forum "Falling in love? It's an occupational hazard." | OxO CLOSED, STALKERS WELCOME

Started May 02, 2023 by @Vitae_

tune

Carlos scoffs as he hears Mikail’s voice. “Sorry bud…didn’t order any bodyguard. You probably have the wrong address.” He grumbles, laying back down. “Just because you helped me…which I am grateful for, still doesn’t mean you can just be given the job of playing babysitter.”

He chuckles softly, smiling. Even if he hated this arrangement, he loved playing along.

Another huff of amusement escaped Mikhail's parted lips. He couldn't help but smile at that, turning to press his back against the door so he was more comfortable. "Well, I guess it's not outlandish to think I got the address wrong with all the twists and turns in this house. Honestly, with the amount of rooms here, I'm surprised you chose to stay squirreled away in this one. It doesn't even have a lock," he pointed out.

He reached up to rest a hand on his neck, pushing slightly until a satisfying crack greeted his ears. He hummed to himself, then cracked the other side before he spoke again. "Unfortunately, kid, your father already signed for me. And thanks to what happened two weeks ago, I can't exactly return to my old job." He paused again after the words, realizing how that might be construed.

"But that's alright. I was sick of that job anyways," he corrected. "Too many secrets… And too many rude clients. You're not going to continue that trend and shut me out here all night, are you?" He did his best to sound vaguely pitiful at that, but the smile was still very much present on his face. "I'd like to at least meet the kid I'm being paid to babysit."

Carlos rolls his eyes again. “I’d like to speak to the manager-“ he laughs, smiling brightly.

Once he years Michael talk about being left out of he room, he chuckles softly. “Yes actually…I’ll even make you sleep out there. Have fun cause this house is cold at night. Not too cold but enough that you enjoy a nice fluffy blanket.” He smiles warmly. “Tell ya what. If I let you in here…will you leave me alone afterwards? Or are you gonna be like an animal who was given food and keeps coming back?”

Something about that last sentence caught Mikhail by surprise, a noise of delight breaking out of his throat. "That depends," he managed to respond through a stifled laugh. "Are you planning on feeding me? I can't make any promises if you do."

When he had completely calmed himself, he knocked the back of his head against the door with a faint thump. "Look, I don't plan on being a nuisance. I just wanted to officially meet you before you decided to go anywhere I'd have to follow. Thought it might be a little less awkward this way."

He shrugged a little to himself, his arms naturally crossing over his chest as he kept an ear perked for Carlos' response. "The moment you want me gone, I'm gone—at least while you're at home," he promised.

Carlos sighs, “I’d rather you not be around me in public…thanks. But you’re free to be a weirdo and come in here. Though if you are too weird I’m throwing my book at your face. And it’s heavy.” He grins, chuckling softly. Even if he did hate this…he actually liked this guy’s humor. It fit his own…

“And don’t be a jerk either. My rooms a mess-“ He grumbles, kicking away his jacket on the floor. “An organized mess- but still a mess.” He scoffs.

Well, that was progress, although not quite in the way Mikhail had anticipated it. "Well… The 'seen-in-public' part can be negotiated later, I'm sure," he replied amicably. "But hey, I'm glad you're learning to enable my weirdness now, rather than later."

With no further hesitation, Mikhail released one of his arms to twist the doorknob, cracking the door open with the majority of his weight still pressed against it. His first glimpse of Carlos' room was the ceiling and the faintly glowing stars stuck to it, followed by a slightly inverted glimpse of the bed Carlos was sitting on.

He let his body weight carry him through the threshold, lifting his head and straightening his spine before he could tilt so far that he'd fall over. He blinked at the "organized mess", his eyes cutting straight to Carlos. "Wow, you weren't kidding," he stated plainly, his face slack with faux seriousness before he threw his hands up as if to defend himself against any potentially thrown books.

"Kidding, kidding—you should've seen the state of my place before I left," he said, lowering his arms slightly to check that there really wasn't anything being thrown at him before he lowered them completely. Instinctively, Mikhail's eyes searched for any trace of injuries on Carlos from that night, but his expression was light enough that it wasn't obvious.

Carlos definitely looked tired and very worn out. His eyes were very dull, contrasting his beautifully lit room. The room itself had piles of papers, books and other items stacked on his desk and other flat surfaces. Of course, there was no book even near Carlos. He grinned cheekily.

“Heh…scared of little old me?” He smirks, sitting up and wincing slightly. From any information that could be gathered, his head was definitely still damaged. “Well…” Carlos mutters, “Pop a squat.”

Mikhail arched an eyebrow at the suggestion, but did as he was told without complaint–more or less.

He lowered himself to the ground in one seamless movement, legs neatly crossed beneath him and hands resting against his calves.

"I wouldn't say scared… But cautious, yes," Mikhail replied, matching Carlos' cheeky grin with one that had a note of mischievous in it.

His keen eyes easily caught the ginger manner in which Carlos held himself, feeling a pang of sympathy at the realization that he wasn't fully recovered yet. He wished he'd reacted quicker that night, rather than pausing to listen more. Perhaps if he had, Carlos wouldn't have been as injured.

He shook himself out of those thoughts quickly, though, knowing it would do them no good.

"What exactly has your father told you about me?" he asked, curious to hear the answer as he wasn't quite sure what Mr. Ortiz even knew about him. The man had his full name, at least. He either knew only that, or… it was possible he knew everything. The thought sent a chill down his spine, but he ignored it.

Carlos simply shrugs, “I can’t remember much…but he did say you’re a good man and to trust you. Though…no offense, but I’m not really super trusting.” He sighs and lays down, the pain becoming too much for him.

After a moment, Carlos mutters. “Why did you save me…?”

(Sorry its short-)

(No need to apologize! As long as there's something to work with, I'm more than happy ^^)

Mikhail hummed at that response, even more curious than before. He wasn't surprised Carlos didn't trust him, yet. He was more surprised that Mr. Ortiz seemed to. Did the man really just trust him based off of the one incident? He couldn't imagine the man had looked into his past if it hadn't already been brought up, but on the same token he found that a little hard to believe.

'What is it they say? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth?' He put the matter aside for now, focusing on Carlos' softer tone as the meaning behind his question clicked.

The recently-made bodyguard blinked. "Because you needed saving?" came his knee-jerk response, his pitch rising in a way that sounded more like a question than a statement.

He paused for a beat, seeming to realize his answer wasn't exactly a satisfying one. "…You may not have been told this, or maybe you don't remember–" at that he shot the boy an accusing look, softened by a small smile, "–but I worked for Astros before you were attacked. I just happened to be outside when I heard commotion from the alley, and when I saw what was happening… I mean, I couldn't just leave you there." Mikhail shrugged, as if that explained it. "I know my way around a fight, and I knew I could help, so I did."

Another pause. "My name is Mikhail, by the way. Mikhail Novikov… Just to even the playing field some, since I already know your name," he added. "When you feel like you can trust me, you can call me Mick."

Carlos looks at him, then nods. “Oh…ok.” He sighs, picking at a loose string on his shirt. “Still is…weird though…” he mumbles. The boy seemed so worn out…even slightly out of it. In all honesty, he looked…sickly.

After what seemed like forever, Carlos sighs. “I…really liked Astros…it had what my room has…but better.” He huffs softly. “Father’s gonna…destroy it…” he mutters softly.

Mikhail scoffed at the mumbled 'weird'. "I thought we already established that I was weird? And that you should learn to enable it." The bodyguard didn't understand what part Carlos was lost on, but something told him he shouldn't press the issue.

At the boy's sigh, Mikhail shifted his focus. "Destroy… The stars?" The bodyguard's gaze was drawn to the ceiling, where it stayed for a long moment. His face was thoughtful when his eyes landed back on Carlos. "Or Astros itself," he seemed to realize aloud.

There was a heavy silence before Mikhail spoke again. "Maybe that's not the worst outcome… There was a lot of things going on in Astros. Unsafe things," he admitted, unsure how much detail he should go into or how much Carlos already knew.

"It is a shame, though. That centerpiece got me through some of my toughest shifts. I'm pretty sure half of my coworkers thought I was religious after how many times I'd look to the Heavens above for some peace," he explained with a snort. "I just liked looking at the ceiling."

He sighed, studying the exhausted way Carlos had slumped into himself. The boy looked like he was ready to drop, and given everything that had happened, he probably needed the rest. "I should get out of your hair. I did promise to try not to be a nuisance, afterall." He hesitated. "If it's any consolation, there are plenty of other ways to stargaze. You've got a piece of it in here–a piece of peace."

He stood carefully, stretching out his spine all the way up to his fingertips. Before he moved to leave, he fixed his startlingly amber eyes on Carlos again. "Maybe when you're recovered–when you can call me Mick," he amended. "–I can show you an even cooler place to stargaze."

Carlos looks at him, a glint of hope in his eyes. “Really?” he smiles softly. He loved stars…and astrology and astronomy in general. Anything about stars and space…he loved it. He remembered bits and pieces of him, his mother, and father all laying in a soft grassy green field, looking up at the beautiful stars. He remembered his mother pointing out Orion. Carlos had even replicated the beautiful constellation in his own room. Along with the star cluster of his and his family’s zodiacs.

Carlos blinks as he snaps back into reality and nods slightly.

"Really," Mikhail confirmed, an equally soft smile on his face at Carlos' hopeful tone.

He began to step out of the room, but paused one last time as if realizing something. "Oh, I should probably mention…" He waited until Carlos' eyes were on him to give an impish grin, pointing with his thumb to the left of the hallway. "I'll be in the room right next door if you need anything. Thanks for the tip about the house being cold at night; I'll make sure to steal a fluffy blanket or two."

He gave a two fingered salute and promptly dipped out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him without giving Carlos a chance to respond.

Carlos scoffs, smiling softly. “See ya, jackass!” He calls out playfully. He sighs softly and closes his tired eyes. He’s been having a lot more seizures ever since his head was hurt…his doctor said there could be permanent damage not even his meds could fix. He later heard his father sobbing his eyes out, crying over Carlos like he ended up like mom.

Carlos already knew what his father was truly scared of. He wasn’t fearful of anything…everything except losing his son. He was the only thing left…the only family that was still alive. Carlos knew he needed to be there for his seemingly tough dad. Thats why he was usually kept hidden. He needed to stay around. His father was so scared about losing him…he feared someone finding his only weakness. Carlos could only imagine what his father would do if he died. He couldn’t do that to him. Even if he always wanted to sneak out…he understood his father.

Carlos shakes his head free of those thoughts and sighs, slowly falling into a restless sleep. Later on that night, a loud thud came from his room.

Mikhail had finally settled into his new room, having showered and freshly dressed in a soft pair of shorts and a loose white t-shirt. He padded quietly over to the desk by the window, pausing to part the thin curtains and stare out at the moon above. A quick glance at his phone confirmed it had entered the early hours of the morning—long before any sensible person would wake and yet later than any sensible person would go to sleep.

The gray-haired man let the curtain drop back to its resting position and moved to plug his phone in. He was tired, but not the least bit sleepy. Still, he set an alarm for a few hours from now just in case he did end up drifting off, and he turned his attention to the bare bookshelves with a sigh. 'Maybe I can get Carlos to lend me one of his books later,' he thought, wishing he had something to occupy his restless mind.

As if the thought of the boy had summoned trouble, there was an abrupt noise from the room next to his. Alarm flashed in Mikhail's eyes, and he wasted not even a second in throwing open his door. Visions of attackers breaking in and Carlos' sad state from earlier filled his head, and he barged in without knocking despite his earlier reservations about preserving the boy's privacy.

Hey. I have to go for a while. Idk when ill be back but hopefully its soon. Ill see you soon. You're so amazing and thanks for making me smile. See you soon.

Carlos screams and bolts up from his nightmare. He immediately grabs his pocket knife and throws it at Mikhails head. Luckily, it missed by an inch and landed straight into the wall.

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" he screeches, shaking from fear. "What is wrong with you?!" His eyes flutter slightly and he slumps into the wall. His vision slowly blurred, but he tried to keep himself from collapsing.

(OMG hello!! This was such good timing—literally haven't been on notebook in days, but came back to see you active!!)

Mikhail paid the weapon flying towards him no attention, merely tilting his head to avoid the knife that lodged into the wall beside his ear. He advanced further into the room, shoulders visibly tensed and drawn up to his ears as his eyes scanned the area with a fervent intensity. A shaft of moonlight fell across his face, briefly illuminating his eyes and the slitted pupils before Mikhial heard the much lighter thump of the wall as Carlos' head fell against it.

He whirled around and froze, then blinked several times. All of his intensity seemed to vanish along with whatever spell he'd been under, and while the blood still rushed in his ears, he was able to recognize the situation.

"Shit," he hissed to himself, hardly audible as he took a careful step closer to Carlos, then kneeled to show he wasn't a threat. "I'm so sorry. I heard a noise and…" he trailed off, realizing how poor of an apology that sounded. He glanced again at the window, as if to reassure himself there truly wasn't anything wrong, and then faced his ward once again. "I thought there was something wrong," he finished lamely. His worry resurfaced at the boy's clear struggle to remain upright, then hesitantly asked, "Do you need me to call someone? Your doctor? Mr. Ortiz?"

Carlos shakes his head. "Im…fine…gii…" The boys speech was slightly slurred, but he kept trying, "give…me a ss…sec…" He opens his eyes, staring at the ceiling. Eventually, he huffs a sigh of relief. It was rare for him to fight off a seizure, but he managed to do it. After what seemed like forever, he looks at Mikhail.

"i…probably rolled into the wall again…I toss and turn in my sleep." He sighs, closing his eyes.

He definitely wasn't gonna mention the traumatic nightmares he has every night. That was the reason he tossed and turned…but he never told anyone. Even though everyone knew the poor boy always woke up screaming bloody murder in the middle of night. Even his father knew. Yet, Carlos denied anything. He only shrugged it off as, "it was just a nightmare. I'm fine." His father stopped arguing with him after about a year, but he still got worried when Carlos would almost immediately collapse into a seizure as soon as he stood up in the morning.

Carlos sighs, "can you please get out of my room? Unless you hear glass shattering or doors breaking down, don't barge in.

(Same, fr. I love these two and their interactions so far!! Makes me smile!)

Mikhail waited in uncomfortable silence until Carlos seemed clearer of mind. Relief swept through him, leaving in the form of his own tired sigh.

He seemed to struggle to make eye contact, aware of how he'd overreacted, and gave a nod at the boy's request. "Of course. I'm sorry to disturb you," he answered quickly, rising to his feet and turning to face the door. He hesitated when he reached the open doorway, hand perched on the cool metal of the handle.

"If…" He trailed off, then gave an awkward hum before deciding, 'Fuck it,' and trying again. "If you have another nightmare, you're welcome into my room. I'll keep the door unlocked. It's only fair after I barged into here like this," he added, scratching his head in embarrassment. He didn't look away from the little bit of the hallway he could see through the darkness, but it was clear he was being sincere.

"Well… Sleep well," he offered, quietly shutting the door behind him before he could do anything else embarrassing. He dropped his head back silently against the door, taking a moment to curse himself again, before beginning the short walk back to his room.