All Is Bright - K. Sterling Page 0,18
head, I guarantee it.”
“Probably,” Aiden agreed but it was hollow and unfocused. “I don’t understand how making me spend time with Reginald is going to make this less uncomfortable and disorienting,” he said. Lane did laugh and nuzzled his face in the corner of Aiden’s neck.
“Because I want you to enjoy yourself more and get into a little trouble. You and Reginald are good for each other and he wants to be your friend.”
“What if I don’t want to get into trouble or be his friend?”
“Are you telling me you don’t like Reginald?” Lane asked. Aiden’s nose wrinkled again as he considered.
“I like him when he’s being himself instead of...what he usually is. When he isn’t being awful and confusing,” he attempted and Lane nodded.
“I find that totally understandable. He’s a pain in the ass and makes my head hurt but he’s also loyal as hell and means well, in his own shitty, twisted way. Reginald just doesn’t know what it’s like to have good, healthy things in his life or how to express normal emotions without getting hurt for it. He’s British and they’re warped about titles so he’s not supposed to have feelings or care about other people.”
“That’s what people say about me,” Aiden said and Lane frowned.
“What do you mean? Who says that?”
“Reginald, sometimes. He calls me a robot. Lots of people think I don’t have feelings or care about other people because I’m autistic. I feel all the same things. A lot. Sometimes, I feel them more than I feel other things or hear or smell. I get so scared of the pounding in my chest or how much my stomach hurts and I pull away from everything and don’t hear or notice what’s happening. I can’t always feel and react or articulate at the same time the way I can’t chew gum and walk. It’s an idiom but I can’t actually do that. I have to stop and chew or I just clamp it between my teeth until I get to wherever I’m going. Sometimes, I have to clamp something between my teeth and feel it when I get someplace quiet or safe. Do you think he’s like that too?” Aiden asked but Lane needed a minute. His vision blurred and his heart hurt but it was because Aiden had gone and made it bigger and just a little fuller.
“Yeah,” he rasped and nodded. “It’s a lot like that. I think Reginald gets a little scared and isn’t sure if it’s safe to be himself but he’s getting there,” he said. Aiden’s eyes swept upwards and he nodded.
“I can see that and I’m glad but I also don’t like being around him most of the time.”
“That’s understandable. He’s either adorable or wildly obnoxious. There’s no sane medium with him. But I’m worried about Lavender. He’s doing his best to keep Reginald from getting murdered and figure this thing out with Blink so we can all go home. Reginald isn’t helping things by being the worst version of himself instead of dialing it back.”
“That seems counterintuitive, if Reginald wants to live, though,” Aiden observed and Lane nodded.
“No one expects him to be rational or cooperative but Lavender thinks he’s got something good up his sleeve and doesn’t want to interfere if it’ll help. But he’s also at his wit’s end with Reginald and it would give us all a break if we didn’t have to worry about what he’s up to for a few hours. Paul’s got to be exhausted,” Lane pointed out. Aiden smirked and gave his head a shake.
“The last thing we have to worry about is Paul’s stamina. Hey!” He gasped and twisted away when Lane squeezed the back of his thigh. “I’m sorry!” He laughed. He caught Lane’s face and kissed him loudly. “I’m not worried about Reginald wearing him out but I do worry about Paul’s sanity.”
“You’d be doing him a real solid if you gave him the afternoon off,” Lane said as he settled over Aiden and rubbed their noses together.
“Like when we have Robin over for s’mores and movies so Sage and Lavender can drink wine and have sex in the kitchen?” He asked and Lane laughed.
“Kind of like that but Paul probably just wants to take a nap or catch up on emails so he doesn’t get fired.”
“But he knew what Reginald was like before he married him,” Aiden argued. Lane hummed and nodded as he wondered how delicate he should be. He was about to use a