Len scoffed with a smile. "Oh, you're a criminal. So, what's your crime?"
Claude frowned deeply at Len's strange and bothersome smiling face. He looked away in confusion. "You know what I did. Six people, Len."
"Really? You want to believe you? Prove it."
"What?" Claude looked back at the arrogant look on Len's face. This guy even looked like one of those people who looked down at Claude. He felt uncomfortable under Len's gaze. "Someone took a video on his phone. Keller saw it. Also, Eugene was there. He saw what happened…"
"If I ask Keller to produce the video, will he show it to me?" Len hummed as if challenging Claude's claims. "If I ask your friend, will he say you killed those people? You don't look like you can punch a man dead… not to mention crush someone's torso. Why are you lying, Claude? Whatever did that… cannot be a normal person."
Claude pursed his lips. He stared at Len with a degree of annoyance and hate. He wanted to get off the other person, only for him to realize something. With a strange gaze, Claude asked, "Are you saying no one will believe me if I take responsibility?"
Len glanced down at Claude again, wearing a warm smile. "Yes. I am saying that. The weapon cannot be determined. Their case will fall apart because of logic."
"But I still did it…"
"Then sing. Lament through your music. The world is not ready for something like you." Len smiled deeper. "The brotherhood can only mitigate damages."
Claude looked away and nodded. "I will be more careful and guarded. We got into trouble because I didn't listen to my instincts early enough. If Gracie didn't have the chance to shoot me, we could have gotten away. No one would have to die."
Len chuckled as he finally reached his room after a few flights of stairs. Claude opened the door as a courtesy, and Len entered. After closing the door behind him, Len spoke again, "Gracie and those men made their choice. They acted badly and elicited a fight response from you. You didn't even choose to harm them too much. Six bullets… that was one for each person."
He placed Claude down on the floor. Len said, "Stay here for a moment. I will get water to wash you. We also need to take the bullets out of you before they poison you."
"Okay." Claude hugged the jacket Eugene gave him. He also used his legs to obscure his lower half. Len left him there as if dealing with everything else.
The silence in the room made Claude look around. He could smell expensive perfume coming from one side. It gently mixed with Len's scent—the same scent Claude caught when Len first came to the males' dorms. A small smile curled his lips, but Claude buried his face against his knees. The room was cold, but his body trembled for another reason.
"How could I go home to Grandpa and not confess about this? Will he kick me out for being reckless?" Claude chuckled in fear and resignation. "Will I hunger for blood? What if I ate Eugene by accident?"
"Then stay with us. You won't have to worry." Len opened the door, and Claude did his best to get rid of his tears and clear his nose. The other person offered a tissue. Len said, "Claude, you're a full-pledged Psi Saint Alpha. Stay in our dorm with us."
Claude shook his head. "Eugene will think I'm avoiding him. Also, the others will say I think I'm better than all of them for jumping into another dorm."
Len snorted before putting the basin of warm water on the floor. He dropped a few towels on it. After finding a bowl, Len sat before Claude. He smiled. "Uncurl yourself and take the jacket off. I'll wash the blood off you. Don't be shy. It's just me."
For a moment, Claude froze. He then hugged the jacket tighter. "What? No. Let me do it myself. You're not seeing me naked."
"I won't look." Len handed Claude a damp towel. "But can you take the bullets out without help? Don't worry. I don't intend to stop you from putting the jacket on your lap."
"Oh…" Claude blushed a little and slowly took off the jacket. He kept his knees up until he could obscure his lap. He straightened his posture for a moment to show off the healing gunshot wounds. The damp towel removed the blood on his abdomen first. "I'll try to push out the bullets. Even if I bleed, don't worry. I will heal fast."
Len nodded and carefully removed the bullets with his small pocket knife. He would drop the small bullets into the bowl, notwithstanding the blood coming from Claude. However, he glanced at the other person as every wince or groan that came with removing the bullets.
Claude gasped as the last one came out. He grasped his flesh and behaved like squashing it together. "Remind me to let the bullets pass through next time."
"There shouldn't be a next time."
Len used another damp towel to clean Claude's neck, shoulder, and chest. The other didn't stop him anymore, knowing that he could barely move. Len didn't spare any part that had blood on them.
Claude could only relax and allow Len to wipe him down. His eyes closed. He felt every inch of pressure those big hands gave. Their touches weren't erotic, but the warmth they brought against Claude's cold skin created a sensation Claude couldn't describe. It was as if he were getting drunk again. His body remembered the tug of desire against his heart.
His hands gently rose to catch Len's face. The other person didn't stop wiping him, however. Claude barely opened his eyes and murmured, "Len…"
"Yes?" Len hummed before switching to a clean towel. He didn't seem to mind Claude's hands on his face. However, he still collected the hands to wipe them free from blood. He must have cleaned his face as well. "What do you feel like doing, Claude?"
"I don't know…" Claude smiled and stared dreamily at Len's handsome face. "But I'm sure I don't want to talk. Let's reserve that for the morning…"
"Do you want to rest?" Len dried Claude's body with the big towel. He even leaned closer to wrap the towel around Claude. It should also warm him. However, Len would rather do it with his breath on Claude's neck. "Do you want me to carry you?"
Claude giggled and shook his head. "Not right now."
Len smiled at him again… before kissing Claude's lips. However, instead of pulling back, Claude opened his mouth for an invitation. They found themselves making out on the floor while one of them had nothing on his body. The tent under the jacket on Claude's lap had become more noticeable… more when Len pushed Claude down on the thick rug on the floor.
Licking his teeth, Len asked with an excited smile. "Would you rather let me ravage you instead?"