Page 30 of Static/Cling

Kassian jolted, knocking over a thankfully empty Timmy’s mug with his elbow.

Leif’s head snapped around and Kassian got the distinct impression the man saw him—not just a person standing there, buthim.

He ducked back into the shadows, but how was he supposed to leave, knowing Leif knew he was there? That he’d watched them—do that?

Listening to the rest of their conversation about fucking—about him—listening to them actually fuck—he was so… fucked. He wedged himself into a corner near the door, mortified. And turned on. And fuckingmortified. Sinking to the floor, he dropped his head into his hands. If he was still and quiet, maybe they’d leave without noticing him there, and he could wait until there was no risk of getting caught.

“I gotta get going,” he heard Leif half whisper. “Got my physio. Here’s cash. Stop at the convenience store for milk and bread, yeah?”

Bjorn grunted.

“See you soon.”

The next thing Kassian knew, Leif’s boots appeared in his line of sight, toes pointed directly at his hiding place.

“The whole watching thing is way less creepy if you’re not being sneaky about it.”

“I didn’t mean to. And then I?—”

Leif crouched. “I didn’t tell him you’re here. And I won’t if you don’t.”

To Kassian’s surprise, Leif gripped one of his wrists and pulled a hand away from his face with a tenderness Kassian didn’t think he deserved. “Neither of us mind if you do. But now you know that, I suppose.”

Kassian nodded, hoping Leif wasn’t going to demand to know how he felt about it.

Leif touched his cheek with his fingertips. “His power… I can’t even explain to you what it does to me.” He tipped his head to the side. “It’s worth experiencing, though. Trust me.”

Kassian expected his signature grin, but it didn’t come. He waited.

“Do me a favour,” Leif said at last.

“What?”

“Help him get home.”

“What?”

“If you think getting me off—twice—doesn’t take it out of a guy…” Now he grinned his crooked, dirty little grin that wasn’t without electricity all its own and winked.

“Wow. This has to be the extreme in ‘I don’t cuddle after’ behavior.”

“For the record, I don’t. Which hurts him.”

“So why not just –”

“Because I don’t.” The finality of the words stopped Kassian pushing. “But he will be tired. That was a lot of energy he had to get rid of, and that’s the part that drains him. I do have an appointment I have to get to, and he will be slow. And there’s no guarantee he won’t have built up enough static to short out the convenience store’s fridge by the time he gets there.”

“So you want me to babysit him while you?—”

“He doesn’t need a babysitter, asshole.”

“What then?”

“Company. While I go take care of me for half a minute. Normally it wouldn’t matter, but like I said, that was a lot.”

Kassian nodded. And Bjorn had been carrying that power around all day because of him. Maybe it was the least he could do to thank him. “Fine.”

“Thank you.” He stood and held out a hand.

---