Page 5 of Static/Cling

“What are you doing?” Kassian demanded, glancing at the tiny man’s feet, checking the guy hadn’t crossed his imaginary office line.

Little guy held out the Tim’s cup in his hand. “I’m Leif. I come with the pretty idiot.”

Kassian opened his mouth to protest, but snapped it shut a second later.

“Take the coffee,” Leif said kindly. “He is a pretty idiot. But he’s also a nice guy, and he’s my best friend, so be careful how you treat him, eh? He’s sensitive.”

“Are you his keeper, then?” Kassian took the coffee and breathed in the smell of rich, black brew. “Is there espresso in?—”

“Yes. I saw April at Tim’s. She ordered for everyone and asked me to bring it up. I’ve already found an elevator repair man. April said she would be in when it’s fixed, so I put a rush on it.”

“What’s wrong with the elevator?”

Leif sighed. “There’s a short somewhere.”

“It was just refurbished and doubly checked over.” He shuddered. “April made sure it wouldn’t fail.”

“April didn’t count on Bjorn. Do us all a favour and back up every device in this office multiple places, at least one off site, and insulate all your machines from electric overload with triple redundancy.”

“What are you talking about.”

“You’re IT, aren’t you?”

Kassian blinked at him. “Ye-yes. I am. How did you?—”

He nodded. “Thought so. We need to protect the electronics from Bjorn.”

“Is he a spy or something?

“He’s a walking electrical current. You’ll see.”

Kassian pointed to the unseen router under his desk. “Was that his fault?”

“Not his fault. He can’t control it any more than you can control talking to yourselves.”

“I don’t—whatever.” He shook that off, since he’d literally been caught talking to himself just a minute ago. “That’s his power? Shorting out everything he touches?”

Leif shrugged. “If he can keep the charge under control, it’s pretty handy. And if he can manage to discharge it all at once and in one spot, it’ll stop your heart.”

Kassian spread a hand over his chest before he thought about it.

“Well. Not your heart specifically. We’re on the same team, and all. But a heart. It packs a pretty good wallop, when he can control it.”

“And how much can he control it?”

“Not at all unless he’s really concentrating, which…” He shrugged. “A bit less when he’s emotional, or nervous, or upset. A bit more if he’s really pissed off.” He grinned. “A lot when he’s turned on.”

Kassian couldn’t help it. His eyes got wide. “Best friends, huh?”

“We get along.” He touched his face, fingertips trailing along a long, thin scar.

Kassian wondered if he knew he was doing it and had the sudden urge to pull his hand away. He didn’t, but he wanted to tell him the scar didn’t detract from his beauty. Which would probably go over like a lead ballon. He pinched his mouth shut and waited.

“It’s easier than trying to find someone else who doesn’t care about… well. Anyway.” Leif shook himself and his hand dropped to his side. “Computers. Protect them, yeah? He’s already bricked Roger’s.”

“Seriously? I just got him hooked up yesterday.”

“Like I said, April underestimated the situation.”

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