Chapter 304: _New Episode Of ’Surviving Ambrose Hale’

"Didn’t think I’d be getting a new episode of ’Surviving Ambrose Hale’," Loki mumbled, a grin playing on their face as Valentine walked past the balcony doors.

The Necromancer kept his stare on Ambrose, neither saying nor doing anything. He took slow steps as though registering that it was indeed the stubborn Guide before him.

Ambrose got off the bed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "V-Valentine. I wasn’t... I didn’t think you’d..." Nothing he could think of made it out of his mouth.

Valentine didn’t push.

Rather, once he’d looked at Ambrose to his satisfaction... his shoulders slouched with relief. "You fucking chaos gremlin." He rushed to him before he could even blink, arms wrapping around him. "Y-You’re alive. I didn’t want to believe the damn feedback I was getting from your Necrotic Mark."

Everyone in the room was left stunned by the move.

Seeing Valentine Lockwood hugging anyone was a rare sight indeed. So rare that Ambrose subconsciously did a scan with the system to confirm it was actually him.

[The permanent link and that display he made when he showed up weren’t enough of a sign, dumbass?]

’Oh, shush. What if he got possessed or something?’

[Or—hear me out on this one—the man is permanently linked to you, has a mark left on your soul that makes that link even more intense, and he’s been genuinely distraught that you disappeared.]

’Okay, okay.’ Ambrose did a mental eye roll. ’Jesus, you’re not beating my allegations of him being your favourite.’

When Valentine finally stepped away, there was a smile on his lips. He placed a hand on Ambrose’s cheek—letting those cold digits trace down to his chin.

"I didn’t know what to think," he went on. "I knew you were still alive. But the Void Entity could’ve done anything with you." His brows furrowed. "How are you here right now?"

Ambrose faked a cough. "Long story, actually. One that involves slaughtering dungeon beasts, doing a lot of inner work to find one damn multiversal travelling key. Oh, and almost getting annihilated by two living Extinctions."

Valentine blinked a couple times. "That... does sound like a long story." He chuckled, gaze trailing to Gabriel. "And you."

[Oh, no...]

The SS-Rank made it to Gabriel in two long strides, lowering himself to sit beside him. "How in the nine hells did you turn out like this?"

Gabriel sniggered. "The more urgent question should be how you got here so fast. Wait, and how the heck did you find us?"

"I have a variety of avian-type undead beasts, remember?" Valentine’s voice was almost a whisper. "Plus, I’ve got your phone on my ’find your iPhone’ app. And when I sensed Ambrose’s Necrotic Mark, I figured you were close by too."

"Wait," Gabriel frowned. "You have what on your what?"

"What matters," Valentine ignored him, "is that you’re safe. You should see the news. They’re making your ’wounds’ such a big deal, and I can’t even find any scratch on you."

Gabriel’s eyes batted repeatedly. "The... news?"

"Yeah, where’s your phone by the way?"

The space god turned to Ambrose for an answer to that one.

Ambrose rushed to a drawer after initially standing there clueless. He came back with Gabriel’s phone, arching a brow.

"You’ve got a lot of calls and messages." His eyes narrowed. "A few are from Viktor... someone from the Federation... oh." He grimaced, raising his gaze back to Gabriel. "There are also quite a lot from your mom and brother."

Gabriel’s expression changed almost immediately.

He stared at the phone in Ambrose’s hand for several long seconds before letting out a slow breath through his nose.

"Huh." The single syllable carried far more weight than it should have. "I guess no one important reached out."

The room fell strangely still.

Ambrose frowned almost instantly. "I mean..." he lifted the phone slightly. "Viktor’s kinda important, no?"

Valentine’s brows drew together. "Did I miss something?"

Gabriel leaned back against the headboard, folding his arms with a humourless chuckle. "It was before you disappeared." He glanced toward Ambrose. "My mother met him."

Realisation slowly dawned across Valentine’s face. "...Ah."

"She didn’t exactly take the news of him having boyfriends well." Gabriel shrugged despite the bitterness creeping into his voice. "Apparently being friends with a man who likes other men meant I’d failed as a son. Tch. Wait till she finds out I’m gay too."

Ambrose’s shoulders sank. "Gabriel."

"So..." another shrug. "I stopped talking to her."

Ambrose looked genuinely pained. "You didn’t have to do that because of me."

Gabriel turned toward him. "No." His answer came so quickly it almost startled everyone. "I didn’t."

The corner of his mouth lifted into a small, tired smile.

"I did it because of me." He rubbed absentmindedly at his wrist before continuing. "Whether you came into my life or not, eventually I would’ve had to draw a line somewhere." His gaze drifted toward the window. "Some people think being family gives them permanent permission to disrespect you. And it doesn’t."

He barked another dry laugh. "Funny thing is, Dad didn’t even bother calling. Right?"

Ambrose looked back down at the notifications. "Maybe his message got buried underneath all the others?"

Gabriel snorted. "Maybe."

Nobody seemed convinced.

The suite became unusually quiet after that, each person lost inside their own thoughts until Loki loudly cleared their throat from the corner.

"I have to say..."

Everyone looked toward them.

"I preferred the tension from five minutes ago." They rested their chin on one hand dramatically. "You know... when Gabriel was kissing Ambrose."

Ambrose’s entire body froze. "Loki!"

"What?" They asked innocently. "The atmosphere was much warmer."

His eyes widened in absolute betrayal. "I cannot believe you just brought that up."

Loki merely grinned wider.

To Ambrose’s surprise, Valentine didn’t seem remotely bothered. In fact, there was amusement dancing in those crimson eyes.

"You’re... not jealous?" Ambrose asked cautiously.

Valentine tilted his head. "Should I be?"

"I mean..."

Valentine’s lips curved into a dangerous little smirk. "I don’t know." He looked between Gabriel and Ambrose. "I personally wouldn’t have minded being the third participant in that kiss."

Gabriel blinked. Ambrose blinked even harder.

"Excuse me?" They said in perfect unison.

Loki burst into laughter so hard they nearly slid off their chair. "Oh, this is premium entertainment."

Even Valentine chuckled at their horrified expressions.

Before either man could recover enough to respond—

Ambrose’s damaged phone began vibrating so violently across the bedside table that it almost fell onto the floor.

The screen lit up.

There were repeated calls from both Devon and Viktor.

"Why are they calling like the world’s ending?" Ambrose muttered.

Loki casually raised a hand. "Oh. That might be my fault."

Three pairs of eyes turned toward them.

"I texted them that you’re back."

Ambrose slowly lowered the phone from his ear. "You WHAT?"

"I figured they’d appreciate the good news."

His phone rang again right after that was said.

Ambrose stared at the endless stream of incoming calls before dragging a hand down his face.

"Yeah." He sighed. "I think I need to organise one very awkward meeting with every last one of you."