~>
In the next room, Idowu stretched lazily before standing up.
"I'll take a walk," he said casually.
Dada, already lying down, gave a small nod. "Okay. I'm going to bed."
Idowu hummed in response and left.
The door closed quietly.
Silence.
For a few minutes, Dada remained still on the bed, eyes closed, breathing slow and even - as if already asleep.
Then he opened them.
Cold. Awake.
He stood up without a sound and followed. The night air was cool. The inn had grown quiet. Most of the lights had gone out, leaving only faint lantern glows along the corridors.
Dada stayed at a distance, careful, silent.
Idowu walked calmly ahead, hands loosely behind his back - not hurried, not cautious. Like a man who feared nothing.
Dada's eyes narrowed.
From the very first day, he had known.
The posture.
The gaze.
The composure.
Idowu was not a servant.
He was the third prince.
That was why, when Idowu had once spoken of having a "master," Dada had been caught off guard. It hadn't made sense.
Why would a prince serve another?
Unless...
Unless it was a lie.
Or a strategy.
Or something far more dangerous.
After walking a few minutes, Idowu slowed near a dark corner at the edge of a compound. He stepped into the shadows.
Dada slipped behind a pillar, watching.
A moment later -
From the darkness, two men emerged.
The moon was bright enough to illuminate their faces. Not clearly... but enough. Enough to see recognition, to see obedience.
Without a word, the two men dropped to their knees. Not clumsily. Not reluctantly.
But with practiced loyalty.
Dada's lips curved slightly.
"As expected," he murmured under his breath.
He studied Idowu's posture.
Gone was the playful tone. Gone was the slight clinginess. Gone was the teasing smile.
The man standing there now was composed.
Still.
Authoritative.
The moonlight cut across his face, sharpening his features. His eyes, usually lively, now held something unreadable.
Cold. Strategic. Powerful.
Dada saw the men faces and felt something twist in his chest.
Not fear. Not admiration. Recognition.
He had been right from the beginning.
"Guess whose brother is actually working for the third prince..." Dada muttered quietly to himself.
Charles' so-called brother.
Planted.
Everything was lining up.
Dada's mind moved quickly.
Idowu had influence. Men kneeling in the dark. Information moving quietly. Hidden authority.
And yet -
He was pretending to be small.
Pretending to serve. Pretending to belong.
Dada leaned his head slightly against the wall.
Interesting.
Very interesting. So this was the game.
Idowu thought he was ahead.
But Dada had seen through him long ago.
He just didn't know what the prince was planning yet.
Was he targeting William?
Watching Adrian?
Using Ayo?
Or playing a longer, more patient game?
Dada's jaw tightened.
Fine.
Let him play.
Dada would stay.
He would watch. He would gather. He would wait.
But at the end of it all - when he is done with the mission of finding about his hometown, If their paths crossed against his mission...
If loyalty demanded it...
He would kill them. All of them.
The thought sat heavy in his chest.
Not easy.
Not painless.
But necessary.
Because in the end, he was not their friend. He was an assassin. And assassins did not hesitate when the time came.
Dada straightened, gave the scene one last look, then turned quietly. He walked back toward the inn, the faint sound of distant voices fading behind him.
In one room -
Two men slept wrapped in warmth and new promises.
In the shadows -
War was already unfolding..
.
.
.
Morning came slower than usual.
Dada had returned to the room the previous night without a sound. He didn't return back to the room. He went for a little stroll. Idowu had been on the bed already, lying on his side, facing the wall - but Dada had noticed the slight stiffness in his shoulders.
He hadn't been asleep.
Neither of them mentioned it.
By mid-morning, the mood was lighter. Adrian had suggested they spend the day relaxing since there was no urgent lead to chase.
"Bonding time," William had declared dramatically.
And somehow, they all ended up in Dada and Idowu's room.
They sat on the floor in a loose circle.
"Truth and dare," William announced proudly.
Dada raised a brow. "Childish."
"And yet you're here," Idowu teased.
Dada said nothing.
The game began lightly - harmless dares, small truths, laughter echoing through the room.
William was dared to compliment Adrian without teasing him. He struggled.
Adrian was dared to admit whether he liked William's flirting.
He avoided answering directly -
which was answer enough.
Then it was Dada's turn. William leaned forward mischievously.
"Truth." Dada nodded.
"What's your sexuality?"
The room quieted.
Even Idowu straightened slightly. Dada didn't answer immediately.
His eyes moved from William... to Adrian... then briefly to Idowu.
Finally, he exhaled.
"I don't know."
William blinked. "You don't know?"
Dada shook his head once.
"I've never had time for love. Never fallen for anyone. Never stayed anywhere long enough to think about it."
His voice was steady.
Honest.
Too honest.
Idowu's heart skipped.
He wasn't in love yet.
Which meant...
There was still space.
Still possibility.
A small, quiet hope bloomed in his chest.
Dada leaned back slightly, gaze lowering.
What am I doing?
Opening up to the men I might have to kill.
The thought hit harder than he expected.
He masked it quickly.
"Next," he said.
But something had shifted.
.
.
.
Later that afternoon, they walked to a small clearing near a river not far from the inn.
The sun was warm. The water shimmered.
William stripped off his outer shirt first. "Last one in is a coward!" He jumped in.
Adrian laughed and followed, though less dramatically.
Dada stepped in slowly, scanning the area instinctively before allowing himself to relax.
Idowu stood at the edge a moment longer, watching Dada.
Then he slipped into the water.
The mood was carefree.
William splashed Adrian relentlessly.
Adrian retaliated.
Their laughter echoed across the water.
At one point, William pulled Adrian close, whispering something that made Adrian shove him away - smiling.
Dada noticed.
Idowu noticed Dada noticing.
"Jealous?" Idowu asked lightly.
Dada ignored him.
But he stayed close.
Then it happened. Suddenly, Idowu jerked. A sharp inhale. His body dipped under the water.
At first, it looked playful. Then he didn't come back up. Adrian froze.
"Idowu?"
Bubbles surfaced.
A hand shot out of the water - then disappeared. Something had wrapped around his leg beneath the surface.
William's smile vanished.
"Dada."
He didn't even need to finish the sentence.Dada was already moving.
He dove under without hesitation.
The water swallowed him.
Seconds stretched too long.
Adrian's breathing grew shallow.
"Why isn't he coming up? Why aren't they coming up?" His voice trembled.
William grabbed his shoulders gently.
"Hey. Look at me."
Adrian's eyes were wide with panic.
"He'll bring him back."
More seconds.
Then suddenly-
Dada broke through the surface, pulling Idowu with him. Idowu's body was limp. William helped drag him to the shallow edge. Adrian stumbled back, shaking.
"Idowu? Idowu!"
No response.
Dada laid him flat on the grass. Water trickled from Idowu's hair. His lips were pale. Dada pressed a hand to his chest.
No movement.
He tilted Idowu's head back. Adrian covered his mouth. William held him closer. Dada leaned down and sealed his mouth over Idowu's.
Breath into lungs.
Pulled back.
Pressed again.
Another breath.
Another.
Adrian turned his face into William's chest, unable to watch. William kept his eyes on Dada.
Focused.
Controlled.
"Come on," he muttered quietly.
Dada pressed again.
Then-
Idowu coughed. Water spilled from his mouth. His body jerked. He gasped violently for air.
Adrian nearly collapsed in relief.
"Oh thank God."
Dada remained close, one hand behind Idowu's neck to support him.
Idowu blinked slowly. His vision adjusted. The first thing he saw-
Dada's face.
Close.
Very close.
Their breaths still mingling.
Memory flashed.
Lips.
Warmth.
Air shared.
His cheeks burned instantly.
Dada noticed.
Their eyes locked for a second too long. "You're fine," Dada said firmly.
Idowu swallowed. "...I know."
But he didn't move away.
William helped Adrian sit.
"It's okay. He's breathing."
Adrian nodded, still shaken.
After a few minutes, Idowu tried to sit up but winced. Dada didn't ask.
He simply lifted him.
Effortlessly.
One arm under his legs.
One behind his back.
Idowu stiffened at first - then relaxed against him. His heart was beating too fast. Not from drowning.
From something else.
William exchanged a look with Adrian.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Let's go back."
And so they did.
Dada carrying Idowu the entire way.
Idowu resting against his chest.
Silent.
Blushing.
Alive.