“You should totally look into that,” Black said.
“They’re not sending you pictures of his eaten eyeballs,” Cyrus said.
“Bold of you to assume I don’t already have them.”
“It was an Arcstead case, Black, how the fuck—”
“I’m not revealing my sources. But I do have a space in my scrapbook…”
“LEAVE!” Cyrus bellowed, and Wren heard sneakers squealing on the ugly linoleum floors as Black scampered away.
“He has a scrapbook?” Teddy asked.
“You don’t want to know,” Wren said automatically, the corners of his lips twitching up at Teddy’s smile.
For a moment, it was just them again. For a split second the chasm between them shrank.
“We can look into that case too,” Saint said, stealing that split second from Wren. He seemed to be getting into the habit of that. Stealing Teddy’s warmth. Stealing the spot beside him. That sweater…
“You’ll have your hands full,” Cyrus said. “Wren…you could go with them. Official consultant on the case?”
“No,” he said, his blood turning to ice at the thought. Of leaving everything he knew. His home, his animals, his sanctuary, his family. For someone he didn’t even know anymore. For someone who’d slipped through his fingers.
“Wren…” Cyrus said.
Wren shook his head. “I’ll work the case from here. I can be reached on my phone. I’ll keep everyone informed.”
“But—”
“Cyrus, I am offering cooperation. Take it while it’s on the table.” He stood up, Blu perching on his shoulder, Sable hopping silently to his feet next to him. He nodded to the room in general and walked out, hearing the door click shut behind him.
He power walked toward the exit, desperate to get away. Just to not be so close…
“Litt—Wren…wait,” Teddy called after him and Wren closed his eyes, legs refusing to move him any farther.
Sable pressed into his side, offering support, but there was none to be found. Teddy had always been his undoing. Time hadn’t changed that.
He turned around slowly, taking a few steps back just to maintain the distance between them. Just to escape that scent he still used; cedarwood pervading his senses and making his head spin.
“What?” he asked, watching as Teddy fidgeted and looked him over as if he couldn’t believe he was seeing him again.
“Did you…? I just wanted to ask if you’d read my letters?”
Wren swallowed. “I did. I get it.”
“You do?”
Wren nodded. “Nexus comes first. We always knew that.”
“That’s not—” Teddy started, but Wren needed to be away from him now. He’d had his fill of memories and aches and wants. He was strong, but he had his limits.
“We can work this case without our past interfering with it or our lives. We’re both adults with people around us affected by what we do. We can keep it professional for them.”
“Professional,” Teddy said, and Wren knew he had to be projecting the gutted look on his face.
“Yes.” He clutched at Sable’s fur as he prepared himself to walk away. Something ugly crept up his throat before he could leave though. “He looks good in your sweater.”
I used to wear your clothes. I used to wrap myself up in your scent and pretend it could just be us. It used to be me,he thought as he looked away.
