Bast
Love it.
Pepper
Speaking of difficult siblings, have you talked to Reid?
Bast
Not yet. Next stop on the Apologies and Absolution Tour.
Pepper
You’ll be fine. I think in all this we forget that, while our family doesn’t always agree, they love us all the same. Reid will understand because no one loves you more.
Bast
…
Bast
I said once you were good at this, and I meant every word. You’re a special person, Pepper, and special people deserve special gifts. Take a look at this.
“Who says you have to say it with flowers? The ultimate gift for your ex: Chicago Zoo has named a cockroach in Kent’s honor. Congratulations, Kent!”
Pepper
Oh my God, you did not! I am dying here. Thank you!
Bast
Just a little fun. Later, sweetheart.
34
Reid opened the door to Bast and nodded. “Hey, come in.”
“Sure you want me to?”
“I’m not the one who got pissy at the guy trying to look out for him.”
Bast gusted out a sigh. “Let me say hi to your better half first.”
He headed inside and found Kennedy in the kitchen, cooking something spicy enough to make his eyes water.
“Hey, Ken.”
She gave him a tight hug and on tip toes, kissed him on the cheek. “How are you?”
“Feeling like an idiot.”
“Oh, yeah? Meet your Idiot Twin. So dinner’s going to be a little while, but Bucky needs a walk.” She smiled at the dog who had come bounding in. “Don’t ya, fella?” She leaned in to Bast. “Be nice to your brother. He feels awful.”
He opened his mouth. Closed it again. Kissed her on the forehead.
Outside, the air was crisp like snow was on the way again. Bast put his hand in his jacket pocket and walked alongside his brother as they headed to Riverbrook Park across the street.
Reid let Bucky go to chase something, then turned to Bast. “I’m sorry about what happened in Michigan.”
“I’m sorry, too.”
Reid looked uncomfortable, even for Reid. “What you said about how we’ve all got to live with it—with your injury—is that what you’ve been thinking this entire time?”
“I didn’t think so. I thought it was all good, that I’d moved past it. But then I realized that maybe I’d glossed over it because of the upside: it brought us closer. Only, now, part of me wishes it didn’t have to happen that way. That we could have gotten over that hump and become friends without me sustaining this injury that might be career-ending.”
Reid looked crushed. “You forgave me too quickly.”
“It’s not a matter of forgiveness, Reid. It’s the fact that it laid bare some issues I’ve not dealt with properly. I was depressed after it happened, but I kept that to myself. Marina dumped me, you were headed to the Olympics in my place, and Dad was being his usual dickweed self. I probably should have talked to someone, but I thought I’d do what I always do. Smile the fuck through, which might not have been so healthy. And now, I feel—stuck, I suppose. I know the re-injury just happened, but what if I don’t get back full function? What if this is it?” He swiped at a tear. Jesus, this was why he didn’t want to talk about this. It brought out this needy part of him, that little kid who wanted his brother to love and protect and tell him it would all be okay.
Reid curled a hand around Bast’s neck and pulled him close. “I can’t promise you’ll get all the way back, but I’m with you no matter what happens.”
Bast gave a watery chuckle. “I wanted us doing this together. Playing as teammates as well as brothers.”
“That could still happen. I’m going to work with you to get you back on top, but—”
“I have to accept it might not happen. I’m not saying any of this to make you feel guilty. I’ve had it up to here with other people’s guilt.”
“Okay, got it.” Reid drew back and gripped his shoulder. “But my love for you and my concern about where you’re at doesn’t stem from guilt. I failed you when we were kids, but now, I’m here for whatever you need.”
“I-I know you are. And you’re happy, which is another reason why I’ve not wanted to rock the boat with rehashes of what happened. You’re in a good place.”
“And you will be, soon. I don’t want you to ever hold back to save my feelings.”
Bast sniffed. “Damn, these days, you’re so perfect and well-adjusted that it’s scary.”
Reid chuckled darkly. “I’m far from perfect. But I want to be for Kennedy and …” He hesitated, then said, “She’s pregnant. We’re having a baby.”
Bast could feel his mouth drop open. “That’s—oh my God, that’s amazing!”
Reid smiled, a little embarrassed. “I know. I’m thrilled and terrified, and I want so badly for everything between us, you and me, to be okay. I’m going to need you through all this because I’m pretty sure I have no clue what I’m doing.”
Bast wrapped his brother in a hug. “You’re going to be amazing. You’ve had all this practice with Bucky, and Kennedy’s a force of nature. She’s going to be a great mom. And I’m going to be the best uncle.”
Reid leaned back. “And I want to be the best brother to you. That’s the only reason I pushed so hard about Pepper. You’re the nicest fucking guy in the world, the brother I love more than anything, and I don’t want to see you hurt again. About this Pepper business, I should have trusted you. I was just worried you were in a dark place, susceptible to a huckster.”
That made Bast laugh. “Pepper is about as far from huckster material as Bucky is from being a good guard dog.”
Bucky was currently barking at a bush.
Reid gave an indulgent smile. “Saw the Rebels press release today. You have a hand in that?”
“A bit. I just want everyone to lay off her, and I needed it clarified that she wasn’t at fault and no one in the org thinks so.”
“It was good. So how are things? Are you two …” He waved the rest.
“We two are … no two.” They’d had a nice text exchange after the press release went viral, and she’d made it clear that she was in a good place. That she was doing just fine without him.
At his brother’s frown, he added, “I’m not sure either of us is ready for a relationship. She has some stuff to work out, and while I’d like to be able to fight all the dragons for her, I’ve got to let her do that for herself.”
“But you want her?”
He growled his frustration. “So fucking much, Reid. I thought it was just because I wanted what you have, what every guy I know seems to have. Or that I’ve been a miserable fuck for a year and need the warm comforts of a woman. But I haven’t thought of anyone else since I met her at Jimmy’s Tap. And now that I know her, I can’t imagine anyone else coming close. But she doesn’t want to date a hockey player—”