Chapter 20- Taz
AFTER PUTTING AWAY the last of the cleaning supplies, I shut the cabinet door and hop up.
Chores aren’t really a chore nowadays since I have so much to be thankful for.
I’m dating an amazing guy who loves me, and my brother is back in my life!
It’s been almost a week, and each day I feel more and more grateful to have Vikrum in the realm of humans.
Which is why I’m here, putting together boxes of cleaning supplies.
It’s pricey to pay for all the kitchenware and cutlery, but no expense can be spared now that I’m funding my brother’s new life.
I gaze around at the massive kitchen here in the portal mansion.
The only one who used to live here full-time was Girish, and he kind of let this place lose its luster.
All these fine white wooden cabinets and stainless steel sinks, but no pantry snacks?
And that’s nothing to say of the lack of cleaning supplies. What kind of man doesn’t own a broom?
I like Girish a lot, but I need to help them both function like adults here.
So, in the past several days, I’ve taken it upon myself to fix up Vik’s new room as well as these common areas. I want my brother to have the best of the best; I’m setting up the life that went on pause for fifteen years.
When I walk into this room, I can’t help but smile.
I’m thrilled he’s using the new laptop I got him and that the Wi-Fi I arranged for is working.
But also just seeing the sunlight catch his silhouette fills me with contentment.
It’s nonsensical to be afraid my brother is going to disappear again, but that kind of deep-seated trauma doesn’t go away so easily.
So, as I tuck my hands into my pockets and lean on the doorframe, I relish the sight of him, alive and well.
“Did you need something?” Vik asks, without looking up.
“No, not at all.” I sit next to him on the second wooden chair. Luther insisted on conjuring the furnishing of the room; that was the first day Vik was let go of the infirmary, and since then, Luther has given us space. “I can’t just be happy to see my brother?”
“I’m happy to see you, too.” He gives me an amused look. “But standing by the doorway is a bit creepy.”
“You say creepy, I say protective.”
“You say protective, I say overprotective,” he murmurs.
I laugh softly. “What are you reading?”
“I have lots of world news to catch up on. Glad the internet is much faster nowadays.”
“Be careful, though. Some of it is―”
“Fake news, I know,” Vik says, finishing my sentence. He smirks at me. “What a weird term. Don’t people, like, think critically before they read headlines?”
“We’re still waiting on humanity to get there. Have you discovered the terror of AI photos?”
“The terror of what?” Vik’s smile falls, and I tap his shoulder.
“Trust me, brother. The internet is a more dreadful place than…”
My words die in my throat, and my smile falls. I was only there for a few minutes in astral form, but the Other Side was equal parts perplexing and threatening.
“It’s okay.” Vik smiles and taps my hand. “You can say the Other Side. I’m not some sleeper agent that will get triggered into being a warlock.”
“I didn’t think that,” I reply.
“Well, the Union certainly does.” He closes his laptop and pushes it into the desk. “Cauldrons, I know that they control the geo arcanum and protect people, but I wish they would poke and prod me less.”
“You know it’s just for your wellness, Vik.”
“I know.”
“Besides, they’re letting you live in this massive place rent-free.”
“They just want to keep me close in case I turn out to be a monster in disguise.” My smile falls, and he points at me and continues, “Don’t try to deny it, Taz.”
I sigh, and we both stand up. “They don’t trust anyone.”
“They trust you now, Mr. Big-Time Agent.” He lightly punches my belly, and I giggle.
“I’m not officially an agent!” I say, as he proceeds to tickle me. When I pull him off, his laughter dies in his throat as he studies me.
“All of these changes. I’m so…gutted.”
My heart breaks, and I touch his shoulder. “Listen, just because time has passed, that doesn’t change who you are to me. We’re still brothers.”
“No, not that.” He frowns and looks down. “I’m gutted that I’m the short one now.”
After a long pause, we both burst out laughing. I forgot that he missed my growth spurt at age sixteen. His growth didn’t get him higher than five-foot-seven, at most. My big brother is now shorter than me and looks younger than me.
He looks me up and down and gives my arms a squeeze. “I’m gutted I missed out on you growing up, but I’m so proud of the man you’ve become.”
My eyes prickle, and I nod. There’s not much I can say.
He turns around and adds, “But you gotta go.”
“What?”
“Taz, since I’ve been back, you’ve spent nearly every waking moment here.” He rummages through his drawers. “Buying me clothes, toiletries, a bloody laptop.”
I frown. “I had to get you started back in the real world!”
“I could have conjured it myself.”
“You can’t conjure something so complicated as a computer, magic doesn’t work like that. You think your little brother can’t buy you things?” I ask with mild irritation.
“I know you can.” He shoves on a hoodie. “And I appreciate you and the wizard cops muddling my documentation history to make it seem like I was just travelling with friends for fifteen years.”
“We don’t need the mortals sniffing around as to why you live in the States now when you were last spotted in London all those years ago,” I counter.
“And I am grateful. But you need to go back to living your life.” He peers at his reflection and fixes his dark hair. Without looking at me, he continues, “Go spend time with the man you’re shagging.”
His words have stunned me silent.
Vikrum turns around, alarm written on his face. “Oh shit, do people here not know? I assumed with the way he kept looking at you…” After studying me for a moment, he adds, “Does Girish not know? Do you not know?”
“Of course I know I’m gay!” I wave him off, then cross my arms and look out the window. “I just…never had the chance to come out to anyone in the family. And with all the changes you’re going through, I thought…”
“Taz. You are my brother.” He grabs my shoulders again. Looking down into his brown eyes, I feel extra exposed. “Nothing will change my love and gratitude for you. You saved my life. I accept you having a boyfriend.”
I didn’t realize how badly I needed to hear those words. Not only is my brother back, but he accepts my sexuality.
“Now I’m going to go for a walk to discover Cosmo, Virginia, alone. Go hang out with your boyfriend, that handsome Black fellow who seems to really fancy you.”
As my brother walks away, I’m once again stunned silent. “Wait, what?”
“Go shag your boyfriend!” Vik’s voice echoes down the hall, and I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. I guess this is what it’s like to have banter with your brother as adults.
An hour later, I’m leaning on a wall, waiting for Luther to walk out of his apartment. I texted him that I was on my way, and now he’s here, opening the door to the sidewalk.
The man looks good in agent clothes, but he looks damn ravishing in jeans and a tank top. I can’t believe how lucky I am.
“What are you doing here?” he ask with an adorable grin.
“Can’t a man spend time with his man?” I meet him halfway and lean in for a quick kiss. When he reaches behind me, I hand him my gift.
“What’s this?”
“You’ve never seen a bouquet of flowers before?”
“Pssh. Obviously. But what’s the occasion?”
“The occasion is you. Always you.”
“Aw.” He leans in and kisses me slowly. No one’s around on this secluded block, a fact I’m thankful for. Still, I don’t mind if the world sees me kissing the man I love. “But I thought you were with your brother?”
“He has everything he needs for now. And he told me in no uncertain terms that I’ve been a bad boyfriend.” I cringe and bring the flowers up. “So these are apology flowers.”
“You aren’t a bad boyfriend.” He laces his hand with mine, and we walk back into the building. “You’ve just been busy. Long-lost brother. Fifteen years. Portals and shit.” He shrugs, and I laugh at his truncated version of all our adventures.
“Yes, but I’ve neglected you.”
“Take all the time you need, Taz. I can wait.”
“I don’t want you to wait.” We make it to his door, and he lets us in. “I want us to go out.”
“But you’re already at my place.” After putting the flowers down, he pulls me in by my belt loops. “And we can fuck right here,” he says in a sing-song tone.
I chuckle and kiss him, deeply. Before he can get to my zipper, I step back. “Nah. Let’s go out.”
“Huh? It’s getting late.”
“Not all over the globe. Besides, we’re all-powerful wizards.” I wink and crowd his body. “The world is ours. No dream too big for the most kick-ass boyfriend I know.”
After kissing him again, he asks, “What did you have in mind, babe?”
“Let’s go watch the sunrise, Luther.”