Strings Of Fate

Chapter 8

"We can go to the bakery," Terrence offered as both Daniel and Marquez looked at him. "Rather than put Daniel out." And not have Daniel in their sphere of influence any longer than he needed to be in so. It was bad enough that Mika had sent Avalon to walk him home. Anyone who danced around a circus member for longer than ten minutes was in danger of being introduced to Madame X and being converted. The few humans who worked in the circus were usually people who had been regulars a little too often. Not lost enough for Madame's magic to change them but unattached from the world to follow in their path.

"Daniel offered, it's fine," Marquez said, pushing Terrence towards Daniel's door as Daniel opened it. "Avalon, give the key to Mika when you're done. Sanvish!"

"Yes, sir!" Avalon nodded, idly moving some dirty clothes to one pile in the corner with one hand as he picked up some bottles with another. It wasn't tidying, more making a path through the destruction of Terrence's life.

Everyone was going to see his dirty laundry. Terrence shivered and hugged himself. Mika's reaction would not be pleasant. Maybe he could talk to the man about keeping Daniel out of the circus and human.

He walked over to Daniel's place, pulling out of Marquez's grip. Marquez let him. Daniel's flat was much tidier than his. There were hints of messiness but the normal kind rather than the decay of someone's spirit. The carpet needed a vacuum, but there were no clothes on the floor, plates unwashed or piles of unread mail. Daniel took his coat off and hung it up before rolling up his sleeves and moved the coffee table to the side. Daniel's sofa was a pullout bed. Before his older brother moved away, Daniel had slept on the sofa every night.

"I have clean towels," Daniel said, eyeing up the muck on Terrence's hands and lower legs. The mud on his hands had dried, but his trousers and trainers were damp. Terrence grimaced at the sight and took his trainers off, not wanting to press muck into his friend's carpet.

"Yes, well," Terrence scratched the back of his head.

"Thank you, Daniel. That would be appreciated," Marquez had a pleased purr in his voice. Hands picked Terrence up again. The noise that came from him was embarrassing, but Marquez laughed at it. "I'll get him cleaned up. Vish will help you set up," he beamed at the man as he carried Terrence over to the bathroom.

"I'm perfectly capable of washing myself, Marquez. Put me down!" Terrence struggled in the grip, aware of the wide-eyed look Daniel was giving them.

"Given the state of your flat, I'm not so sure I trust that."

"Marquez!" That was less of the protest as much as it was a childish whine, not too dissimilar to the sound he'd used to make when Marquez had forced him to bathe as a teenager. Marquez had bathed him a fair few times when he was younger but had left him to clean himself as he grew taller and started developing into a more adult body. His cheeks warmed at that thought. Was Marquez planning to wash him as he had back then? "I'm not a child anymore!"

"Keep sounding like one, and I'll bend you over my knee and treat you as such." Not an empty threat.

The bathroom door shut behind them, and Marquez locked it. As if the little lock would be enough to stop anyone if they wanted in, but it made a point. This was happening, and Terrence was going to have to deal with it.