Page 31 of Until the Day You're Mine

He hadn’t seen Scott in years, yet the memories of his past torment come rushing back making him weary of the other man every minute of every day. As it turns out, with good reason.

Scott picks up right where they left things years ago – insults, disrespectful comments, mockery, all chicken-shit crap. Ty is sure Scott’s too old for this level of bullshit.

This insane, out-of-nowhere, relentless mental assault on Ty, has gotten so bad, that he can hardly sleep. His exhaustion is affecting his performance, threatening the safety of countless men and women relying on him to protect them.

Cyril has made several complaints against Scott, but they get swept under the rug. After all, his uncle is the battalion’s commander, and what good are connections, if not for shits like Sebastian Scott to get away with murder?

The whole thing is dismissed as a classic boys-will-be-boys situation. Nobody cares about that mental health mumbo jumbo here. That’s all shit to deal with back at home, when one is so broken, they can barely manage to go through basic everyday activities.

There is no point regurgitating any of this with Black – he is tired, sick of their bullshit, and most definitely sick of this place. Ty gets it – after thirty years of service, his superior simply doesn’t have it in him to care.

“Yes, sir,” they call out, loud and clear, as every order is welcomed and never questioned.

“Dismissed,” Black mutters, already busy with reading his new reports.

It’s obvious, he’s not really interested if they work shit out or if they murder each other once they leave camp.

Sebastian is the last one out and roughly pushes past Ty, knocking their shoulders together, then pauses behind the wide expanse of Cyril's back. Cyril steps to the side ever so perceptibly and Sebastian glides around him, keeping his distance. There is no doubt he hates Cyril’s unwavering gaze on his face, as his cheeks bloom bright red. It’s not even that hot in there. He hurries away angrily, looking more flustered from this brief encounter, than from the meeting with Black.

Tayida and Cyril pause at the entrance of the small demountable building, looking after him until his profile is long lost in the dust and the rising heat of the August morning in the Helmand River Valley.

Cyril and Ty are serving in combat, and Scott is in intelligence. He is only a few years older, and a college degree gives him the advantage and access to training programs Cy and Ty might never get to have. That in itself should streamline his rise up the ranks. It is no secret that he has been trying to transition into military law, but something has been knocking him back for the past year.

This is what Cyril has uncovered, while slowly prodding for information around camp. He also finds it unusual Sebastian Scott has resurfaced in their lives so suddenly, in Afghanistan of all places. Rumors are he was set to join the family’s business and work alongside his uncle in private military contracts after he retires from active duty next year. A lot of people want to see his back and forget all about him, yet here he is, slum-dogging it with all the foot soldiers for no goddamn reason at all.

Scott haschosento be here. Lord knows fucking why.

He looks miserable and haunted. He hates the service, and that is to be expected – even creeps like Scott would rather be anywhere else than in this purgatory. Nothing about his presence makes sense.

Logically, Tayida knows that Scott harassing him after years of not seeing each other is bizarre, to say the least. He should be chalking it up to Scott being a petty asshole, but the relentless way he is going after him this time around tells him that soon hateful words and low punches won’t be enough to satisfy the hate he has for Ty.

Scott is being sent out with Cyril and Ty of all people, to survey a new camp activity twenty miles from the border. Scott has an established team, and it’s a surprise he hasn't kicked up a bigger stink about being hitched to them for this mission.

No matter how much Ty wants to focus on simply hating Scott for all the shit he has tried to pull throughout the years, he must admit it to himself, this whole affair is fucking strange.

Once he is out of sight, Cyril turns to Ty and cocks his head in the direction of their barracks. The day is certainly not over for them, but they have some time before they need to report for their scheduled duties.

Cyril and Ty are so in sync with each other, that Tayida is perfectly comfortable with being his shadow and following his lead. The understanding that they share transcends their location, danger, and sometimes duty. That is why Ty is startled when Cyril blindsides him with a statement he has never expected him to utter. “Something’s up with Scott. I’m concerned. I don’t like what I’m hearing about him.”

Ty is worrying his lip, chewing on it hard enough to draw blood. He wants to be a better person like Cyril, but he hates Scott. He really fucking does. He despises the way that man makes him feel. He listens to Cyril though and doesn’t hurry to disagree with his friend. He trusts him with his life. If Cyril has that weird feeling about someone, he’s never wrong.

Cy grips Ty’s shoulder firmly, and the comforting pressure of the contact helps Tayida slow down his erratic breathing. That’s what happens every time he’s around Scott for any reason – the stress and tension in his chest make it difficult to remain calm. To force a sense of tranquility through the haze of his unfounded fears.

The touch lingers and grounds him, but it isn’t nearly enough. He wants to hide in Cy’s arms and let Cyril squeeze the air out of him, but this isn't the time.

When he is too starved for physical affection Cyril knows the signs all too well. No matter how much Cyril implores him to look for happiness with someone, he downplays his needs and mumbles some bullshit about not having met anyone he likes enough to want to even try. It's a lie, and it is growing dangerously poisonous in his heart. So much so, that when Cyril touches him, it hurts more than it comforts him.

Rian. Rian. Rian.

How could Ty need something he has never had?

He has given up on figuring it out. He just does.

Ty needs Rian, now more than ever.

Ty wants to hear Rian’s voice.

Ty longs to drown in Rian’s big blue eyes.

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