Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Pyro grabbed Clover’s other hand and held them both in his warm palms. “I know. And I didn’t appreciate it like I should. But I will try to do things differently now. Maybe when Boar’s back, we could go somewhere together. The three of us.”
“I would really like that. I really miss being… normal, you know?” He shifted closer to Pyro, no longer threatened by his size or innate aggression. He felt as if he’d finally discovered the key to this man’s guarded heart, and it seemed that the only way to stop Pyro from biting was to confront him.
Pyro nodded, watching Clover as if the night around them had dispersed. “I remember that time Boar made us help him prepare the picnic. I was so annoyed that he made me get up early, but spending all day with the two of you had been so amazing. I hadn’t said it and never apologized to him for being a shit in the morning. Maybe I should have. Just like you, he’s too good for me.”
“Boar and me are far from being good boys, but yeah, you are a menace, and it’s amazing how you manage to pull us in anyway.” Clover snorted and entwined their fingers, growing more confident with each passing second.
Pyro licked his lips. “Am I the only one feeling that tension or…”
“Why? So you can tell me that’s the only thing I’m good for?” This time, Clover did mean to tease, but he wouldn’t let Pyro completely off the hook any time soon.
Pyro grunted, shaking his head. “I deserve this. You were hurt, and it’s only by chance that you got an opportunity to run. But I was so focused on my own pain that I didn’t think about it much. I shouldn’t have been so selfish when you were nothing but kind to me.”
Clover played with Pyro’s thick fingers. A part of him wanted to bury the past and forget it, enjoy this moment of closeness, but he knew that there was no way of going forward with this relationship if he didn’t reveal the truth to Pyro.
“Maybe I used taking care of everyone as a distraction. We were only captured for a couple of hours. Boar was taken away, but Drake and me… I wasn’t just beaten. Apollo’s men, they…” He’d spoken of this to both Tank and Drake, but with Pyro, who was less emotionally available, choking out the truth was even harder.
Clover was a grown man. He killed a guard, taken revenge on Jerry, yet here he was—a mess about to be reduced to tears. “Drake killed them, but then Apollo forced him to take over their job, to hurt me while these insanely creepy people in masks watched. I will never find out who they were. He… had to hurt me sexually too,” Clover finished in the tiniest voice.
The hand around his squeezed even tighter. “Drake did what?” Pyro asked through clenched teeth, the ruthless, brash persona instantly back on the surface, but this time his spikes weren’t there to hurt Clover, but to protect him.
“There’s no nice way to put it. It hurt, it was horrible, I was bleeding all over from the caning, and just wanted it all to end. I was in so much pain, and that motherfucker Apollo threatened Drake to do much worse if he didn’t cooperate. Not to him, but to me. We’ve had… just before that night, me and Drake, we had this moment. Everything felt right, and that bastard took that away from us. Drake won’t even look at me anymore.” Clover didn’t know when the tears started falling, but he hugged Pyro tightly, relieved by the steady arms that locked around him instantly.
Pyro remained so still only his rapid heartbeat and warmth reminded Clover he was still alive. But as moments passed, the silence became so heavy Clover was close to screaming by the time Pyro opened his mouth. “So he protected you. But it was still horrible. And you want Apollo and the masked people dead?” Pyro asked, rubbing his chin against the top of Clover’s head. He smelled of stale aftershave, disinfectant, blood and sweat, but his firm embrace was a safe haven that would keep Clover protected, regardless of all the shit Pyro had done earlier.
“I just want Boar back. But I know none of this will end as long as Apollo is alive. I should have told you the truth, but I didn’t want to be a burden.” Clover took a deep inhale and kissed Pyro’s shoulder, more at peace than he’d ever felt. For once, both of them were open not just with their bodies, but with their raw, bleeding hearts.
Pyro petted him, resting his chin on top of Clover’s head. “I… I’m not good at this. But I hate that this happened. I’m sorry Clover. I now remember you being down, but I dismissed it. I didn’t want to see it. I was selfish, I thought you were a weakling moping about a few scars. But now that I know, I can see you’re the strong one. You picked yourself up while I wallowed and buried my pain in coke. And all the while you tried to take care of me, when you had to deal with something so horrible on top of that.”