Chapter 29
Danny had been kidnapped by professionals.
Unfortunately for them-
he was extremely difficult to manage when hungry.
The rogue escorting him shifted uncomfortably as they walked through a quiet roadside stretch far from the city.
“Stop walking slowly,” he muttered.
Danny sighed dramatically.
“I’m tired.”
“You were tied up an hour ago.”
“And now I’m emotionally exhausted.”
The rogue stared at him.
Danny stared back.
Then blinked.
“…Also hungry.”
Silence.
The rogue looked like he regretted his entire career choice.
Danny immediately seized the opportunity.
“Cheeseburger,” he said.
The rogue frowned.
“What?”
“If you take me somewhere with a cheeseburger, I’ll stop complaining.”
“That’s not how kidnapping works.”
Danny nodded seriously.
“Then you’re bad at kidnapping.”
The rogue pinched the bridge of his nose.
“…Five minutes. One burger. Then we move.”
Danny smiled brightly.
“Perfect.”
–
The small roadside burger stall was nearly empty.
Plastic chairs.
Yellow lights.
The smell of fried oil and grilled meat hanging in the cold air.
Danny sat down immediately like he owned the place.
The rogue stood nearby, tense.
“You’re not going to run.”
Danny looked up at him while unwrapping his burger.
“I don’t run.”
“You were literally kidnapped.”
Danny took a bite.
“Mhm. Still not running.”
The rogue narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Danny chewed thoughtfully.
Then-
“You don’t actually want to do this, do you?”
Silence.
The rogue froze slightly.
Danny continued eating calmly.
“You look tired.”
The rogue scoffed.
“I don’t need your analysis.”
Danny shrugged.
“You’re bad at lying.”
That made him pause.
Danny leaned back in his chair casually.
“You’re not like the others.”
“…And you are?”
Danny thought about it.
“Annoying.”
Despite himself, the rogue almost smiled.
Danny pointed at the empty chair opposite him.
“Sit.”
“I’m not your prisoner friend.”
Danny nodded.
“Sit anyway.”
A long pause.
Then, reluctantly-
the rogue sat.
–
They ate in silence for a while.
Danny swung his legs lazily under the table.
Then finally spoke again.
“You lost someone.”
The rogue stiffened immediately.
Danny didn’t look at him.
Just kept eating.
“Mate?”
Silence.
Then a rough voice-
“…Yes.”
Danny nodded.
“Okay.”
The rogue frowned.
“That’s it?”
Danny shrugged.
“What do you want me to say? Sorry? I don’t know them.”
The rogue looked away sharply.
“My mate died in an accident. and then she vanished. No one cared. Not council, not pack. Nothing.”
His voice tightened.
“So I stopped caring too.”
He continued
“But one day Haron found me and told me that if i work for him, he will help me get justice for my mate, Once Serene becomes queen.”
Danny finally looked at him properly now.
Quietly.
“That sounds lonely.”
The rogue didn’t answer.
Danny took another bite of his burger.
Then said casually-
“You know, people act like once you lose a mate, that’s it.”
The rogue scoffed.
“That’s how it works.”
Danny shook his head.
“Not really.”
That made the rogue glance at him.
Danny continued calmly.
“My friend says sometimes people get second chances.”
The rogue stared.
“There’s no such thing.”
Danny shrugged.
“There might be.”
He pointed lightly with his burger.
“You’re still alive. That’s already kind of rude to your dead sad story.”
The rogue blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
Danny nodded seriously.
“If your life ended, you wouldn’t be sitting here eating my burger.”
The rogue looked like he didn’t know whether to be offended or confused.
Danny leaned forward slightly.
“Maybe your mate would’ve wanted you to… I don’t know. Not become boring and angry forever.”
Silence.
That hit differently.
The rogue looked down at his hands.
“…It’s not that easy.”
Danny nodded immediately.
“I know.”
Then he added-
“That’s why you need snacks.”
The rogue actually laughed once despite himself.
Soft.
Unexpected.
Then suddenly-
he froze.
His eyes lifted sharply toward the stall behind Danny.
Danny followed his gaze.
A young woman stood there holding a takeaway bag, looking confused.
The rogue stood abruptly.
“…Lira?”
The woman blinked.
“…Kane?”
Silence.
Then everything shifted.
The rogue moved so fast Danny barely saw it-
and suddenly he was standing in front of her.
Stunned.
Breathing uneven.
Danny watched quietly.
Oh.
Interesting.
Mate.
The rogue’s hands trembled slightly.
“You’re alive?”
The woman nodded slowly.
“I moved cities after the accident… I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
Danny quietly finished his burger.
Left it neatly on the table.
Then stood up slowly.
“Well,” he said casually, “this is my exit cue.”
The rogue turned quickly.
“…Wait.”
Danny waved lazily.
“I helped emotionally. I’m done.”
The woman looked confused.
“Who is he?”
The rogue stared at Danny for a moment.
Then softly-
“…Someone annoying.”
Danny nodded proudly.
“That’s my brand.”
Then he walked away without waiting for further drama.
–
It took a while to reach a public phone booth.
Cold night air.
Empty road.
Danny stepped inside and looked at the dusty glass.
He memorized the number.
The only number he remembered.
Lucas’s.
He dialed.
Ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
Danny frowned.
“…Seriously?”
He tried again.
Nothing.
He stared at the phone like it had personally betrayed him.
Then he hung up sharply.
“This is so inconvenient.”
He stepped out of the booth into the cold night.
Looked both directions.
No car.
No help.
Just a long road.
Danny sighed dramatically.
“…I have to walk back.”
Then started walking.
Annoyed.
Hungry again.
And extremely offended that nobody picked up.
