Chapter One-hundred Ninety-Seven: The Donati Christmas Gala

Chapter 197

The Donati Christmas Gala

Blair, Ashley, Sylvia, Demetrio, Yoshi, and Vanessa were in a grand, opulent ballroom meticulously decorated for the Christmas gala. The atmosphere was one of classic luxury and festive elegance. Blair wore a baby blue tuxedo with a matching top hat and blue shoes. Yoshi wore an orange tuxedo, a matching top hat, and orange shoes. Demetrio wore a black tuxedo with a burgundy cummerbund. Sylvia wore a brown pantsuit with a green turtleneck and brown cap-toe Oxfords. Vanessa wore an off-the-shoulder pink ballgown with baby-pink opera gloves, and Ashley wore a red sequin ball gown with puffed gold sleeves, gold running up the sides of the dress and the bodice, and a gold tiara of diamonds and rubies.

The ballroom featured a high, vaulted ceiling with intricate gold leaf molding and ornate plasterwork. Massive, multi-tiered crystal chandeliers hung along the center, casting a warm, golden glow across the venue.

The walls were lined with classical arches and warm-brown pillars, further embellished with gold detailing and small wall-mounted sconces that mirrored the chandeliers.

At the far end of the long red carpet stood a towering, brilliantly lit Christmas tree. Large, dramatic floral centerpieces in deep reds and greens sit atop the dining tables, adding height and a pop of seasonal color.

The room was dominated by a rich palette of gold, warm brown, and deep crimson, creating a regal, warm aesthetic.

Round tables were draped in crisp white linens. The chairs were covered in white linen and accented with large, elegant burgundy bows tied around the back. Each table was fully set with formal glassware and fine china, ready for a multi-course meal.

A plush red carpet ran down the center of the patterned carpeted floor, creating a grand aisle that leads the eye directly to the Christmas tree. The lighting was soft and ambient, relying on the hundreds of small bulbs from the chandeliers and the tree to create a “sparkling” effect.

There was a full buffet with a variety of salads, turkey, roast beef, dinner rolls, soups, fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, butter chicken, egg rolls, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, steamed oysters, steamed vegetables, and a dessert buffet with ice cream, cake, cookies, dessert squares, cheesecakes, fresh fruit, and a chocolate fondue fountain. Ashley sighed at the food, thinking of how they would prepare and cater it with Lazaros, and how much they missed his cooking. They felt a sting that Blair hadn’t asked them or consulted them to cater the desserts.

Ashley: “Oh… You went to someone else to cater this?”

They asked Blair with hurt in their tone. Blair smiled at Ashley.

Blair: “Sure did! Lucy took care of everything, the catering, the decorations, and organizing this gala!”

He beamed. Ashley’s eye twitched.

Ashley: “...You know I’m a baker and a decorator, right?”

They frowned.

Blair: “Yes, well, you don’t need to do that! You just need to be on my arm and looking pretty!”

He nodded. Ashley’s scowl deepened.

Ashley: “I like baking and decorating and would have wanted to do that…”

They pouted.

Blair: “Someone is already a bridezilla, and we’re not even at the wedding!”

He teased. Ashley wanted to cry. They felt trapped and didn’t know what to do, and wondered why they were subjecting themself to this when Lazaros wouldn’t save them from drowning. They felt as if they were drowning, and tears welled in their eyes. Blair turned to them with a smile.

Blair: “I know! I’m so happy I could cry, too!”

He wrapped his arms around them in an awkward hug, adding to Ashley’s feelings of suffocation.

Guests began arriving at the gala in formal attire, placing toys in the donation bin and envelopes on the tree for donation. Tristan came with Jasper. Tristan wore a double-breasted black suit with gold buttons, a lavender pressed shirt, a purple tie, and black wingtip oxfords. Jasper wore a bright red three-piece suit, a white pressed shirt, a yellow tie, and brown whole cut oxfords.

Tristan and Jasper placed their envelopes with their donations in the tree, respectively. Tristan scrutinized Ashley, recalling what Blair threatened to tell him, along with Ashley’s body language, their attire, and how discontented they were.

Tristan approached Ashley, and Jasper followed him.

Tristan: “Evening, Ashley! Merry Christmas.”

He smiled at them. Ashley brightened when they saw Tristan and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ashley: “Tristan! I’m so glad to see you! Merry Christmas!”

They chirped and greeted him with a hug and eyes that pleaded, “Help me.”

Tristan: “Is everything okay?”

He smiled.

Blair: “Everything is fine, you loser!”

He huffed.

Ashley’s eyes told another story, and they heaved a defeated sigh.

Tristan: “Ashley, I would love for you to show me your dessert bar.”

He gesticulated toward the desserts. Ashley froze with hurt.

Ashley: “Oh… I didn’t make the desserts.”

Their bottom lip trembled as they glared at Blair. Tristan smiled tightly.

Tristan: “Would you show it to me anyway?”

He asked. Ashley tilted their head at him.

Ashley: “Oh? Uhh, sure…”

They sighed.

Jasper: “May I come?”

Tristan grit his teeth and turned to Jasper. Ashley flicked their gaze to Jasper. Who’s this guy? His uncle? They wondered, knowing Victor was his dad and he couldn’t be his dad.

Tristan: “I want Ashley to show me their desserts.”

He forced a smile.

Blair: “They didn’t make them, you puff pastry!”

He snapped.

Ashley: “You’re a puff pastry! No! You’re a puff pastry that fell on the floor!”

They snapped at Blair.

Tristan: “Ashley, would you kindly show me the desserts and please refrain from wasting another breath on that blue parasite?”

He asked irritably. Ashley swallowed and nodded.

Ashley: “Okay! Let’s go!”

They tugged on Tristan’s sleeve and led him towards the dessert table.

Tristan went to the dessert table and examined the lavish desserts, and spotted several decorated gingerbread houses. A waiter, dressed in a red waistcoat, black pants, black shoes, a white shirt with puffed sleeves, and a bowtie, passed them with flutes of champagne on his tray. Tristan took one and sipped it.

Tristan: “So, you made none of these desserts?”

He asked them. Ashley sighed and shook their head.

Ashley: “No… he didn’t even ask me and just said I’m just meant to be his arm candy and being a bridezilla or whatever!”

They pouted. Tristan nodded and took another sip of champagne.

Tristan: “Interesting. Also, an interesting choice of dress. Did Blair make you wear it?”

He asked. Ashley couldn’t bring themself to look down at their outfit or look at their reflection in the mirror.

Ashley: “It wasn’t my choice. Yeah, he did.”

They embraced themself. Tristan pursed his lips.

Tristan: “I know Blair is blackmailing you, Ashley. I’m not stupid.”

He said evenly. Ashley gasped and cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “...H-How did you know?”

They whispered and shifted their eyes.

Tristan: “I read between the lines, pick up on hints, and study patterns. You’re clearly not happy, and you're in the wrong place here. I also take it you had no hand in the decorating. Ergo, you did nothing to contribute to this but be Blair’s plaything.”

He explained. Ashley embraced themself and nodded.

Ashley: “Y-You’re so smart, Tristan! You’re absolutely right! I-I don’t want to do this, and I don’t know how much more I can take…”

They cried. Tristan patted their shoulder and consoled them. Ashley hugged him and sighed with a sense of safety and security. Tristan hugged them back and drew a long breath.

Tristan: “So, shall I guess what he’s holding over your head, or will you tell me? Because I think I have an idea.”

He stated and drew a long breath.

Ashley: “You’re really smart, so I think you know, don’t you?”

They sighed.

Tristan: “Blair claims Lazaros put him in the coma and threatened to press charges, didn’t he?”

He asked firmly. Ashley froze and nodded.

Ashley: “Yeah… I’m doing this to save Lazaros… b-but, he wouldn’t even save me, and he and Deimos said some bad things about you and me!”

Their knees trembled as they cried with hurt. Tristan heaved a deep sigh and patted their shoulder.

Tristan: “Save you from what?”

Ashley: “Blair made me ride that lame Swan ride and freaked out, and then he knocked me into the water, and the stupid dress he made me wear got caught under the water, and I was drowning, but Deimos saved me… Lazaros didn’t even do anything, and then I heard that he said he forgave me for throwing up his food just for some tummy time, and Deimos said he did the same thing to you, too, so he would get his… private parts sucked!”

They cried to him. Tristan gaped at Ashley and sighed.

Tristan: “Okay, the parts about Lazaros and Deimos… I already knew those, but Lazaros not saving you… is not surprising.”

He laughed bitterly.

Tristan: “So ask yourself this: if Lazaros is too much of a crybaby to save you or talk to you about throwing up his food, what makes you think he would put Blair in a coma?”

He challenged. Ashley froze.

Ashley: “...Wh-What are you saying, Tristan? Are you saying he didn’t?!”

They cupped their mouth. Tristan locked his gaze on Ashley.

Tristan: “When Deimos would lash out at him and beat him, do you recall Lazaros hitting Deimos back?”

He asked firmly. Ashley paused.

Ashley: “...No, he didn’t do that…”

They stared off into space and trembled when it dawned on them.

Ashley: “...D-Does that mean that Blair was lying the whole time ‘cause Lazaros didn’t do this, and I did all this for NOTHING?!”

They cried and tensed up in a whirlpool of emotions.

Tristan: “Yes, that’s correct.”

He sighed. Ashley froze and breathed heavily. They then laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “Then that means I’m free and don’t have to be his slave anymore!”

They exclaimed. Blair put his arm around Ashley. Ashley saw red and reacted on instinct, pulling away from him.

Blair: “Yeah, well, Tristan can’t prove anything! I saw Lazaros beat me! Sorry, Tristan!”

He blew a raspberry. Ashley glared at Blair with hatred and resentment. Tristan smirked and glanced at Jasper.

Tristan: “We’ll see about that, Blair. You can’t defeat a chessmaster, you simple-minded jester.”

He grinned.

Jasper approached Tristan and placed his hand at the small of his back. Tristan’s jaw tightened. Ashley’s eyebrows rose surprisingly at their body language. What’s that about? They pondered.

Celeste and Jaxon approached them. Celeste wore a strapless, sequined black dress; a diamond-and-amethyst choker; a tennis bracelet; strappy-heeled sandals; and a white boa draped around her shoulders. Jaxon wore a black Italian-cut suit, a red shirt with the buttons undone to expose his chest tattoo, and black loafers.

Celeste: “Hey, Ash! So, uh, nice dress! It’s so not you!”

She laughed and looked at the sweets.

Ashley: “I know, right?”

They forced a smile with a bitter laugh.

Celeste: “Did you make any of these?”

She asked them.

Ashley: “Nope! Blair hired some lady to make them!”

They laughed bitterly.

Celeste: “Why, blue bitch? You got Ashley for that.”

She huffed.

Blair: “Mind your business, you psycho!”

He snapped back at her. Ashley frowned at Blair.

Ashley: “You’re a psycho!”

Jaxon: “HEY! Don’t talk to her like that, asshole!”

He snapped at Blair. Ashley hoped Jaxon would give Blair his come muffins.

Jordi and Madelyn arrived. Jordi wore a black Italian-cut suit, a purple pressed shirt, a black tie, and black loafers, and Madelyn wore the green ballgown Jordi gave to her.

Jordi: “Hey, Ashley!”

He smiled and waved.

Madelyn: “Heya, Ashley! Oh, uhh, nice costume?”

She laughed awkwardly.

Blair: “GET OUT OF HERE, YOU FAT PIECE OF DOO-DOO!”

He screamed at Jordi. Ashley rolled their eyes at Blair.

Ashley: “You’re a fat piece of doo-doo!”

They pouted at Blair.

Blair: “Don’t mind Ashley! They’re on PBS!”

He huffed.

Madelyn: “Oh?! You’re going on TV? How exciting! Is it a cooking show?”

She smiled at Ashley.

Ashley: “If only.”

They sighed.

Celeste: “I think Blair means ‘PMS.’ ”

She drawled and ate a slice of cheesecake.

Madelyn: “Oh, Blair totally has PMS!”

She remarked.

Blair: “Yeah, well, men don’t get it!”

He huffed.

Ashley: “You don’t get anything, Blair!”

They hissed at him.

Blair: “I got you.”

He smirked.

Ashley: “No, you don’t!”

They huffed.

~

Tristan ventured off with Jasper, following him. Tristan took another flute of champagne from a server. Jasper held onto a glass of red wine.

Jasper: “It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it? You look dashing, Tristan.”

He crooned and rubbed the small of his back. Tristan shuddered and forced a smile. He stepped away.

Tristan: “Thank you, Jasper.”

Deimos peered from behind the tree. He sneered at Jasper and came charging after him.

Deimos: “GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM!”

He bellowed and delivered a punch that sent Jasper crashing to the floor. Deimos lunged at Jasper and delivered a right hook, followed by a left hook. Jasper cried out and tried to pry Deimos off.

Jasper: “WHAT ON REONA ARE YOU DOING?! GET THIS MADMAN OFF ME!”

He cried.

Jordi, Madelyn, Blair, Ashley, Celeste, and Jaxon came out to see what the commotion was about.

Blair: “Why is Deimos here and dressed like a bum?!”

He huffed. Ashley sighed and wished Lazaros would fight for them. Jordi went to Deimos and tried to pry him off Jasper.

Jordi: “Come on, Deimos, that’s enough.”

He said firmly. Deimos shoved him away. Madelyn gasped and rushed to Jordi.

Madelyn: “HEY!”

Deimos: “FUCK YOU! I will NOT allow ANYONE to touch MY MAN!”

He bellowed at him. Tristan smirked. Tristan knelt to Jasper.

Tristan: “Are you okay, Jasper?”

He asked softly. Deimos bared his teeth and clenched his fist into a tight ball. Jaxonknelt to him and put his hands up. A red glow emitted from them as he healed Jasper.

Deimos: “HEY! What are you doing!?”

He hissed.

Jasper: “Thank you, kind young man!”

He smiled at Jaxon. Jaxon helped him up.

Jaxon: “Come on, man, I’ll get ya some water.”

He nodded and escorted Jasper away.

Tristan turned to Deimos.

Tristan: “Deimos, do you have something you want to tell Ashley?”

Deimos gaped at Tristan.

Deimos: “Oh, uh, sorry, Lazaros is a crybaby. Is that it, Tristan?”

Ashley sighed.

Tristan: “Deimos, Blair is blackmailing Ashley into believing Lazaros attacked him!”

He snapped.

Deimos: “...You think Lazaros attacked that piece of crap? He couldn’t save you from drowning. Why would he attack Blair?!”

He huffed. Ashley embraced themself and looked hurt. They knew he was right. Blair sneered at Tristan.

Blair: “Well, Lazaros DID attack me and put me in a coma.”

Tristan: “Shut up, Blair.”

He hissed at him.

Deimos: “I attacked Blair that night.”

He confessed, locking his gaze on Tristan.

Deimos: “I beat Blair up because I was angry with Tristan…”

He hung his head. Ashley gasped and cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “This whole time…”

They then laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “Lazaros didn’t even do ANYTHING, and I put myself through hell for him for… NOTHING!”

They burst out crying. Celeste consoled Ashley. Ashley hugged her and wept on her.

Celeste: “Oh, Ashley, it’s okay!”

Madelyn: “They’re both blue crybaby jerks, and you deserve better!”

She consoled them.

Deimos: “But I didn’t put Blair in a coma! I broke his jaw and left him bloody, but I didn’t do anything more!”

He added.

Deimos: “Someone else put Blair in a coma, and it wasn’t Lazaros!”

Ashley: “If it wasn’t him, who did it?!”

They gasped.

Blair: “SHUT UP! IT WAS LAZAROS! LAZAROS DID IT TO ME! NOW, LAZAROS WILL DIE!”

He rasped.

Ashley: “NO, HE DIDN’T YOU BIG BLUE LIAR! I BELIEVE TRISTAN AND DEIMOS! Lazaros never hurt anyone!”

They cried at him, recounting the times Lazaros never hit Deimos back.

Blair: “Oh, he will, Ashley! I will tell the police, and he will be executed, unless you stay with me!”

He flapped his arms. Tristan rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Oh, you silly, incompetent fool. Even if Lazaros did the deed, he wouldn’t be killed.”

He laughed bitterly. Ashley turned to Tristan.

Ashley: “...W-What? So he’s not in danger?!”

They gasped.

Tristan: “No. Let’s say Lazaros did it. He would be charged with assault, and the penalties would be fines or probation. He wouldn’t face the death penalty.”

He explained. Ashley felt a wave of relief wash over them, combined with anger that they sacrificed this all for Lazaros when he wasn’t in danger at all, and Blair lied to them. They turned to Blair with hatred and disgust and angrily tore their own dress apart.

Ashley: “YOU LYING MEAN, JERK!”

They cried at him, picking up one of the cheesecakes and throwing it at his head. Blair cried.

Blair: “I didn’t lie, Ashley! LAZAROS TRIED TO KILL MEEEEEEEE!”

He bawled.

Ashley: “Tristan is a lawyer, he’s NOT lying, and Deimos is his brother! YOU’RE A LIAR, AND I HATE YOU! KARMA WILL GET YOU!”

They cried and threw a cookie at him. They took their tiara off their head and threw it on the floor.

Blair: “OWWWWWWWHHH!!”

He cried.

They heard a “UNHAND THEM, YOU BLUE FIEND” from the ball and saw Lazaros standing there dressed in a nutcracker costume holding up a toy sword. Ashley gasped and melted when they saw Lazaros.

Ashley: “L-Lazaros?!”

They clasped their hands together.

Deimos: “Lazaros, what the fuck is this?”

He asked sharply.

Lazaros: “I am coming to save Ashley NUTCRACKER STYLE!”

He charged after Blair and whacked him with his toy sword. Blair cried and whined. He flailed his arms and hands at Lazaros. Ashley brightened and watched on in awe. Madelyn laughed at the ridiculous sight to behold.

Blair: “GET AWAY FROM MEEEEEEEE!! HE’S TRYING TO KILL ME!”

He whined.

Ashley: “...M-My hero!”

They sighed and swooned. Lazaros whacked Blair with the toy sword and sent him tumbling over the table with the gingerbread houses, knocking them over.

Blair: “MY TUXEDOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

He cried.

Tristan: “He attacked you with a toy sword. Fitting behavior for someone who allegedly put you in a coma. I rest my case.”

He smirked.

Blair: “SCREW YOU, BEATNIK! I CAN GO TO THE POLICE! THEY WILL BELIEVE ME!”

He sobbed as he rose to his feet.

Tristan: “You don’t have proof either, Blair. Besides, those attractions have security footage. I could pull a few strings and get them to show those to me.”

He tilted his head. Blair’s face went ashen.

Celeste: “He got you there, blue bitch.”

She laughed.

Ashley: “Ohhh! You got checkmated, you blue jerk!”

They laughed. Blair angrily rose, and Lazaros whacked him with his toy sword.

Blair: “STOP IT! STOP DOING THAT! STOOOOOOOOOPPP!!”

He cried. Ashley beamed up at Lazaros.

Ashley: “Thank you, Lazaros…”

Deimos delivered a punch to Blair that sent him crashing into the large gingerbread house, knocking him out.

Deimos: “You’re welcome.”

He huffed.

Ashley: “Thanks, Deimos!”

They added.

Deimos: “Don’t mention it.”

He looked at Tristan.

Lazaros put his arm around Ashley and pulled them in for a kiss. Ashley’s eyes widened as they were swept off their feet and returned the kiss.

Ashley: “Oh, my stars, Lazaros! You came for me!”

They gasped.

Lazaros: “I sure did, Ashley! Now the blue fiend has nothing!”

He beamed.

Ashley: “Yay! Thank you for saving me, and thank you, Tristan and Deimos! You saved me, too!”

They exclaimed.

Tristan: “It’s my pleasure, Ashley!”

He bowed.

Lazaros: “Let’s get out of here, Ashley! Let’s have you bake some yummy desserts for you to eat!”

He grinned. Ashley’s eyes lit up.

Ashley: “Oh my, I missed baking so much! And your cooking! And… you.”

They said softly.

Lazaros: “And I missed you very much!”

Ashley reddened and smiled.

Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, Jordi, and Madelyn watched them leave the gala. Jaxon returned to them.

Madelyn: “Well, that was some show, huh? I didn’t think there would be entertainment, too!”

She laughed.

Jordi: “Yeah, seeing Blair get his ass handed to him via a verbal asskicking and a toy sword was not on my bingo card, but here we are.”

He chuckled.

Celeste: “Almost as much as Ichiro showing me to his richonoid testing site.”

She drawled as she munched on a gingerbread man. Tristan, Deimos, Jaxon, and Jordi turned to her.

Tristan: “...What?”

Celeste: “Oh, I went to Ichiro to find out about Borko, and he took me to this place. He said he tested his richonoid serum on patients and has a body double.”

She explained.

Tristan: “And you tell me this now? Where is this place?”

Jaxon looked away with discomfort.

Jaxon: “I don’t want to go back to where that psycho used people as guinea pigs and touched MY Green Queen all over!”

He snapped.

Jordi: “Richonoid testing site and body double?”

Madelyn gaped, looking confused and concerned.

Tristan: “We have to go there.”

He said firmly.

Madelyn: “Oh, wow, that sounds dangerous! Will you be okay?”

She asked Jordi. Jordi smiled at her and nodded.

Jordi: “Yeah, I will be.”

He reached into his wallet and handed her some money.

Jordi: “In case I don’t come back in time, here is money for a cab home.”

Madelyn: “You stay safe!”

She kissed his cheek. He kissed her back.

Jordi: “You too.”

He went with Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, and Jaxon.

Jasper came back with a tray of sweets and looked around for Tristan.

Jasper: “Where the devil did Tristan head off to…?”

Victor waved to him. He wore an orange suit, a cream turtleneck, and brown loafers. Bastien was with him. He wore a brown suit jacket, khakis, a green sweater over a white pressed shirt, and brown loafers.

Victor: “Hello, Jasper! I believe Tristan went off with his friends on their Scooby-Doo adventure.”

He teased. Jasper looked somewhat hurt.

Victor: “My son and I made a bûche de Noël, and we’d like you to try it.”

He smiled.

Bastien: “Yes, Mr. Henderson! It’s something Father always made for Tristan!”

He held up a Yule Log cake adorned with cherries, an edible cardinal, and powdered sugar. Jasper’s eyes lit up.

Jasper: “That does look quite delicious!”

He went to a table with Victor and Bastien. Victor cut him a slice and set it on a plate. It was a chocolate sponge cake with a swirl of hazelnut whipped cream. He plunged his fork into it, took a hunk, and thrust it into his mouth. He beamed as he savored the cake’s flavors.

Jasper: “You two are quite the cooks! You both should be proud!”

He beamed. Victor smiled back at him, and Bastien’s face lit up.

Victor: “I love cooking.”

Bastien: “Cooking is a good way to express myself! I love cooking for my father and my brother!”

Victor smiled at him and patted his son’s back.

Jasper: “You two seem very close! And he looks like you!”

Victor smiled.

Victor: “Yes, Bastien takes over the Trémaux side more. I am glad one of my sons does.”

He nodded to Bastien.

Narcisse stood by a pillow and bared his teeth, seething in rage. What is he doing with that fat pig when he’s STILL married to my beloved Charlotte?! He thought as he dug his fingertips into the curtain.

Narcisse turned to Amanda and cried on her.

Narcisse: “Take me out of here, Amanda. I can’t bear to witness him cheating on her like this… or me.”

He sobbed.

Amanda: “Of course, sir.”

She scooped him up in her arms and flew him out of an open window.

~

Tristan was in Deimos’ car on the passenger’s side. He was following Jaxon’s car down the highway. Deimos flicked his gaze on Tristan and back on the road.

Deimos: “Why are you with that fucking fat fuck?”

He huffed. Tristan turned to him with a glare.

Tristan: “Is that all you can ask me while we’re in pursuit of Ichiro performing unethical experiments on others?”

He asked sharply. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Don’t dodge the topic!”

Tristan clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

He said coolly.

Deimos glared at him.

Deimos: “But you look like you’d rather be anywhere else when you’re with him.”

Tristan stared out the window.

Tristan: “That’s my problem, not yours.”

He muttered.

Deimos: “You hurt me, Tristan. You won. You don’t have to keep subjecting yourself to that fat piece of shit anymore!”

He spat. Tristan glared at Deimos.

Tristan: “Would you please shut up? I don’t recall asking for your opinion!”

He fired back. Deimos’ eyelids dipped, and he sighed.

Deimos: “Why are you in my car with me?”

Tristan rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Because I want to get to the bottom of what Ichiro is doing! I can’t teleport, Deimos!”

He said sardonically.

Deimos: “You could have gone with Jordi.”

He said flatly. Tristan looked away.

Tristan: “I never asked for your input. Don’t talk to me.”

He cupped his mouth as he gazed at the sky.

Deimos: “I… I love you.”

He said to Tristan, giving him a beseeching look. Tristan had a pain in his eyes and gazed at the moons.