Page 35 of The Chemist

“Everyone does things for a reason. If you can understand the purpose behind someone’s actions, that might give you a clue as to their larger agenda. Take me as an example. When I was younger, I liked to take walks at night. It wasn’t because I loved the fresh air; it was because I needed to escape my stepfather’s home for a few hours. I hated being there, and going for a walk late at night also helped to avoid any arguments or judgments passed by the parental units.”

“Hmm, that’s an interesting point.”

“You said that the doc likes to go for a walk through Grand Park every night after dinner?” Diesel asked, his cheek just inches from Zero’s.

“Yeah, usually around nine before heading to bed at eleven.”

“He goes to Grand Park every night except for Thursdays, when he takes a walk through Allistair Park instead.” Zero nodded. “Why the change?”

Zero had always assumed it was because Allistair Park had street performers performing every Thursday night, but now Diesel had him wondering if his assumptions might be off. It might be worth taking another look into.

“Pass the chips,” Diesel asked, reaching across his body toward the bowl that was just out of his reach. Zero lifted the bowl and passed it to him.

“Night, D.” Jared’s voice boomed through the other side of the bedroom door, causing them both to jump.

They glanced at the time on the laptop. They had been at this for almost an hour. Where had the time gone?

“Night, Jare,” Diesel called back before settling back into his position as Zero’s human man-pillow.

Leaning into each other wasn’t feeling as awkward as it was when he first barged into Diesel’s room.

“You guys have been best buds for a while, huh?” Zero asked, not sure if he would receive an actual response.

“Yeah, he and I were some of the first guys to join Matteo’scock palace.” Zero couldn’t help but chuckle-snort. “We’ve both been through some heavy shit, and it’s nice to have someone around who understands the crap going on inside your head. With Jare, there’s no judgment. He’s always there when I need him, and he reminds me when I’m being an ass.”

“So, he’s your Jiminy Cricket.”

“My what?” Diesel asked with a chuckle of his own.

“Your grasshopper. Your conscience. That little voice inside your head that tells you what you’re doing is asshole adjacent.”

“No, that little voice inside my head is usually telling me how worthless I am and that people are better off without me.”

Well, that wasn’t what he was expecting.

There was something cold and unsettling about the words that Diesel used. Did he really feel so worthless and think so little of himself?

It was in that moment that Zero realized he really didn’t know much about Diesel at all. Only what he did for a living and that he had a really nice dick. Perhaps there was more to the man trapped beneath him than a hot body and prickly attitude.

His eyes fell on the black watch that was strapped to Diesel’s wrist. The same watch that he never took off and was apparently his parting gift when he left for this trip. Now was probably not the right time to ask him about it. He needed to earn the man’s trust if he expected him to share his darkest secrets and perhaps open up about the demons of his past.

It was time for some lighter conversation. He opened a web browser and began searching for useless trending videos.

“You got to see this video. Pass the chips.”

They watched pointless, trash videos and demolished the last of their snacks over the next two hours. It was sometime after two a.m. when Zero finally slipped back into his own bedroom, leaving a drooling, tattooed stoner boy asleep in his bed.

Overall, the evening hadn’t been that painful to endure.

14

DIESEL

Seventeen Years Ago

Diesel’s eyes shot open suddenly, remembering the excitement of the day!

Today was his birthday! He was finally eight!

---