9:42 A.M. – Clark's Desk
Clark had noticed it over the past few days.
The glances.
The subtle shifts.
The way Diablo Von Bloodick — usually so precise, so unblinking — had started doing something completely out of character.
Avoiding eye contact.
Clark would hand him reports and wait, expecting the usual cold stare or nitpicky correction.
Instead, Diablo would scan the paper, nod once, and mutter, "Leave it."
No glances. No expression. Eyes fixed on documents, monitors, anything except Clark himself.
But oddly… that didn't stop him from being weirdly protective.
When one of the department heads raised their voice at Clark during a review meeting, Diablo shut the interaction down with a single line:
> "If you have a problem with my assistant, take it up with me directly."
The room had gone silent.
Clark blinked.
No one dared speak again.
---
12:10 P.M. – Rooftop Lounge, Quiet Conversation
Clark was on his break when he felt someone sit beside him on the shaded rooftop bench.
Hakuro, as elegant and unbothered as ever, offered him a can of lemon iced tea.
Clark took it gratefully. "Thanks."
"You look exhausted," Hakuro said.
Clark shrugged. "Your cousin's… complicated."
Hakuro laughed lightly. "That's the understatement of the year."
They sat in quiet for a moment, wind rustling the edge of Clark's report folders.
Then Clark spoke again, softer this time.
"You said I should be careful."
Hakuro nodded.
"Why?"
Hakuro looked at him, and for the first time, didn't smile. "Because people like him… don't stay neutral for long."
Clark furrowed his brows. "I don't get it."
"You will," Hakuro said quietly. "But when you do, I hope it doesn't hurt."
Clark stared at his can, unsure how to respond.
---
1:00 P.M. – Gossip Takes Over
It started with a whisper near the elevators.
Then a passing smirk in the break room.
By mid-afternoon, Clark couldn't take five steps without hearing it:
> "Have you noticed how often Clark and Hakuro talk lately?"
"They're always alone on the rooftop."
"They seem close—like close-close."
"Do you think they're… y'know?"
"Oh my god. Are they dating?"
Zara caught up to Clark in the hallway.
"Clark," she whispered, half-laughing. "You and Hakuro? Really?"
Clark's eyes widened. "WHAT?! No! We've just been talking."
"Uh-huh. That's not how the rumor's spinning, babe."
"I can't even afford to be near someone like him!"
"Doesn't matter. People saw you two together again today."
Clark rubbed his face. "This is gonna reach Diablo, isn't it?"
Zara winced. "It probably already has."
---
3:45 P.M. – Clark is Summoned
Clark had just gotten back to his desk when his office chat pinged.
> From: D.V.
Office. Now.
Clark's soul almost left his body.
He stared at the message like it might bite him.
Zara glanced over. "...Is that from him?"
Clark nodded numbly.
"You okay?"
"No."
He stood on wobbly legs.
> He knows. He totally knows.
> He's going to fire me. Or glare me into ashes.
---
3:50 P.M. – Inside the Office
Clark approached the heavy door, heart pounding.
He raised his hand to knock—
But before he could, the door opened on its own.
Diablo stood there, staring.
"Come in."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Clark stepped inside slowly.
The lights were dim. The blinds were closed. The windows? Covered.
The air felt… still.
"Uh… sir?"
"Lock the door," Diablo said, turning his back.
Clark froze. "W-What?"
"Lock the door."
He said it again, softly.
Clark hesitated, then slowly turned and pressed the lock with a click.
He turned back around.
Diablo stood near the center of the room, arms folded.
No screens open. No papers. Just… silence.
Clark's heart was racing now. "Is something wrong?"
Diablo didn't answer right away.
He turned to face him — eyes unreadable in the low light.
"You've been spending time with Hakuro."
Clark blinked. "Well—yeah. Just talking."
"Talking?"
"Y-Yeah! Nothing weird! Just… conversation! Lunch breaks! Like normal human things—"
"You're not dating him."
Clark froze. "What?! N-No! I mean—why would you—?"
Diablo took a step closer.
Clark instinctively took one back.
Then another.
Until he stopped near the desk, breath shallow.
Diablo didn't raise his voice.
Didn't scold him.
He just looked at Clark with something unreadable in his gaze.
Something different.
"You're my assistant," Diablo said.
Clark swallowed. "I know that."
"And I don't like my assistant being part of office gossip."
Clark looked down. "It's not like I started the rumors—"
"But you didn't stop them either."
That made Clark look up.
There was no accusation in Diablo's tone.
But there was something else.
A coldness hiding heat.
A distance masking tension.
Clark stood frozen, not knowing what to say.
"…I didn't think it mattered," he said finally.
Diablo stepped closer again, eyes locked on him.
"It does."