Baby, It's Cold Outside

by StrawberryCheeseCake (FaceTheMajor5)

Summary:

... Still, it was a joy every time a hunter decided to instead relax with their opponents and enjoy games of a more innocent nature. One that doesn't involve the whole cat and mouse games with rocket chairs that send you back to the manor.

Unfortunately for Luca Balsa, today was not that day and the hunter was out for blood, as usual.

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Luca gets cold during a match, almost throwing a game. Alva decides to help him warm up. Makeup sex ensues.

Notes:

Wow so umm.... Hi!

First time writing for IDV... and first time writing smut.

I'll be honest, I wanted to finish this before Christmas, buuuut life decided to be a mean bitch instead, so here we are. Consider this a late Christmas present and an early New Year present!

Also, note that I'm not a native english speaker, even though I reread this fic over and over again, checking for typos, please don't be too critical if you find them.

Anyway, enjoy!

»»————-　❅　————-««

The sound travels through the cold air much slower than during, say, summer, due to the stark difference in temperature and humidity. Maybe that was the reason why matches in this factory location, which looked both abandoned and ransacked, but also festive and welcoming, with its cute Christmas decorations plastered all over it, would usually drag on for quite a long time. It was harder for both the hunters and the survivors to locate each other, therefore every single little noise would prompt an immediate reaction: the survivors abandoning their cipher in favor of hiding behind a nearby wall or hunters frantically going from one place to another, sometimes completely forgetting to double check the spot they were previously in. It’s chaotic. It’s stressful. It makes you wonder if you’re properly paranoid or if your mind is just playing tricks on you again.

And that is not to mention the cold, biting at any patch of your skin that is not protected by clothing. The shakiness of your hands would also make you miss the calibrations sometimes and, well, that is nothing but bad news for anyone, but the hunter, who was just nearby, looking for their next prey…

Thankfully, this location is also quite common for hunters to completely abandon the core premise of the manor game and instead give survivors some much-needed breather. Hell, they would even sometimes go as far as to initiate their own, much more innocent games! After all, do you seriously expect people not to start a snowball fight or a snowman-building competition when surrounded by acres of pure fluffy white snow? And, as was said before, the place was decorated with various Christmas trinkets, so maybe that was also a reason why hunters were feeling particularly nice. After all, how could you focus on a game when everything around you is oh so jolly?

 

The kid hunter…what was his name again…? Ah, Robbie, right! Robbie would quite often be one such hunter. Sure, at first, he would make it look like he is chasing you, and just as he is about to take a good swing at you with that giant ax of his…you get a handful of snow down the back of your clothes. From there on, it would be a miracle if someone is actually focusing on the cipher machines because it’s hard when snowballs are being thrown around in all directions. It was honestly adorable. By the time the exit gates were finally open only whatever deity exists out there knows how much time has passed and the survivors would always leave smiling widely, sometimes hugging Robbie, because wasn’t it so nice of the kid to give survivors an actual innocent game this time, that helped to lift their spirits in such a hard time?

There were also Hell Ember, Gamekeeper, and The Photographer. The latter, unlike the rest, was less willing to start a snowball fight or build a snowman with you (because god forbid that man gets his hands dirty with anything other than the blood of the players!). It wouldn’t stop monsieur Desaulniers from taking a picture of you…not the one that creates a whole new static world, no, just an ordinary holiday picture with zero chances of you getting sucked into another dimension. As for the other two, well, they would only really spend time with certain survivors if by any chance they decided to take it easy this time. In the case of Hell Ember, also known as Leo Becker, he would for obvious reasons spend the most time with his beloved daughter and while you may feel a bit jealous and neglected that the hunter would rather stay by only one person’s side, no one’s complaining, because, hey, a free win is a free win, right? Besides, it’s still heartwarming to see a father-daughter reunion, even if you’re observing it from the sidelines. The Gamekeeper would less spend time with the players themselves, but rather with their animal companions that they brought along. It was still entertaining to watch, but it would get a bit difficult to get the wildlife away from Bane once it was time to go.

Still, it was a joy every time a hunter decided to instead relax with their opponents and enjoy games of a more innocent nature. One that doesn't involve the whole cat and mouse games with rocket chairs that send you back to the manor.

Unfortunately for Luca Balsa, today was not that day and the hunter was out for blood, as usual.

 

The man cursed under his breath when he missed yet another calibration, bolting away from the machine as it unleashed a wave of electricity. He didn’t return to decoding immediately though, Luca contemplated on his next move instead.

If he leaves now, that means he’s going to be leaving this machine and would either have to abandon it for the rest of the match, focusing on the one that is in the safer location, or return to it sometime later, when the hunter is done searching the place for him. Or he could try to hide and pray that whoever is their opponent for today won’t find him. The young man tapped his foot in thought, his whole body shaking. He must find a solution, and quickly. Eventually, he decided for the latter, as he bolted for the nearby wall, crouching and holding his breath. Sure enough, he soon found his heartbeat racing, Luca realizing it was getting hard to breathe again, as the new surge of panic and fear washed over him. The snow was starting to seep into the fabric of his jeans and prison shirt, but he couldn’t care less about it as the sound of footsteps in the snow became louder and louder.

 

…and if Luca is hearing things correctly, he also heard the sound of some sort of cane accompanying them.

Fuck.

Well, there are three candidates for who the hunter is.

The first one is "Mad Eyes", Burke Lapadura. That greasy old man should be tucked away at the warmest end of the manor instead of this cold and chilly place! Seriously, imagine if he catches a cold and there would be one less hunter! Well, okay, maybe the young inventor is underestimating the mechanical architect, but still. This doesn’t change the fact that Burke would rather surround Luca with fences first, only then go for a confrontation. So, he’s out.

Next was Miss Keigan Nicholas Keogh, also known as “Clerk”. She is utterly terrifying to deal with. Her uncanny ability to defy time itself by “recording” and “replaying'' certain events and actions has solidified her as a scarily efficient and no-nonsense opponent. That said, if it was her, she would have probably seen the young man and therefore knew already that he was nearby. Does that mean that he should consider trying to sneak away from the site as fast as possible?

Just as Luca was about to start silently crawling away to the more secluded and therefore safer zone he heard the sound of the ciphers being connected. That confirmed that the third candidate was the identity of the hunter.

The hunter is none other than Alva Lorenz, aka “Hermit”. Luca’s then beloved mentor, now on-again-off-again colleague with a tense working relationship and a full-time threat to the young man during matches.

 

Luca quickly figured out that the reason behind Alva connecting his cipher to the rest was not just to slow down the progress, but also to see if Luca is nearby. Because, if he is (which was obviously true), then he would immediately resume the decoding progress…which not only would confirm Lorenz’s suspicion of his ex-student’s whereabouts, but also charge the survivor with the polarity, and from there on…well, Luca would be lucky if Alva decides not to come back for him and focus on the others instead, but that doesn’t mean he would be unaffected from there on.

Does that mean he ought to focus on another cipher? Only one was finished, so there must be one unconnected somewhere, but that means Luca would have to find it and by then it would either be finished by someone else anyway or, worst case scenario, Luca would run into Alva again.

Fuck.

He’s trapped.

Or…maybe…okay, he can endure some pain, the prison beatings are hopefully the worst he’ll ever have to live through, so he can tolerate some pain from sharing the damage due to polarity. And he can go ahead and focus on the cipher nearby, instead of the one he was working on previously. That way, he can even waste more of Lorenz’s time and let his teammates think of a plan to win this game!

This new revelation gave a much-needed confidence boost Luca needed this whole time. He clenched his fists and listened carefully. He’ll wait for a little after Alva leaves, check the direction the hunter is heading, then go in a different direction from him, hopefully reaching a cipher. Who knows, maybe it’s the one unconnected one, then Luca and his team might just-

As he was about to finish that thought there was a disgusting itching at the back of his mouth, one that quickly spread to his nose.

Oh no.

No, no, no, no, no, no-

Luca covered his mouth immediately, hoping and praying that the older man would leave just in time for him not to hear the inevitable sneeze that was going to escape from the younger man. Luca further curled into himself, in an attempt to further blend in with the surroundings. He shut his eyes, held his breath, and listened to the hunter’s every move. Unfortunately, Alva decided to stay by the cipher just for a moment longer, maybe checking the map of the place and seeing the progress of each machine, deciding where to go next, or maybe he was just fucking with Luca’s head. Whatever it was, the young man couldn’t hold it in anymore.

A barely audible sneeze escaped from Luca, muffled by both of his gloved hands covering his face.

After that came a complete and total silence. Luca didn’t move an inch, staying still. Should he run? Should he hide? Should he stay where he was?

 

After what felt like an eternity, the younger man finally heard the sound of steps becoming more quiet and distant… Did Alva just…left him there? He couldn’t have possibly not heard Luca, even if that sneeze was as quiet as a sneeze could possibly be, that would be enough for anyone to locate the young inventor. So, why…?

Despite his heartbeat finally becoming stable again and the fear slowly fading away, Luca still stayed at his initial hiding spot. Who knows? Maybe Alva was just faking leaving and was actually right around the corner, waiting for Luca to finally come out?

As it turns out, Luca should’ve run.

Because the next thing the young man knew, he heard a loud bang accompanied by the cracking of electricity. Looking up, he saw Alva, standing right next to him. With a sudden surge of adrenaline, Luca wasted no time getting up and bolting for the nearest pallet.

“Bless you,” Alva deadpanned.

 

The young man wasn’t looking at him, but by god, if that son of a bitch is smiling right now-

No, Luca, focus, he’s trying to provoke you on purpose! The young inventor, thankfully, managed to find a pallet and wasted no time dropping it, creating a much-needed distance between himself and the hunter. However, just as he was thinking of where he ought to run next, he failed to notice Alva using the short-distance teleport ability to bypass the obstacle. The hunter wasted no time, as he swung his scepter, hitting the young man and earning a shout of pain from the latter.

…and also from one of his teammates.

Damn it!

He wasn’t targeting Luca specifically! He was only trying to get a free hit to bring someone else down!

But now what? Is the hunter going to forget about the other person and focus on the prisoner instead or is he going to leave Luca and return to him later?

Anyway, Luca knew that right now he must get as far away from Alva as fucking possible.

Doing a quick roll to bypass the pallet, he bolted in the other direction from a man, already looking for a way to escape him.

 

Now, where could he possibly go?

 

There is the main factory building and it was relatively close, so perhaps this could be his destination. It's also relatively easy to hide and throw the hunter for a loop there, forced to walk in circles in hopes of catching up with the survivors. That is if you know what you're doing and play your cards right.

 

Deciding to take the risk, Luca made his way to the factory, stumbling, trying to run through the thick layers of snow.

 

Fortunately, he seemed to have made the right call, as the closer he got to the factory building, the less he felt Alva's presence.

 

So, he's safe.

 

For now, that is.

 

While the young inventor was at it, he checked the status of his team.

 

So, today he's matched with Fiona, Kevin, and Andrew. Fiona is marked as "incapacitated". Andrew is injured, but was in full health the next second, meaning he is with Kevin, who is also in full health. That leaves Luca only partially shaken from the encounter with his ex-mentor.

 

So far so good! Not really that bad, it certainly could be worse. Andrew should handle the rescue with Kevin backing him up. Meaning Balsa should focus on decoding the cipher machines, being the only member who is in the clear.

 

Kneeling down, he began messing with the wiring of the ciphers, connecting the one he's been working on previously with the one in the building. That way at least one should be finished soon enough and the location of the dungeon would be revealed. From then on, he could focus on his work.

 

After a while, he heard the much-anticipated cipher pop. Two, in fact. Just as Luca was about to leave the factory building he heard the sound of rushing footsteps and the pallet being dropped. Looking behind himself he saw Kevin, who looked terrible, injured, and shaking from both fear and cold.

 

"Get out of here!" the cowboy barked. "Fiona's out and Andrew is chaired. Go for him while I distract the hunter!"

 

"Damnit, isn't it your job to rescue?!" Luca grabbed Kevin's hand and led him up the factory's stairs. On the second floor is the window that should be enough to create distance between them and the hunter. If they get lucky, Luca should have enough time to patch Kevin up, giving him some chance of surviving the chase.

 

"If you're up for the task of running away from Lorenz, then be my guest!" the other player scowled and then hissed in pain.

 

"Fuck that. Come on, I have some fresh bandages with me," Luca said, as they finally reached the second floor. 

 

The cowboy hesitantly kneeled down, exposing the wound and bruises on his neck and back. Balsa wasted no time fetching the bandages from his pocket. Just as he was finishing, he heard the familiarly sickening sound of the scepter hitting the floor.

 

"Can't you go faster?!" Kevin panicked.

 

"Dash for the window the second I'm done with you. If Al- Lorenz is near, I'll body block you," Luca decided to ignore the man's impatience.

 

Kevin hummed in acknowledgment, as the prisoner was finally finished healing him, just as the hunter reached them. Walking around the corner, Alva took a quick glance at both survivors and clicked his tongue.

 

"Ah, it seems I'm a little too late," he noted dryly. "Oh well, I can fix that."

 

"Now!" Luca shouted while both men bolted for the window. As planned, the prisoner put himself between Kevin and Lorenz…except he was then immediately stunned, locked into one place by a sudden surge of electricity. A second and Kevin screamed in pain yet again.

 

Terror shock.

 

"Damn you…fuck, Lorenz," Luca shook. If only he could punch Alva in the face for that.

 

"Go…the chair," Kevin whined, holding his head trying to overcome the concussion.

 

"Do you really think I didn't see through your plan?" Alva queried, looking down at his student. "I taught you everything I know and you really try to use it against me?"

 

Fuck.

 

Luca can still shock Alva in case he tries to tie the cowboy to the balloons, but that would mean stalling time and, possibly, ignoring Andrew completely. Besides, there is no guarantee that Alva wouldn't stun and hit Kevin again immediately after.

 

Accepting defeat, he reluctantly took a step back, his eyes still locked with Alva's. The tall man smiled and took a step towards Balsa, then another after Luca tried to step away again.

 

Alright, now he's definitely screwing with him. Great. Just fucking great.

 

"Eat shit, old man," Luca muttered under his breath as he dashed for the stairs. Thankfully, Alva decided not to follow him, focusing on chairing Kevin instead.

 

Luca made his way through the abandoned snowy territory towards Andrew's chair. Fortunately for him, he knew exactly where it was. Unfortunately, though, it was pretty far away from him, so now the young man understood why Kevin was in such a hurry. The cold air made it hard and, frankly, painful to breathe, but Balsa wasn't about to give up just now.

 

He was close when he heard the distinct sound of the rocket chair being launched into the air, accompanied by a male screaming. Luca stopped dead in his tracks looking up into the sky where Andrew supposedly flew off. To his own surprise, Balsa heard in the distance yet another rocket chair being launched into the sky. Was Kevin already in the chair by that time? How come he is already out of the game so soon? Worse, now Luca was all alone with Alva and the dungeon was nowhere in sight. The exit gate was right there, almost tempting, but there still were two more ciphers to decode for them to be opened.

 

Shit.

 

Should he still try to search for a dungeon? Should he try to sneakily decode the cipher machines? Should he just give up?

 

Apparently, by the fact that Balsa, yet again, hears the sound of the approaching steps, he ought to choose the latter.

 

And, as if on cue, the young man had the urge to sneeze again, though this time he didn't even try to suppress it.

 

"Well, as if I already didn't know you were here," the taller man mused as he got closer to Luca.

 

"Shut up," the prisoner scowled. "Look, you already won, just chair me or let me go already, for fucks sake."

 

"Language," Alva cut him off. "Tell me, Luca, are you sick? Did you catch a cold by any chance?"

 

"What do you care, huh?" Balsa turned around and started walking in another direction. He didn't know where exactly, so long as he got away from Alva.

 

Unfortunately, the hunter followed.

 

"Well, starting with the fact that playing against sick survivors is boring and too easy. Also, quite unfair, if you ask me," Lorenz replied. "It doesn't matter if it's only one or several players that are sick, you're still at quite the disadvantage, don't you think?"

 

"So, what, are you saying that I was a dead weight to my team?"

 

"I never said that, Luca," Alva massaged his temple. "But even I didn't expect you to sneeze back there. To be fair, I wasn't quite sure what to do, once you gave away yourself so easily. I set up such a nice trap just for you, you see. And, alright, maybe this is a one-time thing, but the second time just now?" Alva was now walking side by side with Luca, looking into his face to…see what exactly? "That makes me wonder if something's wrong."

 

" I'm fine . And what's with the mother-hen act? You surely didn't care during the game!" Luca frowned and looked at the ground.

 

"I did. I said 'bless you' back then, now, didn't I? Surely you haven't forgotten already?" Luca wanted to punch Alva yet again because even without looking at the man, he knew Lorenz was speaking genuinely. Balsa had to admit, the hunter used to be his mentor for a good reason. Alva was really a brilliant man, quick-witted and, at least Luca used to think so, creative. He was also a patient teacher, relatively calm, perhaps even a bit too much, coming off as cold and uncaring at times, but after both men took their relationship to another, much more intimate, level the younger one realized just how much his mentor did care.

 

So to hear that same man be so fucking stupid and blind to Luca's true emotions right now was beyond frustrating.

 

Balsa balled his fist and punched Lorenz in the arm. Of course, Alva didn't even really react, only looking down at the younger man in confusion.

 

"Just take me to the-" Luca inhaled and sneezed for the third time. "-dungeon. I was already humiliated enough today."

 

"Humiliated? How exactly, my boy?"

 

"I gave away my location, I screwed up the rescues, and lost the match," Luca finally looked up and was met with Alva's concerned gaze. "Don't you think I had enough?"

 

"Well, while it is true that I'll let you go…" the hunter leaned in and wrapped his arm around the younger male's waist, effortlessly picking him up. "You’re not going anywhere until you're all warmed up and ready for the road."

 

"H-huh?! Alva?! H-hey! Let me go!" Luca tried to struggle free, but all to no avail. His ex-mentor's grip on him was strong, the balloons he would tie the survivors to normally paled in comparison.

 

"Don't worry, Luca, you will be free to go once I'm done with you," Alva patted his student's back in an attempt to comfort the frightened youngster.

 

"And what is it that you're planning to do to me, if I may I ask?!" Balsa glared at the man just to be met with Lorenz's mischievous grin. Suddenly, he already felt warm, or at least his face did.

 

"You'll see, my boy," Alva reassured him, although the answer was vague, no doubt on purpose.

 

Eventually, the survivor gave up, and he was silently carried to the basement in the factory's shack. He felt a bit apprehensive as they descended further and further, but decided to trust Alva this time. The man loved playing mind games with Luca, but he's not the type to outright lie and betray people like that.

 

The basement was surprisingly much warmer than the inside of both buildings in this location. Must be courtesy of trash bins that are set on fire, acting like campfires of sorts. There, Alva approached one of the rocket chairs and just as Luca was about to start trying to break free again, the man set his staff against a wall, while taking a seat in one of the rocket chairs near the fire, settling Luca in his lap.

 

Oh.

 

Oh, so, he's just…going to cuddle with him near the fire…?

 

…Oh, alright.

 

Alva pulled Luca closer to himself, resting his head on the younger man's soft brown locks. Lorenz hummed in satisfaction. Neither man said anything, not that there was much to talk about anyway. Luca hated to admit it, but…Alva was right. He was freezing and it would be a miracle if he wouldn't feel sick the next day. This little trip and stay in the basement near the fire were actually exactly what the survivor needed the whole time. It would be nice if Alva was a bit more straightforward, though he could see why he decided to test the waters out first. If he really were to just grab Luca and bring him to the basement without any explanation, well, there would be a lot of kicking and screaming for sure.

 

Taking a deep breath, the young inventor leaned against the hunter's chest, trying to relax from the exhausting match. It says a lot about the weather outside when an embrace from an undead man is what saved Luca from freezing.

 

"Hmm, they really should warn the players to dress according to the weather, don't you think so?" Alva mused. He didn't really expect the answer, Luca recognized the tone of his voice.

 

"They really should, huh? I mean, otherwise, the game is rigged in hunters' favor," he replied anyway. "Maybe that's why you won," Balsa added.

 

"You all did really well and I had quite a lot of fun," Alva leaned forward and gently kissed the prisoner's head. "You especially. After all, you are the last man standing."

 

"Shut up."

 

"Weird, I thought you liked it when I complimented you," the older man chuckled before continuing. "You were really smart and quick on your feet today. Maybe that body block strategy didn't work on me, the other hunters would probably have a harder time figuring their way out. Besides, you were willing to put yourself at risk for the sake of your team. I can't help but admire that and it's relieving to know that you still have your heart at the right place, no matter how much this cruel world tries to bring you down."

 

Luca tried his hardest to bury his face deeper and deeper in Alva's chest. With each word coming out of his mouth, his face got redder and redder, and, well, his whole body started to feel hot . The young inventor wasn't certain if it was the typical embarrassment that comes when someone showers you with praise, arousal, or both. He prayed it was just the heat from the fire and sharing the body warmth.

 

"Moreover, you focused on the core objective of the game. Two more cipher machines and you would've been good to go," Lorenz knew exactly what he was doing, gently whispering all these sweet things to Luca. Still, the survivor hated the fact that he knew Alva meant every single one of them. That these weren't empty words, but genuine praise and admiration.

 

God, why.

 

Why do you persist, Alva Lorenz?

 

Why does he still care for Luca? Is he chasing the shadow of the past, clinging to the only thing left of his old life? Does he feel regret and a need to atone for ruining both of their lives? Does he have nothing else better to do? Nothing else better to seek? To achieve? Didn't Alva's new way of life, his new philosophy, and his new religion, finally made him happy and content? Or the closest thing to it that is?

 

Why?

 

Luca decided that he had enough of the talk and, raising himself a bit, kissed the man to shut him up. There was a moment of complete silence between them and Luca was scared that he misread the situation, that this wasn't the right time.

 

These thoughts disappeared once he felt Alva kiss him back. Steadying himself by grabbing onto the other man's shoulders the survivor let his mentor completely take over from there on.

 

The hunter's hands slowly traveled from the prisoner's waist to his hips. His long and bony finger traced the younger male's backside. It was enough to prompt Luca to open his mouth slightly, letting out a quiet moan, while Alva wasted no time letting his tongue inside. Meanwhile, his hands continued teasing the inventor: his hands underneath the inventor's shirt, moving up towards his chest. There he proceeded to play with Luca's nipples, lightly flicking them, each slight motion earning a low moan or a gasp from the survivor in his arms.

 

The hunter pulled away, looking at what he had done to the prisoner. Balsa's hair was a mess, his face flushed, his hands shaking, and his breathing shallow. Not much is different from how Luca was during the game and when they entered the basement, but it was the fact that the young man was now acting this way for a completely different reason that made Alva content.

 

Well, almost.

 

Looking down, Alva saw a prominent tent in Balsa's jeans.

 

"Well, I suppose you're all warm now and ready to go then?" he teased and could barely suppress a chuckle when he saw the look of horror and frustration slowly appear on Luca's face. "If you want, I know exactly where the dungeon is and can take you there. Or, well, you can always go by yourself and I'll just wait for you to leave."

 

"Wh-wha-" the younger man was dumbfounded. "Alva, wait, you're not serious, are you?"

 

"Of course I am!" Lorenz lied, casually. "Luca, my dear boy, I took you here because I simply wanted to warm you up! I couldn't just leave you like you were and let you get sick!" Fuck, Alva can and will keep a serious expression no matter what, especially in moments like these . "Besides, didn't you tell me how much you want to go back? I do apologize for coming off as rash, but I merely wanted to take care of you," he leaned forward again. "Nothing more and nothing less."

 

"You-!" Luca was fuming. Now is not the time for whatever cruel joke Lorenz had in store for him. "You old, nasty son of a bitch! I know you took me here because you wanted to fuck the daylights out of me, don't you lie to my face now!"

 

"Excuse me? You're saying that I took you here for the sole purpose of fucking you?" Oh no, he sounded genuinely offended. Though, surely, he wasn't actually mad. Still… "Need I remind you that you were the one to kiss me and grind against my body just now? That you were the one moaning into my mouth like some common harlot? If I really am as lustful and single-minded as you claim I am, then surely that must mean that you are just as if not more vulgar than me," Alva pinched his student's nipple, this time earning himself a yelp. "While we are on a topic of all the things you call me, it appears that you feel a great disdain for me, Mr. Balsa. Perhaps it is I who should leave you to your own devices-"

 

"Ah, fuck, alright! Alright! I'm-" Luca whined and hid his face. If he wasn't totally humiliated before, now he certainly is. "I'm sorry, Alva."

 

Alva leaned back in the chair.

 

"You're apologizing, yet you can't even bring yourself to look me in the eyes. Is it shame or pride? I wonder…" after that, Luca did as he was told and lifted his face to look directly at Alva's.

 

The latter's face was completely blank, it was impossible to tell if he was genuinely angry or if that was just another part of their own little 'game'.

 

Still, Luca opted to play it safe.

 

"I'm sorry, Alva. Really, I-" why is he stuttering? "I am. I really am, I mean it. That was rude, you’re right. If there is a way for me to prove it to you…" Luca smiled, weakly. "Then…I'll do it. Just say a word."

 

After a second, Alva returned the smile, his hands reaching for the toolbelt. "How about you help me take this off first, hm? Then we can both decide how you can…prove your genuineness."

 

Luca let out a breath of relief, while Lorenz rolled his eyes and chuckled as if to say 'like I would I really mean it' . The survivor quickly got to work removing his belts, jeans, and boots, which was easier said than done, considering that there is a lot to take off and it is generally quite uncomfortable to do so from the position they were in.

 

"Easy now, easy. No rush. We've got all the time in the world, don't worry," Alva shushed Luca who was hastily trying to untie his boots.

 

"You're the one who's been edging me on this whole time! I really just want to-" Luca cut himself off before he says anything else that Lorenz might use against him.

 

"Hm? You really just want to what ?" 

 

Fuck.

 

Well, since it's too late.

 

"I j-just really want to feel you inside of me. Fuck, every time I remember what you can do to me I just- I keep wanting more and more and-" Luca swallowed before he continued. "I really want you to make me feel good, please, Alva, I- I want to cum because of you, I want you to cum inside of me. I want you to take me and claim me. It's been such a long fucking time since I felt you in any way! I-" the prisoner tried to take a deep breath but instead groaned. "I want you. I want you so bad."

 

By the time he was finished (well, sort of, but it's enough for now), Balsa was red in the face again. He looked away, gazing into the fire and at the nearby rocket chair instead of looking at the man who is going to fuck him soon. Hopefully soon. Almost instantly, though, a big slender hand gently took and turned his face back to look at Alva.

 

"And you still say that I'm the perverted one? Please," Lorenz leaned in to kiss Luca again, helping him get rid of his jeans and boots. Now there was only a fabric of the prisoner's boxers separating them. "Makes me wonder what made you this way."

 

Now it was Luca's turn to chuckle and, oh how the hunter adored and cherished this sound. "Not a "what", but a "who". And it's you, idiot."

 

"Your father would hate me for this then," and that's, to say the least!

 

"So what? He's dead and he would never understand what it's like to have what we have, am I right?" Luca said, making the show of taking off his boxers and revealing his hard cock. "Now, please, Alva, do me a favor and don't bring up my dead good-for-nothing father during sex, alright? Actually, don't bring up anyone. It's just you and me. Focus on me. Please?"

 

Lorenz hummed softly and began stroking his lover's cock. "You're quite greedy, I noticed. Are you afraid I'm going to leave you for someone else?" The long digits played with the foreskin, pulling it back and forth.

 

"Hah, well," Luca began and already found it hard to speak. "Not exactly, but…of sorts? You could've done anything else after…you know. You c-can now go for anything and anyone in the world a-and not care about the public's opinion. Yet, for some reason, you chose me again. And-" Luca didn't know if he was too embarrassed to say what was on his mind the whole time or if Alva was just so good at giving handjobs that it was hard to speak, but nevertheless, he cut himself off. The young man tried to come up with the next thing to say, but those long slender fingers doing their work made it incredibly hard to do so.

 

"And?" Alva asked when the pause got a bit too long. "Don't be afraid to tell me, my boy."

 

"A-ah, I'm not afraid, you're just- too fucking good, holy shit," Luca whined and gripped the fabric of the man's clothes before continuing. "And- I'm so confused. I- fuck, I killed you, Alva, I accused you of theft and now I'm just a nobody who just got out of prison trying to chase the dreams that, w-who knows, I may never achieve," the younger man bit his lip to suppress another moan.

 

The older male made sure to twist his hand with each pump, determined to make Luca surrender and let him listen to all those sweet little noises he was making. "Do you think there's someone out there who is a better match for me than you? If so, need I remind you how we're connected? Why I chose you as my close apprentice? Why I decided to make you my lover despite all the risks?" Alva breathed against Luca's neck, hoping that those bothersome bandages and shackles weren't there, so he could turn the skin into his painting, making sure everyone knew who Balsa belonged to. "Need I remind you why we are here like this in the first place?"

 

"Yes," Luca replied and then moaned. "P-please, Alva."

 

The hunter smiled. "That's because of how special you are," he began. "No matter what I do, I can never truly figure you out. Just when I think I got a solution, when I finally have an answer, you surprise me once more. You surprised me back at the exhibition. Then when you sent me an application letter. Then when you were my loyal student, your hard-working attitude and borderline obsession were unlike anything I have ever seen. And after that you confessed your feelings to me, rekindling something deep inside of me, that I thought was long dead," he kissed Luca again, savoring his taste and picking up the pace, delighted at hearing a high-pitched strangled whine in response. "I wouldn't be able to leave you, even if I wanted to. You're just such a wonder to me, my boy."

 

"A-alva," Luca shook. He was now hugging the older man, his hips thrusting into Lorenz's hand, chasing the release that was soon to come.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Please, Alva, I- I'm gonna- gonna- ah! Ah, fuck!" the younger man screamed, arching his back, not being able to hold it in much longer, as he came right into the hunter's hand.

 

As Balsa was coming down from his high, the other man simply wiped his dirtied hand with his cloak. True, far from the best way to go about it, but he'll take proper care of it later.

 

Giving Luca a quick peck on the cheek, Alva petted his hair. "How are you feeling now, my boy? Better? Warmer?"

 

"Y-yeah…" the survivor panted and leaned into the touch. "Did I convince you that I was truly sorry?"

 

"Mmm…" Lorenz took another look at Luca. "I think…you can still work on something."

 

"Oh yeah?" Balsa shot him that look of defiance and confidence, flashing the man a toothy cocky grin. He knows where this is going. He's ready, he's been waiting for it for such a long time. "And what is it? Go on, say it."

 

Alva laughed. "My, the confidence! See, that's one of many things I like about you: no matter what, you're ready to take the plunge," the hunter then suddenly pulled Luca closer, their faces close, almost begging for another kiss to happen. However, instead, Alva thrusted his hips, making his wish known. "Are you willing to return the favor then?"

 

The prisoner nodded.

 

"Good boy."

 

Alva wasted no time unbuckling his belt and opening his trousers. Now it was his time to blush, even if a little, as it was obvious just how pent up the man really was, even if he didn't show it. His cock was hard, precum leaking through the underwear.

 

"Holy shit," Luca breathed out.

 

"What? You're not seeing it for the first time."

 

"You're still different from back then and this ," the younger man pointed at the big bulge in his mentor's underwear. "Is no exception. Still…" Luca hesitantly reached out to finally free the older man's dick from the underwear and did so once he saw no resistance. The hunter's cock sprung in the air and Balsa found out that his mouth was starting to water. "Uhh, how do you want this again?"

 

"Want what?" Alva raised his eyebrow.

 

"Well you know," fuck, Luca, you had sex with this man many times before, what's with the hold up now ? Sure, when he was still alive he wasn't nearly as huge as he is now which made, well, everything much easier. Right now, Luca was not yet used to Alva's new appearance. Still, the sheer difference in sizes between the two men now made Luca feel hot again. Hot and scared. "Do you want to fuck my mouth or my ass?"

 

"Ah, that, right. Well…" Alva cocked his head to the side, thinking. "I suppose it doesn't matter that much," he concluded.

 

Luca gulped. This is going to be a very tight fit. No way that thing is getting inside of him without any preparation. And what if Alva gets too caught up in the moment and thrusts particularly rough?

 

Fuck it, he's too horny to feel scared now.

 

"Alright, I'll start with my mouth then we can take it from there. How about it?" sounds good enough to him.

 

"In that case, please sit down in the chair," Alva said, as he started getting up. "I'm not letting you be on your knees on this cold floor. I'm still trying to keep you warm, remember?"

 

"Y-yeah, yeah, sounds good. Just-" Luca took a deep breath as he took a seat instead of the older man. "Just be careful, okay?"

 

"Of course," Lorenz said, now standing in front of the chair and guiding Luca's head toward his dick. " Now, put your mouth to work then. I expect you to do just fine doing most of the job if you don’t want me to…intervene."

 

The survivor hummed and opened his mouth slightly, licking and tasting his mentor's cock, before running his tongue along the whole length. He knew that wasn't enough and it was a bad idea to tease and edge the man even more than he already is, but the young inventor couldn't just put it inside right away. After a few more moments of licking, Luca kissed the tip, before finally pushing the head inside of his mouth. It was big. God, it was big. He wouldn't be able to take the whole thing, not unless he felt like choking on it, he'll have to use his hands if the younger man wanted to really get Alva off.

 

"Oh God, fuck-" the prisoner could hear his mentor curse above him. Good. Really good. That means he's on the right track. Taking off the gloves, Luca wrapped one of his hands around Alva's cock, giving slight pumps from time to time. That in turn got him a grunt out of the older man. If Balsa could, he would smile at that. Instead, though, he only looked up at Lorenz, taking some more of his dick deeper into his mouth. He could see Alva tense up further. "Mhm, nice, this feels so nice, Luca. Good thing you remember how to do that."

 

The survivor could see however that Lorenz was holding back: one of his hands gripped the back of the rocket chair like his life depended on it, his body shaking with anticipation. The man’s other hand rested on the prisoner's head, only barely guiding Luca each time he slowed down for whatever reason. And while, so far, Alva made it clear as day that he won’t be rough with Balsa (at least for now), the younger male still couldn’t help but think about how Lorenz, at any moment now, will just grab him by the hair and shove his whole cock inside the survivor’s mouth, fucking his throat until the hunter will finally make his prey drink his semen. This thought, no, fantasy even, frightened and excited Luca at the same time. Perhaps, Alva was right, when he said that the young man was a desperate pervert, even if he really didn’t mean it. Luca felt angry again all of a sudden. Both at himself and his mentor. He was angry at Lorenz for casually saying all this about his supposedly still beloved student and at himself for actually proving him right when all he was doing is indulging Luca’s tantrum.

 

While he let the erotic fantasy overtake his mind, he didn't notice himself slowing down.

 

His train of thought was stopped when he did, in fact, felt a slight tug at his hair, prompting the young man to look up. Alva was looking right at him, his hand covering half of his face. “If you’re tired we can take a break or switch to something else, Luca,” he spoke.

For the first time in a while, Balsa pulled away, stopping for a second to catch his breath. “I’m not tired, I’m fine. And don’t hide your face away from mine, Alva. I stopped hiding mine, now please do the same yourself,” the inventor replied, noting that it was a bit harder to move his jaws.

 

Alva, much to Luca’s surprise, did as he was asked to, his hand, which was previously covering his flushed face, returning to holding to the back of the rocket chair. “In that case,” he began and pulled the prisoner closer to his cock again. “Get back to work…and hurry up, I’m sure you can go faster than that,” the hunter rasped out.

Luca couldn’t help but giggle, as the man’s resolve was finally breaking and all the survivor had to do was just suck his cock for some time while thinking about how hot it would be if the older man were to just fuck his throat right here and there. “Looks like someone’s getting impatient,” Balsa cooed. He ran his tongue across the whole length of Alva’s dick, all the while not breaking eye contact with him.

 

“Everyone’s got their limit and I’m not an exception,” Lorenz replied, almost growling. It was clear that he was indeed losing his cool, Luca knew that. No, but would Alva try and take the matters into his own hands…? Literally.

“I think that just proves that you’re really not that different from most of us then, eh, chosen one?” Luca took the plunge once again. Luckily, Alva was willing to tell him about this whole cat cult situation (mostly in regard to how he’s here in the first place, instead of being just another rotting body in the coffin) that his mentor had going on. He would also bring it up on occasion during their work on whatever new project Luca had started and would even recite, what was assumed to be, some kind of holy text or whatever that the man’s new ‘religion’ had. That’s not to mention the times when Luca would find him alone, his head bowed, and both hands on the scepter, busy with a prayer to this…”God” that saved him. Luca was also probably one of the very few people who were intrigued by this, though unlike, say, Fiona, Eli, and Patricia, who were more focused on the spiritual aspect of Alva’s new way of life, Balsa was more concerned about how his mentor went from a solid atheist to a full-blown religious hermit. That was probably one of the most severe transformations that Lorenz had to go through.

In other words, Luca knew enough about this aspect of Alva’s life to, when the situation called for it, use it against him.

…and this time, the hunter was the one to fall directly into the trap.

Balsa had almost no time to properly react, when he felt yet another tug at his hair, pulling him even closer to Alva. As he gasped in surprise, Luca once again had the older man’s cock shoved inside of his mouth. " Enough ," he growled. "Isn't this about you asking for my forgiveness after being so unbelievably rude and ungrateful to me the whole time?" Alva thrusted his hips slightly, almost making Luca gag. Thankfully, though, he only did it once and let the younger man decide if they wanted to do this the easy or hard way.

 

Luca sucked slowly but made sure to run his tongue in places he knew would drive the hunter wild, all the while helping himself with the task with one of his hands. He would moan and hum occasionally, the extra vibration from his voice further adding to the pleasure of his mentor. Apparently, that still wasn't enough for Alva, as he grabbed Luca's head by the small ponytail and began controlling the pace.

 

"No, no, you're doing it wrong. I said faster ," Lorenz sighed. "Like this, see?"

 

While, thankfully, Alva didn't force Luca to take his whole cock down, the tempo was still hard for him to maintain. But even then, there was not much the prisoner could do, as it was obvious the hunter wouldn't take anything less, or, in this case, would go any slower.

 

So, he obliged.

 

And while difficult, it was worth it, as Alva was much more vocal now, letting himself moan and groan. Luca always loved Lorenz's voice. Back when they were only a mentor and a student, Balsa would sometimes find it hard to focus on whatever the older man was trying to teach him. Alva's voice was a smooth baritone. He rarely spoke loudly but was nevertheless always heard. His voice was somewhat commanding, even when he really wasn't making a request or order. Once both men became more than just a teacher and his student, Luca found out that Alva could drive him wild by merely whispering something sweet or lewd into the younger man's ear, something that only Luca and no one else had the privilege to hear.

 

"Luca-" the hunter groaned. "I'm going to cum-" Alva warned, throwing his head back. "Get…ready."

 

The survivor braced himself and soon enough he felt the hot liquid spill down his throat, as Lorenz came with a wanton moan. Luca tried his best to drink as much as he could but was forced to pull away once it was too much for him, feeling saliva mixed with cum dripping from his mouth and down his chin.

 

Alva looked at the younger male and after a moment, chuckled. "Now that was so much better. All you need is just some guidance."

 

"It's-" Luca swallowed what was left and wiped the mess from his chin with his sleeve. "I was doing fine, you know. But glad you liked it anyway."

 

"Oh I loved it indeed and I'm sure we both wouldn't mind taking it one step further."

 

"Wha-"

 

Luca was picked up by Alva and settled onto his lap again, as the hunter sat in the chair once more. There, he realized that the man was still hard.

 

"The fuck?!"

 

"What is it this time?" Alva asked before he put two of his digits into his mouth.

 

"How come you're hard already?! You just came!" Luca shook. He didn't expect that such a short (or rather non-existent) refractory period came with being a hunter. Stamina? Sure, that sounds about right, after all these hunters are supposed to be chasing the survivors across the whole location of the game. But this? "Tha-that is just impossible!"

 

"Mmm, you're being dramatic. After all, aren't you supposed to be happy that I'm willing to go for another round right away?" Alva hummed, while briefly caressing Luca's hard dick with his wet fingers.

 

"I-I just- I mean, I'm not- Ah!" the younger man wanted to say something, but the feeling of the hunter's two long fingers entering him made him forget about everything and everyone that wasn’t Alva Lorenz. "Fuck, oh God…"

 

"You were saying?" Alva teased, pushing his fingers in and out of Luca's hole, stretching and preparing him.

 

"I- I wasn't c-complaining…" Balsa stuttered. "I- Fuck, forget everything, please Alva, fuck me, fuck me good ."

 

"Oh? I thought my fingers would be enough for you-"

 

Fuck no. Don't even try.

 

"No! I- Ah, I've wanted this for so long, Alva, I wanted to do this the moment we were on better terms it's just…I missed this feeling, I missed the feeling of you, alright? Please…" Luca was now tearing up because of…what exactly? The fact that he really did miss his lover and all the intimate moments with him? The fact that that bastard keeps teasing him, threatening to leave Balsa pent up and unsatisfied?

 

To his surprise, Alva kissed him again…and again and again. Lips, cheek, on a brow, behind the prisoner's ear.

 

"I missed you too, Luca. I'm sorry for taking so long, but I wasn't sure if you would actually-" 

 

"It's alright…Oh God-!" Luca panted and then gasped, as he felt Lorenz's fingers stretching him again. "Ah…I guess I was sending you mixed signals, so no wonder you were confused, just-" he shifted when he felt the third wet finger enter him. "Just- ask me next time, okay?"

 

"Yes… Ah, I should’ve done so sooner, correct?" Alva agreed, finally getting his fingers out of Luca. Now, both of the older man's hands were on Balsa's hips, gently guiding his ass towards the hunter's cock. 

 

Luca squirmed in Lorenz’s arms at the feeling of the tip pressing briefly against his hole. He looked behind to once again see just how big Alva is now compared to his student. Balsa felt anxious again. This is going to be inside him at any moment now. “I suppose there’s still some…communication issues we need to s-solve,” the prisoner took a deep breath. “But we can do it later. Now, are you going to fuck me or not?”

“So needy,” Alva mused and gradually lowered the younger man for the entirety of man's cock to enter.

 

Luca screamed at the sudden intrusion, then hissed at the feeling of slight burning that came with it. The survivor clung to the older man's shoulders once again. "God, oh-! О боже, велики је-!" he closed his mouth with his hand, embarrassed by the sudden shout he just made.

 

Alva didn't speak Luca's language fluently, but fortunately, he did understand some basic vocabulary. He should probably brush up on his language skills, now that he has all the time and resources in the world. "I'll wait before going any further. Is that alright with you, Luca?" Alva suggested, kissing the prisoner behind his ear.

 

"Y-yeah, please just give me a moment to- adjust…" the younger man said, burying his face in the older man's neck and breathing in his scent. It was light, barely there. The smell of Lorenz's perfume has mostly worn off by now, especially after a match in the cold weather, but nevertheless, the man smelled good. Good, if not comforting. Weird. Does that mean Alva still uses the same perfume he did all these years ago? Otherwise, why would Luca suddenly be put at ease by the man's scent, if not because it reminds him of the much brighter and happier time of their lives? "I-I think I'm ready," he said after the burning feeling started to fade away and he got to the feeling of fullness.

 

"Should I move then?" Alva decided to clarify, just in case.

 

"Yes…please," Balsa mumbled into the man's neck.

 

"So polite~" Lorenz couldn't help but coo. He grabbed hold of the younger male's hips and began controlling his movement, bouncing Luca up and down, gently and slowly. "Please lift your shirt up a little," he requested.

 

"Huh? W-why?"

 

"Do it and you'll find out."

 

Luca held on to one of Alva's arms for support and did as he was told with his free hand, baring his stomach. The hunter took a long look at the survivor's belly, before thrusting his whole cock inside of him. As Luca arched his back, crying out at the sudden movement, while the older man reveled at the sight of the slight bulge in his student's stomach.

 

"Oh, now that's new," Lorenz grinned. "But I actually was about to ask you to lift your shirt a little higher."

 

"Hnngh, you- Alva, you bastard," Luca shot him an annoyed look but obliged nonetheless. Now, Lorenz could see the young man's chest, his pink erect nipples looking very enticing.

 

"That's more like it," he praised as he leaned forward and without any more words began licking the small buds, all the while slowly picking up the pace, trying to find the one that was comfortable for both men. Making sure to switch from one teat to another he licked, kissed, and sucked each one. He continued thrusting into Luca, now more confident and faster, knowing that the prisoner has by now gotten used to the length of his penis. The combined pleasure was driving the survivor insane, as he was now only able to chant Alva’s name like a mantra, only rarely being able to slur something unintelligible. Luca too started to move his hips on his own, wrapping his legs around Lorenz’s torso and running his fingers through the hunter’s silver hair, pulling the older man even closer, almost as if in an attempt to become one with him. Briefly, the young inventor lamented about his mentor getting a makeover. He misses Alva’s gorgeous long locks of hair that he would always style into a messy side plait. Luca also misses pulling said hair whenever he got intimate with his mentor. 

 

Here’s a memory that suddenly decided to come back just now: they were both at their workshop, alone at the late hour in the evening. Balsa, pushed against a table by his mentor, whimpered something either about a formula or a test gone wrong but was then silenced by Lorenz capturing his lips, and sliding his wet tongue inside. The younger man gave in immediately, returning the kiss, grinding their bodies together, groping the man’s chest through the fabric of his dress shirt and vest. Luca’s other hand, however, traveled to Alva’s face cupping and caressing his cheek, before running his fingers through the man’s hair, enjoying how soft and silky it felt. For whatever reason (unfortunately, the young inventor still couldn’t remember) he clenched his fist and pulled at the locks, forcing the mentor to gasp and lift his head a bit, exposing his slender neck. Luca leaned in, sucking and nibbling at it before he could hear a chuckle escape the older man, which prompted him to stop. Alva lowered his head, once his student let go of his hair… and pushed Balsa until he was laying on the desk.

 

“You naughty and greedy boy! What do you think you’re doing?” Luca remembers his mentor playfully scolding him. “What makes you think it's a good idea to mark me in the way you were about to? You and I both know that it’s not safe!”

“You don’t seem to be that mad about it, Mr. Lorenz,” the prisoner remembers replying. “You want this, don't you?”

 

“You got me there. I do,” that may or may not have been followed up by another kiss. “And I would’ve let you, had it not been for the circumstances. Moreover, I would’ve kissed you everywhere I could, leaving traces of myself, letting everyone know that you’re mine.”

 

Luca was back in the real world, still bouncing up and down Alva’s cock, as the man was now biting his chest, some teeth marks already visible.

“A-alvaaa-! H-hey, Alva!” he cried as the prisoner felt the hunter’s penis hit that one spot.

 

“Mmm? Yes, Luca, do you want something?” the older man inquired, his breath ragged.

 

Balsa reached to his neck which was wrapped in old and dirty bandages. He couldn’t take them off all the way, but some of his skin was now exposed. “Kiss me, bite me, mark me . Go on, do it.”

Alva was taken aback at first, his hips stuttering. Though, only for a moment. He resumed the pace, pounding into Luca with newfound force, making sure to hit that very very good spot that made Luca see stars. As he did so, he finally returned to the survivor's neck, first only breathing at it slightly, before going back to his work of marking his student. 

 

As the hunter slammed his length in and out of Luca he didn’t notice how hard the young man clung onto his cloak, his ungloved hands digging into the fabric as the prisoner was slowly approaching orgasm. Not that it really mattered as Alva was close too, he held the survivor’s body close to his own, almost as if they would get separated again. Come to think of it… they will get separated again. They’ll come together, and stay in each other’s embrace for a little before getting ready to finally close this match. Alva will lead Luca to the dungeon and if he gets lucky, they’ll bid farewell to each other, instead of pretending that nothing happened. After that, well, who knows? Yes, they’ll continue their research and work, but things would be really awkward for both of them. They’ll start avoiding each other to escape this feeling, trying to move on from this encounter.

 

Except, they can’t.

 

Neither man wanted this. The teacher and his student hoped that this was just the beginning of something new.

Because, while they’ll never have what was between them all this time ago, that doesn’t mean that they also won’t have each other.

 

And, really, that was all that both Luca and Alva needed.

 

Eachother.

Balsa, getting so caught up in pleasure, had unknowingly unleashed the electrical charge that he was storing all this time. Needless to say, Alva didn’t see that coming. As he felt electricity hit him like a powerful wave, Lorenz writhed from a sudden combination of pleasure and pain, his dick twitching and spilling his cum inside Luca. The groan that escaped from the older man made the young inventor snap out of the lust-driven trance-like state. He wanted to check on the hunter, except he had buried his face into Luca’s shoulder, hiding in… embarrassment?

 

“Alva? Did you just cum?” Luca asked, still not sure if he actually made Lorenz climax too soon, because of the electrical charge.

Alva did not respond. He was really quiet, too much for Balsa’s liking. Though, it was also rewarding in its own way: Alva was too stunned and possibly embarrassed to talk to him.

 

“... y-you know I can feel your cum dripping out, right?” the prisoner giggled. “You might want to just admit what just happened.”

“.....I think we both know what happened. Unless your brains have been so numbed by fucking that you need every little thing explained to you,” Alva growled into Luca’s shoulder, before raising his head to look at him.

 

He was blushing. And visibly angry.

Ooh, this is a good one. Never before has this happened between them and who knows when he will get the chance to outdo Lorenz like that, so Luca decided to bite the bullet. Who cares if Alva is going to fuck his lights out immediately after, hell, the prisoner actually wants that, since he didn't get to cum himself, so why not?

 

Feeling smug at having the older man wrapped around his finger now, Luca hugged his mentor, nuzzling his face. "It's alright, I'm sure you can stuff more inside of me. Who knows, I might come this time," Balsa continued, feeling victorious.

 

Alva glared at Luca for a moment…

 

… before grinning.

 

At this sight, Luca flinched and he was pretty sure he forgot how to breathe for a second. 

 

"I see what you're planning. Well played, Luca, but I think playtime is over," Lorenz said. The young inventor suddenly felt fear again. What? Is he going to just leave him there? After all, he did come, he got what he wanted, double the amount even, he couldn't care less what Luca wanted.

 

Maybe because of these thoughts Balsa didn't register at first that he switched places with Lorenz once again. Luca was now pretty much laying in the chair, with Alva kneeling in front of it. Despite being on his knees, the hunter was still looming over his cornered prey.

 

"I think it would be only fair if I used some of my tricks as well if you were so… kind as to show me yours?" Alva continued, taking off his cloak.

 

"What…tricks?" Luca asked hesitantly before the other man shut him up with a kiss.

 

The hunter’s hand massaged Balsa’s abdomen, the gesture that only further edged him on. He threw his head back, letting Alva kiss and bite at his neck instead while relishing in this new feeling. However, Luca quickly after got the feeling of there being…something wrong with his body. He couldn’t put his finger on it exactly, but it felt somewhat familiar. Looking at where Lorenz’s hand was he realized that there was a faint blue glow there.

…Luca has completely forgotten about polarity.

 

“Alva, w-what are you doi- Oh God fuck - ah !” he wanted to ask, but a particularly rough thrust made him cry out loud.

 

The older man began fucking into Luca once more. This time, however, he truly was like a real hunter, a predator: pressing his prey into the chair with his own body, biting and tasting the prisoner’s skin, leaving marks and small scars all over his neck, listening to all the moans and whines he was making, all the while ravishing him. Now that Luca was filled with his cum, Alva didn’t care much about being gentle or careful now. Not just because his seed should be enough of a lubricant, but also because Balsa had proven to his mentor that despite everything, he’s still the same brat from all these years ago, who never listened the first time, stubbornly ignoring all the warnings. That leaves Alva, as his mentor, his guide, with the responsibility to teach him a much-needed lesson.

“Не тако брзо-! Боже, Алва!” Luca cried, tears starting to stream down his face. The poor boy was beyond overstimulated. But, surely, that’s it? Surely, Alva doesn’t have anything else for him in store?

 

Of course, the other man had another trick up his sleeve.

Alva waved his hand, summoning the little orb that was floating in the middle of the hook, which was at the end of his cane. It flew right to him, nestling between his fingers. Alva then pressed the little orb to one of Luca’s nipples, as it started vibrating and emitting very very small and weak sparks of electricity. Luca let out an embarrassingly loud whimper, shutting his eyes, from where tears started to pour, and covering his face with his arm.

“Oh no, no, no! You can’t do that, Luca!” Alva scolded the younger man as if the latter was a small child, that was just stopped from doing something dangerous. “Come now, Luca! Don’t be so shy, after all, I haven’t seen you like that in such a long time. Humor me, wouldn’t you?”

 

The prisoner only whined in response.

 

Lorenz didn’t want to wait for an answer, perhaps because he didn’t expect one considering the state of mind Luca was in. He let the orb go, as it continued its job by itself, and took both of the young man’s hands into his own, pinning them above the survivor’s head.

“Let’s keep them there for now, alright?” Alva said and kissed Luca’s forehead.

 

“A-alva-! I’m gonna…. haaah, ‘m gonna cum soon-!” the boy slurred out with great effort.

 

“Aha, are you? We’ll see about that,” Lorenz smirked, pushing in rough, before resuming the previous fast pace and the orb switched from one nipple to another.

 

Luca was close. So, so close to his release. But no matter how hard, fast and for how long Alva fucks into him it just never comes. By now, the prisoner was a disheveled mess: his ponytail undone, every item of his clothes gone, save for the hiked-up shirt, eyes glazed over, hickeys and bite marks covering his chest and neck. This was a stark contrast to Alva, who, save for his messy hair and a missing cloak, was pretty much the same as he and his student entered the basement.

 

After some time the pleasure kept building and building up, but no matter what, Luca just couldn’t finally climax. “H-aah, Alva…?” Balsa had a feeling that maybe his mentor was behind this. “I- I- I can’t cum-! I- did you do something to me?”

 

“You finally figured that out- fuck- didn’t you?” the older man grunted. “Hah, took you long enough! Say, what do you think I did to you to prevent you from cumming?” he kissed Luca’s cheek. “What is your hypothesis?”

 

After not getting an answer right away, the hunter stopped moving altogether. 

 

“No, no, Alva, why the fuck did you stop?!” Luca whined.  

 

“You didn’t answer, so I figured I got rid of all distractions. But hey, if you answer correctly, I might do something about it.”

That man just can’t get enough. Well, yeah, so does Luca, but fuck.

 

It was hard to come up with an answer, either because Balsa genuinely didn’t know the extent of the hunter’s abilities or because his brains were a gushy broken mess after two rounds of rough sex.

 

“I ah- I don’t know, Alva,” Luca was shaking again, wiping the tears from his face. “Fuck, I don’t know. What is it?”

“The answer is closer than you think it is,” his mentor decided to drop a hint.

 

Just as he said, Alva didn’t move an inch while Luca was looking for an explanation.

 

“Is this some sort of new ability?”

No response.

 

“Is it the magic scepter's fault?”

No response.

 

“Is it because of the electric shock I released? I’m sorry about that, alright, it was an accident!”

“Apology accepted,” Alva said but didn’t move.

 

“Is it…” Luca touched the blue glowing sigil on his stomach. “...this?”

 

Alva finally rolled his hips, slamming his cock as deep inside Luca as he could.

 

“Ah! This?! The polarity?!” Balsa exclaimed.

 

“Fascinating, don’t you think?” Alva buried himself deep inside the survivor again and again and again.

 

“I- Ah! Alva, please, I want to come so bad, please please please please please please-!” Luca cried, a new stream of tears pouring from his eyes. It was too much for him. “Please take this thing off, I’ll be good, I won’t shock you anymore and I won’t be rude to you!”

 

Alva listened to the survivor attentively, contemplating his decision. “I feel like you’re just saying that to get on my good side. Again.”

 

“I’ll be good! You can always fuck me again, even during a match! I’ll let you use me in front of my teammates or- shit!- the whole fucking manor if you want! I’m yours for the t-taking!”

 

Alva paused… before reaching for Luca’s abdomen.

 

“Oh fine, you convinced me. Here’s hoping- ah - that you’ll keep your word,” he said, finally getting rid of the polarity and picking up the pace, fast and rough.

 

“Yes! Боже, ах! Хвала ти, хвала ти, хвала!” Luca chanted pulling Alva close and kissing him. The hunter pulled him closer. Luca lamented the fact that Alva was still fully dressed. He wanted to feel the man’s body again, caress his skin, see where the scars from that night extend to. Oh well, hopefully, it can wait until next time.

 

It didn’t take long for both men to orgasm, as Lorenz emptied out into his student once more, while the prisoner convulsed, his dick twitching and shooting more white onto his stomach. Luca’s mind went blank and his body fell back into the chair, too tired to move. He would’ve almost blacked out from the sheer force of his orgasm, but the sound of the other man’s voice kept him awake.

 

“Are you alright, my boy?”

 

Balsa was still too weak to even move his head and look at the hunter, but he replied nonetheless.

 

“Y-yeah just…really fucking tired,” he groaned. “Oh, I’m going to be so sore tomorrow, I know it.”

 

“As far as I know, you’re not having any matches tomorrow, so take it as a day off,” Alva reached out to his pocket and got out a handkerchief that he used to clean up some of the mess. “Though I am sorry for being too rough with you.”

 

“No, no, it was…” Luca finally looked at Lorenz. “...it was just what I needed.”

 

“Mhm,” the older man hummed. “Still.”

 

After finishing cleaning up what he could, Alva got up from where he was, finding Luca’s clothes. The young inventor looked at him, confused. “Are we already leaving?”

 

“Not right now, but we ought to as soon as possible. We’ve already been here for far too long. The match is still going, remember?” Lorenz approached the chair and motioned for Luca to sit up. “Right now I just want you to get dressed.”

 

Luca’s body was covered in sweat and still felt like it was on fire, but the man was right. No matter how warm the basement it would be best not to stay naked for too long. The prisoner sat up in the chair and let the hunter dress him.

 

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

 

“Go ahead,” Alva replied, though Luca could hear a note of hesitance in his voice.

 

“Say, you know I uhh…said that you took me here to fuck me, but…” Oh God, this is so stupid. “But, I didn’t really mean it back then. Just something I blurted out to provoke you.”

 

“Yes, I figured so.”

 

“Well, the question is… Did you really? I mean-”

 

Luca looked away in embarrassment as he lifted his legs a little to help Alva put on his jeans on him.

 

“Truth is,” Lorenz began. “I didn’t. If I did I would’ve gotten rid of your teammates much sooner and was more… prepared.”

 

Ah, so Luca was the one to initiate things.

 

“I see…”

 

“May I ask the question then?” Alva said as he fastened the belts on Balsa’s legs.

 

“I think I already know what your question is.”

 

“And what is the answer then?” the hunter got up from his knees, picking up Luca and settling him on his lap once more as they went back to cuddling near the fire.

 

There was a moment of anxious silence.

 

“I don’t know. I think it was because of how you cuddled with me, like right now, and all these… nice words you spoke to me… It made me feel weird and I wanted to shut you up,” Luca shifted and buried his face in Alva’s chest. “I guess it worked. Kinda.”

 

“So that’s how it is. But, what did you mean when you said that my embrace and praise made you feel weird?”

 

Luca decided not to respond to that, because, really, wasn’t it obvious?

 

Alva sighed and pulled him closer. They stayed there, just the two of them. While technically the game was still going, they couldn’t care less about it now. It didn’t matter now who won and who lost, who was the hunter, and who is the hunter’s prey. Right now, there was no “prisoner” and “hermit”. Instead, for the first time in a long while it was Luca Balsa and Alva Lorenz, two men, who were disappointed by the world they lived in, who lost everything on the road to greatness, almost losing each other.

 

Almost.

 

Alva kissed Luca’s head again. “Can you move now? Did your body rest for a bit?”

 

“Yeah, I’m ready for the road. Let’s finish this,” Luca said, finally getting up from the man’s lap.

 

Alva stood up from the rocket chair, reaching for his cloak. He held it in his hands for a moment, then looked at his student. Lorenz approached the younger man and draped the cloak around Balsa, while the latter was trying to tie his hair into a ponytail.

 

“There. Take it, for now. It’s cold outside and I don’t want you to freeze again,” Alva said. Luca wanted to protest or maybe ask something. “You can give it back once we reunite at the manor,” his mentor reassured him as he grabbed his cane.

 

As they ascended the stairs to the basement Luca quickly began feeling grateful for Alva’s generous offer. It was now much colder for the young inventor, after getting… “warmed up” by his mentor, so he wrapped the cloak around his body to keep warm. He heard Lorenz chuckle behind him. Luca blushed, feeling warm in the face again. Not that it was a bad thing, really.

 

The sound of snow creaking under them and the faint howling of the wind were the only sounds that accompanied both men, as they ventured in search of the dungeon. After a little bit though, they slowed down their pace, enjoying the atmosphere of the place. They briefly stopped by a large Christmas tree. It looked seemingly out of place because what would something that was so strongly associated with such a heartwarming holiday, one you spend with your friends and family, be doing at a place where a game involving hunters and survivors took place? The tree itself was decorated with, well, what you expect: Christmas balls of all different colors, a long tinsel coiling around it like a snake, many gift boxes underneath, and a large shining star at the very top. Almost made you forget you were in a game.

 

Luca felt Alva pet his hair.

 

“Huh? What?”

“Dungeon is right over there, my boy.”

 

Oh.

 

After following the hunter, lo and behold, there was Luca’s escape route. Dashing right past the older man, he approached the very edge of the hatch.

 

“It was here the whole time! Damn, if you were playing seriously I would’ve never got to it!” Balsa looked up at Alva, who only raised his eyebrow in confusion.

 

“And I was? Doesn’t stop me from sparing you.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, you say that, yet you led me directly to it after… ahem, “warming me up”,” Luca still wasn’t quite sure what to make of the man’s motives. Sure, he was glad that the hunter spared him and he knew that there were still some complicated feelings between them, but either way, why? “You sure you don’t need your cloak back? I mean, what if you get cold?” Luca sighed as he tugged at the fabric.

 

“That’s not something that can happen to me anymore. Besides, even if I did, what do you think would happen to me? I get sick and die the second time?” Alva snorted, clearly amused by this dumb joke.

 

Great, his sarcasm and morbid sense of humor got revived along with him.

 

“Don’t say that!” Luca flinched at the word “die” coming out of Alva’s mouth. He listened to it more than enough, so even hearing it in this, much more innocent context, made his skin crawl.

 

“I simply jest. Don’t take it too personally,” Alva said, as he got closer to the prisoner and patted his back. “Now, come on now. Go back to the manor, take a warm bath and drink something hot. Tea, coffee, cacao milk, whatever. I’ll drop by tomorrow to pick up my cloak.”

 

“You really are a mother-hen,” Luca rolled his eyes and made the jump.

»»————-　❅　————-««

 

 

Luca passed from hallway to hallway, trying to locate the kitchen. Yes, he decided to listen to Alva’s advice, but, hey, a cup of something hot and sweet wouldn’t be bad after an exhausting match with him! He finally got lucky, when he reached the foyer. There, it should be much easier now! Descending the stairs and entering through the door to his right, he finally got to the dining room.

 

However, he was surprised once he saw Andrew and Fiona seated next to each other. In front of them were steaming mugs, plates, and bowls as well as many used napkins.

 

Fiona sneezed.

 

“Ah, bless you, Miss Gilman,” Andrew took a sip from his mug, shyly looking away from Fiona.

 

“I lost count of how many times you said that already… and how many times I sneezed,” she said. “If only I knew the game would take place outside.”

 

It was at that moment that both survivors noticed Luca.

 

“Luca! You’re back!” Andrew got up from his seat in excitement, just to immediately sit back and cover his face. “Ah, don’t come too close to us! It looks like we got sick!”

 

“Ah, hello, Mr. Balsa,” Fiona mused, sniffling. “So, did the hunter get to you? Or did you manage to escape?”

 

Luca bit his lip, unsure of what to say. One wrong word…

 

“I escaped. It’s a good thing there were still two ciphers left. Lorenz couldn’t find me, I was hiding from him throughout the whole map.”

 

Both raised their eyebrows in surprise.

 

“No way,” the grave keeper said. “That sounds near impossible!”

 

“I second that,” the woman agreed before putting a spoonful of stew into her mouth.

 

“Well, you can make whatever you want out of this, but it wouldn’t change the fact of what happened,” Luca took off Alva’s cloak, and folded it quickly, in a way that its signature silver markings were unseen. “How about you guys? Also, where’s Kev-”

 

A booming sneeze, one that made all three people jump in their seats, was heard from the kitchen.

 

“Nevermind, there he is,” Luca laughed as the cowboy entered the dining room.

 

“Ah, Balsa. Howdy there. Did the hunter chaired your ass too?” the man scoffed and took a seat next to Fiona, settling a mug of some hot drink in front of her as well as himself.

 

“Actually, Luca said he managed to escape!” Andrew exclaimed and took another sip from a cup.

 

“What? I can hardly believe that since your mentor is good at finding players and all. But, if you’re really telling the truth, then that’s a mighty impressive feat, my friend!” Kevin laughed and raised the mug into the air. “That calls for a toast!”

 

The grave keeper hesitantly reached out and clanged his cup with one of the cowboy. Fiona, however, fiddled with her spoon and looked at the stew in her bowl.

 

“Look, I don’t mean to come off as jealous or overly skeptical,” the priestess began. “But, Mr. Balsa…”

 

“I already told you, just “Luca” is fine,” the prisoner interrupted her, trying to change the subject. Fiona is a very smart woman. She’s definitely on to him. “No need for such formalities. Besides, aren’t you my senior?”

 

“Now there, buddy, it’s bad manners to interrupt a lady like that when she’s speaking!” Kevin scolded. He didn’t look angry, but his voice was stern enough. “Anyway, you were saying, Miss Gilman?”

 

“...as I was saying,” she continued, anxiously looking first at the cowboy, then at Luca. “Don’t you think there is a small possibility that… maybe…” she trailed off again, before taking a deep breath, gathering courage. “...that maybe your mentor played along and decided to let you escape?”

 

Andrew, who was quiet the whole time, suddenly frowned, deep in thought. “I don’t want to assume things about your relationship with your teacher, Luca, but… Miss Gilman is right, something doesn’t add up.”

 

“What? Please, that man hates my guts! He definitely saved me for the last to taunt me some more!” the prisoner’s hand clenched the cloak in his lap.

 

All three survivors that were sitting at the other side of the table exchanged looks. Luca was starting to sweat again. They may not know exactly what happened between the hunter and his student, but they still feel suspicious and that was enough to make him panic.

 

“Whatever you say,” Fiona sighed. “Still, perhaps you should talk to him?”

 

“I’m not getting near that man unless it involves research,” Luca said, as he further messed up the cloak so that it would look like an unrecognizable ball of fabric. “Now, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you guys drinking? I could really use something hot and sweet after all this.”

 

“Mr. Alonso was kind enough to make us all tea. Considering how we all feel right now, this is exactly what we-” the albino coughed. “- needed.”

 

“Come to think of it, Balsa, I bet you could use some tea as well! You’ve been out there in the cold for so long!” Kevin exclaimed, as he got up and left for the kitchen again. “I’ll be right back! Just say how many spoons of sugar you would like!”

 

“Two is fine!” Luca responded and leaned back in the chair once Kevin left.

 

“You know… once you're done drinking tea, you should probably head back to your room, Luca. Kevin is right, you arrived last, so I can’t imagine how cold you must be,” Kreiss’s fingers drummed on the table as he stared at the prisoner. The grave keeper was genuinely a good guy, whom Luca had no trouble befriending and the albino proved himself to be a caring friend. But, right now the longer Andrew is staring at him the more Balsa wants to sink into the ground and never come back.

 

“I agree with Mr. Kreiss. Although, it’s a wonder you’re still not sick yet!” Fiona smiled, but it felt… off…

 

Oh God, she’s definitely not letting that slide, huh? In that case, he should get the fuck out as soon as he can.

 

Kevin came back with a cup of nice herbal tea and put it in front of Luca. “Here ya go!”

 

“Thanks, Kevin!” Luca smiled at the man, blowing at the drink before taking a sip. The tea was hot, so it was going to take some time for Luca to finish it… wait… was it planned?

 

God, is everyone in this godforsaken manor love playing mind games?!

 

“Say, Luca, since you escaped from the dungeon, can you tell us at least where it was?” the cowboy began, laughing awkwardly. “Yeah, I know it’s too late, but still… maybe we would’ve gotten a tie, if I had escaped back there.”

 

“What happened? Why couldn’t you?” Kreiss tilted his head thankfully directing attention away from Luca.

 

“Well, I tried to escape by vaulting that window at the main building, ya know, the one on the second floor. Balsa was there, he patched me up just as Lorenz got to us. Now, the plan was that Luca would cover me while I could safely make my escape. But…” Kevin briefly stopped, scratching the back of his head, before taking off his hat. “...he had polarity, so Lorenz just stunned him and-”

 

“Terror shock,” Gilman finished for him.

 

“Exactly! Ah, man, let me tell you, that cane hurt like a-”

 

“I think we get it!” Andrew laughed, while swiftly stopping the man from sprinkling some much-needed curse words into his story.

 

“Hm, interesting. We should probably take note of that, everyone,” the priestess finished her stew. “After all, Mr. Lorenz can be quite a difficult hunter to- to- ah- ACHOO!”

 

“Bless you,” all three men said.

 

Fiona sniffled. “Thank you so much, gentlemen. Now, if you excuse me, I think I’ll go to bed. It’s about time anyway,” she got up from her chair, and gave Luca a long, analyzing look, before going around the table and heading for the door. Luca followed her with his eyes.

 

“Goodnight, in that case, Miss Gilman,” he said and drank some more tea.

 

“You too, Mr. Balsa. And everyone as we- AH!” she stopped right in the doorframe and quickly dashed to the table.

 

Looking back, the prisoner saw Alva, who looked taken aback by the woman’s reaction.

 

“I’m sorry if I frightened you, Miss Gilman,” the tall man apologized. “Were you about to leave? Please, go right ahead,” he stepped to the side and motioned for her to go.

 

She obeyed, tensing up and almost running past him. “Goodnight everyone!”

 

Looking back, Luca saw Andrew and Kevin slowly sitting back down, their eyes still on the hunter. “To what do we owe a pleasure?” the cowboy snarks.

 

“Just wanted to get some coffee while I was looking over some paperwork for my project,” Alva explained, going right past all three men and heading for the kitchen, before stopping and looking over the table. “My, don’t tell me all of you got sick.”

 

“And what would you care, Lorenz?” Alonso growled, taking a defensive position. Alva didn’t even react.

 

“You’re quite attentive to us, Mr. Lorenz. Here’s hoping you don’t have any ill intentions behind it,” Andrew said. He was more careful, he didn’t sound as apprehensive as Kevin, but his real thoughts and feelings were clear.

 

“Can’t even be nice to people these days,” Alva stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed Luca. “Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

 

“What? Got tired of plowing through the snow so you decided to try the manor?” the prisoner asked. He just hoped and prayed that Alva could see how anxious he was and chose to play along for his sake.

 

“Well, in that case, I wasn’t the only one “plowing through the snow”, dear Balsa,” thank fucking God, thank you, Alva!

 

The grave keeper and the cowboy exchanged surprised looks. See? Luca was absolutely telling the truth! Though now the inventor couldn’t care less about them. His eyes met Alva’s. He could see that the other man didn’t come here for a coffee (though knowing him he actually wouldn’t mind that much actually getting some). No, of course, it had to be Luca he was searching for. And he found him, at the worst time possible. God, but just why did he search for him all of a sudden?

 

Anyhow, Alva eventually turned around and headed for the kitchen. Luca didn’t know what to do. It was obvious that the man wanted to speak to him, but Lorenz also knew that Luca can’t leave Andrew and Kevin just yet.

 

“Alright, sorry for not believing you,” Andrew murmured, still tense from another run-in with the hermit.

 

“You keep that up in the future, alright? You’re going to make our job a hell of a lot easier,” Kevin was still facing the entrance to the kitchen, ready for the hunter to come out any minute now.

 

“Alright, I think that’s enough stress for you guys for today. I think you should do what Miss Gilman did and go to bed,” Luca suggested. He genuinely enjoys the company of these men, but right now, he just would like to be alone, away from the prying eyes.

 

“And leave the dining room a mess?” Andrew asked.

 

“Well, the manor’s staff should handle this,” Luca countered. “Though if you like, I can take care of this. It’s not that hard for me to wash some dishes and throw away the trash. Sounds simple enough. Besides, I’m the only one who’s not sick, so…” he trailed off, hoping that he managed to convince the two men.

 

And he did.

 

“Fine, suit yourself, Balsa,” Kevin got up and put on his hat. “But don’t stay here for too long, since…ya know…”

 

“Yeah, yeah, it’s alright, I got this, don’t worry. Goodnight, Kevin,” Luca bid the cowboy farewell as the latter left. He then turned to the grave keeper. “Is everything alright, Andrew? You should probably go too.”

 

“Luca,” Kreiss began. “Are you sure you want to be left all alone with the man who despises you and whom you recently tricked in the next room?”

 

Goddamnit.

 

“Well, no, but you shouldn’t stay here either, even if you want to keep me company,” Luca said, as he fidgeted in place.

 

The albino man still wasn’t satisfied. “Luca, I know we’ve been friends for…not very long and I understand if you want to keep some secrets from me, but… just know that I’m here and that I will try to help you with anything that you need.”

 

Just like Gilman, Andrew also knew something was wrong, but unlike her, his worry was born out of genuine concern for a friend. And Balsa really appreciated that. It’s nice when someone didn’t care about his criminal past and still saw him as a human being who deserved another chance, even after doing something so horrible.

 

…another chance… huh…

 

“Thank you, Andrew. Feelings are mutual, I’m also here if you need any help,” Luca reassured his friend, flashing him a warm smile. “Which is why I think you should head to bed, lest you want to get worse.”

 

Andrew sighed, then coughed and got up from where he was.

 

“Alright then, goodnight, Luca,” Kreiss went to the door leading to the foyer, before turning around with a weak smile. “And don’t keep Mr. Lorenz’s cloak like that, it’s going to be all wrinkled when you return it to him,” he added with a smile and finally left.

 

… shit.

 

He knows.

 

Or at least suspects something that was close to the actual truth.

 

Luca groaned as he got up from the chair and headed to the manor’s kitchen. Just as he expected, Alva was there waiting for him, peacefully sipping on a coffee.

 

“They’re gone?” he asked.

 

“Yeah, finally,” Luca said. “Although Fiona and Andrew are suspicious of what happened.”

 

Alva snorted. “That’s why they’ve held you there? Please, you and I both know they would never figure out what actually happened unless they somehow eavesdropped on us.”

 

“I mean, yeah, makes sense, but what do they think happened then?” Luca was curious now.

 

“Hmm, my guess is that there happened a” heartwarming reconciliation” that you’re too shy to talk about, because… I don’t know, it felt like cheating, since I let you go, and the event is just too personal in general,” the hunter set his mug on the counter.

 

“So… the same thing that people used to think about us back then? Like a young man and his…” Luca cringed at the word he was about to say. “...ugh, father figure?”

 

“Spot on!” Alva laughed and ruffled Balsa’s hair. “Ah, some things just never change, huh?”

 

“Yeah,” the young man still didn’t know what he preferred; being called a freak for being in such an intimate relationship with his mentor, a man his father’s age, or just being mistaken for Alva’s… “son”. “Speaking of which, don’t you think that the manor owner, or whoever is responsible for the game saw us? Wouldn’t we be in trouble?”

 

“Hmm, yes, they definitely did,” the older man said like it was nothing. “But I doubt we’re going to face any repercussions since that means a lot of other survivors and hunters are also going to have big problems.”

 

The prisoner’s jaw dropped and Lorenz burst out laughing at the sight. “Wait…we’re not the only ones?!”

 

“Luca, my boy, you can’t invite a bunch of social outcasts into the same place for them to stay for God knows how long and not expect a fling or two to happen,” Alva said after calming himself down a bit.

 

“This place is truly the most bizarre,” the prisoner sighed, before remembering why he came here. “Ah, by the way, did you want something?”

 

“Yes, yes, I was actually looking for you,” Lorenz reached out into his pocket and handed out to Luca a pair of beige gloves. “You forgot these back at the factory.”

 

Luca snatched the gloves, looking first at them, then at Alva again. “How did I- When did you-” the young man was about to ask but gave up. “Whatever… thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome,” the older man said as he leaned in and kissed Balsa on the forehead.

 

“Hey, Alva? Can I ask you for a favor?” the prisoner handed the poorly folded cloak to its owner.

 

“What is it?”

 

“I uhh… promised my teammates that I would clean up the table after them so that they could leave. Can you help me with that?” 

 

The older man looked surprised at first, but then he walked past Luca into the dining room.

 

“Only if you promise to take a bath and go to bed afterward,” the hunter sighed.

 

Luca smiled. “With you?”

 

It’s good that Balsa was behind Lorenz.

 

He couldn’t see Alva’s face turn red.