[Ash x Karlyle POV]
Recreational activities can make someone feel excited, that’s common sense. However, since he was small, Karlyle hasn’t had any memories of that. To him, those activities don’t really sound that exciting. Brain games are much more interesting, though he isn’t that much interested in them, either.
But today, being with Ash at the amusement park, he can’t help but be excited. As a grown man, a descendant of the Frost family, he has to be extra careful with expressing his emotions. Showing that he’s feeling joy for coming to the amusement park is unacceptable.
He’s reminding himself to keep his composure, but inside, Karlyle has high anticipation for today. He can already imagine how cute Ash would be riding the roller coaster. Usually, he would prefer quiet places so that he can leisurely enjoy himself. However, going side by side with Ash in a crowded place like this feels like a couple thing, which brings him even more happiness.
“Are there any games you can’t play, Lyle?”
Walking beside him, Ash asks. Karlyle ponders for a moment. He doesn’t have any specific games to compare to. All the games he and Kyle played when they were small were for kids. If he uses those games for comparison, it seems that he isn’t scared of anything.
“I don’t think so.”
“Cute.”
Ash calls him cute, then pecks him on his cheek. The kiss is too sudden, making him shy. Gently clapping his lips, Karlyle quietly receives his feather peck.
“So you are fine with any rides, right my Lyle?”
Oh my god, his heart can’t take this. Karlyle awkwardly averts his gaze.
“How about you, Ash? Any rides you can’t go?”
“I’m fine with any. Then, how about we play rides all day? Let’s find out which one you like the most, Lyle.”
How adorable would Ash be with his hair all dishelved by wind on the roller coaster? Will he scream? Simply imagining about Ash screaming of fear on the roller coaster is enough to make his heart thumping. That scene will be so cute. He wants to see it. This urge is so unlike him.
In that happy moment, out of the blue, Nicholas calls Ash from behind.
“Ash.”
Karlyle and Ash both turn around. Ash, as usual, answers Nick with a kind smile out of habit.
“Yes, Nick?”
Seeing them talking with each other, Karlyle can’t help but feel anxious though he knows he shouldn’t. To be more percise, it’s a small jealousy. They are family now. Of course, Kyle and Nicholas are unseperable. He’s just ashamed that he has this mean feeling when he sees Ash smile with Nicholas.
“Can you talk to me for a sec?”
Confusion appears on Ash’s face, he turns around to Karlyle. Their eyes meet. Ash looks at him intently, trying to assess his feelings.
“Please. Just a few seconds.”
Nicolas pleads, his voice is very urgent. Kyle suddenly approaches from behind Nicholas in silence. Even Karlyle can sense how sharp and uneasy his pheromones are. Watching Nicholas stand beside Kyle, Ash lets out a small laugh. Then he bows down and ask for his permission.
“Lyle, it seems that I have to talk for a moment. Is it okay?”
Well, there’s no other answer than yes. However, he’s a little reluctant. Nicholas’s action is somehow weird. What is it that he can’t talk in front of the four of them? Thousands of thoughts run through his head. Anyway, it’s quite uncomfortable that his Ash will be near Nicholas, out of all people, in a few seconds.
“It will be quick, right?”
“Of course. I swear on my lawyer license, there’s nothing big.”
His hesitation slowly fades away at Ash’s question and Nicholas’s “swear”. Calm down, Karlyle. Nicholas is Kyle’s husband, he’s even younger than him. He shouldn’t be too harsh with this kid.
“I’m not sure why you need to talk in private….But okay.”
So he agrees. Nicholas shows a troubled look. He’ll have to be separated from Ash for a few seconds, how tragic. Karlyle is upset already. Ash pats his cheek again and whispers in his ears.
“You are pretty.”
It’s embarrassing to receive a compliment like this, especially with Kyle and Nicholas around. However, that soothes him a little. Ash looks so handsome when he whispers, his beauty is out of this world. Karlyle nods. When they are looking into each other’s eyes, not wanting to be apart in the next few seconds, Nicholas grabs Ash’s sleeve and pulls him away. Karlyle raises his eyebrows. In the blink of an eye, Nicholas has pulled Ash quite far away. It feels like Ash is being taken right in front of his eyes.
“Kyle.”
He hasn’t talked about Nicholas with Kyle today, he should say something. He calls Kyle, but his eyes are glued on Nicholas’s hand grabbing Ash’s sleeve. However, Kyle doesn’t answer him. Karlyle slightly tilts his head. Kyle looks no different from a sad puppy losing his owner.
“Uhm….”
His voice diminishes. Karlyle quickly takes back what he’s about to say. His lovely brother is being sorrowful, he can’t make him more upset.
“It’ll be fine. Didn’t I say it was okay?”
“I know, but….”
Now Kyle is answering and finally looking at him. Kyle has the same look as when he was small, when he would secretly get into his room and shout his name to surprise him. Kyle is grown up now but he is looking at him with those eyes. How can he not listen to him and grant him whatever he wants?
“Do you really want to get married to Ash Jones? Are you really okay?”
Because of things in the past, at the news of him and Ash getting married, Kyle hasn’t 100% agreed with it. Karlyle gently corrects him.
“I told you to call him Ash.”
“That person is too experienced. I know he’s a good guy, but he hurt you once, didn’t he?”
It’s his fault for showing such an immature sight in front of Kyle and his father, Kyle must still be worried about it. Of course he is, Kyle's sharp eyes are the proof. His beautiful eyes blink, Kyle sullenly rests his forehead on his shoulder. Karlyle hugs him and pats his back lovingly.
“Nicholas dated more than 30 people, but you and him still got along well, right?”
With a gentle voice, Karlyle summarizes Nicholas’s dating history which he witnessed in the last 17 years. He has no personal hatred towards Nicholas. Nicholas’s dating history equals the number of times Kyle got sorrowful. Karlyle swears he doesn’t hate Nicholas or anything when he brings this back. Totally not because Nicholas wanted to talk to Ash in private.
At his question, Kyle twitches. He lets out a sigh, then moves further into his hug.
“It’s not like I never had any relationship with Omega, either.”
Karlyle claps his lips. He considers declining what Kyle said, however, he decides not to.
“.....I know.” He says. “So call Ash by his name from now on, okay?”
“I need some time.”
Karlyle doesn’t push him, he gently strokes his hair. Kyle does want to, he just needs some time. Karlyle is relieved. His own brother, out of all people, calls his soon to be husband as “Ash Jones”, not a good thing at all. While he’s busy pampering Kyle, Ash and Nicholas speed run to them from behind. They must have finished talking. Ash’s shadow suddenly shadows over him from behind, startling him. Ash instantly grabs his hand. His soft look is still there, but Ash looks kinda annoyed.
“Lyle, shall we go now?”
Nicholas also appears. Kyle hurriedly takes his head off his shoulder and moves to the side. Naturally, Karlyle, who was just seperated from Kyle, walks first with Ash. Nicholas and Kyle follow behind them.
“Lyle.”
“Yes?”
“You have Kyle’s smell on your body.”
“....What?”
“My goodness….”
‘This is frustrating’, Ash lets out a laugh while whispering. What is happening? Karlyle immediately grabs Ash’s hands.
“Ash, is everything alright?”
It doesn’t matter what Nicholas and Ash talked about anymore. The only thing that remains in his mind is that Ash is feeling frustrated. His heart is beating nervously.
“Lyle, listen to me.”
Ash raises his head and looks at him with sullen eyes.
“Yes, Ash.”
He answers anxiously like a prisoner who is about to be sentenced for life.
“I love you very much, Lyle, and I’m older than you. That’s why I’m telling you this.”
What’s going on? Karlyle’s complexion turns pale.
“I’m very angry today.”
Karlyle’s heart just skips a beat. His mood sinks, his eyebrows droop down.
“Ash….what’s wrong?”
Ash is angry? Even in a tense situation like this, if he has to pick one word to describe Ash, it will still be “cute”.
“Do you know what will happen if I’m angry?”
“I really don’t know. Ash, please…..don’t be angry.”
His whisper has turned into pleading. His default expressionless face is now a crumbled mess. His eye corners droop. He clutches Ash’s sleeve as if he’s holding on his dear life.
“For now, I won’t be able to smile at you for 20 minutes.”
A not smiling Ash? Karlyle’s eyes bulge wide in shock. Ash is very considerate and always smiles for him, except for when he attacks him in bed. Even when they fight, Ash never gets mad and never fails to listen to him. He can’t imagine Ash without his lovely smile.
“Hand…”
Ash mumbles. Karlyle immediately takes his hand. Slowly interlocking their hands, Karlyle tightens his hold. He looks at Ash with pitiful eyes.
“Don’t take your hand off, hold mine tight.” Ash says again.
Karlyle can’t take it anymore. Ash being upset is already a disaster. Whatever it is, Karlyle is at fault here.
“Ash, what should I do?”
He pleads earnestly. Ash turns his eyes to him, his sullen face relaxes a little. He lets out a small cough.
“Uhm. Let me see.”
“I will do anything.”
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
Karlyle’s very determined. Ash fumbles his hand, he seems a little troubled. Karlyle holds his hand tighter, afraid that Ash would let his hand go. Ash laughs out loud.
“So today, you’ll do everything I want at the amusement park, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, I’m not so sure about that. You get shy easily.”
At that, Karlyle gets reluctant a little. His emotion goes from embarrassment to nervousness. There’s no way Ash would do anything that hurt him. Despite the strange feeling, Karlyle eventually decides to comply.
“I promise.”
“Uhm. Lyle keeps your words well.”
Ash pretends to be contemplative. Karlyle’s anxiety increases as he remembers that one night which he just wanted to erase from his memories because of promises like this. But he has no choice. Nothing is scarier than Ash without his smile.
“I’ll keep my promise.”
“Alright.”
The pouting disappears from Ash’s face in the blink of an eye. He straightens his back. Karlyle doesn’t even notice Nicholas passing by and giving them a cringey look.
“Ash…. Did I really make you upset?”
Still, Karlyle can’t fully shake off his anxiety. He asks nervously. Ash pulls him into his arms again.
“Lyle, let’s think about it.”
He quickly nods. He loves being in Ash’s arms. When Ash does it, he’ll hug him back without caring about other people. Ash was only away from him for two minutes, but he misses him so much.
“For example, me and Nat.” Ash says.
“Yes.”
“Whenever I meet her, she would hug me, touch my chin and kiss my cheeks.”
Karlyle slowly imagines as Ash says. Natalie, a beautiful blonde, hugs Ash, touches his chin, and then….
“I don’t feel quite well about it.”
Images of the brother and sister being lovey dovey leave him with a strange feeling. Right when he imagines it, he feels somewhat displeased. Ash nods as Karlyle seems to have got what he’s talking about.
“That’s not all. Imagine…. I touch Nat’s hair and pamper her.”
“Do you two….usually do that?”
“We don’t. But you and Kyle do.”
What?
Now he has understood the problem. His eyes bulge wide in realization. That’s why Ash is upset. Karlyle is at fault here. Truthfully, he has never thought that anyone would get jealous over those actions.
“.....We did.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Lyle. Since you listen to me, I’m fine now.”
Ash returns to his normal fluffy self. He holds his hand. Karlyle gradually calms down. His heart softens as Ash holds him tight. His anxiety fades away. Karlyle carefully moves close to Ash. Ash smiles and points to where they’ll go.
“Shall we ride a roller coaster?”
“Yes, Ash.”
Karlyle happily walks with Ash to the ride. However, he isn’t aware of Ash’s true intention……