Traitor

The Big Bad Wolf

I woke up in the most comfortable bed that I ever had the pleasure to lie on. It felt like a marshmallow cloud suspended by a floral breeze (which I strongly suspected was Febreeze). I didn't want to leave it. I didn't even want to open my eyes. Sleeping on a cot for so long in S-11, then a little twin bed in the Twinkie factory, this was a huge upgrade. The covers on me were so soft against my skin as I lay tucked tightly in a cocoon of warmth. I probably would have stayed there forever if I didn't start to remember what had happened yesterday. Mardu, the tracker in my chest, that hurtling fist from Thor himself. Oh man, what had happened? My eyes shot open and I felt my forehead, thinking I'd have a unicorn horn of a swollen wound. All my searching hands found was a zit. Which I wasn't exactly happy about, but it was a lot better than a colossal multicolored battle bump.

My heart skipped a beat and I raised the covers to look at my tattoo, feeling it. It seemed just the same as before, except without the tracker device. I felt where it was before and sighed in relief. I felt a little violated that the thing had been there in the first place, tracking my every move. 

Then I realized someone was watching me and my head shot up. A handsome devil was smiling broadly now that I was awake. Creepy.

"Ah!" I shot up in bed. "Have you been watching me this whole time?"

He reached out and put his hand on my knee, ignoring the question. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'd feel better if you'd stop turning into me," I snapped, a bit more spiteful than I meant. I pulled my leg away from him.

Riley looked a bit hurt, and I immediately felt bad. He did save my butt yesterday.

"Hey..." I said, wetting my lips. "Thanks... for yesterday. That was really brave."

He broke into a huge grin. "It was nothing," he said before leaning forwards and wrapping his arms around me tightly, holding me close.

"You just had to make it awkward," I mumbled, head on his shoulder. I didn't return the hug.

"You know I'd do anything for you, right?" Riley spoke in a whisper. "You just have to ask." He leaned back and cupped my face in his hands. Ugh this was so weird. I was tempted to ask him to go away.

"I am so proud of you, Justin," he said, almost teary eyed. He seemed to be trying to say something, but he didn't know how. His mouth opened and closed, reminding me of a fish out of water, his black brows pinched.

"Why?" I asked, looking up at his rapidly swirling violet eyes.

"Well... you've grown so much. I remember when you were just a little tike, when you used to run around outside with that wild black hair of yours" –oh great this was getting worse and worse- "And you'd try to catch crickets and worms to feed to me." He laughed a little at the memory. "You were so cute, with those big, curious eyes." He looked at me like he was about to cry. Please don't cry, dear toucan. "And you were such an escape artist. We couldn't keep you in the crib! The second we'd look away, you had already made your-"

"Wait," I interrupted his reverie. "What do you mean 'we'?"

He blanched, his eyes becoming round. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

At that moment there was a knock on the door so hard that the door almost splintered, the hinges barely hanging on for dear life. Riley was so startled, he jumped and turned back into a toucan, letting out a startled croak. I shot up before falling out of bed, taking the blankets with me. I landed in a heap of blankets, only my head sticking out. "Ow." I mumbled, face down on the white carpet.

"Are you awake in there, lad?" The booming voice had about as much strength to it as the fist that had knocked my lights out.

"I am now," I mumbled to myself before calling to him. "Yeah, come in." I started trying to worm out of my blanket.