Chapter 5 I'll take everything you have

Kane was doing his best to endure being locked up for a month.

"It's just a month. After this, I can leave."

What harm could a month do, anyway? His team could handle things without him. The only thing bothering him was the storage, but even that wasn't an easy target. Stan, Ven, and Marco would fight to the death to protect it.

He sighed and looked out the window, deep in thought. For now, all he needed to do was avoid King. The man wasn't giving him any useful information, and every time Kane saw him, his blood boiled. He decided to lock himself in his room and only come out when hunger forced him to.

Even in isolation, King's words haunted him.

"I care for you."

Kane scoffed. 'As if. How could someone as ruthless as King even understand what it means to care?' The absurdity of it made him laugh.

It was nearly dawn, but Kane planned to leave his room only at midnight when he was sure King would be asleep. Unfortunately, that plan was about to be ruined.

A creaking sound broke the silence.

"Kane."

King had opened the door, standing there like he had every right to. Kane immediately glared at him, his expression clearly saying, 'Get out.'

"You need to eat," King said casually. "We'll watch a movie later."

Kane turned to him, surprised. 'A movie, So he had a CD or a flash drive?' Kane let out a small breath of relief. Finally, something to keep him from dying of boredom.

Without a word, he brushed past King and headed for the dining table. He ate in silence while watching King set up the TV. A small pile of CDs sat on the table in the living room.

Kane finished his meal quickly, eager for the distraction. As he washed his dishes, he heard King chuckle softly behind him. Annoyed, Kane clicked his tongue but ignored him.

He was about to sit on the single-seater sofa when King patted the empty space beside him on the long couch.

"Sit here with me."

Kane narrowed his eyes. He had no intention of sitting beside him, but before he could refuse, King added, "I'll give you a phone tomorrow. Just sit here with me."

That got his attention. He didn't say he'd give Kane's phone back, just that he'd give him a phone... But whatever. He'll take what he can get.

Without another word, Kane sat down beside King-but left some space between them.

King smiled, clearly pleased. "What do you want to watch, Kane?"

"Anything action or thriller."

King, still smiling because Kane was finally talking without sarcasm, picked a CD and put on 'Fast & Furious.'

Unbeknownst to King, Kane was genuinely excited. It had been too long since he last sat down to watch a movie and just chill. His life had always been chaotic, filled with work, plans, and-let's be honest-his own dirty little tricks.

He got lost in the movie. It was the climax, and he was completely engrossed-until he felt something against his shoulder.

King.

Kane's first instinct was to push him off. But he didn't.

King's breathing was heavy, and his body radiated heat. Kane didn't even have to check his forehead to know-King's fever hadn't gone down.

Now that he thought about it, King hadn't even taken any medicine.

Kane finished the movie first, and as the credits rolled, he glanced at King. He was still asleep, head resting against Kane's shoulder.

Kane sighed, carefully pushing King off and adjusting his position on the couch. He turned off the TV and stared at the sleeping man.

"So much caring for a monster," his mind reminded him. But his body wasn't listening.

Instead of leaving King there, he grabbed a comforter and covered him up. Then, he went searching for medicine.

After rummaging through different cabinets, he finally found a stash of tablets in the nightstand next to King's bed.

Returning to the living room, he saw King shivering in his sleep, his fever worse than before. Kane frowned.

He shook him lightly. "Wake up."

King didn't respond.

Kane pressed the back of his hand to King's neck. He's burning up.

He shook him harder. "Wake up, moron."

Slowly, King's amber eyes fluttered open, hazy and weak.

Kane looked away, unable to hold his gaze. 'He looks pathetic right now.' His mind screamed at him to take advantage of the situation. Shouldn't he be enjoying this? Seeing King in such a state?

But his feet wouldn't move away.

"Drink your medicine. You can't die yet-I still have a lot of plans to make you suffer."

King didn't argue. He took the pill and the glass of water Kane handed him, then fell back asleep immediately after.

Kane sighed again. 'Looks like I have to take care of this fucker for a while.'

He knelt beside the couch, staring at King. With his eyes closed, Kane could actually look at him without feeling irritated.

He was questioning himself. If he couldn't enjoy seeing King weak like this, then would it really satisfy him to see King suffer?

'What do I even want anymore?'

Kane had spent years fueling his hatred, wanting revenge. He wanted to take back what had been stolen from him. He wanted to shatter the man in front of him.

But looking at him now-burning with fever, covered in bruises-he wasn't so sure anymore.

'If I can't hurt you like this, then I'll just take everything from you until you're left with nothing.'

He lifted the hem of King's shirt and frowned.

King's body was a mess.

The bruises... Kane hadn't done all this. No, King was already beaten up before he showed himself. How had Kane not noticed the flinches, the slight winces every time King moved?

With a deep breath, Kane stripped King down to his boxers. He ignored the heat rising to his cheeks and focused on cleaning him up.

He soaked a cloth in warm water and carefully wiped King's body-his arms, chest, stomach, thighs. He had to gulp several times while working, trying not to think too much about it.

When he reached King's face, he hesitated. Even without those amber eyes glaring at him, the man's face was still striking.

Kane quickly looked away, finishing the job without meeting his gaze. Once he was done, he dressed King in fresh clothes, placed a cold cloth on his forehead, and covered him up properly before heading back to his own room.

Lying in bed, he stared at the ceiling.

This was going to be a long month.