"You really pushed me hard today," I tell Lucas as I return to the barrier.

"Yeah," he says. "You're getting close to the point where you find out if you got the job or not. Since today's skill training today, it was good to push you hard. You're getting closer to being able to catch a ball. Maybe another week or two, which will be good. If you're able to catch a ball – or at least, touch one consistently – then you're going to do decently trying to catch someone who's running away. You've also improved rather decently in how quick your shadow-walks are. Maybe another month or two, and it'll be instant. This is definitely your strongest ability."

"Thanks," I climb over the barrier

Lucas looking at the boner that resulted from pushing my powers in the skill training today before quickly snapping his gaze to mine, cheeks slightly red. It's nice to know he appreciates it but still makes the effort to not look too long once it attracts his attention.

"Monday," he says. "And Wednesday, I'll teach you some knife work, Kieran. I meant to do so Friday, but, um, got a little bothered and went to grappling instead."

"I might need that skill," especially since I'm probably going to be an assassin if I do get accepted as a guardian. "But do you think I'll have the necessary skill soon enough with just two lessons?"

"Some of your martial arts stuff translates over," Lucas assures me. "And they'll probably not put you to work immediately but have you shadow someone instead – no pun intended. You'll probably have at least one to three additional months after signing the contract before you're actually working on your own and needing the full skills. So we have time to get you past the basics."

Would he say the same if he knew that job was being a guardian and this is the observation period? He seems to be thinking over something, though I know it's unrelated to that.

"To be honest," he tells me. "You actually picked up martial arts well. If you took the test on Thursday, chances are good you could pass the test for the facility's blue belt. As I mentioned before, we only put time limits on the black belt ranks and base the others on skill. You might reach purple in another month or two, passing brown probably another month or two after, and black within eight to ten months from the start, if you continue to show this much dedication. After that, we do require a minimum amount of time regardless of skill level."

"What's the fastest you've had someone reach black belt?" I ask.

"Four months," he answers. "It's only happened a couple of times, though. The main reason it will take you as long as it will is because you're building up strength, agility, and reflexes pretty much from none. Your body seems to have good muscle memory, though, which is neat. Zane and I are the same way, actually."

"Neat," I say. "I'm going to go take a shower, then I'll meet you and Zane in the lobby. Before I go, though, I wanted to ask something about Zane."

"You know my thoughts on him."

"I don't, really," I lean against the barrier. "That's what I wanted to ask, actually. Just like with what happened after I snapped at you over your views regarding the Patron and your hypocrisy, you've been different about Zane ever since I snapped at you over him. You actually make an effort to retort and not get aggravated over his antics now, and while you do still hold some suspicion about him, you're much nicer about it. So I've been wondering what you're actually thinking of him now."

Lucas is quiet as he thinks over my statement. It takes him a bit, and when he finally responds, it's not what I expected.

"I think the kiss affected me just as much," he admits. "I actually liked it, and found myself… wanting more of it? The fact that Zane hasn't really teased me about it supports what you told me, too. Actually, I don't think he's really brought it up at all, which isn't really like the view of him I had."

"You actually liked kissing Zane?" I ask, more than surprised by that.

"Yeah, but I still find him an irritating brat," Lucas states. "So no dating going on there. Not unless he matures up."

"Your views on the Patron would have to change, too," I say.

"They're probably not going to shift much more than they have," Lucas tells me. "I've accepted that he's employed vigilantes, but I still don't agree with your reasoning on why he doesn't do more. If he's here to protect us, he needs to go all the way, not half-ass it, and-"

Lucas stops and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes until he's finished.

"Look," he says. "I still want to date you, Kieran. I'm kind of upset you went with someone you just met, but I'm sure you have reasons you didn't tell me, other than him being your vigilante sexual fantasy. But I know it won't work out as long as our views on the Patron differ. That's why I've tried to see it from your point of view, and I really can't. Not all the way.

"I'm still thinking about things, though," he tells me. "More about the vigilantes than anything, though. I still think the Patron is a giant ass. You were right in that I was a hypocrite, and I'm trying to change that. Maybe I can even make a change in things now that I'm hitting the news. So if things don't work out with Theo… I want to give it a try with you, okay?"

"We'll have to see," I say. "Zane does have values that align better with mine. Anyway, I'm going to go scrub off the sweat, Zane's probably going to wonder what's taking so long if we take too much longer."

"See you down there," Lucas nods.

I grab my bag and head to the showers, and once I finish mine, I step out and return to the bench I'd stuck my bag on, only to find a turtle chilling beside my bag. This is the first time I've come across one while naked.

Keeping my gaze on the turtle, I grab my phone from my bag, then take a picture of the turtle. I set my phone down and start getting dressed, and when I look at where the turtle was, it's gone. Just like normal. How long is the Patron going to continue to screw with me for trying to talk with Sivalshi?

After I finish dressing and pull on my hoodie, jacket, and gloves, I pull on my bag and head out to meet with Lucas and Zane. When I arrive in the lobby, I find Theo there as well.

"Hey, Kier," he greets me with a kiss. "Just finished a shift a few minutes ago, thought I'd see if you wanted to spend the night again tonight."

In other words, he's horny and knows I probably am, too.

"Actually," I say. "I have to work at Lenny's in the morning, which is in the opposite direction of here from my apartment. That walk would be rather bad, so I'll be staying at my apartment tonight."

"Lenny's is that burger place that Danny works at, right?" He asks.

"Yeah," I nod.

"I remembered right," he looks pleased with himself. "In that case, mind if I join you for dinner tonight? Lucas and Zane said you three always go out for a big dinner after a harsher training on Saturdays."

"If they're okay with it," I look at Lucas and Zane.

"He's used his powers probably more than we did," Lucas says. "Sure. But he's paying for his own food."

"I'll pay for Kieran's, too," Theo says.

"Let's go," I say before Lucas and Zane can try to argue with him over that. "And thanks, Theo."

"You're welcome," he gives me another kiss, and Zane makes a noise of mock disgust. "Jealous, much?"

"You bet!" Zane responds, causing us to laugh.

We leave the training center and make our way to the diner. There's only two other customers in here tonight, an elderly couple sitting at one end of the diner. We take a booth at the other end of it, Zane and Lucas sitting together because Theo and I slide in on the same side together.

"How are you boys tonight?" Sandy asks, eyeing Theo. "And hello, sir! I don't think I've seen you before."

"I'm Theo," Theo introduces himself. "Kieran and I just started dating a couple of days ago, so you wouldn't have."

"Well, it's nice to meet you," she says. "Do you boys want your usual?"

"Yes," Lucas answers.

"Whatever it is, I'll have it, too," Theo says.

"We also have lemons and oranges again," Sandy informs us. "Do you boys want the twist?"

"Yeah," I answer. "Thanks, Sandy."

"I'll be back with those in just a few," she says, then walks to the back to put in our orders.

"They seem to be producing a lot of those lately," Lucas says. "That's pretty weird. How are there still so many to harvest and spread to areas like here?"

"The Patron is expending some of his power," Theo says. "To make the farms a bit more bountiful right now, due to the entry into the frost zone. It's an effort to lower prices a little bit so that more people can afford to eat to have energy to help them get through the cold times."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Should've known he's a Patron supporter," Lucas mutters. "Do you really think the Patron would do something like that?"

"Uh, yeah," Theo answers. "My family actually work on the farms. I grew up there, and got lucky with the vigilante gig. Someone sponsored me after finding out my powers so that I could get the suit and do good work. If my parents tell me that the Patron is doing that, then I'll believe it. He's already ensuring we aren't affected by Sivalshi's movements, you know. Those jolts are abnormal enough that he probably didn't expect them. But we haven't felt them in a bit, so he's probably begun shielding us again. That, or managed to convince Sivalshi not to do it."

"I didn't know you were a dome boy," I say.

"Born and raised," he grins. "I only moved out once I could afford it, but I do still stop in from time to time to help my family out, when work doesn't need me too much. The increase in produce actually surprised me, so I'd asked my parents about it, and that's how I found out the Patron was using his power to increase the bounties without negatively affecting the plants. They said he promised to keep it up throughout the time we're in the freezing times so that the prices can drop down a bit and stay dropped down, as I'd said."

Lucas grumbles something under his breath that I don't catch, probably a complaint about the Patron. That's interesting to know, though. I wasn't aware the Patron could do things like that, but it's neat that he can and is willing to do that extra step. Just how much does it cost him to do that, though?

Unlike Lucas, I do believe there's a limit to his powers. It must tax him in order to increase the bounties of the farms. To do so for an extended period of time, such as however long we'll be in the frost zone, might drain him pretty hard, too.

Sandy soon returns with our drinks, and our food a few minutes after that. The four of us chat a bit as we eat, though I'm reminded near the end of our meal that today falls into a pattern.

"Damn," Theo mutters while looking at the TV, and I look at the screen.

"The twelfth victim," I shake my head. "How long before he's stopped?"

"No clue," Theo says. "We've been trying to find him, and we know a certain new vigilante is looking for him-" he looks at Lucas to say he's aware of who Lumilxal is. "-but we're struggling. Even the guardians are apparently having a difficult time with it."

"The guardians?" Lucas snorts. "As if the Patron's sent them after him."

"They're the ones who got some of us vigilantes involved," Theo says. "Contrary to popular belief, the Patron isn't all-knowing."

Theo's tone suggests he's frustrated by the Patron's lack of ability to locate the Blond Boy Basher. Wisely, Lucas decides not to get into an argument with my boyfriend over Theo's statement. It would be three against one, anyway.

"Hey, they've switched off of him," I say. "Seems we're to expect snow next Friday or Saturday."

"Snow?" Everyone perks up and looks at the TV, even Sandy, who was approaching probably to check on us.

"For the first time in years," the weatherman is saying. "There's an expectation of snow to fall here in Sivalshi City. If Sivalshi continues on his current path, then our prediction has us meeting the snow front next Friday, with a chance of snow either then or on Saturday. Unfortunately, we're unable to predict how much snow might fall, but we do recommend bundling up if you can if you need to go out, and to avoid going out if you can. Conditions shouldn't be as bad as after the freezing rain we had the other day, but caution is still advised."

"You know," Lucas says. "In the Old Society, they could predict the snowfall rather easily. Nowadays, though, technology is set back a small bit and our predictions aren't as easy to make due to the monsters interfering in our attempts to set up more consistent systems."

"You mean sending satellites up?" Theo asks. "The ones from back then are all out of commission now, and yeah, it's not easy trying to get a new one up in orbit. I did hear a group on a skybeast is trying and might have one up in the next few years, but there's nothing solid about that. It might fail just as all others have."

"I wish them luck," Lucas says.

"So do I," Sandy says. "How do you boys want to split the checks?"

"I'm paying for Kieran and I," Theo tells her.

"I'm paying for Zane and me," Lucas says.

"I ain't gonna protest that!" Zane grins. "Thanks, Lucas!"

"I'll have those out in just a few minutes, boys," Sandy says. "But don't rush finishing."

We thank her and she leaves, then we return to eating our dinner. After we finish we sit and talk for a few minutes, Theo stating that he definitely enjoyed it and can see why we have that for dinner after pushing ourselves in power training.

"It's my turn to walk him home," Zane tells Lucas after we leave the diner. "Thanks for dinner, Lucas!"

"Is it okay if I walk you home?" Theo asks me. "I have some business in that area to take care of, anyway, and I kind of like taking walks with my boyfriend."

Business?

"Sure," I say. "Thanks for the offer, Zane, but Theo'll walk me home tonight."

Zane pouts, and Lucas puts an arm across his shoulders, saying that if he really wants to walk someone home, he can walk Lucas home.

"Or you can walk me home," Zane says as they set off. "It's closer, you know."

Theo waits until they're gone, then gives me a raised eyebrow.

"They're not going to hook up," I say. "Lucas is just… starting to accept Zane a bit more. He might be wanting to talk with Zane about you, too. Come on."

Theo grabs my hand and we begin walking, our breath fogging on the air, no words said between us as we make the trip to my apartment. Even without talking, the walk is actually quiet, though I can feel Theo's energy. He's sort of buzzing a bit, even if not literally. Despite having burned up a lot of energy earlier, he's already recovered a bit.

We're near my apartment when Theo stops walking and looks at me.

"Do you mind if we do my business first?" He asks. "It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes, and we can do it right here."

"It's not, uh, violent, is it?" I ask. "Uh, relating to-"

"No, and sort of," he says.

"Sure," I shrug. "Are you allowed to do it with me here?"

"Yeah," he answers. "The Patron actually told me to do it if I ever walked you here."

That kind of makes me worried, actually.

"Oh."

"Hello, Sovirna," Theo turns his gaze up to the roof of a building. "Why don't you come down here?"

A few seconds pass before Sovirna drops off the roof and approaches us, the hair of her wig flowing back a little in the wind that's beginning to pick up right now. Her steps are swift but strict, giving her the appearance of an angry vigilante on a mission to kill. Please tell me Theo was serious about it not being violent. Please.

"Hello, Theo," Sovirna says, her voice distorted by the filter she uses. "It has been awhile."

"It has," he looks at me. "Do you mind giving us a small bit of privacy? It'll only take a minute or two."

"Sure," I say, and he gives me a kiss before I take a few steps back.

Theo and Sovirna talk for a few minutes, too low for me to understand from here, then Sovirna leaves and Theo returns to me, giving me another kiss as he takes my hand again.

"Sorry about that," he says. "Let's go get warm."

"My apartment doesn't have a heater."

"You don't turn it on?"

"It doesn't exist."

"Damn," he says. "And you sleep like that every night?"

"It's not bad when bundled up," I shrug. "Though I feel like I haven't actually slept at home half the time the last week or so. Now that I think about it, that might actually be why Zane had me sleep over last night. He and Lucas really don't want me sleeping in my apartment anymore, since it doesn't have heat at all."

"I can understand that," Theo says as we reach the apartment building I live in. "Mind if I stay over, then? Two bodies under the blankets make for warmer temperatures, you know."

"I'm not going to refuse that," I snort as we enter. "Let's check the mail, then head up."

Theo follows me into the mail room, and I check the mailbox before leading him up to my apartment, no mail for me today.

"You weren't kidding about it being freezing in here," Theo exhales, watching his breath fog the air. "How do they get away with no heat?"

"It's legal," I shrug. "And part of the reason the rent is as low as it is. I was actually able to afford all my bills this month, fortunately. Even if the Patron decides not to offer it to me on Thursday or Friday, I've had enough positives since he started this to make up for it. I'll just have to work my ass off to get those bills paid."

"You know," Theo says. "I know we only just started dating, but you're more than welcome to stay at my place instead. I'll be much warmer. And if we decided to just be friends after living with each other a bit and you don't want to stay at my apartment, you should accept the offer from Lucas or Zane. The Patron said that we're likely to stay in the frost zone for over a year, possibly two or three."

"He what?" I ask.

"Yep," Theo says. "We finally managed to get that out of him. This morning."

"Why the sudden change?" I ask. "The Patron's always kept Sivalshi somewhere decent for us. Where the most we had to deal with was a bit of a chill in winter."

"He didn't say," Theo tells me. "We'll probably find out eventually. Our theory is that there's a powerful demon that got loose and we can't handle it, but it doesn't go to freezing areas, so the Patron had Sivalshi to come here until it's gone or dealt with by someone capable."

That's frightening, and I hope that whatever's going on, it ends soon so that we can return to warmth.

"That's a new blanket," I realize something.

"What?" Theo asks as I walk over to my bed and pick up both of the new blankets.

"There are two new blankets," I smell them. "This one smells like Zane's laundry detergent, while this one smells like Lucas's. Lucas must have dropped them off without telling me, so that I'm warmer when I'm here."

"That's nice of him," Theo says. "Did you know that you're the only potential guardian or vigilante in the last six years who hasn't put in that ear comm?"

"The ear comm?" I ask.

"The one that came with the notice?" He says.

"I actually completely forgot about it," I feel my cheeks heat up a little in embarrassment. "I'd assumed it was how I'd be contacted when it was time to make the offer or tell me I didn't make the cut and then just… forgot."

"It's actually the Patron screwing with people," he tells me. "Most potentials get curious and put it in early just to see what happens if they try."

"What happens?" I ask.

"It's linked to a children's radio station," he tells me. "So you get to listen to whatever is being broadcast at the time. No one's figured out why the Patron does it, just like with many things."

"Oh," I say. "Let me thank them for the blankets."

I pull out my phone and slip off my gloves, my fingers freezing pretty fast as I type out the thanks. Lucas responds first, followed by Zane.

You're welcome. I hope it keeps you warmer when you sleep there.

I bet you're going to snuggle your boyfriend under them.

Snorting, I empty my pockets out onto my dresser, then look at Theo.

"Feel free to join me under the blankets," I tell him, then remove my shoes.

Theo empties out his pockets onto the coffee table, then removes his shoes and joins me on my bed as I pull the blankets over us. Those combined with my layers make me really warm, really fast, so I work off my jacket and toss it off the bed.

"You know," Theo murmurs. "We could probably go naked under here and still be warm, as long as we keep the blankets wrapped around us. There's enough layers there for that."

While I know he might be hoping for more than just snuggling together and sharing warmth, he does has a point. The new blankets are thick and the layers retain the heat well. Keeping under the blanket, I remove my clothes, tossing them off onto the floor at the foot of the bed. Theo only has on sweatpants and a hoodie, and those come off quickly, then he's pressed against me from behind, holding me tight. To keep our heads warm in this cold, I pull the blankets up over them. While I've never slept like this before, I'm sure we'll be fine.

"Much better," he murmurs. "Are you comfortable?"

For a few moments, I think about whether or not I'm comfortable, then move down and adjust the arm that's under the pillow so that I can use it as a pillow, his dick pressed against my ass.

"Very comfortable," I answer, and he chuckles in response. "Wake me how you want, Theo, but I'm too exhausted for anything right now."

"Got it," he holds me tight. "Night, Kier."

"Night, Sparky."