Chapter 1119: Snoring

Hannah's voice snapped Oscar back to reality. His eyes focused, and he saw her clearly. He watched her excitement bloom, her face reddening, before he abruptly released the staff, letting it clatter to the ground as if escaping a disaster.

"Commander, I was just helping you with the blanket. This young lady was worried you'd catch cold," the staff explained, his eyes red-rimmed, struggling for composure.

"Sorry," Oscar said, regaining his control. "I had a bad dream. Excuse me."

The staff's apology was almost unbelievable. The brutal man of moments before was now gentle and handsome, a completely different person. This unexpected kindness almost erased the lingering fear.

"Go rest," Oscar instructed.

The staff thanked him, rose respectfully, and left.

Hannah returned to her spot, assuming Oscar was fully recovered.

"Did I scare you?" he asked.

Hannah shook her head. "No." She knew he’d been defending himself, not attacking. Oscar chuckled self-deprecatingly. Her indifference to his actions stemmed from a lack of concern for him. She paid him little mind as she returned to her position, then paused. "Your arm is bleeding."

Oscar hadn't noticed. He glanced at the wound.

"It's fine," he said.

"Let Theodore re-wrap it," Hannah suggested.

Theodore, sleeping soundly, had been startled awake by Hannah's earlier shout, initially fearing Oscar's death. He’d then retreated back to sleep, deciding to give them space. Or perhaps, he mused, allow old feelings to resurface?

At Hannah's words, Theodore quickly covered his head with the blanket. "I'm exhausted; my head's spinning. I can't get up. Hannah, please help Oscar."

Hannah glared at him. Theodore burrowed deeper under the covers.

"It'll stop bleeding soon," Oscar said.

Hannah glanced at him. Seeing his eyes close, she realized their combined snoring would keep her awake. She fetched the nearby medicine box.

Oscar's heart pounded as he watched her movements. He lowered his head, afraid of offending her.

Hannah sat beside him and began removing the bandages. The cloth was blood-soaked, but the stitches held, though some blood had seeped through. She used iodine to stem the bleeding, touching his wound gently. Oscar's arm muscles twitched with pain.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

"No," he insisted.

Hannah rolled her eyes but said nothing. She re-bandaged his arm more gently, until Theodore's thunderous snoring drowned out the quiet.

Oscar looked at Theodore disdainfully. "He hasn't rested properly since Jolencami. Don't mind him."

Hannah laughed genuinely. "You snore just as loudly."

Oscar blushed, realizing his own snoring.

"It's okay. I understand."

She finished dressing his wound. Theodore's snores filled the cabin as Hannah moved away. Embarrassed and agitated, Oscar remained awake, staring at the lamp.

Hannah, her back to Oscar, hadn't heard his snoring. A fleeting smile crossed her face before she became serious again, tightening her lips and focusing on the night sky.

Six hours later, they landed at the Capital International Airport. Theodore stretched luxuriously. "Did you guys sleep?"

Hannah's eye roll left him confused. Had they fought again? He looked at Oscar, who remained silent. After six hours of Theodore’s snoring, who could blame him? And Oscar hadn't slept either, fighting off exhaustion.

They exited the plane to a waiting car. The bright sunshine bathed the Capital streets as they drove.

Hannah gazed out the window, a blank expression on her face as familiar streets gave way to unfamiliar ones.

"Go to my place," Oscar said abruptly.

Hannah turned to him. She’d been considering her options, lacking the funds or identification for a hotel.

"I don't know if Doyle will look for you in Northfield," Oscar explained, avoiding her gaze. "I can't guarantee your safety away from me."

Hannah stared at him until he added, "I'm not invincible." His meaning was clear: her safety depended on her proximity to him.