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Caelan’s fingers twitch by his side. He’s avoiding looking at Elias and having trouble looking at me. “Sorry,” he mutters. It’s obvious he’s uncomfortable and unused to having to apologize for anything. The fact he’s even making an effort for me is oddly endearing. “Should’ve asked or whatever. Forget humans ain’t so used to dimensional shit.”
I leave Elias’ embrace and tightly hug Caelan instead. He blinks in surprise, not sure what to do with the abrupt affection.
“I’m fine. It’s fine. I would prefer if you did warn me before doing that again, but I’m not upset or anything. Thanks for apologizing.”
“Oh. Sure. You’re welcome, I guess?”
Elias huffs a short, wry laugh. His amusement at Caelan’s discomfort and awkward attempts at an apology seems to have, momentarily at least, outweighed his initial anger at Caelan’s recklessness. “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an apology from you so quickly. Normally it’s like pulling teeth.”
“That’s ’cause you always gotta be an ass about it,” Caelan grumbles.
“Why don’t we go up to the pier?” I suggest. “That’s what we came for, right?”
“Sure thing, Shan.” Caelan seems glad for the excuse to get away from the conversation and leads the way toward the stairs leading up.
I go to follow immediately after him, but Elias takes my hand to stop me. I turn to him in surprise.
“I apologize also,” he says, voice low. “For snapping at Caelan. I know it must be uncomfortable to witness. I simply find myself… protective of you, and it would pain me greatly to have you harmed because of a moment of thoughtlessness on his part.”
“It’s okay,” I say, giving him a soft smile.
They’re both demons. I know that. I’ve known it all along, and I know they’ll never going to be perfect at the whole emotion thing. But they’re trying—Caelan apologizing so readily and Elias wanting to protect me. It feels like they are, and I’m convinced their hearts are in the right place.
They care, don’t they?
Elias returns my boots as we reach the steps, and I brush the sand from my feet as best I can before pulling them back on. Caelan doesn’t bother, apparently having no qualms about simply wandering around barefoot. I wish I’d thought to do that too, as it’s only a pier and not the weirdest place to walk about with no shoes. Not that I ought to care about what people think of something so insignificant.
I admire Caelan’s self-confidence and how little he gives a shit about what others think of him. God, I could use some more of that. Of course, it’s probably because he has the capacity to simply destroy anyone who rubs him the wrong way.
As morbid as the thought is, I grin.
Caelan responds in kind, smirking back at me as we head into the crowds. It’s busier here than the rest of the walk. Not packed to the point of it being an irritation, but there’s a steady flow of people around.
I’m content with simply wandering. We pass by the rather impressive old carousel housed in a building close to the beach end of the pier, and Elias offers to pay for a ticket for me. I laugh and decline. It wouldn’t be any fun to go on my own, and I can’t even imagine Elias or Caelan on a goddamn carousel, of all things. Just trying to picture it cracks me up, and Caelan ends up laughing with me when I wheeze out an explanation of what has me so amused.
I pass on the rides further up the pier for the same reason, although Caelan seems moderately interested in the rollercoaster. It’s not big or impressive enough for him to have any incentive to go on it, though. I do consider the Ferris wheel since that seems like a standard, romantic sort of venture. But I decide against it, wanting to give Elias’ pride a break. He’s been indulgent enough already, and the boxy cabins in bright primary colors seem somewhat childish compared to his usual refined taste.
Honestly, it’s fun enough to take in the sights and the atmosphere with both of them by my side.
The arcade is more where the party is at. While Elias is content to follow and simply watch, Caelan is more enthusiastic about joining me in shooting some computerized zombies. For a time, at least. I can’t say I’m exactly good at the game we picked out to play, but I don’t feel like I need to be.
Caelan, apparently, does. After our third game, he gets frustrated and grumbles about dumb games that lack the satisfaction of the warmth of actual blood and guts on his hands.
I think he’s being hyperbolic. Mostly.
Elias steps in at that point.
Caelan was not bad at whatever generic zombie game we were playing. He was on the better end of average, taking delight in pumping the twisted monsters full of lead. He mowed them down enthusiastically until he ran out of bullets.
Elias, on the other hand, is precise, calculated, and an incredible shot. He waits for the perfect openings and destroys each enemy with a single headshot, taking advantage of their weaknesses.
I get my character killed by staring at Elias instead of paying attention to what I’m doing, but damn. Even though he’s only playing some arcade game, he has the stance, casual but powerful, the concentration, and a quiet, smug satisfaction when he clears the level with more than enough ammo to spare.
He hands the plastic gun back to Caelan and steps away from the machine, smoothing his shirt down.
“Goddamn show off,” Caelan mutters, with no proper heat from the accusation. He was captivated by the performance himself.
“You, of all people, should know the value of being proficient in at least one weapon,” Elias says.
