Hmmm.
Gideon may not be a parent (yet), but his senses are tingling.
While he never had cause to sneak around as a teenager, he sure as fuck has the art of the undetectable entry down pat. Even if he doesn’t do that anymore.
The sneaky vanilla-mocha-scented duo arriving from their outing with Artem are trying to go unnoticed even though they had permission—er, well, they’re not calling itpermission, exactly, because their very pregnant omega does not appreciatethatat all.
Nix prefers to tell them where he’s going, take someone (two someones, in ArtemandLuca’s case) wherever he likes, as long as he takes his phoneandleaves the microchip embedded in his arm for the time being.
The rest of the pack had had theirs removed before they’d even left Florida five months ago. Still, as soon as Nix asked to have his out, Finn started in about monitoring the babies and about optimizing pregnancy and paternal health modalities,blah-fucking-blah.
Gideon thought it was more about managingFinn’sanxiety and keeping track of Nix generally than keeping track of Nix’s health in specific terms. Nix had taken one look at the pale and agitated Finn and agreed.
No one commented on how Jay had visibly relaxed, dropping the arguments he’d been gearing up for, as well.
So how do they think they can sneak in, when Nix’s little yellow dot was flashing on his phone not an hour ago? That’s the real question.
What are they hiding?
Something huge and impractical for the nursery, maybe, which has so far been entirely Leo’s modus operandi. Or maybe they’d been to Sentinel and smelled of peaches, cedar, and moss when Jay and Nix had alreadyagreed(argued) that Nix would wait until after the babies arrived before he began the physical parts of his training.
Gideon resists poking his head around the corner to catch a glimpse of them, instead enjoying the moment and perhaps giving them a little surprise, when the whispering intensifies, and Luca’s scent precedes him, all burnt coffee and worry.
That won’t do. He’s going to intervene because whatever they’re arguing about is upsetting Luca big time, and that’s where Gideon has to draw the line.
Intense fluctuations in Luca’s previously even-keeled mental health have been the state of affairs for the past few months. Oscillating between anxiety about Nix’s health, fear about his ability to be a parent given his upbringing (Gideon can relate), and extreme excitement has meant weekly trips to see his therapist, Ruthie, and a lot more time spent in Gideon’s room practicing Shibari ties.
Even now, Luca has on a rope harness under his hoodie that Gideon tied this morning before they left. Luca says it helps settle his anxiety to feel Gideon’s knots and ties, especially when he’s out in the world. It settles Gideon, too, knowing he’s wrapped in something he’s created with deliberation and care. The softest ropes money can buy act as an extension of Gideon’s love and protection, and no one will hear it from him, but he’s thought about doing it to the rest of his mates lately for exactly the same reason.
Sighing, Gideon rests the wooden spoon against the side of the bowl and crosses his arms as the almost-soundless feet pass down the hall to where he can see the dynamic duo creeping toward the right-wing stairs.
Nix senses him first and startles, causing Lucato chirp.
Realizing the jig is up, Nix yells, “Gideon! Hey. I gotta pee really bad and then take a nap.” He waves over his shoulder, flying right by the main floor powder room—where last Gideon checked, there was a working toilet—and disappearing up the stairs, leaving his partner-in-crime staring after him, holding the proverbial bag.
“Shit,” Luca whispers before turning and pasting a smile on his face that is faker than the one Gideon wears when they visit his mother-in-law, Lauren. “Sugar, hey.”
It’s hard not to smile, especially considering how cute Luca is. Because his boy is about to lie his ass off, and there is nothing Gideon likes more than making Luca sorry. Almost.
Instead of a smile, he just cocks his eyebrow, waiting for his soulmate to fill the silence.
“Uh, whatcha doing?” Luca asks, and when Gideonis stillnot forthcoming, his little squirrel twitches his figurative-sweatpants-covered tail and caves.
It takes him less than thirty seconds. “I can’t tell you.”
Well, that doesn’t sound good at all, and what’s worse, his soulmate’s agitation means hewantsto tell Gideon or, at minimum, he knows heshould.
There aren’t any packages hanging from his wrists, and Gideon can only smell vanilla-mocha-patchouli and the slightest tinge of flowers.
Hmmm, odd.
It is summer, after all, but Nix and Luca aren’t ones for flowers beyond a cursory appreciation.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Well on his way to an agitated state, Luca sets himself into frantic motion.
Following him into the kitchen, Gideon watches Luca dig around under the sink for the big bowl they usually use for popcorn. He then fills the kettle at the sink and plugs it in.
