“Romeo...”
“No more,” Romeo murmured, pressing his fingers to Chad’s lips.“Let’s warm you up in the shower.”
Chad slipped from Romeo’s lap and gathered his clothes.He led the way to the bathroom and once under the spray, he whispered in Romeo’s ear that he remembered there was something he absolutely loved doing before sinking to his knees.
Romeo tried to resume washing his body, but once Chad’s lips were around him, he could do nothing except grip Chad’s hair and enjoy the sweet torture of his mouth.
****
Romeo dreamed of themagpie.
He’d found it in the corner of the garden, huddled between a stone pagoda and a fern.
One of its wings was neatly tucked at its side like it should have been, but the other touched the ground, unfurled, flashing white feathers when they should’ve been hidden.
Romeo knew it was injured.
Its beady eyes watched Romeo’s every move as he crouched down in the grass.
The bird changed.
In a blink it was Chad, injured, watching him.
He wanted to take Chad into the house, nurse him back to health.
Romeo reached a hand out towards him.
But rather than help Chad to his feet, Romeo wrapped that hand around Chad’s unresisting throat and strangled him where he had fallen.
He killed him.
Romeo woke with his hand around Chad’s throat.He didn’t squeeze.He only had a weak hold, one that hadn’t roused Chad from his sleep.
Romeo slipped his hand down Chad’s neck and stopped on his chest.He pressed to feel the solid steady beat of Chad’s heart.
“Only a dream.”Romeo whispered to himself, but it felt more than that, it felt like a warning.
They may have reconciled, but part of him still burned with anger.
Part of him still wanted to punish Chad, hurt him so he couldn’t be hurt himself.
Romeo eased out a slow breath.
They were in the living room.
After their shower, Chad had meekly asked if Romeo wanted to watch something with him on Netflix and Romeo had agreed, pressing close to Chad on the sofa, and relishing in being able to breath him in again.
Chad, predictably, fell asleep first, and Romeo had lain down behind him, holding Chad to his chest while they’d slept.They were still in the same position except Romeo’s creeping hand that had found its way to Chad’s throat.
There were magpies on the bird feeder.Romeo couldn’t see outside, the living room window was still boarded up, but he could hear them, what he believed to be two.
One clacked, then a few seconds later, the other replied.
Romeo bit his lip, waiting for a terrible squark but it didn’t come.
Chad pressed back into him.“What is it?”
“What is what?”
