13. Chapter 13
After Ody closed the door, Mano looked down at the plate of risotto. He leaned back on the couch and took a bite. It was better than he expected.
Ody put on headphones. He’d already noticed something about Mano in the few days they’d known each other. When he didn’t want to talk, he simply left. So tonight, with him unable to walk out, Ody chose to give him privacy instead of pressure.
When Mano finished eating, he set the plate beside him and stared at the blank TV screen.
Ody saw a notification pop up.
Mano: Can you come over?
He stood instantly and pushed the door open. “What happened?” he asked, breath tight.
Mano looked up from the couch. “Come sit.”
Ody exhaled, relaxing as he joined him. “Was it good?” He nodded toward the empty plate.
“Really good.”
Ody smiled, took the plate to the sink, and returned.
Mano had reclined on the couch. “Can I turn on the TV?” he asked.
Ody stared at him.
Mano frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re different. I’ve never heard you talk like that.”
Mano blinked and looked away in embarrassment. Ody chuckled, grabbed the remote, and held it out. “Here. Put on whatever you want.”
Mano took it without meeting his eyes.
The TV buzzed as he searched for a movie. When he finally chose one, he set the remote down and tried to get up, wincing at the pain in his ribs.
“What do you need?” Ody asked.
“Uh... water.”
“I’ll get it. Don’t move.” He returned with a glass. “Here.”
Mano took it, drinking while keeping his eyes on Ody.
“Need more?”
“No, thank—” Mano cut himself off and looked away.
Ody smiled and set the glass aside. His eyes stayed on Mano, making him shift.
“What… what are you looking at?” he asked, noticing Ody’s gaze drop to his lips.
“I’m thinking we should put on more antiseptic. Hold on.” He returned with cotton and a bottle. Sitting closer this time, he dabbed at the small cut on Mano’s lip.
“It stings a little,” Mano murmured.
Ody dabbed at the cut, then blew softly on it. Mano watched him. Ody’s green eyes were stunning up close. He couldn’t tell if they were olive, sea green, or deep pine, but they were beautiful.
He found himself staring longer than he meant to. “You’ve got pretty eyes,” he said before he could stop himself.
Ody looked up, surprised, then smiled. “And you’ve got pretty lips.”
Mano flushed and turned his face away.
“Hey.” Ody caught his chin and turned him back. “I’m not done.” His fingers stayed against Mano’s jaw as he kept applying the antiseptic.
Mano swallowed. Ody was so close he could feel the warmth of his breath, his green eyes lingering on the very lips he had just called pretty.
“Ready,” Ody said, pulling back.
Mano looked away again, his fingers tightening in the fabric of the couch.
Ody tossed the cotton in the trash and returned. “Want me to put on a movie?”
“What movie?”
“Anything you want.”
Mano looked down at his hands. “I don’t know.”
Ody watched him for a moment, remembering the panic attack at the cinema. He kept his voice light. “How about a comedy?”
Mano hesitated before giving a small nod.
Ody went to grab his laptop. He brought it back and set it on the coffee table, opening it while Mano remained quiet on the couch.
“Want the lights on?” he asked, glancing at him.
Mano shook his head. “No. Turn them off.”
Ody switched them off and sat beside him. They watched in silence. Ody laughed more, but he didn’t mind. Seeing Mano smile after a night like this meant everything.
“That was good,” Ody said when the movie ended.
“Yeah.”
He checked his phone. “It’s twelve thirty. In about two hours you’ll need your pain meds. Does it hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“Want me to wake you up for it or let you sleep?”
“I don’t know... What do you think, doctor?” Mano smirked.
Ody chuckled, but the smile faded quickly. “Since you were hurt pretty badly... I think you should take another one. We’ll see how you feel in the morning.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you going to sleep?”
“I’ll set an alarm.”
“No, no need for that. Let’s just wait till morning.”
Ody shook his head. “I don’t mind. I go right back to sleep. I just want you to get better.”
Their eyes met.
Mano studied him for a moment, as if weighing whether to argue. “Okay,” he finally said. “But I’m sleeping here.”
“No, you’re sleeping in the bedroom.” Ody leaned forward. “I don’t want your back to get worse.”
“Why? Your couch is fine.”
“Mano...” Ody held his gaze. “I said what I said.” His tone left no room for argument.
Mano sighed and leaned back against the couch.
“Want me to take you in now?” Ody asked after a moment. “Feeling sleepy?”
Mano nodded. Ody helped him stand, guiding him slowly to the bedroom, and lowered him onto the mattress. “Do you want to change? Put on something more comfortable?”
“Like what?”
“I’ll get you something of mine. Though I’m not sure it’ll fit. I’m taller,” he teased.
Mano shot him a sideways glare. “Hey, take it easy, mikre.”
“What? I’m like two whole inches taller than you,” Ody said.
“And I’m two years older. So keep your mouth shut.”
“Wait. When’s your birthday?” Ody asked, smirking.
“March sixteenth.”
“Mine’s May fourteenth.” Ody paused for a second, doing the math. Then his eyes widened. “Oh shit. That’s more than two years.”
Mano laughed. The sound made Ody smile.
“That makes me older by two years and two months,” Mano said with a smug smile. “Mikre.”
Ody pouted. “Do you want pajamas or not?”
“No. I’m fine like this.”
“Yeah, but they got dirty when they…” His tone faltered. He glanced down, sighing. “Is it bad that I wanna do to them what they did to you?”
Mano lifted his eyes to him, his expression firm. “Calm down, mikre. I don’t want to worry about you too. You can’t take them on.”
“Why? Could you? Who can handle six guys with weapons?” Ody snapped.
Mano held his gaze for a moment, then looked away. “What’s done is done,” he said. “If you don’t mess with them, they won’t hurt you. They told me.” He forced the next words out. “You were right. Just sit back and take it.”
Ody frowned. “What?”
Kash’s voice echoed in his head. “If you try to play hero again, I’ll beat Ody worse than I’m beating you.”
Mano looked down. “Just... act like I never got involved.”
Ody stared at him, confused. This didn’t sound like Mano at all.
“You said what they did to you wasn’t a big deal,” Mano added. “Just… try to bear it. If you don’t want things to get worse.”
The words tasted like poison. Mano hated himself for saying them, but he’d choke on his pride if it meant keeping Ody safe.
Ody watched him, and something shifted in his expression. He thought Mano was scared for himself, that the beating had shaken him more than he let on. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing. And if you ever see them messing with me... stay out of it. Okay?”
Mano couldn’t bring himself to look at him. It made his stomach twist worse than any punch. How was he supposed to let them hurt Ody again and do nothing?
“I’ll head inside. If you need anything, text me. I’ll come back in two hours with the painkiller.” Ody stepped out and closed the door.
Mano pulled the sheet over himself. The door suddenly swung open again, making him jump. “What happened?” he asked.
“We didn’t say goodnight.”
Mano rolled his eyes and lay back down.
“Hey,” Ody whined.
“What do you want?”
“I said goodnight.”
“Bye.” Mano pulled the sheet over his head.
“I’m not leaving until you say goodnight.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Goodnight, I said.”
“Leave me alone, I said.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Jones. Mano Jones, have a lovely night. Goodnight to you, Sir Mano Jones—”
“GOODNIGHT!” Mano threw the sheet off and yelled.
Ody burst out laughing and closed the door behind him.
Mano exhaled, pulling the sheet up again. But in his frustration, the smallest smile sneaked out.
Ody turned on the TV, flipping through channels until he found a movie. It was already past 1:30 a.m. He’d talked to Anna earlier to explain Mano’s injuries and that he’d be staying overnight.
Anna: Are you still up babe?
He answered quickly, and they went back and forth for a while.
She kept pressing him about Mano, asking who had hurt him and why he was involved with someone like that.
Ody defended him, insisting she didn’t know the real Mano, that he was solid, that he’d been through a lot.
She told him to be careful. When Ody finally ended the conversation with a simple “Goodnight Anna”, she sent an annoyed reply.
He gave her the softer response she wanted and her tone eased instantly.
Ody set his phone aside with a quiet sigh and let the room fall back into silence.
At 2:30 a.m., he grabbed a pill and a glass of water and went to the bedroom. Mano was asleep.
“Mano... take your pill.” He set the glass on the nightstand. “Mano…” He nudged him gently, but he groaned. “Come on. Take the pill and go back to sleep.”
“Mmm.”
Ody handed him the water. Mano swallowed the pill with his eyes half-closed and lay back down. Ody eased off the bed, glancing at him once more before stepping out.
The next morning, Ody was in the kitchen making breakfast when he heard Mano calling him. “Good morning,” he said as he walked in.
Mano was lying back in bed. “Good morning.”
“Is something wrong?” Ody asked, surprised Mano actually returned the greeting.
“No. I just need help getting up.”
“How’d you sleep?”
“Alright.”
“Did it hurt during the night?”
“A bit. When I turned over.”
“Good thing I gave you the painkiller. Come on.” He helped Mano sit up, and they walked out together.
“What’s that smell?” Mano asked as a warm aroma filled the hallway.
“Breakfast. Are you hungry?” Ody smiled, looking into his eyes.
Mano stopped, staring back at him.
“What?” Ody asked.
“You… made breakfast?”
“Yes…?” Ody frowned, confused.
“For…” Mano blinked. “For me too?”
“Of course for you too. What do you mean?” Ody chuckled, and Mano’s expression softened, something gentle flickering in his eyes.
“Come on. I’m starving.” He took him by the arm and led him toward the kitchen.