CRACK.
CRACK.
Gage laughed
“This is…” He shook his head. “This is freakin’ crazy!”
“I know,” Adrian said. “The whole point is to own it. Take your impairment and control it, not it control you.”
Soon, he was having the time of his life, sweat building at his temples, shoulders warm, soul alive in a way it hadn’t been since before he was imprisoned. Before the darkness. Before being turned into someone he hadn’t asked to be.
Adrian took a few turns too.
Gage listened as Adrian’s bat whacked the ball. The timing was different. It was less technique and more brute force.
“Did you used to play?” he asked.
“A little,” Adrian said, breathing evenly. “But I’m not the one with off-the-charts reflexes.”
Gage snorted.
By the time they left, his body felt used in the best way. As if he’d been allowed to be a person again instead of a problem that needed fixing.
They stopped at a late-night sandwich spot. The smell of grease and butter-toasted bread made his stomach growl as soon as he walked in. He’d been having so much fun, he forgot he hadn’t eaten today.
Adrian didn’t order for him, instead he’d described the options available and let him order for himself, and Gage appreciated that.
While they ate, Adrian talked about his life.
Not his credentials or accolades.
About him.
“My partner dumped me last year,” Adrian said.
Gage paused mid-bite.
“Said he was tired of competing with my patients. That I kept putting other people’s happiness over his.”
He could hear the decline in Adrian’s smile.
Gage’s mind was spinning.
Adrian was smart. Kind. Confident. Fun to be around…and gay.
Of course his first thought was— Is he attracted to me?
No, Adrian had been professional the entire time.
“My patients are important. You’re important, Gage.”
“Thank you,” he said, feeling a little awkward.
“I have a lot planned for you besides reflex work,” he said, “Like crowd navigation. Identifying objects. Threat localization. Pinpointing where someone is standing by breath, weight shifts, and fabric movement. Fall training: how to go down safely, roll, recover, and get back to your feet fast. I’ll train you in cane work—”
He must’ve made a face because Adrian touched his forearm.
“I’m not talking about a flimsy aluminum cane.” Adrian let out a quiet laugh. “I saw the prototype the weapons team is building for you. It’s pretty badass.”
