The Morgan Lore - 19. Chapter 19

Hope dangles on a string, like slow spinning redemption

Rory picked up Milan from the armchair, and took him to the couch. Asta brought him a cushion for Milan’s head, and Rory helped him get comfortable.

“He’s not opening his eyes,” Rory said, sitting on the edge of the wide couch. He held Milan’s hands between his.

“Stop worrying and answer my question.” Asta perched on the coffee table her gaze on Milan. “He’ll wake up, Little Morgan. Trust me.”

Rory let out a sigh, and squeezed Milan’s hands. He reached for the glove Asta had removed and focused on putting it back for Milan.

“I don’t understand how he could have poisonous wolf’s blood. He’s my mate, Grandma Asta. I would have smelled it. I would know.”

Rory adjusted the glove’s fabric over Milan’s fingers.

“Trust me, Rory. It’s there.”

Asta leaned forward pressing two fingers to where Rory held Milan’s right wrist. They both watched dark lines spread up Milan’s arm. Milan surged up, a wince appearing on his face, the pain from Asta’s touch clear.

“See that. It’s there.”

“Stop hurting him.”

Rory pushed Asta’s fingers away from Milan.

Asta sighed and folded her hands against her chest.

Rory rubbed Milan’s wrist, hoping to ease the pain. His touch did nothing to Milan, so he glanced at Asta, expectant.

“How are you doing this anyway?”

“I’m an old soul.” Asta smiled at him. “I’ve picked up a few things over the many years on this earth. Wolf’s blood sings to me in any form. This…I’ve never seen this one.”

“What do you see?” Rory asked, returning to the task of fitting Milan’s glove.

“It’s in his blood, surging through his veins like a person shooting up drugs,” Asta frowned. “It’s not much though, or if it was, it’s burning up faster than possible. Whatever it’s supposed to do for him will stop abruptly, and he’ll crash.”

Rory thought about Kiyo talking to that strangely familiar voice in his lab.

“Milan is sick. He has CVID,” Rory said. “He needs infusions every month to stay healthy. His father makes the infusions he’s getting. I was there for the last one. From what I've read, the infusions are made from plasma. It has to be what you see.”

“The blood is stripped down and laced with chemicals, which is why you can’t smell it.” Asta’s gaze narrowed. “As for his illness, he is your mate. An alpha’s mate at that. The violence of your bite should correct any troubles he’s facing. Your blood is strong enough to correct his genetics, though it will be a trial of fire for him. The change will demand that much from him.”

“Can I do it now?” Rory asked, happy to hear that Milan could be saved from a lifetime of managing his condition and the poison his father had introduced.

Kiyo did not even know he was poisoning his own son.

“No.” Asta shook her head. “Whatever the concoction in his veins was meant to do, it’s damaging to you and him. The wolf’s blood used to make it is tainted, he needs to be clear of it before you can introduce yours. Otherwise—”

“Otherwise?” Rory demanded, meeting Asta’s gaze, afraid of her next words.

“He’ll die,” Asta said.

Rory let go of Milan’s hand and got up. He paced away from Milan, fear taking over.

“I don’t understand.”

“I know, Little Morgan.

“Why would the goddess allow this to happen?”

“She’s never wrong though,” Asta soothed. “We can work this out.”

“How?” Rory asked, his gaze returning to Milan. “I’m keeping so much from him already. I can’t imagine what it will do to him to know his father is basically poisoning him.”

“Humans are very resilient,” Asta said, leaning back her hands braced on the table. “You’d be surprised how much they will forgive because of love.”

Rory scoffed and dug fingers into his hair. He could not sit back and watch Kiyo push more infusions on Milan. That was just not happening.

“What now?”

“Now,” Asta smiled, “I wake the Little Morgan’s mate and get to know him. You can only help him when his body burns off the poison inside him.”

“Can’t you remove it?” Rory asked.

“It’s keeping him healthy,” Asta said. “Won’t you miss his smile if we find a way to drain it out of him? I think it would be better for him to get it out of his system his way. That’s what his body is designed to do anyway. Use the concoction up. Should be about two weeks.”

“For someone who acts like she doesn’t know anything, you know a lot,” Rory said, dropping his arms. “Why aren’t you in the Council?”

“I was once when I was young and foolish.” Asta shrugged. “Mistakes were made, people died. When my head cleared of the haze from that disaster, I left the position to Iris and Hunter.”

“Would you come back?” Rory asked, aware of the pleading tone in his voice. It would be so much easier to face a council with Asta around. She would not judge Milan's family too harshly.

Asta looked at him then, her gaze haunted and shook her head.

“It would serve no purpose, Little Morgan. The future belongs to you and the young ones. Decisions on how you want to live should come from you. You should know that by now.”

Rory sighed and came to sit on the table next to Asta.

“Will he be in pain when the poison blood is out of his system?”

“It sure seems so,” Asta said. “He will be weak, again. It will frustrate him.”

Rory closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists. How much more pain did Milan have to live through before they found a true chance?

Asta placed a gentle hand on his right fist.

“Your mate is stronger than he looks, Rory. What you should worry about is the source of poisonous wolf’s blood. Tainted blood can only mean someone is tampering with one of us.”

Rory nodded remembering the black wolf with a decaying scent.

“Can a wolf’s fur color change?” Rory asked.

“I suppose, with enough corruption,” Asta nodded. “Yes.”

“Hm.”

Rory frowned, a thought blooming.

“Please wake Milan,” Rory said, after a few minutes of silence.

“As you say, Little Morgan,” Asta said, leaning over, she brushed a gentle finger over Milan’s brow.

No pain came with her touch this time. Rory realized that she must have sensed wolf’s blood in Milan at their approach. Suspecting Milan of foul play, she delved in with no mercy.

“You frighten me,” Rory told her when she sat back.

Asta chuckled, her gaze expectant as she watched Milan wake up.

Milan sat up on the couch, eyes wide as he took in Asta. When he looked at Rory, he narrowed his gaze.

“What happened?” Milan asked.

“You fainted,” Asta answered. “You must be thirsty. I’ll get you some water.”

Milan frowned, shifting so that he now sat on the couch facing them.

Rory smiled as Asta stood and hurried to her kitchen.

“Rory?”

“Hey, you gave me a scare,” Rory said.

Milan rolled down his right glove, checking his wrist. Rory hoped Milan did not remember the black poison rolling up his veins. Milan rubbed the delicate skin there, before he shrugged and pulled the glove back.

“I thought I saw—”

Milan shook his head.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’ve pushed the limits today.”

Asta came back holding a glass of warm water for Milan.

“It’s safe to drink,” she said, knowing Milan was going to protest. “I boil all my drinking water.”

Milan took the glass with a grateful nod and drunk half the water in one breathe.

“So.” Asta sat on the coffee table next to Rory. “You’re Milan.”

Milan nodded, holding the glass with both hands.

Asta smiled and reached out to pinch his cheeks.

“You’re so adorable. I just want to kiss your cheeks. How old are you?”

“Turning seventeen in two weeks,” Milan said with a shy smile.

“What a perfect time for a birthday,” Asta glanced at Rory and winked.

Rory blushed, thinking he too would want to see Milan healthy on his birthday.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Milan said, when Asta let go of his cheeks.

They were stained with color, his eyes bright with amusement. Rory could have kissed him then.

“Your first birthday with Rory?” Asta asked.

Milan blushed harder and nodded, drinking his water.

Rory smiled, elated.

“How much do you like this Little Morgan?” Asta asked, holding Milan’s gaze.

Milan did not hesitate with his answer.

“Very much. I lo-like him very much.”

Rory felt the bracelet on his left wrist warm up and he glanced at it to see a leaf fade away, leaving two. Excitement vibrated through him, it was hard to sit still.

“Why do you call him Little Morgan?” Milan asked Asta.

“Because I know the Big Morgan,” Asta said, her tone teasing.

“Rory’s dad,” Milan said. “I haven’t met him yet.”

“You will, soon,” Asta assured him. “When you first meet him, he will look gruff and forbidding. I want you to tell him that you know about the fishing scream.”

“The fishing scream?” Milan asked, glancing at Rory, then returning back to Asta. His eyes bright with amusement, once again, Rory only wanted to kiss him. “What is that?”

“Well, Big Morgan went fishing in the river once. He is squeamish about wet things, and there was this girl who loved to tease him. She found a snail on their trip to the river and made it her goal to make him touch that snail. Let’s just stay it was the first time anyone had ever heard a Morgan scream in fright.”

Rory chuckled, when Milan laughed, remembering that the girl in question was his mother.

Asta and Milan talked for an hour, until Milan’s stomach growled from hunger. Rory glanced at the time on his phone. It was almost two o’clock. They had been out too long. It was time to head back home.

Asta hugged Milan goodbye making him smile. Rory thanked Asta for having them and they started back to the truck.

***

“I love your Nonna Asta,” Milan said, when they were driving back to Milan’s house, his mask around his neck. “She makes me miss mine.”

“Which one?”

“My dad’s mom,” Milan said. “I don’t meet her often but when I do, it’s always like with your Nonna Asta.”

“And how is that?” Rory asked, taking Milan’s hand as he drove.

“Freeing,” Milan said, thinking that the best word to use.

With his parents, there was the constant worry for his health, his future, his…well just everything. Talking to his grandmother made him feel like a little kid. He had gotten that same feeling from Asta.

“It’s stupid—”

“No.” Rory squeezed his hand. “I know what you mean. Grandma Asta makes me feel the same. As though you can just be. I’m glad she makes you feel that way. Visit her anytime you want.”

Milan looked around the winding road that was leading them back home.

“I’m not sure I could find her,” Milan mused.

“I’ll take you, just ask,” Rory said, his tone matter of fact.

As though all Milan had to do was tell him and he would drop what he was doing and drive Milan to Grandma Asta.

Milan shifted in his seat until he was facing Rory.

“You’re really strange,” Milan noted. “Would you really just take me if I asked?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that,” Milan snapped his fingers.

“Yes.”

“Hmm.” Milan bit his bottom lip. “Why?”

“Because it would make you happy.”

Milan stared. He really had never met anyone like Rory Morgan.

“You’re one of a kind, Rory Morgan,” Milan said. “I can’t believe you’re my boyfriend.”

Milan felt Rory squeeze his hand as he drove, turning on to the familiar road that mean the gate to his house was coming up.

Milan covered Rory’s hand with his.

“I want to tell Ayu and Mamma about us. Mamma is gonna freak,” Milan said. “But I still want her to know. Just in case.”

“In case of what?” Rory asked, stopping the car outside Milan’s gate.

Milan dropped his gaze to their clasped hands.

“I’ve had a really good month, health wise,” Milan shrugged. “When I crash, it usually comes fast, and I can be out of school for days. Just in case, I want her to let you in to see me. If you want.”

“Milan.”

“Hospitals can be strict about stuff like that, my parents even worse—”

“No one will ever keep me away from you,” Rory said, parking the truck and turning to face Milan.

Rory brought Milan’s hand to his lips, dropping a soft kiss that Milan wished he could feel on his skin instead of through his gloves. Looking up, he met blazing blue eyes that sent thrills racing through him.

How had he gotten so lucky to have those beautiful eyes look at him with affection?

“Do you believe me?” Rory asked, holding his gaze. “That I would find a way to see you. No one can keep me away from you.”

Milan’s chest tightened, and he took in a shaky breath. He wondered if Rory could see the love blooming in his heart. Incredible, huge and violent, he worried his heart might not manage to keep it hidden, keep this love locked up inside until it was okay to tell Rory.

He had never known anyone that fell in love this fast. It had to be because he was inexperienced. Untouched by anyone in all his years. Not even a decent crush. Now here he was, head over heels for Rory Morgan.

“Milan?”

Milan let out that shaky breath and leaned close to Rory, kissing him because he didn’t know what else to do, afraid if he spoke he might blurt out his feelings. Which would be…so uncool.

Rory kissed him back, leaning in so that their kiss deepened. Milan lost himself in the kiss, desire unfurling in him, making him want to press his body into Rory, wanting more, needing more. He moaned in protest when Rory broke their kiss for a millisecond to unsnap Milan’s seat belt. Then he was free to climb onto Rory’s lap, ignoring the steering wheel pressing on his back, fingers sliding into Rory’s soft hair with a happy hum. Rory’s arms going around Milan, holding him tight against him.

They were lost in each other when the driver’s door swung opened with a swift jerk. Milan gasped when he was yanked out of Rory’s arms. The cool air shocking him back to his senses in time to see his father’s angry face.

“What the fuck are you doing with my son?” Kiyo demanded of Rory, pushing Milan into a surprised Ilaria’s arms. “Get out right now.”

“Papa.”

Milan swatted away Ilaria’s hands when she reached for him and rushed to grip Kiyo’s left hand.

“Don’t do this. I—”

“I don’t want to hear from you,” Kiyo said, pointing a finger at Milan, his face twisted with anger.

His gaze squarely on Rory, who jumped out of the truck with ease and now stood facing Kiyo hands in fists. Rory’s gaze stayed on Milan.

“Milan,” Rory said, his tone soothing. “I’ll be fine.”

“Like hell you will be. Were you just kissing my son?” Kiyo demanded, pushing Milan behind him when he tried to stand between them. “How dare you! Who knows what germs you’re carrying? My wife told me that you know his condition and—”

“Milan is safe with me,” Rory cut in. “What you’re doing now will only hurt him more. Having Milan stand outside in this cold is not good for him,

“Safe? With you?” Kiyo scoffed, turning to Ilaria, drawing Milan’s gaze to Kiyo’s car parked behind Rory’s truck.

Why hadn’t they heard it?

“Ilaria take Milan inside. I’m going to have a serious talk with Rory Morgan.”

“Papa!”

“Not now, Milan,” Kiyo yelled at him. “You’re in so much trouble right now.”

“Don’t do that,” Rory warned, making Milan turn to him in shock.

He could swear he had heard Rory growl, that deep frightening type of growl that could only come from a predator in the wild.

“Don’t do what?” Kiyo demanded, he took Milan’s arm and pushed him to Ilaria. “Who the hell do you think you are? Milan, for godsake, pull your damn mask up and go with your mother. I will not ask again.”

Milan, whose gaze was on Rory, gave a startled scream when Rory seemed to move too fast, and in the next minute had Kiyo suspended up in the air by his jacket collar. Rory held Kiyo up with both hands, Kiyo’s feet two inches off the ground.

“Rory!” Milan held out his hands, afraid. How strong was Rory?

“Rory Morgan, you put my husband down this instant,” Ilaria ordered.

“Get out of here, Milan,” Rory warned, his voice rough. “Take your Mamma.”

“I can’t,” Milan shook his head, tears filling his eyes. This was his fault. If he hadn’t kissed Rory, this wouldn’t have happened. Rory wouldn’t be fighting his dad. He took in a deep breath and tried for sense.

“Rory, that’s my Papa you’re holding up like that. I—please don’t hurt him.”

“Put me down,” Kiyo demanded, gripping Rory’s wrists. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Rory.” Milan took a step closer to Rory. “Stop. I need you to stop.”

Milan took in a deep breath when Rory looked at him, his eyes different from what Milan remembered. The blue seemed silver, the corner of Rory’s mouth lifted in an angry sneer.

“Please,” Milan begged.

Rory closed his eyes and dropped Kiyo to his feet. Kiyo stumbled back, almost falling.

“Get out of here,” Kiyo ordered, rubbing his chest. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near my son, or in my property again. You’re not welcome here.”

Milan stood trembling, tears trailing down his cheeks as he wondered how this day had gone so wrong. If he had not kissed Rory just now—

“Don’t blame yourself,” Rory said, coming up to him, despite Kiyo’s obvious distaste.

Rory pulled Milan into a tight hug and brushed his lips on Milan’s forehead.

“Don’t worry, baby. We’ll get this sorted out.”

Milan clung to Rory for a minute, then let go because his parents were watching him in shock. Rory brushed a caress on his cheek and then went to his truck. A minute later, he drove away from their gate with a short honk for Milan.

Milan hated the drive back to the house in his parents’ car. His dad cursed out Rory in all the languages he knew. Ilaria sent him sad looks, Milan wasn’t sure whether they were filled with pity, or disappointment.

“You’re grounded,” Kiyo said, when they entered the house and Milan removed his jacket, gloves and mask.

“That’s not fair,” Milan dumped his stuff on a couch and rounded on Kiyo. “Rory and I did nothing wrong. You, on the other hand, you have been nothing but mean to him. Why can’t you leave us be?”

“Milan,” Kiyo stopped inches away from him. “He had his tongue down your throat.”

“Actually, I was on top of him letting him do it. Didn’t you notice?”

“That’s not helping, Cucciolo” Ilaria chimed in, perching on an armchair in the bright living room.

“How long?” Kiyo demanded.

“How long what?”

“How long have you two been kissing?” Kiyo asked. “I need to know the damage to your health. We have to factor in these variables if you get sick—”

“All you think about is your stupid research,” Milan said, shaking with anger. “Where have you been these past weeks, Papa? The first time you get home, and all you can do is shout at my boyfriend and embarrass me. You didn’t even give Rory a chance to explain. You don’t even know what kind of person he is. He worries about me just as much as you do.”

“Rory Morgan will not be your boyfriend,” Kiyo said, his eyes wide with shock. “He’s a brute. Did you see how he acted at the gate? No way am letting you close to him again.”

“Well, that’s not your choice, Papa. If kissing Rory will kill me, then I’d rather die,” Milan stated. “You’re not keeping him away from me.”

Milan turned and ran up the stairs to his bedroom, slamming the door closed with all the force he could master. He fell on his bed and buried his face in his pillow hot tears spilling out. He had never fought with his parents this bad before. It hurt.

***

“I can’t believe I left him,” Rory hissed, shaking his head, his head filled with Milan’s pleading gaze. “I should go back.”

“Calm down, Rory,” Chris soothed. “You can’t help Milan if you’re freaking out in front of his parents too. You need a minute, or maybe hours.”

Rory paced the front of the shack they used to hang out. Topher and Maryanne stood leaning on the railing on the small porch. Matt lounged in an old arm chair, sipping a beer, watching Rory implode.

Rory let out a sigh and stopped.

“You’re right. I should wait,” Rory said, shaking his head. He dug his fingers into his hair. “Grandma Asta says Kiyo is poisoning Milan. If I dare try for the change, it would kill Milan. He has to get rid of that poison in his body first. All I could think was, ‘what if Kiyo gives it to him again?’. I can’t wait another month, who knows what will happen. I wanted to kill Kiyo in that moment and stop all these. I think I’ve lost my mind.”

“You have lost your mind. No complaint to that,” Chris agreed, folding his hands against his chest. He leaned on the doorjamb. “Did you really lift a father clear off the ground and expect him not to send you away from his fragile son?”

“He pissed me off,” Rory sighed. “He kept yelling at Milan. I couldn’t control the anger. Only Milan’s begging stopped me.”

“Milan begged you,” Maryanne scoffed. “You’re so done for. He’s going to want answers. There is no way he’ll let this go.”

“I want to give them to him,” Rory said, then added. “As soon as Topher and Matt find a McRieve.”

“What’s a McRieve?” Chris asked.

“Proof,” Rory said, leaving it at that. He had searched long and hard. So, he would only explain the McRieve family when they found one. “I can’t find one myself. Everyone would get too curious.”

“We’ll try for tomorrow after school,” Topher offered. “If not, Matt is free of classes on Wednesday this week. He’ll head over.”

“Thanks.” Rory came up the short steps to the porch and sat on a chair. “What the hell am I going to do with Kiyo Takeda?”

Topher chuckled.

“You need to woo him, Rory. He’s going to be your father in-law, somehow. Plus, the only way to save Kiyo from the Council is to help him navigate out of his current troubles. For both you and Milan. Otherwise, it will turn into another tragedy. I doubt Milan would forgive you if Kiyo turned up dead.”

“Topher is right. Milan loves both his parents,” Maryanne said. “Losing any of them is not an option, Rory. I can't believe you're mated to a human by the way. That's kind of cool."

Rory remembered Milan’s pleading gaze when he was holding Kiyo. Those brown eyes filled with tears. It hurt to see Milan in tears.

“I’ll find a way,” Rory said, rubbing his eyes. “Shit, before we ran into Kiyo, this was such a good day too.”

“I heard,” Matt said with a chuckle.

“How?” Maryanne asked, leaning on Topher.

“Jet asked me what kind of phone to get. He seems to think him and Milan will be best friends,” Matt said with a wide smile.

“You and Jet are talking?” Chris asked, with interest.

“Yeah."

“Hmm…” Topher said, making everyone laugh.

“You assholes, it’s not like that.” Matt sat up.

“What’s it like then?” Chris asked, with a wide grin.

“Jet’s a great kid.” Matt sipped his beer and shrugged. “He makes me laugh.’

Rory smiled when Topher and Chris continued teasing Matt through the afternoon. Being around them allowed him to calm his nerves. Allowed him to think of what to do next. He couldn’t stop worrying about Milan. His mate had looked so upset. He couldn’t leave it this way.

At around six in the evening, Rory got up and stretched his arms.

“I have to go.”

“Where you headed?” Chris asked, curious.

“Need to check on Milan. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Be careful,” Chris called. "Kiyo might own a shotgun."

Rory gave him the bird as he ran off

***

“How much longer do I have to wait? I’m running out of time.”

“I don’t know. You’re not the only one waiting on results,” Cade Ogawa said, reading emails at his desk in his Director's office at Biosense. “Waiting is hard work, buddy. You need to cultivate patience.”

“How long have you given me that line? The council is getting close. They are now actively looking for Dolon.”

“Dolon was your gift to me,” Cade said, with a small shrug. “I didn’t ask you for him, that’s why I refuse to keep him here. He’s too big a liability. Why don’t you release him?”

“He has a big mouth. I didn’t want him blurting the truth to the Morgan brothers about his race. That plan was a waste by the way. Takeda’s family still hasn’t discovered they are living in a town full of wolves. How dense can they be?”

“Don’t talk about them that way,” Cade warned. “The progress we’ve made so far is because of Kiyo. I enticed him into coming here because his work is very promising. I’m meeting his son soon. We’ll see how the infusions are working on him. If he is strong, then—"

“Ah, yes, I forgot about your son. How is Nisin? I haven’t seen him around the building. Where has he gone?”

Cade looked up from the tablet he was reading to study the man sitting in his guest chair. There was a certain look to greed in a man’s eye. He had learned to seek it out in this business. Making money in research was not easy, especially when one didn’t have the talent for research like Kiyo Takeda.

So, Cade learned how to cultivate men with that hungry need to gain power. Only then could he attain resources, and secrets that left him both powerful and on the cusp of greatness. And he so wanted the power that would come from the creation of an infusion made from werewolf’s blood.

It would be strong enough to heal an ailing human, make a perfectly healthy human stronger, and in the case of the man sitting opposite him, crazy enough to take over a town’s leadership, strong enough to upgrade his blood.

Just thinking about it made Cade want to buy up all of Biosense’s stock. All he needed was to keep Kiyo Takeda happy and in the dark of his plan.

“Nisin is with his mother,” Cade said, smiling. “I’m not a total monster. The child needs a soft touch.”

“And Kiyo, he hasn’t come into the mothership for weeks.”

Cade raised his brow in question.

“I asked around when I came in. The girls at reception like me.”

“He’s busy. He needs more blood though. His research is going well. Like I told you, I get to see his son soon, to confirm his results. You on the other hand, should already have some idea of what we can do with the infusions. You’ve seen it on Dolon already. How goes your campaign to leadership?”

“Driving a sane man crazy is not easy. Lechter is pushing for your company to leave. He is rubbing everyone in the council wrong. I've worked hard playing on his weakness, pushing his buttons. He thinks his wife was murdered by humans on her way back from a conference, so he hates them. It won’t be long until he implodes the council.”

“Wasn’t she?” Cade asked, wondering about Lechter’s wife. He placed his tablet on his desk, and sat back to look at the frightening man.

“No.” A swift smile. “She discovered one of my secrets. I had to get her out of the way.”

“What secret is that?”

“Will you tell me where your son really is?”

Cade smiled.

“Come on, that’s hardly fair.”

“Then you don’t need to know my secret. I’ll stop by your lab, and donate more blood to the plan. Don’t forget, Cade. This town is mine. When I’m Alpha, you’ll answer to me. If you’re good to me, I’ll get you all the blood you could need for your research.”

“Who could forget?” Cade murmured, when the man left his office.

Letting out a soft sigh, Cade sent a new message to Kiyo Takeda. He wanted the treatment on Nisin expedited. The faster he could get his son out of this town the better. It was bad enough he had thrown his best friend to the wolves, quite literally.

***

Milan cried himself to sleep and didn’t wake up until six in the evening. He woke up to find his room dark. The silence in the room soothing. His room felt too hot, so he kicked off the blankets. Ilaria must have come in and covered him. Feeling lazy to wake up, he hugged his pillow tight and closed his eyes.

He wanted to see Rory. Thinking about his Papa’s anger, he realized the possibility of not seeing Rory again scared him.

He didn’t even know where Rory lived. They had known each other for less than a month, and he had yet to see Rory’s house. He had never asked to visit. Granted it was hard for him to even get out of this house but, an address would be nice to know. Just in case.

He was lost in thought when a soft knock on his window had him opening his eyes. Lifting his head from his pillow, he gasped when he saw the tall figure standing on the small balcony.

Getting out of bed, he turned on the bedside table lamp, and smiled when he recognized Rory.

“Let me in,” Rory said in greeting.

Milan had not tested the glass windows since moving here. It was always so cold. Smiling, he pulled the lever to unlock the sliding glass. Rory helped him push it open.

Milan shivered hard when a cold wave filled his bedroom. Rory climbed in and closed the window fast, making sure it was sealed tight. Milan didn’t give him time to say much before he moved into his arms, holding him tight.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Milan murmured into Rory’s chest. “Papa was mean to you. And I was afraid you’d hurt each other. That’s why I stopped you. I—“

“Shhh,” Rory rubbed his back, soothing him. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have lost my head that way.”

Milan buried his face into Rory’s chest and chuckled remembering his father’s expression at the gate.

“You lifted my father into the air, Rory.” Milan titled his head back to look at his boyfriend. “What kind of spinach are you eating, Popeye? I wanna know.”

***

A/N: This chapter's heading is a lyric from Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional, find the link to the song below.