“Thank you,” Casper said quietly and hurried through the living room and into the kitchen. He watched Toly as he filled one of the mugs by the coffee maker then added sugar. Toly didn’t seem concerned about Casper’s presence so he eased into the living room and lowered onto an armchair by the fireplace. Toly paused so he could scoop a spoonful of cereal into his mouth and went back to poking as he chewed. Casper scanned the room around them and found that he liked the simple Scandinavian furniture and soft green walls and pale grey upholstery. There were a lot of large windows but it wasn’t oppressively bright because of the cloudy, damp morning. “You have a lovely home, Ivanof. I hope there aren’t any hard feelings about O’Malley,” he added with a wince. Bold play... He nodded in agreement. Better to get it out of the way and see where he stood. Toly’s eyes swung toward Casper and focused through his lenses.
“I have hard feelings but I understand that you were following orders. Please call me Toly. I don’t go by that name anymore.”
“Of course,” Casper said and nodded quickly. “Toly.” He offered him a hesitant smile and Toly blinked back at Casper as he studied him. Casper remembered that he pulled his hair into a bun and covered the horror half of his face with his hand. It had become a habit and he was so used to going several days without seeing anyone but Hawk.
“Please, don’t!” Toly urged as he took off his glasses and Casper’s hand slowly lowered. Toly tucked his glasses in the pocket of his hoodie then set his cereal on the table so he could scoot down the sofa, closer to Casper’s chair. “I like your eye. Red is my favorite color,” he said and tugged down the neck of his hoodie so Casper could see that his neck and chest were covered with the tattooed circuit boards and wires that covered his hands. “I did all of this because I hated myself and the things I was forced to do,” he explained quickly. “Everyone here will see past your face.”
“I...” Casper wished he’d put on something with a hood so he had something to retreat behind for a moment. “Thank you,” he said then stared into his mug as he drank. “I saw O’Malley blow up Gladys. She was all I had and I was happy to kill him but I understand why you’d feel robbed,” he explained and hoped that made things a little better. Toly squinted over Casper’s shoulder as he nodded slowly.
“I can understand that and I appreciate that it wasn’t personal. I was also relieved that you weren’t responsible,” he said and gave Casper a shy smile as he went back to his spot and put his glasses back on. “We’re having breakfast across the street and Sage will make a lot of food but I like to eat two breakfasts on the weekend. This is Cocoa Puffs but I have several types of cereal in the pantry,” he told Casper as he pulled his bowl back into his lap and pointed his spoon over his shoulder.
“I can wait,” Casper said then looked to the door as it swung open and Hawk and Wilder spilled over the threshold. They were laughing and slapping at each other but they were filthy and there were sticks and bits of leaves in Hawk’s hair. “What happened?” Casper asked then gasped when Hawk turned and waved. His eye was swollen shut and already starting to bruise. He set his cup down and jumped to his feet and Hawk shushed loudly as he waved for Casper to calm down.
“We went for a run and it turned into a brawl,” he said and Casper’s jaw fell.
“You were attacked while you were running?!” He asked as he looked to Wilder. He had a bloody nose and his chin and collar were stained red. Hawk followed Casper’s gaze and hissed as he tipped back Wilder’s face.
“Sorry about that. I was aiming for Lavender but he’s so fucking fast. I busted the shit out of my knuckle, if it makes you feel better.” He held up his fist and Wilder pouted loudly as he tried to kiss it. Hawk laughed as he popped him playfully on the cheek. Toly snorted but didn’t appear to care and jammed another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “Shower time,” Hawk said as he pointed at Casper and his eye widened. He felt the heat rise up his neck and turned and ran from the living room. Hawk chased Casper into the guest room and danced him into the shower. And Hawk had a lot of fight left in him. He picked Casper up and fucked him against the shower wall and Hawk left a nasty looking bite mark on his shoulder. Casper almost sprained his neck and his face, he kept trying to lick it as they got ready.
They had to come out, eventually, and Casper’s stomach made another tumble as they joined Toly and Wilder in the living room. Toly bounced excitedly as his husband wrapped up a phone call. Both were dressed in hoodies, jeans and sneakers but Casper felt underdressed and exposed in almost the same ensemble.
“I like your new leg,” Wilder said to Casper when he finished his call. Casper glanced at it and raised a shoulder. It was just glossy black and metal but it was growing on him.
“Thank you, Martinez.” Casper bowed his head and pushed his hands deep into the front of his hoodie. He asked Hawk if his cloak and gloves made him look less approachable and they agreed something casual and comfortable would be best. Casper wanted to take his hair down, at least, but he forced his hands to stay hidden in his hoodie.
“It’s Wilder, now. You’re Hawk’s so that makes you family,” Wilder said and gave Casper’s shoulder a firm squeeze. “Just don’t break anything and we’ll be cool. I built this house and a lot of the furniture in it so you have to take your frustrations out across the street,” he advised. Casper nodded quickly.
“I can do that.”
“Great. Can we go? It’s almost time,” Toly said and pushed Wilder at the door. The four of them made their way across the street and Hawk was particularly interested in the newly cleared plot next to Toly and Wilder’s house. There was a “Sold” sign in front of it and Casper’s lips twisted thoughtfully.
“That wasn’t there the last time we were here,” he noted. Hawk sighed happily as he put his arm around Casper’s shoulders.
“I had a hunch, after we left. That cottage is always going to feel like home. But I thought it might be nice to have someplace else that was truly ours—when we want to get away from Blink—where we fit in and are needed,” Hawk said and Casper had to hold onto him.
“Ours?”
“Ours,” Hawk said and pulled Casper close so he could kiss his temple. “Lane’s family owns this whole street and planned to keep it undeveloped but he worked it out for us. We can start building in the spring,” he whispered in Casper’s ear. This is definitely a trap. Of some sort...
“I don’t care. I love it. Thank you,” Casper said and Hawk hummed softly as he turned them and followed Toly and Wilder across the street. If this was the cage that Hawk or Lavender wanted him in, Casper would gladly lock himself in. But another voice whispered that this was the life Hawk wanted to share with him.
“Good morning and welcome back!” Sage said when he opened the door and pushed his hand at Casper. Casper shook it and waved at West and Sharp.
“Nice to see you again,” West said and Marston and his FBI agent husband, Paul Sloan, were drinking what appeared to be mimosas as they joined them.
“We’re celebrating,” Lavender announced and he had a tray of mimosas to pass around.