Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)

Pack is Everything

The lunch turned into an afternoon, and even Quinn admitted it wasn't too bad. Amaya and Rain actually seemed to get on well after the initial awkwardness was over and done with.

Quinn kept himself to himself, quietly observing them interact. He'd never spent this much time in Rain's presence before, and the ghoul seemed to get more relaxed around him as the time went on. Calista glowed with happiness, glancing at Quinn now and then to check he was doing okay. At some point, the rest of Rain's pack, who hadn't accompanied Papa on his trip, drifted in too. It became too much for Quinn, so he made his excuses and went outside for a breather. He trusted Aether and Calista with Amaya's care and wandered out into the gardens for a smoke.

He was glad Amaya and Rain had met, after his initial wariness. They were blood, after all, so it was only right they got to know each other. The adoring look on Calista's face when she looked at them was worth it, at least. This was a major thing for her, having her two remaining kits together at last. Quinn felt happy for them, but he'd needed a minute away. His quintessential self had lapped up the love and the newly formed connections, but ultimately, it had become too overwhelming.

Quinn leaned against the back wall of the Abbey, and he rubbed the centre of his chest. An echo of pain from across the Divide made him sigh. It was Air. Typhon must have breathed his last, and Quinn blinked away the tears he could feel welling. More tragedy for Air and his family to deal with. Great.

"You okay, Quinn?"

It was Itzal. He'd bundled up against the cold and Quinn shivered when he realised it was indeed chilly outside. He nodded and offered the young ghoul a smoke. Itzal accepted it, lighting up and taking a long drag.

"Yup," Quinn said. Itzal came to stand next to him, and Quinn gave him a sideways glance. He sensed Itzal's exhaustion and his anxiety beyond what he usually felt. He also sensed he wanted something from Quinn. "Are you?"

Itzal sighed. Quinn could tell he was undecided whether to confide in him or not. He didn't push and waited for him to figure it out. He ultimately decided to take the plunge.

"The bad dreams are back."

Quinn frowned. He knew Itzal often experienced nightmares about his time as Santos' slave, but as far as he was aware, they had calmed down a lot in the past few months.

"Oh?" Quinn said. "So you haven't been sleeping?"

His exhaustion suddenly made sense. Itzal shrugged.

"Not really. I think I'll be okay when Sunshine gets back. I don't have them too much now when she's there. Not the really bad ones, anyway."

Quinn nodded and took a drag of his smoke, breathing in deep and blowing it out slowly, savouring the burn in his lungs. He knew all about what it was like to be plagued by nightmares of memories. How it felt when they robbed you of sleep. He sent Itzal some soothing magic and felt him relax a little. Quinn tried to hide his shock that their most recent pack mate had confided in him, and it gave him a warm glow that he'd opened up about it.

"She's back tomorrow, yes?"

Itzal nodded.

"Lunch time."

"How about we all sleep in the den tonight? Air will be back soon, and he's going to need us."

Itzal frowned, and Quinn felt his concern for their pack mate. He knew if he framed it that way, Itzal would accept the help a little easier. It meant Quinn could kill two birds with one stone.

"He is?"

"His grandsire just died. Just now, actually, if his sorrow is anything to go by."

He rubbed his chest again and Itzal turned to him, concern in his gaze.