Page 49 of Five to Love Him
It really was nothing fancy, but we’d managed, with the mattress and the comfortable pillows as well as with several blankets we’d found and spread over everything, to create something that was big enough for us and him, a rough oval that would allow him to sleep without any part of him hanging out over the bed. We’d put his teddy bear Bruno next to his pillow so that the old, well-loved creature faced him.
We watched, anxious for his reaction. “Do you think this will be fine?”
Our gleaming one nodded, heat rising to his cheeks. “I…yeah. I’m really tired though. I just want to sleep.”
“We want you to sleep,” we assured him. “All we’ll do is keep you warm.”
He hugged us, brushing the smallest of kisses against our cheek, and excused himself to the bathroom.
While we put the leftovers away, we washed up and brushed our teeth in the bathroom downstairs, wondering what would be easiest for Leo. Two would be fine, we thought, not too crowded, and we’d be able to watch over him while we slept ourselves.
With three remaining awake, we’d easily be able to keep the house safe and plan for our interview with the yoga werewolf tomorrow.
Leo being so tired worked in our favor. He didn’t even flinch when he saw one of us in bed already nor when we joined with a second, that one only wearing sweatpants since we preferred sleeping that way. Leo himself wore a cute set of pajamas that we would have liked to tease him about. It was blue, patterned with teddy bears not unlike Bruno, who he’d placed outside of the floor nest rather than taking him in his arms.
As we turned off the desk light and closed the door, we were left hopeful in the darkness about him maybe hugging us throughout the night, a greedy thought that we couldn’t help thinking.
Much like Leo, we fell asleep quickly, even the second one dozing off, something we’d barely managed ever since we’d escaped. We dimmed the lights throughout the house and closed the window shutters, walking around for about an hour before our mind could settle, before we felt like we could rest, savor this joy we had found.
After spending some time reading the news on our phone, we decided to text the other hive.
Hello. This is the hive you met at the Moonlight Diner. We have spent the day with our gleaming one, and he allowed us to spend the night at his house. He is asleep now, two of us beside him.
It didn’t take long for them to respond.
??????What wonderful news! He must be comfortable around you. Well done.
Thank you. He’s very understanding, kind. He cares for us.
We have wondered, with our own gleaming one, if that is why they are a hive’s. Maybe they have to be empathic for us to recognize them, you know?
We considered this, saw how it could be the case.
We think our mother was like that as well. She is the only other gleaming one we know of.
We think it’s a good theory. Empathic people with a big heart will thrive with a hive at their side, don’t you think? We think our gleaming one is better off with us, but we're biased.
That was an interesting view. It rang true.
We can make sure our gleaming ones aren’t taken advantage of.
YES. That’s what we think. It’s difficult. At least ours likes to be helpful, but he listens to us. Most of the time.
The hive’s words made us feel more certain about what we were doing, finding work and helping Leo with his, about spoiling him as he put it.
We think we’ll have time for breakfast tomorrow at the Moonlight Diner. Would you like to meet again?
Of course, we’d be happy to. When will you be there?
The werewolf had told us to come by his studio between eleven and twelve rather than giving us a fixed time for the interview. We’d be able to leave with two before Leo woke up, have breakfast, then go to the interview.
Ten?
We can make that work. Unless Hawthorne needs extra disposal done. But let’s say ten in the morning at the Moonlight. It’s always good to spend time with another hive.
Yes. We are grateful to have met you.
So are we. See you in the morning. And enjoy the night with your gleaming one.
