The Rogue System [BL]
Chapter 300 - Stew, unshared

Chapter 300: Chapter 300 - Stew, unshared

Eric sat cross-legged in the dimly lit tent, his hands bound together with clinking chains. His pout was in full force, his lips jutting out as his narrowed eyes followed the blood-soaked figure who had just walked in.

"Kai?" His voice was laced with disbelief as he tried to process the situation. "Is that really you? What the hell happened? Did someone run you through a blender?"

The man didn’t respond. His face—well, what little Eric could see beneath the blood—was stoic, his stunning features marred but still undeniably Kai. It had to be him.

"You *ass*! Did you think this was funny?" Eric huffed, shaking his chains for emphasis. "You scared the life out of me, you know? Do you enjoy chasing people down like some blood-soaked maniac? I nearly had a heart attack!" He crossed his arms, attempting to look intimidating, which was a bit difficult with jingling chains.

Kai remained silent, his piercing gaze briefly flickering to Eric before he began removing his armor and chainmail.

"Oh, great. Silent treatment. Is this because I ignored you a few days ago? Seriously? Grow up, Kai. I don’t have a bandage fetish or whatever you’re into!" Eric wriggled around, attempting to loosen the chains to no avail. "Fine! Be childish. I’m not talking to you either."

He turned his head dramatically, only to snap back when Kai’s chainmail hit the floor with a heavy thud.

Kai was now shirtless, his muscles glistening in the faint torchlight as he began cleaning himself with a damp cloth. His movements were methodical, each flex of his muscles drawing Eric’s full attention.

Eric’s mouth fell open.

"Oh... my... god..." he whispered to himself, eyes shamelessly drinking in the view. His gaze traveled from Kai’s chiseled abs to his broad shoulders and then down—further down—until—

"*Nope! Nope! Keep it together, Eric!*" he thought, squeezing his eyes shut and slapping his own cheek lightly. But when he opened his eyes again, Kai was completely naked.

Eric’s brain short-circuited.

"Look at those abs... and his *ass*! Why is it so... cute?!" Eric’s inner monologue screamed. His hands twitched as if they had a mind of their own, eager to touch. "I just want to squish it. Just a little. Would he even notice if I—NO. BAD THOUGHTS."

Kai, still oblivious—or perhaps just ignoring Eric—continued to wipe the blood off his body. His expression didn’t change, and he didn’t so much as glance in Eric’s direction.

Eric, meanwhile, was doing mental gymnastics trying not to ogle too obviously.

"Kai," he blurted out finally, his voice an odd mix of frustration and pleading. "You can’t just strip in front of me like that! I’m a *vulnerable* man in chains. You’re making this so much harder—wait, no, not like that! I meant awkward! Hard as in awkward, not... never mind."

Kai paused mid-wipe and gave Eric a deadpan look.

Eric’s cheeks turned crimson. "Can you at least *say* something? Anything? Are you mute now? Did you lose your voice along with all that blood?"

Kai smirked—a barely there curve of his lips—and went back to cleaning himself.

"Oh, so you *can* smirk!" Eric accused, his voice rising. "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re trying to kill me with sheer hotness. Admit it! You’re secretly enjoying this!"

Kai finished cleaning and grabbed a fresh set of clothes from the corner of the tent.

"Unbelievable," Eric muttered, flopping dramatically onto his back. "I’m chained up, half-starved, and now mentally scarred for life. And you’re just... being hot and mysterious over there."

Kai finally spoke, his voice calm and cold. "You talk too much."

Eric’s eyes widened. "Oh, now you talk! After everything, *that’s* what you say?"

Kai turned away, fully dressed now, leaving Eric to stew in his mixed emotions of irritation and awe.

"This isn’t over," Eric mumbled under his breath, glaring at Kai’s back. "You owe me an explanation. And maybe an apology. And—oh, who am I kidding? I just want you to say my name in that stupid sexy voice of yours again."

Kai left the tent with a small smile.

The rich, savory smell of meat stew filled the small tent, making Eric’s stomach growl loud enough to echo. He snapped his head toward Kai, who had just re-entered, a steaming bowl in hand.

Eric’s eyes lit up, relief washing over him. "Fine, I’ll forgive you," he said, holding out his chained hands expectantly. "Even if it’s crude, I can adjust. Just hand it over."

But instead of passing the bowl, Kai plopped down onto a small makeshift stool opposite Eric and began eating. Without a word. Without hesitation. Without sharing.

Eric blinked, watching in disbelief as Kai spooned the stew into his mouth with the elegance of a bear mauling a fish. "Oh my God, I’m so pissed right now," Eric muttered, glaring daggers.

"Kai! I’m hungry too!" he whined, shaking his chains again for emphasis. "You can’t just—"

Kai didn’t even look up, instead tilting the bowl to drink the broth.

"Are you deaf? Or are you just ignoring me for fun? Because if you are, let me tell you, this isn’t funny!" Eric’s voice grew more incredulous with each passing second.

Finally, Kai spared him a glance—just a flicker of his cold, impassive gaze—before continuing to eat.

Eric let out a frustrated groan, collapsing back against the tent wall. "Unbelievable. I’m going to starve to death right here while you have the time of your life eating that—"

Before he could finish, another man entered the tent. He wore a crisp white shirt and loose brown pants, his long black hair tied into a low ponytail. He was tall and carried an air of quiet authority, but what caught Eric’s attention was the raised eyebrow and skeptical look the man shot his way.

"Did he hit his head?" the newcomer asked, his voice dripping with disdain as he gestured toward Eric. "Why is he making that face?"

Eric, still glaring at Kai, jerked his head toward the man. "Excuse me, this face is what hunger and betrayal look like, thank you very much!"

The man ignored him entirely, sitting down next to Kai. "What’s his deal?"

Kai wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shrugged. "I might’ve struck him too hard. He’s gone crazy."

Eric froze, his jaw dropping. "Kai... Are you being serious right now?"

The man beside Kai scoffed, shaking his head. "Who’s Kai? This is General, our great leader."

Eric felt all the blood drain from his face. His gaze darted between Kai—no, General Han—and the other man. "What do you mean, General?" His voice was a squeak now. "He’s Kai. He has to be Kai!"

The man smirked, leaning back casually. "You’ve got the wrong person, prisoner."

Eric’s mind reeled as the realization hit him like a runaway truck. "Oh my God. He’s not Kai. He just looks like Kai! Then... I’m actually a prisoner here..."