21. Rurik
TWENTY-ONE
RURIK
Igive Ash appearance of space for the rest of the day to make him feel like he has a little ‘independence’.
Is there a reason to keep stalking him? I’m gonna say, yes…
unofficially…no, but still yes. Maybe I just like to see what he’s doing.
Nobody’s getting hurt by this. I just find joy in following him around in my free time.
I don’t take Ash’s games personally. I know he has to work out his internalized homophobia and whatever other guilt is rolling around that cute little brain of his. I don’t give up on what I want that easily, especially for issues that can totally be fixed with my cock.
But Daddy, I Can Fix Him gets stuck in my head, and I’m humming it as I walk into the Vault.
I’ve pretty much ignored my siblings since leaving Manhattan, so I’m expecting them all to be annoyed or whatever.
I don’t care. They can process their feelings about our father and not take them out on me.
I’m busy. I’ve got his affair partner to track down, and a cute little bean to stalk.
I’m only at the Vault because I’m not a total asshole and I’m nosy. I want to check in with King and see how all the recruits are doing on the puzzle and keep an eye on Ash while he works today without being totally up his ass. Distance makes the heart grow fonder or whatever.
I guess I can fully embrace my new voyeur kink when it comes to him.
He’s so busy. Who could possibly want to fill their time as much as Ash?
“How’s it going?” I half sit on the edge of King’s desk as he types away.
“Pretty good. As expected. We’ve got movement from most of them. The books have been retrieved by over half. So I would say pretty on pace with normal.”
“Even with Locke and K making it harder this year?” I need to subtly ask about the third trial just to make sure Ash can handle it. I know he’s capable, but I’m not above cheating dumb rules my brother made up to get what I want.
“Looks like it. It’s mostly nepo babies, and I always expect them to do well.” King slides his hands behind his head, sitting back. “Why?”
I play it off with a shrug. “I’m nosy. They all still dealing with the fallout of my dad?”
“Off and on. It’s been pretty quiet in the Vault. I know Locke was looking for you yesterday when he got back.” King pauses, waiting for me to explain myself like I normally would.
I don’t give in. Sure, I usually have a big mouth and talk a lot, but I know when to shut it, and even though I can probably trust him, I’ve already said too much to my brother.
“Rurik-chan!” Kiho smiles, walking in the back door of the Vault. “久しぶり” Long time no see.
I close one eye, and it takes me way longer than it should to translate his words in my head. Kiho has been causally teaching me Japanese since we were roommates at boarding school, and I’m still not the best at it, but I try.
“It’s been like three days!”
Had it been longer? I didn’t think so, but I don’t subscribe to time. It’s suffocating and frankly toxic. Obviously something made up by the man to bring down those of us who aren’t neurotypical.
“You grow slow,” Kiho chides playfully.
“Slow…oh, do you mean rusty?”
“Slow at translating in your head.” He taps his temple.
“Yes, rusty.” I know he knows what I mean.
He’s smarter than the rest of us combined.
One of his parents being the legal counsel for The Velleity, and the other the second to the leader of the New York Wing of the Yakuza, will do that to you.
He’s just giving me a fucking hard time. I hold up my middle fingers.
He laughs, returning the gesture. “Where you been?”
“Here and there.” I nod my head at the billiards room.
We’ve been best friends since we both lived in the Velleity for a time during grade school. So he understands the meaning immediately.
“What are we hiding from your cousin?” He makes us both drinks from the bar and holds mine out before leaning against the pool table.
I down the drink and set the glass aside before I rack the balls. “I’m not hiding. I’m selectively not telling him or Locke because I don’t feel like being accused of wrongdoing.” Even if I am doing exactly what my brother would accuse me of doing. But that’s beside the point.
That got Kiho’s attention. He gathers his shoulder-length black hair in his hands before putting a rubber band around it. “Go on.”
“Am I breaking or are you?”
He waves two fingers at me. “But keep talking.”
“You gossipy bitch!” I get my cue off the wall and the chalk. “Theoretically, I may be interested in one of the prospects.” I break and huff when none of the balls go in.
Kiho retrieves his own and studies the table.
He moves to one side, bending over to look at the angle.
“What does this mean? Interested in? Have you not already fucked him?” He glances my way before leaning over to take his shot.
He sinks the first ball. Stripes. Bastard took my favorite.
He lines up for his next shot and sinks that one too.
“Can you stop being good at everything?”
He takes a third shot and narrowly misses. “Can you answer the question?”
“Define fucking him?” I cut in front of Kiho, just to mess with him, and line up for my shot.
“I wasn’t aware I had to give you sex ed. I thought you passed it in high school. So when two boys like each other—”
I cut him off. “Fuck off, Key.”
He holds up his hands. “You’re the one who’s confused.”
“I am not confused. We haven’t had penetrative sex. Okay.” I line my shot up and sink my first ball.
“Are you ill?” He puts the back of his hand to my forehead as I line up for my second shot.
I swat his hand away. “If you fuck up my shot, I’m taking another.”
He laughs but steps back. “Have you met the first man who’s resistant to your charm, Rurik-chan?”
“Stop buttering me up with that!” I make my second shot as well and flash him a grin.
“He’s not exactly resistant. Just…” I’m not even sure.
I’ve never chased anyone, so all of this is new for me.
Maybe he’s right. I’ve never met a dude who didn’t want me right off the bat, and it’s weird.
But I’m sure it’s more than that. He made me come, and I haven’t lost interest, which is a new and unique experience for me, but how do I put that into words?
Kiho lets me take my third shot, then gets in my way. “Look me in the eyes.”
I drag my attention away from the table and to his dark brown ones. “What?”
“He made you come, and you’re acting strange…” He isn’t making fun of me. He’s intensely studying me. “Do you have a crush, kawaii hito?”
I shove his shoulder. “Don’t fucking start.”
“I’m serious!” He cups my face, making me look at him again. “You really like this one, yes?”
I mutter insults in Japanese.
“No, hiding from me. You never hide from me.” He playfully slaps my cheek. “Which recruit is he?”
“Ash. The one I fought at the first trial.”
“My little guy is growing up.” He smiles and pulls me into a hug. “I never thought I’d see the day you picked one person. No wonder you won’t tell Locke.” He makes a sound with his mouth like he does when he’s thinking. “Only Nik knows?”
“Yes, and even with him, I have to be careful. I trust him, but I don’t want it to slip.”
“I don’t think he’ll slip. He has your back as much as I do.”
I nod, but Locke gets under his skin. “So I’m going to need your help. At least a little. Cover and if anything else comes up.”
“I understand.” He bows slightly. “I’m at your service.”
I return to Ash’s place a few hours later, after a few more drinks and another game with Kiho.
I feel better now that he knows. I don’t like keeping secrets from him or Nik.
Kiho gave me some good ideas and a different perspective on Ash.
I’m a little buzzed, which is fine. Who hasn’t climbed a building and broken into someone’s room a little tipsy? Totally normal.
According to Ash’s strict schedule, he should just be getting out of the shower and into bed, so my timing is perfect.
I get to the sill and find the curtains pulled. Wow, did he finally learn some fucking privacy? I’m pleasantly surprised. Not like he needs to attract a second stalker. Then I’ll have to kill someone, and that’s a lot of time and energy hiding a body.
I lift the window, but it doesn’t move.
What?
I try it again. It’s been really cold, so maybe it’s stuck.
It doesn’t budge.
I squint, peering through the glass at the lock. It’s turned.
This motherfucker locked me out.
Now I’m mad.
“If you think that’s going to stop me, you’re fucking wrong.”