Chapter 29 #2
It wasn't that, though. Gideon gave an air that demanded space from other people. He knew it. He'd seen the way people reacted to him.
But Royce was interesting.
Gideon wanted to be closer. Wanted to observe, but he didn't want to make Royce feel like a spectacle.
There was a twinkle in their eye that said they understood.
Royce spoke first in the silence. “As I said, my name is Royce.
I'm what's called non-binary, meaning I don't stick to gender like male or female. My pronouns are they/them. When Fury told you about my arrival, you probably heard him use them or they to say I was coming. These are my preferences because it makes me feel more like myself. Not everyone understands it, and I often get confused looks, especially when I dress like this.”
Royce kicked a leg up, wiggling their foot to show the massive heel again.
Gideon laughed and nodded along.
Royce continued saying, “I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember.
It confused a lot of people in my small hometown.
They're used to it now, though. I'm here because Carver said he thought you might do well seeing someone who might be considered masculine looking more feminine.
My androgyny was welcomed and wanted. I'm just sorry it took me so long to get here.
There was some stuff going on at home. It's complicated.”
Royce rubbed their temples, closing their eyes for a moment before popping them back open.
Gideon tilted his head. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Royce's lips tipped up. “I thought Fury was the head doctor here. The shrink, as Hex might say. Handsome devil.”
Fury shook his head. “Don't let him hear you say that. He and Silver have a bet going on who can pull the most people. I fear one day they're going to choose the wrong person to bed and then we'll all be in hot water.”
Royce waved a hand as if to shoo the notion away. “Hex is a big boy. Silver too. Let them have their fun. Besides, we're not here to talk about them. What questions do you have for me, Gideon? And tell me, does my appearance bother you in any way?”
Gideon quickly shook his head. “No, it's... I mean, you're fascinating. I don't know that I've ever wanted to wear what you wear. I still don't know how you made it here.”
He took a deep breath, the words having come out in a rush.
Fury stood and grabbed a few bottles of water from his mini fridge. Royce wiggled their brows and shimmied their shoulders at Gideon once they got their drinks.
“I feel so fancy here with this fresh cold water.” They took a sip and made a relieved sound.
Gideon drank his in a much quieter manner, then held the bottle between his hands.
“I know that Carver and everyone else is worried about me being around women.
I admit that it's scary sometimes because I think of her.
But their looks don't bother me. It's what they could do — how they could be. I saw her flip a switch on a dime, one minute laughing and the next stabbing someone.”
Gideon winced.
“Sorry if that's graphic.”
Royce leaned forward, their hand going to the couch between them and Gideon.
“Hey, I'm not bothered by a little bit of graphic detail.
I'm not sure if Carver told you or not, but the people that were rescued with you came to me.
I helped get them settled and found them new homes.
They're all doing well. A few have asked about you.
I'm glad that I get to tell them that you're fine in the next update.”
Gideon's eyes widened. “You helped them? That was nice of you.”
Royce smiled, patting the couch twice. “It sure was.
It's kind of my side project in life. I wanted to help people and this was the easiest way to do it.
I used the money that my family has, which is a stupid amount, to give people new lives.
They get a new start after they've been dealt a shit hand.
When I offered to help you relocate, Carver told me that it wasn't an option. Pretty sure he was smitten from the start, no matter how weird some might find it.”
Gideon sat up straighter. “Why would people find it weird?”
Royce looked at Fury with an intense stare. It was like they were communicating, though he didn’t understand any of it him.
After a few moments Fury answered, “Because people might say it's Stockholm syndrome or something similar to that because he saved you.
They might think he's got a hero complex or that you would like him because he's the person that got you away rather than you two meeting organically and falling in love.”
Gideon stood as rage boiled through him. “That's unfair!! Carver is nice and kind. I don't love him because he saved me. That's just part of it.”
Royce held their hand up slowly, which gave Gideon plenty of time to step away had he not wanted to be touched. Instead, they waited until Gideon took the offer.
Royce linked their fingers together and smiled. The touch calmed Gideon. It allowed him to sit back down and breathe easier.
“We understand. We were saying other people might not, which is why Carver wanted to keep you but didn't know what to do.”
Fury added on. “It's also why you talk to me, why you're learning college level classes now and how to fix a bike and what flirting sounds like. We're all invested here. We all believe in you two. But you had to grow on your own before anything else could happen.”
Gideon sighed. “Oh, well that makes sense I guess. I didn't think of all that.”
Royce snorted, squeezing Gideon's hand once before letting go. “I’m sure you didn't. You were in survival mode trying to focus on everything else. From what I hear, you've also tried to harm yourself since you got here.”
Their voice had gone soft. Gideon gulped, his cheeks turning red as he thought back to that time. He'd been hopeless and confused, still in a daze from everything that had happened in the other place.
He hadn't understood who the Angels were or why they had brought him here. He’d feared more of that same pain, that same torment, was headed his way. Gideon did what he thought he needed to.
Now he knew life was worth more than that. He knew taking away the rest of the time he could have had with these men was not the right choice.
Royce took his silence as understanding. They grabbed Gideon's hand again gently and ran his fingertips along their arms.
Gideon felt two long marks there and whipped his head up. “You?” he asked.
Royce nodded, his smile brief. “Yes, at one time I was troubled.
I didn't get very far, and I've gotten a lot of help since then.
But know that you're not alone. Know that life gets brighter, that there will be hard times, but there are also good ones. Not every person is out to hurt you, male or female or non-binary.”
Royce winked at the phrase.
"Your life is beautiful, and you are wanted. People love you and care about you. The Angels don't just let anyone in their club. I know because I've worked with them for a long time."
Fury made a noise as if to agree.
Gideon nodded once, then sat back, taking his hand away from the marks on Royce's skin. “Can you tell me more about what it means to be non-binary? I don't think I would like the heels, but your clothes are really pretty.”
Royce leaned forward, hands on their knees as their entire mood changed. “If you want to talk fashion, baby, I got you. Let's get started. Fury, can you go collect my bags? I might have some things that could fit our sweet boy here.”
Gideon shivered at the nickname and Royce winked again. They must have known that that was Carver's nickname for Gideon.
As Fury left, determination settled over Gideon. He was going to figure out his own personal style with Royce's help. He would continue to talk with Fury and to expand his life. And then he would tell Carver the truth of everything.
He would lay himself bare and hope that the other man still wanted him after.