In love we rise

Chapter 5

Elio woke up to the sound of water running, presumably, in a shower, and the tantalizing smell of freshly made pancakes and coffee, in the morning. There was a looseness to his limbs, a deep sense of comfort that surrounded him like a cocoon, as he stirred lazily on the bed, burrowing into the warmth of the sheets. Even the sound of water running was like a balm to his senses so early in the morning. He stretched out his limbs, feeling the cotton of the bed sheets scratch against his skin, and extending through the tips of his fingers and toes, trying to get the stiffness out of his body. He rolled onto his back, scrunching his eyes in discontent, as the new position put him in the direct path of the sunlight shining through between the partitions of the drawn curtains.

His bed was surprisingly comfortable today, Elio pondered briefly, still floating between the states of sleep and wakefulness. He really needed this. A good night’s sleep. Especially after the day he had had yesterday. There was a thought niggling at the back of his mind, like something didn’t quite fit in. But, He was too comfortable to care. With a sigh, he stretched his limbs out, and jolted violently when his fingers banged on the side table.

Wait.

Side table? He didn’t have a side table! Suddenly, as the realization sunk in with the speed of a sinking ship, and settled firmly in his gut, he remembered everything. All the craziness that was yesterday. The alpha chasing him, meeting Angelo and Raphael, going to the police station, and… Oh god! And nothing! He never went home, did he?

Elio’s breaths came in pants as he balled up his fists in the sheets, and scrunched his eyes tight shut, like that could keep away the reality of it all from coming back to him and dishing out redemption. The sound of the shower running was even more distinct with the silence that had now descended in the room. Elio’s breath hitched.

God damn it! He must be in the alphas’ hotel suite, right? Peeking open his eyes slowly, Elio looked around. The room was as beautiful as the living room of the suite had been. Luxurious and way too out of reach of the life that he leads.

Gingerly he sat up, swinging his feet off the side of the bed, and feeling the strands of the fuzzy carpet tickle the soles of his feet. For a moment he contemplates running away. Maybe that would save him the embarrassment of having to face the two alphas right in the morning. After he had fallen asleep on them and made them bring him to their suite. Oh god! Had Angelo picked him up? Had Raphael? Somehow, the thought of Raphael holding him like that did not sit well with him.

Oh, you’re okay with being held by Angelo, huh? Supplied his traitorous mind, making Elio cringe.

But, before he could actually make a run for it and save himself, the door to the en-suite bathroom was opening, and a towel clad Angelo was walking out, spilling a billowing cloud of mist as he entered the bedroom.

For a second, they both stared at each other. Then, Angelo’s lips pulled up into a smirk, and Elio…dear, sweet, Elio, jolted, slid off the bed, and fell to the floor, all while trying to hide his face behind his hands.

Oh, Luna! Kill me now! Thought Elio, as he lay on the carpeted floor, his fingers, digging into his face, like they could protect him from his own stupidity.

His breath hitched as he realized that he could hear the sound of rapid footsteps, muffled by the carpet, making their way towards him, and he screwed his eyes shut. Maybe if he just pretended to not exist, it would all be okay?

Wishful thinking, for in the next second, there was a light touch on his shoulder, and a warm, smooth voice was asking him if he was alright. Clearly, there was no avoiding it. He would look like more of a fool, if he did.

Peaking from behind his fingers, he almost choked on his next breath. The alpha was crouched beside him, the towel slinking dangerously low, and his wash-board abs, a mere hand’s span away. If Elio simply stretched his hand out, his fingers would brush against his abs. By accident, of course. Would his skin be as soft as it looked, still damp after the shower?

His spiraling thoughts were brought to a sudden halt the sound of Angelo clearing his throat, and Elio’s eyes snapped up to Angelo’s face, even as he could feel the tips of his ears burn in mortification.

“Are you alright?” Angelo asked. Again. Making Elio realize that he had not answered him the first time around.

“Yeah- yeah, I fine.” Elio mumbled out, stuttering in his embarrassment.

“Are you sure? You didn’t hit your head, did you?” asked Angelo, offering his hand for Elio to take. There was a look in his eyes, one Elio couldn’t quite place. Concern, with a hint of amusement. And maybe, Elio was just seeing things, but fondness? No, that couldn’t be right. Regardless, he took the proffered arm, and was hauled up like he weighed nothing.

Once settled back upright with both his feet firmly on the carpeted floor, Elio chanced another glance at the alpha, whose arms were still protectively wound around his waist.

“Um, I’m okay. You can let me go now,” Elio mumbled, his face burning, and felt a jolt of disappointment rush through him, when Angelo let him go, pulling his arms back slowly, and taking a couple steps away, for good measure.

“I’ll let you get ready,” Elio bit out, as he rushed out of the room, missing the way Angelo’s face fell in disappointment.

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It was a good half hour later, as Elio sat and chatted with Raphael, that Angelo finally made it out of his room, fully dressed. Ready to face the day.

Raphael had turned out to be a surprisingly good conversationalist. Witty, and charming, with a side of mischief. They had spoken briefly about the incidents of yesterday, and that had led to a discussion about the biological evolution and the societal norms that were enforced upon all the genders, the pros and cons of flouting such rules, as well as the omegan condition.

And, by the time Angelo made it out to the living room, the omega was rolling on the sofa, laughing, as Raphael sat back on an adjacent sofa, regaling him with the tales of Angelo’s sister. An omega. Fierce and outspoken.

Angelo smiled and quirked an eyebrow, when Raphael looked at him with a beaming smile.

“Are you guys talking about Nima?” he asks, settling down on the sofa, beside Elio, who is still lying down, his chest heaving with his silent laughter. He looks up at Angelo, a smile still tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Yeah. She seems absolutely amazing.”

“She is,” Angelo confirms, throwing an arm out across the back of the sofa, and truly settling down. “We barely get to see her these days, though.” He continues, his tone turning somber at the memories of his sister.

Elio looks at him for a second, before sitting up straight.

“Oh? Why is that?”

“She got bonded, last year,” Raphael supplies, an unreadable look on his face.

The silence that followed was stifling. Like a serpent winding its way around its prey, slowly choking it to death. Elio sat there, unsure of what to do. It was obvious that this bonding was a matter of concern, perhaps, even contention. And a part of Elio was curious, wanted to dig in deeper. Know everything there was to know about Angelo. But, he knew, that it was not his place.

Not yet.

Elio’s heart thumped at the traitorous thought and he quashed it down. It was too soon. Way too soon to be thinking these things. He didn’t even know the alpha, for Luna’s sake! They’d only just met yesterday. It didn’t matter that he felt like he had always known Angelo. Felt safe with him.

It didn’t!

Luna! He was such a fool. If his brother ever found out about the stupid thoughts rushing through his mind, he knew he would be ribbed to an inch of his life. With a gasp, Elio realized that he had again neglected to inform his brother about his whereabouts.

Abruptly, he turned to face Angelo, making the alpha quirk a questioning eyebrow at him.

“Have you seen my bag? My phone’s in there. I need to call my family,” Elio rushes out, feeling a strange pull to explain himself to the alpha.  

Angelo looks at him with another one of his unreadable expressions, and for a moment, all Elio was aware of was the grey gaze that was pinning him in his spot. Then, the moment was broken, as with a slight nod, Angelo let him know that his bag was in the bedroom.

With a grateful smile, and a quick glance, Elio rushed up from the sofa and into the bedroom.

Sure enough, his bag was right there on the couch near the large fireplace that adorned the right side of the room. Elio plopped down onto the plush carpet, pulling his bag into his lap, his thoughts still swirling with grey eyes.

Absent-mindedly, he rummaged through the contents of his bag, feeling with the tips of his fingers as he looked for his phone and sighed a breath of relief, as his fingers wrapped around the cold metal.

With some struggling on his part, and protesting on the bag’s, he was able to wrestle his phone out from the depths. There was still some battery left. Not very much, he noticed with a grimace, as he pushed the power button, but just enough to place a quick call.

Guilt roiled in his gut as he unlocked his phone, and saw a barrage of notifications light up his screen. Over 20 messages. 16 missed calls. He was dead. Frowning, he quickly checked the volume of his device and sure enough, it was in silent mode. Must have gotten pressed somehow, inside the bag. This was no excuse, he knew however, and he took in a deep breath as he prepared himself for a right ribbing and placed the call through to his father.

Don’t blame him for trying to be strategic! Between his brother and his father, he was simply trying to save himself from an earful. At least postpone it for as long as he could. Of course, his father would not be pleased, but, he would not shout at him. Especially so early on in the day. It was also a bonus, that his father had a particularly soft spot for his omega child.

Biting his lips, he waited for the call to be picked up on the other side, going through and scratching out all the excuses that he could think of, in his mind, that would justify his reckless behavior. He knew he would have to tell them the truth, but, it seemed to him that telling them face to face would be a better idea. He simply needed to stall them, so that they did not worry, before he could reach home.

“Hello,” came a gruff voice, breaking Elio out of the thoughts muddling his head.

“Dad!”

“Elio, is that you?” The voice sounded tired, like his father had not slept.

With a jolt of guilt, Elio realized that that is probably exactly what has happened. With a sigh, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the guilt that threatened to swallow him whole.

“Yes, dad. It’s me.”

“Elio…” His father started, but was quickly cut off.

“Dad, before you say anything more, I just wanna say that don’t worry. I’m safe. And I’ll be coming home in half an hour. I’ll explain everything once I’m home. Please. I’m sorry. And I love you.”

He heard a sigh on the other side of the phone, and his heart clenched.

“Alright, darling. I’m glad to know you’re safe. I love you too and come home soon. But you know that you’re not off the hook, right?”

“Yeah, I know,” Elio breathed out. “I’ll be home soon.”

“Good. We’ll discuss things once you’re back.”

“Yes, dad. Bye.”

With a sigh he cut the call. Yep. He was dead.