Embracing His Syn (Nothing Special 2)

“You calling me stupid?” Furi snapped right back.

Syn rolled his eyes in frustration. “Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me? Furious we don’t have time for this Mickey Mouse bullshit right now. Go get your shit and let’s move.” Syn went over to the only window in Furi’s apartment and stood watch while Furi threw some clothes, toiletries, books and a laptop into a bag, grumbling curses the entire time. Syn let him say whatever he wanted to, as long as he was doing what needed to be done.

Furi had a large duffle draped over his shoulder when he came to stand in front of Syn. “Done, Detective. Anything else you want to order me to do?”

Syn took a quick calming breath. He took Furi’s duffle off his shoulder and set it gently at his feet. He put his arms around Furi’s waist and pulled him to him. “I’m not trying to order you around. I just can’t let anyone hurt you.” Syn squeezed his eyes shut. “I wouldn’t handle it well if you were hurt when I knew that I could’ve done something to prevent it. I have to go with my gut. I've always trusted it and it’s gotten me out of more than a few jams. My instincts are telling me to not leave you here alone tonight, so you’re coming home with me. I’ll have Sasha picked up by morning and a restraining order issued for your ex. Then if you never want to see me again, I’ll understand." Syn was so relieved when Furi leaned in and hugged him back.

“This is too much ya’ know? I’m a nobody, a goddamn mechanic. Why the fuck is she after me?” Furi’s breath ghosted over the damp skin of Syn’s neck.

He pulled back to look into Furi’s frightened eyes. “Fuck that. You are not a nobody. Don’t ever say that shit again. You’re ... you’re ..." Syn didn’t quite know what he was ready to admit yet, or if he could voice what he was feeling for Furi. You’re important to me. One thing was certain; while his protective streak ran deep for this man, there was something else there, lying just beneath that. He wasn’t going to say love, that was too much too damn soon; he’d never even been in love so he wasn’t going to start slinging that word around. But he wasn’t ready for Furi to check out of his life permanently. That thought made Syn sick.

“I’m what Syn?”

Syn blinked. He needed to finish what he was saying. “You’re strong enough to handle this and come out victorious.” Syn squeezed him back. “Come on. We got to go.”

When they were back in the truck and headed back to his place, Syn radioed for a unit to patrol the area around Furi’s apartment because he was worried about his landlady. By the time Syn made it back to his side of town, Ronowski called and told him that their BOLO would be in effect for twenty-four hours, but no one had picked up Sasha yet.

‘A Hard Head Makes a Soft Behind’

Syn unlocked his door and let Furi into his place for the second time that night.

“Shouldn’t I be in witness protection or something, in a secure location?” Furi fired off indignantly.

Syn flicked on the lamp in the living room and turned to look at Furious, shooting him a look that said ‘really?’

“Would you rather I take you down to the station, where a detective can question you for five hours before they take you to the shittiest hotel in the next city? While some cop that’s ridden a desk for the last ten years sits on his ass the entire time he's so-called guarding you?”

Furi dropped his duffle bag to the floor and shook his head. “I guess not.”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” Syn grinned. He removed his coat and draped it over the back of his new sofa. It was nice, but he hadn’t had the chance to enjoy it yet. Furi walked backwards until the back of his legs hit the couch. He flopped down like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Syn rubbed the back of his neck, wincing at the tension there. He needed to say something to Furi ... anything ... but what? Bad people, crime, guns blazing, cars running you off the road, all this was normal for Syn, but Furi was just trying to live his life. Syn sat down next to the beautiful man, his hand hovering over his knee before he moved it and placed it on his shoulder. The gesture was meant to be comforting but didn’t look like it was helping. “Are you okay?”

“No, no, Syn. I’m not okay. That crazy bitch just tried to kill me, and for what? Because I wouldn’t fuck her.” Furi’s voice was rising with each word. He vaulted off the couch and started pacing in front of Syn, pulling on the ends of his hair. “Is that cause to kill someone? Jesus Christ! I wasn’t trying to make her fucking look bad, I didn’t want to fuck her because I’m fucking gay!”