Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)

Never Meant To Be

The conversation didn’t happen that night. By the time Amaya’s visit was over, and Quinn had subtly dropped hints to her about being summoned to Earth, resulting in the usual rejection, his head had been aching badly.

By the time Air had said a heartfelt goodbye to Ayla, and promised to visit the other side every other day, he’d not been in a good place.

Calista had caught Quinn’s eye as they headed back to the lair, and he’d shaken his head. The timing wasn’t right.

Instead of the anticipated heart-to-heart, Calista had left, and Quinn and Air had fallen into bed exhausted, emotionally battered, and clinging together until sleep dragged them both under.

The next day had been Quinn’s day off. Air’s too. They’d spent practically the whole of it in bed, fully clothed and sleeping on and off. Quinn had played down the headache to Air, but it was so bad that, maybe for the first time ever, he’d actually considered going to visit the Doc of his own volition.

Ultimately? He didn’t. He suffered through, as always, telling himself it was just fatigue. An aftereffect of the vision and the recent neglect. But even in sleep, the ache throbbed, muffled but constantly there.

True to his word, Woe had sent an update via less than official channels. A single ancient Infernal symbol appeared on the scrying mirror Quinn kept on his altar:

SAFE

Typical Woe, but Quinn hadn’t questioned how exactly he’d found the means to use that particular form of communication. Even so, he was grateful for the ghoul’s resourcefulness. The symbol had melted away as soon as Quinn registered it, leaving behind a temporary but welcome peace of mind.

The next day, Air had travelled to the other side to visit Ayla, and by the time he’d come home, he’d been emotionally wrecked again. Quinn’s headache and bone-deep exhaustion persisted, but he tried his best to get through his shift and be there for Air once he arrived home.

It was the day after that when Quinn finally decided enough avoidance was enough. Calista had been bugging him via messages, and Quinn’s guilt at hiding things from his mate had eaten at him a little too long.

They lay in the furs on their bed, Air curled into Quinn’s side, cheek to his chest.

“What’s bothering you?” Air murmured, claws absently tracing the lines of an ancient tattoo on Quinn’s pectoral. Quinn shivered, and Air snuggled closer. He huffed. “I mean, besides everything. You just seem...distracted.”

Quinn peered down at him, thinking he should have made sure Calista was here. She’d wanted to be there when they told Air.

The time was right, though. Or as right as it ever could be. And Calista was busy with Angelina, so Quinn would just have to take her irritation that he’d gone ahead without her. He knew Air better than anyone, though, and when he was in this blissed-out, post-coital haze, he tended to take things better...

Usually.

“There’s something you need to know,” Quinn murmured. Air’s eyes flicked to Quinn’s and his brow creased at the sudden seriousness of Quinn’s tone. “It’s Calista.”

Air sat up beside him, claws going still.

“Is she okay?”

Quinn sighed and dragged a hand down his face. He propped himself up on his elbows and scowled, throat going tight.

“She’s fine.”

Air looked relieved.

Fuck.