Chapter 170 - I'm in love with you, Leonard

Tim froze on the spot. 

He looked back and saw Leo standing not too far from him with his golden pistol still in his hand. His deep red iris flashed with murderous intent that made his stomach feel twisted. 

Just like Clara, Tim felt guilt consumed his entire being. He had always thought of Leo to be a foolish man, due to how he tried to tolerate everyone, instead of using violence on them. 

Now he realises how much he prefers that foolish man than this present one.

Keeping the gun at the back of his trousers, "Take care of it. I need to get my arm treated." Leo said to the still-stunned Tim and began to walk away.

'He still hasn't snapped out of the fear of nearly losing Mick.' Tim thought with his heart feeling like it is being squeezed hard.

Taking quick steps, he followed him.

Immediately he caught up with him, "dude! Are you crazy? You shot a gun in a hospital." Tim who couldn't take it anymore said after brushing past him and stood in front of him to prevent him from leaving.

Leo's lazy eyes bored into his worried one. "You got a problem with that?" Leo asked with a nonchalant tone. 

"Mick is saved okay? Do you really have to dirty your hands with his blood?" Tim asked looking seriously into Leo's eyes.

"You can do it and I can't?" Leo fired back.

"I don't mind doing it for you." Tim replied.

"They had to die by my hand. They killed my boys. They almost made me lose Mick." Leo said and Tim didn't get to reply to him, before Leo walked past him.

He stared at his departing feature and felt guilty. 

He must be blaming his being too nice on what happened to those boys. 

****

Leo left to get a doctor and got his arm treated. 

Clara had been wondering where he went, until Tim saw her coming out of Mick's ward and told her that he's currently getting treatment.

This came as a surprise to her because he had no idea he got hurt. 

She made her way towards the said ward and on getting there, she didn't bother to knock on the door before stepping in. 

A nurse walked past her and exited the room. 

Leo had just finished getting treatment for his wound and sitting on the bed, while putting on his shirts slowly when he heard her voice. 

"Leonard, you're avoiding me." 

Without looking up and feeling his heart racing in fear, "I'm not." He replied, still avoiding making eye contact with her. 

Clara walked closer till the space between them wasn't so far. 

"Mick is awake. He is with Belle now." Clara informed, not taking her eyes off him. 

"Thank you so much." Leo said.

"Won't you go to see him?" Clara asked, as Leo had his face looking at his thigh as he replied to her, not showing any signs of wanting to stand up.

"He needs time with Belle now. I will see him later." He replied.

Clara couldn't take it anymore and move closer to him. Her hands reached to both sides of his face and Leo bit down on his lower lip. 

Holding his face in between her palms, "why aren't you looking at me?" she asked, her voice breaking.

She had thought he would be happy if she helped make Tim get better but it's not happening. He didn't even smile like she wanted him to, when she said the man was now awoke. 

Her lips twisted as she held the urge to cry. When did he affect her this much? 

When did she start caring this much? 

"Look at me please." She begged, trying to lift Leo's head to make him look at her.

"I can't." Leo said, shaking his head to free himself from her.

"I beg you." Clara pleaded, already sobbing.

Hearing her soft sobbing, Leo looked up at her before knowing it, and immediately their gaze met he quickly looked back at his thigh.

"Don't cry please " He pleaded.

Clara was still in shock at Leo's irises. They are bloody red and scary. "Is this why you are avoiding me?" She asked.

"I'm nothing but a monster now. I killed those boys. They are someone's child, someone's father but instead of feeling bad, it felt good. I wish they could resurrect, so I could kill them all over again." Leo said.

"They brought it upon themselves, Leo. You are not to blame. They choose to kill for a living so they should already know that they might meet their end sooner or later.

They got what they deserve, and it was normal to feel that way. They killed some of your boys.

You are not a monster. You want vengeance for your lose and you got it. " Clara said.

"So please, stop avoiding me. It hurts." Clara added in a low saddened tone.

"How could I touch you with these hands that had lost count of its kills within a night? How could I ask you to love me with this mouth that ordered for kills?

How could I look at you with these eyes that took pleasure in watching a human being tortured?" Leo asked, looking into her eyes, with tears streaming down his face. 

"You can't love me now." He added.

Clara leaned closer and gave him a peck on his lips, while wiping his tears. "I don't care how many humans you killed with those hands and moreover you didn't kill the innocent."

"But I enjoyed it. I didn't feel pity for them even till present. I think I will still do the same if I get the chance again." Leo said, their gaze still remained locked. 

"You took pleasure in watching them get tortured, because they hurt you first." Clara made it clear to him again. 

Seeing him about to open his mouth and protest, she placed a finger on his lips to stop him. 

"And also, you don't need to ask me to love you, because I already did. I'm in love with you, Leonard." Clara said.