I stroke my fingers through his hair, the only touch I'll volunteer, but it's somehow enough for him, as he relaxes and eventually falls asleep.
I'll never understand how I'm the person he chose as his best friend. Even after he knew what I was, and that I could never return the affection, or give him what he needs. Though, he now has Lio, so maybe that helps? I don't know, and it's confusing enough that I don't try to figure it out.
When I'm sure he's asleep, I slide from the bed as carefully as possible. It's a testament to how exhausted he really is that he can sleep through me transferring to my chair.
Grabbing my gun, I don't bother with a holster, sticking it between the side of my leg and my chair. With a click of my fingers, Boston gets up from her bed, stretches and then pads over to me. She licks my fingers and I internally sigh, wiping the drool on my pants.
“Let's go,” I whisper.
She opens the door for me and we manage to leave the room without Roman waking up.
Much like the Martelli mansion, this one doesn't have an elevator to get upstairs, so I was given a downstairs room. I don't mind, it means I don't have to worry about stumbling across any couples, or accidentally hearing things I don't want to. It's bad enough when I have to shift through all the sex in order to make sure I don't miss any important conversations on the recordings.
I'm fairly certain Hollis suspects I bugged all the rooms, but unless absolutely necessary, I don't plan on telling him. Plausible deniability and all that. Plus, I can't get in trouble that way. Though if anyone is surprised by that information, they haven't been paying attention.
Boston and I make our way to the medical suite. No one tries to stop our wandering—because they’re not stupid enough to risk their lives—but it being the middle of the night makesit easier, since only the guards are around, and I don’t have to deal with any people. Stopping outside the room I want, I knock, hoping he's not asleep, though I have no qualms about waking him if he is.
Thankfully, it doesn't take long for there to be a response telling me to “come in”. The doorknob isn’t a push down lever, so I have to turn it, but when there’s enough space, Boston uses her snout to help open it for me. Ignacio blinks when he sees me, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
“Is everything alright?”
“Depends on how this conversation goes.” I push myself forward, following Boston, making sure the door shuts firmly behind me.
The hospital room is sparse, with only the single medical bed and a few cabinets that I’m assuming are full of supplies. From what I know, Dr. Ranlen is planning on upgrading him to one of the downstairs rooms near my own to finish his recovery, before he’s allowed to move to an upstairs room.
Ignacio watches me warily as I stop a few feet from the bed. “What can I do for you, Leandro? Is Roman okay?”
“He's fine. Sleeping, which he doesn't do enough of. He is why I'm here though.” I position myself across from him in such a way that I will have a direct shot should I need to shoot him.
Even injured, I’m not taking any chances with him. He's far better trained than I am. Hence why I brought Boston with me. She moves to stand in front of me, carefully watching Ignacio. I don't correct her. Her instincts are good, and for now, I'll let her do what she was trained for.
“Do you still love Benjamin?”
“Yes, I do,” he replies firmly. “But what does that have to do with Roman?”
“We'll get there. So you still love him. Enough to take him back? To re-propose?”
Ignacio hesitates, anger and…confusion? Maybe? Swirling in his eyes. “If you're trying to get me to say I love him more than Roman, we're done here. There is no comparison. I love them both, and I willalwayslove them both. What I get from them…it can't be compared. You've been around Roman and his lovers long enough to know that's not how it works. They give me different things, but my love for them cannot be measured.
“Yes, I wanted to marry Benjamin at one point, but right now, that’s off the table, and our relationship isn’t more than that of friends. Roman and I…he is so much more than I imagined. Smart, sassy, funny, and so much stronger than he believes. I'll stand by him for whatever he needs and wants. He has all of me, always.”
“Tennant asked Benjamin not to marry you.”
Ignacio sucks in a breath, and I imagine if he wasn’t in bed, his knees would have buckled. I see the despair on his face before he gets himself under control.
“Benjamin never said yes or no, but I think we both know which way he's leaning toward. My question to you is: Will you marry Roman?”
“Yes. In a heartbeat.” He looks away. “I don't deserve him. He should marry someone better, who wouldn't get so many questions from the public about being on his arm, but I already told you, I'm his. I'll be whatever he needs me to be.”
“Good. That's all I needed to know. He'll need you. He says he's fine, and that he has it all worked out, but we both know how softhearted he is. I'm reasonably sure your Little Mouse would have something to say if you hurt Roman; he claimed him and all that. We also know Benjamin is jealous as fuck. And Roman will break himself apart for those he loves.
“He's spoiled, but when it comes to matters of the heart? His is the biggest, and he'll make sure everyone else is happy as well.So, when the time comes, do the right thing, Chaos, or I'll make getting gutted look like a fucking paper cut.”
Ignacio watches me carefully, assessing my words, before finally nodding. “He's safe with me.”
“Benjamin thought the same thing.”
He flinches, but it doesn’t faze me. It never hurts to remind someone of their fuck ups, if only to help make sure they don't repeat them.
