Page 93 of Icarus

Icarus pulled his arms through his own straps, buckled them close, pulled them tight.

“Are you ready?”

Luca scoffed. “Sure.”

Icarus grabbed hold of the straps closest to his arms and took a deep breath. Then he crouched and, with a shout, lifted Luca off the floor.

He steadied himself, widening his stance and leaning forward. Luca pulled his legs up, shifting his weight so it was easier.

Icarus breathed fast, then, with a groan, pushed himself to standing.

He held Luca aloft for an agonizing moment, then leaned back and deposited him gently back to the floor.

“That . . . that could . . . have been worse,” Icarus panted.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to lift me at all,” Luca said bitterly. “But wonders never cease with you, do they.”

“I’ll only have to lift him to jump down off the roof. Then gravity should take care of the rest,” Icarus said.

“I hope so.”

Luca unbuckled himself and slithered out of the harness. Icarus stepped from beneath his bonds and folded the whole thing back into the duffel.

“I . . . I have to go home. I left something cooking,” Icarus said. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

Luca sighed and rubbed his neck anxiously. “Yeah. I guess. Yeah,” he mumbled.

Icarus put the duffel back on the floor and crossed the room. He tentatively put his arms around Luca, tried to hug him. Do it the way he had been taught. Tucked his hands against Luca’s shoulder blades and placed his face against Luca’s chest.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

Icarus began to let go, but Luca clung to him suddenly. Pushed his fingers into Icarus’s hair, shoved his face into the curve of Icarus’s neck.

“I wish you could stay,” he confessed in a rush. “If it was just you and he didn’t exist, we could have figured out a way you could stay.”

Icarus closed his eyes. “I know. But he does and I can’t . . .”

“Why is everything so hard with you?” He pulled back to search Icarus’s gaze, devastated. “Why can’t some things just be easy?”

“You’re the only best friends I’ve ever had. I can’t risk anything happening to that,” Icarus replied softly. “Nothing can ever replace you.”

Luca looked away. Let Icarus untangle them.

“You have to tell her,” Luca whispered.

“I will.”

Icarus unlocked Luca’s bedroom door.

“We should practice a few times,” Luca called as Icarus walked out the door and down the stairs. “You have to be ready; I don’t want you to fall.”

Tech

Halfway home, Icarus paused to lean against someone’s wooden fence and catch his breath.

His chest ached. He pressed his hand over his heart.

He didn’t want to leave.