Chapter 21

"This was your big plan, huh?" Jade's voice held a hint of amusement as he watched Noel sitting with him at a diner while drinking down some orange flavored smoothie for breakfast. He could not help but wonder what kind of person actually drinks something like that for their early morning meal.

"Hey, breakfast is a very important thing!" Noel blurted out in defense as he tried to hold a calm expression that was easily able to be seen through to know he was nervous.

"What kind of man drinks that crap?" Jade scoffed coldly as if he was annoyed and turned his head slightly. His eyes still held a firm glare down on Noel drinking from the corner of his eye. It was hard for him to look away from a sight that felt more amusing then he knew it should be but it was like something about the man trapped his gaze.

"Crap? You are mistaken! This is glorious!" Noel blurted out shoved his glass towards Jade causing him to lean back slightly away from the glass being pushed towards him.

"You don't expect me to-" Jade started to feel flustered slightly at the thought of him being caught drinking something so childish.

"Drink. It." Noel stared him down with eyes that seemed to sparkle at the idea of Jade drinking something totally out of his personality.

"No." Jade stated his response simply.

Something started to feel strange to Jade as he watched how the man was acting around him. It was like something about them sitting in a diner while Noel drank his breakfast seemed to calm the man down around him. The more Jade thought about it the more he felt strange in their situation. As he thought to himself he began to wonder if Noel was feeling more comfortable or was he simply hiding his fear of him so that others would not make things strange between the two of them?

"I was surprised you actually agreed to hang out with me today.." Noel started to mumble out the words as if he felt awkward about bringing it up.

"Don't worry about it." Jade responded.

"If you don't mind me asking.. Why do you.."

"Kill people?" Jade blurted out the rest of Noel's question for him.

"Yes."

There it comes.. I knew it was only a matter of time before he fell on that.. He thought to himself as he watched the man stare at him as he expected a response. Jade's face slowly formed a smirk as he turned his gaze completely away from Noel in silence.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Jade's fingertip slowly tapped itself against the table as he thought to himself. It was not something that he could simply answer and it was not a question he felt he was obligated to give a real answer. He could see how determined the man was to learn about him but there was no allowing him to get too close to him. The last thing Jade desired was to become bound to someone else but he could tell easily that the man was persistent. There was even something about Noel that was powerful enough to feel like it was drawing him in every time he was near.

"Come here. I'll tell you.." Jade turned towards Noel and leaned over the table as though he was going to whisper something into Noel's ear.

As Noel leaned over the table towards Jade he found his collar being grabbed firmly. His body was forcefully pulled up further over the table as his mouth connected with Jade's. That powerful gaze behind those jaded eyes was almost hypnotizing as both of them closed their eyes. The grasp on Noel's collar pulled slightly rougher as he could feel Jade's tongue slowly slipping against his own. His hand slowly reached up out of reflex to grasp onto Jade's arm without realizing it. Just as his hand was about to land upon his arm, however, Jade released him and he fell back into his own chair in a daze. A heavy flush was on Noel's face as he sat there staring off into space while trying to recollect his thoughts.

Jade slowly got up and walked around the table. His steps stopped the moment he was beside Noel towering over the half dazed man. His chest slowly lowered itself down until his lips were close to Noel's ear. His warm breath softly grazing against his skin causing Noel's body to shiver with goosebumps.

"I do it because I want to." Jade's voice sounded different from usual. There was a sense of warmth and tenderness to it that Noel had never heard before. He could tell that he was speaking the truth in that moment but the way he spoke it almost felt like he was insinuating something more that caused Noel's heart to pound hard in his chest.

"Wh-What.. Why did you.." Noel quickly rushed to his feet as his eyes never left Jade. At the moment he could not find the time to care about the others around them or the drink that he had yet to finish.

"I did it because.. I wanted to." Jade stated in the same tone as he slowly began to walk off. He knew the bartender would be to in his own mind to care if he went ahead and left so a smile formed on his face as he waved his hand up in the air. His feet slowly carrying him towards the diner's doors. "See you later barkeep!"

"W-What?!" Noel was taken aback. He was unsure if Jade had done that just to get away with flaking on him. His face was still flushed a bright red as he stood there in silence for a while. It was not until Jade was long gone from the diner that he really did realize he was truly abandoned by the man who had promised to spend a day out with him. He had completely taken advantage of his flustered state to escape a day out with Noel. It was unclear to him if it was because he simply did not care for Noel or if it was simply that he did not like hanging out during the days but it was clear that he was abandoned one way or another.