Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

(Song Rec: Red Bottoms by Adela)

Nyx Wonders Bar, Aurelia City

"Thanks for meeting me here, dude."

"First off... don’t call me ’dude’ like that again." Valentine took off his sunglasses as he settled on the stool beside Gabriel’s. "What’s up with you? You sounded really off on the call."

The space god’s iridescent orbs were distant.

It’s been hours since the doctor at Saint Malachi gave him the update on his father. He’d texted his mom and brother about it—both of them having varying reactions.

His mother called crying, saying she was flying in from Canada as soon as possible. Then she apologised profusely for leaving the man with him, mentioning how she wanted him to get closer to his father.

Well... it might’ve worked.

A little too well.

Ever since he began accepting his sexuality, he’d subconsciously disconnected emotionally from his parents. Especially his father.

Worst comes to worst, the old man would disown him, and he wouldn’t have to worry about his ass again, right?

Wrong.

Everything that’s happened within the past month proved just how wrong he’d been. Deep down, he still cared. Too fucking hard.

And then there was his brother.

Tristan managed to keep his composure. He and Adriana were finally getting married in a few days. Plus... she was pregnant.

He’d been hoping to keep it as a surprise whenever their father recovered. But now—

"Earth to Gabriel?" Valentine snapped his fingers in front of his face just then, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Yikes. Now I know something’s wrong."

Gabriel blinked a couple times, chuckling. "N-Nah. It’s alright." He gestured at the drinks he ordered before the Necromancer got here, grabbing one. "Drinks on me tonight."

"As tempting as that sounds," Valentine watched him down an entire glass of spicy margarita, "I know you, Gabe. You’d rather we had these drinks at my place. Or heck, Rose’s or anywhere away from the public eye."

Gabriel dropped his glass, squinting from the burn in his throat. "I believe we deserve drinks outside after being cooped in a hall full of stuck-up world leaders."

"Which is why we went to that castle before coming back. Remember that?"

"Yes, but we didn’t get drunk at the castle."

"... Probably because... Orion was there..." Valentine eyed the man when he waved at the bartender to bring more drinks. "Hold up. How much have you had to drink?"

Gabriel burped, lazily raising a hand to his mouth. "And why are you asking me that?"

"Because I’m just realising you sound drunk as hell."

"Oh, yeah?" The Canadian SS-Rank stiffled a laugh. "Gods. I must’ve taken like... five... ten... twelve—"

"Twelve glasses?!" Valentine gawked at him like he’d lost his mind.

"Fifteen actually." Gabriel raised a finger to correct him. "Phew." Now that Valentine mentioned it, the room looked extra colourful.

The music boomed from the speakers like drums of war, the cacophony of mismatched voices, laughter and footsteps hitting him all at once until his head spun.

Just then, the bartender returned with yet another glass. "Alright, sir. I mixed this one with a couple shots of—"

Valentine’s head snapped to him, eyes flashing. "I’ll be mixing in your blood if you don’t get that shit out of here."

The bartender visibly stiffened. "O-Of course, sir. My apologies."

He hurriedly snatched the fresh margarita off the counter before disappearing toward the other end of the bar, pretending he suddenly had far more important customers to attend to.

Gabriel watched his drink leave with the saddest expression imaginable.

"My baby..." He mumbled.

Valentine pinched the bridge of his nose before taking a slow sip from his own glass.

The burn settled pleasantly down his throat.

Only after placing it back onto the counter did he turn fully toward his friend.

"Talk to me."

Gabriel didn’t answer.

Instead, his fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of the empty glass before him, eyes fixed somewhere far beyond the rows of colourful bottles lining the shelves.

The silence stretched. Long enough that Valentine didn’t need to ask twice.

"It’s your father," He finally said. "Isn’t it?"

Gabriel’s shoulders gave the slightest twitch.

There goes avoiding his problems.

"The doctors said it’s getting worse." His voice came out so quietly Valentine almost didn’t hear it beneath the music.

"They’re managing the Aether-induced cancer as best they can, but..." He laughed bitterly, the sound hollow even to his own ears. "They don’t think there’s much time left."

Valentine remained silent.

"I kept telling myself I was prepared for this." Gabriel swallowed hard. "Prepared for him to hate me. Prepared for him to never accept who I am. Hell... prepared for him to die one day."

His smile cracked.

"But not now." His eyes glistened. "Not when we only just started talking again."

The words finally caught in his throat.

"I looked at him today and..." He wiped roughly at one eye before another tear escaped anyway. "Jesus, Val. When did I get this old?"

Valentine blinked. "You’re thirty-two."

"Exactly!"

"And?"

"And that’s old!"

The Necromancer stared at him for several seconds before letting out the driest laugh imaginable. "Gabriel."

"What?"

"I’m in my forties."

Gabriel froze. "Oh. Right."

"So unless you’re trying to call me ancient, I’d rethink that argument."

A watery chuckle escaped the Space Hunter despite himself. "You’re still an asshole."

"I know."

The laughter faded almost as quickly as it’d come.

Without another word, Gabriel leaned sideways, resting his forehead against Valentine’s shoulder.

The dam finally broke.

His breathing became uneven as quiet sobs escaped him one after another.

Valentine simply sat there.

He didn’t tell him to stop crying. Didn’t offer empty promises that everything would somehow work out.

Instead, he reached over and squeezed the back of Gabriel’s neck. Just a silent reminder that he was still there.

"Thanks," Gabriel whispered after what felt like forever. "For sticking around all these years."

Valentine rolled his eyes. "Don’t get all sentimental on me now."

"I mean it."

Another comfortable silence settled between them.

Eventually Valentine glanced toward the entrance.

"Come on. Let’s go."

Gabriel sniffled. "Where?"

"My penthouse. Or Rose’s place."

"...Can you drive me?"

Valentine slowly turned to look at him. "You can literally fold space like paper."

Gabriel groaned dramatically, slumping farther against him. "I’m too lazy."

"Well, the answer is no."

"Please?"

"No."

Gabriel stared at him for several long seconds before sighing in defeat. "Fine."

He reluctantly lifted a hand, space rippling in response.

A circular portal unfolded before the pair in complete silence, shimmering with countless tiny stars dancing across its surface.

Valentine smirked, slipping his sunglasses back on as he climbed off the stool.

"See?" He dusted off his jacket. "Was that so hard?"

Gabriel shot him the flattest look he could manage before trudging through the portal after him.

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