Maybe that was what he should focus on.
* * * *
REED WASN’T SURPRISEDto see Franklin on the doorstep when he opened the door.This was Moore’s house, after all, and it made sense for Franklin to come here, especially considering what would be happening today.
Reed wasn’t sure who was more nervous about it.Possibly him.Franklin had already done this before, and even though he knew that Garrett was in the facility, he was determined to get his brother out.That meant that he knew better than to do anything stupid.He’d been laser-focused as he and Reed talked things out, and Reed didn’t expect that to change once Franklin reached the facility.These few hours would be the longest in Reed’s life, though, or at least, they’d feel like it.
“We need to talk,” Franklin declared.
Reed blinked at him.“Of course.What do we need to talk about?”
“I don’t hate you.Now that we’ve talked and I’ve spent time with you, I understand better why you did what you did.I hate that you had to hurt my brother, but I see that you didn’t have a choice.Besides, he would’ve been hurt regardless.At least you were the one to do it, which means you knew to be careful.You knew how to help him even as you obeyed the orders.”
Reed blinked.He had no idea what to say to that or if Franklin expected him to answer.He was here for a reason, but Reed didn’t know what that reason was.“I did what I could to help,” he promised, because it was obviously important to Franklin.
Franklin nodded once.“I know.That’s what I’m saying.I never wanted my brother to be hurt, but I guess that knowing that you were the one in there with him makes me feel better.I know you never would’ve hurt him more than necessary.I know you wouldn’t have taken any pleasure in doing it, not like some of the guards did.”
Reed remembered the guards.He remembered the scientists, the other lab techs, the nurses.Some of them had been as horrified as he’d been, but others?They’d enjoyed it.They’d liked the power they had over those people in cages, and they’d wanted more.They’d behaved as if the prisoners weren’t human beings, but they’d been the monsters, not the people in the cages.
Franklin rubbed his face.“Sorry.I hyped myself up so much as I walked here that I blurted out everything instead of easing you into it.I guess what I’m saying is that once Garrett is here, I want to get to know you better.You’re my mate, even though I didn’t take that well initially.It means something to me.It means something to every shifter, and I don’t want to lose that.I’m just not sure what to do or say or how to behave.I hope that once we have Garrett back, things will be slightly easier, but I can’t make any promises.”
“I don’t need you to make promises,” Reed reassured him.“I know that your brother is your priority.I’m fine with that.”
“Yeah?”
Franklin looked hopeful.It wasn’t a new expression on his face.He’d been hopeful about getting Garrett back, but it was strange to see it directed at Reed.Reed had fully expected Franklin to never want anything to do with him.Franklin might not know what he was doing, but he wasn’t the only one.
“We’ll focus on finding Garrett and bringing him home,” Reed said.“And once he’s here, we’ll see.I understand what you’re saying, but right now, you need to be focused.You can’t think about me or our bond.”
“I know.Does that mean that you’ll give us a chance?”
“I was never the one who didn’t want to, Franklin.If it makes you feel better and helps you focus, then yes, I want to give us a chance.I want to get to know you outside of this mess.I want to know the real you, the person you are when you’re not in an emergency, scrambling to learn enough information to find your brother.”
Franklin nodded.“This will make it easier for me to focus.I promise that I’ll be okay.Hopefully, it won’t take more than a few hours.I already know where everything and everyone will be.You made sure of that.I’ll let the mutants in, point them the right way, and find Garrett.I’ll be back here so fast you won’t have time to worry.”
That wouldn’t be the case because Reed was already worried, but he nodded.Maybe this would help Franklin.Maybe it would give him an incentive to be quick and efficient.He wanted to come back to Reed.That had to mean something, right?
Hopefully, it meant that he would come back in one piece because if he didn’t, it would be hard for them to get to know each other.Reed knew that Franklin would happily sacrifice himself for his siblings, though.
He prayed it wouldn’t come to that.
There was a possibility that things would go wrong.Reed didn’t want to consider it, but he had to.It would’ve hurt before, too, but now that Franklin was willing to give him a chance?It would be hell.Reed didn’t want to lose something he’d barely had.He didn’t want to lose something he’d never thought he’d have.He needed Franklin to realize that.
“You have to be careful.It’s the only way we’ll both have a chance to talk things out and figure out where we stand.What I can tell you is that even though I’m human, I feel the bond between us.I want this bond.I don’t know what it will mean for us, but I can’t wait to find out, and that’s not going to happen if you don’t come back.”
Reed was aware that they were still on Moore’s porch, where anyone could see them.Maybe he should ask Franklin inside, but he didn’t want Franklin to get uncomfortable.Besides, Moore and his mate were in the house.Hell, they could probably hear everything Reed and Franklin were saying.Considering that Moore had pushed them together, he was probably gleeful right now.
Reed had many things to thank Moore for, and now he had to add this to it.He wasn’t sure he could say that he owed him his life, but part of him felt like he did.If it wasn’t for Moore, Franklin probably wouldn’t be giving Reed a chance right now.He’d be as far away from him as possible, and Reed would have to watch him from afar.Hell, if it wasn’t for Moore, Reed would’ve left, and he wouldn’t have seen Franklin again.He wouldn’t have spent time with him, discussing the facility and the people there.He wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get to know Franklin and see how desperately he loved his siblings, how he was still grieving their mother, and how he was planning on keeping them safe.
Yes, he owed Moore a lot, and he’d have to thank him, but he could hear footsteps behind him, and he knew they were about to get interrupted.
Probably by Moore himself.
He turned as Moore appeared from the living room.The man was trying very hard to hide his grin, but he wasn’t fooling Reed.
With a start, Reed realized that he’d gotten to know Moore, too.He didn’t consider him just the leader of the mutants anymore.He considered him a friend.After all, they had breakfast together almost every day.They talked over dinner almost every night.
Reed couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a friend, but he liked it.He liked Franklin and Moore and living with the tribe, even though sometimes, it was awkward and uncomfortable.Hearing that Franklin wanted to give them a chance meant he might have the possibility of staying here even once this was over, and he desperately wanted that.
