Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 152: Interrupted Night

They tried to calm Nathan down because they believed he was more shocked than they were. Who would have thought their sleepover would turn into such a tense night?

After a while, silence enveloped them. Their minds were racing. But Eli realized something.

That boy sat in a chair near the desk. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes moved back and forth between Nathan and Zane. He had seen the way Zane held Nathan’s hand earlier. He had seen the way Zane looked at Nathan with a level of concern that went far beyond typical friendship.

Zane was usually a person who kept his distance from everyone, even his own peers at school. Seeing him so physically close to and protective of Nathan made Eli certain that they were more than just friends.

Gabriel noticed it too. He stood by the balcony door, leaning his heavy shoulders against the wood. He knew Zane had a reputation for being cold and uncompromising. Zane did not like to cooperate, and he certainly did not like to show vulnerability.

But tonight, Gabriel saw Zane treating Nathan with a softness that was out of character. It was clear to Gabriel that Nathan was the center of Zane’s world in that moment.

None of them wanted to talk. The images of the previous scenes and the blood on Ray and Edson were too fresh. They didn’t turn the gaming console back on.

The books and papers for their assignment remained scattered on the floor, ignored. The laptop screen was dark now. They couldn’t focus on anything at the moment.

"We should try to sleep," Nathan said. His voice was low and rough.

He looked at the large bed. It was a custom size, much wider than a standard bed.

"My bed is large enough for the four of us," he suggested.

Gabriel looked at his own broad shoulders and then at Nathan’s smaller frame. "Are you serious? You think my body is the same size as yours? I would take up half the space myself. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor or the sofa."

Eli shook his head as he rubbed his eyes. "I’ll take the small sofa. I don’t want to kick anyone in my sleep."

Zane remained standing. He did not speak. The tension he felt from the rescue was now turning into a different kind of tension.

The idea of sharing a bed with Nathan made his pulse quicken. He looked at Nathan, but when their eyes met, Zane immediately looked away. His face felt hot, and he was sure his cheeks were turning red.

"Zane, you’re sleeping with me, right?" Nathan asked. He spoke casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Zane coughed into his hand, trying to find his voice. "Ah... well. If there is space."

Before they could settle in, a sharp knock sounded at the door. Everyone in the room went rigid. Nathan walked to the door and opened it just a few inches. A security guard stood there, holding a stack of folded blankets. Behind him, another guard held two thick, foldable mattresses.

"What is it now?" Nathan asked, his voice full of suspicion.

"Master Nathan, we brought the additional mattresses you requested earlier," the guard said. He kept his eyes lowered. "Would you like us to set them up? Are you ready to sleep?"

Nathan remembered that he had asked for mattresses before the chaos had started. He nodded and stepped back. The guards entered quickly, placed the mattresses on the floor near the balcony doors, and left without saying another word.

Eli and Gabriel immediately claimed the mattresses. They were glad to have their own space. Gabriel stretched out on one, his large frame fitting perfectly on the padded surface. Eli took the other one, pulling a blanket up to his chin.

Zane stood by the edge of the bed, watching them. He felt a sudden sense of awkwardness. Gabriel looked up from his mattress and stared at Zane.

"You two just sleep in the bed," Gabriel said. He had a knowing look in his eyes. He felt that the two of them needed their "private space."

Nathan felt his heart beating fast. He climbed onto the bed and sat against the headboard. Zane moved slowly, lying down on the opposite side. There was a wide space between them, but the intimacy of the situation was undeniable.

They both wanted to move closer, to feel the warmth of the other person to calm their nerves, but they were too nervous to make the first move, especially in front of Gabriel and Eli.

They stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, listening to the sound of Gabriel and Eli continuing to talk. Just as Nathan was beginning to close his eyes, another knock sounded at the door.

Nathan groaned and sat up. "What is it now?" he shouted at the door. "Can’t I just sleep in peace?"

The door opened before he could get out of bed. Lucas walked in. He was still wearing his leather jacket, and his hair was windblown, suggesting he had just arrived at the mansion.

He had a bright, cheerful smile on his face, which looked completely out of place given the dark events of the evening.

Lucas was on a mission. Alexander had messaged him and the other siblings, telling them to keep an eye on Nathan while Zane was over.

Specifically, Lucas was there to make sure nothing happened between Nathan and Zane. And he was happy to ruin their night.

"What are you doing here?" Nathan asked, his voice full of annoyance.

Lucas didn’t answer immediately. He walked into the attached bathroom, splashed some water on his face, and tossed his jacket onto a chair. He walked back to the bed and climbed right into the middle, lying down between Nathan and Zane.

Zane sat up instantly, his eyes wide. "What are you doing?"

"I am sleeping here," Lucas said. He pulled the comforter up and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I didn’t know you didn’t have your own room in this giant house," Zane said. He sounded sarcastic.

Lucas turned his head to look at Zane. "You know exactly what I’m doing. I’m not going to let you lay a hand on my brother while I’m around."

"What?" Zane hissed.

"Just sleep," Lucas said, closing his eyes. "I’m not going anywhere. I’m a very heavy sleeper, but I’ll wake up if the bed moves."

"Get out!" Nathan shouted. He grabbed a pillow and hit Lucas in the face with it. "I don’t want to sleep with you!"

"No," Lucas said, grabbing the pillow and holding it tightly. "I’m too tired to move. I’m staying."

The room erupted into a small war. Nathan and Lucas began to fight over the blankets and pillows. Nathan kicked Lucas in the side, trying to push him off the edge, while Lucas laughed and used his weight to stay in place.

"I’m going to sleep!" Lucas shouted, pinning Nathan’s arms down.

"No way! I’m not letting you sleep here!" Nathan retorted. He managed to twist his body and kick Lucas toward the foot of the bed.

"Why are you fighting so hard?" Lucas asked, his voice mocking. "Just so you can sleep next to that motherfucker?"

Nathan’s face turned even redder. He gave a final, powerful shove, kicking Lucas to the very edge of the mattress. Nathan then scrambled over and sat right next to Zane, using his own body as a barrier.

Lucas clicked his tongue and shook his head, but he didn’t try to move back into the middle. He settled on the edge, taking up as much space as possible to be a nuisance. The two boys glared at him, but Lucas just smiled and pulled a spare pillow under his head.

Eli and Gabriel watched the scene from their mattresses on the floor.

"Does anyone want to sleep down here with me?" Eli asked, his voice small.

"No," Nathan and Zane said at the same time.

***

Thousands of miles away, the atmosphere was much different.

In Malta, the air was cold, but not as cold as in northern Europe. The sky over the Mediterranean was clear and filled with stars.

Alexander was standing on the balcony of their private villa, his silhouette dark against the light of the room behind him. He held his phone to his ear, his face set in a grim expression. He had been on the phone for a long time.

Huan walked out onto the balcony. He was wearing silk pajamas, and his hair was slightly messy. He watched Alexander for a moment before walking over.

"What happened?" Huan asked.

Alexander had been very careful to keep Huan away from any family business during this trip. He wanted Huan to relax, but his constant phone calls and tense posture were making that impossible.

Alexander lowered his phone and looked at Huan. He forced his expression to soften. "Nothing," he said.

"What do you mean, nothing?" Huan asked, crossing his arms. "You look stressed, and you haven’t looked at me once since we got here. Tell me what is going on."

"No," Alexander said. He reached out and touched Huan’s cheek. "It is nothing for you to worry about. Just give me five minutes to finish this. I will be inside soon."

"Alex..." Huan started to protest.

"Sshh, Huan. Give me a little time," Alexander said. His voice was tired but firm.

Huan let out a long sigh and sat down in a cushioned chair on the balcony. The air was soft, not at all like the freezing winter they had left behind. There was no snow here, only the sound of the waves hitting the rocks below the villa.

Alexander continued to talk in a low voice into his phone. He looked back at Huan several times. Finally, he ended the call and tucked the phone into his pocket. He walked over to where Huan was sitting.

"Go inside," Alexander said. "The air is getting cooler."

"It isn’t cold," Huan replied. "I told you, I will wait for you here. I’m not going to bed while you’re out here being so busy."

Alexander sighed. He didn’t say another word. He reached down and scooped Huan up into his arms.

"Alex! You know, you are pampering me too much lately," Huan said, wrapping his arms around Alexander’s neck as he was carried into the warm bedroom. "Aren’t you afraid I will get used to this? I’m going to become very lazy."

Alexander walked toward the large bed and carefully set Huan down. He leaned over, his face close to Huan’s. "Get used to it," Alexander whispered. "Because I am not going to stop."

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his room sandals, finally allowing the tension to leave his body. Even with the chaos happening at the mansion, he felt a sense of peace as long as Huan was within his reach. He reached out and turned off the lamp, leaving the room in the soft glow of the moonlight.

"Alex, are you sure you will sleep now?"

"Why? Do you want something else? I only have handcuffs now."

"Try it..."