Chapter 140: Something is shifting...I don’t like it.
"Um, I should get going." Cass knew it was a lame excuse. He knew that. That didn’t stop him from opening his dumb mouth, still too close to Vespertine’s face after the kiss and saying what he did.
Vespertine’s eyes widened, the watery, pretty blue shade something Cass was having a hard time looking away from. Vespertine, in the small space between them, bowed his head, before his shoulders started shaking.
Cass was worried that all of his hard work had meant nothing, and that the man was crying again. Instead, a few seconds later, he heard the soft sound of laughter coming from his lips.
"Why are you laughing?" Cass asked, genuinely confused, and Vespertine shook his head, raising his head up to meet Cass’ gaze. His expression was softer, even as it looked like he could cry again.
"I appreciate you comforting me, Cassian. I know that my form of comfort is far different from what you find acceptable. Still, thank you for going along with my whims." Vespertine’s voice held his laughter there, and Cass wondered if he was laughing at him. That wasn’t a nice feeling.
"You’re welcome?" Cass said questioningly, and that seemed to only make Vespertine laugh harder. "Is that IOU valid?" Cass asked. He wasn’t about to do something he didn’t want to and get nothing from it, not when it had been promised. Vespertine’s shoulders shook again.
"O-Of course. I wouldn’t go back on that. Not after you provided good lip service." Vespertine joked, and Cass felt his face heat. Cass knew that was a lie. He had no damn clue what he was doing. It had to have been terrible.
It was clear, or at least Cass thought so, that Vespertine wasn’t that confident in himself right now. He was shifting on the couch next to him, a little awkward which Cass never saw him be. He was always cocky, confident, and proud. He had even been like that when he was crying.
Now, however? His gaze was shifting, he wasn’t looking at Cass properly, and he was dropping his hands out of Cass’ hair. Cass wasn’t complaining, but he was noticing that there was a shift in the other man. He was sure that a good person would have been concerned, but honestly?