Page 66 of Psync
“Earlier, I wasn’t able to feel you at all, either.”
“Weird.” Haruka stood and began to clear the table.
“Haruka.”
No answer.
“You know how to block me, don’t you?” Eli took his plate over to Haruka.
Haruka continued to put their leftovers away without looking at Eli.
“Haruka.” Eli poked him in the side. “Don’t make me tickle it out of you.”
“You say that like it’s a threat.”
“I’m tougher than I look.” Eli poked Haruka in the side again. “Spill. If you know how to keep me out of your head, you have to teach me how.”
Haruka cocked his head to one side. “Do I?”
“Yes! It’s only fair.”
When Haruka failed to respond, Eli narrowed his eyes. His sister was particularly ticklish at her armpits. Maybe Haruka was too? He dove in without even considering that what he was doing might be a bad idea.
Eli got the pleasure of seeing Haruka’s eyes go wide with surprise when he made his attack. He enjoyed two whole seconds of victory before Haruka had Eli’s wrists trapped in one large hand in a move so fast, his head spun.
“Life isn’t fair, Eli.”
Eli twisted, and Haruka tightened his grip, his eyes never leaving Eli’s.
He was pretty sure he should be freaking out right now. Normally, Eli would be screaming at the top of his lungs, or on the verge of passing out, if someone grabbed him like this.
But he wasn’t doing any of those things. As soon as Haruka squeezed Eli’s wrists, his mind went still and quiet. It was like being wrapped inside something soft, warm, and safe. Like nothing bad could ever touch him there.
Haruka pulled Eli closer, and Eli tugged, testing. The room was so quiet, Eli could hear his own heart beating.
“Don’t . . .” Haruka closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Don’t what?” Eli was having trouble remembering what they’d been talking about. Haruka’s hair was free from its usual ponytail and had fallen over his face during their struggle. It was shiny and looked silky smooth.
Eli’s fingers wiggled.
A shudder went through Haruka.
In the quiet, soft space Eli floated in, the words :So innocent . . . I can’t.: drifted past him.
Then Haruka opened his eyes, and they were full of mischief. “Don’t tickle me.”
Then he scooped Eli up and tossed him over his shoulder.
“Wait! No! I’m injured! My head hurts!” Eli lied. His head had stopped throbbing hours ago, and Haruka was being more than gentle enough to keep from agitating it past their bond’s ability to soothe any lingering pain.
“No, it doesn’t.” Haruka said over his shoulder as he walked over and deposited Eli on the bed. “But I’ll be nice this time. Next time you won’t get off so easy.”
Eli peered up at Haruka through his tousled bangs. The odd tension between them was broken, but Eli was breathing like he’d run up five flights of stairs. He chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip, wondering if this was another effect of the mental connection they shared.
Haruka took a step toward the bed, stopped, turned around, and went to his closet. “I’m taking a shower. You go to bed.”
Eli watched as Haruka slung a towel over his shoulder and walked out of the room stiffly.
