Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 125: Meeting you again [2]

Chapter 125: Meeting you again [2]

Knoa wriggled out in his father’s embrace. He peeked at Azrael’s face and his green eyes widened when his father’s eyes reddened. He spouted as his little fingers reached and touched Azrael’s eyes, "Maybe it’s tears of joy?"

Azrael paused, then flashed an amused smile, "Where did you learn that?"

Knox comically replied, "I read it on the books Grampa gave me! I read a lot of books, fairy tales, short stories, dictionary...Grampa teaches me to read properly so my speech will be better too, hehe. I’m speaking good now, Daddy! I’m not speaking like hidden lines anymore!"

’Dictionary...the hell?’ Azrael crumpled his face. Knoa stared at him so he quickly changed his expression to that of awe, "You’re amazing, son. Yeah, unlike the last time I talked to you, you’ve improved. So, maybe now, you already know what ’cops’ mean, huh."

Knoa blushed but he also grinned widely, "Yes! It means police, hehe."

Shawn pulled Knoa’s arm, gaining the attention of the father and son. He anxiously stated, "I think it’s time to go back now. Sir Azrael, I’m sorry, but Sir Knox will be the one reaping the punishment if the guards catch you with them. Can you please let go of Knoa for now?"

Azrael furrowed his brows, "Punishment? What kind?"

Shawn hesitated for a minute, but since it didn’t look like the alpha would let go of Knoa if he refused to answer, he replied honestly, "Uh...like days of confinement. Sir Athan and the chairman finally let him roam free again after breaking up with you..."

Knoa flinched. He looked at his uncle with wide eyes, then when he turned to his father, his eyes were as red as Azrael’s already. In a small voice, Knoa asked, "Papa and Daddy broke up?"

Azrael frantically shook his head, afraid to make the kid cry. He hugged Knoa and glared at Shawn whose forehead broke into a sweat. "Of course not, baby! Papa and Daddy are still together. Daddy just needs to do something that’s why I’m not with your Papa now, but we love each other and we love you so much. So, in the future, if that as—that Uncle Athan hid your Papa from me, you have to call me and tell me all the secret doors in your Grampa’s mansion so I can sneak in and save your Papa, then we can live—ow!"

Knoa, "Daddy?!"

"What the hell are you even telling a kid? Let him go if you want to see them later, Azi," Rian said as he crouched down next to Knoa. He swung his arm on Azrael’s shoulders who shoved him away after. "Ow..."

Rian went back into crouching after patting away the dirt on his pants. He smiled at Knoa, his slanted eyes almost turned into thin lines, "Hello, little kid, what’s your name? Mine is Rian, I’m your father’s friend, so that means I’m your uncle too. You can call me Uncle Rian."

Before Knoa could answer, Azrael asked Rian grumpily, "Where is Knox?"

Rian grinned, aware that the guy was annoyed after he interrupted their father-and-son time. He cocked his head in the direction of the learning rooms, "He said that you have to be careful being seen with your kid as the guards might report this to his father. Wow, Azi, imagine my shock when he suddenly blurted out that this kid is yours after I told him I’m your friend and the one who brought you here. My jaw touched the ground for the first time. It was so shocking I had to smack your head to know it’s true."

"Shut up," Azrael ruffled Knoa’s head and ordered, "Go back to your Papa for now. Tell him I will come to you later, so don’t run away, okay?"

Knoa pouted, obviously saddened at the sudden parting. Rian pouted with him and he glanced at Shawn with a pitiful look, asking, "Are you going to tell this to your fiancé?"

Shawn was taken aback. How did the unknown man know of his and Athan’s relationship? However, his question was caught in his throat when the man fluttered his eyelids and stared at him hopefully. He looked away, weirded, and reluctantly shook his head, "No...I won’t. I promise."

Azrael sighed in relief. He finally let go of Knoa and waved at him as Shawn guided him away with the kid who carried a stuffed toy.

Rian slapped Azrael’s back after they were gone. "I can’t believe this. I thought you were only devastated because your boyfriend dumped you, but seeing that adorable plumpy rounded cheeks, and cute doe eyes, I understand now. I would also lose it if those two were taken away from me. What are you going to do now?"

Azrael stared from the room where Knoa and Knox were. All the graduated children were inside the room, receiving their meals and gifts.

He turned to Rian afterward and asked, "Is this the first time he attended events like this?"

A smile slowly formed on Rian’s lips. He nodded, "Yes. The only reason he was here was because his sister couldn’t attend. I don’t know why but her family usually attend events like this, so for all of them to be absent, it’s probably something like a family gathering...your omega excluded."

Azrael’s face darkened. "Screw them. After releasing a public statement, he’d leave his son out?"

"Chill. It was just my hunch," Rian laughed. He patted Azrael’s shoulder before he stood, "You know what, you guys are maybe meant to be. You asked the same damn question. Haha. You’re both thinking of using volunteering as an excuse to meet, right? Well, Azi, if you’re going to do that, at least learn to treat children more warmly, and next time come in proper clothes!"

Azrael frowned. Rian pointed at a specific room and told him the time with his hands as he walked away. He immediately understood. He carefully headed to that room, avoiding the eyes of the two guards.

It was lunchtime already. Knox might have been distributing food and helping the staff, so Azrael believed that he would come a few hours later.

The room he entered was a kindergarten room. The seats were too small for him, so he just sat on the floor and leaned on the cabinet next to the door. Azrael closed his eyes for a moment, his fatigue from taking care of his business last night and driving for hours without resting finally wore him down.

However, before he could finally shut his senses, he felt another presence next to him. His eyelids folded back, and he turned to his side. Knox was sitting behind the closed door, a few feet away from him.

Silence reigned between them.

Azrael thought that if he saw Knox, he’d jumped on him and locked him in his arms, but his body stiffened and all he did was stare at him. He realized he was afraid of touching him again, in case he’d pushed him away without hesitation once more.

Knox felt his heart broken when the usual excitement and warm welcome Azrael always gave him didn’t happen. Of course, what else did he expect? It was his fault for not explaining better. He bit his lip and swallowed the lump in his throat.

This time for sure, he’d tell Azrael his plans. But rather than bringing it up, his mouth uttered completely different words instead, "I missed you."

In an instant, the gap between them closed. After hearing that, Azrael threw all his fears in the air and grabbed Knox, pulling him into his arms, and locking their lips into one longing, passionate kiss.