Betrayed, I Knocked Demon Lord's Door - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Turns out, that feeling of emotional drop-off really messes with your mood.
Caitlyn was used to Leon waiting for her after class. The fact that he didn't show today? Yeah... even she couldn't help feeling a little down.
Not that it meant anything, of course—it wasn't like she liked Leon or anything. Totally normal emotional reaction.
Honestly, if it had been Germaine picking her up every day and suddenly stopped, she'd probably feel the same.
Caitlyn took a deep breath, brainwashing herself into calmness as she marched toward her office.
Hearing the door, Leon's ears twitched. He lifted his head groggily.
"Oh... class is over? I must've dozed off... I didn't come pick you up..." he mumbled.
Caitlyn's frosty expression faltered for a second, then softened bit by bit.
"Like I care," she huffed under her breath, walking over to him.
Leon stretched, mid-yawn—then suddenly froze. His pupils shrank as he scrambled to close the folder full of her pictures on the screen.
If she saw those, he was dead meat.
Caitlyn noticed his odd behavior and leaned in suspiciously. When her eyes flicked to the monitor, she froze. "Wait... were you just looking at—at those kinds of things?"
Leon's mouth twitched. He almost laughed.
Wait, did she just compare her photos to porn?
"What the hell are you imagining? I was playing a game, alright?"
"Then why were you so jumpy when I walked in?"
"I thought you'd scold me, okay?" he retorted, defensive. "You're out there lecturing and I'm in your office gaming—it's not exactly professional."
"I could sit in on your classes," he added. "You just don't want me there. So I'm left to entertain myself. You can't really blame me."
Caitlyn stared at him for a moment, then dropped her teaching materials on the desk and flopped onto the couch.
"Fine. Better than harassing random students outside."
Leon wrinkled his nose. "Do I look like that kind of guy to you?"
"Kinda," Caitlyn smirked, as a memory tugged at her lips.
This big dork? The only thing he could 'harass' was a vending machine.
But her smile looked like mockery to Leon.
"What's that look? You think I've got no charm? I'll have you know, I get chatted up by girls all the time. They can't even hold eye contact with me—they blush and run away."
Caitlyn's phone buzzed.
It was a message from Arwen: [Caitlyn, could you ask Leon to stop intimidating students? He's blocking a hallway. No one dares walk past him.]
Caitlyn's eye twitched. She shot Leon a glare. "Blushing and running away? Sounded more like fearing for their lives."
Leon peeked at her screen and cleared his throat. "I was only there for ten minutes. Just had a quick chat with Kathleen. Arwen exaggerates everything."
"Oh. So the 'girl who talked to you' was Kathleen?" Caitlyn said, catching on instantly.
Leon's face darkened. "Could you not say that out loud?"
It was so embarrassing.
Caitlyn stared at him, half annoyed, half amused. "I don't care if you game in here or whatever. But no more scaring students on campus."
"I wasn't scaring them—I was being friendly."
"Leon."
"Okay."
Smart men don't argue with women. Leon just compromised.
A beat passed. Then Caitlyn asked, trying to sound casual, "So... what were you and Kathleen talking about?"
Leon glanced at her and broke into a grin.
"Relax. She just didn't want her adorable students being 'bullied' by me. That's all. Besides, no one could ever get between us. I only hang out with you."
"That's not what I asked," Caitlyn muttered, her ears turning pink.
"Mhm. Sure."
Lunchtime came, and Germaine showed up to hang off Caitlyn as usual.
Not that Caitlyn wanted her around—but Germaine always invited herself.
With the two of them chatting away, Leon trailed behind like the third wheel.
He could take it. Barely. But still.
Germaine gave Caitlyn a sly little smile.
"So, Caitlyn. Sleep well last night?"
"Sleep well, my ass." Caitlyn glared, voice low. "Thanks to your stupid suggestion, I got pulled into a bear hug and sniffed like a chew toy. You see these dark circles? You call this 'sleeping well'?"
"Aww, I wasn't asking you. I was asking if Leon slept well."
"How would I know? It's not like we sleep in the same room!" Caitlyn snapped. That reminder only made her madder.
Leon had woken up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. She'd been up all night.
This clueless guy...
It just made it seem like she was the only one bothered by the hug.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She turned and shot Leon a death glare.
Leon, totally unaware, looked at her, confused. 'Why's she glaring at me again?'
He frowned. 'Germaine can't be talking trash about me, right?'
Then it hit him. He did the math. 'Oh... it's almost that time of the month.'
Better tread lightly.
Instead of reacting, he gave Caitlyn a warm, gentle smile.
Caitlyn froze. That smile knocked the wind right out of her irritation.
'Wait... was I being too harsh?' she wondered, guilt creeping in.
Germaine seized the moment. "See, Caitlyn? I told you—you're the best medicine for Leon."
"He's probably too embarrassed to admit it, but if you were just a little more kind... a head pat at night, a gentle word—he'd sleep like a baby."
"And he'd become more understanding, more thoughtful. Your relationship would thrive."
Emotionally, romantically...
Germaine didn't say the last part out loud. If she did, Caitlyn would dig in her heels.
But if she let Caitlyn pretend things were pure and platonic, she'd go along with it.
As her loyal ex-subordinate, Germaine knew Caitlyn like the back of her hand.
Still... she wasn't quite sure when things had started between her and Leon.
"But what if he hugs me again out of nowhere?" Caitlyn asked softly, eyes dropping in embarrassment.
Germaine's lips curled. Bingo.
Caitlyn's tolerance for Leon was getting lower and lower...
"Just do what you did last time to make him let go. Or, if it's just a little hug, maybe let it slide.
"To someone with emotional issues, a hug from someone they trust is... priceless. Healing, even."
"B-but..."
"If you really don't want to, that's okay. But if you shut him down too hard, it might hurt him.
"You're probably the most important person in his world right now.
"And hey, between friends, a hug isn't that big a deal, right?"
Caitlyn bit her lip. "I'll... think about it."
"Take your time. No rush. Right now—let's eat."
The cafeteria came into view just then.
Suddenly, Leon quickened his pace and stepped into their private conversation bubble, gently grabbing Caitlyn's hand.
His face was serious as he guided her toward the cafeteria.
Caitlyn stiffened, her train of thought scattering.
"It's crowded. I'll hold on so you don't get knocked over," he said simply, eyes forward.
Germaine's smile stretched wider.
Casually, she let go of Caitlyn's arm—handing her right back to Leon.