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"I wanted to try something different. What do you think? Is it good?" Anton asked, turning to Xander, and spreading his hands in a 'what do you think' manner?

"You actually made it work. Are you going to be wearing dark clothes from now on?" Xander asked in amusement.

"No. It's a once in a blue moon thing. I only felt like trying it out today."

"Mn, I see." Xander said. "You know you should try dressing casually too sometime."

"I'll try." Anton smiled and turned back to his book.

"What book is that?" Xander asked seemingly nonchalantly, but one could never know with Xander.

"Just a book. I'm reading and writing it." Anton didn't lift his head even once while he replied.

"Writing a book?" Xander asked. "Now I'm curious."

Anton's head remained down and he pretended as though he didn't hear Xander speak, a look passed his face rather quickly. The look of 'of all parts to focus on, why did you focus on the writing a book part.', but the look left as quickly as it came that it seemed as though his face never even changed.

Anton could probably feel Xander's stare boring a hole into the side of his head, and he was probably feeling very uncomfortable. He bookmarked his page and placed the book and the pen on the table on his left. The table farthest from Xander.

"Yes?" Anton finally turned to Xander.

"Nothing. Just curious is all."

"Alright. How's business?" He leaned back in his chair, resting his back against the backrest. Legs crossed, arms rested on the arm rest and body angled towards Xander. He had a bit of an uncomfortable look on his face. He closed his eyes for a bit before the look left his face and he looked serene again.

Xander oblivious to what had passed, mimicked his position, only with his legs wide open. A smirk graced his lips. "It's fine. Yours?"

"It's been good. Thank you for asking."

"Why are you always home when I visit?" Xander asked, his eyes scrutinizing Anton's every expression.

Anton only shrugged, before speaking "I told you I work from home. On the few occasions I go in to work normally, I make sure my work is done by the evening no matter what. Coincidentally, that was around the time you visited me the first time. It was in the evening. And that's when you decided to visit again today."

Xander smiled.

Anton didn't say anything else. He could already guess Xander didn't believe him. Anton shrugged off the thoughts in his head and went with whatever, but Xander kept his eyes on Anton.

"I'm joining you for dinner today." He says randomly.

"You are?" Anton looked taken aback today.

"Yes, why do you look so surprised?" Xander narrowed his eyes.

"I'm making dinner myself today, actually." Anton admitted.

"How wonderful, I'll even get to taste your cooking today. I'm staying the night too." Xander grinned in delight.

"What? Did you decide this beforehand or just now." Anton asked, looking oddly at Xander.

"Before now. I even brought clothes." Xander's grin widened.

"You have managed to give me a headache in a matter of seconds." Anton glared at Xander. "Couldn't you have at least given me a heads up or something?"

"Now that wouldn't be fun, would it?" Xander asked, with a brow raised in question.

Anton massaged his head a bit, closing his eyes. The headache reduced somewhat. Anton frowned. He looked a bit confused.

"I need to have a rest. It seems I would have to be a bad host today and no one is home to help out. You can make yourself at home. I'll go take some medicine and sleep for a while. I should be up in time to make dinner though, so don't worry about going to bed starving."

Anton stood up rather dazed, but he didn't forget to pick up the black book and the pen beside it. Xander stood up and followed him out.

*

Anton stood at the entrance of the guest room holding his black book and the pen while Xander walked in holding a black duffel bag that must have definitely been hidden somewhere prior to going to the lounge. He looked around and smiled a bit at the room before turning to Anton. A look of worry flashed across his eyes seeing Anton sway a bit, but it disappeared as soon as it came.

He turned his gaze to the mirror at the dressing table at a corner of the room at the right of the bed. he used it to watch Anton since he didn't want to give Anton the impression he was being watched.

Anton straightened, Xander looked away quickly. Anton turned to face Xander. "Well, like I've said many times before, make yourself at home. You can do as you wish. I'll take my leave now."

Xander nodded at him and Anton turned to walk away. Xander stood there for a while, and then after what seemed like two minutes, he went after Anton. Anton had forgotten to close the door of the guest room for once.

*

Xander stood at the entrance of the guest room and watched as Anton walked out into the long corridor, rubbing his temples. He walked straight towards the last door at the end of the corridor, opened it, and entered, shutting it quietly behind him.

Xander didn't do anything. Just watched Anton walk in and shut the door behind him. He then headed straight for the room too. He stared at the plain doors that didn't even seem any different from the rest of the doors in the house.

He rested his left ear on it for a bit crouching in front of the door for about 5 minutes.

*

The room Anton entered was decorated with cream and gold colours too, like the lounge, so this must have been part of the house that wasn't renovated.

The big bed in the centre of the room had a white frame and the bedding itself was white even to the duvet and the pillowcases.

Anton walked past the bed, towards the white coloured wardrobes and placed the book at the very back then shut it and headed for the door.

He opened the door only to see Xander standing in front of him with a smile.