Despite the hiccup at the shore base, everything had been going perfectly. Ocher was under his thumb, lacking resistance, and he had gotten what he came for. Now, with the introduction of Ocher’s old friend, Sara revealing his lies, and their potential unwanted third wheel who he doesn’t trust, there are more moving parts than he cares to think about.
He could drop Odaius, but something tells him that he’d do better to keep the other man close. Odaius hasn’t revealed much other than introducing him to a particularly rough looking group of men, but he knows way too much to let their paths diverge right now.
Azure quietly reenters their hotel room a few hours before dawn, pausing at the sound of Ocher’s breathing. Even that is a sign of how much things have changed for him. He always slept alone and now the sound of Ocher breathing next to him or at least in the same room has become familiar when he used to hate the sound of other people near him at night.
In the beginning he had thought he was receiving a gift, now he’s thinking that maybe it was a mistake and he should have left Ocher to take the fall on his own. Things would be less complicated if he had.
“Azure.” Speak of the devil. The other boy stirs awake to blink at him sleepily. “I’m surprised you came back.”
“I paid for the room, you’re not going to keep me from using it.”
“I didn’t try to stop you. You left.”
“Maybe because I was tired of listening to you.”
Ocher shrugs before turning over, “That’s not my fault. You should have told me in the beginning. I’m not going to stop asking questions anymore, so get used to it.”
Azure’s eyes narrow and he strides forward to rip the covers off Ocher, intent on calling his bluff. “If you’re not going to shut up, then this time you can leave. I don’t care what Sara’s been telling you, you don’t deserve any answers from me.”
“Alright,” Ocher agrees easily. He sits up and reaches for his bag. “I’ll leave then. I may not know what I’m getting into, but at least it’ll be my own choice.”
His heart speeds up, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Ocher was supposed to give up and accept it. Moving on instinct, he shoves Ocher back down onto the bed and straddles him. “This was your choice too and you haven’t fulfilled your side of the deal.”
“Make up your mind, Azure. Do you want me to leave or not?”
No, he doesn’t want Ocher to leave, but he’s not going to admit that to the younger boy either. “I want you to leave after you’ve done what you agreed.”
Ocher watches him silently for a moment, “Don’t pretend that you need me, especially when you have Odaius’s help.”
“It’s about keeping your word.”
“Like your word is worth anything.”
“You’re not me.”
“No, you’re right, I’m not,” Ocher replies quietly. “I can admit things to myself.”
Azure leans back, studying him. Just what the hell is he trying to say? Ocher is the last one that should be lecturing him on understanding his own feelings. Ocher reaches up for him, hands hovering right above his shoulders. Azure hesitates before deciding if this is what it’ll take for Ocher to drop the subject, then fine.
He tilts his head forward slightly in permission and Ocher’s arms wrap around his shoulders to drag him down. Azure doesn’t resist as Ocher lips meet his, merely braces himself against the bed and kisses back. Kissing Ocher isn’t a hardship.
“Be honest with me and I’ll stay,” Ocher whispers against his mouth.
Azure laughs. “I’m not making compromises with you,” he murmurs back between heated kisses.
His mouth slips to Ocher’s neck, finding the perfect spot to mark. “Azure.” Ocher tugs him away by his hair, “We need to be on equal ground or I can’t stay.”
“Yes, you can. You’re just choosing not to.”
“Tell me.”
“I don’t want to right now.” Azure pulls Ocher’s hands out of his hair and pins his wrists to the bed with one hand, gazing down at surprised gray eyes. “You started this.”
Ocher opens his mouth to respond, but whatever he tries to say is cut off in a choked noise. Azure grins as his free hand slips lower with nothing hindering him. Ocher never learns.
◆◆◆
He breathes quietly into Ocher’s bare shoulder, one arm under his head and the other wrapped around the other boy’s waist. Ocher hasn’t said much else, so he’s not sure if he’s changed his mind about leaving. He seems content for the moment, but the minute he moves, they may be right back to the beginning of their argument. Azure really doesn’t feel like arguing anymore, it’s one of the things he hates the most.
Azure sighs, “They really are dead. I’m going to kill the person responsible to make myself feel better.”
Ocher grows tense in his hold, “Our leader?”
“Mmm.” Azure answers, pressing light kisses along his back and shoulders. He really shouldn’t be doing this, this type of affection borders on more than should be allowed between them. Although it’s nice, something he’s never let himself do before.
Ocher pulls away and turns to face him, leaving him to stare into his eyes. “You left that part out, conspiracy to commit murder against our leader.”
“He’s not my leader,” Azure mutters before raising his voice. “Why mention it, so you could dwell on it forever? You didn’t need to know. I’ll be the one doing the actual crime. I told you, all you have to do is stay.”
It’s quiet for a few minutes and he’s starting to fall asleep when he feels Ocher pulling away from him. Azure tightens his hold, “Where are you going?”
“I’m giving you your space. You don’t like me staying this close.”
Azure opens his eyes and glares, “It’s fine.”
“No, you don’t like it,” he replies, pushing against his arms.
Azure grabs him back, “I said it’s fine!” And now he’s irritated. Ocher does that so well.
“Okay, alright.” Ocher settles back down, cuddling into his chest, both of them mollified for the moment.
Sunlight breaks through the blinds a few hours later and Azure pushes himself away, regretting staying out so late last night. He hastily pulls his clothes back on to head out in search of breakfast.
He grabs a bowl of food and finds Sara in the back garden commandeering two benches as their meeting place. She looks up as he approaches. “I see you made up,” Sara comments.
Azure shrugs, taking a seat on the bench opposite her and beginning to eat. She already knows the answer, Sara’s perceptive enough. There’s no point answering her.
She taps her screen, “I still don’t see any trace of that wanted poster.”
He nods, “I’m positive he was lying about the source. Even if they wanted us caught, announcing to everyone how much destruction we’ve caused and who we are doesn’t seem like the type of attention they’d want to promote.”
“So, do you know why he did it?”
Azure shakes his head, “I still haven’t figured out why he showed it to us or how he got his hands on it, but someone put it out there because Ocher’s family was aware of what was happening, so they’d been warned.”