426 falling for you

Ry ran his hand through his disheveled hair as his hand hovered over the library door. He'd seen the light on from outside and knew Russ must still be inside. He blew out what must have been the hundredth sigh since heading toward the room tonight. He tapped lightly on the door. "Russ… I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now… but there's something we need to talk about before tomorrow…" He waited for a reply but when nothing came, he rested his head against the door. "Russ… I know you're in there… I swear to you this is something important… not something about… other matters… I'm sober, I promise…" When there was still nothing he pressed down on the handle. The door wasn't locked, but he tried getting permission once again before letting himself in. "Russ, come on… the door's unlocked." He took a step back as the door slowly opened. Russ's wary eyes met his.

"If you knew I was in here and that the door was unlocked then what was the point in all that? Why not barge in like you always do?"

Ry looked away in shame. "Because I don't want to continue crossing the line with you. I didn't expect you to be so angry with me… I thought I was…"

"Helping? Hardly…" Russ blew out a tired sigh as he turned and walked back into the room. "Well? What do you have to tell me?"

Ry hesitated as he followed him inside. "Jos's wedding tomorrow… Will Jaden be attending with you?"

Russ shrugged. "I have no idea. She refused to even allow me in the upstairs wing of the castle tonight… I don't know what I've done or said now… or if she can just tell that I've been unfaithful to her…" He flopped down on the window set where he had a pillow and a throw blanket spread out and rested his head in his hands. "If you can even call it that since she's all but declared us over…"

Ry arched a brow. "Are you sleeping here?"

Russ shrugged. "Yeah, why?"

Ry's eyes moved around the cramped seat. "There's over a hundred rooms on the second and third floors why not pick one of them… why not go back to your old room?"

Russ let his head fall between his hands as he dragged his hands through his long, tangled hair. "I tried… It feels less lonely here."

"Lonely?" Ry sat down beside him.

Russ laughed sarcastically. "You're going to think I'm being the most ridiculous child when I say this… but I've… I've gotten so used to being near others… I couldn't sleep in there by myself." He quickly looked up at Ry. "You know first the tiny apartment, then having to share a room with you… then sharing a room with Jaden… It just seemed so empty…"

Ry arched a brow. "So, you decided you'd squish yourself up into this tiny window seat instead?" He patted Russ's back. "You could have always come to my room or the room beside me."

Russ brushed Ry's hand away. "What is this? What am I to you? A hostage? A job? A toy? Prey?"

Ry's eyes widened. "You… I… Why are you asking?"

Russ arched his brows. "Why? You have been complete chaos since the second I met you… One minute you're helping me the next beating my ass… then trying to fuck my ass… You've made it clear you're attracted to me… and now your doing shit that's fucking with my already fucked up marriage… aren't I allowed to ask at this point?"

Ry moved his attention to the patterns of the marble tiles. "I guess…" He fumbled with his hands. "I'll not lie I've been drawn to you from the beginning… you're a very attractive, interesting kid."

When Ry didn't say anything else Russ asked. "So, that's it? You find me attractive? You want to fuck me and that's it?"

Ry squeezed his eyes closed as he muttered. "I think you know better than that by now…"

Russ grabbed his arm and pushed him back against the glass forcing him to meet his gaze. "Let's pretend I'm a dumbass, and you need to spell everything out for me. What am I to you, and what do you want out of all this if you could have whatever it is you want?"

Ry swallowed hard. "I…" He let his words trail off then shook his head. "No… It doesn't matter. There's no point. You're straight and I'm pretty sure I'm cursed to be alone forever or some shit…"

Russ furrowed his brows in irritation. Jos's words echoed in his mind, demanding answers in place of space. "No, don't give me that bullshit. Answer my question. What is it that you want? What do you hope to get out of staying by my side? Why do you stay at all?" When Ry bit his lip and still refused to answer Russ narrowed his eyes. "If I did as Jos did to Arei and told you I don't want to see you for the next couple hundred years, what would you do?"

Russ's words were enough to snap Ry out of his silence. He sat forward and caught Russ's wrists. "You're not serious, are you? You're not like her, your lifespan isn't nearly as long."

Russ pulled his wrist away. "Exactly, so what would you do? Why would it even matter to you?"

Ry shifted his gaze out the window. "It matters, ok…"

"Why?"

Ry's attention snapped back in irritation. "Because I fucking love you, ok? I've been in love with you for quite some time. I'm pretty sure I've said as much. I wasn't joking then, and I'm not joking now. I'm willing to be by your side as whatever you'll have me as, though I'd rather be more than less… Happy?"

Russ caught his breath, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess I am." He arched a brow. "Are you sure? I mean really sure? I mean you treat me like a kid over half the time… and a punching bag the rest of the time…"

Ry chuckled. "Trust me, I've never been more sure. There has only ever been one other person I've ever loved anywhere close to this much in my long, long life; and I'm not entirely sure I loved her quite as much..."

Russ furrowed his brows. "Why do you say that?"

Ry huffed out an unironic laugh. "Because I would never fight for her the way I would be willing to fight for you and me. You've rejected me so many times now, but it hasn't made a difference… You've all but told me there's no chance in hell… but I'm still here…"

Russ's face flushed as he averted his gaze. "What if I said it wasn't entirely a zero percent chance…"

Ry's eyes widened. "Wha-"

Russ could feel his face heat more. "I don't completely hate it when you touch me… I think it's part of the problem… why I've reacted the way I have so far… you… your very… skilled…"

Ry chuckled as his own cheeks blushed. "I have had A LOT of experience."

Russ's face began to burn. "I don't think being a man-whore is something to brag about… and I'm not saying I'm ready to jump into anything with you right now! I'm just saying…" Russ ran his hand over his hair. "Honestly, I don't know what the fuck I'm saying right now… I'm saying… I talked to Jos, and I don't want to send you away… I want to keep you by my side… and if at some point that turns into something else then…" He shrugged. "Then whatever, I guess…"

Ry's eyes widened at the mention of Jos. "That reminds me! The reason I came here. At Jos's wedding, I need you to keep toward the back rows of seats. At the first signs of trouble, I'll do my best to get you and Jaden out of there, but I can't promise anything. She didn't want me to say anything to you, so I beg, don't let her know I have… but I couldn't set back and have you in danger." His eyes locked with Russ's. "I care too much about you." He was just about to try his luck with a kiss when something out the window caught his eye. He furrowed his brows as he turned his attention to the lawn below and tried to get a better look.

Russ turned his attention to the lawn down below as well. "What is it?"

Ry pushed the window open. "Either my eyes are playing tricks on me, or a bride just ran by…"

Russ furrowed his brows. "That's ridiculous. Who the fuck would be out here in a wedding dress?"

Ry shrugged. He held his arm out pushing Russ back into the room. "You stay here, in case it's a trap of some kind. With what is planned to go down tomorrow I wouldn't be surprised with nearly anything tonight. I'll go check it out."

Russ caught his arm. "You sure you don't want me to call some of the guards to go with you?"

Ry shook his head. "Nah, it's most likely god business anyway. Just stay inside and you should be safe. There are enough wards on the palace to keep unwanted guests out of the main structure."

Russ nodded. "Alright, I can at least walk you-" Ry had already jumped from the window before he could get the word 'down' out. He watched in surprise as Ry ran stealthily across the back lawn. Russ shook his head. "At some point, his superhero shit will quit coming as a shock… right?" He wasn't sure what Ry was talking about, but he'd learned that whatever it was there would be nothing to worry about as long as the massive man was by his side.

Ry would have sworn what he had seen earlier was a phantom if it hadn't been for the tiny footprints left behind in the soft sand of the trail leading out to the cliffs. He followed cautiously, so as to not alert the culprit. Light sobs reached his ears before the clearing came into view. As he neared and the beautiful white dress began shimmering under the bright moonlight, it was obvious there was no threat here… not in the way he'd been worried about anyways… but possibly in a completely different and much more painful way…

Ry stepped out into the clearing. "Jaden, what are you doing out here? You shouldn't be out here. You should be inside… sleeping. We all have a big day tomorrow. Everyone will miss you if you're not there. April, Jos, Baby Cam… Shelly… Russ… Me…"

Jaden whimpered but didn't turn away from the edge of the cliff. "G-go away, Ry."

Ry took a few more steps closer to her. "I'm not going anywhere without you, Jaden. So, give me your hand, and let's go back together."

Jaden shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Why… Why would you even want me to? I'm completely useless as a wife… as a queen…"

"No, no you're not. Why would you even say that? Come here. Let's go back and talk about this."

She shook her head as more sobs erupted from her. "It would be better if I disappeared." She shook her head. "I can't go back home. I can't live on my own… I have no money of my own… this is the only way… I'm a burden…"

Ry held out his hand. "If that's what you truly want. We can work something out. We can set you up with a place of your own, a job… money… Jaden, please just come to me…" His heart suddenly stopped when her foot slipped on some loose rocks, but she managed to regain her balance. His voice became gruff and demanding. "Jaden, step away from there. Come here, now!"

Jaden shook her head, heavy tears blurring her vision. "You would be happier too… the two of you could finally be together… I wouldn't be in the way." She met his eyes. "If I can not give him children anyway, then why me… why not you?" A sad smile curved her lips as she turned her back to the cliff.

"Jaden, NO!" Ry darted forward, but it was too late. She held her hands out and closed her eyes as she tossed her body backward. "FUCK!" He called out as he dove over the step cliff after her. His fingers tangled with the flapping fabric of the dress first, then tangled his fists into it as he tugged her nearer. Her eyes popped open in shock as he wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you doing?" She called out over the sound of the wind swooshing by them.

"Wishing I had wings." He muttered as he positioned himself under her and braced himself for a hard hit on the rocky beach over 150 feet below.