Angel and the Assassin

always clean up when they‟ve gone to uni. Don‟t you want a little bit of
    domesticity, Kael, you and Angel?”
    “Angel is temporary. I‟ll make a man of him and send him out into the world.
    I‟m busy with my work. It‟s not easy to live with another person when you‟re in,
    er”—he paused—“security. Anyway, I‟ve never been in love. I don‟t have the
    patience for it. Well, maybe once, but that was years ago when I was a kid.”
    “That bloke Shawn you told me about at school?”
    “Yes. I‟ve got no time or interest now.”

    132
    Fyn Alexander

    “I don‟t know, Kael; the way you look at that boy tells me you‟re feeling
    something very strong. And the way he looks at you is so full of admiration and
    love.”
    Kael felt a moment of panic. He didn‟t want to be in love. Conran had said it,
    now Freddie. “You‟re mistaking lust for love, Freddie. The sex is great, and I like to
    be in control, but one submissive will never be enough for me. I get bored easily.”
    “Are you still into the BDSM thing?” Freddie mouthed BDSM , making Kael
    laugh.
    “Yes, I am. The boy likes it too. What about you? You used to enjoy it.” Kael
    mimed wielding a belt, making Freddie look at the door to ensure no one had come
    in unexpectedly.
    He nodded sheepishly. “Adam‟s not fond of that sort of thing, so it‟s all in my
    imagination these days. But the everyday sex is good.” Freddie pointed at his glass,
    and Kael accepted a top-up.
    The sound of running feet on the stairs and the girls screaming, “Angel, wait
    for us!” split the air. They came running into the room barefoot, wearing nighties
    with Tinker Bell on the front; their curly hair was shiny wet and bouncing. Angel
    followed them and walked over to Kael. He looked up at his boy and stretched out
    his arm to welcome him to his side. He had got into the habit of doing that in the
    evening when they sat down together to watch TV or read or just talk. Angel would
    bring him his glass of whiskey, then throw himself on the couch beside him, leaning
    into his side. Kael would wrap his arm around him while they sat.
    But instead of sitting down beside him, Angel sat on the floor at his feet. Kael
    was surprised and disappointed, but he didn‟t say anything.
    “Do we get the chocolate cake now, girls?” Angel asked.
    “Chocolate cake!” they shouted in unison. Kael thought his eardrums might
    shatter. They seemed unable to say anything in a normal voice.
    The girls walked shyly up to him and stood at his knee holding hands, staring
    at him. Zoe, the elder of the two, spoke for them, her tone very serious. “Uncle Kael,
    we‟re adopted. Did you adopt Angel?”
    “No.”
    Zoe waited for a minute, clearly expecting him to explain. When he didn‟t, she
    went on, “Why does he call you Daddy? Are you his daddy?”
    Angel looked at him, waiting for his answer just like the girls. “In a way.”
    “What way?” She scratched her nose and sniffed. “What way, Uncle Kael?”
    Kael threw Freddie a look that said, Help me out here, please . Freddie just
    chuckled and sipped his wine.
    Kael watched them nervously, unsure what to say or do.
    “Are you his dadda, Uncle Kael?” Amelia asked.
    Freddie piped up by way of explanation, “The girls call me Daddy and Adam
    Dadda.”

    Angel and the Assassin
    133

    “Uncle Kael, why don‟t you have any hair?” Zoe asked.
    Why don’t you go away?
    Emboldened by her sister, Amelia asked, “Why are you so big, Uncle Kael?”
    Freddie‟s laughter and Adam‟s entrance with a tray broke the tension. The
    girls turned and ran for their dessert. Kael had never been so relieved in his life to
    see chocolate cake. “Should they be eating cake right before bed, Freddie; won‟t they
    be sick?” he asked.
    “Oh they‟ll be fine.” Freddie took his plate from Adam. “Thanks, love,” he said
    to his husband. “Anyway, if they‟re up in the night, Adam will clean up the sick.
    He‟s the best dadda in the world.”

    * * *
    Kael got into bed, lay back on his pillow, and pulled the duvet up to his waist.

    He watched the door to the bathroom, waiting for Angel to finish brushing his teeth.
    They‟d had a nice evening, very civilized despite the feral children. Angel was great
    with them, and Freddie and Adam liked him. But in the taxi home, Angel had sat
    with a good foot of space between them instead of leaning against him as he always
    did, taking every opportunity for closeness and