Chapter 333: Is he speaking about the bedroom or something else?

Brent couldn’t get warm.

His whole body was chilled, his teeth chattering as he laid in bed. Every blanket was piled on top of him, he was wearing two pairs of pants, a shirt, a long sleeve and a sweater, and two pairs of socks. The things that Aunt Dina had given to them made sense now that Brent was like this.

It seemed as if she had been able to predict that this was going to happen. How? Brent had no idea beyond just her general age and level of experience. He wasn’t upset, just confused.

Sergei was doing his best to cater to Brent’s situation as well. He was the one who had covered him in the layers of fabric, the blankets, and was currently in the kitchen filling up a hot water thingy to stuff under all of the covers to attempt to warm Brent up more.

He was a good man, and Brent was glad that he was there for him.

Brent’s eyes were puffy, he’d taken off his prosthetic so that he wasn’t hurting his joint, and he’d curled up on his side. His arm was wrapped around his shoulder, hugging himself, and as he heard some movement in the kitchen, another blanket drifted into his line of sight.

Brent gave a soft chuckle, amused that even as he was busy doing one thing, he was paying attention to Brent and his chattering teeth. As he tucked Brent in with his invisible hands, Sergei actually appeared in the doorway. He was holding a strange looking frumpled shirt, but Brent just smiled.

His expression was hard, worried, as he scanned the area around Brent as if he was worried something had happened while he’d been away. He’d clearly not really left Brent’s side, but that didn’t matter.

"Not feeling better?" He asked and Brent chuckled.

"I’d feel better if a strong, dangerous, tattooed man came and curled around me. I think that might help." Brent teased and Sergei flushed. His grip on the weird fabric thing tightened before he sighed, shaking his head.

"Alright. I’ll join you after I give you this and check the apartment." Sergei told him and Brent grinned.

"My hero." Brent teased, and Sergei’s ears turned red.

"Stop that." Sergei muttered, lifting up the blankets piled on top of Brent carefully so that he let out the least amount of warm air.

"Stop what?" Brent asked, and Sergei frowned.

"I have no defense against you, Brent. Because of that, you must be careful about what you say. You’re not well, and I am no one’s hero." Sergei said softly, tucking to warm strange thing against Brent’s chest, leaning down to press a kiss against his forehead.

No hero his ass.

"Whose hero would you be if not mine then?" Brent asked, his voice husky. "Someone else’s? Are you planning to date someone else after me? Tell me now so I can lower my hopes." Brent told him seriously. Sergei stared at him, shocked.

"What? No! I have no such thoughts! You’re mine!" Sergei raised his voice before he caught himself. He paled, swallowing. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-" Brent reached out from his blanket prison and grabbed his hand. Sergei blinked slowly.

"I was half joking, Sergei. It’s okay. I was just...of course you’d be my hero. You don’t need to be anyone else’s if you don’t want to." Brent told him softly before he cleared his throat. "I, however, like Kellen, must be everyone’s hero. I will not be satisfied with just being your hero. Others must adore me." Brent was teasing him, trying to make the moment lighter.

Sergei stared at him, his eyes growing warm as he stared down at Brent. The hand that Brent had reached out Sergei took into his own. He pressed it against his face, kissing his palm. Brent blushed.

"It is something I must bear for your happiness." Sergei told him, smiling. "Now, let me turn off the lights and check the locks before I come to join you." Sergei said. Brent’s heart was racing as he gently tucked Brent’s hand back under the covers.

Brent listened to him move around the apartment, lights flicking off as he did so before the man was back. The dim light of the bedroom and Brent’s own superior vision caught Sergei’s expression in the shadow of the doorway. He looked pleased and protective. God, Brent adored the man.

"Are you coming?" Brent asked and Sergei gave a chuckle.

"Does my hero want me to?" He asked and Brent felt his face warm. He hadn’t been expecting that from Sergei of all people.

"Does it really look like it’s the right time?" Brent asked and Sergei laughed.

"Mm, no. You’re too cold for me to feel comfortable with it. We’ll save it for when you’re feeling better. After all, my zaichonok deserves only the best when he’s feeling the best." Sergei said. He then closed the door and moved around in the dark of the room.

He moved quietly, clearly accustomed to it, and Brent listened to him. He paid attention to the slide of fabric, the softness of his breath, and how the bed dipped when Sergei moved onto it.

The air shifted slightly as Sergei adjusted the blankets before Brent felt Sergei slip under completely. Sergei’s words coloured the air before Brent felt him settle against Brent, his lips at his nape.

"What did you just say?" Brent asked, fascinated by the fact that Sergei was using his native tongue around him more.

"I was, uh, talking about how warm it is under the blankets." Sergei said, sounding sheepish. Brent grinned, some of the cold forgotten with the way Sergei was cuddling up against him.

"Uh huh. That’s exactly like what it sounded like. No cursing either, right?" Brent asked and Sergei groaned. He pressed another kiss against Brent’s nape.

"Forgive me, zaichonok. I’m used to running hot. I’ll do better." He promised. Brent shifted back so that his body was flush against his. Sergei tightened his grip on Brent’s body.

"You are easily forgiven. I appreciate that you are putting up with me." Brent told him. Sergei growled.

"This is no hardship. You are in distress, and also, riding out the high of your revenge. There is nothing that you need to thank me for or feel appreciative of. What am I supposed to do if not care for you when times are tough? I am not that bad of a partner." Sergei grumbled. Brent couldn’t help but smile.

He was blessed to have a man like this in his life. There was no other way to think of it. Brent sighed, grateful even as he felt his eyes water again and his body shiver.

"You could never be a bad partner." Brent told him sweetly. Sergei stilled.

"Don’t say that." Sergei said softly. "Don’t give me that ego boost, Brent. It’s dangerous for an S Class like myself." Sergei countered, but honestly? Brent had seen plenty S classes in the last little while. He’d been taking the S Classes of Kellen’s hometown for granted, Sergei included. They’d never treated him poorly, nor had they treated him like he needed to be protected.

They had treated him like a person. There had also been less insanity in their eyes when they looked at him, and that included Captain Sakura. She was one crazy woman in Brent’s mind.

The S Classes here? Some felt like they were a pin drop from flying off the handle, fully guided or otherwise. Brent had learned how to tiptoe around them, and he hadn’t had interactions with S Classes until after he’d come back to the city. His grandfather and his brother had hidden him away from them prior to this. In his brother’s case it was so that he didn’t form a strong bond with one and fight back, but in his grandfather’s case...

He’d never know. He was dead, so Brent couldn’t ask him about his intentions all those years ago.

"You need an ego boost, as far as I’m concerned." Brent grumbled. Sergei squeezed him, almost seeming surprised. "You do a lot of good, Sergei. Everywhere you go. You care about people, about the city, and you are so passionate about it. You put everyone before yourself, and now that I know you kind of get off on it it makes more sense, but-"

"Brent." Sergei interjected, sounding flustered. "I don’t-" Brent pressed his ass tight against Sergei’s groin, silencing him.

"But," Brent continued, "you deserve the same kind of treatment that Rhys gets. I understand that he’s more approachable, and so is Captain Sakura, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve that kind of treatment. You do a lot of stuff. The people probably don’t even know that you personally help repair the city, or how severe of a deal you cut to get your gate just to help the city redevelop." Brent knew.

The only reason he knew was because of the fact that they’d hired him and Kellen over and over to help with their gate. Brent was angry for him because...where else could his anger go right now? He felt lost, cold, and he kind of wanted to crawl into Sergei’s skin just to feel something.

He was holding himself back for both of their sake.

"Well, if you feel that way, why don’t you help me out?" Sergei’s voice was low, quiet. "You could help show the city and the world what the Nemesis Guild actually does. I’m not skilled in that area, Brent, but you are." Brent snorted.

"You saw my disastrous attempt at public speaking. That wasn’t good." Brent argued and Sergei seemed to disagree.

"You were trying to stall for time, not actually speaking to others. I know you are actually able to speak to others well. Quite well. You are good at giving orders, Brent." Brent suddenly didn’t think he was speaking about public speaking. "I just want you to consider it." Sergei said, squeezing him gently. "Just think, don’t make a choice yet. I want you to know you have options." Sergei said.

Brent, who had been silently crying even as they spoke, nodded. Why? He wasn’t quite sure, but since he wasn’t sobbing, he didn’t mind it. It actually felt...therapeutic.

"We’ll have to agree to disagree for now." Brent said. Sergei chuckled, his lips finding Brent’s nape again.

"Of course, zaichonok."