Page 69 of Take You Home

Nostrand’s eyes flicker. “Yes.”

“Consider it done.” Chester nods cordially at Nostrand, edges past him to the door, and escapes into the hallway before he can say anything else.

Obie’s hand stays firm on Chester’s shoulder as Chester speed-walks across the prison.He gave you a late job again?

Yep.

What a prick.

Chester stifles a laugh as he strides towards the interrogation rooms.Preaching to the choir here, Smith. You have great timing, too‍—I was starting to debate the pros and cons of stabbing him and defecting on the spot.

Probably for the best that you didn’t,Obie says,although I do love it when you choose violence.

Inwardly, Chester preens. He fights back a grin as he shoulders his way into the first interrogation room on the left, heading towards the supply closet.Obie?

Yeah, puppy?

Weeks ago, that nickname was annoying at best and condescending at worst. Nowadays, though, Chester’s heart wants to melt into a puddle every time Obie says it.Have I been acting weird lately?

Weird? No.Obie briefly falls silent as Chester pulls out his cleaning supplies, setting a bucket under the faucet to fill up with water.Different? Yes.

The words take Chester off guard. Even though Obie is invisible, Chester shoots a frown in his direction anyway.Really?

Yeah. You seem happier. More grounded. Less anxious.There’s another pause.It’s a good look on you, Locke.

Chester’s heart twirls. Even though he knows that the odds ofObie returning his feelings are slim to none, even though he knows that their banter is more teasing than flirtatious‍?—

Even though Chester knows all that, it’s moments like these that make his stupid little crush sink that much deeper into his soul.Thanks, Obie,he pushes through the bond, and they fall into companionable silence as Chester gets to work.

23

Uncle Kyle, Uncle Kyle!” Desi says excitedly, teetering precariously on top of the wooden fence near the lake and taking a wobbling step forward. “Look at me! I’mbalancing!”

Even at a distance, Obie can tell that Chester looks faintly panicked. “You sure are, sweetie,” he says, hovering his hands directly next to her in case she tips over. “And you’re giving me a whole lot of anxiety while you’re at it.”

Roma laughs, strolling along on Desi’s other side without a care in the world. “You worry too much, Kyle. Desi, can you stand on one leg?”

Desi’s eyes brighten.“Yes!”she says, and she picks up one foot, sways unsteadily, and topples towards the ground.

Hastily, JJ catches her. “You know, I think I agree with Uncle Kyle,” he informs her. “Maybe we should give the ‘balancing in high places’ challenge a rest for now, Desi.”

Desi’s eyes widen innocently. “Butwhy?”

Ez snorts as JJ futilely attempts to explain that she could get hurt,Roma watches with amused eyes, and Chester clearly tries to hide his relief nearby. “Our humans are ridiculous.”

“Easy for you to say,” Cass says, craning his neck to check on Desi and JJ. “Desi might be a demon, but she can still get hurt. And JJ hates it when she gets hurt.”

Obie frowns. “Can’t you just heal her? I thought your healing spells had mostly recovered since the soul exchange.”

“Well,yes,”Cass huffs, “but you’re missing thepoint,Obadiah.”

Ez laughs again, and Obie grins back, relaxing into his beach chair. Right now, the entire group is hanging out on the far end of Lakeside, all of them appropriately glamoured to prevent any of their myriad enemies from recognizing them. It wasn’t long after they finished their poutine and ice cream that Desi took off like a shot towards the nearest climbable object, leaving JJ and his human entourage to chase after her while the demons stayed behind to enjoy the show.

Cass and Ez seem perfectly content with the distance, but it’s making Obie a little bit antsy. Even though he can spend up to a few hours away from Chester nowadays, that doesn’t mean he likes to. He likes standing close, likes their constant hand-on-shoulder contact, likes chatting with him telepathically.

He likes a lot of things about his hunter, really.

But Chester looks like he’s having a blast with JJ, Roma, and Desi, so Obie is reluctantly accepting the distance. And Chester keeps glancing towards Obie at periodic intervals, almost like he’s checking to make sure Obie is still there, which Obie finds immensely satisfying for some reason.