Rare was the day Kyle could make it through a shopping trip without input from his other half. But Ryka was asleep, and very deeply so. Not even when Kyle practically got his foot run over by a cart at the grocery store did the demon react.

This was the price to pay for being together in their dreams. A nap the next day, and Kyle could recover from a night’s poor sleep. Ryka, however, was drained for weeks. They had thought him recuperated, and then Kyle had unwittingly touched a cross pendant. Even with the wound healed, the ordeal had been enough to exhaust Ryka all over again.

He was a little more aware of their surroundings than he had been before, but still spent most of the day - and night - sleeping.

Guilty plagued Kyle, and not just because of his stupid mistake. If Ryka offered him the option of another dream, Kyle knew he’d say “yes,” regardless of consequences. Those dreams were the only way they could be together. Maybe it wasn’t real, but it felt close enough, and Kyle was going to take what he could get. Even when it resulted in a near-unconscious demon.

“Excuse me.”

Lost in thought as he was, Kyle hadn’t realized he was blocking access to the bread. “Sorry,” he muttered, pushing his own cart out of the way, and hoping he wasn’t as flushed as he felt. At least he only had a few more items.

And without suggestions from Ryka, it really only was a few. In near record time, he finished his quick run for groceries.

Without having to prod, he could tell Ryka was still out cold. Which left him the freedom to run more errands. And with nothing in the car at risk of spoiling while he shopped, he decided it was time to replenish his wardrobe. Far too many of his work shirts had been reduced to rags, and there were several pairs of gore-encrusted pants that had joined those in the trash. No amount of stain-removal product could take out what had surely been liters of blood.

Conveniently, there was a department store in the same plaza as the grocery store, so he drove to a closer parking spot. He swore he recognized the banged-up blue pickup truck in the spot next to his, but shook the thought. He was sure Ryka could have dug that bit of info up for him - memories that were inaccessible to him were somehow easy for the demon to find - but Kyle wanted to let him sleep. Besides, it was probably one of his student’s trucks, and it wasn’t like they’d be shopping in the same section.

Since he had nothing else to do, and highly suspected Ryka would be asleep for another day or two anyhow, he took his time browsing. An hour in, and he had accumulated quite the pile. He was preparing for another run to the fitting room when he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. “Kyle? Is that you?” a familiar male voice asked.

Kyle spun to face the other man, and tried to quell his rising panic. Oh, please, don’t wake up now, he pleaded to the silence in his head. Not here, not now.

Because standing before him was the man he’d started seeing when he had first moved to town. The one who had - after months of what had felt like an at least somewhat decent relationship - cruelly dumped him over the phone. Whose wife had called to threaten him immediately after, screaming at him that he was a homewrecker and to never try to contact her husband again. And here he was, acting like they’d somehow parted on good terms.

“Drew,” Kyle said, not meaning it to be a greeting, just a statement of fact.

Ever-oblivious, the other man just smiled. “I almost didn’t recognize you with the long hair. It looks great.” He paused, eyeing Kyle up and down. “You look great.”

And with no help from Ryka, Kyle experienced his own righteous anger. “Fuck off,” he returned, a little too loudly. A few shoppers in the immediate vicinity looked their way, but quickly moved on.

“Hey, come on. I’m sorry for what happened. I was figuring things out, and -”

“‘Figuring things out?’ I recall you saying you were out. And single.”

“I did.”

“So you lied.” Drew looked taken aback, and Kyle was glad to see it. Suddenly, there was nothing he wanted more than to see the other man brought low. “You were so good at hiding things. Like the fact that you were married. Are you forgetting that part? The one where your wife called to chew me out? I believe that was right after you called to tell me to get lost, and to not talk to you again.”

Drew’s gaze dropped to the floor. What was happening to Kyle that seeing Drew’s shame made him feel so good? If this was even a fraction of what Ryka felt, it was no wonder he was so hungry for it.

“I never meant to end things like that. She made me say that. I wanted –”

“I truly don’t give a fuck what you wanted.” At that, Kyle turned and started away. Or tried to. That same hand on his shoulder stopped him. “I’m warning you. Don’t touch me.” Kyle thought there’d been a brief flash of red when Drew had made contact, but as far as he could tell, Ryka was still asleep. Though he couldn’t imagine him not inserting himself in this dispute, not when he’d recently threatened to disembowel Drew if they ever ran into him. But here they were, and no one was bleeding yet. Kyle was almost disappointed.

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“Sorry.” Drew sounded sincere as he pulled his hand back and held it up in apology. There was a pause, and he shifted from foot to foot. Something Kyle had once thought was a cute quirk. Not so much, now. “You know, right after that, she left me.”

“Shocking.”

“Don’t be so cold. I really did like you, you know.”

“Funny way to show it.” This guy really was an idiot, Kyle thought. He was spitting venom, and Drew was standing there, taking it with a smile.

“I really am sorry. I was going to tell her I wanted a separation. A divorce. I tried to call you after, but ….”

“I changed my number.” How was this man not getting the message? Kyle was gritting his teeth, practically growling his answers, and Drew was still talking like he deserved to have his excuses entertained.

“I figured. I’m so glad I ran into you. You really do look great.” Kyle rolled his eyes. “I’d really like to make things up to you. At least explain myself. Maybe we could -”

“Seriously? Are you asking me out?”

At least Drew had the decency to look ashamed, if only for a moment. He really was dense. “I mean, yes, I guess.”

Kyle took a deep, steadying breath. “Listen, asshole” he said, advancing on the other man. Kyle had been considerably taller than Drew before – now he absolutely loomed over him. Eyes wide, Drew took a step backward, stumbling into a clothing rack. They were certainly being ogled by other shoppers, but Kyle didn’t care. “You are a complete piece of shit, and I wouldn’t sleep with you again if you were the last man on Earth. You were the absolute worst in bed, for starters.”

“But, wait. Hey, I -”

“You’re not listening. As usual. You only ever cared about how you felt. As long as you were having fun, that’s all that mattered. In and out of bed. Looking back, I can’t believe I stayed with you. And that I was upset when it ended.”

It sickened Kyle a little how happy he was to see tears spring to the other man’s eyes. But Drew had caused him so much pain. He certainly owed him a dressing down, at the very least. “I’ve done so much better without you. I have someone who actually cares about me, and how I feel. And you’re lucky he’s –” Kyle almost said ‘asleep’ but caught himself, “- at work today. He wouldn’t appreciate you approaching me like this.”

“Kyle, I -”

“I don’t appreciate it, either.” Drew was now just staring at him, slack-jawed. But that reservoir of outrage was deep, and leaning in close, Kyle gave him a warning. “Never speak to me again. Because if you do, I can’t make promises for your safety.”

“Whoa, hey. What are you involved with?”

“It’s none of your business, Drew. But I mean it. Never again.” With that, Kyle turned, grabbed his pile of clothes, and made for the nearest register.

Even after all that, Drew still wasn’t willing to admit defeat. Taking a pleading tone, he tried once more to get Kyle to listen. “You don’t mean that. Kyle, come on, wait ….”

Never had Kyle been angrier. Spinning on his heels, he glared coldly at Drew and cursed him in the worst way he knew how. “Burn in Hell, bastard.” Before Drew could make another fruitless attempt at reconciliation, Kyle stormed off, leaving his stunned ex in his wake.

Kyle was quite sure they had attracted an audience - that now stood watching him storm off - but he just didn’t care. In fact, he was absolutely positive that was the case when another shopper, an older woman with an armload of pastel sweaters, whispered, “You tell him, honey,” as he passed.

Still seething, Kyle paid and found his car. And there it was – Drew’s truck. He’d stopped thinking about his ex for so long he’d forgotten what he’d even driven. As badly as he wanted to key it up, pop the tires, or summon Ryka to turn it into a smoldering pile of twisted metal, he restrained himself. He dumped his purchases in his trunk and drove away.

It wasn’t until he was halfway home, and his heart rate had finally settled, that he asked “So, how much of that were you awake for?”

Oh, the whole thing. From the moment you panicked and hoped I stayed asleep.

“Fuck. Sorry.”

Why?

“For not wanting you to wake up.”

I understand.

“Do you?”

Having to buy a whole bunch of blood-stained clothes was going to be way out of your budget. Would have had to fuck up a whole bunch of bystanders, too. Even that old lady.

Kyle forced a laugh, but suddenly found himself gripping the steering wheel with shaking hands. Overwhelmed with nausea, he pulled into the nearest parking lot and leaned back in his seat, eyes closed. “I just made a huge scene in the business casual section of a department store.”

Not as much of a scene as I wanted to make.

Kyle could only imagine. “Thank you for letting me handle this one.”

You were pissed enough for both of us.

“Pissed? You sound exhausted, dear.”

Trust me, I can be both. Plus a little horny – that was pretty hot, stud. I wish you’d talk to me like that.

Kyle laughed again, genuinely this time. The shaking had stopped, and his stomach was no longer threatening rebellion. “How are you really feeling?”

Like I could nap for another few days.

“Then you should do that.”

Not if you need me. The response was startlingly quick, especially given how half-awake the demon sounded.

Allowing himself a smile, Kyle shook his head. “I’m fine now. Just going to put groceries away and do some laundry.”

Ugh.

“See? Boring. Go to sleep, Ry.”

I suppose. But I’m here if you need me.

It truly was a reassuring thought. “Thank you.”

Anytime, stud.