He hadn’t exactly admitted out loud that he was now interested in what the two had to offer. But like, him offering them his chickens was pretty clear evidence that he WAS now. So, did he really need to say it?!
Ender almost looked away when he met Killian’s gaze and found the man smirking. “Parents to your chickens now, are we?”
The heat came rushing back, spreading throughout his whole face as he stuttered nervously, “Y-yes!? Complaints?!”
“Not a one, I’m quite fond of them.” The Siren tugged him onto the bed and into his arms, before pressing a kiss to his forehead. “As I am of the one who raised them.”
Ender blustered a bit, before clearing his throat and hugging him back, sighing happily as he leaned against the man.
Cyrus sidesteppeda chicken that tried to lunge at him. “Okay, like, I am happy about being sent here, or rather, the way I was sent here, but could you at least be a bit nicer to me?!” he snapped.
His words were followed by angry clucking, as how dare he come to feed them and not Ender. Cyrus stepped back again, glaring at the familiar golden yellowish chicken who had just tried to attack him. “Motherfucker. Don’t make me put you in air jail, Billina!”
At the sound of the door opening, he turned with a brow raised when all of the chickens fled to their coops. Cyrus eyed Severo for a moment before asking, “How did you do that?”
The Shadow Dweller chuckled. “I’m not going to tell you, because it could then get back to Ender, and I like breathing.”
“I see…”
The fucker had probably scared the shit out of them with shadows.
Clearing his throat, he asked, “So…how are…things?”
Not that they could be that great, considering the man had to flee with his family.
“Shitty. Seri’s now on leave from school, as we can’t really risk them tracing things back to here. Ender told me he would get things set up so Seri could continue his doctoral research here, along with providing a way to submit his work online,without fearing it will be used to find us, but until then, we have to hold off.”
Cyrus winced. “I’m so sorry. I know how hard he worked to go back.”
“It is what it is. Seri…” Severo sighed and took a seat in the grass. “Seri has been rather understanding, to be honest. After what he’s been through, this is definitely not what I wanted for him or us.”
Cyrus chose to sit next to the Dweller over awkwardly staring down at him. “I’ll do whatever I can to fix this, Severo.”
Severo stared at him silently for a moment before drawling, “What if the only way is for you to go back? I may not have mentioned it to you, but it became clear pretty fast, based on the questions people told me he was asking, that more than Killian, you are the one Brom wants.”
“I…” He swallowed hard. “I can’t leave them… I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”
The Shadow Dweller smiled. “I know. I haven’t been here long, but I’m not blind. You three seem, as Ender would say, mighty close.”
“I don’t know how it happened,” he said with a chuckle, before groaning, “Fuck, he’s a nut.”
Severo barked a laugh. “That is an understatement if I ever heard one.”
Cyrus rubbed the back of his neck. “To be honest, I don’t know what is here, between the three of us, but Killian and I would… Well, we want to see where it goes. And it seems, since the eggs were laid, that Ender isn’t as cold to the idea as he used to be.”
“Yeah, your looks haven’t been the only warm ones. Ender seems…happy. You two do too, even if you also look very stressed.”
“Yeah… But, Severo, seriously, I promise I will do all that I can to fix this. Just not…"
“That,” the man finished for him. “I get it. I imagine my answer would be the same if I were you. But honestly, Cyrus, this really isn’t on you to fix. You didn’t do anything wrong, aside from double-teaming a universally wanted criminal.”
Cyrus blanched. “Don’t fucking word it like that.”
Severo smirked. “Sorry, would double-dipping work better?”
He shoved him. “Shut the fuck up.”
The Dweller tilted a bit before righting himself, laughing as he did. “Either way, quitting your job shouldn’t lead to this bullshit.”
