His face lights up with genuine interest at your answer, and he finishes his own bite before responding.
"Korean hot pot is an excellent choice—there's something really satisfying about cooking your own food at the table and customizing exactly what goes in it. Plus it's one of those meals that's meant to be social and take time, which I appreciate."He stands and takes both your plates, moving to the sink to rinse them off."There's actually a really good Korean BBQ and hot pot place about twenty minutes from here that does individual pots if you don't want to share. We should go sometime when you're not exhausted from exams and curse encounters."
He loads the plates into the dishwasher with surprising domesticity for someone who presents himself as such a powerful sorcerer, then turns back to face you, leaning against the counter."So, door security for tonight. Let me grab that door alarm I mentioned and show you how it works, and then you can decide if that's enough or if you want me to help you move furniture or something."
He walks past you toward what appears to be a utility closet down the hall, returning a moment later with a small wedge-shaped device that has a keypad on top."This thing is stupidly loud if someone tries to open the door—like, wake-the-dead loud. You wedge it under the door, turn it on with this code, and then if the door moves at all it screams. I use them when I stay in hotels on missions and don't trust the security."
He holds it out for you to examine."Want to go test it in the guest room and see if it'll work for tonight? And I meant what I said about the lock tomorrow—I'll have someone here first thing in the morning to install a proper one."
She holds it in her hand before looking down, trying to to look at him as she gathers the nerve to say the next think out of her mouth
Um, if you're really serious about me being able to sleep for the night here until the lock arrives tomorrow, then can I make a request just for tonight?
She breathes in deeply
Can I sleep in the bathroom in the bath tub instead?
She has her eyes squeezed shut, already anticipating the no from him
There's a moment of complete silence from him, and when you finally open your eyes to look at him, his expression is complicated—a mix of concern, sadness, and something protective that makes his jaw tighten slightly. But there's absolutely no judgment in his eyes, just careful understanding.
"You can absolutely sleep in the bathtub if that's what makes you feel safe,"he says quietly, his voice steady and sincere."The bathroom has a lock, it's contained, you can control the space. I get it."
He runs a hand through his white hair, clearly processing something, then looks at you with those intense blue eyes."But here's what I'm thinking—that can't be comfortable for a whole night, and you're already exhausted. So how about this as a compromise: you can sleep in the bathroom if you need to, but let me at least bring you some pillows and blankets to make the tub less miserable. And..."
He pauses, seeming to consider his next words carefully."If you want, I can sleep on the couch in the living room with my door open so you know exactly where I am. That way you're in a locked room, you know my location, and you have that alarm as backup. Would that help at all, or would having me nearby make it worse?"
His tone makes it clear that either answer is acceptable—that he's genuinely asking what would make you feel safest rather than trying to talk you into something that serves his preferences."I'm not going to tell you that you're being ridiculous or that you should just trust me and sleep in the guest room. Whatever you need to feel secure enough to actually rest, that's what we're doing. So talk to me—what would help?"
Oh you don't have to throw pillows & stuff in there, I swear! I've actually slept in bathtubs so much they feel more comfortable than beds sometimes haha.
She paused for a second as she realized what she said.
But no really the bathroom will be enough! I promise. You don't need to go that far.
His expression shifts at your casual admission about sleeping in bathtubs"so much"that they feel more comfortable than beds, and you can see something flash across his face—anger, but not at you. At whatever circumstances led to a young woman finding bathtubs more comfortable than beds. His hands tighten slightly against the counter behind him before he deliberately relaxes them.
"Noa."His voice is gentle but firm."The fact that you've had to sleep in bathtubs enough times that they feel more comfortable than actual beds is exactly why I'm going to bring you pillows and blankets. That's not normal, and it shouldn't have been necessary, and I'm not going to just let you sleep on cold porcelain when I have an entire apartment full of comfortable bedding."
He pushes off from the counter and walks closer to you, not invading your space but close enough that you have to look up at him."Here's what's going to happen: I'm going to grab some pillows and the softest blankets I own. You're going to take them into the bathroom with you. You don't have to use them if you don't want to, but they'll be there if you change your mind. And I'm going to sleep on the couch in the living room with my bedroom door open so you know where I am."
His blue eyes are intense as he looks down at you."You've spent too much time making yourself small and unobtrusive and not asking for things you need. Tonight, in my home, you're allowed to take up space and have comfort and feel safe. That's not negotiable or 'going too far'—that's basic human decency for someone who's been through something that made bathtubs feel safer than beds."
He reaches out and very gently touches your cheek with his fingertips, the gesture surprisingly tender."Let me take care of you, just for tonight. You can go back to being independent and not needing anything tomorrow. Deal?"
Umm
She looks away from him, her fake care free mask going up. The sheepish emabarassed smile evident on her face
haha I guess I should probably explain this then, at the very least. Do you remember earlier today when I said that there were probably two incidents when I was younger that probably changed my brains chemistry a bit?
When I was younger, about 6 or 7I had a friend who whose mom was really close with my mom. And I would go over to their house a lot for sleep overs. I think it was when I was about 6 1/2 my friends dad starting coming into her room at night and touching me. You know, like"that"way. It started off small at first, with just him touching my feet & ankles, but then he started pulling my blankets off, and.. and then my clothes. The bathroom in their house was the only place that had a lock on it, so every time we spent the night I would wait for my friend to go to sleep & then slip off to the bathroom. Some nights I could get there quickly, & other nights he caught me. He did that to me until I moved over here in middle school when I was about 12.
She refused to look at him, too scared to see the look on his face that she knew just had to be there*
So yea, locks are important to me a bit. Just a teeny tiny bit.
There's absolute silence from him for several long seconds. When you finally risk glancing at him, his expression is completely controlled—but his eyes are blazing with barely contained fury. Not at you. Never at you. The Six Eyes are glowing slightly brighter than usual, and you can feel the cursed energy rolling off him in waves before he deliberately forces it down, his hands clenched so tight his knuckles are white.
"That man's name."His voice is deathly quiet, controlled in a way that's somehow more terrifying than if he were shouting."I need his name and location."
He takes a slow breath, clearly forcing himself to focus, and when he speaks again his tone is gentler but still carrying that edge of protective rage."Actually, no—scratch that. We're not talking about him right now because this isn't about my need to go find him and make him regret every single time he touched you. This is about you."
He moves slowly, telegraphing his intentions, and very carefully pulls you into a hug—gentle enough that you could pull away if you wanted, but firm enough to be grounding. His hand comes up to cradle the back of your head, and when he speaks his voice is rough with emotion.
"I am so fucking sorry that happened to you. That should never have happened. You were a child, and someone who was supposed to be safe betrayed that trust in the worst possible way."He pulls back slightly to look at your face, his blue eyes intense but filled with concern rather than pity."And the fact that you went through that for six years and never told anyone, that you just... survived it by sleeping in bathrooms and making yourself small—fuck, Noa."
He lets you go and takes a step back, running both hands through his hair in agitation."Okay. New plan for tonight. You're sleeping in my bed—it has a lock on the door, it's the most secure room in the apartment, and I'll be on the couch in the living room. Non-negotiable."
She had tears in her eyes. She wasn't expecting him to give up his bed
A-Are you sure about? It's your bed. And you have an important job. You need rest, right? You didn't even sleep last night. I'm just a college student, one night without sleep is just like the night before an exam. What if you regret later tonight when you're sleeping on the couch?
He looks at you like you've just said something completely absurd, and despite the emotional heaviness of the moment, there's something almost affectionate in his exasperation.
"Noa, I'm literally the strongest sorcerer in the world. I've gone days without sleep on missions, I've slept in abandoned buildings and forests and literal curse-infested hellscapes. My couch is practically a luxury hotel compared to some places I've crashed."He reaches out and very gently wipes a tear from your cheek with his thumb, the gesture incredibly tender."And you are not 'just a college student.' You're someone who survived six years of abuse and still managed to become kind and thoughtful enough to worry about whether I'll be comfortable on my own damn couch."
He moves toward his bedroom, clearly expecting you to follow."Come on, let me show you the room. It has a lock that works, blackout curtains, and the bed is comfortable enough that you might actually get some real sleep for once instead of whatever half-rest you get in a bathtub."
He opens the door to reveal a surprisingly neat bedroom—king-sized bed with expensive-looking bedding in dark colors, minimal decoration but clearly lived-in. He walks over to the bedside table and opens the drawer."Emergency phone charger, water bottles in the mini-fridge over there, and—"he pulls out what looks like a small canister,"—pepper spray, just in case. Though honestly, if anyone broke in here they'd have to get through me first, and that's not happening."
He turns back to you with a slight smile."The lock works perfectly, and I'm going to be right outside in the living room. If you need anything—anything—just call for me and I'll hear you. The Six Eyes enhanced hearing that you were teasing me about earlier? That means I'll know if you're in distress even through walls and locked doors."
He walks back toward you, his expression softening."I'm not going to regret giving you my bed, Noa. The only thing I'd regret is knowing you were sleeping in a bathtub when I had the ability to give you something better and didn't. So please, just... let me do this. Let me give you one night where you feel safe enough to actually rest."
O..okay. Just for one night though & then it's back to being your bed again.
He gives you a soft smile, clearly relieved that you're accepting this without more argument.
"Deal. Just for tonight, and tomorrow we'll get that lock installed on the guest room door."He moves toward his dresser and pulls out what looks like one of his shirts—a soft, worn black t-shirt that's probably going to be enormous on you."Here, you can sleep in this if you want. It's clean and way more comfortable than sleeping in your clothes. There's also new toothbrushes under the bathroom sink, and feel free to use whatever you need in there."
He hands you the shirt, then starts gathering his own things—phone charger, a book from his nightstand, his blindfold."Bathroom's right through that door if you want to change and get ready for bed. Take your time, there's no rush."
As he's collecting his things, he pauses and turns back to you, his expression more serious."Noa, I want you to understand something. What I said earlier about you being safe here—I meant it absolutely. No one is getting to you through that door without going through me first, and I promise you that's not happening. The lock is for your peace of mind, but even without it, you're protected here."
He walks toward the door, then stops with his hand on the frame."Lock the door behind me, okay? And if you need anything at all during the night—water, someone to talk to, just... reassurance that everything's okay—just call out. I'll hear you and I'll respond. The Six Eyes don't really let me sleep deeply anyway, so you won't be waking me up from anything important."
His blue eyes meet yours one more time, and there's something incredibly gentle in his gaze."Get some rest, Noa. You're safe here. I've got you."
Okay, I will.
She's about to walk through the door to change before she pauses & shouts at him
Wait! We still have to discuss training & those personal or professional boundaries you wanted to set! Let me change & I'll be out! We need to do that before bed.
She runs into the bathroom, throwing on his oversized T-shirt & using it as a night for bed before running out & sitting on the couch were he was sleeping tonight, having his blanket in her lap
Okay! I'm ready