It took a good half an hour for Levi to leave the bathroom.
It made Noah recall that the same thing happened the day before.
Noah: Poor brother-in-law! He must still be suffering from the same tummy issues! >︿<
Blackie: …actually, you are right again! Same issues indeed! Wow, you are on a roll today! (¬‿¬)
At least his brother-in-law’s tummy problems seemed to be getting better. Unlike yesterday, today, when he came out of the bathroom, his brother-in-law looked very satisfied, like he had a very relieving dump.
Levi: Baby, I like that you are concerned about me, but… can you think about me in a less embarrassing and more sexually attractive way??? QAQ
Blackie: *too busy dying from laughter to form a coherent spicy comeback*
In these thirty minutes, Noah had gone from sleepy confusion, to abruptly realizing that he wasn’t dreaming and that his brother-in-law had actually really shown up in front of his bedroom.
After a brief moment of bewilderment, Noah had, of course, managed to come up with a reasonable explanation for all the strange happenings, and while he was at it, make Levi look cute. An impressive feat, considering the man had an omnipresent fierce look on his face, was nearly a head taller than an average male, and had a tighter pack of muscles than a black ops soldier.
How that badass, all-black pack of wild-meets-danger turned into fluffy cuteness, Blackie will never know.
But apparently, it was possible, because his brain-damaged host was still melting at the supposed cuteness while he proceeded to dress himself in something more appropriate.
Aris usually slept in one of his cute PJs, but Noah had different sleeping habits, and he saw no need to change something so insignificant. Would someone accuse him of not being Aris if he suddenly started sleeping in an oversized t-shirt?
Pfft, a better question would be - would anyone even notice the change? ╮(╯▽╰)╭
As for why Noah preferred sleeping in an oversized t-shirt, the reason went all the way back to his childhood. The orphanage he had grown up in wasn’t well off, so instead of wasting the limited funds on sleepwear, Noah had come up with an idea to just sleep in one of the t-shirts left over from the big brothers who had already moved out of the orphanage.
Noah remembered that it was the right decision, they managed to eat a very good meal that month. And so, he had slept in an oversized t-shirt ever since. And he saw nothing problematic with that.
It’s not like he was naked – he still had his briefs underneath. There was nothing to feel embarrassed about. It’s not like he was a shy maiden or something. He was a man. Men went to the beach with only their boxers on. What kind of modesty are we even talking about here?
Speaking of the beach, maybe he should take his brother-in-law for a dip today? He remembered that his brother-in-law seemed to have sweated a lot yesterday. (Levi: …baby, why do you keep bringing up my dark history?!? QAQ)
The weather was indeed getting hotter, maybe his brother-in-law might appreciate a chance to cool off. Noah was supposed to show him around Concordia anyway, and what better place to take him than to the aquarium pool resort Concordia was famous for?
His sis would also appreciate some relaxation after yesterday’s overtime.
Hehe, and brother-in-law would surely appreciate seeing his sis in a bikini. ಠ‿ಠ
It is a win for everyone! 👍
(Levi: ‘I would definitely appreciate seeing a certain Cordia in a bikini… but you are mistaken about which one…’ ಥ‿ಥ Ah, just imagining how embarrassed and shy his baby would be if he was forced to wear something as shameful as a bikini… ❤)
Noah wanted to surprise Levi with this excursion, so he didn’t bring up where they would be going, he only said that they should invite sis too. However, much to his bewilderment, the idea was immediately shot down by his brother-in-law, “Let’s go, just the two of us.”
Having the third wheel Trey with them was annoying enough! How would Levi agree to add an extra one!? Especially if the said wheel was his fiancée?? How was he supposed to charm his baby if his fiancée was there with them?? He simply couldn’t see that going well!
Blackie: 'Oh, so you DO see a problem in all of this? I thought you had completely forgotten about the technical issues of your totally inappropriate endeavor.'
(눈_눈)
Seeing as how Noah was looking up at him in great confusion, Levi figured that it might be best if he came up with an appropriate explanation. Otherwise, his careless actions might raise his baby’s defenses. And then it will be much harder to cook him through without the other noticing.
And so, Levi thickened his face and recited, word for word, a reason he had heard from his father-in-law half an hour ago: “Your sister had a long day at work yesterday, only coming back home late at night. It would be best to let her sleep some more.”
Levi: Thanks for the excuse, father-in-law! You’re the real MVP! 👍
Father-in-law: …How come that excuse didn’t work when I used it??? QAQ
Blackie: It doesn’t work on those whose skin is thicker than the city walls. (¬‿¬)
Noah: Look how thoughtful brother-in-law is! Even I didn’t know that sis came back late yesterday! What a good man he is! Sis is so lucky to snatch such a caring husband! ╰(*°▽°*)╯
Levi, who hasn’t contacted his fiancée in any way since yesterday morning: That’s right. You can count on me, baby. I will be a caring and thoughtful husband to my precious darling! ❤
Father-in-law: Objection!! Why is my credit being assigned to him?!? It was me who was a caring father to my little girl, not this scoundrel! I even said my baby girl is overworked and tired and stuff, but did he ask about her wellbeing at all?? He literally came to his fiancée’s house and let alone ask about her, he didn’t even mention her!!! Not one word!!! щ(゚Д゚щ)
Blackie: Hehe. Good luck trying to talk some sense where there is none. Now you know how I, a sane AI system, feel next to those two retards. ┐( ̄ヘ ̄)┌
Allegedly sleeping sister: … did no one even consider asking me? No one? At all?? …Who am I? Where am I? Do I even exist? QAQ
***
When Noah and Levi came down for breakfast, Cordia father and mother were already half done with theirs. This was Noah’s first time meeting Aris’s parents after taking over Aris’s identity, so he had been nervous that they would spot something off about him. However, as soon as his eyes landed on the large table filled to the brim with various foods, looking like a breakfast buffet at a hotel, all his worries got thrown out of the window, completely forgotten.
How would he have the mind to overthink things when he had such a feast in front of him?!
The housekeeper aunty had set up the breakfast table to have anything the family might want within arm’s reach. There was butter, marmalade, honey, maple syrup, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, cereals - you name it, and it was there. Cordia mommy had prepared fried eggs and bacon for breakfast, and the butler had just brought in some fresh puff pastries from the bakery.
Whatever Noah wanted to eat, he could eat. There were even several machines at the table, which Noah recognized as Sci-Fi versions of a coffee maker, waffle maker, and a pancake machine. All he had to do was press a button, and in less than a minute, he’d have a freshly made waffle or pancake or hot cocoa.
Noah: This world is better than Haven!! (✪ ﹃ ✪) All hail the World and Soul Management Bureau!
Blackie: If I had known that all I had to do to get you on board was to show you the food…
○| ̄|_
…all that effort…wasted…
(ノ꒪Д꒪)ノ︵ ┻━┻
Noah: Oh! A toaster! Let’s start with that! (ノ*^o^)ノ*
Noah licked his lips, and impatiently sat down in his seat. Levi hid his smile behind his hand as he sat right next to him. His baby looked like a little kid receiving his much-expected birthday present. ♡
Look at those large glittering eyes! Look at him, barely keeping his saliva in! Ah, ah, how could his baby be so cute???
♡ ♡ o(≧▽≦)o ♡ ♡
Levi didn’t miss any of Noah’s little expressions and mannerisms, so he immediately noticed how the other was glancing towards the butter, which was just out of his reach. With his eyes both gentle and sparkling with amusement, Levi picked it up and moved it in front of his little darling.Noah’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Levi with a mix of appreciation, gratitude, and what Levi would like to think to be adoration. Levi felt himself melting into a puddle under his precious darling’s ‘loving’ gaze. Ah, ah, he had indeed been living life wrong for the past 24 years!! Now, THIS was how life should be like!
When Noah had seen the toaster and butter, his eyes had lit up with idea of butter melting on hot toast. On Cradle, butter was much more expensive than margarine, so it was a rare treat to be able to eat it at the orphanage. Which was too bad because butter on warm toast was simply heavenly! Not so much for margarine…And thus, when his toast was done toasting, in his haste, Noah singed his fingers trying to grab it before it cooled. He yelped cutely, then put his two now pink fingers inside his lovely mouth.
“Don't get used to this.” Blackie felt that he ought to clarify some things, lest his host blamed him for shit identities he will definitely get at some point: “Original owners of your future identities probably won't be THIS similar to you. This world is a special case because of the existence of special powers that are personality-based. If you were born normally in this world, you would have become a Soother. Thus, we could only choose a host body that is either a Soother or a teenager who hasn't awakened his power yet.”“Oh! Correction – you could have also been a Fluxer. But here you are, a rich second-generation with a prestigious identity and a loving fa
Levi was in luck, for Noah was indeed very preoccupied browsing the inflatable goods side of the store.The city he had been born in on Cradle wasn’t near the seaside, and the river that passed through it was not suitable for taking a dip in. The city had many swimming pools, but one needed to pay for entry, so Noah had rarely had the opportunity to play in a swimming pool.Besides the two times he had managed to go on a school excursion to the seaside due to the
“No!” Noah quickly realized that the other might have misunderstood, “What I meant is that I didn’t recognize you because I…uh…I haven’t seen you for a long time.”Teagan Peyton was shaking in outrage as he shrieked, “What the fuck do you mean you haven’t seen me for a long time?!? My picture is all over the news nearly every day!” – That much was true, even Levi, who avoided socialite gatherings like the plague, could recognize Teagan Peyton on sight – “My picture was in yesterday’s New-fucking-Times right next to yours!!!!”
What the hell just happened? Noah stared at the now empty space in front of them in a daze. This Peyton guy came and went like the hurricane. Noah simply couldn’t keep up!From start to finish, this entire encounter was a one-man clown show! He couldn’t fathom what the other was thinking. Did he pop up just to pull some aggro, say some classic villain lines, and then run away with his tail between his legs?Noah felt as if a significant number of his brain
As a famous aquarium with an artificially maintained temperature all year round, the huge beaches that the visitors of the resort could freely enjoy were packed 365 days a year. However, taking into account Levi’s preferences, it was clear to Noah that taking the man to a palace with many other people wasn’t the best idea.That’s ok. There was nothing wrong with liking one’s privacy - that’s why the resort also had many private beaches that could be rented out. And then there were the super-private Cordia-only beaches like the one the trio had just arrived at. This particular beach looked like a small tropical pa
Noah was neither skinny nor short for his age, however, when compared to the two full-grown men belonging in the extra tall category who exercised regularly, he looked especially slender and delicate.His facial features still retained that youthful, soft look, and his skin was as smooth and white as that of a newborn. His legs were long and slim, his waist thin and flexible. His stomach and chest muscles were not prominent but were clearly there, outlining a vague but beautiful curve.