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“Justice is Brewing” by Vincenzo Pasquarella (part 2 of 2)
After being left on read by Leon, Benji goes to ask for advice from a couple of old friends.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “Justice is Brewing” by Vincenzo Pasquarella, better known as Scribbles Cheetah. They are the author of the book “Phantom Janitor” and several short stories. You can find a list of their published works on their website.
Read by Solomon Harries, Cuddly Badger Dad.
Last time, superheroes Atomic Apollo and Flashpoint met and something seemed to spark between them. We last saw our main character, Benji, still reeling from a sudden kiss from his favorite superhero.
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https://thevoice.dog/episode/justice-is-brewing-by-vincenzo-pasquarella-part-2-of-2
Transcript
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “Justice is
Speaker:Brewing”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Vincenzo
Speaker:Pasquarella,
Speaker:better
Speaker:known as
Speaker:Scribbles
Speaker:Cheetah. They are
Speaker:the
Speaker:author of the
Speaker:book “Phantom
Speaker:Janitor”
Speaker:and
Speaker:several short
Speaker:stories.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can find
Speaker:a
Speaker:list
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:published
Speaker:works
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:website.
Read
by
Speaker:Solomon
Speaker:Harries,
Speaker:Cuddly
Speaker:Badger
Speaker:Dad.
Last
time,
Speaker:superheroes
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:and
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:met
Speaker:and
Speaker:something
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:spark
Speaker:between
Speaker:them.
Speaker:We
Speaker:last
Speaker:saw
Speaker:our
Speaker:main
Speaker:character,
Speaker:Benji,
Speaker:still
Speaker:reeling
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:from his favorite
Speaker:superhero.
Speaker:How
Speaker:will
Speaker:things
Speaker:move
Speaker:forward?
Please
enjoy
“Justice is
Brewing”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Vincenzo
Speaker:Pasquarella,
Speaker:Part 2
Speaker:of 2
Benji frowned
at
Speaker:his
Speaker:phone
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:forward
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:chair
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:back office
Speaker:of
Speaker:The
Speaker:Daily
Speaker:Grind.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:read
Speaker:receipts
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:texts he’d
Speaker:sent
Speaker:to
Speaker:Leon.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:early
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:week
Speaker:away.
Speaker:He
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:business,
Speaker:but
Speaker:instead…
“Hey.”
“You
ran
Speaker:off
Speaker:really
Speaker:quick,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:about
Speaker:what
Speaker:happened.”
“Leon?”
He
put
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:and
Speaker:groaned.
Speaker:It
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:three
Speaker:days
Speaker:since
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:kissed
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:alley,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:seen
Speaker:hide
Speaker:nor
Speaker:tail
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:think.
Speaker:They’d
Speaker:spent
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:amount
Speaker:of
Speaker:time
Speaker:together,
Speaker:yet
Speaker:he
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:go
Speaker:five
Speaker:minutes
Speaker:without
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:about
Speaker:him.
These
thoughts
Speaker:and
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:new
Speaker:to
Speaker:Benji.
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:known
Speaker:who
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:since
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:teenager.
Speaker:But
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:was
Speaker:something
Speaker:different.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:new.
Speaker:His
Speaker:admiration
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero
Speaker:had
Speaker:evolved
Speaker:since
Speaker:their
Speaker:meeting.
Speaker:And
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:even
Speaker:before
Speaker:the
Speaker:kiss.
He
picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:phone
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:desk
Speaker:and
Speaker:typed
Speaker:out
Speaker:another
Speaker:quick
Speaker:text. “Please,
Speaker:text
Speaker:me
Speaker:back.
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:more.”
Stupid.
Benji
Speaker:growled
Speaker:under
Speaker:his
Speaker:breath.
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:he
Speaker:thinking?
Speaker:He
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:send
Speaker:something
Speaker:like
Speaker:that.
Speaker:And
Speaker:that
Speaker:would
Speaker:make
Speaker:for
Speaker:four
Speaker:unanswered
Speaker:texts
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:row.
Speaker:That
Speaker:would
Speaker:make
Speaker:him
Speaker:sound
Speaker:so
Speaker:desperate!
“Still
no
Speaker:answer,
Speaker:huh?”
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:caused
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:doorway.
Speaker:Maika slinked
Speaker:in
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:seat
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:frowning. “How
Speaker:many
Speaker:texts
Speaker:have
Speaker:you
Speaker:sent?”
“Three…”
“That’s
not
Speaker:too
Speaker:bad.”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:from
Speaker:him,
Speaker:then
Speaker:bit their
Speaker:lip. “Ooooh, good thing
Speaker:you
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:send
Speaker:that
Speaker:one.”
Benji
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:desk
Speaker:again
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:soft
Speaker:tones
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:backspace
Speaker:button.
“I
just
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:understand
Speaker:why
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:me
Speaker:on
Speaker:read…”
Maika
didn’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:putting
Speaker:a
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder.
“I
mean,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:sweet
Speaker:and
Speaker:adorable.
Speaker:And
Speaker:that
Speaker:kiss…
Speaker:His
Speaker:fur…”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:groaned
Speaker:and
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:forehead
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:desk. “God,
Speaker:what
Speaker:is
Speaker:wrong
Speaker:with
Speaker:me?”
“From
what
Speaker:you
Speaker:told
Speaker:me…”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:started
Speaker:rubbing
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder, “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:did
Speaker:anything
Speaker:wrong.”
“But
neither
Speaker:did
Speaker:he,
Speaker:Maika…”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:looked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:frown. “I
Speaker:was
Speaker:so,
Speaker:so
Speaker:very
Speaker:okay
Speaker:with
Speaker:how
Speaker:everything
Speaker:happened.
Speaker:Unless…”
Speaker:He slicked
Speaker:his
Speaker:fur
Speaker:and
Speaker:ears
Speaker:back. “Oh
Speaker:fuck,
Speaker:did
Speaker:he
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:enjoy
Speaker:it?
Speaker:Was I
Speaker:being
Speaker:too
Speaker:subtle?
Speaker:Or
Speaker:even
Speaker:worse!
Speaker:What
Speaker:if
Speaker:I am
Speaker:bad
Speaker:at
Speaker:kissing!”
“Benji…”
“Maika.
I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:here…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:gritted
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:text
Speaker:me
Speaker:back.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:navigate
Speaker:a
Speaker:budding
Speaker:relationship.
Speaker:This
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:college
Speaker:fling.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:to
Speaker:Maika.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:smart
Speaker:dragon.
Speaker:Surely
Speaker:they
Speaker:would
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:here.
“I’m
sorry…”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:bit
Speaker:their
Speaker:lip. “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:relationship,
Speaker:and
Speaker:this
Speaker:all
Speaker:seems
Speaker:super
Speaker:delicate,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:with
Speaker:how
Speaker:long
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:him
Speaker:have
Speaker:known
Speaker:each
Speaker:other.”
Benji
frowned, “I
Speaker:still
Speaker:appreciate
Speaker:you,
Speaker:you
Speaker:know.”
“Of
course.”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:smiled,
Speaker:standing
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:stretching. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:here
Speaker:and
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:work,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:should
Speaker:take
Speaker:some
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:today.
Speaker:Only
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:down
Speaker:for
Speaker:that.”
Benji
turned
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:chair,
Speaker:raising
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyebrows. “Kaysha’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:like
Speaker:being
Speaker:here
Speaker:with
Speaker:just
Speaker:you.”
“Kaysha can deal,” Maika grinned, “Plus,
you’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:so
Speaker:distracted
Speaker:since
Speaker:you
Speaker:told
Speaker:us
Speaker:about
Speaker:your
Speaker:alley
Speaker:kiss.
Speaker:She
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:land
Speaker:her
Speaker:playful
Speaker:jabs
Speaker:at
Speaker:you.”
Benji
grimaced, “Oh…
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:that
Speaker:bad,
Speaker:huh.”
Maika
giggled, “Oh,
Speaker:she’ll
Speaker:get
Speaker:over
Speaker:it.
Speaker:And
Speaker:so
Speaker:will
Speaker:you.”
Benji
nodded,
Speaker:his
Speaker:brain
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:starting
Speaker:to
Speaker:whirr.
Speaker:He
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:sort
Speaker:out
Speaker:his
Speaker:feelings,
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:was
Speaker:right
Speaker:about
Speaker:that.
Speaker:But
Speaker:he
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:do
Speaker:it
Speaker:by
Speaker:himself.
Speaker:He
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:to
Speaker:someone
Speaker:smart,
Speaker:someone
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:listen
Speaker:and
Speaker:tell
Speaker:him
Speaker:exactly
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:hear.
He
could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:watching
Speaker:him
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:office
Speaker:door
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:stood
Speaker:up. “You
Speaker:know…
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:take
Speaker:some
Speaker:time.”
Maika
nodded. “Good.”
“I’ll
try
Speaker:and
Speaker:be
Speaker:back
Speaker:by
Speaker:lunch
Speaker:rush.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:walked
Speaker:past
Speaker:Maika,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:before
Speaker:giving
Speaker:them
Speaker:a
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:pat. “Thanks.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:made
Speaker:his
Speaker:way
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:lobby
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:cafe,
Speaker:tossing
Speaker:a
Speaker:glance
Speaker:to Kaysha
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter. “Call
Speaker:me
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:me
Speaker:sooner.”
Kaysha
narrowed
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes. “Where
Speaker:you
Speaker:going?”
“To
talk
Speaker:to
Speaker:an
Speaker:old
Speaker:friend…”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile.
**************************************
Marcel’s
was
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:many
Speaker:people
Speaker:in
Speaker:town
Speaker:frequented,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:a shame
Speaker:because
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:great
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:habit
Speaker:of
Speaker:going
Speaker:often,
Speaker:just
Speaker:once
Speaker:a
Speaker:year or
Speaker:so.
Speaker:But
Speaker:then
Speaker:again,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:fair
Speaker:that
Speaker:a
Speaker:hero
Speaker:not
Speaker:encroach
Speaker:on
Speaker:the “secret”
Speaker:den
Speaker:of
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:notorious
Speaker:gangs
Speaker:in
Speaker:town.
Benji
stuffed
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:pockets
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:flickering
Speaker:sign.
Speaker:If
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:could
Speaker:help
Speaker:set
Speaker:his
Speaker:brain
Speaker:straight,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:closest
Speaker:thing
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:real
Speaker:father.
He
took
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:pushed
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:open,
Speaker:walking
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:warm,
Speaker:inviting
Speaker:shop.
It
was
Speaker:your
Speaker:typical
Speaker:looking
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream
Speaker:shop.
Speaker:Booths
Speaker:lined
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:store,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:each
Speaker:table
Speaker:a
Speaker:view
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:road
Speaker:outside
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:falling
Speaker:down.
Speaker:The front
Speaker:counter
Speaker:and
Speaker:register
Speaker:were
Speaker:positioned
Speaker:right
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:cold
Speaker:case
Speaker:filled
Speaker:with
Speaker:sixteen
Speaker:flavors
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream.
“Hey
there!”
Speaker:a
Speaker:cheery
Speaker:voice
Speaker:called
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold
Speaker:case,
Speaker:bringing
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:attention
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:tall
Speaker:gemsbok
Speaker:looking
Speaker:down
Speaker:at him. “Welcome
Speaker:to
Speaker:Marcel’s.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:gemsbok was
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:a
Speaker:cute
Speaker:red
Speaker:button down
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:matching
Speaker:bandana
Speaker:tied
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:shirt’s
Speaker:collar.
Speaker:She
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:horns
Speaker:that
Speaker:almost
Speaker:scratched
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling
Speaker:tiles
Speaker:above
Speaker:her,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:quite.
Benji
tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiled. “Oh!
Speaker:Um,
Speaker:hello…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:name
Speaker:tag. “Carissa.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:recognize
Speaker:her
Speaker:face
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:he
Speaker:knew,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:assume
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:them. “So,
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:weird
Speaker:thing,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:boss.”
Carissa’s
smile
Speaker:faltered. “Oh
Speaker:no…
Speaker:Have
Speaker:I
Speaker:done
Speaker:something
Speaker:wrong
Speaker:already?
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:go
Speaker:get
Speaker:my
Speaker:manager.”
Benji
pulled
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:pocket,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:it
Speaker:paw-pad
Speaker:up. “Um…
Speaker:Actually
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:boss,
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:big
Speaker:one.”
Speaker:Flames
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:danced
Speaker:along
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws.
Carissa’s
eyes
Speaker:lit
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:recognition,
Speaker:then
Speaker:were
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:clouded
Speaker:with
Speaker:fear.
Speaker:He saw her
Speaker:reach
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter,
Speaker:probably
Speaker:to press
Speaker:the
Speaker:panic
Speaker:button.
“Thanks.”
He
Speaker:extinguished
Speaker:the
Speaker:flames
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream
Speaker:case. “Um…
Speaker:Can
Speaker:I
Speaker:order
Speaker:some
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream?”
Carissa
didn’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:a
Speaker:word
Speaker:to
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:her,
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:trembling.
Benji
put
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:up. “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry!
Speaker:I
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:scare
Speaker:you.”
“You
did
Speaker:though.”
The
door
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Carissa
Speaker:opened
Speaker:and
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:Walker
Speaker:strolled
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:room.
Speaker:He
Speaker:put
Speaker:a gentle
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on Carissa’s
Speaker:shoulder. “It’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:trouble.
Speaker:Why
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:go
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:break?”
The
gemsbok
Speaker:nodded,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:her
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:under
Speaker:control
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:went
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:back.
Benji
frowned,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:case
Speaker:at
Speaker:Ivan. “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:about
Speaker:that.”
Ivan
shrugged, “She’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:newer
Speaker:to
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:this.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:understandable.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:quirked
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:smirk. “You
Speaker:know
Speaker:Marcel
Speaker:is
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:lose
Speaker:his
Speaker:shit
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:sees
Speaker:you.”
Benji
smiled
Speaker:back. “I
Speaker:know…”
“You’re
not
Speaker:surprised I’m
Speaker:out?” Ivan
Speaker:slowly walked
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:continuously
Speaker:watching
Speaker:the
Speaker:cheetah.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:dressed
Speaker:in
Speaker:black
Speaker:slacks,
Speaker:a
Speaker:white
Speaker:button down,
Speaker:suspenders,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:gray
Speaker:vest.
Speaker:His
Speaker:sleeves
Speaker:were
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:elbows.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:like
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:hard
Speaker:at
Speaker:work
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:alarm.
“Nope.”
Benji
Speaker:returned
Speaker:the
Speaker:unwavering
Speaker:eye
Speaker:contact.
“Am
I
Speaker:that
Speaker:predictable?”
Benji
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Nah.”
Ivan
approached
Speaker:Benji,
Speaker:then
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:booths. “You
Speaker:here
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk?”
Benji
nodded. “You’re
Speaker:probably
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:people
Speaker:who
Speaker:may
Speaker:understand.
Speaker:Besides
Speaker:Marcel.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:one
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:table,
Speaker:while
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:slid
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:other.
“Interesting.
This
Speaker:has
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:young
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo,
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:it?”
Benji’s
eyes
Speaker:narrowed. “How
Speaker:could
Speaker:you
Speaker:possibly
Speaker:know
Speaker:that?”
“I
have
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:young
Speaker:man.”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:folded
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:atop
Speaker:the
Speaker:table. “There
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:certain
Speaker:chemistry
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:of
Speaker:you.
Speaker:One
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:quite
Speaker:familiar
Speaker:with.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:quite
Speaker:adorable.”
Benji
looked
Speaker:away. “Shut
Speaker:up.”
His
whiskers
Speaker:twitched. “Oh,
Speaker:come
Speaker:now.
Speaker:I am
Speaker:just
Speaker:teasing.”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:smiled. “So,
Speaker:what
Speaker:seems
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:problem?”
“It’s
a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:story,”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip,
Speaker:still
Speaker:looking
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:window.
“Well,
you
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:here
Speaker:now
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:had
Speaker:anything
Speaker:but
Speaker:time,
Speaker:now
Speaker:would
Speaker:you?”
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:grew
Speaker:firm. “Please
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:while
Speaker:I am
Speaker:talking
Speaker:to
Speaker:you.”
Benji
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Ivan,
Speaker:only
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:met
Speaker:by
Speaker:a
Speaker:soft
Speaker:frown.
“I’m
sorry.”
“Please
don’t be,” Ivan sighed. “I want to
Speaker:help
Speaker:you.
Speaker:Can
Speaker:you
Speaker:tell
Speaker:me
Speaker:what
Speaker:happened?”
Benji
nodded. “But
Speaker:I
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:revealing
Speaker:any—”
“Benji, darling.”
Ivan sighed, interrupting
Speaker:him. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:no
Speaker:interest
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:new
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo’s secret
Speaker:identity
Speaker:or
Speaker:anything
Speaker:that
Speaker:may
Speaker:compromise
Speaker:him,
Speaker:okay?”
“Of
course,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:sighed.
Speaker:Then,
Speaker:he
Speaker:recounted
Speaker:everything
Speaker:to
Speaker:Ivan.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:meeting,
Speaker:the
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:shop,
Speaker:their
Speaker:conversations.
Speaker:All
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:wonderful
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:lack
Speaker:of
Speaker:responses.
Ivan
sat,
Speaker:quietly
Speaker:listening.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:locked
Speaker:on
Speaker:Benji,
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:softly
Speaker:twitching
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:spoke,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:analyzing
Speaker:every
Speaker:word.
Benji
took
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:finished
Speaker:talking.
Speaker:His
Speaker:emotions
Speaker:were
Speaker:so
Speaker:high,
Speaker:even
Speaker:after
Speaker:recounting
Speaker:it.
“So…
that’s
Speaker:everything.”
Ivan
smiled. “It
Speaker:sounds
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:really
Speaker:like
Speaker:him.”
“Isn’t
that
Speaker:strange?”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:sat
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:little as a
Speaker:bowl
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream
Speaker:was
Speaker:placed
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:before
Speaker:him. “I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:so
Speaker:little
Speaker:about
Speaker:him.
Speaker:But
Speaker:after
Speaker:one
Speaker:hour,
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:feel
Speaker:so
Speaker:drawn
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bowl
Speaker:of
Speaker:chocolate ice cream with
Speaker:strawberry
Speaker:syrup.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:trailed
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:as
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:scooted
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:way
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:bench
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:badger. “Marcel?”
The
badger
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:reached
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:to
Speaker:ruffle
Speaker:the
Speaker:fur
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
“Hey,
kiddo.
Speaker:Sorry,
Speaker:I
Speaker:would have
Speaker:hugged
Speaker:you,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:interrupt.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream. “You
Speaker:still
Speaker:remember
Speaker:my
Speaker:favorite
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream?”
Marcel’s
eyes
Speaker:narrowed
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:scoff. “I’m
Speaker:offended!
Speaker:Any
Speaker:good
Speaker:father
Speaker:knows
Speaker:what
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream
Speaker:their
Speaker:kid
Speaker:likes!
Speaker:No
Speaker:matter
Speaker:how
Speaker:long
Speaker:or
Speaker:short
Speaker:you
Speaker:lived
Speaker:with
Speaker:us.”
Ivan
chuckled
Speaker:softly. “You
Speaker:really
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:restrain
Speaker:yourself,
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:you?”
“You
know
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:resist
Speaker:stories
Speaker:like
Speaker:this!”
Speaker:Marcel
Speaker:put
Speaker:an
Speaker:arm
Speaker:around
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:at Benji.
Benji
fiddled
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:spoon
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:bowl. “So,
Speaker:you
Speaker:both
Speaker:heard
Speaker:it.
Speaker:What
Speaker:do
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:here?
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:clingy,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:also
Speaker:really
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:him
Speaker:again.”
“I
mean,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:always
Speaker:draw
Speaker:him
Speaker:out?”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:smirked. “Something
Speaker:tells
Speaker:me
Speaker:kidnapping
Speaker:you
Speaker:now
Speaker:may
Speaker:end differently
Speaker:than
Speaker:it
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:time.”
Marcel
grunted
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:glare
Speaker:at
Speaker:Ivan. “Ivan!”
“We
know
Speaker:this
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:actually
Speaker:gives
Speaker:a
Speaker:fuck
Speaker:about
Speaker:him.”
Benji
furrowed
Speaker:his
Speaker:brow,
Speaker:remembering
Speaker:his
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:Ivan.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:locked
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:room
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:villain
Speaker:for
Speaker:days,
Speaker:getting
Speaker:three
Speaker:meals
Speaker:a
Speaker:day
Speaker:and
Speaker:daily
Speaker:visits
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:had
Speaker:ever
Speaker:paid
Speaker:attention
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
Speaker:The
Speaker:obvious
Speaker:neglect
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:former
Speaker:mentor
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:so
Speaker:easy
Speaker:for
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:to
Speaker:overlook.
Speaker:But
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:week
Speaker:went
Speaker:by,
Speaker:he
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:if
Speaker:the
Speaker:original
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:had
Speaker:even
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:him
Speaker:gone.
“We
can’t
Speaker:do
Speaker:that.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:said,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:them
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:their
Speaker:worried
Speaker:frowns. “I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:risk
Speaker:something
Speaker:happening
Speaker:to
Speaker:you
Speaker:or
Speaker:Marcel.
Speaker:Or
Speaker:any
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:others.”
Marcel’s
lip
Speaker:trembled. “Aww,
Speaker:Benjamin.”
Ivan
nodded, “To
Speaker:be
Speaker:fair,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:partially
Speaker:kidding
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:kidnapping
Speaker:thing.”
“Thank
goodness.”
Benji
sighed, “So,
Speaker:what
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think?”
“Benji,”
Ivan
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:forward. “Have
Speaker:I
Speaker:ever
Speaker:told
Speaker:you
Speaker:about
Speaker:my
Speaker:first
Speaker:boyfriend
Speaker:from
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:nineties?”
Benji
nodded. “Bernard,
Speaker:right?
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:killed
Speaker:when
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:tried
Speaker:breaking
Speaker:up one of
Speaker:your
Speaker:protests.”
Ivan
bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip. “Yeah.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:I
Speaker:told
Speaker:you
Speaker:that.
Speaker:But
Speaker:did
Speaker:I
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:how
Speaker:I
Speaker:met
Speaker:him?”
Benji
looked
Speaker:between
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:and
Speaker:Marcel. “No…
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:did.”
Ivan
smiled, “It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:fall
Speaker:night,
Speaker:at
Speaker:this
Speaker:really
Speaker:chill
Speaker:get-together.
Speaker:Neither
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:were
Speaker:out
Speaker:to
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:time.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:classic
Speaker:game
Speaker:of
Speaker:Seven
Speaker:Minutes
Speaker:in
Speaker:Heaven.
Speaker:We
Speaker:played
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:bunch
Speaker:of
Speaker:friends
Speaker:there.
Speaker:And
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:end
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:game,
Speaker:I
Speaker:ended
Speaker:up
Speaker:getting
Speaker:paired
Speaker:with
Speaker:him
Speaker:by
Speaker:accident.
Speaker:We,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:laugh
Speaker:it
Speaker:off
Speaker:then
Speaker:because
Speaker:we
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:hate-crimed.”
Benji
listened
Speaker:in
Speaker:silence,
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:eating
Speaker:his
Speaker:ice
Speaker:cream.
“He
found
Speaker:me
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:party
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:stole
Speaker:off
Speaker:together.”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:coughed, “And
Speaker:you
Speaker:know,
Speaker:got
Speaker:acquainted.”
Benji
awkwardly
Speaker:looked
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:to
Speaker:Marcel,
Speaker:who
Speaker:had
Speaker:an
Speaker:amused
Speaker:grin
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face. “Um…
Speaker:Yeah.
Speaker:I
Speaker:get
Speaker:it.”
“The
point
Speaker:I am
Speaker:going
Speaker:for
Speaker:here
Speaker:is
Speaker:that
Speaker:we
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:officially
Speaker:get
Speaker:together
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:five
Speaker:months.”
Benji’s
gaze
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Ivan. “What?
Speaker:But
Speaker:you
Speaker:liked
Speaker:him,
Speaker:right?”
“Of
course
Speaker:I
Speaker:liked
Speaker:him,”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:laughed. “Oh,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:so
Speaker:lucky
Speaker:nowadays.
Speaker:You
Speaker:sweet
Speaker:summer
Speaker:chee.
Speaker:We
Speaker:barely
Speaker:interacted
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:semester.
Speaker:We
Speaker:couldn’t.
Speaker:We
Speaker:lived
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:society
Speaker:that
Speaker:worked
Speaker:to
Speaker:actively
Speaker:shame
Speaker:our
Speaker:deviant
Speaker:behavior.
Speaker:And
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:so
Speaker:scared
Speaker:that
Speaker:something
Speaker:would
Speaker:happen
Speaker:if
Speaker:we
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:up
Speaker:again.”
Benji
tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Oh…
Speaker:But
Speaker:that
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:thing
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:as
Speaker:prevalent
Speaker:today,
Speaker:is
Speaker:it?”
“It’s
obviously
Speaker:not
Speaker:as
Speaker:extreme
Speaker:today,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:shame
Speaker:is
Speaker:still
Speaker:around.”
Speaker:Marcel
Speaker:frowned. “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:many
Speaker:people
Speaker:left
Speaker:my
Speaker:life
Speaker:after
Speaker:I
Speaker:married
Speaker:Ivan?
Speaker:My
Speaker:siblings
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:call.
Speaker:My
Speaker:mother
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:wedding.
Speaker:People
Speaker:still
Speaker:actively
Speaker:choose
Speaker:to
Speaker:shame
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:they’re
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:love
Speaker:for
Speaker:something
Speaker:that
Speaker:very
Speaker:well
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:control.”
Ivan
nodded. “West
Speaker:Griffinville
Speaker:is
Speaker:no
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:any
Speaker:other
Speaker:city.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:many
Speaker:runaways
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:under
Speaker:my
Speaker:employment?
Speaker:A
Speaker:life
Speaker:of
Speaker:crime
Speaker:treats
Speaker:them
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:families.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:shit
Speaker:like
Speaker:this
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:hate
Speaker:him.”
“So,
do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:he
Speaker:regrets
Speaker:kissing
Speaker:me?”
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:softened.
“No.
No
Speaker:no
Speaker:no.”
Speaker:Marcel
Speaker:said,
Speaker:moving
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:beside
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:before
Speaker:enveloping him
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:hug. “That
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:what
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:saying.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:dealing
Speaker:with
Speaker:similar
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:and
Speaker:emotions.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:also
Speaker:unsure
Speaker:of
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:proceed
Speaker:from
Speaker:here.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean, a
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:big
Speaker:jump
Speaker:for
Speaker:some.”
Benji
leaned
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:badger’s
Speaker:hug. “If
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:both
Speaker:not
Speaker:sure
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do,
Speaker:how
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:am
Speaker:I
Speaker:going to
Speaker:see
Speaker:him
Speaker:again?”
“Time, Benji.”
Ivan sighed. “You
Speaker:may have
Speaker:to
Speaker:wait
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time.
Speaker:But
Speaker:he
Speaker:needs
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:terms
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:own.
Speaker:If
Speaker:he
Speaker:wants
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:again,
Speaker:you’ll know.”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:reached across
Speaker:the table
Speaker:for
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:paws. “Something
Speaker:tells
Speaker:me
Speaker:this
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:abandon
Speaker:you.”
Benji
nodded,
Speaker:gently
Speaker:squeezing
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:paw. “Thanks
Speaker:guys…”
Marcel
cleared
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat,
Speaker:looking down
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Benji
held
Speaker:back
Speaker:from
Speaker:rolling
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes. “Thanks,
Speaker:Dad.”
Ivan
grinned. “I
Speaker:still
Speaker:think
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:legally
Speaker:adopt
Speaker:you,
Speaker:right
Speaker:Marcel?”
Marcel
grinned,
Speaker:releasing
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:grasp. “It
Speaker:hasn’t
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:us
Speaker:before.
Speaker:Once
Speaker:an
Speaker:Icicle,
Speaker:always
Speaker:an
Speaker:Icicle.” Benji
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:but
Speaker:laugh.
Speaker:The
Speaker:relationship
Speaker:he
Speaker:and
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:had
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:complicated.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fox
Speaker:went
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:captor,
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:friend,
Speaker:to
Speaker:father
Speaker:figure,
Speaker:to
Speaker:sort-of
Speaker:nemesis.
Speaker:But
Speaker:through
Speaker:it
Speaker:all,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:consistent
Speaker:than
Speaker:any
Speaker:other
Speaker:figure
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:life,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:the
Speaker:late
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo.
And
Marcel
Speaker:was
Speaker:Marcel.
He
stood
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:bench. “Thanks.
Speaker:I
Speaker:appreciate
Speaker:you
Speaker:both
Speaker:so
Speaker:much.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:and
Speaker:opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms.
Ivan
grinned
Speaker:and
Speaker:also
Speaker:rose
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:feet,
Speaker:offering
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw. “Nice
Speaker:try,
Speaker:kid.
Speaker:You
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:getting
Speaker:a
Speaker:hug
Speaker:from
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:very
Speaker:proud
Speaker:of
Speaker:you,
Speaker:though.”
Benji
shook
Speaker:it
Speaker:and
Speaker:grinned. “While
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:you
Speaker:here…”
Ivan
rolled
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes, “Oh,
Speaker:here
Speaker:we
Speaker:go.”
“Any
chance
Speaker:you
Speaker:could
Speaker:return
Speaker:that
Speaker:money
Speaker:you
Speaker:took?”
“Nope.”
Ivan
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:his
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:out. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:to
Speaker:support.
Speaker:I
Speaker:like
Speaker:you,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:dock
Speaker:their
Speaker:pay.”
“Figured
I’d
Speaker:ask.”
“It’s
cute
Speaker:that
Speaker:you
Speaker:tried,”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:smirked. “See
Speaker:you
Speaker:around?”
“Hopefully
on
Speaker:good
Speaker:terms
Speaker:and
Speaker:not
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bank
Speaker:again.”
“No
promises.”
Benji
smiled,
Speaker:turning
Speaker:to
Speaker:go. “I’ll
Speaker:let
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:things
Speaker:go.”
“Please
do!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:heard
Speaker:Marcel’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him. “And
Speaker:come
Speaker:by
Speaker:more
Speaker:often!
Speaker:We
Speaker:love
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:you!”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:got
Speaker:gruff. “Right,
Speaker:Ivan?”
“Yeah,
yeah…”
Benji
could
Speaker:practically
Speaker:hear
Speaker:how
Speaker:wide
Speaker:his
Speaker:grin
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:strolled
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:shop.
Speaker:He
Speaker:still
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:sure
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:regarding
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:kiss,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:worry
Speaker:him
Speaker:anymore.
Speaker:He
Speaker:just
Speaker:knew
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:see
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:again
Speaker:soon.
**************************************
The
morning
Speaker:before
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:Eve
Speaker:was
Speaker:possibly
Speaker:the
Speaker:coldest
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:had
Speaker:felt
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:even
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:powers
Speaker:making
Speaker:him
Speaker:constantly
Speaker:feel
Speaker:hot.
Speaker:He
Speaker:approached
Speaker:The
Speaker:Daily
Speaker:Grind,
Speaker:fishing
Speaker:his
Speaker:keys
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:pocket.
Speaker:He
Speaker:still
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:heard
Speaker:from
Speaker:Leon,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:as
Speaker:wound
Speaker:up
Speaker:about
Speaker:it
Speaker:anymore.
Speaker:He
Speaker:missed
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky,
Speaker:but
Speaker:knew
Speaker:he
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:let
Speaker:things
Speaker:happen
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:own.
Speaker:He
Speaker:unlocked
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:already
Speaker:brewing
Speaker:coffee.
“Morning!”
He
Speaker:called
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:unseen
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:and
Speaker:Maika,
Speaker:who
Speaker:were
Speaker:probably
Speaker:the
Speaker:ones
Speaker:who
Speaker:had
Speaker:started
Speaker:setting
Speaker:up.
“Hey,
Benji…”
The
soft
Speaker:voice
Speaker:caused
Speaker:his
Speaker:warm
Speaker:body
Speaker:to
Speaker:freeze.
Speaker:His
Speaker:heart
Speaker:started
Speaker:beating
Speaker:faster.
Benji
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:the
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:tree,
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:at
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:little
Speaker:tables.
Speaker:His
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:meet
Speaker:Benji’s,
Speaker:but
Speaker:by
Speaker:gosh…
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:there.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:really
Speaker:there.
Benji
slipped
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:chair
Speaker:across
Speaker:from
Speaker:him.
“Leon!”
His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:too
Speaker:excited,
Speaker:because
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:jumped
Speaker:before
Speaker:finally
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze. “How
Speaker:are
Speaker:you?
Speaker:Where
Speaker:have
Speaker:you
Speaker:been?”
“Huh?”
Leon’s
Speaker:brows
Speaker:raised
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I-I’m
Speaker:doing
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:Wait,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:upset
Speaker:at
Speaker:me?”
“Upset?”
Benji
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:forward
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:chair,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:him
Speaker:an
Speaker:encouraging
Speaker:smile. “I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:upset.”
“Oh
god.”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:buried
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “I
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:sure
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:ruined
Speaker:everything
Speaker:by
Speaker:kissing
Speaker:you…
Speaker:And
Speaker:then
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:got
Speaker:your
Speaker:texts
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:even
Speaker:more
Speaker:scared
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:again.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:so
Speaker:bad
Speaker:ghosting
Speaker:you…”
“It’s
okay.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:sigh
Speaker:of
Speaker:relief
Speaker:and
Speaker:reached
Speaker:forward,
Speaker:taking
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky’s
Speaker:paws
Speaker:in
Speaker:his. “I’m just
Speaker:so
Speaker:happy
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you. I
Speaker:haven’t
Speaker:been
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:about
Speaker:you.”
“Me
neither.”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:gave
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:smile. “I
Speaker:really
Speaker:like
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:smile
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:faded. “But
Speaker:we
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:lowered
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit. “There is
Speaker:something
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:just…
Speaker:get
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:open.”
Benji
nodded, “I
Speaker:do
Speaker:too…”
They
sat,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other,
Speaker:intently.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:tempted
Speaker:to
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:if
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:way.
His
question
Speaker:was
Speaker:answered
Speaker:as
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:moved
Speaker:closer
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
Speaker:His
Speaker:breath
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:like
Speaker:coffee,
Speaker:and
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:so close.
“Holy
shit,
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:so
Speaker:cute.”
Speaker:A
Speaker:harsh
Speaker:whisper
Speaker:came
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter.
Benji
groaned
Speaker:as
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:away
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor,
Speaker:then
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:glare
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:MacAllister
Speaker:twins.
“We’re
trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:narrowed
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:as
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:tried to
Speaker:hide
Speaker:her cellphone under
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter. “Are
Speaker:you
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:filming
Speaker:us!”
“No!”
There
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:thump
Speaker:and
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down. “Oh
Speaker:shit!”
Benji
turned
Speaker:around,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:at
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:again.
Speaker:The
Speaker:husky
Speaker:was
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:this
Speaker:time
Speaker:he
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:look
Speaker:away.
“We
can
Speaker:talk
Speaker:after
Speaker:my
Speaker:shift.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:smiled.
“O-Okay!
Sounds
Speaker:good.”
**************************************
Benji
had
Speaker:never
Speaker:once
Speaker:worried
Speaker:about
Speaker:how
Speaker:his
Speaker:apartment
Speaker:looked.
Speaker:He
Speaker:always
Speaker:kept it
Speaker:rather
Speaker:clean,
Speaker:and
Speaker:never
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:lived
Speaker:dirty.
Speaker:That
Speaker:all
Speaker:changed
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:home.
Speaker:He
Speaker:started
Speaker:straightening
Speaker:things,
Speaker:fixing
Speaker:everything.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:anxiety
Speaker:and
Speaker:self-conscious
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:flying
Speaker:left and
Speaker:right. “Sorry
Speaker:this
Speaker:place
Speaker:is
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:mess…”
Leon
giggled
Speaker:softly
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him. “You
Speaker:have
Speaker:a cute
Speaker:place.”
Benji
felt
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:relax
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:flopped
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:couch. “Sorry…
Speaker:If
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:already
Speaker:obvious,
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:bring
Speaker:guys
Speaker:home
Speaker:often.”
Leon’s
laughter
Speaker:got
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:louder. “It’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:okay.”
Benji
smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:up. “Why
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:seat?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:patted
Speaker:the
Speaker:couch
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
Leon
smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down,
Speaker:facing
Speaker:him
Speaker:so
Speaker:his
Speaker:bouncy
Speaker:curl
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:smooshed
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:cushions. “Thanks
Speaker:for
Speaker:being
Speaker:so
Speaker:understanding.”
“I
had
Speaker:some
Speaker:help.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:also
Speaker:because
Speaker:I am
Speaker:really
Speaker:happy
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:again.”
Leon’s
curl
Speaker:wagged
Speaker:free
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him,
Speaker:making
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:grin.
“I
love
Speaker:how
Speaker:expressive
Speaker:your
Speaker:tail
Speaker:is.”
Leon
giggled. “Thanks.
Speaker:You
Speaker:definitely
Speaker:put
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:work
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:two
Speaker:weeks.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:expression
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:morphed
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:sober
Speaker:frown. “I’m
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:if
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:mood
Speaker:killer.
Speaker:But…
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:confess
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:you.”
Benji
nodded,
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:turning
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:Leon. “It’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:We
Speaker:knew
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:coming.”
“You
know
Speaker:how
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:name
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:former
Speaker:mentor?
Speaker:And
Speaker:his
Speaker:powers
Speaker:and
Speaker:costume?”
Benji
nodded.
“People
thought that
Speaker:he
Speaker:just
Speaker:passed
Speaker:it all
Speaker:onto
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:disappeared.
Speaker:But
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:what
Speaker:happened.”
“Oh,
yeah.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:looked
Speaker:relieved. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:happened.
Speaker:He
Speaker:died.”
Leon’s
eyes
Speaker:widened
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:perked
Speaker:up. “How
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:that?”
Benji
scratched
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Promise
Speaker:you
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:me?”
Leon
nodded. “Why
Speaker:would
Speaker:I
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:you?”
“Because
I
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:group
Speaker:that
Speaker:killed
Speaker:him.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:kept
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:focused
Speaker:on
Speaker:Leon.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:regret
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:feel
Speaker:any.
Leon’s
jaw
Speaker:dropped. “Y-You
Speaker:were?”
Benji
nodded. “Ivan,
Speaker:me,
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:retired
Speaker:heroes.”
Leon
swallowed. “I had
Speaker:always
Speaker:heard
Speaker:stories
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:made
Speaker:some
Speaker:enemies…”
“The
stories
Speaker:were
Speaker:nicer
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:truth.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:frowned. “The
Speaker:original
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo…
Speaker:was not a good
Speaker:man.”
Leon’s
ears
Speaker:dropped. “Wasn’t he your
Speaker:family?
Speaker:You
Speaker:teamed
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:gang
Speaker:of
Speaker:villains—”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:cracked.
“His
name
Speaker:was
Speaker:Thomas.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:my
Speaker:cousin.
Speaker:One
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:remaining
Speaker:heroes
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:kind.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:frowned. “We
Speaker:were
Speaker:officially
Speaker:a
Speaker:team
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:Guild’s command,
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:had
Speaker:each
Speaker:other’s
Speaker:backs…
Speaker:Or
Speaker:rather
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:his.”
“Ivan
Walker
Speaker:was
Speaker:his
Speaker:greatest
Speaker:enemy.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:personal
Speaker:mission
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:him
Speaker:down.”
“Ivan
is
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:bank,
Speaker:right?”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:looked
Speaker:warily
Speaker:at
Speaker:Benji,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest
Speaker:tighten
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:mistrust
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky’s
Speaker:eyes.
“Yeah.”
“What
did
Speaker:he
Speaker:have
Speaker:against
Speaker:Thomas?”
Benji
frowned. “Thomas
Speaker:was
Speaker:very
Speaker:against
Speaker:people
Speaker:who
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:fit
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:status
Speaker:quo
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:times.
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:activist
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:villain,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:boyfriend
Speaker:Bernard
Speaker:was
Speaker:too…
Speaker:Bernard
Speaker:was
Speaker:murdered
Speaker:because
Speaker:Thomas
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:use
Speaker:force
Speaker:to
Speaker:disrupt
Speaker:the
Speaker:protests.”
Leon’s
ears
Speaker:slicked
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:flew
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle. “Oh
Speaker:my
Speaker:god…
Speaker:And
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:mantle
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:up?”
“I’m
still
Speaker:not
Speaker:done.”
“There’s
more?”
Benji
nodded. “I
Speaker:can
Speaker:stop
Speaker:now…
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:here
Speaker:with
Speaker:me.”
Leon
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:hear
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.”
Benji
swallowed,
Speaker:then
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:nodded. “As
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:became
Speaker:his
Speaker:number
Speaker:one
Speaker:enemy.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:one
Speaker:hundred
Speaker:percent
Speaker:invested
Speaker:in
Speaker:taking
Speaker:him
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:making
Speaker:him
Speaker:suffer.
Speaker:And
Speaker:eight
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:captured
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:to
Speaker:draw
Speaker:him
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:trap.”
Leon
was
Speaker:silent,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:chin
Speaker:twitched.
Speaker:He
Speaker:opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:something,
Speaker:but
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:came
Speaker:out.
Benji
decided
Speaker:to
Speaker:wait
Speaker:for
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:put
Speaker:the
Speaker:pieces
Speaker:together.
“You
disappeared
Speaker:eight
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago…”
“Yeah.”
“And
you
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:come
Speaker:back
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:scene
Speaker:as
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:until
Speaker:about
Speaker:five
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago?”
“Technically
four,
Speaker:because
Speaker:the
Speaker:Guild
Speaker:stripped
Speaker:me
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:membership.”
“He
never
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:you…”
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:widened. “You
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:prisoner of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:for
Speaker:four
Speaker:years?”
“No…”
Benji
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:yes.
Speaker:Thomas
Speaker:never
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:me.
Speaker:But
Speaker:no.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:a
Speaker:prisoner of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:for
Speaker:two
Speaker:weeks.”
“You
were
Speaker:a
Speaker:member
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles.”
Benji
smiled
Speaker:slightly,
Speaker:in
Speaker:awe
Speaker:of
Speaker:how
Speaker:fast Leon
Speaker:was
Speaker:putting
Speaker:things together.
“Ivan
realized
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:bring
Speaker:Thomas
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:trap,
Speaker:and
Speaker:set
Speaker:me
Speaker:free.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:easy
Speaker:recruit,
Speaker:because
Speaker:he…”
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:fists
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:smoke
Speaker:and
Speaker:burn,
Speaker:as a
Speaker:growl
Speaker:rose
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat. “Never
Speaker:came
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.”
Leon
saw
Speaker:this,
Speaker:and
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:paws
Speaker:over
Speaker:his. “Shh… It’s
Speaker:okay.”
Benji’s
paws
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:as
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:them. “Doesn’t
Speaker:that
Speaker:hurt?”
Leon
looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile. “Invulnerability.”
“Ah…”
“I
think
Speaker:I have
Speaker:heard
Speaker:enough
Speaker:though…”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:handpaws.
“I’m
sorry…
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:to
Speaker:process.
Speaker:And
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:even
Speaker:more
Speaker:shit
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:did.”
Leon’s
paws
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:moving
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:drew
Speaker:them
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:lap. “I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:believe
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:worn
Speaker:that
Speaker:name
Speaker:for
Speaker:so
Speaker:long.
Speaker:After
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:bad
Speaker:things
Speaker:that
Speaker:have
Speaker:come
Speaker:from
Speaker:it.”
Benji
nodded. “If
Speaker:it
Speaker:helps
Speaker:though,
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:do
Speaker:the
Speaker:name
Speaker:justice.
Speaker:The
Speaker:name
Speaker:is
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:name.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:hero
Speaker:than
Speaker:Thomas
Speaker:ever
Speaker:was.”
“You’re
just
Speaker:saying
Speaker:that
Speaker:because
Speaker:you
Speaker:hated
Speaker:him.”
“Maybe
I
Speaker:am.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I have
Speaker:also
Speaker:seen
Speaker:you
Speaker:in
Speaker:action.”
“But
I am
Speaker:never
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:up
Speaker:for
Speaker:what
Speaker:my
Speaker:predecessor
Speaker:did!”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:raised
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice,
Speaker:then
Speaker:he
Speaker:shrank
Speaker:back
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat.
“And
no
Speaker:one
Speaker:is
Speaker:asking
Speaker:you
Speaker:to.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:reached
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:gently
Speaker:touch
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:face. “The
Speaker:public
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:anything
Speaker:about
Speaker:what
Speaker:Thomas
Speaker:did.
Speaker:They
Speaker:love
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:see
Speaker:why.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:great.”
Leon’s
soft
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:trembling,
Speaker:threatening
Speaker:to
Speaker:shed
Speaker:tears
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:face.
Benji
smiled. “So,
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:everything
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:much
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:open
Speaker:now.
Speaker:How
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:feel?”
Leon sniffled and
put
Speaker:a paw on Benji’s,
Speaker:rubbing
Speaker:his cheek
Speaker:against
Speaker:it. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:at
Speaker:once.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:you
Speaker:murdered
Speaker:him…
Speaker:But
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:also
Speaker:a
Speaker:dick
Speaker:so
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:justified.
Speaker:And
Speaker:like…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sniffled
Speaker:again. “Does
Speaker:The
Speaker:Guild
Speaker:know?”
Benji
nodded. “Why
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:stripped
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:membership?”
“Ah…”
Leon
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:paw
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:face. “Why
Speaker:did
Speaker:you
Speaker:become
Speaker:a
Speaker:hero
Speaker:again?
Speaker:After
Speaker:The
Speaker:Guild,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Thomas?
Speaker:Why
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:stay
Speaker:as
Speaker:an Icicle?”
Benji sighed. “I
don’t
Speaker:know.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:part in
Speaker:his
Speaker:death,
Speaker:it
Speaker:still
Speaker:felt
Speaker:heroic.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:being
Speaker:the
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:hero
Speaker:I
Speaker:always
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:The
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:were
Speaker:great,
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:big
Speaker:crime
Speaker:family.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:and
Speaker:Marcel are
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:closest
Speaker:thing
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:parents.”
Leon
tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Wait.
Speaker:Who’s
Speaker:Marcel?”
Benji
smiled. “Oh.
Speaker:He’s Ivan’s
Speaker:husband.
Speaker:Sweet
Speaker:guy,
Speaker:really
Speaker:good
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:dad
Speaker:thing.”
“Oh!”
“Yeah.
Living
Speaker:with
Speaker:them
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:good
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:sigh. “But
Speaker:all
Speaker:that
Speaker:heisting
Speaker:and
Speaker:doing
Speaker:petty
Speaker:crimes
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:my
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:So,
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:walk
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:gang.
Speaker:And
Speaker:now
Speaker:they’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:thorn
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:side
Speaker:every
Speaker:once
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:while.”
“Sounds
like
Speaker:you
Speaker:respect
Speaker:him.”
“He
is
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:man
Speaker:sometimes.”
The
room
Speaker:fell
Speaker:quiet.
Benji
tried
Speaker:reading
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky’s
Speaker:features,
Speaker:wondering
Speaker:what
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:was
Speaker:thinking.
Leon
stared
Speaker:back,
Speaker:his
Speaker:curl
Speaker:unmoving.
Benji
cleared
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat
Speaker:and
Speaker:folded
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws on
Speaker:his
Speaker:lap. “So...
Speaker:Now
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:that.”
When
Leon
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:speak,
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:hold
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:paws
Speaker:so
Speaker:badly.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:some
Speaker:sign
Speaker:the
Speaker:canine
Speaker:was
Speaker:okay.
“Leon.
I
Speaker:understand
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave.
Speaker:Or
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:pummel
Speaker:me
Speaker:into
Speaker:oblivion.”
Leon
opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak.
Speaker:But
Speaker:he
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:a
Speaker:word.
Benji
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Leon,
Speaker:tears
Speaker:starting
Speaker:to
Speaker:spill. “Please,
Speaker:just
Speaker:say
Speaker:or
Speaker:do
Speaker:something!”
Leon
slid
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:cheetah.
Benji
gasped
Speaker:and
Speaker:squeezed
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shut
Speaker:as
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:connected
Speaker:with
Speaker:his.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:was
Speaker:taken
Speaker:by
Speaker:surprise,
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:drew
Speaker:back,
Speaker:he
Speaker:opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak.
“Shhh.” Leon whispered back, his voice
shaking. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:right
Speaker:now.”
This
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “Justice
Speaker:is
Speaker:Brewing”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Vincenzo
Speaker:Pasquarella,
Speaker:read for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:Solomon
Speaker:Harries,
Speaker:cuddly
Speaker:badger
Speaker:dad.
As
always,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Happy
Speaker:Holidays,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
