Apollo’s heart skipped a beat.“Yeah, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
He pulled Rocko closer and leaned in for a comforting kiss.His emotions were all over the place along with his thoughts
“You’re second-guessing yourself,” Rocko stated.
It would be easy to deny it, but why?This was Rocko.His Rocko.
“I’m having a moment of reflection.”Okay, so maybe he wasn’t ready to admit it.
Rocko’s rolling eyes confirmed he wasn’t fooling anyone.
“Fine.I’m concerned,” Apollo allowed.
“So am I.You’d be crazy if you weren’t.This new group is a danger to all survivors.Hell, I’m not confident I’m the best person to deal with them,” Rocko admitted.
“You’ve gone head-to-head with members of the Noah Group before, and you’re a seasoned detective.”
“I’m still human.Mostly.Maybe genetically engineered, but I still have the same emotions.There’s no shame in admitting that this shit is crazy.”
“Why do you always seem to know what to say?”Apollo asked.It wasn’t the first time Rocko had de-escalated situations or addressed others’ concerns.
“I say it like I see it.”
“That’s the thing, you see things differently.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“That wasn’t a shot.I mean it’s as if your brain works out what each person needs, allowing you to formulate a response or action that’s tailor-made to help that person.”
“Isn’t that a fancy way of saying I tell people what they want to hear?”
“No.It’s more accurate that you tell people what they need to hear.”
Rocko looked contemplative, and Apollo wasn’t positive he’d gotten his point across.He wasn’t known for his eloquent speaking ability, and he wouldn’t be surprised if he’d insulted Rocko and fucked it all up.
“I think I understand what you’re saying.Along with my supercharged memory, I can articulate what is concerning a person by their visual and verbal cues, then formulate a response that assists them in some way.”
“Okay, it sounds a hell of a lot better when you say it, but yes.You have the ability to see to the heart of a matter and attempt to fix the problem.It’s amazing.”
“Now you’re trying to blow smoke up my arse,” Rocko chuckled.
“It’s not smoke I want in there,” Apollo joked before kissing Rocko again.
As their kiss deepened, Apollo could feel their bond growing stronger, and he knew he’d never be able to let Rocko go.Which might be a sticking point when he wanted to return to his life in Florida, but Apollo would cross that bridge when he reached it.
***
Rocko
The morning was spent filling the team in on what he’d managed to work out from his visions.Rocko knew he still hadn’t completely organized his thoughts, but it appeared everyone accepted he was doing his best to speed the process along.Even if he’d expected more from himself.
“What the hell have we ever done to deserve this shit?”Damon growled as Xavier inched closer to his side, causing Damon to reach out and lay his arm across the back of Xavier’s chair, calming the silent man instantly.Xavier still hadn’t spoken a word outwardly, but Rocko was still convinced he communicated with Damon just fine.
“No survivor deserves this shit, and that’s why we’re going to stop them,” Griffin stated.
Rocko rubbed his temples, trying to ease the headache bearing down on him.There were images stuck in his subconscious that wouldn’t reveal themselves, no matter how hard he tried to force them to the surface.
“Mary and her family have settled into the larger fifth wheel close to the main house,” Renee said.“I thought it best to keep them close in case they needed us.”
