40. Colt

Colt

The next morning, Colt and Owen ate breakfast in their room. Brom and Amias slept elsewhere, and Colt was grateful, for Owen seemed to still be shaken from the events that had unfolded. They had both been summoned to the citadel later that day, to speak about the things they had gone through.

Owen opened up briefly about what he'd encountered in the citadel with Mordren and Rem, and it was hard for Colt to listen to the abuse he'd endured. When Owen finally finished recounting everything, he stared off blankly into space. Colt winced as he took his hand and smoothed his thumb over a scrape on his wrist. All the bruises on Owen's body had come from these two monsters.

Despite their sorrow, seeing Owen in the room where Colt spent some of his childhood made him feel a bittersweet joy. He was no longer the man he used to be, drinking day and night, gambling for coin and getting into trouble. He was a better person now, one who wanted to be worthy of the man at his side. A man, Colt observed as they ate, who was kind and tender, who was haunted by the ghosts of his past but who had worked bravely each day to help those around him.

Since they had defeated Mordren, several factions of soldiers and civilians marched to the citadel to demand reform of the current regime. They worked with the Alliance, led by Bridge and Agnes, and Colt hoped they'd get to meet them soon. Tensions were mounting between the Legion and the people of Luthien. They knew the truth, thanks to Elian. The accusations made against the council had brought to light the actions of the Legion. Elian had told them of the little girl, Rose, who had been killed in Milarc for being Shadowborn. He would soon take the stand before the people of Luthien and detail the wrongs of taking Astran children away from their parents and putting them through horrific torture to claim their power for the Legion.

The truth surrounding Rem had also spread, about his time as a Core Wielder and how it had led him to become a Hunter in search of the key to open the Gate. As Amias told them yesterday, the beginning of a new era had begun. Colt was already seeing the changes. The councilmen, Owen, Colt, and Amias would be put through trial once Elian was done sharing his knowledge. A decision on the fate of all their lives would be made soon.

There would be no more hiding or running for Owen. Colt felt a rush of joy in his heart as he thought of them both living together in peace without anyone trying to kill them.

After they ate, Colt pulled off his bed clothes to change, then looked over as Owen did the same. Seeing him bare, his skin glowing once again, made Colt stir. He couldn't help it. It had been weeks since he'd seen Owen, since he'd indulged intimately in him. When Owen glanced up at him and their eyes met, Colt's body flushed with heat.

They gazed at each other for a quiet moment, and then Owen took a step towards him, and they both fell into each other, as if sensing what the other one wanted. Owen's hand slipped around the curve of Colt's neck, pulling him against his lips, and Colt wound his arms around Owen's waist .

Kissing Owen roused every tender feeling, ignited every spark, within his body. His hands smoothed up his back and then below his waist. Their kiss was rushed, full of need. As their lips parted, Colt sucked in air through his teeth before he dove for Owen's neck to taste him there.

Then they both eased on the bed, their hands touching every place on each other that they possibly could. Nothing existed but the two of them as they kissed. Colt's hand found that sacred part of Owen, and he pleasured them both together as he kissed his lover's lips, his face, his neck…

Gods, how he loved Owen's neck. How he loved Owen.

Owen let out breathy moans as his fingers dug wonderfully into Colt's arms and back, pulling him closer. Then Owen's body tensed as he released, and not long after, Colt followed. In the afterglow, they both clung to each other, letting their breaths steady.

"Colt…" Owen whispered against him. "I love you…"

The air calmed, and Colt's heart fluttered. He pulled away to look down at Owen and furrowed his brow. "What did you say?"

Owen's brown eyes blinked up at him, and then he smiled faintly as he leaned up on his elbow. "I love you, Colt O'Malley." He kissed Colt's lips and lingered there, brushing against them. "I love you so much, it aches. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Letting out a soft sigh, Colt gently grabbed the back of Owen's head and whispered, "I love you, too."

As they held each other, Owen broke down and cried against him. Colt wasn't sure if his heart was tender from his confession or if the pain of the past few weeks had once again grabbed hold of him. Regardless, Colt held him tighter, letting Owen get out all his heated anger and sadness.

After another hour spent in their bed, Colt and Owen got dressed to go downstairs. Owen had yet to meet with Helena and the girls who had defended the brothel against any attacks. Now that Owen was ready to leave the tiny room, Colt didn't know what to expect. He knew what turmoil lay within Owen's mind. He saw through his forced smiles when he had reunited with Amias and Brom. Meeting other people today might wear him down significantly.

"Are you ready?" Colt asked.

"I feel… a little uneasy. But I am more rested."

"Maybe this will help." Colt pulled Owen's shark tooth necklace from the drawer and placed it around Owen's neck, then clasped it. When Owen looked down at it and rubbed his finger over the tooth, he smiled.

"I wondered what happened to it. Thank you." Owen beamed at him, which made Colt feel giddy inside. He leaned forward and kissed Owen gently, admiring him for a moment before he pulled away and opened the door. They made their way down the back stairs, which Colt took one at a time, as his ribs were still healing.

"Are you alright?" Owen asked him in the narrow stairwell.

"Yeah, I'm good. Why?"

"Well, you're breathing hard and limping down the stairs."

"Ah, just a few sore spots. It's nothing."

When Owen went quiet, they came into the kitchen to find Brom and Helena preparing food for the people who had taken refuge in the brothel in the past two days .

When Helena saw them, she grinned through the blonde strands of hair falling into her eyes. "Good morning," she told them.

"Morning." Colt nodded at them, then he cleared his throat as he said, "Owen, this is Helena. She was my mother's friend."

Helena bowed her head slightly at Owen. "I've heard a lot about you. I'm glad to finally meet you."

"You as well." Owen smiled and twisted his thumb in his fingers. "You gave Colt a place to stay…"

"Yes. I consider him family. You both have a place to stay here as long as you're in Luthien."

"How are you feeling, Owen?" Brom asked as he cut vegetables on the cutting board.

"I'm good." Owen looked down at an onion.

Colt came up to the cutting table. "We're going to talk to Amias, then we'll be heading up to the citadel to meet with Elian."

"Amias is at the front of the house, tending to the wounded," Brom said. He rummaged around the pantry before placing a sack of something on the floor. Helena seemed taken with helping fix meals for whoever needed them. The whole brothel seemed to have turned into one big soup kitchen.

They nodded, and Colt led Owen to the sitting room, finding a roomful of people, some sleeping, others chatting. The brothel had become a refuge for those escaping Mordren's army before the battle and a healing ward for those injured during it. Leaving the room, they made their way to the front of the house, where they found Amias and another man tending to many injured people.

Colt walked around to him. "There are a lot of people here," he said .

"Some have become very ill," Amias replied.

Owen stared at them all with a distant look in his eyes. Then he squinted and gasped.

"What is it?" Colt asked.

"It's Agnes… and Bridge." A faint smile formed on Owen's lips, and as Colt looked over, his heart glowed. The very man who had helped them in Vanhelm were here, and behind him was his wife, Agnes. She had saved Owen's life from the wound the Horgg had inflicted.

Colt knew they had both come to Luthien with the aid of the Alliance, and now they were here at the brothel, aiding those who needed healing.

"It's good to see you both." Bridge bowed his head, his blue eyes sparkling and his long chestnut hair falling over his shoulders.

"I heard you came to Luthien's aid," Colt said.

"We came to your aid," Bridge corrected. "Agnes and I knew, once the Gate had been opened, that the Alliance would be needed. We haven't been a group in a long time, but now… we rise, for the freedom of the Astrans, for those who suffer under the rule of the Legion here in Avathon." He placed a hand on Owen's shoulder and said, "Do not despair. You have cut through the darkness."

Owen smiled at him, then at Agnes, who embraced him. Her dark brown curls were pinned into a bun, and she wore a healing apron.

"How is Nel?" Owen's brow knitted with worry. Bridge and Agnes's daughter had suffered a wound from Rem's firearm at their home.

"She is fine, recovering with a family friend in Port Holland. "

It was too much for Owen to absorb, Colt knew it. He could feel it. If this is what Owen felt all the time, feeling energies so strongly, Colt understood now. The sadness and tension in the front of this brothel were enough to make anyone want to get away. He couldn't imagine feeling the energies of everyone else in here too.

When someone burst into the room from outside, Agnes and Bridge stood at attention, watching as two women helped a wounded young man come inside.

"We just can't stop the bleeding!" one of the women said, her face frantic.

Agnes rushed to his aid.

When Owen walked forward, his face blank as he stared at the young man, Colt watched him. Colt knew that look…

"I can heal him," Owen suddenly whispered.

Colt glanced at him with wide eyes. "Owen, you're already exhausted."

"I want to, Colt. It would make me feel better to heal those who fought so hard." He met his eyes, and Colt melted. "I have to."

Relaxing, Colt understood and moved away so Owen could make his way to the man who was bleeding from the wound in his side. Agnes regarded Owen in surprise, her brown eyes wide with anticipation at what Owen might do.

His Dark Flame ignited in his hand, and then it turned blue as he reached towards the man.

Later that night, after Colt and Owen had gone to the citadel to discuss their trial, they came back to the brothel to find more people had come to be healed. Word was spreading of Owen's ability, and the people were desperate to get in to see him. Some didn't need healing at all and only wanted to observe.

After an hour of healing, Owen had exhausted himself and could no longer generate enough healing flame for the endless stream of injured people. But those desperate for help clamored outside the brothel, begging for help. Owen became distressed, and Amias insisted that he be removed to an inn across the city for his protection. Elian had placed them in a room at a fine Gold District inn, which was the most lavish inn Colt had ever seen.

The bed was luxurious, with soft blankets and pillows, and a fire already burned in the hearth. A tub was filled with hot water, and fresh clothes were set out for them.

As soon as Owen came into the room, he pulled off his clothes and got into the water. The tub was big enough for them both, so Colt got in behind him. He took the small square of soap from the nearby table and ran it over Owen's back. Goosebumps rose on Owen's skin, and he groaned as Colt washed every bruise and scrape on his body.

By the time they had washed and rinsed themselves, the water was murky. As Colt pulled Owen against his chest, he winced slightly at the pain in his ribs, but once he was comfortable, he kissed Owen's cheek from behind.

Owen stared blankly ahead, as if he was lost and thinking deeply. Colt was relieved every day he woke up by Owen's side. This was much better than when they were separated, but Colt still hadn't quite found the Owen he'd known before Mordren had given him the first drops of blood. It made his chest physically ache .

"Hey," Colt started, and Owen craned his head up to look at him, a deep frown on his face. "Let's… take it easy for a few days, alright? I know you want to heal, but that's what the healers are for. What Bridge and Agnes are doing. Let them take a turn so you can recover."

Owen closed his eyes and grabbed Colt's hand under the water. Colt peered over Owen's shoulder to look at the inside of his arms, where the strange symbols were scabbing over on his skin, and he clenched his jaw. Mordren had scarred more than Owen's body. The malicious god had ruined his mind, all from the beginning. Speaking with him through Milarc, getting him to trust his spirit through Avathon, and finally claiming him. If Colt could take all the confusion and pain from Owen… he would.

Outside, the snow fell in big chunks, and they were quiet for a while, until Owen took a deep breath and said, "I thought everyone I loved was dead when I was in that tower. I couldn't let the people of this city die too." Owen's voice was low and void of emotion. "Rem was so sick and twisted… I knew killing him wouldn't bring Gilda back, but at the time, I felt as if I had avenged her death. But now… I just feel so empty, as if I don't belong here anymore."

Colt wasn't sure what to say, as he'd have also killed Rem too if given the chance. But the hurt Owen was going through from the emptiness he felt shook him, and he held Owen close.

Finally, he whispered, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"You are now… that's all that matters." Owen squeezed Colt's hands. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Colt brushed his lips against Owen's ear and said, "You don't have to thank me for that. I love you. "

Owen sat up and turned around, then wound his arms around Colt's waist, which made him tense slightly from his pain, and they embraced. "I love you too," he whispered.

After the bath started to cool, they got out of the tub and dried off before getting dressed. Colt grunted and winced as he tried to lay on the bed. He found the only position that was good for his injured ribs was on his back. He didn't dare ask Owen to heal him, not after all the energy he'd exerted healing others.

When Owen wrapped his arms around Colt's waist, Colt couldn't help but tense up in pain when Owen touched his ribs.

Raising up, Owen drew away. "You've been doing that all day. Are you hurt?"

"Yeah, but… it's alright. It's just sore ribs, I'm sure." Colt smiled painfully.

Owen shook his head. "I've seen the way you're limping. You're not just sore from fighting."

"I'll be fine, Owen. Just lay back down."

"No, not until I heal you."

"Owen, I don't want you to heal me…" Colt trailed off when he saw the angry look in Owen's eyes, burning like hot coals.

"I'll heal you and then I'll take it easy, as you want me to for the next few days. But I'm not going to continue to see you limp around and stifle your pain every time you get up and lay down."

There was no use in arguing with Owen, as he seemed determined to heal Colt no matter what. Finally, Colt gave in with a reluctant nod. Owen helped him out of his shirt, and the Dark Flame sparked in his hands.

Colt closed his eyes as Owen pressed his palms against his ribs. At first, it was painful, as the sharp sting spiraled through him. But then something cool washed over his body, drowning out the pain and sweeping it away. When Owen removed his hands, Colt blinked. He moved to sit up, and though he felt sore, there was no pain in his ribs.

He looked at Owen in awe. "Thank you."

Owen smiled and blew out a slow breath of air, and they both laid back down, facing each other. Colt was going to hold Owen all night long, and in the morning, he would make sure he ate well. He'd also seen a library down the hall. They would read, eat, and sleep until Owen felt better.