Page 16 of Changeling
Nathan blinked a few moments before realization dawned on him.
Flash? Or Green Lantern?
Back when Nathan was still wary of Sasha’s advances, the incubus had asked him who of the two he thought would be better in bed; just part of a silly game, but Nathan had recognized the flirt for what it was and had been too flustered to give an answer at the time. He thought for a moment if Flashreally was his answer, but decided he’d have to bring it up with Sasha again later, when they were alone.
Nathanwasdeclaredfitenough to at least paint one of the last remaining smaller rooms, as everyone returned to work. It didn’t go unnoticed that Alex took Wally with her, presumably to keep the chimera from distracting everyone else, but Nathan had his suspicions.
Since the room Nathan had been asked to paint was fairly tiny, he had it finished in just over an hour and decided to take a short nap in the lounge he had rested in the previous day. He was so comfortable when he woke up that he didn’t want to move. His last dose of meds had kicked in before he fell asleep, which left him feeling like he had just eaten turkey on Thanksgiving.
Contentedly kicked back on the sofa, Nathan blinked up at the ceiling for a while as he came to. The first thing he thought of when he felt a gentle touch on his arm was Sasha. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking. Nathan glanced down his body and saw two large grey eyes staring up at him. He shifted a little as Wally climbed up onto his stomach, and reached out to pet her furry head.
“Hey, fuzz ball. Come to wake me up, or just looking for a human pillow?”
A chirp responded and Wally started kneading Nathan’s stomach like a cat.
“Guess that answers that,” Nathan smiled. “Well, I can tell ya, Wally, I am definitely more comfortable than the attic floor.”
Wally paused for a moment in her kneading and reached one of her tiny hands for the silver chain around Nathan’s neck.Nathan pulled his father’s ring out from under his shirt so she could see it. Her grey eyes widened with interest.
“That’s right; you had all those shiny necklaces and things stashed up in the attic, didn’t you? Well, you play nice and I’m sure Alex might let you keep a thing or two. But this,” he tapped the ring, “is special. No more stealing, especially from one of us, and especiallythis. Got it?”
Wally chirped again and pushed her head into Nathan’s hand for another pat.
“Good. But, you know, I can’t help noticing how you keep flirting with my incubus. For the record, I saw him first, okay? You better not be looking for anything more than friendship.” Nathan had to smirk to himself at how Wally blinked innocence and then resumed her presses into his stomach, purring gently. “Getting on my good side, huh?” Nathan chuckled. “Just like a woman to play it coy like that.”
“Is that right?”
Nathan looked up to find Alex peering at him over the back of the couch.
“Are you going to be a lazy lump all day or what? It’s almost six,” she said.
“PM?” Nathan balked. He had been asleep for hours. He tried to sit up but he had still been unconsciously petting Wally and she was now curled up on his stomach in a perfectly round ball of fluff. “What are the others up to?” he decided on saying, remaining on his back for at least a while longer.
“Dinner’s ready, which was why I came looking, but…actually, I haven’t seen either of your boys since they finished those shelves. Must still be upstairs.”
Nathan considered Alex’s wording and shook his head with a grimace. “Don’t call them ‘my boys’. Sounds wrong somehow.”
A smirk graced Alex’s face. “Well, what should I call them? Your brother and your sex toy?”
Nathan paused to think on that. “Better,” he said with a nod.
Alex laughed and reached over the couch to mess Nathan’s hair. “And you’re still a perv. It’s almost comforting.”
“Says the lady with the camera phone,” Nathan grumbled.
“Aren’t you due for more meds?” Alex asked, effectively ignoring Nathan’s comment as she plucked Wally from his stomach, who remained scrunched up and curled into a ball since she had been so happily sleeping before being disturbed.
Nathan sat up finally and swung his feet around to stand up. He was still a little groggy from the long nap, which was probably why it took him several minutes to climb the stairs, let alone to reach his and Sasha’s room. There was no sign of Sasha though, in the bathroom or otherwise.
Walking across the hallway to Jim’s door next, Nathan was about to raise a hand and knock when he picked up on faint voices coming from down the hall. They must be in the library.
The voices grew louder as Nathan neared the room, but he could tell that Jim and Sasha were trying to keep their voices hushed. This made Nathan slow his pace, turning stealthy to better overhear them as he pressed back against the wall near the entrance. Nathan didn’t like this. Even before he could make out Jim’s words, he could tell his brother sounded off.
“We’re running out of time,” Jim said brokenly, like maybe he was crying or at least close to it. “We can’t keep acting like everything’s okay. Soon…it won’t be. Soon no amount of faking ease and laughs will mean Nathan’s still here. He won’t be here. He’ll be gone…a Shadow Immortal or worse. And it’s all because ofme.”
Nathan’s breath caught in his throat as he heard Jim bite out the last of that.
“He did it forme,” Jim went on, and there was no mistaking the sound of tears now.
