“Best used often…”
A sharp whistle tore through their pleasure cocoon, and Ned couldn’t unwind himself from Cole fast enough as his heart rattled with dread. They’d left the doors wide open, brainless like two cats that found a bucket of cream and didn’t care about the dog stalking around.
A wiry figure stood at the entryway, muscular for someone young yet with the awkwardly long limbs of an adolescent. Ned’s head pulsed with panic, but Cole stood in front of him and closed his duster.
“Tom. Weren’t you going into town with the others?” he asked, and while his voice was hoarser than usual, it sounded normal enough. Perhaps darkness had kept the details of what had almost transpired from the boy’s eyes?
No such luck.
Tom frowned and signed so fast some of his pale locks fell onto his face. [I have news. But you have too? What is this? Two men.]
Ned’s blood thudded in his ears so loudly he might not have understood Tom, if he were speaking. “It’s not—”
[It’s disgusting. What are you doing?!]
Cole marched up to Tom, with his coat floating in the air like a cape, and slapped his face so hard Ned flinched.
“What was that, boy? Your signing’s off today, I feel.”
Tom rubbed his reddened cheek and raised his hands in protest before signing again. [Sorry! Sorry. I was just joking.]
Ned watched the boy with his heart in his throat. All these years, they’d been discreet for his sake, but also because Ned had been afraid of rejection. Tom was like a son to them, and he didn’t want to lose him over the most important relationship in his life. While they brought him up to be accepting and kind, at fourteen, they could hardly control the influence his band of friends had on him.
“What are you saying?” Ned uttered, taking in their boy from the tips of his bare feet to the mop of blond hair on his head. Despite the young age, he had a cocky way about him, reinforced by the company he kept.
Tom rolled his eyes. [It’s about time I officially found out, right?]
“Found out what?” Cole hissed and tugged on Tom’s ear, dragging him in front of Ned.
The bratty expression softened. [That you two—]
Ned spread his arms in frustration. “What do you mean ‘officially’? Who told you?”
Tom glanced at Cole, his pouty lip dashing forward in a defiant expression. [People talk. And you’re not as quiet as you think.]
This must have thrown even Cole off guard, because he didn’t immediately chastise Tom and rested both hands on his hips. “What—”
[I’m mute, not deaf and blind.] Tom snapped, crossing his arms on his chest as if he’d been offended.
Ned’s face went hot, and his head spun a little when he realized that the boy had been aware of the true nature of their relationship all along. He licked his dried lips. “And… you accept it?”
Tom shrugged and a brazen smile bloomed on his face. [Sure. But I have so many questions.]
“You do understand it’s a secret?” Cole asked without mercy, his face increasingly tense.
[It’s no secret in the circus,] Tom signed with a squeaking chuckle.
“And I won’t answer a single question you might have before you apologize to Ned for your useless ‘joke’.”
Tom huffed and rolled his blue eyes. [I’m sorry. But it was pretty funny—]
Ned wanted to argue, but then noticed a dark shape on Tom’s forearm and grabbed his wrist, stiff with horror. “What the hell? I told you! No tattoos until you’re sixteen!” The crude depiction of a tiger’s head stared back at him from Tom’s skin, making Ned’s head pound with anger.
Cole gave a low chuckle. “It’s uglier than my cleaver,” he said but bit back the smile when Ned huffed at him.
[What you two do is not allowed either,] Tom signed as soon as he pulled his hand away, but Cole slapped him again.
“It’s not the same thing Tom, and you’ve known us long enough to grasp that.”
Ned hid his face in his hand. “Jesus, kid. When did you become such a smartass, huh? We’ll talk about this later. You said you had news?”
Tom beamed, unbothered by the chastising. [Jan bought the land. We’re staying!]
“We know,” Cole said and rested his hand on Ned’s shoulder. It burned like something Ned should’ve shaken off, but he couldn’t make himself do it. He didn’t have to anymore. Tom already knew, so what was the point of secrecy other than fear life had ingrained in him over the years?
Tom shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as if he suddenly found the situation awkward. [I’m going into town,] he signed.
Ned shook his head. They had a rough few years ahead of them if they were to shape the insolent boy into a man.
“That’s fine. Just come back with everyone else.”
Tom nodded, grinned, and was off, closing the door behind him.