There were fewer pans in the kitchen, Ulgar noted as he was tidying the kitchen after dinner. And a couple of pots were missing their lids. Were they still lying in the wet grass were the nightmares had attacked them? More likely, Zack and Charce had sold them to fund their journey back to Astra.

"Where is the desk from my room?", Ulgar heard Quitterie asking from the lounge, her voice not hiding how upset she was. "Don't tell me you sold it!"

"I did", Zack admitted not the least bit affected by the girl's outburst.

"How could you do that? What kind of partner sells his fiance's belongings?"

"Because you can just use my desk if you need to", the pilot explained casually.

Quitterie gasped. It would give her a reason to visit the other whenever she wanted. Moreover, it was almost like they were moving in together. "Alright, I forgive you this time."

"Ulgar", Kanata called out to him, ignoring the couple in the lounge. "The girls are having another sleepover so we guys are having one, too. Elsyon will also be there. You're gonna join, right?"

The addressed boy sighed. Yes, a random guy he hated for abducting Luca was going to die soon. For some strange reason that he had stopped to try and understand, everyone cared about him. Yet Team B-5 was having a sleepover instead of hurrying to his rescue, confident that they could just walk up and talk to the monsters of Nemesis tomorrow and miraculously solve the dilemma. Everything always fell into place for them and by now Ulgar had already accepted that that was their fate.

Well, not that he cared about Alfred so there was no reason for him to worry. Either way, they would soon be able to leave Nemesis. "Do what you like but don't involve me, captain." He sighed for the second time. Luca was probably in one of the girls' rooms already, enjoying the view. Or perhaps he would try to get another glance at Kanata's abs. Ulgar never knew who he should be jealous of with Luca.

Without given Kanata another chance to persuade him, the black-haired teen headed back to his room. The presumably last night on Nemesis would be one of peace and silence for him—or so he thought.

"Where have you been?", Luca greeted him cheerfully as always. "I've been waiting for you forever!"

As it turned out Luca had not gone to the girl's sleepover. "What are you doing here?" Given that the purple-haired teen had brought over his mattress, the question was as unnecessary as it was awkward. "Well, I mean… Not that I mind you being here."

"A sleepover without you would be boring", Luca explained smiling. "Don't worry, I told Aries I was going to the guys' sleepover and Kanata that I was going to join the girls." He knew Ulgar wouldn't want the others to know what they were up to. Plus, meeting in secret was much more entertaining anyway.

Surely, this was not right. "I'm going to take a shower." As the cold water brought him back to reality, Ulgar wondered whether relationships normally progressed this quickly. For the first time, the black-haired teen cursed his lack of interest in other people. He did not think that Quitterie was sleeping in Zack's room but who knew. On the other hand, Aries almost certainly did not sleep in the captain's room. Or did she?

Luca was probably just toying with him again. As usual, the purple-haired teen took pleasure in getting him flustered. However, that did not help Ulgar in finding out how to deal with the situation. The most important point, he figured as he went back to his room, was to not mess up anymore and act like a pervert.

"Good night", he said brusquely upon entering his room and went straight into his bed. There. Nobody would think of him as a pervert now. Luca would not get any amusement out of him tonight.

"But it's still early", his friend complained sitting on his mattress like a child forgotten in the play area.

His pajama was not fully buttoned up and the fabric was way too thin anyway. How could anyone be expected to sleep with temptation in person sharing his room? Reluctantly, Ulgar got back up and turned off the light. Temptation meant nothing to him now. "I'm tired, that's all."

"Do you always go to bed this early?", the purple-haired teen wondered, ignoring the darkness. "What time do you like getting up? Are you a morning person?"

Turned out turning off the light offered little protection from Luca's voice. "How about you?", Ulgar asked abandoning his attempt to sleep. His head almost completely covered by the duvet and facing the wall, he realised he did not know all that much about Luca. Barely anything to tell the truth.

Luca was still sitting cross-legged on his mattress, trying to make out the other's silhouette in the darkness, helped by a night light near the door. It was unusual for Ulgar to ask questions. "You really want to know?"

Ulgar did not know why he blushed over such a mundane topic. "Yeah." At least the purple-haired teen could not see him.

"Hm", Luca thought. "I don't like getting up early. But if it's for you, I'll try! Do you really want to sleep now?"

"No." Not that he would be able to sleep with Luca talking anyway.

"I'll join you then." Without waiting for a reply, Luca left his place on the mattress and sat down on the bed.

Ulgar could not comprehend why Luca's face was suddenly above him. Far too close, he thought almost scared. He was still processing the fact that he had kissed the other only hours earlier. Love had been a feeling completely alien to him but now it was as real as the hate he had felt for many years. "You're too close", the black-haired teen complained weakly.

"But that's what couples do", Luca replied, looking at the other expectantly.

"We're a couple?", the black-haired teen asked. He knew so little about relationships that he had not even noticed. Not that he minded. "We're a couple."

"Yeah", Luca confirmed, getting closer.

Ulgar was unable to decide whether the other was still only teasing him or actually trying to seduce him. Afraid about his own possible action, he closed his eyes, attempting to hide the desire that was visible in them.

"Are you scared?", the purple-haired teen asked amused by Ulgar's reaction. For a moment, Luca remained motionless. His eyes, now used to the darkness, were focused on his friend's face. Ulgar's skin was pale and flawless, the eyelashes even longer when his eyes were closed. How was it allowed for someone to be this hot? How could the other expect him to keep his hands off him?

With Luca above him, Ulgar slowly reopened his eyes. Even in the darkness, Luca's slender body was like a doll that would break upon his touch. Yet the other's white skin attracted his hands like a magnet. Perhaps it was okay to touch Luca, Ulgar thought but his hands had already moved forwards.

Startled by the motion, Luca lost his balance, now lying on top of the other. Ulgar did not mind, fearing that the purple-haired teen could be uncomfortable, he turned around and moved so that he was on top of the other, his weight supported by his legs and one arm.

"I am", he answered Luca's question way too late. It was only a whisper before his mouth busied itself with kissing the other.

His friend's skin was soft and reality felt much better than Ulgar's imagination. Their kiss broke and he gasped for air before meeting the other's lips again, this time with his mouth open, seeking Luca's tongue.

Luca felt his heartbeat rising as Ulgar's tongue entered his mouth, hesitantly at first, but quickly becoming more passionate. He had never thought the black-haired teen would react to his teasing and his intensity, albeit welcome, surprised him.

Having finished with Luca's mouth, Ulgar moved downwards, kissing his neck. The rational part of his brain had long stopped working, forgotten all caution and given in to desire. His hands moved on their own; now Luca's pajama was suddenly unbuttoned.

Luca softly moaned as he felt Ulgar's hands on his breasts. How could the black-haired teen be so skilled? Why did he know exactly where to touch him?

After caressing his breasts, Ulgar moved further downwards. Luca's waistline was slim, he noted surprised despite his mind struggling to form a logical sentence. He could see Luca's pants where his pajama bottom had moved down due to their movement. Male pants. As sexy as a wrinkled potato. But it was Luca who was wearing them, Ulgar decided unaffected.

As he was kissing the other's bellybutton, he suddenly stopped, feeling Luca's body stiffening. "Are you alright?", he asked, still breathing heavily.

In a panic, Luca did not know how to answer. There was a line he would never able to cross, even though Ulgar made him feel desired. Even though he wanted Ulgar as much as the other wanted him. Stopping now required all his willpower but there was no way he could continue. "I'm sorry, Ulgar", Luca finally replied, guilt audible in his voice. "I... can't do this."

For a moment, the black-haired teen struggled for control. It was hard to contain his ecstasy, desire urging him to continue. Yet Ulgar forced himself to stop. "What's wrong?", he asked trying to sound sober.

"I need to go now", Luca explained, Ulgar still above him. "Please… ."

The black-haired teen just nodded. Luca looked so vulnerable and fragile, he wondered why he did not notice before. It was not at all the look of someone who enjoyed himself, rather it was the look of a scared kitten hiding in a corner.

After Luca had fled the room, Ulgar sat in the darkness and wondered what had gone wrong. It was the purple-haired teen who had started this after all. Why would Luca lead him on for no reason? Or perhaps he had been too eager and scared the purple-haired teen? With only questions in his mind, sleeping was impossible for him now.

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