Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 127: Candid conversation over lunch

Chapter 127: Candid conversation over lunch

After basking in that uncomfortable silence as he racked his brain to think of what to say, all Knox could utter was, "I’m sorry...no, I...mean, it’s not like I did all that because I don’t like you. Would I still be meeting you here if that’s the case? I have reasons, and I would have explained them to you if Athan wasn’t there."

His words were a bit muffled because of the alpha’s hand on his face.

Azrael scoffed, "Maybe you’re just feeling guilty after what you’ve done?"

Knox halted. He stared at the man through the gaps of his fingers, disbelief etched on his face. Did he hear it right? Sure, he was guilty! But for him to think like that after what they did...annoyed him big time. Suddenly, anger rose inside him.

He glared at Azrael, "What? Damn you, I won’t just let anyone grab my dick and give them a handjob just because I’m feeling guilty over them! I’m not that kind of person!"

Knox suddenly had a thought, ’Is this how he felt when I indirectly insulted his family?’ He felt burdened and his chest tightened. Although he was mad, he just couldn’t let that precious time Rian and his friends manage to give them by taking the guards’ attention away from him.

He sighed and calmed himself down, telling himself he was the mature one despite being four years younger, so he should be more understanding.

Meanwhile, instead of panicking from Knox’s outburst, Azrael hid his grin by covering half of his mouth.

After so many things that happened to them, he still finds the little tiger endearing when mad or annoyed. Knox still wore his hearts on his sleeves, and his mood swings remained as before, quick to change and shallow.

Azrael would prefer seeing his nostrils flare with anger or his eyes blazed with irritation, rather than seeing them cry and tremble out of fear from his presence.

’Green is most lovely when they sparkled like emeralds hit by the lights. His eyes would shine with vivid colors, vibrant albeit fuming,’ Azrael thought as he gazed deeply at those pair of bright green eyes peeking between the gaps of his fingers.

To calm his hard-on, he continued teasing Knox, "I’m not going to accept your apology just like that. You did me wrong so many times. You broke my heart; you hid my son; you insulted my origin—

Knox, "I did not! That’s not what I meant! You didn’t give me time to explain and just turned off the phone like a—

"Oh, yeah, you’re just stating a fact so I guess it’s not an insult," Azrael continued, cutting off Knox’s words. He pulled back his hand and was about to speak again, but then he froze after noticing the corners of the omega’s eyes became red.

He froze, suddenly panicking at the sight of the tiger’s tearful eyes. ’Why is he crying already?! Aren’t his mood swings too much?!’

Knox was about to cry if only his eyes didn’t catch a glimpse of the alpha’s softening member. He quickly averted his gaze, his tears retreating on their ducts instantly, his voice a bit shaky as he muttered lowly, "I’m sorry...I didn’t mean it...I got scared when you told me you were going to apply for custody. I don’t want us to get there! I don’t want Knoa to ever wonder why he has two houses he has to go home to, why his parents aren’t together..."

Knox listed all his reasons one by one, however, the alpha before him wasn’t listening.

How could he listen properly when they talk like that?

Azrael covered his eyes as he bit his lower lip to stop his laughter from bursting out.

He found the situation a bit ridiculous. With both of their genitals out in the open, clapping hands with each other, while Knox was tearing up and apologizing; how else could he remain hard while talking about serious matters?

He couldn’t even bring himself to listen attentively because his cock was trying to spring up again at the sight of Knox’s pinkish and smooth dick.

Without permission, he grabbed Knox’s waist and propped him up on his knees, then he wiped his dick with the tissue Knox brought with the food and then zipped his pants after.

He patted Knox’s butt, and stated, "Let’s talk while we eat."

Azrael did all that with difficulty, reciting the table of elements in his head to compose himself.

Knox nodded in embarrassment. "Right..."

He left Azrael to clean himself and moved to the table far from the windows. He placed the boxed meal on the table, thinking to have a proper talk over lunch, but then Azrael pulled him to the corner. Then, he sat on the floor, his back against the wall, and patted the space between his legs.

Knox sat obediently. Azrael wrapped his arms around his waist and muttered, "As part of your punishment, feed me."

"Fine..." Knox opened the box and held the fried drumstick next to Azrael’s lips. "Just bite on it."

Azrael frowned, disappointment showed in his face, "This is not what I was expecting. Tsk."

"What else did you expect? Steak?" Knox rolled his eyes at the grumpy guy and nudged the chicken to him.

Azrael bit on it, the crunchiness of the food breaking in his mouth and the savory smell of its juice was appetizing, yet the one munching on it still had a dissatisfied look. After gulping his food, Azrael remarked, "I’m expecting you to feed me with your mouth."

Knox leaned away and gave the guy a weird look. He shrugged his shoulders and shoved the chicken leg into Azrael’s mouth again. "Stop talking nonsense and listen carefully."

It was hard to talk with half of his body slightly twisted to face Azrael, but sitting in that position felt good. Knox felt like they were two students, a senior and a freshman, frolicking inside a classroom after class.

He parted his lips to start explaining but got interrupted by Azrael instead.

"I already know," Azrael said out of the blue. He grabbed the chicken leg from another box and nudged it on Knox’s lips. "I’m not so foolish not to realize that. You’re being watched, and if they saw you with me, you’re going to be grounded like some teenage girl rebelling to meet his hidden handsome lover."

Azrael recalled what Shawn told him before. His face darkened but it was quickly replaced with impatience when Knox refused to eat and just stared at him, waiting for his continuation.

Azrael sighed and continued, "I’m just...hurt. I’m sulking, or maybe I was mad indeed. It was easy for you to let me go, to choose your family over me. You chose to stay away for the sake of that omega, right? I should be blaming my father, but somehow, I was angered when you decided on it without consulting me.

"I could have helped you. I could have done something, anything, but you shouldered it alone. Am I that unreliable? Or did you stop trusting me because I’m the son of that scum? It made me think that maybe, you finally realized I’m just a f*cking pest trying to ruin your life.

"You don’t know how f*cking jealous I am towards your family, your friends. Compared to them, I felt like I was at the bottom of your pyramid. I’m your least priority. I was helpless. I’ve been climbing, but every time I get to another level, you’d be stacking two at the top. It’s frustrating."

Knox was speechless.

Azrael grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look directly at him. He continued, in a lighter voice, "But I’ll say this to you now, I’m so goddamn happy you brought Knoa into this world. The little guy’s a ball of sunshine. I’ll do everything to keep his brightness from fading. But, baby, don’t dull mine again."

Knox pouted. He nodded in obedience, feeling a bit emotional over all that drama.

Azrael, "I’ll be a good father. I promise."

"Let’s do our best," Knox replied. He smiled warmly at Azrael and added, "That’s why I have to keep doing this, sneaking out just to see you. The worst my father could do if I disobeyed his request after I chose Shawn’s safety is to send me abroad."

Azrael answered immediately, "I can always follow you if that happens."

"But then, all we do is hide forever. I want us to be family, Azrael, recognized by our own families and friends. I want Knoa to have a complete family...what are you doing?"

Knox furrowed his brows at Azrael’s action. ’Why is he acting like he’s crying? Wait, is he really crying? Why?!’

As though Azrael heard his inner monologue, he replied as he looked up and even fanned himself with the hand that held the fried chicken. He answered Knox, "I’m wiping my tears."

Knox narrowed his eyes at the man, feeling doubtful but closer to being convinced. "Why are crying?"

The corner of Azrael’s lips curved upward. He glanced at Knox, looking proud and excited, "You just proposed to me."

’I did what?!’ Knox exclaimed inwardly. Then, when he recalled what he just said, his face flushed and he quickly avoided Azrael’s mischievous gaze. Strong arms hugged him from the back.

A bitten fried chicken appeared in Knox’s sight, and next to his ears, warm breath tickled his skin as Azrael spoke, "With this chicken leg as our witness, I, Azrael Del Valle, accept Knox Arden’s proposal."

Knox burst into laughter. He slapped his hands on Azrael’s thighs at his silliness. For a moment, they felt like the world abandoned them, and only the two of them existed in that space, basking in that warm exchange, playful and unbothered by the uncertainties tomorrow might bring.

Azrael sealed the vow with a bite, not on the food, but on Knox’s pinkish lips, sharing that moment with an oily, blissful kiss.

Knox whispered as their lips parted, "Fine. Next time, I’ll do it properly. So, until then, trust me. I’ll make my family accept you, Mr. Del Valle."

Azrael smiled. Knox could never know, ’Even if they don’t accept me, I wouldn’t care. I can snatch you away anyway. Next time, you’re going to choose me over them, little tiger.’