Page 46 of Changeling
Nathan sighed. “Since you’re both in the same boat, why don’t you have Sasha stay in there with you? Then he can take a bathwhen you’re done and you can stay with him.” Nathan actually hated that idea, but at least they were both in the mindset of being five.
“We can take a bath together,” Sasha suggested.
“No,” Nathan said firmly. “Besides, there is no way you would both fit at the same time. Just get in the tub, Jim. My stuff’s already in there. You can use that.”
“Will you get it ready for me?” Jim asked, blinking at him owlishly.
Nathan couldn't actually find it in him to be angry with either of the rugrats. “Fine. When you’re done, I’ll run a fresh one for Sasha, okay?”
The bathing part actually went fine, except for when Jim came out of the bathroom to tell Nathan he was done while still completely naked and a little wet. Nathan had quickly gathered a towel and finished drying Jim off. At least Jim was able to dress himself while Nathan drained the dirty bath water and got it ready again for Sasha.
Of course Sasha, having the same lacking sense of decency, started stripping while Nathan was still in the room. Nathan had a very hard time keeping his eyes directed away from the body he usually found so desirable. Especially when Sasha started running his hands over his pelvic tattoo.
“They’re all filled in now,” Sasha said with a wide smile. He looked up at Nathan, completely oblivious to how Nathan was blushing. “Aunt Shi says we’re like big cats with spots and stripes. When we’re little, they don’t show up as much. But when we get big, there they are! I like them. Jim!” he called happily, and Jim immediately showed up in the bathroom wearing boxers and a T-shirt. “Aren’t my marks cool?”
“Get in the tub,” Nathan said quickly, ushering Sasha over to the bathtub. “Jim does not need to see you—”
“Cool! There’s some on your back too!” Jim declared. “And a cloverleaf!”
“I wanna see!” Sasha said, spinning around as he unsuccessfully tried to get a look.
“Later!” Nathan said maybe a little too harshly, grabbing Sasha by the arms and holding him in place. He could tell right away that he had startled the kid because Sasha’s eyes were all big and wobbly like they had been earlier in the day. “Just…get in the tub. And get clean. Jim can stay in here 'til you’re done. This is really weird for me and I just want you both in bed.”
Sasha nodded meekly. He gingerly lifted his feet over the edge of the tub and lowered himself down into the hot water. He noticed the scar over his heart and touched it with his fingertips for a moment, but thankfully didn’t ask. Again, Nathan really didn’t like that Jim would be sitting in there watching Sasha bathe, but at least it would be less awkward than if all of them stayed.
Twenty minutes later, Nathan had both of them in bed. Inonebed because neither of them wanted to sleep alone. As Nathan was pulling the covers over them, Jim grabbed his left hand and looked at the divided circle scar on his palm.
“No big deal,” Nathan said, but he knew the concerned look in Jim’s eyes meant he wanted more of an explanation. “Just a simple spell. Everything’s okay, Jimmy. Really. Everything will be okay.”
Jim nodded reluctantly and let Nathan’s hand go. After that, it didn’t take long before Jim and Sasha were both asleep, curled in toward each other. It was actually kind of cute, not that Nathan would ever tell them that.
Turning for the bathroom, Nathan sluggishly stripped out of his clothing and took a long, hot, soothing shower. His shoulder was still sore, not made much better by being thrown out of a house earlier that day. The swelling had gone down, but thebruises were painting a multicolored mural over his skin and ached with every small movement. Thankfully, he hadn’t landed on his chest, and those wounds were better off than he had first thought.
Nathan was exhausted when he got out of the shower and finished reapplying the bandages to his chest. He couldn't wait to collapse on the other bed and just sleep for a few hours before Shiarra joined them.
He had just opened the door of the bathroom when he jumped back at the sight of a tall figure standing in the darkness. “Jesus, Jim,” Nathan said, running a hand through his wet hair. “What are you doing?”
Jim didn’t respond at first, and Nathan wondered if something was wrong. He tried to take a step forward to get a better look at Jim’s face, but suddenly he was grabbed and forced back into the bathroom. Nathan instinctively struggled even if it was a mentally younger Jim, but all the fight fell out of him when he finally caught a clear picture of Jim’s eyes.
Slit. And amber.
Chapter 19
PushingNathanalltheway back into the bathroom, Jim moved slowly and deliberately as he turned around and shut the bathroom door behind them. Nathan felt panic rise in his throat, nearly choking him. Even being reduced to a child didn't affect how Jim was changing.
“Jim,” Nathan said cautiously, even though he was still pressed back against the sink where Jim had pushed him, “what are you doing? Snap out of it. This isn’t you. You’re Jim, you hear me.Jim.” Nathan tried to take a step forward as Jim approached him, but when Jim didn’t stop advancing or say anything in reply, when he just kept coming and reached out toward Nathan with those slit amber eyes flashing, it was too much.
Nathan swung his fist…and punched Jim clean across the jaw.
For a minute everything stopped. Jim’s face was turned to the side, hiding his eyes. Nathan didn’t know what to expect in retaliation. What he certainly didn’t expect was the wide blueeyes that turned back to him, quickly filling with tears and a look of accusation.
“Jim…?” Nathan whispered.
“Nathan?” Jim said in that small five-year-old voice. “You…you hit me? It hurts. Why did you hit me? Did I do something bad?”
Shit.Shit. “Jim, I…I didn’t mean to hit you, I…I thought you were someone else. I’m so sorry.” Nathan went forward and pulled Jim into his arms the way he used to when they were kids. It was a little harder with how much larger he was now.
“We’re too big,” Jim sniffled. “You can’t hold me anymore.”
