Page 48 of Concluded
“I’m going because you are.Because I want to do my best to keep you safe.”
CHAPTER20
Dee had virtually no experience with emotionally close relationships.Nevertheless, he was fairly certain that when someone gave you their difficult backstory, including one of their deepest regrets, and then admitted that they were risking their life to keep you safe, it was appropriate to react with physical contact.Especially when you had kissed that someone and could still almost taste them on your lips.
So although Dee froze in astonishment after Achilles’ announcement, his inaction lasted only a few seconds.Then he shot to his feet fast enough to knock over the chair, rushed around the table, and threw himself into Achilles’ arms.Fortunately, Achilles had fast reflexes, and he caught Dee without major mishap to either of them.He did, however, grunt softly, which reminded Dee that Achilles had fresh scars on his torso and had been recently tortured.
“Sorry,” he said as he tried to pull away.
But Achilles held him fast.“I’m fine.”
“You’re hurt.And this is an awkward position.”
Achilles put his mouth so close to Dee’s ear that Dee could feel the warm puffs of breath.“I’m fine,” Achilles whispered softly.“This feels good.”
Which was true, despite everything.It had been only a couple of days since Dee had spent a night and day with Achilles in his arms, and now that strong body felt familiar.Like home territory.Dee felt as if Achilles could do anything he pleased to Dee—could disassemble him atom by atom, if Achilles wanted—and Dee would take pleasure in it because serving Achilles was what he was made to do.Which were stupid and dangerous things to be feeling, but he felt them nonetheless.And he wasn’t sorry.
“Hope sex?”Dee asked… hopefully.
Promisingly, Achilles paused before responding.Then he sighed, a motion that made Dee’s body move too.“Still not a great idea.”
“I guess not.”
“But… if this isn’t too weird….Maybe we could just lie down together and… cuddle?”
That idea hadn’t crossed Dee’s mind, but now that Achilles had made the suggestion, it seemed like an excellent one.“I’d like that.”
The beds were only a few yards away, but a little stumbling happened as they decided which bed to use, settling on the one that Achilles had slept in.They were both wearing jeans and T-shirts, thanks to the generosity of their hosts, and they remained fully clothed as they climbed onto a mattress that wasn’t really large enough for two big men.They ended up spooned on their sides, the wall against Dee’s back and Achilles against his front, and a thin soft blanket covering them to their shoulders.This time they sighed in unison as soon as they were settled.
“I haven’t done much of this,” Achilles said after a time.He sounded wistful.
“I haven’t done any.It’s nice.”
“Yeah.”
Silence for a while, but neither of them was asleep.
Finally Achilles spoke.“If you had a genie available to you, what would you wish for?”
Dee’s mind went blank.He’d never given much thought to his own wants and desires, aside from the basic needs of life and maybe some cannabis now and then.What he wanted had never seemed especially significant, since he probably wouldn’t get it anyway.“No wishing for unlimited wishes, huh?”But that question was mainly to stall for time.
“Nope.Ya gotta play by the rules.”
“You tell me yours first.”
“I already got my wish.You freed me.”
Oh.That was a nice thought.“Okay….Assuming my hypothetical genie is constrained by the same rules I am, I guess I’d wish for a nice home.A permanent one.”
Achilles nodded, his hair tickling Dee’s face.“I’ve got a condo in LA.I don’t know if I’ll see it again.It’s a nice one.”Then he yawned.
They stayed like that for a long time, quiet but awake, pressed together in their tiny, imaginary safety zone.As content as anyone could be when the world was in the process of ending.
* * *
“Sorry about the exposition dump,”said Achilles when he woke up.Dee hadn’t fallen asleep—except for the arm that was trapped under Achilles—but he’d been content to listen to Achilles’ deep, even breathing and to bury his nose in soft curls.
“It wasn’t a dump,” said Dee, extricating his arm.He was still pinned against the wall.
