Page 66 of Carver
Gideon quickly shook his head. “No, it's... I mean, you're fascinating. I don't know that I've ever wanted to wear what you wear. I still don't know how you made it here.”
He took a deep breath, the words having come out in a rush.
Fury stood and grabbed a few bottles of water from his mini fridge. Royce wiggled their brows and shimmied their shoulders at Gideon once they got their drinks.
“I feel so fancy here with this fresh cold water.” They took a sip and made a relieved sound.
Gideon drank his in a much quieter manner, then held the bottle between his hands. “I know that Carver and everyone else is worried about me being around women. I admit that it's scary sometimes because I think ofher. But their looks don't bother me. It's what they could do — how they could be. I saw her flip a switch on a dime, one minute laughing and the next stabbing someone.”
Gideon winced.
“Sorry if that's graphic.”
Royce leaned forward, their hand going to the couch between them and Gideon. “Hey, I'm not bothered by a little bit of graphic detail. I'm not sure if Carver told you or not, but the people that were rescued with you came to me. I helped get them settled and found them new homes. They're all doing well. A few have asked about you. I'm glad that I get to tell them that you're fine in the next update.”
Gideon's eyes widened. “You helped them? That was nice of you.”
Royce smiled, patting the couch twice. “It sure was. It's kind of my side project in life. I wanted to help people and this was the easiest way to do it. I used the money that my family has, which is a stupid amount, to give people new lives. They get a new start after they've been dealt a shit hand. When I offered to help you relocate, Carver told me that it wasn't an option. Pretty sure he was smitten from the start, no matter how weird some might find it.”
Gideon sat up straighter. “Why would people find it weird?”
Royce looked at Fury with an intense stare. It was like they were communicating, though he didn’t understand any of it him.
After a few moments Fury answered, “Because people might say it's Stockholm syndrome or something similar to that because he saved you. They might think he's got a hero complex or that you would like him because he's the person that got you away rather than you two meeting organically and falling in love.”
Gideon stood as rage boiled through him. “That's unfair!! Carver is nice and kind. I don't love him because he saved me. That's just part of it.”
Royce held their hand up slowly, which gave Gideon plenty of time to step away had he not wanted to be touched. Instead, they waited until Gideon took the offer.
Royce linked their fingers together and smiled. The touch calmed Gideon. It allowed him to sit back down and breathe easier.
“We understand. We were saying other people might not, which is why Carver wanted to keep you but didn't know what to do.”
Fury added on. “It's also why you talk to me, why you're learning college level classes now and how to fix a bike and what flirting sounds like. We're all invested here. We all believe in you two. But you had to grow on your own before anything else could happen.”
Gideon sighed. “Oh, well that makes sense I guess. I didn't think of all that.”
Royce snorted, squeezing Gideon's hand once before letting go. “I’m sure you didn't. You were in survival mode trying to focus on everything else. From what I hear, you've also tried to harm yourself since you got here.”
Their voice had gone soft. Gideon gulped, his cheeks turning red as he thought back to that time. He'd been hopeless and confused, still in a daze from everything that had happened in the other place.
He hadn't understood who the Angels were or why they had brought him here. He’d feared more of that same pain, that same torment, was headed his way. Gideon did what he thought he needed to.
Now he knew life was worth more than that. He knew taking away the rest of the time he could have had with these men was not the right choice.
Royce took his silence as understanding. They grabbed Gideon's hand again gently and ran his fingertips along their arms.
Gideon felt two long marks there and whipped his head up. “You?” he asked.
Royce nodded, his smile brief. “Yes, at one time I was troubled. I didn't get very far, and I've gotten a lot of help since then. But know that you're not alone. Know that life gets brighter, that there will be hard times, but there are also good ones. Not every person is out to hurt you, male or female or non-binary.”
Royce winked at the phrase.
"Your life is beautiful, and you are wanted. People love you and care about you. The Angels don't just let anyone in their club. I know because I've worked with them for a long time."
Fury made a noise as if to agree.
Gideon nodded once, then sat back, taking his hand away from the marks on Royce's skin. “Can you tell me more about what it means to be non-binary? I don't think I would like the heels, but your clothes are really pretty.”