“For the mercenary part of the business, yes.Like I said, it’s not something I’m proud of, but at the time, I felt I didn’t have a choice.“
“You always have a choice,” Cyril said.He sounded like he was trying very hard not to say what was on his mind.
That was what Vale had been afraid of.Cyril had accepted him and what he did for a living, but he suspected that if the circumstances had been different when they’d met, Cyril never would’ve agreed to even spend half an hour with him.But they’d been stuck together while Vale tried to keep Cyril safe, and they’d fallen in love.
Vale wasn’t sure that love would be strong enough to withstand his past.
He’d known it would eventually come to light.He’d thought about telling Cyril, but between one thing and another, they’d been busy, and it had been easier to ignore the little voice at the back of his mind.Vale still wanted to act as if it hadn’t happened, but it had.There was no denying that.
“Maybe I did,” he admitted.“But what’s done is done.I can’t change what I did in the past.”
“And what’s that?What did you do for the Organization?Who did you kill?You said you didn’t kill innocent people, but you just told me that they do, and I know about the plane crash.”
Vale winced.“There’s no proof it was them.”
“Are you really telling me that you don’t think it was?Because where there are rumors, usually, there’s at least some truth, too.People wouldn’t say it was them if they didn’t have a good reason.”
Vale had had enough of the distance between them.He reached for Cyril, finding his arm and grabbing it.He tried to pull Cyril into his arms, but Cyril pushed him away.
“No,” he said.“I don’t want you to distract me while we’re talking about this.I want you to be honest and to tell me everything that happened and what you did, and what lies you told me.”
“Cyril,” Vale said.“I promise I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
“Then do it,” Cyril snapped.
Vale didn’t have any warning.He heard the skittering of bones on the bedroom floor seconds before something hard slammed against his side.He yelped and fell back, his hands already reaching forward to protect himself, but they found nothing.
The light turned on a few seconds later.Cyril sat there, holding Oscar, who was turned toward Vale and was trembling.It was an odd sight and an even odder sound because of the way his bones rattled against each other.
“Are you okay?”Cyril asked.“What happened?”
“I’m not sure.”Vale rubbed his arm.“I think it was Oscar, but I don’t know what happened.”Vale reached for Cyril again, only to snatch his hand back when Oscar hit him with a tentacle.It hurt because the damn thing was made of bones.
“Oscar, what’s gotten into you?”Cyril asked as he wrapped both hands around the octopus’s body.It looked like Oscar was fighting him, as if he wanted to beat up Vale.
Vale suspected that was the case.He had no idea what was going on, but it wasn’t good.Oscar’s behavior didn’t make sense.He’d never been violent, not even in the beginning of Vale’s relationship with Cyril.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” Cyril admitted.
He loosened his hold on Oscar, but he shouldn’t have because the first thing Oscar did was try to get to Vale again.Cyril had to hug him against his chest.It was clear he was struggling to keep control, which was surprising.He’d created Oscar.He should be able to control him.
But Oscar didn’t look like he was going to allow anyone to control him, not even Cyril.Hell, he looked as if Vale wasn’t careful, he’d happily slit his throat while he was sleeping, even though he didn’t have opposable thumbs.
Vale was going to have to start sleeping with one eye open.
* * * *
CYRIL WAS FREAKINGout, but he was trying not to show it.He was the expert here.He’d created Oscar.He was supposed to know his pet, but he didn’t have a clue what was wrong.
Oscar had never been violent.Cyril wasn’t sure he’d classify what Oscar had just done as violent, but it certainly wasn’t like him.He’d never hurt anyone, and he’d especially never hurt Vale.Hell, helikedVale.Cyril had seen them cuddling on the couch more than once, and even though Vale complained about it, Cyril knew there was no heat behind it.His boyfriend liked his pet, and Oscar liked his boyfriend.
So what the fuck was happening?
Oscar was vibrating in Cyril’s hands, as if he wanted to throw himself back at Vale.Cyril suspected he might, so he didn’t loosen his hold.He wanted nothing more than to lean into Vale’s arms, but he doubted that Oscar would appreciate that.
Cyril stroked Oscar’s head and made a shushing sound.It took a few minutes, but Oscar eventually stopped moving.Cyril slowly let go, relieved when Oscar didn’t launch himself at Vale.
Once had been more than enough.
