Their Property (Four Mercenaries 3)

Boar took a deep breath and slid his hand into Pyro’s. “I’m out of painkillers. Clo shouldn’t drive and it’s gonna be a while until Drake’s back. I just gotta tough it out.”

Boar had broken ribs and many injuries that were still healing, and while he wasn’t dying of pain, Pyro could only imagine how worn down his system was after months of fighting in the secret death matches.

Pyro groaned and slid his arms around Boar. “What are you talking about? Just give me the keys, and I’ll go to the gas station. It’s only fifteen minutes away.” It would be a challenge, since he hadn’t even seen beer since they’d bugged in here, but he’d be in and out of the store. He would manage.

Boar licked his lips and squeezed Pyro’s hand, which instantly raised all the alarms in his brain. Pyro knew exactly what Boar would say next, and the fact that he wouldn’t let Pyro take care of him out of a sense of misguided protectiveness had his blood boiling. Boar had been there for Pyro through so many low points, so why was Pyro not yet allowed to return the favor?

“Is it such a good idea right now, babe? I can wait. I’ve been through much worse in the last months. This is nothing. This is good. I’ve got a blanket, birds singing, and you,” Boar whispered.

Pyro didn’t want to get angry, but heat was already turning his brain into vapor. “You think I’m incapable of buying you painkillers without snorting a line off a public toilet seat? Is that what you’re implying?”

Boar groaned and turned his face away. “I don’t want you around painkillers either. You’re doing so well. Let’s keep that streak, okay?”

“It’s been two weeks. I gotta go back to living a normal life at some point,” Pyro muttered, but didn’t follow his initial impulse to storm off. A week back, he would have, too wrapped up in his anger and frustration to realize that while Boar was treating him like a child who couldn’t resist candy, he did it out of love.

“You will. God knows what news Drake will bring. Soon enough, we will be on the move, and you’ll be back in the thick of it, so why not just enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts?”

A deep exhale left Pyro’s chest as he kneeled by the chair and placed his head in Boar’s lap, smiling despite his annoyance, when thick fingers swirled against his scalp in a familiar way. “I can’t relax when you’re unwell. I still miss you, even though you’re back.”

Boar offered him a weak smile. “Then I guess we’re in a conundrum because of caring about each other too much. Doesn’t sound that bad to me. How about you just stay here, and I try to sleep it off? I relax around you. When I can feel your hand in mine, I know I’m back home.”

Pyro sighed, shutting his eyes as Boar continued to stroke him. There was a wonderful rhythm to it, which made his annoyance subside. “Without you, everything goes to shit. You’re important. Should have told us earlier that you needed more pills.”

“Are you saying I demand less than I deserve? Sounds like someone I know.”

“I’m no one special.”

Boar shook his head. “You are to me. You are to Clover. To Drake and Tank, too. And who else matters? None of us is important to the world. What counts is that we’re important to each other.”

There was no point in arguing with him, so Pyro took it in stride and held on to one of Boar’s hands, enjoying its warm touch. “Just tell me if you want anything.”

“I will, thank you.” Boar closed his eyes, and Pyro couldn’t help but stare at the four deep scars that cut through his familiar features.

He’d only need face paint to look like a barbarian heading for a siege, yet Pyro knew aggression wasn’t a component of his lover’s personality.

“Boar?” he whispered. “You asleep yet?”

Boar smiled. “Idiot. I barely closed my eyes.”

“If you could do something else. Anything really. What would you want to do in life?”

The handsome mouth crooked into a smile. “You taught me I actually really like excitement and adventure. Extreme sports maybe? And I’d get a dog.”

A smile pulled at Pyro’s lips. There were days when he felt guilty over taking away Boar’s chance at a normal life, but maybe being a good boy all the time wasn’t Boar’s nature after all. “What kind of dog?”

“A good dog.” Boar kept his eyes closed, but the smile was still present on his lips. “A Golden Retriever. I’d teach it tricks and have him watch over Clover.”

“Didn’t your family have one when you were growing up?” Pyro asked, ignoring the way his heart clenched.

“We did. I had to leave him behind when they told ‘just not be gay’ if I wanted to stay.” Boar squeezed Pyro’s hand tighter. “When I was fighting for Tyrone, I saw so many dogs abused, forced into fights. I couldn’t do anything for them. I think I’d want a rescue.”