Page 71 of The Toymaker
“I was trying to hug you.”
“It’s too much.”
Trig sighed. “Since Kit can watch the shop and make sure no one runs off with the merchandise, we can spend time together out in the city. We’ll get something to eat, and I’ve got a surprise for you.”
The last few words made Riju immediately think to say no because surprises weren’t always fun, and after yesterday, he couldn’t help but think it was bad. He'd rather have no surprises in life.
“What is it?”
“It won’t be a surprise if I tell you.”
“You can tell me.”
“No.” Trig chuckled. “We’ll take a walk and eat something first, okay?”
Riju still had to live there with Trig for a few more months since he had to make sure Kit was okay. Once Trig had his damn cock cage, that was it. Perhaps he could enjoy the remaining time, and they wouldn’t fight or argue. When Riju was ready to leave, he’d talk to Trig about it, tell him the decision was final, ignore anything unpleasant or nasty that was said, pack his room, and leave.
Trig couldn’t stop him from taking his stuff and walking through the front door. But if he said anything now, it’d sour their time, and Riju wouldn’t dare go when Kit was still there. He’d likely be okay overall, but he wasn’t going to risk it.
“All right.”
***
It had looked like rain earlier. The sky had cleared a little, and it was still chilly. Riju had his second favorite sky-blue coat and red cloak for warmth.
Trig glanced at him as they went down the street. “The coat still just doesn’t work, you know?”
“Okay.” It was easier to say nothing more since Trig had never listened before when Riju said how much he liked the bright blue with his red hair. He didn’t care if others thought it clashed or was too much. He liked the coat, damn it. It also wasn’t harming anyone either. If Trig was trying to make things up to him, whining about a color he liked to wear wasn’t working.
“I figured we’d go to the river first. Where do you want to eat afterward?”
Riju hated all of the taverns because they all smelled funny, although a couple of the ones Trig preferred were worse. “Anywhere is fine. Can we sit outside?”
“No, it’s kinda cold.” Trig looped an arm around his shoulders. “It’s nicer inside.”
For him.
Some of the awkwardness melted as they entered the city. The crowds didn’t bother Riju too much today. Trig mentioned he might change the shop around and do a new layout. Riju didn’t like that part because he was used to everything being one way, but he didn’t complain. He could handle it.
They went to the main bridge crossing the river and stayed to the side to avoid a couple of carts and a lone rider crossing it. Riju didn’t particularly like looking at the riverside docks that were tiny in the distance. He couldn’t see it, but he knew the warehouse where he’d been lured to once at the age of seventeen was down there, and he didn’t want those memories intruding.
“I want to go to the other side.”
They crossed and leaned over the railing to look at the water as it rushed by.
“Do you ever wonder what it would be like if we could breathe underwater and didn’t need boats?” Riju watched the way the water rippled, never stopping, and never quite looking the same. “Travelers could let the water carry them along depending on where they want to go.”
“We’d still need boats to carry stuff.” Trig slipped his arms under Riju’s cloak. “And what if someone hit rocks on the way?”
It was still fun to imagine. It probably looked like they were hugging while Trig got his hand up under Riju’s coat and shirt to rub his side.
“See? You can’t stay mad at me.”
But what if he was? Did Trig think he could control how Riju felt? Maybe he had been trying the whole time because Riju was still just a thing and a trophy, right?
“I wish I knew what's going on in that mind,” said Trig.
After a time, he could probably tell Kit everything and even show him his tattoos. If they stayed together, he might be the one Riju could open up more to, and he wouldn’t feel like he was exposing vulnerable pieces. He should have known from the start that his reluctance meant something wasn’t right.
