Lost Inside - 13. Chapter 13

“So do you live here?” Benny’s scent filled the living room, especially the couch where they were sitting.

“Yeah. I work in the bar downstairs. Dav—he’s Ellis’ mate, the Snake who came to the hospital today—he owns the place.”

Yuri swiped another glance around the room. He stuffed the last of his burger in his mouth, then spoke around it. Cleara wasn’t there to nag him for once. “Is that why it’s so blank?”

Benny still had some of his burger left. Yuri eyed it, licking bbq sauce off his fingertips.

“What’s blank about it?”

“No annoying thingies sitting out or pictures anywhere. There’s nothing in here but what has to be.”

His mate ran his hand over his face, grinding his palm between his eyes back and forth. He took a deep, shuddery breath. Yuri pulled a leg up on the couch, wrapping his arms around his shin.

“What did I say?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit,” Yuri snapped.

Benny looked funny with his mouth wide open, but Yuri didn’t laugh. “I’m sick of people hiding things I should know from me. I know I’m different, but I. Am. Not. Stupid.” He dropped his feet to the floor and stood. He stomped over to his shoes by the door. “I’m ready to go now.”

“Go where?” Benny stood up, reaching for him even though they were across the room. “I thought you were going to stay with me.”

Yuri picked up his shoe to untie it. “When did you ask me to do that? You said we were getting something to eat, that’s all. You didn’t ask if I was going to stay. You didn’t ask me anything.”

Benny didn’t say anything as he lowered his hand to his side. “I-I didn’t think about it like that.”

“Sometimes the younglings stay over at their friends, but mates stay at home. This isn’t my home.”

“This is my home.” Benny pointed at a door down a short hall. “That’s my bedroom. You can sleep there.”

“This isn’t very home-like.” Yuri’s claws snagged in the laces of his tennis shoes. He cursed and shook out the stinging pain.

Benny winced again, and his ears flattened. “What? What’s wrong?” cried Yuri. “Why won’t you tell me?” Why did everyone treat him like he didn’t have a brain? He had one. The guy in the white coat had taken a lot of pictures of it.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Stupid. “But you did. I can make my own decisions.”

“You don’t pull any punches, do you?” Benny sighed and sank back down on the couch. “I guess you probably have a lot of questions people don’t like answering.”

“Yes. All the time I hear, ‘Yuri, you shouldn’t ask that.’ Well, how else am I going to know?” Yuri twisted his shoe between his hands. “Are you gonna tell me stuff? Even if I don’t remember it all?” He knew he forgot a lot. He couldn’t help it, though.

“If you really want me to. But, it’s not good stuff, Yuri.”

“But it has to do with us, right? Mate stuff? Cause Cleara always gets mad at Szorpin doesn’t wanna talk to her.”

Benny’s smile was strained. “Just like you got mad at me.”

“I’m not stupid. Everyone else just thinks too much. It’s easier not worrying about what everyone else thinks about them all the time.”

“Wow.” Benny blinked and slumped back against the couch. “That… that makes a lot of sense. You’re not a kid, and you’re not stupid; you just don’t get wrapped up in worrying about things.”

“Why should I? So what if people look at me weird.” Yuri knew they did. “Life’s too short.” Szorpin always said that. Cleara yelled when he said the bad words, but she wasn’t here. Yuri kinda liked that she wasn’t.

“I agree. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you about dinner, or coming over, or spending the night.”

“I like being alone with you.” Yuri dropped his shoe. He plopped down on the couch again.

Benny blinked. “I like being alone with you too.”

Yuri yawned. “I’m kinda tired.”

“You can sleep here, if you want, or we can go back to your room at the Falcon’s house.” Benny rubbed his head. “You decide.”

Finally! Yuri beamed. “I’d like to stay here.”

“I’ll sleep on the couch.” Benny picked up the boxes from their dinner. Yuri grabbed the soda cans and followed Benny into the kitchen. “You can have the bed.”

“Is it a little bed?” His bed wasn’t too big. Sometimes Yuri even rolled off when he was sleeping.

“No.” Benny smiled at him. “You’ll fit.”

“Can we both fit?” Yuri put the cans on the counter. He fiddled with the end of his shirt. “Mates sleep together.”

Benny groaned and his ears flattened.

“What? Does your stomach hurt?” Yuri was so full his stomach felt stretched. He’d been really hungry, but now he was tired. He yawned.

“Uhh, no.” Benny took a deep breath. “Let’s go get ready for bed. I have some shorts you can wear.”

It was weird getting ready for bed in a different bathroom. He didn’t have his toothbrush, and the toilet was on the wrong side. Yuri liked Benny’s bed though. It was way bigger than his. When he got in while Benny took a turn in the bathroom, he still had plenty of room to spread out. He rolled over. No falling off! Yuri crawled back over to his side.

“Oh shit!” Yuri heard a thud. He looked over his shoulder.

“Benny?”

His mate cleared his throat. “Yeah?”

“What are you doing on the floor?”

Benny stared up at him. He was rubbing a knee. “Um. I tripped.”

“Why?”

A red flush crept up Benny’s face. He opened his mouth and then shut it. “I’m clumsy.”

“Do you need me to kiss your knees better?”

Benny groaned. “Um, no. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. I like your bed.” Yuri bounced. “It’s bouncy!”

“Oh god.”