Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 47

( Mature - Graphic violence. Please by advised. )

The silence was deafening, all eyes shifted to my husband, even that of the younger version. He was our leader, much as he might defend that he just aided in decision making, Verando was the one who tended to see things rationally in times like these. Caspian who destroyed the planet, tried to kill us both on multiple occasions, and was certifiably insane. 

"Nothing to say to your best friend?" Caspian considers looking offended, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm trying to apologize, I'm trying to say that I was wrong."

Verando steps around me, silently walking over to grab the skillet off the rack and set it on the stove, turning the eye on high. His face is expressionless, making my skin crawl, I'd felt this amount of intensity only a few times in our lives together and I never envied the person on the other end of it.

My husband attempted to be a fair man in most instances, with a questionable morale ground when he felt he'd been wronged. I settle into my heels, keeping myself from putting my person between the pair. I knew better, after these years together, than to come between a hunter and his prey.

Caspian sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair as he stands. Verando's eyes snap to him, warning him with their sharpness as he slowly lowers himself back into the seat. "Randy, aren't we past silent treatments? Do you need to hit me? Is that it? I was being controlled by Fenrir, haven't we all done something we regret?"

The younger version, Cas, surprises me with how genuinely disgusted he feels. Nose wrinkled, body recoiled away, "What.. what if I vow to never become you? To never turn into you?"

Caspian scoffs, unimpressed, "Hate to break it to you, kid, but I'm still here. That means you still turn out exactly like me. At least if I understand it correctly... Admittedly, this has been quite odd that suddenly feel bad for what I've done. I've not felt guilt or remorse in the entire time I've had Fenrir. But now, it floods back in waves, I remember some things vividly, others it feels like I'm looking through a dirty window."

I stare into the dark hue of Verando's long sleeve, tracing the tension in his back with my eyes. I can see the strain in his neck, the way his hand slowly comes to rest on his ribs to soothe the ache of mounting frustration. Pushing his sleeves up to his elbows, he turns to face the man. 

"Let what's in the past be in the past, hmm?" He asks, shortly. 

"Ideally, though I know that's not your style. You're a vengeful thing, always have been."

Verando almost chuckles, "Right. I have quite the temper. So just to be clear, we're forgiving the fact that you turned half of my generals against me and tried to over take my pack while in the middle of a tour to save our lives?" He considers this with a slow nod. 

Caspian blinks, "Well-"

"Or... the fact that you made us lose a Beta and have to have a ranking ceremony in the middle of a war?"

"Randy, that was so long ago." Caspian exhales, exasperated. 

Verando nods, pulling his lips into a thin line as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Sooner then, right. Bringing Red to this time frame in an attempt to separate me from Nic? Bringing Kitten here to torture me knowing that I wouldn't choose her but damned if I didn't absolutely shatter her in the process of that."

I hear Randy choke, "Gods, Kitten.."

"Shut it." Verando snaps at him. "Don't worry, you keep fucking around and eventually none of it bloody well matters because the world goes to right shit after you trick her into marrying you." He rolls his eyes heavily and turns his attention back to Caspian. So much taller than the Spanish man, standing  beside him down, bearing down on him with the burning light gaze.