Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Leo’s whole body buzzed as he walked home, hand in hand with Percival. He kept stealing kisses from Percival’s lips, which tasted of hot chocolate and peppermint. He couldn’t wait to get Percival naked in his bed.
They entered the apartment, kissing as he closed the door.
But Leo broke the kiss reluctantly. “I need to give Jasper his tea,” he said somewhat breathlessly. “I’ll be a few minutes.”
“All right.” Percival pressed one more kiss to Leo’s lips. “I’ll be waiting for you in bed.” Then he stepped backwards, holding Leo’s gaze. He unbuttoned his coat. With a wicked gleam in his eyes, he walked to Leo’s room and entered, closing the door behind him.
Leo let out a breath, willing his arousal to subside.
He pulled out the envelope of elothea seeds from his pocket. His brother Trent got them from an aquatic horticulturist each day. The tea had to be made with fresh elothea seeds. And according to Jasper’s healer, Jasper should drink the tea once a day.
But despite all the cups of tea Jasper had drunk, he had still not recovered. Leo’s jaw clenched. Why hadn’t his twin recovered?
At least Jasper said the tea helped with his symptoms. Which included fatigue, headaches, general aches and pains, and light-headedness. Leo brewed the tea and put together a tray of food for Jasper and Kali with more speed than usual.
After all, he had a phoenix, a probably naked phoenix, in his bed, waiting for him.
He knocked on Jasper’s door and entered. The candlelight on the tray cast a flickering glow around the room.
Jasper lay in bed, eyes already open. Kali crawled out from beneath the covers beside Jasper and hopped onto the floor.
“Evening, Jas. How has the rest of your day been?”
Jasper had left the bakery shortly before midday. “Fine.” He sat up.
“Well, I got your tea for you.” Leo placed the tray down. Then he grabbed the plate of smoked herring for Kali and put that on the floor before her.
Leo sat. He might be desperate to get back to Percival, but he still wanted to check in properly with his brother.
Although, maybe Percival had started to touch himself and stroke his cock whilst he waited for Leo. Leo squirmed on his seat. He pushed thoughts of a naked Percival aside. “How are you feeling tonight?”
“Fine.”
“How are your symptoms?”
“Fine.”
Leo held in a sigh, knowing his brother was withholding. “Maybe we should try and find you another healer.”
Jasper didn’t meet his eyes. “It’s fine, Leo. Don’t worry about it.”
“But you should be better by now. That’s what the healer said. But you’re not.” Leo leaned closer.
“You think I don’t know I’m not better?” Jasper said, voice tense.
“But the healer has no explanation for why that’s the case! So you should find a new healer!” Leo pressed.
“Leave it, Leo.”
This was not the first time they’d had this argument. “Just tell me why you don’t want to see a different healer?”
Jasper shook his head, still not meeting his eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”
Leo opened his mouth.
But Jasper got in first, “Just leave it, Leo. Please!”
Leo snapped his mouth shut. It didn’t make any sense to him. He didn’t understand why Jasper wouldn’t get a new healer. And Jasper wouldn’t explain it to him. They’d tried the phoenix tears. But as Percival had expected, it hadn’t worked.
“Thanks for the food.” Jasper’s nose scrunched up as he sipped the tea. “And the elothea seed tea.”
“Is it as delicious as usual?” Leo asked, trying for levity when he really wanted to just keep pestering his brother and make him explain why he wouldn’t seek a new healer.
Jasper gave a weary smile. “Just letting you know, Trent puts a lot more honey in to try and mask the taste.”
“I’ll remember that for next time.”
“Is Trent still shacking up with that horticulturist?” Jasper asked.
“It seems so.” Since the accident, Trent had been the one going to get the elothea seed for Jasper from the Aquatic Horticultural Emporium. The emporium was owned by a siren. And recently, Trent had been spending his nights with said siren.
Previously, Trent had made the tea for Jasper when he got home at night. But since he’d been going to see the siren after work and staying the night, he’d started giving the seeds to Leo so he could make the tea.
“Good for him.” Jasper grabbed a pie, a cheese and onion pie that Leo and Percival had made that morning. “And you and Percy? How’s that going?” Then he chuckled. “Actually, I don’t need to ask. I can hear the two of you at night. I know things are going well.”
Leo couldn’t stop the grin from taking over his face. “He’s wonderful!” He ran a hand through his hair. “I know he and I have only been together for a short time, but we get along so well. The feelings I have for him…” He trailed off.
“What?” Jasper asked.
“I’ve never felt like this for anyone before. I can’t get enough of him. We spend all our time together, and I still feel like it’s not enough.” Leo’s chest swelled as if it might burst with the feelings he had for Percival. “He just makes me really fucking happy.”
“I’m glad.” Jasper smiled, reached over, and squeezed his knee. “You deserve to be happy.” He studied Leo’s face. “You’re practically glowing.”
“I can really see us having a future together,” Leo confessed. “And I get the sense that Percy does too.”
Jasper continued to smile, but then it wavered, a shadow sliding over his face. His smile grew tight. He looked to the window.
“Jas, what’s wrong?” Leo shuffled forward.
Not meeting his gaze, Jasper shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Look, I know something is wrong. I know you aren’t telling me everything. I can feel it.”
Jasper didn’t respond or look at him.
“Please, Jas. You used to tell me everything. I’m your brother. Your twin!” Leo reached out and gripped Jasper’s shoulder. “You know you can tell me anything.”
“There’s nothing to tell!” Jasper snapped. He knocked Leo’s hand off his shoulder. “Why can’t you just fucking leave it? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Leo recoiled. “I—”
“Just leave and go back to your phoenix. Be happy.” Jasper hunched his shoulders. “Forget all about me. I don’t need you nagging me all the time. I am dealing with enough already.”
Leo sat, speechless. Jasper and Leo had spent so much of their lives fighting and bickering. It had been a huge part of how they’d communicated. It had been a huge part of who they were. Quick to anger. Quick to forgive. But there’d never been any real vehemence beneath it.
He’d never felt the rage that rolled off Jasper now. He’d always known his brother loved him, and vice versa.
How has it come to this?
Leo blinked rapidly. But he stayed seated. He couldn’t leave his twin. Not like this. He couldn’t. “I’m sorry, Jas. I didn’t mean—”
“No.” Jasper let out a breath. “Shit. I’m sorry. Don’t apologise. I—” He sagged. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped like that. I’m just exhausted and tired. I just can’t deal with—”
Leo held his breath. For a second, he thought Jasper might finally open up to him, might tell him the things weighing on him. But then Jasper just shook his head.
“I just hate being sick. That’s all. I’m always exhausted. My head aches. My body aches. My heart—” Jasper gave Leo a pained smile. “It all just makes me lose my temper. You’re a good brother. I’m sorry, Leo.”
“It’s fine.” But he knew there was more to it. Something was eating at Jasper. But Jasper wouldn’t tell Leo.
He tried to swallow the bitterness of that fact.
“Anyway, you should get back to your phoenix,” Jasper said. “He’s much better company than me tonight. And he’s probably waiting for you.”
“I can stay longer.” As much as Leo wanted to return to Percival, he wouldn’t leave Jasper if his brother needed him.
“Nah. I’m fine. I just need to be alone to rest.”
Leo hesitated. But after a second, he stood. “Well, drink your tea and rest up. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” But he didn’t leave. He lingered, hoping his brother would open up, even though Leo knew he wouldn’t.
Finally, he turned and walked to the door.
“Leo,” Jasper said.
Leo turned back to him.
“I’m happy for you and Percy. Really. I hope you and he are happy together for a long time.” Jasper smiled.
“Thanks.” Leo stared at Jasper for a moment. Then he left and closed the door behind him.