Living Together

Matthew turned as soon as the big gate opened. He checked the surroundings and continued forward until they reached the parking lot. He checked his wristwatch and found out that it was already noon, time for lunchtime.

"What do you want for lunch, young master?" he asked. He took off his seatbelt and then turned to Knox.

"Anything is fine, better ask our guest. Know the foods he likes." Knox replied, thinking of the food from Theo earlier as he heard that it was Neal's favorite. It made him a little jealous, he won't lie.

But as soon as Matthew turned his head to the backseat, the sleeping beauty's face met his sight. "Oh? He's asleep." he mumbled.

Knox also looked back and then ordered him to get out of the car carefully. He instead opened the door on his own and walked towards the back seat. He took off his coat and then wrapped it around Neal before lifting him swiftly in his arms.

The vampire just groaned and continued sleeping. He looked so tired that he didn't even notice that the mafia whom he hated was busy carrying him.

"Where will he sleep?" Matthew opened the door for them, and the servants nodded their head after greeting their young master. They all scattered to their own quarters and duties when Matthew gestured his hands.

"I want you to fix the guest room in the right corner of the hallway. For now, he's going to sleep in my room." Knox said, trudging the stairs.

Matthew paused. "I don't think that's appropriate. Who would want to sleep in your room, Young master?" he said with a little hesitation. He knew that this vampire wouldn't ever say yes, and he knew how cunning Knox was.

Knox also stopped his steps and looked at his assistant with a straight face. "I also don't want anyone in my room. I only want this vampire." Then he continued walking upstairs.

Matthew didn't follow them anymore, because he only opened the door because his boss' hands were full. After that, he told Knox to behave and make sure to come down to eat, and to not bother the sleeping vampire.

"I have my eyes on you," Matthew warned before closing the door.

Knox just smirked at this and then after that, he opened his closet and pulled a simple shirt on. He didn't remove his coat from the vampire because Neal was already snuggling on it. Maybe because it has his smell.

Doctor Ava mentioned it too.

Knox instead tucked him with a blanket and then sat closer to him. A smile formed across his face after recalling the smiling face Neal had earlier while talking to that boy named Theo. He never thought that this grumpy vampire could smile too.

Well, he already knew that Ren was a part of Neal's life back then and adjusting to the new environment was a little forceful for him. Knox didn't really want to push him either. He can stay here and wait for him, but because of that mark he got, things escalated quickly.

His hand traveled onto Neal's hair, and he caressed his forehead. "Seeing your grumpy expression disappear was cute too," he mumbled.

****

When Neal woke up, he found himself wrapped into a blanket with this familiar scent. His eyelids blinked, and he lifted his body groaning and letting out a big yawn.

Then the surroundings met his eyes and the glass balcony door reflecting the state outside made him wide awake. He fell asleep so deeply that it was already night. He roamed around and found himself alone.

He caught up with the things that happened. He left the Vespion agency and went home with Knox, and he fell asleep in the car.

'Did he carry me here?' he mumbled to himself, sniffing the blanket and seeing the coat next to him. His eyes softened. He was not in the mood to get grumpy right now. In fact, he felt so comfortable here that he didn't realize that he had fallen asleep that long.

It felt like all of his exhaustion from these past days disappeared after that sleep. Neal finally left the bed. He noticed that this wasn't the room he used when he first slept here. That night when Knox helped him and carried him home too.

As soon as he opened the door, a lady bowed her head at him. "Good evening, Master." She greeted him.

Neal nodded, confused. He wasn't used to this kind of people around him. Calling him 'Master' was a little out of the line. He was about to tell her that it was alright to call him by his name when the last spoke again.

"Young Master Knox told me to make sure that you eat when you wake up." She smiled. "Do you want me to prepare your bath first?"

Neal gulped. "It's fine," he mumbled. He was lost for words because the lady was already beaming and looking excited. Maybe because it was their first time seeing a vampire this close. It's not that they were prohibited to blend with humans, it was just Neal's decision to remain distant.

"Where's Knox?" He asked. When he saw the smiling face of the maid, he turned serious. "I mean, it's rude to eat without even knowing where the owner of the house is, right?" he said.

He turned around and scolded himself. 'Why am I even embarrassed that I'm here? This is a contract and I am confident that I will be fine here.'

"Young Master was in his office having a conversation with Sir Matthew. He was about to wake you up but he ordered me instead because he didn't want to scare you," the maid explained, still grinning.

"Where are my things?" Neal asked, trying to avert the topic.

It worked, and the maid stepped backwards. "Please follow me, Master. We already prepared the room for you."

Just on the other corner of the hallways, she opened a door. "We didn't touch your things and just put your bags on the bed." she explained nodding.

"Thank you, I will take a bath then." Neal said.

"Right away!" The maid exclaimed. "I will prepare your bath, Master."