Love is a Two-Sided Coin
Chapter 4
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They headed over to the usual place, Simon's old leader greeting the two with smiles as he clapped a hand on the other's shoulders. "So, how have you been? I hope you've been well." he said as he led the two over to a table. "Yeah, I've been better. Trying to get my life back in track after my little tragedy and he's here to help out." Simon said as he pointed to the beastman. The older looked to him skeptically and Viral bared his teeth a little, making him jump. "Well, let's hope that all goes well then. So shall I get the usual for you both?"
"Yeah. Thanks, boss!" he said and the older nodded before heading back for the kitchen to tell the cooks what they needed to make. Rossiu wasn't far from the diner, having to up his pace to follow the pair before he lost them in the crowd. He saw through the window that they had a pretty secluded spot so it was easy to walk in and take a seat somewhere where he wouldn't be seen so easily but there was also the factor that Viral had hypersensitive senses and he would probably point him out before Simon.
'Let's just hope the food keeps him placid.' he thought as he watched and observed the two. Simon smiled a little as he rested a hand over Viral's and looked to his gloomy expression. "Come on, Viral, stop looking so gloomy all the time." Simon murmured and he gave a grunt. Simon chuckled a little before moving closer, resting his head on his shoulder.
"Hey Viral."
"What?"
"Do beastmen ever have mating cycles?"
"What brought this on?"
Simon shrugged. "Well you all follow animal instincts most of the time, so I was curious if that applied to mating too despite the fact that you can't reproduce." Rossiu choked on air as he listened and ducked behind a menu when he saw Viral look up, a sneer on his lips. "Viral?" The beastman shook his head before looking back down. "Thought I heard something." he murmured before looking back to him. "As for cycles, we have them but it's more for satisfying the urge when it comes up than for actual reproduction since we're unable to. It's hard to ignore so when it comes up, we go for the first available beastman and mate." he explained. "I see. So what about yours?" Viral looked down to him with a curious glance. "Why do you want to know all of a sudden?"
"Well, we're mated pretty much, aren't we? I should be obligated to know." Viral gave a slight smirk. "It will be on your head if you want to indulge in it but mine isn't til the colder season." he said as their food was brought to the table and they began to eat. "I'll be ready then for whatever you have to throw at me then." he said and the beastman chuckled. "Oh, we'll see about that." he replied before tucking into his meal.
Rossiu listened silently and growled a little to himself. 'I have to split them up before then. It's preposterous for Simon to even think of himself as a mate to Viral. Oh, Simon, how could you let yourself stoop this low? But no worries, I've made mistakes many times before and it's about time I rectify this one before it wedges in too deep to be fixed.'
"Are you ordering something?" A waiter questioned. "Oh yes, just some coffee will do."
The two continued to eat quietly, having some whispered conversations that Rossiu couldn't hear from where he sat. When his coffee was brought to him, he drank it quickly so that he could be out before them. He knew all hell will break loose if he doesn't leave before they do. After he finished, bearing with the scalding feelings for drinking near hot coffee in one go, he left money and a tip before hurrying out of the diner. He went to blend in with the crowd but stuck around to see where the pair went next. After Viral and Simon finished, they paid for their food and left out. "So what to do now..." Simon hummed to himself as they walked. "Don't you still have work to do back in the office?" The beastman questioned.
"I do but they can easily be taken care of any time. I just have to sign a few things." he replied as he took Viral's hand once more as they walked. "I rather spend more time with you, though." Viral gave a slight nod as they continued to walk and Rossiu was once again close behind but not so close as to get caught. They walked for a while before eventually reaching the lake in the center of town. The very same one where Simon once proposed to Nia way back when. "Never thought I would be back here..." Simon murmured softly and Viral looked to him.
"Why's that?"
"This is where I proposed to Nia...before the Antispiral took her away. That day hurt me so much but I knew I couldn't give her up much less let the antispirals get their way and destroy the world." he explained and Viral nodded. "And this all happened while I was stuck in that pathetic jail and clueless to my surroundings." he murmured softly. "Yeah. Of course, it wasn't long before blame was placed on me by Rossiu and I was sent there as well." Viral gave a huff as he crossed his arms. "And that idiot has the gall to try and claim you back after that?"
"Well he was thinking of the people's wellbeing and I using spiral power at the time wasn't a good idea so I can't blame him. And he did atone for his ways in the end." he said as he looked out to the shimmering water before him. Viral gave a huff. "He's still a foolish naked ape." he muttered before looking to Simon and pulled him close. "Besides, you have me now and instinct won't allow me to treat you wrong unless you do it to me first." Simon smiled and relaxed against the beastman.
"Don't worry. That'll never happen." he murmured, smiling more as he felt a large hand ruffle his hair gently as they stood there before eventually heading home since it was getting late. Simon waved as Viral left before heading inside. He sighed wistfully as he turned on the lights only to yelp when he saw who was standing in the living room. "What are you doing here, Rossiu? I told you no." he growled, eyes narrowed. Rossiu stepped forward. "You can tell me no a thousand times, but I won't stop. This relationship you have with Viral is wrong."
"And who are you to tell me who I can and can't date?!"
"Because I'm worried for your safety. Viral doesn't know a single thing about love and he's unpredictable." Rossiu spoke. "That's what you and only you think." Simon snarled. "He's learning through me and while I have to worry about a few instinctual things, I can handle it and he'll be there beside me the entire way as I learn." Rossiu finally stepped forward, slamming Simon into the door. "I'm trying to make you see reason! He's a beastman! Beastmen are incapable of love no matter how much you want to teach them! They're sterile beings who are nothing short of wild animals if given the chance! You will not make a life with him and if you keep trying, it will only lead to heartbreak! Just give up on him and return to me, Simon. I just don't want to see you hurt." he whispered.
Simon looked away for a moment before shoving Rossiu back angrily. "I don't care what you have to say, Rossiu! You've been a trusted friend and ally for the longest time and when I need you the most for personal reasons, you shoved me away! Now, when I finally found someone that could treat me right despite past circumstances, you want to butt in! You told me to not try for a relationship with you and I did. I found someone else and now you suddenly want me with you?! Make up your mind on what you want most. Do you want me for me or do you just want me to get me away from Viral?" he inquired as he looked to him. Rossiu looked down, not knowing how to answer him without sounding controlling.
"I...I just want you away from him. He isn't good enough for you." he murmured.
Simon sighed before moving to unlock the door and open it. "Go."
"But..."
"Just go, Rossiu. That's not the kind of answer I want to hear. Until you know what you really want, I don't want you to bother me or Viral over this anymore." he mumbled as he pulled the collar down, revealing the nasty bite mark that was left and Rossiu gasped. "Viral marked me and that makes me his. I won't betray him without reason and even then, dire consequences will be met if I betray him. Even if you truly loved me as you so claim now, you are too late to make anything change." Rossiu gritted his teeth, hands clenched at his side before he walked stiffly out of the flat. But before he headed down the hall, he turned to look to Simon.
"I won't give up on you until you see reason, Simon." he spoke with determination. "You're not winning this. I won't allow you." Simon shot back before closing the door and ran a hand through his hair. "This is one fucked up triangle that I really don't want myself or Viral to get trapped in. Rossiu should know better than to do this but I guess until he fails, he won't give in. But I don't want him to get hurt either testing Viral's patience. Oh what am I'm going to do..." he murmured, leaning against the door with a sigh.
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Zypher: And there you have it. Another chapter done. Sorry for the long wait but I have a long list of stuff that needed to be written ahead of time and this was just a sidetrack mission since all you wonderful readers were waiting so patiently as well as give me such wonderful reviews to show I've been doing well with this story so far. Hope to see you all again for the next chapter.