Page 16 of Bender

“Not quite, Peanut. More like, you’re keeping me.”

He doesn’t explain any more, but I think I understand. Master kept us because we were things he owned. Konrad wants to keep us because we’re people he cares about. There’s care in everything he does for us. I just don’t know how to manage all the big emotions I get from the way he makes me feel.

“Enough worrying and stressing. It’s time for breakfast, and then we’ve got a big day ahead of us. I have surprises for you both. Who’s ready for fun?” Konrad brushes a kiss on my forehead and runs his fingers over Blu’s cheek while the three of us climb out of his big bed.

I am hungry, and I’ve already learned how much I like Konrad’s brand of fun. He’s been spoiling us with treats and new belongings, things he says are ours to own even though we haven’t done anything to earn them. Maybe, today can still be a great day.

Chapter

Fourteen

BENDER

Doc Charm does exactly what his nickname suggests he’ll do. He charms Grey and Blu to bits while he gives them checkups. Which I appreciate him showing up to do. Really. They smile and giggle at his teasing antics and goofy magic tricks.

I fucking hate every second of it. Selfish. I’m aware. So is he.

Vincent Charmden, known as Doc Charm, got out of the Army a few years ahead of me and Shaw. A few years older than we are, he’d put in his time and used the tuition benefit soldiers receive to fund his med school education.

Charm patched up Shaw and I enough times that we all got to be pretty close. When he heard we got out and moved to Darrow, he accepted a residency at the local hospital and showed up at Shaw’s ink shop shortly after it opened.

I’m under no illusions that his presence in Darrow is thanks solely to our bond of soldierly brotherhood. Nor am I foolish enough to expect it was coincidence. Nah, Vinnie’s dancing to the government’s tune the same as I am, for reasons I don’t know. Still, he’s already local when missions go sideways and I need a little patching up when I get back here.

“You should call next time, fuckface. What if we hadn’t been home?” I grouse. If I sound churlish, it’s because I am. I had plans for a fun day for the three of us to get to know one another better, and instead of having fun with me, they’re laughing with him.

“This will be a quick poke and then I’m all done, okey?” Vincent ignores me and focuses on the labs he’s about to draw from Blu’s slender arm.

“Do I have to?” She looks at me instead of him for confirmation. Her trust that I’ll make the right decision puffs my chest with pride.

“Yeah, Sweetheart. Much as I hate it, we need the information the bloodwork will give us. It’s important that we get you healthy. I need you to be healthy.”

“Hold my hand?” she asks.

I do one better and scoop her from the chair where she’s sitting and swap places with her. I pull her down into my lap and wrap my arms around around her to hold her still.

“I got you, Jellybean. Grey, do you want to distract her from the needle poke?”

He’s been watching avidly as Blu has her exam, and I’m hoping seeing the blood draw up close will help him to see there’s nothing to be afraid of.

“Okay. I can do that,” he says solemnly.

Gray takes her free hand in his and brings it to his lips. I’m not sure if either of them notices the way he brushes kisses on her fingertips the same way she did ours earlier today. He’s a little green in the face at seeing her blood fill the tube, and I’m reminded of his visceral reaction to seeing ketchup.

My poor boy is definitely paying the price for staring at all the gore the night I found them. I meet Charm’s eyes over the top of their heads and know he has information to give me.

“Later,” I mouth. I know he’s seen the fading marks and the scars on their bodies. And their brands. Both of them have a stylized spade and club symbol burned into the skin on top of their right wrists.

Grey’s is faded and stretched a bit, likely misshapen from having received it before he’d finished growing. Blu’s is the shiny pink of a healed scar. The tissue is starting to smooth with age, but it’s still raised and obvious on her narrow arm.

“Debrief when you get the call. You’ve been dodging for too many days.” This is the first time he’s acknowledged sharing the same alphabet agency affiliation I have.

Having my suspicions confirmed should make me feel more triumphant. Instead, all I feel is a mixture of gratitude and betrayal. I give my head a hard shake to dislodge the emotions and focus on Grey and Blu. Work and my feelings about it can wait.

“You’ll call me with results,” I state. Charm raises a brow and looks between me and the two patients.

“They’re adults, Denton. I’ll come by and give them their results. If they want you to know, you will.” He speaks calmly, probably because he can tell he’s pissing me off.

“Fine. When?” I don’t have the patience for this. I’ve already waited longer than I wanted, to get them looked at, but they needed a few days to feel safe. When I first brought them here, they were scared to leave my room.

---