The steam curled lazily in the bathroom as Joyce reclined in the bathtub, her delicate skin glistening under the cascade of hot water. She leaned her head back, eyes drifting toward the ceiling, her voice soft as she whispered into the quiet.
"Hmmm… I really hope Rose will be fine with that dragonoid. He's just too reckless…" Her words were a prayer wrapped in worry, and with slow, thoughtful movements she lathered her body with soap, her hands trailing across her smooth skin.
The sudden creak of the door snapped her thoughts away.
"I'm sorry, is anyone there? Anyone? I'm coming in!"
The voice was unmistakable. Johnson's.
The door swung open and there he stood
blue-eyed, white-haired, towel in hand and completely naked.
Joyce gasped, whipping around in shock.
"What the hell are you doing here, Johnny?" Her tone was sharp, irritation laced with disbelief.
Johnson froze, equally startled. "I should be asking you that! I called out to check if anyone was inside, but nobody answered. So… I walked in!" His defense sounded clumsy, almost childlike.
Joyce's cheeks flushed as her eyes traced his muscular frame before she could stop herself. With a quick teleport, she wrapped herself loosely in a towel and reappeared right in front of him.
"What are you doing, Miss Joyce?" Johnson stammered, his face flushing crimson.
Her hand pressed gently against his chest, fingers brushing a marked spot. Concern flickered in her eyes.
"What happened here? Were you hurt during training? Are you okay?"
Johnson shifted uncomfortably, his blush deepening.
"Um, Joyce… your boobs are touching me." His voice cracked in embarrassment.
"Oh?" She smirked, leaning back slightly. "I thought you liked those kinds of things." With a teasing hum, she tightened the towel around herself, though her eyes remained fixed on him. "So what happened to your chest?"
"It's a long story…" Johnson murmured. He removed her hand from his chest and placed both of his firmly on her shoulders. His voice was strained, tired. "I told you I don't like this kind of stuff… ugh."
His eyes dropped, shadowed with doubt. "What's there about me to like anyway? Not like I'm beautiful or anything." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Joyce tilted her head, her lips curling with smug amusement. "Hmmm, you've got a point. Didn't you tell me once you were very weak in… manly performance?"
Johnson's face turned scarlet. "I...never said that!!!" he blurted out, though the bulge in his torso betrayed him.
Joyce's gaze flickered downward before she smiled devilishly. "Then how about you prove it, Johnny boy?" Her hand trailed across his torso, playful, deliberate.
Johnson stiffened. "Joyce…"
But just as suddenly, she withdrew her hand, laughing.
"Hahaha, I'm only messing with you. Ain't no way I'd want to fuck you… not yet at least." She gathered her damp hair into her hands, twisting it back with casual grace.
"Why? What made you change your mind?" Johnson asked, tearing himself from her playful embrace.
"Well…" Her smirk returned, sharper this time. "I had an interesting idea. Crazy, yes, but you'll have to do it."
Johnson frowned in confusion. "What is it?"
"If you pass the next series of tests, then I'll date you. And after that…" Her smile turned wicked. "We can do whatever we like."
Johnson blinked. Then, calmly, he shook his head. "I already have a girlfriend. So that's not possible."
The words pierced deeper than he realized. Joyce's eyes widened, the smirk vanishing. She gasped, pulling away from him, retreating as if his presence suddenly burned her. Without a word, she turned and floated back to her room.
"I didn't mean it like that! We can still be friends, though!" Johnson called after her desperately.
But Joyce didn't reply. Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself, unseen.
"Damn you, John… why didn't you say it sooner? Why now?"
Her hands tightened as she busied herself preparing breakfast, masking the pain with motion. Soon, the air was thick with the sweet scent of pancakes and honey, golden butter sizzling in the pan.
The aroma drifted through the halls, so intoxicating that even the air seemed edible. Drawn by the smell, Johnson emerged, his white hair dripping wet, blue eyes catching the morning light as if polished by hunger itself.
As if reading his thoughts, Joyce's voice called out teasingly from the kitchen.
"Johnny, breakfast is ready! If you don't come now, I'm going to eat it all!"
Johnson appeared in a flash, dressed casually in a dark shirt and brown trousers.
"Don't you dare finish that food. I'm starving." He smirked, the challenge in his voice clear.
"Then come and eat." Joyce's mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she gestured to the table.
The AI voice chimed in his head.
Activating danger sense. User has upgraded to level 10. User can now sense danger one minute before it occurs.
Johnson's skin prickled, his body instinctively turning green as he recoiled. "I don't like the sound of that…"
"Don't be scared," Joyce cooed with her eyes closed, smiling sweetly. "I'm not going to bite. I see you've awakened the gift of the Irisborn?"
The first bite was heaven.
"Mmmmmmmmahhhhhh! So delicious. The taste of the flour...perfectly crisp, soft like a bun, with honey syrup blending in it's sweet and smooth at the same time. I love it, Joyce." Johnson beamed at her, completely entranced.
User has been poisoned, Jake's mechanical voice warned in his mind. Poison resistance… level 50.
Johnson ignored it, happily eating as Joyce fed him with her hand.
"How about I feed you too?" Johnson suggested with a grin.
Joyce chuckled, watching him closely. "Sure… though I'm surprised you're still green, Johnny. Nervous?"
"Not really. I just sense something bad is going to happen, but I don't know what." Johnson picked up a knife and fork, offering her a bite.
Joyce leaned in, amusement flickering in her eyes. I just fed him enough poison to kill every fish in the ocean… how is he still alive?
"Say ahh," Johnson teased with a boyish grin.
"Ahh." Joyce obeyed, letting him feed her. With a flick of her power, she dissolved the toxicity within her portion, leaving only sweetness.
"You enjoying it, my dear?" Johnson asked, his eyes locking onto hers, blue against blue.
Joyce froze for a moment, staring at his perfectly carved face. Then she smiled faintly.
"You're funny, John. And… you're handsome too. I kinda like you. But I need to ask—if you say nobody loves you because you hate yourself, then how did you get a girlfriend?"
Johnson sighed, taking a sip of water. "Well… I do love my girlfriend. But I don't love myself."
The cup touched his lips, but Joyce's magic was already at work. She had turned the water acidic, masked perfectly to taste and smell like water.
Her tone shifted, cold and sharp. "Why?"
Johnson looked up. "Why what?"
"Why didn't you tell me you're dating someone else? Why did you make me fall for you? Why don't you love yourself despite claiming to love someone else? Why are you like this, Johnny…?" Her voice cracked, trembling. "Do you hate me?"
His heart clenched at the pain in her words. "Of course I don't. I could never hate you, my dear. You're someone special to me… but I don't want to talk about that now." He tried to stand, but his legs failed him.
"You're not going anywhere, Johnny." Joyce's eyes glowed crimson, pinning him to the chair with unyielding force. "Not until you answer all of my questions."
Johnson strained against the invisible weight, voice firm despite the pressure.
"You can't stop me. I have to get back to training."
The tension between them crackled like a storm about to break.
To be continued…