There was a very good chance Theo wasn’t even being held by this man any longer. That he had been sent away somewhere Ari might not be able to follow. The thought tasted like ashes.
And here Ari was, leading Orin further into trouble for his own selfish reasons. Without Ari, Orin could probably escape, get back to his life as it was before Ari came crashing in with his half-baked plans and naive suppositions.
If Ari were a better man, he would tell him to go, leave Ari behind.
But without the ship, Ari had nothing of significant value with which to pay him what he was owed. Ari was not in the habit of accumulating debt. Orin deserved so much better.
If only Theo were here. Decisive, impulsive Theo. Theo didn’t believe in hesitation or regret. Theo would rather set a course blindly and charge forward than ever sit and agonize over his options, like Ari was now.
Useless, timid Ari. What was he going to do if he didn’t find Theo wherever this Park scoundrel was taking them? How was he ever going to find him if this last, all-important lead brought them to a dead end?
Orin shifted beside him, scanning the room slowly and methodically, like he was making a map in his head. He had spent hours now, bound in those uncomfortable cuffs, not a complaint to be heard. He deserved better than the faltering mess Ari was rapidly spiraling into.
Ari closed his eyes, pulled something out from the ever-deepening well within himself, something resolute, adding starch to his spine until he sat up as straight as perfect collar points.
He would be strong, for Orin, and brave, for Theo. For as long as it was required of him. He could do no less. It was the very least they deserved.
They deserved far more than he could give, the both of them, but unfortunately all they had was Ari, so he resolved to make the best of himself.
There were minerals, after all, which had the ability to change under pressure. Develop new traits—greater strength, hardness, durability. Ari would take his inspiration from them.
He would not crumble under pressure.
Their docking was not quite as smooth as their takeoff. Which was to say, it was absolutely abysmal. The ship shook and wobbled, veering wildly off to one side as they docked, the shrill scrape of metal on metal all around them.
Orin offered a running commentary of events in a biting tone Ari had never heard him use before.
“Coming in too fast, idiot’s gonna. Yep. Busted up his own loading dock. Oughta paint a target on it, if this is how he’s gonna fly. I bet this fool couldn’t hit the floor falling out of bed. Now he’s overcorrected, and we’re gonna. Yep. Bottom out and dust the floor with metal shavings. No wonder his rusted ship looks like somebody took a bite out of it. Miracle we made it in one piece, with him flying.”
Ari stifled a giggle at Orin’s indignation, and Orin glanced up with a tilt of his lips that let Ari know he was doing it on purpose. Exaggerating his outrage to get Ari’s mind off their troubles for a brief moment.
Ari hadn’t known it was possible to love somebody so much, so quickly. And yet the evidence was incontrovertible, thumping right there in Ari’s chest.
Somehow, miraculously, answered in those honey eyes.
The door to the cockpit opened with a reluctant squeal, stifling every last drop of laughter left in Ari’s throat as he quickly tucked his wrists back into his cuffs, shifting them to appear as intact as possible.
Park stepped out of the cockpit, sharp gaze falling immediately to Ari’s broken cuffs. Orin stiffened at his side, then pushed to his feet, his own cuffs groaning in protest.
Ari held his breath, clutching his little blade.
Park stared Ari down, one dark eyebrow lifting incrementally. “You can take those off now.” His gaze slid to Orin, face hardening. “Both of you. If you can keep your guard dog to heel.”
Metal squealed and groaned as Orin threw himself back against the wall with a loud thunk, arm cuffs cracking open at the sides.
Ari stood, and his own cuffs crashed to the floor as he hurried to help. “Wait, wait. You’ll hurt yourself. Allow me to assist.”
Orin’s wristcuffs were already cracked open, but Ari was able to pry them open further until Orin could slip out without losing much skin. Orin took the blade from Ari and shoved him behind his back as he stood to face Park, huge fists raised menacingly.
Park watched them dispassionately, free hand reaching out to open the bay doors without looking at the panel, unimpressed eyes trained on Orin’s fists.
The bay doors opened with a rusty screech and the ramp clattered down into a large cargo bay crammed full of mismatched crates.
Park gestured to the ramp with his pistol, something like anticipation moving across his face and churning Ari’s guts.
Orin moved to walk down, but Park called out to stop him.
“No. Redhead goes first.”
Orin snarled at Park over his shoulder, but Ari slipped his hand into Orin’s and started down the ramp with a suppressed shudder at Park’s expectant expression.
Noises in the cluttered cargo bay indicated the presence of more people, although some of the uncoordinated clamoring sounded more like a herd of puppies strapped into combat boots and running down the stairs.
The invisible puppies skidded across the floor behind the stacks, bumping into crates and knocking something small over with a muffled crash.
Park lifted the hand that wasn’t holding the pistol to pinch at the low bridge of his nose, eyes squeezing shut at the sound.
Someone rounded the corner of a stack of crates at breakneck speed, thin form clothed from head to toe in skintight black clothing in the same bizarre make as Park’s, with a soft gray hood pulled low over their head.
They stopped a few feet away, pale hand reaching up to clutch at their chest as they threw back their hood.
Ari let go of Orin’s hand, his entire body engulfed in alternating waves of heat and ice, limbs shaking and knees turned to water.
He stumbled like a baby deer as he ran into his brother’s arms.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ari pulled away to stare into a set of achingly familiar green eyes, his view slightly obscured by the messy strands of long red hair that fell in front of them.
The room wavered as tears filled Ari’s vision, spilling hot against his cheeks. His lips moved ineffectually, unable to form words properly with all of the air punched out of his lungs.
Of course, when Theo was around, no one else generally needed words as he was always more than willing to fill every silence.
“Ari! Don’t cry, darling! Oh, but I have missed you terribly, every moment of every day! You wouldn’t believe the adventure I have been having. It has been ever so exciting. And now that you are here, it shall be even better. Stand back and let me look at you.”
Ari took a dutiful if somewhat wobbly step backward, hands and feet still numb with shock, and Orin pressed up close behind him as though offering him something solid to lean upon. Ari sagged against him gratefully as Theo took his hands and held them out between them, checking him over carefully, forehead scrunching with concern.
“A trifle the worse for wear, aren’t you? No matter; I’ll have you spit spot and back to your old self in no time at all. All you need is a touch of pomade and a deft hand with the needle to repair those clothes.” Theo pursed his lips, scanning Ari up and down. “Or perhaps an incinerator and a trip to my own wardrobe would be more in order. But, do tell, who is your handsome stranger? You haven’t landed yourself into trouble, have you, Ari? I must say, that isn’t very like you.” Theo blotted Ari’s cheeks with the soft material of his sleeve.