Fallocaust (The Fallocaust Series) (90 page)

Reno rubbed his hands together and gave a very cartoonish cackle. “We’re going to get so fucking high. I’ll bring Children of the Corn. You like horror movies about cults run by satanic children right?”

“Oh gosh,” I shuddered. “As long as I don’t have to leave the basement I might be okay.”

“Naaah.” Reno hooked me with one arm and playfully hugged me against him. “You can stay inside with me. I’ll be your Reaver. Fuck, I’ll be your Reaver allll night!”

I laughed and pushed Reno away. I think he had taken a bit too much morphine, or he was getting a bit too excited about his new porn movie.

I jumped a mile high as I heard a cough above us. Reno and I both spun around towards the noise.

Asher was above us, walking along a brick ledge that surrounded an old apartment building, two stories high. He was gracefully keeping speed with us, not even needing an outstretched arm to balance himself against the narrow shelf.

When he saw us notice him he jumped off of the ridge and made his way to where we were. First he jumped onto a balcony below him, then with an effortless leap he landed onto a van, before finally he was in front of us. His feathery movements seemed to defy gravity, and his stealth had become the envy of even Reaver. From the moment he leapt off of the ridge barely a sound had been made. Reaver called it the gift of an experienced raticater, I called it genetic breeding straight out of Skyfall.

He flicked his auburn hair back and flashed us a cocksure grin I had had to endure every time he looked at me. “Gentlemen, how is today finding you?” His honeyed voice always put me in an immediate foul mood. Though he had never shown me anything but politeness I knew there was so much more going on in his head that he let on. Something about that smirk, or perhaps it was the light I always saw in his eyes. There was more to him, more behind that smug grin then he let on. It was like he was laughing at me while he drew Reaver closer and closer to him. Daring me to voice my concerns out loud.

“Not bad,” Reno said in a cheerful voice, he didn’t have anything against Asher unlike me. “You’re a sneaky little fuck, eh? Doing your patrols?”

Asher nodded, he glanced up at the building he had just jumped from. “I was doing a bit of exploring, seeing if I can scavenge any of the smaller things I need before we leave. Silverware, glasses and what not.”

The guy’s green eyes jutted around. “Reaver isn’t with you?”

Asher still didn’t know where Reaver lived, and I wanted to keep it that way. “He’s back at the greenhouse, he was leaving soon but you might be able to catch him.”

I could hear Reno laughing in my head. Asher bought it and gave a nod, he looked behind him towards the townhouse surrounded park. “I wanted to talk to him about our cache trip soon but it can wait. If you see him though, I’ll be in my house for the rest of the night.”

“Alright, I’ll tell him.” Or rather you can go fuck yourself. 

I gave him a nod and started walking towards Reaver’s house. If the Skylander wanted to follow us we would just keep walking towards the northern boundary of West Aras. Reno was on his way home anyways and I could pretend I was walking him to the outskirts.

“I’ll see you two later then, I’m off to get some food,” Asher said behind us.

“No problem, have fun with the trip.” I called after him, then overtaken by my dropped mood I added in the most forced light hearted voice I could muster. “Reaver has a bad track record when it comes to his scavenging companions. They tend to end up eaten. So watch yourself.” I gave him a similar cocky smile back.

Asher locked eyes with me and to my surprise I saw a fleeting flash of hostility.

In that moment I felt like I was back in Perish’s lab, staring down the whipwolf. I saw the same soulless eyes, the same vicious blood thirsty nature, the same hatred.

I didn’t break my gaze, I stared back like Perish had taught me. Never show submission, never break your gaze, and if you’re scared, never show it.

Then for the smallest of moments, I saw the mask rip away from his face. Underneath the facade held an expression of such distain it was like he was looking at a croach.

That was the real Asher, I knew it.

I fucking knew it!

And if there was a need for confirmation, the next words from his rosy pink lips sealed it.

“Well, if there was anyone to ravage me, I would want it to be Reaver.”

I started to see red.

He turned and said a very polite good bye to Reno before he darted off.

My eyes were still fixed on where Asher had stood. I heard Reno give off an impressed whistle.

I didn’t realize my shoulders were shaking with rage until I felt Reno’s hand on them. “Blink, buddy. You’re going to pop a blood vessel if you keep shooting those laser beams out of your eyes.”

“Please tell me you heard the same thing I did.” I snapped out of my trance inducing anger and started walking quickly back to Reaver’s. I could feel the vein in my forehead pulsing.

“Oh I have noticed, he’s a crafty little cunt,” Reno seemed to find this amusing, I was still seething. “Ah, whatever. You brought it on yourself, you know that eh?”

I looked at him, my brow knitted together. “I have not.”

My black haired friend let out an amused chuckle. That didn’t help my plummeting mood. “Every time he comes near you, you’re either forcing yourself to be polite, or you’re just shut down and shooting daggers at him. He’s not an idiot, Tinkerbell. He knows you hate him, and he’s toying with you.”
My heart dropped. I think he might be right. I hadn’t liked him from near the beginning, Reaver had warmed up to him too quickly. Was this all my doing? Did I see his mask slip away or did I just see him reacting to my own distain for him.

Reno slapped my back and rubbed it. “Tink, Reaver is yours. Asher’s-”

I stopped and so did Reno. Off in the distance we both could hear loud arguing.

“Fuck, that’s Reaver and Leo!” I gasped, my heart jumping into my throat. My silly feelings regarding Asher dissipated quickly. Both of us broke into a run, we sped down the south end of Quil Street towards Reaver’s house.

As we got closer I could see Reaver in his front yard and a few feet away on the street was Leo.

Leo looked oddly good physically. His hair had been newly cut and he was wearing a black jacket and jeans; but besides a clean appearance he looked miserable and defeated. His shoulders were slumped, and his eyes swollen and red. He was talking a lot with his hands as he spoke to Reaver.

Reaver was holding his M16 in a very hostile manner at Leo. His black eyes were coal and his facial expression was threatening.

But it was his body position terrified me the most. His long legs positioned in a perfect stance, his army boots dug into the wasteland already braced for the kickback.

I couldn’t hear what Reaver was saying so I started to move closer. Reno tried to stop me but I pulled myself away from his hand, he let out a hiss as I stepped away from him. I wasn’t afraid of my Reaver, I had stopped him from shooting Leo and a few others when we got back from Donnely, I could do it again.

“Please, Reaver... just talk to him. This has gone on long enough.” I was surprised at the level of emotion in Leo’s voice. It was pleading and desperate. “He’s apologized, he knows about the trideath scare...”
“You are trespassing on my property.” Reaver’s tone could cut steel. “And I suggest you hightail it out of West Aras before I send you back full of holes.”

“Reaver!” I gasped, I started to walk towards him but froze when he gave me a very frosty glare. I stopped and stood back, my body not willing to move an inch further.

“Yeah, I know... West Aras.” Leo gave him a tired nod, he looked behind him towards where he had used to live and I saw his jaw tense. “All I’m asking is five minutes, can’t you give him five minutes?”

“Have you? You’re still separated, where is that five minutes?”
The blond haired mayor hesitated, he stared down at the tuffs of dry grass that covered Reaver’s front yard. I could see the anguish on his face. That was explanation enough. “Our... our issues go farther than just... that incident.”
Reaver clicked the small lever his M16 and raised the scope to his eye again. “And so do mine.”

Jesus Reaver... he’s your adopted father, he saved you from being a chimera. I looked at Leo, and pursed my lips. The secret I had been holding onto for a month now. That no one knew I knew but me. Reaver should give them a chance, just so we could move on and not have it hanging over us. I didn’t like what Greyson had done and I resented Leo for not defending Reaver more but... if Greyson was going to apologize shouldn’t Reaver at least give him his five minutes?
“Reaver...” Leo sighed his eyes still fixed at the ground. “We let you do this West Aras thing for long enough, it’s time to just... put things to-”

I jumped and let out a startled shout as Reaver shot the M16. A thunderous crack broke the cold air around us. Echoing into the distance.

Leo jumped back a mile high as a bullet lodged its self into the ground a foot from his own boots; throwing a chunk of dead grass four feet up into the air, before landing beside Leo with a thunk.

He stared at it for just a second before to my sadness he sunk to his knees in defeat. He looked positively devastated. I could see his shoulders shaking under his own grief.

When he spoke his voice was wobbling. “I lost him... I don’t want to lose my kid too.”

“I’m not your fucking kid,” Reaver snapped, immune to any feeling a normal person would get witnessing such a strong man fall from grace.

There was another ear ringing gun shot and a second bullet hit. “Get out of my town.”

I had had enough, I ran over to Leo and kneeled in front of him. I put my hand on his shoulder, I saw a single tear drip down his cheek which he quickly wiped away.

“Get the fuck out of the way!” Reaver shouted at me, I felt a rough hand on my shoulder try to pull me away. I yanked it back and gave him a poisonous glare.

“Stop tormenting him!” I yelled, daring him to put another hand on me. “He didn’t do anything to you, have some fucking compassion. He left his husband of twenty fucking years over this, the least you can do is give Greyson five minutes.”

“He’s no better then that piece of shit.” I was shocked with how angry my dark haired sentry sounded. “If you want to deal with him... fine. Get him off my fucking land or the next bullet is hitting someone’s flesh.”

“REAVER!”

I jumped as I heard something I had never heard before... Reno angry.

I watched as Reno stalked towards my gun wielding boyfriend. “Give me the fucking gun. You don’t threaten to shoot your fucking boyfriend. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Reaver looked on the edge of murdering everyone. To my surprise though he let Reno take his assault rifle, and without another word he turned and disappeared behind the house.

“Let’s go.” I put my hand on Leo’s shoulder and started walking to the street with him. I turned my head briefly and gave an appreciative smile to Reno. He nodded back, looking really pissed at Reaver. He followed Reaver behind the house, towards his basement shed.

I continued to lead Leo away. I didn’t take my hand off of his shoulder, I left it on just so he knew I supported him. I really didn’t know what else to do, I felt helpless. I couldn’t just let him be alone in his torment though, especially since I understood things that no one else did. I felt responsible, no one else was going to be there for poor Leo. Not even his husband.

“Is he... how is he?” Leo asked weakly, after we were out of sight of Reaver’s house.

I put on a smile, trying my best to be uplifting. “Good... we fixed up Asher’s house and made a green house,” I said. “He seems happy to me... but I know he misses you two.” I didn’t know that at all, but I felt like I should say it.

Leo let out a small dry laugh, probably not buying my fib at all.

“I think he’s happy... without Greyson always putting pressure on him. I think he’s happier... right?”
I nodded, I guess he needed a lot of reassurance.“You mean with Greyson saying he gave up on him being a mayor and his protégé? Yeah, you know Reaver... he’s got to be his own man.”

Leo gave me a rapid nod, he sniffed and wiped his nose. “He is, he is happier. Greyson wanted him to be someone... he just couldn’t be. I couldn’t... I couldn’t watch it anymore but... he’s free now.” Leo gave me a half hearted smile, his lips were thin and his eyes tired. “Even if I never speak to him again. He’s free from his burdens and living his own life how he wants it... he’s safe.”

Another sigh, and a flash of hazel eyes heavy with sadness. “That’s all I ever wanted for him, Killian. Safety... and for him to just be Reaver... who ever Reaver wanted to be... not... not what they wanted him to be.

“It can be put to rest now. Greyson understands that... he finally understands that.”

I eyed him curiously, I had a sinking feeling there were a lot more layers to what he was saying. “Reaver will eventually come around,” I said supportively. “He’s just hurt, eventually he’ll talk to Greyson and everything will be back to normal.”

Leo fumbled with a cigarette, he started to try and light it but the wind was making it hard. I motioned over to an abandoned house and we made our way inside to shelter the flame. I wouldn’t mind a smoke right about now.

Leo leaned against the door frame and lit the cigarette, he looked out at the cold evening and was silent for a few moments. I never saw Leo as anything more than our mayor, but suspecting he was a chimera made me look more carefully at him. He was in his late thirties and had lived as a waster for a long time, but underneath the grime we all had under our nails... he was quite attractive.

Though he had the look of someone who had endured a lot of pain during his life. You could see the lines on his face caused by stress and sadness that seemed to weight him down. No amount of grooming or newer clothing could cover up the turmoil I knew was in his head.

I wonder what his life was like growing up with the other chimeras, with Silas over seeing all of them. I wondered how fucked up his life must’ve been to flee with Reaver. Or maybe it wasn’t that bad? Maybe he had just fallen in love.