Page 95 of Quiet Burn

Satan’s charred bungholes… I’m so goddamned screwed.

The light tap on my door lets me know I’m taking too long, so I carefully pull off the gown and get into my clean clothes. I don’t know which of them did that, but it definitely means Jasper is getting impatient. The worse that gets, the more likely it is that he’ll tromp on my boundaries by storming in and we’ll spend the rest of the night arguing. That won’t help me or them, so I clear my throat and croak, “Come in.”

Oriel’s dark countenance greets me, though his lips turn up in a smile when he sees me dwarfed in my baggy shit as usual. “Lookin’ normal, Kit Kat. That’s good to see.”

Wrinkling my nose, I wave my hand a little. “Yeah, I’m a real treat for the eyes at the moment. Can you hand me my basket thingy over on the dresser? I won’t feel good until I clean myself off a bit.”

He arches a brow but nods, walking over to get the opaque plastic basket that all of my toiletries are in. Luckily, I had the forethought tonotkeep feminine products in it day-to-day, so he won’t accidentally see my period stuff. I’m not on it now, but it should be coming soon enough. “I don’t know what you need for this, but it’s a bit heavy considering all the provided stuff in the bathroom.”

I snort. “Why are most guys so damn dense about self-care? I know you all have styling products and shit in there, but do none of you actually do things to prevent damage to the stupid meat sack you live in?”

“Uh…” Oriel scratches his chin, then does his bird-like head tilt. “We’redemons, KK.”

This time, I look at him with the questioning expression. “Does every demon in Hell look young or…?”

He blinks, then I see his expression change to one of understanding. “You think the ones who age better like… use skin care and shit?”

“I’d almost guarantee it, dummy.” Opening the box, I take out my micellar water and a washable pad, wiping the gross off my skin, then apply my moisturizer. “Honestly, I’d bet it’s the same for a lot of supes because the rich ones look better, mm?”

“Holy fuck,” O says, his tone similar to if I’d just told him who orchestrated the Kennedy assassination. “You have to tell everyone that X was right. It will make them feelsomuch better, KitKat.”

Of fucking course Xerxes tried to tell these dingleberries and they didn’t listen.

“I will,” I reply as I use a few more products, then put everything back in the box. “Okay, now I feel less like I’m covered in grossness. I can go out there once I put on some deodorant.”

“Your routine didn’t seem this thorough last time we were all in this bathroom,” he grumbles.

I shrug, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I do most of this in the shower stall to limit the amount of time I haveto look at them all half-naked. The motion makes me wince—damn shoulder wound—and Oriel rushes over to sit next to me. He looks worried, so I shake my head. “I’m okay; I forgot about the damn injury for a second. It pulled some—no need to panic, man.”

The crow shifter blows out a relieved breath. “Damn, KK. You’re killing me with this shit. Today was the most stressful day I’ve had in a long fucking time.”

It’s my turn to blink in confusion. “Really? Why? I mean… I get the magic thing was um… weird, but…”

Oriel gives me a crooked smile, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. “Because, dude, usually I let all this bullshit slide off my back like I'm a duck instead of a crow. Jas and Slash get all pissy, Anton and X do their calm unaffected thing, Zav follows whatever Jas says… But Salem and me? We almost always just ride things out, only doing our parts and not letting shit affect us.”

“Yeah, that tracks. What’s different?”

“Man, you reallyaredense sometimes.” I pull my hand back at those words and he chuckles, grabbing it to squeeze. “KK,youare the difference. Everytime you are in danger, it’s like someone is putting my goddamn chest in a vice and Ihaveto figure it out. So yeah, this damn magic thing and all the threats, and the injury paired with my brothers being hurt, too? It’s made me feel like one big raw nerve. Seeing you look fairly normal makes that loosen up so I can breathe.”

I havenoidea how to respond to that admission.

Licking my lips, I stare at our hands as I consider what I’m going to say. Once I feel like I’m able to speak, I look up at him with asmall smile. “I’m not used to people giving a shit, so yeah… that’s kind of news to me. If I seem dense, it’s because a long time ago, I built this whole system around me to protect myself from bullshit in my life. Letting people past those walls isn’t easy, but I am trying.”

“I know. Letting Salem and me show you our other forms showed me that.” My face turns red as he continues, “But you have to know that there are people who care and doing reckless stuff is going to affect us. That’s the normal you aren’t used to—I get that—but you have to sort of… be aware of it?”

Oh.

“That’s a very nice way to say don’t have my head up my ass like Jasper.” Oriel chuckles and I dip my chin. “You’re asking me to allow people to help more often so those of you whoareconnecting to me don’t worry as much.”

“Good boy!” He says with a joyful grin.

My eyes widen as my entire body tingles and I yank my hand back as if I’ve been burned. What the fuck is happening to me right now? Scooting to the edge of the bed, I swallow hard then rasp, “Um, we should probably go… you know.”

O looks confused, but he nods. Rolling to his feet, he takes my basket back to the dresser, then comes back, facing me. “Okay. But I’m helping you to your nest in the chair that Slash has spent the past half hour building. It’s really weird, yet kind of adorable at the same time. You might have enjoyed watching that big dude as he built it.”

I nod, still having trouble with my throat being tight as I push to my feet very slowly. “You’re right; I’m kind of sad I missed it.”

His grin is wicked. “Pretty sure X had Annie film it secretly. Ask him when you get a moment alone.”

---