Chapter 79: Chapter 79

After reluctantly accepting Theo’s help with dinner, Luke hadn’t moved from his bed. The fight with Benji had drained a significant amount of his mana, and while his hand was the most severely injured, his entire body was covered in minor wounds, leaving him in no condition to move much.

With a full stomach, he eventually drifted off to sleep, only to wake up close to midnight. He contemplated going back to sleep, but the uncomfortable, sticky feeling of his body quickly reminded him that he hadn’t properly showered since returning home.

Getting out of bed, Luke resolved to at least wash his hair. However, as his gaze fell on his bandaged hand, he realized there was no way he could manage it. He briefly considered trying with just his left hand but quickly dismissed the idea—it would take forever.

The first person who came to mind was Pale, who was likely asleep in his room on the first floor. While Luke was certain Pale would willingly help if asked, the memory of Pale’s earlier hysterics over his injuries gave him pause.

Luke had already downplayed his condition to Pale, brushing it off as a simple cut that the military doctor had over-treated. Knowing how sensitive Pale could be, Luke feared the truth—that his hand had been corroded by unholy mana—might cause him to faint on the spot. Luke didn’t want to burden him further. Besides, as Pale’s former superior, he still wanted to maintain a semblance of strength in front of him. Asking for help in this situation felt slightly humiliating.

“What should I do? I can’t sleep feeling this gross…”

Once the thought of discomfort crossed his mind, it was impossible to shake. It felt as though bugs were crawling over his scalp.

“Oh, right. That guy.”

Another option came to mind: Theo, who was likely asleep in the next room. Theo had literally offered to help with anything earlier. He’d fed him, so surely helping him wash his hair wasn’t too much to ask.

Resolving himself, Luke left his room and knocked decisively on Theo’s door.

“Hey, help me take a bath.”

“What?”

Theo tilted his head, clearly puzzled. It seemed he hadn’t fully grasped the meaning of Luke’s words. To make things clearer, Luke stepped closer, his feet now crossing the threshold of the room.

“Help me wash. You said you’d help me if I needed anything. I can’t manage it with this hand.”

“Wash…?”

“Yeah.”

Luke nodded vigorously, his disheveled silver hair bouncing slightly with the motion.

“Who’s… washing who?”

Theo’s voice wavered, his expression growing more and more serious. To anyone else, it might have seemed like he’d just received some devastating news.

“You. Washing me.”

Luke’s slender finger first pointed at Theo, then back at himself for emphasis. Despite the clarity of his explanation, Theo’s expression only darkened further. Luke couldn’t understand why Theo looked as if the world was ending, but his need to wash his hair outweighed his curiosity.

“L-Luke… why are you suddenly saying this?”

“Suddenly? I haven’t washed all day, and it’s driving me crazy. I tried to do it myself, but it’s not working.”

“Hm… but even so, showing your body to just anyone is a bit…”

Even as Theo spoke, his gaze seemed to wander off to the distance, as if trying to escape the situation.

“What are you talking about? I’m not asking you to wash my body, just my hair.”

It wasn’t as though he could wash his body even if he wanted to. Most of it was wrapped in bandages, and the doctor had specifically instructed him to keep the wounds dry for at least a day or two. Fortunately, there were no injuries on his head, so washing his hair was all he’d planned from the start.

“Oh… so that’s what you meant.”

Theo’s expression relaxed slightly, though a hint of tension still lingered.

Theo's hand, which had been covering his mouth, dropped with a faint sense of reluctance lingering in the gesture.

"If you don't want to, that's fine. I'll just ask Pale," Luke said, turning to leave.

"Wait."

Before Luke could step out, Theo quickly grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"I'll do it."

"Really?"

Luke's face brightened noticeably. Though they weren’t particularly close and didn’t share an easygoing relationship, there weren’t many other options for him to turn to. Besides, while he didn’t mean to blame Theo, the injuries he’d sustained were partly due to accompanying Theo on the investigation. It didn’t seem unreasonable to accept his offer to take responsibility.@@novelbin@@

With his mood lightened by the prospect of finally washing away the sticky discomfort, Luke headed to the bathroom on the same floor. In contrast, Theo followed behind with sluggish steps, his movements weighed down by hesitation.

The bathroom featured a long, oval-shaped bathtub. As soon as Luke entered, he casually pulled off his shirt.

"What are you doing?"

Theo froze in place. Luke’s fair skin, interrupted by patches of bandages, was exposed, along with the defined yet understated muscles beneath. Startled, Theo quickly averted his eyes, though they seemed to involuntarily drift back to Luke’s slender waist.

"It’s better to take it off. It might get wet," Luke said nonchalantly, tossing out a joke about how men shouldn’t be shy around each other as he stepped confidently into the empty bathtub.

"I’ll lean my head back, and you can wash it for me from here," Luke instructed, reclining against the edge of the tub and letting his head rest over the side.

Theo let out a small sigh, rolled up his sleeves, and grabbed a towel from near the door. He folded the clean white fabric neatly and gently lifted Luke’s neck to place the towel underneath it.

"Oh, nice touch," Luke said with a chuckle, watching Theo’s deliberate actions.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Theo turned on the hose attached to the tub, adjusting it to a slow flow of water aimed precisely at Luke’s hair.

"Tell me if it’s too hot."

"It’s just right," Luke replied, closing his eyes as Theo began wetting his hair. Thin strands clung to Theo’s fingers, soft and silky to the touch.

"You know, I’ve always thought you had great hair," Theo remarked quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of water hitting the floor.

"Really? Must be natural," Luke responded lazily, his tone light.

Reaching for a nearby bottle of oil, Theo poured some into his palm. The fragrant liquid carried a soft floral scent, the same scent he’d always noticed lingering around Luke. As he worked the oil into Luke’s hair, his fingers moved carefully, ensuring it was evenly distributed.

"You’re pretty good at this," Luke commented.

"I’ve had it done for me before," Theo replied matter-of-factly.

"Spoken like a true noble," Luke teased, the corners of his mouth curving up in a faint smile. His voice carried a hint of amusement, suggesting he was enjoying the experience.

Unlike Luke, however, Theo was anything but relaxed. Although his face betrayed no emotion, the close proximity of their positions and the silk-like texture of Luke’s hair beneath his fingers had him tense. He swallowed hard, focusing intently on being gentle, his hands moving steadily through Luke’s hair.

After thoroughly applying the oil, Theo extended his thumb, pressing lightly against Luke’s scalp.

"Mm," Luke let out a small hum of satisfaction.

Encouraged by the sound, Theo continued to massage Luke’s scalp, applying just enough pressure to be soothing without causing discomfort.

"Ah…"

Luke’s lips parted slightly, releasing a soft, contented sigh. Even amidst the rising steam, his flushed lips stood out vividly. The sight of them drew Theo’s gaze downward, and before he could stop himself, his eyes traced the smooth lines of Luke’s upper body.

Beneath the bandages, faint scars from past battles were visible, marking his otherwise lean and unblemished frame. Theo’s gaze lingered on the flat, toned stomach and the slight curve of Luke’s waist before traveling upward to his chest. There, the faint pink hue of Luke’s nipples caught his attention, and without realizing it, Theo’s grip on Luke’s hair tightened slightly.

"Ow… Theo."

Luke’s voice snapped him out of his daze, and Theo looked down to find Luke staring up at him, his soft brown eyes now open. The warmth of the water or the steam had painted Luke’s pale skin with a faint blush. His brows furrowed slightly, and his lips, still parted, gave him an almost sulky expression.

"You’re hurting me. Be more gentle," Luke said, irritation clear in his tone.

The oil coating Theo’s fingers made them slick, a few drops falling noisily to the floor. Theo’s expression darkened, his black eyes seeming to sink as he stilled his hands. Luke frowned, tilting his head slightly at the sudden change in Theo’s demeanor.

"Theo?" he called.

In the next moment, Theo leaned down slowly, their faces drawing closer, the distance between them shrinking with every second.