The Black Saint is My StalkerCh76 - You’ve survived more embarrassing situations

Graham coughed and stumbled backward, releasing Han Li from his hold.

Han Li twirled on his heel, his heart racing in his chest. He must have tossed logic somewhere out the window when he caught Graham’s arm and pulled them close. Too close. Because he could feel the Saint of Eternity’s breath on the apples of his cheeks and against his lashes. Their chests were only a hair’s breadth apart and it would take but a careless lean for them to touch. FxRtvq

“You know exactly what wrong idea I’m talking about,” Han Li whispered, sharp and low.

The night was dark, moonlight outlined the sharp planes of Graham’s face, and Han Li really, really wanted to kiss him. But the Saint of Eternity was ever stoic, his icy gaze unmoving, hiding whatever intent he held in his heart. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Chrysanthemum Garden.

This was stupid.

Han Li licked his lips and pulled away. “Next time, I’ll make you regret it, big guy,” he chirped before pushing Graham back, refusing to see what expression the Saint of Eternity might make. Han Li twirled around and turned his attention to the cliff that he had happened upon. P1tYcG

Below was a stretch of ice and snow, a lake frozen over. Mountains decorated the skyline, painted with strokes of snow-covered pine.

It was beautiful. Cold and tranquil.

With the open space and without trees casting long shadows, moonlight spread over the ice-covered lake. Han Li pocketed his phone.

The cliff was tall, but Han Li dropped down with ease, landing nimbly on the sheen of ice that coated the mountain lake.

His heart was doing weird things in his chest but Han Li resolutely tried to ignore them. Just ignore them. Because Graham was a dick and Han Li couldn’t understand what the Saint of Eternity was getting at half the time.

A soft plonk landed next to him.

Graham’s warmth was near. Their shoulders grazed. “I’m sorry, I did not mean to upset you,” Graham said, voice soft.

Han Li scoffed at that as well, feeling an odd pang of nostalgia. Graham used to say that a lot when they first met. Yet, this time he couldn’t help but feel that Graham’s gaze was different. That Han Li had somehow become more than just an asset in Graham’s eyes. This time, Graham saw right through him. Hb0Y2E

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.

But maybe it was all just in Han Li’s head. He looked over his shoulder and huffed, “Kiss me and I’ll forgive you.”

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Anxiety ripened. Han Li struggled to maintain his cool. “Says who? If you’re having fun teasing me, why the heck can’t I mess around too?” Cldysz

He stood frozen, like a statue unmoving in Graham’s arm. As much as he wanted to imagine himself as some sort of pretty damsel, Han Li knew that he was no such thing. A bit too tall, gangly with shoulders too broad and hands too bony.

The way that Graham scrutinized him with that dark glare of his sent all sorts of chills down Han Li’s spine. He absently thought back to Charity, and the fleeting relationship that she once had with the Saint of Eternity.

The space between them closed. Graham placed a kiss on Han Li’s lips, soft and chaste. Han Li couldn’t help but notice the way the arm around his waist tightened. An unreadable expression was upon the Saint of Eternity’s face but he was most definitely not smiling.

His baritone voice was enough to pierce and shatter one’s soul. “Do you forgive me now, Han Li?” CdsH7W

“Y-Yeah. Forgiven. Yup. We’re good. We’re cool.”

In a panic, Han Li took a step back, trying to free himself from Graham’s grasps and for some absurd reason, completely forgot the fact that they were standing on ice.

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With as much grace as a baby baboon, Han Li fell right on his ass. “Ow!” he squeaked with a hiss.

Graham held out a hand, ready to pull Han Li up, but Han Li was too embarrassed to accept the gesture. Instead, he laid his head down on the freezing ice. “Just leave me here to die. I don’t want to live anymore,” Han Li complained dramatically. cw4hDf

Constellations lit the night sky, dazzling wonderment distracted him from the heat in his face. He could hear fabric shuffling beside him as the Saint of Eternity took a seat on the icy lake. “Surely, you’ve survived more embarrassing situations than this. Might I remind you of the time you tried to—”

“Shut up, Assholely,” Han Li hissed, elbowing Graham in the hip.

“…” Thankfully, the Saint of Eternity quieted.

The wind whispered sweet nothings to them and it was cold. But Han Li was comfortable enough that he could fall asleep right then and there. 4l8eDx

Han Li’s thoughts were adrift. He laid beneath the same sky in Darmine. And beneath the same sky, Jong Seoyun would rest. Did her body make it home? His last memories of her were amid the rubble, where her corpse lied as though asleep, her expression relaxed and peaceful.

A chorus of howls summoned his attention, pulling him out of rumination. Han Li sat up, frowning at the Saint of Eternity. “Are those…?”

“We are in wolf territory,” Graham nodded, “But do not worry, they are state-sanctioned.”

“Ah.” Han Li nodded in understanding, wondering if that was what Graham had been referring to when he spoke to Mark about things going on in the vicinity of the cabin. State-sanctioned werewolves didn’t particularly sound very problematic though. “Is that why you kept running off earlier today?” he asked. D492O6

“Partially,” Graham hummed, resting his arm on his folded knee. “The werewolves were made aware of our presence upon our arrival.”

But Graham had disappeared more than just once. Han Li couldn’t help but assume. “Darmine?” he questioned, curiosity piqued. For a while, he had refrained from asking the Saint of Eternity more about the aftermath, but to say that the thoughts did not linger heavy on his mind would be a lie. Andraste was still out there.

Graham looked away. “Correct. But…I suggest that you try not to think about it here. Enjoy the trip, Han Li.”

Han Li chuckled wryly as he rose to his feet, dusting the snow off his pants. “As if. Not going to forget about Darmine anytime soon. Heck, I think about it every night. Every day probably.” He shrugged, trying to keep his body language casual, unconcerned. ad OVc

Compared to him, the Saint of Eternity rose with much more grace, standing up in one fluid motion. His brows were knit ever so slightly, lips tight. Han Li wanted to stare at him forever. “I wish you didn’t,” he said.

A smile lit Han Li’s face, his heart melted, both bitter and warm. “It’s fine, Grams. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I just magically forgot about Darmine.” About Seoyun.

He had no idea what inspired him, but Han Li hadn’t been thinking when he leaned forward and captured Graham’s gloved hand in his own. “Ain’t it way past your curfew, gramps? Let’s go back.”

“…” Graham didn’t say a thing, allowing Han Li to lead him back to the cabin. MGcd 7

It was only around halfway that Han Li realized their weird arrangement, walking through the dark woods hand-in-hand. Thankfully, Graham wouldn’t pick up the sweat gathering in his palms, with that gloved hand of his. And with the way his ears were tipped with red, Han Li could just blame that on the cold.

Back inside, Han Li made sure that Simone was properly tucked in on the couch before turning off all the lights.

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The two of them made their way towards their room and—

Wait. 6Wpj23

Han Li stood there like a deer in headlights, hearing the door click behind him.

The room was small but homely, with wooden furniture covered with vintage lace. There was a lamp by the bedpost and a tiny desk on the opposite end of the room, next to the wooden wardrobe.

There was, in fact, only one double bed.

Shit, fuck, how did Han Li forget? CieTak

“Are you alright?” Graham asked as he zipped open his duffel bag to pull out his neatly packed toiletries. His dark eyes scanned Han Li from head to toe, “I do hope that you will not be coming to bed in those clothes.”

“I—” Han Li felt the words catch in his throat, “O-Of course not! I—”

“Good.” Graham patted Han Li’s shoulder as he passed, retreating from the room, likely to go to the bathroom just next door.

When the door clicked shut, Han Li sank to his knees, hands clutching his hair. He wanted nothing else but to cry in despair. 8DXtWb

How was he going to survive the night sharing a bed with Graham Astley!?

Author: WEEPS went back and made some minor edits to all chapters for an easier reading experience— but I did it at lightning speed so it’s unlikely that I caught everything T__T;; Might miss an upload this weekend so just a heads up. REEE JUST GIVE ME MY HOLIDAY ALREADY. MY COMPANY IS SUCH A MESS IM GOING INSANE…