Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
The timer went off, signaling the end of the round, and one person from each team brought Tony a piece of paper with their guess scribbled on it.
He went through them, and Peri saw his mouth quirk before he grabbed the dry erase marker and stroked one line under their team name on the white board.
The team name Peri chose, of course, since no one else seemed to care.
“Team Sparkle Squad has it,” Tony informed them. “Go ahead and open your boxes.”
Peri squealed and clapped as Brennus used a claw to cut open the box so they could confirm their answer. Sure enough, there was a stage weight at the bottom, more compact than he’d guessed given the size of the box and how heavy it was.
He plopped back down in his chair as the staff came around to collect their boxes and hand them another. He beamed at his boyfriend, hugging his arm. “That was awesome. I would have never thought to puzzle it out like that.”
Wash lifted a shoulder, more at ease now that he’d gotten into the game.
Peri had been worried before, seeing how upset he was.
He would have made up some kind of excuse if Wash really wanted some time away from the group, but he was glad Wash decided to give the games a try.
At least now he was relaxed and enjoying himself.
With Dorian and Wash treating the game like an intellectual puzzle, the next rounds had similar results. The rest of their group asked questions, which helped them rule things out and narrow it down, but together, they were unstoppable.
“Dorian likes puzzles,” Kian commented during the third round as Dorian and Wash passed the box back and forth, listening to the sound it made together.
“I should have known he would enjoy this kind of thing.” He took another bite of his cupcake, because of course Peri made enough for everyone, sighing happily as he chewed.
“Dorian better be careful. If you keep feeding me like this, he’s going to get sugar highs whenever he feeds. ”
Peri snickered, crossing his legs underneath him. “I can start making sugar free treats if you want? I have a few recipes.”
Kian shot him a mock glare, popping the rest of the treat into his mouth. “If you do, I’ll make your next assignment in a different building from your boyfriend.”
Peri’s jaw dropped. “How did you–”
With a shrug, Kian waved a hand at Wash. “He’s different with you. More patient. I figured there had to be something going on there.”
Since he knew Wash wouldn’t be upset about him sharing, Peri leaned in, whispering, “We actually just agreed to be official earlier today. He got all jealous when a human started flirting with me and staked his claim.”
Kian snorted. “Possessive much? Not that I can say anything, really. Dorian is just as bad.”
“Like you’re any better, dearheart,” Dorian shot back, finally taking his attention off the box.
From the looks of it, the rest of the team had already figured out what was inside the box, and Brennus’s wife, Phoebe, was bringing their answer up to Tony.
“Am I remembering wrong, or was it you that tried to molest me in my car, because your friend made comments about becoming my boyfriend?”
Peri’s mouth popped open, and he jerked around to look at Kian again. “You didn’t!”
Kian, for his part, didn’t look the least bit embarrassed. “Morgan didn’t know we were together, and I hadn’t realized at the time that we were mates.”
Phoebe laughed, shaking her head as she rejoined them. “All mates are the same. Brennus gets his feathers ruffled every time the bag boy at the grocery store flirts with me, despite the boy being the same age as our son. He’s just fishing for tips and still Brennus gets all in a tizzy.”
Brennus made a disgruntled sound, sinking into his chair to escape the scrutiny. “He’s aware she’s mated. He flirts anyway. It’s inappropriate.”
She patted his shoulder, her eyes soft with amusement and affection. “Yes, dear. We understand.”
Peri looked around the room curiously. “Is everyone here mated?”
Wash shook his head, taking a sip of the drink he’d ordered when the wait staff came around.
It was a hellfire highball, and the glass was actually warm to the touch.
Peri was curious to try it, but Wash had shaken his head when he noticed Peri’s curiosity, telling him it was spicy. What kind of drink was spicy?
“Darnell, the Entertainment Division lead, brought his boyfriend. Neither has mentioned being mates. And the Dimensions Division lead brought her VP because they’re both single.”
So only two were single in the entire group. The rest were all dating or mated. Peri peeked a glance at Wash. What if Wash was his mate? That would be amazing.
“How?” Taron whined, drawing the room’s attention to him. “A thaisce, you’re supposed to rig it so your mates can win!”
Tony just shook his head, his expression soft amusement. “You lost, Taron. I’m sure you’ll do better during the next event.”
Peri watched as Zephyr hugged Taron to his side, rubbing his arm, even while rolling his eyes at the room.
His fond exasperation was cute, and Peri was fascinated to see the different dynamics that made up the throuple.
Taron was so much like him, sharing a common goal to make their companions smile, and Peri loved how well his mates complimented him.
Tony softened him, while Zephyr drew out his playful side and somehow kept him grounded at the same time.
It was a good balance, one that Peri hoped he got to have one day.
Maybe not with two mates, he got the feeling he would get jealous if he didn’t get one hundred percent of his mate’s attention, but that kind of balance would be nice.
While his mind was on love and romance, Peri missed the conversation about what was happening next.
Groups were splitting off for dinner, some eating in the restaurant run by the retreat, while others went back to their rooms for room service and relaxation.
Peri was going to ask what Wash wanted to do when the wily demon pulled him up and teleported them away.
They popped up somewhere new, and Peri looked around the place curiously.
It was… something. Peri didn’t really have words for the place.
There was very little color, the furniture was sparse and well worn, and any available surface in the living room was covered in projects, a lot like Wash’s office was.
“Is this your apartment?” Peri asked cautiously. Because if it was, that was sad. The whole apartment was lifeless and moody, and his boyfriend deserved so much better.
“Yes. I thought I’d make you dinner instead of eating at a restaurant. I think I need a break from being social.”
Peri didn't judge him for that. His grouchy demon wasn’t the most social butterfly, and he was probably feeling the strain after having to interact with others for so long. Peri was happy to have Wash cook for him.
He looked around again, masking a frown. He didn’t want to sound rude or insult Wash’s home, so he tried his best to keep his voice upbeat when he asked, “Can I look around?”
Wash waved him off, heading around the corner where Peri could see a table covered in more projects. Kitchen probably.
Careful not to tread on anything Wash was working on that was lying around, he tiptoed through the living room and poked his head into the bathroom.
It wasn’t the worst apartment in the realm, it had the necessities, but it lacked any warmth.
Peri had a sudden urge to bring over blankets and throws, maybe some couch pillows.
Little things to add some color. Maybe then he wouldn’t stress about Wash’s living conditions.
Even the bedroom was dreary, with just a bed with mussed up sheets and a nightstand.
No wall decorations, no family photos, nothing else to denote who lived there.
Tears burned the back of his eyes, and he blinked rapidly to hide them.
He wasn’t going to cry right now and make Wash feel bad about his home.
He spun around, intending to head back to the kitchen to help with whatever Wash was doing, when something caught his eye.
Something that had fallen behind the nightstand.
Squatting down, he reached for it, pulling out the framed photo. He’d expected maybe a crack in the frame or for it to be covered in dust, but it looked immaculate, and it made him think the picture was tucked carefully out of the way, not fallen like he’d first thought.
The picture was of two little boys, their arms around each other’s shoulders and smiles on their faces.
The one on the right was clearly Wash, though Peri had never seen him so happy.
There was no tension in his shoulders, no tightness around his eyes.
He looked like he was right where he wanted to be.
The other little boy had to be Elijah. The picture must have been taken before he had to get glasses and his hair was a lighter strawberry blond that made Peri think he spent a lot of time outside as a kid, the rays bleaching the auburn color a little.
But the freckles were the same, and he recognized those hazel eyes.
There was a grassy field and a wooden fence behind them that made Peri think they were on some kind of farm, both of them a little dirty, with stains on their knees and their hair mussed.
But they were happy. What happened to them that they weren’t like that anymore?
“We were eight in that photo. Elijah’s powers came in a year later. He stopped smiling after that.”
“Why?” Peri whispered, tears filling his eyes again as he studied the two happy kids. “What happened?”
With a sigh, Wash came to join him, putting a hand on Peri’s hip as he took the picture and frowned at it.
“His powers were never weak. Even as a kid, he felt heavy. And he had no training, no control over it, so he picked up on everything the minute people got close to him. People started to avoid him. Kids would pick on him, treat him like an outcast because their parents said to stay away from him. The only people not afraid of him were me and our parents. It hurt him.”
It hurt them both. Peri could hear it in Wash’s voice. He turned in his arms, studying his boyfriend carefully. “You tried to protect him.”
It wasn’t a question. Peri knew better. Wash was protective of him the first day they met. He knew the surly demon would have gone above and beyond to protect his twin.
Huffing a dry laugh, Wash put the picture face down on the nightstand. “Tried, yeah, until he told me to leave him alone.”
Peri’s brows snapped together. “What? Why?”
“Because that’s what everyone does, sweetheart. People only put up with me for so long before moving on. No one wants an overprotective asshole hounding their heels. It’s why I don’t have any friends. They’d all walk away eventually. They did before.”
His heart broke listening to Wash’s words.
He said it so casually, like it meant nothing to him, like he was used to being tossed aside.
For what? Being overprotective? That didn’t sound right.
Peri loved how protective Wash was of him.
He felt safe and cherished every time Wash grabbed his hand and tugged him into his side, spreading his wings to keep the world away.
“Wash…”
“It’s fine,” Wash interrupted, his face a blank mask to hide his emotions. “I don’t have a lot of food in the house, so I ordered takeout instead. Are you hungry?”
He let Wash lead him out of the bedroom, casting one last glance at that photo that was obviously so important to Wash.
He wouldn’t take such good care of it if it wasn’t.
While they ate, Peri thought about the heartache on Elijah’s face whenever he interacted with Wash, and the way Wash’s expression closed off whenever Peri brought up his brother.
There was more to the story, he just knew it. And it might be time to go to the source to find out. Something didn’t add up. Maybe if he got Elijah’s side of it, he could figure out what happened. And how to fix it.