Page 85 of Static/Cling

It didn’t seem wise to tell him everything. Not until he was sure they were on the same side, so he shrugged. “The power of positive thinking.”

“That isn’t a power.”

Bjorn squinted at him. “Are you high right now?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was being—you know what, never mind.”

“Oh.” Rufus’s cheeks turned slightly pink. “That’s— For fuck sakes. Just because you think you can doesn’t mean you can.”

“I’m a little fucking engine.”

Rufus stopped, arms crossed over his chest, face set in a dark scowl. It was probably meant to be scary, but Bjorn had seen an identical one on Kassian’s face so many times it had lost all power over him.

“Look,” he said, “either you’re going to help me, or I will run right over you.”

“My god.” He threw his hands up. “Are all his friends idiots?”

“And pretty. You can ask him. He said so himself.” Bjorn lifted his chin, arms still crossed, mirroring Rufus’s earlier pose, though he suspected he was much less intimidating when he did it.

Although it may have helped that a bit of a crackle filled the air as he moved, because Rufus took another small step back and the chain began to spin again.

“He wouldn’t think you’re pretty.” Rufus scowled. “He likes his guys much”—he waved a hand in the air—“smaller. Compliant.”

Bjorn smirked.

“I fucking hate this.”

“Not exactly a day in the park for me, either. Are we helping each other, or is this the part where we duke it out?”

Rufus flicked a gaze over him, head to toe. “I would take you apart.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Wait.” He dropped his arms, balling his hands into a fist as he realized what was actually going on. “You’re stalling. Why are you stalling?”

“You know it would be better for you if you were truly an idiot.”

“I can’t wait forever. The longer I’m here, the more chance I get caught.”

“News flash,” Rufus muttered.

“By someone on the other team, I mean.”

“Because this is a sporting event.”

Bjorn clenched his fists harder and more sparks snapped and sprang out, dropping to the floor to bounce, tiny balls of light, away from them before vanishing.

This was taking too long. He had to get past this guy, get to Kassian, get to the server, but he didn’t actually want to hurt Kassian’s brother. Not if he didn’t have to. “Look, I just want my friend back. I hope you just want your brother out of here.Whatever reason you have for helping these people, that’s your business, and I don’t care. I just want Kassian.”

“You have to wait.”

“For what? Your boss to stroll by so you can introduce us?”

“Kassian’s… doing something for me.”

“You couldn’t have had him over for Sunday dinner like a normal family?”

“I wish. Even if I asked, he wouldn’t come.”

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