I Am Tired Of Being A Hero
Chapter 146: When Arlen’s heart moved

Chapter 146: When Arlen’s heart moved

He pulled Ravi into a hug, wrapping his arms around Ravi as he took in a deep breath of him to relax, "Thank you! I signed an NDA so I can’t talk about it but thank you for worrying about me, Ravi. I am so stressed."

It was as if all the burdens on his shoulders slowly melted away. As if fresh air had been breathed into his being, the tension in his heart loosened. It was a strange feeling but at this moment, Arlen noted, it was actually familiar.

He was not sure when but he always felt more relaxed around Ravi. He traced up Ravi’s back, caressing it as if tenderly stroking an extremely precious treasure.

Arlen did not want to let go.

"Better now?" Ravi’s throat felt as if it was burned, and the words were light, weightless as if carried by a single exhale. He could not bear it, he could not beat Arlen touching him like that. His restraint and his self-control were being more of a facade each passing moment.

"Just one more minute." Arlen hugged him tighter, his words were a little indistinct as if he was on the verge of sniffling if Ravi pulled away.

"Was he planning tricks again?" Even though Ravi thought this, he did not move away, allowing Arlen to tighten the hug even more.

These past few days were like a rope tied around his neck was fastening more and more as each second passed.

His protesters outside was a waiting bomb, less than four days to the time limit the Phantom gave for the diamond, they had already kidnapped one of the most influential youth in the town and Arlen had to keep it to himself, not even letting her parents know that the people holding her daughter would not hesitate to kill her to advance their goals.

He could not offer anything but empty words of consolation and Arlen had not imagined how much this passive situation would make it hard for home to breathe.

But now, he took in that scent, he could breathe again, pulling away gently, "En. I feel better now. Thank you."

The melancholic look on Arlen’s face hurt his heart but it was also beautiful, and tempting, Ravi raised his hand to caress his hair, moving the locks from his forehead, "Do you remember my offer the first time you came over to mine?"

"That you would take care of anyone who made me sad. Officer West, we are in front of the Davenport Police Bureau, should you really be saying those words?" Arlen said and a light smile danced on his lips.

Ravi was enchanted.

His melancholic look was beautiful but the smiling Arlen was the most handsome Arlen.

Ravi smiled, his hand almost reached for him before he lowered and smiled, "I trust your judgment. Always. Let’s go back, it is bad manners to keep your friend waiting."

Arlen chuckled, "Since when did you start to care about manners?"

"Since now." Ravi’s lips tilted upwards and they headed back. The tall man was still there, waiting patiently, he looked at the space between them before looking away.

Ravi said goodbye and left, Arlen watched him leave for the longest time.

"Arlen," Vega called and he blinked, turning to look at him.

"Yes? Sorry for dealing with you. If your team confirms the location, I can participate in the raid but it has its disadvantages.’"

"Would we scare the snake away? Who is that officer? He is cute."

The officer? Arlen’s lips automatically curved when he thought about Ravi, "Yes, he is cute. He is my friend. The first friend I made in this place. He is amazing."

"Can I get his number?"

Arlen turned to look at him with a cold expression. The smile that was in his eyes instantly disappeared and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Why?" His chest felt like it was stuffed with some cotton, extremely uncomfortable.

Vega shrugged, "He is cute. I like the cute types."

"Ravi is not a type." He instantly challenged. The thought of giving Ravi’s number to Vega was like a pin easily prickling Arlen’s heart.

"You know I did not mean it like that." Vega looked at him strangely and his lips curled, "You are not usually like this. Didn’t you give me Morris’s number when I asked you then?"

Ravi was different. Ravi was different.

The sky blackened in an instant as if night had fallen in the blink of an eye.

Vega looked up, watching as the dark, billowy clouds gathered on the horizon, the flash of electric blue lighting their undersides.

The storm brewed in Arlen’s mind. There was a certain restlessness, and heaviness that filled him. It surged like a torrent, loud like the thunder refusing to be ignored.

Ravi was different.

They were friends, close friends but just friends. Friends should not care about others’ romances, much less meddle.

He has crossed a line. This was the first time Arlen was doing this.

The rain fell drop by drop, down from the sky, clearing his thoughts. It was not the first time he had doing this. He always got closer and closer to Ravi, continuously pushing the boundaries of their normal friendships, inching further into a territory without rules and full of ambiguity.

Arlen had pictured the appearance of his significant other, in his mind there was only a vague silhouette, a few desires, an unclear form and personality.

The rain cracked the fog in his mind and the subtle feeling that had lingered in front of him for so long vanished, leaving an enlightened mist.

That illusory form took shape turning into the actual; figure of Ravi. He finally understood why this person could make him smile so easily, would make him relax at a single touch, and why he looked forward to seeing him every single day.

He liked Ravi.

When? Arlen was not sure when their friendship had taken a shift. Was it the time he saved him, pushing him down to take a bullet for him or was it when he had stayed back just to give him a tropical drink.

Maybe, it was even earlier when he had met those gray eyes with gold flecks, stubbornly standing in the middle of the road, untouched by the public opinion that sought to drown him that his heart had moved.

As if he was destined to fall for this person who could quietly calm his tempestuous waves.