Gabe’s brain montarily shut down.
He didn’t think to move. Didn’t even think to flinch.
He just sat there in his wheelchair, eyes blown wide as the ball ca flying straight toward him fast, heavy, unforgiving.
Everything happened in a blink.
A body slamd into him from the side.
The impact knocked the breath clean out of his lungs as the wheelchair jolted backward, its wheels screeching faintly against the concrete. Gabe’s vision blurred for a second, the world tilting violently as his hands instinctively gripped the armrests.
The ball struck flesh instead of tal with a dull, sickening thud before bouncing harmlessly away across the court.
A sharp groan followed.
"Gabe!!" Fred shouted, panic cracking through his voice as he sprinted toward them without hesitation.
Alex was sprawled half over Gabe, one knee pressed to the ground, one hand braced against the pavent to keep his weight off him. His jaw was clenched tight, teeth bared as he sucked in a rough, uneven breath.
"Fuck—" Alex hissed under his breath, pain slipping through despite his attempt to suppress it.
Fred reached them in seconds, dropping to his knees beside the wheelchair. "Gabe! Are you okay?!" His eyes darted frantically over Gabe’s face, his hands hovering as if afraid to touch him the wrong way.
Gabe was still frozen.
His heart slamd violently against his ribs, so loud he was sure everyone could hear it. He could feel Alex’s warmth—solid, real—the protective weight of him shielding his chest. Alex’s arm was still instinctively curled around him, a barrier even now.
"I..." Gabe swallowed hard, forcing air back into his lungs. "I’m fine."
Alex pushed himself up imdiately, ignoring the obvious sting in his shoulder. He moved to kneel in front of the wheelchair, eyes locked on Gabe’s face with frightening intensity.
"Are you sure?" Alex asked urgently. His hands hovered, trembling slightly, unsure where he was allowed to touch. "Tell now so we know what to do next. Did it hit you anywhere? Your head? Your chest?"
Gabe finally found his voice, though it ca out quieter than he intended. "...I should be asking if you’re okay instead."
Alex blinked, clearly caught off guard. Then he let out a breathy laugh that didn’t quite hide the pain tightening his features. "It’s nothing," he said quickly. "I’ve taken worse."
"That ball ca at full speed," Fred snapped sharply. "You blocked it with your body."
"It’s really fine," Alex insisted—then winced when he shifted his shoulder too much, his expression tightening for a split second before he masked it again.
The entire court had gone dead silent.
No cheers. No banter. No movent.
Roo hadn’t moved at all.
He stood where he was, eyes fixed first on Alex... then slowly on Gabe. His expression remained unreadable, but sothing sharp—sothing calculating—flickered behind his eyes.
"I’m sorry, Gabe," Roo said finally, his voice low and even. "My hand slipped." A pause. "But I’m glad you had Alex to protect you."
Gabe’s jaw tightened.
You did that on purpose, you bastard, Gabe scread inwardly, anger boiling just beneath the surface. And that statent—I got Alex to protect you? You an you expect Alex to keep throwing himself in harm’s way for ? You an you plan on putting in danger again? That word is a threat no doubt.
Such a motherfucker.
Roo swallowed hard.
Are you really crippled... or are you just pretending? he wondered darkly, eyes lingering on Gabe’s unmoving legs before he forced his gaze away.
"It’s fine," Gabe said at last, forcing a tight smile onto his lips. His voice was calm—too calm. "Everyone’s okay. That’s all that matters."
Roo nodded slowly. "I’m sorry too, Alex," he added, shifting his attention toward him.
"Oh, it’s fine," Alex replied, seriousness etched into his tone despite the casual words. "Little accidents like this are expected during gas."
Roo nodded again, once.
The housekeeper hurried onto the court then, her face pale and tense as she took in the scene—the overturned ball, Alex’s strained posture, Gabe’s shaken expression.
"That’s it," she said firmly. "Match over."
No one argued.
Without another word, Alex slipped an arm behind Gabe’s back and another beneath his knees, lifting him effortlessly into a bridal carry. Gabe gasped softly, fingers instinctively clutching at Alex’s jersey, but Alex didn’t even seem to notice the stares.
He turned and began walking toward the vacation building, ignoring the stunned silence around them.
Fred followed closely behind, eyes sharp, jaw tight.
On the court, Roo watched them go.
His gaze didn’t waver until they disappeared from view.
---
anwhile, Roo and Lucas headed toward the mansion garden now that the match was over.
"Is he really crippled?" Roo scoffed, breaking the silence as they walked through the mansion garden. His hands were tucked into his pockets, shoulders relaxed, but his eyes were sharp. "Alex is full of lies anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gabe being crippled is just another part of his act."
Lucas slowed slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Should I look into him?"
Roo exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "No. That won’t be necessary. I’ll find out myself."
He paused, irritation creeping into his expression. "Besides, it seems Gabe’s relationship with Alex is deep. We could literally hear the sounds of his moans this morning." His lips twisted faintly. "That alone proves they’re a thing."
Lucas humd thoughtfully. "Still... isn’t Alex below the caliber of n Gabe usually dates?"
Roo said nothing, but his eyes darkened.
"Or," Lucas continued slowly, "Alex might’ve lied about so of your properties being his. Since he’s in charge of most of them, it’s possible. That would explain why Gabe is dating him."
Roo nodded in agreent, jaw tightening. "He already stole from once," he said coldly. "But this ti?" A low chuckle slipped from his lips—dark, humorless. "I don’t think it’ll be that easy."
"Should we deal with him?" Lucas asked calmly. "You should at least let Alex know. Just because you’re business partners doesn’t an he can claim your properties as his to impress a lover. He only invested a small portion anyway. He should know his limits."
"No," Roo said sharply, stopping in his tracks.
Lucas turned toward him.
"I know exactly what to do," Roo continued, his voice controlled but dangerous. "And don’t lay a hand on Gabe. If anyone is going to deal with him..." His eyes glinted. "It’ll be . Alone. And in my own way."
Lucas studied him for a mont, then nodded slowly in understanding.
---
anwhile, Alex carried Gabe straight to his room and carefully laid him on the bed. Gabe barely had ti to register the softness of the mattress before Alex straightened, already turning toward the door.
"I’ll be right back," Alex said gently. "I just want to get you so water."
But before he could take another step, Gabe reached out and grabbed his hand.
Alex blinked in surprise. "What’s wrong?"
Instead of answering, Gabe tugged harder—hard enough that Alex lost his balance and fell back onto the bed with a soft grunt.
"Gabe—"
"Let see your back," Gabe said firmly, already lifting his hand to unbutton Alex’s shirt.
"You don’t have to worry about that," Alex replied imdiately, a warm smile tugging at his lips. "The pain is gone."
"Gone?" Gabe echoed, suspicion lacing his tone. "Just like the bullet mark on your chest disappeared?"
Alex froze.
Gabe continued, eyes searching his face. "How is that even possible? You were definitely shot. You needed oxygen just to breathe. And now your chest looks like it was never injured at all." His gaze flicked to Alex’s shoulder. "There isn’t even a bruise."
Alex hesitated for a split second before sighing. "That’s because I heal very fast," he said seriously. "I have a rapid healing process. If I get injured and rest imdiately—or if the wound isn’t severe enough to require treatnt—it heals on its own."
Gabe stared at him.
"The doctor confird it," Alex added. "I have a rare blood type. As long as I don’t lose too much blood, my body recovers unusually fast. No matter how bad the wound looks."
That’s insane, Gabe thought inwardly as he swallowed hard. Is that even possible?
Just what exactly are you, Alex?
"I’m... different, Gabe," Alex said quietly, as if sensing his thoughts. "That’s why I don’t keep many people around . So people see as strange."
Gabe exhaled slowly, then smiled. "Alright. Alright, I believe you," he said softly. "And I’m glad you’re fine. You’re not weird." He chuckled faintly. "Honestly, I’d love to have that kind of healing ability."
Alex relaxed visibly.
"By the way," Gabe added casually, "when will this vacation be over?"
Alex frowned slightly. "Huh? Are you bored already?" Worry flickered in his eyes.
"Oh, no," Gabe replied quickly. "I was just asking."
I don’t think I can last long here with Roo around, Gabe thought darkly, fists tightening at his sides.
"Maybe we’ll leave after three days," Alex said after a mont. "Everyone has things to get back to anyway."
"That’s fine," Gabe replied with a soft smile.
I’m definitely not staying three days, he thought inwardly as he turned his face away, releasing a quiet sigh. I’ll find a way to leave tomorrow.
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