Chapter 26 Shy
Ender eyed Calico, feeling more than irritated that the little shit was in one piece. Okay, the Cryptid wasn’t little…he was technically almost as tall as him, but still. The Succubus squirmed under his glare, but smartly, didn’t say a word.
After a moment more of watching the fucker fidget in his seat, Ender smiled and said, “You ever fucking let a traitor on my ship again, I will be tossing your corpse out with theirs. Is that clear?”
“Understood,” Calico said, before smiling sheepishly. “I figured it could be my one fuck up, and so, uh, I just went for it?”
He snorted. “So you decided to bet your life on this being your one and only mistake, blindly hoping you won’t have any more in the future?”
The Succubus chuckled. “Yes, I indeed did.”
“You are indeed a damn fool.”
“Possibly, but to show that I’ve seen the error of my ways, I’ll be forfeiting my profits from this little venture, ay.”
“Like you were getting shit after all this anyway,” he sneered, as he pushed up from the table and walked away.
He shook his head when he swayed a bit, a yawn forcing its way out. “Fucking nightmares,” he grumbled.
Ender couldn’t really ignore it any longer, he was now in danger territory. He wasn’t sure why things were progressing so abnormally fast, when previously his meltdowns had been predictable.
Fuck, it was just so early!? Even if things hadn’t gone to shit, they would have never made it back to Earth in time.
Ah—shit! Rubbing his face, he hurried through the halls of Red Herring, before crossing the breach point onto Brick Bond, and heading to the cafeteria.
They’d managed to level out the temperatures on all of the ships early that morning.
So now the ships were cold but fucking livable, and his crew had at least moved back to their normal quarters.
To him, it was still freezing, though apparently to most it was fine, as many had stopped wearing their thicker coats.
Ender frowned when he walked into the cafeteria, and his body instinctively tensed. His skin itched as if he was being watched, a feeling he’d been having randomly since yesterday. He just wasn’t sure if it was in his head, or… Well, lack of sleep did tend to make him more paranoid than normal…
Ender glanced around covertly as he entered the line and grabbed a tray, almost dropping it on realizing he was in fact not being paranoid.
Why in the hell is the Siren staring at me?! His left eye twitched on noticing that Killian was not alone in his actions, Cyrus was staring pretty much just as blatantly as the other Cryptid. The fuck was their problem?!
Hissing under his breath, he quickly grabbed a damn peanut butter sandwich, a chocolate pudding cup, and milk, before beelining for the couple’s table. Slamming his tray down, he took a seat right next to the Fate, the larger man jumping as he did.
“So, do you two want to share what staring contest I entered without being asked? Or is there another reason you are both looking at me?” Ender asked, while his gaze settled on the Fate.
Cyrus swallowed hard as he looked down at him. The man’s mouth opened, but it closed within seconds, without the fucker saying a damn thing. A notable dark red flush had spread across the Grimm’s cheeks when he suddenly averted his gaze.
Eyes narrowing, Ender turned to Killian, looking for answers, but found himself at a loss at the almost sheepish smile on the Siren’s face. “Okay, cut the bullshit. What in the hell is going on with you two? Because I tell you what, my ass is way too paranoid for whatever the fuck this is.”
“It’s nothing!” Cyrus blurted, before stumbling from his seat and fleeing like the dogs were on his heels.
“W-What…” Ender sputtered before trailing off, feeling entirely baffled as the man disappeared.
Killian snickered. “Oh, my Goddess. I forgot he did that.”
His head snapped back towards the Siren. “Did what?!”
The man giggled. “Shy, my man is shy.”
He blinked in shock when the Siren just got up and left.
“W-what—What in the hell does that have to do with anything?! You didn’t even answer my question?!” he snarled to himself, as he was now fucking alone.
Rubbing his temples, Ender groaned. He was confused, and it took a lot to confuse him.
Severo! Severo had to know what this was about!
Killian caught up to Cyrus pretty easily, but then, the man was no longer running, just sort of walking slowly with his head hung, clearly embarrassed.
Giggling, Killian slid up to his side and bumped against the Fate’s arm as he teased, “Oh, is my man feeling shy?”
Cyrus groaned. “Baby, don’t pick on me, please.”
He giggled again, slipping his arm through the Cryptid’s. “You know, I actually had forgotten how embarrassed you get when finding someone attractive, or after having thoughts about having sex with them. Mostly as you’ve never done it to anyone aside from me, as far as I know.”
“I wasn’t even thinking, or actively thinking about it, I just don’t—” The Fate cut off with a huff. “Ugh—I thought I had moved out of this phase of my life. I’m not a damn teenager!”
“Nope, you just got comfortable with me,” he said as they entered their room.
Cyrus pulled from his hold. Turning to face him, the Cryptid pulled him close, wrapping his arms around him as he pressed a kiss to his lips that sent his heart fluttering. “I am comfortable with you,” Cyrus rasped. “I don’t feel shy because you are mine.”
Killian grinned. “Am I?”
“Mm, my Baby, all mine.” The man grabbed his right hand.
“I don’t know. It’s not like you don’t still make my heart race.
” Cyrus placed his hand on his chest. He smiled as he felt the already elevated beat speed up under his palm.
“No matter how many years it’s been, or will pass, you will always affect me, Killian Neftlem.
But with you, I just feel…home. I'm excited, of course, but there's no panic.”
Killian stretched up and pressed a kiss to the man’s lips. “Mm, don’t act so worried, Cyrus. I’m not offended that he is making you nervous. I told you, I’m fine with it. But what about you? How do you feel about it, about Ender?”
Cyrus took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I’m where you are. I’d never thought about adding someone, and entering a polyamorous relationship had never really crossed my mind, but the idea of us comforting Ender doesn’t upset me. That being said, I feel really fucking awkward around him now.”
“You don’t say?”
“Oh, by the threads.” The Fate let out a pain-filled groan. “There’s a joint meeting later, what the hell am I supposed to do?!”
“Avoid looking at him?”
“Y-you think that would work?” Cyrus asked, his eyes wide with hope.
Killian held his composure for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. “You are so screwed, and I am going to have so much fun watching.”
“Baby!”
Ender glared when Severo started to eye him as if he had lost his mind.
Blinking awkwardly, the Shadow Dweller eventually asked, “What?”
He huffed. “Staring, they keep staring at me! And whispering. Staring and whispering. And that fucking Grimm literally keeps blushing!”
Severo’s face pinched. “Um, Ender, when was the last time you slept?”
“What does that have to do with anything?!”
“Because that would be the only way to explain why you think Cyrus Grimm was blushing while talking to you.”
“W-well, he did!” Ender sputtered. “Toddles saw it too! The first time, at least. And Killian called him shy!” He smacked Severo’s hand away when the Dweller felt his forehead. “I’m not sick!”
“I mean…you do tend to be extra paranoid this time of year.”
“Boy, I swear to fuck, this is not my paranoia acting up! Cyrus was BLUSHING!”
Ender hissed threateningly when the Dweller tried to feel his forehead again.