Page 95 of The Rat

“You think I need myheadchecked?” Rory snorted, and tapped on the door.

“I think you need to stop, takeeverything in—”

“This…” Rory gestured tothe corridor, and the metal bars at the end. “This ishome.”

“Takea minute, think about what you’redoing.”

“I don’t want tothink.”

“You are not a criminal,you are not in here for drug charges, you’re a policeofficer.”

“I’m not really one of them, amI? I’m a cheat, a liar, a deceptive asshole, and I need to be inthere, withthe other cheats, liars, and assholes.”

Rory raised hishands and walkedaway. A guard took hold of his arm, and pulled him deeper into theprison, down corridors, through gates. He was strip searched, thenredressed to go back on the wing.

Theinmates were already in their cells,and the lights were off. The guard used a flashlight to guide theirway, and it seemed like in the space of a blink, he was outside hisand Sebastian’s cell door.

He was home.

The key clunked in the lock, andthedoorswung open. Rory couldn’t see anything when he stepped inside. Thefloodlight shone on his bed, and the corner of Sebastian’s pillow.The door locked behind him, but he didn’t hop onto his bed, hewaited.

Sebastian stood up slowly, then camecloser.

“Rory?”

That was the moment he allowed himselfto cry.

Sebastianrushedforward and pulled him into a hug. Rory shoved his face into hisneck, clutched on, and took a deep breath. Sebastian was warm underhis hands, his heart was thumping hard in his chest, and Rory couldhear him breathing, sighing through his nose. He clutchedSebastian, and Sebastian held him back harder.

“It’sgonna be okay…”

“It’s not.” Rorymurmured.

Sebastian brushed his thumbagainst the nape of Rory’s neck. His eyes driftedshut at thesensation, then they snapped open. He didn’t deserve to feel nice,he didn’t deserve to be comforted. He went from grabbing Sebastian,to pushing him away, but Sebastian didn’t let go.

“Hey,” Sebastian mumbled.“Don’t...”

Rory sunk back againsthis chest andpressed his face so securely to Sebastian’s neck it hurt his nose.He didn’t care, he cried, and only stopped when he felt wetness onhis arms. Realized his tears, and whatever else, had ran downSebastian’s back.

Hescowled. “Sorry…”

“It’s fine.”

Sebastian pulled Rory over to his bed.“Sit down.”

Rory did as he wastold and shuffledback until he was against the wall. Sebastian offered him sometissue, and he wiped his eyes and nose.

“Thanks.”

Sebastian sat next to him, thenpulled the sheet over their laps.

“Wanna talk aboutit?”

“Not really.”

“That’s okay, we cansit for abit.”

Rory closed his eyes when he feltSebastian’s arm snake round his neck and tug him close.

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