Chapter 11
Caden
“You slept well,” Timothy says when I open my eyes.
I rub my face. “How can you tell?”
“I monitored your heartbeat and didn’t detect any irregularities. You should be fully energized for the ball tonight.”
I get out of bed and start my morning stretches. This soft bed has done a number on my back. “I’m not really into these sorts of events.”
“Then look at it as a chance to spend more time with Finn.”
“And why would I want that?”
“Don’t get coy with me, young man. This journey has been good to you two.”
I can’t deny that. I stretch my legs by resting each one on the bed and leaning forward to hold my foot. “He’ll probably be busy playing politics all night. His meeting with the king didn’t go well.”
Timothy climbs on the bed to face me. “We knew that the king was inclined to join us, but his refusal to sell us any jetpacks will be a lot more telling.”
“Sure, but he also seems fishy.”
“He’s a ruler of a successful city during a very dark part of human history—a level of fishiness is required. Even in the old days, politicians were known for such behavior.”
“And look how great that turned out.”
“True. Are you done stretching? I would like to go meet our friends. Finn has already gone to Lyla’s, and I can’t walk around on my own.”
“Can I brush my teeth and grab a quick shower first?”
“How quick?”
“Damn, Tim. It won’t be a bubble bath.”
To his annoyance, I also squeeze in a shave. I might not like parties, but I don’t want to show up looking ragged, especially if Finn ends up introducing me to people.
When I’m back in my uniform, we walk out of the building, making our way across the crowded streets.
I notice more mutants walking around, and my body instinctively tenses, but I shouldn’t judge them by appearance alone, and I’m not looking to start a fight.
Timothy leads us to the other side of the city, where Lyla lives in a house bigger than the others in the area.
I knock, and Josh opens the door. I’m relieved that his black eye is almost healed.
Maybe soon I can stop feeling like shit every time I see him.
“Just in time for breakfast. Hi, Timothy.”
“Good morning, Josh.”
The house is spacious and homey, filled with plants and paintings on the yellow walls. Not the kind of environment I would picture a fighter like Lyla living in, but that makes me like it even more.
“Come sit next to me, Nanny Spider,” River says from the long dining table, his long red hair striking against his white shirt.
When I approach, he says a quick hello, only meeting my eyes for a second.
Ever since I smashed Josh’s face, he’s been suspicious of me.
I don’t blame him, but it still pisses me off.
I tell myself I would have acted the same in his shoes, and maybe he does have a reason to be suspicious.
It’s not like I know whether I’ll have another chilling encounter in the woods next time I go to sleep.
I turn to watch Finn as he climbs down the stairs. His dark curls are almost gone, making him seem a bit older. “A new haircut?”
“Lyla cut it. It was getting messy. I see you shaved.”
I touch my cheek. “For the ball. All eyes will be on me.”
He rolls his eyes and comes closer. I pull him in for a kiss, sensing his surprise by this public display, but he plays along.
“Very romantic,” River says. “I’m glad that Finn found someone muscular and tall like he wanted.”
Finn breaks the kiss. “River!”
“It’s the truth!”
Finn grunts as he pulls me to sit next to him. I whisper in his ear, “Am I muscular enough for you? Should I work out more?”
“Shut up.”
Lyla comes over from the kitchen, her hair in a loose ponytail. If my preferences weren’t for men, I could see myself falling for her. She places dishes on the table that smell great.
“How did you sleep?” Finn asks me quietly, as if everyone is not aware of my condition.
“Like a baby.”
“I can confirm,” Timothy says from the other side of the table.
“Good.” Finn takes an omelet to his plate. “I updated everyone about my shitty meeting with the king.”
“He might be looking for us to make an offer he can’t refuse,” Timothy says.
Lyla shakes her head. “If he wanted you to butter him up, he would’ve let you know.”
“I’ll convince him,” River says with confidence.
“How?” Finn asks.
“I’ll tell him it will be rude not to join us.”
I clear my throat. “Going for the rudeness angle. Smart.”
Josh gives me a look, but I spot the smile on his lips.
“Josh and I convinced my people to fight Father and the New-Humans. The king should be easier to convince if he’s not working with the enemy behind our backs.”
The rest of us go quiet, exchanging looks. It has crossed my mind that the king might be doing us dirty, but we never discussed it openly.
“This is a serious accusation,” Timothy says. “King Roger Campbell the Third has never shown an interest in expanding beyond the borders of his city.”
“He has nothing to gain by working with the enemy,” Finn says, but there’s doubt in his voice.
“Maybe he doesn’t need to go against us,” Josh says. “Sitting on the sidelines could be enough to make the Raiders happy.”
I nod. “So no matter what happens, he won’t be on the losing side.”
“I don’t want to act like he’s against us before I get a chance to discuss the jetpacks with him,” Finn says. “Until then, there’s no point speculating.”
I know him well enough to tell he’s going to speculate all day, his brain working overtime.
We continue to talk about casual things, and River announces we all must find new clothes for the ball.
We finish eating and walk to the shopping district, which is a hell of a lot nicer than the one in Unity.
Josh and I find something to wear within minutes, but River is more of a challenge, constantly asking, Do I look pretty in this?
My patience wears thin, but Josh plays along.
Finn doesn’t ask for anyone’s opinion. He’s methodical in his search, giving each piece of clothing a thorough look before deciding whether to try it on.
I couldn’t care less about his style, but I still suggest different items for him to try so I can watch him take off his clothes.
There isn’t an ounce of fat on his smooth body, and I need to adjust my erection when I remember feeling him inside me on that blanket.
Before offering him to fuck me, I hoped I wouldn’t end up traumatized, and now I’m eager to do it again, preferably with fewer rocks digging into my back.
When Finn figures out I’m only trying to get him to undress, he orders me out of the store.
Josh and I separate from the others and go meet the rest of the Defenders in a small restaurant, though we all drink local beer instead of eating.
Josh shares some of the things he’s been up to in the last year with River, and we listen closely to stories of places none of us have ever seen before.
At times, it feels as though my world is huge considering my childhood in the Hive, but there are times it feels much smaller, like I haven’t seen anything yet.
Before I notice, a couple of hours have passed, and we need to get ready for the ball. All of us from Unity are invited, but Trey’s the only one interested in going. I return to my room, and when I’m about to hit the shower, I hear a knock on the door.
It’s Finn, handing me a small bag. “I brought you something.”
I take out a silvery pin of the letter U.
“For Unity,” he says. “It will look good on your new shirt.”
I move aside so he can enter. “Thank you. I was about to grab a shower.”
“Should I—”
“—take off your clothes and join me? If you insist.”
There’s enough space for both of us under the stream, but we still stand skin to skin, touching with our hands and our mouths. I turn him around to lean with his palms on the tiles so I can rub soap over his back. That skull on his skin is unsettling, feeling so out of place on someone like him.
“I was worried when I saw you had a haircut,” I say.
“Why?”
“I need something to grab onto when I fuck you from behind.”
He spreads his legs. “I told Lyla to leave enough for you to grab.”
“That’s considerate of you.” I rub the tip of my finger over his entrance, then slowly slip it in. Blood rushes to my cock as I feel his muscles clench around my finger. “How many people do you reckon will be at that ball?”
“A lot, I think.”
“Some might want to flirt with you.”
“So?”
I slip the rest of my finger into him. “It might cause a diplomatic incident if I start hitting people at a royal ball.”
“And what if they’ll flirt with you?”
“It will be up to you to stop them.”
“I’ll tell them you have lice.”
I crane my finger inside him, making him gasp. “That’s a cheap tactic for someone in your status.”
“Whatever works.” He clears his throat, tension growing in his shoulders. “I won’t flirt with anyone. I’m spoken for, aren’t I?”
I freeze under the weight of his question, realizing what it is he’s asking me. It’s crucial for me to be honest, but there’s only one answer I feel right saying. “Damn right you are.”
“Really?”
I slip my finger out and turn him to face me. “Really. We’ll talk about the technical details later.”
“Like what?”
“Like how I’ll be taking on more work at HQ instead of field work.” I don’t know if the general will agree, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
“It might not make you happy.”
“I’m allowed to decide what makes me happy. If you’re worried, I can think of ways for you to help. I just hope you’re flexible enough.”
“You know I am.” Finn nudges me until my back presses against the tiles. “You’re hard.”
“And you’re perceptive. Help me out?”
“Sure.” He takes a step back and starts to soap himself, slowly rubbing every piece of skin.
“Bastard.” I stroke myself as I watch, taking in the sight of his delicate fingers sliding up and down his body. He plays on my desire until I can’t hold it any longer and come on the floor.
Finn turns off the water. “Now we can party.”
*