Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)

Posturing

Quinn emerged from the bathroom, clean and fully awake now. Secondo had called all of his ghouls to a breakfast meeting.

Air was scrolling his phone and sipping his coffee, Bad Company’s Seagull playing in the background. Quinn didn’t really listen to music or have a preference, but they were one of Air’s favourite bands and he always said that this song reminded him of Quinn. He never pressed him for the reason but he’d made a point of paying more attention to it than he usually would have.

Air sensed Quinn there watching him and quirked a brow whilst taking a sip of his coffee.

“What?”

Quinn’s gaze strayed to the angry looking mark on Air’s neck and he smirked.

“Just admiring the view,” he said with a shrug.

Air grinned at him and tilted his head so that he could get a better look.

“We need to go, Quinn,” Air said with amusement. “We don’t have time for that.”

Quinn chuckled and shook his head. If he didn’t know better he would have thought that Air could read his thoughts. Their bond had never progressed like that though. Each one was different. He and Ashtoreth had been able to communicate telepathically but they hadn’t had the same level of emotional awareness that he and Air had. Yes, they had picked up on each other’s emotions and it had definitely been intense, but he didn’t remember it being on the same level as what he and Air experienced.

Air also seemed to have a dampening effect on the ether. The time they spent together was peaceful and he felt like his head was mostly his own. The visions he had were few and far between with only the more significant ones seeming to filter through.

Air downed the rest of his coffee and stood, shoving his phone into his pocket.

They walked to Secondo’s study in comfortable silence, hip to hip. Quinn knew that this would be something to do with Calista and he had a bad feeling about it. Air realised it and he sent Quinn little reassurances through their bond all of the way there.

As usual they were the last to arrive and Earth gave them his usual disapproving glare, nose twitching and eyes flicking to Air’s marked throat before levelling on Quinn’s.

“What? We showered before we left,” Quinn said with bite.

Fire stifled a laugh and Air sighed dramatically.

Quinn was surprised to see Councillor Shay, Papa and Aether there also but he didn’t comment.

Secondo motioned for them to sit and they obeyed, taking a seat on the sofa with Water. He didn’t make any small talk and got straight down to business.

“Boreas and his team have been trying to locate Calista’s kits. They were split up when Ose moved them into the Council’s care. Rain went through the main Academy and ended up here with us which was a stroke of luck. The others attended separate rural academies but there were no specific records of where they were sent. Their names were changed to cover up who they really were. It seems that they became lost.”

“Lost? What do you mean lost?” Quinn growled, angry at the mention of Ose and his involvement.

Secondo gave him a patient smile and continued.

“It took a lot of searching and investigations but Boreas’ ghouls tracked them down.” That was good news, so why was Secondo’s expression so grave? Quinn’s bad feeling threatened to overwhelm him as he waited for the incoming bad news. “It was discovered that they had both been killed, fairly recently in fact. Not too long before Calista was freed actually.”