Tobias pointed his thumb over his shoulder towards the cabin. “Dead.”
“How?”
Tobias shrugged, glancing back over his shoulder and instantly regretting it as the world tilted on its axis. “Not sure. Probably the repeated blows to the head, but he also might have choked on his own teeth.”
“Gruesome.” Az sounded impressed.
Tobias took a step forward. “You didn’t have to make the trip. I was just about to save my—”
Tobias’s words ceased as the three men raised their guns and opened fire. It took Tobias what felt like ten minutes but was likely more like ten seconds to realize he was not, in fact, being riddled with bullets, but that they were firing at something behind him.
When the noise ceased, Tobias’s headache was a migraine and his ears were ringing. He turned to look back towards the cabin at the body sprawled on the front porch, watching blood run along the wood to drip down the stairs.
Soren sighed, giving Tobias a look. “Did you check for a pulse, Doc?”
Tobias’s mouth set in a thin line, prickling. “Um, no. I was a bit preoccupied trying to run for my life with limited faculties.”
Soren kissed him thoroughly. “Rookie mistake,” he teased before turning to the others. “Clear the house? Just to be certain there are no more surprises?”
While they did as Soren asked, he spent his time fussing over Tobias, checking his pupils, parting his hair to look at the bump on his head. “I think you’ve earned yourself a trip to the emergency room, Tobias.”
Tobias’s heart dropped into his stomach. “You called me Tobias. Am I dying?”
“You’ve been asking me to call you Tobias since the day we met.”
Tobias wrinkled his nose. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t like it.”
“Not to interrupt the honeymoon, but how do you want us to take out the trash? Burn it or bury it?” Azrael asked before finally saying to Tobias, “Good to see you again, Doc.”
Somehow, it didn’t bother Tobias when Azrael called him that. “And you as well. Sorry, about all this.”
“Please,” Soren said. “Do you know how many times I’ve saved their asses in the past? Besides, they wanted to tag along. This shit is like a drug to them.”
“You said I’d get to use my new flash grenade,” Madigan said, sounding disgruntled.
“It was a bit much for the situation,motek,” Azrael soothed. “I’m sure another of our friends will be in trouble before you know it. Then you can use your new toy.”
“Are you sure he’s dead?” Tobias asked warily.
“When we kill people, they stay dead.” Madigan snickered. “Besides, we’re not the ones who almost died making our first kill,” he added.
Tobias’s mouth fell open, a scowl forming on his face. “You told them?”
Soren gave Madigan a dirty look, then leaned in, trying to kiss Tobias. “It was a long car ride, Glasses.”
Tobias turned his face away, but Soren tugged it back and kissed him thoroughly.
“If it makes you feel better, he spent most of the trip bragging about what a fast learner you were and how your weapon of choice was a knife but you were most adept at wielding a garrote. He says you’re quite strong.” Azrael’s tone held just enough humor to make Tobias wonder if he was teasing him.
Tobias sighed, letting Soren press their foreheads together. “It does, a bit. I suppose. Can we go home? I miss my dog.”
“Emergency room first.” Soren winced when he looked at the blood soaking Tobias’s clothes. “We’ll tell them you got mugged.”
* * *
Tobias did have a concussion but,luckily, nothing more serious. Soren fussed over him with a surprising amount of dedication, helping him shower, feeding him soup, ushering him into bed. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Soren he wasn’t tired, but that would be a lie. The moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted off.
He didn’t know how long he slept, but when he woke again, it was dark outside and Soren was no longer beside him. Momentary panic set in before he saw the light pouring in from the living room. He slid his glasses on and shuffled out into the hallway, his splitting headache now more of a dull throbbing pain thanks to the pain meds they gave him in the hospital.
