Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)
Chapter 264: softened

Chapter 264: softened

Rhea’s amber eyes softened, her voice low, trembling with emotion.

"I get it," she muttered, her cheek still pressed to his shoulder. "I don’t trust people either."

Freya nodded, her hand slipping down to rest against Kael’s chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart.

"But we’re not people," she said, her voice soft but fierce. "We’re yours."

Those words, spoken so simply, hit Kael harder than any blow, a tidal wave of emotion crashing through him, his hazel eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I don’t want to lose either of you," he whispered, his voice breaking, raw with fear and love.

"Then stop making us feel like we’re already gone," Freya replied, her voice trembling, her blue eyes fierce with conviction.

Kael exhaled, long and trembling, reaching for her, his hands shaking.

Freya leaned into his arms, her platinum-cyan hair spilling across his shoulder, as Rhea shifted closer, wedging herself between his thigh and the couch, her crimson hair brushing his arm.

Kael wrapped his arms around them both, pressing his forehead against Freya’s shoulder, his breath ragged, his heart exposed.

"I want to let you in," he said, his voice a fragile whisper. "I do. But I still don’t know how."

"You just did," Freya whispered, her voice soft, her blue eyes shimmering as she pressed her lips to his temple. "This is how."

"I’m not asking for all of you," Rhea added, her voice softer now, cracking with emotion. "Just... stop pushing us away like we’ll break. Let us decide what we can handle."

Kael nodded, his hazel eyes closing, his breath steadying. "I’ll try."

Rhea pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, her amber eyes glistening, a faint smile breaking through.

"Was that so hard?" she said, her voice cracking. "Admitting you’re scared, that you care?"

Kael gave a faint smile, his hazel eyes warm despite the ache in his chest. "Felt like ripping my ribs open, honestly."

Freya kissed his cheek, her lips soft, lingering, a quiet promise. "We’re worth the pain."

He closed his eyes, his breath steadying, the weight of their closeness anchoring him. "Yes. You are."

They stayed like that for a minute, maybe more, the common room bathed in morning light, the silence no longer heavy but warm, healing.

Freya’s fingers played idly through Kael’s hair, her touch gentle, grounding.

Rhea traced soft patterns on his wrist, her amber eyes soft, her crimson hair spilling across his arm.

"I hate crying," Rhea muttered under her breath, rubbing one eye quickly, her voice thick. "It makes my nose all stuffy."

"Then don’t," Kael said, his voice teasing, his hazel eyes glinting. "You’re too scary when you cry anyway."

She elbowed him lightly, her amber eyes sparkling, but she didn’t move away, her body pressed close.

Freya sighed against his neck, her breath warm, her voice soft but firm. "You know you’ll still pay for lying, right?"

"Yeah," Kael murmured, his hazel eyes warm, a faint smile on his lips. "I know. Now I am sad, again."

Rhea smirked, her crimson hair bouncing. "You should’ve thought of that before lying to both your girlfriends."

There it was.

Girlfriends.

The word hung in the air, a declaration that made Kael freeze for a second, his hazel eyes widening, then softening into a smile.

Freya said nothing, her blue eyes warm, her fingers curling around his hand, a quiet acceptance in her touch.

No heat, no urgency—just the warmth of a group hug that meant everything, arms tangled, three bodies drawn close, not driven by lust or duty but by a raw, unspoken need to be together.

Kael’s arms anchored them both, one hand threading through Freya’s hair, the other resting against Rhea’s back, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath.

After a while, Kael pulled back, just slightly, his hazel eyes heavy with emotion.

"There’s something I need to tell you," he said, his voice low, trembling with sincerity.

Freya looked up, her blue eyes shimmering, her expression a mix of hope and wariness.

Rhea stayed pressed to his chest, but her ears perked, her amber eyes glinting as she lifted her head slightly.

"I’m not going to the Haven but....," Kael said, his voice steady but weighted.

.

.

.

"So you want us to watch after Lila," Rhea said, her brow raised, her voice laced with a mix of suspicion and hurt. "While you’re off with her sister?"

"Yes," Kael said, his voice firm, his hazel eyes steady. "That’s exactly what I want."

Freya tilted her head, her blue eyes piercing, her voice soft but heavy. "That’s... risky."

"I know," Kael said, his voice breaking slightly, his hazel eyes glistening. "That’s why I’m taking Liss with me."

Freya’s lips thinned, her blue eyes flickering with concern. "What if something happens here?"

"Run," Kael said, his voice urgent, his hazel eyes blazing with intensity.

"Don’t fight. Don’t bother. Don’t try to be clever. If anything feels wrong—run. I don’t want either of you getting hurt. Ever."

"I know," Freya said, her voice trembling, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "And I want the same. I want you to come back."

Rhea shifted her weight, arms crossed, her amber eyes blazing with frustration. "I still think you should’ve let me come with you."

Kael smiled faintly, his hazel eyes warm despite the ache in his chest. "You’re loud."

"...Rude," Rhea muttered, her amber eyes rolling, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "But fair."

They stood there a moment longer, no one moving, the air thick with the weight of their bond, fragile yet unyielding.

Rhea caught Kael’s wrist before he could take two steps, tugging him back, her amber eyes glinting with heat.

She rose on her toes, planting a kiss on his lips—brief but fiery, a spark that said everything she couldn’t.

She stepped away, her crimson hair bouncing, her gaze fierce but soft.

Kael turned to Freya, their eyes meeting, her blue gaze steady, shimmering with emotion.

She shook her head slightly.

"No. Not yet," she said, her voice soft but resolute.