Chapter 613: 14.09

"Gaius—No, brother-in-law, did I do something wrong today? You don't seem to be happy that I come here to accompany you." 

Gaius stopped peeling the potato in his hand. He glanced at Reed and frowned, "What are you saying? I'm glad that you can accompany me here."

"You don't seem to be surprised about it," Reed confronted. He took a big step towards Gaius and leaned. "Are you sure that you're happy with my presence?" 

"I am," Gaius replied with assurance. He stared at Reed's dark eyes, glinting with a trace of maliciousness. But when Reed leaned closer, Gaius instinctively backed down, trying to avoid Reed's face that got too close to his. 

"See? You're not happy with me here."

"T—That's because you're too close," Gaius said. "I really have nothing against you…."

"Then why did you dodge me?"

…

Of course, Gaius couldn't say that he was uncomfortable with Reed's overfamiliarity after only one day of visit. He knew that Reed was Clarke's biological brother, but to the introverted Gaius, Reed was still a stranger invited by his husband to stay. They weren't close enough to be intimate. 

"I don't know, Man. I've been trying to make myself friendly, especially since you are my new family…." Reed sighed and turned around. "Maybe I should go."

"No, don't!" Gaius grabbed Reed's hand and shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with you. It's just me!" 

"But you don't seem to accept me as part of the family…."

"N—No, let me prove it to you. What do you want me to do to prove it?" Gaius asked. He didn't want to be the source of the problem in his own family. 

Clarke seemed to be so happy that he finally had a brother, a real brother. So Gaius didn't want to hurt his Husband's feelings. 

Reed smirked for a second before he turned around and said, "Maybe a kiss?"

"A—A KISS?!" Gaius jolted, the potato and knife on his hand fell to the ground. "YOU WANT A KISS!?"

Reed nodded without hesitation.

"B—But a kiss is a bit…."

"I thought we're family here… I really just want to be part of you guys…." Reed said with a sad expression. "Is a kiss also too much for you?"

[Oh, shut it, I know you just want a free kiss from your brother's wife. No need to guilt trip me by saying it's all about the family!]

[Pupa: Why are you so hostile anyway?]

[Hostile? Who's hostile?]

[Pupa: Wait, you're not annoyed by his antics?]

[No? I can't wait to kiss him!]

[Pupa:…]

Gaius was reluctant, but he kept thinking what would happen if Reed didn't want to visit the house anymore because of his reluctance. So he mustered his courage and said, "Come closer, I'll give you a kiss."

Reed grinned as he leaned closer to Gaius. 

Chu.

Gaius gave a light peck on Reed's cheek, barely brushing the edge of Reed's lips. 

[Pupa: Ding! Reed Ville's Fatemeter increases to -85%.]

It was short but very fun. If Reed didn't know what kind of man Gaius was, he would've thought that Gaius was actually teasing him to do more than just a kiss. 

Reed smiled full of satisfaction as if he had won something, "That's such a sweet kiss, brother-in-law."

Gaius choked when Reed called him Brother-in-law. It only made him felt even guiltier than before because that was the first kiss he had with someone else other than Clarke and the kids. 

"I—It's just a light peck. You don't need to call it sweet," Gaius said, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. 

"Oh, it is sweet because your lips brushed with the edge of my lips, and I can taste it," Reed said while licking the edge of his lips.

Gaius shuddered, thinking that Reed was trying to seduce him. He turned his wheelchair around and picked up another potato. He started peeling again, trying to distract himself from Reed, who put on the apron again.

They started cooking in silence. Gaius hoped that time would pass until lunchtime and meet with his children again to avoid this awkward silence with Reed. He felt conflicted about kissing someone else other than Clarke. 

But Reed looked so relaxed. Instead, he whistled and hummed few times, showing that he was happy. 

After they had prepared lunch together, Hermes and Artemis returned home for lunch. Hermes put Artemis on the smaller seat beside him and then started digging the food prepared for lunch.

"Hermes, don't eat too fast. You might choke," Gaius said. 

Hermes nodded obediently and slowed down. Gaius saw that Artemis was making a mess again, so he rolled his wheelchair to Artemis side and started spoon-feeding her instead. 

Reed watched this small harmonious family, and he grinned. He had an idea, "Has your dad ever come for lunch?"

Hermes looked at his uncle and shook his head, "Dad is a very busy man. We can't ask him to accompany us for lunch. Sometimes he doesn't even come for dinner…."

"I want dad…." Artemis also lamented. 

Both of them became depressed after realizing that their dad never attended anything. He was a busy man, with him running the office and became the leader of the superheroes. 

But Hermes or Artemis never asked their Dad to accompany them instead because their Mom always told them not to disturb Dad on his work. 

Gaius glared at Reed, and Reed felt guilty after ruining the good lunch, "Ahh… kids, don't be sad, okay? There is Uncle here. I can always play with you guys while your father is busy with his job as Superbman."

Hermes and Artemis' eyes glimmered in happiness, "Uncle will play with us?"

"Sure! We can always play whatever you want. As long as I get permission from your Mom," Reed said as he glanced at Gaius, who was stunned.

"What do you think, Gaius? The kids really want to play with me," Reed said with a smirk on his ace. 

Hermes darted his eyes at his Mom and begged, "Mom, please let us play with Uncle Reed, okay?"