💎A Collision of Fates💎 (Straight to Gay) (MxM) (18+)

111 - Nick

When Nick returned to The Paxtan Estate, Breck was in the kitchen, staring at the rations they had been given for the week.

"Goddess, this is nothing." He looked up at Nick, shook his head. "We have some food stores to take from, stuff we've saved, but what about the people in The Matches? The Commerce? The ones that live meal-to-meal. They're going to starve."

On the table in front of him was a small loaf of bread, a few pieces of dried meat, and some cheese. It was nothing, but it was the best that Sesstria could do, clearly. Mark had made that clear.

"We need to stop The Golden Spire before that becomes a problem, then."

"Nick, it's already a problem." Breck ran a tired hand over his slick head. "And I think we need to tell Commander Unil that. Or Teel. The message isn't getting through."

"I think they know." Nick walked up to Breck, gave him a quick kiss, and then picked up one of the pieces of dried meat. He chewed, swallowed. "What we need to do is get into the restricted section of the royal library."

"Oh, Goddess. This again."

Nick nodded. "This again." He put his hands out, felt the potential inside of them. "I've figured out how to pick a lock with my shadow. I'll be able to get us inside, finally."

"But what if we get caught? The consequences..." Breck looked legitimately concerned, his face was scrunched. He crossed his arms. "We would be disobeying direct orders from The King."

Nick took another bite of the salty, chewy meat. "If we don't do this, then the city could fall, we could lose everything." He tried to keep his voice flat, tried to force away the desperation he was starting to feel. "Isn't that why we joined the defenders? To put our lives on the line for the sake of the people we love, the city we love? If we break into the restricted section of the library, that is exactly what we're doing."

Breck blinked. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Then, he swallowed and tried again. "You're right."

"Of course I am."

The big man breathed out. "So, when are we going to do this?"

Nick swallowed another bite, finishing the thin piece of meat. He wiped his hands. "Today. This evening."

"Goddess, Nick."

"We have no time to waste. The Golden Spire is trying to starve us out, to make us weak. They could attack at any moment."

Breck bit his lip, anxiety rippling over his features. "Alright." He took a long breath, seemed to steady himself, and then he nodded. "Alright. We need to do this. And if we get discovered, if we get found out, then we'll accept the consequences."

"Breck, I can do this myself." But he really didn't want to. Sure, he could break into the restricted section without Breck's help, but it would be more difficult, more risky. "I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to do."

"Are you being serious, Nick? You think I would let you do this without me?" Breck walked around the kitchen counter and approached Nick. He brought Nick into his arms, wrapping him in a tight, warm embrace. Nick looked up at him, into the other man's dark, gleaming eyes. "Whatever happens, happens to both of us. If you face consequence for this, then I want to face them, as well. We're a team, and we'll be a team for the rest of our lives."

Nick smiled, and their mouths came together in another kiss.

"You can pick a lock now, so I assume the lessons are still going well?" Breck said as they separated.

Nick sighed. "They were. Today, Rafie told me that this one was going to be our last."

Breck's brow lowered. "Why?"