Kind of random, but my anxiety's been high lately and I want to share one of the ways that help me chill when I'm stressing out, just in case you are in the same boat: read something short and funny. There's a site/app called WebToons which is like Wattpad, but for comics. There are plenty of different comics there, but here are three that have short chapters and almost always bring a smile to my face:

- Small World by Wonsun Jinauthor (featuring a cute gay couple)

- Slack Wyrm by Josh Wright (the star of the comic is a lazy, naughty dragon)

- My name is Death by Rumbo (has dark humor; the main character is Death himself)

I'll link each in the first comment along with the WebToon site (also given as External link). But before you head to check those out, here's some Alec and Ian for you.

"Your familiar isn't with you tonight?" Adrian asked after opening his door for me and glancing up and down the hallway for good measure. I found his greeting - if it could be called that - amusing, so I smirked and raised an eyebrow in a cocky display I knew would tease him.

"'Familiar'?" I asked, moving past him and into his apartment.

"Or minion. Whichever."

I heard him close the door and follow me towards the couch.

"Oh, you do not want Luca to hear you call him that." I swirled around, taking my jacket off and throwing it over the armrest before sprawling myself on the couch.

Adrian frowned, took the discarded item and headed back towards the front door, hanging the clothing on the coat stand there.

"Why not?" He asked, walking back towards me. "You think he'll understand and get insulted?"

"Of course," I replied without hesitation and got a snort in reply. The gesture was casual and way too relaxed for the person who stood before me, and I wondered why he was this calm tonight.

A little liquid help maybe?

Or herbal one?

But I couldn't smell neither alcohol, nor weed on him, and he didn't seem the type to seek aid from those. It had to be something else.

A pep talk with himself before I came in?

If Adrian was able to stay calm in my presence just with that, then I had to up my game.

"If I call your pooch stupid in front of it, you'll get angry that I'm hurting its little feelings."

"No." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll get angry because you are wrong. Bear is an awesome dog..."

"That looks like a mop..."

"... Who does not look like a mop..."

Seeing his composure begin to crack, I smirked inwardly.

"... He's smaller than my cat."

"He is not smaller than your demon cat, Alec."

Oh, 'demon cat' - Luca would've loved that! But I had Adrian to mess with now, so I retorted:

"Want to measure them?"

Adrian's sigh displayed his annoyance, his arms falling to his sides.

"We are not arguing who's got the bigger pet, Alec."

"Well, we could argue who's got the bigger dick, but we've seen each other hard and naked, so there's no argument about that."

And there it was. Adrian blushing, and looking away from me, and me cool, collected and victorious. This time I let my grin bloom with full force on my lips.

"Okay, here's the thing." He turned back to me, still red-faced, then halted at my expression. But instead of making him more flustered, it only seemed to motivate him further. Adrian didn't sit down next to me, or even step closer to the couch, but he adopted a determined expression.

"That was a mistake. It won't happen again. All I'm offering you is platonic friendship."

I stretched, making sure my white tank top rose up to expose my abs and lightly thrusting my pelvis upwards.

"And if I don't want your platonic friendship?"

"Then you can walk out right now." Adrian pointed towards his front door, but his eyes betrayed him. He was nervous and he didn't seem like he really wanted me to leave. And there was that mystery again: why did he invite me and wanted me to stay?

It wasn't for sex, that much I knew, even though there was no question he found me attractive.

I looked at the door, pretending to be pondering on whether to leave or not, and taking the opportunity to tease him further by biting my bottom lip. I was just about to say that I felt lazy and wasn't going anywhere, and then inquire after dinner, when he spoke again:

"Of course, if you leave, you'll miss out on the ice cream."

I laughed before I could help myself, my gaze on the tall and nervous man before me.

Half-joking, half-bribing me, neither of which a typical trait of his character, Adrian was making an effort to get me to stay.

And not to fuck.

No one's ever wanted me for anything that wouldn't lead to that, which, I had to admit, added a certain allure to the Sentinel.

"What kind of ice cream?" I asked in a tone that on first hearing made it sound as if the cold treat's flavor would be the deciding factor on whether I walked out on him. But if he listened well, he'd be able to hear a hint of jesting in my inflection.

And listen apparently he did, because his posture became more relaxed.

"Vanilla," he replied.

Good call, I congratulated in my mind.

"And that's not the only dessert."

"Mmmm, tell me more," I purred.

"First, some rules."

I made sure to let out a long, annoyed sigh, although I was curious what he had in mind.

"For one," he started, "I meant that this relationship - friendship or whatever - will be platonic."

"Boring."

"Seriously, Alec. No sex. At all."

"What else is there?" I asked casually, but on the inside, I was dying to know.

Was it now that I would finally find out why he was allowing me to be here?

A very uncharacteristic sense of anticipation began to twist in my gut. It wasn't an entirely pleasant feeling, but at the same time, it excited me. Humans bored me - actually, pretty much everyone, regardless of species, did - so this rare sensation was not something I wanted to let go of just yet and I half hoped he wouldn't answer my unspoken question.

"I told you: friendship. Or some semblance of it, as much as you are capable of."

"But why?" I prompted, and the anxious sensation intensified.

This time he did sit down on the couch - at the very edge as I'd claimed most of the space - looking very serious, a bit abashed, and... Kind of cute.

I enjoyed making people flustered, especially big or solemn guys, and he was both. It was a pleasure watching his face heat up and him speechless, but this side of him right now had its charm too.

"Partly because I think you could use one..."

"Wrong, but go on; I want to hear the other reason."

"And partly..." He took a deep breath to steady himself, and I was treated to that delightful blush again. "Partly to prove to myself that I can be in the same room as you without..."

"Bedroom acrobatics?" I helpfully suggested.

"I was going for something more along the lines of 'losing my composure', but that too," he admitted.

"So, I'm just an exercise in self-restraint to you?" I asked, making sure a certain coolness slipped into my tone.

"What? No!" He startled, turning sideways to see me better. "I meant it when I said I think you could use a friend..."

I lifted my hand up, palm facing him, to silence his babbling. My pride kept my facial features in check, but on the inside I was not angry or insulted. I could tell he wasn't doing this only for himself, and it was confusing the Hell out of me.

I couldn't remember doing anything - sex aside - that might prompt him to want to be near me, and here he was, aiming for a platonic something with me.

I'd suspected he'd figured out that I'd bought Simon's gravestone and that maybe he'd seen that I sort of missed the human and therefore must be capable of some feelings other than boredom; had that been it?

Had that been the day he'd decided to give me a shot?

It was before I snuck into his apartment so it could explain why he hadn't arrested me or at least kicked me out that night.

The timeline fit, but that didn't mean I was right.

And yet, I couldn't voice my questions.

I couldn't explain why I couldn't ask them out loud, but they seemed kind of... Overwhelming.

And I didn't get overwhelmed.

Now this was an entirely unpleasant feeling and it almost made me rise up and leave.

But if Adrian could use me to train himself to get a hold of his emotions and urges, I could do the same to him. And no, I wouldn't be voice any of the things I thought about, but I wouldn't be running away either.

"Just forget it," I said in a tone that suggested I was moving on to another topic as a favor to him. "Bring out the sweets and let's eat."

Adrian, looking relieved that we were done with the subject - at least for now - got up and headed towards the kitchen.

"We can eat," he said as he walked, "but dinner first. Then the sweets."

"And is it going to be just the two of us?" I asked, raising my voice a bit so he could hear me. "We seem to be missing a pooch."

"Yeah, about Bear..."

Adrian is standing up to Alec (or at least trying to) and Alec is losing his grip on the situation. Their roles are staring to reverse, but for how long?

Do you think Alec will gain his composure and assert dominance once more?

Or will this be Adrian's first win against the halfbreed?

And don't worry: nothing's happened to Bear. But if I got to explaining where he is, I'd have to end the chapter at an odd(er) place, so... Yeah. I ended it like this.

Did you enjoy the chapter? Please give it a VOTE if you did!

Also, have you read any of the comics I mentioned in the first A/N? What do you think of them?

Also also, what comics (or manga) would you recommend?

I hope you have a great time wattpadding!