Chapter 151: Friendships Between Men Are Forged in Fights

"Mind your own business!"

Jayce glanced at Nathan Thorne.

"You should worry about yourself. Who knows, Dr. Hayes might decide to use you as a lab rat and cut you up at any moment!"

Nathan Thorne immediately wrapped his arms around himself. "No way! Dr. Hayes said he wouldn’t—"

Jayce gave him a knowing look. "You actually believe what Dr. Hayes says? How can you trust a mad scientist?"

Nathan Thorne was speechless. "..."

Nathan Thorne was completely stunned.

"Can I leave now? This base of yours is way too dangerous! I want to go home! I want to go home right now!"

Jayce, who had just been putting on a serious act, burst out laughing. "You actually fell for that? You’re so..."

Nathan Thorne was bewildered. "??? You were lying to me?"

"What do you think?" Jayce was laughing so hard he was almost crying. "How did I never notice you had such a naive side!"

Without a second thought, Nathan Thorne lunged at Jayce.

Neither of them used their Superpowers, just resorting to good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat.

Both were trained fighters to begin with, and since their physical conditioning had improved after awakening their Superpowers, their fight was impressively fierce.

While it wasn’t a fight to the death, they were both taking it very seriously.

It was a good thing the living room was large and spacious enough to give them room to go at it.

Otherwise, they would have torn the house down.

Half an hour later, Sierra Sullivan emerged from the master bedroom with Candice Tate, who had just finished washing up, only to find Jayce and Nathan Thorne lying on the floor.

Both of them were flushed, their faces slick with sweat.

Even their clothes were soaked through with sweat.

If their clothes hadn’t been on properly, Sierra Sullivan really would have gotten the wrong idea.

Candice Tate had never seen such a scene before.

She had been a little sleepy, but seeing the two of them like this, her eyes went wide.

"Sister, what’s wrong with them?"

Sierra Sullivan looked at the two, a little speechless. "They had a fight."

"A fight?" Candice Tate was even more surprised. "Why were they fighting? Did they have a disagreement? Or were they fighting over something?"

To Candice Tate, whose education was only at a kindergarten level, the only reasons two people would fight were over an object or because of a disagreement.

Why else would people fight when everything was fine?

Sierra Sullivan patted Candice Tate’s head. "It’s neither. They just have too much energy and nothing better to do. Don’t be like them, and don’t worry about them. Let’s go to sleep, okay?"

’Too much energy and nothing better to do...’

Candice Tate murmured, then pressed her lips together and started to giggle.

’How could anyone fight just because they had too much energy!’

’Shouldn’t you rest after a big meal?’

Even though she didn’t understand, Candice Tate nodded obediently. "Okay!"

Sierra Sullivan took Candice Tate back to her room. She watched her get settled in bed, close her eyes, and her breathing grow steady and even before she quietly closed the door and left.

The moment the door clicked shut, Candice Tate’s eyes opened. She looked toward the table a short distance away.

The white jar was still sitting there quietly on the table.

Candice Tate blinked and smiled silently.

’Mom, I have another big brother now. A really interesting one. I’m doing great, so don’t worry about me, Mom...’

-

Sierra Sullivan returned to the living room and saw the two of them still lying on the floor. She could barely look at them. "Candice Tate is here, you know. Could you two be a little more considerate? If you’re a bad influence on her, I’ll never forgive you!"

Jayce scrambled to his feet. "Sierra, it was all him! He started it! I was just defending myself!"

Nathan Thorne also got up. "Jayce, have you no shame? Would I have laid a hand on you if you hadn’t scared me first? Why are you only telling her the end of the story and not the beginning?"

Jayce jutted out his chin. "What do you mean? If I didn’t say it, you did. What’s the difference?"

Listening to their exchange, Sierra Sullivan was actually a little surprised.

’Just from their conversation, it feels like their relationship has gotten better than before.’

She’d heard before that men often form bonds by fighting.

Some guys who can’t stand each other at first end up seeing eye-to-eye after a good fight, and their friendship can even blossom overnight.

At the time, Sierra Sullivan hadn’t really believed it.

But seeing the state of these two now, she couldn’t help but believe it.

"This thing you two have going on is..." Sierra Sullivan searched for the right words. "A love-hate relationship?"

Jayce immediately sidled up to Sierra. "Sierra, what are you talking about? How could I have a love-hate thing with some stinky guy? You’re the only one for me!"

Nathan Thorne interjected, "...Alright, that’s enough, you two! Showing off your love in front of a single guy like me, isn’t that a bit much?"

Sierra Sullivan poked Jayce’s shoulder with a finger. "Get away from me! You’re covered in stinky sweat! Okay, I’m going back to my room. Don’t come back until you’re clean!"

Before Jayce could say anything, Sierra Sullivan went straight back to her room and shut the door.

Jayce waved a hand at Nathan Thorne. "Come on, to the bathroom."

"What for?" Nathan Thorne looked wary. "I’m not interested in guys!"

Jayce was speechless. "..."

Jayce took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch him. "I’m even less interested in guys! Just tell me if you want to wash up or not. If you want to sleep like that, I’m out of here."

"A bath!?" Nathan Thorne exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "Yes! I absolutely have to take a bath!"

He was dying here! Jayce was a Dual Ability User, and one of his abilities was the Water Element!

Seeing Nathan Thorne’s sudden change in expression, Jayce snorted but headed to the bathroom anyway.

The guest bathroom was also quite large and had a big bathtub inside.

Jayce filled it with water. "Go on, wash up. I’ll wait outside. Call me if you need the water changed. Use any of the toiletries you want, no need to be frugal. There’s plenty of water. We’re about the same build, so I’ll go get you some of my new clothes. You can make do with them."

"I wouldn’t mind used ones either!" Nathan Thorne said quickly.

Jayce looked at him with disdain. "You might not mind, but I do!"

Knowing not to bite the hand that feeds him, Nathan Thorne just smiled and didn’t argue back.

After Jayce left, Nathan Thorne didn’t hesitate for a second. He immediately stripped off all his clothes and carefully lowered himself into the tub.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such a comfortable soak.

But this feeling... it was truly incredible!

Nathan Thorne had the water changed twice before he was finally clean. He looked a whole shade lighter.

Jayce didn’t waste any time with small talk. He also washed and dried Nathan’s clothes, led him to his room, and left him some water and food before finally returning to the master bedroom.

Sierra Sullivan wasn’t asleep, just resting on the bed with her eyes closed. When she heard the door open, she knew Jayce was back.

"All settled?"

Jayce had cleaned himself up as well. After locking the door, he went straight to the bed and pulled Sierra into his arms. "All settled! Sorry to keep you waiting, Sierra!"

"Who was waiting for you!"