Page 116 of Psync
He took one look at the small, but luxuriously decked out cubicles they each had and squeezed himself and Eli into the nearest one.
There hadn’t been so much as a flutter from Eli since he’d learned about his kidnapper’s release, but when an attendant tried to force Haruka to leave Eli’s seat and go to his own, he’d sensed . . . something. It was small and fleeting, but Eli had definite feelings about sitting alone.
Haruka paused, ignoring the flight attendant as she fluttered nervously around them. “Eli?” He tilted the boy’s face so he could look into his eyes, but there was nothing there.
“Sir?”
Haruka sent the woman scurrying with a snarl. He’d buy the fucking plane if he had to, but he wasn’t budging.
Haruka wasn’t able to relax even when the plane was in the air.
No, he wouldn’t be okay until Eli was himself again and somewhere Haruka could keep him safe.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Eli
The first thing he noticed was how warm he was. The second was a rumbling sound that seemed to surround him. The third was—
“Squished.” Eli pushed against the firm body he was plastered against. “Haruka, you’re crushing me.”
He only noticed the hand in his hair because it stopped stroking him.
“Sorry.”
The pressure on him eased a little, and Eli opened his eyes. Wherever they were was dark and cozy. He buried his face in Haruka’s shirt and breathed in his warm, soothing scent.
“We should get ready to go, shouldn’t we?” He wasn’t sure what he was saying, but he had a nagging feeling they were supposed to be doing something.
Eli felt Haruka kiss the top of his head. “You can stay here as long as you want.”
“Oh good.” He sighed happily and was about to drift back to sleep until he heard a soft cough in the distance. He lifted his head and looked around. “Um . . . are we on an airplane?”
A pause. “Yes.”
“Haruka.”
“Yes?”
“Why are we on an airplane?”
Another, longer, pause. “What is the last thing you remember?”
The hand in his hair began to pet him once again, and Eli lost a minute or two enjoying the sensation. Wait, he was supposed to be remembering something.
Eli frowned and bit his lip. “I was at school . . . nearly killed myself on goose poop . . . You were such a jerk! How did you even know about it?”
Haruka’s arms tightened around him briefly, and he bestowed Eli’s head with another kiss. “You broadcast it so hard, I was able to see everything.” His voice was soft, and there was a touch of sadness to it.
Why was Haruka sad?
Eli sat up and searched his face, but all he saw was Haruka’s default expression—cool and composed.
“What happened?”
“You really don’t remember?”
“Remember what?” Something about the current situation tickled his memory. He’d felt this way before, hadn’t he? Only he hadn’t been as chill the last time.
