100 Theme Challenge #86

Sequel #23, #25 and #85.

86. Ice

Valiente… That name rang no bell in Arnaud's head, but then again, he wasn't inclined to read every book Thomas was giving him.

"So what do we do?" He asked Thomas.

"If a gargoyle is indeed after you, and it's made of ice…"

Dorian nodded, for he already knew that. He had been a bit reluctant to come here, but it was Steve's idea, not his. So far they didn't look like charlatans, at least. Especially when Thomas was smiling knowingly like that.

"I'll show you something." He stood and Arnaud rolled his eyes behind him. Steve and Dorian looked at each other, but everybody followed Thomas.

"You sure have a collection of… things," Steve commented as he looked around, and Dorian pressed a hand against his mouth to muffle his laugh. Steve hushed an indignant "What?" to him, but Dorian shook his head.

"Mister Schliemann is a treasure hunter, what did you expect?" He managed to say after he controlled his laughter. Steve huffed.

"Please don't touch anything, you never know what could happen," Thomas alerted them, and Arnaud nodded in agreement.

"Don't do the same mistake than me," he added.

"What happened?" Steve couldn't help but ask.

"You really don't want to know."

They'd entered a room which would have been big if it wasn't for all the artifacts scattered on multiple surfaces. Thomas lead them to a tall wooden dresser and opened it, grinning.

"I dreamt of such opportunity to use them," he giggled as the other three stood with the same wide-eyes expression on their face.

"I think that I like your plan, Mister Schliemann," Steve finally commented.

.

It was quite simple, on paper. Dorian would be used as a bait in an abandoned building and they'd trap the beast inside a cage (How Thomas had one in his possession, nobody dared to ask), and then use fire on it until it'd melt away. Quite simple. Alas, it was always easier said than done. First, they had to find the place. Arnaud was in charge of that, and he found a decent one in the industrial park, where a fire had destroyed most of the building a few years ago. The trouble was to move the equipment there. The cage wouldn't enter the jeep they had, and then Arnaud had to find a truck high enough after Dorian assured he'd pay for everything. Being the son of a billionaire had its perks. To think 24 feet tall was barely enough was quite the approximation of how big the cage and the creature were. Then they had to ready themselves and the weapons.

"So how did you end up being with Dorian?" Arnaud asked as he was putting warming pads in his pockets as much as he could.

"He destroyed the window at the convenience store I was working."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the gargoyle, or whatever that thing is, attacked him at the store, and Dorian did fire with his hands."

"So he really is a witch." Steve nodded.

"He can do a bunch of things, and I probably didn't see the half of it."

Arnaud chuckled at the awe in his voice. "How long have you been together?"

To his amusement, Steve flushed and cleared his throat. "I began to travel with him about a month and a half ago. We've been going out for two weeks now," he admitted shyly.

"That's nice, you seem to really like each other."

"We do." Steve grinned. "What about you and Mister Schliemann?"

Arnaud shook his hand. "We don't date," he hurried to say, and Steve laughed.

"I meant to ask how long have you been his trainee, but it seems you'd like to train him at something else."

"Stop it, he could hear you," Arnaud hushed, glancing at the other side of the room where Thomas and Dorian were busy discussing some last matters. He turned back to Steve. "He kissed me this morning."

"You don't seem so sure."

"Well he licked the syrup off my mouth, but I'm scared it was simply another experiment of his, he likes to do those."

"He doesn't look like the kind of person to play tricks with others' feelings."

"I know, but he's just so disconnect most of the time…"

"Then he must feel pretty connected to you to do that," Steve smirked, and Arnaud rolled his eyes.

"Are you ready?" Thomas asked as he approached them, clad in a tight back sleeveless shirt and cargo pants. They were all wearing the same outfit, but he was the only one Arnaud couldn't take his eyes off.

"I think so. Let's go."

They went out and climbed into the truck. Arnaud was the one driving while the other three were squeezed together, because nobody wanted to be alone in the back with the cage. Thomas hadn't explained its origins… Arnaud could hear Steve and Dorian murmur at each other while he could feel the length of Thomas' body against him, even though the hunter was doing his best to free up space to let him drive. Arnaud enjoyed it nonetheless.

"Listen, Thomas." He only needed to turn his head to face the man whose eyes instantly focused on him,

"I know we've been doing this many times by now, killing stuff and finding things…"

He slowed down the truck, for they were at the place. Dorian and Steve climbed down, letting the other two a moment of intimacy.

"What is it, Arnaud?"

"All I want to say is even though you've done this quite a few times, I hope –"

"We don't have time for this."

"Let me finish… I really like you, and I wouldn't want to –"

"Let's cut to the chase, Arnaud," Thomas smiled. "I also find you very attractive, if you must know. Kissing you earlier wasn't a trick nor a mistake."

Arnaud flushed. "Oh." Like Thomas had said, they didn't have much time, so he simply gripped him by the back of his head and kissed him the way he'd wanted to for a while now. He also got a good feel of his bicep while he was at it.

"Later, Arnaud." Thomas gently swept his fingers down his cheek, and the trainee swore he was slightly panting. Outside, Steve called for them.

(What is 100TC?)

WTF is up with that story, I can't seem to finish it! I love the relationship development though. ;)