Page 148 of Storm and Sea

There is that word again. What the hell is this Bond?

But before Atreus had a chance to ask, a smaller voice whined from beside Leo.

“Can we go see Marina now?”

Atreus hadn’t even noticed the tuft of blond curls. One of Leo’s younger brothers pushed at his side impatiently.

“She’s right over there, Edgar; go ask.”

“But—” Edgar hesitated, an embarrassed flush creeping to his cheeks.

“If you want to race with the big kids, you have to be a big kid and ask by yourself,” Leo encouraged.

“Marina is really nice; you don’t have to worry,” Nyel reassured.

“I know that,” Edgar said but only looked more horrified.

“Here,” Atreus said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a strawberry fruit tart. He remembered the seller since Marina liked the last one so much and decided to buy her another. “Give her this. Tell her it’s from⁠—”

“Atty!” Nyel interrupted. “Tell her it’s from Atty.”

“You got this, big man. Deep breaths. Go get ‘em,” Leo said, giving Edgar a small shove. With a determined nod, Edgar walked to the pescheria’s stall.

Atreus glared at Nyel. “You suck so much.”

Nyel laughed, knowing how much the nickname irritated Atreus.

“Why does he need to talk to her anyway?” Atreus asked while simultaneously flicking Nyel in the ear.

“He wants to race with the big kids. He’s only a few months away from turning twelve,” Leo said, and even in his ragged state, Atreus didn’t miss the fondness in his voice.

“He probably won’t win. Since he’ll be the youngest,” Atreus pointed out.

“Edgar knows that. He just wants to race on the bigger course. He’s been practicing all summer. And he’s been putting off asking for over a week now. I think he has a little crush on the red-headed-wonder. He’s at that age where girls are interesting but all the more terrifying.”

“That’s adorable,” Nyel said, rubbing his sore ear.

A panicked voice called out, echoing from the direction of the beach.

“Atreus!” A weathered man streaked with oil and what looked like fresh burns on his hands jogged beside him. “Forgive me, Atreus, but I don’t know what to do. My boat, Fortuna, I don’t know what happened. I’ve tried everything.”

The man looked ready to collapse with stress.

“It’s okay. Let’s not panic. Let me see what I can do,” Atreus said, forcing confidence into his voice. He turned to them. “I’ll meet you guys later, alright?”

And without hesitation, he raced to the docks, prepared to save this man’s livelihood.

Leo tried. He really did try not to let the sour taste in his mouth ruin his mood. Yet watching the inches between Atreus and Nyel slip away as the music slowed and the lights dimmed left him feeling sick.

He ran his fingers through his curls, trying to get them to stay in place like Atreus’s. But as always, the stubborn strands behind his ears refused to submit and stuck out awkwardly.

“Leo, can we go?” Edgar whined.

“Just a minute,” he said, patting his brother on the head without tearing his attention away from the pair.

Two men can’t be doing things like that. Not in public, anyway. Who the hell do they think they are?

Bitterness coated Leo’s tongue at their thoughtlessness. How many times had he suppressed himself, hidden who he was? How many times had he longed to express how he felt about other men? Yet the socially imposed rules he lived by had always held him back.