I Am Tired Of Being A Hero
Chapter 99: Docking a ship

Chapter 99: Docking a ship

"It is so delicious. Thank you for the meal." Asher said, his cornflower blue eyes filled with happiness. He had wanted to say these words for so long and now he can.

"Yes, Little Ash is right. It is so delicious."

"Don’t call me little Ash. I am thirteen years old." Asher muttered, lowering his head to collect the plates on the table.

"What did you say? I can’t hear you." Arlen said, leaning forward as he thought his ear. A light kick on his shin made him turn his attention to Ravi.

Ravi used the napkin to wipe the edges of his mouth, "Stop teasing him."

Arlen instantly adopted a look of innocence, "Fine. I would just tease you."

Ravi’s ears turned so red that Arlen wanted to pinch it, "Stop saying nonsense. We would be late. Let’s go." He stood up and got his jacket, buttoning it and tucking it in.

"Asher. I am off to work." He said and the young teenager entered from inside the kitchen.

"We can wait for him and drop him off at school. I parked the car in front of the alley."

School. Ravi looked at Asher and Asher looked back at him.

"I...my parents just died so Ravi said I don’t have to go to school this week," Asher said and looked at Ravi who gave him a proud smile.

"En. Plus he just came to Davenport, I am looking for good schools to enroll him."

Arlen looked at the two of them and hid his laughter, "I would help you do some research as well." He ignored the glare that the young teenager gave him, "There are a lot of things to consider after all."

Ravi’s eyes narrowed suspiciously on Arlen but he had no idea where the suspicion was coming from.

Asher walked them to the gate and he hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "Ravi, have a good day at work."

Ravi smiled and turned back to pat his head, "Thanks, Ash."

The teenager grinned up at him, frowning when he heard Arlen’s side comment.

"Won’t you also wish me a good day at work?" Arlen said with a smile.

Seeing Ravi watching the two of them, he forced out, "Have a good day."

Ravi punched Arlen on the shoulder, "What did I just tell you? Bye, Asher." He waved and closed the door behind him.

They walked for a few minutes before Arlen turned to ask him seriously, "You want to raise him? Have you thought things through?"

Ravi turned to look at him, those ocean blue eyes were very serious and Ravi could see both concern and worry for him, "I have. I just...I know it would be much harder than I think. I have never raised a child before and I am not fit to be a guardian but.."

"Don’t say that." Arlen hurriedly interrupted him.

Ravi was not upset, "I know. I am not emotionally available, I am not kind or warm. I am not..."

"You are perfect." Arlen said, grabbing his shoulders and forcing him to look at him, "You are perfect, Ravi. I have been with the two of you for less than an hour and I can tell how much you care for him. That is the most important thing. My mother was a block of ice when I was growing up but I still knew she loved me. She was a good parent."

"Block of ice?" Ravi wanted to laugh.

"Yes. She said like four words a day. Children learn from your actions, not your words. You don’t need to be kind to the world, you just have to be kind to him. Provide for him. Be there for him. And you are warm, just because you don’t wear emotions on your sleeve does not mean that you are not. You are a good person, Ravi. Just one that prioritizes themselves first and it is a good thing. You are perfect, Asher is lucky as a guardian. So don’t say those kinds of words again, I won’t permit it, Okay?"

Ravi looked at him. This person made his emotions well up and overflow like a river, his heart which was full of worry seemed to have calmed down. It was like he had been drowning and a rope was thrown to him, dragging him to a different river but this river, he was willing to completely submerge himself in it.

How could a person just be this good? The joy, warmth, and reassurance that Arlen gave him was just so good, so addictive.

He moved closer, wrapping his arms around Arlen’s waist. He breathed deeply and his hands tightened even more. Ravi did not want to let go, he had been lost for so long, drifting alone but even a lone ship had moments when it wanted to be docked.

Right?

"Arlen. Thank you." He said in a low voice, the words were very light as if they were weightless.

He half expected Arlen to move but the other did not move, causing him to hesitantly place his head on Arlen’s chest. A strong heartbeat reverberated in his ears.

Ta-dum! Ta-dum!

The sound was like music in his ears, making him want to even indulge more in this moment.

"Officer!" A gentle voice sounded not far from where they stood.

Ravi widened his eyes, his ears red as he hurriedly retracted from Arlen’s embrace, moving at least six feet away.

He just hugged him like that, in the middle of the road, he even leaned his head on his chest.

Ravi have a little bit of self-respect.

Why? Was there anything wrong with hugging someone?

Listen to yourself. If there was nothing wrong, why do you feel so guilty?

Ravi swallowed, "Captain. Thank you. I needed that."

"Oh! Your Captain. Ravi, why don’t you introduce us?"

The conversation woke Arlen from the trance he was in. He felt an odd sense of loss. An elusive feeling filled his heart but he could not quite grasp it causing him to feel restless.

There was an annoyance in his eyes when he looked at the person who had interrupted them.