Chapter 6 #2
Vin growled. “I’m doing it!” He just wasn’t looking forward to it. He hadn’t climbed a tree…in maybe…ever. Had he ever climbed a tree? Even as a child?
This might be a bad idea. Vin would do it though.
He could hear Aries screeching and shrieking and fighting again.
Vin needed to get to his boy. Aries could be hurt and that had been Vin’s one job, to keep his little safe, and he had not expected Aries to get stuck in a tree.
It would be funny if the boy didn’t sound like he was losing his shit.
Maybe Vin should have taken Gem’s warnings a little more seriously.
He’d just not…expected…this…
Grabbing the lowest branch, Vin lifted himself up. Damn! Maybe they should add tree climbing into the season workouts. This wasn’t as easy as it appeared.
“Careful, Vin,” Evan said.
“This is a really bad idea.” Zany already sounded upset.
Vin looked down. “Leave it to my boy to get stuck up in a tree.” He winked at Zany, hoping that would reassure their precious goalie. Zany really was too sweet for words.
“It’s okay,” Robbs said softly. He pulled Zany under his arm. “Vin’s got this.”
Vin was surprised when Zany didn’t pull away from Robbs. Normally Zany wasn’t touchy-feely with anyone other than Aries. Huh, something to think about later. After this damn rescue mission.
He wouldn’t actually have to climb too high since he was tall. Vin just needed a wide enough branch that he could stand on and still reach Aries. Three thick branches up, Vin peered through the thick leaves and fruit. “Hey, baby.”
Aries gave him a soft sad sound.
“I’ll get you out of there,” Vin promised. Once he knew the boy was safe, they were going to have another long talk about Aries not falling for Nix’s pranks. Yes, the prank had been on Gem, yet it was Aries in need of help.
His boy tried to wiggle his left wing, showing where he was tangled.
“Stay still, baby.” With careful fingers, Vin peeled back the branches and leaves away from Aries’s fragile wings. One stubborn thick limb with a sharp edge was nearly popping through. “Almost got it.”
As soon as Aries was free, he scrambled forward to wrap his wings around Vin’s face. That was not helpful, since Vin couldn’t see now. And they were still up in the fucking tree.
“Okay, okay, little one,” Vin soothed.
Aries shrieked and chattered back.
Peeling Aries off him, he set his baby bat into his shirt then began the descent to the ground. Someone’s hands wrapped around Vin’s ankles to help guide him down. Once his feet were back on solid ground, Vin turned and smiled at Evan. “Thanks.”
Evan nodded. “No problem.” He cut his eyes to Nix. “Now that your little one is safe, I’m going to go have a talk with mine.”
“But, Daddy!” Nix whined. “I didn’t know Aries would get stuck in a tree!”
Evan didn’t reply. He simply picked Nix up and threw the smaller man over his shoulder.
Vin glanced down at the small bat peering up at him with bright blue eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”
Aries chattered in response.
He shook his head. “No matter how many times you try to talk to me in your shifted form, I still do not speak bat.”
With a shriek and more chattering, Aries didn’t sound happy.
Well, that made two of them.
“I’m going to check the food,” Thomas announced. “Nix will need to eat after shifting so many times in a row. Aries will need food when he shifts back too.”
“Are you shifting back?” Vin asked his little one.
Very slowly Aries shook his head.
“You are not in trouble,” Vin assured his boy. “Much.” Nothing a few pages of writing lines wouldn’t fix.
A fruit bat giving a massive sigh with his entire body was adorable.
“Here, maybe this will help.” Robbs handed Vin a shining red apple.
Aries squeaked, already reaching for it.
Vin snatched the apple away before Aries could get it.
Aries’s chatter rose in volume.
Crossing the deck Vin settled back into his chair.
With Aries still trapped inside his tank, all Vin could see was his tiny little ears, the top of his head, and those gorgeous eyes.
He gently pulled Aries out of his top and settled the little bat onto his lap.
Handing over the apple got him a big toothy smile before Aries started devouring his treat.
“Little punks,” Gem mumbled as he also settled back down.
Luka chuckled quietly. “You’ve been very local about how much trouble they caused last year. I’d think it’s fair to assume Nix would take that as a challenge.”
Gem sighed while pulling Luka into his lap. “You’re not wrong.”
Luka squirmed. “I’m too big to sit here.”
“Stop.” Gem squatted Luka’s thigh. “You’ll sit where I put you.”
Aries froze at the sound of Gem correcting his boy.
“Shh,” Vin whispered to his boy even though they were all aware that with paranormal hearing, nothing was really a secret.
Like Nix being spanked inside the house currently.
Still, as part of the paranormal community it was an unspoken rule not to discuss things that should be private.
“Gem isn’t mad at him. Look at Luka. He’s relaxing and hiding a smile. ”
Aries wiggled across Vin’s lap as he watched Luka and Gem’s interaction.
After Gem whispered some very explicit and teasing words into Luka’s ear, the boy blushed and ducked his head.
Aries chattered then slowly reached out his arm and offered Luka the remainder of his mangled apple.
Surprise flashed over Luka’s features before he smiled. “Are you sure?”
Bobbing his head, Aries chattered back.
“Thank you, Aries,” Luka said softly then accepted the apple. Without hesitating, Luka took a big bite.
Fluttering his wings, Aries began to dance on Vin’s lap.
Vin was impressed as well. Even Vin didn’t like eating after Aries in his shifted form. Aries, in his fruit bat form when faced with an apple, just went for it. The fact that Luka hummed in enjoyment and finished off the apple in three bites delighted them all.
“Here you go.” Robbs offered Aries another apple.
Growling, Vin tried to beat Aries to the fruit, but his boy was smart enough to know what Vin would do and flew forward.
Aries’s wings beat against Vin’s chest before Aries had the apple and landed on Luka’s knees.
Everyone in the circle watched in absolute shock as Aries and Luka shared the apple. Like Aries was willingly sharing his apple with Luka by taking a bite, offering one to Luka, and then taking another for himself.
And like the asshole that he was, Robbs offered another apple when Aries and Luka finished the apple quickly.
“Enough,” Vin growled.
“They’re sharing!” Robbs defended.
Zany, sitting close to Robbs’ side, giggled and nodded. “Aries never shares.”
Vin cut them a firm look. “And they’ve shared enough. Dinner is about to be ready.”