Chapter 29 #3
They moved on to other topics of discourse, such as which of them was the fun one. Hamza voted for himself, ticking off all the reasons why. He made a good argument, but Gabriel refused to concede.
Next up was who was the better driver, then who was the better child. Gabriel lost the former battle before it even began. The banter went on, and threats were made, all while Nicholas and Marcus watched on in amusement.
“I was Mother and Father’s favorite.”
“You were not.” Gabriel flicked a wrist in dismissal.
Marcus elbowed Nicholas, angling his head toward the kitchen. They gathered as many empty plates as they could before heading that way. The dogs followed, and Nicholas set the dishes down to fill their bowls with food and water.
“Sometimes you just have to let them get it out,” Marcus said in a hushed tone. “Bickering is how Hamza shows his affection for his brother, but Gabriel has spent so many years relying on Hamza’s anger that he can’t seem to spot his love.”
“Why?” Nicholas asked, watching Gabriel and Hamza.
“Many reasons. He saw it as the punishment he deserved and believed he’d suffer more under his forgiveness. But they love each other. They’re there for each other when it matters, and even when it doesn’t.”
Nicholas thought about Hamza showing up tonight, about his easy willingness to help him. He’d shown up for Gabriel, and Nicholas knew Gabriel would show up for him. It was who he was.
“It seems like something’s healing between them,” Nicholas said, unsure of what made him think that. A feeling he couldn’t explain, as if he were inside both Gabriel and Hamza, reading all the things they left unsaid. “Even if they don’t realize it.”
The feeling was gone like the snap of a finger, and both brothers turned their way before engaging in their verbal sparring again.
Nicholas frowned at Marcus, but his eyes were unreadable behind the dark shades he always wore.
“Very intuitive,” he said evenly, pulling his flask from the inside of his suit jacket. He and Gabriel shared a similar sense of style, except Marcus only wore black, and his countenance was one of servitude.
“What’s in there?”
“A marrying of blood types with something extra that the chemist refuses to share.”
Marcus poured a sip into a glass, handing it to him.
“Wow.” Nicholas collected the dregs with his finger, licking it clean. “How can I get some of that?”
Marcus gestured the flask toward Hamza. “Ask the chemist.”
“So he is the fun one.”
“Don’t be fooled. He can be as moody as Gabriel and steer clear of him when he’s on a holy warpath. But being so immersed in the human world has made him a little less…”
“Stuffy?” Nicholas practically mouthed, not wanting Gabriel to hear.
Marcus grinned.
“And what about you? Just a loyal friend?”
“Is that not enough?”
It was, but Nicholas had a feeling there was more. That he was more. He didn’t pry. Marcus wasn’t the one he wanted to know more about anyway.
“Tell me more about… them,” Nicholas whispered, because ‘them’ felt safer than saying ‘Gabriel.’
He never got to see Gabriel through the eyes of someone else. It was an experience he didn’t know he needed, especially since he couldn’t always trust his own opinion of him. Not with the bond at play.
“Their parents loved them the same. Gabriel never cared what anyone thought of him, whereas Hamza’s agenda was making his parents proud, so he got more outward praise. Tariq and Aziza encouraged Gabriel’s warrior spirit while nurturing Hamza’s strength of conviction.”
Tariq and Aziza… Such strong and beautiful names.
Names he never knew. Names he’d been too scared to ask for.
It seemed the more he knew, the more the bond strengthened.
That had to be the reason his heart constricted now, the reason he’d fallen a bit deeper.
Still, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting more.
“Has it always been like this between them?”
“For the most part, yes. They’ve always been two sides of the same coin.
But there were times of quiet affection, too.
Gabriel always looked up to Hamza, whether he’d admit it or not.
And Hamza always hated that Gabriel didn’t need him.
He likes to be needed. That’s why he went into law enforcement.
It’s why he wanted to be part of the council’s legion. He’s a protector at heart.”
The two brothers were now shaking their heads as if they recognized they were being ridiculous. Nicholas cut the faucet on to not be overheard now that they weren’t as distracted.
“Who could take whom in a fight?”
Marcus leaned against the counter, considering his friends.
“Gabriel doesn’t fight fair, and Hamza is too righteous not to, but they’re both a match in skill and physical strength.”
“So Gabriel, then.”
“Possibly, but I’d never admit it to either of them.”
They shared a secret smile as Hamza and Gabriel made their way to the kitchen, empty platters and bowls in hand.
“What are you two smiling about?” Hamza asked with clear suspicion. Gabriel looked between them, waiting for an answer.
“Oh, nothing,” Nicholas said, leaving the brothers to clean up while he and Marcus ventured onto the patio with the dogs.
Nicholas beamed with pride as they followed all the commands Marcus had taught them, even learning a couple new ones on the spot.
“They’re fast learners,” he praised.
“That they are.” Marcus rewarded them with treats.
Nicholas admired the respect they had for the calm, steady man who took care of them when he couldn’t.
“You’re going to miss them, aren’t you?” He felt like he was robbing everyone of something.
“Very much. But I know where you live.”
Nicholas liked the idea of Marcus visiting them whenever he wanted to.
They continued to talk, Hamza and Gabriel eventually joining them—the latter stealing heart-struck glances at him whenever he laughed. Nicholas laughed a lot that night, forgetting all the reasons he shouldn’t, setting aside all the reasons why he couldn’t stay. If only for a little while.
For once, he didn’t have to act like he fit into a world that he was born to stick out in, didn’t have to wonder who the people around him were, or what they wanted from him.
For the first time, he didn’t have to pretend he was normal when he was anything but, because he was surrounded by the abnormal, by the likes of him.
A ball of emotions formed at the back of his throat as, for the first time ever, it felt like he had a family.