“I’m going to grow on you and then we’ll be best friends. Just you wait,” Saint said.
Wren looked horrified by the prospect.
Teddy coughed to hide more laughter. “Is there a best way in, do you think?”
Wren turned to look at Blu on his shoulder.
He hopped once before fluttering off, leading them around the back of the building toward a loading dock. The huge metal loading door wasn’t completely down, an inch at the bottom leaving a gap Blu could easily squeeze through.
“Okay…that is suspicious,” Saint finally said. “But I’m sure it’s fine.”
Teddy and Wren traded a look before nodding, Teddy getting his fingers under one side while Wren took the other. They lifted together, the squeal of metal making Teddy wince. They were practically ringing the doorbell.
They could only lift the door so far—about knee height, muscles shaking with effort and sweat already beginning to bead. The door wouldn’t catch, so they were holding the full weight.
“Crawl under,” Wren said to Saint.
“Me?!”
“Saint,” Teddy grunted, “this is pretty heavy, man.”
“There might be bad guys on the other side waiting for someone to poke their head through. Or what if the gate falls on me? Or—”
“For the love of mother earth,” Wren growled. “Take my place and I’ll go.”
Saint sulkily did as asked, swapping places with Wren so he could crawl under. Teddy and Saint let go as soon as he was clear, Teddy’s muscles burning and the clang reverberating in his chest. It was an afterthought though, as he crouched to look through the inch gap.
“Wren? You okay?”
When he didn’t receive an immediate answer, he began to panic.
“Little Bird?”
Again no answer.
He looked at Saint. “Grab the door again.”
“Wait, what?”
“Get the door, Saint!”
Saint scrambled to grab the other side, lifting with all his strength. Teddy glanced at the gap, contemplating just how fast he would have to move to drop his side and roll under.
“Think you can hold on while I roll under?” Teddy grunted. “Then we can get you in?”
“Shit, man,” Saint said. “I’m a green bean on legs.”
“You’ve got some strength in you,” Teddy said. “On three.”
“Dude…” Saint said, but Teddy had already counted them in and dropped, rolling under the door just in time for Saint to shout and lose his grip on the door. It crashed down an inch away from Teddy’s foot.
“Damir?”
“All good,” Teddy said. He looked around, trying to spot Wren, but he was nowhere to be seen. “Come on! Let’s get you inside.”
They heaved the door again and Saint did the same insane tuck and roll Teddy had performed earlier, uncoordinated legs and arms flailing as he tumbled through.
They stood up and brushed off the dust, Teddy spotting a door just at the end of the loading dock.
