So today's flash was inspired by a cute picture I couldn't resist. Now, just so folks know, I was inundated with a few projects, and my blog was shunted to a back burner for a bit. But never fear, I'm coming back. I'll be posting more varied content, as well as getting back to commenters. So, if you felt I was ignoring you, I promise I wasn't, and I do dearly appreciate every comment sent my way by readers/fans.
Lost Inside Chapter 24
He
could’ve been a kitten. Splayed on his back, naked, his stripes glowing faintly
in the neon light from the bar sign, Yuri reached up and batted at Benny’s
hand. “Keep rubbing.”
Benny
stared down at his mate. “You have a brother?” There’d been no brother when
their Clans had merged.
“Uh
huh.” Yuri frowned. “Keep rubbing.”
Belatedly,
Benny started tracing his fingers across Yuri’s forehead, lightly scratching
his scalp, and then beginning again. Maybe Yuri’s headache had to do with this
new memory coming forward. “Where’s your brother?”
“I
dunno.” Yuri shrugged one shoulder.
“You
don’t know, or you don’t remember?”
Yuri
huffed. “If I don’t remember, I could know and not know I know.”
“What?”
“But,
no, I don’t know. That day, my father was so mad. Yuisi was supposed to mate
and produce cubs. But he left.”
“He’s
older than you?”
“Yeah,
but just like, a year. People always used to think we were twins.”
Benny
leaned down and pressed a kiss to Yuri’s forehead. “You’re remembering a lot.”
“Sometimes.
It’s all blurry, though, like the one time when the TV was broken and all we
could see were wavy lines that came and went.” Yuri snarled. “I hate it. Why
can’t I be normal?”
“Normal’s
overrated. You are what you are. The venom is helping you, but nothing is
perfect.” Benny urged Yuri up. “Let’s go back to bed.” They were both tired,
and Yuri’s little revelation needed time to settle.
He’d
had a brother.
Just
how did that fit in with everything else?
***
“How’s
the head?” Benny couldn’t sleep so he got up after Yuri drifted off. He turned
the TV on low and made some coffee.
“Better.”
Yuri slumped on the couch next to him around sunrise. “Can I have some milk?”
“Sure.”
Benny got up and poured Yuri a cup of milk. “You didn’t have to get up yet.”
“You
wanna talk, right?” Yuri shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep anyway.”
“Things
are really changing for you, aren’t they?”
Yuri
set his cup down and pulled his legs up. It was almost comical, seeing him curl
up his long legs, if it didn’t make Benny sad.
“I
remember my brother, kinda. But he left years ago, and it’s all kinda fuzzy.”
“Do
you know why he’d be attacking you?” That was the question Benny had been
wrestling with since the wee hours of the morning. He’d nearly killed his mate’s
brother, and he’d feel bad, but he wouldn’t hesitate to actually do it if the
Tiger attacked again.
But
how could Yuri forgive him for that? He was damned either way.
“What?
No! You didn’t think Yuisi was the one who attacked us, did you?” Yuri sat up,
staring at Benny with a frown.
He
had. “You mean that Tiger isn’t your brother?” Who the hell was it? Damn it,
they’d be back to square one trying to figure out who the hell was after his mate.
“No!”
Yuri shook his head. “He’s Yuisi’s mate.”
***
“Hey,
guys,” Ellis said. He walked into Benny’s apartment followed by Dav.
“Hi,
Ellis!” Yuri’s headache seemed to be completely gone. He pounced on Ellis,
giving him a hug. “I smell muffins.”
Dav
smiled and produced a bag from behind his back. “Yep. Ellis said these were
your favorites.”
“Thank
you, thank you!” Yuri opened the bag and took a big whiff. “Banana!”
“Are
you going to share?” Benny smiled when his mate pouted.
“There’s
only two,” he whined.
Dav
pulled his other hand from behind his back. “I’m surprised you couldn’t smell
these.”
“Not
smell bacon?” Benny huffed. “I just wanted to see how much my mate cared.”
Yuri
hurried over to him. “I care. I do! I’ll share, if you want some.” He held out
the bag.
Benny
felt like a total ass. “Hey, I was just joking,” he said softly. “I don’t like
banana muffins, so Dav got me some bacon biscuits. I forgot you probably wouldn’t
remember. I used to… .” He used to joke about stealing some of Yuri’s muffins,
but his mate must not remember that.
He
ran a hand over his head. “I’m sorry.”
“You
used to joke like that before, right?” Yuri asked.
Benny
nodded, bracing himself for Yuri’s reaction.
“Okay.”
Yuri smiled. “I’m glad you don’t want any of my muffins, but maybe I’ll steal
some of your biscuits. I do like bacon.”
The
grin on his mate’s face was a far cry from the temper tantrum or frustration
Benny expected. Well, at least he was in a good mood. Hopefully it would last
through the whole discussion.
They
sat in the living room, coffee all around, except for Yuri who wanted more milk
to go with his muffins.
“So,
the guy who attacked you is Yuri’s brother-in-law?” Ellis asked. “Why in the
hell would he do that?”
Benny
shook his head. “I don’t think he’s in his right mind. Something’s going on—and
I have no idea what the hell it is.”
Dav
was already on his phone. “But at least now we have some avenue of
investigation. I’ll reach out to my contacts.”
Ellis
put his coffee cup down. “And I’ll call Isiah. We’ll also get in touch with
Velaku. In the meantime, though, let me see your back, Benny.”
Sighing,
Benny lifted his shirt. Ellis peeled back the biggest bandage.
“These
look pretty good. You need to head in before the skin grows over the sutures,
though.”
“I
planned on it. Yuri needs to see the doctor too.”
“I
do?” Yuri made a face. “Great.”
Benny
sighed. “Remember, Dr. Vancould wanted to check the spot where they’d put the
port in again.”
Yuri
sulked. “I remembered… I just hope you forgot.”
“Humor
him”—Benny leaned forward and kissed Yuri, sucking on his full lower lip—“okay?
It won’t take long, and then I have a surprise for you.”
Okay, check out the
Briefer's website or use the list below to check out the other updates by the Briefer's participating this week.
