Page 66 of Leo, My Partner

Ivan shrugs. “I have flight back home. You are free to do what you want.”

“How is home?”

“Cold.” He coughs again to emphasize his point. This cough wasn’t as bad as the first, but it still looks like it’s causing him pain.

“You should move to the States. You’d enjoy the warm weather of Florida. That’s where retirees go.”

Ivan waves a hand. “Pagh. Retired. I not retired yet. Still have kills to do.”

I hum. There’s no use trying to get Ivan to think about hanging it up. Like me and Blu, he loves the kill. He would probably go out with a gun or knife in his hand, seeing it as a life well lived.

“But you’re sick. You should probably live somewhere with better weather.”

He shakes his head. “Just travel cold. I been here for two week. Different weather than Russia. No doubt it will be better when I go home.”

Ivan looks past me at Ty, who has his legs pulled up to his chest and a small smile on his lips as he listens to us. He asks, “You are partner? How did that happen?”

Ty looks at me, and I nod, indicating he can fill Ivan in on how he found out what I really am. After he’s done, Ivan nods emphatically. “That is not ideal, but what can you do? You like it, taking life?”

“I wouldn’t say I like it,” Ty says, resting his chin on his knee, “but I like knowing someone that hurt or killed someone is no longer on the street.”

“Vigilante killer. Not bad.”

“What about you?” Ty asks, and I see the surprise on Ivan’s face. Like me, no one ever asks questions of us. We’re used to keeping all of our secrets close to the vest, not letting anyone in. But Ty is different. He knows what we are, and he’s not afraid. He’s not like us, but he accepts us.

“What you like to know, kolibri?”

A growl crops up at Ivan giving Ty a pet name, but Ty doesn’t seem to notice. Probably because I’ve been calling him kotenok for months now.

“How did you get started? Who taught you?”

Again, Ivan smiles, and I think he likes Ty. He seems relaxed, speaking freely about something I’m sure he’s only told me. “I am self-taught. Forgive me, kolibri. My English not so good. Patience, yes?”

“Of course.”

“I teach myself. I had to learn so I would not go to …” Ivan pause, looking up to think of the word he wants. “prison.” He finally finishes. “Death penalty. But before that, hard labor. I am not …” Ivan pauses, tapping the side of his head. “Sound…here.”

Ty’s face softens, and he leans his head on my shoulder. “You’re like Leo.”

“Yes. That is why me and him work good together.” Ivan gives me a long, searching look, but before I can question it, he glances back at Ty, perking up more than I’ve seen him in years. “Tell me, kolibri. Have you used butterfly knife?”

Ty’s eyes brighten. “No. You have one?”

“Always. It is my go-to. Want to learn?”

“Fuck yes.”

For the next hour, Ivan teaches Ty how to open a butterfly knife and how to use it on someone. My hands aren’t as dexterous as Ivan’s so I can’t flick it open as he does. Ty doesn’t have that problem. Probably because he’s a baker and needs deft hands. He snaps it open with ease after a few tries and has the strikes Ivan taught him learned in no time.

The look of pride Ivan reserved for me when I got something right is aimed at Ty, and my belly does that swooping it did when I figured out I was in love with him. I don’t know what it means in this context, but I’m not going to worry about it.

“Good. You can keep that one. I have others,” Ivan says, sitting down heavily in the chair. He looks exhausted. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his cheeks look gaunt.

“You okay, Ded?”

He stares at me for a few moments, and I start to think he won’t answer. “I am perfect. What is word you use for tired from flight?”

“Jet lagged,” Ty supplies.

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