quiet and quickly turning was not a good idea, “ha, try and keep sneaking up on me to a minimum.”

“Got it, I want to say Sorry. I should have just talked to you.” Sen was looking down now, he looked tired.

“Are you looking for a new place?” Van asked.

“No. Why would I do that?” now this was new. Why wasn’t he leaving? Sen didn’t trust him, was he staying for a different reason?

“I figured you would want to break the contract, no point for you to stay if you didn’t trust me.” He saw Sen flinch, what was going on. “Why are you staying? Is there something more you want? Obviously the week is up, are you after more money? Are you trying to send me to jail for personal revenge? Torment me?”

“W-wait what? I thought the week thing was a joke, what would I gain by sending you to jail? What revenge?” There was no mention of money, could it be a ploy?

“Your staying, not looking for a new place to live, what – no why are you staying?” Van asked trying to understand what this guy was about.

“I’m staying because Ari doesn’t want to leave and well,” Sen looked down then away from him was he embarrassed about something? “You have the most honest reactions to my cooking, it’s refreshing.”

“Who wouldn’t after eating good food? Is that the only reason your staying? You’re not running from anyone?”

“Run from who?” Sen looked back at him confused now. So he’s not running from bad people but he could be if he stays. ‘I bring nothing but death to those around me,’ Van thought then sighed.

“So those thoughts of me were just, were what?” Van decided to asked.

“I was tired, before coming here I heard about the missing women in the City and the boxes were just filled with women’s clothing of different sizes and styles. When I noticed that the door was locked I thought someone could be behind it in trouble. I’ve also had a bad few days before coming here, I guess I was still on edge. The deal also seemed too good to be true.”

He stared at him for a moment wondering what was wrong with him. He knows he doesn’t look like the trustworthy type but to go as far as linking him with the missing women? By now those women would be with their families safe and sound and talking of their ordeals. Probably saying that they were rescued by a mysterious stranger.

He sighed and wondered how much he should tell of his rescue mission or just forget it all together.

“Those clothes belongs to my Girlfriend, I’ve been with her since I was 15, we moved in together when we turned 20. The smaller clothes she just left at my place and forgot about them, the rest is because of the same reason.” He said keeping to himself, most of it was true at least so it wasn’t a complete lie. “The locked door, it’s like that because that used to be the Master Bedroom and since I don’t want to be reminded of how empty the place feels without her I switched the lock and blocked it off and moved rooms.”

“And the contract? Why is it like that?” Sen asked.

“I was given a rundown on your situation but I asked for no details so I know nothing of why you owe so much just the amount. I made sure the contract was like that because I figured you wouldn’t want to be tied to me and you had your daughter to think about.”

“So it was for me and Ari? Nothing else?”

“I have money to spare, I don’t seek revenge for whatever reason, you looked like you were in need of help. Greenbell looked through your background and figured that you were harmless. From how you flinched she must have told you some of my past.” Van ventured.

“Yeah, a bit. You had a terrible mom and ex-girlfriend,” Sen said.

Van wasn’t sure what else to add to it and Sen wasn’t speaking of his own ordeals, ‘So he still doesn’t trust me,’ Van concluded. Van nodded instead and his stomach betrayed him just when he was thinking of returning to his room to change.

“You didn’t make yourself anything to eat did you?” Sen said staring at him now, Van was about to answer that he was going to but his stomach beat him to it by stating how it was starving in a loud growl. “Is that how you are? Thinking of others before yourself? No wonder you need someone to cook for you,” Sen returned to the kitchen and started making something quick.

Van felt embarrassed and quickly retreated to his room to change from his work clothes to something to lounge around in comfortably. He walked out, hair tied back and in a lose t-shirt and grey sweat pants with silly socks. This week it was Ladybug day, it was fluffy socks with red and black design of a ladybug with giant cute eyes. He felt happier with his silly socks on and resisted the urge to slide around in them as he has someone living with him now.

He sat in his chair and watched Sen finish what he was doing, it was nice to watch other’s cook. Seeing how they moved with gentle ease, how he’s in no rush. Clearly cooking relaxed him, he was in his element when he was behind the stove. “If you wanted to you could start your own restaurant business.”

“Maybe, that’s something to think about. Would you be a regular customer or would you be willing to be my Sou Chef?”

“Me? Cooking? Tried it, I didn’t like it very much. Too chaotic for me.”

“Well it’s not for everyone but at least you got to try. What else did you do?”

“You first, it feels as though I talked about myself more than enough tonight.”

“You’re more interesting than me, all I can tell you is that I’ve worked at Lucky Duke’s for ten years?” Sen said now questioning his own life.

“How old are you?”

“Greenbell didn’t tell you?”

“I know nothing about you other than that you are good at cooking without burning the food.” Sen turned back around yelling at the now slightly burnt onions.

“You’re fine with charcoal right?” Sen asked and put it in the egg sandwich and gave it to Van. “I’m 28.”

“You started working for that man when you were 18? And Ari is what? 5? So you were 23 when she was born.” Van said figuring out the mans timeline, ‘Wonder what happened to his Girlfriend. Wait he’s 4 years older than me!’ he was now officially embarrassed of his Ladybug socks and tried his best to keep them hidden.

“LADYBUG!” Van flinched at the loud sound and looked at Ari seeing her point at his feet.

“I have no idea what you are saying!” Van quickly said and tried to keep the socks hidden as best as he could. “You can’t prove anything! They are not mine!” Ari ran to him and poked at his feet and giggled when he wiggled his toes to shoo her away. She grabbed his foot and ripped the sock from it and ran away with her prize giggling and holding it high.

“Give my sock back you demon!” Van got up and ran after her at a much slower pace. Ari laughed and ran faster running between rooms and finally playing left or right by the couch. Van hopped over the couch and tried to grab his sock but she ran towards the kitchen and he fell to the floor. “Nooo!” he sat up just in time to see Sen looking at the sock and smirk.

“So how old are you?” Sen asked holding the sock up tauntingly. ‘I’m doomed! He probably thinks I’m a child!’ he looked at the coffee table feeling ashamed of how young he was.

“24,” he muttered now realizing how he’s been acting like a child this whole time.

---

Sen stared at his boss shocked to hear his actual age. No wonder he was childish he was still a kid, this also furthered his original thought of how this man could kill or torture anyone. It also seems that him and Ari are the same age despite size difference, no wonder they get along so well. It also seems he’s been taken care of his whole life and hardly does much for himself other than cooking the occasional meal.

“Why are you sitting on the floor like that? Finish your food,” Sen said and gave the sock back to his daughter to play with. He now feels like he can push his boss around a bit, he turned to the sink to wash his hands and the frying pan he used. He heard Van get up and walk to his seat and start eating, ‘This is going to be fun he’s like a puppy.’

A few hours later Sen started to work on dinner while Van and Ari played, it was a great atmosphere again. He now felt like he was taking care of two children and it was such a wonderful feeling. When was the last time Ari just ran around giggling her little toes off? Van was also so great with her, he just sits there and lets her do what she wants, dress him up in silly hats. He really was used to this, he could only imagine what Van went through with his little sister.

Sen decided to make dinosaur nuggets with broccoli and mac n cheese. He also decided to put the two children together to see if they would play with their food.

He called them for dinner and stayed in the kitchen to watch what would happen.

Ari initiated the first move and Van looked and followed along easily, setting up the broccoli to be like trees and pushed his plate closer as they played. Sen pulled out his phone and took a quick picture and sent it to Greenbell, stating that he now believed that Van plays with his food.

He wasn’t expecting a violent reply and aggressive text messages. He replied saying that they talked it out and it was fine now. It ended with ‘I’m watching you. You hurt him I’m breaking your bones.’

Ari and Van finished their dinner and they retreated to the Tea Room to finish their playtime while he cleaned up.

Tea Time ended and they went to wash up and get ready for bed. He finished reading to Ari and was going to get the teapot to clean it up but found that Van was once again doing it. It also seemed that he cleaned up their toys so Sen sat and watched. He’s childish but when the children are asleep he’s like a different person. Serious, calm and strong.

“So the Ladybugs aren’t yours?” Sen asked breaking the silence. He seen him freeze and then continue with washing the last few cups saying nothing. “You are a bad liar.”

“So their mine, they were a gift.” This was new information, gift from who? His Girlfriend? Sister? Mom? Couldn’t be his Dad. “My older brother thought it would be funny and sends me something like that every year for my birthday.”

“How cute,” Sen said in a teasing tone. It was even more amusing that he protected them like they were the most precious thing in the world to him. His child-like behaviour was so amusing but he respected the serious side of him more. Why couldn’t he bring that side of him out more? Was there a reason why he’s not very serious at home? The more he learns about him the more he wants to know more.

“Are you done mocking me now?” Sen snapped out of his thoughts and stared at Van more shocked that he wasn’t pouting. His eyes were cold enough that it made him shiver, “All I want to do is relax at home but if I’m just going to be made out to be a villain or made fun of why come home at all?”

Sen stared at the cold expression and wondered how such a childish man could be so cold and expressionless. It also dawned on him that child-like side of his was a privilege to see. He trusted him and Ari enough to show that to them.