Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Elijah was on cloud nine. While the hike definitely wasn’t what he’d had in mind when Alistair asked him to join him after work, he couldn’t regret it.
They stayed up on that little mountain enjoying the sunset until it was below the horizon and the stars had come out.
Alistair kept Elijah tucked in his arms, holding him close while they talked about the little things, like favorite hobbies and foods.
It felt like a date. Elijah had never been on a date before, and by the time Alistair told him it was time to go back, Elijah felt like he was floating.
“Damn it. It’s darker than I thought it’d be,” Alistair grumbled, tightening his grip on Elijah’s hand to keep him steady as they stepped over a root threatening to trip them.
He wasn’t wrong. While enjoying the sunset had been nice, they’d had to pass through a bit of forest to get there, and now that the sun was down, it was a lot harder to see.
“I can summon a mage light, if you want?” Elijah offered.
That got him a curious look from Alistair, so he explained, “My father is a psychic. My mother is a demon. I didn’t get much magic from her at all, but my brother taught me to summon a light when we were little.
He called it my little party trick.” He wrinkled his nose.
He knew Hugo only taught it to him because he was overprotective and wanted to make sure he felt safe.
He hoped he never had to mention that he’d had to use it.
His relationship with his brother was strained, but Hugo had always been overprotective.
If he thought for a second Elijah needed to use the light to keep them safe, he might start in on his old habits.
“Do it,” Alistair encouraged.
He did, letting the little ball bounce along in front of them, guiding the way as they headed back to Isaac’s house.
“You haven’t said much about your family.
What are they like?” Alistair asked over his shoulder.
Despite the mage light, Alistair still insisted on going first and making sure Elijah didn’t trip.
Elijah thought that kind of behavior would bother him, he hated when his brother had been overprotective when they were kids, but Alistair protecting him didn’t feel stifling or make him feel weak.
It made him feel cared for, which he hadn’t felt for a long time.
And never outside of his family, who cared for him as best they could but were always kind of distant.
Alistair’s hand wrapped around his felt the opposite of distant.
He’d never felt so close to someone in his life.
“Um… Well, I mentioned my father is a psychic, correct? He doesn’t make money off his predictions, instead choosing to teach high school history.
My mother is a demon and scientist working on a research team similar to the one we have at Spellbound but at a much smaller company.
My brother works in research at Spellbound. ”
“And you’re not close?” Alistair prompted.
Elijah sighed. “No. He got into a lot of fights when we were kids whenever people were unkind to me. I never liked that kind of confrontation, and he only ever made it worse for the both of us acting like that. I finally asked him to stop and let me handle things on my own, and we’ve been distant ever since. ”
Now that he saw what a healthy relationship between siblings was like, it made him sad to think about his brother.
They only worked a few floors apart, but it was rare that they bumped into each other and they never met up on purpose.
Elijah hadn’t actually known Hugo worked at Spellbound until after he started working there.
They weren’t close enough to share details about their lives like that.
Alistair was quiet for a long moment, and the silence felt heavy. It made Elijah want to squirm. He felt the urge to defend himself but decided against it. There wasn’t much else to say.
After a few minutes of silence, Alistair finally asked, “Is that what you want?”
“What?”
“Do you want to be distant with him? Or have you been afraid of how he’d react knowing how people treat you in the office?”
Elijah stumbled over his own feet, coming to an abrupt halt. “W-What are you talking about?”
When Alistair glanced over his shoulder, his expression held a wealth of sadness.
The emotions coming off him supported that; regret, pain, determination, as well as that now familiar swell of protectiveness that Elijah basked in.
It was perhaps the surrounding emotions that made Elijah more accepting of the protectiveness when he hadn’t been with his own brother.
All he ever picked up from Hugo was anger.
“I’ve always been protective of my siblings, Isaac especially.
He’s my little brother, and if anyone tried to hurt him, physically or emotionally, I know I’d have something to say about it.
He doesn’t hold it against me, because he knows I love him.
I’m guessing your brother feels the same way.
So I’m wondering if he didn’t do a good enough job expressing that or if you’re keeping him at a distance so he won’t figure out just how cruel the people in that office are to you. ”
“Alistair–” Elijah protested.
Alistair shook his head, not letting him finish.“No, Eli. I’ve seen how much it hurts you. And after this long, they should know better. They aren’t even giving you a chance. You’ve accepted it as normal, but it’s not. You deserve better.”
Elijah felt like he’d gotten sucker punched. “It’s… It’s just how it is for telepaths,” he croaked.
His gaze was locked on his feet, shame and embarrassment making it hard to look up until Alistair cupped his cheek and drew his gaze up. “It doesn’t have to be.”
After the conversation with Alistair, Elijah went back and forth all night about what he wanted to do about Hugo.
While he still thought creating some distance between him and his brother spared them both when they were kids, he agreed with Alistair that he didn’t want to be distant forever.
Perhaps it was time to mend fences. At this point, surely Hugo would understand he could take care of himself.
He stood outside his brother’s office, chewing on his lip as he considered using the phone instead of disturbing him at work.
But then he remembered that he would return to Isaac’s home with Alistair, and he knew better than to think he’d take time away from the handsome man to make a phone call.
Being in a relationship was still too new. Now was better.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, he knocked on the office door, waiting for the familiar voice to bid him inside.
Only… no one answered. He frowned, glancing at his watch.
Work started twenty minutes ago. He figured now was better than interrupting his brother mid-work day.
He’d planned to invite him to lunch if he was too busy to speak now.
He knocked again, waiting a little longer for an answer before looking over his shoulder at the research floor. The space was busy, but he hadn’t seen his brother in the fray when he arrived. Could he have missed him?
“Looking for someone?” a wispy voice asked from above him.
Elijah looked up at the ghost who floated near a large light fixture, their hand disappearing through it to do something that caused the light to flicker before brightening considerably.
Ghostly power had always been fascinating to Elijah.
They couldn’t technically manipulate solid matter, but their energy was usually enough to mess with things.
And with some help from mages, they were perfect for the experimental stage of creations, as it was nearly impossible to kill them. They were already dead.
“Um, yes, actually. I was looking for Hugo Washburne.”
The ghost’s expression contorted into something Elijah couldn’t quite understand. It looked a little like concern mixed with annoyance. An odd mixture, to be sure. And unfortunately, his magic didn’t work on ghosts, even if he felt comfortable enough to test the waters.
“He’s probably still sleeping. He sleeps in his office sometimes when he is in the middle of a project. We’ve all tried to encourage him to go home, but…”
But Hugo had never taken kindly to people meddling in his business. If it wasn’t work related, he probably didn't care to hear their opinions. It seemed his brother hadn’t grown out of that particular character flaw.
“If you keep knocking, he’ll wake up,” the ghost added. “Just don’t expect him to be happy that you interrupted him. He doesn’t wake well.”
Elijah remembered that as well. While he had always been an early riser who didn’t need caffeine to get through the day, Hugo had always woken up grouchy, even as a child. It took him a while to be sociable.
The ghost floated off, returning to their work, while Elijah once again asked himself if he truly wished to speak with his brother right now. This conversation might be better left to a time when Hugo was awake and alert. First thing after he woke up might not be the best time to speak.
He’d just decided to head back upstairs and speak with his brother later when Hugo’s office door opened, and his very grumpy brother shuffled out.
He hadn’t changed much since the last time Elijah saw him.
He kept his shoulder length black hair pulled into a low pony tail, his hoodie and jeans were rumpled like he slept in them, and he had the same scowl Elijah remembered from their childhood.
It disappeared behind a wave of surprise before coming back full force when Hugo noticed him standing in front of the door.
“Need something?” he asked gruffly.
Well, there went his plan to wait. He mustered up his courage, forcing the words he’d been practicing in his head all morning out of his mouth.
“I was hoping we could talk. It’s… been a while.”
Hugo’s thick black eyebrows drew together slowly, and he eyed Elijah up and down like he was looking for an injury or illness of some kind. Elijah fought not to screw up his expression. Alistair said Hugo’s protectiveness was a form of love. He didn’t need to jump to any conclusions.
Sure enough, Hugo’s first question was, “Is something wrong? Do you need help?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” Elijah rushed to reassure him. “I… I’ve been seeing someone. He’s got a brother and seeing them together made me think about you.” He wanted to say he missed him, but it went unsaid. He didn't want to throw too much at his brother all at once.
When he was young and didn’t understand his powers all that well, his brother had been the only person in his life willing to get close to him.
Kids at school only came close enough to shout insults, and adults gave him a wide berth.
Even their parents were distant, though that was mostly due to a disinterest in parenting in general.
Only Hugo was brave enough to play with him.
He did miss that on occasion, especially when the loneliness got bad.
He’d just never thought Hugo would be interested.
He’d always thought Hugo’s anger was because he was annoyed with Elijah for needing protection.
Alistair’s explanation made him hopeful he was wrong.
He hadn’t known what to expect when speaking with his brother, but seeing Hugo’s walls go up, and his expression shutter wasn’t what he’d hoped for.
Hugo was one of few people who could keep him out completely, having spent their whole childhood practicing.
Not even surface level emotions escaped his stoic brother anymore.
“I’m happy for you. I’ve got work, so I’m busy right now…”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Elijah agreed, taking a step back. The awkwardness was almost worse than the first night he met Alistair. They were supposed to be twins, closer than close, but it felt a little like conversing with a stranger just then. “Another time perhaps?”
“Yeah, maybe…” Hugo grumbled. He slipped around Elijah, heading for the bathrooms, and Elijah watched him go with a heavy heart.
Was it even possible for them to have the kind of relationship Isaac and Alistair had?
Or did being a telepath ensure that his close connections were never destined to last?
And what did that mean with his connection to Alistair? He was almost afraid to ask.