Ollie was not okay.
Not even close.
If life had HP bars to show emotional damage, his would’ve been flashing red before instantly dropping to zero. A total KO. No revives left. Please insert another soul to continue.
The attack had been too fierce.
His system—body, mind, soul—was still glitching. And so, like a haunted mech on emergency protocol, he passed through dinner mechanically. Fork to plate. Plate to mouth. Chew. Swallow. Stare into the void. Repeat.
Kyle only mentioned dinner since his declaration while consoling him.
Which was somehow worse than if he’d kept talking.
Because now every movement, every brush of Kyle’s sleeve, every tiny glance—even the shared airspace—felt charged. Like lightning was going to strike at any moment and fry what was left of Ollie’s sanity.
Then came dessert.
The blonde almost passed out.
Because Kyle really gave him the ice cream.
His favorite.
It was sweet. Cold. Perfect.
And completely incompatible with his current body temperature.
Every bite he took made him tremble.
Not from his usual dessert bliss, but from panic.
The poor dessert couldn’t even hold up against the heat of his face. It melted faster than his thoughts. Was this really happening? Was this a dream? A fever? A long-con prank?
No. It was real.
And the ice cream was witnessing his downfall.
He tried to talk, but it was like his voice box had been fried during emotional combat.
So instead, Ollie did the only thing he could.
He let Kyle carry him.
Yes. Carry him.
Because his legs were mush. Boneless, wobbly, traitorous mush. It would’ve been impossible to get dinner if he hadn’t done this for him.
This time, he wasn’t even exaggerating—walking felt like piloting a mecha with two broken joints and a faulty stabilizer. And that’s saying a lot because he couldn’t even pilot!
And Kyle, being Kyle, didn’t say a word. He just carried him around like it was normal.
It was not.
It was definitely not.
Ollie had no idea how many times his brain screamed THIS IS NOT NORMAL in the span of twenty minutes.
But why does it seem like everyone thinks it’s normal, too?
Do they not know that this man has t-thoughts about him?! He internally panicked as he realized that people would always assume it was he whom Kyle was carrying, even when his body was covered with a giant coat.
Maybe it was someone else; did they not consider that?
They didn’t. Instead, they greeted Kyle and the bundle he was carrying as Ollie. As him. And every time they did it, his heart would clench a little.
Ahhhhh! Maybe he was really ill!
But then came the worst realization of all.
School.
Was he even going to make it to school tomorrow?
No, wait. Forget school. There was a more urgent problem.
How was he supposed to sleep tonight?!
Because if Kyle’s words were still playing on a loop in his head at dinner...
Then, was he expected to endure it until later?
One hand clutched the edge of his blanket. The other clutched his terminal.
If Kyle even texted goodnight, he was done for.
Absolutely done for.
But he didn’t have to send a message because the giant’s mouth was apparently fully capable of functioning, unlike his.
By the time curfew approached, he still hadn’t recovered. Sure, he was glowing from coming back from the space. He was fed. He didn’t have to walk, but his mind had been out there racing like crazy with the most jumbled thoughts.
But because Kyle was Kyle, he didn’t really leave immediately.
Instead, the busy man made sure that he was tucked in.
Yes. Tucked in. Just like their usual routine, which now somehow felt very alien to his brain, despite his body cooperating as if it were muscle memory.
Blanket neatly pulled to his chin. Pajamas already changed. Fuzzy slippers placed beside the bed. That ridiculous but beloved star hairband was already perched on his head. His favorite pillow fluffed and placed right beneath him, like Kyle had memorized the exact pillow arrangement that got him to sleep fastest.
But then...
Ollie noticed it.
CLICK.
H-how could he be so shameless?!
Since when did such things come out of his mouth?!
Nnngh!
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