Page 94 of Static/Cling

For a moment, he was caught in the crystal clarity of Leif’s gaze, like falling into the sky, endless and impossible.

“It’s too much,” Leif whispered.

“I know.” Though he didn’t know. He had no idea. Still. He pulled Leif against his chest and held him there. “But I’ve got you.” he promised. “It’s okay. I promise you’re okay.”

He knew he was right. Because whatever had been happening, Leif had done nothing wrong. Of that, Kassian was certain.

Leif’s trembling worried him. He was so cold to the touch and couldn’t seem to stop shaking.

Kassian rubbed his face against damp, blond hair and whispered again how it was going to be okay.

“We have to move,” he mumbled as well, but that wasn’t to Leif.

“Wait,” his other half whispered back.

“Anyone could come along.”

“Breathe,” his brain told him.

“This is stupid.”

“This is necessary.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“You know.” His arms tightened, like they had a mind of their own, and he recognized that, for once, his inner muscle-head was taking over, doing what was needed, and he didn’t get a say.

“I don’t like it.”

“Yeah, you do,” Leif whispered, and chuckled wetly against his chest as he pressed his chilled body closer to Kassian’s warmth.

Yeah. He did.

Gradually, the shaking subsided to occasional twitching shivers and Leif wrapped both his arms around Kassian’s waist. “If it matters, I like it too,” Leif said after a few more minutes.

“Hardly the place, though.”

“We’re safe for a little while longer.”

“How do you know?”

“Shh,” Leif said. “Your brainiac is really loud.”

Kassian snorted. “You would like the muscle-head better.”

“I like all of you, now stop arguing.”

“I’m not arguing with you, I?—”

“With yourself.”

“Oh.” He closed his eyes, leaned his head back against the wall, and let his body have its way while his brain spiralled down into silence.

Rufus found them still leaning on the wall, wrapped around each other, an oasis of calm in the middle of the chaos that, somehow, hadn’t found its way back down their hallway.

Yet.

“The hell?” Rufus barked. “What are you doing?”

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