♚♚♚
EBEL was soaked to the bone by the time they’d arrived at Rock’s apartment. And yet he succeeded in protecting Rock up to her doorstep, where he gently lowered her to the ground.
“See? I brought you home without getting you wet.”
He winked triumphantly as water dripped from his burnt sienna hair. Rock pulled out her handkerchief and wiped away the droplets on her tippy-toes.
“You’re soaked, though… You’ll catch a cold like this.”
“This is nothing.” Ebel roughly raked back his dripping locks. “I’m content as long as you are safe. Now then, I shall excuse myself for the evening.”
He smiled once to placate her, then turned to leave.
“Please wait!” Rock hastily called him to a halt. “Let me grab something to dry you with!”
Ebel turned back around with a wry smile. “I’m thrilled by your concern, but I’ll have to go right back out into the rain. I doubt drying off first will make things much better for me.”
The rain was still pelting the makeshift roofs of the slums. Clouds still blanketed the night sky and seemed unlikely to clear any time soon.
“But…”
Rock gazed up at Ebel standing in front of her.
Not only did his hair change color from having absorbed water, but so did his clothes. Droplet after droplet dripped down in streaks on his face as he stared back into Rock’s eyes.
Meanwhile, only Rock’s sleeves were a little wet thanks to him covering her. Krister’s ledger was dry as well.
She knew Ebel only did it because he wanted to, but she just couldn’t forgive herself if she sent him home without thanking him.
So she worked up the courage to say, “In that case, I’ll brew you a pot of hot tea.” Despite realizing how desperate she was coming across, she quickly added, “Why don’t you warm up before you leave? I’ll prepare it real fast.”
Ebel seemed torn on how to answer her. His golden eyes drifted away for a moment before returning to her with a troubled smile.
“I don’t know how to put this, Roxy…”
“What is it?”
“You may be dressed as a man, but you don’t seem to understand a man’s heart.”
Rock blinked. She didn’t expect him to say that of all things.
“I don’t?”
“You don’t.”
“I wonder about that… I guess the only heart I can say I know for sure is my own.”
Rock enjoyed dressing and living as a man but wasn’t confident she was pulling it off right. On the other hand, she did succeed at acting the part of a weak and fragile man.
“I would’ve happily accepted your offer the other day, but your father entrusted your safety with me tonight. If I come inside, this escort will stop being safe.”
He didn’t come right out and say it, but Rock knew what he was getting at. She still persisted despite the heat rising to her cheeks.
“Oh, come on, it’s just tea.” After Rock said that, she suddenly realized how much that sounded like a different kind of invitation and panicked. “I-It’s not like I’m trying to keep you here— ah, I guess I am keeping you, but…um…I really don’t mean anything weird by this. I j-just want to do something for you…”
The more excuses she made, the more she mumbled and tripped over her words.
Ebel watched her with a faint smile. He chuckled softly after a moment and then said, “I can’t very well turn you down when you put it like that. Would you like me to come in for a bit?”
“Just for a bit…?”
“Yes, a very short bit. I only want you to let me into your room while we are still talking.”
Rock unlocked the door and invited Ebel inside. The water droplets falling off him quickly formed a puddle on the floor, and he apologetically looked at his feet.
“Sorry, I got your floor dirty.”
“Don’t worry. I can just wipe it up later,” Rock laughed it off.
“Your clothes will probably get wet. Please change after I leave.”
“Wha…?”
Ebel caught Rock in his arms faster than she could ask him what he meant. Embraced by his drenched chest, Rock’s clothes began to absorb some of the rainwater. The water gradually sank in and spread like an infection. Even so, she felt Ebel’s warmth through her cold clothes, leaving her more comfortable than not.
“I kind of feel like I pushed you into this,” Rock bashfully whispered into his chest. Ebel rubbed gentle, soothing circles into her back.
“You can ask this of me anytime.”