Library of the Four Winds Challenge 06#19 -- Safe

[kings_companion]

He'd had to let himself in to the hotel room, using magic to undo the lock, when Devin wouldn't answer the door. The boy didn't even look up when he came in. He sat there, flicking his lighter off and on, staring at the flame. He'd already lit his cigarette, though the ash was collecting on the end in a long column that looked ready to fall at

Comments

[firebugwarren]

The first time, Warren didn't say anything. Devin wasn't exactly human, after all, his boy probably didn't work the same way.

The second time he still didn't say anything. He just wasn't that good at the emotional stuff.

The third time he waited a couple days and then knocked on Devin's hotel room the next morning.

[kings_companion]

Fergus was not leaving Devin alone, but he was starting to doubt whether either of them would survive the day, let alone the week. He'd retreated into silence, just playing his guitar, or listening to his iPod and staring out the window.

He was barely eating, and only showered because Fergus dragged him in there bodily.

He didn't know what was wrong, and didn't have the first clue how to fix it, but he'd be damned if he was going to give up.

He opened the door and almost sighed in relief when he saw Warren on the other side. "Hi."

[firebugwarren]

Warren's eyebrows shot up. This could explain everything, anyway.

"... hi."

Pause.

"Am I interrupting?"

[kings_companion]

Fergus shook his head, stepping back to let Warren in. "No. He's just..." He waved to the corner where Devin was picking at his guitar.

"You're not interrupting."