The thing is… Do I really want that?
The truck reaches the bend in the road and slows down. I push my thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the mission at hand. When I shift my gaze from the vehicle, I find Tommy curled on the ground and jerking back and forth. His elbow is bleeding on the asphalt, and it looks like he might really be in pain.
My throat constricts, obstructing my airflow and making my inhales shallow and quick. Even if I know that most of this is fake, a show Tommy is putting on for the two workers that come out of that truck, seeing this lovely imp like this pulls on my heartstrings. I…Fuck. I couldn’t turn Tommy in to the Crew even if it meant their forgiveness and the guarantee of a peaceful life.
I clench my hands into fists. No, fuck the Crew, even if they promise me the world. As insane as it might seem, I think I like Tommy’s company too much. We’ve known each other just for a couple of days, but he’s already gotten too deep under my skin. He’s too precious. I can’t throw him under the bus just because it might be the easiest way to solve the problems he dumped on me.
It’s been way too long since I had a meaningful exchange with another human being. A real conversation. I liked being Father Gabriel and helping the village, but there was always this divide between me and the rest, this invisible wall that separated us. They saw me as something more, as something divine, not as one of them. They respected me, listened to me, and never challenged me, believing blindly whatever I said just because of my occupation.
Tommy isn’t like that. He’s sassy, unapologetic. He speaks his mind and has no filter. It’s fucking refreshing, and that’s not counting how hauntingly pretty the man isand how many sleepless nights he brought upon me since offering that blowjob.
The two workers take their rifles out, pointing them at Tommy as they approach.Fuck, they carry? That wasn’t part of my plan.
“Identify yourself,” the taller of them says as prickles cover the back of my neck. He looks to be the more senior, a manager maybe, sporting an extra badge on his uniform’s pocket.
“Oh my god!” Tommy cries out, rolling over and then back. His bleeding elbow scrapes the rough asphalt, probably by accident. His entire face morphs into pure agony. “Fuck, fuck, shit.”
My heart tries to fold in on itself. I have to grit my teeth to force myself to stay put when all I want is to rush over to him and make the pain go away.
“Hey,” the second worker says, taking aim. “You were told to identify yourself. Do that or we’ll shoot.”
Tommy raises his arms. “Yes… Okay, okay! I’m Tommy. Please help me, I’m dying over here.”
I stifle down a snort. God, his acting is so bad. The only reason they haven’t shot him yet is because he does look in pain. How the fuck did he get his elbow so bloody in the span of two minutes?
“What are you doing here? This is a restricted area.”
“I… Uh…” Tommy lifts his head and blinks those pretty blues at the two men innocently. “I was hiking and got lost?”
The workers look at each other, visibly unconvinced. They step in closer, their guns cocked at Tommy, who turns pale as a ghost. His eyes dart from them to the bush where I am hiding. There is a hint of fear in them, pain, a bit of hope, a genuine plea and a speck of pride, like he knows Ihave his back. They bore into me, stare at my soul, clasp it between their icy fingers.
I shiver, a full-body sensation I’ve never felt before. Tommy trusts me so much he’s willing to put his life on the line for it. I’m humbled, I…Fuck. I shudder again, coming alive as a blazing volcano erupts inside me. And then I act. Without thinking, on pure instinct. I can’t stay still and just watch. My body moves on its own, adrenaline fueling my every system as I throw myself at the two workers even if it is not the time to attack them yet.
Ah, fuck it.A maniacal grin accompanies my charge. They are far away enough from the truck. I should be able to eliminate them before they contact the rest.
The first man goes down before they realize what is happening. The senior worker manages to block my attack, dropping his gun in the process. The knife I used to kill the first man goes flying somewhere, and I am brought down to the ground by the guy’s pure strength. Grunting, we roll around in the dirt and mud, trying to get the edge over each other. The worker is two times my size, and while this isn’t usually a problem, a heartbeat of distraction as I glance to make sure Tommy is okay seals my fate.
With a nasty kick to my chest, the man slips free and grabs his gun, aiming it at me.
Oh, fuck. Big fucking fuck.
It all happens so fast. One second the worker’s fingers are on the trigger, pressing it, and in the next, Tommy is beating on the man with the bag. The guy drops the gun, momentarily stunned, then grabs Tommy’s neck and lifts him off the ground. Gurgling as he is being strangled, Tommy kicks and claws at the worker futilely. He is too small, too untrained, too weak, an ant before thisbehemoth that dwarfs even me. And yet, he still risked his life so I wouldn’t lose mine.
Fire ignites within me, a fucking inferno. I see red as I shoot up from the ground, the pain from the kick forgotten. With vicious clarity, with bloodlust that scares even me, with one single purpose in my hammering heart, I find the discarded knife, dart at the worker before he can comprehend what he’s witnessing, and slit his throat.
Tommy collapses on the asphalt, coughing and wheezing and trying to catch his breath as his elegant fingers curl around his bruised neck. Heart still racing madly, I crouch down and wrap my arms around Tommy’s shoulders, needing to make sure he’ll live.
“I… really… thought I’d die,” he whimpers as I quickly glance at his elbow. The blood has dried on the fabric, but I should probably take a look once we aren’t in the middle of the road.
“Tommy, I’m so sorry. You are fine. Just breathe.” I massage Tommy’s back as the warmth of his body seeps deep into me, as it calms this beast that has taken over. “I underestimated how strong he was.” I bury my nose in Tommy’s silky hair, inhaling that sweet, head-spinning scent. “I let myself get distracted. It won’t happen again. Ever.”
Tommy hugs me. I let it happen, hell, Ineedit to happen, every fiber of my being screaming with joy. Just what is this? What is happening to me?
I freeze still, confused at my own reaction, at this bliss coursing through me just because Tommy hugged me. It happened earlier too, but not like this, not so intense. I have had no meaningful human contact for ages, sure, but isn’t this a bit too much too fast? Hell, for all intents and purposes, the two of us are strangers who justhappen to need to work together if we want to stay alive. And let’s not forget that it’s Tommy’s fault I am in this shitshow to begin with.
Blood thrumming, I pull away. Or try to, but Tommy won’t let me.
“Sorry. I just need a moment. Please stay like this,” he pleads, his arms tightening around me. “It’s been a really long time since anybody hugged me.”
