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“He’s uh... how do we say it? Protective of you.”
Asher smiled again, his heart warming his whole chest. “He’s been... I can’t explain it. He’s...”
“I get it, darling,” he said sweetly. “And I can’t wait to meet him in person. Tomorrow.”
It took Asher a second... “Tomorrow? Uh, if it involves walking or anything like an overcrowded train ride from Mumbai, I just can’t. I’m sure my face would be enough to concern authorities, but I hurt too much—”
“This will be much more comfortable, I promise.”
Asher trusted Four, he really did, but... “What did Harry say?”
“He said yes, and trust me when I tell you he was very clear when he explained how he wouldn’t allow you to endure any arduous travels. My darling, that man is a bear.”
Asher chuckled. “He’s a teddy bear.”
“Oh, you do have it bad. I shall judge for myself tomorrow. You can stay here and recuperate for as long as you need. Stay forever if you want.”
Asher sighed. “Tomorrow it is.”
He ended the call, and a few minutes later, Harry came in with a bowl of rice and curry sauce. No meat or beans or anything he had to chew. “Something savoury,” Harry said.
Asher sat himself up, nice and slow. “Oh, thank you.”
Harry stood there, unsure. “Did you want me to bring the table over?”
Asher shook his head. “No. You can feed me.”
Harry rolled his eyes but he relented a smile. “I think this could be a ploy for me to spoil you,” he said, as he sat beside Asher on the bed. He scooped a small spoonful and gently put it to Asher’s mouth. “It’s a sweet curry, not spicy. My second day here, Hazeema, the woman who has been cooking for us, she made two separate meals. One for me, one for her family. I said I could eat that, there was no need to make something different. I didn’t want to burden her, but she told me it was too spicy. I said I could eat spice.” Harry stared at me, his eyes wide. “Well, I wasn’t aware nuclear was a spice level, and I almost died. So, as it turns out, I cannot, in fact, eat what a Pakistani grandmother would call spicy food. She laughed at me a lot and I’m pretty sure she called me ‘silly white boy,’ which is fair enough. Not gonna lie. I will never make that mistake again.”
Asher laughed, hurting his ribs and his jaw, but it felt good too. He held his side. “Don’t make me laugh.”
Harry pouted. “Sorry.” He offered him another spoonful. “Four told you we’re travelling tomorrow?”
Asher nodded as he swallowed.
“Do you think you’ll be up for it? I told him yes, but if you’re not ready, I’ll call him back.”
“I’ll be okay.”
Harry offered him another small spoonful and Asher took it, his eyes meeting Harry’s. The kindness, the gentleness of this interaction, made Asher smile, his heart warm.
Harry looked away, his cheeks pink. Maybe Asher blushed too, but with his swollen cheeks it was hard to tell. It made the swelling under his eyes pang, so he guessed it did.
Which was ridiculous.
The hit of endorphins was dizzying and by far better than any pill for pain he could take.
He had a few more mouthfuls but had soon had enough. “Are you sure?” Harry asked.
Asher nodded. “Yeah. I’m tired again. I’ve never been this tired in my life.”
Harry rubbed Asher’s back. “I’d reckon your brain took a few real hard knocks. You were concussed pretty bad. You need to rest. It could be weeks before you’re feeling better.”
Asher sighed as he slowly lay back down. “Weeks... I don’t want to be this useless for weeks.”
“You’re not useless,” he said gently. “And you can rest when you get to Four’s place.”
The way he said that...
