Han Li woke to a sharp cry. It took a moment to recognize his own voice.
“Sorry,” came a low melodic sound, so contrasting to the biting pain in his arms.
He flailed, disorientation thick as confusion bloated his thoughts. Where, who, how, why?
A strong hand caressed his forearm, forcing him down onto soft cushions. There was the sound of fabrics shifting. A warm glow flooded his vision like candlelight flickering and Graham’s face was at the forefront of his thoughts—
But wait.
It was indeed Graham who loomed over him, invading not only his vision but his personal space as well. His large hands firmly clasped over Han Li’s arm which was now clad in gauze.
Oh. Right. Vampire. Han Li was starting to remember and collapsed back into comforting cushions as confusion eased. Graham’s penthouse looked a bit different under candle glow. They littered the entire penthouse, from the bookshelf to the kitchen counter to the coffee table and the grand piano as well. A sweet aroma was released from the wax, citrus, vanilla and some sort of floral scent that Han Li couldn’t identify.
Han Li couldn’t fathom where Graham would have hidden all those candles because he was pretty sure that the last time he came over there was not a single one in sight.
And now…
Shifting lightly, Han Li had somehow managed to jostle his injuries. He hissed and tried to draw his arm back but Graham did not allow this. “Stay still.”
With a complaining groan, he complied, squinting at Graham who was busy securing the bandages around his arm in place. His dirty rags had been changed, his skin and hair cleaned and he had on a too-large t-shirt that had a faint hint of nutmeg and something sweet. He had on sweat pants that were tied so tightly around his thin waist that the band was dangling past his crotch—
Han Li wondered if his underwear had been changed too. He was too tired to even be mortified.
There was a first aid kit opened on the coffee table that had been moved to be closer to the couch. How considerate of him…
Han Li sighed deeply, the exhaustion still thick and his mental faculties ebbing. But he felt warm and cozy despite the uncomfortable feeling in his chest so Han Li decided that Graham’s couch wasn’t such a bad place to be. After all, he could have been licking his wounds by his lonesome in his tiny studio apartment.
Which would have been fine, but Han Li liked the feel of Graham’s fingers pressing into his sore skin, ever mindful but also firm. Their calloused tips grazed his injuries and made him shudder.
It’s funny how Graham was the reason why he was in this position in the first place. The laughter came again, itching and clawing out of his lungs. He tried to stifle it because not even Han Li knew what was funny.
An arm was thrown over his face to hide himself from watchful eyes. But there was no way that Graham didn’t notice the way he trembled and the soft muffled sounds that escaped his lips.
Graham didn’t comment on it though. He dropped Han Li’s arm. “It’s done. I did not feel like you need any stitches, the cuts were already mending due to your demonic heritage. But you still ought to rest.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Han Li took a deep breath. He pulled his arm away and marveled at Graham’s skillful work. His blueish clawed fingers poked out from the bandages and Han Li was trying really, really hard trying to remember how to shift his appearance back to normal. He didn’t have the energy to recall the details. “Can’t you do something about this?”
“Qtja vb sbe cffv vbcf?” Xgjtjw gbrf ogbw tlr xcffilcu qbrlalbc ys atf mbemt, kjralcu cb alwf ab mifjc eq tlr wfvlmji reqqilfr. Ktf olgra jlv xla obivfv klat j cfja milmx.
“Ktlr,” Ljc Ol gfqfjafv jr atbeut la wluta boofg jcs rbga bo gfji fzqijcjalbc, tf gfjmtfv bea jcv ugjyyfv atf fvuf bo Xgjtjw’r yijmx vgfrr rtlga klat tlr mijkfv olcufg, “Tbe rjlv sbe’v gfqijmf atf jweifa ktfc atf alwf mjwf jcv P vbc’a xcbk lo sbe cbalmfv yea atf alwf lr cbk.”
“…Later,” Graham said, “once your injuries have fully healed. At the current rate, it should be acceptable by morning. I will find something then.”
Han Li let go of Graham’s shirt. “I hate you,” he lied.
“You should,” Graham agreed.
But Han Li didn’t. For the life of him, he wasn’t even sure why but he didn’t. There was bitterness, the sharp sting of disappointment and sadness but that wasn’t hatred, Han Li would be one to know the difference.
Graham went on his way to tidy up, his footfalls echoed to offer distant comfort to Han Li’s troubled mind.
He didn’t even notice when Graham returned. “You should go to bed.”
“Lazy,” Han Li whined, rolling over on the couch and ignoring the lacerations that flared on his arms. “I’m going to sleep here, you have a nice couch.”
“It won’t do well for your arms.”
“I don’t care.” Han Li put on his childish stubbornness, uncaring. “I heal fast anyway, remember?”
“Han Li.”
Han Li closed his eyes, reasoning that if he ignored Graham, the man just might go away.
Graham sighed and he didn’t go away. In typical Graham-esque fashion, he did as he pleased, swooping down and wedging his arms between Han Li and the comfortable couch below.
Han Li yelped but didn’t fight it when Graham picked him up. He only sighed in defeat as Graham adjusted his weight in his arms. This time it was bridal-style huh…?
“This is even more embarrassing than the last time,” Han Li grumbled as he laid his head against Graham’s warm chest.
“Bear with it. It will not be long.”
True to his words, Graham carried him up the stairs without wasting time. “You literally have an elevator…” Han Li groaned, his eyes feeling heavy. Graham’s chest was stupidly comfortable, unlike his own.
“It is not my favorite.”
“Then why did you get a penthouse with a freaking elevator in it?”
“…An oversight. But not by my choice.”
“Hmph,” Han Li sulked, dissatisfied with the answer but also too lazy to ask for clarification. He was brought to the same room as last time, the one with the spanking new flat-screen that probably never played a single thing in its lifespan and that offensive abstract painting that had no form of artistic soul.
Han Li felt the distant echo of dread when he was lowered atop fluffy sheets that threatened to swallow him whole.
“Wait,” he said impulsively, hand clutching at Graham’s sleeve.
“What is it?”
“…I’m awake now.”
“…Do try to rest. Close your eyes and sleep will soon find you.” Graham pulled back. Han Li didn’t let go.
“No, I’m awake,” he reiterated, louder, clearer so there wouldn’t be any mistaking his words even though Graham had definitely heard it the first time around.
“…Han Li—”
“What I’m saying,” Han Li moaned, realizing that he wouldn’t be nearly as embarrassing or ridiculous under normal circumstances, “Is that I want you to keep me company. For just a bit, okay?” His voice turned small, the words stuttering out of his lips because he knew they were stupid.
“…” Graham paused, the following silence was deafening and served only to increase Han Li’s already near-fatal dose of anxiety that only alleviated when Graham slowly lowered himself onto the bed, sitting at its edge.
The comfort from the subtle dip of the mattress was insurmountable and Han Li had a weird urge to climb into Graham’s lap like a cat. He laughed at his own delirium.
“Sleep,” Graham ordered again, “I will stay at your side.”
Han Li groaned, “Right, not like you’ll leave the moment I start to snore or something.”
“Is that a challenge?”
Han Li was going to regret this. “Sure.”
With a nod, Graham kicked off his slippers and slid into bed. Oh, this was going to be awkward especially when Han Li was hungering to have a person to curl up against. He turned his head away, thankful for the darkness that the room provided.
He wasn’t tired anymore.
“Graham.”
“Sleep.”
“If that’s your way of saying shut up, I’m going to tell you now that it’s very ineffective.”
“…”
“I used to have a seal.” He touched his brow, where it had once sat beneath the surface of his skin, the veins of the spell deep in his spirit and body. “It was all fancy and customized for my demonic nature and at the time, I didn’t realize how special it was. My mom gave it to me before she died.”
Han Li didn’t know what possessed him to share this information but it was too late now, he was already talking and he didn’t want to double-check if Graham was actually listening.
“She died when I was six. I grew up in Saint August’s Orphanage for the Talented. You know, that military camp they drop hunters’ kids after their parents kick it,” he scoffed at the memory. There’d been a time where he was proud growing up in Saint August’s. “I was the best of my lot. Did you know that there was a point where I had twelve sponsors, could you believe that?”
A bitter laugh escaped him, leaving him feeling breathless. Han Li was scared to close his eyes, fearful of the memory of red bricks surrounding a deco nouveau entrance, strict tutors, and orphans that fought to stay away from adoption papers rather than finding a true family. Saint August’s was a place that bred soldiers.
Just four years ago, Han Li would have been happy about the fact, eager to be molded into a tireless fighter that braved the front lines.
But things had changed. And all started with a fateful decision made on a cold spring night, by the roaring ocean waves. Han Li had been sixteen then and he made the conscious choice to remove the seal that tamed his demonic nature.
Author: Something similar happened to me years back, where a person directly responsible for a traumatic incident expressed immense guilt right after and took it upon themselves to take care of me.
At the time I was experiencing such shock that it felt easy to sympathize with and forgive the person responsible and even feel sorry for them despite the awful things they did that led to that traumatic incident.
…Um.
Ah, I guess what I’m trying to say is that, despite Han Li’s reaction here, it doesn’t change the fact what Graham did was shitty 
thank you for the chapter~
Thank you for readinggg ; w ; it means a lot
I am glad you mentioned that what he did was shitty. I read a lot and sometimes when these things happen, it is easy to be excused as “oh its fiction” yeah, but it is also something that happens way too often.
I dont like Graham and I dont see any redeeming factors to him that would allow Han Li to fall in love.
thanks for the chapter <3
Hmmm I guess so! Personally I really love reading and writing about questionable actions/personality traits in fiction, there are so many dynamics and stuff to explore. Ahhhh… a-are my bad tastes showing? M-maybe.
AHEM. Graham. Uh. May or may not! In the future…redeem himself…! Though this is slow burn for a reason reeee
awww, Han Li 🙁 someone give him a cat to hug…
This is so interesting so far wtfff but omg i really see no redeeming qualities in graham ngl
every chapter i read about him being somewhat okay and then plunging himself into an ocean of shittiness and i literally am permanently feeling that choky throat, itchy nose thing you feel when you’re about to tear up cos i’m so frustrated at himmm
still waiting, with much patience, for his redemption arc….
Hmmm I guess maybe Graham wanted to test his capabilities/skills by leaving him like that? I might have missed something =u= I think he has his reasons!! but like you said, it doesnt excuse his shitty behaviour. Saying that~ this chapter was really cute and sad 😭 also -hugs- <3
Thanks for the chapter!
I am with those who think Graham is the no. 1 shithead with no redeeming aspects except for being filthy rich (which, in my world, counts for very little). Still, I’m glad for the author’s note at the end, because it does help explain some of Han Li’s questionable choices in this chapter!