by Quil Carter
I felt myself listening to him, and enjoying the beautiful music I had never heard outside of CD players or Discmans. For someone from the slums, he sure knew how to play elegantly. I wondered what else this perfect person could do.
I gritted my teeth together, and hoped his last act wouldn’t be to steal my boyfriend right from under me.
The last note dragged, and when he was finished he gently closed the lid on the piano.
I was surprised to see sadness in his eyes. He smiled at the dusty lid, looking sombre and whimsical.
He traced a hand over the dust, but was silent. I just watched him. I didn’t know why, but I felt like this was a rare look into his soul. Perhaps he wasn’t as out to get me as my mind had convinced me.
Asher rubbed his dusty pointer against his thumb and watched the grey specks float down to the floor, before wordlessly getting up.
I saw a flicker of movement. Reaver was standing in the door frame, holding several full bags.
“If the concert is over we can go.” Reaver flashed us both a smile. There was a streak of dirt across his cheek. “Nice playing though. I recognize the song of course, the same one I heard you sing on top of the cars. Where did you learn that?”
Asher smiled and gave him a careless shrug. “Well, since it’s no secret I was born in Skyfall, I learned it from an electric piano I traded for a bottle of Crown De Vi stout and half a pound of weed.”
Reaver gave an impressed whistle. I took a bag from him and we started to walk back outside. I looked behind me as Reaver boarded up the door. In my head I said goodbye to my old house. I’d be back after winter, to air it out… this wasn’t the end, but for now… it was.
With the sombre song still playing in my head, I said goodbye to my mom and dad. I made a promise that next time I returned I would act more like a man, more grown up.
My eyes shifted to Asher, who was helping Reaver with the boards. Asher was an adult, he didn’t cry or have anxiety attacks. He was mature, manly… more suited for Reaver.
The hair on my neck bristled as I watched him hold up the board, Reaver slamming the last nail into it, sealing off the top half of my door. Two beautiful, perfectly formed guys, with so much in common…
The pit formed in my throat again. The blister gave a throb and more infectious thoughts filled my head. The reality, temporarily hidden by Asher’s fleeting moment of melancholy, came back.
I had to keep an eye on him, but not the eyes that Reaver was keeping on him. I had to make sure he didn’t get too close to my boyfriend. I trusted my Reaver but I didn’t trust him not to be taken in by… that, or manipulated.
Reaver wasn’t as socially smart as I was. I did have that on him. If he was he would have picked up on the subtle ways Asher was trying to get close to him. But he hadn’t. Only I had.
I wrung my hands again. I watched as Reaver hammered the last nail into the house, before setting his hammer down into his toolbox with a clank.
He dusted his hands and gave me a nod as he started home with our bags. Asher followed behind him.
Asher Fallon smiled at me, and I returned a polite smile back. I heard a rattle and looked down to see what he was carrying. In his grip was Reaver’s toolbox. He was carrying it effortlessly with one hand, his bad hand. Reaver had left it for him to carry. I knew it hadn’t been left for me.
Behind him there was nothing but my boarded up door.
Nothing had been left for me.
Chapter 37
Killian
Though I had accepted Reaver’s origins and had been able to sort through those feelings, I found my resolve didn’t come so easily when dealing with Asher. It had been increasingly difficult to hide my true feelings for the raticater.
In all respects… I fucking hated him.
I don’t know if it was an old wound regarding my hatred for the elite of Skyfall that had opened up, or a fresh sensitivity because of what I had found out about Reaver, but I had to bite my tongue. A lot.
I kept having to convince myself it was just my insecurity and my own jealousy. I was uncomfortable with how much he and Reaver had in common. I hated their late night patrols and I hated it when Reaver came home late from shooting the shit with Asher.
Just like when he had come over when we were boarding up my windows, I always felt on edge around that Morosian. I felt like I was waiting for him to rip his mask off. Everything about him had me watching his moves more than Reaver did. Graceful and flawless movements now, since his leg and arm were fully healed. He walked with elegance, with an aura around him that made your eyes wander to him even when you didn’t want them to.
I hated it, and I hated it every time my vision framed him. I could see that swaggery cocksure walk from a mile away.
That was the big difference between Skylanders and chimeras. Skylanders were cocky, spoiled fucks bred to be pretty and to flaunt their sexuality and wealth. Chimeras, though also beautiful, had been born for a purpose and worked every day in their lives to fulfill it for their king. They didn’t walk around like self-assured little bitches. They were hardened, trained, and focused.
It took two more weeks to finish our work on Asher’s bungalow and our greenhouse. By that time Mr. Raticater was running up and down things and racing Reaver all across West Aras, enjoying his healed limbs, and his newly recovered agility. They had a great time. I stayed back with the deacdog and watched the two run off whenever they needed to burn the never ending energy supply they both seemed to have.
I could never run that fast. Well, maybe I could, I’d never tried. I’d probably fall on my face.
Well, while they ran off and had fun, I would do the cleaning in Asher’s house.
And in all respects his house looked great. We were all very proud of it. It barely smelled like must now and with the windows cleaned it was bright and airy inside. We had gotten furniture for Asher at the auction for the Kerry’s things, and other household items from either Chang’s or Carson’s. Though Asher still hadn’t been well enough to get his cache of supplies from the ravers’ town, so he had just put it on a tab I had been keeping track of.
Asher and Reaver had been planning on the trip in the next couple of days. I was dreading it with every fiber in my being.
Though I didn’t have a choice. It wasn’t like I could forbid Reaver, and there was no chance in hell I would be going with them. I would probably just get us all killed. From how Asher jumped from car to car and brick wall to brick wall, he had an agility to him. He wouldn’t slow Reaver down like I would.
My face darkened. I had been trying extremely hard to keep my jealousies in check but they still rampaged through my head on a daily basis. I kept telling myself I was being stupid, and if I let it get to a bad point it would make Reaver unhappy. I had to love my boyfriend more than I disliked Asher.
Reaver’s happiness was more important and he was happier, but I knew making friends with Asher was only a small part of it. He was also happy to be free of Greyson’s control and, to a lesser extent, Leo’s too. Reaver had taken a lot of pride in running ‘West Aras’, and it showed. He didn’t seem as uptight and short as he was under Greyson’s antagonizing and judging gaze.
We hadn’t seen much of either of them. Leo had been sleeping at Reno’s some nights, but also spending a heck of a lot of time in the bunker they had outside of Aras. He and Greyson hadn’t reconciled, that much was known. Though the only information we got regarding it was from Reno, and Reaver would tell him to shut up if he tried filling us in.
So I had to pull him aside a few times to get the dirt. When Reaver was off burning energy with Asher I would sit with Reno and do some lines with him as he indulged my natural need for gossip. Reaver called us a pair of hens but to hell with him.
This particular day I was enjoying being indulged by Reno. We were both poking holes in an old, already hole-ridden garden hose to create a mini irrigation system for our now re-planted seeds. The bedroom we were in was covered in re-routed wires and lam
ps we had been able to get the suppliers to pick up from Anvil. In the middle were six raised beds covered in smelly, fertilized dirt. The room didn’t smell as rainy and fresh as Perish’s had been but we were all still extremely proud of it.
“I don’t know what he does in that bunker all day, but sometimes he doesn’t make his way back to my house until past midnight,” Reno said. He was wearing a denim jacket, a sweater and some blue jeans. We were all bundled up now from the cold, but it still hadn’t started raining today so that was good. The fog on the other hand was coming in every morning, but by noon it had usually burned off with the afternoon sun.
“He’s probably reading all the research he brought back from the lab.” I shrugged, twisting a sharp steak knife into the green hose. “Leo liked science stuff.” Which made all the more sense now that I knew who he was.
Reno stabbed his knife in; more effective than my method but knowing me I’d just end up stabbing myself. “Sure, I guess, but it’s been a month. How much book learning does one guy need?”
“More than just the Ass ‘n Abs magazine you keep on your coffee table.” I smirked.
Reno pointed his knife at me. “Hey, don’t diss the Ass ‘n Abs, you might get both every night but I’m stuck here with my Hand ‘n Imagination.”
“Oh!” That reminded me of something. “I have porn for you.”
If someone could pull off a look that was both blank, confused, and intrigued it would be Reno.
I smiled and let him be confused for a few moments before I told him. “Perish, he… well, he had some and before we left I stole the tape. I thought you would enjoy it.”
Reno put the knife down and got up. I laughed as he started walking towards the door. “Get up, get up, I want my porn! It’s going to get dark here soon anyway. I want my porn! Come on!”
“Okay, okay!” I got up and started turning everything off. Our new Ieon charger in the corner was humming away, wires coming out of it like spider legs, charging our lights and heaters.
I locked the door and jogged to catch up with Reno.
“What’s on it? Do you know?” Reno said eagerly.
“I think it might be two men having sex, but don’t quote me on that,” I said. Reno gave me a sarcastic laugh, and we carried on back to the basement.
I stuck my hands in my pockets. It wasn’t horribly cold yet but we had a bit of wind which was making it an uncomfortable temperature. I had convinced Reaver to let the deacdog sleep in the shed at least since he obviously wasn’t going back to Murry’s. I had said hi to Murry a few times while I was getting our meat at the Slaught House since he was nearby, but he had never mentioned the dog so I guess he was a stray now. Reaver hadn’t let me name him since apparently that meant we were keeping him so I had just been calling him Deek when Reaver wasn’t around. It was kind of short for deacdog but I decided to spell it differently in my head. It wasn’t that creative but it was the best I could come up with until I convinced Reaver to keep him. He was a great guard dog. He had even eaten a scaver a week ago that had been gnawing the beams under Asher’s house. I had an even bigger distaste for scavers after what I had found in my old bathroom.
“Am I still coming over when the crazies go over to the raver pit?” Reno asked.
“Of course!” I had actually been looking forward to it. “I know the combination to Reaver’s drug suitcase.”
Reno rubbed his hands together and gave a very cartoonish cackle. “We’re going to get so fucking high. I’ll bring Children of the Corn. You like horror movies about cults run by satanic children right?”
“Oh gosh.” I shuddered. “As long as I don’t have to leave the basement I might be okay.”
“Naaah.” Reno hooked me with one arm and playfully hugged me against him. “You can stay inside with me. I’ll be your Reaver. Fuck, I’ll be your Reaver allll night!”
I laughed and pushed Reno away. I think he had taken a bit too much morphine, or he was getting a bit too excited about his new porn movie.
I jumped a mile high as I heard a cough above us. Reno and I both spun around towards the noise.
Asher was above us, walking along a brick ledge that surrounded an old apartment building, two-storeys high. He was gracefully keeping speed with us, not even needing an outstretched arm to balance himself against the narrow shelf.
He jumped off of the ridge when he noticed us and started to make his way down to where we were. First jumping onto a balcony below him, then with an effortless leap, he landed onto a van, before finally he was in front of us. His feathery movements seemed to defy gravity, and his stealth had become the envy of even Reaver. From the moment he leapt off of the ridge barely a sound had been made. Reaver called it the gift of an experienced raticater. I called it genetic breeding straight out of Skyfall.
He flicked his auburn hair back and flashed us the cocksure grin I’d had to endure every time he looked at me. “Gentlemen, how is today finding you?” His honeyed voice always put me in a foul mood. Though he had never shown me anything but politeness, I knew there was so much more going on in his head. Something about that smirk, or perhaps it was the light I always saw in his eyes. There was more to him, more behind that smug grin than he let on. It was like he was laughing at me while he drew Reaver closer and closer to him. Daring me to voice my concerns out loud.
“Not bad,” Reno said in a cheerful voice. He didn’t have anything against Asher – unlike me. “You’re a sneaky little fuck, eh? Doing your patrols?”
Asher nodded. He glanced up at the building he had just jumped from. “I was doing a bit of exploring, seeing if I can scavenge any of the smaller things I need before we leave, silverware, glasses and what not.”
Asher’s green eyes jutted around. “Reaver isn’t with you?”
Asher still didn’t know where Reaver lived, and I wanted to keep it that way. “He’s back at the greenhouse. He was leaving soon but you might be able to catch him.”
I could almost hear Reno’s internal laugh at my obvious lie. Asher bought it though and gave a nod. He looked behind him towards the park. “I wanted to talk to him about our cache trip soon but it can wait. If you see him though, I’ll be in my house for the rest of the night.”
“Alright, I’ll tell him.” Or rather, you can go fuck yourself.
I gave him a nod and started walking home. If the Skylander wanted to follow us we would just keep walking towards the northern boundary of West Aras. Reno was on his way home anyway and I could pretend I was walking him to the outskirts.
“I’ll see you two later then, I’m off to get some food,” Asher said behind us.
“No problem, have fun with the trip,” I called after him, then I added in the most forced lighthearted voice I could muster. “Reaver has a bad track record when it comes to his scavenging companions. They tend to end up eaten. So watch yourself.” I gave him a similar cocky smile back.
Asher locked eyes with me and to my surprise I saw a fleeting flash of hostility.
In that moment I felt like I was back in Perish’s lab, staring down the whipwolf. I saw the same soulless eyes, the same vicious bloodthirsty nature, the same hatred.
I didn’t break my gaze. I stared back like Perish had taught me. Never show submission, never break your gaze, and if you’re scared – never show it.
Then for the smallest of moments, I saw the mask rip away from his face. Underneath the facade there was an expression of such disdain it was like he was looking at a croach.
That was the real Asher, I knew it.
I fucking knew it!
And if there was a need for confirmation, the next words from his rosy pink lips sealed it.
“Well, if there was anyone to ravage me, I would want it to be Reaver.”
I started to see red.
He turned and said a very polite goodbye to Reno before he darted off.
My eyes were still fixed on where Asher had stood. I heard Reno give off an impressed whistle.
I didn’t realize my
shoulders were shaking with rage until I felt Reno’s hand on them. “Blink, buddy. You’re going to pop a blood vessel if you keep shooting those laser beams out of your eyes.”
“Please tell me you heard the same thing I did?” I jerked out of my trance inducing anger and started walking quickly. I could feel the vein in my forehead pulsing.
“Oh, I have noticed, he’s a crafty little cunt.” Reno seemed to find this amusing. I was still seething. “Ah, whatever. You’ve brought it on yourself, you know that, eh?”
I looked at him, my brow knitted together. “I have not.”
My friend chuckled. That didn’t help my plummeting mood. “Every time he comes near you, you’re either forcing yourself to be polite, or you’re just shut down and shooting daggers at him. He’s not an idiot, Tinkerbell. He knows you hate him, and he’s toying with you.”
My heart dropped. Reno was right. I hadn’t liked Asher from almost the beginning. Reaver had warmed up to him too quickly. Was this all my doing? Did I see his mask slip away or did I just see him reacting to my own disdain for him?
Reno slapped my back and rubbed it. “Tink, Reaver is yours. Asher’s–”
I stopped and so did Reno. Off in the distance we both could hear loud arguing.
“Fuck, that’s Reaver and Leo!” I gasped, my heart jumping into my throat. My silly feelings regarding Asher dissipated quickly. Both of us broke into a run. We sped down the south end of Quil Street towards home.
As we got closer I could see Reaver in the front yard and a few feet away on the street was Leo.
Leo looked oddly good physically. His hair had been newly cut and he was wearing a black jacket and jeans, but besides a clean appearance he looked miserable and defeated. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes swollen and red. He was talking a lot with his hands as he spoke to Reaver.
Reaver was holding his M16 in a hostile manner. His black eyes were coal and his facial expression was threatening.
But it was his body position that terrified me the most. His long legs were positioned in a perfect stance, his army boots dug into the wasteland, already braced for the kickback.
