Hawthorn walked Kay back to her house, which was just across the street.

Once she arrived, she put in her key, and at the same time, placed her thumb over the hidden scanner above the keyhole. Hawthorn heard a whirl and a click, then Kay pushed the door open.

Without the thumbprint, darts coated with sleeping potion would be shot out instead.

Once inside, the house was more secure than Fort Knox.* That was why Kyle wasn't worried about Kay being alone in the house. Hawthorn made sure Kay had closed the front door and locked it first before he walked back home.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

Xing Han was amazed at the simplicity of Nitocris's room.

Everything was in its place, too. Just like the owner, he supposed. Was Nitocris perhaps OCD?*

Nitocris looked up at the two boys that walked in and he pointed at a towel and a set of pajamas on the bed.

"Bathe and change before lying down on the bed," Nitocris commanded.

Xing Han frowned then said, "I'm not planning to spend the night! Just to rest for a while, while you guys talk."

Nitocris ignored him, taking a file out of the shelf as he said, "I'm not having your clothes that are filthy from being outside, touch my bed. You want to rest here, then bathe and change."

Xing Han pouted, but did as he was told.

Looks like he was right. Nitocris was a bit of a clean freak. Since he was actually allowing him to stay, the least he could do was accommodate that guy's weird habit, right?

While Xing Han went out to bathe, Nitocris handed the file over to Kyle.

"Here's the latest information on Country M's underground human trafficking railroad," Nitocris said, referring to the route that the people were being taken as they were shuttled from one place to another.

As Kyle looked through the information, Nitocris said, "As you can see, two of those locations are in your promotional tour. I need you to scout the place and touch base with some of the moles I've planted. They seem to have difficulty sending out information."

Kyle nodded, flipping through the file quickly.

When Xing Han entered, he found that Nitocris and Kyle were deep in discussions. He went over to the bed and plopped there, watching and listening. Unfortunately, it was as if they were talking Greek.

Not that they were talking in a different language, but that a lot of it didn't make sense. He lay down on the bed, watching them intently. He could see how serious Kyle was as he pointed out a few things.

Occasionally, Nitocris would answer, his deep voice a compliment to Kyle's smooth one.

Xing Han idly thought that when the Thing wasn't being annoying, he had a really pleasant voice indeed. Even though they were both talking serious stuff, to Xing Han's ears, it was like a soothing lullaby.

It was like white noise. Instead of being annoying, it was lulling him to sleep. As he lay there, he found his eyelids getting heavier and heavier until finally, it closed.

Several hours later, Kyle and Nitocris finished their discussion. They turned and saw the sleeping Xing Han, and Kyle grimaced a bit. Once he's asleep, it takes a LOT to wake that log up.

"I'll wake him up and go home," Kyle said, about to walk over but Nitocirs held him back, shaking his head.

"Just let him sleep there," Nitocris said, "I'll sleep outside. You should go home first. It's not good to leave Kay there alone, even though the house is secure."

Kyle hesitated.

"Don't worry," Nitocris said with a smile, "I'm not going to do anything to him."

Kyle looked at Nitocris in horror, "No! I wasn't thinking that at all! I just felt bad that you can't sleep in your own room. We've inconvenienced you too much."

"Not at all," Nitocris answered, "I'm the one that held you back. It's fine."

'More than fine', Nitocris thought to himself.

He didn't think his plan would work so well. Now, his little puppy was wearing the clothes he bought for him, and sleeping on his bed. He wasn't going to be doing anything to him, of course, but just the thought that his little puppy there made him so happy.

"Once he's deep asleep, he won't wake up until tomorrow morning," Kyle said, "So you don't have to worry about him freaking out in the middle of the night."

Nitocris walked Kyle out the door. Closing it, he turned and walked back to his bedroom with a smile. As he walked in, his heart warmed to see his little puppy there.

Nitocris sat on the edge of his bed, watching with satisfaction the sleeping Xing Han. He tenderly, and gently, brushed the hair away from the sleeping face. Awake, his little puppy was cute. Asleep, he looked like an angel.

His lips curled in a smile, as he watched his little puppy move again, his arms flinging about widely. An octopus indeed. Suddenly, a wayward arm hit Nitocris, and like some hound dog, Xing Han came closer, seeking warmth.

He mumbled something under his breath as he wrapped his arms around Nitocris's waist, burying his face at his back. Snuggling and holding him tight.

Nitocris took several deep breaths while pinching the space between his eyebrows. Then he thought of how Xing Han was like this with anyone that he slept with and he frowned.

Just then, Nitocris's breath hitched, for those hands started to move. It roamed across Nitocris's stomach and he could hear Xing Han mumbling, "Where is it ... it must be here somewhere ..."

Those devilish hands were freely touching him all over, probably looking for whatever it was that he was dreaming about. One hand went under his shirt and another further down, the fingers lightly brushing against the bulge that was slowly forming.

Nitocris groaned.

Seriously, his little puppy is testing his limits so much.