Unwritten Fate [BL]-Chapter 22: "A Morning of Revelations"

The golden light of dawn seeped through the thin curtains, casting long shadows across the wooden floor.

The house was unusually quiet. Billy rarely slept in, yet the silence stretched longer than usual. It wasn't until he stirred, the warmth of his blanket tempting him back into sleep, that he noticed the faint sounds outside—steady, rhythmic, intrusive.

the warmth of his blanket making it tempting to drift back into sleep. But outside, the steady rhythm of something—wood against wood, the faint scrape of metal—intruded on the silence.

A dull, repetitive sound.

It took him a moment to register what it was.

Then, blinking against the morning light, he slowly sat up.

The bed was warm, but the air beyond it carried the crispness of morning. He rubbed a hand over his face, his mind still heavy with sleep as he listened.

Another solid thunk.

It was coming from outside.

Billy dragged himself up, stretching as he padded toward the window. The cool wooden floor sent a small shiver through his bare feet.

Pushing the curtain aside, he caught sight of the familiar figure just beyond the house.

Artur.

He was already outside, his sleeves pushed up, moving with quiet focus as he worked on the storage shed they had mentioned fixing yesterday. The morning sun cast long shadows across the ground, highlighting the steady movement of his arms as he adjusted the wooden planks, hammering them into place.

Billy exhaled through his nose.

Of course, Artur had started without him.

Shaking his head, he finally stepped away, slipping on his boots before making his way outside.

The fresh morning air hit him instantly, cool and crisp, carrying the scent of earth and sawdust. He ran a hand through his messy hair, still feeling the weight of sleep clinging to his limbs.

Artur barely looked up as Billy approached.

Billy frowned, his voice rough with sleep. "You started already?" He hadn't expected Artur to begin without him.

A part of him felt guilty—he had said he would help—but another part, quieter, simply watched as Artur moved with practiced ease, sleeves pushed up, hammer steady in hand.

Artur smirked, adjusting one of the beams. "If I waited for you, I'd be out here till noon."

Billy scoffed, rubbing his arms. "You could've at least woken me up."

Artur straightened slightly, rolling his shoulders before glancing at him. "Figured you needed the rest." His tone was casual, but there was something behind it—something unreadable.

Billy held his gaze for a second before shaking his head. "Still, you should've waited. I said I'd help."

Artur exhaled, stepping back to inspect his work. "It was just a small refinement. Nothing much."

Billy eyed the nearly finished adjustments. It wasn't a big repair, but it still looked like Artur had put in the effort. His hands were dusted with bits of sawdust, and a faint sheen of sweat clung to his skin despite the cool air.

Billy sighed. "You really don't know how to sit still, do you?"

Artur snorted, picking up a cloth and wiping his hands. "And you really don't know how to wake up early."

Billy huffed but didn't argue.

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Instead, he stepped back toward the house. "I'm getting coffee."

Artur only gave a small nod, already turning back to his work.

Billy sat at the dining table, fingers curled around the warm ceramic cup.

The first sip of coffee was bitter, but it did the job of waking him up properly. He leaned back slightly, letting his body settle into the chair as he exhaled. The house was quiet now, save for the occasional distant noise from outside.

It was a rare moment of stillness.

A moment he didn't realize he needed.

He had barely made it through half of his cup when footsteps sounded from the main room.

Artur.

Billy glanced up as he stepped inside, shaking his hands free of dust. His sleeves were still rolled up, and there was a light sweat on his collarbone from the morning's work.

Billy watched as Artur moved toward the chair opposite him and sat down with a quiet sigh.

"Done already?" Billy asked, raising a brow.

Artur rested an arm against the back of his chair. "Yeah. Just needed a few final touches."

Billy took another slow sip, studying him for a moment. Then, with a smirk, he leaned forward slightly.

"So, troublemaker, huh?"

Artur blinked. "What?"

Billy grinned. "Yesterday. Your dad said you were a stubborn little kid, always picking fights with people."

Artur exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "He exaggerates."

Billy tilted his head. "Does he?"

Artur didn't answer immediately. He reached for the jug of water on the table, pouring himself a glass before finally muttering, "Not everything he said was wrong."

Billy smirked. "I knew it."

Artur shot him a look. "Don't start."

But Billy only leaned back, stretching his arms. "So, you really stood outside an old man's stall for hours just to prove a point?"

Artur groaned. "Why do you even care?"

Billy shrugged, taking another sip of coffee. "It's interesting."

Artur scoffed, shaking his head again.

But Billy could tell—he wasn't actually annoyed.

And somehow, that only made the morning feel a little lighter.

Billy tilted his head, watching as Artur leaned against the table, arms crossed.

"I'm meeting some friends near the market," Artur said, his tone casual. "Wanna come?"

Billy raised a brow. "Can I?"

Artur gave him a dry look. "As if you ever ask before you follow me somewhere."

Billy smirked. "True. But it's nice to be invited for once."

Artur rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Instead, he pushed off the table and gestured toward the door. "Let's go before you start getting sentimental about it."

Billy chuckled as he stood, stretching his arms before following Artur outside.

The late morning air was warm but not unpleasant, carrying the scent of fresh bread from nearby stalls.

They walked side by side, their pace unhurried, the easy rhythm of their footsteps blending into the steady hum of the village.

Billy shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing toward Artur. "So... these friends of yours. Do they actually like you, or do they just tolerate you out of obligation?"

Artur didn't even look at him. "Why do you ask?"

Billy smirked. "Because I know I'm still figuring that out myself."

Artur let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Don't worry. They're better at putting up with people than I am."

Billy hummed. "So, they tolerate you and your social skills. Impressive."

Artur shot him a sideways glance. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to start a fight."

Billy grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Artur exhaled, his expression unreadable for a moment before he said, "They're good people. You'll see."

Billy nodded but didn't push further.

Instead, he looked around, taking in the familiar bustle of the village. The market area was lively—stalls lined up neatly, vendors calling out their goods, the scent of dried herbs mixing with the crispness of freshly cut fruit.

Billy slowed slightly, watching a group of kids chase each other around one of the stands.

"Ever get into that kind of trouble when you were young?" he asked, nodding toward them.

Artur followed his gaze, expression neutral. "Not exactly."

Billy raised a brow. "Oh? I find that hard to believe."

Artur huffed. "I wasn't playing in the streets, if that's what you mean."

Billy grinned. "No, you were too busy standing outside people's stalls for hours just to prove a point."

Artur groaned. "Are you still on that?"

Billy shrugged. "It's a good story. I like picturing a tiny, stubborn you, glaring at some poor vendor until he gave in."

Artur sighed, shaking his head. "I wasn't tiny."

Billy smirked. "So you were stubborn, then."

Artur shot him a look. "Do you want me to take you to meet my friends or leave you here to harass strangers?"

Billy laughed. "Fine, fine. I'll behave."

They walked a little further in comfortable silence, the sounds of the market filling the spaces between them.

Then, just as they neared the meeting spot, Billy nudged Artur lightly. "For the record, I think you were probably a pain in the ass as a kid."

Artur didn't even hesitate. "And you still are."

Billy barked out a laugh. "Fair enough."

And just like that, the tension in his chest eased.

Maybe Artur's friends were good people. Maybe they weren't.

But right now, walking side by side, Billy didn't really care.

Billy glanced at Artur as they continued walking. "Another get-together?" he asked, a teasing edge to his tone. "Or is this an exclusive secret meeting?"

Artur barely reacted, his gaze steady ahead. "It's an opening," he replied. "One of our friends just set up a new shop nearby. We're just stopping by for a small celebration."

Billy hummed, slipping his hands into his pockets. "So, free food, then?"

Artur shot him a side glance. "That's what you got from that?"

Billy grinned. "Hey, priorities."

Artur only shook his head, muttering something under his breath as they finally turned a corner, the gathering coming into view.

The place was already lively, a mix of laughter and chatter blending with the crisp air. A small group had gathered outside the shop—familiar faces, some Billy recognized, some he didn't.

And, of course, among them stood Jay, his sharp eyes already locked onto Billy the moment they arrived.

"Well, well," Jay drawled, stepping forward with an easy smirk. "Look who finally decided to be social."

Billy rolled his eyes. "Not by choice."

Artur ignored them, already greeting the others. Billy followed, taking in the group. Some of them he had seen around the village, but introductions were still made—some already knew of him, others were just now putting a face to the name they'd heard in passing.

The atmosphere was easygoing, warm. They made space for him in the conversation naturally, no awkwardness, no guarded stares. It was... nice.

Even as Jay leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough for Billy to hear.

"So," he murmured, amusement dancing in his eyes. "What happened to that friend A who kissed friend B and then told him to forget it?"

Billy stiffened, his expression carefully blank.

Jay only grinned. "Did they sort things out?"

Billy sighed. "Jay."

Jay chuckled. "Relax, I'm just messing with you."

Billy shot him a look, but Jay only nudged him lightly before turning his attention back to the group.

The conversation flowed around them, easy banter and familiar teasing. A few of them took turns playfully ribbing Artur—something about how miraculous it was that he had willingly come to a social gathering.

Billy, of course, jumped in on that immediately. "Yeah, Artur, didn't think you were the type for celebrations."

Artur gave him an unimpressed look. "I'm not."

One of the others laughed. "He only came because we made him."

Billy smirked. "So that's what it takes."

Jay snorted. "Oh, Artur's always been like this. Never one to jump into anything fun."

Billy's brow arched. "That so?"

Jay hummed, tilting his head in thought before his gaze landed back on Billy. "Which reminds me—if you keep hanging around Artur, you're never going to have any actual fun in this village."

Billy blinked, caught off guard. "Oh?"

Jay grinned, leaning slightly closer, his voice dropping just enough to make it feel like a private conversation. "There's a lot of beautiful places around here. I'm sure Artur hasn't shown you around properly."

Billy opened his mouth, but Jay wasn't done.

"If you ever feel like doing something that doesn't involve work," Jay continued, "come with me. I'll show you around. Not every day has to be about responsibilities."

Billy studied him, trying to gauge whether Jay was actually being serious or just pushing buttons.

"Sure," he finally said, keeping his tone unreadable.

Jay's grin didn't falter, but his eyes held something sharper—something just shy of a challenge. It wasn't just an invitation; it was a test.

And when Billy glanced toward Artur, he didn't miss the way his fingers flexed slightly before shoving his hands into his pockets. Almost like restraint.

Artur hadn't spoken in a while. When Billy finally looked his way, he caught the flicker of something in his expression—his jaw tightening just a fraction, his shoulders rolling back like he was resetting something within himself.

His fingers twitched at his side before disappearing into his pockets. A small motion, but it said enough.

Didn't miss the way his fingers twitched at his side before he shoved his hands into his pockets.

He was watching them.

And maybe it was nothing.

Maybe Billy was imagining it.

But for some reason—

It didn't feel like nothing.

Billy let the conversation drift around him, but a part of him remained acutely aware of Artur.

Even as Artur turned away, joining the rest of the group, there was something different in his posture—his usual ease wasn't quite there. The way his shoulders shifted, the way his jaw was set just a little tighter than before.

Billy wasn't sure why he noticed these things. Or maybe he was.

Maybe it was easier to pretend otherwise—to ignore the weight of an unspoken something hanging between them, nestled in the spaces where words didn't quite reach.

But instead of dwelling on it, he let himself sink into the moment, blending into the easy energy of the gathering.

On the other side of the group, Artur stood with a few of his closer friends, his expression finally loosening a fraction.

"So, are you actually impressed with the place, or are you just nodding along?" one of them—Ren—asked, smirking as he crossed his arms.

Artur glanced at the shop, then back at Ren. "It's nice."

Ren huffed a laugh. "That's it?"

Artur shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"

"That you'll actually step inside and buy something," another voice chimed in—Milo, leaning casually against the shop's wooden frame.

Artur gave him a dry look. "I just got here."

Milo raised a brow. "Uh-huh. And how long do we think that excuse will last?"

The group chuckled, but Artur only shook his head. "I'll get something later."

Ren grinned. "We'll hold you to that."

Artur exhaled, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. "You're all annoying."

"Yes we are," Ren shot back.

Artur didn't dignify that with a response.

Milo chuckled before his eyes flickered past Artur. "So. Billy, huh?"

Artur's body went still for a fraction of a second.

Then he turned slightly, as if the mention of Billy's name wasn't enough to immediately pull his focus. "What about him?"

Milo smirked. "You brought him along."

Artur frowned. "And?"

Ren shrugged, sipping from his drink. "Just didn't take you for the type to start bringing people places."

Artur rolled his eyes. "It's not that serious."

Milo hummed, unconvinced. "Maybe not. But Jay's sure getting along with him."

The words were light. Casual.

But they still made something in Artur's chest tighten.

He didn't look. He didn't need to.

Because he knew exactly where Billy and Jay were standing.

Could hear Jay's laughter, could picture the easy lean of his posture.

Billy's posture.

And the thought alone was enough to put a weight in his ribs that he didn't want to name.

Billy had just finished brushing off yet another one of Jay's teasing remarks when he felt a presence shift near him.

He looked up just in time to see Artur stepping closer, his attention flickering between them before settling on Billy.

"Ready to go?" Artur asked, his voice even.

Billy blinked. "Already?"

Artur didn't react, just waited.

Jay snorted, glancing between them. "Look at that, your babysitter's here."

Billy shot him a look. "Shut up."

Jay grinned, raising his hands. "Alright, alright." Then, to Artur, "Didn't take you for the jealous type."

Artur didn't react immediately.

But Billy swore—just for a moment—he saw the faintest flicker in Artur's gaze.

It was gone just as fast.

Artur was ready to leave.

He didn't say it, but he felt it—the pull to just step away.

To get some distance.

But before he could move, Ren clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, you're not running off yet, are you?"

Artur exhaled, his muscles tensing. "I wasn't—"

"Yeah, yeah." Ren waved him off. "Sit. You're always disappearing halfway through."

Another voice chimed in. "Yeah, for once, stay and actually enjoy something."

Artur hesitated.

Then, against his better judgment, he stayed.

But this time, when he sat, he made sure it was next to Billy.

Billy barely noticed at first, still wrapped up in a conversation with Jay.

Something light. Something teasing.

Something that had Jay smirking and Billy huffing out a quiet laugh.

And Artur hated it.

Not the conversation. Not the laughter.

But the feeling it left inside him.

Like something was twisting deep in his chest.

Like something was being pushed aside.

He didn't know what it was.

But he felt it.

And he hated that, too.

Billy finally turned, catching Artur's gaze. "You okay?"

Artur didn't answer right away.

Because the truth?

No.

He wasn't okay.

But instead of saying that, he just nodded. "Fine."

Billy didn't look convinced.

But before he could press further, Jay leaned in slightly, nudging Billy's arm. "Hey, tell them about that thing you mentioned earlier—"

Billy's attention shifted.

And Artur felt that pull again.

Like he was being pushed aside all over again.

Like he was sitting right there, and still—

Somehow—

He was too far away.

Artur barely heard the conversation around him anymore.

He sat stiffly, fingers curled against his knee, gaze fixed on the table—anywhere but them.

But even if he wasn't looking, he could feel it.

The way Jay leaned in toward Billy, his hand brushing against Billy's arm, lingering just a second too long.

The way Billy huffed a laugh, shaking his head at whatever nonsense Jay was whispering to him.

The way Jay, always pushing boundaries, nudged Billy's side, too familiar, too comfortable.

Artur's fingers twitched.

He exhaled slowly through his nose, forcing himself still.

This was stupid.

It shouldn't bother him.

Billy could talk to whoever he wanted. Laugh with whoever he wanted.

And yet—

Artur's shoulders tensed as Jay leaned in again, his voice dropping into something just low enough that Billy tilted his head, amused but curious.

Artur's jaw clenched.

His nails pressed into his palm.

His whole body felt wired too tight, coiled with something restless, something he refused to name.

And he couldn't sit here anymore.

Couldn't watch this anymore.

His chair scraped against the ground as he stood abruptly.

"I have unfinished work nearby," Artur muttered, his voice even, controlled.

Too controlled.

Ren blinked at him, confused. "Now? You serious?"

Artur didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

Because his feet were already moving—

Away from the table, away from them.

Away before something worse slipped out.

Billy barely had time to register the words before Artur was already moving.

Leaving.

And for the first time—

He didn't ask Billy to come with him.

Didn't glance back. Didn't hesitate. Just left.

Billy frowned.

Something about it felt... off.

And before he even thought about it, he was already standing too.

"I'm going with him," Billy announced.

Jay raised an eyebrow, but didn't stop him.

Billy didn't wait for a response anyway.

He just turned, following Artur's retreating figure.

Artur heard Billy's footsteps behind him.

He expected it.

But he didn't acknowledge it.

Didn't slow down. Didn't look back.

Just kept walking.

Billy caught up easily, falling into step beside him.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Artur didn't want to speak.

Because if he did—

He wasn't sure what would come out.

And he wasn't ready for that.

Billy walked beside him, silent but not absent. His presence was steady, persistent.

Artur kept his eyes forward, his hands curled into loose fists at his sides. The night air was cool against his skin, but his thoughts burned too hot—too tangled—to feel it.

Billy exhaled softly. Not a sigh. Not quite. Just a small, measured breath, like he was waiting.

And Artur knew—if Billy spoke first, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from answering.

So he walked faster.

But Billy didn't fall behind.

Didn't give up.

And for some reason, that made it harder to breathe.