Quiet Burn (Discordia University #2)

Nervous

Kit/Kat

S lash deposited me on the bed carefully, then ignored my protests as he rifled through my drawers to grab my last pair of sweats. I was relieved to note he did not go through my underwear drawer, so I haven’t been prematurely outed to another person, but it also means I’m going commando unless I want to call for help or struggle to move on my own.

Fuck, fuck, fuckitty, fuck.

I’d try getting Dottie to help—that is, if I’m right about her understanding what the hell I say—but she’s out with the others. My ears prick as vaguely intelligible phrases occasionally make it through the thick door, but none of it is enough to really hear what they’re saying. Sighing deeply, I give in, knowing the size of this shirt is big enough to hide my meager assets without the binder. I wonder briefly what Dank did with the stuff that was battle worn and realize that even my one and only binder is now gone. That is not good for day-to-day and I’m going to have to speak with X about how I address that issue quietly. They’ll know a way to fix it; I’m sure.

Frowning harder as I start tallying the shit I will need to deal with sooner rather than later, I curse under my breath again at Jasper’s decree. If it was just Xerxes staying here, I could wait until Salem crashes from the bear’s needs and chat in relative safety. But having all of those douchenozzles here is going to severely cramp my ability to have a private convo with the one person who knows my damn secret.

Satan’s charred bungholes… I’m so goddamned screwed.

The light tap on my door lets me know I’m taking too long, so I carefully pull off the gown and get into my clean clothes. I don’t know which of them did that, but it definitely means Jasper is getting impatient. The worse that gets, the more likely it is that he’ll tromp on my boundaries by storming in and we’ll spend the rest of the night arguing. That won’t help me or them, so I clear my throat and croak, “Come in.”

Oriel’s dark countenance greets me, though his lips turn up in a smile when he sees me dwarfed in my baggy shit as usual. “Lookin’ normal, Kit Kat. That’s good to see.”

Wrinkling my nose, I wave my hand a little. “Yeah, I’m a real treat for the eyes at the moment. Can you hand me my basket thingy over on the dresser? I won’t feel good until I clean myself off a bit.”

He arches a brow but nods, walking over to get the opaque plastic basket that all of my toiletries are in. Luckily, I had the forethought to not keep feminine products in it day-to-day, so he won’t accidentally see my period stuff. I’m not on it now, but it should be coming soon enough. “I don’t know what you need for this, but it’s a bit heavy considering all the provided stuff in the bathroom.”

I snort. “Why are most guys so damn dense about self-care? I know you all have styling products and shit in there, but do none of you actually do things to prevent damage to the stupid meat sack you live in?”

“Uh…” Oriel scratches his chin, then does his bird-like head tilt. “We’re demons , KK.”

This time, I look at him with the questioning expression. “Does every demon in Hell look young or…?”

He blinks, then I see his expression change to one of understanding. “You think the ones who age better like… use skin care and shit?”

“I’d almost guarantee it, dummy.” Opening the box, I take out my micellar water and a washable pad, wiping the gross off my skin, then apply my moisturizer. “Honestly, I’d bet it’s the same for a lot of supes because the rich ones look better, mm?”

“Holy fuck,” O says, his tone similar to if I’d just told him who orchestrated the Kennedy assassination. “You have to tell everyone that X was right. It will make them feel so much better, KitKat.”

Of fucking course Xerxes tried to tell these dingleberries and they didn’t listen.

“I will,” I reply as I use a few more products, then put everything back in the box. “Okay, now I feel less like I’m covered in grossness. I can go out there once I put on some deodorant.”

“Your routine didn’t seem this thorough last time we were all in this bathroom,” he grumbles.

I shrug, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I do most of this in the shower stall to limit the amount of time I have to look at them all half-naked. The motion makes me wince—damn shoulder wound—and Oriel rushes over to sit next to me. He looks worried, so I shake my head. “I’m okay; I forgot about the damn injury for a second. It pulled some—no need to panic, man.”

The crow shifter blows out a relieved breath. “Damn, KK. You’re killing me with this shit. Today was the most stressful day I’ve had in a long fucking time.”

It’s my turn to blink in confusion. “Really? Why? I mean… I get the magic thing was um… weird, but…”

Oriel gives me a crooked smile, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. “Because, dude, usually I let all this bullshit slide off my back like I'm a duck instead of a crow. Jas and Slash get all pissy, Anton and X do their calm unaffected thing, Zav follows whatever Jas says… But Salem and me? We almost always just ride things out, only doing our parts and not letting shit affect us.”

“Yeah, that tracks. What’s different?”

“Man, you really are dense sometimes.” I pull my hand back at those words and he chuckles, grabbing it to squeeze. “KK, you are the difference. Everytime you are in danger, it’s like someone is putting my goddamn chest in a vice and I have to figure it out. So yeah, this damn magic thing and all the threats, and the injury paired with my brothers being hurt, too? It’s made me feel like one big raw nerve. Seeing you look fairly normal makes that loosen up so I can breathe.”

I have no idea how to respond to that admission.

Licking my lips, I stare at our hands as I consider what I’m going to say. Once I feel like I’m able to speak, I look up at him with a small smile. “I’m not used to people giving a shit, so yeah… that’s kind of news to me. If I seem dense, it’s because a long time ago, I built this whole system around me to protect myself from bullshit in my life. Letting people past those walls isn’t easy, but I am trying.”

“I know. Letting Salem and me show you our other forms showed me that.” My face turns red as he continues, “But you have to know that there are people who care and doing reckless stuff is going to affect us. That’s the normal you aren’t used to—I get that—but you have to sort of… be aware of it?”

Oh.

“That’s a very nice way to say don’t have my head up my ass like Jasper.” Oriel chuckles and I dip my chin. “You’re asking me to allow people to help more often so those of you who are connecting to me don’t worry as much.”

“Good boy!” He says with a joyful grin.

My eyes widen as my entire body tingles and I yank my hand back as if I’ve been burned. What the fuck is happening to me right now? Scooting to the edge of the bed, I swallow hard then rasp, “Um, we should probably go… you know.”

O looks confused, but he nods. Rolling to his feet, he takes my basket back to the dresser, then comes back, facing me. “Okay. But I’m helping you to your nest in the chair that Slash has spent the past half hour building. It’s really weird, yet kind of adorable at the same time. You might have enjoyed watching that big dude as he built it.”

I nod, still having trouble with my throat being tight as I push to my feet very slowly. “You’re right; I’m kind of sad I missed it.”

His grin is wicked. “Pretty sure X had Annie film it secretly. Ask him when you get a moment alone.”

That’s the rub, isn’t it? I can’t get a damn second alone with the slithery demon and now I need one even more.

***

Now that I’m curled up in this truly elaborate set-up Slash built, I see why Oriel found it so charming. I don’t know where he got all of the extra blankets and pillows, but every part of me is warm and supported. He made sure there’s a table on either side of it with food and drinks on one side and creature comforts on the other. Dottie has a little space of her own just above my head, and my feet are up as I look at the guys in their own spaces around the room.

“Thank you,” I mumble, pushing my hair out of my face as I try not to panic that I’m going to let everyone down as usual. “This is really comfortable. Oriel said you did it, big guy?”

The shark shifter gives me a proud smile, nodding once. “I did.”

He won’t be as talkative in this environment, so I’ll have to thank him again later when he’ll really communicate.

“I made the food.”

My eyes cut over to Salem, who’s no longer the bear, and half-dressed in his university sweats again. I have to swallow hard before I respond, because these guys completely fuck up my focus when they swan about so damn undressed. “Thank you, too. I’m going to eat some as soon as my stomach settles; I promise.”

His smile is bright, but I see the strain at the corners of his eyes. The amount of energy he burned during that rage fest really must have him struggling. I haven’t seen Salem look so wiped out since I arrived, and that’s saying a lot. “I’m always happy to feed you, KK. You know that.”

I sort of do, but I have no idea how to handle that. So I pull the blankets a little higher as I smile at my roomie, then look over at the glowering Prince. “You wanted this big slumber party, so I assume you’re going to…. debrief us or something?”

Multiple expressions dance over his aquiline features, but he finally settles on looking annoyed. “Unfortunately, I was indisposed during the big event, so I require information from all of you. I need to know how people were injured, what exactly you did, and what I might need to spin tomorrow morning.”

“Indisposed is a fancy way of saying your dragon went apeshit and you couldn’t stop it, right?” I arch my brow at him as the corner of my lips curls up.

Jasper inhales deeply, then gives his second a sharp look. Slash shrugs, and glaring at the others doesn’t help his cause. In fact, all of them seem to be on my side, which makes the butterflies in my stomach dance again in happiness. “Yes. Fine. That’s what it means. The rage burst tapped into the emotions my dragon often struggles with due to my own issues.”

“It’s a Devil’s Night miracle,” Zav mutters and I have to smother a giggle.

Yes, Zavida, yes, it is.