"Papa, I like your outfit." Orion went up close to the stunned Esper, pinching at his full body suit. "But from when I'm from you have a much cooler one. You and my—"
"Okay!" Ambrose shot forward, grabbing the lad and placing a hand over his mouth. He smiled awkwardly at Devon, turning Orion around before whispering in his ear. "Orion—you can't just tell anyone that you're from an alternate future. Or that you're our son."
Orion's smile faltered.
The way his fingers tightened around Ambrose's sleeve almost made him take it back.
Almost.
Meanwhile, Devon didn't enter fully. He stood there like someone who hadn't meant to come this far. His arms were behind his back, golden eyes squinted with curiosity and silent questioning.
Ambrose felt more anxious feeling his piercing gaze on his back.
What in hell's gates could have brought the guy here? Did Han send him here to gloat?
"Why don't you go to one of the bedrooms?" Ambrose suggested, patting Orion's little shoulders. "There's a television there and the remote is working perfectly."
The boy grumbled, touching his stomach. "But I'm still hungry."
"I'll get you something soon." Ambrose shoved him gently toward the open entrance leading into the bedrooms. "Just go. You don't want to stress Daddy, do you?"
Orion quickly shook his head, darting away while Ambrose watched with a small smile.
At least the kid wasn't a handful. Kids that age actually listening was a rarity.
[Would you look at that? Daddy Ambrose's first successful parental gaslighting.]
"Ahem!" Devon's fake cough made his body stiffen. "Do I even want to know who the kid is?"
Again—the guy being here made no sense.
From the past memories he had of the first Ambrose, he knew his attempts to seduce the S-rank Esper were futile. Quite embarrassing even.
So did Transmigration magically change this body's appeal or—?
"Have you gone mute or something?" Devon's approaching footsteps forced him to straighten up. He shut the door behind him before continuing. "Anyway, forget that. Your face—"
"Have you always been like this?" Ambrose spun around, arching an unimpressed brow at that handsome face.
Devon's eyes narrowed. "Been like what?"
"A complete asshole." Ambrose didn't know when the words spilt out. It startled even him, while Devon's eyes widened for a moment. "You just barged into my suite. Interrogating me... After your psychotic boyfriend almost killed me in an alleyway."
[Ehm... Are you sure insulting the guy you're supposed to raise the anomaly with is a good first impression?]
He ignored Aura's voice for once, watching the changes on Devon's face.
From silent neutrality. To agitation. And then—a hint of confusion. "You? Almost get killed?" He frowned. "I walked in on you slamming his head with a trash can lid."
Ambrose scoffed. "He was there with his minions. I was outnumbered. Come on, Devon." His head tilted, arms folding. "Use that flaming head of yours. Why would I attack someone like that?"
This time, Devon's eyes flickered like he was actually considering the possibilities.
Silence stretched between them like a cord waiting to be cut any second.
Then—
His jaw ticked. "If Han truly attacked you," Devon started, "then..." He broke the distance between them in a few strides, studying Ambrose closely, "... Why don't you have any bruises?"
The Esper being so up close sent flaring signals through every nerve ending in Ambrose's body.
First off—his scent!
Fuck, he smelled like pine, burnt incense and something sweet he couldn't name.
And then those lips... Deviously thin and pink. Strands of his red hair splayed across his face. His jaw seemed carved out of steel, his shoulders sturdy as rocks.
'No wonder the past Ambrose was content with trying to seduce him...' he gulped, rushing to respond to Devon. "Of course, I have bruises. They're..."
His hands searched his face and other parts of his body, hoping to poke somewhere that hurt.
Nothing.
Ambrose's lips parted while Devon merely shook his head, stretching a hand toward his face.
"There are a few blood stains here," his fingers brushed his cheek tenderly. The air between them was electric, Devon's nostrils flaring the second he touched his skin.
Both men gawked at each other, speechless and confused.
[DING! Guide-Esper compatibility detected between host and Devon.]
[PERCENT: 100%.]
As those words rang in Ambrose's head, Devon's breath stuttered. Just once. Almost imperceptible. Then he withdrew his fingers, looking away from him.
"I..." He stammered, eyes closing for a breath. Then, "my original reason for coming here is to tell you I've noticed something. Between you and Han."
He dragged his gaze back to Ambrose again, his former demeanour coming back
All while Ambrose was trying to come to terms with what Aura just revealed.
"I do not wish to question whatever relationship you... Had with Han." His tone was firm and calm. "But stay away from us. Our link might be temporary but he's still my boyfriend. And I don't appreciate whatever it is you think you're doing."
Ambrose gawked, not knowing where to start or what to say.
The sudden excited shriek of Orion as a cartoon's theme song played finally made Devon nod. "That's all I have to say. Good night—"
Just when he was about to turn around, Ambrose blurted. "This is rich."
Devon stilled, pivoting his head to him.
The fierce light in his eyes didn't deter Ambrose. It pushed him, like a moth to flames. Except these flames didn't feel like they would burn him.
No—it just might consume him.
"You're telling me to stay away from you two," Ambrose pushed, taking a daring step closer. "Why? Afraid I'll bag you and your so-called boyfriend at once?"
Devon's face lit with a dangerous fire. "Careful, now. You—"
"Oh, but I'm serious." The former went on casually, eyes falling on some dust on Devon's right shoulder. He brushed it off gently, noticing the way he flinched without moving away. "If you were confident in your relationship, you wouldn't be here. You'd be with your partner."
He stopped, mouth curving into a small, suggestive smirk that came out of nowhere. "Unless there's a different reason you're here."
That statement made Devon's jaw flex.
Closing his eyes, he dragged himself backwards, away from Ambrose. "Quit whatever game this is."
"Oh, it's no game, Devon."
"I won't warn you again." Devon raised a finger, pointing at his face. "Stay away from us."
Images of the guy lighting in flames flashed through Ambrose's head. He stopped, careful not to overstep.
He was still an S-rank Esper after all.
Eventually, after one prolonged stare, Devon moved. The living room door shut with a bang which only made Ambrose click his tongue.
"Tch." He shook his head. "And I'm supposed to raise a whole ass child with that jerk? It'll be much easier to repaint the walls with my eyelashes."
A holographic screen suddenly appeared in front of his face, making him blink at the bright light.
[+10 attraction points gotten from Devon. Total attraction points needed: 100.]
Several seconds passed with Ambrose doing nothing. Or saying anything.
Earlier Aura had told him he and Devon had one hundred per cent Esper-Guide compatibility. Whatever that means.
Now it was talking about... Attraction points?
"Is this like a game?" He questioned out loud. "This whole thing feels like I'm in a game. Or—"
[You're not far off! This system's design might share similarities with your world's gaming modules.]
[As for those notifications... A one hundred per cent compatibility simply means you're his fated Guide. No other Guide can be as effective for him as you.]
[SIDE MISSION: Permanently link with Devon in 24 hours.]
Ambrose blinked. "Excuse me?"
[PENALTY: Psychic backlash.]
"Define backlash."
[No rewards for this mission.]
Ambrose's eyes widened. "H–Hold up. Psychic backlash? No rewards? This—"
[As for attraction points... You get some each time you manage to push Devon's feelings for you. Once it gets to one hundred points, you get a copied version of his Esper abilities. This also applies to future Espers the host seduces.]
One after the other, all this information flooded his headspace, glowing in front of him as well.
His mind spun so much that he felt like sitting.
But one thing stood out more than all of them combined.
Gaining Esper abilities by increasing their attraction to him!
[So get to work, honey. You've still got to convince Devon to join you in taking care of your secret love child. He's met him, even if briefly—now to take things further.]