Three nights later Blake is having trouble sleeping. It's just been too quiet since Dewi left. If he's being honest, the last few nights have brought him restless sleep. Who could have known how much Dewi not being around would affect him… Not having your best friend around isn't supposed to be this bad, right? Blake doesn't think so, but it's not like he has much experience with such things. Maybe he's feeling this affected by the loneliness because they've been living together. Yeah, it must be that…. It's not like it's for some other reason. His forbidden journal would have mentioned something by now if it was something else, right?

Blake takes out the indigo book from where he last hid it behind his dresser. He opens to today's entry to find something is written there. 'You're an idiot. Trying to break the rules because you lack common sense? Figure it out without cheating or it's not worth anything.’ Really? Couldn't be any more helpful? I checked it because I don't know how else to get the answer…. How could you become so mean to me? It's not like I want lottery numbers or anything. I just want to know why Dewi not being around is bugging me so much. Blake finally just gives up. If even his book won't clear anything up, what hope does he have of figuring it out tonight? Plus, despite his insomnia, he has work the next morning.

He finally decides to make some Earl Grey tea in hopes that it helps him get to sleep easier. After brewing the warm drink, Blake sits on the couch just looking at the off TV as he holds the steaming mug with both hands. If Dewi was home, it would probably be playing some sappy cartoon romance. He always seems perferancal to those, especially if there are damsels in distress. But he's not here and the other two are out tonight on a double date with one of Luce's coworkers to reinforce their deceit. The apartment really is too quiet right now. It make him long for some company, someone to curl up on the couch next to him and watch a movie with. He considers settling for just putting in a movie but he's comfortable so he doesn't want to get up. Eventually Blake sets the now empty mug on the side table before nodding off. His last thought as he loses consciousness is of his wish for the last few days.

At some point while he sleeps, Blake becomes aware that someone is carrying him. What wakes him up is the sudden loss of warmth from leaving the person's embrace. Oh, it's Dewi. He can't remember why, but something tells him Dewi being here is weird so he decides to question his roommate. “What are you doing here, Dewi?” The attractive blonde gives him an adoring smile.

“You fell asleep on the couch. I figured you'd be more comfortable on your own bed.” That makes sense…. Afterall, he's been looking out for me since day one.

“Oh, thanks Dew. You're the best.” He considers giving Dewi a thank you kiss, but he's feeling too tired. Instead he just rolls over and goes back to sleep.

In the morning Blake wakes up on the couch again. Remembering that Dewi is still on his trip for work, Blake realizes last night must have been just a dream. Too bad, he wouldn't mind being held by Dewi like that. Wait… I really am an idiot. How did I not notice before? To think he had tried to take advantage of his ability to answer a question he probably already knew the answer to on some level. What a waste, no wonder yesterday's entry called him stupid.

This could be a problem in the future….. He will have to talk to Luce about it, though he doesn't look forward to that conversation. As he gets around for work, he notices that today is the day that's label with ‘Have the talk with Luce.’ Well, I guess I have to talk to him today.

***

That's not a good sign….. Blake comes home from work wearing the hoodie. Lucius knows it's never good when he wears the oversize violet garment, and what comes out of his mouth when he sees Luce worries him even more.

“We need to talk.” Blake seems so defeated. Whatever it is must be really important if he's this distraught. Luce steers Blake to his room in hopes that the familiar setting calms him down enough to not have a panic attack during their discussion. Blake seems to be on autopilot, even as his bedroom door closes behind them. He won't look at his brother and his voice is fearful. “I- I need you to erase something.” Luce grabs Blake's chin and forces him to look at him.

“Why?” Lucius would do anything for his brother, but what he's asking for can't be reversed. “What do you hate so much you want me to get rid of it?”

“I- I'm pretty sure I have a crush on Dewi.”

“What's the problem?”

“He has a girlfriend. I met her, she some model or something. He'd never pick me over her. And even if he did, I could never do that to him. I'd have to tell him about my condition if we started dating and then he'd know about you since we're siblings….and….. and….”

“Shit, Blake, why do you keep doing this?” Luce wants to calm Blake down, but this is frustrating him. Blake of course misunderstands his irritation as being directed at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Annabelle.”

“Your ex-girlfriend?”

“I wouldn't have agreed to date her if I’d known you liked her. But instead of letting me break up with her, you insisted I take away even the very memory of your feelings for her. Blake, I can't keep messing with your brain every time you get scared of your emotions. You deserve to fall in love and be happy. That's never going to happen if you keep having me erase those feelings before they can grow.”

“So?”

“I’m not going to do it. He'd find it weirder if you suddenly acted cold towards him. You're just going to have to deal with your feelings for Dewi.” Luce starts to leave when he remembers one more thing. “Oh, and if you do ever trust Dewi enough to tell him about your powers, don't worry about me. I trust your judgement. So do what you think is best and stop second guessing everything.”

Luce really wants Blake to be happy, but for that to happen, he can't keep babying him. He leaves before he can change his mind. He's doing the right thing, right? Only time can tell.

***

Satoshi has come to understand a few things since moving into the apartment. First, the twins share a uniquely close relationship. It is almost like a codependent bond. He has read of similar situations when two children are raised in some sort of isolation from their peers. The pair grow reliant on each other and distrustful of outsiders, thus separating them more from others and intensifying the cycle. The difference with Luce and Blake is they show no other signs of having been isolated from other kids. They're just… really close.

Secondly, Sato finds that he is fascinated by Lucius Aqubellan. There is just something about him that peeks his interest. He is unconsciously always on the hunt for more information about the older brother. If it has to do with Luce, Satoshi is interested in it. If he is being honest with himself, it is an obsession. But, of course, one so logical as him would not be so swayed by emotions to the point of obsessing over another human. His previous experiments in dating had shown that relationships hold less interest to him than his research. Luce… Luce isn't like that. Sato is easily distracted from his research by questions about Lucius that pop into his head. Maybe it's because Luce is such an interesting specimen. Every time Sato thinks he has him figured out, he does something that puts the whole idea on its head. Yeah, it must be the mystery that attracts him to Luce. He can never leave a good puzzle alone.

Then Luci calls him Shi-shi and Satoshi wishes for the thousandth time since they started ‘dating’ that it wasn't fake. The first time he thought this, he had been a bit surprised as his previous attempts at a relationship had proven that he holds no romantic preference for either of the primary binary genders. Both held no sway over his heart but here is a male who seems to be doing just that. He is aware that this is probably what is known as a ‘crush’ but isn't worried as, from what he has gathered, such things are usually a passing phase. The problem starts today at lunch.

There has been a suspiciously large amount of time in which their availability has overlapped lately. This means that they are both home for lunch. Since that is the case, Luce makes a really nice chicken and rice dish instead of something more portable. That isn't the problem. No, what causes Satoshi trouble is that he decides to forgo pretending to study in his room while actually thinking about the cook in their kitchen a few feet away. Instead, he sets up his laptop on the counter and only passively works on assignments while watching Luce. The work isn't due anytime soon, so it's not like he really needs to focus on it. That's when it happens.

Lucius has his back turned, focused on the food he's working on. He asks Sato something and Satoshi realizes. He has been staring at Luce for over five minutes, more specifically the part of his back right above his shirt’s loose neckline. Shit, this might be more serious than a tiny crush….. He…. He's really attractive. What is Sato supposed to do about it? There's no way Luce is going to want to date him for real, right? After his interaction with that manipulation bitch, Lucius must be really scared of those with powers so he would never want date someone with powers. If they started dating for real, Satoshi would probably have to tell him eventually and then Luce will never want anything to do with him again. Sato doesn't want to lose him. He doesn't know what he'll do if Luce ever comes to hate him.